Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Banks - Regional / West Bancorporation, Inc.

West Bancorporation, Inc.

wtba · NASDAQ Financial Services
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Ticker wtba
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Financial Services
Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 180
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FY2012 Annual Report · West Bancorporation, Inc.
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Building a Strong
Reputation

2012 Annual Report

Then

Building a strong reputation 
since 1893

West Des Moines has grown quite 
a bit from the sleepy railroad town 
established as Valley Junction. 

In 1893, one of the first businesses 
to invest in newly formed Valley 
Junction was a little bank that grew 
to become West Bank. 

Founders Herman and Anna Raaz 
made some of the first loans that 
allowed families to make Valley 
Junction their home. West Bank 
helped many entrepreneurs launch 
businesses that are still serving the 
community today. We went on to 
survive the depression, expand in 
two of Iowa’s largest markets, and 
trade on Nasdaq.

Our goal was never to be the 
biggest bank. We simply want to 
be the kind of community bank 
that earns our customers’ trust 
and referrals, while continuing to 
be recognized as one of the best 
banks in America by our peers and 
industry experts. And most of all, 
just like back in 1893, we want to 
be a vital part of the community we 
call home. 

Now

120 years later…

We’re fortunate to be able to boast 
about our exceptional customer 
loyalty, but truth be told, we’ve 
worked hard to earn it. We learned 
a long time ago that when we help 
our customers achieve their financial 
goals, we not only earn their trust 
but their ongoing business.

We’ve consistently produced 
enviable earnings for our investors. 
Since the formation of our holding 
company, West Bancorporation, Inc. 
in 1984, we have enjoyed profits in 
110 of 112 quarters.

To be a great community bank,  
we also need to be a great 
community partner. Since 2003,  
our Foundation has granted over  
$2 million dollars to local charities 
and our employees serve on over  
80 local charitable boards.

120 years after serving our first 
customer, West Bank is again 
investing in its West Des Moines 
roots by building a new branch on 
Grand Avenue to serve, in some 
cases, a fifth generation of  
West Bank customers.

It’s this ongoing commitment to our 
customers, our shareholders and the 
communities we call home that has 
earned us our most valuable asset – 
our reputation.

Stockholders’ Letter

People like to ask me about our vision for our Company. They like to ask what 
size we will be and what size we want to be. I don’t want to sound rude but any 
group of people can make a bank grow. All you have to do is be the cheapest 
and/or the loosest. Being the biggest can have very little to do with being the best 
and might even make you the worst.

So I let people know our vision is to achieve and sustain a position of industry 
envy and admiration. Then they ask, “What would that look like?” and “How will 
you know when you get there?” Here are some of the things we look at to validate 
our progress:

•	 Customer loyalty & retention.

•	 Customers endorsing us by giving us referrals.

•	 More people choosing us as their bank.

•	 Other bankers in town wanting to join our Team.

David D. Nelson

•	 Outperforming other banks in the major performance metrics.

•	

Investment banking firm Sandler O’Neill naming us as one of the best banks in America.

•	 Doug Gulling named CFO of the year by the Des Moines Business Record.

•	 Other banks want to hire our top performing people and our people say, “No thanks.”

•	 Understanding what it means to be a community bank.

We remind ourselves that continued improvement is not a destination, it is a journey. It should also be a fun journey and we 
will get there and stay there as a Team. I like to say, “Things are changing all the time at West Bank,” and that is because 
each day we get a little better by doing things on purpose. It is fun to be part of something special, and we look forward to 
the future with a smile.

In last year’s letter, we stated that we believed the Company would continue to grow and prosper in spite of the 
uncertainty that existed. We can report that we were successful. For the year 2012, total loans grew by 11 percent; 
deposits grew by 19 percent; and net income available to our stockholders increased by 24 percent. Both of our markets; 
the Des Moines metropolitan area and the Iowa City metropolitan area, contributed to this growth. We also expanded our 
commercial banking group in both markets in the last half of 2012. We do not believe there is any less uncertainty in 2013, 
but we do believe we will continue our path of growth and prosperity.

The capital position of our Company is strong. At December 31, 2012, the capital ratio of tangible net worth to tangible 
assets was 9.29 percent. Certainly over the past few years it was hard to argue any amount of capital was too much. 
But we do get asked, and frequently ask ourselves, “What is the appropriate amount of capital?” During 2013, we will  
continue to evaluate that question and develop strategies for effectively deploying that capital while maintaining a position 
of strength. 

West Bank is the oldest business in West Des Moines and during 2013 we are celebrating our 120th anniversary. Our new 
Grand Avenue branch will be opening this spring.  We think that makes us both the oldest and the newest business in 
West Des Moines.

Our Company’s strong performance and positive public reaction are not accidents. They happen because of our 
employees, our customers, and our community. We look forward to continuing the journey in 2013.

