Category: Intelligence Agencies

  • MIL-OSI Security: Accountant Pleads Guilty to $8M Tax Fraud

    Source: United States Attorneys General 6

    A Colorado man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States and tax evasion.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Rodney Ermel owned and managed a Colorado-based accounting firm. Along with co-defendant Kenneth Bacon, Ermel provided accounting and tax preparation services for Joseph LaForte and his entities. Ermel conspired with LaForte, Bacon, and others to hide approximately $20 million in income. He did this through various fraudulent accounting practices, such as fabricating shareholder loans and “bad debt” deductions. Ermel also filed tax returns which he knew underreported taxable income by over $20 million between 2016 and 2018. Ermel’s fraud caused a loss to the United States of over $8 million.

    Ermel is the fourth defendant to plead guilty to criminal conduct related to this tax scheme.  Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.

    The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Newcomer and John J. Boscia for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Financial Institutions, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WARSAW, N.Y., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI) (the “Company,” “we” or “us”), parent company of Five Star Bank (the “Bank”) and Courier Capital, LLC (“Courier Capital”), today reported financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    The Company reported net income of $16.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a net loss of $82.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and net income of $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2024. After preferred dividends, net income available to common shareholders was $16.5 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to net loss of $83.2 million, or $(5.07) per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024, and net income of $1.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $2.9 million in the current quarter, compared to a provision of $6.5 million in the linked quarter and a benefit of $5.5 million in the prior year quarter.

    First Quarter 2025 Key Results:

    • Net interest margin and net interest income expanded meaningfully in the first quarter of 2025, primarily reflecting the impact of the investment portfolio restructuring that was executed at the end of 2024. Net interest margin of 3.35% for first quarter of 2025 was up 44 and 57 basis points from the linked and year-ago quarters, respectively, while net interest income of $46.9 million for first quarter of 2025 increased $5.2 million, or 12.6%, and $6.8 million, or 16.9%, from the linked and year-ago quarters, respectively.
    • Noninterest income was $10.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to noninterest loss of $91.0 million in the linked quarter, which reflected the previously disclosed investment securities loss, and noninterest income of $10.9 million in the year-ago quarter, when the Company’s results included income from its former insurance subsidiary. First quarter 2025 noninterest income benefited from higher income from company owned life insurance (“COLI”) as a result of a surrender and redeploy strategy initiated in January 2025, in addition to higher swap fees and investment advisory income relative to comparable prior periods.
    • Noninterest expense in the first quarter of 2025 totaled $33.7 million, compared to noninterest expense including non-operating items in the linked and year-ago quarters of $59.4 million and $54.0 million, respectively.
    • Total loans were $4.55 billion at March 31, 2025, reflecting an increase of $74.1 million, or 1.7%, during the quarter, and an increase of $111.2 million, or 2.5%, from one year prior, driven by both commercial business and commercial mortgage lending.
    • Total deposits were $5.37 billion at March 31, 2025, up $268.2 million, or 5.3%, from December 31, 2024, driven by seasonal public deposit inflows as well as an increase in brokered deposits, and down $23.8 million, or 0.4%, from one year prior, due in part to lower reciprocal deposits and the previously announced wind-down of the Company’s Banking-as-a-Service, or BaaS, offering.
    • The Company reported improved credit quality metrics, as measured by quarterly net charge-offs to average loans of 0.21% for the first quarter of 2025, down from both the linked and year-ago quarters.
    • In February, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 3.3% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.31 per common share, a reflection of both its ongoing commitment to building shareholder value and its confidence in the Company’s long-term sustainable growth strategy.

    “Our first quarter results were highlighted by improved earnings and profitability metrics, and reflected the full benefit of the strategic investment securities restructuring we undertook in December, as well as our team’s ability to meet the banking, credit and investment advisory needs of our customers amid a challenging environment,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Martin K. Birmingham. “Our focus on performance resulted in a more than 12% increase in net interest income from the linked quarter, as well as a 44-basis-point expansion of net interest margin, an efficiency ratio below 60% and solid return on average assets of 1.10% and return on average equity of 11.82%.

    “Our pipelines carried momentum with credit-disciplined lending heading into 2025 and supported a 1.7% quarterly increase in total loans, with stable-to-improved credit metrics for the first quarter. Amid the uncertain economic landscape, coupled with our current pipelines and discussions with customers, we believe that loan growth will be concentrated in the first half of the year.”

    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer W. Jack Plants II added, “Our successful fourth quarter public equity offering not only allowed us to restructure our investment securities portfolio to drive stronger earnings potential, evident in our first quarter results, but also provided additional dry powder that we have sought to thoughtfully deploy. To that end, earlier this month we called $10 million of fixed-to-floating sub-debt that was issued in April 2015. We also took steps to enhance noninterest revenue by restructuring a portion of our COLI portfolio into a higher-yielding credit fund, which contributed to higher COLI income in the first quarter. We continue to remain confident that our stronger capital position and improved earnings outlook position us well to drive sustainable and profitable growth, as we seek to support our customers amid a challenging operating environment and prudently manage expenses.”

    Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

    Net interest income was $46.9 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of $5.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2024, and an increase of $6.8 million from the first quarter of 2024.

    Average interest-earning assets for the current quarter were $5.65 billion, reflecting decreases of $64.5 million from the fourth quarter of 2024 and $153.6 million from the first quarter of 2024. The linked quarter decrease was due to a $74.2 million decrease in the average balance of investment securities and a $49.8 million decrease in the average balance of Federal Reserve interest-earning cash, partially offset by a $59.5 million increase in average loans. The year-over-year decrease in average interest-earning assets was due to a $97.3 million decrease in the average balance of investment securities and an $86.3 million decrease in the average balance of Federal Reserve interest-earning cash, partially offset by a $30.0 million increase in average loans.

    Average interest-bearing liabilities for the current quarter were $4.51 billion, reflecting an increase of $31.1 million from the linked quarter and a decrease of $108.0 million from the year-ago quarter. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily due to a $38.7 million increase in average short-term borrowings and a $19.9 million increase in average time deposits, partially offset by a $15.6 million decrease in average savings and money market deposits and a $12.0 million decrease in average interest-bearing demand deposits. The year-over-year decrease was due to a $105.3 million decrease in average savings and money market deposits, along with an $84.2 million decrease in average borrowings and a $4.3 million decrease in average interest-bearing demand deposits, partially offset by a $85.9 million increase in average time deposits. The outflow of BaaS-related deposits following the Company’s September 2024 announcement that it would wind-down its BaaS platform by mid-2025 was the primary driver of the reduction in average savings and money market deposits from the linked and year-ago periods.

    Net interest margin was 3.35% in the current quarter as compared to 2.91% in the fourth quarter of 2024, and 2.78% in the first quarter of 2024. Expansion from both the linked and prior year quarters was primarily due to an increase in the average yield on investment securities, following the previously disclosed restructuring of the available-for-sale portfolio, which supported an increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets. Margin expansion was also supported by lower cost of interest-bearing liabilities, driven by the repricing across public, non-public and reciprocal deposits.

    Noninterest Income (Loss)

    The Company reported noninterest income of $10.4 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to noninterest loss of $91.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and noninterest income of $10.9 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    • A net loss on investment securities of $100.1 million was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2024 related to the previously disclosed securities portfolio restructuring.
    • Noninterest income no longer includes contributions from the Company’s insurance agency, which generated first quarter 2024 insurance income of $2.1 million prior to its sale on April 1, 2024.
    • Investment advisory income of $2.7 million was $182 thousand higher than the fourth quarter of 2024 and up $155 thousand from the first quarter of 2024.
    • Income from COLI of $2.8 million was $1.4 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2024 and $1.5 million higher than the first quarter of 2024, due to the previously mentioned surrender and redeploy strategy initiated in January 2025.
    • Income from investments in limited partnerships of $415 thousand was $422 thousand lower than the fourth quarter of 2024 and $73 thousand higher than the first quarter of 2024. The Company has made several investments in limited partnerships, primarily small business investment companies, and accounts for these investments under the equity method. Income from these investments fluctuates based on the maturity and performance of the underlying investments.
    • Income from derivative instruments, net was $250 thousand in the current quarter, compared to a loss of $37 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024, and income of $174 thousand in the first quarter of 2024. Income from derivative instruments, net is based on the number and value of interest rate swap transactions executed during the quarter combined with the impact of changes in the fair value of borrower-facing trades.

    Noninterest Expense

    Noninterest expense was $33.7 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $59.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $54.0 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    • Salaries and employee benefits expense of $16.9 million was $261 thousand lower than the fourth quarter of 2024 and $442 thousand lower than the first quarter of 2024. The decrease from the linked quarter was primarily due to a $1.3 million nonrecurring settlement accounting adjustment in the Company’s pension plan recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the year-over-year decrease was primarily due to the timing of the insurance subsidiary asset sale.
    • Professional services expenses of $1.7 million were $120 thousand higher than the fourth quarter of 2024 and $681 thousand lower than the first quarter of 2024, with the year-over-year variance primarily attributable to legal expenses incurred in the first quarter of 2024 related to the Company’s previously disclosed deposit-related fraud event.
    • Computer and data processing expense of $5.5 million was $1.1 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2024 and $101 thousand higher than the first quarter of 2024. The linked quarter variance was primarily due to nonrecurring project related expenses incurred in the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • As previously disclosed, the Company recorded a $23.0 million provision for litigation settlement in its fourth quarter 2024 financial results related to a long-standing auto lending litigation.
    • The Company recorded deposit-related recoveries of $294 thousand, primarily driven by insurance proceeds related to a past commercial deposit charged-off item, compared to charged-off items of $354 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $19.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, the majority of which related to the Company’s previously disclosed deposit-related fraud event.
    • Other expense of $3.8 million was down $484 thousand from the linked quarter, due in part to the timing of both New York State capital base tax and charitable contributions impacting the fourth quarter of 2024, while year-over-year other expense was relatively flat.

    Income Taxes

    Income tax expense was $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to a benefit of $32.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflective of the net loss reported in that period, and expense of $356 thousand in the first quarter of 2024. The Company also recognized federal and state tax benefits related to tax credit investments placed in service and/or amortized during the first quarter of 2025, fourth quarter of 2024, and first quarter of 2024, resulting in income tax expense reductions of $1.1 million, $1.2 million, and $785 thousand, respectively.

    The effective tax rate was 18.2% for the first quarter of 2025, -28.2% for the fourth quarter of 2024, and 18.7% for the first quarter of 2024. The effective tax rate fluctuates on a quarterly basis primarily due to the level of pre-tax (loss) earnings and may differ from statutory rates because of interest income from tax-exempt securities, earnings on COLI and the impact of tax credit investments.

    Balance Sheet and Capital Management

    Total assets were $6.34 billion at March 31, 2025, up $223.4 million from December 31, 2024, and up $41.9 million from March 31, 2024.

    Investment securities were $1.04 billion at March 31, 2025, up $13.0 million from December 31, 2024, and down $27.4 million from March 31, 2024.

    Total loans were $4.55 billion at March 31, 2025, an increase of $74.1 million, or 1.7%, from December 31, 2024, and an increase of $111.2 million, or 2.5%, from March 31, 2024.

    • Commercial business loans totaled $709.1 million, up $43.8 million, or 6.6%, from December 31, 2024, and up $1.5 million, or 0.2%, from March 31, 2024.
    • Commercial mortgage loans totaled $2.23 billion, up $28.7 million, or 1.3%, from December 31, 2024, and up $183.2 million, or 9.0%, from March 31, 2024.
    • Residential real estate loans totaled $644.0 million, down $6.2 million, or 1.0%, from December 31, 2024, and down $4.2 million, or 0.6%, from March 31, 2024.
    • Consumer indirect loans totaled $853.2 million, up $7.4 million, or 0.9%, from December 31, 2024, and down $67.3 million, or 7.3%, from March 31, 2024.

    Total deposits were $5.37 billion at March 31, 2025, up $268.2 million, or 5.3%, from December 31, 2024, and down $23.8 million, or 0.4%, from March 31, 2024. The increase from December 31, 2024 was primarily due to seasonally higher public deposit balances in addition to an increase in brokered deposits between period ends. The decrease from March 31, 2024 was driven in part by reductions in BaaS-related and reciprocal deposits. Public deposit balances represented 23% of total deposits at March 31, 2025, 20% at December 31, 2024, and 22% at March 31, 2024.

    Short-term borrowings were $55.0 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $99.0 million at December 31, 2024, and $133.0 million at March 31, 2024. Short-term borrowings and brokered deposits have historically been utilized to manage the seasonality of public deposits.

    Shareholders’ equity was $589.9 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $569.0 million at December 31, 2024, and $445.7 million at March 31, 2024. Both the linked quarter and year-over-year period end increases were primarily driven by additional paid-in-capital resulting from the common stock capital raise executed in the fourth quarter of 2024 and decreases in accumulated other comprehensive loss between period ends following the investment securities restructuring.

    Common book value per share was $28.48 at March 31, 2025, an increase of $1.00, or 3.6%, from $27.48 at December 31, 2024, and an increase of $0.74, or 2.7%, from $27.74 at March 31, 2024. Tangible common book value per share(1) was $25.46 at March 31, 2025, an increase of $1.01, or 4.1%, from $24.45 at December 31, 2024, and an increase of $2.40, or 10.4%, from $23.06 at March 31, 2024. The common equity to assets ratio was 9.03% at March 31, 2025, compared to 9.02% at December 31, 2024, and 6.80% at March 31, 2024. Tangible common equity to tangible assets(1), or the TCE ratio, was 8.15%, 8.11% and 5.72% at March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively. The year-over-year increases in both ratios were attributable to the additional capital raised in the fourth quarter and the decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

    During the first quarter of 2025, the Company declared a common stock dividend of $0.31 per common share, an increase of $0.01, or 3.3%, over the linked and year-ago quarters. The dividend returned more than 37% of first quarter net income to common shareholders.

    The Company’s regulatory capital ratios at March 31, 2025 continued to exceed all regulatory capital requirements to be considered well capitalized.

    • Leverage Ratio was 9.24% compared to 9.15% and 8.03% at December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively.
    • Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 10.38% compared to 10.54% and 9.43% at December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively.
    • Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 10.71% compared to 10.87% and 9.76% at December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively.
    • Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio was 13.09% compared to 13.25% and 12.04% at December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively.

    In April 2025, the Company called $10.0 million of its $40.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated debt that was originally issued in April 2015. These notes initially bore interest at a fixed rate of 6.00% and were scheduled to reprice at a rate equal to the then-current three-month term SOFR plus 4.20561% after the April 2025 call date. The Company’s subordinated debt is now comprised of $30.0 million of April 2015 notes, as well as the separate $35.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes that were issued in October 2020, which currently bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.375%, and are set to reprice at a rate of the then-current three-month term SOFR plus 4.265% beginning in October 2025. The April 2015 notes are callable on a quarterly basis going forward and the October 2020 notes become callable beginning in October 2025. The Company will continue to evaluate options relative to the subordinated debt which may include redemption in part or in full, as well as replacing or refinancing the facilities.

    Credit Quality

    Non-performing loans were $40.0 million, or 0.88% of total loans, at March 31, 2025, as compared to $41.4 million, or 0.92% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, and $26.7 million, or 0.60% of total loans, at March 31, 2024. The increase in non-performing loans from March 31, 2024 was primarily driven by one commercial loan relationship that was placed on nonaccrual during the third quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs were $2.4 million, representing 0.21% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the current quarter, as compared to $2.8 million, or an annualized 0.25% of average loans, in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $3.1 million, or an annualized 0.28%, in the first quarter of 2024.

    At March 31, 2025, the allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans ratio was 1.08%, compared to 1.07% at December 31, 2024 and 0.97% at March 31, 2024.

    Provision for credit losses was $2.9 million in the current quarter, compared to a provision of $6.5 million in the linked quarter and a benefit of $5.5 million in the prior year quarter. Provision for credit losses on loans was $3.3 million in the current quarter, compared to a provision of $6.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a benefit of $4.9 million in the first quarter of 2024. The allowance for unfunded commitments, also included in provision for credit losses as required by the current expected credit loss standard (“CECL”), totaled a provision of $364 thousand in the first quarter of 2025, a provision of $321 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a credit of $570 thousand in the first quarter of 2024. The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2025 was driven by a combination of factors, including the impact of loan growth and an increase in specific reserves, partially offset by modest improvement in forecasted losses and qualitative factors, primarily reflecting a reduction in consumer indirect delinquencies. Specific reserves increased by $932,000 for the first quarter, primarily driven by a $1.3 million specific reserve related to the Bank’s participation in a non-owner occupied commercial mortgage loan, which it moved to nonaccrual in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    The Company has remained strategically focused on the importance of credit discipline, allocating resources to credit and risk management functions as the loan portfolio has grown. The ratio of allowance for credit losses on loans to non-performing loans was 122% at March 31, 2025, 116% at December 31, 2024, and 161% at March 31, 2024, with the year-over-year decrease reflective of the higher level of nonperforming loans reported at March 31, 2025.

    Subsequent Events

    The Company is required, under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), to evaluate subsequent events through the filing of its consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, on Form 10-Q. As a result, the Company will continue to evaluate the impact of any subsequent events on critical accounting assumptions and estimates made as of March 31, 2025, and will adjust amounts preliminarily reported, if necessary.

    Conference Call

    The Company will host an earnings conference call and audio webcast on April 29, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be hosted by Martin K. Birmingham, President and Chief Executive Officer, and W. Jack Plants II, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. The live webcast will be available in listen-only mode on the Company’s website at www.FISI-investors.com. Within the United States, listeners may also access the call by dialing 1-833-470-1428 and providing the access code 737945. The webcast replay will be available on the Company’s website for at least 30 days.

    About Financial Institutions, Inc.

    Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI) is a financial holding company with approximately $6.3 billion in assets offering banking and wealth management products and services. Its Five Star Bank subsidiary provides consumer and commercial banking and lending services to individuals, municipalities and businesses through banking locations spanning Western and Central New York and a commercial loan production office serving the Mid-Atlantic region. Courier Capital, LLC offers customized investment management, consulting and retirement plan services to individuals, businesses, institutions, foundations and retirement plans. Learn more at Five-StarBank.com and FISI-Investors.com.

    Non-GAAP Financial Information

    In addition to results presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures is included in Appendix A to this document.

