2014 AnnuAl RepoRt on FoRm 10-K 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, California 95113 408.947.6900 HeRitAgeCommeRCeCoRp.Com 2015 Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders 2015 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement 2014 to ouR SHAReHoldeRS April 15, 2015 Dear Fellow Shareholders: We celebrated the Bank’s 20th year of operation in 2014, with Heritage Commerce Corp achieving solid earnings, and marking one of our most successful years in recent history. We delivered strong loan and deposit growth, while significantly expanding our client relationships and deepening our market position in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The highlight of the year was the acquisition of Bay View Funding, which was immediately accretive to earnings in the fourth quarter of 2014. We are excited about this acquisition, as it opens a new lending niche for us and complements the business lending programs we offer to our customers. 2014 Accomplishments: • We acquired Bay View Funding, a nationally recognized leader in the factoring industry, on November 1, 2014; adding $40 million in factored receivables, boosting revenues and net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2014, and for the full year. • Our net income increased 16% for the year to $13.4 million, with diluted earnings per common share of $0.42. • After reinstating our quarterly cash dividend in the second half of 2013, we increased the cash dividend twice in 2014. In January 2014, the quarterly cash dividend was raised to $0.04 per share, and in July 2014, the quarterly cash dividend was increased again to $0.05 per share. Additionally, in January 2015, our board once again, increased the dividend. This time the increase was 60% to $.08 per share. • Our returns improved, with an annual return on average equity of 7.44%, and an annual return on average assets of 0.88%. • Our total loans grew 19%, or $174 million, from a year ago, with yields averaging 4.96%. Total deposits grew by 8% or $102 million. • Our credit quality continued to improve, ending the year with a ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.41%. Year-over-year, nonperforming assets declined 47% to the lowest levels in over seven years. • Keith Wilton, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, joined us at the beginning of 2014, complementing our executive management team’s skills to support our growth and provide management depth. Keith has a lengthy background in banking with a particularly strong experience level in specialty finance businesses (including factoring). • We continued to maintain strong capital levels, ending the year with a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.9% and Tier 1 risk-based ratio of 12.6%. All capital levels exceeded regulatory requirements for “well-capitalized” financial institutions. For two decades we have proudly served our clients and shareholders, and we remain committed to developing and nurturing those relationships. As we start 2015, we are excited about the opportunities in our markets and are optimistic about our competitive position in them. Please join us for our annual meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2015, at 1:00 p.m., here at our corporate headquarters in San Jose. Sincerely, Board of Directors Jack W. Conner, Chairman Frank G. Bisceglia John M. Eggemeyer Steven L. Hallgrimson Walter T. Kaczmarek Robert T. Moles Humphrey P. Polanen Laura Roden Charles J. Toeniskoetter Ranson W. Webster W. Kirk Wycoff Executive Management Walter T. Kaczmarek President Chief Executive Officer Keith A. Wilton Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer Michael E. Benito Executive Vice President Banking Division William J. Del Biaggio, Jr . Executive Vice President Marketing & Community Relations Lawrence D. McGovern Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer David E. Porter Executive Vice President Chief Credit Officer Deborah K. Reuter Executive Vice President Chief Risk Officer & Corporate Secretary CoRpoRAte inFoRmAtion Subsidiary Bank Offices Heritage Bank of Commerce San Jose Main 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, CA 95113 408.947.6900 Danville 387 Diablo Road Danville, CA 94526 925.314.2851 Fremont 3137 Stevenson Boulevard Fremont, CA 94538 510.445.0400 Gilroy 7598 Monterey Street Suite 110 Gilroy, CA 95020 408.842.8310 Hollister 351 Tres Pinos Road Suite 102A Hollister, CA 95023 831.637.2152 Los Altos 419 S. San Antonio Road Los Altos, CA 94022 650.941.9300 Los Gatos 15575 Los Gatos Boulevard Building B Los Gatos, CA 95032 408.356.6190 Morgan Hill 18625 Sutter Boulevard Suite 100 Morgan Hill, CA 95037 408.778.2320 Pleasanton 300 Main Street Pleasanton, CA 94566 925.314.2876 Sunnyvale 333 W. El Camino Real Suite 150 Sunnyvale, CA 94087 650.919.2159 Walnut Creek 101 Ygnacio Valley Road Suite 100 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925.930.9287 Bay View Funding Administrative Office 2933 Bunker Hill Lane Suite 210 Santa Clara, CA 95054 Heritage Commerce Corp Investor Relations Contact Deborah K. Reuter Executive Vice President Chief Risk Officer & Corporate Secretary Transfer Agent Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Shareowner Services 1110 Centre Pointe Curve Suite 101 Mendota Heights, MN 55120 1.800.468.9716 Independent Auditors Crowe Horwath LLP 400 Capitol Mall Suite 1400 Sacramento, CA 95814 916.441.1000 Corporate Counsel Buchalter Nemer A Professional Corporation 1000 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 1500 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.891.0700 Jack W. Conner Chairman of the Board Walter T. Kaczmarek President and Chief Executive Officer To get further information on Heritage Commerce Corp, or to receive regular financial updates, please visit our web site at HeritageCommerceCorp.com and click on “Information Request.” Member FDIC P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 31MAR20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP Notice of 2015 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP April 15, 2015 Dear Shareholder: You are cordially invited to attend the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held at 1:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on Thursday, May 21, 2015, at Heritage Commerce Corp’s offices, located at 150 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California, 95113. The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and proxy statement describe the business that will be conducted at the meeting and provide information about Heritage Commerce Corp. We have also enclosed our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Your continued support is appreciated and we hope you will attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you are personally present, it is very important that your shares be represented at the meeting. Accordingly, please sign, date, and mail the enclosed proxy card promptly. You may also vote electronically over the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on the proxy card. If you attend the meeting and prefer to vote in person, you may do so. Sincerely, P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 19MAR200823211807 Jack W. Conner Chairman of the Board Walter T. Kaczmarek President and Chief Executive Officer 5APR200519390533 150 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California 95113 (cid:1) Telephone (408) 947-6900 (cid:1) Fax (408) 947-6910 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, California 95113 Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders Date and Time: Thursday, May 21, 2015, at 1:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). Place: Company’s offices located at 150 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California 95113. Items of Business: 1. To elect 11 members of the Board of Directors, each for a term of one year; 2. To approve an advisory proposal on the Company’s executive compensation; 3. To ratify the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015; and 4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting, and any adjournment or postponement. Record Date: You can vote if you are a shareholder of record on April 2, 2015. Mailing Date: Important Notice Regarding the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials: The proxy materials are being distributed to our shareholders on or about April 15, 2015, and include our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Notice of Annual Meeting, this proxy statement, and proxy or voting instruction card. The proxy statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.heritagecommercecorp.com. Your Vote is Important. Please vote as promptly as possible by using the Internet or telephone or by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card. By Order of the Board of Directors, 24MAR201019341637 Debbie Reuter Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary April 15, 2015 San Jose, California P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 TABLE OF CONTENTS Questions & Answers Why did you send me this proxy statement? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Who is entitled to vote? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What constitutes a quorum? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How many votes do I have? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Is voting confidential? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How do I vote by proxy? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What do I have to do to vote my shares if they are held in the name of my broker? . . . . . . . . What are the procedures for attending the Annual Meeting? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How do I vote in person? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May I vote electronically over the Internet or by telephone? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What is cumulative voting and how do I cumulate my shares? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May I change my vote after I return my proxy? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What if I receive multiple proxy cards? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What vote is required to approve each proposal? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How will voting on any other business be conducted? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What are the costs of soliciting these proxies? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How do I obtain an Annual Report on Form 10-K? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Code of Ethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reporting of Complaints/Concerns Regarding Accounting or Auditing Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board Leadership Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board Authority for Risk Oversight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Committees of the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Role of Compensation Consultant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Officers of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transactions with Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Policies and Procedures for Approving Related Party Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compensation Discussion and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overview of Compensation Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compensation Program Objectives and Rewards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consideration of Say-On-Pay Vote Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Role of Compensation Committee in Determining Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Role of the Chief Executive Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Role of Compensation Consultants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Market Positioning and Pay Benchmarking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chief Executive Officer Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Base Salary Decisions for the Other Named Executive Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Management Incentive Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity Based Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Retirement Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prohibition on Speculation in Company Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Termination of Employment and Change in Control Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 9 9 13 14 15 15 15 15 16 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 30 32 32 32 i Tax Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accounting Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compensation Committee Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compensation Committee of the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Compensation Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plan Based Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity Compensation Plan Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outstanding Equity Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Option Exercises and Vested Stock Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401(k) Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Employee Stock Ownership Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supplemental Retirement Plan for Executive Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Management Deferral Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change of Control Arrangements and Termination of Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director Outstanding Stock Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director Compensation Benefits Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PROPOSAL 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PROPOSAL 2—ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PROPOSAL 3—RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OTHER BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 33 33 33 33 34 35 37 39 40 41 41 41 42 43 44 48 49 49 51 55 56 60 60 ii P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 PROXY STATEMENT FOR HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING Why did you send me this proxy statement? We sent you this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card because our Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. This proxy statement summarizes the information you need to know to cast an informed vote at the Annual Meeting. However, you do not need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card. You may also vote electronically by telephone or the Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card. Along with this proxy statement, we are also sending you the Heritage Commerce Corp 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which includes our consolidated financial statements. Heritage Commerce Corp is also referred to in this proxy statement as the ‘‘Company.’’ Who is entitled to vote? We will begin sending this proxy statement, the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and the enclosed proxy card on or about April 15, 2015, to all shareholders entitled to vote. Shareholders who were the record owners of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on April 2, 2015, are entitled to vote. On this record date, there were 26,522,739 shares of common stock outstanding. What constitutes a quorum? A majority of the outstanding shares of the common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting must be present, in person or by proxy, in order to constitute a quorum. We can only conduct the business of the Annual Meeting if a quorum has been established. We will include proxies marked as abstentions and broker non-votes in determining the number of shares present at the Annual Meeting. How many votes do I have? Each share of common stock entitles you to one vote in person or by proxy, for each share of common stock outstanding in your name on the books of the Company as of April 2, 2015, the record date for the Annual Meeting on any matter submitted to a vote of the shareholders, except that in connection with the election of directors (Proposal 1), you may cumulate your shares (see ‘‘What is cumulative voting and how do I cumulate my shares?’’ on page 3). The proxy card indicates the number of votes that you have as of the record date. Is voting confidential? We have a confidential voting policy to protect the privacy of our shareholders’ votes. Under this policy, ballots, proxy cards and voting instructions returned to banks, brokers and other nominees are kept confidential. Only the proxy tabulator and the Inspector of Election have access to the ballots, proxy cards and voting instructions. How do I vote by proxy? You may vote by granting a proxy or, for shares held in street name, by submitting voting instructions to your broker or other nominee. If your shares are held by a broker or other nominee, you will receive instructions that you must follow to have your shares voted. If you hold your shares as a shareholder of record, you may vote by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it promptly in the envelope provided. You may also vote electronically by telephone or over the Internet (see page 3). Returning the proxy card will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting and vote. 1 If you properly fill in your proxy card and send it to us in time to vote, your ‘‘proxy’’ (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares as you have directed. If you sign the proxy card but do not make specific choices, your proxy will vote your shares as recommended by the Board of Directors as follows: (cid:127) ‘‘FOR’’ the election of all 11 nominees for director; (cid:127) ‘‘FOR’’ the approval of the advisory proposal on the Company’s executive compensation; and (cid:127) ‘‘FOR’’ the ratification of the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2015. For the election of directors (Proposal 1), a shareholder may withhold authority for the proxy holders to vote for any one or more of the nominees by marking the enclosed proxy card in the manner instructed on the proxy card. Unless authority to vote for the nominees is withheld, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for the election of the nominees listed on the proxy card as directors of the Company. Your proxy does not have an obligation to vote for nominees not identified on the preprinted proxy card (that is, write-in candidates). Should any shareholder attempt to ‘‘write in’’ a vote for a nominee not identified on the preprinted card (and described in these proxy materials), your proxy will NOT vote the shares represented by your proxy card for any such write-in candidate, but will instead vote the shares for any and all other indicated candidates. If any of the nominees should be unable or decline to serve, which is not now anticipated, your proxy will have discretionary authority to vote for a substitute who shall be designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. In the event that additional persons are nominated for election as directors, your proxy intends to vote all of the proxies in such a manner, in accordance with the cumulative voting, as will assure the election of as many of the nominees identified on the proxy card as possible. In such event, the specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the proxy holders, in their sole discretion. What do I have to do to vote my shares if they are held in the name of my broker? If your shares are held by your broker, sometimes called ‘‘street name’’ shares, you must vote your shares through your broker. You should receive a form from your broker asking how you want to vote your shares. Follow the instructions on that form to give voting instructions to your broker. Under the rules that govern brokers who are voting with respect to shares held in street name, brokers have the discretion to vote such shares on routine, but not on non-routine matters. A ‘‘broker non-vote’’ occurs when your broker does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not receive instructions from the beneficial owner and does not have discretionary authority. Proposal 3 (ratification of independent registered public accounting firm) is a routine item. Proposal 1 (election of directors) and Proposal 2 (advisory proposal on executive compensation) are non-routine items on which a broker may vote only if the beneficial owner has provided voting instructions. What are the procedures for attending the Annual Meeting? Only shareholders owning the Company’s common stock at the close of business on April 2, 2015, or their legal proxy holders, are entitled to attend the Annual Meeting. You must present photo identification for admittance. If you are a shareholder of record, your name will be verified against the list of shareholders of record on the Record Date prior to your admission to the Annual Meeting. If you are not a shareholder of record but hold shares through a bank, broker or other nominee, you must provide proof of beneficial ownership on the Record Date, such as your most recent account statement prior to April 2, 2015, or other similar evidence of ownership. If you do not provide photo identification or comply with the other procedures outlined above, you will not be admitted to the Annual Meeting. 2 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 How do I vote in person? If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and desire to vote in person, we will give you a ballot form when you arrive. However, if your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you must bring a power of attorney from your nominee in order to vote at the Annual Meeting. May I vote electronically over the Internet or by telephone? Shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names may vote either over the Internet or by telephone. Special instructions for voting over the Internet or by telephone are set forth on the enclosed proxy card. The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate the shareholder’s identity and to allow shareholders to vote their shares and confirm that their voting instructions have been properly recorded. If your shares are registered in the name of a bank or brokerage firm, you may be eligible to vote your shares electronically by telephone or over the Internet. Most U.S. banks and brokerage firms are clients of Broadridge Financial Solutions (‘‘Broadridge’’). As such, shareholders who receive either a paper copy of their proxy statement or electronic delivery notification have the opportunity to vote by telephone or over the Internet. If your bank or brokerage firm is a Broadridge client, your proxy card or Voting Instruction Form (‘‘VIF’’) will provide the instructions. If your proxy card or VIF does not provide instructions for Internet and telephone voting, please complete and return the proxy card in the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided. What is cumulative voting and how do I cumulate my shares? For the election of directors (Proposal 1), California law provides that a shareholder of a California corporation, or his/her proxy, may cumulate votes in the election of directors. That is, each shareholder may cast that number of votes equal to the number of shares owned by him/her, multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, and he/she may cumulate such votes for a single candidate or distribute such votes among as many candidates as he/she deems appropriate. Certain affirmative steps must be taken by you in order to be entitled to vote your shares cumulatively for the election of directors. At the shareholders’ meeting at which directors are to be elected, no shareholder is entitled to cumulate votes (i.e., cast for any one or more candidates a number of votes greater than the number of the shareholder’s shares) unless the candidates’ names have been placed in nomination at the meeting and prior to the commencement of the voting and at least one shareholder has given notice at the meeting and prior to commencement of the voting of the shareholder’s intention to cumulate votes. If any shareholder has given such notice, then every shareholder entitled to vote may cumulate votes for candidates in nomination and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which that shareholder’s shares are entitled, or distribute the shareholder’s votes on the same principle among any or all of the candidates, as the shareholder thinks appropriate. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, will be elected. The proxies designated on your proxy card do not, at this time, intend to cumulate votes, to the extent they have the shareholder’s discretionary authority to do so, pursuant to the proxies solicited in this proxy statement unless another shareholder gives notice to cumulate, in which case your proxy may cumulate votes in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. Therefore, discretionary authority to cumulate votes in such an event is solicited in this proxy statement. 3 May I change my vote after I return my proxy? If you fill out and return the enclosed proxy card, or vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may change your vote at any time before the vote is conducted at the Annual Meeting. You may change your vote in any one of four ways: (cid:127) You may send to the Company’s Corporate Secretary another completed proxy card with a later date. (cid:127) You may notify the Company’s Corporate Secretary in writing before the Annual Meeting that you have revoked your proxy. (cid:127) You may attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. (cid:127) If you have voted your shares by telephone or over the Internet, you can revoke your prior telephone or Internet vote by recording a different vote, or by signing and returning a proxy card dated as of a date that is later than your last telephone or Internet vote. What if I receive multiple proxy cards? If you receive multiple proxy cards, your shares are probably registered differently or are in more than one account. Vote all proxy cards received to ensure that all your shares are voted. Unless you need multiple accounts for specific purposes, we recommend that you consolidate as many of your accounts as possible under the same name and address. If the shares are registered in your name, contact our transfer agent, Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, 1-800-468-9716; otherwise, contact your bank, broker or other nominee. What vote is required to approve each proposal? Approval of Proposal 1 (election of directors) requires a plurality of votes cast for each nominee. This means that the 11 nominees who receive the most votes will be elected. So, if you do not vote for a particular nominee, or you indicate ‘‘WITHHOLD AUTHORITY’’ to vote for a particular nominee on your proxy card, your vote will not count either ‘‘for’’ or ‘‘against’’ the nominee. Abstentions will not have any effect on the outcome of the vote. You may cumulate your votes in the election of directors as described under ‘‘What is cumulative voting and how do I cumulate my shares?’’ on page 3. Broker non-votes will not count as a vote on the proposal and will not affect the outcome of the vote. Approval of Proposal 2 (advisory proposal on executive compensation) and Proposal 3 (ratification of independent registered public accounting firm) require a vote that satisfies two criteria: (i) the affirmative vote for the proposal must constitute a majority of the common shares present or represented or by proxy and voting on the proposal at the Annual Meeting and (ii) the affirmative vote for the proposal must constitute a majority of the common shares required to constitute the quorum. For purposes of Proposal 2 and Proposal 3, abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the outcome under clause (i), which recognizes only actual votes cast. However, abstentions and broker non-votes will affect the outcome under clause (ii) if the number of affirmative votes, though a majority of the votes represented and cast, does not constitute a majority of the voting power required to constitute a quorum. The ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm for 2015 is a matter on which a broker or other nominee is generally empowered to vote and, therefore, no broker non-votes are expected to exist with respect to Proposal 2. How will voting on any other business be conducted? Your proxy card confers discretionary authority to your proxy to vote your shares on the matters which may properly be presented for action at the Annual Meeting, and may include action with respect to procedural matters pertaining to the conduct of the Annual Meeting. 4 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 What are the costs of soliciting these proxies? We will pay all the costs of soliciting these proxies. In addition to mailing proxy soliciting material, our directors, officers and employees also may solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other electronic means of communication for which they will receive no compensation. We will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries to forward the proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authority to execute proxies. We will then reimburse them for their reasonable expenses. We have hired Advantage Proxy to seek the proxies of custodians, such as brokers, which hold shares which belong to other people. This service will cost the Company approximately $4,000 plus expenses. How do I obtain an Annual Report on Form 10-K? A copy of our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K accompanies this proxy statement. If you would like another copy of this report, we will send you one without charge. The Annual Report on Form 10-K includes a list of exhibits filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’), but does not include the exhibits. If you wish to receive copies of the exhibits, we will send them to you; however, expenses for copying and mailing them to you will be your responsibility. Please write to: Heritage Commerce Corp 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, California 95113 Attention: Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary You can also find out more information about us at our website www.heritagecommercecorp.com. Our website is available for information purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment purposes, nor is it incorporated by reference into this proxy statement. On our website you can access electronically filed copies of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 filings, and amendments to those reports and filings, free of charge. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding SEC registrants, including the Company. 5 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK The following table sets forth information as of February 28, 2015, pertaining to beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock by persons known to the Company to own five percent or more of the Company’s common stock, nominees to be elected to the Board of Directors, the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table presented in this proxy statement, and all directors and executive officers of the Company, as a group. This information has been obtained from the Company’s records, or from information furnished directly by the individual or entity to the Company. For purposes of the following table, shares issuable pursuant to stock options which may be exercised within 60 days of February 28, 2015, are deemed to be issued and outstanding and have been treated as outstanding in determining the amount and nature of beneficial ownership and in calculating the percentage of ownership of those individuals possessing such interest, but not for any other individuals. Name of Beneficial Owner(1) Position Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President/ Banking Division Frank G. Bisceglia . . . . . . . . . . . . Director Jack W. Conner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director and Chairman of the John M. Eggemeyer . . . . . . . . . . . Director Steven L. Hallgrimson . . . . . . . . . Director Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . . Chief Executive Officer, Board Shares Beneficially Owned(2)(3) Exercisable Percent of Class(3) Options 57,756(4)(19) 132,547(5) 41,343 28,310 107,174(6) 1,293,780(7) 116,791(8) 34,677 9,780 5,991 0.22% 0.50% 0.40% 4.88% 0.44% President and Director 158,189(9)(19) 49,375 0.60% Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President and Robert T. Moles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director Humphrey P. Polanen . . . . . . . . . . Director David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Chief Credit Officer Laura Roden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director Charles J. Toeniskoetter . . . . . . . . Director Ranson W. Webster . . . . . . . . . . . Director Keith A. Wilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer W. Kirk Wycoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director All directors, and executive officers (15 individuals) . . . . . . . The Banc Funds Company, LLC . . . . . Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. Wellington Management Company, LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,320(10)(19) 44,561 27,810 24,792 118,114(11) 34,798(12) 38,434(19) 15,991 40,710(13) 630,888 8,434 5,991 28,310 28,310 65,000(14)(19) 2,604,780(15) — 9,780 5,498,272 1,568,091(16) 2,595,000(17) 1,633,076(18) 0.31% 0.45% 0.13% 0.14% 0.06% 0.15% 2.38% 0.25% 9.82% 20.47% 5.91% 9.79% 6.16% 1. Except as otherwise noted, the address for all persons is c/o Heritage Commerce Corp, 150 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California, 95113. 2. 3. Subject to applicable community property laws and shared voting and investment power with a spouse, the persons listed have sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares unless otherwise noted. Listed amounts reflect all previous stock splits and stock dividends. Includes shares beneficially owned (including options exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2015, as shown in the ‘‘Exercisable Options’’ column). 4. Includes 540 shares held by his spouse in her Individual Retirement Account. 6 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 5. 6. 7. Includes 93,237 shares as one of two trustees of the Bisceglia Family Trust, and 11,000 shares held by Mr. Bisceglia in a personal Individual Retirement Account. Includes 300 shares held in a trust account, and 6,700 shares held by Mr. Conner’s spouse. Includes 1,284,000 shares of common stock held by Castle Creek Capital Partners IV LLC (‘‘CC Fund IV’’). CC Fund IV also owns 12,960 shares of Series C Preferred Stock which are convertible into 3,456,000 shares of common stock by a holder (other than CC Fund IV and its affiliates) who receives such shares by means of (i) a widespread public distribution, (ii) a transfer in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) would receive 2% or more of any class of voting securities of the Company or (iii) a transfer to a transferee that would control more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company without any transfer from such transferor or its affiliates (a ‘‘Widely Dispersed Offering’’). Since CC Fund IV does not have the right to acquire the shares of common stock underlying the Series C Preferred Stock and will not have voting or dispositive power of such shares of common stock, the shares of common stock underlying the Series C Preferred Stock are not included in the table. Mr. Eggemeyer is a managing principal of Castle Creek Capital IV LLC which is the sole general partner of CC Fund IV and may be deemed to have voting and/or investment control of the securities held by CC Fund IV. Mr. Eggemeyer disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by CC Fund IV, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. 8. Includes 71,700 shares held directly, 3,500 shares held in a SEP IRA account, 2,000 shares held in a personal IRA account and 4,000 shares held in Mr. Hallgrimson’s private foundation. Also includes 3,000 shares held by Mr. Hallgrimson’s spouse, 7,000 shares in a limited liability company with his son, 3,300 shares that Mr. Hallgrimson holds as trustee of various trusts and 16,300 shares held in accounts of others over which Mr. Hallgrimson has voting and investment power. 9. Includes 41,000 shares held in a personal Individual Retirement Account. 10. Includes 4,980 shares held by Mr. McGovern in a personal Individual Retirement Account. 11. Includes 18,295 shares held by Mr. Moles’ spouse. 12. Includes 4,865 shares held by Mr. Polanen in a personal Individual Retirement Account and 1,623 shares held by his spouse. 13. Includes 150 shares held by Mr. Toeniskoetter’s spouse, and 11,000 shares held by the Toeniskoetter & Breeding, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan. 14. Includes 61,250 shares of restricted stock that have not vested and of which Mr. Wilton has the right to vote. 15. Mr. Wycoff is one of the general partners of Patriot Financial Partners GP, L.P. (‘‘Patriot GP’’). Patriot GP is the general partner of Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. and Patriot Financial Partners Parallel, L.P. (together, the ‘‘Funds’’). Patriot Financial Partners GP, LLC (‘‘Patriot LLC’’) is the general partner of Patriot GP. Mr. Wycoff is a member of Patriot LLC. Accordingly, securities owned by the Funds may be regarded as being beneficially owned by Mr. Wycoff. Mr. Wycoff disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities owned by the Funds, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. 16. Includes 345,634 shares held by Banc Fund VI L.P. (‘‘BF VI’’), 489,933 shares held by Banc Fund VII L.P. (‘‘BF VII’’) and 732,524 shares held by Banc Fund VIII L.P. (‘‘BF VIII’’). BF VI, BF VII and BF VIII are each Illinois limited partnerships. MidBanc VI L.P. is the general partner of BF VI. MidBanc VII is the general partner of BF VII. MidBanc VIII is the general partner of BF VIII. Each of the general partners are Illinois limited partnerships and the general partner for each of these entities is The Banc Funds Company, L.L.C., an Illinois corporation whose principal shareholder is Charles J. Moore. Mr. Moore as sole shareholder of the Banc Funds Company and as the manager of BF VI, BF VII and BF VIII has voting and dispositive power over the shares held by each of these entities. The address for The Banc Funds Company is 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3300, Chicago, Illinois 60606. All of the foregoing information has been obtained by Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2015. 7 17. Includes 2,213,000 shares of common stock held by Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. and 382,000 shares of common stock held by Patriot Financial Partners Parallel, L.P. Patriot Financial Partners GP, L.P. (‘‘Patriot GP’’) is a general partner of each Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. and Patriot Financial Partners Parallel, L.P. (together, the ‘‘Funds’’) and Patriot Financial Partners GP, LLC (‘‘Patriot LLC’’) is a general partner of Patriot GP. In addition, each of W. Kirk Wycoff, Ira M. Lubert and James J. Lynch are general partners of the Funds and Patriot GP and members of Patriot LLC. Accordingly, securities owned by the Funds may be regarded as being beneficially owned by Patriot GP, Patriot LLC and each of W. Kirk Wycoff, Ira M. Lubert and James J. Lynch. Mr. Wycoff, Mr. Lubert and Mr. Lynch each disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities owned by the Funds, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interest therein. The Funds also own 8,043 shares of Series C Preferred Stock which is convertible into 2,145,000 shares of common stock following transfer to third parties in a Widely Dispersed Offering. Since the Funds do not have the right to acquire these shares of common stock underlying the Series C Preferred Stock and will not have voting or dispositive power of such shares of common stock, the shares of common stock underlying the Series C Preferred Stock are not included in the table. The address for Patriot Financial Group is Cira Centre, 2929 Arch Street, 27th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2868. All of the foregoing information has been obtained from Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on June 25, 2010. 18. Wellington Management Company, LLP (‘‘Wellington Management’’) is an investment adviser and may be deemed to beneficially own 1,633,076 shares of the Company which are held of record by clients of Wellington Management. The address for Wellington Management is 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. All the foregoing information has been obtained by Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 12, 2015. 19. The Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan owns 125,713 shares of our common stock, all of which have been allocated. These include shares held for the account of the following named executive officers and included in the table for: Mr. Kaczmarek 1,814 shares, Mr. McGovern 5,259 shares, Mr. Benito 2,182 shares, and zero shares for Mr. Porter and Mr. Wilton. Mr. Kaczmarek and Mr. McGovern are two of the three trustees of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan. As trustees, they have the power to vote any unallocated shares of Employee Stock Ownership Plan (currently no shares are unallocated) and allocated shares for which voting instructions are not otherwise provided. 8 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS The Board of Directors is committed to good business practices, transparency in financial reporting and the highest level of corporate governance. To that end, the Board continually reviews its governance policies and practices, as well as the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market, to help ensure that such policies and practices are compliant and up to date. Board of Directors Board Independence Ten (10) out of eleven (11) members of the Board of Directors are independent directors, as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market, as follows: P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 Frank G. Bisceglia Jack W. Conner, Chairman of the Board John M. Eggemeyer Steven L. Hallgrimson Robert T. Moles Humphrey P. Polanen Laura Roden Charles J. Toeniskoetter Ranson W. Webster W. Kirk Wycoff Board and Committee Meeting Attendance During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, our Board of Directors held a total of 15 meetings. Each incumbent director who was a director during 2014 attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (a) the total number of such meetings and (b) the total number of meetings held by the standing committees of the Board on which such director served. Director Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders The Board believes it is important for all directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in order to show their support for the Company and to provide an opportunity for shareholders to communicate any concerns to them. The Company’s policy is to encourage, but not require, attendance by each director at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All of the directors attended the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Communications with the Board Shareholders may communicate with the Board of Directors, including a committee of the Board or individual directors, by writing to the Corporate Secretary, Heritage Commerce Corp, 150 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California 95113. Each communication from a shareholder should include the following information in order to permit shareholder status to be confirmed and to provide an address to forward a response if deemed appropriate: (cid:127) The name, mailing address and telephone number of the shareholder sending the communication; and (cid:127) If the shareholder is not a record holder of our common stock, the name of the record holder of our common stock beneficially owned must be identified along with the shareholder. 9 Our Corporate Secretary will forward all appropriate communications to the Board or individual members of the Board specified in the communication. Our Corporate Secretary may (but is not required to) review all correspondence addressed to the Board or any individual member of the Board, for any inappropriate correspondence more suitably directed to management. Communications may be deemed inappropriate for this purpose if it is reasonably apparent from the face of the correspondence that it relates principally to a customer dispute. Our policies regarding the handling of security holder communications were approved by a majority of our independent directors. Nomination of Directors The Company has a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The duties of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee include the recommendation of candidates for election to the Company’s Board of Directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s minimum qualifications for a director are persons of high ethical character who have both personal and professional integrity, which is consistent with the image and values of the Company. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers some or all of the following criteria in considering candidates to serve as directors: (cid:127) commitment to ethical conduct and personal and professional integrity as evidenced through the person’s business associations, diversity, service as a director or executive officer or other commitment to ethical conduct and personal and professional integrity as evidenced in organizations and/or education; (cid:127) objective perspective and mature judgment developed through business experiences and/or educational endeavors; (cid:127) the candidate’s ability to work with other members of the Board of Directors and management to further our goals and increase shareholder value; (cid:127) the ability and commitment to devote sufficient time to carry out the duties and responsibilities as a director; (cid:127) demonstrated experience at policy making levels in various organizations and in areas that are relevant to our activities; (cid:127) the skills and experience of the potential nominee in relation to the capabilities already present on the Board of Directors; and (cid:127) such other attributes, including independence, relevant in constituting a board that also satisfies the requirements imposed by the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee does not have a separate policy for consideration of any director candidates recommended by shareholders. Instead, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers any candidate meeting the requirements for nomination by a shareholder set forth in the Company’s Bylaws (as well as applicable laws and regulations) in the same manner as any other director candidate. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believes that requiring shareholder recommendations for director candidates to comply with the requirements for nominations in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws ensures that the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee receives at least the minimum information necessary for it to begin an appropriate evaluation of any such director nominee. Section 5.14 of the Company’s Bylaws provide that any shareholder must give advance written notice to the Company of an intention to nominate a director at a shareholder meeting. Notice of intention to make any nominations must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of 10 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. If the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date of the annual meeting, notice by the shareholder must be delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company. To be in proper written form, a shareholder’s notice to the Corporate Secretary must provide as to each person, whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (each referred to as the ‘‘Nominee’’) (1) all information relating to the Nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’); (2) the Nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (3) the number of shares of capital stock of any bank, bank holding company, savings and loan association or other depository institution owned beneficially by the Nominee and the identities and locations of any such institutions; (4) whether the Nominee has ever been convicted of or pleaded nolo contender to any criminal offensive involving dishonestly or breach of trust, filed a petition in bankruptcy or been adjudged bankrupt; (5) a written statement executed by the Nominee acknowledging that as a director of the Company, the Nominee will owe a fiduciary duty exclusively to the Company and its shareholders; (6) a representation whether the Nominee satisfies the requirements of Section 2.2(b) of the Company’s Bylaws (see below); (7) whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of the Nominee respect to any securities of the Company, and a description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of the Nominee; and (8) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and the Nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by the shareholder. The notice must also set forth with respect to the shareholder submitting the nomination (1) the name and address of the shareholder (and beneficial owner, if applicable), as it appears on the Company’s books, (and of such beneficial owner, if applicable) and any other shareholders and beneficial owners known by such shareholder to be supporting the Nominee(s) for election; (2) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder (and by such beneficial owner, if applicable); (3) any derivative positions with respect to shares of capital stock of the Company held or beneficially held by or on behalf of such shareholder (and by or on behalf of such beneficial owner), the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into with respect to the shares of capital stock of the Company by or on behalf of such shareholder (and by or on behalf of such beneficial owner), and the extent to which any other agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power of such shareholder (and such beneficial owner) with respect to shares of capital stock of the Company; (4) a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose the Nominee; and (5) a representation whether the shareholder (or the beneficial owner, if any), intends or is part of a group that intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the nominee or otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of such nomination (and a copy of such documents must be provided with the notice). The information required of clauses (3) and (4) must be supplemented not later than ten days following the record date to disclose the information contained in clauses (3) and (4) above as of the record date. 11 The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine (1) the eligibility of the Nominee to serve as a director of the Company (including the information required to be set forth in the shareholder’s notice of nomination of such person as a director as of a date subsequent to the date on which the notice of such person’s nomination was given); and (2) whether the Nominee qualifies as an ‘‘independent director’’ or ‘‘audit committee financial expert’’ under applicable law, securities exchange rule or regulation, or any publicly-disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the Company. Nominees for the Board of Directors must also meet certain qualifications set forth in Section 2.2(b) of our Bylaws, which prohibit the election as a director of any person who is a director, executive officer, branch manager or trustee for any unaffiliated commercial bank, savings bank, trust company, savings and loan association, building and loan association, industrial bank or credit union that is engaged in business in (1) any city, town or village in which the Company or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof has offices; or (2) any city, town or village adjacent to a city, town or village in which the Company or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof has offices. In connection with the Company’s June 2010 private placement, Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. and Patriot Financial Partners Parallel, L.P. (collectively referred to herein as ‘‘Patriot’’) and Castle Creek Capital Partners IV, L.P. (‘‘Castle Creek’’) obtained the right to representation on our Board of Directors (one for Patriot, collectively, and one for Castle Creek). Patriot and Castle Creek are each entitled to nominate one person to be elected or appointed to our Board (and the Board of Directors of Heritage Bank of Commerce) subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, satisfaction of all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company and Heritage Bank of Commerce and the reasonable approval of the Governance and Nominating Committee of our Board. So long as each of Patriot and Castle Creek (along with their affiliate funds) holds at least 4.9% of all outstanding shares of our common stock (counting for such purposes all shares of common stock into which shares of Series C Preferred Stock convertible or exercisable and excluding as shares owned and outstanding shares of common stock issued by the Company after June 2010), the Company will be required to recommend to its shareholders the election of Patriot’s and Castle Creek’s Board representative at the Company’s Annual Meeting, subject to satisfaction of all legal and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company and to the reasonable approval of the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board. Each of the Board representatives may serve on any of the Board committees, except the Audit Committee, so long as the Board representative qualifies to serve on such committees under applicable rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market, bank regulatory guidelines, and the Company’s corporate governance guidelines. For so long as Castle Creek and Patriot are entitled to a Board representative but do not have a Board representative serving on the Board, these investors will be entitled to designate one Board observer subject to applicable legal requirements. The rights to a Board representative and Board observer privileges are personal to Patriot and Castle Creek, respectively, and such rights are not transferable. The Patriot Board representative is W. Kirk Wycoff and the Castle Creek Board representative is John M. Eggemeyer. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has recommended the election of Mr. Wycoff and Mr. Eggemeyer as directors at the 2015 Annual Meeting. Diversity of the Board of Directors In considering diversity of the Board (in all aspects of that term) as a criteria for selecting nominees in accordance with its charter, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee takes into account various factors and perspectives, including differences of viewpoint, high quality business and professional experience, education, skills and other individual qualities and attributes that contribute to Board heterogeneity, as well as race, gender and national origin. The Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria and no particular criterion is necessarily applicable to all prospective nominees. The Committee seeks persons with leadership experience in a variety of contexts and industries. The Committee believes that this expansive conceptualization of diversity is the most effective means to 12 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 implement Board diversity. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will assess the effectiveness of this approach as part of its annual review of its charter. Term of Office Directors serve for a one-year term or until their successors are elected. The Board does not have term limits, instead preferring to rely upon the evaluation procedures described herein as the primary methods of ensuring that each director continues to act in a manner consistent with the best interests of the shareholders and the Company. Board Committees The Board may delegate portions of its responsibilities to committees of its members. These standing committees of the Board meet at regular intervals to attend to their particular areas of responsibility. Our Board has five standing committees: Audit Committee, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, Compensation Committee, Finance and Investment Committee, and Strategic Issues Committee. In addition, Heritage Bank of Commerce maintains a Loan Committee. An independent director, as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market, chairs the Board and its other standing committees (including the bank’s Loan Committee). The Chair determines the agenda, the frequency and the length of the meetings and receives input from Board members. Executive Sessions Independent directors meet in executive sessions throughout the year including meeting annually to consider and act upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee regarding the compensation and performance of the Chief Executive Officer. Evaluation of Board Performance A Board assessment and director self-evaluations are conducted annually in accordance with an established evaluation process and includes performance of committees. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees this process and reviews the assessment and self-evaluation with the full Board. Management Performance and Compensation The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the Chief Executive Officer’s evaluation of the top management team on an annual basis. The Board (largely through the Compensation Committee) evaluates the compensation plans for senior management and other employees to ensure they are appropriate, competitive and properly reflect the Company’s objectives and performance. Director Stock Ownership Guidelines The Board has adopted a policy that each member of the Board is expected to hold, at a minimum, 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. Any director not meeting the minimum level as of the effective date of their election to the Board has three years to bring his or her holdings up to this minimum level. Code of Ethics The Board expects all directors, as well as officers and employees, to display the highest standard of ethics, consistent with the principles that have guided the Company over the years. The Board has adopted an Executive and Principal Financial Officer’s Code of Ethics that applies to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the senior financial officers of the Company to 13 help ensure that the financial affairs of the Company are conducted honestly, ethically, accurately, objectively, consistent with generally accepted accounting principles and in compliance with all applicable governmental law, rules and regulations. We will disclose any amendment to, or a waiver from a provision of our Code of Ethics on our website. The Executive and Principal Financial Officer’s Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.heritagecommercecorp.com. Reporting of Complaints/Concerns Regarding Accounting or Auditing Matters The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted procedures for receiving and responding to complaints or concerns regarding accounting and auditing matters. These procedures were designed to provide a channel of communication for employees and others who have complaints or concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters involving the Company. Employee concerns may be communicated in a confidential or anonymous manner to the Audit Committee of the Board. The Audit Committee Chairman will make a determination on the level of inquiry, investigation or disposal of the complaint. All complaints are discussed with the Company’s senior management and monitored by the Audit Committee for handling, investigation and final disposition. The Chairman of the Audit Committee will report the status and disposition of all complaints to the Board of Directors. 14 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The Board of Directors The Board of Directors oversees our business and monitors the performance of management. In accordance with corporate governance principles, the Board does not involve itself in day-to-day operations. The directors keep themselves informed through, among other things, discussions with the Chief Executive Officer, other key executives and our principal outside advisors (legal counsel, outside auditors, and other consultants), by reading reports and other materials that we send them and by participating in Board and committee meetings. The Company’s Bylaws currently permit the number of Board members to range from 9 to 15, leaving the Board authority to fix the exact number of directors within that range. The Board has currently fixed the number of directors at 11. Board Leadership Structure The Board of Directors is committed to maintaining an independent Board, and a majority of the Board has been comprised of independent directors. It has further for many years been the practice of the Company to separate the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board in recognition of the differences between the two roles. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Company and the day-to-day leadership and performance of the Company. The Chairman of the Board provides guidance to the Chief Executive Officer, sets the agenda for Board meetings, presides over meetings of the full Board (including executive sessions), and facilitates communication among the independent directors and between the independent directors and the Chief Executive Officer. The Board further believes that the separation of the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board eliminates any inherent conflict of interest that may arise when the roles are combined, and that an independent director who has not served as an executive of the Company can best provide the necessary leadership and objectivity required as Chairman of the Board. Board Authority for Risk Oversight The Board has active involvement and responsibility for overseeing risk management of the Company arising out of its operations and business strategy. The Board monitors, reviews and reacts to material enterprise risks identified by management. The Board receives specific oral and written reports from officers with oversight responsibility for particular risks within the Company. Reports cover executive management on financial, credit, liquidity, interest rate, capital, operational, legal and regulatory compliance and reputation risks and the Company’s degree of exposure to those risks. The Board helps ensure that management is properly focused on risk by, among other things, reviewing and discussing the performance of senior management and business line leaders. Board committees also have responsibility for risk oversight in specific areas. The Audit Committee oversees financial, accounting and internal control risk management policies. The Company’s internal Risk Management Steering Committee reports directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the Company’s overall risk program. The Audit Committee receives quarterly reports from the Risk Management Steering Committee and the Company’s internal audit department. The Audit Committee reports periodically to the Board on the effectiveness of risk management processes in place, risk trends, and the overall risk assessment of the Company’s activities. The Compensation Committee assesses and monitors risks in the Company’s compensation program. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommends director candidates with appropriate experience and skills who will set the proper tone for the Company’s risk profile and provide competent oversight over our material risks. 15 The Committees of the Board The Board may delegate portions of its responsibilities to committees of its members. These standing committees of the Board meet at regular intervals to attend to their particular areas of responsibility. Our Board has five standing committees: the Audit Committee, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, Compensation Committee, Finance and Investment Committee, and Strategic Issues Committee. Heritage Bank of Commerce also maintains a Loan Committee. Audit Committee. The Company has a separately designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit Committee charter adopted by the Board sets out the responsibilities, authority and specific duties of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.heritagecommercecorp.com. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include the following: (cid:127) oversight of our financial, accounting and reporting process, our system of internal accounting and financial controls, and our compliance with related legal and regulatory requirements; (cid:127) the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent auditors, including conducting a review of their independence, reviewing and approving the planned scope of our annual audit, overseeing the independent auditors’ work, and reviewing and pre-approving any audit and non-audit services that may be performed by them; (cid:127) review with management and our independent auditors the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting; (cid:127) approve the scope and engagement of external audit services and review significant accounting policies and adjustments recommended by the independent auditors and address any significant, unresolved disagreements between the independent auditors and management; (cid:127) review and discuss the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors prior to publishing the annual report and filing the Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC; (cid:127) review and discuss with management and the independent auditors any significant changes, significant deficiencies and material weaknesses regarding internal controls over financial reporting required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and oversee the corrective action taken to mitigate any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses identified; (cid:127) review with management and the independent auditors the effect of significant regulatory and accounting initiatives, changes, and pronouncements as well as significant and unique transactions and financial relationships; (cid:127) review with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standards No. 16, and receive and discuss with the independent auditors disclosures regarding the auditors’ independence; (cid:127) oversee the internal audit function and the audits directed under its auspices;. (cid:127) establish policies to ensure all non-audit services provided by the independent auditors are approved prior to work being performed; and (cid:127) oversee and report to the full Board on the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management processes and overall risk assessment of the Company’s activities. Each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence criteria as defined by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC for audit committee membership and is independent and is ‘‘financially 16 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 sophisticated’’ as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market. The members of the Audit Committee are Steven L. Hallgrimson, Humphrey P. Polanen (Committee Chair) and Laura Roden. The Audit Committee met 12 times during 2014. During 2014, the Board of Directors determined that Mr. Steven L. Hallgrimson has: (i) an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements; (ii) an ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves; (iii) an experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by our financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities; (iv) an understanding of internal control over financial reporting; and (v) an understanding of audit committee functions. Therefore, in 2014 the Board determined that Mr. Hallgrimson meets the definition of ‘‘audit committee financial expert’’ under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and is ‘‘financially sophisticated’’ as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market. The designation of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not result in the person being deemed an expert for any purpose, including under Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933. The designation does not impose on the person any duties, obligations or liability greater than those imposed on any other audit committee member or any other director and does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or Board of Directors. The Audit Committee Report for 2014 appears on page 56 of this proxy statement. Compensation Committee. The Company has a separately designated Compensation Committee, which consists entirely of independent directors as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market. The Compensation Committee has adopted a charter, which is available on the Company’s website at www.heritagecommercecorp.com. The Compensation Committee has the following responsibilities: (cid:127) review and approve our compensation philosophy; (cid:127) review industry compensation practices and our relative compensation positioning; (cid:127) review the incentive compensation programs by the Company to evaluate and ensure that none of them encourage excessive risk; (cid:127) retain compensation consultants to provide independent professional advice; (cid:127) approve compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; (cid:127) review and approve the Compensation Discussion and Analysis appearing in our proxy statement; (cid:127) review director compensation programs, plans and awards; (cid:127) administer our short-term and long-term executive incentive plans and stock or stock-based plans; and (cid:127) review and approve general employee welfare benefit plans and other plans on an as needed basis. The members of the Compensation Committee are Frank G. Bisceglia, Robert T. Moles (Committee Chair), Ranson W. Webster, and W. Kirk Wycoff. The Committee met 9 times in 2014. Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Company has a separately designated Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which consists of entirely independent directors as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee have adopted a charter, which is available on the Company’s website at www.heritagecommercecorp.com. 17 The purposes of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee include the following responsibilities: (cid:127) identifying individuals qualified to become Board members and making recommendations to the full Board of candidates for election to the Board; (cid:127) recommending to the Board corporate governance guidelines; (cid:127) leading the Board in an annual review of its performance; and (cid:127) recommending director appointments to Board committees. The members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are Robert T. Moles, Humphrey P. Polanen, Charles J. Toeniskoetter, and Ranson W. Webster (Committee Chair). The Committee met 5 times in 2014. Finance and Investment Committee. The Finance and Investment Committee is responsible for the development of policies and procedures related to liquidity and asset-liability management, supervision of the Company’s investments and preparation of the Company’s annual budget. The members of the Finance and Investment Committee are Frank G. Bisceglia, Jack W. Conner (Committee Chair), John M. Eggemeyer, Walter T. Kaczmarek, Laura Roden, and W. Kirk Wycoff. The Finance and Investment Committee met 8 times during 2014. Strategic Issues Committee. The principal duties of the Strategic Issues Committee are to provide oversight and guidance to senior management regarding the strategic direction of the Company, including development of an overall strategic business plan. The members of the Strategic Issues Committee are Jack W. Conner, John M. Eggemeyer, Walter T. Kaczmarek, Laura Roden, Charles J. Toeniskoetter (Committee Chair), and Ranson W. Webster. The Strategic Issues Committee met 4 times during 2014. Heritage Bank of Commerce Loan Committee. The Heritage Bank of Commerce Loan Committee is responsible for the approval and supervision of loans and the development of the Company’s loan policies and procedures. The members of the Loan Committee are Frank G. Bisceglia (Committee Chair), Steven L. Hallgrimson, Walter T. Kaczmarek, Robert T. Moles, and Charles J. Toeniskoetter. The Loan Committee met 45 times during 2014. Role of Compensation Consultant The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors retained McLagan, an Aon Hewitt Company (‘‘McLagan’’) as its independent compensation consultant in the first quarter of 2015. The Compensation Committee has the authority to obtain assistance and advice from advisors to assist it with the evaluation of compensation matters without the approval or permission of management or the Board. The Compensation Committee uses advisors to obtain candid and direct advice independent of management, and takes steps to satisfy this objective. First, in evaluating firms to potentially provided advisory services to the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee considers if the firm provides any other services to the Company. In addition, while members of management may assist the Compensation Committee in the search for advisors, the Compensation Committee ultimately and in its sole discretion makes the decision to hire or engage a consultant and provides direction as to the scope of work to be conducted. The Chairman of the Compensation Committee has evaluated the relationship of the compensation consultant with both the Company and the Compensation Committee, including the nature and amount of work performed for the Compensation Committee during the year. The Compensation Committee retained McLagan, to: (cid:127) review existing compensation programs for executive officers; 18 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 (cid:127) provide information based on third-party data and analysis of compensation programs at comparable financial institutions for the design and implementation of our executive compensation programs; (cid:127) assist the Compensation Committee in forming a peer group; and (cid:127) provide independent information as to the reasonableness and appropriateness of the compensation levels and compensation programs of the Company as compared to comparable financial services companies. Executive Officers of the Company Set forth below is certain information with respect to the executive officers of the Company: Name Position Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President/Banking Division Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . . . . . President and Chief Executive Officer Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer Keith A. Wilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Michael E. Benito, age 54, was promoted to Executive Vice President/Banking Division in January 2012. Mr. Benito joined Heritage Bank of Commerce in 2003 as Senior Vice President/Director of Sales & Business Development. From 1998 through 2003, Mr. Benito served as a Managing Director for Greater Bay Bank and from December 1986 through 1998, he served as Regional Vice President with Imperial Bancorp. Mr. Benito began his banking career more than 29 years ago at Union Bank. Biographical information for Walter T. Kaczmarek is found under ‘‘Proposal 1—Election of Directors.’’ Lawrence D. McGovern, age 60, has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since July, 1998. David E. Porter, age 65, joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer in June 2012. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Porter was with Pacific Capital Bancorp from August 2003 through May 2012, where his last position was Executive Vice President/ Regional Credit Manager (following the company’s recapitalization in August 2010), after serving four years as Chief Credit Officer. Prior to joining Pacific Capital Bancorp, Mr. Porter had over 30 years of prior banking experience holding positions of increasing responsibility primarily with community banks. Keith A. Wilton, age 57, joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in February 2014. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Wilton was an Executive Vice President with Pacific Capital Bancorp from 2010. Mr. Wilton was a consultant from 2008 to 2010 for several private equity firms assisting with investment and acquisition opportunities in the financial industry. He was with Greater Bay Bancorp holding positions of Executive Vice President and President of the Specialty Finance Group from 2002 to 2007. Mr. Wilton has over 30 years’ experience with bank and finance companies. Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s directors, executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and other equity securities. They are required by SEC rules and regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. 19 To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our executive officers and directors were complied with during the year ended December 31, 2014, except for Steven L. Hallgrimson who inadvertently did not file a Form 4 for the sale of 1,000 shares sold from a discretionary trading account. The transaction was reported on a Form 5 filed on February 12, 2015. Transactions with Management Some of the Company’s directors and executive officers, as well as other related persons (as defined under ‘‘Policies and Procedures for Approving Related Party Transactions’’ below), are customers of, and have banking transactions with, the Company’s subsidiary, Heritage Bank of Commerce, in the ordinary course of business, and Heritage Bank of Commerce expects to have such ordinary banking transactions with these persons in the future. In the opinion of the management of the Company and Heritage Bank of Commerce, all loans and commitments to lend included in such transactions were made in the ordinary course of business, on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing for comparable transactions with other persons of similar creditworthiness, and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. Loans to individual directors, officers and related persons must comply with Heritage Bank of Commerce’s lending policies and statutory lending limits. In addition, prior approval of Heritage Bank of Commerce’s Board of Directors is required for all loans advanced to directors and executive officers. These loans are exempt from the loan prohibitions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Policies and Procedures for Approving Related Party Transactions The Board of Directors has adopted a written Statement of Policy with Respect to Related Party Transactions. Under this policy, any ‘‘related party transaction’’ may be consummated or may continue only if the Audit Committee approves or ratifies the transaction in accordance with the guidelines in the policy and if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party. For purposes of this policy, a ‘‘related person’’ means: (i) any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year was, a director or executive officer of the Company or a nominee to become a director of the Company; (ii) any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company’s voting securities; (iii) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of the director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner; and (iv) any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a partner, principal or in a similar position, or in which such person has a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest. A ‘‘related party transaction’’ is a transaction between the Company and any related person (including any transaction requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). The Board of Directors has determined that the Audit Committee is best suited to review and approve related party transactions. The Committee considers all of the relevant facts and circumstances available to the Committee, including (if applicable) but not limited to: the benefits to the Company; the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, an immediate family member of a director or an entity in which a director is a partner, shareholder or executive officer; the availability of other sources for comparable products or services; the terms of the transaction; and the terms available to unrelated third parties or to employees generally. No member of the Audit Committee may participate in any review, consideration or approval of any related person transaction with respect to which such member 20 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 or any of his or her immediate family members is the related person. The Committee will approve only those related person transactions that are in, or are not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, as the Committee determines in good faith. The Audit Committee conveys its decision to the Chief Executive Officer, who conveys the decision to the appropriate persons within the Company. During 2014, the Company did not enter into any related party transactions that require review, approval or ratification under our related party transaction policy. Compensation Discussion and Analysis This Compensation Discussion and Analysis identifies the Company’s current compensation philosophy and objectives and describes the various methodologies, policies and practices for establishing and administering the compensation programs for our executives including the named executive officers. The strategies and policies of the Compensation Committee have been developed so that there is a direct correlation between executive compensation and the Company’s overall performance and individual performance. The individuals who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during 2014, as well as, the other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table, are referred to as the ‘‘named executive officers.’’ Overview of Compensation Philosophy The Compensation Committee believes executive compensation packages provided by the Company to its executives, including the named executive officers, should include base salary, variable performance based cash awards and equity based compensation in order to achieve three primary goals. The Compensation Committee believes that the first goal of our compensation program is that a reasonable percentage of executive compensation program should be linked to the financial performance of the Company. The Compensation Committee believes that a properly structured compensation program will focus on performance to motivate and support individuals to achieve specific short-term and long-term objectives while taking into consideration potential risk implications. We achieve this goal by providing our named executive officers the opportunity to significantly increase their annual cash compensation through our variable performance based cash award incentive program by improving the Company’s performance in key financial metrics on an annual basis. We also expect that as those improvements are maintained and built upon, the Company’s stock price will reflect these improvements. The second goal of our compensation program is to align the interests of our executive officers with the interests of our shareholders. We use equity awards (stock options and/or restricted stock) to reward the long-term efforts of management and to retain management. These equity awards serve to increase the ownership stake of our management in the Company, further aligning the interests of the executives with those of our shareholders. The third goal of our compensation program is to attract and retain highly competent executives. Our executives, and particularly our named executive officers, are talented managers and they are often presented with opportunities at other institutions, including opportunities at potentially higher compensation levels. We seek to attract and retain our executives by setting base compensation and incentives at competitive levels and awarding equity based awards. We also consider other forms of executive pay, including our supplemental executive retirement plan and severance arrangements (including change of control provisions) as a means to attract and retain our executive officers including the named executive officers. 