David D. Nelson
Chief Executive Officer and President 

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Assets

Cash and due from banks 
Federal funds sold and other short-term investments 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Securities available for sale 
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost 
Loans held for sale 
Loans  

Allowance for loan losses  
Loans, net 

Premises and equipment, net 
Accrued interest receivable 
Bank-owned life insurance 
Other real estate owned 
Deferred tax assets 
Other assets 

Total assets 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Liabilities

Deposits:

Noninterest-bearing demand 
Interest-bearing demand 
Savings 
Time of $100,000 or more 
Other time 
Total deposits 

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Subordinated notes and FHLB advances, net of discount 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares; no shares issued  
    and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011 

  Common stock, no par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares; 17,403,882 

           shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011 

Additional paid-in capital 
Retained earnings 
Accumulated other comprehensive income  
Total stockholders’ equity 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 

December 31, 

2012

2011

$      60,417  
111,057  
171,474  
292,314  
11,789  
3,363  
927,401  
(15,529 ) 
911,872  
5,609  
3,652  
25,730  
8,304  
6,991  
7,077  
$ 1,448,175  

$      35,772
51,332
87,104
283,145
11,352
4,089
838,959
(16,778 )
822,181
5,396
4,183
25,724
10,967
8,409
6,974
$ 1,269,524

$    367,281  
160,745  
428,710  
100,627  
77,213  
1,134,576  
55,596  
114,509  
8,907  
1,313,588  

$    268,887
158,141
343,312
98,743
88,290
957,373
55,841
125,619
7,240
1,146,073

-  

-

3,000  
33,805  
95,856  
1,926  
134,587  
$ 1,448,175  

3,000
33,687
86,110
654
123,451
$ 1,269,524

West Bancorporation, Inc. and Subsidiary  |  2012 Annual Report

West Bancorporation, Inc. and Subsidiary  |  2012 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Interest Income

Loans, including fees   
Securities:
  Taxable securities 
  Tax-exempt securities 
Federal funds sold and other short-term investments 

Total interest income 

Interest Expense
Deposits 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase  
Other borrowings 

Total interest expense 

Net interest income 

Provision for Loan Losses 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses 

Noninterest Income

Service charges on deposit accounts 
Debit card usage fees   
Trust services  
Gains and fees on sales of residential mortgages 
Increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance 
Gain from bank-owned life insurance 
Investment securities impairment losses 
Realized investment securities gains, net  
Other income  

Total noninterest income 

Noninterest Expense

Salaries and employee benefits  
Occupancy 
Data processing 
FDIC insurance expense 
Other real estate owned expense 
Other expenses 

Total noninterest expense 

Income before income taxes 

Income Taxes   

Net income  
Preferred stock dividends and accretion of discount 

Years Ended December 31, 

2012

2011

2010

$  44,277  

$  46,640   

$  53,215 

4,240  
1,954  
191  

50,662  

4,535  
114  
4,815  

9,464  

41,198  

625  

40,573  

3,009  
1,586  
817  
3,104  
737  
841  
(203 ) 
246  
857  

10,994  

4,193  
2,252  
234  

53,319  

6,941  
174  
4,802  

11,917  

41,402  

550  

40,852  

3,244  
1,453  
792  
1,454  
884  
637  
(99 ) 
-  
996  

9,361  

4,330 
3,057 
541 

61,143 

13,217 
210 
5,596 

19,023 

42,120 

6,050 

36,070

3,361 
1,329 
818 
1,533 
869 
422 
(305 )
40 
2,320 

10,387 

           14,532  
3,519  
2,070  
672  
1,491  
6,508  

           13,194   
3,342   
1,921   
1,298   
2,883   
6,235   

           10,996 
3,207 
1,815 
3,082 
1,716 
6,928 

28,792  

22,775  

6,764  
16,011  
-  

28,873   

21,340   

6,072   
15,268   
(2,387 ) 

27,744 

18,713

5,330

13,383
(2,284 )

               Net income available to common stockholders 

$   16,011  

$  12,881   

$ 11,099

Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share  

Diluted earnings per common share 

$      0.92  

$      0.74   

$     0.64

$      0.92  

$      0.74   

$     0.64

West Bancorporation, Inc. and Subsidiary  |  2012 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Years Ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Balance, December 31, 2009 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income 
Preferred stock discount accretion 
Cash dividends declared, 
    $0.05 per common share 
Preferred stock dividends declared 

Balance, December 31, 2010 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income 
Preferred stock discount accretion 
Redemption of preferred stock 
Repurchase of common stock warrant 
Cash dividends declared, 
    $0.17 per common share 
Preferred stock dividends declared 

Balance, December 31, 2011 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income 
Cash dividends declared, 
    $0.36 per common share 
Stock-based compensation costs 