    The Company believes that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, performance trends and financial position. Our management uses these measures for internal planning and forecasting purposes and we believe that our presentation and discussion, together with the accompanying reconciliations, allows investors, security analysts and other interested parties to view our performance and the factors and trends affecting our business in a manner similar to management. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP measures, and we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the Company. Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not uniformly applied and are not audited. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies’ non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve significant risks and uncertainties. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “focus,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “preliminary,” “should,” “target” or “will.” Statements herein are based on certain assumptions and analyses by the Company and factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: additional information regarding the deposit fraudulent activity; changes in interest rates; inflation; tariffs; changes in deposit flows and the cost and availability of funds; the Company’s ability to implement its strategic plan, including by expanding its commercial lending footprint and integrating its acquisitions; whether the Company experiences greater credit losses than expected; whether the Company experiences breaches of its, or third party, information systems; the attitudes and preferences of the Company’s customers; legal and regulatory proceedings and related matters, including any action described in our reports filed with the SEC, could adversely affect us and the banking industry in general; the competitive environment; fluctuations in the fair value of securities in its investment portfolio; changes in the regulatory environment and the Company’s compliance with regulatory requirements; and general economic and credit market conditions nationally and regionally; and the macroeconomic volatility related to global political unrest. Consequently, all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and the cautionary language and risk factors included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the SEC. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this press release.

    (1) See Appendix A — Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this non-GAAP financial measure.

    For additional information contact:
    Kate Croft
    Director of Investor and External Relations
    (716) 817-5159
    klcroft@five-starbank.com


    FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.

    Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
    (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

        2025     2024  
    SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA:   March 31,     December 31,     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,  
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 167,352     $ 87,321     $ 249,569     $ 146,347     $ 237,038  
    Investment securities:                              
    Available for sale     926,992       911,105       886,816       871,635       923,761  
    Held-to-maturity, net     113,105       116,001       121,279       128,271       143,714  
    Total investment securities     1,040,097       1,027,106       1,008,095       999,906       1,067,475  
    Loans held for sale     387       2,280       2,495       2,099       504  
    Loans:                              
    Commercial business     709,101       665,321       654,519       713,947       707,564  
    Commercial mortgage–construction     566,359       582,619       533,506       518,013       528,694  
    Commercial mortgage–multifamily     475,867       470,954       467,527       463,171       453,027  
    Commercial mortgage–non-owner occupied     899,679       857,987       814,392       814,953       798,637  
    Commercial mortgage–owner occupied     286,391       288,036       290,216       289,733       264,698  
    Residential real estate loans     643,983       650,206       648,241       647,675       648,160  
    Residential real estate lines     74,769       75,552       76,203       75,510       75,668  
    Consumer indirect     853,176       845,772       874,651       894,596       920,428  
    Other consumer     43,953       42,757       43,734       43,870       45,170  
    Total loans     4,553,278       4,479,204       4,402,989       4,461,468       4,442,046  
    Allowance for credit losses – loans     48,964       48,041       44,678       43,952       43,075  
    Total loans, net     4,504,314       4,431,163       4,358,311       4,417,516       4,398,971  
    Total interest-earning assets     5,733,743       5,602,570       5,666,972       5,709,148       5,857,616  
    Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     60,651       60,758       60,867       60,979       72,287  
    Total assets     6,340,492       6,117,085       6,156,317       6,131,772       6,298,598  
    Deposits:                              
    Noninterest-bearing demand     945,182       950,351       978,660       939,346       972,801  
    Interest-bearing demand     773,475       705,195       793,996       711,580       798,831  
    Savings and money market     2,033,323       1,904,013       2,027,181       2,007,256       2,064,539  
    Time deposits     1,620,930       1,545,172       1,506,764       1,475,139       1,560,586  
    Total deposits     5,372,910       5,104,731       5,306,601       5,133,321       5,396,757  
    Short-term borrowings     55,000       99,000       55,000       202,000       133,000  
    Long-term borrowings, net     124,917       124,842       124,765       124,687       124,610  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     4,607,645       4,405,912       4,507,706       4,520,662       4,681,566  
    Shareholders’ equity     589,928       568,984       500,342       467,667       445,734  
    Common shareholders’ equity     572,643       551,699       483,050       450,375       428,442  
    Tangible common equity (1)     511,992       490,941       422,183       389,396       356,155  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   $ (41,995 )   $ (52,604 )   $ (102,029 )   $ (125,774 )   $ (126,264 )
                                   
    Common shares outstanding     20,110       20,077       15,474       15,472       15,447  
    Treasury shares     590       623       625       627       653  
    CAPITAL RATIOS AND PER SHARE DATA:                              
    Leverage ratio     9.24 %     9.15 %     8.98 %     8.61 %     8.03 %
    Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio     10.38 %     10.54 %     10.28 %     10.03 %     9.43 %
    Tier 1 capital ratio     10.71 %     10.87 %     10.62 %     10.36 %     9.76 %
    Total risk-based capital ratio     13.09 %     13.25 %     12.95 %     12.65 %     12.04 %
    Common equity to assets     9.03 %     9.02 %     7.85 %     7.34 %     6.80 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)     8.15 %     8.11 %     6.93 %     6.41 %     5.72 %
                                   
    Common book value per share   $ 28.48     $ 27.48     $ 31.22     $ 29.11     $ 27.74  
    Tangible common book value per share (1)   $ 25.46     $ 24.45     $ 27.28     $ 25.17     $ 23.06  

    1. See Appendix A — Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this non-GAAP financial measure.


    FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.

    Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
    (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

        2025     2024  
        First     Fourth     Third     Second     First  
    SELECTED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:   Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
    Interest income   $ 81,051     $ 78,119     $ 77,911     $ 78,788     $ 78,413  
    Interest expense     34,187       36,486       37,230       37,595       38,331  
    Net interest income     46,864       41,633       40,681       41,193       40,082  
    Provision (benefit) for credit losses     2,928       6,461       3,104       2,041       (5,456 )
    Net interest income after provision (benefit) for credit losses     43,936       35,172       37,577       39,152       45,538  
    Noninterest income:                              
    Service charges on deposits     1,052       1,074       1,103       979       1,077  
    Insurance income     3       3       3       4       2,134  
    Card interchange income     1,840       2,045       1,900       2,008       1,902  
    Investment advisory     2,737       2,555       2,797       2,779       2,582  
    Company owned life insurance     2,777       1,425       1,404       1,360       1,298  
    Investments in limited partnerships     415       837       400       803       342  
    Loan servicing     123       295       88       158       175  
    Income (loss) from derivative instruments, net     250       (37 )     212       377       174  
    Net gain on sale of loans held for sale     117       186       220       124       88  
    Net loss on investment securities           (100,055 )                  
    Net (loss) gain on other assets           (19 )     138       13,508       (13 )
    Net (loss) gain on tax credit investments     (514 )     (636 )     (170 )     406       (375 )
    Other     1,573       1,291       1,345       1,508       1,517  
    Total noninterest income (loss)     10,373       (91,036 )     9,440       24,014       10,901  
    Noninterest expense:                              
    Salaries and employee benefits     16,898       17,159       15,879       15,748       17,340  
    Occupancy and equipment     3,590       3,791       3,370       3,448       3,752  
    Professional services     1,691       1,571       1,965       1,794       2,372  
    Computer and data processing     5,487       6,608       5,353       5,342       5,386  
    Supplies and postage     578       504       519       437       475  
    FDIC assessments     1,467       1,551       1,092       1,346       1,295  
    Advertising and promotions     342       465       371       440       297  
    Amortization of intangibles     107       109       112       114       217  
    Provision for litigation settlement           23,022                    
    Deposit-related charged-off items (recoveries) expense     (294 )     354       410       398       19,179  
    Restructuring charges     68       35                    
    Other     3,751       4,235       3,398       3,953       3,700  
    Total noninterest expense     33,685       59,404       32,469       33,020       54,013  
    Income (loss) before income taxes     20,624       (115,268 )     14,548       30,146       2,426  
    Income tax expense (benefit)     3,746       (32,457 )     1,082       4,517       356  
    Net income (loss)     16,878       (82,811 )     13,466       25,629       2,070  
    Preferred stock dividends     365       365       365       364       365  
    Net income (loss) available to common shareholders   $ 16,513     $ (83,176 )   $ 13,101     $ 25,265     $ 1,705  
    FINANCIAL RATIOS:                              
    Earnings (loss) per share – basic   $ 0.82     $ (5.07 )   $ 0.85     $ 1.64     $ 0.11  
    Earnings (loss) per share – diluted   $ 0.81     $ (5.07 )   $ 0.84     $ 1.62     $ 0.11  
    Cash dividends declared on common stock   $ 0.31     $ 0.30     $ 0.30     $ 0.30     $ 0.30  
    Common dividend payout ratio     37.80 %     -5.92 %     35.29 %     18.29 %     272.73 %
    Dividend yield (annualized)     5.05 %     4.37 %     4.69 %     6.25 %     6.41 %
    Return on average assets (annualized)     1.10 %     -5.38 %     0.89 %     1.68 %     0.13 %
    Return on average equity (annualized)     11.82 %     -63.70 %     11.08 %     22.93 %     1.83 %
    Return on average common equity (annualized)     11.92 %     -66.19 %     11.18 %     23.51 %     1.57 %
    Return on average tangible common equity (annualized) (1)     13.36 %     -75.36 %     12.87 %     27.51 %     1.88 %
    Efficiency ratio (2)     58.79 %     117.13 %     64.70 %     50.58 %     105.77 %
    Effective tax rate     18.2 %     -28.2 %     7.4 %     15.0 %     18.7 %

    1. See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this non-GAAP financial measure.
    2. The efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing noninterest expense by net revenue, i.e., the sum of net interest income (fully taxable equivalent) and noninterest income before net gains on investment securities. This is a banking industry measure not required by GAAP.


    FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.

    Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
    (Amounts in thousands)

        2025     2024  
        First     Fourth     Third     Second     First  
    SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES:   Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
    Federal funds sold and interest-earning deposits   $ 71,767     $ 121,530     $ 49,476     $ 134,123     $ 158,075  
    Investment securities(1)     1,085,649       1,159,863       1,147,052       1,194,808       1,182,993  
    Loans:                              
    Commercial business     677,700       658,038       673,830       704,272       722,720  
    Commercial mortgage–construction     562,724       558,200       513,768       495,177       470,115  
    Commercial mortgage–multifamily     475,262       458,691       467,801       466,501       468,028  
    Commercial mortgage–non-owner occupied     879,387       843,034       826,275       837,209       843,526  
    Commercial mortgage–owner occupied     286,526       288,502       285,061       260,495       248,172  
    Residential real estate loans     647,005       649,549       647,844       648,099       648,921  
    Residential real estate lines     74,709       76,164       75,671       75,575       76,396  
    Consumer indirect     848,282       858,854       881,133       905,056       934,380  
    Other consumer     42,230       43,333       43,789       44,552       51,535  
    Total loans     4,493,825       4,434,365       4,415,172       4,436,936       4,463,793  
    Total interest-earning assets     5,651,241       5,715,758       5,611,700       5,765,867       5,804,861  
    Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     60,717       60,824       60,936       62,893       72,409  
    Total assets     6,220,187       6,121,449       6,018,390       6,153,429       6,225,760  
    Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
    Interest-bearing demand     745,210       757,221       691,412       741,006       749,512  
    Savings and money market     1,976,483       1,992,059       1,938,935       2,036,772       2,081,815  
    Time deposits     1,564,987       1,545,071       1,515,745       1,505,665       1,479,133  
    Short-term borrowings     95,223       56,513       129,130       140,110       179,747  
    Long-term borrowings, net     124,871       124,795       124,717       124,640       124,562  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     4,506,774       4,475,659       4,399,939       4,548,193       4,614,769  
    Noninterest-bearing demand deposits     926,696       947,428       952,970       950,819       962,522  
    Total deposits     5,213,376       5,241,779       5,099,062       5,234,262       5,272,982  
    Total liabilities     5,640,981       5,604,249       5,535,112       5,703,929       5,770,725  
    Shareholders’ equity     579,206       517,200       483,278       449,500       455,035  
    Common equity     561,921       499,910       465,986       432,208       437,743  
    Tangible common equity(2)     501,204       439,086       405,050       369,315       365,334  
    Common shares outstanding:                              
    Basic     20,073       16,415       15,464       15,444       15,403  
    Diluted     20,285       16,415       15,636       15,556       15,543  
    SELECTED AVERAGE YIELDS:
    (Tax equivalent basis)
                                 
    Investment securities     4.25 %     2.38 %     2.14 %     2.17 %     2.09 %
    Loans     6.20 %     6.28 %     6.42 %     6.40 %     6.33 %
    Total interest-earning assets     5.80 %     5.45 %     5.53 %     5.50 %     5.43 %
    Interest-bearing demand     1.15 %     1.34 %     1.05 %     1.18 %     1.11 %
    Savings and money market     2.75 %     2.94 %     3.07 %     3.01 %     3.08 %
    Time deposits     4.31 %     4.53 %     4.72 %     4.72 %     4.68 %
    Short-term borrowings     2.09 %     0.15 %     2.64 %     2.75 %     3.42 %
    Long-term borrowings, net     5.00 %     5.03 %     5.03 %     5.02 %     5.02 %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     3.07 %     3.24 %     3.37 %     3.32 %     3.34 %
    Net interest rate spread     2.73 %     2.21 %     2.16 %     2.18 %     2.09 %
    Net interest margin     3.35 %     2.91 %     2.89 %     2.87 %     2.78 %

    1. Includes investment securities at adjusted amortized cost.
    2. See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this non-GAAP financial measure.
    3. The interest on tax-exempt securities is calculated on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a Federal income tax rate of 21%.


    FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.

    Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
    (Amounts in thousands)

        2025     2024  
        First     Fourth     Third     Second     First  
    ASSET QUALITY DATA:   Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
    Allowance for Credit Losses – Loans                              
    Beginning balance   $ 48,041     $ 44,678     $ 43,952     $ 43,075     $ 51,082  
    Net loan charge-offs (recoveries):                              
    Commercial business     57       131       (3 )     7       (37 )
    Commercial mortgage–construction                              
    Commercial mortgage–multifamily                 13              
    Commercial mortgage–non-owner occupied     (1 )     (5 )     (1 )     (1 )     (1 )
    Commercial mortgage–owner occupied     (1 )     (1 )     (2 )     (2 )      
    Residential real estate loans     41       (4 )     (1 )     96       4  
    Residential real estate lines                              
    Consumer indirect     2,149       2,557       1,553       844       2,973  
    Other consumer     124       100       106       178       182  
    Total net charge-offs (recoveries)     2,369       2,778       1,665       1,122       3,121  
    Provision (benefit) for credit losses – loans     3,292       6,141       2,391       1,999       (4,886 )
    Ending balance   $ 48,964     $ 48,041     $ 44,678     $ 43,952     $ 43,075  
                                   
    Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans (annualized):                              
    Commercial business     0.03 %     0.80 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     -0.02 %
    Commercial mortgage–construction     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %
    Commercial mortgage–multifamily     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.01 %     0.00 %     0.00 %
    Commercial mortgage–non-owner occupied     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %
    Commercial mortgage–owner occupied     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %
    Residential real estate loans     0.03 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.06 %     0.00 %
    Residential real estate lines     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %
    Consumer indirect     1.03 %     1.18 %     0.70 %     0.38 %     1.28 %
    Other consumer     1.19 %     0.91 %     0.95 %     1.62 %     1.41 %
    Total loans     0.21 %     0.25 %     0.15 %     0.10 %     0.28 %
                                   
    Supplemental information(1)                              
    Non-performing loans:                              
    Commercial business   $ 5,672     $ 5,609     $ 5,752     $ 5,680     $ 5,956  
    Commercial mortgage–construction     19,684       20,280       20,280       4,970       5,320  
    Commercial mortgage–multifamily                 71       183       185  
    Commercial mortgage–non-owner occupied     4,766       4,773       4,903       4,919       4,929  
    Commercial mortgage–owner occupied     349       354       366       380       392  
    Residential real estate loans     6,035       6,918       5,790       5,961       6,797  
    Residential real estate lines     316       253       232       183       235  
    Consumer indirect     2,917       3,157       3,291       2,897       2,880  
    Other consumer     279       62       57       36       36  
    Total non-performing loans     40,018       41,406       40,742       25,209       26,730  
    Foreclosed assets     196       60       109       63       140  
    Total non-performing assets   $ 40,214     $ 41,466     $ 40,851     $ 25,272     $ 26,870  
                                   
    Total non-performing loans to total loans     0.88 %     0.92 %     0.93 %     0.57 %     0.60 %
    Total non-performing assets to total assets     0.63 %     0.68 %     0.66 %     0.41 %     0.43 %
    Allowance for credit losses – loans to total loans     1.08 %     1.07 %     1.01 %     0.99 %     0.97 %
    Allowance for credit losses – loans to non-performing loans     122 %     116 %     110 %     174 %     161 %

    1. At period end.


    FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.

    Appendix A — Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

        2025     2024  
        First     Fourth     Third     Second     First  
        Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
    Ending tangible assets:                              
    Total assets   $ 6,340,492     $ 6,117,085     $ 6,156,317     $ 6,131,772     $ 6,298,598  
    Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     60,651       60,758       60,867       60,979       72,287  
    Tangible assets   $ 6,279,841     $ 6,056,327     $ 6,095,450     $ 6,070,793     $ 6,226,311  
                                   
    Ending tangible common equity:                              
    Common shareholders’ equity   $ 572,643     $ 551,699     $ 483,050     $ 450,375     $ 428,442  
    Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     60,651       60,758       60,867       60,979       72,287  
    Tangible common equity   $ 511,992     $ 490,941     $ 422,183     $ 389,396     $ 356,155  
                                   
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)     8.15 %     8.11 %     6.93 %     6.41 %     5.72 %
                                   
    Common shares outstanding     20,110       20,077       15,474       15,472       15,447  
    Tangible common book value per share (2)   $ 25.46     $ 24.45     $ 27.28     $ 25.17     $ 23.06  
                                   
    Average tangible assets:                              
    Average assets   $ 6,220,187     $ 6,121,449     $ 6,018,390     $ 6,153,429     $ 6,225,760  
    Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets, net     60,717       60,824       60,936       62,893       72,409  
    Average tangible assets   $ 6,159,470     $ 6,060,625     $ 5,957,454     $ 6,090,536     $ 6,153,351  
                                   
    Average tangible common equity:                              
    Average common equity   $ 561,921     $ 499,910     $ 465,986     $ 432,208     $ 437,743  
    Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets, net     60,717       60,824       60,936       62,893       72,409  
    Average tangible common equity   $ 501,204     $ 439,086     $ 405,050     $ 369,315     $ 365,334  
                                   
    Net income (loss) available to common shareholders   $ 16,513     $ (83,176 )   $ 13,101     $ 25,265     $ 1,705  
    Return on average tangible common equity (3)     13.36 %     -75.36 %     12.87 %     27.51 %     1.88 %

    1. Tangible common equity divided by tangible assets.
    2. Tangible common equity divided by common shares outstanding.
    3. Net income available to common shareholders (annualized) divided by average tangible common equity.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Syracuse Man Sentenced for Distribution, Transportation and Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Paul Mignacca, age 46, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison for distribution, transportation, and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig R. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    Between September 2023 and February 2024, Mignacca uploaded several videos of child sexual abuse material to a social media application group chat dedicated to sharing child pornography files, as well as to Mignacca’s private account on an Internet-based filesharing application. Law enforcement arrested Mignacca in April 2024 and seized his electronic devices. Digital forensic analysis revealed that Mignacca possessed more than 3,400 files constituting child pornography.