21 Compensation Program Objectives and Rewards The components of Company’s compensation and benefits programs are driven by our business environment and are designed to enable us to achieve the goals of our compensation program within a framework that adheres to the Company’s mission and values. The programs’ objectives are to: (cid:127) Reflect our position as a leading community bank in our service areas; (cid:127) Attract, engage and retain the workforce that helps ensure our future success; (cid:127) Motivate and inspire employee behavior that fosters a high performance culture; (cid:127) Support a one company culture; (cid:127) Support overall business objectives; (cid:127) Provide shareholders with a superior rate of return over the long term; and (cid:127) Create shareholder value through the continuous provision of quality service to our customers. Consequently, the guiding principles of our programs are to: (cid:127) Promote and maintain a high performance banking organization; (cid:127) Remain competitive in our marketplace for talent; (cid:127) Balance our compensation costs with our desire to provide value to employees and shareholders; and (cid:127) Avoid encouraging excessive risk taking. To this end, we will measure success of our programs by: (cid:127) Overall business performance and employee engagement; (cid:127) Ability to attract and retain key talent; (cid:127) Costs and business risks that are limited to levels that optimize risk and return; and (cid:127) Employee understanding and perceptions that ensure program value equals or exceeds program cost. All of our compensation and benefits for our named executive officers described below have as a primary purpose our need to attract, retain and motivate the highly talented individuals whose performance will enable us to succeed in creating shareholder value in a highly competitive marketplace. Beyond that, different elements have specific purposes designed to reward different performance and retention goals. (cid:127) Base salary and benefits are designed to: (cid:127) Reward core competence in the executive role relative to position, performance, experience and responsibility; (cid:127) Provide fixed cash compensation with merit increases competitive with the market place; and (cid:127) Control fixed expenses. (cid:127) Annual incentive variable cash awards are designed to: (cid:127) Focus employees on annual financial objectives derived from the business plan that lead to long-term success; (cid:127) Provide annual variable performance based cash awards to reward and motivate achievement of critical annual performance metrics selected by the Compensation Committee; and 22 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 (cid:127) Foster a pay for performance culture that aligns our compensation programs with our overall business and strategic strategy. (cid:127) Equity based compensation awards are designed to: (cid:127) Link compensation rewards to the creation of shareholder wealth; (cid:127) Promote teamwork by tying compensation significantly to the value of our common stock; (cid:127) Attract the next generation of management by providing significant capital accumulation opportunities; and (cid:127) Retain executives by providing a long-term-oriented program whose value could only be achieved by remaining with and performing for the Company. (cid:127) A supplemental executive retirement plan facilitates our ability to attract and retain executives as we compete for talented employees in a marketplace where these plans are commonly offered. (cid:127) Change of control and separation benefits with certain officers: (cid:127) Individual employment contracts with certain executives provide for change of control and separation benefits; (cid:127) Separation benefits provide benefits to ease an employee’s transition due to an unexpected employment termination by the Company due to ongoing changes in the Company’s employment needs; and (cid:127) Change in control benefits encourage key executives to remain focused on the Company’s business in the event of rumored or actual fundamental corporate changes which will enhance shareholder value. (cid:127) Manage excessive risk-taking through plan design and oversight of incentive plans: (cid:127) Incentive awards are capped; (cid:127) Performance objectives are aligned with annual financial plan approval by the Board of Directors; (cid:127) Multiple financial metrics are used taking into account performance and risk; (cid:127) A ‘‘claw-back policy’’ is applied to performance based cash payments; (cid:127) Payouts are modified through the use of risk-based capital ratio metrics; (cid:127) Long-term incentive equity awards are deferred through vesting requirements; and (cid:127) The Committee has discretion to reduce cash bonus payments. The use of to reinforce our these compensation programs and benefits enables us pay-for-performance philosophy, align our executives’ interests with shareholders, and strengthen our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified executives. We believe that this combination of programs provides an appropriate mix of fixed and variable pay, balances short-term operational performance with long-term shareholder value, and encourages executive recruitment and retention. Consideration of Say-On-Pay Vote Results This year we again are asking shareholders to approve an advisory vote on executive compensation. See ‘‘Proposal 2—Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation.’’ At our 2012 Annual Shareholders Meeting, pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the ‘‘Dodd-Frank Act’’) we held a non-binding shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation (‘‘say-on-pay’’). We had also held similar say-on-pay advisory votes each prior year we were subject to the 23 U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program requirements. At the 2012 Annual Meeting our shareholders approved our 2012 executive compensation (as they had in each prior year where we had a say-on-pay vote), with approximately 82% of voting shareholders casting their vote in favor of the say-on-pay resolution. The Compensation Committee has been mindful of the strong support our shareholders expressed for our compensation program when making executive compensation decisions, including base salary adjustments and long-term incentive awards. In making these executive compensation decisions, which are discussed more fully below, the Compensation Committee’s main considerations included our shareholders’ support for our 2011 (and prior years’) executive compensation program, and the peer and information provided by the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant. The market Compensation Committee will continue to consider our shareholders’ views when making executive compensation decisions in the future. Also at our 2012 Annual Shareholders Meeting the shareholders approved a non-binding shareholder advisory proposal to hold say-on-pay proposals every three years. The Company’s Board of Directors agreed that holding say-on-pay proposals every three years was in the best interest of shareholders. Three years provides shareholders with sufficient time to evaluate the effectiveness of our overall compensation philosophy, policies and practices in the context of our long-term business results for the corresponding period, while avoiding over emphasis on short term variations in compensation and business results. Role of Compensation Committee in Determining Compensation The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has strategic and oversight responsibility for the overall compensation and benefits programs for executives of the Company. These responsibilities include establishing, implementing, and continually monitoring the compensation structure, policies, and programs of the Company. The Compensation Committee also periodically reviews, assesses and monitors the performance, and regularly reviews the design and function, of the Company’s incentive compensation arrangements to ensure that any risk-taking incentives are consistent with regulatory guidance and the safety and soundness of the organization. The Compensation Committee is responsible for assessing and approving the total compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and all executive officers. The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining whether the compensation paid to each of these executives is fair, reasonable and competitive, and whether the compensation program serves the interests of the Company’s shareholders. The Compensation Committee generally targets compensation in relation to the Company’s Compensation Peer Group (discussed under ‘‘Market Positioning and Pay Benchmarking’’ on page 25). Base salary is targeted at the 60th percentile, total cash (salary and incentive cash awards) is targeted at the 70th percentile, and total direct compensation (total cash plus the three-year average value of equity awards) is targeted at the 75th percentile. We target above the median because of the competition in our market for talented executives and our desire to attract and, more importantly, retain and motivate talented individuals we believe are necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of our Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee is comprised of four independent directors who satisfy The NASDAQ Stock Market listing requirements and relevant Internal Revenue Service and SEC regulations on independence. The Compensation Committee’s Chair regularly reports to the Board of Directors on the Compensation Committee actions and recommendations. To evaluate and administer the compensation practices of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, the Compensation Committee meets a minimum of four times a year. The Compensation Committee also holds special meetings and meets telephonically to discuss extraordinary items, such as the hiring or dismissal of executive officers. Role of the Chief Executive Officer The Chief Executive Officer is not a member of the Compensation Committee, but is invited to attend meetings as necessary to provide input and recommendations on compensation for the other named executive officers. The Chief Executive Officer provides the Compensation Committee with his assessment 24 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 of the performance of each named executive officer and his perspective on the factors described above in developing his recommendations for the executive’s compensation, including salary adjustments, incentive bonuses, annual equity grants and equity grants awarded in conjunction with promotions. Because the Chief Executive Officer works closely with and supervises our executive team, the Compensation Committee believes that the Chief Executive Officer provides valuable insight in evaluating their performance. The Chief Executive Officer also provides the Compensation Committee with additional information regarding the effect, if any, of market competition and changes in business strategy or priorities. The Compensation Committee discusses the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations and then approves or modifies the recommendations in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer. Role of Compensation Consultants Generally, at least every two years the Compensation Committee retains the services of an independent executive compensation consultant to assess the competitiveness of our compensation programs, conduct other research as directed by the Compensation Committee, and support the Compensation Committee in the design and implementation of executive and Board of Director compensation. In the first quarter of 2013 and again in the first quarter of 2015, the Compensation Committee retained McLagan, an Aon Hemitt Company (‘‘McLagan’’) to (i) review existing compensation programs; (ii) provide market benchmark information pertaining to both cash and noncash compensation for executives; (iii) provide recommendations and guidance to the Compensation Committee to support its oversight over such compensation programs; and (iv) provide other advice and consultation, including guidance relative to evolving compensation-related regulatory requirements and industry best practices. McLagan reported directly to the Compensation Committee and did not provide services to, or on behalf of, any other part of the Company’s business. There are no known conflicts of interests between McLagan and the Company. Market Positioning and Pay Benchmarking The Compensation Committee generally aims to position compensation relative to market for the Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers at the 60th percentile for base salary, 70th percentile for total cash compensation and 75th percentile for total direct compensation. Many factors are taken into account in determining the actual positioning of each executive officer’s compensation, including the executive’s experience, responsibilities, management abilities and job performance, overall performance of the Company, current market conditions and competitive pay for similar positions at comparable companies. In addition, the Compensation Committee reviews the relationship of various positions between departments, the affordability of desired pay levels and the importance of each position within the Company. These factors are considered by the Compensation Committee in a subjective manner without any specific formula or weighting. In the first quarter of 2013, McLagan provided its report (‘‘2013 Report’’) and the Compensation Committee undertook a review of the Company’s compensation programs for executive officers. McLagan, in consultation with the Compensation Committee, selected a custom peer group of financial institutions to establish a ‘‘Compensation Peer Group’’ for the 2013 Report. The companies included in the Compensation Peer Group were selected from publicly traded banks in California, Oregon and Washington based on: (i) compatibility of the bank based on size as measured through total assets between $800 million and $3 billion dollars (median of $1.3 billion); (ii) similarity of their product lines and business focus; (iii) prior participation and non-participation in the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program; and (iv) comparable performance criteria relating to return on annual assets and non-performing assets. In addition to the Compensation Peer Group, McLagan’s primary data sources also included its proprietary regional and community banking database and published industry survey data for national and California banks. McLagan adjusted national survey data for regional salary differentials, and also to reflect higher costs of salaries in the Company’s principal market. 25 The Comparative Peer Group and the comparative survey data were used to benchmark executive compensation levels against banks that have executive positions with responsibilities similar in breadth and scope to ours and that compete with us for executive talent. With such information and recognition that the public company data reflected compensation levels for 2011 and 2012, the Compensation Committee reviewed and analyzed compensation for the Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers. The Compensation Peer Group component companies used in the evaluation of the Company’s executive compensation programs in the 2013 Report for executive officers were as follows: Bank of Marin Bancorp Bridge Capital Holdings Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Heritage Oaks Bancorp North Valley Bancorp* Pacific Mercantile Bancorp Preferred Bank Pacific Premier Bancorp Provident Financial Holdings Sierra Bancorp TriCo Bancshares Wilshire Bancorp Hanmi Financial Corp. HomeStreet Inc. Washington Banking Co. First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. Pacific Continental Corp. Heritage Financial Corp. California United Bank Bank of Commerce Holdings Central Valley Community Bancorp Simplicity Bancorp Inc.* FNB Bancorp First Northern Community Bancorp * Since acquired by another financial institution. In the first quarter of 2015, the Compensation Committee engaged McLagan to provide a report on the Compensation program for the executive officers (‘‘2015 Report’’). The Compensation Committee has reviewed the 2015 Report and will incorporate its findings as the Compensation Committee evaluates the compensation programs for executive officers in 2015. Chief Executive Officer Compensation The Compensation Committee meets with the other independent directors each year in an executive session without management present to evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee also confers with the Chief Executive Officer when setting his base salary. The Chief Executive Officer does not participate in any deliberations regarding his own compensation. The Compensation Committee annually reviews and approves goals and objectives relevant to the Chief Executive Officer and evaluates the Chief Executive’s performance against those objectives. The Compensation Committee the Company’s achievement of its short and long-term goals versus its strategic objectives and financial targets. With the assistance of the compensation consultant the Compensation Committee also considers the compensation data related to the Compensation Prior Group for base pay, performance-based cash bonus targets, and total direct compensation. The Compensation Committee approves the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation level based on its evaluation. Based on the 2013 Report, the Compensation Committee also determined that the Chief Executive Officer’s base salary was 15% below the target 60th percentile and his total direct compensation fell below target 75th percentile. In response, but still less than 60th percentile, in April 2014, the Compensation Committee approved a salary increase for the Chief Executive Officer’s base salary to $371,212. typically considers corporate financial performance, Base Salary Decisions for the Other Named Executive Officers Generally the Compensation Committee believes that executive base salaries should be targeted so as not to be substantially below the 60th percentile of the Compensation Peer Group for executives in similar 26 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 positions with similar responsibilities. Base salaries are reviewed annually and adjusted as necessary to realign them with market levels after taking into account the value of the position in the marketplace, career experience, and the contribution and performance of the individual. Although each of the named executive officers has an employment agreement with the Company, the initial base salary in each of the agreements may be increased (and has been in the past) in accordance with the Chief Executive Officer’s evaluation of the executive’s performance and the Compensation Committee’s evaluation of the Company’s overall compensation programs and policies. In 2014, the Compensation Committee considered the pay practices of the Compensation Peer Group and the analyses and recommendations provided by its independent consultant in the 2013 Report. In the evaluation of base salaries for 2014 for the named executive officers, the Compensation Committee also considered the minimum, mid-range and maximum salaries paid to similarly situated positions at companies in the Compensation Peer Group as well as the performance levels of the named executive officers. As a result of its review the Compensation Committee made the following changes to the base salary of the named executive officers effective April 1, 2014: Named Executive Prior Salary 2014 Salary Percentage Increase Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $360,400 $254,762 $237,705 $255,000 $371,212 $262,750 $247,200 $262,650 3.0% 3.1% 4.0% 3.0% Keith A. Wilton joined the Company as its Chief Operating Officer in February 2014 and entered into an Employment Contract with Company. Under the terms of agreement Mr. Wilton receives an annual salary of $280,000. The Committee believes that Mr. Wilton’s salary is within a range required to attract and retain an experienced executive who has significant executive responsibility at the Company. Base salary drives the formula used in the Management Incentive Plan as discussed below under ‘‘Management Incentive Plan.’’ Base salary is the only element of compensation that is used in determining the amount of contributions permitted under the Company’s 401(k) plan. Management Incentive Plan We believe that a portion of the annual incentive compensation for named executive officers should be based on performance against pre-defined financial metrics and performance objectives. The Company’s Management Incentive Plan (‘‘Incentive Plan’’) plays a key role in fulfilling the objective. In 2014, each of our named executive officers was eligible to receive a bonus under the Incentive Plan. Annual performance bonuses are designed to focus participants on, and reward them for, the achievement of specific annual financial, strategic and/or operational objectives of the Company. The incentive levels (as a percent of salary) are designed to provide for the achievement of threshold, target and maximum performance objectives. The financial metrics, performance objectives, and the formula for computing the performance bonus are established by the Compensation Committee in the first quarter of each fiscal year. The award opportunities under the Incentive Plan were derived in part from our Compensation Peer Group and other comparative data provided by our independent consultant, and in part by the Compensation Committee’s judgment on internal equity of the positions, their relative value to the Company and the desire to maintain a consistent annual incentive target for the Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers. The payouts for executives under the Incentive Plan are targeted to provide aggregate cash compensation together with base salary at the 70th percentile of our Compensation Peer Group when we reach our target annual financial performance (‘‘Target’’). Smaller payouts can be awarded if we reach 27 90% to 95% of our target performance (‘‘Threshold’’). Larger payouts can be awarded if we exceed target performance (‘‘Maximum’’). Payouts generally are not calculated by mathematical interpolation (on a continuous scale), therefore an incentive level must be reached or exceeded for a cash award. The incentive levels assigned as a percentage of base salary for 2014 were as follows: Named Executive As a percent of base salary Threshold Target Maximum Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Wilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 45% 40% 40% 40% 40% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% Management recommends, and the Compensation Committee reviews and approves, the financial metrics for each plan year that must be met in order for awards to be paid. These financial metrics are weighted and are intended to motivate and reward eligible executives to strive for continued financial improvement of the Company, consistent with performance based compensation and increasing shareholder value. The Compensation Committee typically identifies from three to six financial metrics which may be revised from year to year to reflect the Company’s business and strategic goals. The Compensation Committee determines the weighting of financial metrics each year based upon recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer. For 2014, the following financial metrics along with the relative weights of each financial metric were established by the Compensation Committee: Financial Metrics Pre-Tax Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reduction of Nonperforming Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loan Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest Expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deposit Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weight 20% 15% 20% 15% 15% 15% The Compensation Committee believes pre-tax income is a valid measurement in assessing how the Company is performing from a financial standpoint. Pre-tax income is an accepted accounting measures that drives earnings per share and shareholder returns over the long term. Noninterest income and noninterest expense are important components of net income that senior management and the Board of Directors sought to improve upon in 2014. In addition, the Compensation Committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, concluded that management should continue its focus on credit quality and loan and deposit growth. Financial metrics for noninterest income and noninterest expense are financial metrics that drive overall net income. The Compensation Committee believes that nonperforming assets are an effective measure to monitor the Company’s progress in improving its credit quality. Further, in view of the Company’s plans to continue its focus on growth, the Compensation Committee sought to incentivize and measure growth by increases in outstanding loans and deposits. For 2014 compared to 2013, the Compensation Committee realigned the weighting of the mix of the financial metrics reducing the allocation for credit quality to focus more of the drivers on growth. Because the Compensation Committee believed that the Incentive Plan should also balance risk-taking with performance, the Compensation Committee maintained a risk-based capital element to the plan. If the total risk-based capital ratio was below 10% at year-end 2014, bonus payments would be reduced to zero. Performance objectives were generally identified through our annual financial planning and budget process. Senior management developed a financial plan for 2014, and the financial plan was reviewed and 28 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 approved by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee received recommendations from senior management for financial performance objective ranges. In making the determination of the Threshold, Target and Maximum levels, the Compensation Committee considered specific circumstances anticipated to be encountered by the Company during the coming year and the level of improvement from year to year required to achieve the performance of levels. The Compensation Committee believed that the Threshold, Target and Maximum levels established for the Incentive Plan in 2014 were sufficiently challenging given the economic climate and the level of growth and improvement in the various financial metrics that would have to occur to meet the various performance objectives. For 2014, performance was assessed relative to performances for the year ended December 31, 2014, as shown below and compared to actual results: Financial Metrics Threshold (90% of Plan) Target (Plan) Pre-Tax Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonperforming Assets . . . . . . . . . . Loans Outstanding(1) . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest Income(2) . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest Expense(3) . . . . . . . . . Deposits Outstanding(4) . . . . . . . . 17,706,000 $ $ 13,200,000 $ 980,773,000 7,449,000 $ $ 42,784,000 $1,092,095,000 19,673,000 $ $ 12,000,000 $1,032,393,000 8,277,000 $ $ 41,784,000 $1,149,574,000 Maximum (110% of Plan) 21,640,000 $ $ 10,800,000 $1,084,013,000 9,105,000 $ $ 40,784,000 $1,207,053,000 2014 Actual (5) 20,965,000 $ $ 6,551,000 $1,088,643,000 7,649,000 $ $ 44,222,000 $1,251,003,000 (1) Threshold and Maximum at 95% and 105% of plan. (2) Excluding securities gains and losses. (3) 90% and 110% of plan not used. A $1 million differential below and over Target used for Threshold and Maximum. (4) Exclusive of Brokered Deposits, CDARS and State CDs. Threshold and Maximum at 95% and 105% of plan. (5) Includes the results for BVF/CSNK Acquisition Corp. and its operating subsidiary for the months of November and December 2014. During the first quarter of the following fiscal year, the Compensation Committee assesses the performance of the Company for each financial metric comparing the actual fiscal year results to the pre-determined performance objectives for each financial metric calculated with reference to the pre-determined weight accorded the financial metric, and an overall percentage amount for the award is calculated. In addition, the Compensation Committee has discretionary authority to include qualitative subjective measures which may increase or decrease an award by an additional 15% of base salary. The positive discretion may be utilized to address completion of special projects, department initiatives, or favorable achievements reflected in regulatory exam results. The Compensation Committee may also use its discretion in adjusting financial metrics and performance objectives for unexpected economic conditions or changes in the business of the Company. For 2014, the Compensation Committee agreed to include in the ‘‘Actual’’ results the financial results for BVF/CSNK Acquisition Corp. and its operating subsidiary d/b/a Bay View Funding which was acquired in November 2014. The Committee reached this decision after consideration of the efforts of the Company’s executive team in completing a key strategic acquisition for the Company. In 2014, the Company reached the ‘‘Maximum’’ for improvement in Nonperforming Assets, Loans Outstanding, and Deposits Outstanding, ‘‘Target’’ for Pre-Tax Income, and ‘‘Threshold’’ for Noninterest 29 Income. After consideration of these performance levels for 2014, the Committee awarded the following bonuses which were paid in the first quarter of 2015: Named Executive Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith A. Wilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonus Award $149,246 $102,997 $ 96,706 $102,992 $110,600 Equity Based Compensation The Compensation Committee believes that equity based compensation should be a significant component of total executive compensation to align executive compensation with the long-term performance of the Company and to encourage executives to make value enhancing decisions for the benefit of our shareholders. Each of the named executive officers is eligible to receive equity compensation. The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining equity grants to all staff members, including named executive officers. The Compensation Committee may also grant equity-based awards to award performance, coincide with promotions and hirings, and for recruiting and retention purposes. In considering whether to grant an equity award and the size of the grants to be awarded, the Compensation Committee considers, with respect to each executive officer, the salary level, the contributions expected toward the growth and profitability of the Company and, to the extent available, survey data indicating grants made to similarly situated officers at comparable financial institutions. The Compensation Committee decides whether to approve the grant of equity awards, and the terms of such grant, after deliberation in executive session with respect to grants to the Chief Executive Officer, and after discussion with the Chief Executive Officer, with respect to grants to other executive officers. The Company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Plan (the ‘‘2004 Plan’’) provided for the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, and restricted stock. In 2013, the Board of Directors and shareholders approved the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the ‘‘2013 Plan’’) and the 2004 Plan was terminated. Stock options and restricted stock awards issued under the 2004 Plan remain outstanding. The Compensation Committee approved all awards under the 2004 Plan and continues to do so under the 2013 Plan. The Compensation Committee is the administrator of the 2004 and 2013 Plans. Stock options provide for financial gain derived from the potential appreciation in stock price from the date that the option is granted until the date that the option is exercised. The exercise price of stock option grants is set at fair market value on the grant date. We do not grant stock options at a discount to fair market value or reduce the exercise price of outstanding stock options except in the case of a stock split or other similar event. We do not grant stock options with a so-called ‘‘reload’’ feature, nor do we loan funds to employees to enable them to exercise stock options. The Board has also never re-priced stock options. Stock options granted to date generally vest pro rata on a daily basis over four years and expire ten years from the grant date, and vesting accelerates on a change of control. Our long-term performance ultimately determines the value of stock options, because gains from stock option exercises are entirely dependent on the long-term appreciation of our stock price. In addition to stock options, both the 2004 and 2013 Plans authorize the issuance of restricted stock. An award of restricted stock involves the immediate transfer by the Company to a participant of ownership of a specific number of shares of common stock. The restricted stock is valued at its fair market value on the date of grant. Restricted stock is subject to a ‘‘substantial risk of forfeiture’’ within the meaning of Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. To date, the Compensation Committee has 30 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 chosen to grant time-based restricted stock awards. Restricted stock awarded by the Compensation Committee have vesting periods that vary, and vesting accelerates on a change of control of the Company. The Compensation Committee has established a stock option and restricted stock policy which recognizes that stock options and restricted stock have an impact on the profits of the Company under current accounting rules and also have a dilutive effect on the Company’s shareholders. Accordingly, they are recognized as a scarce resource and option grants and awards of restricted stock are given the same consideration as any other form of compensation. The Compensation Committee has established ranges for the amount of options that may be granted that depend on the individual’s position with the Company and whether the option is awarded as an incentive to attract an individual, to retain an individual or to reward performance. The Compensation Committee approves primarily nonstatutory stock options instead of incentive stock options because of the tax advantages available to the Company for nonstatutory options and because employees generally do not take full advantage of the tax benefits available to them from incentive stock options. We do not backdate options or grant options or award restricted stock retroactively. In addition, we do not plan to coordinate grants of options or awards of restricted stock so that they are made before announcement of favorable information, or after announcement of unfavorable information. The Company’s options and restricted stock are granted at fair market value on a fixed date or event (the first day of service for new hires and the date of Compensation Committee approval for existing employees), with all required approvals obtained in advance of or on the actual grant date. All grants to executive officers require the approval of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors. Fair market value has been consistently determined as the closing price on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on the grant date. In order to ensure that an option exercise price or restricted stock date of grant valuation fairly reflects all material information, without regard to whether the information seems positive or negative, every grant of options and restricted stock is contingent upon an assurance by management and legal counsel that the Company is not in possession of material undisclosed information. If the Company is in a ‘‘black-out’’ period for trading under its trading policy or otherwise in possession of inside information, the date of grant is suspended until the second business day after public dissemination of the information. The Company’s general practice has been to grant options and restricted stock only on the annual grant date at a Compensation Committee and Board of Directors’ regular meeting held during the first quarter for the named executive officers as well as current staff, and at any other Compensation Committee meeting (whether a regular meeting or otherwise) held on the same date as a regularly scheduled Board meeting (which are held monthly) as required to attract new staff, retain staff or recognize key specific achievements. When Keith A. Wilton joined the Company in February 2014 as part of his employment arrangement he was awarded 15,000 shares of restricted stock which vest pro rata over 4 years. In November 2014, Mr. Wilton was granted an additional 50,000 shares of restricted stock in recognition of his efforts in leading the Bay View Funding acquisition. The following stock options were granted in February 2014 as part of the Company’s retention program: Named Executive Stock Options Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 15,000 12,500 12,500 31 Retirement Plans Our Amended and Restated Supplemental Retirement Plan (‘‘SERP’’) is an important element of our compensation program. We compete for executive talent in our market area where many of our competitors offer supplemental retirement plans. These types of plans have been commonly offered in the community bank industry for some time. The SERP is a nonqualified defined benefit plan and is unsecured and unfunded and there are no plan assets. When the Company offers key employees participation in the SERP, including some but not all of the named executive officers, the supplemental retirement benefit awarded is based on the individual’s position within the Company and a vesting schedule determined by the desirability of incenting the retention element of the program. The participant is 100% vested in his or her benefit at retirement. A participant whose employment terminates after the normal retirement date will receive 100% of his or her supplemental retirement benefit, payable monthly, commencing on the first of the month following retirement (unless selected otherwise by the participant and except executive officers who will receive their benefit six months following retirement) and continuing until the death of the participant (unless the joint survivor option is selected). For information on the plan, see ‘‘Supplemental Retirement Plan for Executive Officers.’’ Prohibition on Speculation in Company Stock Our stock trading guidelines prohibit executives from speculating in our stock, which includes, but is not limited to, short selling (profiting if the market price of the securities decreases), buying or selling publicly traded options, including writing covered calls, and hedging or any other type of derivative arrangement that has a similar economic effect. Termination of Employment and Change in Control Provisions The Compensation Committee believes that a change in control transaction, or potential change in control transaction, would create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of our executives. This is because many change in control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to encourage our executives to remain employed with us during an important time when their continued employment in connection with or following a transaction is often uncertain and to help keep our executives focused on our business rather than on their personal financial security, we believe that providing certain of our executives with severance benefits upon certain terminations of employment is in the best interests of our Company and our shareholders. The Company does not have company-wide separate change of control agreements with its executive officers. Instead, the Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers have specific change of control and severance provisions in their respective employment agreements. The Compensation Committee considers the use of change of control provisions and severance provisions on a case by case basis depending on the individual’s position with the Company and the need to attract and/or retain the individuals. The severance benefits provided for our named executive officers were determined by the Compensation Committee based on its judgment of prevailing market practices at the time each agreement was entered into. At present, we have employment agreements with the Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers, which detail their eligibility for payments under various termination scenarios. In addition, certain equity grants made to the named executive officers provide for vesting of stock options and restricted stock upon a change of control. We have disclosed the severance and/or change in control payouts that would be payable to each named executive officer if the triggering event occurred on December 31, 2014, in the ‘‘Change in Control Arrangements and Termination of Employment’’ section in this proxy statement. 32 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 Tax Considerations Section 162(m) (‘‘Section 162(m)’’) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, limits the allowable deduction for compensation paid or accrued with respect to the Chief Executive Officer and each of the four other most highly compensated executive officers of a publicly held corporation to no more than $1 million per year. Certain compensation is exempt from this deduction limitation, including performance based compensation paid under a plan administered by a committee of outside directors, which has been approved by shareholders. In light of Section 162(m), it is the policy of the Compensation Committee to modify, where necessary, our executive compensation program to maximize the tax deductibility of compensation paid to our executive officers when and if the $1 million threshold becomes an issue. At the same time, the Compensation Committee also believes that the overall performance of our executives cannot in all cases be reduced to a fixed formula and that the prudent use of discretion in determining pay levels is in our best interests and those of our shareholders. Under some circumstances, the Compensation Committee’s use of discretion in determining appropriate amounts of compensation may be essential. In those situations where discretion is or can be used by the Compensation Committee, compensation may not be fully deductible. Section 409A (‘‘Section 409A’’) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, among other things, limits flexibility with respect to the time and form of payment of deferred compensation. If a payment or award is subject to Section 409A, but does not meet the requirements that exempt such amounts from taxation under such section, the recipient is subject to: (i) income tax at the time the payment or award is not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; (ii) an additional 20% tax at that time; and (iii) an additional tax equal to the amount of interest (at the underpayment rate under the Internal Revenue Code plus one percentage point) on the underpayment that would have occurred had the award been includable in the recipient’s income when first deferred or, if later, when not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. We have made modifications to our plans and arrangements such that payments or awards under those arrangements either are intended to not constitute ‘‘deferred compensation’’ for Section 409A purposes (and will thereby be exempt from Section 409A’s requirements) or, if they constitute ‘‘deferred compensation,’’ are intended to comply with the Section 409A statutory provisions and final regulations. Accounting Considerations Accounting considerations play an important role in the design of our executive compensation program. Accounting rules require us to expense the fair value of restricted stock awards and the estimated fair value of our stock option grants which reduces the amount of our reported profits. The Compensation Committee considers the amount of this expense in determining the amount of equity compensation awards. Compensation Committee Report The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement. Compensation Committee of the Board Robert T. Moles, Chairman Frank G. Bisceglia Ranson W. Webster W. Kirk Wycoff 33 Executive Compensation Tables The following table provides for the periods shown, information as to compensation for services of the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and the three other executive officers of the Company who had the highest total compensation (as defined in accordance with applicable regulations) with respect to the year ended 2014 (collectively referred to as the ‘‘named executive officers’’): Summary Compensation Table Change in Pension Value and Non-Equity Nonqualified Name and Principal Position (a) Year (b) Salary ($) (c)(1) Bonus ($) (d) Stock Awards Awards Compensation Option Incentive Plan ($) (e) ($) (f)(2) ($) (g)(3) Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) (h)(4) All Other Compensation ($) (i)(5) Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . 2014 $368,509 2013 $360,400 2012 $360,400 President & Chief Executive Officer — — — — $58,397 — — $149,246 — $111,500 — $ 22,300 Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . . 2014 $260,753 2013 $251,671 2012 $242,400 Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 $244,826 2013 $235,779 2012 $228,725 Executive Vice President/ Banking Division — — — $ 38,340 — $58,397 — $57,347 $102,997 $ 78,018 — $ 15,005 — — — $ 38,340 — $48,664 — $38,231 $ 96,706 $ 78,091 — $ 14,158 David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 $260,738 2013 $253,750 2012 $129,808 $50,000 $183,900 Executive Vice President & Chief Credit Officer(6) — — — $48,664 — $38,231 — $ $102,992 $ 78,662 8,035 Keith A. Wilton . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 $243,025 — $542,450 — $110,600 Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer(7) $250,900 $303,200 $733,000 $268,000 $ 8,700 $121,400 $146,700 $ 21,700 $ 70,900 — — — — Total ($) (j) $ 849,510 $ 797,233 $1,137,461 $ 706,234 $ 411,552 $ 432,553 $ 554,081 $ 390,606 $ 368,480 $ 433,989 $ 388,659 $ 390,040 $22,458 $22,133 $21,761 $16,087 $15,816 $15,408 $17,185 $16,805 $16,357 $21,595 $18,016 $18,297 $10,307 $ 906,382 (1) The amounts in column (c) include amounts voluntarily deferred by each of the named executive officers into their 401(k) plan accounts. For 2014, Mr. Kaczmarek deferred $23,000, Mr. McGovern deferred $23,000, Mr. Benito deferred $23,000, Mr. Porter deferred $23,000 and Mr. Wilton deferred $9,000. (2) The amounts shown in columns (e) and (f) reflect the applicable full grant date fair values for stock options and stock awards in accordance with ASC 718 (excluding the effect of forfeitures), and are reported for the fiscal year during which the stock options and stock awards were issued. The assumptions used in calculating the valuation for stock options and stock awards may be found in Note 12 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015. (3) The amounts shown in column (g) for 2014 reflect payments made under the terms of the Management Incentive Plan for 2014 performance and paid in the first quarter of 2015. (4) The amounts shown in column (h) for 2014 represent only the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit under the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2014. The amounts in column (h) were determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and include amounts which the named executive officer may not currently be entitled to receive because such amounts are not vested. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 13 to the Company’s consolidated financial 34 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015. (5) The amounts shown in column (i) include the following for each named executive: Named Executive Economic Value of Death Benefit of Life Insurance for Beneficiaries(*) 401(k) Plan Company Matching Contributions Other Insurance Benefit Vacation Auto Compensation Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith A. Wilton . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,894 $1,615 $1,766 — — $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $3,564 $2,419 $1,265 $7,144 $2,032 — $5,053 $4,754 $5,051 — $12,000 $ 6,000 $ 8,400 $ 8,400 $ 7,275 Total $22,458 $16,087 $17,185 $21,595 $10,307 * The economic value of the death benefit amounts shown above reflects the annual income imputed to each executive in connection with Company owned split-dollar life insurance policies for which the Company has fully paid the applicable premiums. These policies are discussed under ‘‘Supplemental Retirement Plan for Executive Officers.’’ (6) Mr. Porter joined the Company in June 2012, and received a $50,000 signing bonus. (7) Mr. Wilton joined the Company in February 2014 and received 15,000 shares of restricted stock. Executive Contracts Walter T. Kaczmarek—On October 17, 2007, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Walter T. Kaczmarek. The employment contract is for three years and is automatically renewed each month for three additional years. Under the agreement, Mr. Kaczmarek receives an annual salary of $421,212 with annual increases, if any (last increased in April 2015), as determined by the Board of Directors’ annual review of executive salaries. In addition to his salary, he is eligible to participate in the Management Incentive Plan. Mr. Kaczmarek participates in the Company’s 401(k) plan, under which he may receive matching contributions up to $1,000. He also participates in the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The Company provides Mr. Kaczmarek, at no cost to him, group life, health, accident and disability insurance coverage for himself and his dependents. Mr. Kaczmarek is provided with life insurance coverage in the amount of two times his then current salary but no more than $700,000. He is provided with long-term care insurance, with a lifetime benefit of up to $432,000. The Company reimburses Mr. Kaczmarek for up to $1,200 for tax consultation and tax return preparation. He is also reimbursed for expenses that exceed insurance coverage for an annual physical examination, monthly dues for one country club membership and one business club membership. He receives an automobile allowance in the amount of $1,000 per month, together with reimbursements for gasoline and maintenance expenditures. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Kaczmarek is entitled to certain severance benefits on termination of his employment, including a change of control. See ‘‘Change of Control Arrangements and Termination of Employment.’’ Lawrence D. McGovern—On July 21, 2011, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Lawrence D. McGovern. The employment contract is for one year and is automatically renewed for one year terms. Under the agreement, Mr. McGovern receives an annual salary of $274,574 with annual increases, if any (last increased in April 2015), as determined by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors’ Compensation Committee annual review of executive salaries. In addition to his salary, he is eligible to participate in the Management Incentive Plan. Mr. McGovern participates in the Company’s 401(k) plan, under which he may receive matching contributions up to $1,000. He also participates in the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The Company provides to Mr. McGovern, 35 at no cost to him, group life, health, accident and disability insurance coverage for himself and his dependents. Mr. McGovern receives an automobile allowance in the amount of $500 per month, together with reimbursements for gasoline expenditures. Mr. McGovern is provided with life insurance coverage in the amount of two times his salary but not to exceed $700,000. He is also provided with long-term care insurance, with a lifetime benefit of up to $72,000. Under his employment agreement, Mr. McGovern is entitled to certain severance benefits on termination of his employment, including a change of control. See ‘‘Change of Control Arrangements and Termination of Employment.’’ Michael E. Benito—On February 1, 2012, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Michael E. Benito when he was promoted to Executive Vice President/Banking Division. The employment contract is for one year and is automatically renewed for one year terms. Under the Agreement, Mr. Benito receives an annual salary of $255,852 with annual increases, if any (last increased in April 2015), as determined by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors’ Compensation Committee annual review of executive salaries. In addition to his salary, he is eligible to participate in the Management Incentive Plan. Mr. Benito participates in the Company’s 401(k) plan, under which he may receive matching contributions up to $1,000. Mr. Benito also participates in the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The Company provides to Mr. Benito, at no cost to him, group life, health, accident and disability insurance coverage for himself and his dependents. Mr. Benito receives an automobile allowance in the amount of $700 per month, together with reimbursements for gasoline expenditures. Mr. Benito is provided with life insurance coverage in the amount of two times his salary not to exceed $700,000. He is also provided with long-term care insurance, with a lifetime benefit of up to $72,000. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Benito is entitled to certain severance benefits on termination of his employment, including a change of control. See ‘‘Change of Control Arrangements and Termination of Employment.’’ David E. Porter—On June 25, 2012, the Company entered into an employment agreement with David E. Porter when he joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. The employment contract is for one year and is automatically renewed for one year terms. Under the agreement, Mr. Porter receives an annual salary of $271,843 with annual increases, if any (last increased in April 2015), as determined by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors’ Compensation Committee annual review of executive salaries. In addition to his salary, he is eligible to participate in the Management Incentive Plan. Mr. Porter participates in the Company’s 401(k) plan, under which he could receive matching contributions up to $1,000. Mr. Porter also participates in the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The Company provides to Mr. Porter, at no cost to him, group life, health, accident and disability insurance coverage for himself and his dependents. Mr. Porter also receives an automobile allowance in the amount of $700 per month. Mr. Porter is provided with life insurance coverage in the amount of two times his salary not to exceed $700,000. He is also provided with long-term care insurance, with a lifetime benefit of up to $72,000. Under his employment agreement Mr. Porter received a $50,000 signing bonus. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Porter is entitled to certain severance benefits on termination of his employment, including a change of control. See ‘‘Change of Control Arrangements and Termination of Employment.’’ Keith A. Wilton—On February 18, 2014, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Keith Wilton, when Mr. Wilton joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The employment contract is for one year and is automatically renewed for one year terms. Under the agreement, Mr. Wilton receives an annual salary of $308,000 (last increased in April 2015) with annual increases, if any, as determined by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors’ Compensation Committee annual review of executive salaries. In addition to his salary, he is eligible to 36 participate in the Management Incentive Plan. Mr. Wilton participates in the Company’s 401(k) plan, under which he may receive matching contributions up to $1,000. He also participates in the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The Company provides to Mr. Wilton, at no cost to him, group life, health, accident and disability insurance coverage for himself and his dependents. He also receives an automobile allowance in the amount of $700 per month. Mr. Wilton is provided with life insurance coverage in the amount of two times his salary not to exceed $700,000. He is also provided with long-term care insurance, with a lifetime benefit of up to $72,000. P r o x y S t a t e m e n t Under the employment agreement, the Company agreed to issue 15,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Wilton. The restricted stock is subject to the terms of the Heritage Commerce Corp 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and a restricted common stock agreement. The restricted common stock will vest 25% per year over four years, subject to acceleration on disability, death or a change in control. 30MAR20 Under his employment agreement, Mr. Wilton is entitled to certain severance benefits on termination of his employment, including a change of control. See ‘‘Change of Control Arrangements and Termination of Employment.’’ Plan Based Awards Equity Based Plans. In 2004, the Board of Directors adopted the Heritage Commerce Corp 2004 Stock Option Plan (the ‘‘2004 Plan’’), which was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the 2004 Annual Meeting. The 2004 Plan authorized the Company to grant stock options to officers, employees and directors of the Company and its affiliates. In 2009, the 2004 Plan was amended and restated as the 2004 Equity Plan to authorize the issuance of restricted stock in addition to stock options. The 2004 Equity Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the 2009 Annual Meeting. In 2013 the Board of Directors approved the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (‘‘2013 Equity Plan’’) to replace the 2004 Equity Plan. The 2013 Equity Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the 2013 Annual Meeting. The purpose of the Equity Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of shareholder value. The Board of Directors believes that the availability of stock awards is a key factor in the ability of the Company to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors, officers and employees. Under the 2013 Equity Plan incentives are provided through the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance shares, and performance units (individually, an ‘‘Award’’). The 2013 Equity Plan is also intended to permit us to grant Awards that qualify as performance based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, 1986, as amended. Management Incentive Plan. The Company maintains a Management Incentive Plan adopted by the Board of Directors in 2005. Executive officers are eligible for target bonuses which are expressed as a percentage of their respective base salaries which increase as the level of performance of established goals increases. The bonuses are tied directly to the satisfaction of overall Company performance for the year. See ‘‘Compensation Discussion and Analysis’’ for information about the Management Incentive Plan. 37 The following table provides information on the potential performance based awards available if defined performance objectives were achieved in 2014 for each of the Company’s named executive officers under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan, and stock options or other stock awards granted to the named executive officers in 2014. Grants of Plan-Based Awards Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) Incentive Plan Awards All Other All Other Stock Awards: Option Awards: Exercise Number of Number of or Base Shares of Securities Price of of Stock Underlying Option Stock and Grant Date Fair Value Name (a) Grant Date (b) Threshold Target Maximum Threshold Target Maximum or Units ($) (c) ($) (d) ($) (e) (#) (f) (#) (g) (#) (h) (#) (i) Options (#) (j)(2) Awards Options Awards ($/Sh) (l)(3) (k) Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . 02/27/2014 — — 03/27/2014 $37,121 $167,045 $222,727 — — — Lawrence D. McGovern . 02/27/2014 — — 03/27/2014 $26,275 $105,100 $157,650 — — — Michael E. Benito . . . . . 02/27/2014 — — 03/27/2014 $24,720 $ 98,880 $148,320 — — — David E. Porter . . . . . . 02/27/2014 — — 03/27/2014 $26,265 $105,060 $157,590 — — — Keith A. Wilton . . . . . . 02/18/2014 — — — 03/27/2014 $28,000 $112,000 $168,000 — — — 11/20/2014 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 15,000 — — $8.07 $ 58,397 — — — 15,000 — — $8.07 $ 58,397 — — — 12,500 — — $8.07 $ 48,664 — — — 12,500 — — $8.07 $ 48,664 — — 15,000 — 50,000 — — — — $123,450 — — — $419,000 (1) These potential performance-based awards were established under the Management Incentive Plan if the indicated level of performance was achieved in 2014 as described further in the ‘‘Compensation and Discussion Analysis’’ and in the discussion under ‘‘Plan Based Awards—Management Incentive Plan.’’ They do not represent the actual payments made to the named executive officers. The payments made for actual performance in 2014 are reflected in column (g) in the Summary Compensation Table. (2) This column reflects stock options granted in 2014 pursuant to the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. (3) The amounts shown in column (l) reflect the applicable full grant date fair values for stock options in accordance with ASC 718 (excluding the effect of forfeitures), and are reported for the fiscal year during which the stock options and stock awards were issued. The assumptions used in calculating the valuation for stock options may be found in Note 12 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015. 38 Equity Compensation Plan Information The following table shows the number and weighted-average exercise price of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights, and the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans at December 31, 2014: 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 reflected in column (a)) (c) Equity compensation plans approved by security holders . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders . . . . 1,726,106(1) $11.23 1,273,816(2) N/A N/A N/A (1) Consists of 1,341,676 options to acquire shares under the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and 384,430 options to acquired shares under the Company’s 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. (2) Available under the Company’s 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 39 Outstanding Equity Awards The following table shows the number of Company shares of common stock covered by exercisable and unexercisable stock options and the number of Company unvested shares of restricted common stock held by the Company’s named executive officers as of December 31, 2014. Outstanding Equity Awards at Year End Option Awards Stock Awards Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options Number of Number of Securities Securities Underlying Underlying Unexercised Unexercised Unexercised Exercise Options Options (#) Options (#) Exercisable Unexercisable Options (#) (c) Price ($) (e) Unearned Date (f) (d) (b) Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Number of Shares or Units of Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Stock That Rights That Rights That Expiration Have Not Have Not Have Not Vested (#) Vested ($) Vested (#) (h)(2) (g)(1) (i) Name (a) Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . Lawrence D. McGovern . . Michael E. Benito . . . . . . David E. Porter . . . . . . . . 3,125 25,000 20,000 50,000 3,125 6,262 15,000 10,000 8,000 2,601 4,175 4,500 4,500 7,000 7,000 5,000 5,000 2,601 4,175 11,875(3) — — — 11,875(3) 8,738(4) — — — 9,899(3) 5,825(4) — — — — — — 9,899(3) 5,825(4) Keith A. Wilton . . . . . . . . — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — $ 8.07 02/27/2024 $23.89 05/04/2017 $23.85 08/03/2016 $18.15 03/17/2015 $ 8.07 02/27/2024 $ 6.57 04/30/2023 $23.89 05/04/2017 $23.85 08/03/2016 $20.00 08/11/2015 $ 8.07 02/27/2024 $ 6.57 04/30/2023 $ 3.57 07/26/2020 $ 7.43 05/04/2019 $16.00 05/22/2018 $23.89 05/04/2017 $23.85 08/03/2016 $22.78 02/16/2016 $ 8.07 02/27/2024 $ 6.57 04/30/2023 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 65,000 $573,950 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Have Not Vested ($) (j) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — (1) This column represents the unvested shares for restricted stock awards granted. (2) The market value of the shares of restricted stock that have not vested is calculated by multiplying the number of shares of stock that have not vested by the closing price of our common stock at December 31, 2014, as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, which was $8.83. (3) The options vest daily over 4 years beginning February 27, 2014, and have a term of 10 years. (4) The options vest daily over 4 years beginning April 30, 2013, and have a term of 10 years. 40 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 Option Exercises and Vested Stock Awards The following table sets forth information with regard to the exercise and vesting of stock options and vesting of shares of restricted stock for the year ended December 31, 2014, for each of the named executive officers. Option Exercises and Stock Vested Option Awards Stock Awards Name (a) Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) (b) Value Realized upon Exercise ($) (c) Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) (d) Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence D. McGovern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David E. Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith A. Wilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — — — — — — — — — — — 6,000 6,000 30,000 — Value Realized on Vesting ($) (e)(1) — $ 49,080 $ 49,080 $240,000 — (1) The number of vested shares reflects the gross amount of shares, without netting any shares surrendered to pay taxes. The aggregate dollar amount realized upon vesting was calculated by multiplying the number of shares by the fair market value on the vesting date. 401(k) Plan The Company has established a broad-based employee benefit plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (‘‘401(k) Plan’’). The purpose of the 401(k) Plan is to encourage employees to save for retirement. Eligible employees may make contributions to the plan subject to the limitations of Section 401(k). The 401(k) Plan trustees administer the Plan. The Company matched up to $1,000 of each employee’s contributions in 2014 and will increase the matching to $1,500 in 2015. The 401(k) Plan allows highly compensated employees to contribute up to a maximum percentage of their base salary, up to the limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, on a pre-tax basis. Participants choose to invest their account balances from an array of investment options as selected by plan fiduciaries. The 401(k) Plan is designed to provide for distributions in a lump sum after termination of service. However, loans and in-service distributions under certain circumstances such as hardship, attainment of age 59-1/2, or a disability are permitted. For named executive officers, these amounts are included in the Summary Compensation Table under ‘‘All Other Compensation.’’ Employee Stock Ownership Plan In 1997, Heritage Bank of Commerce initiated a broad-based employee stock ownership plan (‘‘Stock Ownership Plan’’). The Stock Ownership Plan was subsequently adopted by the Company as the successor corporation to Heritage Bank of Commerce. The Stock Ownership Plan allows the Company, at its option, to purchase shares of the Company common stock on the open market. To be eligible to receive an award of shares under the Stock Ownership Plan, an employee must have worked at least 1,000 hours during the year and must be employed by the Company on December 31. The executive officers have the same eligibility to receive awards as other employees of the Company. Awards under the Stock Ownership Plan generally vest over four years. In addition, the value of a participant’s account becomes fully vested upon reaching the age of 65 or termination of employment by death or disability. The Company may discontinue its contributions at any time. The amounts of contributions to the Stock Ownership Plan for named executive officers are included in the Summary Compensation Table in the column entitled ‘‘All Other Compensation.’’ 41 Supplemental Retirement Plan for Executive Officers The Company has established the 2005 Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the ‘‘SERP’’ or the ‘‘Plan’’) covering key employees, including several of the named executive officers. The SERP is a nonqualified defined benefit plan and is unsecured and unfunded and there are no plan assets. When the Company offers key executives participation in the SERP, the supplemental retirement benefit awarded is based on the individual’s position within the Company and a vesting schedule determined by the desirability of incentivizing the retention element of the program. The participant is 100% vested in his or her benefit at normal retirement, upon termination within two years from a change in control, or upon disability. However, the participant’s vested benefit is reduced for payment prior to normal retirement age in accordance with the Plan terms. Normal Retirement. A participant whose employment terminates after normal retirement (as defined in the Plan) will receive 100% of his or her supplemental retirement benefit, payable monthly, commencing on the first of the month following retirement (unless selected otherwise by the participant and except executive officers who receive their benefit six months from retirement) and continuing until the death of the participant (unless the joint survivor option is selected). Early Retirement. In order to be eligible for early retirement benefits, the plan requires the participant to terminate employment (for reasons other than for cause or within two years from a change of control) after the date that the participant is at least 55 years old but prior to normal retirement as defined in the participant’s participation agreement. The participant will then receive the portion of the supplemental retirement benefit that has vested as of the actual early retirement date. However, for each year (or partial year) before normal retirement age the participant receives an early retirement benefit, the vested benefit is reduced by five percent. Unless otherwise selected by the participant, the early retirement benefit will be paid monthly, with payments to commence on the first day of the month following the participant’s separation from service (except executive officers who receive their benefit six months from retirement) and continuing until the death of the participant (unless the joint survivor option is selected). Termination Before Early Retirement. If a participant’s employment is terminated without cause or the participant resigns, the participant shall be eligible to receive the portion of the supplemental retirement benefit that has vested as of the effective date of termination reduced by five percent for each year (or partial year) that the participant’s benefits are paid prior to the participant’s normal retirement age. Benefits are payable monthly commencing on the first of the month elected by the participant but not before the participant’s early retirement age (except executive officers who receive their benefit six months from retirement), and continuing until the death of the participant (unless the joint survivor option is selected). Disability. In the event a participant becomes disabled, the participant will receive the actuarial equivalent of his or her supplemental retirement benefit, payable monthly, commencing on the first of the month following determination that the participant is disabled and continuing until the death of the participant. Cause. If a participant’s employment is terminated for cause, the participant forfeits any rights the participant may have under the SERP. Change of Control. If a participant’s employment is terminated for any reason (except cause or after qualifying for normal retirement) within two years following a change of control, the participant will receive 100% of his or her supplemental retirement benefit commencing at the later of the first month following the age selected by the participant or the first month following the participant’s separation from service (except executive officers who receive their benefit six months from separation of service), and continuing until the death of the participant (unless the joint survivor option is selected). In the event payments commence prior to the participant’s normal retirement age, then the benefit due to the 42 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 participant will be reduced by five percent for each year (or partial year) that the participant’s benefit is paid prior to the participant’s normal retirement age. The Company has purchased life insurance contracts on the participants in order to finance the cost of these benefits and it is anticipated that, because of the tax-advantaged effect of this life insurance investment, the return on the life insurance contracts will be approximately equal to the accrued benefits to the participants under the SERP, other than in the event of accelerated vesting because of the change of control. The following table shows the present value of the accumulated benefit payable to each of the named executive officers that participate in the SERP, including the number of service years credited to each named executive officer at December 31, 2014: Name (a) Plan Name (b) Number of Years Credited Service (#) (c) Present Value of Accumulated Benefit(1)(2) ($) (d) Payments During Last Fiscal Year ($) (e) Walter T. Kaczmarek . . . . . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP Lawrence D. McGovern . . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP Michael E. Benito . . . . . . . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP 10 16 11 $4,009,100 $1,081,400 $ 421,400 — — — (1) The amounts in column (d) were determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and include amounts which the named executive officer may not currently be entitled to receive because such amounts are not vested. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 13 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015. (2) The following vesting percentages apply to the named executive officers who participate in the SERP: End of the year prior to termination Walter T. Kaczmarek Lawrence D. McGovern Michael E. Benito(3) 12/31/2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/31/2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/31/2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/31/2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/31/2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 80% 30% 88% 40% 96% 50% 100% 60% 100% 70% (3) Mr. Benito has two separate SERP agreements. Management Deferral Plan In January 2004, the Company adopted the Heritage Commerce Corp Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan for certain executive officers. The purpose of the plan is to offer those employees an opportunity to elect to defer the receipt of compensation in order to provide termination of employment and related benefits taxable pursuant to Section 451 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The plan is intended to be a ‘‘top-hat’’ plan (i.e., an unfunded deferred compensation plan maintained for a select group of management or highly-compensated employees) under Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The executive may elect to defer up to 100% of any bonus and 50% of any regular salary into the Management Deferral Plan. Amounts deferred are invested in a portfolio of approved investment choices as directed by the executive. Under the Management Deferral Plan, the Company may make discretionary contributions for the executive, but has not done so. Amounts deferred by executives to the plan will be distributed at a future date they have selected or upon termination of employment. The executive can select a distribution schedule of up to fifteen years. None of the Company current executive officers have elected to participate in the plan. 43 Change of Control Arrangements and Termination of Employment Equity Plans. Each of the named executive officers holds options granted under the 2004 Equity Plan and the 2013 Equity Plan. Under these plans, option holders will be given 30 days’ advance notice of the consummation of a change of control transaction during which time the option holders will have the right to exercise their options, and all outstanding options become immediately vested. The options terminate on the consummation of the change of control. In the event the option holder dies or becomes disabled, the option holder or his or her estate will have 12 months to exercise those options that have vested as of the date of termination of employment from a disability or death. Restricted Stock. Several of the named executive officers hold shares of restricted stock subject to vesting requirement. Under the terms of the restricted stock awards the vesting of the shares will accelerated upon a change of control, or the holder’s death or disability. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Several of the named executives are participants in the 2005 Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Plan. If a participant’s employment is terminated without cause or the participant resigns, the participant shall be eligible to receive the portion of the supplemental retirement benefit that has vested as of the effective date of termination reduced by five percent for each year (or partial year) that the participant’s benefits are paid prior to the participant’s normal retirement age. Benefits are payable monthly commencing on the first of the month elected by the participant (except executive officers who receive their benefits six months from separation from service), but not before the participant’s early retirement age, and continuing until the death of the participant (unless the joint survivor option is selected). In the event a participant becomes disabled, the participant will receive the actuarial equivalent of his or her supplemental retirement benefit, payable monthly, commencing on the first of the month following determination that the participant is disabled and continuing until the death of the participant. If a participant’s employment is terminated for cause, the participant forfeits any rights the participant may have under the plan. If a participant’s employment is terminated for any reason (except cause or after qualifying for normal retirement) within two years following a change of control, the participant will receive 100% of his or her supplemental retirement benefits commencing at the later of the first month following the age selected by the participant, or the first month following the participant’s separation from service (except executive officers who receive their benefits six months from separation from service), and continuing until the death of the participant (unless the joint survivor option is selected). In the event payments commence prior to the participant’s normal retirement age, then the benefit due to the participant will be reduced by five percent for each year (or partial year) that the participant’s benefit is paid prior to the participant’s normal retirement age. Mr. Kaczmarek’s Employment Agreement. If Mr. Kaczmarek’s employment is terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to two times his base salary and his highest annual bonus in the last three years. If Mr. Kaczmarek’s employment is terminated or he resigns for good reason 120 days before, or within two years after, a change of control, he will be paid a lump sum of 2.75 times his base salary and highest annual bonus in the last three years. If his employment is terminated by the Company without cause, or he resigns for good reason, or as a result of a change of control the Company terminates his employment or he resigns for good reason, his participation in group insurance coverages will continue on at least the same level as at the time of termination for a period of 36 months from the date of termination. In the event that the amounts payable to Mr. Kaczmarek under the agreement constitute ‘‘excess parachute payments’’ under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that are subject to an excise or similar tax, the amounts payable to Mr. Kaczmarek will be increased so that he receives substantially the same economic benefit under the agreement had there been no such tax imposed. Additionally, following the termination of his employment, Mr. Kaczmarek has agreed to refrain from certain activities that would be competitive with the Company within the counties in California in which the Company has located its headquarters or 44 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 branch offices, including refraining for 12 months from the date of termination from soliciting Company employees and customers. Mr. McGovern’s Employment Agreement. If Mr. McGovern’s employment is terminated without cause, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one times his base salary, his highest annual bonus in the last three years and his annual automobile allowance. If Mr. McGovern’s employment is terminated by the Company or he resigns for good reason 120 days before, or within two years after, a change in control, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment of two times his base salary, his highest annual bonus in the last three years and his annual automobile allowance. If the employment agreement is terminated by the Company without cause, his participation in group insurance coverage will continue on at least the same level as at the time of termination for a period of 12 months from the date of termination. If Mr. McGovern’s employment is terminated as a result of a change in control during the change of control period, or he resigns for a good reason as a result of a change in control, these benefits will continue for an additional 24 months from the date of termination. In the event that the amounts payable to Mr. McGovern under the agreement constitute ‘‘excess parachute payments’’ under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that are subject to an excise or similar tax, the amounts payable to Mr. McGovern will be increased so that he receives substantially the same economic benefit under the agreement had there been no such tax imposed. Additionally, following the termination of his employment, Mr. McGovern has agreed to refrain from certain activities that would be competitive with the Company within the counties in California in which the Company has located its headquarters or branch offices, including refraining for 12 months from the date of termination from soliciting Company employees or customers. Mr. Benito’s Employment Agreement. If Mr. Benito’s employment agreement is terminated without cause, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one times his base salary and his average annual bonus during the last three years. If Mr. Benito’s employment is terminated by the Company or he resigns for good reason 120 days before or within two years after a change in control, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment of two times his base salary and his average annual bonus during the last three years. If Mr. Benito’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, his participation in group insurance coverage will continue on at least the same level as at the time of termination for a period of 12 months from the date of termination. If Mr. Benito’s employment is terminated by the Company as a result of a change in control, or he resigns for a good reason as a result of a change in control, these benefits will continue for an additional 24 months from the date of termination. In the event that the amounts payable to Mr. Benito under the agreement constituted ‘‘excess parachute payments’’ under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that are subject to an excise or similar tax, the amounts payable to Mr. Benito will be increased so that he receives substantially the same economic benefit under the agreement had there been no such tax imposed. Additionally, following the termination of his employment, Mr. Benito has agreed to refrain from certain activities that would be competitive with the Company within the counties in California in which the Company has located its headquarters or branch offices, including refraining for 12 months from the date of termination from soliciting Company employees or customers. Mr. Porter’s Employment Agreement. If Mr. Porter’s employment agreement is terminated without cause, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one times his base salary and his average annual bonus during the last three years. If Mr. Porter’s employment is terminated by the Company or he resigns for good reason 120 days before or within two years after a change in control, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment of two times his base salary and his average annual bonus during the last three years. If Mr. Porter’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, his participation in group insurance coverage will continue on at least the same level as at the time of termination for a period of 12 months from the date of termination. If Mr. Porter’s employment is terminated by the Company as a result of a change in control, or he resigns for a good reason as a result of a change in control, these benefits will continue for an additional 24 months from the date of termination. Additionally, following the termination 45 of his employment, Mr. Porter has agreed to refrain from certain activities that would be competitive with the Company within the counties in California in which the Company has located its headquarters or branch offices, including refraining for 12 months from the date of termination from soliciting Company employees or customers. Mr. Wilton’s Employment Agreement. If Mr. Wilton’s employment is terminated without cause, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one times his base salary and his average annual bonus in the last three years. If Mr. Wilton’s employment is terminated by the Company or he resigns for good reason 120 days before or within two years after a change in control, he will be entitled to a lump sum payment of two times his base salary and his average annual bonus in the last three years. If his employment is terminated by the Company without cause, his participation in group insurance coverage will continue on at least the same level as at the time of termination for a period of 12 months from the date of termination. If Mr. Wilton’s employment is terminated by the Company as a result of a change in control, or he resigns for a good reason as a result of a change in control, these benefits will continue for an additional 24 months from the date of termination. Additionally, following the termination of his employment, Mr. Wilton has agreed to refrain from certain activities that would be competitive with the Company within the counties in California in which the Company has located its headquarters or branch offices, including refraining for 12 months from the date of termination from soliciting Company employees or customers. The following tables summarize the payments which would be payable to our named executive officers in the event of various termination scenarios as of December 31, 2014. This information is for illustrative purposes only. Regardless of the manner in which a named executive’s employment terminates, the officer would be entitled to (i) the vested portion of any stock option or restricted stock; and (ii) the vested portion of the officer’s benefit under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Change in Control Involuntary Termination Without Cause Termination for Good Reason Death Disability Walter T. Kaczmarek Cash severance under employment agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Health and life insurance premiums . . . . . Health and life insurance benefits . . . . . . Long-term care insurance benefits . . . . . . Unvested stock options (accelerated) . . . . Split-dollar death benefits (upon death) . . Outplacement services (layoff) . . . . . . . . . IRC 280(G) excise tax gross-up . . . . . . . . $1,327,458 78,239 — — 9,025 — 5,000 586,518 $ 965,424 78,239 — — — — — — $ $ 965,424 — $ 78,239 — — 700,000 — — — — — 2,793,185 — — — — — — 180,000(3) 72,000 — — — — Total: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,006,240 $1,043,663 $1,043,663 $3,493,185 $252,000 Lawrence D. McGovern Cash severance under employment agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Health and life insurance premiums . . . . . Health and life insurance benefits . . . . . . Long-term care insurance benefits . . . . . . Unvested stock options (accelerated) . . . . Split-dollar death benefits (upon death) . . IRC 280(G) excise tax gross-up . . . . . . . . $ 693,536 73,503 — — 28,773 — 302,762 $ 346,768 36,751 — — — — — $ — $ — — — — — — — $ — 525,500 — — 968,552 — — — 175,149(3) 72,000 — — — Total: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,098,574 $ 383,519 $ — $1,494,052 $247,149 46 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 Change in Control Involuntary Termination Without Cause Termination for Good Reason Death Disability Michael E. Benito Cash severance under employment agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Health and life insurance premiums . . . . . Health and life insurance benefits . . . . . . Long-term care insurance benefits . . . . . . Supplemental executive retirement plan(1)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unvested stock options (accelerated) . . . . Split-dollar death benefits (upon death) . . IRC 280(G) excise tax gross-up . . . . . . . . $ 620,370 28,620 — — $ 310,185 14,310 — — $ — $ — — — — $ — 494,400 — — — 164,784(3) 72,000 225,364 20,688 — 378,917 133,811 — — — — — — — — 114,398 — — — 813,039 — — Total: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,273,959 $ 458,306 $ — $1,307,439 $351,182 David E. Porter Cash severance under employment agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Health and life insurance premiums . . . . . Health and life insurance benefits . . . . . . Long-term care insurance benefits . . . . . . Unvested stock options (accelerated) . . . . $ 651,759 73,503 — — 20,688 $ 325,880 36,751 — — — $ — $ — — — — — $ — 525,300 — — — — 175,082(4) 72,000 — Total: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 745,950 $ 362,631 $ — $ 525,300 $247,082 Keith A. Wilton Cash severance under employment agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Health and life insurance premiums . . . . . Health and life insurance benefits . . . . . . Long-term care insurance benefits . . . . . . Unvested stock options (accelerated) . . . . Unvested restricted stock awards $ $ 781,200 28,928 — — — $ 390,600 14,464 — — — — $ — — — — — $ — 560,000 — — — — 180,000(3) 72,000 — (accelerated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573,950 573,950 573,950 573,950 573,950 Total: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,384,078 $ 979,014 $ 573,950 $1,133,950 $825,950 (1) Assumes executive selected age 62 for commencement of the payment of this benefit. (2) The amount reflected in the table is the incremental increase in the benefit payable to the named executive officer in addition to the benefit payable under the terms of the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. See ‘‘Supplemental Retirement Plan for Executive Officers’’ and the tables included therein for information about the value of the accumulated benefit payable to each named executive officer. (3) This balance represents the annual payment of long-term disability for the named executive officers. This long-term payment would begin after an elimination period and a twenty-five week short term disability period. This long-term disability payment will increase by 3% (cost of living adjustment) over the first ten years of payments and cease at age 65. (4) The payment represents one year of benefits. The second year would increase 3% (cost of living adjustment). Only two years of payments are granted since the executive is currently 65 years old. 47 Director Compensation This section provides information regarding the compensation policies for non-employee directors and amounts paid to these directors in 2014. Mr. Kaczmarek does not receive any separate compensation for his service as a director. The Company has a policy of compensating non-employee directors for their service on the Board and Board committees of the Company. On an annual basis, the Compensation Committee reviews director compensation, including the individual fees and retainers, the components of compensation, as well as the total amount of director compensation appropriate for the Company. In 2014, each director received an annual retainer fee of $50,000. The chairman of each standing committee of the Board receives an additional $3,000 per year, and the Chairman of the Board receives an additional $10,000 per year. Board Members are not paid separate fees for attending Board or committee meetings. In addition to providing cash compensation, the Compensation Committee also believes in granting equity compensation to non-employee directors in order to further align their interests with those of shareholders and has adopted a policy of granting stock options to directors. Directors are entitled to annual grants of stock options as follows: Board Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Committee Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board members (non-chairman) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,500 - 6,050 3,500 - 4,500 3,000 - 4,000 In 2014, each of the directors received stock options in accordance with the above schedule. The following table summarizes the compensation of non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2014. Director Compensation Table Name (a) Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) (b) Frank G. Bisceglia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack W. Conner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John M. Eggemeyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steven L. Hallgrimson . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert T. Moles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Humphrey P. Polanen . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Roden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles J. Toeniskoetter . . . . . . . . . . . Ranson W. Webster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W. Kirk Wycoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $53,000 $63,008 $50,000 $50,000 $53,000 $53,000 $50,000 $53,000 $53,000 $50,000 Non-Equity Incentive Plan Stock Options Awards Awards Compensation ($) (c) ($) (d)(1) — $17,519 — $23,553 — $15,572 — $15,572 — $17,519 — $17,519 — $15,572 — $17,519 — $17,519 — $15,572 ($) (e) — — — — — — — — — — Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) (f)(2) $38,400 $19,100 — — $49,300 $45,600 — $25,800 $22,700 — All Other Compensation ($) (g) $ 501(3) $1,020(3) — — — $ 472(3) — $1,058(3) $ 463(3) — Total ($) (h) $109,420 $106,681 $ 65,572 $ 65,572 $119,819 $116,591 $ 65,572 $ 97,377 $ 93,682 $ 65,572 (1) The amounts shown in column (d) reflect the applicable full grant date fair value for stock options in accordance with ASC 718 (excluding the effect of forfeitures). See Note 12 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015. (2) The amounts shown in column (f) represent only the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit measured from December 31, 2013, to December 31, 2014, under the 48 respective director compensation benefits agreements. The amounts in column (f) were determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions, consistent with those used in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and include amounts which the named director may not currently be entitled to receive because such amounts are not vested. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 13 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015. P r o x y S t a t e m e n t (3) The amounts shown reflect the annual income imputed to each director in connection with Company owned split-dollar life insurance policies for which the Company has fully paid the applicable premiums. 30MAR20 Director Outstanding Stock Options Each of the non-employee directors owned the following stock options as of December 31, 2014: Director Stock Options Frank G. Bisceglia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack W. Conner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John M. Eggemeyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steven L. Hallgrimson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert T. Moles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Humphrey P. Polanen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Roden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles J. Toeniskoetter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ranson W. Webster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W. Kirk Wycoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,300 49,900 16,000 12,000 34,800 31,782 12,000 35,300 35,300 16,000 Director Compensation Benefits Agreement Prior to 2007, the Company entered into individual director compensation benefits agreements with each of its then directors. These agreements were amended and restated in December, 2008 (‘‘Benefit Agreements’’). The Benefit Agreements provide an annual benefit equal to a designated applicable percentage of $1,000 times each year served as a director, subject to a 2% increase each year from the date of the commencement of payments. The applicable percentage increases over time and equals 100% after nine years of service. In the event of a disability, or a resignation or termination pursuant to a change of control, the director’s applicable percentage will be accelerated to 100%. Payments of benefits will be made in equal monthly payments on the first day of each month, commencing on the later of the director’s attaining the age of 62 or the month following the month in which the director separates from service on the Board and continuing until the director’s death. If a director is removed from the Board for cause he or she will forfeit any benefits under the Benefit Agreement. Company-owned split-dollar life insurance policies support the Company’s obligations under the Benefit Agreements. The premiums on the policies are paid by the Company. The cash value accrued on the policies supports the payment of the supplemental benefits for each participant. In the case of death of the participant, the participant’s designated beneficiaries will receive 80% of the net-at-risk insurance (which means the amount of the death benefit in excess of the cash value of the policy). 49 The following table shows the present value of the accumulated benefit payable to each director who has a director compensation benefit agreement, including the number of service years credited to each director under the Benefit Agreements. Name (a) Plan Name (b) Number of Years Credited Service (#) (c) Present Value of Accumulated Benefit(1)(2) ($) (d) Payments During Last Fiscal Year ($) (e) Frank G. Bisceglia . . . . . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP Jack W. Conner . . . . . . . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP Robert T. Moles . . . . . . . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP Humphrey P. Polanen . . . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP Charles J. Toeniskoetter . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP Ranson W. Webster . . . . Heritage Commerce Corp SERP 21 11 11 21 13 11 $238,300 $104,600 $178,600 $289,700 $136,300 $111,600 — — — — — — (1) The amounts in column (d) were determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and include amounts which the director may not currently be entitled to receive because such amounts are not vested. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 13 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015. (2) Each participated is fully vested. 50 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 PROPOSAL 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The Bylaws of the Company provide that the number of directors shall not be less than 9 nor more than 15. By resolution, the Board of Directors has fixed the number of directors at 11. All of our directors serve one year terms that expire at the next following annual meeting. The Bylaws of the Company provide the procedure for nominations and election of the Board of Directors. For information on these procedures see ‘‘Corporate Governance and Board Matters—Nomination of Directors.’’ Nominations not made in accordance with the procedures may be disregarded by the Chairman of the Annual Meeting and upon his instructions, the inspector of election will disregard all votes cast for such nominees. The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, has recommended the nomination of the 11 current members of the Board of Directors for one year terms that will expire at the Annual Meeting to be held in 2016. If any nominee should become unable or unwilling to serve as a director, the proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting for substitute nominees designated by the Board. The Board presently has no knowledge that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve. The following provides information with respect to each person nominated and recommended to be elected to the Board of Directors: FRANK G. BISCEGLIA, age 69, became a director of the Company in 1994. Mr. Bisceglia is a Senior Vice President—Investments, Advisory and Brokerage Services, Senior Portfolio Manager, Portfolio Management Program at UBS Financial Services, Inc., a full-service securities firm. Mr. Bisceglia has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from San Jose State University. Mr. Bisceglia contributes to the Board a substantial understanding of finance and investments from over 31 years of experience as a financial advisor to corporate and high-wealth individuals. As a long-term member of the Board and Chairman of the Loan Committee, he has a broad based understanding of the Company’s business and he has developed a general knowledge of the Company’s credit administration and loan underwriting process. JACK W. CONNER, age 75, became a director of the Company in 2004. Mr. Conner was elected Chairman of the Board in July, 2006. Mr. Conner was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comerica California from 1991 until his retirement in 1998, and remained a director until 2002. He was President and a director of Plaza Bank of Commerce from 1979 to 1991. Prior to joining Plaza Bank of Commerce, he held various positions with Union Bank of California where he began his banking career in 1964. Mr. Conner has a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Jose State University. Mr. Conner contributes to the Board over 20 years of executive leadership and substantial experience in the community banking industry. Having served as a Chief Executive Officer and President at several successful community banks in the Company’s primary market, he brings a wide-ranging understanding of bank management, finance, operations and strategic planning. His demonstrated leadership ability, judgment and executive experience led the Board to elect him as Chairman of the Board. JOHN M. EGGEMEYER, age 69, is a co-founder and Chief Executive of Castle Creek Capital LLC, a private equity firm specializing in the financial services industry. Mr. Eggemeyer is Chairman of the Board of PacWest Bancorp. Mr. Eggemeyer also serves as a director of Guaranty Bancorp and, from 2004 to May, 2006, Mr. Eggemeyer also served as Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Bancorp. He has previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of White River Capital, Inc. and a director of TCF Financial Corporation, American Financial Realty Trust, Western Bancorp and Intrawest Financial Corporation. In 2006, Mr. Eggemeyer was named Community Banker of the Year by the American Banker. Mr. Eggemeyer currently serves as a trustee of Northwestern University. Mr. Eggemeyer brings extensive leadership and banking experience to our Board, including specific community banking expertise and management experience, as well as public company expertise and consensus-building skills. His knowledge of and experience in capital markets is an invaluable resource as the Company regularly 51 assesses its capital and liquidity needs. Mr. Eggemeyer provides perspective to the Board as a key investor in the Company. STEVEN L. HALLGRIMSON, age 73, had been practicing law in the San Jose, California area since 1969 in the areas of real estate, taxation and general business planning and is a certified public accountant. He is currently of counsel with the law firm of Berliner Cohen located in San Jose, California. Mr. Hallgrimson has founded and served as a board member for several private business entities engaged in automobile lending, commercial real estate brokerage and telecommunications. He has been an instructor at San Jose State University Business School and University of California, Santa Cruz teaching a variety of business, real estate and tax courses. Mr. Hallgrimson is a member of the California State Bar and California Society of Certified Public Accountants. He serves as a trustee and President of the Santa Clara County Law Library and is a director of Loaves & Fishes and the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Hallgrimson has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. Mr. Hallgrimson brings legal, accounting and tax knowledge and experience to the Board and provides a valuable perspective to the Board as a result of his involvement and extensive relationships in the community in which the Company serves. His background is particularly suited to serve as a member of the Audit Committee and as the committee’s ‘‘financial expert.’’ WALTER T. KACZMAREK, age 63, became President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company in 2005. Mr. Kaczmarek was Executive Vice President of Comerica Bank and of Plaza Bank of Commerce from 1990 to 2005. Prior to joining Plaza Bank of Commerce he served in various positions with Union Bank of California and also The Martin Group, a real estate investment development company. Mr. Kaczmarek contributes to the Board his breadth of knowledge of the Company’s business, industry and strategy. Mr. Kaczmarek has a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from Santa Clara University, and a Masters in Business Administration degree from San Jose State University. He brings to the Board a full understanding of the Company’s banking business, markets, community and culture. He provides the Board with an overall perspective of all facets of the Company’s business, financial condition and its strategic direction. Mr. Kaczmarek’s leadership, communication, and decision-making skills are of particular value to the Board. ROBERT T. MOLES, age 60, became a director of the Company in 2004. Mr. Moles has been the Chairman of the Board of Intero Real Estate Services, Inc., a full-service real estate firm since 2002. Prior to joining Intero, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Franchise Group of Cendant Corporation, the largest franchiser of residential and commercial real estate brokerage offices in the world. Prior to joining Cendant, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Contempo Realty, Inc. in Santa Clara, California. Mr. Moles contributes to the Board a substantial expertise in the real estate industry in the Company’s primary market. With over 33 years of experience in executive and managerial positions, he brings to the Board his skills in dealing with business and financial planning and personnel management. With his background, the Board elected him as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. HUMPHREY P. POLANEN, age 65, became a director of the Company in 1994. Mr. Polanen is the Chief Executive Officer and managing member of NeoVista Ventures LLC, a private equity investment fund. Since 1999, Mr. Polanen has been actively involved as an investor and director in various venture capital backed companies in the technology industry, and has served as a director of various private equity funds. He was the Managing Director of Internet Venture Partners BV, an investment firm, from 2000 to 2004. Prior to joining Internet Ventures, he served in various executive positions with Sun Microsystems and Tandem Computers. Mr. Polanen is a director (and former Chairman of the Board) of St. Bernard Software, a publicly traded Internet security company. Mr. Polanen practiced corporate law for over 10 years at the beginning of his career. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard University. Mr. Polanen contributes to the Board a sophisticated knowledge and effective leadership perspective of general business, finance, investments and financial 52 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 reporting developed over 30 years of experience as an executive, investor, director and business manager with advanced technology companies and private equity firms. He provides the Board with an important perspective on the technology industry. With his background, the Board elected him as Chairman of the Audit Committee. LAURA RODEN, age 56, is the founder and managing director of Capital Formation Consultants LLC, an advisor to alternative asset funds including venture capital, private equity, hedge and debt funds. Prior to founding Capital Formation Consultants LLC, Ms. Roden was the managing director for The Angels’ Forum (Palo Alto, CA), an early stage angel and venture capital investing group for high net worth individuals. For most of Ms. Roden’s prior career she was engaged as chief financial officer at both established and emerging corporations, including most notably Chronicle Broadcasting Company (San Francisco, CA) and PowerTV, Inc (acquired by Cisco Corporation, San Jose, CA). Ms. Roden has expertise in general management, finance, fundraising and marketing. Ms. Roden has taught courses on finance at San Jose State University, and is a frequent speaker for angel investment and venture capital groups and associations. Ms. Roden has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College and Masters in Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. Ms. Roden has extensive management experience in a full range of business operations, strategic planning, marketing strategies and capital formation for entrepreneurial companies in the technology industry. In addition, with her prior experience as a chief financial officer, she is particularly suited to serve as a member of the Board’s Audit Committee. CHARLES J. TOENISKOETTER, age 70, became a director of the Company in 2002. Mr. Toeniskoetter is Chairman of the Board of Toeniskoetter Development Inc. (formerly Toeniskoetter & Breeding, Inc., Development), a Silicon Valley real estate development and investment company. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Redwood Trust, Inc. and from 1991 to 2012 served on the Board of Directors of SJW Corp. (both New York Stock Exchange companies). Mr. Toeniskoetter has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University. Mr. Toeniskoetter contributes to the Board his entrepreneurial skills and substantial experience as a successful real estate owner, developer and investor, and his executive and financial experience as an owner of several businesses in the Company’s primary market. Mr. Toeniskoetter’s involvement in local and community affairs, and his service on the boards of two other publicly traded companies provide valuable insight and perspective to the Board. RANSON W. WEBSTER, age 70, became a director of the Company in 2004. Mr. Webster founded Computing Resources, Inc. (‘‘CRI’’) in 1978, a privately-held general purpose data processing service bureau specializing in payroll processing for small business nationwide. He served as CRI’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. In 1999, CRI merged with Intuit, Inc., the maker of QuickBooks and Quicken financial software. In 1998, Mr. Webster founded Evergreen Capital, LLC, an early stage investment company focused on Internet and biotech companies. In 2012, Mr. Webster became the Chief Executive Officer for Chargerback, Inc. a cloud based startup company dedicated to automating the lost and found process at hotels, airlines, rental car companies and other public spaces. Mr. Webster contributes to the Board substantial business acumen, executive strategic planning and financial experience developed through years of proven entrepreneurial success. Mr. Webster has a unique perspective of the Company from his long-standing service on the Board. He has a general understanding of corporate governance principles as Chairman of the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. W. KIRK WYCOFF, age 56, is a managing partner of Patriot Financial Partners, a private equity fund focused on investing in community banks and thrifts throughout the United States. He has more than 30 years of entrepreneurial banking experience. Mr. Wycoff serves as a director of Guaranty Bancorp and its subsidiary, Guaranty Bank and Trust Company. He also serves as Chairman of Continental Bank Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary, Continental Bank. In addition, Mr. Wycoff serves as a director of Porter Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary, PBI Bank. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Wycoff served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Continental. From 1991 to 2004, Mr. Wycoff was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Progress Financial Corp., which was acquired by FleetBoston Financial Corp. in 2004. As an 53 active member of the community, Mr. Wycoff serves on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Center, a non-profit which helps to provide alternative education programs for troubled youth and also helps families with life transitions. Mr. Wycoff brings extensive leadership and community banking experience to our Board, including executive management experience, as well as public company expertise and risk assessment skills. He provides perspective to the Board as a key investor in the Company. Recommendation of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors recommends the election of each nominee. The proxy holders intend to vote all proxies they hold in favor of the election of each of the nominees. If no instruction is given, the proxy holders intend to vote FOR each nominee listed. 54 P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 PROPOSAL 2—ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The Dodd-Frank Act requires, among other things, that we permit a non-binding, advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and accompanying narrative discussion contained in this proxy statement. At the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Shareholders approved an advisory proposal to authorize the Company to present the non-binding advisory proposal every three years. As described in greater detail under the heading ‘‘Compensation Discussion and Analysis,’’ we seek to closely align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our shareholders. Our compensation practices are designed to encourage and motivate our named executive officers to achieve superior performance on both a short-term and long-term basis while at the same time avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. Accordingly, the Company is presenting this proposal, which gives you as a shareholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our executive pay program by voting for or against the following resolution: ‘‘RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and the related disclosures required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K contained in the proxy statement.’’ As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors believes that the executive compensation for 2014 was reasonable and appropriate, and was the result of a carefully considered approach. The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather that overall compensation of our named executive officers and the policies and practices described in this proxy statement. In the event this non-binding proposal is not approved by our shareholders, such a vote shall not be construed as overruling a decision by the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, nor create or imply any additional fiduciary duty of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, nor shall such a vote be construed to restrict or omit the ability of our shareholders to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials related to executive compensation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will consider the non-binding vote of our shareholders to this proposal when reviewing compensation policies and practices in the future. Recommendation of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this Advisory Proposal on Executive Compensation. The proxy holders intend to vote all proxies in favor of this proposal. If no instruction is given, the proxy holders intend to vote FOR the proposal. 55 PROPOSAL 3—RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, has ratified the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2015, subject to ratification by our shareholders. A representative of Crowe Horwath LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to answer questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement if so desired. We are asking our shareholders to ratify the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our Bylaws, the SEC or The NASDAQ Stock Market, the Board is submitting the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP to our shareholders for ratification because we value our shareholders’ views on the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event that our shareholders fail to ratify the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP, however, we reserve the discretion to retain Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2015. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders. Audit Committee Report In accordance with its written charter adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing, and financial reporting practices of the Company. During 2014, the Committee met 12 times. The Committee discussed the interim financial information contained in each quarterly earnings announcement with the Chief Financial Officer prior to public release. The Committee also discussed the interim financial statements with the Chief Financial Officer and the independent auditors prior to the filing of each quarterly Form 10-Q and the annual report on Form 10-K. In discharging its oversight responsibility as to the audit process, the Audit Committee obtained from the independent auditors a formal written statement describing all relationships between the auditors and the Company that might bear on the auditors’ independence, discussed with the auditors any relationships that may impact their objectivity and independence and satisfied itself as to the auditors’ independence. The Committee reviewed with both the independent auditors and the internal auditors their audit plans, scope, and results. The Committee discussed and reviewed with the independent auditor all communications required by the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversights Board, including those described in Auditing Standard No. 16, Communication with Audit Committees, and discussed and reviewed the results of the independent auditor’s audit of the consolidated financial statements. The Committee also reviewed and discussed the results of the internal audit examinations. The Committee reviewed the audited financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014, with management and the independent auditors. The Committee has also reviewed ‘‘Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting’’ and the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and discussed these reports and opinions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Company’s filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. 56 Based on the above mentioned review and discussion with management and the independent auditors, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, for filing with the SEC. Heritage Commerce Corp Audit Committee Humphrey P. Polanen, Chairman Steven L. Hallgrimson Laura Roden March 5, 2015 The Audit Committee report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Act of 1934, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these Acts. P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 57 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees The following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed to the Company by its independent auditor: Category of Services Fiscal Year 2014 Fiscal Year 2013 Audit fees(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audit-related fees(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tax fees(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350,000 157,041 120,345 $334,000 51,500 77,300 Total accounting fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $627,386 $462,800 (1) Fees for audit services for 2014 and 2013 consisted of the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, review of the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (2) Fees for audit related services for 2014 and 2013 consisted of financial accounting and reporting consultations, consents and other services related to SEC matters, and audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Company’s employee benefit plans. (3) Fees for tax services for 2014 and 2013 consisted of tax compliance and tax planning and advice. (cid:127) Fees for tax compliance services totaled $37,400 and $40,100 in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Tax compliance services are those rendered based upon facts already in existence or transactions that have already occurred to document, compute, and obtain government approval for amounts to be included in tax filings. Such services consisted primarily of preparation of the Company’s consolidated federal and state income tax returns, trust preferred returns and a limited liability company tax return for a subsidiary entity. (cid:127) Tax planning and advice services are those rendered with respect to proposed transactions, assistance regarding the Internal Revenue Code Section 280(G) ‘‘excise tax gross-up’’ disclosures in the proxy statement for hypothetical events, and consultation with management regarding various internal control and accounting matters. Tax planning and advice services totaled $82,945 and $37,200 in 2014 and 2013, respectively. The ratio of tax planning and advice fees and all other fees to audit fees, audit-related fees and tax compliance fees was 15.23% for 2014 and 8.74% for 2013. In considering the nature of the services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with the independent registered public accounting firm and Company management to determine that they are permitted under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Under applicable SEC rules, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accountants in order to ensure that they do not impair the auditors’ independence. The SEC’s rules specify the types of non-audit services that the 58 independent registered public accountants may not provide to its audit client and establish the Audit Committee’s responsibility for administration of the engagement of the independent registered public accountants. Consistent with the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee review and pre-approve all audit services and permitted non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accountants to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to the Chair of the Audit Committee and if it does, the decisions of that member must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. Recommendation of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors recommends approval of the ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2015. The proxy holders intend to vote all proxies they hold in favor of the proposal. If no instruction is given, the proxy holders intend to vote FOR approval of the proposal. P r o x y S t a t e m e n t 30MAR20 59 OTHER BUSINESS If any matters not referred to in this proxy statement come before the meeting, including matters incident to conducting the meeting, the proxy holders will vote the shares represented by proxies in accordance with their best judgment. Management is not aware of any other business to come before the meeting and, as of the date of the preparation of this proxy statement, no shareholder has submitted to management any proposal to be acted upon at the meeting. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS Any shareholder that intends to propose business to be considered at the 2016 Annual Meeting must comply with the Company’s Bylaws including providing the required notice to the Company’s Corporate Secretary not later than the close of business on February 21, 2016 nor earlier than January 22, 2016. If a shareholder gives notice of such a proposal before or after these deadlines, proxy holders will be allowed to use their discretionary voting authority to vote against the shareholder proposal without discussion when and if the proposal is raised at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented for consideration at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and to be included in the Company’s proxy statement for that meeting under SEC Rule 14a-8, must be received by the Company for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting no later than December 17, 2015, in a form that complies with applicable regulations. HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP 24MAR201019341637 Debbie Reuter Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary April 15, 2015 San Jose, California 60 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K A n n u a l R e p o r t 31MAR20 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (MARK ONE) (cid:2) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 OR (cid:3) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO Commission file number 000-23877 Heritage Commerce Corp (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) California (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) 77-0469558 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, California 95113 (Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code) (408) 947-6900 (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on which Registered Common Stock, no par value The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (NASDAQ Global Select Market) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes (cid:3) No (cid:2) Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes (cid:3) No (cid:2) 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 (cid:2) No (cid:3) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes (cid:2) No (cid:3) Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K, or any amendment to this Form 10-K. (cid:3) Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of ‘‘large accelerated filer’’, ‘‘accelerated filer’’ and ‘‘small reporting company’’ in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer (cid:3) Accelerated filer (cid:2) Non-accelerated filer (cid:3) Smaller reporting company (cid:3) (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes (cid:3) No (cid:2) The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2014, based upon the closing price on that date of $8.17 per share as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and 15,423,838 shares held, was approximately $126.0 million. As of February 5, 2015, there were 26,504,785 shares of the Registrant’s common stock (no par value) outstanding. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2015 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report. The proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 PART I. Item 1. Item 1A. Item 1B. Item 2. Item 3. Item 4. Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unresolved Staff Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Legal Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mine Safety Disclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PART II. Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Item 6. Item 7. Item 7A. Item 8. Item 9. Item 9A. Item 9B. Item 10. Item 11. Item 12. Item 13. Item 14. Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 Disclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Controls and Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PART III. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence . . . . . . Principal Accountant Fees and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PART IV. Page 3 25 42 42 44 44 45 48 49 82 82 82 82 84 84 84 84 84 85 Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exhibit Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 86 87 145 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 1 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This Report on Form 10-K contains various statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Rule 175 promulgated thereunder, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 3b-6 promulgated thereunder and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward- looking. These forward-looking statements often can be, but are not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘‘assume,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘project,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘predict,’’ ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘might,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘goal,’’ ‘‘potential’’ and similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, our assumptions regarding these events and our knowledge of facts at the time the statements are made. These statements include statements relating to our projected growth, anticipated future financial performance, and management’s long-term performance goals, as well as statements relating to the anticipated effects on results of operations and financial condition. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may be outside our control and our actual results could differ materially from our projected results. In addition, our past results of operations do not necessarily indicate our future results. The forward-looking statements could be affected by many factors, including but not limited to: (cid:127) Local, regional, and national economic conditions and events and the impact they may have on us and our customers, and our assessment of that impact on our estimates including, the allowance for loan losses; (cid:127) Changes in the financial performance or condition of the Company’s customers, or changes in the performance or creditworthiness of our customers’ suppliers or other counterparties, which could lead to decreased loan utilization rates, delinquencies, or defaults and could negatively affect our customers’ ability to meet certain credit obligations; (cid:127) Volatility in credit and equity markets and its effect on the global economy; (cid:127) Changes in consumer spending, borrowings and saving habits; (cid:127) Competition for loans and deposits and failure to attract or retain deposits and loans; (cid:127) Our ability to increase market share and control expenses; (cid:127) Our ability to develop and promote customer acceptance of new products and services in a timely manner; (cid:127) Risks associated with concentrations in real estate related loans; (cid:127) Other-than-temporary impairment charges to our securities portfolio; (cid:127) An oversupply of inventory and deterioration in values of California commercial real estate; (cid:127) A prolonged slowdown in construction activity; (cid:127) Changes in the level of nonperforming assets and charge-offs and other credit quality measures, and their impact on the adequacy of the Company’s allowance for loan losses and the Company’s provision for loan losses; (cid:127) The effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board; (cid:127) Changes in inflation, interest rates, and market liquidity which may impact interest margins and impact funding sources; 2 (cid:127) Our ability to raise capital or incur debt on reasonable terms; (cid:127) Regulatory limits on Heritage Bank of Commerce’s ability to pay dividends to the Company; (cid:127) The impact of reputational risk on such matters as business generation and retention, funding and liquidity; (cid:127) The impact of cyber security attacks or other disruptions to the Company’s information systems and any resulting compromise of data or disruptions in service; (cid:127) The effect and uncertain impact on the Company of the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the rules and regulations promulgated by supervisory and oversight agencies implementing the new legislation; (cid:127) The impact of revised capital requirements under Basel III; (cid:127) Significant changes in applicable laws and regulations, including those concerning taxes, banking and securities; (cid:127) Changes in the competitive environment among financial or bank holding companies and other financial service providers; (cid:127) The effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters; (cid:127) The costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments, including resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries, and the results of regulatory examinations or reviews; (cid:127) The successful integration of the business, employees and operations of Bay View Funding with the Company and our ability to achieve the projected synergies of this acquisition; and (cid:127) Our success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing factors. We are not able to predict all the factors that may affect future results. You should not place undue reliance on any forward looking statement, which speaks only as of the date of this Report on Form 10-K. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ITEM 1 — BUSINESS General PART I Heritage Commerce Corp, a California corporation organized in 1997, is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. We provide a wide range of banking services through Heritage Bank of Commerce, our wholly-owned subsidiary and our principal asset. Heritage Bank of Commerce is a California state-chartered bank headquartered in San Jose, California and has been conducting business since 1994. When we use ‘‘we’’, ‘‘us’’, ‘‘our’’ or the ‘‘Company’’, we mean the Company on a consolidated basis with Heritage Bank of Commerce. When we refer to ‘‘HCC’’ or the ‘‘holding company’’, we are referring to Heritage Commerce Corp on a standalone basis. When we use ‘‘HBC’’, we mean Heritage Bank of Commerce on a standalone basis. The Internet address of the Company’s website is ‘‘http://www.heritagecommercecorp.com.’’ The Company makes available free of charge through the Company’s website, the Company’s annual reports on 3 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports. The Company makes these reports available on its website on the same day they appear on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (‘‘SEC’’) website. Heritage Bank of Commerce is a multi-community independent bank that offers a full range of commercial banking services to small and medium-sized businesses and their owners, managers and employees. We operate through 11 full service branch offices located entirely in the southern and eastern regions of the general San Francisco Bay Area of California in the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Benito. Our market includes the headquarters of a number of technology based companies in the region commonly known as ‘‘Silicon Valley.’’ On November 1, 2014, the Company acquired BVF/CSNK Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (‘‘BVF’’), by purchasing all of the outstanding common stock from the stockholders for an aggregate purchase price of $22.52 million. BVF became a wholly owned subsidiary of HBC. Based in Santa Clara, California, BVF is the parent company of CSNK Working Capital Finance Corp, a California corporation, dba Bay View Funding, which provides business essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. When we use ‘‘BVF’’ or ‘‘Bay View Funding,’’ we mean BVF and its subsidiary. Our lending activities are diversified and include commercial, real estate, construction and land development, consumer and Small Business Administration (‘‘SBA’’) guaranteed loans. We generally lend in markets where we have a physical presence through our branch offices. We attract deposits throughout our market area with a customer-oriented product mix, competitive pricing, and convenient locations. We offer a wide range of deposit products for business banking and retail markets. We offer a multitude of other products and services to complement our lending and deposit services. In addition, BVF provides factoring financing throughout the United States. As a bank holding company, Heritage Commerce Corp is subject to the supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the ‘‘Federal Reserve’’). We are required to file with the Federal Reserve reports and other information regarding our business operations and the business operations of our subsidiaries. As a California chartered bank, Heritage Bank of Commerce is subject to primary supervision, periodic examination, and regulation by the Department of Business Oversight — Division of Financial Institutions (‘‘DBO’’), and by the Federal Reserve, as its primary federal regulator. Our principal executive office is located at 150 Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, California 95113, telephone number: (408) 947-6900. At December 31, 2014, we had consolidated assets of $1.62 billion, deposits of $1.39 billion and shareholders’ equity of $184.4 million. Heritage Bank of Commerce HBC is a California state-chartered bank headquartered in San Jose, California. It was incorporated in November 1993 and opened for business in January 1994. HBC operates through eleven full service branch offices. The locations of HBC’s current offices are: San Jose: Danville: Administrative Office Main Branch 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, CA 95113 Branch Office 387 Diablo Road Danville, CA 94526 Branch Office 15575 Los Gatos Boulevard Suite B Los Gatos, CA 95032 Branch Office 18625 Sutter Boulevard Suite 100 Morgan Hill, CA 95037 Los Gatos: Morgan Hill: 4 Fremont: Gilroy: Hollister: Branch Office 3137 Stevenson Boulevard Fremont, CA 94538 Branch Office 7598 Monterey Street Suite 110 Gilroy, CA 95020 Branch Office 351 Tres Pinos Road Suite 102A Hollister, CA 95023 Los Altos: Branch Office 419 South San Antonio Road Los Altos, CA 94022 Bay View Funding Pleasanton: Sunnyvale: Walnut Creek: Branch Office 300 Main Street Pleasanton, CA 94566 Branch Office 333 W. El Camino Real Suite 150 Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Branch Office 101 Ygnacio Valley Road Suite 100 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Bay View Funding provides business-essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. Bay View Funding’s administrative offices are located at 2933 Bunker Hill Lane, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Lending Activities Our commercial loan portfolio is comprised of operating secured and unsecured loans advanced for working capital, equipment purchases and other business purposes. Generally short-term loans have maturities ranging from thirty days to one year, and ‘‘term loans’’ have maturities ranging from one to five years. Short-term business loans are generally intended to finance current transactions and typically provide for periodic principal payments, with interest payable monthly. Term loans generally provide for floating or fixed interest rates, with monthly payments of both principal and interest. Repayment of secured and unsecured commercial loans depends substantially on the borrower’s underlying business, financial condition and cash flows, as well as the sufficiency of the collateral. Compared to real estate, the collateral may be more difficult to monitor, evaluate and sell. It may also depreciate more rapidly than real estate. Such risks can be significantly affected by economic conditions. HBC’s commercial loans, except for the factored receivables at BVF, are primarily originated for locally-oriented commercial activities in communities where HBC has a physical presence through its branch offices. HBC actively engages in SBA lending. HBC has been designated as an SBA Preferred Lender since 1999. Our factoring receivables portfolio is originated by Bay View Funding. Factored receivables are receivables that have been transferred by the originating organization and typically have not been subject to previous collection efforts. These receivables are acquired from a variety of companies, including but not limited to service providers, transportation companies, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, apparel companies, advertisers, and temporary staffing companies. The commercial real estate loan portfolio is comprised of loans secured by commercial real estate. These loans are generally advanced based on the borrower’s cash flow, and the underlying collateral provides a secondary source of payment. HBC generally restricts real estate term loans to no more than 75% of the property’s appraised value or the purchase price of the property, depending on the type of property and its utilization. HBC offers both fixed and floating rate loans. Maturities on such loans are generally restricted to between five and ten years (with amortization ranging from fifteen to twenty-five years and a balloon payment due at maturity, and amortization of thirty years on loans secured by 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 apartments); however, SBA and certain real estate loans that can be sold in the secondary market may be advanced for longer maturities. Commercial real estate loans typically involve large balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. Since payments on these loans are often dependent on the successful operation or management of the properties, as well as the business and financial condition of the borrower, repayment of such loans may be subject to adverse conditions in the real estate market, adverse economic conditions or changes in applicable government regulations. If the cash flow from the project decreases, or if leases are not obtained or renewed, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. We make commercial construction loans for rental properties, commercial buildings and homes built by developers on speculative, undeveloped property. We also make construction loans for homes built by owner occupants. The terms of commercial construction loans are made in accordance with our loan policy. Advances on construction loans are made in accordance with a schedule reflecting the cost of construction, but are generally limited to a 75% loan-to- completed-appraised-value ratio. Repayment of construction loans on non-residential properties is normally expected from the property’s eventual rental income, income from the borrower’s operating entity or the sale of the subject property. In the case of income-producing property, repayment is usually expected from permanent financing upon completion of construction. At times we provide the permanent mortgage financing on our construction loans on income- producing property. Construction loans are interest-only loans during the construction period, which typically do not exceed 18 months. If HBC provides permanent financing the short-term loan converts to permanent, amortizing financing following the completion of construction. Generally, before making a commitment to fund a construction loan, we require an appraisal of the property by a state-certified or state-licensed appraiser. We review and inspect properties before disbursement of funds during the term of the construction loan. The repayment of construction loans is dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the construction of the subject property, as well as the sale of the property to third parties or the availability of permanent financing upon completion of all improvements. Construction loans expose us to the risk that improvements will not be completed on time, and in accordance with specifications and projected costs. Construction delays, the financial impairment of the builder, interest rate increases or economic downturn may further impair the borrower’s ability to repay the loan. In addition, the borrower may not be able to obtain permanent financing or ultimate sale or rental of the property may not occur as anticipated. HBC utilizes underwriting guidelines to assess the likelihood of repayment from sources such as sale of the property or permanent mortgage financing prior to making the construction loan. Our home equity line portfolio is comprised of home equity lines of credit to customers in our markets. Home equity lines of credit are underwritten in a manner such that they result in credit risk that is substantially similar to that of residential mortgage loans. Nevertheless, home equity lines of credit have greater credit risk than residential mortgage loans because they are often secured by mortgages that are subordinated to the existing first mortgage on the property, which we may or may not hold, and they are not covered by private mortgage insurance coverage. The consumer loan portfolio is composed of miscellaneous consumer loans including loans for financing automobiles, various consumer goods and other personal purposes. Consumer loans are generally secured. Repossessed collateral for a defaulted consumer loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment for the outstanding loan, and the remaining deficiency may not warrant further substantial collection efforts against the borrower. In addition, consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower’s continued financial stability, which can be adversely affected by job loss, divorce, illness or personal bankruptcy. Furthermore, the application of various federal and state laws, including federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount which can be recovered on such loans. As of December 31, 2014, the percentage of our total loans for each of the principal areas in which we directed our lending activities were as follows: (i) commercial and industrial 43% (including SBA loans and factored receivables); (ii) real estate secured loans 44%; (iii) land and construction loans 6%; and (iv) consumer (including home equity) 7%. While no specific industry concentration is considered 6 significant, our lending operations are located in market areas dependent on technology and real estate industries and their supporting companies. Investments Our investment policy is established by the Board of Directors. The general investment strategies are developed and authorized by our Finance and Investment Committee of the Board of Directors. The investment policy is reviewed annually by the Finance and Investment Committee, and any changes to the policy are subject to approval by the full Board of Directors. The overall objectives of the investment policy are to maintain a portfolio of high quality and diversified investments to maximize interest income over the long term and to minimize risk, to provide collateral for borrowings, and to provide additional earnings when loan production is low. The policy dictates that investment decisions take into consideration the safety of principal, liquidity requirements and interest rate risk management. All securities transactions are reported to the Board of Directors’ Finance and Investment Committee on a monthly basis. Sources of Funds Deposits traditionally have been our primary source of funds for our investment and lending activities. We also are able to borrow from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to supplement cash flow needs. Our additional sources of funds are scheduled loan payments, maturing investments, loan repayments, income on other earning assets, and the proceeds of loan sales and securities sales. Interest rates, maturity terms, service fees and withdrawal penalties are established on a periodic basis. Deposit rates and terms are based primarily on current operating strategies and market interest rates, liquidity requirements and our deposit growth goals. We offer a wide range of deposit products for retail and business banking markets including checking accounts, interest-bearing transaction accounts, savings accounts, time deposits and retirement accounts. Our branch network enables us to attract deposits from throughout our market area with a customer- oriented product mix, competitive pricing, and convenient locations. HBC joined the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS(cid:4)) program in August 2008, which enables our local customers to obtain expanded FDIC insurance coverage on their deposits. Other Banking Services We offer a multitude of other products and services to complement our lending and deposit services. These include cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, bank-by-mail, ATMs, night depositories, safe deposit boxes, direct deposit, automated payroll services, electronic funds transfers, online banking, online bill pay, and other customary banking services. HBC currently operates ATMs at five different locations. In addition, we have established a convenient customer service group accessible by toll-free telephone to answer questions and promote a high level of customer service. HBC does not have a trust department. In addition to the traditional financial services offered, HBC offers remote deposit capture, automated clearing house origination, electronic data interchange and check imaging. HBC continues to investigate products and services that it believes addresses the growing needs of its customers and to analyze other markets for potential expansion opportunities. Correspondent Banks Correspondent bank deposit accounts are maintained to enable the Company to transact types of activity that it would otherwise be unable to perform or would not be cost effective due to the size of the Company or volume of activity. The Company has utilized several correspondent banks to process a variety of transactions. 7 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Competition The banking and financial services business in California generally, and in the Company’s market areas specifically, is highly competitive. The industry continues to consolidate and unregulated competitors have entered banking markets with products targeted at highly profitable customer segments. Many larger unregulated competitors are able to compete across geographic boundaries, and provide customers with meaningful alternatives to most significant banking services and products. These consolidation trends are likely to continue. The increasingly competitive environment is a result primarily of changes in regulation, changes in technology and product delivery systems, and the consolidation among financial service providers. With respect to commercial bank competitors, the business is dominated by a relatively small number of major banks that operate a large number of offices within our geographic footprint. For the combined Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa county region, the three counties within which the Company operates, the top three institutions are all multi-billion dollar entities with an aggregate of 271 offices that control a combined 55.53% of deposit market share based on June 30, 2014 FDIC market share data. HBC ranks fifteenth with 0.76% share of total deposits based on June 30, 2014 market share data. These banks have, among other advantages, the ability to finance wide-ranging advertising campaigns and to allocate their resources to regions of highest yield and demand. Larger banks are seeking to expand lending to small businesses, which are traditionally community bank customers. They can also offer certain services that we do not offer directly, but may offer indirectly through correspondent institutions. By virtue of their greater total capitalization, these banks also have substantially higher lending limits than we do. For customers whose needs exceed our legal lending limit, we arrange for the sale, or ‘‘participation,’’ of some of the balances to financial institutions that are not within our geographic footprint. In addition to other large regional banks and local community banks, our competitors include savings institutions, securities and brokerage companies, asset management groups, mortgage banking companies, credit unions, finance and insurance companies, internet-based companies, and money market funds. In recent years, we have also witnessed increased competition from specialized companies that offer wholesale finance, credit card, and other consumer finance services, as well as services that circumvent the banking system by facilitating payments via the internet, wireless devices, prepaid cards, or other means. Technological innovations have lowered traditional barriers of entry and enabled many of these companies to compete in financial services markets. Such innovation has, for example, made it possible for non-depository institutions to offer customers automated transfer payment services that previously were considered traditional banking products. In addition, many customers now expect a choice of delivery channels, including telephone and smart phones, mail, personal computer, ATMs, self-service branches, and/or in-store branches. Strong competition for deposits and loans among financial institutions and non-banks alike affects interest rates and other terms on which financial products are offered to customers. Mergers between financial institutions have placed additional pressure on other banks within the industry to remain competitive by streamlining operations, reducing expenses, and increasing revenues. Competition has also intensified due to Federal and state interstate banking laws enacted in the mid-1990’s, which permit banking organizations to expand into other states. The relatively large and expanding California market has been particularly attractive to out of state institutions. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 has made it possible for full affiliations to occur between banks and securities firms, insurance companies, and other financial companies, and has also intensified competitive conditions. See Item 1 — ‘‘Business — Supervision and Regulation — Heritage Commerce Corp — Financial Modernization’’. In order to compete with the other financial service providers, the Company principally relies upon community-oriented, personalized service, local promotional activities, personal relationships established by officers, directors, and employees with its customers, and specialized services tailored to meet its customers’ needs. Our ‘‘preferred lender’’ status with the Small Business Administration allows us to 8 approve SBA loans faster than many of our competitors. In those instances where the Company is unable to accommodate a customer’s needs, the Company seeks to arrange for such loans on a participation basis with other financial institutions or to have those services provided in whole or in part by its correspondent banks. See Item 1 — ‘‘Business — Correspondent Banks.’’ Economic Conditions, Government Policies, Legislation, and Regulation The Company’s profitability, like most financial institutions, is primarily dependent on interest rate differentials. In general, the difference between the interest rates paid by HBC on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and other borrowings, and the interest rates received by HBC on interest earning assets, such as loans extended to customers and securities held in the investment portfolio, will comprise the major portion of the Company’s earnings. These rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of the Company and HBC, such as inflation, recession and unemployment, and the impact which future changes in domestic and foreign economic conditions might have on the Company cannot be predicted. The Company’s business is also influenced by the monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government and the policies of regulatory agencies, particularly the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board. The Federal Reserve implements national monetary policies (with objectives such as curbing inflation and combating recession) through its open-market operations in U.S. Government securities by adjusting the required level of reserves for depository institutions subject to its reserve requirements, and by varying the target Federal funds and discount rates applicable to borrowings by depository institutions. The actions of the Federal Reserve in these areas influence the growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits and also affect interest earned on interest earning assets and paid on interest bearing liabilities. The nature and impact of any future changes in monetary and fiscal policies on the Company cannot be predicted. From time to time, federal and state legislation is enacted which may have the effect of materially increasing the cost of doing business, limiting or expanding permissible activities, or affecting the competitive balance between banks and other financial services providers. In addition, the various bank regulatory agencies often adopt new rules and regulations and policies to implement and enforce existing legislation. It cannot be predicted whether, or in what form, any such legislation or regulations or changes in policy may be enacted or the extent to which the business of the Company would be affected thereby. The Company cannot predict whether or when potential legislation will be enacted and, if enacted, the effect that it, or any implemented regulations and supervisory policies, would have on our financial condition or results of operations. In addition, the outcome of any examination, litigation or investigation initiated by state or federal authorities may result in necessary changes in our operations and increased compliance costs. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as amended (‘‘Dodd-Frank’’), significantly revised and expanded the rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority of the federal bank regulatory agencies. Dodd-Frank impacts many aspects of the financial industry and, in many cases, will impact larger and smaller financial institutions and community banks differently over time. Many of the following key provisions of Dodd-Frank affecting the financial industry are now effective or are in the proposed rule or implementation stage: (cid:127) the creation of a Financial Services Oversight Counsel to identify emerging systemic risks and improve inter-agency cooperation; (cid:127) expanded FDIC authority to conduct the orderly liquidation of certain systemically significant non-bank financial companies in addition to depository institutions; 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 (cid:127) the establishment of strengthened capital and liquidity requirements for banks and bank holding companies, including minimum leverage and risk-based capital requirements no less than the strictest requirements in effect for depository institutions as of the date of enactment; (cid:127) requirement by statute that bank holding companies serve as a source of financial strength for their depository institution subsidiaries; (cid:127) the elimination and phase out of trust preferred securities from Tier 1 capital with certain exceptions; (cid:127) a permanent increase of the previously implemented temporary increase of FDIC deposit insurance to $250,000; (cid:127) authorization for financial institutions to pay interest on business checking accounts; (cid:127) changes in the calculation of FDIC deposit insurance assessments, such that the assessment base will no longer be the institution’s deposit base, but instead, is the institutions average consolidated total assets less its average tangible equity, as a result of which smaller banks are now paying proportionately less and larger banks proportionately more of the aggregate insurance assessments; (cid:127) the elimination of remaining barriers to de novo interstate branching by banks; (cid:127) expanded restrictions on transactions with affiliates and insiders under Section 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, and lending limits for derivative transactions, repurchase agreements and securities lending and borrowing transactions; (cid:127) the transfer of oversight of federally chartered thrift institutions to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and state-chartered savings banks to the FDIC, and the elimination of the Office of Thrift Supervision; (cid:127) provisions that affect corporate governance and executive compensation at most United States publicly traded companies, including proxy access requirements for stockholders, non-binding shareholders votes on executive compensation, independence requirements for compensation committees, enhance executive compensation disclosures and compensation claw-backs; (cid:127) the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is authorized to promulgate and enforce consumer protection regulations relating to bank and non-bank financial products and examine and enforce these regulations on banks with more than $10 billion in assets; (cid:127) requirements that fees of debit card issuers be reasonable and proportional to costs incurred, which does not apply directly to banks with less than $10 billion in assets, but nonetheless affects smaller banks due to competitive factors. Dodd-Frank also amended the Bank Holding Company Act to require federal financial regulatory agencies to adopt rules that prohibit banks and their affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading and investing in and sponsoring certain unregistered investment companies (defined as hedge funds and private equity funds). The statutory provision is commonly called the ‘‘Volcker Rule.’’ The Federal Reserve Board together with four other government agencies issued final rules implementing the Volcker Rule in December 2013, effective April 1, 2014, but institutions will have until July 21, 2015 to conform their activities and investments to the requirements of the Volcker Rule. We do not anticipate that the Volcker Rule will have a material effect on our operations as we do not engage in any of the trading activities prohibited by the Volcker Rule, and we do not have any ownership interest in or relationship with any of the types of funds regulated by the Volcker Rule. Certain provisions of Dodd-Frank will significantly impact, or already are affecting, our operations and expenses, including, for example, changes in FDIC assessments, the permitted payment of interest on demand deposits, and enhanced compliance requirements. Some of the rules and regulations promulgated 10 or yet to be promulgated under Dodd-Frank will apply directly only to institutions much larger than ours, but could indirectly impact smaller banks, either due to competitive influences or because certain required practices for larger institutions may subsequently become expected ‘‘best practices’’ for smaller institutions. We expect that we may need to devote even more management attention and resources to evaluate and make any changes necessary to comply with new statutory and regulatory requirements under Dodd-Frank. Supervision and Regulation Introduction Banking is a complex, highly regulated industry. Regulation and supervision by federal and state banking agencies are intended to maintain a safe and sound banking system, protect depositors and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (‘‘FDIC’’) insurance fund, and to facilitate the conduct of sound monetary policy. In furtherance of these goals, Congress and the states have created several largely autonomous regulatory agencies and enacted numerous laws that govern banks, bank holding companies and the financial services industry. Consequently, the growth and earnings performance of the Company can be affected not only by management decisions and general economic conditions, but also by the requirements of applicable state and federal statues, regulations and the policies of various governmental regulatory authorities, including the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and the DBO. The system of supervision and regulation applicable to financial services businesses governs most aspects of the business of the Company, including: (i) the scope of permissible business; (ii) investments; (iii) reserves that must be maintained against deposits; (iv) capital levels that must be maintained; (v) the nature and amount of collateral that may be taken to secure loans; (vi) the establishment of new branches; (vii) mergers and consolidations with other financial institutions; and (viii) the payment of dividends. Set forth below is a description of the significant elements of the laws and regulations applicable to HCC and HBC. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the statutes, regulations and policies that are described. Also, such statutes, regulations and policies are continually under review by the U.S. Congress and state legislatures and federal and state regulatory agencies. A change in statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to HCC or HBC could have a material effect on our business. Heritage Commerce Corp General. As a bank holding company, HCC is registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (‘‘BHCA’’), and is subject to regulation and periodic examination by the Federal Reserve. HCC is also required to file periodic reports of its operations and any additional information regarding its activities and those of its subsidiaries as may be required by the Federal Reserve. HCC is also a bank holding company within the meaning of Section 1280 of the California Financial Code. Consequently, HCC is subject to examination by, and may be required to file reports with, the DBO. The DBO approval may be required for certain mergers and acquisitions. HCC’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (under the trading symbol ‘‘HTBK’’), and HCC is subject to rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market, including those related to corporate governance. HCC is also subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’) which requires HCC to file annual, quarterly and other current reports with the SEC. HCC is subject to additional regulations including, but not limited to, the proxy and tender offer rules promulgated by the SEC under Sections 13 and 14 of the Exchange Act, the reporting requirements of directors, executive officers and principal shareholders regarding transactions in the HCC’s common stock and short swing profits rules promulgated by the SEC under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and certain additional reporting requirements by principal shareholders of HCC promulgated by the SEC under Section 13 of the Exchange Act. 11 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. The Company is subject to the accounting oversight and corporate governance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including: (i) required executive certification of financial presentations; (ii)increased requirements for board audit committees and their members; (iii) enhanced disclosure of controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; (iv) enhanced controls over, and reporting of, insider trading; and (v) increased penalties for financial crimes and forfeiture of executive bonuses in certain circumstances. Affiliate Transactions. HCC and HBC are deemed affiliates of each other within the meaning of the Federal Reserve Act, and transactions between affiliates are subject to Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. The Federal Reserve Board has also issued Regulation W, which codifies prior regulations under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and related interpretive guidance with respect to affiliate transactions. Generally, Sections 23A and 23B: (i) limit the extent to which a financial institution or its subsidiaries may engage in covered transactions (A) with an affiliate (as defined in such sections) to an amount equal to 10% of such institution’s capital and surplus; and (B) with all affiliates in the aggregate to an amount equal to 20% of such capital and surplus; and (ii) require all transactions with an affiliate, whether or not covered transactions, to be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the institution or subsidiary, as the terms provided or that would be provided to a non-affiliate. Dodd-Frank enhances the requirements for certain transactions with affiliates under Sections 23A and 23B, including an expansion of the definition of ‘‘covered transactions’’ and increasing the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered transactions must be maintained. The term ‘‘covered transaction’’ includes the making of loans, purchase of assets, issuance of a guarantee and other similar types of transactions. Source of Strength Doctrine. Federal Reserve policy requires bank holding companies to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary banks. Under this policy, the holding company is expected to commit resources to support its bank subsidiary, including at times when the holding company may not be in a financial position to provide it. It is the Federal Reserve’s position that bank holding companies should stand ready to use their available resources to provide adequate capital to their subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity. Bank holding companies must also maintain the financial flexibility and capital raising capacity to obtain additional resources for assisting their subsidiary bank. A bank holding company’s failure to meet its source-of-strength obligations may constitute an unsafe and unsound practice or a violation of the Federal Reserve Board’s regulations, or both. The source-of-strength doctrine most directly affects bank holding companies where a bank holding company’s subsidiary bank fails to maintain adequate capital levels. In such a situation, the subsidiary bank will be required by the bank’s federal regulator to take ‘‘prompt corrective action.’’ Any capital loans by a bank holding company to its subsidiary bank are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary bank. The BHCA provides that, in the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a bank subsidiary will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment. Dodd-Frank has added additional guidance regarding the source of strength doctrine and had directed the regulatory agencies to promulgate new regulations to increase the capital requirements for bank holding companies to a level that matches those of banking institutions. Sound Banking Practices. Bank holding companies and their non-banking subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in activities that represent unsafe and unsound banking practices or that constitute violation of law or regulations. Under certain conditions, the Federal Reserve Board may conclude that certain actions of a bank holding company, such as a payment of a cash dividend, would constitute an unsafe and unsound banking practice. The Federal Reserve Board also has the authority to regulate the debt of bank holding companies, including the authority to impose interest rate ceilings and reserve requirements on such debt. Under certain circumstances, the Federal Reserve Board may require a bank holding company to file written notice and obtain its approval prior to purchasing or redeeming its equity securities, unless certain conditions are met. 12 Investments and Acquisition of other Banks. Subject to certain exceptions, the BHCA and the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, together with the applicable regulations, require Federal Reserve approval (or, depending on the circumstances, no notice of disapproval) prior to any person or company acquiring ‘‘control’’ of a bank or bank holding company. A conclusive presumption of control exists if an individual or company acquires the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the management or policies of an insured depository institution or to vote 25% or more of any class of voting securities of any insured depository institution. A rebuttable presumption of control exists if a person or company acquires 10% or more but less than 25% of any class of voting securities of an insured depository institution and either the institution has registered securities under the Exchange Act (such as the Company), or no other person will own a greater percentage of that class of voting securities immediately after the acquisition. As a bank holding company, we are required to obtain prior approval from the Federal Reserve before: (i) acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of a bank or bank holding company; (ii) acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the outstanding voting stock of any bank or bank holding company (unless we own a majority of such bank’s voting shares); or (iii) merging or consolidating with any other bank or bank holding company. In determining whether to approve a proposed bank acquisition, federal bank regulators will consider, among other factors, the effect of the acquisition on competition, the public benefits expected to be received from the acquisition, the projected capital ratios and levels on a post-acquisition basis, and the acquiring institution’s record of addressing the credit needs of the communities it serves, including the needs of low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of the bank under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (‘‘CRA’’). Tie-in Arrangements. Federal law prohibits a bank holding company and any subsidiary banks from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with the extension of credit. Thus, for example, HBC may not extend credit, lease or sell property, or furnish any services, or fix or vary the consideration for any of the foregoing on the condition that: (i) the customer must obtain or provide some additional credit, property or services from or to HBC other than a loan, discount, deposit or trust services; (ii) the customer must obtain or provide some additional credit, property or service from or to HCC or HBC; or (iii) the customer must not obtain some other credit, property or services from competitors, except reasonable requirements to assure soundness of credit extended. Permitted Activities. The Federal Reserve Board has determined by regulation certain activities in which a bank holding company may or may not conduct business. A bank holding company must engage, with certain exceptions, in the business of banking or managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to or performing services for its subsidiary banks. The principal exceptions to those prohibitions involve non-bank activities identified by statute, by Federal Reserve regulation, or by Federal Reserve order as activities so closely related to the business of banking or of managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto, including securities brokerage services, investment advisory services, fiduciary services, and management advisory and data processing services, among others. A bank holding company that also qualifies as and elects to become a ‘‘financial holding company’’ may engage in a broader range of activities that are financial ‘‘Financial Modernization’’. in nature (and complementary to such activities). See In determining whether a particular activity is permissible, the Federal Reserve must consider whether the performance of such an activity reasonably can be expected to produce benefits to the public that outweigh possible adverse effects. Possible benefits include greater convenience, increased competition, and gains in efficiency. Possible adverse effects include undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest, and unsound banking practices. Despite prior approval, the Federal Reserve may order a bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve has reasonable cause to believe that a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any bank subsidiary of that bank holding company may result from such an activity. 13 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Financial Modernization. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the ‘‘GLBA’’), permits greater affiliation among banks, securities firms, insurance companies, and other companies under a new type of financial services company known as a ‘‘financial holding company.’’ A financial holding company essentially is a bank holding company with significantly expanded powers. Financial holding companies are authorized by statute to engage in a number of financial activities previously impermissible for bank holding companies, including securities underwriting, dealing and market making; sponsoring mutual funds and investment companies; insurance underwriting and agency; and merchant banking activities. A bank holding company may become a financial holding company if each of its subsidiary banks is ‘‘well capitalized,’’ ‘‘well managed,’’ and, except in limited circumstances, in satisfactory compliance with the CRA. HCC has no present plans to become a financial holding company. In addition, HBC is subject to other provisions of the GLBA, including those relating to CRA, privacy and the safe-guarding of confidential customer information, regardless of whether HCC elects to become a financial holding company or to conduct activities through a financial subsidiary of HBC. Heritage Bank of Commerce General. As a California commercial bank whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, HBC is subject to regulation, supervision, and regular examination by the DBO and by the Federal Reserve, as HBC’s primary Federal regulator, and must additionally comply with certain applicable regulations of the Federal Reserve. The regulations of those agencies govern most aspects of a bank’s business. Specific federal and state laws and regulations which are applicable to banks regulate, among other things, the scope of their business, their investments, their reserves against deposits, the timing of the availability of deposited funds, their activities relating to dividends, investments, loans, the nature and amount of and collateral for certain loans, borrowings, capital requirements, certain check-clearing activities, branching, and mergers and acquisitions. California banks are also subject to statutes and regulations including Federal Reserve Regulation O and Federal Reserve Act Sections 23A and 23B and Regulation W, which restrict or limit loans or extensions of credit to ‘‘insiders’’, including officers, directors and principal shareholders, and loans or extension of credit by banks to affiliates or purchases of assets from affiliates, including parent bank holding companies, except pursuant to certain exceptions and terms and conditions at least as favorable to those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated parties Pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (‘‘FDIA’’) and the California Financial Code, California state chartered commercial banks may generally engage in any activity permissible for national banks. Therefore, HBC may form subsidiaries to engage in the many so-called ‘‘closely related to banking’’ or ‘‘nonbanking’’ activities commonly conducted by national banks in operating subsidiaries or subsidiaries of bank holding companies. Further, pursuant to GLBA, California banks may conduct certain ‘‘financial’’ activities in a subsidiary to the same extent as may a national bank, provided the bank is and remains ‘‘well-capitalized,’’ ‘‘well-managed’’ and in satisfactory compliance with the CRA. HBC is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (‘‘FHLB’’) of San Francisco. Among other benefits, each FHLB serves as a reserve or central bank for its members within its assigned region and makes available loans or advances to its members. Each FHLB is financed primarily from the sale of consolidated obligations of the FHLB system. As an FHLB member, HBC is required to own a certain amount of capital stock in the FHLB. At December 31, 2014, HBC was in compliance with the FHLB’s stock ownership requirement. Federal Reserve stock is carried at cost and may be sold back to the Federal Reserve at its carrying value. Cash dividends received are reported as income. Depositor Preference. 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. If an insured depository institution fails, insured and uninsured depositors, along with the FDIC, will have priority in payment ahead of 14 unsecured, non-deposit creditors, including the parent bank holding company, with respect to any extensions of credit they have made to such insured depository institution. Loans to Directors, Executive Officers and Principal Shareholders. The authority of HBC to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and principal shareholders, including their immediate family members and corporations and other entities that they control, is subject to substantial restrictions and requirements under Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O promulgated thereunder, as well as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. These statutes and regulations impose specific limits on the amount of loans HBC may make to directors and other insiders, and specified approval procedures must be followed in making loans that exceed certain amounts. In addition, all loans HBC makes to directors and other insiders must satisfy the following requirements: (cid:127) the loans must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not affiliated with HCC or HBC; (cid:127) HBC must follow credit underwriting procedures at least as stringent as those applicable to comparable transactions with persons who are not affiliated with HCC or HBC; and (cid:127) the loans must not involve a greater than normal risk of non-payment or include other features not favorable to HBC. Furthermore, HBC must periodically report all loans made to directors and other insiders to the bank regulators, and these loans are closely scrutinized by the regulators for compliance with Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O. Each loan to directors or other insiders must be pre-approved by the HBC board of directors with the interested director abstaining from voting. Community Reinvestment Act. The CRA is intended to encourage insured depository institutions, while operating safely and soundly, to help meet the credit needs of their communities. The CRA specifically directs the federal bank regulatory agencies, in examining insured depository institutions, to assess their record of helping to meet the credit needs of their entire community, including low-and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound banking practices. The CRA further requires the agencies to take a financial institution’s record of meeting its community credit needs into account when evaluating applications for, among other things, domestic branches, consummating mergers or acquisitions or holding company formations. The federal banking agencies have adopted regulations which measure a bank’s compliance with its CRA obligations on a performance based evaluation system. This system bases CRA ratings on an institution’s actual lending service and investment performance rather than the extent to which the institution conducts needs assessments, documents community outreach or complies with other procedural requirements. The ratings range from ‘‘outstanding’’ to a low of ‘‘substantial noncompliance.’’ HBC had a CRA rating of ‘‘satisfactory’’ as of its most recent regulatory examination. Environmental Regulation. Federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the discharge of harmful materials into the environment may have an impact on HBC. Since HBC is not involved in any business that manufactures, uses or transports chemicals, waste, pollutants or toxins that might have a material adverse effect on the environment, HBC’s primary exposure to environmental laws is through its lending activities and through properties or businesses HBC may own, lease or acquire. Based on a general survey of HBC’s loan portfolio, conversations with local appraisers and the type of lending currently and historically done by HBC, management is not aware of any potential liability for hazardous waste contamination that would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company as of December 31, 2014. Safeguarding of Customer Information and Privacy. The Federal Reserve and other bank regulatory agencies have adopted guidelines for safeguarding confidential, personal customer information. These guidelines require financial institutions to create, implement and maintain a comprehensive written 15 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information, protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information and protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer. HBC has adopted a customer information security program to comply with such requirements. Financial institutions are also required to implement policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of nonpublic personal information about consumers to non-affiliated third parties. In general, financial institutions must provide explanations to consumers on policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of such nonpublic personal information, and, except as otherwise required by law, prohibits disclosing such information. HBC has implemented privacy policies addressing these restrictions which are distributed regularly to all existing and new customers of HBC. USA Patriot Act of 2001. The USA Patriot Act of 2001 (the ‘‘Patriot Act’’) is intended to strengthen the ability of U.S. law enforcement agencies and intelligence communities to work cohesively to combat terrorism on a variety of fronts. The impact of the Patriot Act on financial institutions of all kinds has been significant and wide-ranging. The Patriot Act substantially enhanced existing anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws, and required appropriate regulatory authorities to adopt rules to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators, and law enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering. Under the Patriot Act, financial institutions are subject to prohibitions regarding specified financial transactions and account relationships, as well as enhanced due diligence and ‘‘know your customer’’ standards in their dealings with foreign financial institutions and foreign customers. For example, the enhanced due diligence policies, procedures, and controls generally require financial institutions to take reasonable steps: (cid:127) to conduct enhanced scrutiny of account relationships to guard against money laundering and report any suspicious transactions; (cid:127) to ascertain the identity of the nominal and beneficial owners of, and the source of funds deposited into, each account as needed to guard against money laundering and report any suspicious transactions; (cid:127) to ascertain for any foreign bank, the shares of which are not publicly traded, the identity of the owners of the foreign bank, and the nature and extent of the ownership interest of each such owner; and (cid:127) to ascertain whether any foreign bank provides correspondent accounts to other foreign banks and, if so, the identity of those foreign banks and related due diligence information. The Patriot Act also requires all financial institutions to establish anti-money laundering programs, which must include, at a minimum: (cid:127) the development of internal policies, procedures, and controls; (cid:127) the designation of a compliance officer; (cid:127) an ongoing employee training program; and (cid:127) an independent audit function to test the programs. Material deficiencies in anti-money laundering compliance can result in public enforcement actions by the banking agencies, including the imposition of civil money penalties and supervisory restrictions on growth and expansion. Such enforcement actions could also have serious reputation consequences for the Company. Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation. The United States has imposed economic sanctions that affect transactions with designated foreign countries, nationals and others. These are typically known as 16 the ‘‘OFAC’’ rules based on their administration by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (the ‘‘OFAC’’). The OFAC-administered sanctions targeting countries take many different forms. Generally, however, they contain one or more of the following elements: (i) restrictions on trade with or investment in a sanctioned country, including prohibitions against direct or indirect imports from and exports to a sanctioned country and prohibitions on ‘‘U.S. persons’’ engaging in financial transactions relating to making investments in, or providing investment related advice or assistance to, a sanctioned country; and (ii) a blocking of assets in which the government or specially designated nationals of the sanctioned country have an interest, by prohibiting transfers of property subject to U.S. jurisdiction (including property in the possession or control of U.S. persons). Blocked assets (e.g., property and bank deposits) cannot be paid out, withdrawn, set off or transferred in any manner without a license from the OFAC. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences. Mortgage Reform Dodd-Frank prescribes certain standards that mortgage lenders must consider before making a residential mortgage loan, including verifying a borrower’s ability to repay such mortgage loan. Dodd-Frank also allows borrowers to assert violations of certain provisions of the Truth-in-Lending Act as a defense to foreclosure proceedings. Under Dodd-Frank, prepayment penalties are prohibited for certain mortgage transactions and creditors are prohibited from financing insurance policies in connection with a residential mortgage loan or home equity line of credit. Dodd-Frank requires mortgage lenders to make additional disclosures prior to the extension of credit, in each billing statement and for negative amortization loans and hybrid adjustable rate mortgages. Additionally, Dodd-Frank prohibits mortgage originators from receiving compensation based on the terms of residential mortgage loans and generally limits the ability of a mortgage originator to be compensated by others if compensation is received from a consumer. Predatory Lending The term ‘‘predatory lending’’ is far-reaching and covers a potentially broad range of behavior. As such, it does not lend itself to a concise or comprehensive definition. Typically, predatory lending involves at least one, and perhaps all three, of the following elements: (i) making unaffordable loans based on a borrower’s assets rather than on the borrower’s ability to repay an obligation, or asset-based lending; (ii) inducing a borrower to refinance a loan repeatedly in order to charge high points and fees each time the loan is refinanced, or loan flipping; and (iii) engaging in fraud or deception to conceal the true nature of the loan obligation from an unsuspecting or unsophisticated borrower. Federal Reserve regulations aimed at curbing such lending significantly widened the pool of high-cost home-secured loans covered by the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994, a federal law that requires extra disclosures and consumer protections to borrowers. In addition, the regulation bars loan flipping by the same lender or loan servicer within a year. Lenders also will be presumed to have violated the law which says loans shouldn’t be made to people unable to repay them, unless they document that the borrower has the ability to repay. Lenders that violate the rules face cancellation of loans and penalties equal to the finance charges paid. Neither the Company nor HBC engages in predatory lending, and thus does not expect these rules or potential future regulations in this area to have any impact on its financial condition or results of operations. Consumer Protection Regulation HBC is subject to a number of federal and state laws designed to protect consumers and prohibit unfair or deceptive business practices. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act the Home Mortgage Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the National Flood Insurance Act and various state law counterparts. These laws and regulation mandate creation disclosure 17 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must interact with customers when taking deposits, making loans, collecting loans and providing other services. Dodd-Frank established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (‘‘CFPB’’), which has the responsibility for making rules and regulations under the federal consumer protection laws relating to financial products and services. The CFPB also has a broad mandate to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts and practices and is specifically empowered to require certain disclosures to consumers and draft model disclosure forms. Failure to comply with consumer protection laws and regulations can subject financial institutions to enforcement actions, fines and other penalties. The Federal Reserve examines HBC for compliance with CFPB rules and enforces CFPB rules with respect to HBC. The CFPB officially commenced operations on July 21, 2011 and has engaged in numerous activities since then, including: (i) investigating consumer complaints about credit cards and mortgages; (ii) launching a supervision program; (iii) conducting research for and developing mandatory financial product disclosures; and (iv) engaging in consumer financial protection rulemaking. The CFPB recently issued a final rule that requires creditors to make a reasonable good faith determination of a consumer’s ability to repay any consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling. The rule provides creditors with minimum requirements for making such ability-to-repay determinations. The full extent of the CFPB’s authority and potential impact on HBC is unclear at this time, and HBC continues to monitor the CFPB’s activities on an ongoing basis. Enforcement Authority The federal and California regulatory structure gives the bank regulatory agencies extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves for regulatory purposes. The regulatory agencies have adopted guidelines to assist in identifying and addressing potential safety and soundness concerns before an institution’s capital becomes impaired. The guidelines establish operational and managerial standards generally relating to: (i) internal controls, information systems, and internal audit systems; (ii) loan documentation; (iii) credit underwriting; (iv) interest-rate exposure; (v) asset growth and asset quality; and (vi) compensation, fees, and benefits. Further, the regulatory agencies have adopted safety and soundness guidelines for asset quality and for evaluating and monitoring earnings to ensure that earnings are sufficient for the maintenance of adequate capital and reserves. If, as a result of an examination, the DBO or the Federal Reserve should determine that the financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity, or other aspects of HBC’s operations are unsatisfactory or that HBC or its management is violating or has violated any law or regulation, the DBO and the Federal Reserve, and separately the FDIC as insurer of the HBC’s deposits, have residual authority to: (cid:127) require affirmative action to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice; (cid:127) direct an increase in capital and the maintenance of higher specific minimum capital ratios, which may preclude HBC from being deemed well capitalized and restrict its ability to accept certain brokered deposits; (cid:127) restrict HBC’s growth geographically, by products and services, or by mergers and acquisitions, including bidding in FDIC receiverships for failed banks; (cid:127) enter into or issue informal or formal enforcement actions, including required Board of Directors’ resolutions, memoranda of understanding, written agreements and consent or cease and desist orders or prompt corrective action orders to take corrective action and cease unsafe and unsound practices; (cid:127) require prior approval of senior executive officer or director changes; remove officers and directors and assess civil monetary penalties; and 18 (cid:127) take possession of and close and liquidate HBC or appoint the FDIC as receiver. Deposit Insurance The FDIC is an independent federal agency that insures deposits, up to prescribed statutory limits, of federally insured banks and savings institutions and safeguards the safety and soundness of the banking and savings industries. The FDIC insures HBC’s customer deposits through the Deposit Insurance Fund (the ‘‘DIF’’) up to prescribed limits for each depositor. Pursuant to Dodd-Frank, the maximum deposit insurance amount has been permanently increased to $250,000. The amount of FDIC assessments paid by each DIF member institution is based on its relative risk of default as measured by regulatory capital ratios and other supervisory factors. HBC is subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the DIF. In October 2010, the FDIC adopted a revised restoration plan to ensure that the DIF’s designated reserve ratio (‘‘DRR’’) reaches 1.35% of insured deposits by September 30, 2020, the deadline mandated by Dodd-Frank. However, financial institutions like HBC with assets of less than $10 billion are exempted from the cost of this increase. The restoration plan proposed an increase in the DRR to 2% of estimated insured deposits as a long-term goal for the fund. The FDIC also proposed future assessment rate reductions in lieu of dividends, when the DRR reaches 1.5% or greater. The FDIC redefined its deposit insurance premium assessment base from an institution’s total domestic deposits to its total assets less tangible equity, effective in the second quarter of 2011. The changes to the assessment base necessitated changes to assessment rates, which also became effective April 1, 2011. The revised assessment rates are lower than prior rates, but the assessment base is larger and approximately the same amount of assessment revenue is being collected by the FDIC. We are generally unable to control the amount of premiums that we are required to pay for FDIC insurance. If there are additional bank or financial institution failures or if the FDIC otherwise determines, we may be required to pay even higher FDIC premiums than the recently increased levels. These announced increases and any future increases in FDIC insurance premiums may have a material and adverse effect on our earnings and could have a material adverse effect on the value of, or market for, our common stock. In addition to DIF assessments, banks must pay quarterly assessments that are applied to the retirement of Financing Corporation (‘‘FICO’’) bonds issued in the 1980’s to assist in the recovery of the savings and loan industry. The FICO assessment amount fluctuates quarterly, but was 0.00150% of average total assets less average tangible equity for the third quarter of 2014. As of the date of this report, the Company had not received the FICO assessment for the fourth quarter of 2014. Those assessments will continue until the Financing Corporation bonds mature in 2019. The FDIC may terminate a depository institution’s deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution’s financial condition is unsafe or unsound or that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices that pose a risk to the DIF or that may prejudice the interest of the bank’s depositors. The termination of deposit insurance for a bank would also result in the revocation of the bank’s charter by the DBO. Capital Adequacy Requirements HCC and HBC are subject to the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC, respectively, governing capital adequacy. Each of the federal regulators has established risk-based and leverage capital guidelines for the banks and/or bank holding companies it regulates, which set total capital requirements and define capital in terms of ‘‘core capital elements,’’ or Tier 1 capital; and ‘‘supplemental capital elements,’’ or Tier 2 capital. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as the sum of the core capital elements less goodwill and certain other deductions, including the unrealized net gains or losses (after tax adjustments) on available-for-sale investment securities, and disallowed deferred tax assets. 19 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 The following items are defined as core capital elements: (i) common shareholders’ equity; (ii) qualifying non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus (and, in the case of holding companies, senior perpetual preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury Department pursuant to the Troubled Asset Relief Program); (iii) minority interests in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries; and (iv) ‘‘restricted’’ core capital elements (which include qualifying trust preferred securities) up to 25% of all core capital elements, net of goodwill less any associated deferred tax liability. Supplementary capital elements include: (i) allowance for loan and lease losses (but not more than 1.25% of an institution’s risk-weighted assets); (ii) perpetual preferred stock and related surplus not qualifying as core capital; (iii) hybrid capital instruments, perpetual debt and mandatory convertible debt instruments, and (iv) term subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock and related surplus. The maximum amount of Tier 2 capital is capped at 100% of Tier 1 capital. The minimum required ratio of qualifying total capital to total risk-weighted assets is 8% (‘‘Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio’’), and the minimum required ratio of Tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets is 4% (‘‘Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio’’). Risk-based capital ratios are calculated to provide a measure of capital relative to the degree of risk associated with a financial institution’s operations for transactions reported on the balance sheet as assets, and transactions, such as letters of credit and recourse arrangements, which are recorded as off-balance sheet items. Under risk-based capital guidelines, the nominal dollar amounts of assets and credit-equivalent amounts of off-balance sheet items are multiplied by one of several risk adjustment percentages, which range from 0% for assets with low credit risk, such as cash on hand and certain U.S. Treasury securities, to 100% for assets with relatively high credit risk, such as unsecured loans. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, HBC’s Total Risk-Based Capital Ratios were 13.1% and 13.9% respectively, and HBC’s Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratios were 11.9% and 12.6%, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the consolidated Company’s Total Risk-Based Capital Ratios were 13.9% and 15.3%, respectively, and its Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratios were 12.6% and 14.0%, respectively. The FDIC and the Federal Reserve Board have also established guidelines for a financial institution’s leverage ratio, defined as Tier 1 capital to adjusted total assets. Banks and bank holding companies that have received the highest rating of the five categories used by regulators to rate banks and are not anticipating or experiencing any significant growth must maintain a leverage ratio of at least 3%. All other institutions are typically required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 4% to 5%; however, federal regulations also provide that financial institutions must maintain capital levels commensurate with the level of risk to which they are exposed, including the volume and severity of problem loans, and federal regulators may set higher capital requirements when an institution’s particular circumstances warrant. HBC’s leverage ratios were 9.9% and 10.1% on December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the consolidated Company’s leverage ratios were 10.6% and 11.2%, respectively. Risk-based capital requirements also take into account concentrations of credit involving collateral or loan type, and the risks of ‘‘non-traditional’’ activities (those that have not customarily been part of the banking business). The regulations require institutions with high or inordinate levels of risk to operate with higher minimum capital standards, and authorize the regulators to review an institution’s management of such risks in assessing an institution’s capital adequacy. Additionally, the regulatory Statements of Policy on risk-based capital include exposure to interest rate risk as a factor that the regulators will consider in evaluating a financial institution’s capital adequacy, although interest rate risk does not impact the calculation of an institution’s risk-based capital ratios. Interest rate risk is the exposure of a bank’s current and future earnings and equity capital to adverse movement in interest rates. While interest rate risk is inherent in a financial institution’s role as a financial intermediary, it introduces volatility to the institution’s earnings and economic value. In July 2013, the Federal banking regulators approved final rules to implement the revised capital adequacy standards of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, commonly called Basel III, and to 20 address relevant provisions of Dodd-Frank. The final rules strengthen the definition of regulatory capital, increases risk-based capital requirements, makes selected changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets, and adjusts the prompt corrective action thresholds. Community banking organizations, such as HCC and HBC, became subject to the new rules on January 1, 2015 and certain provisions of the new rule will be phased in over the period of 2015 through 2019. The final rules: (cid:127) Requires a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.5%. (cid:127) Requires a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 6.5% for a ‘‘well-capitalized’’ institution. (cid:127) Increases the minimum Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio requirement from 4.0% to 6.0%. (cid:127) Increases the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio for a ‘‘well-capitalized’’ institution from 6.0% to 8.0%. (cid:127) Retains the minimum total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio requirement of 8.0%. (cid:127) Establishes a minimum leverage ratio requirement of 4.0%. (cid:127) Retains the existing regulatory risk weightings for 1-4 family residential mortgage exposures. (cid:127) Permits banking organizations that are not subject to the advanced approaches rule, such as HCC and HBC, to retain, through a one-time election, the existing treatment for most accumulated other comprehensive income, such that unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale will not affect regulatory capital amounts and ratios. (cid:127) Implements a common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets which is in addition to the other minimum risk-based capital standards in the rule. Institutions that do not maintain the required capital buffer will become subject to progressively more stringent limitations on the percentage of earnings that can be paid out in dividends or used for stock repurchases and on the payment of discretionary bonuses to executive management. The capital buffer requirement will be phased in over three years beginning in 20I6, and will effectively raise the minimum required common equity Tier 1 capital ratio to 7.0%, the Tier 1 capital ratio to 8.5%, and the total capital ratio to 10.5% on a fully phased- in basis. A n n u a l R e p o r t (cid:127) Increases capital requirements for past-due loans, high volatility commercial real estate exposures, and certain short-term commitments and securitization exposures. 26FEB20 (cid:127) Expands the recognition of collateral and guarantors in determining risk-weighted assets. (cid:127) Removes references to credit ratings consistent with Dodd-Frank and establishes due diligence requirements for securitization exposures. (cid:127) Permits banking organizations that had less than $15 billion in total consolidated assets as of December 31, 2009, to include in Tier 1 capital trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock that were issued and included in Tier 1 capital prior to May 19, 2010, subject to a limit of 25% of Tier 1 capital elements, excluding any non-qualifying capital instruments and after all regulatory capital deductions and adjustments have been applied to Tier 1 capital. (cid:127) Establishes new qualifying criteria for regulatory capital, including new limitations on the inclusion of deferred tax assets and mortgage servicing rights. Potential changes that could materially affect us include the additional constraints on the inclusion of deferred tax assets in capital, increased risk weightings for nonperforming loans and acquisition/ development loans, and the inclusion of accumulated other comprehensive income in regulatory capital. The inclusion of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (‘‘AOCI’’) would benefit us as long as we have a net unrealized gain on securities, but would lower our regulatory capital ratios if interest rates 21 increase and our unrealized gain becomes an unrealized loss. However, under the new regulations the Company can make a one-time opt out to exclude AOCI. The aggregate effect of these regulatory changes on HCC and HBC cannot yet be determined with any degree of certainty, but our preliminary estimates indicate that if the changes are implemented and when they become fully phased-in they will not have a material impact on our Tier 1 Leverage Ratio and our consolidated Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio. Given our current level of capital we should be well-positioned to absorb the impact of Basel III without constraining our organic growth plans, although no assurance can be provided in that regard. For more information on the Company’s capital, see ‘‘Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation — Capital Resources.’’ Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Federal law requires each banking agency to take ‘‘prompt corrective action’’ with respect to a depository institution if that institution does not meet certain capital adequacy standards, including requiring the prompt submission of an acceptable capital restoration plan. Supervisory actions by the appropriate federal banking regulator under the prompt corrective action rules generally depend upon an institution’s classification within five capital categories as defined in the regulations. The relevant capital measures are the capital ratio, the Tier 1 capital ratio, and the leverage ratio. The federal banking agencies have also adopted non-capital safety and soundness standards to assist examiners in identifying and addressing potential safety and soundness concerns before capital becomes impaired. These include: operational and managerial standards relating to: (i) internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems; (ii) loan documentation; (iii) credit underwriting; (iv) asset quality and growth; (v) earnings; (vi) risk management; and (vii) compensation and benefits. A depository institution’s category of compliance under the prompt corrective action regulations will depend upon how its capital levels compare with various relevant capital measures and the other factors established by the regulations. A bank will be: (cid:127) ‘‘well capitalized’’ if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, and a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater, and is not subject to any order or written directive by any such regulatory authority to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure; (cid:127) ‘‘adequately capitalized’’ if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or greater, and a leverage ratio of 4.0% or greater (or 3.0% if the institution receives the highest rating from its primary regulator) and is not ‘‘well capitalized’’; (cid:127) ‘‘undercapitalized’’ if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0%, or a leverage ratio of less than 4.0% (or 3.0% if the institution receives the highest rating from its primary regulator); (cid:127) ‘‘significantly undercapitalized’’ if the institution has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3.0%, or a leverage ratio of less than 3.0%; and (cid:127) ‘‘critically undercapitalized’’ if the institution’s tangible equity is equal to or less than 2.0% of average quarterly tangible assets. The appropriate federal banking agency may, under certain circumstances, reclassify a well-capitalized insured depository institution as adequately capitalized. An institution may be reclassified if the appropriate federal banking agency determines (after notice and opportunity for a hearing) that the institution is in an unsafe or unsound condition or deems the institution to be engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice. The appropriate agency is also permitted to require an adequately capitalized or undercapitalized institution to comply with the supervisory provisions as if the institution were in the next 22 lower category (but not treat a significantly undercapitalized institution as critically undercapitalized) based on supervisory information other than the capital levels of the institution. At each successively lower capital category, an insured bank is subject to increased restrictions on its operations. For example, a bank is generally prohibited from paying management fees to any controlling persons or from making capital distributions if to do so would make the bank ‘‘undercapitalized.’’ Asset growth and branching restrictions apply to undercapitalized banks, which are required to submit written capital restoration plans meeting specified requirements (including a guarantee by the parent holding company, if any). ‘‘Significantly undercapitalized’’ banks are subject to broad regulatory authority, including among other things, capital directives, forced mergers, restrictions on the rates of interest they may pay on deposits, restrictions on asset growth and activities, and prohibitions on paying bonuses or increasing compensation to senior executive officers without FDIC approval. Even more severe restrictions apply to ‘‘critically undercapitalized’’ banks. Most importantly, except under limited circumstances, not later than 90 days after an insured bank becomes critically undercapitalized the appropriate federal banking agency is required to appoint a conservator or receiver for the bank. The Basel III capital rules revise the current prompt corrective action requirements effective January 1, 2015 by (i) introducing a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio requirement at each level (other than critically undercapitalized), with the required common equity Tier 1 capital ratio being 6.5% for well-capitalized status; (ii) increasing the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio requirement for each category (other than critically undercapitalized), with the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio for well-capitalized status being 8.0% (as compared to the current 6.0%); and (iii) eliminating the current provision that provides that a bank with a composite supervisory rating of 1 may have a 3.0% leverage ratio and still be adequately capitalized. The Basel III capital rules do not change the total risk-based capital requirement for any prompt corrective action category. Dividends It is the Federal Reserve’s policy that bank holding companies should generally pay dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year, and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. It is also the Federal Reserve’s policy that bank holding companies should not maintain dividend levels that undermine their ability to be a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries. Additionally, in consideration of the current financial and economic environment, the Federal Reserve has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review their dividend policy and has discouraged payment ratios that are at maximum allowable levels unless both asset quality and capital are very strong. HBC is a legal entity that is separate and distinct from its holding company. HCC receives cash through dividends paid by HBC. Subject to the regulatory restrictions which currently further restrict the ability of HBC to declare and pay dividends, future cash dividends by HBC will depend upon management’s assessment of future capital requirements, contractual restrictions, and other factors. As of December 31, 2014, HBC would be required to obtain regulatory approval from the DBO for a dividend or other distribution to HCC. The ability of the Board of Directors of HBC to declare a cash dividend to HCC is subject to California law, which restricts the amount available for cash dividends to the lesser of a bank’s retained earnings or net income for its last three fiscal years (less any distributions to shareholders made during such period). Where this test is not met, cash dividends may still be paid, with the prior approval of the DBO in an amount not exceeding the greatest of (i) retained earnings of the bank; (ii) the net income of the bank for its last fiscal year; or (iii) the net income of the bank for its current fiscal year. A California bank may also with the prior approval of the DBO and approval of the bank’s shareholders distribute a dividend in connection with a reduction of capital of the bank. If the DBO determines that the shareholders’ equity of the bank paying the dividend is not adequate or that the payment of the dividend 23 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 would be unsafe or unsound for the bank, the DBO may order the bank not to pay the dividend. Since HBC is a FDIC-insured institution, it is also possible, depending upon its financial condition and other factors, that the FDIC could assert that the payment of dividends or other payments might, under some circumstances, constitute an unsafe or unsound practice and thereby prohibit such payments. The California General Corporation Law prohibits HCC from making distributions, including dividends, to holders of its common stock or preferred stock unless either of the following tests are satisfied: (i) the amount of retained earnings immediately prior to the distribution equals or exceeds the sum of (A) the amount of the proposed distribution plus (B) any cumulative dividends in arrears on all shares having a preference with respect to the payment of dividends over the class or series to which the applicable distribution is being made; or (ii) immediately after the distribution, the value of HCC’s consolidated assets would equal or exceed the sum of its total liabilities, plus the amounts that would be payable to satisfy the preferential rights of other shareholders upon a dissolution that are superior to the rights of the shareholders receiving the distribution. Federal Banking Agency Compensation Guidelines Guidelines adopted by the federal banking agencies prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder. In June 2010, the federal bank regulatory agencies jointly issued additional comprehensive guidance on incentive compensation policies (the ‘‘Incentive Compensation Guidance’’) intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations do not undermine the safety and soundness of such organizations by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The Incentive Compensation Guidance, which covers all employees that have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of an organization, either individually or as part of a group, is based upon the key principles that a banking organization’s incentive compensation arrangements should: (i) provide incentives that do not encourage risk-taking beyond the organization’s ability to effectively identify and manage risks; (ii) be compatible with effective internal controls and risk management; and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the organization’s board of directors. Any deficiencies in compensation practices that are identified may be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect its ability to make acquisitions or perform other actions. The Incentive Compensation Guidance provides that enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements or related risk-management control or governance processes pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies. On February 7, 2011, the Federal Reserve and federal banking agencies, including the SEC proposed joint rules to implement Section 956 of Dodd-Frank for banks with $1 billion or more in assets. Section 956 prohibits incentive-based compensation arrangements that encourage inappropriate risk taking by covered financial institutions and are deemed to be excessive, or that may lead to material losses. The proposed rule would move the U.S. closer to aspects of international compensation standards by: (i) requiring deferral of a substantial portion of incentive compensation for executive officers of particularly large institutions described above; (ii) prohibiting incentive-based compensation arrangements for covered persons that would encourage inappropriate risks by providing excessive compensation; (iii) prohibiting incentive-based compensation arrangements for covered persons that would expose the institution to inappropriate risks by providing compensation that could lead to a material financial loss; (iv) requiring policies and procedures for incentive-based compensation arrangements that are commensurate the size and complexity of the institution; and (v) requiring annual reports on incentive compensation structures to the institution’s appropriate Federal regulator. Final rules are still pending. 24 The scope, content and application of the U.S. banking regulators’ policies on incentive compensation continue to evolve. It cannot be determined at this time whether compliance with such policies will adversely affect the ability of the Company to hire, retain and motivate key employees. Other Pending and Proposed Legislation Other legislative and regulatory initiatives which could affect HCC, HBC and the banking industry in general may be proposed or introduced before the United States Congress, the California legislature and other governmental bodies in the future. Such proposals, if enacted, may further alter the structure, regulation and competitive relationship among financial institutions, and may subject HCC or HBC to increased regulation, disclosure and reporting requirements. In addition, the various banking regulatory agencies often adopt new rules and regulations to implement and enforce existing legislation. It cannot be predicted whether, or in what form, any such legislation or regulations may be enacted or the extent to which the business of HCC or HBC would be affected thereby. Employees At December 31, 2014, the Company had 242 full-time equivalent employees, including 36 full-time equivalent employees of BVF. The Company’s employees are not represented by any union or collective bargaining agreement and the Company believes its employee relations are satisfactory. ITEM 1A — RISK FACTORS Our business, financial condition and results of operations are subject to various risks, including those discussed below. The risks discussed below are those that we believe are the most significant risks, although additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem less significant may also adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, perhaps materially. Our business may be adversely affected by business and economic conditions. Risks Relating to Our Industry Our business activities and earnings are affected by general business conditions in the United States and in our local market area. These conditions include short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, unemployment levels, monetary supply, consumer confidence and spending, political issues, legislative and regulatory changes, broad trends in industry and finance, fluctuations in both debt and equity capital markets, and the strength of the economy in the United States generally and in our market area in particular, all of which are beyond the Company’s control. While there are signs of economic conditions improving, the U.S. budget deficit and uncertainty in European economies underline that the economy remains uncertain. Business activity across a wide range of industries and regions is greatly affected. Local and state governments are in difficulty due to the reduction in sales taxes resulting from the lack of consumer spending and property taxes resulting from declining property values. Financial institutions continue to be affected by long-term unemployment and underemployment rates and a stricter regulatory environment. While our market areas have not experienced the same degree of challenge in unemployment as other areas, the effects of these issues have trickled down to households and businesses in our markets. There can be no assurance that the recent economic improvement is sustainable and credit worthiness of our borrowers will not deteriorate. Deterioration in economic conditions could result in an increase in loan delinquencies and non-performing assets, decreases in loan collateral values and a decrease in demand for the Company’s products and services, among other things, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 25 Disruptions and volatility in the domestic interest rate environment and credit markets, including changes in interest spreads and the yield curve, could negatively impact business and the value of certain assets. Higher interest rates could negatively affect demand for new loans and reduce the ability of borrowers to repay their current loan obligations. The Company’s loan portfolio consists of 62% of loans at variable rates and subject to higher interest costs as interest rates increase. The increase in interest rates could lead to increased delinquencies if highly-leveraged customers are unable to pay the higher interest costs and otherwise meet their obligations. These circumstances could not only result in increased loan defaults, and charge-offs, but require increases to the allowance for loan losses which may materially and adversely affect our results of operations, business, and financial condition. Government responses to economic conditions may adversely affect our operations, financial condition and earnings. Dodd-Frank has changed the bank regulatory framework with the creation of an independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (‘‘CFPB’’) that has assumed the consumer protection responsibilities of the various federal banking agencies, and has resulted in more stringent capital standards for banks and bank holding companies. The legislation requires additional regulations affecting the lending, funding, trading and investment activities of banks and bank holding companies. Bank regulatory agencies also have been responding aggressively to concerns and adverse trends identified in examinations. Ongoing uncertainty and adverse developments in the financial services industry and the domestic and international credit markets, and the effect of new legislation and regulatory actions in response to these conditions, may adversely affect our operations by restricting our business operations, including our ability to originate or sell loans, modify loan terms, or foreclose on property securing loans. These events may have a significant adverse effect on our financial performance and operating flexibility. In addition, these factors could affect the performance and value of our loan and investment securities portfolios, which also would negatively affect our financial performance. Furthermore, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in an attempt to help the overall economy, has, among other things, kept interest rates low through its targeted Federal funds rate and the purchase of mortgage-backed securities. If the Federal Reserve increases the Federal funds rate, overall interest rates will likely rise, which may negatively impact the housing markets and the U.S. economic recovery. In addition, deflationary pressures, while possibly lowering our operating costs, could have a significant negative effect on our borrowers, especially our business borrowers, and the values of underlying collateral securing loans, which could negatively affect our financial performance. We are subject to more stringent capital requirements. Dodd-Frank requires the federal banking agencies to establish minimum leverage and risk-based capital requirements for insured banks and their holding companies. The federal banking agencies issued a joint final rule, or the ‘‘Final Capital Rule,’’ that implements the Basel III capital standards and establishes the minimum capital levels required under Dodd-Frank. We became subject to the Final Capital Rule as of January 1, 2015. The Final Capital Rule establishes a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5% of risk-weighted assets for a ‘‘well-capitalized’’ institution and increases the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio for a ‘‘well-capitalized’’ institution from 6.0% to 8.0%. Additionally, the Final Capital Rule requires an institution to maintain a 2.5% common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer over the 6.5% minimum risk-based capital requirement to avoid restrictions on the ability to pay dividends, discretionary bonuses, and engage in share repurchases. The Final Capital Rule permanently grandfathers trust preferred securities issued before May 19, 2010, subject to a limit of 25% of Tier 1 capital. The Final Capital Rule increases the required capital for certain categories of assets, including high-volatility construction real estate loans and certain exposures related to securitizations; however, the Final Capital Rule retains the current capital treatment of residential mortgages. Under the Final Capital Rule, we may make a one-time, permanent election to continue to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income from capital. If we 26 do not make this election, unrealized gains and losses will be included in the calculation of our regulatory capital. Implementation of these standards, or any other new regulations, may adversely affect our ability to pay dividends, or require us to reduce business levels or raise capital, including in ways that may adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. Additional requirements imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act could adversely affect us. Current and future legal and regulatory requirements, restrictions, and regulations, including those imposed under Dodd-Frank, may adversely impact our profitability and may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations, may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make any changes required by the legislation and related regulations and may make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified executive officers and employees. Dodd-Frank comprehensively reformed the regulation of financial institutions, products and services. Because many aspects of the Dodd-Frank are subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, it is difficult to forecast the impact that such rulemaking will have on us, our customers or the financial industry. Certain provisions of Dodd-Frank that affect deposit insurance assessments, the payment of interest on demand deposits and interchange fees could increase the costs associated with our deposit-generating activities, as well as place limitations on the revenues that those deposits may generate. The CFPB may reshape the consumer financial laws through rulemaking and enforcement of the prohibitions against unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices. The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority to administer and carry out the provisions of Dodd-Frank with respect to financial institutions that offer covered financial products and services to consumers. The CFPB has also been directed to write rules identifying practices or acts that are unfair, deceptive or abusive in connection with any transaction with a consumer for a consumer financial product or service, or the offering of a consumer financial product or service. The concept of what may be considered to be an ‘‘abusive’’ practice is relatively new under the law. Moreover, HBC will be supervised and examined by the CFPB for compliance with the CFPB’s regulations and policies. The costs and limitations related to this additional regulatory reporting regimen have yet to be fully determined, although they may be material and the limitations and restrictions that will be placed upon us with respect to its consumer product offering and services may produce significant, material effects on our profitability. We are subject to credit risk. Risks Related to Our Market and Business There are inherent risks associated with our lending activities. These risks include, among other things, the impact of changes in interest rates and changes in the economic conditions in the markets where we operate as well as those across the United States and abroad. Increases in interest rates and/or weakening economic conditions could adversely impact the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans or the value of the collateral securing these loans. We are also subject to various laws and regulations that affect our lending activities. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could subject us to regulatory enforcement action that could result in the assessment of significant civil money penalties against us. We seek to mitigate the risks inherent in our loan portfolio by adhering to specific underwriting practices. Although we believe that our underwriting criteria are appropriate for the various kinds of loans we make, we may incur losses on loans that meet our underwriting criteria, and these losses may exceed the amounts set aside as reserves in our allowance for loan losses. The value of real estate collateral supporting many construction and land development loans, land loans, commercial loans and multi-family loans may decline. Negative developments in the financial industry and credit markets may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. 27 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Our interest expense could increase following the repeal of the federal prohibition on payment of interest on demand deposits. The federal prohibition on the ability of financial institutions to pay interest on demand deposit accounts was repealed as part of Dodd-Frank. Financial institutions may commence offering interest on demand deposits to compete for customers. Our interest expense will increase and our net interest margin will decrease if HBC begins offering interest on demand deposits to attract additional customers or maintain current customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, net income and results of operations. Our allowance for loan losses may not be adequate to cover actual loan losses, which could adversely affect our earnings. We maintain an allowance for loan losses for probable incurred losses in the portfolio. The allowance is established through a provision for loan losses based on management’s evaluation of the risks inherent in the loan portfolio and the general economy. The allowance is also appropriately increased for new loan growth. The allowance is based upon a number of factors, including the size of the loan portfolio, asset classifications, economic trends, industry experience and trends, industry and geographic concentrations, estimated collateral values, management’s assessment of the credit risk inherent in the portfolio, historical loan loss experience and loan underwriting policies. The allowance is only an estimate of the probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio and may not represent actual losses realized over time, either of losses in excess of the allowance or of losses less than the allowance. In addition, we evaluate all loans identified as impaired loans and allocate an allowance based upon our estimation of the potential loss associated with those problem loans. While we strive to carefully manage and monitor credit quality and to identify loans that may be deteriorating, at any time there are loans included in the portfolio that may result in losses, but that have not yet been identified as non-performing or potential problem loans. Through established credit practices, we attempt to identify deteriorating loans and adjust the allowance for loan losses accordingly. However, because future events are uncertain and because we may not successfully identify all deteriorating loans in a timely manner, there may be loans that deteriorate in an accelerated time frame. We cannot be sure that we will be able to identify deteriorating loans before they become nonperforming assets, or that we will be able to limit losses on those loans that have been so identified. Changes in economic, operating and other conditions which are beyond our control, including interest rate fluctuations, deteriorating values in underlying collateral (most of which consists of real estate), and changes in the financial condition of borrowers, may cause our estimate of probable losses or actual loan losses to exceed our current allowance. As a result, future additions to the allowance may be necessary. Further, because the loan portfolio contains a number of commercial real estate, construction, and land development loans with relatively large balances, deterioration in the credit quality of one or more of these loans may require a significant increase to the allowance for loan losses. Our regulators, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for loan losses and may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses by recognizing additional provisions for loan losses charged to expense, or to decrease our allowance for loan losses by recognizing loan charge-offs, net of recoveries. Any such additional provisions for loan losses or charge-offs, as required by these regulatory agencies, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In December 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) issued a proposed Accounting Standards Update, Financial Instruments: Credit Losses, which establishes a new impairment framework also known as the ‘‘current expected credit loss model.’’ In contrast to the incurred loss model currently used by financial entities like us, the current expected credit loss model requires an allowance be recognized based on the expected credit losses (i.e. all contractual cash flows that the entity does not expect to collect from financial assets or commitments to extend credit). It requires the consideration of more forward-looking information than is permitted under current U.S. generally accepted accounting 28 principles. In addition to relevant information about past events and current conditions, such as borrowers’ current creditworthiness, quantitative and qualitative factors specific to borrowers, and the economic environment in which the entity operates, the new model requires consideration of reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the expected collectability of the financial assets’ remaining contractual cash flows, and evaluation of the forecasted direction of the economic cycle, as well as time value of money. This proposed impairment framework is expected to have wide reaching implications to financial institutions such as us. The allowance for loan losses could potentially increase due to a larger volume of financial assets that fall within the scope of the proposed model, resulting in an adverse impact on net income, volatility in earnings and higher capital requirements. The full effect of the implementation of this new model is unknown until the proposed guidance is finalized. Nonperforming assets take significant time to resolve and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. At December 31, 2014, nonperforming loans were 0.54% of the total loan portfolio and 0.41% of total assets. Nonperforming assets adversely affect our earnings in various ways. We do not record interest income on nonaccrual loans or foreclosed assets, thereby adversely affecting our income, and increasing our loan administration costs. Upon foreclosure or similar proceedings, we record the repossessed asset at the estimated fair value, less costs to sell, which may result in a write down or losses. A significant increase in the level of nonperforming assets from current levels would increase our risk profile and may impact the capital levels our regulators believe are appropriate in light of the increased risk profile. While we reduce problem assets through collection efforts, asset sales, workouts, restructurings and otherwise, decreases in the value of the underlying collateral, or in these borrowers’ performance or financial condition, whether or not due to economic and market conditions beyond our control, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the resolution of nonperforming assets requires significant commitments of time from management and our directors, which can be detrimental to the performance of their other responsibilities. We may be required to make additional provisions for loan losses and charge off additional loans in the future, which could adversely affect our results of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we recorded a $338,000 credit to the provision for loan losses, charged-off $927,000 of loans, and recovered $480,000 of loans. Since 2008, there was a significant slowdown in the real estate markets in portions of counties in California where a majority of our loan customers, including our largest borrowing relationships, are based. This slowdown reflected declining prices in real estate, higher levels of inventories of homes and higher vacancies in commercial and industrial properties, all of which contributed to financial strain on real estate developers and suppliers. However, there was some improvement beginning in 2013, with real estate prices increasing in our market area. At December 31, 2014, we had $478.3 million in commercial and residential real estate loans and $68.0 million in land and construction real estate loans, of which $1.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual. Construction loans and commercial real estate loans comprise a substantial portion of our nonperforming assets. Deterioration in the real estate market could affect the ability of our loan customers to service their debt, which could result in additional loan charge-offs and provisions for loan losses in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and capital. Our business is subject to interest rate risk and variations in interest rates may negatively affect our financial performance. Our earnings and cash flows are highly dependent upon net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income earned on interest earning assets such as loans and securities and interest expense paid on interest- bearing liabilities such as deposits and borrowed funds. 29 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Interest rates are sensitive to many factors outside our control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Federal Reserve, which regulates the supply of money and credit in the United States. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and securities and interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but could also affect our ability to originate loans and obtain deposits, and the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities. Our portfolio of securities is subject to interest rate risk and will generally decline in value if market interest rates increase, and generally increase in value if market interest rates decline. In response to the recessionary state of the national economy, the housing market and the volatility of financial markets, the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve (‘‘FOMC’’) started a series of decreases in Federal funds target rate with seven decreases in 2008, bringing the target rate to a historically low range of 0% to 0.25% through December 2014. Changes in interest rates and monetary policy can impact the demand for new loans, the credit profile of our borrowers, the yields earned on loans and securities and rates paid on deposits and borrowings. Given our current volume and mix of interest bearing liabilities and interest earning assets, we would expect our interest rate spread (the difference in the rates paid on interest bearing liabilities and the yields earned on interest earning assets) as well as net interest income to increase if interest rates rise and, conversely, to decline if interest rates fall. Additionally, increasing levels of competition in the banking and financial services business may decrease our net interest spread as well as net interest margin by forcing us to offer lower lending interest rates and pay higher deposit interest rates. Although we believe our current level of interest rate sensitivity is reasonable, significant fluctuations in interest rates (such as a sudden and substantial increase in Prime and Overnight Fed Funds rates) as well as increasing competition may require us to increase rates on deposits at a faster pace than the yield we receive on interest earning assets increases. The impact of any sudden and substantial move in interest rates and/or increased competition may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as our net interest income (including the net interest spread and margin) may be negatively impacted. Additionally, a sustained decrease in market interest rates could adversely affect our earnings. When interest rates decline, borrowers tend to refinance higher-rate, fixed-rate loans to lower rates, prepaying their existing loans. Under those circumstances, we would not be able to reinvest those prepayments in assets earning interest rates as high as the rates on the prepaid loans. In addition, our commercial real estate and commercial loans, which carry interest rates that, in general, adjust in accordance with changes in the prime rate, will adjust to lower rates. We are also significantly affected by the level of loan demand available in our market. The inability to make sufficient loans directly affects the interest income we earn. Lower loan demand will generally result in lower interest income realized as we place funds in lower yielding investments. Increased deposit insurance costs and changes in deposit regulation may adversely affect our results of operations. As a result of recent economic conditions and the enactment of Dodd-Frank, the FDIC has increased the deposit insurance assessment rates in recent years and thus raised deposit premiums for insured depository institutions. If these increases are insufficient for the Deposit Insurance Fund to meet its funding requirements, further special assessments or increases in deposit insurance premiums may be required which we may be required to pay. We are generally unable to control the amount of premiums that we are required to pay for FDIC insurance. If there are additional banks or financial institution failures, we may be required to pay even higher FDIC premiums than the recently increased levels. Any future additional assessments, increases or required prepayments in FDIC insurance premiums may materially adversely affect our results of operations. 30 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 our liquidity. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance our activities could be impaired by factors that affect us specifically or the financial services industry in general. Factors that could detrimentally impact our access to liquidity sources include a decrease in the level of our business activity due to a downturn in markets in which our loans are concentrated or adverse regulatory action against us. Our ability to borrow could also be impaired by factors that are not specific to us, such as a severe disruption of the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry as a whole. If we lost a significant portion of our low-cost deposits, it would negatively impact our liquidity and profitability. Our profitability depends in part on our success in attracting and retaining a stable base of low-cost deposits. At December 31, 2014, 37% of our deposit base was comprised of noninterest bearing deposits. While we generally do not believe these core deposits are sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, the competition for these deposits in our markets is strong and customers are increasingly seeking investments that are safe, including the purchase of U.S. Treasury securities and other government guaranteed obligations, as well as the establishment of accounts at the largest, most-well capitalized banks. If we were to lose a significant portion of our low-cost deposits, it would negatively impact our liquidity and profitability. We borrow from the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve, and there can be no assurance these programs will continue in their current manner. We, at times, utilize the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco for overnight borrowings and term advances; we also borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and from correspondent banks under our Federal funds lines of credit. The amount loaned to us is generally dependent on the value of the collateral pledged. These lenders could reduce the percentages loaned against various collateral categories, could eliminate certain types of collateral and could otherwise modify or even terminate their loan programs, particularly to the extent they are required to do so because of capital adequacy or other balance sheet concerns. Any change or termination of the programs under which we borrow from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco or correspondent banks could have an adverse effect on our liquidity and profitability. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Our results of operations may be adversely affected by other-than-temporary impairment charges relating to our securities portfolio. We may be required to record future impairment charges on our securities, including our stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, if they suffer declines in value that we consider other-than-temporary. Numerous factors, including the lack of liquidity for re-sales of certain securities, the absence of reliable pricing information for securities, adverse changes in the business climate, adverse regulatory actions or unanticipated changes in the competitive environment, could have a negative effect on our securities portfolio in future periods. Significant impairment charges could also negatively impact our regulatory capital ratios and result in HBC not being classified as ‘‘well-capitalized’’ for regulatory purposes. We depend on cash dividends from our subsidiary bank to pay cash dividends to our shareholders and to meet our cash obligations. As a holding company, dividends from our subsidiary bank provide a substantial portion of our cash flow used to pay cash dividends on our common and preferred stock and other obligations. Various 31 statutory provisions restrict the amount of dividends HBC can pay to HCC without regulatory approval. See ‘‘Item 1 — Business-Supervision and Regulation — Dividends.’’ We may need to raise additional capital in the future and such capital may not be available when needed or at all. We may need to raise additional capital in the future to provide us with sufficient capital resources and liquidity to meet our commitments and business needs. Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on, among other things, conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of our control, and our financial performance. We cannot be assured that such capital will be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. Any occurrence that may limit our access to the capital markets, such as a decline in the confidence of debt purchasers, depositors of HBC or counterparties participating in the capital markets may adversely affect our capital costs and our ability to raise capital and, in turn, our liquidity. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our profitability is dependent upon the economic conditions of the markets in which we operate. We operate primarily in Santa Clara County, Contra Costa County, Alameda County, and San Benito County and, as a result, our financial condition and results of operations are subject to changes in the economic conditions in those areas. Our success depends upon the business activity, population, income levels, deposits and real estate activity in these markets. Although our customers’ business and financial interests may extend well beyond these market areas, adverse economic conditions that affect these market areas could reduce our growth rate, affect the ability of our customers to repay their loans to us and generally affect our financial condition and results of operations. Our lending operations are located in market areas dependent on technology and real estate industries and their supporting companies. Thus, our borrowers could be adversely impacted by a downturn in these sectors of the economy that could reduce the demand for loans and adversely impact the borrowers’ ability to repay their loans, which would, in turn, increase our nonperforming assets. Because of our geographic concentration, we are less able than regional or national financial institutions to diversify our credit risks across multiple markets. Our loan portfolio has a large concentration of real estate loans in California, which involve risks specific to real estate values. A downturn in our real estate markets in California could adversely affect our business because many of our loans are secured by real estate. Real estate lending (including commercial, land development and construction) is a large portion of our loan portfolio. At December 31, 2014, approximately $608.0 million, or 56% of our loan portfolio, was secured by various forms of real estate, including residential and commercial real estate. Included in the $608.0 million of loans secured by real estate were $289.0 million (or 48%) of owner-occupied loans. The real estate securing our loan portfolio is concentrated in California. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in the geographic area in which the real estate is located. Real estate values and real estate markets are generally affected by changes in national, regional or local economic conditions, the rate of unemployment, fluctuations in interest rates and the availability of loans to potential purchasers, changes in tax laws and other governmental statutes, regulations and policies and acts of nature, such as earthquakes and natural disasters particular to California. Additionally, commercial real estate lending typically involves larger loan principal amounts and the repayment of the loans generally is dependent, in large part, on sufficient income from the properties securing the loans to cover operating expenses and debt service. If real estate values, including values of land held for development, decline, the value of real estate collateral securing our loans could be significantly reduced. Our ability to recover on defaulted loans by foreclosing and selling the real estate collateral would then be diminished and we would be more likely to suffer losses on defaulted loans. 32 In addition, banking regulators now give commercial real estate loans extremely close scrutiny due to risks relating to the cyclical nature of the real estate market, and related risks for lenders with high concentrations of such loans. The regulators have required banks with relatively high levels of commercial real estate loans to implement enhanced underwriting standards, internal controls, risk management policies and portfolio stress testing, which has resulted in higher allowances for possible loan losses. Any increase in our allowance for loan losses would adversely affect our net income, and any requirement that we maintain higher capital levels could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operation. Our construction and land development loans are based upon estimates of costs and value associated with the complete project. These estimates may be inaccurate and we may be exposed to more losses on these projects than on other loans. At December 31, 2014, land and construction loans, including land acquisition and development totaled $68.0 million or 6% of our loan portfolio. This amount was comprised of 14% owner occupied and 86% non-owner occupied construction and land loans. Risk of loss on a construction loan depends largely upon whether our initial estimate of the property’s value at completion of construction equals or exceeds the cost of the property construction (including interest) and the availability of permanent take-out financing. During the construction phase, a number of factors can result in delays and cost overruns. Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating construction costs, as well as the market value of the completed project, it is relatively difficult to evaluate accurately the total funds required to complete a project and the related loan-to-value ratio. As a result, construction loans often involve the disbursement of substantial funds with repayment dependent primarily on the completion of the project and the ability of the borrower to sell the property, rather than the ability of the borrower or guarantor to repay principal and interest. If estimates of value are inaccurate or if actual construction costs exceed estimates, the value of the property securing the loan may be insufficient to ensure full repayment. If our appraisal of the value of the completed project proves to be overstated, our collateral may be inadequate 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 of, 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. Our use of appraisals in deciding whether to make a loan on or secured by real property does not ensure the value of the real property collateral. In considering whether to make a loan secured by real property, we generally require an appraisal of the property. However, an appraisal is only an estimate of the value of the property at the time the appraisal is conducted, and an error in fact or judgment could adversely affect the reliability of an appraisal. In addition, events occurring after the initial appraisal may cause the value of the real estate to decrease. As a result of any of these factors the value of collateral backing a loan may be less than estimated, and if a default occurs we may not recover the outstanding balance of the loan. Repayment of our commercial loans is often dependent on the cash flows of the borrower, which may be unpredictable, and the collateral securing these loans may fluctuate in value. At December 31, 2014, commercial loans totaled $462.4 million or 43% of our loan portfolio, (including SBA guaranteed loans and factored receivables). Commercial lending involves risks that are different from those associated with residential and commercial real estate lending. Real estate lending is generally considered to be collateral based lending with loan amounts based on predetermined loan to collateral values and liquidation of the underlying real estate collateral being viewed as the primary source of repayment in the event of borrower default. Our commercial loans are primarily made based on the cash flows of the borrowers and secondarily on any underlying collateral provided by the borrowers. A 33 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 borrower’s cash flows may be unpredictable, and collateral securing those loans may fluctuate in value. Although commercial loans are often collateralized by equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, or other business assets, the liquidation of collateral in the event of default is often an insufficient source of repayment because accounts receivable may be uncollectible and inventories may be obsolete or of limited use, among other things. We must effectively manage our growth strategy. We seek to expand our franchise safely and consistently. A successful growth strategy requires us to manage multiple aspects of the business simultaneously, such as following adequate loan underwriting standards, balancing loan and deposit growth without increasing interest rate risk or compressing our net interest margin, maintaining sufficient capital, and recruiting, training and retaining qualified professionals. We may also experience a lag in profitability associated with the new branch openings. As part of our general growth strategy, we may expand into additional communities or attempt to strengthen our position in our current markets by opening new offices, subject to any regulatory constraints on our ability to open new offices. To the extent that we are able to open additional offices, we are likely to experience the effects of higher operating expenses relative to operating income from the new operations for a period of time, which may have an adverse effect on our levels of reported net income, return on average equity and return on average assets. Our current growth strategies involve internal growth from our current offices and, subject to any regulatory constraints on our ability to open new branch offices, the addition of new offices over time, so that the additional overhead expenses associated with these openings are absorbed prior to opening other new offices. New lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risks. From time to time, we may implement or may acquire new lines of business or offer new products and services within existing lines of business. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are not fully developed. In developing and marketing new lines of business and new products and services, we may invest significant time and resources. We may not achieve target timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and new products or services and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible. External factors, such as regulatory compliance obligations, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business or a new product or service. Furthermore, any new line of business and/or new product or service could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business or new products or services could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Potential acquisitions may disrupt our business and adversely affect our results of operations. We have in the past and, subject to any regulatory constraints on our ability to undertake any acquisitions, we may in the future seek to grow our business by acquiring other businesses. We cannot predict the frequency, size or timing of our acquisitions, and we typically do not comment publicly on a possible acquisition until we have signed a definitive agreement. There can be no assurance that our acquisitions will have the anticipated positive results, including results related to the total cost of integration, the time required to complete the integration, the amount of longer-term cost savings, continued growth, or the overall performance of the acquired company or combined entity. Integration of an acquired business can be complex and costly. If we are not able to successfully integrate future acquisitions, there is a risk that our results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, if goodwill recorded in connection with potential future acquisitions was determined to be impaired, then we would be required to recognize a charge against operations, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations during the period in which the impairment was recognized. 34 We have a significant deferred tax asset and cannot assure that it will be fully realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities computed using enacted tax rates. We regularly assess available positive and negative evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that our net deferred tax asset will be realized. Realization of a deferred tax asset requires us to apply significant judgment and is inherently speculative because it requires estimates that cannot be made with certainty. At December 31, 2014, we had a net deferred tax asset of $18.5 million. If we were to determine at some point in the future that we will not achieve sufficient future taxable income to realize our net deferred tax asset, we would be required, under generally accepted accounting principles, to establish a full or partial valuation allowance which would require us to incur a charge to operations for the period in which the determination was made. We may be adversely affected by the soundness of other financial institutions. Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and liquidity of other financial institutions. Financial institutions are often interconnected as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, or other business 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. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. Even if the transactions are collateralized, credit risk could exist if the collateral held by us cannot be liquidated at prices sufficient to recover the full amount of the credit or derivative exposure due to us. Any such losses could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. We face strong competition from financial service companies and other companies that offer banking services. We face substantial competition in all phases of our operations from a variety of different competitors. Our competitors, including larger commercial banks, community banks, savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, insurance companies, securities dealers, brokers, mortgage bankers, investment advisors, money market mutual funds and other financial institutions, compete with lending and deposit gathering services offered by us. Many of these competing institutions have much greater financial and marketing resources than we have. Due to their size, many competitors can achieve larger economies of scale and may offer a broader range of products and services than we can. If we are unable to offer competitive products and services, our business may be negatively affected. Some of the financial services organizations with which we compete are not subject to the same degree of regulation as is imposed on bank holding companies and federally insured financial institutions or are not subject to increased supervisory oversight arising from regulatory examinations. As a result, these non-bank competitors have certain advantages over us in accessing funding and in providing various services. We anticipate intense competition will be continued for the coming year due to the recent consolidation of many financial institutions and more changes in legislature, regulation and technology. Further, we expect loan demand to continue to be challenging due to the uncertain economic climate and the intensifying competition for creditworthy borrowers, both of which could lead to loan rate concession pressure and could impact our ability to generate profitable loans. We expect we may see tighter competition in the industry as banks seek to take market share in the most profitable customer segments, particularly the small business segment and the mass-affluent segment, which offers a rich source of deposits as well as more profitable and less risky customer relationships. Further, with the rebound of the equity markets, our deposit customers may perceive alternative investment opportunities as providing superior expected returns. Technology and other changes have made it more convenient for bank customers to transfer funds into alternative investments or other deposit accounts such as online virtual banks and non-bank service providers. The current low interest rate environment could increase such 35 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 transfers of deposits to higher yielding deposits or other investments. Efforts and initiatives we undertake to retain and increase deposits, including deposit pricing, can increase our costs. When our customers move money into higher yielding deposits or in favor of alternative investments, we can lose a relatively inexpensive source of funds, thus increasing our funding costs. New technology and other changes are allowing parties to effectuate financial transactions that previously required the involvement of banks. For example, consumers can maintain funds in brokerage accounts or mutual funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits. Consumers can also complete transactions such as paying bills and transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as ‘‘disintermediation,’’ could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and access to lower cost deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We are subject to extensive government regulation that could limit or restrict our activities, which in turn may adversely impact our ability to increase our assets and earnings. We operate in a highly regulated environment and are subject to supervision and regulation by a number of governmental regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the DBO and the FDIC. Regulations adopted by these agencies, which are generally intended to provide protection for depositors and customers rather than for the benefit of shareholders, govern a comprehensive range of matters relating to ownership and control of our common stock, our acquisition of other companies and businesses, permissible activities for us to engage in, maintenance of adequate capital levels, and other aspects of our operations. These bank regulators possess broad authority to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law. The laws and regulations applicable to the banking industry could change at any time and we cannot predict the effects of these changes on our business and profitability. Increased regulation could increase our cost of compliance and adversely affect profitability. Moreover, certain of these regulations contain significant punitive sanctions for violations, including monetary penalties and limitations on a bank’s ability to implement components of its business plan, such as expansion through mergers and acquisitions or the opening of new branch offices. In addition, changes in regulatory requirements may add costs associated with compliance efforts. Furthermore, government policy and regulation, particularly as implemented through the Federal Reserve System, significantly affect credit conditions. As a result of the negative financial market and general economic trends, there is a potential for new federal or state laws and regulation regarding lending and funding practices and liquidity standards, and bank regulatory agencies have been and are expected to be aggressive in responding to concerns and trends identified in examinations, including the expected issuance of formal enforcement orders. Negative developments in the financial industry and the impact of new legislation and regulation in response to those developments could negatively impact our business operations and adversely impact our financial performance. Technology is continually changing and we must effectively implement new technologies. 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 us to reduce costs. Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations as we continue to grow and expand our market areas. In order to anticipate and develop new technology, we employ a qualified staff of internal information system specialists and consider this area a core part of our business. We do not develop our own software products, but have been able to respond to technological changes in a timely manner through association with leading technology vendors. We must continue to make substantial investments in technology which may affect our results of operations. If we 36 are unable to make such investments, or we are unable to respond to technological changes in a timely manner, our operating costs may increase which could adversely affect our results of operations. System failure or breaches of our network security could subject us to increased operating costs as well as litigation and other liabilities. The computer systems and network infrastructure we use could be vulnerable to unforeseen problems. Our operations are dependent upon our ability to protect our computer equipment against damage from physical theft, fire, power loss, telecommunications failure or a similar catastrophic event, as well as from security breaches, denial of service attacks, viruses, worms and other disruptive problems caused by hackers. Any damage or failure that causes an interruption in our operations could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Computer break-ins and other disruptions could also jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted through our computer systems and network infrastructure, which may result in significant liability to us and may cause existing and potential customers to refrain from doing business with us. We employ external auditors to conduct auditing and testing for weaknesses in our systems, controls, firewalls and encryption to reduce the likelihood of any security failures or breaches. Although we, with the help of third party service providers and auditors, intend to continue to implement security technology and establish operational procedures to prevent such damage, there can be no assurance that these security measures will be successful. In addition, advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography or other developments could result in a compromise or breach of the algorithms we and our third party service providers use to encrypt and protect customer transaction data. A failure of such security measures could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We rely on third party service providers for key systems, placing us and our customers at risk if the vendor has service outages, work stoppages or is subjected to attacks on their IT systems that expose information relating to us and our customers or a vendor fails to perform its contractual obligations. We use a third party software service provider to perform all of our transaction data processing. We also outsource other customer service applications, such as on-line banking and wire transfers to third party vendors. If these service providers were to experience technical difficulties or incur any extended outages in services, it could have a material and adverse impact on us and our customers. Because such service providers service us and other banks, their systems could be affected by DDoS attacks directed at their other bank customers. In addition, third parties may seek to penetrate our vendors’ IT systems, obtain information about us or our customers or access to our customers’ accounts, and exploit that information to wrongfully withdraw or transfer our customers’ funds, which could have material and adverse impacts on our customers and the Company. Further, the failure of external vendors to perform in accordance with the contractual terms of a service agreement because of changes in a vendor’s organization structure, financial condition, support for existing products and services or strategic focus or for any other reason 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. If we were required to switch service providers due to deterioration in service quality or other factors, there is no guarantee that it could obtain comparable services for a comparable price. We could be liable for breaches of security in our online banking services. Fear of security breaches could limit the growth of our online services. We offer various internet-based services to our clients, including online banking services. The secure transmission of confidential information over the Internet is essential to maintain our clients’ confidence in our online services. Advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries or other developments could result in a compromise or breach of the technology we use to protect client transaction data. In addition, individuals may seek to intentionally disrupt our online banking services or compromise the confidentiality 37 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 of customer information with criminal intent. Although we have developed systems and processes that are designed to prevent security breaches and periodically test our security, failure to mitigate breaches of security could adversely affect our ability to offer and grow our online services, result in costly litigation and loss of customer relationships and could have an adverse effect on our business. Our controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented. Management regularly reviews and updates our internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of the Company’s controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on analytical and forecasting models. Processes that management uses to estimate our probable credit losses and to measure the fair value of financial instruments, as well as the processes used to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and other market measures on our financial condition and results of operations, depend upon the use of analytical and forecasting models. These models reflect assumptions that may not be accurate, particularly in times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances. Even if these assumptions are accurate, the models may prove to be inadequate or inaccurate because of other flaws in their design or their implementation. If the models that management uses for interest rate risk and asset-liability management are inadequate, we may incur increased or unexpected losses upon changes in market interest rates or other market measures. If the models that management uses for determining our probable credit losses are inadequate, the allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to support future charge-offs. If the models that management uses to measure the fair value of financial instruments are inadequate, the fair value of such financial instruments may fluctuate unexpectedly or may not accurately reflect what we could realize upon sale or settlement of such financial instruments. Any such failure in management’s analytical or forecasting models could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We are exposed to the risk of environmental liabilities with respect to properties to which we take title. In the course of our business, when a borrower defaults on a loan secured by real property, we generally purchase the property in foreclosure or accept a deed to the property surrendered by the borrower. We may also take over the management of properties when owners have defaulted on loans. While we have guidelines intended to exclude properties with an unreasonable risk of contamination, hazardous substances may exist on some of the properties that we own, manage or occupy and unknown hazardous risks could impact the value of real estate collateral. We may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property damage, personal injury, investigation and clean-up costs incurred by these parties in connection with environmental contamination, or may be required to investigate or clean up hazardous or toxic substances, or chemical releases at a property. The costs associated with investigation or remediation activities could be substantial and exceed the value of the property. In addition, if we are the owner or former owner of a contaminated site, we may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. If we become subject to significant environmental liabilities, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be adversely affected. 38 Managing operational risk is important to attracting and maintaining customers, investors and employees. Operational risk represents the risk of loss resulting from our operations, including but not limited to, the risk of fraud by employees or persons outside the Company, the execution of unauthorized transactions by employees, transaction processing errors and breaches of the internal control system and compliance requirements. This risk of loss also includes the potential legal actions that could arise as a result of an operational deficiency or as a result of noncompliance with applicable regulatory standards, adverse business decisions or their implementation and customer attrition due to potential negative publicity. Operational risk is inherent in all business activities and the management of this risk is important to the achievement of our business objectives. In the event of a breakdown in our internal control system, improper operation of systems or improper employee actions, we could suffer financial loss, face regulatory action and suffer damage to our reputation. Reputational risk can adversely affect our business. Threats to our reputation can come from many sources, including adverse sentiment about financial institutions generally, unethical practices, employee misconduct, failure to deliver minimum standards of service or quality, compliance deficiencies, and questionable or fraudulent activities of our customers. We have policies and procedures in place to protect our reputation and promote ethical conduct, but these policies and procedures may not be fully effective. Negative publicity regarding our business, employees, or customers, with or without merit, may result in the loss of customers, investors and employees, costly litigation, a decline in revenues and increased governmental regulation. We are dependent on key personnel and the loss of one or more of those key personnel may materially and adversely affect our prospects. Competition for qualified employees and personnel in the banking industry is intense and there are a limited number of qualified persons with knowledge of, and experience in, the California community banking industry. The process of recruiting personnel with the combination of skills and attributes required to carry out our strategies is often lengthy. Our success depends to a significant degree upon our ability to attract and retain qualified management, loan origination, finance, administrative, marketing and technical personnel and upon the continued contributions of our management and personnel. In particular, our success has been and continues to be highly dependent upon the abilities of key executives, including our Chief Executive Officer and certain other key employees. Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other external events could significantly impact our business Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other adverse external events could have a significant impact on our ability to conduct business. Such events could affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue and/or cause us to incur additional expenses. For example, our primary market areas in California are subject to earthquakes and fires. Operations in our market could be disrupted by both the evacuation of large portions of the population as well as damage and or lack of access to our banking and operation facilities. While we have not experienced such event to date, other severe weather or natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism or other adverse external events may occur in the future. Although management has established disaster recovery policies and procedures, the occurrence of any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. 39 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Our securities are not an insured deposit. Risks Related to Our Securities Our securities are not bank deposits and, therefore, are not insured against loss by the FDIC, any other deposit insurance fund or by any other public or private entity. Investment in our securities is inherently risky for the reasons described in this section and elsewhere in this report and is subject to the same market forces that affect the price of securities in any company. Our outstanding Series C Preferred Stock impacts net income available to our common shareholders and earnings per common share, and conversion of our Series C Preferred Stock will be dilutive to holders of our common stock. The dividends declared and the accretion on our outstanding Series C Preferred Stock reduce the net income available to common shareholders and our earnings per common share. Our Series C Preferred Stock will also receive preferential treatment in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The ownership interest of our existing holders of common stock will be diluted to the extent our Series C Preferred Stock is automatically converted into common stock. The Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into an aggregate of 5,601,000 shares of our common stock upon a transfer of the Series C Preferred Stock to a transferee not affiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering. The shares of common stock underlying the Series C Preferred Stock represent approximately 21% of the shares of our common stock outstanding on December 31, 2014. The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, and this may make it difficult for you to resell shares of common stock owned by you at times or at prices you find attractive. The stock market and, in particular, the market for financial institution stocks, has experienced significant volatility. In some cases, the markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices for certain issuers without regard to those issuers’ underlying financial strength. As a result, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate more than usual and cause significant price variations to occur. The trading price of the shares of our common stock will depend on many factors, which may change from time to time and which may be beyond our control, including, without limitation, our financial condition, performance, creditworthiness and prospects, future sales or offerings of our equity or equity related securities, and other factors identified above under ‘‘Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements,’’ ‘‘Risk Factors’’ and below. These broad market fluctuations have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Among the factors that could affect our stock price are: (cid:127) actual or anticipated quarterly fluctuations in our operating results and financial condition; (cid:127) changes in financial estimates or publication of research reports and recommendations by financial analysts or actions taken by rating agencies with respect to our common stock or those of other financial institutions; (cid:127) failure to meet analysts’ revenue or earnings estimates; (cid:127) speculation in the press or investment community generally or relating to our reputation, our operations, our market area, our competitors or the financial services industry in general; (cid:127) strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, restructurings, dispositions or financings; (cid:127) actions by our current shareholders, including institutional investors; (cid:127) fluctuations in the stock price and operating results of our competitors; (cid:127) future sales of our equity, equity related or debt securities; 40 (cid:127) proposed or adopted regulatory changes or developments; (cid:127) anticipated or pending investigations, proceedings, or litigation that involve or affect us; (cid:127) trading activities in our common stock, including short selling; (cid:127) domestic and international economic factors unrelated to our performance; and (cid:127) general market conditions and, in particular, developments related to market conditions for the financial services industry. Our common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ‘‘HTBK.’’ The trading volume has historically been significantly less than that of larger financial services companies. Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for you to sell your common stock when you want and at prices you find attractive. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of our common stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which we have no control. Given the relatively low trading volume of our common stock, significant sales of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline or to be lower than it otherwise might be in the absence of those sales or perceptions. Federal and state law may limit the ability of another party to acquire us, which could cause the price of our securities to decline. Federal law prohibits a person or group of persons ‘‘acting in concert’’ from acquiring ‘‘control’’ of a bank holding company unless the Federal Reserve has been given 60 days prior written notice of such proposed acquisition and within that time period the Federal Reserve has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed acquisition or extending for up to another 30 days the period during which such a disapproval may be issued. An acquisition may be made prior to the expiration of the disapproval period if the Federal Reserve issues written notice of its intent not to disapprove the action. Under a rebuttable presumption established by the Federal Reserve, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock of a bank or bank holding company with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act would, under the circumstances set forth in the presumption, constitute the acquisition of control. In addition, any ‘‘company’’ would be required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve under the BHCA, before acquiring 25% (5% in the case of an acquirer that is, or is deemed to be, a bank holding company) or more of any class of voting stock, or such lesser number of shares as may constitute control. Under the California Financial Code, no person may, directly or indirectly, acquire control of a California state bank or its holding company unless the DBO has approved such acquisition of control. A person would be deemed to have acquired control of HBC if such person, directly or indirectly, has the power (i) to vote 25% or more of the voting power of Heritage Bank of Commerce; or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of HBC. For purposes of this law, a person who directly or indirectly owns or controls 10% or more of our outstanding common stock would be presumed to control HBC. These provisions of federal and state law may prevent a merger or acquisition that would be attractive to shareholders and could limit the price investors would be willing to pay in the future for our securities. We may raise additional capital, which could have a dilutive effect on the existing holders of our securities and adversely affect the market price of our securities. We are not restricted from issuing additional shares of common stock or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or represent the right to receive shares of common stock. We frequently evaluate 41 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 opportunities to access the capital markets taking into account our regulatory capital ratios, financial condition and other relevant considerations and, subject to market conditions, we may take further capital actions. Such actions could include, among other things, the issuance of additional shares of common stock or other securities in public or private transactions in order to further increase our capital levels above the requirements for a ‘‘well capitalized’’ institution established by the federal bank regulatory agencies as well as other regulatory targets. These issuances could dilute ownership interests of investors and could dilute the per share book value of our common stock. The issuance of additional shares of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of common stock, which may negatively impact an investment in our securities. Our Board of Directors is authorized to issue additional classes or series of preferred stock without any action on the part of the shareholders, except in certain circumstances. Our Board of Directors also has the power, without shareholder approval except in certain circumstances, to set the terms of any such classes or series of preferred stock that may be issued, including voting rights, dividend rights and preferences over the common stock with respect to dividends or upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business and other terms. If we issue preferred stock in the future that has a preference over the common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of the common stock, then the rights of holders of the common stock or the market price of the common stock could be adversely affected. ITEM 1B — UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS None. ITEM 2 — PROPERTIES The main and executive offices of HCC and HBC are located at 150 Almaden Boulevard in San Jose, California 95113, with branch offices located at 15575 Los Gatos Boulevard in Los Gatos, California 95032, at 387 Diablo Road in Danville, California 94526, at 3137 Stevenson Boulevard in Fremont, California 94538, at 300 Main Street in Pleasanton, California 94566, at 101 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, California 94596, at 18625 Sutter Boulevard in Morgan Hill, California 95037, at 7598 Monterey Street in Gilroy, California 95020, at 419 S. San Antonio Road in Los Altos, California 94022, at 333 W. El Camino Real in Sunnyvale, California 94087, and at 351 Tres Pinos Road in Hollister, California 95023. BVF’s administrative offices are located at 2933 Bunker Hill Lane, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Main Offices The main offices of HBC are located at 150 Almaden Boulevard in San Jose, California on the first three floors in a fifteen-story Class-A type office building. All three floors, consisting of approximately 35,547 square feet, are subject to a direct lease dated April 13, 2000, as amended, which expires on May 31, 2015. The current monthly rent payment is $119,701 until the lease expires. On November 17, 2014 the Company exercised its right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of five years, beginning on June 1, 2015 and ending on May 31, 2020. The monthly rent at the beginning of the extension period is $104,864 with annual increases of 3% until the extension period expires. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of five years beyond the extension period. In January of 1997, the Company leased approximately 1,255 square feet (referred to as the ‘‘Kiosk’’) located next to the primary operating area at 150 Almaden Boulevard in San Jose, California to be used for meetings, staff training and marketing events. The current monthly rent payment is $5,271 until the lease expires on May 31, 2015. On November 17, 2014 the Company exercised its right to extend the term 42 of the lease for one additional period of five years, beginning on June 1, 2015 and ending on May 31, 2020. The monthly rent at the beginning of the extension period is $3,702 with annual increases of 3% until the extension period expires. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of five years beyond the extension period. Branch Offices In May of 2006, the Company leased approximately 2,505 square feet on the first floor in a three-story multi-tenant multi-use building located at 7598 Monterey Street in Gilroy, California. The current monthly rent payment is $5,283 and is subject to annual increases of 2% until the lease expires on September 30, 2016. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for two additional periods of five years each. In June of 2007, as part of the acquisition of Diablo Valley Bank, the Company took ownership of an 8,285 square foot one-story commercial office building, including the land, located at 387 Diablo Road in Danville, California. In June of 2008, the Company leased approximately 5,213 square feet on the first floor in a two-story multi-tenant office building located at 419 S. San Antonio Road in Los Altos, California. The current monthly rent payment is $25,993 and is subject to annual increases of 3% until the lease expires on April 30, 2018. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for two additional periods of five years each. In September of 2010, the Company extended its lease for approximately 4,096 square feet in an one-story stand-alone office building located at 300 Main Street in Pleasanton, California. The current monthly rent payment is $16,135 and is subject to annual increases of 3% until the lease expires on October 31, 2017. In September of 2012, the Company leased, effective March 1, 2013, approximately 3,172 square feet in an one-story multi-tenant multi-use building located at 3137 Stevenson Boulevard in Fremont, California. The monthly rent payment is $7,235 and is subject to annual increases of 3% until the lease expires on February 29, 2020. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of four years and another additional period of three years. In June of 2013, the Company leased approximately 3,022 square feet on the first floor of a three-story multi-tenant office building located at 333 West El Camino Real in Sunnyvale, California. The current monthly rent payment is $11,675 and is subject to annual increases of 3% until the lease expires on May 31, 2018. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of five years. In October of 2013, the Company extended its lease for approximately 1,920 square feet in a one story stand-alone building located in an office complex at 15575 Los Gatos Boulevard in Los Gatos, California. The current monthly rent payment is $5,834 and is subject to annual increases of 3% until the lease expires on November 30, 2018. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of five years. In April of 2014, the Company leased approximately 3,391 square feet in a multi-tenant commercial center located at 351 Tres Pinos in Hollister, CA. The current monthly rent payment is $4,239 and is subject to annual increases of 3% until the lease expires on June 30, 2019. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of five years. In May of 2014, the Company extended its lease for approximately 3,850 square feet on the first floor in a four story multi-tenant office building located at 101 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, California. The current monthly rent payment is $13,475 and is subject to 3% annual increases until the lease expires on August 15, 2021. In addition, the Company modified its lease to include 1,461 square feet 43 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 of expansion space, which Company may take possession of a portion or portions at any time throughout the extended lease period. The current monthly rent for the expansion space is $1,582 and is subject to annual increases of 3% until the lease expires. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of five years. In August of 2014, the Company amended and extended its lease to include approximately 4,716 square feet in a one story multi-tenant office building located at 18625 Sutter Boulevard in Morgan Hill, California. The current monthly rent payment is $5,895 with annual increases of 2% until the lease expires on October 31, 2021. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of five years. Bay View Funding Office In April 2013, Bay View Funding leased approximately 7,440 square feet of a two-story multi-tenant office building located at 2933 Bunker Hill Lane, Santa Clara, CA 95054. The current monthly rent payment is $16,476 and is subject to annual increases of 3% until the lease expires in April 2017. The Company has reserved the right to extend the term of the lease for one additional period of two years. For additional information on operating leases and rent expense, refer to Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements following ‘‘Item 15 — Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.’’ ITEM 3 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company is involved in certain legal actions arising from normal business activities. Management, based upon the advice of legal counsel, believes the ultimate resolution of all pending legal actions will not have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company. ITEM 4 — MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES Not Applicable. 44 PART II ITEM 5 — MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES Market Information The Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ‘‘HTBK.’’ Management is aware of the following securities dealers which make a market in the Company’s common stock: Credit Suisse Securities USA, UBS Securities LLC, LATOUR TRADING LLC, Deutsche Banc Alex Brown, SG Americas Securities LLC, MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC, Fig Partners, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, VIRTU FINANCIAL BD LLC, INSTINET, LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co., WEDBUSH SECURITIES INC, Susquehanna Capital Group, Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated, Interactive Brokers LLC, Barclays Capital Inc./Le, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citadel Securities LLC, Knight Capital Americas LLC, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Sandler O’Neill & Partners, D.A. Davidson & Co., LIME BROKERAGE LLC, and Tradebot Systems, Inc. These market makers have committed to make a market for the Company’s common stock, although they may discontinue making a market at any time. No assurance can be given that an active trading market will be sustained for the common stock at any time in the future. The information in the following table for 2014 and 2013 indicates the high and low closing prices for the common stock, based upon information provided by the NASDAQ Global Select Market and cash dividend payment for each quarter presented. Quarter Year ended December 31, 2014: Fourth quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Third quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Year ended December 31, 2013: Fourth quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Third quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stock Price High Low Dividend Per Share $8.98 $8.46 $8.31 $8.38 $8.33 $7.65 $7.08 $7.03 $8.24 $7.94 $7.77 $7.81 $7.20 $6.85 $6.36 $6.42 $0.05 $0.05 $0.04 $0.04 $0.03 $0.03 $ — $ — The closing price of our common stock on February 5, 2015 was $8.73 per share as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market. As of February 5, 2015, there were approximately 588 holders of record of common stock. There are no other classes of common equity outstanding. Dividend Policy The amount of future dividends will depend upon our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors, and will be determined by our board of directors on a quarterly basis. It is Federal Reserve policy that bank holding companies generally pay dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year, and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. It is also Federal Reserve policy that bank holding companies not maintain dividend levels that undermine the holding company’s ability to be a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries. Additionally, in consideration of the current financial and economic environment, the Federal Reserve has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review their dividend policy and has discouraged payment ratios that are at maximum allowable levels 45 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 unless both asset quality and capital are very strong. Under the federal Prompt Corrective Action regulations, the Federal Reserve or the FDIC may prohibit a bank holding company from paying any dividends if the holding company’s bank subsidiary is classified as undercapitalized. As a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends is affected by the ability of our bank subsidiary, HBC, to pay cash dividends. The ability of HBC (and our ability) to pay cash dividends in the future and the amount of any such cash dividends is and could be in the future further influenced by bank regulatory requirements and approvals and capital guidelines. The decision whether to pay dividends will be made by our Board of Directors in light of conditions then existing, including factors such as our results of operations, financial condition, business conditions, regulatory capital requirements and covenants under any applicable contractual arrangements, including agreements with regulatory authorities. For information on the statutory and regulatory limitations on the ability of the Company to pay dividends and on HBC to pay dividends to HCC see ‘‘Item 1 — Business — Supervision and Regulation — Dividends.’’ Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans The following table provides information as of December 31, 2014 regarding equity compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company were authorized for issuance: 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 reflected in column (a)) (c) Equity compensation plans approved by security holders . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders . . . . 1,726,106(1) $11.23 1,273,816(2) N/A N/A N/A (1) Consists of 1,341,676 options to acquire shares under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Plan and 384,430 options to acquire shares under the Company’s 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (2) Available under the Company’s 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. 46 Performance Graph The following graph compares the stock performance of the Company from December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2014, to the performance of several specific industry indices. The performance of the S&P 500 Index, NASDAQ Stock Index and NASDAQ Bank Stocks were used as comparisons to the Company’s stock performance. Management believes that a performance comparison to these indices provides meaningful information and has therefore included those comparisons in the following graph. Heritage Commerce Corp* S&P 500* NASDAQ - Total US* NASDAQ Bank Index* l e u a V x e d n I 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 12/31/09 12/31/10 12/31/11 12/31/12 12/31/13 26FEB201501524413 12/31/14 The following chart compares the stock performance of the Company from December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2014, to the performance of several specific industry indices. The performance of the S&P 500 Index, NASDAQ Stock Index and NASDAQ Bank Stocks were used as comparisons to the Company’s stock performance. Index 12/31/09 12/31/10 12/31/11 12/31/12 12/31/13 12/31/14 Heritage Commerce Corp* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S&P 500* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NASDAQ — Total US* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NASDAQ Bank Index* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 100 100 100 112 113 117 112 118 113 115 98 174 128 133 113 205 166 184 158 220 185 209 162 Period Ending * Source: SNL Financial Bank Information Group — (434) 977-1600 47 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 ITEM 6 — SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The following table presents a summary of selected financial information that should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto following ‘‘Item 15 — ‘‘Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.’’ SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA AT OR FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) INCOME STATEMENT DATA: Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net interest income before provision for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses Net interest income after provision for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income (loss) before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income tax expense (benefit) Net income (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividends and discount accretion on preferred stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income (loss) available to common shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . Less: undistributed earnings allocated to Series C Preferred Stock . . . . . . $ 59,256 2,153 57,103 (338) 57,441 7,746 44,222 20,965 7,538 13,427 (1,008) 12,419 1,342 Distributed and undistributed earnings (loss) allocated to common shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 11,077 PER COMMON SHARE DATA: Basic net income (loss)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Diluted net income (loss)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Book value per common share(3) Tangible book value per common share(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Pro forma tangible book value per share, assuming Series C Preferred Stock was converted into common stock(5) . . . . . . . . . . $ Weighted average number of shares outstanding — basic . . . . . . . . . . Weighted average number of shares outstanding — diluted . . . . . . . . Shares outstanding at period end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pro forma common shares outstanding at period end, assuming Series C . . . . . . . . . . Preferred Stock was converted into common stock(6) BALANCE SHEET DATA: 0.42 0.42 6.22 5.60 5.23 26,390,615 26,526,282 26,503,505 301,697 Securities (available-for sale and held-to-maturity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Net loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,070,264 18,379 Allowance for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Goodwill and other intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 16,320 Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,617,103 Total deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,388,386 Securities sold under agreement to repurchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Subordinated debt Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ Total shareholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 184,358 — $ — $ — $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ SELECTED PERFORMANCE RATIOS:(7) Return (loss) on average assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return (loss) on average tangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return (loss) on average equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return (loss) on average tangible equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Efficiency ratio, excluding impairment of goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average net loans (excludes loans held-for-sale) as a percentage of average deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average total shareholders’ equity as a percentage of average total assets SELECTED ASSET QUALITY DATA:(8) Net (recoveries) charge-offs to average loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allowance for loan losses to total loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonperforming loans to total loans plus nonaccrual loans — loans held-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonperforming assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP CAPITAL RATIOS: 52,786 2,600 50,186 (816) 51,002 7,214 40,470 17,746 6,206 11,540 (336) 11,204 1,687 9,517 0.36 0.36 5.84 5.78 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 52,565 4,187 48,378 2,784 45,594 8,865 39,061 15,398 5,489 9,909 (1,206) 8,703 1,527 7,176 0.27 0.27 5.71 5.63 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 52,031 5,875 46,156 4,469 41,687 8,422 38,537 11,572 201 11,371 (2,333) 9,038 1,589 7,449 0.28 0.28 5.30 5.20 4.90 26,266,584 26,270,394 26,295,001 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 55,087 10,512 44,575 26,804 17,771 8,733 87,332 (60,828) (4,971) (55,857) (2,398) (58,255) N/A (58,255) (3.64) (3.64) 4.73 4.61 4.41 16,026,058 16,026,058 26,233,001 5.38 26,338,161 26,386,452 26,350,938 5.25 26,303,245 26,329,336 26,322,147 32,104,505 31,951,938 31,923,147 31,896,001 31,834,001 376,021 $ 895,749 $ 19,164 $ $ 1,527 $ 1,491,632 $ 1,286,221 419,384 $ 793,286 $ 19,027 $ $ 2,000 $ 1,693,312 $ 1,479,368 380,455 $ 743,891 $ 20,700 $ $ 2,491 $ 1,306,194 $ 1,049,428 9,279 — $ $ — $ $ 169,741 23,702 197,831 232,165 $ 820,845 $ 25,204 $ $ 3,014 $ 1,246,369 993,918 $ 5,000 — $ 23,702 $ 2,445 — $ 182,152 $ — $ — $ — $ $ 173,396 0.81% 0.81% 6.77% 6.84% 3.84% 70.51% 67.26% 11.90% (cid:5)0.11% 2.09% 0.88% 0.88% 7.44% 7.60% 4.10% 68.19% 74.54% 11.85% 0.05% 1.69% 0.73% 0.73% 5.75% 5.83% 3.88% 68.24% 67.98% 12.72% 0.57% 2.34% (cid:5)4.17% 0.89% (cid:5)4.25% 0.89% 6.02% (cid:5)30.82% 6.11% (cid:5)35.66% 3.69% 3.94% 82.82% 70.61% 75.91% 14.82% 1.12% 2.71% 87.53% 13.55% 3.18% 2.98% 0.54% 6,551 $ 1.29% 12,393 $ 2.24% 19,464 $ 2.20% 19,142 $ 3.90% 34,399 Total risk-based . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tier 1 risk-based . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.9% 12.6% 10.6% 15.3% 14.0% 11.2% 16.2% 15.0% 11.5% 21.9% 20.6% 15.3% 20.9% 19.7% 14.1% Notes: (1) Represents distributed and undistributed earnings (loss) allocated to common shareholders, divided by the average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the respective period. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. 48 (2) Represents distributed and undistributed earnings (loss) allocated to common shareholders, divided by the average number of shares of common stock and common stock-equivalents outstanding for the respective period. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. (3) Represents shareholders’ equity minus preferred stock divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding at the end of the period indicated. (4) Represents shareholders’ equity minus preferred stock, minus goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding at the end of period indicated. (5) Represents shareholders’ equity minus preferred stock, minus goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding at the end of period indicated, assuming 21,004 shares of Series C Preferred Stock were converted into 5,601,000 shares of common stock. (6) Assumes 21,004 shares of Series C Preferred Stock were converted into 5,601,000 shares of common stock at December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. (7) Average balances used in this table and throughout this Annual Report are based on daily averages. (8) Average loans and total loans exclude loans held-for-sale. ITEM 7 — MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following discussion provides information about the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, and capital resources of Heritage Commerce Corp (the ‘‘Company’’ or ‘‘HCC’’), its wholly-owned subsidiary, Heritage Bank of Commerce (the ‘‘Bank’’ or ‘‘HBC’’), and HBC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, BVF/CSNK Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (‘‘BVF’’) and its subsidiary CSNK Working Capital Finance Corp, a California Corporation, dba Bay View Funding (‘‘CSNK’’). BVF and CSNK are collectively referred to as ‘‘BVF’’ or ‘‘Bay View Funding.’’ This information is intended to facilitate the understanding and assessment of significant changes and trends related to our financial condition and the results of operations. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented elsewhere in this report. Unless we state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise, references to the ‘‘Company,’’ ‘‘Heritage,’’ ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our,’’ in this Report on Form 10 K refer to Heritage Commerce Corp and its subsidiaries. Critical Accounting Policies General A n n u a l R e p o r t The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting policies generally accepted in the United States of America and general practices in the banking industry. The financial statements include the accounts of the Company. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. 26FEB20 Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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. Allowance for Loan Losses The allowance for loan losses is an estimate of the losses in our loan portfolio. The allowance is only an estimate of the inherent loss in the loan portfolio and may not represent actual losses realized over time, either of losses in excess of the allowance or of losses less than the allowance. Our accounting for estimated loan losses is discussed under the heading ‘‘Allowance for Loan Losses’’ and disclosed primarily in Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements. 49 Loan Sales and Servicing The amounts of gains recorded on sales of loans and the initial recording of servicing assets and I/O strips are based on the estimated fair values of the respective components. In recording the initial value of the servicing assets and the fair value of the I/O strips receivable, the Company uses estimates which are made on management’s expectations of future prepayment and discount rates as discussed in Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements. Stock Based Compensation We grant stock options to purchase our common stock also to our employees and directors under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. Additionally, we have outstanding options that were granted under option plans from which we no longer make grants. The benefits provided under all of these plans are subject to the provisions of accounting guidance related to share-based payments. Our results of operations for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012 were impacted by the recognition of non-cash expense related to the fair value of our share-based compensation awards. The determination of fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using the Black- Scholes model is affected by our stock price, as well as the input of other subjective assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the expected term of stock options and our stock price volatility. Our stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and changes in the assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates. Accounting guidance requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. If actual forfeitures vary from our estimates, we will recognize the difference in compensation expense in the period the actual forfeitures occur. Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets The Company accounts for acquisitions of businesses using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Management utilizes various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analyses to determine these fair values. Any excess of the purchase price over amounts allocated to the acquired assets, including identifiable intangible assets, and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are subject to adjustment during the first twelve months after the acquisition date if additional information becomes available to indicate a more accurate or appropriate value for an asset or liability. Goodwill and intangible assets are evaluated at least annually for impairment or more frequently if events or circumstances, such as changes in economic or market conditions, indicate that impairment may exist. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by management. If the fair value of the reporting unit including goodwill is determined to be less than the carrying amount of the reporting unit, a further test is required to measure the amount of impairment. If an impairment loss exists, the carrying amount of the goodwill is adjusted to a new cost basis. For purposes of the goodwill impairment test, the valuation of the Company is based on a weighted blend of the income approach and market approach. The income approach estimates the fair value of the Company based on the present value of discounted cash flows from operations. The market approach considers key pricing multiples of similar companies. Management believes the assumptions used in these calculations are consistent with current industry practice for valuing similar types of companies. Goodwill from the acquisition of Bay View Funding on November 1, 2014 totaled $13.0 million. 50 Intangible assets consist of core deposit and customer relationship intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Diablo Valley Bank in June 2007, and a below market lease, customer relationship and brokered relationship, and a non-compete agreement intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Bay View Funding in November 2014. These assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Impairment testing of these assets is performed at the individual asset level. Impairment exists if the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value at the date of the impairment test. For intangible assets, estimates of expected future cash flows (cash inflows less cash outflows) that are directly associated with an intangible asset are used to determine the fair value of that asset. Management makes certain estimates and assumptions in determining the expected future cash flows from core deposit and customer relationship intangibles including account attrition, expected lives, discount rates, interest rates, servicing costs and other factors. Significant changes in these estimates and assumptions could adversely impact the valuation of these intangible assets. If an impairment loss exists, the carrying amount of the intangible asset is adjusted to a new cost basis. The new cost basis is then amortized over the remaining useful life of the asset. Our accounting policy for goodwill and other intangible assets is disclosed primarily in Notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements. Deferred Tax Assets Our net deferred income tax asset arises from temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities reported in the financial statements and the amounts used for income tax return purposes. Our accounting for deferred tax assets is discussed under the heading ‘‘Income Tax Expense’’ and disclosed primarily in Notes 1 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements. Executive Summary This summary is intended to identify the most important matters on which management focuses when it evaluates the financial condition and performance of the Company. When evaluating financial condition and performance, management looks at certain key metrics and measures. The Company’s evaluation includes comparisons with peer group financial institutions and its own performance objectives established in the internal planning process. The primary activity of the Company is commercial banking. The Company’s operations are located in the southern and eastern regions of the general San Francisco Bay Area of California in the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa. The largest city in this area is San Jose and the Company’s market includes the headquarters of a number of technology based companies in the region known commonly as Silicon Valley. The Company’s customers are primarily closely held businesses and professionals. Bay View Funding, a subsidiary of Heritage Bank of Commerce, is based in Santa Clara and provides business essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. Performance Overview For the year ended December 31, 2014, net income was $13.4 million, or $0.42 per average diluted common share, compared to $11.5 million, or $0.36 per average diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2013, and $9.9 million, or $0.27 per average diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Company’s annualized return on average assets was 0.88% and annualized return on average equity was 7.44% for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to 0.81% and 6.77%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013, and 0.73% and 5.75% for the year ended December 31, 2012. 51 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 The following are major factors that impacted the Company’s results of operations: (cid:127) The Company completed its acquisition of Bay View Funding on November 1, 2014. The one-time pre-tax acquisition costs incurred by HBC for the BVF acquisition totaled $895,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. (cid:127) The fully tax equivalent (‘‘FTE’’) net interest margin increased 26 basis points to 4.10% for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to 3.84% for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in the net interest margin for 2014, compared to 2013 was primarily reflects loan growth, two months of revenue from BVF, higher yields on securities, and a lower cost of funds. (cid:127) Net interest income increased 14% to $57.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $50.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to growth in the loan portfolio, two months of revenue from BVF, and increases in core deposits. (cid:127) Solid credit metrics resulted in a credit to the provision for loan losses of $338,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to a credit to the provision for loan losses of $816,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013. (cid:127) Noninterest income increased to $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to a higher gain on sales of SBA loans. (cid:127) Noninterest expense was $44.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $40.5 million, for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014, was primarily due to two months of operating expenses incurred by BVF and one-time costs related to the BVF acquisition. (cid:127) The efficiency ratio for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 68.19%, compared to 70.51% for the year ended December 31, 2013. Excluding the one-time pre-tax acquisition costs incurred by HBC for the BVF acquisition of $895,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, the efficiency ratio was 66.81%. (cid:127) Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $7.5 million, compared to $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 36.0%, compared to 35.0% for the year ended December 31, 2013. The following are important factors in understanding our current financial condition and liquidity position: (cid:127) Cash, interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions and securities available-for-sale decreased 16% to $328.7 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $392.7 million at December 31, 2013. (cid:127) Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost, were $95.4 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $95.9 million at December 31, 2013. (cid:127) Loans, excluding loans held-for-sale, increased 19% to $1.09 billion at December 31, 2014, from $914.9 million at December 31, 2013. Excluding the $40.0 million of factored receivables at BVF, loans increased 15% at December 31, 2014 from December 31, 2013. (cid:127) Classified assets (net of SBA guarantees) decreased 32% to $16.0 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $23.6 million at December 31, 2013. (cid:127) The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2014 was $18.4 million, or 1.69% of total loans, representing 313.90% of nonperforming loans. The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2013 was $19.2 million, or 2.09% of total loans, representing 162.16% of nonperforming loans. 52 (cid:127) Nonperforming assets were $6.6 million, or 0.41% of total assets at December 31, 2014, compared to $12.4 million, or 0.83% of total assets at December 31, 2013. (cid:127) Net loan charge-offs were $447,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to net loan recoveries of $953,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013. (cid:127) Total deposits increased $102.2 million to $1.39 billion at December 31, 2014, compared to $1.29 billion at December 31, 2013. Deposits (excluding all time deposits and CDARS deposits) increased $154.5 million, or 16%, to $1.13 billion at December 31, 2014, from $973.6 million at December 31, 2013. (cid:127) The ratio of noncore funding (which consists of time deposits $100,000 and over, CDARS deposits, brokered deposits, securities under agreement to repurchase and short-term borrowings) to total assets was 14.86% at December 31, 2014, compared to 19.51% at December 31, 2013. (cid:127) The loan to deposit ratio was 78.41% at December 31, 2014, compared to 71.13% at December 31, 2013. (cid:127) Capital ratios exceed regulatory requirements for a well-capitalized financial institution at the holding company and bank level at December 31, 2014: Capital Ratios Heritage Commerce Heritage Bank of Commerce Corp Well-Capitalized Financial Institution Regulatory Guidelines Total Risk-Based . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tier 1 Risk-Based . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.9% 12.6% 10.6% 13.1% 11.9% 9.9% 10.0% 6.0% 5.0% Bay View Funding Acquisition On November 1, 2014, the Company acquired Bay View Funding, by purchasing all of the outstanding common stock from the stockholders of BVF for an aggregate purchase price of $22.52 million. BVF became a wholly owned subsidiary of HBC. Based in Santa Clara, California, BVF is the parent company of CSNK Working Capital Finance Corp. dba Bay View Funding, which provides business essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. The one-time pre-tax acquisition costs incurred by HBC for the BVF acquisition totaled $895,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, respectively. On November 1, 2014, the lease of the BVF office space located in Santa Clara, California was estimated to be $109,000 below fair market value, which is being amortized over three years. Customer relationship and brokered relationship intangible assets of $1.9 million resulted from the Bay View Funding acquisition. They are initially measured at fair value and then are amortized on the straight-line method over the 10 year estimated useful lives. The Chief Executive Officer of BVF entered into a three-year non-compete agreement with HBC. On November 1, 2014, the estimated fair value of the non-compete agreement was $250,000, which is being amortized over three years. On November 1, 2014, estimated goodwill of $13.0 million resulted from the acquisition Bay View Funding, which represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are subject to adjustment during the first twelve months after the acquisition date if additional information becomes available to indicate a more accurate or appropriate value for an asset or liability. 53 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Deposits The composition and cost of the Company’s deposit base are important in analyzing the Company’s net interest margin and balance sheet liquidity characteristics. Except for brokered time deposits, the Company’s depositors are generally located in its primary market area. Depending on loan demand and other funding requirements, the Company also obtains deposits from wholesale sources including deposit brokers. HBC is a member of the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (‘‘CDARS’’) program. The CDARS program allows customers with deposits in excess of FDIC insured limits to obtain coverage on time deposits through a network of banks within the CDARS program. Deposits gathered through this program are considered brokered deposits under regulatory guidelines. The Company has a policy to monitor all deposits that may be sensitive to interest rate changes to help assure that liquidity risk does not become excessive due to concentrations. Total deposits were $1.39 billion at December 31, 2014, compared to $1.29 billion at December 31, 2013. Deposits (excluding all time deposits and CDARS deposits) increased $154.5 million, or 16%, to $1.13 billion at December 31, 2014, from $973.6 million at December 31, 2013. The Company had $28.1 million in brokered deposits at December 31, 2014, compared to $55.5 million at December 31, 2013. Deposits from title insurance companies, escrow accounts and real estate exchange facilitators increased to $41.5 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $37.6 million at December 31, 2013. Certificates of deposit from the State of California totaled $98.0 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $98.0 million at December 31, 2013. CDARS money market and time deposits decreased to $11.2 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $40.5 million at December 31, 2013, primarily due to $27.5 million in deposits received from a law firm for legal settlements in the fourth quarter of 2013, all of which were withdrawn in January, 2014. Liquidity Our liquidity position refers to our ability to maintain cash flows sufficient to fund operations and to meet obligations and other commitments in a timely fashion. At December 31, 2014, we had $122.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and approximately $455.4 million in available borrowing capacity from various sources including the FHLB, the FRB, and Federal funds facilities with several financial institutions. The Company also had $148.8 million in unpledged securities available at December 31, 2014. Our loan to deposit ratio increased to 78.41% at December 31, 2014, compared to 71.13% at December 31, 2013. Lending Our lending business originates primarily through our branch offices located in our primary markets. In addition, BVF provides factoring financing throughout the United States. Total loans, excluding loans held-for-sale, increased $173.7 million, or 19%, to $1.09 billion at December 31, 2014, compared to $914.9 million at December 31, 2013. Excluding the $40.0 million of factored receivables at BVF, loans increased 15% at December 31, 2014 from December 31, 2013. The total loan portfolio remains well diversified with commercial and industrial (‘‘C&I’’) loans accounting for 43% of the portfolio at December 31, 2014, which included $40.0 million of factored receivables at BVF. Commercial and residential real estate loans accounted for 44% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2014, of which 46% were owner-occupied by businesses. Consumer and home equity loans accounted for 7% of the total loan portfolio, and land and construction loans accounted for the remaining 6% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2014. C&I line usage was 42% at December 31, 2014, compared to 41% at December 31, 2013. Net Interest Income The management of interest income and expense is fundamental to the performance of the Company. Net interest income, the difference between interest income and interest expense, is the largest component 54 of the Company’s total revenue. Management closely monitors both total net interest income and the net interest margin (net interest income divided by average earning assets). The Company, through its asset and liability policies and practices, seeks to maximize net interest income without exposing the Company to an excessive level of interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is managed by monitoring the pricing, maturity and repricing options of all classes of interest bearing assets and liabilities. This is discussed in more detail under ‘‘Liquidity and Asset/Liability Management.’’ In addition, we believe there are measures and initiatives we can take to improve the net interest margin, including increasing loan rates, adding floors on floating rate loans, reducing nonperforming assets, managing deposit interest rates, and reducing higher cost deposits. The net interest margin is also adversely impacted by the reversal of interest on nonaccrual loans and the reinvestment of loan payoffs into lower yielding investment securities and other short-term investments. Management of Credit Risk We continue to proactively identify, quantify, and manage our problem loans. Early identification of problem loans and potential future losses helps enable us to resolve credit issues with potentially less risk and ultimate losses. We maintain an allowance for loan losses in an amount that we believe is adequate to absorb probable incurred losses in the portfolio. While we strive to carefully manage and monitor credit quality and to identify loans that may be deteriorating, circumstances can change at any time for loans included in the portfolio that may result in future losses, that as of the date of the financial statements have not yet been identified as potential problem loans. Through established credit practices, we adjust the allowance for loan losses accordingly. However, because future events are uncertain, there may be loans that deteriorate some of which could occur in an accelerated time frame. As a result, future additions to the allowance for loan losses may be necessary. Because the loan portfolio contains a number of commercial loans, commercial real estate, construction and land development loans with relatively large balances, deterioration in the credit quality of one or more of these loans may require a significant increase to the allowance for loan losses. Future additions to the allowance may also be required based on changes in the financial condition of borrowers, such as have resulted due to the current, and potentially worsening, economic conditions. Additionally, Federal and state banking regulators, as an integral part of their supervisory function, periodically review our allowance for loan losses. These regulatory agencies may require us to recognize further loan loss provisions or charge-offs based upon their judgments, which may be different from ours. Any increase in the allowance for loan losses would have an adverse effect, which may be material, on our financial condition and results of operation. Further discussion of the management of credit risk appears under ‘‘Provision for Loan Losses’’ and ‘‘Allowance for Loan Losses.’’ Noninterest Income While net interest income remains the largest single component of total revenues, noninterest income is an important component. A portion of the Company’s noninterest income is associated with its SBA lending activity, consisting of gains on the sale of loans sold in the secondary market and servicing income from loans sold with servicing retained. Other sources of noninterest income include loan servicing fees, service charges and fees, cash surrender value from company owned life insurance policies, and gains on the sale of securities. Noninterest Expense Management considers the control of operating expenses to be a critical element of the Company’s performance. The Company has undertaken several initiatives to reduce its noninterest expense and improve its efficiency. Noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $44.2 million, 55 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 compared to $40.5 million a year ago. The increase in noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was primarily due to two months of operating expenses incurred by BVF and one-time costs related to the BVF acquisition. Capital Management As part of its asset and liability management process, the Company continually assesses its capital position to take into consideration growth, expected earnings, risk profile and potential corporate activities that it may choose to pursue. On November 21, 2008, the Company issued to the U.S. Treasury under its Capital Purchase Program 40,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock for $40.0 million and issued a warrant to purchase 462,963 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $12.96. On June 21, 2010, the Company issued to various institutional investors 21,004 shares of Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (‘‘Series C Preferred Stock’’). The Series C Preferred Stock is mandatorily convertible into 5,601,000 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $3.75 per share upon a subsequent transfer of the Series C Preferred Stock to third parties not affiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering. The Series C Preferred Stock is non-voting except in the case of certain transactions that would affect the rights of the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock or applicable law. The holders of Series C Preferred Stock receive dividends on an as converted basis when dividends are also declared for holders of common stock. The Series C Preferred Stock is not redeemable by the Company or by the holders and has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The Series C Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company’s common stock. On March 7, 2012, in accordance with approvals received from the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve, the Company repurchased all shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and paid the related accrued and unpaid dividends. On June 12, 2013, the Company completed the repurchase of the common stock warrant for $140,000. During the third quarter of 2012, the Company completed the redemption of $14 million fixed-rate subordinated debt, and during the third quarter of 2013, the Company completed the redemption of its remaining $9 million of floating rate subordinated debt. Results of Operations The Company earns income from two primary sources. The first is net interest income, which is interest income generated by earning assets less interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities. The second is noninterest income, which primarily consists of gains on the sale of loans, loan servicing fees, customer service charges and fees, the increase in cash surrender value of life insurance, and gains on the sale of securities. The majority of the Company’s noninterest expenses are operating costs that relate to providing a full range of banking services to our customers. Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin The level of net interest income depends on several factors in combination, including growth in earning assets, yields on earning assets, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, the relative volumes of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the mix of products that comprise the Company’s earning assets, deposits, and other interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income can also be impacted by the reversal of interest on loans placed on nonaccrual status, and recovery of interest on loans that have been on nonaccrual and are either sold or returned to accrual status. To maintain its net interest margin, the Company must manage the relationship between interest earned and paid. The following Distribution, Rate and Yield table presents for each of the past three years, the average amounts outstanding for the major categories of the Company’s balance sheet, the average interest rates 56 earned or paid thereon, and the resulting net interest margin on average interest earning assets for the periods indicated. Average balances are based on daily averages. Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 Average Balance Interest Average Income / Yield / Rate Expense Average Balance Interest Average Income / Yield / Rate Expense Average Balance Interest Average Income / Yield / Rate Expense (Dollars in thousands) Assets: Loans, gross(1) Securities — taxable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities — tax exempt(2) . . . . . . . . . . . Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 992,376 $49,207 7,810 3,115 261,527 79,939 . . . 4.96% $ 845,303 $41,570 9,472 2.99% 339,778 2,355 61,636 3.90% 4.92% $ 787,032 $40,800 11,519 2.79% 404,913 172 4,575 3.83% 5.18% 2.84% 3.77% 86,084 214 0.25% 83,219 214 0.26% 52,500 134 0.26% Total interest earning assets(2) . . . . . . 1,419,926 60,346 4.25% 1,329,936 53,611 4.03% 1,249,020 52,625 4.21% Cash and due from banks . . . . . . . . . . . . Premises and equipment, net . . . . . . . . . . Goodwill and other intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other assets 25,829 7,343 3,746 66,428 23,510 7,500 1,774 68,678 21,583 7,774 2,258 72,799 Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,523,272 $1,431,398 $1,353,434 Liabilities and shareholders’ equity: Deposits: Demand, noninterest-bearing . . . . . . . . . $ 463,134 207,359 Demand, interest-bearing . . . . . . . . . . . 363,903 Savings and money market . . . . . . . . . . 20,448 Time deposits — under $100 . . . . . . . . . 196,118 Time deposits — $100 and Over . . . . . . . Time deposits — brokered . . . . . . . . . . 36,440 CDARS — money market and time $ 427,299 0.16% 172,615 0.18% 308,510 0.31% 23,069 0.32% 194,587 75,968 0.88% 341 671 63 629 319 $ 392,131 0.14% 150,476 0.18% 288,980 0.35% 27,337 0.38% 167,804 91,278 0.98% 246 544 80 747 745 223 611 132 958 867 0.15% 0.21% 0.48% 0.57% 0.95% deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,380 9 0.06% 17,996 7 0.04% 5,756 9 0.16% Total interest-bearing deposits . . . . . . . 839,648 Total deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subordinated debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,302,782 — 4,003 Total interest-bearing liabilities . . . . . . . . 843,651 2,032 2,032 — 121 2,153 0.24% 792,745 0.16% 1,220,044 5,816 129 — 3.02% 0.26% 798,690 2,369 2,369 229 2 2,600 0.30% 731,631 0.19% 1,123,762 19,052 3.94% 1,518 1.55% 0.33% 752,201 2,800 2,800 1,383 4 4,187 0.38% 0.25% 7.26% 0.26% 0.56% Total interest-bearing liabilities and A n n u a l R e p o r t demand, noninterest-bearing / cost of funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other liabilities Total liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shareholders’ equity 1,306,785 35,973 1,342,758 180,514 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity . . $1,523,272 2,153 0.16% 1,225,989 35,018 2,600 0.21% 1,144,332 36,909 4,187 0.37% 26FEB20 1,261,007 170,391 $1,431,398 1,181,241 172,193 $1,353,434 Net interest income(2) / margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Less tax equivalent adjustment(2) Net interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.10% 58,193 (1,090) $57,103 3.84% 51,011 (825) $50,186 3.88% 48,438 (60) $48,378 (1) Includes loans held-for-sale. Yields and amounts earned on loans include loan fees and costs. Nonaccrual loans are included in average balance. (2) Reflects tax equivalent adjustment for tax exempt income based on a 35% federal tax rate. The Volume and Rate Variances table below sets forth the dollar difference in interest earned and paid for each major category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the noted periods, and the amount of such change attributable to changes in average balances (volume) or changes in average interest rates. Volume variances are equal to the increase or decrease in the average balance multiplied by prior period rates and rate variances are equal to the increase or decrease in the average rate multiplied by the prior period average balance. Variances attributable to both rate and volume changes are equal to the 57 change in rate multiplied by the change in average balance and are included below in the average volume column. 2014 vs. 2013 Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in: 2013 vs. 2012 Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in: Average Volume Average Rate Net Change Average Volume Average Rate Net Change (Dollars in thousands) $ 7,280 (2,349) 711 $ 357 687 49 $ 7,637 (1,662) 760 $ 2,848 (1,825) 2,180 $(2,078) $ (222) 3 770 (2,047) 2,183 Income from the interest earning assets: Loans, gross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities — taxable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities — tax exempt(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions . . 6 (6) — 77 3 80 Total interest income on interest earning assets(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,648 1,087 6,735 3,280 (2,294) 986 Expense from the interest-bearing liabilities: Demand, interest-bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . Savings and money market . . . . . . . . . . . . Time deposits — under $100 . . . . . . . . . . Time deposits — $100 and over . . . . . . . . Time deposits — brokered . . . . . . . . . . . . CDARS — money market and time deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subordinated debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total interest expense on interest- 65 116 (9) 6 (350) (2) (229) 117 30 11 (8) (124) (76) 4 — 2 95 127 (17) (118) (426) 2 (229) 119 35 24 (16) 109 (150) 5 (522) (22) (12) (91) (36) (320) 28 (7) (632) 20 23 (67) (52) (211) (122) (2) (1,154) (2) bearing liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (286) (161) (447) (537) (1,050) (1,587) Net interest income(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5,934 $1,248 7,182 $ 3,817 $(1,244) 2,573 Less tax equivalent adjustment(1) . . . . Net interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (265) $ 6,917 (765) $ 1,808 (1) Reflects tax equivalent adjustment for tax exempt income based on a 35% federal tax rate. The Company’s net interest margin (FTE), expressed as a percentage of average earning assets was 4.10% for 2014, an increase of 26 basis points compared to 3.84% for 2013. The increase year to year is primarily the result of loan growth, two months of revenue from BVF, higher yields on securities, and a lower cost of funds. The Company’s net interest margin for 2013 decreased 4 basis points from 3.88% for 2012, principally due to a lower yield on loans, and a higher average balance of short term deposits at the Federal Reserve Bank. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased 14% to $57.1 million, compared to $50.2 million a year ago, primarily as a result of growth in the loan portfolio, two months of revenue from BVF, and increases in core deposits. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2013 increased 4% to $50.2 million, compared to $48.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to an increase in the average balance of loans and a lower cost of funds. A substantial portion of the Company’s earning assets are variable-rate loans that re-price when the Company’s prime lending rate is changed, in contrast to a large base of core deposits that are generally slower to re-price. This causes the Company’s balance sheet to be asset-sensitive which means that, all else being equal, the Company’s net interest margin will be lower during periods when short-term interest rates are falling and higher when rates are rising. 58 Provision for Loan Losses Credit risk is inherent in the business of making loans. The Company establishes an allowance for loan losses through charges to earnings, which are shown in the statements of operations as the provision for loan losses. Specifically identifiable and quantifiable known losses are promptly charged off against the allowance. The provision for loan losses is determined by conducting a quarterly evaluation of the adequacy of the Company’s allowance for loan losses and charging the shortfall, if any, to the current quarter’s operations. This has the effect of creating variability in the amount and frequency of charges to the Company’s earnings. The provision for loan losses and level of allowance for each period are dependent upon many factors, including loan growth, net charge-offs, changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, delinquencies, management’s assessment of the quality of the loan portfolio, the valuation of problem loans and the general economic conditions in the Company’s market area. The credit to the provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $338,000, primarily due to improving credit quality and a reduction in nonperforming assets and classified assets. The credit to the provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $816,000, which was primarily due to net recoveries for the year ended December 31, 2013. The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $2.8 million. The allowance for loan losses totaled $18.4 million, or 1.69% of total loans at December 31, 2014, compared to $19.2 million, or 2.09% of total loans at December 31, 2013, and $19.0 million, or 2.34% of total loans at December 31, 2012. The allowance for loan losses to total loans decreased at December 31, 2014, compared to December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012, was primarily due to increasing loan balances with no default histories, coupled with the decrease in nonperforming assets, improving the quality of the loan portfolio overall. Net charge offs totaled $447,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to net recoveries of $953,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013, and net charge offs of $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The allowance for loan losses to total nonperforming loans increased to 313.90% at December 31, 2014, compared to 162.16% at December 31, 2013, and 104.58% at December 31, 2012. Provisions for loan losses are charged to operations to bring the allowance for loan losses to a level deemed appropriate by the Company based on the factors discussed under ‘‘Allowance for Loan Losses.’’ Noninterest Income The following table sets forth the various components of the Company’s noninterest income: Year Ended December 31, Increase (decrease) 2014 versus 2013 Increase (decrease) 2013 versus 2012 2014 2013 2012 Amount Percent Amount Percent (Dollars in thousands) Service charges and fees on deposit accounts $2,519 $2,457 $2,333 Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Servicing income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gain on sales of SBA loans . . . . . . . . . . . . Gain on sales of securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,600 1,296 971 97 1,263 1,654 1,446 449 38 1,170 1,720 1,743 702 1,560 807 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,746 $7,214 $8,865 $ 62 3% $ 124 5% (54) (cid:5)3% (66) (cid:5)4% (150) (cid:5)10% (297) (cid:5)17% 116% (253) (cid:5)36% 522 155% (1,522) (cid:5)98% 59 8% 45% 363 93 7% $(1,651) (cid:5)19% $ 532 The increase in noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, was primarily due to a higher gain on sales of SBA loans. The decrease in 59 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, was primarily due to a lower gain on sales of securities and SBA loans, and lower servicing income. The Company sold $108.6 million of investment securities available-for-sale for a net gain of $97,000 during the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to a $38,000 gain during the year ended December 31, 2013, and a $1.6 million net gain during the year ended December 31, 2012. A portion of the Company’s noninterest income is associated with its SBA lending activity, as gain on sales of loans sold in the secondary market and servicing income from loans sold with servicing rights retained. During 2014, SBA loan sales resulted in a $971,000 gain, compared to a $449,000 gain on sales of SBA loans in 2013, and a $702,000 gain on sales of SBA loans in 2012. The servicing assets that result from the sales of SBA loans with servicing retained are amortized over the expected term of the loans using a method approximating the interest method. Servicing income generally declines as the respective loans are repaid. The increase in cash surrender value of life insurance approximates a 3.23% after tax yield on the policies. To realize this tax advantaged yield the policies must be held until death of the insured individuals, who are current and former officers and directors of the Company. Noninterest Expense The following table sets forth the various components of the Company’s noninterest expense: Year Ended December 31, Increase (decrease) 2014 versus 2013 Increase (decrease) 2013 versus 2012 2014 2013 2012 Amount Percent Amount Percent (Dollars in thousands) $2,800 16 Salaries and employee benefits . . . . . . . . $26,250 $23,450 $21,722 3,997 Occupancy and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 2,876 Professional fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911 Insurance expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,149 Software subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 983 Data processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — Acquisition and integration related costs . 918 FDIC deposit insurance premiums . . . . . . 611 Correspondent bank charges . . . . . . . . . . Foreclosed assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (45) Premium on redemption of subordinated 4,043 2,588 1,032 1,289 1,078 — 894 684 (251) 4,059 1,891 1,126 999 969 895 892 760 53 debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — 6,328 — 5,663 601 5,338 94 12% $1,728 46 0% 8% 1% (697) (cid:5)27% (288) (cid:5)10% 13% 9% 121 (290) (cid:5)22% 140 12% (109) (cid:5)10% 95 10% 895 — N/A 0% (24) (cid:5)3% (2) 12% 76 73 11% 304 (cid:5)121% (206) (cid:5)458% N/A — N/A 665 (601) (cid:5)100% 6% 12% 325 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $44,222 $40,470 $39,061 $3,752 9% $1,409 4% 60 The following table indicates the percentage of noninterest expense in each category: 2014 2013 2012 Amount Percent of Total Amount Percent of Total Amount Percent of Total Salaries and employee benefits . . . . . . . . . . . $26,250 4,059 Occupancy and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,891 Professional fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,126 Insurance expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 999 Software subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 969 Data processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 895 Acquisition and integration related costs . . . . 892 FDIC deposit insurance premiums . . . . . . . . 760 Correspondent bank charges . . . . . . . . . . . . Foreclosed assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Premium on redemption of subordinated debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — 6,328 (Dollars in thousands) 58% $21,722 59% $23,450 10% 3,997 4,043 9% 6% 2,876 2,588 4% 3% 911 1,032 3% 3% 1,149 1,289 2% 983 3% 1,078 2% — 0% — 2% 918 2% 894 2% 611 684 2% 2% (251) (cid:5)1% (45) 0% 0% 15% — 5,663 601 0% 14% 5,338 56% 10% 7% 2% 3% 2% 0% 2% 2% 0% 2% 14% Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $44,222 100% $40,470 100% $39,061 100% Noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased 9% to $44.2 million, compared to $40.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase from year to year was primarily due to increased salaries and employee benefits expense. The increase in noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was primarily due to two months of operating expenses incurred by BVF, one-time costs related to the BVF acquisition, and higher salaries and employee benefits costs, which were partially offset by lower professional fees, software subscriptions, and data processing expense. Full-time equivalent employees were 242 (including 36 FTE at BVF), 193, and 190 at December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 increased 4% to $40.5 million, compared to $39.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase from year to year was primarily due to increased salaries and employee benefits expense. Salaries and employee benefits increased $1.7 million, or 8%, for the year ended December 31, 2013 from the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to annual merit increases and hiring of additional lending relationship officers. Software subscriptions and data processing expense increased $235,000, or 11%, for 2013 from 2012, primarily due to one-time system conversion costs. Other noninterest expense increased in 2013, compared to 2012 primarily due to higher credit related costs and recruiting expenses. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the premium on redemption of subordinated debt, lower professional, fees and lower foreclosed assets expense. There was a gain on the sale of foreclosed assets of $243,000 for 2013, compared to a gain of $395,000 for 2012. Income Tax Expense The Company computes its provision for income taxes on a monthly basis. The effective tax rate is determined by applying the Company’s statutory income tax rates to pre-tax book income as adjusted for permanent differences between pre-tax book income and actual taxable income. These permanent differences include, but are not limited to increases in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies, California Enterprise Zone deductions, certain expenses that are not allowed as tax deductions, and tax credits. 61 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 The Company’s Federal and state income tax expense in 2014 was $7.5 million, compared to $6.2 million in 2013, and $5.5 million in 2012. The following table shows the effective income tax rates for the dates indicated: For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 Effective income tax rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.0% 35.0% 35.6% The difference in the effective tax rate compared to the combined Federal and state statutory tax rate of 42% is primarily the result of tax exempt securities, the Company’s investment in life insurance policies whose earnings are not subject to taxes, tax credits related to investments in low income housing limited partnerships, Enterprise Zone tax credits, hiring credits, and the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. These reductions were partially offset by an increase in the effective tax rate from reduced income tax credits. The Company had California Enterprise Zone tax savings of approximately $189,000 and $138,000 for 2013 and 2012, respectively. The California state legislature eliminated the Enterprise Zone tax deductions beginning January 1, 2014. The Company adopted the proportional amortization method of accounting for its low income housing investments in the third quarter of 2014. The Company quantified the impact of adopting the proportional amortization method compared to the equity method to its current year and prior period financial statements. The Company determined that the adoption of the proportional amortization method did not have a material impact to its financial statements. The low income housing investment losses, net of the tax benefits received, are included in income tax expense for all periods reflected on the consolidated income statements. Some items of income and expense are recognized in different years for tax purposes than when applying generally accepted accounting principles leading to timing differences between the Company’s actual tax liability, and the amount accrued for this liability based on book income. These temporary differences comprise the ‘‘deferred’’ portion of the Company’s tax expense or benefit, which is accumulated on the Company’s books as a deferred tax asset or deferred tax liability until such time as they reverse. Realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon the Company generating sufficient future taxable income to obtain benefit from the reversal of net deductible temporary differences and utilization of tax credit carryforwards and the net operating loss carryforwards for Federal and California state income tax purposes. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable is subject to adjustment in future periods based on estimates of future taxable income. Under generally accepted accounting principles a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is ‘‘more likely than not’’ that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is highly subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, including forecasts of future income, cumulative losses, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions. The Company had the net deferred tax assets of $18.5 million and $23.3 million at December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, respectively. After consideration of the matters in the preceding paragraph, the Company determined that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 will be fully realized in future years. Financial Condition As of December 31, 2014, total assets were $1.62 billion, an increase of 8% compared to $1.49 billion at December 31, 2013. The investment securities available-for-sale portfolio totaled $206.3 million at December 31, 2014, a decrease of 26% from $280.1 million at December 31, 2013. In addition, securities 62 held-to-maturity totaled $95.4 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $95.9 million at December 31, 2013. The total loan portfolio, excluding loans held-for-sale, was $1.09 billion, an increase of 19% from $914.9 million at year-end 2013. Total loans at December 31, 2014 included $40.0 million of factored receivables at BVF. Total deposits were $1.39 billion at December 31, 2014, an increase of 8% from $1.29 billion at year-end 2013. Deposits (excluding all time deposits and CDARS deposits) increased $154.5 million, or 16%, to $1.13 billion at December 31, 2014, from $973.6 million at December 31, 2013. Securities Portfolio The following table reflects the balances for each category of securities at year-end: December 31, 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands) Securities available-for-sale (at fair value): Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trust preferred securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $154,172 36,863 15,300 $207,644 52,046 20,410 $291,244 55,588 21,080 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $206,335 $280,100 $367,912 Securities held-to-maturity (at amortized cost): Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Municipals — Tax Exempt $ 15,480 79,882 $ 15,932 79,989 $ 16,659 34,813 $ 95,362 $ 95,921 $ 51,472 The table below summarizes the weighted average life and weighted average yields of securities as of December 31, 2014: Weighted Average Life A n n u a l R e p o r t Within One Year or Less After One and Within Five Years After Five and Within Ten Years After Ten Years Total 26FEB20 Amount Yield Amount Yield Amount Yield Amount Yield Amount Yield (Dollars in thousands) Securities available-for-sale (at fair value): Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trust preferred securities $ — — — — $74,969 — 6,713 — 3.03% $ 79,203 2.61% $ — — 2.76% 30,150 3.11% — — 15,300 — — — $154,172 2.81% — 36,863 3.05% 5.95% 15,300 5.95% Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ — — $81,682 3.01% $109,353 2.75% $15,300 5.95%$206,335 3.09% Securities held-to-maturity (at amortized cost): Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . Municipals — Tax Exempt(1) . . . . . . . . $2,702 — 0.29% $ 7,327 4,363 — 2.68% $ — — $ 5,451 4.33% 41,771 3.98% 33,748 3.25%$ 15,480 2.46% 3.80% 79,882 3.92% Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,702 0.29% $11,690 3.30% $ 41,771 3.98% $39,199 3.72%$ 95,362 3.68% (1) Reflects tax equivalent yield based on a 35% tax rate. The securities portfolio is the second largest component of the Company’s interest-earning assets, and the structure and composition of this portfolio is important to an analysis of the financial condition of the Company. The portfolio serves the following purposes: (i) it provides a source of pledged assets for securing certain deposits and borrowed funds, as may be required by law or by specific agreement with a depositor or lender; (ii) it provides liquidity to even out cash flows from the loan and deposit activities of customers; (iii) it can be used as an interest rate risk management tool, since it provides a large base of 63 assets, the maturity and interest rate characteristics of which can be changed more readily than the loan portfolio to better match changes in the deposit base and other funding sources of the Company; and (iv) it is an alternative interest-earning use of funds when loan demand is weak or when deposits grow more rapidly than loans. The Company’s portfolio may include: (i) U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government sponsored entities’ debt securities for liquidity and pledging; (ii) mortgage-backed securities, which in many instances can also be used for pledging, and which generally enhance the yield of the portfolio; (iii) municipal obligations, which provide tax free income and limited pledging potential; (iv) and single entity issue trust preferred securities, which generally enhance the yield on the portfolio. The Company classifies its securities as either available-for-sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase. Accounting guidance requires available-for-sale securities to be marked to fair value with an offset to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of shareholders’ equity. Monthly adjustments are made to reflect changes in the fair value of the Company’s available for sale securities. The investment securities available-for-sale portfolio totaled $206.4 million at December 31, 2014, a decrease of 26% from $280.1 million at December 31, 2013. At December 31, 2014, the securities available-for-sale portfolio was comprised of $154.1 million agency mortgage-backed securities (all issued by U.S. Government sponsored entities), $36.9 million of corporate bonds, and $15.3 million of single entity issue trust preferred securities. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company received proceeds of $108.6 million from the sales of securities available for sale, for a net gain on sales of securities of $97,000. The sale of securities was primarily to provide for loan growth and consisted of $27.2 million of asset backed securities, $16.9 million of corporate bonds, $58.4 million of agency mortgage-backed securities, and $6.1 million of trust preferred securities. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company purchased $25.9 million of agency mortgage-backed securities available-for-sale ($7.4 million of floating rate) with an aggregate book yield of 1.94% and duration of 4.18 years. The investment securities held-to-maturity portfolio, at amortized cost, totaled $95.4 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $95.9 million at December 31, 2013. At December 31, 2014, the investment securities held-to-maturity portfolio was comprised of $79.9 million of tax-exempt municipal bonds, and $15.5 million of agency mortgage-backed securities. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company purchased $3.6 million of agency mortgage-backed securities held-to-maturity with an aggregate book yield of 2.64% and duration of 6.27 years. The Company has not used interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments to hedge fixed rate loans or securities to otherwise mitigate interest rate risk. Loans The Company’s loans represent the largest portion of earning assets, substantially greater than the securities portfolio or any other asset category, and the quality and diversification of the loan portfolio is an important consideration when reviewing the Company’s financial condition. Gross loans, excluding loans held-for-sale, represented 67% of total assets at December 31, 2014, as compared to 61% of total assets at December 31, 2013. The ratio of loans to deposits increased to 78.41% at December 31, 2014 from 71.13% December 31, 2013. The Loan Distribution table that follows sets forth the Company’s gross loans outstanding, excluding loans held-for-sale, and the percentage distribution in each category at the dates indicated. 64 Loan Distribution 2014 % to Total 2013 % to Total 2012 % to Total 2011 % to Total 2010 % to Total December 31, Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 462,403 Real estate: Commercial and residential . Land and construction . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 478,335 67,980 61,644 18,867 43% $393,074 43% $375,469 46% $366,590 48% $378,412 45% (Dollars in thousands) 44% 423,288 6% 31,443 6% 51,815 1% 15,677 46% 354,934 3% 22,352 6% 43,865 2% 15,714 44% 311,479 3% 23,016 5% 52,017 2% 11,166 41% 337,457 3% 62,356 7% 53,697 1% 13,244 40% 7% 6% 2% Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,089,229 100% 915,297 100% 812,334 Deferred loan (fees) costs, net . (586) — (384) — Loans, including deferred 100% 764,268 323 (21) — 100% 845,166 883 — 100% — A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 fees and costs . . . . . . . 1,088,643 100% 914,913 100% 812,313 100% 764,591 100% 846,049 100% Allowance for loan losses . . . . (18,379) Loans, net . . . . . . . . . . . $1,070,264 (19,164) $895,749 (19,027) $793,286 (20,700) $743,891 (25,204) $820,845 The Company’s loan portfolio is concentrated in commercial (primarily manufacturing, wholesale, and services oriented entities) and commercial real estate, with the balance in land development and construction and home equity and consumer loans. The Company does not have any concentrations by industry or group of industries in its loan portfolio, however, 56% of its gross loans were secured by real property as of December 31, 2014, compared to 55% as of December 31, 2013. While no specific industry concentration is considered significant, the Company’s lending operations are located in areas that are dependent on the technology and real estate industries and their supporting companies. The Company has established concentration limits in its loan portfolio for commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, construction loans and unsecured lending, among others. All loan types are within established limits. The Company uses underwriting guidelines to assess the borrowers’ historical cash flow to determine debt service, and we further stress test the debt service under higher interest rate scenarios. Financial and performance covenants are used in commercial lending to allow the Company to react to a borrower’s deteriorating financial condition, should that occur. The Company’s commercial loans are made for working capital, financing the purchase of equipment or for other business purposes. Commercial loans include loans with maturities ranging from thirty days to one year and ‘‘term loans’’ with maturities normally ranging from one to five years. Short-term business loans are generally intended to finance current transactions and typically provide for periodic principal payments, with interest payable monthly. Term loans normally provide for floating interest rates, with monthly payments of both principal and interest. The Company is an active participant in the SBA and U.S. Department of Agriculture guaranteed lending programs, and has been approved by the SBA as a lender under the Preferred Lender Program. The Company regularly makes such loans conditionally guaranteed by the SBA (collectively referred to as ‘‘SBA loans’’). The guaranteed portion of these loans is typically sold in the secondary market depending on market conditions. When the guaranteed portion of an SBA loan is sold the Company retains the servicing rights for the sold portion. During 2014, loans were sold resulting in a gain on sales of SBA loans of $971,000, compared to a gain on sales of SBA loans of $449,000 for 2013, and $702,000 for 2012. The Company’s factoring receivables is from the operations of BVF whose primary business is purchasing and collecting factored receivables. Factored receivables are receivables that have been transferred by the originating organization and typically have not been subject to previous collection efforts. These receivables are acquired from a variety of companies, including but not limited to service providers, transportation companies, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, apparel companies, 65 advertisers, and temporary staffing companies. The portfolio of factored receivables is included in the Company’s commercial loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2014, commercial and residential real estate loans of $478.3 million consist primarily of adjustable and fixed-rate loans secured by deeds of trust on commercial and residential property. The commercial and residential real estate loans at December 31, 2014 consist of $221.3 million, or 46% of commercial owner occupied properties, $256.9 million, or 54%, of commercial investment properties, and $103,000, or less than 1%, of residential properties. Properties securing the commercial and residential real estate loans are primarily located in the Company’s primary market, which is the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. The Company’s commercial real estate loans consist primarily of loans based on the borrower’s cash flow and are secured by deeds of trust on commercial and residential property to provide a secondary source of repayment. The Company generally restricts real estate term loans to no more than 75% of the property’s appraised value or the purchase price of the property during the initial underwriting of the credit, depending on the type of property and its utilization. The Company offers both fixed and floating rate loans. Maturities on real estate mortgage loans are generally between five and ten years (with amortization ranging from fifteen to twenty-five years and a balloon payment due at maturity), however, SBA and certain other real estate loans that can be sold in the secondary market may be granted for longer maturities. The Company’s land and construction loans are primarily to finance the development/construction of commercial and single family residential properties. The Company utilizes underwriting guidelines to assess the likelihood of repayment from sources such as sale of the property or availability of permanent mortgage financing prior to making the construction loan. Construction loans are provided only in our market area, and we have extensive controls for the disbursement process. Land and construction loans increased $36.6 million to $68.0 million at December 31, 2014, from $31.4 million at December 31, 2013, primarily as a result of strong housing demand within the Company’s lending area. The Company makes home equity lines of credit available to its existing customers. Home equity lines of credit are underwritten initially with a maximum 75% loan to value ratio. Home equity lines are reviewed semi-annually, with specific emphasis on loans with a loan to value ratio greater than 70% and loans that were underwritten from mid-2005 through 2008, when real estate values were at the peak in the cycle. The Company takes measures to work with customers to reduce line commitments and minimize potential losses. Additionally, the Company makes consumer loans for the purpose of financing automobiles, various types of consumer goods, and other personal purposes. Consumer loans generally provide for the monthly payment of principal and interest. Most of the Company’s consumer loans are secured by the personal property being purchased or, in the instances of home equity loans or lines, real property. With certain exceptions, state chartered banks are permitted to make extensions of credit to any one borrowing entity up to 15% of the bank’s capital and reserves for unsecured loans and up to 25% of the bank’s capital and reserves for secured loans. For HBC, these lending limits were $28.8 million and $48.0 million at December 31, 2014, respectively. Loan Maturities The following table presents the maturity distribution of the Company’s loans (excluding loans held-for-sale), as of December 31, 2014. The table shows the distribution of such loans between those loans with predetermined (fixed) interest rates and those with variable (floating) interest rates. Floating rates generally fluctuate with changes in the prime rate as reflected in the Western Edition of The Wall Street 66 Journal. As of December 31, 2014, approximately 62% of the Company’s loan portfolio consisted of floating interest rate loans. Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due in One Year or Less Over One Year But Less than Five Years Over Five Years Total $399,165 (Dollars in thousands) 8,230 $ $ 55,008 $ 462,403 78,200 67,780 58,958 18,059 219,337 200 1,038 707 180,798 — 1,648 101 478,335 67,980 61,644 18,867 Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $622,162 $276,290 $190,777 $1,089,229 Loans with variable interest rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loans with fixed interest rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $583,553 38,609 $ 80,509 195,781 $ 9,818 180,959 $ 673,880 415,349 Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $622,162 $276,290 $190,777 $1,089,229 Loan Servicing As of December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 there were $130.6 million, $135.5 million, and $150.2 million, respectively, in SBA loans that were serviced by the Company for others. Activity for loan servicing rights was as follows: 2014 2013 2012 Beginning of year balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Additions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Dollars in thousands) $ 709 106 (290) $ 525 319 (279) $ 792 184 (267) End of year balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 565 $ 525 $ 709 Loan servicing rights are included in Accrued Interest Receivable and Other Assets on the consolidated balance sheets and reported net of amortization. There was no valuation allowance as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, as the fair market value of the assets was greater than the carrying value. I/O strip receivables relate to the excess servicing assets on loans sold prior to 2009. Activity for the I/O strip receivable was as follows: 2014 2013 2012 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Beginning of year balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unrealized holding gain (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Dollars in thousands) $1,786 (139) $1,647 (166) $2,094 (308) End of year balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,481 $1,647 $1,786 Management reviews the key economic assumptions used to estimate the fair value of I/O strip receivables on a quarterly basis. The fair value of the I/O strip can be adversely impacted by a significant increase in either the prepayment speed of the portfolio or the discount rate At December 31, 2014, key economic assumptions and the sensitivity of the fair value of the I/O strip receivables to immediate 10% 67 and 20% changes to the CPR assumption, and 1% and 2% changes to the discount rate assumption, are as follows: Carrying amount/fair value of Interest-Only (I/O) strip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prepayment speed assumption (annual rate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change in prepayment speed (Dollars in thousands) $1,481 7.3% (CPR 8.1%) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (33) Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change in prepayment speed (CPR 8.8%) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Residual cash flow discount rate assumption (annual) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Impact on fair value of 1% adverse change in discount rate (13.3% $ (65) 12.1% discount rate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (49) Impact on fair value of 2% adverse change in discount rate (14.5% discount rate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (95) Credit Quality Financial institutions generally have a certain level of exposure to credit quality risk, and could potentially receive less than a full return of principal and interest if a debtor becomes unable or unwilling to repay. Since loans are the most significant assets of the Company and generate the largest portion of its revenues, the Company’s management of credit quality risk is focused primarily on loan quality. Banks have generally suffered their most severe earnings declines as a result of customers’ inability to generate sufficient cash flow to service their debts and/or downturns in national and regional economies and declines in overall asset values including real estate. In addition, certain debt securities that the Company may purchase have the potential of declining in value if the obligor’s financial capacity to repay deteriorates. The Company’s policies and procedures identify market segments, set goals for portfolio growth or contraction, and establish limits on industry and geographic credit concentrations. In addition, these policies establish the Company’s underwriting standards and the methods of monitoring ongoing credit quality. The Company’s internal credit risk controls are centered in underwriting practices, credit granting procedures, training, risk management techniques, and familiarity with loan customers as well as the relative diversity and geographic concentration of our loan portfolio. The Company’s credit risk may also be affected by external factors such as the level of interest rates, employment, general economic conditions, real estate values, and trends in particular industries or geographic markets. As an independent community bank serving a specific geographic area, the Company must contend with the unpredictable changes in the general California market and, particularly, primary local markets. The Company’s asset quality has suffered in the past from the impact of national and regional economic recessions, consumer bankruptcies, and depressed real estate values. Nonperforming assets are comprised of the following: loans and loans held-for-sale for which the Company is no longer accruing interest; restructured loans which have been current under six months; loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest (although they are generally placed on nonaccrual when they become 90 days past due, unless they are both well-secured and in the process of collection); and foreclosed assets. Management’s classification of a loan as ‘‘nonaccrual’’ is an indication that there is reasonable doubt as to the full recovery of principal or interest on the loan. At that point, the Company stops accruing interest income, and reverses any uncollected interest that had been accrued as income. The Company begins recognizing interest income only as cash interest payments are received and it has been determined the collection of all outstanding principal is not in doubt. The loans may or may not be collateralized, and collection efforts are pursued. Loans may be restructured by management when a borrower has experienced some change in financial status causing an inability to meet the original 68 repayment terms and where the Company believes the borrower will eventually overcome those circumstances and make full restitution. Foreclosed assets consist of properties and other assets acquired by foreclosure or similar means that management is offering or will offer for sale. The following table summarizes the Company’s nonperforming assets at the dates indicated: Nonaccrual loans — held-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonaccrual loans — held-for-investment . . . . . . . . . . Restructured and loans 90 days past due and still accruing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total nonperforming loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Foreclosed assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 31, 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 (Dollars in thousands) $ — $ — $ — $ 5,855 11,326 17,335 186 14,353 $ 2,026 28,821 — 5,855 696 492 11,818 575 859 18,194 1,270 2,291 16,830 2,312 2,256 33,103 1,296 Total nonperforming assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,551 $12,393 $19,464 $19,142 $34,399 Nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans plus nonaccrual loans held-for-sale plus foreclosed assets Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets . 0.60% 1.35% 2.39% 2.50% 4.05% 0.41% 0.83% 1.15% 1.47% 2.76% The following table presents nonperforming loans by class at year end: Nonaccrual $2,534 Commercial . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . . 1,651 Land and construction . . . . Home equity . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . 1,320 344 6 Total . . . . . . . . . . $5,855 2014 Restructured and Loans Over 90 Days Past Due and Still Accruing $— — — — — $— 2013 Restructured and Loans Over 90 Days Past Due and Still Accruing Total $492 $ 4,906 — — — — 4,363 1,761 666 122 Total Nonaccrual (Dollars in thousands) $ 4,414 $2,534 1,651 4,363 1,320 344 6 1,761 666 122 $5,855 $11,326 $492 $11,818 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Nonperforming assets were $6.6 million, or 0.41% of total assets, at December 31, 2014, compared to $12.4 million, or 0.83% of total assets, at December 31, 2013. Included in total nonperforming assets were foreclosed assets of $696,000 at December 31, 2014, compared to $575,000 at December 31, 2013. The decline in nonperforming assets at December 31, 2014 was primarily due to loan payoffs, charge offs, and upgrades in nonperforming loans’ risk categories. 69 The following table provides a summary of the loan portfolio by loan type and credit quality classification at the dates indicated: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential Land and construction . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 Nonclassified Classified* Total Nonclassified Classified* Total $ 455,767 $ 6,636 $ 462,403 $380,806 $12,268 $393,074 (Dollars in thousands) 472,061 66,660 60,736 18,518 6,274 1,320 908 349 478,335 67,980 61,644 18,867 416,992 29,682 48,818 15,336 6,296 1,761 2,997 341 423,288 31,443 51,815 15,677 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,073,742 $15,487 $1,089,229 $891,634 $23,663 $915,297 * Classified loans in the table above include SBA guarantees. The following provides a rollforward of troubled debt restructurings (‘‘TDRs’’): Balance at January 1, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Principal repayments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net charge-offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in TDR classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 Performing TDRs Nonperforming TDRs Total (Dollars in thousands) $ 3,230 (2,147) — (167) $ 492 (462) (30) 167 $ 3,722 (2,609) (30) — Balance at December 31, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 167 $ 916 $ 1,083 Balance at January 1, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Principal repayments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net charge-offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in TDR classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the Year Ended December 31, 2013 Performing TDRs Nonperforming TDRs Total (Dollars in thousands) $1,798 (125) (372) 187 1,742 $ 2,309 (1,630) — (187) — $ 4,107 (1,755) (372) — 1,742 Balance at December 31, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 492 $3,230 $ 3,722 Allowance for Loan Losses The allowance for loan losses is an estimate of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio by loan segment. Loans are charged-off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance for loan losses. Management’s methodology for estimating the allowance balance consists of several key elements, which include specific allowances on individual impaired loans and the formula driven allowances on pools of loans with similar risk characteristics. Specific allowances are established for impaired loans. Management considers a loan to be impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled interest payments. Loans for which the terms 70 have been modified with a concession granted, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, are considered troubled debt restructurings and classified as impaired. When a loan is considered to be impaired, the amount of impairment is measured based on the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell, if the loan is collateral dependent or on the present value of expected future cash flows or values that are observable in the secondary market. If the measure of the impaired loans is less than the investment in the loan, the deficiency will be charged off against the allowance for loan losses if the amount is a confirmed loss, or, alternatively, a specific allocation within the allowance will be established. Loans that are considered impaired are specifically excluded from the formula portion of the allowance for loan loss analysis. The estimated loss factors for pools of loans that are not impaired are based on determining the probability of default and loss given default for loans within each segment of the portfolio, adjusted for significant factors that, in management’s judgment, affect collectibility as of the evaluation date. The Company’s historical delinquency experience and loss experience are utilized to determine the probability of default and loss given default for segments of the portfolio where the Company has experienced losses in the past. For segments of the portfolio where the Company has no significant prior loss experience, the Company uses quantifiable observable industry data to determine the probability of default and loss given default. Loans with a well-defined weakness, which are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain a loss if the deficiencies are not corrected, are categorized as ‘‘classified.’’ Classified assets include all loans considered as substandard, substandard-nonaccrual, and doubtful and may result from problems specific to a borrower’s business or from economic downturns that affect the borrower’s ability to repay or that cause a decline in the value of the underlying collateral (particularly real estate), and foreclosed assets. The principal balance of classified assets, net of SBA guarantees, was $16.0 million at December 31, 2014 and $23.6 million at December 31, 2013. There were no loans held-for-sale included in classified assets at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, and are not allocated an allowance for loan losses. It is the policy of management to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level adequate for risks inherent in the loan portfolio. On an ongoing basis, we have engaged an outside firm to perform independent credit reviews of our loan portfolio. The FRB of San Francisco and the DBO also review the allowance for loan losses as an integral part of the examination process. Based on information currently available, management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate. However, the loan portfolio can be adversely affected if California economic conditions and the real estate market in the Company’s market area were to weaken. Also, any weakness of a prolonged nature in the technology industry would have a negative impact on the local market. The effect of such events, although uncertain at this time, could result in an increase in the level of nonperforming loans and increased loan losses, which could adversely affect the Company’s future growth and profitability. No assurance of the ultimate level of credit losses can be given with any certainty. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 71 The following table summarizes the Company’s loan loss experience, as well as provisions and charges to the allowance for loan losses and certain pertinent ratios for the periods indicated: 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 Balance, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charge-offs: $19,164 (Dollars in thousands) $20,700 $ 25,204 $19,027 $ 28,768 Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (815) (1,676) (3,935) (7,559) (7,098) — — (87) (25) (173) (1) (102) — (1,362) (133) (33) — (1,599) (1,757) — (8) (6,763) (17,927) (25) (354) Total charge-offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (927) (1,952) (5,463) (10,923) (32,167) Recoveries: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total recoveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net recoveries (charge-offs) . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418 2,621 35 26 1 — 274 — 9 1 776 230 — — — 678 381 879 9 3 837 5 921 36 — 480 (447) (338) 2,905 1,006 953 (816) (4,457) 2,784 1,950 (8,973) 4,469 1,799 (30,368) 26,804 Balance, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,379 $19,164 $19,027 $ 20,700 $ 25,204 RATIOS: Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans* . . Allowance for loan losses to total loans* . . . . . . Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming 0.05% (cid:5)0.11% 0.57% 1.69% 2.09% 2.34% 1.12% 2.71% 3.18% 2.98% loans, excluding nonaccrual loans held-for-sale 313.90% 162.16% 104.58% 124.37% 81.10% * Excludes loans held-for-sale The following table provides a summary of the allocation of the allowance for loan losses for specific categories at the dates indicated. The allocation presented should not be interpreted as an indication that charges to the allowance for loan losses will be incurred in these amounts or proportions, or that the 72 portion of the allowance allocated to each category represents the total amount available for charge-offs that may occur within these categories. 2014 2013 December 31, 2012 2011 2010 Percent of Loans in each category to total loans Allowance Percent of Loans in each category to total loans Allowance Percent of Loans in each category to total loans Allowance Percent of Loans in each category to total loans Allowance Percent of Loans in each category to total loans Allowance (Dollars in thousands) Commercial Real estate: . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,187 43% $12,533 43% $12,866 46% $13,215 48% $13,952 45% Commercial and residential . Land and construction . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer 4,707 1,048 1,315 122 44% 6% 6% 1% 4,922 356 1,270 83 46% 3% 6% 2% 4,609 399 1,026 127 44% 3% 5% 2% 6,203 594 541 147 41% 3% 7% 1% 5,500 4,271 592 889 40% 7% 6% 2% Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,379 100% $19,164 100% $19,027 100% $20,700 100% $25,204 100% The allowance for loan losses totaled $18.4 million, or 1.69% of total loans at December 31, 2014, compared to $19.2 million, or 2.09% of total loans at December 31, 2013. The allowance for loan losses to total loans decreased at December 31, 2014, compared to December 31, 2013, primarily due to increasing loan balances with no default histories, coupled with the decrease in nonperforming assets, improving the quality of the loan portfolio overall. The allowance for loan losses to total nonperforming loans increased to 313.90% at December 31, 2014, compared to 162.16% at December 31, 2013. Loan charge-offs reflect the realization of losses in the portfolio that were partially recognized previously through the provision for loan losses. The Company had net charge-offs of $447,000, or 0.05% of average loans, for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to net recoveries of $953,000, or 0.11% of average loans, for the year ended December 31, 2013. The allowance for loan losses related to the commercial portfolio decreased $1.3 million at December 31, 2014 from December 31, 2013, as a result of a credit to the provision for loan losses of $1.4 million related to the commercial loan portfolio, a provision for loan losses of $403,000 for the addition of the BVF factored receivables, and net charge-offs of $397,000. The decrease in the allowance for loan losses was primarily due to a decline in problem loans. The allowance for loan losses related to the real estate portfolio increased $522,000 at December 31, 2014 from December 31, 2013, as a result of a provision for loan losses of $547,000 and net charge-offs of $25,000. The increase in the allowance for loan losses was primarily due to an increase in the balance of real estate loans outstanding, partially offset by a decline in problem loans. Deposits The composition and cost of the Company’s deposit base are important components in analyzing the Company’s net interest margin and balance sheet liquidity characteristics, both of which are discussed in greater detail in other sections in this report. The Company’s liquidity is impacted by the volatility of deposits from the propensity of that money to leave the institution for rate-related or other reasons. Deposits can be adversely affected if economic conditions in California, and the Company’s market area in particular, weaken. Potentially, the most volatile deposits in a financial institution are jumbo certificates of deposit, meaning time deposits with balances that equal or exceed $100,000, as customers with balances of that magnitude are typically more rate-sensitive than customers with smaller balances. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 73 The following table summarizes the distribution of deposits and the percentage of distribution in each category of deposits for the periods indicated: Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 Balance % to Total Balance % to Total Balance % to Total Demand, noninterest-bearing . . Demand, interest-bearing . . . . . Savings and money market . . . . Time deposits — under $100 . . Time deposits — $100 and over Time deposits — brokered . . . . CDARS — money market and $ 517,662 225,821 384,644 20,005 200,890 28,116 (Dollars in thousands) 37% $ 431,085 195,451 16% 347,052 28% 21,646 1% 195,005 15% 55,524 2% 34% $ 727,684 155,951 15% 272,047 27% 25,157 2% 190,502 15% 97,807 4% time deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,248 1% 40,458 3% 10,220 49% 10% 18% 2% 13% 7% 1% Total deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,388,386 100% $1,286,221 100% $1,479,368 100% The Company obtains deposits from a cross-section of the communities it serves. The Company is not dependent upon funds from sources outside the United States of America. Public funds were 7% of deposits at December 31, 2014 and 8% at December 31, 2013. Deposits totaled $1.39 billion at December 31, 2014, compared to $1.29 billion at December 31, 2013. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased 20% to $517.7 million at December 31, 2014, from $431.1 million, at December 31, 2013. Interest-bearing demand deposits increased 16% to $225.8 million at December 31, 2014, from $195.5 million at December 31, 2013. Savings and money market deposits increased 11% to $384.6 million at December 31, 2014, from $347.1 million at December 31, 2013. At December 31, 2014, brokered deposits decreased 49% to $28.1 million, from $55.5 million at December 31, 2013. CDARS money market and time deposits decreased to $11.2 million at December 31, 2014, from $40.5 million at December 31, 2013, primarily due to $27.5 million in deposits received from a law firm for legal settlements in the fourth quarter of 2013, all of which were withdrawn in January, 2014. Deposits (excluding all time deposits and CDARS deposits), increased $154.5 million, or 16%, to $1.13 billion at December 31, 2014, from $973.6 million at December 31, 2013. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $109.8 million (at fair value) of securities pledged for $98.0 million in certificates of deposits from the State of California. At December 31, 2013, the Company had $108.0 million (at fair value) of securities pledged for $98.0 million in certificates of deposits from the State of California. CDARS deposits were comprised of $4.0 million of money market accounts and $7.2 million of time deposits at December 31, 2014. CDARS deposits were comprised of $34.8 million of money market accounts and $5.7 million of time deposits at December 31, 2013. The following table indicates the contractual maturity schedule of the Company’s time deposits of $100,000 and over, and all CDARS time deposits and brokered deposits as of December 31, 2014: Three months or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Over three months through six months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Over six months through twelve months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Over twelve months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance % of Total (Dollars in thousands) 42% $ 98,627 27% 64,950 21% 48,675 10% 23,966 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $236,218 100% 74 The Company focuses primarily on providing and servicing business deposit accounts that are frequently over $100,000 in average balance per account. As a result, certain types of business clients that the Company serves typically carry average deposits in excess of $100,000. The account activity for some account types and client types necessitates appropriate liquidity management practices by the Company to ensure its ability to fund deposit withdrawals. Return on Equity and Assets The following table indicates the ratios for return on average assets and average equity, and average equity to average assets for the periods indicated: Return on average assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return on average tangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return on average equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return on average tangible equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividend payout ratio(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average equity to average assets ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.81% 0.88% 0.81% 0.88% 6.77% 7.44% 6.84% 7.60% 42.88% 16.60% 11.85% 11.90% 12.72% 0.73% 0.73% 5.75% 5.83% N/A 2014 2013 2012 (1) Percentage is calculated based on dividends paid on common stock and Series C Preferred Stock (on an as converted basis) divided by net income. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements In the normal course of business, the Company makes commitments to extend credit to its customers as long as there are no violations of any conditions established in contractual arrangements. These commitments are obligations that represent a potential credit risk to the Company, yet are not reflected in any form within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Total unused commitments to extend credit were $439.3 million at December 31, 2014, as compared to $377.2 million at December 31, 2013. Unused commitments represented 40% and 41% of outstanding gross loans at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. A n n u a l R e p o r t The effect on the Company’s revenues, expenses, cash flows and liquidity from the unused portion of the commitments to provide credit cannot be reasonably predicted, because there is no certainty that the lines of credit will ever be fully utilized. For more information regarding the Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements, see Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements located elsewhere herein. 26FEB20 The following table presents the Company’s commitments to extend credit for the periods indicated: Unused lines of credit and commitments to make loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Standby letters of credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 Fixed Rate Variable Rate Fixed Rate Variable Rate (Dollars in thousands) $ 8,164 3,235 $11,399 $415,146 12,783 $427,929 $6,136 — $6,136 $359,955 11,099 $371,054 75 Contractual Obligations The contractual obligations of the Company, summarized by type of obligation and contractual maturity, at December 31, 2014, are as follows: Less Than One Year One to Three Years Three to Five Years After Five Years Total Deposits(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Operating leases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other long-term liabilities(2) . . . . . . . . . . . $1,362,837 2,759 866 (Dollars in thousands) $1,029 3,890 3,074 $24,520 5,282 2,670 $ — $1,388,386 13,058 42,408 1,127 35,798 Total contractual obligations . . . . . . . . . . $1,366,462 $32,472 $7,993 $36,925 $1,443,852 (1) Deposits with indeterminate maturities, such as demand, savings and money market accounts, are reflected as obligations due in less than one year. (2) Includes maximum payments related to employee benefit plans, assuming all future vesting conditions are met. Additional information is provided in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements. In addition to those obligations listed above, in the normal course of business, the Company will make cash distributions for the payment of interest on interest-bearing deposit accounts and debt obligations, payments for quarterly income tax estimates and contributions to certain employee benefit plans. Liquidity and Asset/Liability Management Liquidity refers to the Company’s ability to maintain cash flows sufficient to fund operations and to meet obligations and other commitments in a timely and cost effective fashion. At various times the Company requires funds to meet short-term cash requirements brought about by loan growth or deposit outflows, the purchase of assets, or liability repayments. An integral part of the Company’s ability to manage its liquidity position appropriately is the Company’s large base of core deposits, which are generated by offering traditional banking services in its service area and which have, historically, been a stable source of funds. To manage liquidity needs properly, cash inflows must be timed to coincide with anticipated outflows or sufficient liquidity resources must be available to meet varying demands. The Company manages liquidity to be able to meet unexpected sudden changes in levels of its assets or deposit liabilities without maintaining excessive amounts of balance sheet liquidity. Excess balance sheet liquidity can negatively impact the Company’s interest margin. In order to meet short-term liquidity needs the Company may utilize overnight Federal funds purchase arrangements and other borrowing arrangements with correspondent banks, solicit brokered deposits if cost effective deposits are not available from local sources and maintain collateralized lines of credit with the FHLB and FRB. In addition, the Company can raise cash for temporary needs by selling securities under agreements to repurchase and selling securities available-for-sale. One of the measures of liquidity is our loan to deposit ratio. Our loan to deposit ratio was 78.41% at December 31, 2014, compared to 71.13% at December 31, 2013. FHLB and FRB Borrowings and Available Lines of Credit The Company has off-balance sheet liquidity in the form of Federal funds purchase arrangements with correspondent banks, including the FHLB and FRB. The Company can borrow from the FHLB on a short-term (typically overnight) or long-term (over one year) basis. The Company had no overnight borrowings from the FHLB at December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013. The Company had $246.6 million of loans pledged to the FHLB as collateral on an available line of credit of $140.0 million at December 31, 2014. The Company had $253.5 million of loans pledged to the FHLB as collateral on an available line of credit of $125.3 million at December 31, 2013. 76 The Company can also borrow from FRB’s discount window. The Company had $388.0 million of loans pledged to the FRB as collateral on an available line of credit of $260.4 million at December 31, 2014, none of which was outstanding. The Company had $323.2 million of loans pledged to the FRB as collateral on an available line of credit of $241.5 million at December 31, 2013, none of which was outstanding. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had Federal funds purchase arrangements available of $55.0 million. There were no Federal funds purchased outstanding at December 31, 2014 or 2013. At November 1, 2014, Bay View Funding had $1.0 million outstanding on a subordinated revolving line credit from a related party with a maturity date of June 30, 2015. On November 5, 2014, Bay View Funding paid off the related party line of credit of $1.0 million. At November 1, 2014, Bay View Funding had a $32.5 million revolving bank line of credit. The line of credit was secured by all the assets of Bay View Funding and was set to mature on April 3, 2015. On December 17, 2014, the remaining unpaid principal balance of $14.0 million was paid, along with a $325,000 prepayment penalty, to close out the $32.5 million revolving bank line of credit. The Company may also utilize securities sold under repurchase agreements to manage our liquidity position. There were no securities sold under agreements to repurchase at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The following table summarizes the Company’s borrowings under its Federal funds purchased, security repurchase arrangements and lines of credit for the periods indicated: December 31, 2014 2013 2012 Average balance during the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average interest rate during the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maximum month-end balance during the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average rate at December 31, (Dollars in thousands) $ 58 $ 3,953 $ 1,470 3.06% 0.20% 0.24% $29,796 N/A $ — $27,000 N/A N/A Capital Resources The Company uses a variety of measures to evaluate capital adequacy. Management reviews various capital measurements on a regular basis and takes appropriate action to ensure that such measurements are within established internal and external guidelines. The external guidelines, which are issued by the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC, establish a risk adjusted ratio relating capital to different categories of assets and off balance sheet exposures. There are two categories of capital under the Federal Reserve Board and FDIC guidelines: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Capital. Our Tier 1 Capital consists of total shareholders’ equity (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income or loss) less goodwill and other intangible assets and disallowed deferred tax assets. Our Tier 1 Capital at December 31, 2012 also included the proceeds from the issuance of trust preferred securities (trust preferred securities are counted only up to a maximum of 25% of Tier 1 capital). Our Tier 2 Capital includes the allowances for loan losses and off balance sheet credit losses. In July 2013, the Federal banking regulators approved final rules to implement the revised capital adequacy standards of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, commonly called Basel III, and to address relevant provisions of Dodd Frank. The final rules strengthens the definition of regulatory capital, increases risk based capital requirements, makes selected changes to the calculation of risk weighted assets, and adjusts the prompt corrective action thresholds. Community banking organizations, such as HCC and HBC, became subject to the new rules on January 1, 2015 and certain provisions of the new rule will be phased in over the period of 2015 through 2019. For more information on the final rules, see Part 1, Item 1, Business — Supervision and Regulation — Capital Adequacy Requirements. 77 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 The following table summarizes risk-based capital, risk-weighted assets, and risk-based capital ratios of the Company: December 31, 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands) Capital components: Tier 1 Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 169,278 16,790 Tier 2 Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 165,162 14,754 $ 157,947 13,254 Total risk-based capital . . . . . . . . $ 186,068 $ 179,916 $ 171,201 Risk-weighted assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,341,094 Average assets (regulatory purposes) . $1,598,724 $1,175,813 $1,477,082 $1,054,394 $1,378,011 Well-Capitalized Regulatory Requirements Minimum Regulatory Requirements Capital ratios: Total risk-based capital . . . . . . . . . Tier 1 risk-based capital . . . . . . . . . Leverage(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.9% 12.6% 10.6% 15.3% 14.0% 11.2% 16.2% 15.0% 11.5% 10.00% 6.00% N/A 8.00% 4.00% 4.00% (1) Tier 1 capital divided by quarterly average assets (excluding intangible assets and disallowed deferred tax assets). The table above presents the capital ratios of the Company computed in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines and compared to the standards for minimum capital adequacy requirements. The risk-based and leverage capital ratios are also discussed in Item 1 — ’’Business — Capital Adequacy Requirements.’’ The following table summarizes risk-based capital, risk-weighted assets, and risk-based capital ratios of HBC: December 31, 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands) Capital components: Tier 1 Capital Tier 2 Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 158,976 16,789 $ 149,037 14,790 $ 147,742 13,262 Total risk-based capital . . . . . . . $ 175,765 $ 163,827 $ 161,004 Risk-weighted assets . . . . . . . . . . . . Average assets for capital purposes . . $1,340,949 $1,599,173 $1,178,719 $1,477,168 $1,055,061 $1,378,238 Well-Capitalized Regulatory Requirements Minimum Regulatory Requirements Capital ratios: Total risk-based capital . . . . . . . . . Tier 1 risk-based capital . . . . . . . . Leverage(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.1% 11.9% 9.9% 13.9% 12.6% 10.1% 15.3% 14.0% 10.7% 10.00% 6.00% 5.00% 8.00% 4.00% 4.00% (1) Tier 1 capital divided by quarterly average assets (excluding intangible assets and disallowed deferred tax assets). 78 The table above presents the capital ratios of HBC computed in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines and compared to the standards for minimum capital adequacy requirements under the FDIC’s prompt corrective action authority. The Company’s total risk-based capital ratio, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, and leverage ratio at December 31, 2014 decreased to 13.9%, 12.6%, and 10.6%, compared to 15.3%, 14.0%, and 11.2% at December 31, 2013, respectively. HBC’s total risk-based capital ratio, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, and leverage ratio at December 31, 2014 decreased to 13.1%, 11.9%, and 9.9%, compared to 13.9%, 12.6%, and 10.1% at December 31, 2013, respectively. The decrease in the capital ratios at December 31, 2014 was primarily due to the addition of goodwill and other intangible assets from the BVF acquisition. At December 31, 2014, the Company’s and HBC’s capital ratios exceed the highest regulatory capital requirement of ‘‘well capitalized’’ under prompt corrective action provisions. Quantitative measures established by regulation to help ensure capital adequacy require the Company and HBC to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total risk based capital and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier 1 capital to average assets (as defined). Management believes that, as of December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, the Company and HBC met all capital adequacy guidelines to which they were subject. There are no conditions or events since December 31, 2014 that management believes have changed the categorization of the Company or HBC as well capitalized. At December 31, 2014, the Company had total shareholders’ equity of $184.3 million, including $19.5 million in preferred stock, $133.7 million in common stock, $33.0 million in retained earnings, and ($1.9) million of accumulated other comprehensive loss. The accumulated other comprehensive loss was ($1.9) million at December 31, 2014, compared to accumulated other comprehensive loss of ($4.0) million at December 31, 2013. The unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale was $2.8 million, net of taxes, at December 31, 2014, compared to an unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale of ($1.4) million, net of taxes, at December 31, 2013. The components of other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, at December 31, 2014 include the following: an unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities of $2.8 million; the remaining unamortized unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale transferred to held-to-maturity of $434,000; a split dollar insurance contracts liability of ($2.0) million; a supplemental executive retirement plan liability of ($3.9) million; and an unrealized gain on interest-only strip from SBA loans of $860,000. Mandatory Redeemable Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities To enhance regulatory capital and to provide liquidity, the Company, through unconsolidated subsidiary grantor trusts, issued mandatory redeemable cumulative trust preferred securities of subsidiary grantor trusts. The subordinated debt was recorded as a component of long-term debt and included the value of the common stock issued by the trusts to the Company. The common stock was recorded as other assets for the amount issued. Under applicable regulatory guidelines, the trust preferred securities qualified as Tier 1 capital. The subsidiary trusts were not consolidated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. During the third quarter of 2012, the Company redeemed its 10.875% fixed-rate subordinated debentures in the amount of $7 million issued to Heritage Capital Trust I and the Company’s 10.600% fixed-rate subordinated debentures in the amount of $7 million issued to Heritage Statutory Trust I. The related trust securities issued by Capital Trust I and Statutory Trust I were also redeemed in connection with the subordinated debt redemption and the trusts were dissolved. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company redeemed its Company’s variable-rate subordinated debentures in the amount of $5 million issued to Heritage Statutory Trust II and the Company’s variable-rate subordinated debentures in the amount of $4 million issued to Heritage Statutory Trust III. The related trust securities issued by Statutory Trust II and Statutory Trust III were also redeemed in connection with the subordinated debt redemption and the trusts were dissolved. 79 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program The Company received $40 million in November 2008 through the issuance of its Series A Preferred Stock and a warrant to purchase 462,963 shares of its common stock to the Treasury through the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program. The Series A Preferred Stock qualified as a component of Tier 1 capital. On March 7, 2012, in accordance with approvals received from the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve, the Company repurchased all of the Series A Preferred Stock and paid the related accrued and unpaid dividends. On June 12, 2013, the Company completed the repurchase of the common stock warrant for $140,000. Series C Preferred Stock On June 21, 2010, the Company issued to various institutional investors 21,004 shares of newly issued Series C Preferred Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock is mandatorily convertible into 5,601,000 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $3.75 per share upon a subsequent transfer of the Series C Preferred stock to third parties not affiliates with the holder in a widely dispersed offering. The Series C Preferred Stock is non-voting except in the case of certain transactions that would affect the rights of the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock or applicable law. The holders of Series C Preferred Stock receive dividends on an as converted basis when dividends are also declared for holders of common stock. The Series C Preferred Stock is not redeemable by the Company or by the holders and has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The Series C Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company’s common stock. Market Risk Market risk is the risk of loss of future earnings, fair values, or future cash flows that may result from changes in the price of a financial instrument. The value of a financial instrument may change as a result of changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes that affect market risk sensitive instruments. Market risk is attributed to all market risk sensitive financial instruments, including securities, loans, deposits and borrowings, as well as the Company’s role as a financial intermediary in customer-related transactions. The objective of market risk management is to avoid excessive exposure of the Company’s earnings and equity to loss and to reduce the volatility inherent in certain financial instruments. Interest Rate Management Market risk arises from changes in interest rates, exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices. The Company’s market risk exposure is primarily that of interest rate risk, and it has established policies and procedures to monitor and limit earnings and balance sheet exposure to changes in interest rates. The Company does not engage in the trading of financial instruments, nor does the Company have exposure to currency exchange rates. The principal objective of interest rate risk management (often referred to as ‘‘asset/liability management’’) is to manage the financial components of the Company in a manner that will optimize the risk/reward equation for earnings and capital in relation to changing interest rates. The Company’s exposure to market risk is reviewed on a regular basis by the Asset/Liability Committee. Interest rate risk is the potential of economic losses due to future interest rate changes. These economic losses can be reflected as a loss of future net interest income and/or a loss of current fair market values. The objective is to measure the effect on net interest income and to adjust the balance sheet to minimize the inherent risk while at the same time maximizing income. Management realizes certain risks are inherent, and that the goal is to identify and manage the risks. Management uses two methodologies to manage interest rate risk: (i) a standard GAP analysis; and (ii) an interest rate shock simulation model. 