 $ 34,024      

   $ 3,000       

-   
-   
484   

-   
-   

34,508    
-   
-   
1,492   
(36,000 ) 
-   

-   
-   

-    
-   
-   

-   
-   

-  
-  
-  

-  
-  

3,000  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  

-  
-  

3,000  
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 

Additional 
Paid-in Capital

Retained 
Earnings

Accumulated Other 
Comprehensive  
Income (Loss)

$ 34,387  
 - 
 - 
 - 

$ 65,959  
13,383  
-  
(484 ) 

     $ (4,311 ) 
-  
1,664  
-  

-  
-  

       (2,647 ) 
-  
3,301  
-  
-  
-  

-  
-  

        654       

-  
1,272  

 - 
 - 

34,387  
-  
-  
-  
-  
(700 ) 

-  
-  

33,687  
-  
-  

-  
118  

(870 ) 
(1,800 ) 

76,188  
15,268  
-  
(1,492 ) 
-  
-  

(2,959 ) 
(895 ) 

86,110  
16,011  
-  

(6,265 ) 
-  

Total

$ 133,059
13,383
1,664
-

(870 )
(1,800 )

145,436
15,268
3,301 
-
(36,000 )
(700 )

(2,959 ) 
(895 )

123,451
16,011
1,272 

-  
-  

(6,265 ) 
118 

Balance, December 31, 2012 

$           -   

$ 3,000  

$ 33,805  

$ 95,856  

$  1,926  

$ 134,587

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of West Bancorporation, Inc.:   

We have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 
consolidated balance sheets of West Bancorporation, Inc. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related 
consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (not presented herein), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows (not 
presented herein) for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, and in our report dated March 6, 2013, we 
expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. 

In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements appearing in this report is 
fairly presented, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated financial statements from which it has been derived. 

Des Moines, Iowa   |  March 6, 2013

West Bancorporation, Inc. and Subsidiary  |  2012 Annual Report

 
 
Stock Information

West Bancorporation’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and quotations are furnished by the Nasdaq 
System. We had 220 common stockholders of record on December 31, 2012, and an estimated 950 additional nonobjecting 
beneficial holders whose stock was held in street name by brokerage houses. 

Market and Dividend Information (1) 

2012

2011

1st quarter 

2nd quarter 

3rd quarter 

4th quarter 

Total   

1st quarter 

2nd quarter 

3rd quarter 

4th quarter 

Total   

High

            $ 10.46 

10.22 

12.35 

12.29 

$  8.00 

8.89 

10.00 

10.39 

Low

$ 8.71 

9.02 

9.38 

9.75 

$ 6.75 

6.94 

7.31 

7.92 

Dividends

$0.08

0.08

0.10

0.10

$ 0.36

$      -

0.05

0.05

0.07

$ 0.17

(1) The prices shown are the high and low sale prices for the Company’s common stock. The market quotations, reported by Nasdaq, do not include retail markup, 

markdown, or commissions. 

Form 10-K

A copy of the Company’s annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K will be available on the Securities 
and Exchange Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov and through a link on the Company’s Web site, www.westbankiowa.com, 
at Investor Relations, SEC Filings. A copy of the annual report can also be obtained upon request to Alice Jensen at 515-222-2300 or 
ajensen@westbankiowa.com.

Transfer Agent/Dividend Paying Agent

ist Shareholder Services
433 S. Carlton Ave.
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
800-757-5755
www.ilstk.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this report about the Company’s future financial performance constitute “forward-looking statements” within 
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include the words “believe,” “hope to,” 
“look forward,” or similar references. These statements are based on underlying assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that may not 
materialize as expected. Actual results may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements due to, among other things, 
changes in competition, economic conditions, regulatory requirements or costs, loan or investment performance, and interest rates. 
The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any statements to reflect future circumstances.

West Bancorporation, Inc. and Subsidiary  |  2012 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boards of Directors    

West Bancorporation, Inc. and Subsidiary    

Frank Berlin*
Thomas Carlstrom*
Joyce Chapman*
Steven Gaer*

Douglas Gulling** 
Kaye Lozier*
David Milligan*
George Milligan*

David Nelson*
James Noyce*
Harlee Olafson ** 
Robert Pulver*

* Director of  West Bancorporation, Inc. and West Bank   ** Director of  West Bank

Lou Ann Sandburg*
Brad Winterbottom ** 
Jason Worth **

Central Iowa Community Board    

Chad Airhart 
Mary Cownie
Darin Ferguson

Ryan Flynn
Kevin Grimm
Greg LaMair

Eastern Iowa Community Board    

Gene Loffredo
Kirk Tyler
Victoria Veiock

Mark Wackerbarth
Nancy Williams
Phillip Yurgae

Jill Armstrong 
Kevin Digmann 

William Meardon 
Mark Mysnyk 

William Nusser, Jr. 
Charles Skaugstad, Jr. 