    United States Chief District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered Mignacca to serve a 10-year term of post-incarceration supervised release, to pay a total of $60,000 in restitution to children identified from the child pornography he possessed, and to forfeit the electronic device he used to commit the offenses. Mignacca will also be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.

    The case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

    Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marathon County Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Conspiring to Traffic Methamphetamine

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Dustin P. Brunker, 37, Weston, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Brunker pleaded guilty to this charge on January 28, 2025.

    In early 2024, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force began investigating a group of individuals who were distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Marathon County area. Brunker was identified as a distributor for the group.

    Following a series of controlled purchases of methamphetamine involving Brunker in March and April of 2024, task force officers executed a search warrant at a residence that Brunker shared with co-defendant Mercadys A. Perkins in Weston. Officers found over 300 grams of methamphetamine, over $2,000 in cash, drug ledgers, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia during the search.

    Further investigation revealed that between February 18, 2024, and April 12, 2024, a co-conspirator provided Brunker and Perkins approximately 16 pounds of methamphetamine and 6 ounces of cocaine intended for further distribution.

    At the time of these events, Brunker was serving a term of state supervision for two felony cases and out on state bond for a felony drug charge. His state supervision was revoked, and he was sentenced to a total of 3 years in state prison, which he is currently serving. Judge Conley ordered the federal sentence run concurrently with the remainder of Brunker’s state prison sentences.

    At sentencing, Judge Conley called Brunker’s large quantity methamphetamine trafficking egregious. Judge Conley further observed that while Brunker had a lengthy prior record, the conduct in the present case showed an escalation in criminality.

    Three others were charged in connection with this drug trafficking conspiracy. Mercadys Perkins was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentenced to 6 years in federal prison on April 17, 2025. Joshua Lake and Jessica Colby have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming weeks.

    The charge against Brunker was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case. 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: On Fox, Cornyn Discusses Arrested Wisconsin Judge, Pres. Trump’s Border Security Success in First 100 Days

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on Fox News’ The Faulkner Focus, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the Wisconsin judge who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for allegedly obstructing the arrest of an illegal migrant by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), called out Democrat governors for giving unemployment benefits to migrants present in the U.S. illegally, and praised President Trump for successfully working to secure the southern border in less than 100 days after four years of failure under Joe Biden. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
    On Judge Arrested for Allegedly Obstructing Arrest of an Illegal Migrant:
    “In America, no one is above the law, including public officials and judges.”
    “President Trump is following through on his campaign promise and for which he received a mandate on November the 5th to enforce our immigration laws, and I support that wholeheartedly. If it means that people, including elected officials like judges, are obstructing the law and obstructing that process, they should be investigated and they should be prosecuted.”
    On the Administration Warning Governors to Stop Giving Unemployment Benefits to Illegal Migrants:
    “There are people who are actively opposed and resisting each and every thing that President Trump and this administration is doing.”
    “Democrats aren’t doing themselves any favor by resisting even commonsense measures like this.”
    “They are digging their own political grave.”
    On President Trump Working to Secure the Southern Border in Less Than 100 Days:
    “The border is finally under control. And we found out that it didn’t require the passage of new laws like Democrats, including President Biden, had said previously. It just required a new President and somebody committed to enforcing the law.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Video: Non-Proliferation, Financing for Development & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    Financing for Development
    Deputy Secretary-General
    Victims of Terrorism Associations’ Network
    Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
    International Court of Justice
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Lebanon/Israel
    Yemen
    Sudan
    Afghanistan
    Myanmar
    Security Council
    International Day
    Resident Coordinator – Samoa
    Financial Contribution
    Briefings Today

    FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
    This morning, the Secretary-General, as you heard, spoke at the Economic and Social Council Forum on Financing for Development.
    He said that, as we prepare for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla in July, we are facing some harsh truths: donors are pulling the plug on aid commitments, the Sustainable Development Goals are dramatically off track and high borrowing costs are draining away public investments.
    But, the more dangerous truth is that collaboration is being questioned with the ongoing trade wars. The Secretary-General said trade is a prime example of the benefits of international cooperation, and trade barriers are a clear and present danger to the global economy and sustainable development.
    These are tough times, he said, but it is in difficult periods that the imperative for responsible, sustainable investment is even more critical.

    DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
    The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed is in Montevideo, Uruguay. Today, she met with the President of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, to discuss the country’s development priorities and their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
    Later today, she will meet with several Government Ministers to discuss the partnership between the United Nations and Uruguay. She is also meeting youth groups, civil society, and of course the country team of the United Nations.
    And over the weekend, she chaired the annual regional retreat with UN Resident Coordinators from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
    Ms. Mohammed will leave Uruguay later today and will be back here tomorrow evening.

    VICTIMS OF TERRORISM ASSOCIATIONS’ NETWORK
    This morning, our friends at the Office of Counter-Terrorism launched the Victims of Terrorism Associations’ Network. This is an initiative that brings together victims of terrorism and victims’ associations from across the globe to drive collective action to support victims’ rights and needs.
    The network aims to provide a safe space for victims and survivors of terrorism to support each other, build resilience and engage as advocates, as educators, and as peacebuilders.
    The development of the network was supported by a financial contribution from Spain.
    The network was launched during an event this morning – and it is already available on UN Webtv. More information on the website of the office of Counter-terrorism.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=28%20April%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMJiomcK2rY

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas title company employee sent to prison for orchestrating $350,000 real estate wire fraud scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    McALLEN, Texas – A 55-year-old McAllen resident has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Mayela Saby Cantu pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2024.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has ordered Cantu to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $350,000 in restitution. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed Cantu’s role in the scheme. The victim also reported the significant loss due to Cantu’s actions and asked the court for a sentence that would operate as a deterrent for others. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the complexity of the scheme and emphasized that Cantu’s role as an escrow officer allowed her to facilitate the scheme.

    At the time of her plea, Cantu admitted she knowingly participated in a scheme that used falsified lien payoff statements, fraudulent warranty deeds and deceptive emails to mislead lenders, title companies and property buyers.

    From November 2020 until her arrest, Cantu defrauded buyers and lenders in multiple property transactions while working at a McAllen title company. Using her position of trust, she facilitated closings backed by falsified documents. In one notable case, she directed others to create a fraudulent email address resembling that of a legitimate lienholder. Cantu then used the fake account to send false payoff amounts via interstate wires, leading a title company to improperly disburse more than $350,000.

    Cantu facilitated additional fraudulent property transactions, including arranging closing on properties that had already been sold and accepting undisclosed cash payments. By concealing the true nature of these deals, she caused significant financial harm to the affected parties.

    She was permitted to remain on bond pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    The FBI, McAllen Police Department and Texas Department of Insurance conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Garcia prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Arrested and Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Devin Ravine, a/k/a Derek Johnson, age 20, of Riverside, California, was arrested on Friday on charges of sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    According to a criminal complaint, from on or about March 30, 2025 through April 1, 2025, Ravine persuaded and induced a Rensselaer County minor to create child sexual abuse material, which the child then sent to Ravine over the Internet. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “This case is the result of what I like to call ‘Operation It’s Not Your Fault’ – FBI agents visit schools all over the Northern District of New York to educate students about internet safety and sextortion. Our hope is to help students avoid these terrible situations, and also to encourage them to come forward if they believe they are a victim of a crime. Students may be embarrassed, ashamed, feeling that they’re at fault, afraid to tell their parents, and one of our messages is – no, it’s not your fault, and you should tell us if there are predators who have targeted you.”

    FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “This case truly exemplifies the strength and reach of the FBI. It should also put predators on notice, as it doesn’t matter where you’re committing these heinous crimes, we will use every resource we have to find you and ensure you can never hurt another child again.”

    Ravine made an initial appearance on Friday in the Central District of California and has a detention hearing there scheduled for tomorrow. He faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of at least 5 years and up to life. Ravine may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim of his offense and forfeit any devices used in the offense. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Ravine would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

    The FBI Albany Field Office is investigating this case with assistance from the FBI Riverside Field Office, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Rick Belliss and Mikayla Espinosa are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

    Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Iraqi Man Charged with Illegal Voting by an Alien

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Akeel Abdul Jamiel, age 45, formerly of South Glens Falls, New York, was charged on Friday with illegally voting in the 2020 election.  United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

    According to an information filed in federal court, Jamiel, an Iraqi who was not a United Citizen, voted in the November 2020 election in Saratoga County, New York.  The charge in the information is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “As alleged, Jamiel’s voting in the 2020 election was a callous and illegal act.  We will continue to investigate and prosecute illegal schemes aimed at corrupting the election process.”  

    FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Election security is and will continue to be one of the FBI’s highest national security priorities. Americans have a right to expect free and fair elections and the FBI is committed to working with our partners to seek justice for anyone trying to interfere with the democratic process.”

    HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: “This defendant’s alleged crimes are an insult to the democratic process and demonstrate his blatant disregard for the sanctity of American constitutional rights. I commend HSI Albany and our law-enforcement partners for their success in this unified effort.”

    The charge filed against Jamiel carries a maximum term of 1 year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Exabits teams up with NEAR to push the boundaries of decentralized AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The merging of NEAR’s AI tools with Exabit’s scalable compute ecosystem grants developers direct access to essential AI resources, allowing them to deploy applications with enhanced speed, accuracy, and efficiency

    SAN MATEO, Calif., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Exabits, a compute base-layer platform that transforms GPU (graphic processing unit) clusters into AI-ready compute and tokenized financial assets, has received a NEAR Foundation Grant to enhance and aggregate essential compute resources, ensuring both privacy and verifiability, enabling the deployment of decentralized AI. Through this partnership, Exabits and NEAR will combine their expertise in computing, AI, and blockchain to advance the foundation of user-owned AI. By promoting a robust architecture, they aim to ensure that all market participants benefit and accelerate the development of AI technologies.

    An ecosystem is considered closed-loop if its parts and functions are contained in a single, self-sustaining environment, with limited interactions with external entities. In the context of AI, this young yet growing industry has grown reliant on Big Tech players. With over $300 billion projected to be spent on AI this year by companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, developers and enterprises face escalating development costs and fragmented resources, impeding progress.

    Through this partnership, Exabits and NEAR will build an all-in-one AI and blockchain infrastructure, providing a space for developing AI-powered applications, automated transactions, and advanced financial tools within a secure ecosystem. This collaboration will offer developers and enterprises on-demand, customizable computing resources for AI inference and training, powered by high-performance GPU hardware such as MI50, 4090, A100, and H100/H200. By prioritizing the protection and integrity of data and code, this partnership will make it easier to build privacy-preserving AI solutions within Trusted Execution Environments (TEE).

    Exabits was a founding partner, alongside other reputable projects, in the launch of the Open Agents Alliance, initially introduced by the NEAR AI team. This partnership also follows Exabit’s successful completion of the inaugural AI + HZN incubator by NEAR Foundation, alongside other projects such as Ringfence, Hyperbolic, Pond, Nevermind, and Mizu.

    “We have reached a critical point in AI’s development where we understand its immense potential, but projects are confronting the tough reality that accessing the infrastructure remains a challenge,” says Dr. Hoansoo Lee, Co-Founder of Exabits. “Given the critical nature of this issue, we’re excited to partner with a project like NEAR AI to offer the infrastructure and resources needed to turn concepts into real-life solutions. Together, we can help overcome these barriers put in place by major tech players and help developers benefit from optimized ecosystems.”

    “We are excited to partner with Exabits, a project that shares our vision of providing developers with the flexibility and power to develop AI-focused applications without the costs and limitations previously associated with AI infrastructure,” says Cameron Dennis, Head of Ecosystem and Partnerships of NEAR AI. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to creating an open, scalable AI ecosystem, free from barriers placed by bigger players in the industry. This partnership is a positive step forward, and we look forward to continuing to help developers grow their projects in an inclusive and welcoming environment.”

    About Exabits:
    Established in 2021, Exabits is a revolutionary compute base-layer platform transforming high-end GPU clusters into accessible digital investment assets. With proprietary hardware and software, Exabits enables users to invest in GPU infrastructure, generating yield through tokenized compute assets. The company serves both Web2 enterprises and decentralized Web3 protocols, powering innovation through its scalable and secure infrastructure. To learn more, please visit https://exabits.ai/

    About NEAR AI:
    Near.ai is building a verifiable and private agent hosting network and AI assistant that will turn every app into a super app. It is also building a hub that supports developers and entrepreneurs with AI infrastructure, cross-chain, AI-native, blockchain, mindshare, and capital to support decentralized, User-Owned AI. https://near.ai/

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Exabits. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.

    Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    GlobeNewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Contact:

    Exabits
    ReBlonde
    contact@exabits.ai

    NEAR AI
    Illia Polosukin
    social@near.foundation

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46929af5-171b-4335-b1b8-e82e355d07a9

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: XenDex Sells More Than 50% of Its Presale Ahead of Listing on Major Exchanges

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a monumental week for XRP and the broader crypto market, XenDex is making headlines once again. Fresh off the approval of Brazil’s first XRP Spot ETF, the SEC’s withdrawal of its XRP lawsuit, and ProShares’ XRP Futures ETF approval, XenDex is riding a historic wave of momentum and investors are going all in without thinking twice.

    In just about four days, XenDex has sold more than 50% of its $XDX token presale allocation, surpassing all early projections. With major exchange listings on the horizon, early supporters are racing to secure $XDX tokens at launch prices before broader exposure sends demand soaring.

    Buy $XDX Now Before Presale Ends

    XenDex isn’t just another project — it’s the first all-in-one decentralized exchange (DEX) built on the XRP Ledger offering AI-powered copy trading, non-custodial lending and borrowing, staking, and cross-chain trading, all in a simple, fast, and beginner-friendly platform.

    Presale Key Details:

    • Token: $XDX
    • Exchange Rate: 1 XRP = 10 XDX
    • Minimum Buy: 150 XRP (1,500 XDX)

    Join Now Before It Sells Out: https://xendex.net/presale

    Confirmed Listings on Top Exchanges

    Following the presale, $XDX is preparing for high-profile listings across major platforms, including:

    • Binance
    • Gate.io
    • MEXC
    • BitMart
    • FirstLedger
    • MagneticX

    These upcoming listings are expected to drive significant liquidity and investor access, positioning $XDX for massive exposure and trading volume right from the start.

    XenDex delivers solutions the XRP Ledger has long been missing:

    • AI-Powered Copy Trading — Automate trades by mirroring elite traders
    • Non-Custodial Lending & Borrowing — Borrow and lend your XRP and XDX tokens to earn rewards
    • Cross-Chain Trading — Swap and trade XRP tokens across major blockchains like Solana and BNB

    With XRP market confidence exploding and infrastructure like ETFs strengthening the ecosystem, XenDex is emerging as the DeFi gateway for XRP’s new era.

    Buy $XDX Now & Earn Rewards

    Thousands of new investors have already joined XenDex’s Telegram and Twitter communities, locking in $XDX tokens before wider exchange exposure drives prices upward.

    Presale supply is being squeezed aggressively. Exchange listings are locked in. XRP’s momentum is unstoppable.

    There has never been a better moment to position yourself early. Join now before the window closes.

    Visit Official XenDex Links

    Website: https://xendex.net
    Presale: https://xendex.net/presale
    Telegram: https://t.me/xendexcommunity
    Twitter/X: https://x.com/xendex_xrp
    Docs: https://xdxdocs.gitbook.io

    Contact:
    Frank Richards
    Frank@xendex.net

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/05c01326-e101-43f5-92a2-2efffd95f449

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former labor union president admits to embezzling over $280,000 in union funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old Corpus Christi resident has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a local labor union, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Robert Cirilo, a former president of the United Steelworkers Local 13-1647 in Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement from a labor organization.

    Cirilo admitted he made approximately 430 unauthorized transactions from union accounts for personal purchases. He also concealed those transactions by lying to union members. As part of his plea, he acknowledged the embezzlement totaled over more than $280,000.

    U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Aug. 12. At that time, Cirilo faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for wire fraud and up to five years and a possible $10,000 fine on the embezzlement count.

    The FBI and Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster and John Marck are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Prison Guards Plead Guilty to Violation of Rights Under Color of Law

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Brandon Montanari, Rohail Kahn, and Michael Williams Assaulted an Inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brandon Montanari, age 34, Rohail Kahn, age 28, and Michael Williams, age 38, have each pled guilty to depriving an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility of his rights under color of law. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    In pleading guilty, Montanari, Kahn, and Williams admitted to assaulting an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility in April 2023, including punching and kicking him without cause, causing bodily injury. Each defendant admitted further that he agreed with the others to lie about the assault during an internal investigation.

    At the sentencings scheduled for late July and August, each defendant faces a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years, a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

    FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Michael D. Gadarian are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of Federal Pandemic Fraud Unemployment Scheme Sentenced

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Brown Was One of 17 Defendants to Steal $341,205 Combined in Pandemic Relief Money

    ABINGDON, Va. – Josef Ludwig Brown, one of the leaders of a 17 defendant conspiracy to defraud the United States, commit program fraud, and commit mail fraud in connection with a scheme to file fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits was sentenced last week to 35 months in federal prison.

    Brown previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with emergency benefits. Additionally, Brown was ordered to pay $119,660 in restitution.

    Previously sentenced as part of the conspiracy were: Christopher Webb, 20 months; Russell Stiltner, 24 months; Jessica  Lester, 19 months; Cara Camille Bailey, 19 months; Justin Meadows, 18 months; Terrence Vilacha, 18 months; Joseph Hass, 27 months; Brian Addair, 24 months; and Stephanie Amber Barton, Clinton Michael Altizer, Jeramy Blake Farmer,  and Hayleigh McKenzie Wolfe were each sentenced to 12 months and 1 day.