80 The planning of asset and liability maturities is an integral part of the management of an institution’s net interest margin. To the extent maturities of assets and liabilities do not match in a changing interest rate environment, the net interest margin may change over time. Even with perfectly matched repricing of assets and liabilities, risks remain in the form of prepayment of loans or securities or in the form of delays in the adjustment of rates of interest applying to either earning assets with floating rates or to interest bearing liabilities. The Company has generally been able to control its exposure to changing interest rates by maintaining primarily floating interest rate loans and a majority of its time certificates with relatively short maturities. Interest rate changes do not affect all categories of assets and liabilities equally or at the same time. Varying interest rate environments can create unexpected changes in prepayment levels of assets and liabilities, which may have a significant effect on the net interest margin and are not reflected in the interest sensitivity analysis table. Because of these factors, an interest sensitivity gap report may not provide a complete assessment of the exposure to changes in interest rates. The Company uses modeling software for asset/liability management in order to simulate the effects of potential interest rate changes on the Company’s net interest margin, and to calculate the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments under different interest rate scenarios. The program imports current balances, interest rates, maturity dates and repricing information for individual financial instruments, and incorporates assumptions on the characteristics of embedded options along with pricing and duration for new volumes to project the effects of a given interest rate change on the Company’s interest income and interest expense. Rate scenarios consisting of key rate and yield curve projections are run against the Company’s investment, loan, deposit and borrowed funds portfolios. These rate projections can be shocked (an immediate and parallel change in all base rates, up or down) and ramped (an incremental increase or decrease in rates over a specified time period), based on current trends and econometric models or stable economic conditions (unchanged from current actual levels). The following table sets forth the estimated changes in the Company’s annual net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel shift in interest rates noted, as of December 31, 2014. Computations of prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions including relative levels of market interest rates, loan prepayments and deposit decay, and should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. Change in Interest Rates (basis points) +400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (cid:5)100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (cid:5)200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Increase/(Decrease) in Estimated Net Interest Income Amount Percent (Dollars in thousands) 30.3% $ 17,171 22.7% $ 12,833 15.1% $ 8,567 7.4% $ 4,171 0.0% — $ (cid:5)9.3% $ (5,249) $(11,023) (cid:5)19.5% This data does not reflect any actions that we may undertake in response to changes in interest rates such as changes in rates paid on certain deposit accounts based on local competitive factors, which could reduce the actual impact on net interest income, if any. As with any method of gauging interest rate risk, there are certain shortcomings inherent to the methodology noted above. The model assumes interest rate changes are instantaneous parallel shifts in the yield curve. In reality, rate changes are rarely instantaneous. The use of the simplifying assumption that 81 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 short-term and long-term rates change by the same degree may also misstate historic rate patterns, which rarely show parallel yield curve shifts. Further, the model assumes that certain assets and liabilities of similar maturity or period to repricing will react in the same way to changes in rates. In reality, certain types of financial instruments may react in advance of changes in market rates, while the reaction of other types of financial instruments may lag behind the change in general market rates. Additionally, the methodology noted above does not reflect the full impact of annual and lifetime restrictions on changes in rates for certain assets, such as adjustable rate loans. When interest rates change, actual loan prepayments and actual early withdrawals from certificates may deviate significantly from the assumptions used in the model. Finally, this methodology does not measure or reflect the impact that higher rates may have on adjustable-rate loan clients’ ability to service their debt. All of these factors are considered in monitoring the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk. ITEM 7A — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK As a financial institution, the Company’s primary component of market risk is interest rate volatility. Fluctuations in interest rates will ultimately impact both the level of income and expense recorded on most of the Company’s assets and liabilities and the market value of all interest-earning assets, other than those which have a short term to maturity. Based upon the nature of the Company’s operations, the Company is not subject to foreign exchange or commodity price risk. The Company has no market risk sensitive instruments held for trading purposes. As of December 31, 2014, the Company did not use interest rate derivatives to hedge its interest rate risk. The information concerning quantitative and qualitative disclosure or market risk called for by Item 305 of Regulation S-K is included as part of Item 7 of this report. ITEM 8 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The financial statements and report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are set forth on pages 87 through 144. ITEM 9 — CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES None. ITEM 9A — CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Disclosure Control and Procedures The Company has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2014. As defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’), disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. Disclosure controls are also designed to reasonably assure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls were effective as of December 31, 2014, the period covered by this report. 82 Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. As defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, a company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by a company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, 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. It includes those policies and procedures that: (cid:127) Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of a company; (cid:127) 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 a company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the board of directors of the company; and (cid:127) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of a company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. Because of the 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. The Company’s management has used the criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (‘‘COSO’’) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management has selected the COSO framework for its evaluation as it is a control framework recognized by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, that is free from bias, permits reasonably consistent qualitative and quantitative measurement of the Company’s internal controls, is sufficiently complete so that relevant controls are not omitted and is relevant to an evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting. As permitted, the Company has excluded the operations of Bay View Funding acquired during 2014, which is described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements. The assets acquired in this acquisition and excluded from management’s assessment on internal control over financial reporting comprised approximately 3.7% of total consolidated assets at December 31, 2014. Based on our assessment, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by COSO was effective as of December 31, 2014. The independent registered public accounting firm of Crowe Horwath LLP, as auditors of our consolidated financial statements, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of management’s internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in the 2013 ‘‘Internal Control — Integrated Framework,’’ issued by COSO. Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be 83 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2014 that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting. ITEM 9B — OTHER INFORMATION None. PART III ITEM 10 — DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Information required by this item will be contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2014. Such information is incorporated herein by reference. We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and to our other principal financial officers. The code of ethics is available at the Governance Documents section of our website at www.heritagecommercecorp.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of our code of ethics on the above website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver. ITEM 11 — EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Information required by this item will be contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2014. Such information is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 12 — SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Information required by this item will be contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2014. Such information is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 13 — CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE Information required by this item will be contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2014. Such information is incorporated herein by reference. 84 ITEM 14 — PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES Information required by this item will be contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2014. Such information is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 15 — EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES (a)(1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PART IV The Financial Statements of the Company and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are set forth on pages 87 through 144. (a)(2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES All schedules to the Financial Statements are omitted because of the absence of the conditions under which they are required or because the required information is included in the Financial Statements or accompanying notes. (a)(3) EXHIBITS The exhibit list required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Exhibit Index included in this report. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 85 Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. SIGNATURES DATE: March 6, 2015 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP BY: /s/ WALTER T. KACZMAREK Walter T. Kaczmarek Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated: Signature /s/ FRANK G. BISCEGLIA Frank G. Bisceglia /s/ JACK W. CONNER Jack W. Conner /s/ JOHN M. EGGEMEYER John M. Eggemeyer /s/ STEVEN L. HALLGRIMSON Steven L. Hallgrimson /s/ WALTER T. KACZMAREK Walter T. Kaczmarek /s/ LAWRENCE D. MCGOVERN Lawrence D. McGovern /s/ ROBERT T. MOLES Robert T. Moles /s/ HUMPHREY P. POLANEN Humphrey P. Polanen /s/ LAURA RODEN Laura Roden /s/ CHARLES T. TOENISKOETTER Charles T. Toeniskoetter /s/ RANSON W. WEBSTER Ranson W. Webster /s/ W. KIRK WYCOFF W. Kirk Wycoff Title Director Date March 6, 2015 Director and Chairman of the Board March 6, 2015 Director Director Director and Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer) Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Director Director Director Director Director Director 86 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 March 6, 2015 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2014 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 . . . . Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 . Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 88 90 91 92 93 94 95 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 87 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Board of Directors Heritage Commerce Corp San Jose, California We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Heritage Commerce Corp (the ‘‘Company’’) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014. We also have audited Heritage Commerce Corp’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Heritage Commerce Corp’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, 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 audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. As permitted, the Company has excluded the operations of BVF/CSNK Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation acquired during 2014, which is described in Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements, from the scope of management’s report on internal control over financial reporting. As such, it has also been excluded from the scope of our audit of internal control over financial reporting. 88 In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Heritage Commerce Corp as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2014 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, Heritage Commerce Corp maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. /s/ Crowe Horwath LLP Sacramento, California March 6, 2015 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 89 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Assets Cash and due from banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities available-for-sale, at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value of $94,953 at December 31, 2014 and $86,032 at December 31, 2013) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loans held-for-sale — SBA, at lower of cost or market, including deferred costs . . . . . . . Loans, net of deferred fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allowance for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loans, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock, at cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Company owned life insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Premises and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accrued interest receivable and other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 (Dollars in thousands) $ 23,256 99,147 122,403 206,335 $ 20,158 92,447 112,605 280,100 95,362 1,172 1,088,643 (18,379) 1,070,264 10,598 51,257 7,451 13,044 3,276 35,941 95,921 3,148 914,913 (19,164) 895,749 10,435 50,012 7,240 — 1,527 34,895 Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,617,103 $1,491,632 Liabilities: Deposits: Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity Demand, noninterest-bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Demand, interest-bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Savings and money market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Time deposits-under $100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Time deposits-$100 and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Time deposits-brokered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CDARS — money market and time deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accrued interest payable and other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 517,662 225,821 384,644 20,005 200,890 28,116 11,248 1,388,386 44,359 1,432,745 $ 431,085 195,451 347,052 21,646 195,005 55,524 40,458 1,286,221 32,015 1,318,236 Commitments and contingencies (Notes 6 and 15) Shareholders’ equity: Preferred stock, no par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized Series C convertible perpetual preferred stock, 21,004 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (liquidation preference of $21,004 at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013) . . . . . . . . Common stock, no par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized; 26,503,505 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 26,350,938 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accumulated other comprehensive loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total shareholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,519 19,519 133,676 33,014 (1,851) 184,358 132,561 25,345 (4,029) 173,396 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,617,103 $1,491,632 See notes to consolidated financial statements 90 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME Interest income: Loans, including fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities, taxable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities, non-taxable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions . . . . . . . . Total interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest expense: Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subordinated debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net interest income before provision for loan losses . . . . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net interest income after provision for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest income: Service charges and fees on deposit accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance . . . . . . . . . . . Servicing income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gain on sales of SBA loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gain on sales of securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total noninterest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest expense: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salaries and employee benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Occupancy and equipment Professional fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insurance expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Data processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acquisition and integration related costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FDIC deposit insurance premiums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Correspondent bank charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Foreclosed assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Premium on redemption of subordinated debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total noninterest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividends and discount accretion on preferred stock . . . . . . . . . . . Net income available to common shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earnings per common share: Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) $49,207 7,810 2,025 214 59,256 2,032 — 121 2,153 57,103 (338) 57,441 2,519 1,600 1,296 971 97 1,263 7,746 26,250 4,059 1,891 1,126 999 969 895 892 760 53 — 6,328 44,222 20,965 7,538 13,427 (1,008) $12,419 $ 0.42 $ 0.42 $41,570 9,472 1,530 214 52,786 $40,800 11,519 112 134 52,565 2,369 229 2 2,600 50,186 (816) 51,002 2,457 1,654 1,446 449 38 1,170 7,214 23,450 4,043 2,588 1,032 1,289 1,078 — 894 684 (251) — 5,663 40,470 17,746 6,206 11,540 (336) 2,800 1,383 4 4,187 48,378 2,784 45,594 2,333 1,720 1,743 702 1,560 807 8,865 21,722 3,997 2,876 911 1,149 983 — 918 611 (45) 601 5,338 39,061 15,398 5,489 9,909 (1,206) $11,204 $ 8,703 $ $ 0.36 0.36 $ $ 0.27 0.27 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 See notes to consolidated financial statements 91 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive income (loss): (Dollars in thousands) $ 11,540 $ 9,909 $13,427 Change in net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and I/O strips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,164 (3,012) (14,302) 6,007 4,451 (1,869) Change in net unamortized unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale that were reclassified to securities held-to-maturity Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reclassification adjustment for gains realized in income . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities and I/O strips, (54) 23 (97) 41 (54) 23 (38) 16 857 (360) (1,560) 655 net of deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,065 (8,348) 2,174 Change in net pension and other benefit plan liability adjustment . . . . Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3,253) 1,366 2,825 (1,187) (772) 324 Change in pension and other benefit plan liability, net of deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1,887) 1,638 (448) Other comprehensive income (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,178 (6,710) 1,726 Total comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,605 $ 4,830 $11,635 See notes to consolidated financial statements 92 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 Preferred Stock Common Stock Accumulated Other Total Retained Comprehensive Shareholders’ Shares Amount Discount Shares Amount Earnings Income / (Loss) Equity (Dollars in thousands) 26,295,001 $131,172 — — — — — — $ 7,172 9,909 — — $ 955 — 1,726 — $197,831 9,909 1,726 (40,000) Balance, January 1, 2012 . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive income . . . . . . . Repurchase of Series A preferred stock Series A preferred stock capitalized 61,004 $ 59,365 — — (40,000) — — (40,000) offering costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Issuance (forfeitures) of restricted stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of restricted stock awards, . . . . . . net of forfeitures and taxes awards, net Cash dividends accrued on Series A preferred stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accretion of discount on Series A preferred stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stock option expense, net of fortfeitures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stock options exercised . . . . . . . . . . and taxes — — — — — — — 154 — — — — — — $(833) — — — — — — 833 — — — 21,500 — — — — 5,646 — — 148 — — 461 39 (154) — — (373) (833) — — Balance, December 31, 2012 . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive loss . . . . . . . . . Issuance of restricted stock awards, net Repurchase of warrant . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of restricted stock awards, . . . . . . Cash dividend declared $0.06 per share Stock option expense, net of fortfeitures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stock options exercised . . . . . . . . . . net of forfeitures and taxes and taxes Balance, December 31, 2013 . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other comprehensive income . . . . . . . Issuance of restricted stock awards, net Amortization of restricted stock awards, . . . . . . Cash dividend declared $0.18 per share Stock option expense, net of fortfeitures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stock options exercised . . . . . . . . . . net of forfeitures and taxes and taxes 21,004 — — — — 19,519 — — — — — 26,322,147 — — — — 10,000 — — — 131,820 15,721 — 11,540 — — — — — (140) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 200 — — (1,916) — 18,791 593 88 — — 21,004 — — — 19,519 — — — — 26,350,938 — — — — 90,000 — 132,561 25,345 — 13,427 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — (9) — — (5,758) — 62,567 862 262 — — — — — — — — — 2,681 — (6,710) — — — — — — (4,029) — 2,178 — — — — — — — 148 (373) — 461 39 169,741 11,540 (6,710) — (140) 200 (1,916) 593 88 173,396 13,427 2,178 — (9) (5,758) 862 262 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Balance, December 31, 2014 . . . . . . . 21,004 $ 19,519 $ — 26,503,505 $133,676 $33,014 $(1,851) $184,358 See notes to consolidated financial statements 93 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income . . . . . . Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: . Amortization of discounts and premiums on securities . . . . Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale . . . Gain on sale of SBA loans . . . . . Proceeds from sale of SBA loans originated for sale . . . . . Net change in SBA loans originated for sale . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses . . . Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance . . . . Gain on proceeds from company owned life insurance . . . . Depreciation and amortization . . . . . Amortization of other intangible assets . . . . Gains on sale of foreclosed assets, net . . . Stock option expense, net . . Amortization of restricted stock awards, net . . . Effect of changes in: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accrued interest receivable and other assets Accrued interest payable and other liabilities . Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: . . . . Purchase of securities available-for-sale . . . . . . Purchase of securities held-to-maturity . . . Maturities/paydowns/calls of securities available-for-sale . . . Maturities/paydowns/calls of securities held-to-maturity . . Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale . . . . Proceeds from sale of other loans transferred held-for-sale . Net change in loans . . . . . . Changes in Federal Home Loan Bank stock and other investments . . . Purchase of company owned life insurance . . . . . Purchase of premises and equipment . . . . Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets . . . . Proceeds from company owned life insurance . . . Cash paid in bank acquisition, net of cash received . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net cash used in investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: . . . . Net change in deposits . . . . . Repurchase of warrant . . . . . Exercise of stock options . . . . Repayment of preferred stock . . . . Repayment of short-term borrowings . . . . . Redemption of subordinated debt . Payment of cash dividends — Series A preferred stock . . . Payment of cash dividends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents . . Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year . . . . . . . Cash and cash equivalents, end of year . . . . . . Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: . . . . . . . . Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activity: Interest paid . . Income taxes paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due to broker for securities purchased, settling after year-end . . . Transfer of loans held-for-sale to loan portfolio . . . . Transfer securities from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity . Loans transferred to foreclosed assets . . . . Summary of assets acquired and liabilities assumed through acquisition: . . . . . . . Net loans . . . Goodwill and other intangible assets . Premises and equipment . . Other assets, net . . . . Other liabilities . . . . . Borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Year ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands) $ 13,427 $ 11,540 $ 9,909 1,163 (97) (971) 15,858 (12,911) (338) (1,600) (51) 725 510 — 862 (9) (2,428) 5,244 19,384 (53,292) (4,595) 24,917 3,899 108,603 — (131,648) (163) — (817) — 406 (21,918) 2,231 (38) (449) 6,174 (9,234) (816) (1,654) — 729 473 (243) 593 200 4,694 2,063 16,263 (17,844) (51,044) 62,531 3,851 26,944 — (97,910) 293 — (500) 850 — — 2,588 (1,560) (702) 10,040 (11,994) 2,784 (1,720) — 750 491 (530) 461 148 4,717 659 16,041 (154,414) (33,317) 108,026 1,553 40,587 220 (54,042) (803) (250) (239) 2,148 — — (74,608) (72,829) (90,531) 102,165 — 262 — (31,647) — — (5,758) (193,147) (140) 88 — — (9,279) — (1,916) 65,022 (204,394) 9,798 112,605 (260,960) 373,565 429,940 — 39 (40,000) — (14,423) (373) — 375,183 300,693 72,872 $ 122,403 $ 112,605 $ 373,565 $ $ 2,166 4,280 $ — $ — — 229 2,685 2,021 961 3,770 — 33 $ $ 4,694 2,730 3,493 87 15,498 2,056 42,300 15,303 119 738 (4,895) (31,647) — — — — — — — — — — — — . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . See notes to consolidated financial statements 94 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Description of Business and Basis of Presentation Heritage Commerce Corp (‘‘HCC’’) operates as a registered bank holding company for its wholly- owned subsidiary Heritage Bank of Commerce (‘‘HBC’’ or the ‘‘Bank’’), collectively referred to as the ‘‘Company’’. HBC was incorporated on November 23, 1993 and commenced operations on June 8, 1994. HBC is a California state chartered bank which offers a full range of commercial and personal banking services to residents and the business/professional community in Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties, California. As discussed in Note 7, the Company acquired BVF/CSNK Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (‘‘Bay View Funding’’ or ‘‘BVF’’) on November 1, 2014, and BVF became a wholly owned subsidiary of HBC. Based in Santa Clara, California, BVF is the parent company of CSNK Working Capital Finance Corp. dba Bay View Funding, which provides business-essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting policies generally accepted in the United States of America and general practices in the banking industry. The financial statements include the accounts of the Company. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company also established the following wholly-owned Delaware business trusts that were formed to issue trust preferred and related common securities: Heritage Capital Trust I and Heritage Statutory Trust I, formed in 2000, Heritage Statutory Trust II, formed in 2001, and Heritage Statutory Trust III, formed in 2002 (‘‘Trusts’’). During the third quarter of 2012 the Company dissolved the Heritage Statutory Trust I and the Heritage Capital Trust I. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company dissolved the Heritage Statutory Trust II and the Heritage Statutory Trust III. The Trusts issued their preferred securities to investors, and used the proceeds to purchase subordinated debt issued by the Company. The subordinated debt payable to the Trusts was recorded as debt of the Company. The Company had fully and unconditionally guaranteed the trust preferred securities along with all obligations of the Trusts under the trust agreements. Interest income from the subordinated debt was the source of revenues for these Trusts. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Trusts were not consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, amounts held at the Federal Reserve Bank, and Federal funds sold. The Company is required to maintain reserves against certain of the deposit accounts with the Federal Reserve Bank. Federal funds are generally sold and purchased for one-day periods. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 95 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Cash Flows Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions, notes payable, repurchase agreements and other short-term borrowings. Securities The Company classifies its securities as either available-for-sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase. Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income, net of taxes. A decline in the fair value of any available-for-sale or held-to-maturity security below amortized cost that is deemed other than temporary results in a charge to earnings and the corresponding establishment of a new cost basis for the security. In estimating other-than-temporary losses, management considers (1) the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (3) whether the fair value decline was affected by macroeconomic conditions, and (4) whether the Company has the intention to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before any anticipated recovery in fair value. Interest income includes amortization of purchase premiums or discounts. Premiums and discounts are amortized, or accreted, over the life of the related security as an adjustment to income using a method that approximates the interest method. Realized gains and losses are recorded on the trade date and determined using the specific identification method for the cost of securities sold. Loan Sales and Servicing The Company holds for sale the conditionally guaranteed portion of certain loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (collectively referred to as ‘‘SBA loans’’). These loans are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings. Gains or losses on SBA loans held-for-sale are recognized upon completion of the sale, based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related loan sold. SBA loans are sold with servicing retained. Servicing assets recognized separately upon the sale of SBA loans consist of servicing rights and, for loans sold prior to 2009, interest-only strip receivables (‘‘I/O strips’’). The Company accounts for the sale and servicing of SBA loans based on the financial and servicing assets it controls and liabilities it has incurred, reversing recognition of financial assets when control has been surrendered, and reversing recognition of liabilities when extinguished. Servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in gains on sale of loans. Servicing rights are amortized in proportion to and over the period of net servicing income and are assessed for impairment on an ongoing basis. Impairment is determined by stratifying the servicing rights based on interest rates and terms. Any servicing assets in excess of the contractually specified servicing fees are reclassified at fair value as an I/O strip receivable and treated like an available for sale security. Fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics, when available, or based upon discounted cash flows using market-based assumptions. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance. The servicing rights, net of any required valuation allowance, and I/O strip receivable are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. 96 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Servicing income, net of amortization of servicing rights, is recognized as noninterest income. The initial fair value of I/O strip receivables is amortized against interest income on loans. Loans Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of deferred loan origination fees and costs and an allowance for loan losses. The majority of the Company’s loans have variable interest rates. Interest on loans is accrued on the unpaid principal balance and is credited to income using the effective yield interest method. A loan portfolio segment is defined as the level at which the Company uses a systematic methodology to determine the allowance for loan losses. A loan portfolio class is defined as a group of loans having similar risk characteristics and methods for monitoring and assessing risk. For all loan classes, when a loan is classified as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest is discontinued, any accrued and unpaid interest is reversed, and the amortization of deferred loan fees and costs is discontinued. For all loan classes, loans are classified as nonaccrual when the payment of principal or interest is 90 days past due, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans. In certain circumstances, loans that are under 90 days past due may also be classified as nonaccrual. Any interest or principal payments received on nonaccrual loans are applied toward reduction of principal. Nonaccrual loans generally are not returned to performing status until the obligation is brought current, the loan has performed in accordance with the contract terms for a reasonable period of time, and the ultimate collectability of the contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt. Non-refundable loan fees and direct origination costs are deferred and recognized over the expected lives of the related loans using the effective yield interest method. Allowance for Loan Losses The allowance for loan losses is an estimate of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio. Loans are charged-off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance for loan losses. Management’s methodology for estimating the allowance balance consists of several key elements, which include specific allowances on individual impaired loans and the formula driven allowances on pools of loans with similar risk characteristics. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off. Specific allowances are established for impaired loans. Management considers a loan to be impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled interest payments. Loans for which the terms have been modified with a concession granted, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, are considered troubled debt restructurings and classified as impaired. When a loan is considered to be impaired, the amount of impairment is measured based on the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell, if the loan is collateral dependent, or on the present value of expected future cash flows or values that are observable in the secondary market if the loan is not collateral dependent. The amount of any impairment will be charged off against the allowance for loan losses if the amount is a confirmed loss or, alternatively, a specific allocation within the allowance will be established. Loans that are considered impaired are specifically excluded from the formula portion of the allowance for loan losses analysis. 97 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The formula driven allowance on pools of loans covers all loans that are not impaired and is based on historical losses of each loan segment adjusted for current factors. In calculating the historical component of our allowance, we aggregate our loans into one of three loan segments: Commercial, Real Estate and Consumer. Each segment of loans in the portfolio possess varying degrees of risk, based on, among other things, the type of loan being made, the purpose of the loan, the type of collateral securing the loan, and the sensitivity the borrower has to changes in certain external factors such as economic conditions. The following provides a summary of the risks associated with various segments of the Company’s loan portfolio, which are factors management regularly considers when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance: (cid:127) Commercial loans consist primarily of commercial and industrial loans (business lines of credit), and other commercial purpose loans. Repayment of commercial and industrial loans is generally provided from the cash flows of the related business to which the loan was made. Adverse changes in economic conditions may result in a decline in business activity, which may impact a borrower’s ability to continue to make scheduled payments. The factored receivables at BVF are included in the Company’s commercial loan portfolio; however, they are evaluated for risk primarily based on the agings of the receivables. Faster turning receivables imply less risk and therefore warrant a lower associated allowance. Should the overall aging for the portfolio increase, this structure will by formula increase the allowance to reflect the increasing risk. Should the portfolio turn more quickly, it would reduce the associated allowance to reflect the reducing risk. (cid:127) Real estate loans consist primarily of loans secured by commercial and residential real estate. Also included in this segment are land and construction loans and home equity lines of credit secured by real estate. As the majority of this segment is comprised of commercial real estate loans, risks associated with this segment lay primarily within these loan types. Adverse economic conditions may result in a decline in business activity and increased vacancy rates for commercial properties. These factors, in conjunction with a decline in real estate prices, may expose the Company to the potential for losses if a borrower cannot continue to service the loan with operating revenues, and the value of the property has declined to a level such that it no longer fully covers the Company’s recorded investment in the loan. (cid:127) Consumer loans consist primarily of a large number of small loans and lines of credit. The majority of installment loans are made for consumer and business purchases. Weakened economic conditions may result in an increased level of delinquencies within this segment, as economic pressures may impact the capacity of such borrowers to repay their obligations. As a result of the matters mentioned above, changes in the financial condition of individual borrowers, economic conditions, historical loss experience and the condition of the various markets in which collateral may be sold may all affect the required level of the allowance for loan losses and the associated provision for loan losses. The estimated loss factors for pools of loans that are not impaired are based on determining the probability of default and loss given default for loans within each segment of the portfolio, adjusted for significant factors that, in management’s judgment, affect collectibility as of the evaluation date. The Company’s historical delinquency experience and loss experience are utilized to determine the probability of default and loss given default for segments of the portfolio where the Company has experienced losses in the past. For segments of the portfolio where the Company has no significant prior loss experience, the Company uses quantifiable observable industry data to determine the probability of default and loss given default. Risk factors impacting loans in each of the portfolio segments include broad deterioration of property values, reduced consumer and business spending as a result of continued high unemployment and 98 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) reduced credit availability and lack of confidence in a sustainable recovery. The historical loss experience is adjusted for management’s estimate of the impact of other factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These other factors include consideration of the following: the overall level of concentrations and trends of classified loans; loan concentrations within a portfolio segment or division of a portfolio segment; identification of certain loan types with higher risk than other loans; existing internal risk factors; and management’s evaluation of the impact of local and national economic conditions on each of our loan types. Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded. Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank Stock As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (‘‘FHLB’’) system, the Bank is required to own common stock in the FHLB based on the Bank’s level of borrowings and outstanding FHLB advances. FHLB stock is carried at cost and classified as a restricted security. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income. As a member of the Federal Reserve Bank (‘‘FRB’’) of San Francisco, the Bank is required to own stock in the FRB of San Francisco based on a specified ratio relative to our capital. FRB stock is carried at cost and may be sold back to the FRB at its carrying value. Cash dividends received are reported as income. Company Owned Life Insurance and Split-Dollar Life Insurance Benefit Plan The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain directors and officers. Company owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement. The purchased insurance is subject to split-dollar insurance agreements with the insured participants, which continues after the participant’s employment and retirement. Accounting guidance requires that a liability be recorded primarily over the participant’s service period when a split-dollar life insurance agreement continues after a participant’s employment or retirement. The required accrued liability is based on either the post-employment benefit cost for the continuing life insurance or the future death benefit depending on the contractual terms of the underlying agreement. Premises and Equipment Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed on the straight-line basis over the lesser of the respective lease terms or estimated useful lives. The Company owns one building which is being depreciated over 40 years. Furniture, equipment, and leasehold improvements are depreciated over estimated useful lives generally ranging from five to fifteen years. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets on an ongoing basis. 99 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Business Combinations The Company accounts for acquisitions of businesses using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Management utilizes various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analyses to determine these fair values. Any excess of the purchase price over amounts allocated to the acquired assets, including identifiable intangible assets, and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill resulted from the acquisition of Bay View Funding on November 1, 2014, and represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment is recognized in the period identified. Other intangible assets consist of core deposit and customer relationship intangible assets arising from the Diablo Valley Bank acquisition in June 2007, and a below market value lease intangible asset, customer relationship and brokered relationship intangible assets, and a non-compete agreement intangible asset arising from the Bay View Funding acquisition in November 2014. They are initially measured at fair value and then are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The core deposits intangible asset from the acquisition of Diablo Valley Bank is being amortized on an accelerated method over ten years. The customer relationship intangible from the acquisition of Diablo Valley Bank was being amortized on an accelerated method over seven years, and was fully amortized at December 31, 2014. The below market value lease intangible asset, customer relationship and brokered relationship intangible assets, and non-compete agreement intangible asset from the acquisition of Bay View Funding are being amortized on the straight-line method over three, ten, and three years, respectively. Foreclosed Assets Assets acquired through or instead of loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through operations. Operating costs after acquisition are expensed. Gains and losses on disposition are included in noninterest expense. The carrying value of foreclosed assets was $696,000 and $575,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Retirement Plans Expenses for the Company’s non-qualified, unfunded defined benefits plan consists of service and interest cost and amortization of gains and losses not immediately recognized. Employee 401(k) and profit sharing plan expense is the amount of matching contributions. Deferred compensation and supplemental retirement plan expense allocates the benefits over years of service. Loss Contingencies Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s accounting policy for legal costs related to loss contingencies is to 100 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) accrue for the probable fees that can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s accounting policy for uncertain recoveries is to recognize the anticipated recovery when realization is deemed probable. Income Taxes The Company files consolidated Federal and combined state income tax returns. Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax payable or refunded, the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities, and low income housing investment losses, net of tax benefits received. Some items of income and expense are recognized in different years for tax purposes when applying generally accepted accounting principles, leading to timing differences between the Company’s actual tax liability and the amount accrued for this liability based on book income. These temporary differences comprise the ‘‘deferred’’ portion of the Company’s tax expense or benefit, which is accumulated on the Company’s books as a deferred tax asset or deferred tax liability until such time as they reverse. Realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon the Company generating sufficient taxable income to obtain benefit from the reversal of net deductible temporary differences and utilization of tax credit carryforwards for Federal and California state income tax purposes. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable is subject to adjustment in future periods based on estimates of future taxable income. Under generally accepted accounting principles, a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is ‘‘more likely than not’’ that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is highly subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, including forecasts of future income, cumulative losses, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions. The Company had net deferred tax assets of $18,527,000 and $23,326,000 at December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, respectively. After consideration of the matters in the preceding paragraph, the Company determined that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2014 and 2013 will be fully realized in future years. A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is ‘‘more likely than not’’ that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the ‘‘more likely than not’’ test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense. Stock-Based Compensation Compensation cost is recognized for stock options and restricted stock awards issued to employees, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock awards. Compensation cost is recognized over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. Compensation cost recognized reflects estimated forfeitures, adjusted as necessary for actual forfeitures. Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to gains and losses that are included in comprehensive income (loss) but are excluded from net income (loss) because they have been recorded directly in equity under 101 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) the provisions of certain accounting guidance. The Company’s sources of other comprehensive income (loss) are unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale, and I/O strips, which are treated like available-for-sale securities, and the liabilities related to the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and the split-dollar life insurance benefit plan. Reclassification adjustments result from gains or losses on securities that were realized and included in net income (loss) of the current period that also had been included in other comprehensive income as unrealized holding gains and losses. Segment Reporting HBC is an independent community business bank with eleven branch offices that offer similar products to customers. Bay View Funding, a subsidiary of Heritage Bank of Commerce, provides factoring financing, which are included in HBC’s commercial loan portfolio. No customer accounts for more than 10 percent of revenues for HBC or the Company. While the chief decision-makers monitor the revenue streams of the various products and services, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Company wide basis. Management evaluates the Company’s performance as a whole and does not allocate resources based on the performance of different lending or transaction activities. Accordingly, the Company and its subsidiary bank all operate as one business segment. Reclassifications Certain items in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. These reclassifications did not affect previously reported net income. Adoption of New Accounting Standards In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) amended existing guidance clarifying that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (2) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. For entities other than public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company has evaluated the adoption of the new guidance and has determined it will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. In January 2014, the FASB issued guidance for accounting for investments in qualified affordable housing projects, which represents a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force and sets forth new accounting for qualifying investments in flow through limited liability entities that invest in affordable housing projects. The new guidance allows a limited liability investor that meets certain conditions to amortize the cost of its investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits it receives. The new accounting method, referred to as the proportional amortization method, allows amortization of the tax credit investment to be reflected along with the primary benefits, the tax credits and other tax benefits, 102 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) on a net basis in the income statement within the income tax expense (benefit) line. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. For all other entities, the guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. If elected, the proportional amortization method is required to be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted in the annual period for which financial statements have not been issued. The Company adopted the proportional amortization method of accounting for its low income housing investments in the third quarter of 2014. The Company quantified the impact of adopting the proportional amortization method compared to the equity method to its current year and prior period financial statements. The Company determined that the adoption of the proportional amortization method did not have a material impact to its financial statements. The low income housing investment losses, net of the tax benefits received, are included in income tax expense for all periods reflected on the consolidated income statements. See Note 11 — Income Taxes for more information on the adoption of the proportional method of accounting for low income housing investments. In May 2014, the FASB issued an update to the guidance for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance in this update affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (for example, insurance contracts or lease contracts). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides steps to follow to achieve the core principle. An entity should disclose sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Qualitative and quantitative information is required about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. The amendments in this update become effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are evaluating the impact of adopting the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 103 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) (2) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (‘‘AOCI’’) The following table reflects the changes in AOCI by component for the periods indicated: For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available- for-Sale Securities and I/O Strips(1) Unamortized Unrealized Gain on Available- for-Sale Securities Reclassified to Held-to- Maturity(1) Defined Benefit Pension Plan Items(1) Total(1) Beginning balance January 1, 2014, net of taxes . . . . . . . $ (430) Other comprehensive income (loss) before (Dollars in thousands) $466 $(4,065) $(4,029) reclassification, net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,152 — (1,910) 2,242 Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (56) (31) 23 (64) Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ending balance December 31, 2014, net of taxes . . . . . . 4,096 $ 3,666 (31) $435 (1,887) 2,178 $(5,952) $(1,851) Beginning balance January 1, 2013, net of taxes . . . . . . . $ 7,887 $497 $(5,703) $ 2,681 Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8,295) Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (22) — (31) 1,518 (6,777) 120 67 Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ending balance December 31, 2013, net of taxes . . . . . . (8,317) $ (430) (31) $466 1,638 (6,710) $(4,065) $(4,029) Beginning balance January 1, 2012, net of taxes . . . . . . . $ 6,210 $ — $(5,255) $ 955 Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,582 Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (905) Net current period other comprehensive income, net of taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ending balance December 31, 2012, net of taxes . . . . . . 1,677 $ 7,887 — 497 497 $497 (568) 2,014 120 (288) (448) 1,726 $(5,703) $ 2,681 (1) Amounts in parenthesis indicate debits. 104 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Details About AOCI Components Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities and I/O strips . . . . . . . . . Amortization of unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale that were reclassified to securities held-to-maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of defined benefit pension plan items(2) Prior service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior transition obligation . . . . . . . Actuarial losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amounts Reclassified from AOCI(1) For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands) Affected Line Item Where Net Income is Presented $ 97 (41) $ 38 (16) $1,560 Realized gains on sale of securities (655) Income tax expense 56 22 905 Net of tax 54 (23) 31 54 (23) 31 — 102 (142) (40) 17 (23) — 84 (291) (207) 87 (120) (857) 360 Interest income on taxable securities Income tax (expense) benefit (497) Net of tax (27) 73 (253) (207) 87 Income before income tax Income tax benefit (120) Net of tax Total reclassification for the year . . . . $ 64 $ (67) $ 288 (1) Amounts in parenthesis indicate debits. (2) This AOCI component is included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 13 — Benefit Plans). A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 105 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) (3) Securities The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities at year-end were as follows: 2014 Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized (Losses) Estimated Fair Value (Dollars in thousands) Securities available-for-sale: Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trust preferred securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150,570 35,927 15,000 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $201,497 Securities held-to-maturity: Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . Municipals — tax exempt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 15,480 79,882 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 95,362 $3,867 959 300 $5,126 $ 44 1,011 $1,055 $ (265) (23) — $154,172 36,863 15,300 $ (288) $206,335 $ (118) (1,346) $ 15,406 79,547 $(1,464) $ 94,953 2013 Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized (Losses) Estimated Fair Value (Dollars in thousands) Securities available-for-sale: Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trust preferred securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $208,644 53,002 20,849 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $282,495 Securities held-to-maturity: Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . Municipals — tax exempt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 15,932 79,989 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 95,921 $2,465 527 — $2,992 $ — 54 $ 54 $(3,465) (1,483) (439) $207,644 52,046 20,410 $(5,387) $280,100 $ (470) (9,473) $ 15,462 70,570 $(9,943) $ 86,032 106 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Securities with unrealized losses at year end, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in an unrealized loss position, are as follows: 2014 Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total Fair Value Unrealized (Losses) Fair Value Unrealized (Losses) Fair Value Unrealized (Losses) (Dollars in thousands) Securities available-for-sale: Agency mortgage-backed securities . . Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,491 — Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,491 Securities held-to-maturity: Agency mortgage-backed securities . . Municipals — Tax Exempt . . . . . . . . $ 4,869 1,884 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 6,753 $(27) — $(27) $(29) (16) $(45) $35,614 5,148 $ (238) (23) $48,105 5,148 $ (265) (23) $40,762 $ (261) $53,253 $ (288) $ 4,974 42,867 (89) $ (1,330) $ 9,843 44,751 $ (118) (1,346) $47,841 $(1,419) $54,594 $(1,464) 2013 Securities available-for-sale: Less Than 12 Months 12 Months or More Total Fair Value Unrealized (Losses) Fair Value Unrealized (Losses) Fair Value Unrealized (Losses) (Dollars in thousands) Agency mortgage-backed securities Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trust preferred securities . . . . . . . $ 87,798 38,092 20,410 $(2,869) (1,322) (439) $ 8,920 1,860 — $ (596) (161) — $ 96,718 39,952 20,410 $(3,465) (1,483) (439) Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $146,300 $(4,630) $10,780 $ (757) $157,080 $(5,387) A n n u a l R e p o r t Securities held-to-maturity: Agency mortgage-backed securities Municipals — Tax Exempt . . . . . . $ 5,978 38,177 $ (101) (4,421) $ 9,134 25,520 $ (369) (5,052) $ 15,112 63,697 $ (470) (9,473) 26FEB20 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 44,155 $(4,522) $34,654 $(5,421) $ 78,809 $(9,943) There were no holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. Government and its sponsored entities, in an amount greater than 10% of shareholders’ equity. At December 31, 2014, the Company held 361 securities (130 available-for-sale and 231 held-to-maturity), of which 151 had fair values below amortized cost. At December 31, 2014, there were $35,614,000 of agency mortgage-backed securities available-for-sale, $5,148,000 of corporate bonds available-for-sale, $4,974,000 of agency mortgage-backed securities held-to-maturity and $42,867,000 of municipals bonds held-to-maturity carried with an unrealized loss for over 12 months. The total unrealized loss for securities over 12 months was $1,680,000 at December 31, 2014. The unrealized losses were due to higher interest rates. The issuers are of high credit quality and all principal amounts are expected to be paid when securities mature. The fair value is expected to recover as the securities approach their maturity date and/or market rates decline. The Company does not believe that it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell a security in an unrealized loss position prior to recovery in value. The Company does not consider these securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2013, the Company held 392 securities (163 available-for-sale and 229 held-to-maturity), of which 275 had fair values below amortized cost. At December 31, 2013, there were 107 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) $8,920,000 of agency mortgage-backed securities available-for-sale, $1,860,000 of corporate bonds available-for-sale, $9,134,000 of agency mortgage-backed securities held-to-maturity, and $25,520,000 of municipal bonds held-to-maturity carried with an unrealized loss for over 12 months. The total unrealized loss for securities over 12 months was $6,178,000 at December 31, 2013. The unrealized losses were due to higher interest rates. The issuers are of high credit quality and all principal amounts are expected to be paid when securities mature. The fair value is expected to recover as the securities approach their maturity date and/or market rates decline. The Company does not believe that it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell a security in an unrealized loss position prior to recovery in value. The Company does not consider these securities to be other than temporarily impaired at December 31, 2013. The proceeds from sales of securities and the resulting gains and losses are listed below: 2014 2013 2012 Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gross gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gross losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Dollars in thousands) $26,944 310 (272) $108,603 1,008 (911) $40,587 1,560 — The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of December 31, 2014, by contractual maturity, are shown below. The expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities if borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately. Available-for-sale Amortized Cost Estimated Fair Value Due after one through five years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after five through ten years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after ten years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (Dollars in thousands) 6,713 $ 30,150 15,300 154,172 6,335 29,592 15,000 150,570 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $201,497 $206,335 Due after five through ten years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due after ten years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Held-to-maturity Amortized Cost Estimated Fair Value (Dollars in thousands) 6,050 73,497 15,406 5,883 73,999 15,480 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $95,362 $94,953 Securities with amortized cost of $147,497,000 and $147,455,000 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were pledged to secure public deposits and for other purposes as required or permitted by law or contract. 108 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) (4) Loans and Loan Servicing Loans at year-end were as follows: Loans held-for-investment: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deferred loan fees, net Loans, net of deferred fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allowance for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) $ 462,403 $393,074 478,335 67,980 61,644 18,867 1,089,229 (586) 1,088,643 (18,379) 423,288 31,443 51,815 15,677 915,297 (384) 914,913 (19,164) Loans, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,070,264 $895,749 Changes in the allowance for loan losses were as follows: Balance, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charge-offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recoveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net charge-offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 Commercial Real Estate Consumer Total $12,533 (815) 418 (397) (949) (Dollars in thousands) $ 83 (25) — $6,548 (87) 62 (25) 547 (25) 64 $19,164 (927) 480 (447) (338) Balance, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,187 $7,070 $122 $18,379 Balance, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charge-offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recoveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net recoveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the Year Ended December 31, 2013 Commercial Real Estate Consumer Total $12,866 (1,676) 2,621 945 (1,278) (Dollars in thousands) $127 — 1 $6,034 (276) 283 7 507 1 (45) $19,027 (1,952) 2,905 953 (816) Balance, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,533 $6,548 $ 83 $19,164 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 109 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Balance, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charge-offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recoveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net charge-offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the Year Ended December 31, 2012 Commercial Real Estate Consumer Total $13,215 (3,935) 776 (3,159) 2,810 (Dollars in thousands) $147 — — $ 7,338 (1,528) 230 (1,298) (6) — (20) $20,700 (5,463) 1,006 (4,457) 2,784 Balance, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,866 $ 6,034 $127 $19,027 The following table presents the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans by portfolio segment, based on the impairment method as follows at year-end: December 31, 2014 Commercial Real Estate Consumer Total (Dollars in thousands) Allowance for loan losses: Ending allowance balance attributable to loans: Individually evaluated for impairment . . . . . . . . . . Collectively evaluated for impairment . . . . . . . . . . $ 404 10,783 Total allowance balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 11,187 $ $ Loans: — $ — $ 7,070 7,070 122 122 $ 404 17,975 $ 18,379 Individually evaluated for impairment . . . . . . . . . . Collectively evaluated for impairment . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,701 459,702 $ 3,315 604,644 $ 6 18,861 $ 6,022 1,083,207 Total loan balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $462,403 $607,959 $18,867 $1,089,229 December 31, 2013 Commercial Real Estate Consumer Total (Dollars in thousands) Allowance for loan losses: Ending allowance balance attributable to loans: Individually evaluated for impairment . . . . . . . . . . . Collectively evaluated for impairment . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,694 10,839 Total allowance balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 12,533 $ $ 741 5,807 6,548 $ $ 21 62 83 $ 2,456 16,708 $ 19,164 Loans: Individually evaluated for impairment . . . . . . . . . . . Collectively evaluated for impairment . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4,906 388,168 $ 6,790 499,756 $ 122 15,555 $ 11,818 903,479 Total loan balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $393,074 $506,546 $15,677 $915,297 The following table presents loans held-for-investment individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The recorded investment included in the 110 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) following table represents loan principal net of any partial charge-offs recognized on the loans. The unpaid principal balance represents the recorded balance prior to any partial charge-offs. December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 Unpaid Principal Balance Recorded Investment Allowance for Loan Losses Allocated Unpaid Principal Balance Recorded Investment Allowance for Loan Losses Allocated (Dollars in thousands) With no related allowance recorded: Commercial Real estate: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,282 $1,872 $ — $ 1,999 $ 1,915 $ — Commercial and residential . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . Home Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,510 1,808 345 6 1,651 1,319 345 6 Total with no related allowance recorded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,951 5,193 — — — — — 2,831 1,761 377 — 2,831 1,761 377 — 6,968 6,884 — — — — — With an allowance recorded: Commercial Real estate: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 829 829 404 3,225 2,991 1,694 Commercial and residential . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . Home Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — — — — Total with an allowance recorded . 829 — — — — 829 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,780 $6,022 — — — — 404 $404 1,531 — 290 122 5,168 1,531 — 290 122 4,934 451 — 290 21 2,456 $12,136 $11,818 $2,456 The following table presents interest recognized and cash-basis interest earned on impaired loans for the periods indicated: For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 Real Estate Commercial Commercial and Residential Land and Construction Home Equity Consumer Total (Dollars in thousands) Average of impaired loans during the period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,069 $2,758 $1,628 $529 Interest income during impairment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash-basis interest earned . . . . . . 56 $ $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $56 $— $— $9,040 56 $ $ — A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 111 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) For the Year Ended December 31, 2013 Real Estate Commercial Commercial and Residential Land and Construction Home Equity Consumer Total (Dollars in thousands) Average of impaired loans during the period . . . . . . . . . $6,855 $4,921 $2,028 $2,064 $135 $16,003 Interest income during impairment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash-basis interest earned . . . . . $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — Nonperforming loans include both smaller dollar balance homogenous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified loans. Nonperforming loans were as follows at year-end: Nonaccrual loans — held-for-investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Restructured and loans over 90 days past due and still accruing . . . . . . . 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) $11,326 $5,855 492 — Total nonperforming loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,855 $11,818 Other restructured loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Impaired loans, excluding loans held-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 167 $6,022 $ — $11,818 The following table presents the nonperforming loans by class at year-end: Nonaccrual $2,534 Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . . . 1,651 Land and construction . . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . 1,320 344 6 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,855 2014 Restructured and Loans over 90 Days Past Due and Still Accruing $— — — — — — $— 2013 Restructured and Loans over 90 Days Past Due and Still Accruing Total $492 $ 4,906 — — — — 4,363 1,761 666 122 Total Nonaccrual (Dollars in thousands) $ 4,414 $2,534 1,651 4,363 1,320 344 6 1,761 666 122 $5,855 $11,326 $492 $11,818 112 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The following table presents the aging of past due loans as of December 31, 2014 by class of loans: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 - 59 Days Past Due 60 - 89 Days Past Due 90 Days or Greater Past Due Total Past Due Loans Not Past Due Total $3,002 $195 $1,978 $5,175 $ 457,228 $ 462,403 (Dollars in thousands) — — — — — — — — 1,065 — — — 1,065 — — — 477,270 67,980 61,644 18,867 478,335 67,980 61,644 18,867 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,002 $195 $3,043 $6,240 $1,082,989 $1,089,229 The following table presents the aging of past due loans as of December 31, 2013 by class of loans: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 - 59 Days Past Due 60 - 89 Days Past Due 90 Days or Greater Past Due Total Past Due Loans Not Past Due Total $3,314 $428 $2,865 $6,607 $ 386,467 $ 393,074 (Dollars in thousands) 1,559 — 28 — — — — — 1,065 — 290 89 2,624 — 318 89 420,664 31,443 51,497 15,588 423,288 31,443 51,815 15,677 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,901 $428 $4,309 $9,638 $ 905,659 $ 915,297 Past due loans 30 days or greater totaled $6,240,000 and $9,638,000 at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, of which $3,130,000 and $5,900,000 were on nonaccrual. At December 31, 2014, there were also $2,725,000 loans less than 30 days past due included in nonaccrual loans held-for-investment. At December 31, 2013, there were also $5,426,000 loans less than 30 days past due included in nonaccrual loans held-for-investment. Management’s classification of a loan as ‘‘nonaccrual’’ is an indication that there is reasonable doubt as to the full recovery of principal or interest on the loan. At that point, the Company stops accruing interest income, and reverses any uncollected interest that had been accrued as income. The Company begins recognizing interest income only as cash interest payments are received and it has been determined the collection of all outstanding principal is not in doubt. The loans may or may not be collateralized, and collection efforts are pursued. Credit Quality Indicators Concentrations of credit risk arise when a number of clients are engaged in similar business activities, or activities in the same geographic region, or have similar features that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic conditions. The Company’s loan portfolio is concentrated in commercial (primarily manufacturing, wholesale, and service) and real estate lending, with the balance in consumer loans. While no specific industry concentration is considered significant, the Company’s lending operations are located in the Company’s market areas that are dependent on the technology and real estate industries and their supporting companies. Thus, the Company’s borrowers could be adversely impacted by a continued downturn in these sectors of the 113 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) economy which could reduce the demand for loans and adversely impact the borrowers’ ability to repay their loans. The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt such as: current financial information; historical payment experience; credit documentation; public information; and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company analyzes loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. This analysis is performed on a quarterly basis. Nonclassified loans generally include those loans that are expected to be repaid in accordance with contractual loans terms. Classified loans are those loans that are assigned a substandard, substandard-nonaccrual, or doubtful risk rating using the following definitions: Substandard. Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Substandard-Nonaccrual. Loans classified as substandard-nonaccrual are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any, and it is probable that the Company will not receive payment of the full contractual principal and interest. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. In addition, the Company no longer accrues interest on the loan because of the underlying weaknesses. Doubtful. Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable. Loss. Loans classified as loss are considered uncollectable or of so little value that their continuance as assets is not warranted. This classification does not necessarily mean that a loan has no recovery or salvage value; but rather, there is much doubt about whether, how much, or when the recovery would occur. Loans classified as loss are immediately charged off against the allowance for loan losses. Therefore, there is no balance to report at December 31, 2014 or 2013. The following table provides a summary of the loan portfolio by loan type and credit quality classification for the periods indicated: December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 Nonclassified Classified Total Nonclassified Classified Total (Dollars in thousands) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 455,767 $ 6,636 $ 462,403 $380,806 $12,268 $393,074 Commercial Real estate: Commercial and residential . Land and construction . . . . . Home equity . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472,061 66,660 60,736 18,518 6,274 1,320 908 349 478,335 67,980 61,644 18,867 416,992 29,682 48,818 15,336 6,296 1,761 2,997 341 423,288 31,443 51,815 15,677 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,073,742 $15,487 $1,089,229 $891,634 $23,663 $915,297 In order to determine whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, an evaluation is performed of the probability that the borrower will be in payment default on any of its debt in the 114 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) foreseeable future without the modification. This evaluation is performed under the Company’s underwriting policy. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the terms of certain loans were modified as troubled debt restructurings. The modification of the terms of such loans included a reduction of the stated interest rate of the loan, or an extension of maturity date at a stated rate of interest lower than the current market rate for new debt with similar risk. The book balance of troubled debt restructurings at December 31, 2014 was $1,083,000, which included $916,000 of nonaccrual loans and $167,000 of accruing loans. The book balance of troubled debt restructurings at December 31, 2013 was $3,722,000, which included $3,230,000 of nonaccrual loans and $492,000 of accruing loans. Approximately $113,000 and $1,186,000 in specific reserves were established with respect to these loans as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had no additional amounts committed on any loan classified as a troubled debt restructuring. There were no loans by class modified as troubled debt restructurings during the twelve month period ended December 31, 2014. The following table presents loans by class modified as troubled debt restructurings during the twelve month period ended December 31, 2013: Troubled Debt Restructurings: During the Year Ended December 31, 2013 Number of Contracts Pre-modification Outstanding Recorded Investment Post-modification Outstanding Recorded Investment (Dollars in thousands) Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real Estate-Commercial and residential . . . . . . . . . Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 $ 211 1,531 $1,742 $ 211 1,531 $1,742 The troubled debt restructurings described above increased the allowance for loan losses by $491,000 through the allocation of specific reserves, and resulted in no charge-offs for the years ended December 31, 2013. A loan is considered to be in payment default when it is 30 days contractually past due under the modified terms. There were no defaults on troubled debt restructurings within twelve months following the modification during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company serviced SBA loans sold to the secondary market of approximately $130,611,000 and $135,513,000. Servicing assets represent the servicing spread generated from the sold guaranteed portions of SBA loans. The weighted average servicing rate for all loans serviced was 1.20% and 1.34% at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 115 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Servicing rights are included in ‘‘accrued interest receivable and other assets’’ on the consolidated balance sheets. Activity for loan servicing rights follows: 2014 2013 2012 Balance, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Additions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Dollars in thousands) $ 709 106 (290) $ 525 319 (279) $ 792 184 (267) Balance, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 565 $ 525 $ 709 There was no valuation allowance for servicing rights at December 31, 2014 and 2013, because the estimated fair value of the servicing rights was greater than the carrying value. The estimated fair value of loan servicing rights was $2,426,000 and $2,556,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The fair value of servicing rights at December 31, 2014, was estimated using a weighted average constant prepayment rate (‘‘CPR’’) assumption of 7.32%, and a weighted average discount rate assumption of 12.11%. The fair value of servicing rights at December 31, 2013 was estimated using a weighted average constant prepayment rate (‘‘CPR’’) assumption of 6.83%, and a weighted average discount rate assumption of 13.55%. The weighted average discount rate and CPR assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the I/O strip receivables are the same as for the servicing rights. Management reviews the key economic assumptions used to estimate the fair value of I/O strip receivables on a quarterly basis. The fair value of the I/O strip can be adversely impacted by a significant increase in either the prepayment speed of the portfolio or the discount rate. I/O strip receivables are included in ‘‘accrued interest receivable and other assets’’ on the consolidated balance sheets. Activity for I/O strip receivables follows: 2014 2013 2012 Balance, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unrealized loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Dollars in thousands) $1,786 (139) $1,647 (166) $2,094 (308) Balance, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,481 $1,647 $1,786 (5) Premises and Equipment Premises and equipment at year-end were as follows: Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Furniture and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leasehold improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accumulated depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) $ 3,256 $ 3,256 2,900 2,900 7,203 8,082 4,225 4,658 18,896 (11,445) 17,584 (10,344) Premises and equipment, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7,451 $ 7,240 116 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Depreciation and amortization expense was $725,000, $729,000, and $750,000 in 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. (6) Leases Operating Leases The Company owns one of its offices and leases the others under non-cancelable operating leases with terms, including renewal options, ranging from five to fifteen years. Future minimum payments under the agreements are as follows: Year ending December 31, (Dollars in thousands) 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,759 2,733 2,549 2,034 1,856 1,127 $13,058 Rent expense under operating leases was $2,692,000, $2,719,000, and $2,735,000 in 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. (7) Acquisition of Bay View Funding On October 8, 2014, HBC entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (‘‘Purchase Agreement’’) with BVF/CSNK Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (‘‘Bay View Funding’’ or ‘‘BVF’’) pursuant to which HBC agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common stock from the stockholders of BVF for an aggregate purchase price of $22,520,000 (‘‘Acquisition’’). The Acquisition closed on November 1, 2014, and BVF became a wholly owned subsidiary of HBC. At the Closing the Bank paid in cash $20,268,000 of the total purchase price to the BVF stockholders, and $2,252,000, or 10% of the purchase price, was deposited into an 18 month escrow account. Based in Santa Clara, California, BVF through its wholly-owned subsidiary CSNK Working Capital Finance Corp., a California corporation (‘‘CSNK’’), dba Bay View Funding provides business essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. Combining BVF’s staff and national reach with Heritage Bank of Commerce’s banking products and services further diversifies the Bank’s commercial products and services. The BVF platform is scalable and is aligned with recent key product initiatives designed to deliver a full spectrum of commercial lending products to our markets. BVF’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s results beginning November 1, 2014, providing net interest income of $1,958,000, noninterest income of $84,000, and $558,000 of the Company’s net income for the year ended December 31, 2014. The one-time pre-tax acquisition costs incurred by the Company for the BVF acquisition totaled $895,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. The consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 include purchase accounting adjustments to record the assets and liabilities of BVF at their estimated fair values. The A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 117 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition: (Dollars in thousands) Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Premises and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other assets, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total assets acquired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total liabilities assumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 602 42,300 13,044 2,259 119 738 59,062 (31,647) (4,895) (36,542) Total consideration paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 22,520 The fair value of net assets acquired includes fair value adjustments to certain factored receivables that were not considered impaired as of the acquisition date. The fair value of factored receivables is based on estimated rates of return expected by market participants discounted over the expected duration of the portfolio which is less than 60 days. In addition to underwriting of its clients, BVF also performs significant underwriting of the account debtors and limits the overall level of receivables it purchases related to any given account debtor. Faster turnover of receivables implies less risk and, therefore, warrants a lower associated fair value mark. The average life of the factored receivables is 31 days. The gross contractual amounts receivable totaled $42,413,000 as of November 1, 2014. As of that date, contractual cash flows not expected to be collected on these receivables totaled $113,000, which has been recorded as the credit risk component of the purchase discount, and which represents 0.3% of the gross factored receivables outstanding. Goodwill of $13,044,000 arising from the acquisition of BVF is primarily attributable to synergies and cost savings of combining the operations of the companies. The goodwill will not be deductible for tax purposes. The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are subject to adjustment during the first twelve months after the acquisition date if additional information becomes available to indicate a more accurate or appropriate value for an asset or liability. The Acquisition purchase agreement contains customary representations and warranties by BVF and the BVF stockholders, covenants by BVF regarding the operation of its business between the date of signing of the purchase agreement and the closing date of the Acquisition, and indemnification provisions whereby the BVF stockholders agreed to indemnify BVF, CSNK, HBC and their affiliated parties for breaches of representations and warranties, breaches of covenants and certain other matters. Of the total purchase price, $2,252,000, or 10%, was deposited into an escrow account with an independent escrow agent to support the indemnification obligations, if any, of indemnification claims against the BVF stockholders. Any amounts remaining in the escrow account will be released to the BVF stockholders after 18 months following the closing date of the Acquisition, net of any indemnification payments made from the escrow or amounts reserved for pending claims pursuant to any indemnification claims under the purchase agreement. As of the date of this report, it is not possible to estimate if any claims will be made and, if made the amounts involved, against the escrow account. Therefore, the Company has assumed that 118 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) the full escrow amount will be paid to the stockholders of BVF for purposes of determining the fair value of $2,252,000 at November 1, 2014. The following table presents pro forma financial information as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2013, which includes the pre-acquisition period for BVF. The historical unaudited pro forma financial information has been adjusted to reflect supportable items that are directly attributable to the acquisition and expected to have a continuing impact on consolidated results of operations, as such, one-time acquisition costs are not included. The unaudited pro forma financial information is provided for informational purposes only. The unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily, and should not be assumed to be, an indication of the results that would have been achieved had the acquisition been completed as of the dates indicated or that may be achieved in the future. The preparation of the unaudited pro forma combined consolidated financial statements and related adjustments required management to make certain assumptions and estimates. . UNAUDITED 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) Net interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $66,105 8,293 Total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $74,398 Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,141 Net income per share — basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income per share — diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ $ 0.47 0.47 $59,998 8,080 $68,078 $13,397 $ $ 0.42 0.42 (8) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill A n n u a l R e p o r t The Company recognized $13,044,000 of goodwill upon its acquisition of Bay View Funding on November 1, 2014. Goodwill remained at $13,044,000 as of December 31, 2014. 26FEB20 Other Intangible Assets Core deposit and customer relationship intangible assets acquired in the 2007 acquisition of Diablo Valley Bank were $5,049,000 and $276,000, respectively. These assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Customer relationship intangible asset is fully amortized at December 31, 2014. Accumulated amortization of these intangible assets was $4,257,000 and $3,798,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Other intangible assets acquired in the acquisition of Bay View Funding in November 2014 included: a below market value lease intangible asset of $109,000 (amortized over 3 years), customer relationship and brokered relationship intangible assets of $1,900,000, (amortized over the 10 year estimated useful lives), and a non-compete agreement intangible asset of $250,000 (amortized over 3 years). Accumulated amortization of these intangible assets was $51,000 at December 31, 2014. 119 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years follows: 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $755 736 486 190 190 (Dollars in thousands) The estimated amortization expense related to the Diablo Valley Bank acquisition for each of the years 2015 through 2019 is $446,000, $427,000, $195,000, $0, and $0, respectively. The estimated amortization expense related to the Bay View Funding acquisition for each of the years 2015 through 2019 is $309,000, $309,000, $291,000, $190,000, and $190,000, respectively. Impairment testing of the intangible assets is performed at the individual asset level. Impairment exists if the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value at the date of the impairment test. For intangible assets, estimates of expected future cash flows (cash inflows less cash outflows) that are directly associated with an intangible asset are used to determine the fair value of that asset. Management makes certain estimates and assumptions in determining the expected future cash flows from core deposit and customer relationship intangibles including account attrition, expected lives, discount rates, interest rates, servicing costs and other factors. Significant changes in these estimates and assumptions could adversely impact the valuation of these intangible assets. If an impairment loss exists, the carrying amount of the intangible asset is adjusted to a new cost basis. The new cost basis is then amortized over the remaining useful life of the asset. Based on its assessment, management concluded that there was no impairment of intangible assets at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. (9) Deposits Time deposits of $250,000 and over, including time deposits within the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (‘‘CDARS’’) and brokered deposits of $250,000 and over, were $193,228,000 and $213,769,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The following table presents the scheduled maturities of all time deposits and brokered deposits for the next five years: 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $230,675 23,791 728 29 1,000 $256,223 (Dollars in thousands) At December 31, 2014, total CDARS deposits of $11,248,000 include money market deposits of $4,036,000, which have no scheduled maturity date, and therefore, are excluded from the table above. At December 31, 2014, the Company had securities pledged with a fair value of $109,764,000 for $98,019,000 in certificates of deposits (including accrued interest) with the State of California. At December 31, 2013, the Company had securities pledged with a fair value of $107,965,000 for $98,022,000 in certificates of deposits (including accrued interest) with the State of California. 120 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The CDARS program allows customers with deposits in excess of FDIC-insured limits to obtain full coverage on time deposits through a network of banks within the CDARS program. Deposits gathered through these programs are considered brokered deposits under current regulatory reporting guidelines. CDARS deposits were comprised of $4,036,000 of money market accounts and $7,212,000 of time deposits at December 31, 2014. CDARS deposits were comprised of $34,789,000 of money market accounts and $5,669,000 of time deposits at December 31, 2013. The CDARS money market deposits at December 31, 2013, included $27,463,000 in deposits from a law firm for legal settlements. All of the $27,463,000 in deposits from the law firm were withdrawn in the first quarter of 2014. Deposits from executive officers, directors, and their affiliates were $2,593,000 and $3,122,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. (10) Borrowing Arrangements Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings, Federal Reserve Bank Borrowings, and Available Lines of Credit The Company maintains a collateralized line of credit with the FHLB of San Francisco. Under this line, the Company can borrow from the FHLB on a short-term (typically overnight) or long-term (over one year) basis. As of December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, the Company had no overnight borrowings from the FHLB. The Company had $246,635,000 of loans and no securities pledged to the FHLB as collateral on a line of credit of $139,990,000 at December 31, 2014. The Company had $253,472,000 of loans and no securities pledged to the FHLB as collateral on a line of credit of $125,330,000 at December 31, 2013. The Company can also borrow from the FRB’s discount window. The Company had approximately $387,972,000 of loans pledged to the FRB as collateral on an available line of credit of approximately $260,439,000 at December 31, 2014, none of which was outstanding. The Company had approximately $323,209,000 of loans pledged to the FRB as collateral on an available line of credit of approximately $241,515,000 at December 31, 2013, none of which was outstanding. At December 31, 2014, the Company has Federal funds purchase arrangements and lines of credit available of $55,000,000. There were no Federal funds purchased at December 31, 2014 and 2013. At November 1, 2014 Bay View Funding had $1,000,000 outstanding on a subordinated revolving line credit from a related party with a maturity date of June 30, 2015. On November 5, 2014, BVF paid off the related party line of credit of $1,000,000. Bay View Funding had a $32,500,000 revolving bank line of credit. Repayment of the line of credit was secured by all the assets of BVF and was set to mature on April 3, 2015. On December 17, 2014, the remaining unpaid principal balance of $14,002,000 was paid, along with a $325,000 prepayment premium, to close out the $32,500,000 revolving bank line of credit. Subordinated Debt The Company supported its growth through the issuance of trust preferred securities from special purpose trusts and accompanying sales of subordinated debt to these trusts. The subordinated debt issued to the trusts was senior to the outstanding shares of common stock and Series C Preferred Stock. As a result, payments were required on the subordinated debt before any dividends could be paid on the common stock and Series C Preferred Stock. Under the terms of the subordinated debt, the Company could defer interest payments for up to five years. Interest payments on the subordinated notes payable to the Company’s subsidiary grantor Trusts were deductible for tax purposes. 121 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) During the third quarter of 2012, the Company redeemed its 10.875% fixed-rate subordinated debentures in the amount of $7,000,000 issued to Heritage Capital Trust I and the Company’s 10.600% fixed-rate subordinated debentures in the amount of $7,000,000 issued to Heritage Statutory Trust I. The related trust securities issued by Capital Trust I and Statutory Trust I were also redeemed in connection with the subordinated debt redemption and the trusts were dissolved. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company redeemed its Company’s variable rate subordinated debentures in the amount of $5,000,000 issued to Heritage Statutory Trust II and the Company’s variable rate subordinated debentures in the amount of $4,000,000 issued to Heritage Statutory Trust III. The related trust securities issued by Statutory Trust II and Statutory Trust III were also redeemed in connection with the subordinated debt redemption and the trusts were dissolved. 11) Income Taxes Income tax (benefit) consisted of the following for the year ended December 31, as follows: 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands) Currently payable tax: Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,392 818 $5,015 63 $4,139 51 Total currently payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,210 5,078 4,190 Deferred tax (benefit): Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total deferred tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,114 1,214 2,328 (130) 1,258 1,128 292 1,007 1,299 Income tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,538 $6,206 $5,489 The effective tax rate differs from the Federal statutory rate for the years ended December 31, as follows: Statutory Federal income tax rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low income housing credits, net of investment losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Non-taxable interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Split-dollar term insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 2013 2012 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 6.5% 5.3% 4.7% 0.8% 0.6% -0.6% -2.7% -3.5% -4.2% -3.2% -2.9% -0.3% 0.1% 0.2% 0.0% -0.5% 0.3% 1.0% Effective tax rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.0% 35.0% 35.6% 122 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Deferred tax assets and liabilities that result from the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes at December 31, are as follows: 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) Deferred tax assets: Defined postretirement benefit obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allowance for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tax credit carryforwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stock compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . California net operating loss carryforwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accrued expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Securities available-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fixed assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nonaccrual interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Split-dollar life insurance benefit plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,327 7,728 2,441 1,693 — 1,446 — 2 702 25 112 213 359 $ 8,707 8,058 3,958 1,697 1,138 1,029 668 — 613 134 108 — 451 Total deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,048 26,561 Deferred tax liabilities: Securities available-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FHLB stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prepaid expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I/O strips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loan fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2,351) (245) (464) (1,334) (621) (1,131) (375) (6,521) — (263) (481) (642) (691) (1,025) (133) (3,235) Net deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,527 $23,326 Tax credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2014 consist of the following: Low income housing credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alternative Minimum Tax credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State tax credits, net of federal tax effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Hire Retention Credit 2014 (Dollars in thousands) $1,388 870 181 2 (begin to expire in 2030) (no expiration date) (no expiration date) (expires in 2031) Total tax credit carryforwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,441 If the Company were to generate a Federal net operating loss, it would have the ability to carryback its net operating loss to recover some federal income taxes paid in prior years. Under current California law, if the Company were to generate a state net operating loss, it would have the ability to carryback 75% of the net operating loss to recover some state income taxes paid in prior years. 123 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Under generally accepted accounting principles, a valuation allowance is required if it is ‘‘more likely than not’’ that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is highly subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, including forecasts of future income, cumulative losses, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740-10 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, the Company estimated the need for a reserve for income taxes of $250,000 for uncertain state income tax positions of BVF. At December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, the Company had net deferred tax assets of $18,527,000 and $23,326,000, respectively. At December 31, 2014, the Company determined that a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was not necessary. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. Federal income tax as well as income tax of the State of California. The Company is no longer subject to examination by Federal and state taxing authorities for years before 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company adopted the proportional amortization method of accounting for its low income housing investments in the third quarter of 2014. The Company quantified the impact of adopting the proportional amortization method compared to the equity method to its current year and prior period financial statements. The Company determined that the adoption of the proportional amortization method did not have a material impact to its financial statements. The low income housing investment losses, net of the tax benefits received, are included in income tax expense for all periods reflected on the consolidated income statements. The following tables reflect noninterest expense, income tax expense, and the effective tax rate as originally reported and with the low income housing investment losses reclassified under the proportional amortization method of accounting for the periods indicated: Noninterest expense as originally reported . . . . . . . Low income housing investment losses reclassified For the Year Ended 12/31/14 $44,222 For the Quarter Ended 12/31/14 09/30/14 06/30/14 03/31/14 (Dollars in thousands) $10,139 $12,415 $10,934 $10,734 to income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — — 353 (165) (188) Noninterest expense under the proportional method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $44,222 $12,415 $10,492 $10,769 $10,546 Income tax expense as originally reported . . . . . . . Low income housing investment losses reclassified $ 7,538 $ 1,993 $ 2,322 $ 1,672 $ 1,551 from noninterest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — — (353) 165 188 Income tax expense under the proportional method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7,538 $ 1,993 $ 1,969 $ 1,837 $ 1,739 Effective tax rate as originally reported . . . . . . . . . Effective under the proportional method . . . . . . . . 36.0% 36.0% 35.6% 40.4% 33.5% 33.5% 35.6% 36.5% 35.6% 36.1% 124 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Noninterest expense as originally reported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low income housing investment losses reclassified to income tax For the Year Ended 12/31/13 For the Year Ended 12/31/12 (Dollars in thousands) $40,256 $41,722 expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1,252) (1,195) Noninterest expense under the proportional method . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,470 $39,061 Income tax expense as originally reported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low income housing investment losses reclassified from noninterest $ 4,954 $ 4,294 expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,252 1,195 Income tax expense under the proportional method . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 6,206 $ 5,489 Effective tax rate as originally reported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Effective under the proportional method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.0% 35.0% 30.2% 35.6% The following table reflects the carry amounts of the low income housing investments included in accrued interest receivable and other assets, and the future commitments as of December 31, 2014 and 2013: Low income housing investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Future commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 (Dollars in thousands) $1,227 $5,268 59 $ $1,827 The Company expects $1,193,000 of the future commitments to be paid in 2015, $550,000 in 2016, and $84,000 in 2017 through 2023. A n n u a l R e p o r t For tax purposes, the Company had low income housing tax credits of $581,000 and $731,000 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 2013, respectively, and low income housing investment losses of $338,000 and $263,000, respectively. The Company recognized low income housing investment expense as a component of income tax expense of $174,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. 26FEB20 (12) Equity Plan The Company maintained an Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Plan (the ‘‘2004 Plan’’) for directors, officers, and key employees. The 2004 Plan was terminated on May 23, 2013. On May 23, 2013, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the ‘‘2013 Plan’’). The equity plans provide for the grant of incentive and nonqualified stock options and restricted stock. The equity plans provide that the option price for both incentive and nonqualified stock options will be determined by the Board of Directors at no less than the fair value at the date of grant. Options granted vest on a schedule determined by the Board of Directors at the time of grant. Generally options vest over four years. All options expire no later than ten years from the date of grant. Restricted stock is subject to time vesting. In 2014, the Company granted 385,050 shares of nonqualified stock options and 90,000 shares of restricted stock subject to time vesting requirements. There were 1,273,816 shares available for the issuance of equity awards under the 2013 Plan as of December 31, 2014. 125 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Stock option activity under the equity plans is as follows: Total Stock Options Outstanding at January 1, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forfeited or expired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value Number of Shares 1,506,504 385,050 (62,567) (102,881) Weighted Average Exercise Price $11.80 $ 8.15 $ 4.19 $12.41 Outstanding at December 31, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,726,106 $11.23 Vested or expected to vest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,639,801 Exercisable at December 31, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,176,652 5.9 5.9 4.5 $2,478,300 $2,354,385 $1,703,800 Information related to the equity plans for each of the last three years: Intrinsic value of options exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash received from option exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tax benefit realized from option exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weighted average fair value of options granted . . . . . . . . . . . . $258,467 $262,035 $102,710 3.90 $ $51,000 $88,000 $17,245 3.84 $ $10,000 $25,000 $ 3,000 3.67 $ 2014 2013 2012 As of December 31, 2014, there was $2,092,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options granted under the equity plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.71 years. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table, including the weighted average assumptions for the option grants in each year. Expected life in months(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Volatility(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weighted average risk-free interest rate(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expected dividends(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 84 96 57% 54% 57% 2.09% 1.49% 1.31% 2.06% 0.12% 0.00% 2014 2013 2012 (1) The expected life of employee stock options represents the weighted average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding based on historical experience. Volatility is based on the historical volatility of the stock price over the same period of the expected life of the option. (2) Based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate with a term consistent with the expected life of the option granted. (3) Each grant’s dividend yield is calculated by annualizing the most recent quarterly cash dividend and dividing that amount by the market price of the Company’s common stock as of the grant date. 126 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The Company estimates the impact of forfeitures based on historical experience. Should the Company’s current estimate change, additional expense could be recognized or reversed in future periods. The Company issues authorized shares of common stock to satisfy stock option exercises. Restricted stock activity under the equity plans is as follows: Total Restricted Stock Award Nonvested shares at January 1, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vested . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Number of Shares 58,000 90,000 (48,000) Nonvested shares at December 31, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000 Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $6.28 $8.44 $6.23 $8.25 As of December 31, 2014, there was $714,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock awards granted under the 2004 Plan and 2013 Plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 3.75 years. (13) Benefit Plans 401(k) Savings Plan The Company offers a 401(k) savings plan that allows employees to contribute up to a maximum percentage of their compensation, as established by the Internal Revenue Code. The Company made a discretionary matching contribution of up to $1,000 for each employee’s contributions in 2014, 2013 and 2012. Contribution expense was $206,000, $196,000, and $187,000 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Employee Stock Ownership Plan The Company sponsors a non-contributory employee stock ownership plan. To participate in this plan, an employee must have worked at least 1,000 hours during the year and must be employed by the Company at year-end. Employer contributions to the ESOP are discretionary. The Company has suspended contributions to the ESOP since 2010. At December 31, 2014, the ESOP owned 125,713 shares of the Company’s common stock. Deferred Compensation Plan The Company has a nonqualified deferred compensation plan for its directors (‘‘Deferral Agreements’’). Under the Deferral Agreements, a participating director may defer up to 100% of his or her board fees into a deferred account. The director may elect a distribution schedule of up to ten years. Amounts deferred earn interest. The Company’s deferred compensation obligation of $50,000 and $173,000 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 is included in ‘‘Accrued interest payable and other liabilities.’’ The Company has purchased life insurance policies on the lives of two of its former directors who have Deferral Agreements. It is expected that the earnings on these policies will offset the cost of the program. In addition, the Company will receive death benefit payments upon the death of the former director. The proceeds will permit the Company to ‘‘complete’’ the deferral program as the former director originally intended if he dies prior to the completion of the deferral program. The disbursement of deferred fees is accelerated at death and commences one month after the former director dies. 127 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) In the event of the former director’s disability prior to attainment of his benefit eligibility date, the former director may request that the Board permit him to receive an immediate disability benefit equal to the annualized value of the director’s deferral account. Nonqualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan The Company has a supplemental retirement plan covering some current and some former key executives and directors (‘‘SERP’’). The SERP is an unfunded, nonqualified defined benefit plan. The combined number of active and retired/terminated participants in the SERP was 53 at December 31, 2014. The defined benefit represents a stated amount for key executives and directors that generally vests over nine years and is reduced for early retirement. The projected benefit obligation is included in ‘‘Accrued interest payable and other liabilities’’ on the consolidated balance sheets. The SERP has no assets and the entire projected benefit obligation is unfunded. The measurement date of the SERP is December 31. The following table sets forth the SERP’s status at December 31: 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) Change in projected benefit obligation: Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Actuarial loss (gain) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benefits paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,712 714 3,059 911 (826) Projected benefit obligation at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24,570 $21,305 1,214 (1,746) 783 (844) $20,712 Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss: Net actuarial loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 6,730 $ 3,813 Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at year-end: Discount rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rate of compensation increase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A 3.65% 4.50% N/A Estimated benefit payments over the next ten years, which reflect anticipated future events, service and other assumptions, are as follows: 2014 2013 Year 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2020 to 2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Estimated Benefit Payments (Dollars in thousands) $ 866 1,248 1,422 1,525 1,549 8,814 128 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The components of pension cost for the SERP follow: Components of net periodic benefit cost: Service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amortization of net actuarial loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 714 911 142 Net periodic benefit cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,767 $1,214 783 291 $2,288 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for the SERP that will be amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $386,000 and $142,000 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Net periodic benefit cost was determined using the following assumption: Discount rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rate of compensation increase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A 4.50% 3.75% N/A 2014 2013 Split-Dollar Life Insurance Benefit Plan The Company maintains life insurance policies for some current and some former directors and officers that are subject to split-dollar life insurance agreements, which continues after the participant’s employment and retirement. All participants are fully vested in their split-dollar life insurance benefits. The accrued benefit liability for the split-dollar insurance agreements represents either the present value of the future death benefits payable to the participants’ beneficiaries or the present value of the estimated cost to maintain life insurance, depending on the contractual terms of the participant’s underlying agreement. The split-dollar life insurance projected benefit obligation is included in ‘‘Accrued interest payable and other liabilities’’ on the consolidated balance sheets. The measurement date of the split-dollar life insurance benefit plan is December 31. The following sets forth the funded status of the split dollar life insurance benefits. Change in projected benefit obligation: Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest cost Actuarial loss (gain) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,353 196 92 Projected benefit obligation at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,641 $4,717 177 (541) $4,353 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 129 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31 consist of: Net actuarial loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prior transition obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) $ 256 $ 540 1,597 1,507 Accumulated other comprehensive loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,047 $1,853 Weighted-average assumption used to determine the benefit obligation at year-end follow: Discount rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.65% 4.50% Components of net periodic benefit cost during the year are: 2014 2013 Amortization of prior transition obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) $(102) 196 $ (84) 177 Net periodic benefit cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 94 $ 93 The estimated net actuarial loss and prior transition obligation for the split-dollar life insurance benefit plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $90,000 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Weighted-average assumption used to determine the net periodic benefit cost: Discount rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.50% 3.75% 2014 2013 (14) Fair Value Accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date. Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data (for example, interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, prepayment speeds, credit risks, and default rates). Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. 130 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis The fair values of securities available-for-sale are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges (Level 1 inputs) or matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2 inputs). The Company uses matrix pricing (Level 2 inputs) to establish the fair value of its securities available-for-sale. The fair value of interest-only (‘‘I/O’’) strip receivable assets is based on a valuation model used by a third party. The Company is able to compare the valuation model inputs and results to widely available published industry data for reasonableness (Level 2 inputs). Fair Value Measurements Using Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Observable Significant Other Identical Assets (Level 1) Inputs (Level 2) (Dollars in thousands) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Balance Assets at December 31, 2014: Available-for-sale securities: Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trust preferred securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I/O strip receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $154,172 $ 36,863 $ 15,300 1,481 $ Assets at December 31, 2013: Available-for-sale securities: Agency mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trust preferred securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I/O strip receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $207,644 $ 52,046 $ 20,410 1,647 $ — — — — — — — — $154,172 $ 36,863 $ 15,300 1,481 $ $207,644 $ 52,046 $ 20,410 1,647 $ — — — — — — — — A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Non-Recurring Basis The fair value of impaired loans with specific allocations of the allowance for loan losses is generally based on recent real estate appraisals. The appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Such adjustments are usually significant and typically result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. Foreclosed assets are valued at the time the loan is foreclosed upon and the asset is transferred to foreclosed assets. The fair value is based primarily on third party appraisals, less costs to sell. The appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including the comparable sales and income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Such 131 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) adjustments are typically significant and result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. Assets at December 31, 2014: Impaired loans — held-for-investment: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . . . . . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Foreclosed assets: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assets at December 31, 2013: Impaired loans — held-for-investment: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Real estate: Commercial and residential . . . . . . . . . . . . . Land and construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance $ 859 587 1,176 $2,622 $ $ 31 31 $1,780 2,846 1,290 100 $6,016 Foreclosed assets: Land and construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 575 $ 575 Fair Value Measurements Using Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Observable Significant Other Identical Assets (Level 1) Inputs (Level 2) (Dollars in thousands) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — $ 859 587 1,176 $2,622 $ $ 31 31 $1,780 2,846 1,290 100 $6,016 $ 575 $ 575 132 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The following table shows the detail of the impaired loans held-for-investment and the impaired loans held-for-investment carried at fair value for the periods indicated: December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 (Dollars in thousands) Impaired loans held-for-investment: Book value of impaired loans held-for-investment carried at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,026 Book value of impaired loans held-for-investment carried at cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total impaired loans held-for-investment . . . . . . . . . . 2,996 $6,022 $ 8,472 3,346 $11,818 Impaired loans held-for-investment carried at fair value: Book value of impaired loans held-for-investment carried at fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Specific valuation allowance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,026 (404) $ 8,472 (2,456) Impaired loans held-for-investment carried at fair value, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,622 $ 6,016 Impaired loans held-for-investment of $6,022,000 at December 31, 2014, after partial charge-offs of $107,000 in 2014, were analyzed for additional impairment primarily using the fair value of collateral. In addition, these loans had a specific valuation allowance of $404,000 at December 31, 2014. Impaired loans held-for-investment totaling $3,026,000 at December 31, 2014 were carried at fair value as a result of the aforementioned partial charge-offs and specific valuation allowances at year-end. The remaining $2,996,000 of impaired loans were carried at cost at December 31, 2014, as the fair value of the collateral exceeded the cost basis of each respective loan. Partial charge-offs and changes in specific valuation allowances during 2014 on impaired loans held-for-investment carried at fair value at December 31, 2014 resulted in a credit to the provision for loan losses of $100,000. At December 31, 2014, foreclosed assets had a carrying amount of $696,000, with no valuation allowance at December 31, 2014. Impaired loans held for investment of $11,818,000 at December 31, 2013, after partial charge offs of $318,000 in 2013, were analyzed for additional impairment primarily using the fair value of collateral. In addition, these loans had a specific valuation allowance of $2,456,000 at December 31, 2013. Impaired loans held for investment totaling $8,472,000 at December 31, 2013 were carried at fair value as a result of the aforementioned partial charge offs and specific valuation allowances at year end. The remaining $3,346,000 of impaired loans were carried at cost at December 31, 2013, as the fair value of the collateral exceeded the cost basis of each respective loan. Partial charge offs and changes in specific valuation allowances during 2013 on impaired loans held for investment carried at fair value at December 31, 2013 resulted in an additional provision for loan losses of $508,000. At December 31, 2013, foreclosed assets had a carrying amount of $575,000, with no valuation allowance at December 31, 2013. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 133 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The following table presents quantitative information about level 3 fair value measurements for financial instruments measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, except for consumer loans, at December 31, 2014 and 2013: Fair Value Valuation Techniques December 31, 2014 Unobservable Inputs (Dollars in thousands) Impaired loans — held-for-investment: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 859 Market Approach Real estate: Commercial and residential . . 587 Market Approach Land and construction . . . . . . 1,176 Market Approach Foreclosed assets: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Market Approach Discount adjustment for differences between comparable sales Discount adjustment for differences between comparable sales Discount adjustment for differences between comparable sales Range (Weighted Average) 0% to 3% (3%) 0% to 3% (3%) 1% to 2% (2%) Discount adjustment for Less than 1% differences between comparable sales Impaired loans — held-for-investment: Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fair Value Valuation Techniques December 31, 2013 Unobservable Inputs (Dollars in thousands) Range (Weighted Average) $1,780 Market Approach Discount adjustment for differences between comparable sales 2% to 3% (2%) Real estate: Commercial and residential . 2,846 Market Approach Land and construction . . . . . 1,290 Market Approach Foreclosed assets: Land and construction . . . . . . 575 Market Approach Discount adjustment for differences between comparable sales Discount adjustment for differences between comparable sales Discount adjustment for differences between comparable sales 1% to 15% (2%) 1% to 2% (2%) 1% to 16% (7%) The Company obtains third party appraisals on its impaired loans held-for-investment and foreclosed assets to determine fair value. Generally, the third party appraisals apply the ‘‘market approach,’’ which is a valuation technique that uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable (that is, similar) assets, liabilities, or a group of assets and liabilities, such 134 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) as a business. Adjustments are then made based on the type of property, age of appraisal, current status of property and other related factors to estimate the current value of collateral. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, at year-end were as follows: December 31, 2014 Estimated Fair Value Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Observable Unobservable Significant Significant Other Carrying Amounts Identical Assets (Level 1) Inputs (Level 2) Inputs (Level 3) Total (Dollars in thousands) Assets: Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . $ 122,403 206,335 Securities available-for-sale . . . . . . . . Securities held-to-maturity . . . . . . . . . 95,362 Loans (including loans held-for-sale), net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FHLB and FRB stock . . . . . . . . . . . . Accrued interest receivable . . . . . . . . Loan servicing rights and I/O strips 1,071,436 10,598 5,044 receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,046 Liabilities: Time deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 256,223 1,132,163 Other deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Accrued interest payable . . . . . . . . . . $ $122,403 — — $ — $ 206,335 94,953 — $ 122,403 — 206,335 94,953 — — — — — — — — 1,172 — 1,435 3,906 1,071,854 — 3,609 1,073,026 N/A 5,044 — 3,906 $ 256,589 $ 1,132,163 201 — $ 256,589 — 1,132,163 201 — December 31, 2013 Estimated Fair Value Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Observable Unobservable Significant Significant Other Carrying Amounts Identical Assets (Level 1) Inputs (Level 2) Inputs (Level 3) Total (Dollars in thousands) Assets: Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . $ 112,605 280,100 Securities available-for-sale . . . . . . . . Securities held-to-maturity . . . . . . . . . 95,921 Loans (including loans held-for-sale), net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FHLB and FRB stock . . . . . . . . . . . . Accrued interest receivable . . . . . . . . Loan servicing rights and I/O strips 898,897 10,435 4,085 receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,172 Liabilities: Time deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 277,844 1,008,377 Other deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Accrued interest payable . . . . . . . . . . $ 135 $112,605 — — $ — $ 280,100 86,032 — $ 112,605 280,100 — 86,032 — — — — — — — — 3,148 — 1,729 4,203 890,368 — 2,356 893,516 N/A 4,085 — 4,203 $ $ 278,239 1,008,377 192 — $ 278,239 — 1,008,377 192 — A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The methods and assumptions, not previously discussed, used to estimate the fair value are described as follows: Cash and Cash Equivalents The carrying amounts of cash on hand, noninterest and interest bearing due from bank accounts approximate fair values and are classified as Level 1. Loans The fair value of loans held-for-sale is estimated based upon binding contracts and quotes from third party investors resulting in a Level 2 classification. Fair values of loans, excluding loans held for sale, are estimated as follows: For variable rate loans that reprice frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying values resulting in a Level 3 classification. Fair values for other loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, using interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality resulting in a Level 3 classification. Impaired loans are valued at the lower of cost or fair value as described previously. The methods utilized to estimate the fair value of loans do not necessarily represent an exit price. FHLB and FRB Stock It was not practical to determine the fair value of FHLB and FRB stock due to the restrictions placed on transferability. Accrued Interest Receivable/Payable The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximate fair value resulting in a Level 2 or Level 3 classification. Deposits The fair values disclosed for demand deposits (e.g., interest and noninterest checking, passbook savings, and certain types of money market accounts) are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (i.e., their carrying amount) resulting in a Level 2 classification. The carrying amounts of variable rate, fixed-term money market accounts approximate their fair values at the reporting date resulting in a Level 2 classification. The carrying amounts of variable rate, certificates of deposit approximate their fair values at the reporting date resulting in a Level 2 classification. Fair values for fixed rate certificates of deposit are estimated using a discounted cash flows calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered on certificates to a schedule of aggregated expected monthly maturities on time deposits resulting in a Level 2 classification. Subordinated Debt The fair values of the subordinated debentures are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on the current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements resulting in a Level 3 classification. 136 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Off-Balance Sheet Items Fair values for off-balance sheet, credit-related financial instruments are based on fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the counterparties’ credit standing. The fair value of commitments is not material. Limitations Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information about the 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. Fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, 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. (15) Commitments and Contingencies Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk HBC is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its clients. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the balance sheets. HBC’s exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance of the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. HBC uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Credit risk is the possibility that a loss may occur because a party to a transaction failed to perform according to the terms of the contract. HBC controls the credit risk of these transactions through credit approvals, limits, and monitoring procedures. Management does not anticipate any significant losses as a result of these transactions. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 Commitments to extend credit were as follows: December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 Fixed Rate Variable Rate Fixed Rate Variable Rate (Dollars in thousands) Unused lines of credit and commitments to make loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Standby letters of credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 8,164 3,235 $415,146 12,783 $6,136 — $359,955 11,099 $11,399 $427,929 $6,136 $371,054 Commitments generally expire within one year. Standby letters of credit are written with conditional commitments issued by HBC to guarantee the performance of a client to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to clients. The Company is required to maintain interest-bearing reserves. Reserve requirements are based on a percentage of certain deposits. As of December 31, 2014, the Company maintained reserves of $11,379,000 137 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) in the form of vault cash and balances at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, which satisfied the regulatory requirements. Loss Contingencies The Company’s policy is to accrue for legal costs associated with both asserted and unasserted claims when it is probable that such costs will be incurred and such costs can be reasonably estimated. A number of parties have filed complaints in the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara asserting certain claims against the Company arising from the transfer of funds for personal use by an authorized signatory of a customer. The litigation is in the discovery stage and it is not possible to determine the amount of the loss, if any, arising from the claim in excess of the legal expenses expected to be incurred in defense of the litigation. The Company intends to vigorously defend the litigation. (16) Shareholders’ Equity and Earnings Per Share Series A Preferred Stock—On November 21, 2008, the Company issued 40,000 shares of Series A Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (‘‘Series A Preferred Stock’’) to the U.S. Treasury under the terms of the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program for $40,000,000 with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. On March 7, 2012, in accordance with approvals received from the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board, the Company repurchased all of the Series A Preferred Stock and paid all of the related accrued and unpaid dividends. Warrants—On November 21, 2008, in conjunction with the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Company issued a warrant to the U.S Treasury with an initial exercise price of $12.96 per share of common stock, with an allocated fair value of $1,979,000. The warrant was exercisable at any time on or before November 21, 2018. The warrant was transferable at any time. On June 12, 2013, the Company completed the repurchase of the common stock warrant for $140,000. Series C Preferred Stock—On June 21, 2010, the Company issued to various institutional investors 21,004 shares of Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (‘‘Series C Preferred Stock’’). The Series C Preferred Stock is mandatorily convertible into 5,601,000 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $3.75 per share upon a subsequent transfer of the Series C Preferred Stock to third parties not affiliated with the holder in a widely dispersed offering. The Series C Preferred Stock is non-voting except in the case of certain transactions that would affect the rights of the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock or applicable law. The holders of Series C Preferred Stock receive dividends on an as converted basis when dividends are also declared for holders of common stock. The Series C Preferred Stock is not redeemable by the Company or by the holders and has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The Series C Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company’s common stock. Dividends—On January 26, 2015, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a $0.08 per share quarterly cash dividend to holders of common stock and Series C preferred stock (on an as converted basis). The dividend will be paid on February 25, 2015, to shareholders of record on February 10, 2015. Earnings Per Share—Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income, less dividends and discount accretion on preferred stock, by the weighted average common shares outstanding. The Series C Preferred Stock participates in the earnings of the Company and, therefore, the shares issued on the conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock are considered outstanding under the two-class method of computing basic earnings per common share during periods of earnings. Diluted earnings per share reflect potential dilution from outstanding stock options and common stock warrants, using the treasury 138 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) stock method. The common stock warrant was antidilutive at December 31, 2013, and 2012. The Company repurchased the warrant for $140,000 in the second quarter of 2013. A reconciliation of these factors used in computing basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows: Year ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 Net income available to common shareholders . . . . Less: undistributed earnings allocated to Series C (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 8,703 $ 12,419 11,204 $ $ Preferred Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,342 1,687 1,527 Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 11,077 $ 9,517 $ 7,176 Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,390,615 26,338,161 26,303,245 Dilutive effect of stock options oustanding, using the the treasury stock method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135,666 48,291 26,091 Shares used in computing diluted earnings per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,526,282 26,386,452 26,329,336 Basic earnings per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted earnings per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ $ 0.42 0.42 $ $ 0.36 0.36 $ $ 0.27 0.27 (17) Capital Requirements The Company and its subsidiary bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory — and possibly additional discretionary — actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements and operations. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and HBC must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance- sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors. Quantitative measures established by regulation to help ensure capital adequacy require the Company and HBC to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier 1 capital to average assets (as defined). Management believes that, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company and HBC met all capital adequacy guidelines to which they were subject. As of December 31, 2014 HBC was categorized as ‘‘well-capitalized’’ under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since December 31, 2014 that management believes have changed the categorization of the Company or HBC as well-capitalized. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 139 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The Company’s consolidated capital amounts and ratios are presented in the following table, together with capital adequacy requirements. As of December 31, 2014 Total Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (to risk-weighted assets) Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets) Tier 1 Capital (to average assets) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As of December 31, 2013 Total Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (to risk-weighted assets) Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets) Tier 1 Capital (to average assets) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Be Well-Capitalized Under Regulatory Requirements Required For Capital Adequacy Purposes Actual Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio (Dollars in thousands) $186,068 13.9% $134,109 10.0% $107,287 8.0% $169,278 12.6% $ 80,465 6.0% $ 53,644 4.0% $169,278 10.6% N/A N/A $ 63,949 4.0% $179,916 15.3% $117,581 10.0% $ 94,065 8.0% $165,162 14.0% $ 70,549 6.0% $ 47,032 4.0% $165,162 11.2% N/A N/A $ 59,083 4.0% HBC’s actual capital and required amounts and ratios are presented in the following table. To Be Well-Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Required For Capital Adequacy Purposes Actual Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio (Dollars in thousands) $175,765 13.1% $134,095 10.0% $107,276 8.0% $158,976 11.9% $ 80,457 6.0% $ 53,638 4.0% $158,976 9.9% $ 79,959 5.0% $ 63,967 4.0% $163,827 13.9% $117,872 10.0% $ 94,297 8.0% $149,037 12.6% $ 70,723 6.0% $ 47,148 4.0% $149,037 10.1% $ 73,858 5.0% $ 59,086 4.0% As of December 31, 2014 Total Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (to risk-weighted assets) Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets) Tier 1 Capital (to average assets) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As of December 31, 2013 Total Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (to risk-weighted assets) Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets) Tier 1 Capital (to average assets) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Company’s total risk based capital ratio, Tier 1 risk based capital ratio, and leverage ratio at December 31, 2014 decreased to 13.9%, 12.6%, and 10.6%, compared to 15.3%, 14.0%, and 11.2% at 140 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) December 31, 2013, respectively. HBC’s total risk based capital ratio, Tier 1 risk based capital ratio, and leverage ratio at December 31, 2014 decreased to 13.1%, 11.9%, and 9.9%, compared to 13.9%, 12.6%, and 10.1% at December 31, 2013, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to the addition of goodwill and other intangible assets from the BVF acquisition. At December 31, 2014, the Company’s and HBC’s capital ratios exceed the highest regulatory capital requirement of ‘‘well capitalized’’ under prompt corrective action provisions. HCC is dependent upon dividends from HBC. Under California General Corporation Law, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available. The California Financial Code provides that a state-licensed bank may not make a cash distribution to its shareholders in excess of the lesser of the following: (i) the bank’s retained earnings; or (ii) the bank’s net income for its last three fiscal years, less the amount of any distributions made by the bank to its shareholders during such period. However, a bank, with the prior approval of the Commissioner of the California Department of Business Oversight may make a distribution to its shareholders of an amount not to exceed the greater of (i) a bank’s retained earnings; (ii) its net income for its last fiscal year; or (iii) its net income for the current fiscal year. Also with the prior approval of the Commissioner of the California Department of Business Oversight and the shareholders of the bank, the bank may make a distribution to its shareholders, as a reduction in capital of the bank. In the event that the Commissioner determines that the shareholders’ equity of a bank is inadequate or that the making of a distribution by a bank would be unsafe or unsound, the Commissioner may order a bank to refrain from making such a proposed distribution. As of December 31, 2014, HBC would be required to obtain regulatory approval from the California Department of Business Oversight for a dividend or other distribution to HCC. Similar restrictions applied to the amount and sum of loan advances and other transfers of funds from HBC to the parent company. (18) Parent Company only Condensed Financial Information The condensed financial statements of Heritage Commerce Corp (parent company only) are as follows: Condensed Balance Sheets Assets Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Investment in subsidiary bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 31, 2014 2013 (Dollars in thousands) $ 10,159 173,453 953 $ 19,009 155,958 — Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $184,565 $174,967 Liabilities and Shareholder’s Equity Other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shareholder’s equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 184,358 1,571 173,396 Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $184,565 $174,967 A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 141 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) Condensed Statements of Income For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands) Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividend from subsidiary bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ — $ — — (2,033) — $ 16,000 (229) (2,080) 1 45,000 (1,383) (2,615) Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiary bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equity in net income of subsidiary bank: Reduction in contributed capital and distribution from (2,033) 13,691 41,003 subsidiary bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income of subsidiary bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income tax benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — (16,000) 13,155 694 14,614 846 Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividends and discount accretion on preferred stock . . . . . . . 13,427 (1,008) 11,540 (336) (45,000) 12,710 1,196 9,909 (1,206) Net income available to common shareholders . . . . . . . . . . $12,419 $ 11,204 $ 8,703 Condensed Statements of Cash Flows Cash flows from operating activities: Net Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operations: Amortization of restricted stock award, net of forfeitures For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 2013 2012 (Dollars in thousands) $ 13,427 $ 11,540 $ 9,909 and taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9) 200 148 Equity in undistributed loss/(net income) of subsidiary bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net change in other assets and liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (14,614) (2,158) 2,845 4,478 32,290 (744) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities . . . . . (3,354) 19,063 41,603 Cash flows from financing activities: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repayment of subordinated debt Payment of cash dividends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repayment of preferred stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exercise of stock options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Payment of repurchase of common stock warrant — (5,758) — 262 — (9,279) (1,916) (14,423) (373) — (40,000) 39 88 — (140) Net cash used in financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5,496) (11,247) (54,757) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents . . Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . (8,850) 19,009 7,816 11,193 (13,154) 24,347 Cash and cash equivalents, end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 10,159 $ 19,009 $ 11,193 142 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) (19) Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) The following table discloses the Company’s selected unaudited quarterly financial data: Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . Net interest income after provision for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividends on preferred stock . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income available to common For the Quarter Ended 12/31/2014(1) 9/30/2014(2) 06/30/14 03/31/14 (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) $16,717 625 16,092 (106) 16,198 1,812 12,415 5,595 1,993 3,602 (280) $14,492 500 13,992 (24) $14,192 507 $13,855 521 13,685 (198) 13,334 (10) 14,016 1,870 10,492 5,394 1,969 3,425 (280) 13,883 2,047 10,769 5,161 1,837 3,324 (224) 13,344 2,017 10,546 4,815 1,739 3,076 (224) shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,322 3,145 3,100 2,852 Undistributed earnings allocated to Series C Preferred Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (349) (320) (358) (315) Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders . . . . . . . $ 2,973 $ 2,825 $ 2,742 $ 2,537 Earnings per common share Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ $ 0.11 0.11 $ $ 0.11 0.11 $ $ 0.10 0.10 $ 0.10 $ 0.10 (1) The Company’s selected unaudited quarterly financial data for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 includes BVF acquisition and integration costs of $609,000, and the results of operations for Bay View Funding for the months of November and December 2014. (2) The Company’s selected unaudited quarterly financial data for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 includes BVF acquisition and integration costs of $234,000. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 143 HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) For the Quarter Ended 12/31/13 09/30/13 06/30/13 03/31/13 Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) $12,867 $13,623 714 574 $12,838 685 $13,458 627 Net interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision (credit) for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,049 (12) 12,831 (534) 12,153 (270) 12,153 — Net interest income after provision for loan losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noninterest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,061 1,898 9,851 Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Income tax expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dividends on preferred stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net income available to common shareholders . . . . Undistributed earnings allocated to Series C 5,108 1,754 3,354 (168) 3,186 13,365 1,738 10,060 5,043 1,830 3,213 (168) 3,045 12,423 1,915 10,089 4,249 1,456 2,793 — 2,793 12,153 1,663 10,470 3,346 1,166 2,180 — 2,180 Preferred Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (421) (395) (489) (382) Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,765 $ 2,650 $ 2,304 $ 1,798 Earnings per common share Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ $ 0.10 0.10 $ $ 0.10 0.10 $ $ 0.09 0.09 $ $ 0.07 0.07 144 Exhibit Number Description EXHIBIT INDEX 2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 8, 2007, by and between Heritage Commerce Corp, Heritage Bank of Commerce and Diablo Valley Bank (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2007) 3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of Heritage Commerce Corp (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2009) 3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of Heritage Commerce Corp, as filed with the California Secretary of State on June 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference from the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 23, 2010) 3.3 Bylaws, as amended, of Heritage Commerce Corp (incorporated by reference from the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed July 23, 2010) 4.1 Certificate of Determination of Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, as filed with the California Secretary of State on June 17, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010) 10.1 Real Property Lease for Registrant’s Principle Office dated April 13, 2000 10.2 Sixth Amendment to Lease for Registrant’s Principle Office dated November 17, 2014 *10.3 Heritage Commerce Corp Management Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 3, 2005) *10.4 Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 2, 2009) *10.5 Restricted Stock Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek dated March 17, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 22, 2005) A n n u a l R e p o r t *10.6 2004 Stock Option Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek dated March 17, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 22, 2005) 26FEB20 *10.7 Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 31, 2005) *10.8 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Walter Kaczmarek, dated October 17, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2007) *10.9 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Lawrence McGovern, dated July 21, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 21, 2011) *10.10 Employment Agreement with Michael E. Benito, dated February 1, 2012 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 1, 2012) *10.11 Employment Agreement with David Porter, dated June 25, 2012 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 25, 2012) *10.12 Employment Agreement with Keith Wilton, dated February 18, 2014 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 20, 2014) *10.13 Form of Stock Option Agreement For Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 9, 2012) 145 Exhibit Number Description *10.14 Form of Restricted Stock Agreement For Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 9, 2012) *10.15 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement in Form S-8 filed July 15, 2013) *10.16 Form of Restricted Stock Agreement For 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed July 15, 2013) *10.17 Form of Stock Option Agreement for 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed July 15, 2013) *10.18 2005 Amended and Restated Heritage Commerce Corp Supplemental Retirement Plan (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 30, 2008) *10.19 Form of Endorsement Method Split Dollar Plan Agreement for Executive Officers (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 17, 2008) *10.20 Form of Endorsement Method Split Dollar Plan Agreement for Directors (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 17, 2008) *10.21 Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 29, 2008 between the Company and Walter T. Kaczmarek (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009) *10.22 First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Jack Conner and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009) *10.23 First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Frank Bisceglia and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009) *10.24 First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Robert Moles and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009) *10.25 First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Humphrey Polanen and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009) *10.26 First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Charles Toeniskoetter and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009) *10.27 First Amended and Restated Director Compensation Benefits Agreement dated December 29, 2008 between Ranson Webster and the Company (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 2, 2009) 10.28 Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers (incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 23, 2009) 146 Exhibit Number 10.29 Description Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and each of the Purchasers, dated as of June 18, 2010 (incorporated herein from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010) 10.30 Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and each of the Purchasers, dated as of June 18, 2010 (incorporated herein from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed June 22, 2010) 10.31 Stock Purchase Agreement, between Heritage Bank of Commerce, BVF Acquisition Corp and the stockholders named therein dated October 8, 2014 (incorporated herein from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed October 9, 2014) 12.1 Calculation of consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends 21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant 23.1 Consent of Crowe Horwath LLP 31.1 Certification of Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 31.2 Certification of Registrant’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 32.1 Certification of Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 32.2 Certification of Registrant’s Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 101.INS XBRL Instance Document, furnished herewith 101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document, furnished herewith 101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document, furnished herewith 101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document, furnished herewith 101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document, furnished herewith 101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document, furnished herewith * Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 147 Exhibit 31.1 CERTIFICATIONS UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 REGARDING THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 I, Walter T. Kaczmarek, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 of Heritage Commerce Corp; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) 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(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: March 6, 2015 /s/ WALTER T. KACZMAREK Walter T. Kaczmarek President and Chief Executive Officer Heritage Commerce Corp Exhibit 31.2 CERTIFICATIONS UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 REGARDING THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 I, Lawrence D. McGovern, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 of Heritage Commerce Corp; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) 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; A n n u a l R e p o r t (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 26FEB20 (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(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: March 6, 2015 /s/ LAWRENCE D. MCGOVERN Lawrence D. McGovern Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Heritage Commerce Corp CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 REGARDING THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 Exhibit 32.1 In connection with the Annual Report of Heritage Commerce Corp (the ‘‘Company’’) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the ‘‘Report’’), I, Walter T. Kaczmarek, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. March 6, 2015 /s/ WALTER T. KACZMAREK Walter T. Kaczmarek President and Chief Executive Officer Heritage Commerce Corp CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 REGARDING THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 Exhibit 32.2 In connection with the Annual Report of Heritage Commerce Corp (the ‘‘Company’’) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the ‘‘Report’’), I, Lawrence D. McGovern, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. March 6, 2015 /s/ LAWRENCE D. MCGOVERN Lawrence D. McGovern Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Heritage Commerce Corp A n n u a l R e p o r t 26FEB20 to ouR SHAReHoldeRS April 15, 2015 Dear Fellow Shareholders: We celebrated the Bank’s 20th year of operation in 2014, with Heritage Commerce Corp achieving solid earnings, and marking one of our most successful years in recent history. We delivered strong loan and deposit growth, while significantly expanding our client relationships and deepening our market position in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The highlight of the year was the acquisition of Bay View Funding, which was immediately accretive to earnings in the fourth quarter of 2014. We are excited about this acquisition, as it opens a new lending niche for us and complements the business lending programs we offer to our customers. 2014 Accomplishments: • We acquired Bay View Funding, a nationally recognized leader in the factoring industry, on November 1, 2014; adding $40 million in factored receivables, boosting revenues and net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2014, and for the full year. • Our net income increased 16% for the year to $13.4 million, with diluted earnings per common share of $0.42. • After reinstating our quarterly cash dividend in the second half of 2013, we increased the cash dividend twice in 2014. In January 2014, the quarterly cash dividend was raised to $0.04 per share, and in July 2014, the quarterly cash dividend was increased again to $0.05 per share. Additionally, in January 2015, our board once again, increased the dividend. This time the increase was 60% to $.08 per share. • Our returns improved, with an annual return on average equity of 7.44%, and an annual return on average assets of 0.88%. • Our total loans grew 19%, or $174 million, from a year ago, with yields averaging 4.96%. Total deposits grew by 8% or $102 million. • Our credit quality continued to improve, ending the year with a ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.41%. Year-over-year, nonperforming assets declined 47% to the lowest levels in over seven years. • Keith Wilton, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, joined us at the beginning of 2014, complementing our executive management team’s skills to support our growth and provide management depth. Keith has a lengthy background in banking with a particularly strong experience level in specialty finance businesses (including factoring). • We continued to maintain strong capital levels, ending the year with a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.9% and Tier 1 risk-based ratio of 12.6%. All capital levels exceeded regulatory requirements for “well-capitalized” financial institutions. For two decades we have proudly served our clients and shareholders, and we remain committed to developing and nurturing those relationships. As we start 2015, we are excited about the opportunities in our markets and are optimistic about our competitive position in them. Please join us for our annual meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2015, at 1:00 p.m., here at our corporate headquarters in San Jose. Sincerely, Board of Directors Jack W. Conner, Chairman Frank G. Bisceglia John M. Eggemeyer Steven L. Hallgrimson Walter T. Kaczmarek Robert T. Moles Humphrey P. Polanen Laura Roden Charles J. Toeniskoetter Ranson W. Webster W. Kirk Wycoff Executive Management Walter T. Kaczmarek President Chief Executive Officer Keith A. Wilton Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer Michael E. Benito Executive Vice President Banking Division William J. Del Biaggio, Jr . Executive Vice President Marketing & Community Relations Lawrence D. McGovern Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer David E. Porter Executive Vice President Chief Credit Officer Deborah K. Reuter Executive Vice President Chief Risk Officer & Corporate Secretary CoRpoRAte inFoRmAtion Subsidiary Bank Offices Heritage Bank of Commerce San Jose Main 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, CA 95113 408.947.6900 Danville 387 Diablo Road Danville, CA 94526 925.314.2851 Fremont 3137 Stevenson Boulevard Fremont, CA 94538 510.445.0400 Gilroy 7598 Monterey Street Suite 110 Gilroy, CA 95020 408.842.8310 Hollister 351 Tres Pinos Road Suite 102A Hollister, CA 95023 831.637.2152 Los Altos 419 S. San Antonio Road Los Altos, CA 94022 650.941.9300 Los Gatos 15575 Los Gatos Boulevard Building B Los Gatos, CA 95032 408.356.6190 Morgan Hill 18625 Sutter Boulevard Suite 100 Morgan Hill, CA 95037 408.778.2320 Pleasanton 300 Main Street Pleasanton, CA 94566 925.314.2876 Sunnyvale 333 W. El Camino Real Suite 150 Sunnyvale, CA 94087 650.919.2159 Walnut Creek 101 Ygnacio Valley Road Suite 100 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925.930.9287 Bay View Funding Administrative Office 2933 Bunker Hill Lane Suite 210 Santa Clara, CA 95054 Heritage Commerce Corp Investor Relations Contact Deborah K. Reuter Executive Vice President Chief Risk Officer & Corporate Secretary Transfer Agent Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Shareowner Services 1110 Centre Pointe Curve Suite 101 Mendota Heights, MN 55120 1.800.468.9716 Independent Auditors Crowe Horwath LLP 400 Capitol Mall Suite 1400 Sacramento, CA 95814 916.441.1000 Corporate Counsel Buchalter Nemer A Professional Corporation 1000 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 1500 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.891.0700 Jack W. Conner Chairman of the Board Walter T. Kaczmarek President and Chief Executive Officer To get further information on Heritage Commerce Corp, or to receive regular financial updates, please visit our web site at HeritageCommerceCorp.com and click on “Information Request.” Member FDIC 2014 AnnuAl RepoRt on FoRm 10-K 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, California 95113 408.947.6900 HeRitAgeCommeRCeCoRp.Com 2015 Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders 2015 Annual Meeting Proxy Statement 2014