Anna Moyer-Stone

Branch Locations

Central Iowa

Main Bank 
1601 - 22nd St. 
West Des Moines

Grand Branch 
125 Grand Ave. 
West Des Moines

East Branch 
2440 East Euclid 
Des Moines

North Branch 
3839 Merle Hay 
Des Moines

City Center Branch 
809 - 6th Ave. 
Des Moines

South Branch 
3920 SW 9th Street 
Des Moines

Urbandale Branch 
3255 - 99th St. 
Urbandale

Eastern Iowa

Downtown Branch 
229 S. Dubuque Street 
Iowa City

Waukee Branch 
955 East Hickman Rd. 
Waukee

Lower Muscatine Branch 
1910 Lower Muscatine Rd 
Iowa City

Coralville Branch 
1150 5th Street 
Suite 170 
Coralville

Financial Highlights

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Year-End Balances

Assets 
Investment securities 
Loans 

  Nonperforming loans 
  Other real estate owned 
  Deposits 

Stockholders’ equity 

Average Balances

Assets 
Investment securities 
Loans 
  Deposits 

Stockholders’ equity 

Results of Operations
  Net interest income 

Provision for loan losses 
 Noninterest income 
Noninterest expense 
 Income (loss) before income taxes      
    from continuing operations 
 Income (loss) from continuing  
   operations 
  Income (loss) from discontinued  
   operations 
 Net income (loss) 
 Net income (loss) available to  
   common stockholders 

Per Common Share 
  Net income (loss) – basic 
  Net income (loss)  – diluted 
  Dividends 
Book value 
  Closing price 

Ratios

Return on average equity 
Return on average assets 
Texas ratio 
Efficiency ratio 
  Net interest margin 

Average equity as % of average assets 
Allowance for loan losses as % of loans 
  Net charge-offs as % of average loans 
  Nonperforming loans as % of loans 

Tangible common equity to tangible assets 

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

$ 1,448,175  
304,103  
927,401  
7,256  
8,304  
1,134,576  
134,587  

$ 1,269,524    
294,497   
838,959   
10,693   
10,967   
957,373   
123,451   

$ 1,305,463    
267,537   
888,649   
12,930   
19,193   
972,072   
145,436   

$ 1,575,054   
351,269   
1,020,710   
26,317   
25,350   
1,246,617   
133,059   

$ 1,554,276 
189,558 
1,100,735 
28,835 
4,352 
1,155,132 
150,063 

$ 1,326,408  
317,615  
854,860  
995,694  
129,795  

$ 1,295,313    
266,031   
850,833   
961,488   
135,520   

$ 1,558,461   
301,124   
961,977   
1,218,997   
141,079   

$ 1,618,557   
230,821   
1,100,045   
1,231,597   
143,163   

$ 1,371,401 
189,206 
1,054,558 
954,423 
118,090   

$      41,198  
625  
10,994  
28,792  

$      41,402    
550   
9,361   
28,873   

$      42,120   
6,050   
10,387   
27,744   

$      41,094   
24,500   
8,904   
37,905   

$      41,101 
16,600 
4,301 
20,105 

22,775  

21,340   

18,713   

   (12,407 ) 

8,697 

16,011  

15,268   

13,383   

(5,051 ) 

7,311   

-  
16,011  

-   
15,268   

-   
13,383   

(9,566 ) 
(14,617 ) 

325 
7,636 

16,011  

12,881   

11,099   

(16,893 ) 

7,636

$          0.92  
0.92  
0.36  
7.73  
10.78  

$          0.74    
0.74   
0.17   
7.09   
9.58   

$          0.64   
0.64   
0.05   
6.37   
7.79   

$         (0.97 ) 
(0.97 ) 
0.09   
5.69   
4.93   

$          0.44  
0.44 
0.64 
6.69 
12.25 

12.34 % 
1.21 % 
11.25 % 
50.83 % 
3.42 % 
9.79 % 
1.67 % 
0.22 % 
0.78 % 
9.29 % 

11.27 % 
1.18 % 
16.33 % 
49.27 % 
3.58 % 
10.46 % 
2.00 % 
0.34 % 
1.27 % 
9.72 % 

9.49 % 
0.86 % 
25.76 % 
47.28 % 
3.04 % 
9.05 % 
2.15 % 
0.63 % 
1.46 % 
8.49 % 

(10.21 )% 
(0.90 )% 
44.91 % 
45.30 % 
2.86 % 
8.85 % 
1.87 % 
1.89 % 
2.58 % 
6.27 % 

6.47 %
0.56 %
33.81 %
38.24 % 
3.38 %
8.61 %
1.40 %
0.96 %
2.62 % 
5.91 %

West Bancorporation, Inc. and Subsidiary  |  2012 Annual Report

West Bancorporation, Inc. and Subsidiary  |  2012 Annual Report