    Jonathan Webb, the individual charged with recruiting others to file fraudulent claims, mostly inmates at local jails, was sentenced to 48 months was ordered to pay $150,218 in restitution.

    All defendants were also ordered to pay restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission for the amount of their individual fraudulent claims.

    According to court documents, between March 2020 and September 2021, Josef Brown, Jonathan Webb, and Crystal Shaw developed a scheme to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment befits via the Virginia Employment Commission website. The scheme involved the collection of personal identification information (PII) of inmates housed at SWVRJA-Haysi and Abingdon, as well as personal friends and acquaintances of Brown, Webb, and Shaw. The conspirators used that information to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment benefits for incarcerated individuals and others who were ineligible for the benefits.

    In all, the defendants stole $341,205 in pandemic relief to which they were not entitled.

    As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General were charged with identifying major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. According to the United States Department of Labor, Virginia paid approximately $1.1 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

    Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the sentences.

    Agencies that assisted with this investigation included the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, the FBI, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Virginia Employment Commission.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case for the United States.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Essex County Man Sentenced to Multiple Life Sentences in Prison for Murder and Other Crimes Committed in His Role as Leader of Sprawling Drug Trafficking Organization

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man was sentenced to four life sentences on April 23, 2025 for ordering and committing three murders and for his role in a large-scale narcotics enterprise, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Michael Healy, 44, of Montclair, New Jersey, was convicted by a federal jury in April 2024 of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiring to murder a federal witness, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms offenses following a four-week trial before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court. 

    “Michael Healy orchestrated three murders in order to silence the victims in this case.  When Healy believed that someone in his drug trafficking enterprise was cooperating with law enforcement, he demonstrated that he was willing to go to the greatest lengths possible – to commit multiple acts of murder – to protect his profitable enterprise.  This sentence will prevent Healy from harming any other members of our community and will send a message that attacks on the justice system will not be tolerated.”

    U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

    “Healy spent much of his life building an illegal drug trafficking enterprise, fueled by greed and violence,” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly said.  “He used his power to destroy communities through the distribution of poisonous narcotics and murdered those who he perceived as a threat to his empire. Now, he will spend the rest of his life in federal prison, where his power and money won’t matter.”

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:

    In February 2018, Healy found out that one of his conspirators in the drug trafficking enterprise (DTE) was cooperating with law enforcement by providing information about the drug enterprise. Healy ordered members of the Bloods in East Orange to kill the informant, referenced in the Indictment as ‘A.S.” On Feb. 3, 2018, outside the informant’s residence in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Healy’s conspirators shot and killed a bystander, referenced in the Indictment as “Victim-1,” believing the bystander was the informant. Realizing they killed the wrong person, Healy ordered the Bloods to finish the job, and on March 12, 2018, in Bloomfield, the conspirators killed the informant while he was walking his dog in the area of his residence. On April 6, 2018, believing that another member of the enterprise – identified in the indictment as “J.C.” – might also pose a risk to the Enterprise, Healy himself shot and killed “J.C.” in Newark.

    Healy’s DTE operated in and around Newark beginning in approximately 2012. Between 2003 and 2012, Healy became a member of the Tree Top PIRU set of the Bloods street gang in Maryland. In and around 2012, Healy formed and led the Healy DTE, a large and sophisticated drug distribution organization that obtained, transported and distributed large amounts of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana. Healy used his leadership status in the Tree Top PIRU Bloods to assist him with obtaining suppliers, recruiting and controlling enterprise members, and otherwise conducting the Healy DTE’s operations.

    The Healy DTE transported multi-kilogram quantities of controlled substances from California to New Jersey by various means, including private aircraft, vehicles with hidden secret compartments, and the U.S. Postal Service. The Healy DTE then processed and repackaged the controlled substances at various “stash houses” in New Jersey. The Healy DTE distributed some of the controlled substances in New Jersey, including through Bloods gang members in East Orange.

    The Court sentenced Healy to four life sentences plus 360 months’ imprisonment. On Counts One (Racketeering Conspiracy), Six (Murder of a Federal Witness), and Twelve (Drug Trafficking Conspiracy), Healy was sentenced to life in prison, each term ordered to run concurrent to each other and consecutive to the prison sentences imposed on the remaining counts.  On Counts Two (Murder in Aid of Racketeering for the murder of Victim-1), Five (Murder in Aid of Racketeering for the murder of A.S.), and Nine (Murder in Aid of Racketeering for the murder of J.C.), the Court imposed life sentences on each count to run consecutively.  On Counts Three, Seven, and Ten (each charging Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence), the Court imposed consecutive 10-year sentences for a total of 360 months, ordered to run consecutively to the sentences imposed on all other counts.

    Thomas Zimmerman, Tyquan Daniels, and Ali Hill – all members of the Brick City Brims subset of the Bloods street gang in East Orange – previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for their respective roles in the murders of Victim-1 and A.S.  Zimmerman was sentenced to a 37-year term of imprisonment; Daniels was sentenced to a 35-year term of imprisonment; and Hill was sentenced to a 25-year term of imprisonment.  In addition, on February 22, 2024, Leevander Wade pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for his roles in all three murders, and was sentenced to a term of 36 years and 8 months’ imprisonment.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Newark FBI Joint Organized Crime Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda; the Essex County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Theodore N. Stephens, II; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of William A. Daniel, the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Phyllis L. Bindi; the Montclair Police Department, under the direction of Todd M. Conforti, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Intelligence and Investigative Division, under the direction of Secretary Robert Green; the Ohio State Highway Patrol, under the direction of Colonel Charles A. Jones.

    The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Robert L. Frazer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha C. Fasanello.

                                                               ###

    Defense counsel: Stephen Turano and Thomas Ambrosio

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Taliban Commander Haji Najibullah Pleads Guilty to Hostage Taking and Providing Material Support for Acts of Terrorism Resulting in Death

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that HAJI NAJIBULLAH, a/k/a “Najibullah Naim,” a/k/a “Abu Tayeb,” a/k/a “Atiqullah,” a/k/a “Nesar Ahmad Mohammad,” pled guilty to hostage taking and providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death in connection with NAJIBULLAH’s role in the hostage taking of an American journalist and two Afghan nationals in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, and his leadership of Taliban fighters who carried out attacks on U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009, resulting in the deaths of American soldiers.  NAJIBULLAH pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.

    U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “Haji Najibullah was a Taliban commander who committed acts of terrorism against U.S. servicemembers and civilians in Afghanistan. His vicious acts of terrorism included taking hostage multiple civilians and providing material support for attacks that resulted in the deaths of brave Americans.  Najibullah committed his crimes in Afghanistan over 15 years ago, and now faces justice in an American courtroom.  Today’s guilty plea serves as an emphatic reminder that this Office, and our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue those who harm Americans through acts of terror, no matter where in the world they may be, and no matter how long it may take to achieve justice for their victims.  I thank the career prosecutors of this Office, and our dedicated partners, for their work in holding Najibullah accountable for his heinous crimes.”

    FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “For years, the FBI New York JTTF and our law enforcement partners tirelessly sought justice for the hostage taking of civilians, and also for the deaths of United States service members at the hands of Taliban fighters under Najibullah’s command.  These terrorist attacks demonstrated utter disregard for humanity, and Najibullah finally admitted to his role in these premature deaths of our citizens.  Today’s plea emphasizes the FBI New York JTTF’s unwavering resolve to disrupting all acts of terrorism and ensuring any individual who targets our country will be held accountable.”

    As alleged in the charging instruments, court filings, and statements in the public record:

    Between approximately 1996 and 2001, the Taliban controlled Afghanistan and harbored and supported terrorists, including terrorists involved in perpetrating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S.  After losing power in approximately October 2001 as a result of the U.S. and NATO-led invasion of Afghanistan, the Taliban engaged in a deadly insurgency campaign to regain control of the country.  Beginning in the early 2000s, as part of that campaign of violence, the Taliban conducted numerous suicide bombings, targeted killings, assassinations, improvised explosive device (“IED”) attacks, paramilitary ambushes, and hostage takings against the then-government of Afghanistan, U.S. military forces and their NATO and Afghan partners, and American civilians in Afghanistan.

    Between in or around 2007 and 2009, NAJIBULLAH served as a Taliban commander in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province, which borders Kabul.  During that time, Taliban fighters under NAJIBULLAH’s command carried out deadly attacks against American and NATO troops and their Afghan allies, using, among other things, suicide bombers, automatic weapons, IEDs, and rocket-propelled grenades (“RPGs”) and other anti-tank weapons and explosives, including against U.S. military helicopters. 

    For example, on or about June 26, 2008, Taliban fighters under NAJIBULLAH’s command ambushed and attacked a U.S. military convoy in the vicinity of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, with IEDs, RPGs, and automatic weapons, killing three U.S. Army servicemembers: Sergeants First Class Matthew L. Hilton and Joseph A. McKay, and Sergeant Mark Palmateer, and their Afghan interpreter. Several other servicemembers were also injured in the attack.  

    In or about November 2007 and September 2008, NAJIBULLAH participated in two videorecorded interviews with a French reporter in Afghanistan.  NAJIBULLAH and fighters under his command discussed how they targeted American and French troops—including a specific attack they conducted against French troops in or around August 2008.  They also identified a particular location where they had used IEDs and anti-tank weaponry to destroy American military vehicles.  During the interview, NAJIBULLAH further demonstrated how to operate a rocket-propelled grenade launcher to shoot troops guarding checkpoints and boasted that fighters under his command were ready to fight the “holy war,” including that they were “ready to be suicide bombers” and “put on a belt and blow themselves up if we ask them.”  In September 2008, in the French reporter’s presence, NAJIBULLAH and fighters under his command attacked and destroyed an Afghan National Police outpost using automatic weapons and rockets.

    On or about November 10, 2008, NAJIBULLAH and other Taliban fighters took hostage an American journalist (“U.S. Hostage-1”) and two Afghan nationals who were assisting U.S. Hostage-1 (together with U.S. Hostage-1, the “Hostages”) at gunpoint in Afghanistan.  Shortly thereafter, NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators forced the Hostages to hike across the border from Afghanistan to Pakistan, where NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators detained the Hostages.  For the next approximately seven months, NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators held the Hostages captive in Pakistan.  NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators forced the Hostages to make numerous calls and videos seeking help, in an attempt to compel ransom payments and the release of Taliban prisoners by the U.S. Government.

    *                *                 *

    NAJIBULLAH, 49, pled guilty to providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and to hostage taking, which also carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  

    The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department.  He also thanked the New York and New Jersey Port Authority Police, the Department of Defense, and the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division for their assistance with this investigation, as well as the Ukrainian authorities and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance in the arrest and extradition of the defendant.

    This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg, Jacob H. Gutwillig, and David J. Robles are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jennifer Burke of the Counterterrorism Section.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Chia Der Jiun: Charting a steady course in a changing world

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    IMAS EXCO
    Ms Carmen Wee, IMAS CEO
    Ladies and Gentlemen

    Good morning. I am delighted to join you today at the 28th IMAS Annual Investment Conference.

    This year’s conference theme – “Navigating an Evolving Landscape” – is apt but may be understating the environment we are in today. Fundamental shifts in trade policy and the geo-strategic landscape have led us into a period of heightened uncertainty in the global economy and volatility in financial markets. In this new landscape of uncertainty and volatility, the asset management industry plays an important role in sustaining investor confidence and contributing to the resilience of markets.

    Role of Asset Management Industry to Manage Uncertainty 

    Let me focus on 3 areas that the asset management industry can help in:

    a. One, build more resilient markets;
    b. Two, provide products and portfolios that meet investors’ diversification and retirement needs; and
    c. Three, support better informed investors.

    Resilient Markets

    There are several components that contribute towards more resilient markets. Transparency, market integrity and settlement efficiency are fundamental. Regulators have a role in putting these right. Market infrastructure operators also have a role. Trading venues should be liquidity enhancing rather than liquidity fragmenting. Margin requirements should be set at levels that avoid amplifying funding stresses.

    Market participants too play a role. Leverage needs to be deployed carefully to mitigate procyclical deleveraging. To be clear, market functionality has generally remained resilient through stress episodes, including through the sharp market repricing of risks and uncertainty in April. But we are also all aware of episodes where volatility spiked and market functionality deteriorated. In August last year, Japanese equities fell sharply and VIX spiked following the unwinding of leveraged carry trades. Earlier this month, 10-year Treasuries rose 50bps over a short period of time, while the dollar weakened. A commonly heard attribution has been the unwind of leveraged trades. Crowded leveraged trades are vulnerable to changing policy, economic and market conditions. Market resilience is better assured through a diversity of market participants, employing a myriad of strategies which provides depth and two-way flows. Let me give the example of Singapore’s FX market, where MAS had sought to foster a diverse ecosystem of market participants to support depth and stability.

    a. In FX markets, we made efforts since 2018 via our Foreign Exchange E-Trading (“FXET”) initiative, to strengthen infrastructure capabilities. This has improved pricing and trade-fill efficiency while reducing latency. Over time, a diverse group of FX players have anchored their matching and pricing engines in Singapore to serve regional market participants. This enhancement of FX capabilities and infrastructure has supported FX price discovery and market functionality in this region during both Business-as-Usual and under stressed periods. Our eFX ecosystem continues to grow well with a diversity of market participants including platforms, banks, real money, hedge funds, and corporate treasuries. This has contributed to Singapore’s continued growth as a leading FX hub in Asia, with the average daily traded volumes crossing US$ 1 trillion in 2024.1

    At this time of heightened uncertainty, MAS is closely watching that Singapore’s foreign exchange and S$ money markets continue to function in an orderly manner. We also monitor the functionality of key funding markets in coordination with central banks globally.

    Products and Portfolios that Meet Diversification and Retirement Needs

    Let me turn to my second point. Asset managers are key to providing fund products that serve the savings and retirement needs for our region. Their products should contribute to portfolio diversification and help investors manage market volatility while investing for the long term. In building and delivering such products,:

    a. Asset managers must have in place an effective liquidity and market risk management framework. There is a need to run regular stress testing on your portfolio risks under conditions when volatility spikes and correlations break down. Funds should also stress your ability to handle redemption spikes amidst adverse market movements. Global regulatory bodies such as the FSB and IOSCO have made calls for further enhancements to strengthen the industry’s resilience in both normal and stressed market conditions, by reinforcing consistency between the funds’ investment strategy and liquidity of fund assets, with redemption terms. In line with this, MAS will study the need to review the current framework for liquidity risk management by asset managers, and will engage the industry when ready.
    b. Product distributors and providers should also ensure that marketing and advertisements are fair and balanced. Marketing should not over-emphasise product features that are not sustainable across a robust range of scenarios. A sudden withdrawal of such product features could cause a loss of confidence and a redemption spike.
    c. Clear and timely disclosures should be provided to investors, to enable them to make well-informed investment decisions in fast-changing market conditions.

    To provide retail investors with a wider set of investment choices, MAS is also currently consulting on a framework for private market investment funds for retail investors.

    a. Private market investments, such as private equity and infrastructure, generally have longer investment horizons and a differentiated set of risk factors that are different than public market investments. Retail investors may be interested in gaining exposure to this asset class as part of a well-diversified investment portfolio.
    b. We welcome feedback from all IMAS members as we work towards developing a balanced and risk-calibrated framework that can support the growth of a robust and sustainable market for such retail funds.

    Support Better Informed Investors

    Third, asset managers support better informed investors, through continued partnership with MAS and the MoneySense community on investor education.

    When MAS launched the national financial education programme MoneySense in 2003, one of its goals was to support consumers in becoming more self-reliant in financial affairs. This was important as consumers needed to exercise their judgement, evaluate the suitability of investments for their own needs, even as more complex and varied products entered the financial markets.

    Over the years, industry associations, including IMAS, community organisations and consumer bodies have been valuable partners. Together, MoneySense’s activities and programmes were launched to enhance consumers’ understanding of financial affairs, whether it is in managing money, insurance protection, or investing and planning for retirement.

    IMAS’ Contributions to Industry

    Let me say a few words of appreciation for IMAS’ role in galvanizing the industry.

    I am happy to see IMAS’ continued efforts to bring partners together to uplift the asset management sector. As I mentioned earlier, IMAS has played an important role in improving public education through your ongoing partnerships with MoneySense, SGX and FundSingapore. IMAS has also contributed efforts towards reskilling and upskilling for industry professionals by developing the iLEARN platform since 2019 as a one-stop platform for relevant training programmes in line with market shifts.

    I am also encouraged to know that IMAS has taken the lead to support its members to deepen expertise in sustainable finance. I am happy today to be part of a significant milestone – the launch of the IMAS Climate Handbook in partnership with Amundi. This practical guide will enable asset managers to integrate climate considerations into risk assessments as well as investment frameworks.

    In closing, as regulator and developer of the asset management industry, we share a common goal with market participants to keep our markets stable and vibrant and to ensure its sustainable growth in the face of global headwinds. MAS will continue to partner with IMAS and its members to build a more resilient, competitive, and innovative asset management ecosystem.

    Thank you and wishing you all a fulfilling Conference ahead.


    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Resident Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    NEWARK, N.J. – A California resident was sentenced to 100 months in prison for possessing fentanyl for distribution, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Timothy Alan Blank, 55, of Los Angeles, California, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    On March 6, 2024, Blank, transported approximately five kilograms of fentanyl in his personal vehicle from the Los Angeles, California area across the United States into the District of New Jersey.  On March 8, 2024, Blank’s vehicle was stopped by law enforcement agents in Fort Lee, New Jersey when agents discovered the five kilograms of fentanyl inside the trunk area of the vehicle. Following his arrest, Blank admitted to law enforcement agents his intent to distribute the fentanyl inside of the District of New Jersey.

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Padin sentenced Blank to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Alina Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Lee Police Department, and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, with the investigation that led to the sentencing.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent D. Romano of the Criminal Division in Newark.

                                                                           ###

    Defense counsel: Claressa L. Lowe

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Veeco’s Laser Annealing Platform Named Production Tool of Record for New Applications at Leading-Edge Logic Manufacturers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PLAINVIEW, N.Y., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO) announced today two leading-edge logic customers have selected Veeco’s Laser Spike Annealing Platform as Production Tool of Record for new applications at their gate-all-around nodes. Veeco expects high-volume manufacturing orders tied to these wins as each customer ramps their advanced nodes.

    “We continue to see growing adoption of our laser annealing platform for new applications as demonstrated by today’s announcement,” commented Adrian Devasahayam, Ph.D., Veeco’s Senior Vice President, Product Line Management. “Veeco’s LSA system is widely acknowledged as the optimum annealing solution for low thermal-budget applications, and as device geometries and performance requirements at advanced nodes continue to evolve, precise annealing by our LSA platform has become increasingly critical. Both wins are a culmination of ongoing collaboration with each customer and validate Veeco’s strategy of expanding its Served Available Market by investing at the leading-edge.”

    Laser spike annealing is a millisecond annealing technology used in front-end semiconductor manufacturing to lower the resistance of key transistor structures by activating dopants. Veeco’s LSA system is capable of high temperature annealing while staying within reduced thermal budgets of advanced devices at leading-edge nodes. Veeco’s Laser Annealing portfolio also includes its NSA500 system, which extends annealing capabilities to low thermal budget applications, like Backside Power Delivery and Contact Annealing for advanced nodes and material modification applications such as void-removal, recrystallization, and grain growth. These annealing steps are instrumental in determining the electrical properties and performance of the resulting devices.

    About Veeco
    Veeco (NASDAQ: VECO) is an innovative manufacturer of semiconductor process equipment. Our laser annealing, ion beam, single wafer etch & clean, lithography, and metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technologies play an integral role in the fabrication and packaging of advanced semiconductor devices. With equipment designed to optimize performance, yield and cost of ownership, Veeco holds leading technology positions in the markets we serve. To learn more about Veeco’s systems and service offerings, visit www.veeco.com.

    To the extent that this news release discusses expectations or otherwise makes statements about the future, such statements are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include the risks discussed in the Business Description and Management’s Discussion and Analysis sections of Veeco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and press releases. Veeco does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

    Veeco Contacts:
    Investors: Anthony Pappone | (516) 500-8798 | apappone@veeco.com
    Media: Javier Banos | (516) 673-7328 | jbanos@veeco.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump administration’s attempt to nix the labor rights of thousands of federal workers on ‘national security’ grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bob Bussel, Professor Emeritus of History and Labor Education, University of Oregon

    Airline passengers wait at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint before boarding to flights in Denver in 2022. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

    As the Trump administration seeks to shrink the federal workforce, slash nonmilitary spending and curb opposition to its policies, it is taking steps beyond the firing and furloughing of thousands of government workers.

    The government is also trying to strip hundreds of thousands of federal employees of their right to bargain collectively and have a voice in their conditions of employment.

    Citing “national security” concerns, President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 27, 2025, that canceled collective bargaining agreements at more than 30 federal agencies, commissions and programs, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation and the Food and Drug Administration. A judge temporarily blocked the order’s enforcement on April 25.

    Over three decades of researching American unions, I’ve never witnessed such a sweeping assault on collective bargaining rights, which give workers represented by unions the ability to negotiate with employers about the terms of their employment.

    But advocates of strong labor rights should have known what might be in store given the labor policies recommended by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. That document, which Trump disavowed on the campaign trail in 2024 but has embraced in practice during his second term, questions whether public-sector unions should exist at all.

    Keeping Americans ‘safe’

    The Trump administration’s broad attack on federal workers’ rights arrived less than three weeks after an earlier, similar action by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

    On March 7, Noem announced that the government was scrapping collective bargaining rights for all Transportation Security Administration workers, eliminating a 2024 agreement. She cited what she called an “irreconcilable conflict” between union representation for those 47,000 federal workers and national security.

    Only a “flexible, at-will” workforce can possess the “organizational agility” needed to “safeguard our transportation systems and keep Americans safe,” she said. Employers may fire “at-will” workers at their discretion with few limitations.

    Noem’s claim that unions and national security aren’t compatible strikes me as disingenuous.

    Unionized workforces have displayed in recent history both patriotism and dedication in their efforts to keep Americans safe. Unionized firefighters, police officers and other first responders rushed to the World Trade Center attempting to rescue those trapped inside on 9/11, for example.

    Similarly, many unionized public-sector workers risked their health during the toxic cleanup that followed the terrorist attacks.

    It is also worth noting that veterans comprise approximately 30% of the federal workforce. Their history of military service attests, I would argue, to their clear record of demonstrating loyalty and patriotism.

    To my eye, the argument that federal workers belonging to unions compromises national security appears to be more rooted in ideology than evidence.

    Demonstrators rally in support of federal workers outside the Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 14, 2025, in Washington.
    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    TSA as a case study

    The TSA emerged as part of President George W. Bush’s administration’s response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001; it designated newly hired airport security officers as federal employees.

    At the time, Bush insisted that TSA security officers should not belong to a union. He invoked national security concerns, arguing that union representation would undercut the “culture of urgency” needed to wage the “war on terrorism.”

    TSA employees finally gained collective bargaining rights during the Obama administration when they joined the American Federation of Government Employees in 2011.

    But after joining a union, TSA workers were still paid less than most federal employees. And they still couldn’t appeal disciplinary cases outside of TSA’s authority to the external board used by other federal employees that they viewed as more impartial.

    However, in recent years, TSA workers have obtained wage increases and stronger rights of appeal, along with other advances contained in a 2024
    collective bargaining agreement that the American Federation of Government Employees described as “groundbreaking.” These gains included uniform allowances, greater input on safety concerns and a pledge to examine expanded child care options.

    Now, the union has sued Noem, another Trump administration official and the TSA itself to block the administration’s rollback of these workers’ rights and protect their 2024 contract.

    JFK empowered federal workers

    Federal employees had historically organized unions to advocate and lobby for their interests.

    However, these unions lacked the formal ability to negotiate with the federal government in a collective bargaining process where, as labor scholar Robert Repas has explained, “decisions are made jointly, rather than unilaterally,” or ultimately at managerial discretion.

    Their members did not gain collective bargaining rights until 1962 when President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order making that possible. Kennedy’s action reflected the view that government employees should not be denied basic union rights enjoyed by their private sector counterparts.

    Acknowledging concerns that union rights might limit the ability to exercise centralized command and control, Kennedy’s directive exempted the FBI, CIA and other agencies charged with national security functions from collective bargaining.

    Federal employees covered by the 1962 executive order were also barred from striking. They could not negotiate over wages and benefits; power to make these decisions remained in the hands of Congress.

    In 1978, Congress passed the Civil Service Reform Act, which expanded the right of federal employees to collectively bargain for better working conditions, which its authors said were “in the public interest.” This law created an authority to oversee federal labor relations and established an appeals board to adjudicate worker grievances.

    Although federal employees did not enjoy as many rights as most union members in the private sector, they did gain a stronger voice in determining their working conditions and accessing grievance procedures to address workplace issues and concerns.

    Reagan and the air traffic controllers union

    Three years later, however, President Ronald Reagan fired over 11,000 air traffic controllers who had gone on strike, even though they lacked the right to do so. The Federal Labor Relations Authority subsequently decertified their union, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization – known as PATCO.

    The strike’s failure seriously diminished the economic and political leverage of all U.S. unions for years. Membership in private-sector unions has declined sharply, while public-sector union membership remained relatively stable at about 1 in 3 workers. Overall, just under 10% of U.S. workers belonged to a union in 2024.

    Besides seriously diminishing the labor movement’s power and influence, the PATCO strike also had important political consequences. In his book about this labor dispute, historian Joseph McCartin wrote that crushing the PATCO strike led the Republican Party “in the direction of an unambiguous antiunionism” and a heightened antipathy toward unions in the public sector.

    Members of PATCO, the air traffic controllers union, hold hands and raise their arms during a strike in 1981.
    Bettmann/Getty Images

    Long-term goal

    The White House’s attack on federal unions represents an attempt to fulfill a longtime ambition of conservative activists.

    Executive orders, which can be rescinded by any president, lack the power of laws.

    But Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, both Republicans, introduced a bill in March that would enshrine Trump’s executive order in law. If that bill were to become law, it would “end federal labor unions and immediately terminate their collective bargaining agreements,” Lee and Blackburn have said.

    Meanwhile, eight House Republicans have asked the president to reverse course on collective bargaining rights, as have all House Democrats. A bipartisan group of senators has made a similar request.

    As the courts make their determinations and political opposition gathers, the American public has, I believe, an important question to answer. Is the spirit of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 – that “labor organizations and collective bargaining in the civil service are in the public interest” – worth upholding?

    This question warrants careful consideration and scrutiny. How the courts, Congress and the public respond will have enormous consequences for federal workers and the future of the union movement and the state of American democracy.

    Bob Bussel does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Trump administration’s attempt to nix the labor rights of thousands of federal workers on ‘national security’ grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda – https://theconversation.com/trump-administrations-attempt-to-nix-the-labor-rights-of-thousands-of-federal-workers-on-national-security-grounds-furthers-the-gops-long-held-anti-union-agenda-252347

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI: Block Advisors by H&R Block Now Accepting Entries for Second Annual ‘Fund Her Future’ Grant Program Created to Help Female Founders Thrive, Fuel Small Business Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Block Advisors by H&R Block today announced the return of its Fund Her Future grant program. Starting today, applications are being accepted through May 30, 2025. In its second year, the 2025 program is recognizing six women-owned small businesses with high growth and community impact potential. Grant recipients will receive a combined award of $100,000 in funding plus a year of small business services from Block Advisors valued at nearly $30,000.

    Despite women being one of the fastest-growing segments of new small business owners, female entrepreneurs face more hurdles compared to male entrepreneurs when it comes to accessing capital and resources. The 2024 State of Women’s Small Business Report by Block Advisors found that 42% of women business owners who applied for a bank loan were never approved, and nearly 90% of women reported relying on personal finances and credit cards to fund their ventures due to the lack of accessible funding.

    “We understand the challenges entrepreneurs face as they grow their businesses. They need more than just capital; they need trusted expertise that saves them time and puts their mind at ease,” said Jamil Khan, Chief Small Business Officer at H&R Block. “That’s why Fund Her Future provides not only financial support but also access to Block Advisors year-round small business services, including such business-critical services as tax preparation, payroll, bookkeeping and business structure analysis.”

    Fund Her Future Entries Now Open

    The 2025 program will award up to one small business owner a grant package of $50,000. Up to five additional recipients will receive a $10,000 grant. All winners will receive a year of access to Block Advisors small business services.

    To apply, applicants must be over 18 years old and an owner of a United States-based business. Other eligibility requirements can be found on the Fund Her Future website. Businesses that demonstrate community impact are especially encouraged to apply. Submissions to the 2025 Fund Her Future small business grant program are being accepted from April 28 through May 30. Recipients will be notified by the end of July. 

    Driving Impact, Fueling Growth: The Success Stories of Fund Her Future 2024

    Last year’s Fund Her Future grant program received more than 6,000 applicants and awarded grants to five entrepreneurs whose businesses were poised to achieve growth with the right resources.

    Grant recipient Heather Jiang, who owns Allégorie, a NYC-based small-batch accessory line that turns food waste into fashion, leveraged her grant winnings to expand her product lines and hire additional staff. The Block Advisors services Jiang received as part of the grant package helped her position her company for long-term success. “There is a sense of relief in handing off my bookkeeping to a Block Advisors expert,” Jiang explained. “It frees up my time to focus on other aspects of the business. They ensure everything is handled properly. The recognition from the grant has been amazing, as well. We’ve seen a 50 percent increase in online traffic to our website since the 2024 grant was announced.”

    Erica Cole is the owner of Richmond-based No Limbits, an accessible apparel brand for people with lower limb differences, those with limited dexterity in their hands and arms, individuals with sensory processing challenges and wheelchair users. When asked about the impact of winning a Fund Her Future grant, Cole shared “the funding and small business support from Block Advisors has allowed me to scale my business. It enabled me to launch my sensory-friendly collection in Walmart and acquire Buck & Buck, a leader in adaptive apparel.”

    Ameka Coleman, owner of Strands of Faith based in Pearl, MS, is a former healthcare professional who started her company after noticing many healthcare patients lacked access to non-toxic haircare products that celebrated their textured hair. “This grant allowed us to onboard two more hospital networks, which significantly increases demand for our products. We’re looking at a 400% increase in revenue from this workstream,” said Coleman.

    To learn more, including how to apply to the 2025 Fund Her Future Grant program, visit www.BlockAdvisors.com/FundHerFutureGrant. For more information about Block Advisors and its year-round services for small businesses, visit www.BlockAdvisors.com.

    About H&R Block
    H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with human expertise and care as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time and also be better with money using its mobile banking app, Spruce. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small-business owners thrive with year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions. For more information, visit H&R Block News.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Endeavor Bancorp Reports Net Income of $1.4 Million for the First Quarter of 2025; Highlighted by Loan and Deposit Growth and Net Interest Margin Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Endeavor Bancorp (OTCQX: EDVR) (the “Company,” or “Bancorp”), the holding company for Endeavor Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $1.36 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025, compared to net income of $1.08 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2024, and $407,000, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024. First Quarter 2025 financial results are unaudited.

    Results for the first quarter of 2025 included a $385,000 provision for credit losses, compared to a $374,000 provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a $450,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2024. Excluding taxes and loan loss provisions, the Company’s pretax, pre-provision net income increased to $2.33 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1.93 million in the preceding quarter and $1.04 million in the first quarter of 2024.

    “Endeavor’s first quarter performance marks a great start to the year, underscoring our continued commitment to delivering value to our shareholders and the businesses we serve,” stated Julie Glance, CFO. “We allocated significant resources toward growing the company and expanding our team in 2024, and our first quarter operating results demonstrate the positive impact of these investments on our earnings. We experienced meaningful growth in both loans and deposits, coupled with continued margin expansion. Net loans increased 4.6% during the quarter and 34.9% year-over-year. Additionally, total deposits grew nicely during the quarter, increasing 4.2% compared to the prior quarter end and 27.2% over the prior year. For a community bank like Endeavor, deposits are the most integral component in keeping our balance sheet healthy and keeping us lending to our business clients. We will continue to focus on deposit gathering in the year ahead, with an emphasis on bringing in full client relationships to grow our core deposit base.”

    Income Statement 
    Strong first quarter earnings were driven by loan growth and earning asset rates. Total interest income on loans and bank deposits and investments was $11.1 million, an increase of $365,000 compared to the preceding quarter, while total interest expenses decreased $130,000 during the same timeframe. Net interest income was $7.0 million in the first quarter of 2025, which was an increase of $495,000, or 7.6% compared to the preceding quarter and a 39.5% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024.

    “The 15-basis point increase in our net interest margin during the first quarter of 2025, compared to the prior quarter, was primarily the result of strong loan growth, in addition to improving funding costs,” said Dan Yates, CEO. “In the current rate environment, we continue to actively manage our asset-liability mix to protect our net interest margin, while ensuring competitive loan and deposit pricing across our portfolio.”

    The Company’s net interest margin increased 15 basis points to 4.12% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 3.97% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased 44 basis points compared to 3.68% in the first quarter of 2024. The yield on total earning assets remained strong, decreasing only 2 basis points during the first quarter of 2025 to 6.52%, compared to 6.54% in the preceding quarter, and up from 6.23% in the first quarter of 2024. The cost of deposits decreased to 2.58% in the first quarter, compared to 2.76% in the fourth quarter, and unchanged from 2.76% in the first quarter of 2024.

    Non-Interest income was $183,000 in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of $23,000 or 14% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, and a slight increase compared to $151,000 in the first quarter of 2024.

    Non-Interest expense was $4.86 million in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of $112,000 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, and an increase of $725,000 compared to the first quarter of 2024. The higher expenses year-over-year were largely due to strategic investment in staff throughout 2024. “During 2024, Endeavor made significant investments in our team, increasing headcount by over 30%. These investments are now yielding results, as revenue growth driven by our expanded capabilities has more than offset the increase in expenses this quarter. The strong improvement in the efficiency ratio is also evidence that the 2024 additional hires are now fully engaged and productive driving the efficiency ratio from 79.9% in first quarter 2024, to 71.2% in fourth quarter 2024, to 67.6% in first quarter 2025. We have fewer new hires planned for 2025, and as we continue to leverage our expanded team we are well positioned for additional earnings growth throughout the remainder of the year,” said Yates.

    A significant portion of the annual board compensation will be paid in the second quarter of 2025 in contrast to 2024 in which the compensation was $312,000 in the first quarter. Adjusting the first quarter 2025 net income for the timing of board compensation and the annual expense for a contract negotiation, net income would have been reduced to $1.2 million in first quarter 2025.

    The Company’s annualized return on average equity for the first quarter of 2025 was 11.68%, compared to 9.35% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 3.79% in the first quarter of 2024. The annualized return on average assets for the first quarter of 2025 was 0.79% compared to 0.65% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 0.29% in the first quarter of 2024.

    Balance Sheet 
    Total assets increased by $26.2 million, or 3.9%, during the first quarter of 2025 to $704.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $678.3 million at December 31, 2024, and increased $138.7 million, or 24.5%, compared to March 31, 2024. Balance sheet liquidity remains strong with cash balances of $80.9 million, which represents 11.5% of total assets as of March 31, 2025. The Company’s bond portfolio increased $609,000 during the first quarter of 2025 to $26.4 million as of March 31, 2025, representing 3.7% of total assets. Total available borrowing capacity through the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve discount window totaled $210.0 million as of quarter end.

    “Our results for the first quarter emphasized the effort of our strong, experienced team, and our commitment to expanding our brand of business banking, which includes growing both sides of the balance sheet while maintaining strong credit quality,” said Steve Sefton, President. “Loan growth and new loan originations remained strong during the first quarter of 2025, as we continue to seek out high quality lending opportunities in our markets.”

    Total loans outstanding increased $26.0 million, or 4.6%, during the first quarter of 2025 to $597.8 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $571.8 million three months earlier, and increased $154.6 million, or 34.9%, when compared to $443.2 million a year earlier. Total non-performing loans decreased to 0.40% of the total loan portfolio as of March 31, 2025, compared to 0.46% in the prior quarter. The Company had no net charge offs during the first quarter of 2025, or in the prior quarter.

    Total deposits increased $24.9 million, or 4.1%, during the quarter to $626.2 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $601.2 million three months earlier, and increased $134.0 million, up 27.2% when compared to $492.2 million a year earlier. The loan to deposit ratio was 95.5% at March 31, 2025, compared to 95.1% at December 31, 2024, and 90.1% as of March 31, 2024.

    As a result of its participation in a reciprocal deposit placement network, the Bank accepted “reciprocal” deposits from other institutions, enabling the Bank to offer customers FDIC insurance on accounts in excess of the typical $250,000 FDIC insurance limit. Although the reciprocal deposits maintained through the network are core deposits seeking FDIC insurance, the FDIC rules indicate that reciprocal deposits aggregating over 20% of total liabilities are classified as deposits obtained by or through a deposit broker. The total reciprocal deposits reported as brokered deposits were $82.6 million at March 31, 2025, and $113.7 million as of December 31, 2024. To support strong loan growth, the Company is utilizing a conservative amount of wholesale deposits. As of March 31, 2025, total wholesale deposits, excluding the reciprocal deposits, was $60.2 million, representing 8.9% of total deposits compared to $60.7 million, or 10.1% of total deposits as of December 31, 2024.

    Shareholders’ equity was $47.7 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $46.0 million at December 31, 2024, and $42.5 million at March 31, 2024. Tangible book value per share increased to $13.49 at March 31, 2025, compared to $13.20 three months earlier and $12.64 a year earlier.

    Capital 
    The Bank’s Tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.57% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 10.90% at December 31, 2024. The Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 10.47% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 10.71% on December 31, 2024, and the Total risk-based capital ratio was 11.65% compared to 11.90% three months earlier, all of which were well above regulatory minimums.

    About Endeavor Bancorp 
    Endeavor Bancorp, the holding company for Endeavor Bank, is primarily owned and operated by Southern Californians for Southern California businesses and their owners. The bank’s focus is local: local decision-making, local board, local founders, local owners, and relationships with local clients in Southern California.

    Headquartered in downtown San Diego in the Symphony Towers building, the Bank also operates a loan production and executive administration office in Carlsbad and a branch office in La Mesa. Endeavor Bank provides traditional business banking services across a broad spectrum of industries and specialties. Unique to the bank is its consultative banking approach that partners our business clients with Endeavor Bank’s senior management. Together, we build strategies and provide resources that solve problems, plan for the future, and help clients’ efforts to grow revenues and profits. Endeavor Bancorp trades on the OTCQX® Best Market under the symbol “EDVR.” Visit www.endeavor.bank for more information.

    Endeavor Bank is rated by Bauer Financial as Five-Star “Superior” for strong financial performance, the top rating given by the independent bank rating firm. DepositAccounts.com awarded Endeavor Bank an A rating.

    EDVR Shareholders 
    With many of our shareholders transferring their EDVR shares to their brokerage companies, along with ongoing trading taking place, Bancorp may not have the most current shareholder contact information. If you are an EDVR shareholder and would like to receive information via a more timely method, please complete the Shareholder Communication Preference Form on our website: https://www.bankendeavor.com/investor-relations so we can keep you updated on EDVR news, and invite you to various shareholder networking events throughout the year. 

    Forward-Looking Statements 
    This press release includes “forward-looking statements,” as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of the Company’s directors and executive officers (collectively, “Management”), as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s Management. All statements regarding the Company’s business strategy and plans and objectives of Management of the Company for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar meaning, as they relate to the Company or the Company’s Management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations (“cautionary statements”) are loan losses, rapid and unanticipated deposit withdrawals, unavailability of sources of liquidity, additional regulatory requirements that may be imposed on community banks or banks generally, changes in interest rates, loss of key personnel, lower lending limits and capital than competitors, regulatory restrictions and oversight of the Company, the secure and effective implementation of technology, risks related to the local and national economy, the effect on customers, collateral value and property insurance markets of the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and similar events in the future, changes in real estate values, the Company’s implementation of its business plans and management of growth, loan performance, interest rates, and regulatory matters, the effects of trade, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation, and changes in accounting policies and practices. Based upon changing conditions, if any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, or intended. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

               
    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
    (In thousands of dollars, except for ratios and per share amounts)
    Unaudited
              Three Months Ended        
        March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024
        (Consolidated) (Consolidated)   (Consolidated)
    SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS          
    Interest income   $ 11,119   $ 10,754     $ 8,516  
    Interest expense     4,106     4,236       3,488  
    Net interest income     7,013     6,518       5,029  
    Provision for credit losses     385     374       450  
    Net interest income after loss provision     6,628     6,144       4,580  
    Non-interest income     183     160       151  
    Non-interest expense     4,864     4,752       4,139  
    Income before tax     1,947     1,552       591  
    Federal income tax expense     372     296       117  
    State income tax expense     214     171       66  
    Net income   $ 1,361   $ 1,084     $ 407  
               
    Core pretax earnings*   $ 2,332   $ 1,926     $ 1,041  
    *excludes taxes and provision for loan losses              
               
    PER COMMON SHARE DATA          
    Number of shares outstanding (000s)*     3,503     3,494       3,422  
    *Adjusted for May 2024 Stock Dividend          
    Earnings per share, basic   $ 0.39   $ 0.31     $ 0.12  
    Earnings per share, diluted   $ 0.32   $ 0.25     $ 0.10  
    Book Value per share   $ 13.61   $ 13.17     $ 12.43  
               
    BALANCE SHEET DATA          
    Assets   $ 704,564   $ 678,332     $ 565,881  
    Investments securities     26,385     25,777       13,432  
    Total loans, net of unearned income     597,846     571,817       443,203  
    Total deposits     626,165     601,219       492,169  
    Borrowings     26,721     26,697       27,090  
    Shareholders’ equity     47,667     46,009       42,526  
    Loan to Deposit ratio     95.48 %   95.11 %     90.05 %
    Wholesale Deposits to Total Deposits     8.90 %   10.10 %    
               
    AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET DATA          
    Average assets   $ 697,617   $ 660,748     $ 557,691  
    Average total loans, net of unearned income     589,037     549,340       434,999  
    Average total deposits     618,844     582,583       514,445  
    Average shareholders’ equity     47,256     46,117       43,247  
               
    ASSET QUALITY RATIOS          
    Net (charge-offs) recoveries   $   $     $  
    Net (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans     0.00 %   0.00 %     0.74 %
    Non-performing loans as a % of loans     0.40 %   0.46 %     0.07 %
    Non-performing assets as a % of assets     0.34 %   0.38 %     0.05 %
    Allowance for loan losses as a % of total loans     1.36 %   1.37 %     1.45 %
    Non-performing assets as a % of allowance for loan losses     29.60 %   33.27 %     4.66 %
               
    FINANCIAL RATIOSSTATISTICS          
    Annualized return on average equity     11.68 %   9.35 %     3.79 %
    Annualized return on average assets     0.79 %   0.65 %     0.29 %
    Net interest margin     4.12 %   3.97 %     3.68 %
    Efficiency ratio     67.59 %   71.17 %     79.91 %
               
    CAPITAL RATIOS          
    Tier 1 leverage ratio — Bank     10.57 %   10.90 %     12.18 %
    Common equity tier 1 ratio — Bank     10.47 %   10.71 %     12.49 %
    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio — Bank     10.47 %   10.71 %     12.49 %
    Total risk-based capital ratio –Bank     11.65 %   11.90 %     13.69 %
               
    TCE/TA *     6.77 %   6.78 %     7.52 %
    Tangible Book Value per Share   $ 13.49   $ 13.20     $ 12.64  
               
    *Non-GAAP financial measure.          
    Unaudited financials 2025          
               

    Endeavor Bancorp Contact Information:  
    (858) 230.5185  
    Dan Yates, CEO  
    dyates@bankendeavor.com   
      
    (858) 230.4243  
    Steve Sefton, President  
    ssefton@bankendeavor.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Announces Full Dismissal of Nevada Lawsuit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, N.Y., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced that on Thursday, April 24, 2025, a Las Vegas judge granted in full two motions to dismiss brought by NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. and its officers and directors in a putative shareholder derivative action entitled Latza v. Walker, et al., Case No. A-24-900423-B, Clark County, Nevada District Court.

    “We are extremely pleased that this case has been so promptly adjudicated and dismissed in its entirety,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear. “This ruling will allow us to devote more of our time and attention to NANO Nuclear’s primary mission of becoming the leading commercially focused advanced nuclear energy technology company in America. We thank our legal team at Ellenoff Grossman & Schole for their insight and hard work in achieving this result.”

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR™ Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
    NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release and such presentation contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements may include those related to the anticipated future benefits to NANO Nuclear of the case dismissal described herein, which ruling remains subject to appeal. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and (vi) litigation risks and similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Deputy Secretary Edgar Joins HSI Drug Trafficking Warrant Operation in Los Angeles

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Deputy Secretary Edgar Joins HSI Drug Trafficking Warrant Operation in Los Angeles

    strong>Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar joined Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles in a warrant operation that resulted in the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker

    “Day in and day out, our HSI agents are empowered under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem to remove gang members, criminals, and drugs from our communities,” said Deputy Secretary Edgar

    “I’m thankful for the frontline heroes who keep Americans safe from the worst of the worst law breakers

    The HSI Los Angeles Special Response Team executed three state search warrants that resulted in the arrest of wanted fugitive

    Search warrants were executed in La Puente, Pomona, and Compton, California regarding an ongoing drug trafficking investigation for cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine

    Pedro Sainz Minjarez was arrested for an outstanding warrant regarding possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy

    This is a joint investigation involving the Riverside Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Marshals Service

    Deputy Secretary Edgar, coleader of the HSTF, also led a meeting Friday with partners in Los Angeles to discuss delivering President Trump’s priorities

    Under the HSTF, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice have joined in a historic partnership to tackle crime and keep Americans safe

     
    Participants of the meeting included representatives from the Los Angeles HSI, ATF, ERO, FBI, and U

    S

    Attorney offices

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Milwaukee Judge Obstructed Arrest of Illegal Alien Accused of Strangulation, Battery, and Domestic Abuse

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Milwaukee Judge Obstructed Arrest of Illegal Alien Accused of Strangulation, Battery, and Domestic Abuse

    On April 18, 2025, ICE assisted by deputized FBI law enforcement officials carried out a targeted operation to arrest Ruiz at the Milwaukee County Courthouse

    Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected ICE agents away from this criminal illegal alien to obstruct the arrest and try to help him evade arrest

    Thankfully, our FBI partners chased down this illegal alien, arrested him and removed him from American communities

    Image

    Statement From Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: 

    “This criminal illegal alien has a laundry list of violent criminal charges including strangulation and suffocation, battery, and domestic abuse

    Ruiz illegally entered the US twice

    “Since President Trump was inaugurated, activist judges have tried to obstruct President Trump and the American people’s mandate to make America safe and secure our homeland— but this judge’s actions to shield an accused violent criminal illegal alien from justice is shocking and shameful

    “We are thankful for our partners at the FBI for helping remove this accused criminal from America’s streets

    If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up

    That’s a promise

    ” 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Provident Financial Holdings Reports Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Net Income of $1.86 million in the March 2025 Quarter, Up 113% from the Sequential Quarter and Up 24% from the Comparable Quarter Last Year

    Net Interest Margin of 3.02% in the March 2025 Quarter, Up 11 Basis Points from the Sequential Quarter and 28 Basis Points from the Comparable Quarter Last Year

    Loans Held for Investment of $1.06 Billion at March 31, 2025, Up 1% from June 30, 2024

    Total Deposits of $901.3 Million at March 31, 2025, Up 2% from June 30, 2024

    Non-Performing Assets to Total Assets Ratio of 0.11% at March 31, 2025, Down from 0.20% at June 30, 2024

    RIVERSIDE, Calif., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Company”), NASDAQ GS: PROV, the holding company for Provident Savings Bank, F.S.B. (“Bank”), today announced earnings for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

    The Company reported net income of $1.86 million, or $0.28 per diluted share (on 6.73 million average diluted shares outstanding), for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, up 24 percent from net income of $1.50 million, or $0.22 per diluted share (on 6.94 million average diluted shares outstanding), in the comparable period a year ago. The increase was due primarily to a $653,000 increase in net interest income and a $391,000 recovery of credit losses (in contrast to a $124,000 provision for credit losses in the comparable period a year ago), partly offset by a $688,000 increase in non-interest expense (primarily attributable to higher salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses).

    “The operating environment for Provident has improved over the course of this fiscal year. Our net interest margin has improved each quarter subsequent to June 30, 2024, loan and deposit balances have grown for two consecutive quarters, borrowings have declined for two consecutive quarters, and credit quality remains strong,” stated Donavon P. Ternes, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “We remain active in our stock repurchase plan and continue to maintain our quarterly cash dividend at a consistent level,” concluded Ternes.

    Return on average assets was 0.59 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, compared to 0.28 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 and 0.47 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Return on average stockholders’ equity for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was 5.71 percent, compared to 2.66 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 and 4.57 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

    On a sequential quarter basis, the $1.86 million net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 reflects a 113 percent increase from $872,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The increase was primarily attributable to a $391,000 recovery of credit losses (in contrast to a $586,000 provision for credit losses in the prior sequential quarter), and a $453,000 increase in net interest income (primarily due to a higher net interest margin). Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 were $0.28 per share, up 115 percent from $0.13 per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.

    For the nine months ended March 31, 2025, net income decreased $769,000, or 14 percent, to $4.63 million from $5.40 million in the comparable period in fiscal 2024. Diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended March 31, 2025 decreased 12 percent to $0.68 per share (on 6.80 million average diluted shares outstanding) from $0.77 per share (on 6.98 million average diluted shares outstanding) for the comparable nine-month period last year. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $1.81 million increase in non-interest expense (primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits, premises and occupancy, equipment and other operating expenses), partly offset by a $451,000 higher recovery of credit losses, a $177,000 increase in non-interest income and a $115,000 increase in net interest income.

    In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, net interest income increased $653,000 or eight percent to $9.21 million from $8.56 million for the same quarter last year. The increase in net interest income was due to a higher net interest margin, partly offset by a lower average balance of interest-earning assets. The net interest margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 28 basis points to 3.02 percent from 2.74 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in net interest margin was due to increased yields on interest-earning assets outpacing increased funding costs. The average yield on interest-earning assets increased 32 basis points to 4.73 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from 4.41 percent in the same quarter last year. In contrast, our average funding costs increased by five basis points to 1.91 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from 1.86 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of interest-earning assets decreased two percent to $1.22 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $1.25 billion in the same quarter last year, primarily due to decreases in the average balance of investment securities and loans receivable, partly offset by an increase in interest-earning deposits.

    Interest income on loans receivable increased $685,000, or five percent, to $13.37 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $12.68 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase was due to a higher average loan yield, partly offset by a lower average loan balance. The average yield on loans receivable increased 32 basis points to 5.06 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from 4.74 percent in the same quarter last year. Adjustable-rate loans of approximately $130.9 million repriced downward in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 by approximately four basis points, from a weighted average rate of 7.56 percent to 7.52 percent. However, the overall increase in average yield was driven by an upward repricing of adjustable mortgage loans during the last 12 months. The average balance of loans receivable decreased $14.6 million, or one percent, to $1.06 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $1.07 billion in the same quarter last year. Total loans originated for investment in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 were $27.9 million, up 53 percent from $18.2 million in the same quarter last year, while loan principal payments received in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 were $23.0 million, down 19 percent from $28.5 million in the same quarter last year.

    Interest income from investment securities decreased $58,000, or 11 percent, to $459,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $517,000 for the same quarter of fiscal 2024. This decrease was attributable to a lower average balance, partly offset by a higher average yield. The average balance of investment securities decreased $23.0 million, or 16 percent, to $118.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $141.4 million in the same quarter last year. The decrease in the average balance was due to scheduled principal payments and prepayments of investment securities. The average yield on investment securities increased nine basis points to 1.55 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from 1.46 percent for the same quarter last year. The increase in the average yield was primarily attributable to a lower premium amortization during the current quarter in comparison to the same quarter last year ($86,000 vs. $124,000) due to lower total principal repayments ($5.3 million vs. $5.7 million) and, to a lesser extent, the upward repricing of adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities.

    In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the Bank received $213,000 in cash dividends from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) – San Francisco stock and other equity investments, up one percent from $210,000 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an average yield of 8.30 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to 8.84 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was $10.3 million, up from $9.5 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2024.

    Interest income from interest-earning deposits, primarily cash deposited at the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) of San Francisco, was $389,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, down $8,000 or two percent from $397,000 in the same quarter of fiscal 2024. The decrease was due to a lower average yield, partly offset by a higher average balance. The average yield earned on interest-earning deposits in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was 4.42 percent, down 98 basis points from 5.40 percent in the same quarter last year. The decrease in the average yield was due to a lower average interest rate on the FRB’s reserve balances resulting from decreases in the targeted federal funds rate during the comparable periods. The average balance of the Company’s interest-earning deposits increased $6.1 million, or 21 percent, to $35.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $29.1 million in the same quarter last year.

    Interest expense on deposits for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was $2.75 million, an increase of $71,000 or three percent from $2.68 million for the same period last year. The increase was attributable to higher rates paid on deposits, partly offset by a lower average balance. The average cost of deposits was 1.26 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, up eight basis points from 1.18 percent in the same quarter last year, primarily due to a greater proportion of time deposits, including brokered certificates of deposit which carry higher interest rates. The average balance of deposits decreased $25.8 million, or three percent, to $885.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $910.8 million in the same quarter last year.

    Transaction account balances, or “core deposits,” decreased $23.1 million, or four percent, to $591.4 million at March 31, 2025 from $614.5 million at June 30, 2024, while time deposits increased $36.0 million, or 13 percent, to $309.9 million at March 31, 2025 from $273.9 million at June 30, 2024. As of March 31, 2025, brokered certificates of deposit (which amounts are reflected in time deposits above) totaled $129.8 million, down $2.0 million or two percent from $131.8 million at June 30, 2024. The weighted average cost of brokered certificates of deposit was 4.34 percent and 5.18 percent (including broker fees) at March 31, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively.

    Interest expense on borrowings, consisting of FHLB advances, for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 decreased $102,000, or four percent, to $2.47 million from $2.57 million for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily the result of a lower average cost and, to a lesser extent, a lower average balance. The average cost of borrowings decreased 11 basis points to 4.52 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from 4.63 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of borrowings decreased $1.8 million, or one percent, to $221.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $223.6 million in the same quarter last year.

    At March 31, 2025, the Bank had approximately $269.8 million of remaining borrowing capacity at the FHLB. Additionally, the Bank has a remaining borrowing facility of approximately $151.0 million with the FRB of San Francisco and an unused unsecured federal funds borrowing facility of $50.0 million with its correspondent bank. The total available borrowing capacity across all sources totaled approximately $470.8 million at March 31, 2025.

    During the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company recorded a recovery of credit losses totaling $391,000, which included a $12,000 recovery related to unfunded loan commitment reserves. This compares to a $124,000 provision for credit losses in the same quarter last year and a $586,000 provision in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 (sequential quarter). The recovery of credit losses recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was primarily attributable to improved qualitative factors related to single-family residential collateral, partly offset by a lengthening of the average loan life due to lower estimated loan prepayments as of March 31, 2025, compared to December 31, 2024.

    Non-performing assets, comprised solely of non-accrual loans secured by properties located in California, decreased $1.2 million or 46 percent to $1.4 million, which represented 0.11 percent of total assets at March 31, 2025, compared to $2.6 million, which represented 0.20 percent of total assets at June 30, 2024. At March 31, 2025, non-performing loans were comprised of seven single-family loans and one multi-family loan, while at June 30, 2024, non-performing loans were comprised of 10 single-family loans. At both dates, the Bank had no real estate owned and no loans 90 days or more past due that were still accruing interest. Additionally, there were no loan charge-offs during the quarters ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

    The January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles, California did not have a material impact on the Company’s operations or the Bank’s customers. The Bank’s branches and facilities remained operational throughout the wildfire events, and there were no significant disruptions to customer services or business activities. Additionally, the Bank did not have any significant credit exposure or financial impact attributable to the wildfires.

    Classified assets were $6.8 million at March 31, 2025, consisting of $1.7 million of loans in the special mention category and $5.1 million of loans in the substandard category. Classified assets at June 30, 2024 were $5.8 million, consisting of $1.1 million of loans in the special mention category and $4.7 million of loans in the substandard category.

    The allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment was $6.6 million, or 0.62 percent of gross loans held for investment, at March 31, 2025, down from $7.1 million, or 0.67 percent of gross loans held for investment, at June 30, 2024. The decrease in the allowance for credit losses was due primarily to improved qualitative factors related to single-family residential collateral, partially offset by an increase in the estimated average life of the loan portfolio, reflecting lower loan prepayment expectations as of March 31, 2025. Management believes, based on currently available information, the allowance for credit losses is sufficient to absorb expected losses inherent in loans held for investment at March 31, 2025.

    Non-interest income increased by $59,000, or seven percent, to $907,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $848,000 in the same period last year, due primarily to a $43,000 increase in loan servicing and other fees and a $55,000 increase in other fees (primarily attributable to an increase in the unrealized gain on other equity investments). These increases were partly offset by decreases of $26,000 and $13,000 in card and processing fees and deposit account fees, respectively, primarily due to lower transaction volumes and reduced customer activity. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income increased $63,000, or seven percent, primarily due to an increase in loan servicing and other fees.

    Non-interest expense increased $688,000, or 10 percent, to $7.86 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 from $7.17 million for the same quarter last year, primarily due to a $236,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits expenses and a $235,000 increase in other operating expenses. The higher salaries and employee benefits expenses was primarily due to higher compensation expenses, a higher accrual adjustment for the supplemental executive retirement plan expense, higher group insurance expenses and higher equity incentive expenses, partly offset by a decrease in retirement plan benefit expenses. The increase in other operating expenses was primarily attributable to a $239,000 litigation settlement expense. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expense increased $62,000, or one percent as compared to $7.79 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, due primarily to the litigation settlement expense, partly offset by decreases in salaries and employee benefits expenses, premises and occupancy expenses and professional expenses.

    The Company’s efficiency ratio, defined as non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income, in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was 77.64 percent, a slight increase from 76.20 percent in the same quarter last year but an improvement from 81.15 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 (sequential quarter). The increase in the efficiency ratio during the current quarter in comparison to the comparable quarter last year was due to higher non-interest expense relative to total net interest income plus non-interest income.

    The Company’s provision for income taxes was $797,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, up 29 percent from $620,000 in the same quarter last year and up 126 percent from $352,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 (sequential quarter). The increase during the current quarter compared to both the sequential quarter and same quarter last year was due to an increase in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 was 30.0 percent as compared to 29.3 percent in the same quarter last year and 28.8 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 (sequential quarter).

    The Company repurchased 51,869 shares of its common stock at an average cost of $15.30 per share during the quarter ended March 31, 2025. As of March 31, 2025, a total of 293,132 shares remained available for future purchase under the Company’s current repurchase program.

    The Bank currently operates 13 retail/business banking offices in Riverside County and San Bernardino County (Inland Empire).

    The Company will host a conference call for institutional investors and bank analysts on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-715-9871 and referencing Conference ID number 7361828. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Tuesday, May 6, 2025 by dialing 1-800-770-2030 and referencing Conference ID number 7361828.

    For more financial information about the Company please visit the website at www.myprovident.com and click on the “Investor Relations” section.

    Safe-Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements that the Company believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. You should not place undue reliance on these statements as they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements the Company may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to the Company.

    There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: adverse economic conditions in our local market areas or other markets where we have lending relationships; effects of employment levels, labor shortages, inflation, a recession or slowed economic growth; changes in the interest rate environment, including the increases and decreases in the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board (the “Federal Reserve”) benchmark rate and the duration of such levels, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses, the value of assets and obligations, and the availability and cost of capital and liquidity; the impact of inflation and the Federal Reserve monetary policy; the effects of any Federal government shutdown; credit risks of lending activities, including loan delinquencies, write-offs, changes in our allowance for credit losses (“ACL”), and provision for credit losses; increased competitive pressures, including repricing and competitors’ pricing initiatives, and their impact on our market position, loan, and deposit products; quality and composition of our securities portfolio and the impact of adverse changes in the securities markets; fluctuations in deposits; secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to sell loans in the secondary market; liquidity issues, including our ability to borrow funds or raise additional capital, if necessary; expectations regarding key growth initiatives and strategic priorities; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; results of examinations of us by regulatory authorities, which may the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, institute a formal or informal enforcement action against us or our bank subsidiary which could require us to increase our ACL, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits or impose additional requirements or restrictions on us, any of which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities and tax law, in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; use of estimates in determining the fair value of assets, which may prove incorrect; disruptions or security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in or attacks on our information technology systems or on our third-party vendors; the potential for new or increased tariffs, trade restrictions or geopolitical tensions that could affect economic activity or specific industry sectors; staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or corporate implementation strategies; our ability to pay dividends on our common stock; environmental, social and governance goals; effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest and other external events; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are available on our website at www.myprovident.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2025 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us and could negatively affect our operating and stock price performance.

             

    Contacts:

      Donavon P. Ternes   Haryanto L. Sunarto
        President and   Interim Chief Financial Officer
        Chief Executive Officer   (951) 686-6060
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
    (Unaudited –In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information)
                                   
        March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   March 31,
        2025
      2024
      2024
      2024
      2024
    Assets                              
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 50,915     $ 45,539     $ 48,193     $ 51,376     $ 51,731  
    Investment securities – held to maturity, at cost with no allowance for credit losses     113,617       118,888       124,268       130,051       135,971  
    Investment securities – available for sale, at fair value     1,681       1,750       1,809       1,849       1,935  
    Loans held for investment, net of allowance for credit losses of $6,577, $6,956, $6,329, $7,065 and $7,108, respectively; includes $1,032, $1,016, $1,082, $1,047 and $1,054 of loans held at fair value, respectively     1,058,980       1,053,603       1,048,633       1,052,979       1,065,761  
    Accrued interest receivable     4,263       4,167       4,287       4,287       4,249  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments, includes $721, $650, $565, $540 and $0 of other equity investments at fair value, respectively     10,289       10,218       10,133       10,108       9,505  
    Premises and equipment, net     9,388       9,474       9,615       9,313       9,637  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     11,047       11,327       10,442       12,237       11,258  
    Total assets   $ 1,260,180     $ 1,254,966     $ 1,257,380     $ 1,272,200     $ 1,290,047  
                                   
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                              
    Liabilities:                              
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   $ 89,103     $ 85,399     $ 86,458     $ 95,627     $ 91,708  
    Interest-bearing deposits     812,216       782,116       777,406       792,721       816,414  
    Total deposits     901,319       867,515       863,864       888,348       908,122  
                                   
    Borrowings     215,580       245,500       249,500       238,500       235,000  
    Accounts payable, accrued interest and other liabilities     14,406       13,321       14,410       15,411       17,419  
    Total liabilities     1,131,305       1,126,336       1,127,774       1,142,259       1,160,541  
                                   
    Stockholders’ equity:                              
    Preferred stock, $.01 par value (2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding)                              
    Common stock, $.01 par value; (40,000,000 shares authorized; 18,229,615, 18,229,615, 18,229,615, 18,229,615 and 18,229,615 shares issued respectively; 6,653,822, 6,705,691, 6,769,247, 6,847,821 and 6,896,297 shares outstanding, respectively)     183       183       183       183       183  
    Additional paid-in capital     99,096       98,747       98,711       98,532       99,591  
    Retained earnings     211,701       210,779       210,853       209,914       208,923  
    Treasury stock at cost (11,573,793, 11,523,924, 11,460,368, 11,381,794, and 11,333,318 shares, respectively)     (182,121 )     (181,094 )     (180,155 )     (178,685 )     (179,183 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax     16       15       14       (3 )     (8 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     128,875       128,630       129,606       129,941       129,506  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,260,180     $ 1,254,966     $ 1,257,380     $ 1,272,200     $ 1,290,047  
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (Unaudited – In Thousands, Except Per Share Information)
                             
        For the Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended
           March 31,      March 31,
           2025
         2024      2025
         2024
    Interest income:                        
    Loans receivable, net   $ 13,368     $ 12,683   $ 39,441     $ 37,368  
    Investment securities     459       517     1,412       1,565  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments     213       210     636       586  
    Interest-earning deposits     389       397     1,036       1,295  
    Total interest income     14,429       13,807     42,525       40,814  
                             
    Interest expense:                        
    Checking and money market deposits     46       90     150       219  
    Savings deposits     127       97     356       208  
    Time deposits     2,573       2,488     7,738       6,406  
    Borrowings     2,471       2,573     7,694       7,509  
    Total interest expense     5,217       5,248     15,938       14,342  
                             
    Net interest income     9,212       8,559     26,587       26,472  
    (Recovery of) provision for credit losses     (391 )     124     (502 )     (51 )
    Net interest income, after (recovery of) provision for credit losses     9,603       8,435     27,089       26,523  
                             
    Non-interest income:                        
    Loan servicing and other fees     135       92     299       195  
    Deposit account fees     276       289     856       876  
    Card and processing fees     291       317     911       1,003  
    Other     205       150     585       400  
    Total non-interest income     907       848     2,651       2,474  
                             
    Non-interest expense:                        
    Salaries and employee benefits     4,776       4,540     14,235       13,223  
    Premises and occupancy     880       835     2,748       2,641  
    Equipment     417       329     1,139       962  
    Professional     386       321     1,224       1,203  
    Sales and marketing     181       167     541       516  
    Deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments     195       190     568       596  
    Other     1,021       786     2,718       2,227  
    Total non-interest expense     7,856       7,168     23,173       21,368  
    Income before income taxes     2,654       2,115     6,567       7,629  
    Provision for income taxes     797       620     1,938       2,231  
    Net income   $ 1,857     $ 1,495   $ 4,629     $ 5,398  
                             
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.28     $ 0.22   $ 0.69     $ 0.77  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.28     $ 0.22   $ 0.68     $ 0.77  
    Cash dividends per share   $ 0.14     $ 0.14   $ 0.42     $ 0.42  
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – Sequential Quarters
    (Unaudited – In Thousands, Except Per Share Information)
                                   
        For the Quarter Ended
        March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   March 31,
           2025
         2024      2024
         2024
         2024
    Interest income:                              
    Loans receivable, net   $ 13,368     $ 13,050   $ 13,023     $ 12,826     $ 12,683
    Investment securities     459       471     482       504       517
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments     213       213     210       207       210
    Interest-earning deposits     389       287     360       379       397
    Total interest income     14,429       14,021     14,075       13,916       13,807
                                   
    Interest expense:                              
    Checking and money market deposits     46       51     53       71       90
    Savings deposits     127       117     112       105       97
    Time deposits     2,573       2,506     2,659       2,657       2,488
    Borrowings     2,471       2,588     2,635       2,632       2,573
    Total interest expense     5,217       5,262     5,459       5,465       5,248
                                   
    Net interest income     9,212       8,759     8,616       8,451       8,559
    (Recovery of) provision for credit losses     (391 )     586     (697 )     (12 )     124
    Net interest income, after (recovery of) provision for credit losses     9,603       8,173     9,313       8,463       8,435
                                   
    Non-interest income:                              
    Loan servicing and other fees     135       60     104       142       92
    Deposit account fees     276       282     298       278       289
    Card and processing fees     291       300     320       381       317
    Other     205       203     177       666       150
    Total non-interest income     907       845     899       1,467       848
                                   
    Non-interest expense:                              
    Salaries and employee benefits     4,776       4,826     4,633       4,419       4,540
    Premises and occupancy     880       917     951       945       835
    Equipment     417       379     343       347       329
    Professional     386       412     426       327       321
    Sales and marketing     181       187     173       193       167
    Deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments     195       190     183       184       190
    Other     1,021       883     814       757       786
    Total non-interest expense     7,856       7,794     7,523       7,172       7,168
    Income before income taxes     2,654       1,224     2,689       2,758       2,115
    Provision for income taxes     797       352     789       805       620
    Net income   $ 1,857     $ 872   $ 1,900     $ 1,953     $ 1,495
                                   
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.28     $ 0.13   $ 0.28     $ 0.28     $ 0.22
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.28     $ 0.13   $ 0.28     $ 0.28     $ 0.22
    Cash dividends per share   $ 0.14     $ 0.14   $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 0.14
                                   
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information)
                               
        As of and For the  
        Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended  
        March 31,   March 31,  
           2025      2024      2025      2024  
    SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS:                          
    Return on average assets     0.59 %   0.47 %   0.50 %   0.56 %
    Return on average stockholders’ equity     5.71 %   4.57 %   4.72 %   5.51 %
    Stockholders’ equity to total assets     10.23 %   10.04 %   10.23 %   10.04 %
    Net interest spread     2.82 %   2.55 %   2.74 %   2.64 %
    Net interest margin     3.02 %   2.74 %   2.92 %   2.80 %
    Efficiency ratio     77.64 %   76.20 %   79.26 %   73.82 %
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities     110.25 %   110.28 %   110.38 %   110.24 %
                               
    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:                          
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.28   $ 0.22   $ 0.69   $ 0.77  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.28   $ 0.22   $ 0.68   $ 0.77  
    Book value per share   $ 19.37   $ 18.78   $ 19.37   $ 18.78  
    Shares used for basic EPS computation     6,679,808     6,919,397     6,753,060     6,968,353  
    Shares used for diluted EPS computation     6,732,794     6,935,053     6,796,743     6,981,223  
    Total shares issued and outstanding     6,653,822     6,896,297     6,653,822     6,896,297  
                               
    LOANS ORIGINATED FOR INVESTMENT:                          
    Mortgage loans:                          
    Single-family   $ 22,163   $ 8,946   $ 74,195   $ 30,058  
    Multi-family     4,087     5,865     15,772     17,586  
    Commercial real estate     1,135     2,172     2,760     8,047  
    Commercial business loans     500     1,250     550     1,250  
    Total loans originated for investment   $ 27,885   $ 18,233   $ 93,277   $ 56,941  
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information)
                                     
        As of and For the  
        Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter  
        Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended  
           03/31/25      12/31/24      09/30/24      06/30/24      03/31/24  
    SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS:                                
    Return on average assets     0.59 %   0.28 %   0.61 %   0.62 %   0.47 %
    Return on average stockholders’ equity     5.71 %   2.66 %   5.78 %   5.96 %   4.57 %
    Stockholders’ equity to total assets     10.23 %   10.25 %   10.31 %   10.21 %   10.04 %
    Net interest spread     2.82 %   2.74 %   2.66 %   2.54 %   2.55 %
    Net interest margin     3.02 %   2.91 %   2.84 %   2.74 %   2.74 %
    Efficiency ratio     77.64 %   81.15 %   79.06 %   72.31 %   76.20 %
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities     110.25 %   110.52 %   110.34 %   110.40 %   110.28 %
                                     
    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:                                
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.28   $ 0.13   $ 0.28   $ 0.28   $ 0.22  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.28   $ 0.13   $ 0.28   $ 0.28   $ 0.22  
    Book value per share   $ 19.37   $ 19.18   $ 19.15   $ 18.98   $ 18.78  
    Average shares used for basic EPS     6,679,808     6,744,653     6,833,125     6,867,521     6,919,397  
    Average shares used for diluted EPS     6,732,794     6,792,759     6,863,083     6,893,813     6,935,053  
    Total shares issued and outstanding     6,653,822     6,705,691     6,769,247     6,847,821     6,896,297  
                                     
    LOANS ORIGINATED FOR INVESTMENT:                                
    Mortgage loans:                                
    Single-family   $ 22,163   $ 29,583   $ 22,449   $ 10,862   $ 8,946  
    Multi-family     4,087     6,495     5,190     4,526     5,865  
    Commercial real estate     1,135     365     1,260     1,710     2,172  
    Construction                 1,480      
    Commercial business loans     500         50         1,250  
    Total loans originated for investment   $ 27,885   $ 36,443   $ 28,949   $ 18,578   $ 18,233  
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands)
                                     
           As of      As of      As of      As of      As of  
        03/31/25   12/31/24   09/30/24   06/30/24   03/31/24  
    ASSET QUALITY RATIOS AND DELINQUENT LOANS:                                
    Recourse reserve for loans sold   $ 23   $ 23   $ 23   $ 26   $ 31  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment   $ 6,577   $ 6,956   $ 6,329   $ 7,065   $ 7,108  
    Non-performing loans to loans held for investment, net     0.13 %   0.24 %   0.20 %   0.25 %   0.21 %
    Non-performing assets to total assets     0.11 %   0.20 %   0.17 %   0.20 %   0.17 %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to gross loans held for investment     0.62 %   0.66 %   0.61 %   0.67 %   0.67 %
    Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans receivable (annualized)     %   %   %   %   %
    Non-performing loans   $ 1,395   $ 2,530   $ 2,106   $ 2,596   $ 2,246  
    Loans 30 to 89 days delinquent   $ 199   $ 3   $ 2   $ 1   $ 388  
                                   
           Quarter      Quarter      Quarter      Quarter      Quarter
        Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended
        03/31/25   12/31/24   09/30/24   06/30/24   03/31/24
    (Recovery) recourse provision for loans sold   $     $   $ (3 )   $ (5 )   $
    (Recovery of) provision for credit losses   $ (391 )   $ 586   $ (697 )   $ (12 )   $ 124
    Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)   $     $   $     $     $
                           
           As of      As of      As of      As of      As of  
        03/31/2025   12/31/2024   09/30/2024   06/30/2024   03/31/2024  
    REGULATORY CAPITAL RATIOS (BANK):                      
    Tier 1 leverage ratio   9.85 % 9.81 % 9.63 % 10.02 % 9.70 %
    Common equity tier 1 capital ratio   19.01 % 18.60 % 18.36 % 19.29 % 18.77 %
    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio   19.01 % 18.60 % 18.36 % 19.29 % 18.77 %
    Total risk-based capital ratio   20.03 % 19.67 % 19.35 % 20.38 % 19.85 %
                           
        As of March 31,  
           2025      2024  
           Balance      Rate(1)      Balance      Rate(1)  
    INVESTMENT SECURITIES:                      
    Held to maturity (at cost):                      
    U.S. SBA securities   $ 328   4.85 % $ 458   5.85 %
    U.S. government sponsored enterprise MBS     109,718   1.60     131,711   1.54  
    U.S. government sponsored enterprise CMO     3,571   2.13     3,802   2.16  
    Total investment securities held to maturity   $ 113,617   1.62 % $ 135,971   1.57 %
                           
    Available for sale (at fair value):                      
    U.S. government agency MBS   $ 1,119   4.72 % $ 1,274   3.72 %
    U.S. government sponsored enterprise MBS     482   6.91     570   6.05  
    Private issue CMO     80   6.10     91   4.96  
    Total investment securities available for sale   $ 1,681   5.41 % $ 1,935   4.46 %
    Total investment securities   $ 115,298   1.68 % $ 137,906   1.61 %

    (1) Weighted-average yield earned on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.

    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands)
                           
        As of March 31,  
           2025      2024  
           Balance      Rate(1)      Balance      Rate(1)  
    LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT:                      
    Mortgage loans:                      
    Single-family (1 to 4 units)   $ 545,377     4.66 % $ 517,039     4.39 %
    Multi-family (5 or more units)     429,547     5.47     457,401     5.14  
    Commercial real estate     75,349     6.63     83,136     6.36  
    Construction     837     11.00     2,745     8.81  
    Other     89     5.25     99     5.25  
    Commercial business loans     4,255     9.52     2,835     9.79  
    Consumer loans     52     17.50     60     18.50  
    Total loans held for investment     1,055,506     5.15 %   1,063,315     4.89 %
                           
    Advance payments of escrows     519           371        
    Deferred loan costs, net     9,532           9,183        
    Allowance for credit losses on loans     (6,577 )         (7,108 )      
    Total loans held for investment, net   $ 1,058,980         $ 1,065,761        
    Purchased loans serviced by others included above   $ 1,721     5.72 % $ 1,999     5.80 %

    (1) Weighted-average yield earned on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.

                           
        As of March 31,  
           2025      2024  
           Balance      Rate(1)      Balance      Rate(1)  
    DEPOSITS:                      
    Checking accounts – noninterest-bearing   $ 89,103   % $ 91,708   %
    Checking accounts – interest-bearing     248,392   0.04     275,920   0.04  
    Savings accounts     232,308   0.24     247,847   0.17  
    Money market accounts     21,640   0.16     26,715   0.41  
    Time deposits     309,876   3.57     265,932   3.89  
    Total deposits(2)(3)   $ 901,319   1.30 % $ 908,122   1.21 %
                           
    Brokered CDs included in time deposits above   $ 129,770   4.34 % $ 130,900   5.19 %
                           
    BORROWINGS:                      
    Overnight   $ 20,000   4.65 % $   %
    Three months or less     22,500   4.17     59,500   5.28  
    Over three to six months     5,000   5.33     33,000   5.34  
    Over six months to one year     108,000   4.65     70,000   4.51  
    Over one year to two years     45,000   4.66     42,500   4.62  
    Over two years to three years     80   4.50     15,000   4.87  
    Over three years to four years     15,000   4.41        
    Over four years to five years           15,000   4.41  
    Over five years              
    Total borrowings(4)   $ 215,580   4.60 % $ 235,000   4.86 %

    (1) Weighted-average rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
    (2) Includes uninsured deposits of approximately $162.2 million (of which, $57.1 million are collateralized) and $136.4 million (of which, $9.2 million are collateralized) at March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
    (3) The average balance of deposit accounts was approximately $37 thousand and $34 thousand at March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
    (4) The Bank had approximately $269.8 million and $269.2 million of remaining borrowing capacity at the FHLB – San Francisco, approximately $151.0 million and $172.7 million of borrowing capacity at the FRB of San Francisco and $50.0 million and $50.0 million of borrowing capacity with its correspondent bank at March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands)
                             
        For the Quarter Ended   For the Quarter Ended  
        March 31, 2025   March 31, 2024  
           Balance      Rate(1)      Balance      Rate(1)  
    SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS:                        
                             
    Loans receivable, net   $ 1,056,441     5.06 % $ 1,071,004   4.74 %
    Investment securities     118,431     1.55     141,390   1.46  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments     10,268     8.30     9,505   8.84  
    Interest-earning deposits     35,182     4.42     29,099   5.40  
    Total interest-earning assets   $ 1,220,322     4.73 % $ 1,250,998   4.41 %
    Total assets   $ 1,251,168         $ 1,281,975      
                             
    Deposits(2)   $ 885,032     1.26 % $ 910,781   1.18 %
    Borrowings     221,787     4.52     223,632   4.63  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities(2)   $ 1,106,819     1.91 % $ 1,134,413   1.86 %
    Total stockholders’ equity   $ 130,081         $ 130,906      

    (1) Weighted-average yield earned or rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
    (2) Includes the average balance of noninterest-bearing checking accounts of $88.4 million and $91.0 million during the quarters ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The average balance of uninsured deposits of $131.2 million and $139.0 million in the quarters ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

                             
        Nine Months Ended   Nine Months Ended  
           March 31, 2025      March 31, 2024  
           Balance      Rate(1)      Balance      Rate(1)  
    SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS:                        
                             
    Loans receivable, net   $ 1,050,748     5.00 % $ 1,072,741   4.64 %
    Investment securities     123,983     1.52     147,445   1.42  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments     10,186     8.33     9,505   8.22  
    Interest-earning deposits     28,404     4.79     31,538   5.38  
    Total interest-earning assets   $ 1,213,321     4.67 % $ 1,261,229   4.31 %
    Total assets   $ 1,243,635         $ 1,291,902      
                             
    Deposits(2)   $ 876,176     1.25 % $ 921,905   0.99 %
    Borrowings     223,087     4.59     222,206   4.50  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities(2)   $ 1,099,263     1.93 % $ 1,144,111   1.67 %
    Total stockholders’ equity   $ 130,911         $ 130,686      

    (1) Weighted-average yield earned or rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
    (2) Includes the average balance of noninterest-bearing checking accounts of $88.4 million and $98.9 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The average balance of uninsured deposits of $127.5 million and $139.1 million in the nine months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

    ASSET QUALITY:

                                   
           As of      As of      As of      As of      As of
        03/31/25   12/31/24   09/30/24   06/30/24   03/31/24
    Loans on non-accrual status                              
    Mortgage loans:                              
    Single-family   $ 925   $ 2,530   $ 2,106   $ 2,596   $ 2,246
    Multi-family     470                
    Total     1,395     2,530     2,106     2,596     2,246
                                   
    Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:                    
    Total                    
                                   
    Total non-performing loans (1)     1,395     2,530     2,106     2,596     2,246
                                   
    Real estate owned, net                    
    Total non-performing assets   $ 1,395   $ 2,530   $ 2,106   $ 2,596   $ 2,246

    (1) The non-performing loan balances are net of individually evaluated or collectively evaluated allowances, specifically attached to the individual loans.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New rules for ground-based space infrastructure

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New legislation to deter foreign interference and protect New Zealand’s national interests and national security will be in place for operators of ground-based space infrastructure (GBSI) by July, Space Minister Judith Collins said today. 

    “As I announced last year, we’re taking action to support New Zealand’s interest in the safe, secure and responsible use of space and stop any attempts by foreign entities that do not share our values or interests,” Ms Collins says.

    “A new regulatory regime will start in July to deter foreign interference in New Zealand’s infrastructure that carry out tracking and control of spacecraft, space surveillance and the transfer of data to and from spacecraft.

    “During the past five years there have been several deceptive efforts by foreign actors to establish and/or use GBSI in New Zealand to harm our national security. 

    “They have deliberately disguised their affiliations to foreign militaries and mis-represented their intentions.

    “To date these risks have been managed through non-regulatory measures, including relying on the goodwill of GBSI operators. These measures are no longer enough.

    “The introduction of this new regime will serve as a deterrent. It sends a very clear message that we take our national security seriously, and we will act if we suspect that it is under threat.” 

    The regime will be rolled out in two stages, with some measures to stop malicious activity available as soon as the legislation comes into effect in July.

    Following this, regulations will be put in place setting out detailed requirements for GBSI registration, including for protective security and due diligence systems which in-scope GBSI operators will need to implement. Once the new regulations are in place later this year, there will be a transition period until 1 March 2026 for operators to implement the necessary systems for successful registration.

    “The regime will apply to all in-scope operators in New Zealand, including those operating the infrastructure established prior to the regime coming into effect,” Ms Collins says.  

    “It will be an offence to ignore the requirements of the regulatory regime, and could lead to the seizure of equipment, a $50,000 fine and/or up to one year in jail for an individual, and a fine up to $250,000 for an entity.”

    The regulatory regime targets the following GBSI activities and will apply to existing operators in New Zealand:

    • Telemetry, tracking and control (including capability that could degrade or disrupt satellite operations) of spacecraft (including, for example, geodetic infrastructure);
    • space surveillance and identification of spacecraft; and
    • satellite data reception. 

    Widespread consumer products such as satellite telephones, satellite television or internet receiving dishes will be excluded.

    MBIE will act as the regulator of the regime, with the Minister for Space as the decision maker. 

    The regulatory regime will be included in an Outer Space High Altitude Activities Amendment Bill. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-Evening Report: In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeffrey Fields, Professor of the Practice of International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    A mural on the outer walls of the former US embassy in Tehran depicts two men in negotiation. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

    Negotiators from Iran and the United States are set to meet again in Oman on April 26, 2025, prompting hopes the two countries might be moving, albeit tentatively, toward a new nuclear accord.

    The scheduled talks follow the two previous rounds of indirect negotiations that have taken place under the new Trump administration. Those discussions were deemed to have yielded enough progress to merit sending nuclear experts from both sides to begin outlining the specifics of a potential framework for a deal.

    The development is particularly notable given that Trump, in 2018, unilaterally walked the U.S. away from a multilateral agreement with Iran. That deal, negotiated during the Obama presidency, put restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Trump instead turned to a policy that involved tightening the financial screws on Iran through enhanced sanctions while issuing implicit military threats.

    But that approach failed to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program.

    Now, rather than revive the maximum pressure policy of his first term, Trump – ever keen to be seen as a dealmaker – has given his team the green light for the renewed diplomacy and even reportedly rebuffed, for now, Israel’s desire to launch military strikes against Tehran.

    Jaw-jaw over war-war

    The turn to diplomacy returns Iran-US relations to where they began during the Obama administration, with attempts to encourage Iran to curb or eliminate its ability to enrich uranium.

    Only this time, with the U.S. having left the previous deal in 2018, Iran has had seven years to improve on its enrichment capability and stockpile vastly more uranium than had been allowed under the abandoned accord.

    As a long-time expert on U.S. foreign policy and nuclear nonproliferation, I believe Trump has a unique opportunity to not only reinstate a similar nuclear agreement to the one he rejected, but also forge a more encompassing deal – and foster better relations with the Islamic Republic in the process.

    The front pages of Iran’s newspapers in a sidewalk newsstand in Tehran, Iran, on April 13, 2025.
    Alireza/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

    There are real signs that a potential deal could be in the offing, and it is certainly true that Trump likes the optics of dealmaking.

    But an agreement is by no means certain. Any progress toward a deal will be challenged by a number of factors, not least internal divisions and opposition within the Trump administration and skepticism among some in the Islamic Republic, along with uncertainty over a succession plan for the aging Ayatollah Khamenei.

    Conservative hawks are still abundant in both countries and could yet derail any easing of diplomatic tensions.

    A checkered diplomatic past

    There are also decades of mistrust to overcome.

    It is an understatement to say that the U.S. and Iran have had a fraught relationship, such as it is, since the Iranian revolution of 1979 and takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran the same year.

    Many Iranians would say relations have been strained since 1953, when the U.S. and the United Kingdom orchestrated the overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh, the democratically elected prime minister of Iran.

    Washington and Tehran have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1979, and the two countries have been locked in a decadeslong battle for influence in the Middle East. Today, tensions remain high over Iranian support for a so-called axis of resistance against the West and in particular U.S. interests in the Middle East. That axis includes Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

    For its part, Tehran has long bristled at American hegemony in the region, including its resolute support for Israel and its history of military action. In recent years that U.S. action has included the direct assaults on Iranian assets and personnel. In particular, Tehran is still angry about the 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

    Standing atop these various disputes, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have proved a constant source of contention for the United States and Israel, the latter being the only nuclear power in the region.

    The prospect of warmer relations between the two sides first emerged during the Obama administration – though Iran sounded out the Bush administration in 2003 only to be rebuffed.

    U.S. diplomats began making contact with Iranian counterparts in 2009 when Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns met with an Iranian negotiator in Geneva. The so-called P5+1 began direct negotiations with Iran in 2013. This paved the way for the eventual Iran nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2015. In that agreement – concluded by the U.S., Iran, China, Russia and a slew of European nations – Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program, including limits on the level to which it could enrich uranium, which was capped well short of what would be necessary for a nuclear weapon. In return, multilateral and bilateral U.S. sanctions would be removed.

    Many observers saw it as a win-win, with the restraints on a burgeoning nuclear power coupled with hopes that greater economic engagement with the international community that might temper some of Iran’s more provocative foreign policy behavior.

    Yet Israel and Saudi Arabia worried the deal did not entirely eliminate Iran’s ability to enrich uranium, and right-wing critics in the U.S. complained it did not address Iran’s ballistic missile programs or support for militant groups in the region.

    Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, draws a red line on a graphic of a bomb while discussing Iran at the United Nations on Sept. 27, 2012.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    When Trump first took office in 2016, he and his foreign policy team pledged to reverse Obama’s course and close the door on any diplomatic opening. Making good on his pledge, Trump unilaterally withdrew U.S. support for the JCPOA despite Iran’s continued compliance with the terms of the agreement and reinstated sanctions.

    Donald the dealmaker?

    So what has changed? Well, several things.

    While Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA was welcomed by Republicans, it did nothing to stop Iran from enhancing its ability to enrich uranium.

    Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, eager to transform its image and diversify economically, now supports a deal it opposed during the Obama administration.

    In this second term, Trump’s anti-Iran impulses are still there. But despite his rhetoric of a military option should a deal not be struck, Trump has on numerous occasions stated his opposition to U.S. involvement in another war in the Middle East.

    In addition, Iran has suffered a number of blows in recent years that has left it more isolated in the region. Iranian-aligned Hamas and Hezbollah have been seriously weakened as a result of military action by Israel. Meanwhile, strikes within Iran by Israel have shown the potential reach of Israeli missiles – and the apparent willingness of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use them. Further, the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has deprived Iran of another regional ally.

    Tehran is also contending with a more fragile domestic economy than it had during negotiations for JCPOA.

    With Iran weakened regionally and Trump’s main global focus being China, a diplomatic avenue with Iran seems entirely in line with Trump’s view of himself as a dealmaker.

    A deal is not a given

    With two rounds of meetings completed and the move now to more technical aspects of a possible agreement negotiated by experts, there appears to be a credible window of opportunity for diplomacy.

    This could mean a new agreement that retains the core aspects of the deal Trump previously abandoned. I’m not convinced a new deal will look any different from the previous in terms of the enrichment aspect.

    There are still a number of potential roadblocks standing in the way of any potential deal, however.

    As was the case with Trump’s meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term, the president seems to be less interested in details than spectacle. While it was quite amazing for an American leader to meet with his North Korean counterpart, ultimately, no policy meaningfully changed because of it.

    On Iran and other issues, the president displays little patience for complicated policy details. Complicating matters is that the U.S. administration is riven by intense factionalism, with many Iran hawks who would be seemingly opposed to a deal – including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz. They could rub up against newly confirmed Undersecretary of Defense for policy Elbridge Colby and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom have in the past advocated for a more pro-diplomacy line on Iran.

    As has become a common theme in Trump administration foreign policy – even with its own allies on issues like trade – it’s unclear what a Trump administration policy on Iran actually is, and whether a political commitment exists to carry through any ultimate deal.

    Top Trump foreign policy negotiator Steve Witkoff, who has no national security experience, has exemplified this tension. Tasked with leading negotiations with Iran, Witkoff has already been forced to walk back his contention that the U.S. was only seeking to cap the level of uranium enrichment rather than eliminate the entirety of the program.

    For its part, Iran has proved that it is serious about diplomacy, previously having accepted Barack Obama’s “extended hand.”

    But Tehran is unlikely to capitulate on core interests or allow itself to be humiliated by the terms of any agreement.

    Ultimately, the main question to watch is whether a deal with Iran is to be concluded by pragmatists – and then to what extent, narrow or expansive – or derailed by hawks within the administration.

    Jeffrey Fields receives funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

    ref. In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next? – https://theconversation.com/in-talking-with-tehran-trump-is-reversing-course-on-iran-could-a-new-nuclear-deal-be-next-254770

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deputy Secretary Edgar Joins HSI Drug Trafficking Warrant Operation in Los Angeles

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar joined Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles in a warrant operation that resulted in the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker.

    “Day in and day out, our HSI agents are empowered under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem to remove gang members, criminals, and drugs from our communities,” said Deputy Secretary Edgar. “I’m thankful for the frontline heroes who keep Americans safe from the worst of the worst law breakers.”

    The HSI Los Angeles Special Response Team executed three state search warrants that resulted in the arrest of wanted fugitive. Search warrants were executed in La Puente, Pomona, and Compton, California regarding an ongoing drug trafficking investigation for cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. 

    Pedro Sainz Minjarez was arrested for an outstanding warrant regarding possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy. This is a joint investigation involving the Riverside Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Marshals Service.

    Deputy Secretary Edgar, coleader of the HSTF, also led a meeting Friday with partners in Los Angeles to discuss delivering President Trump’s priorities. Under the HSTF, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice have joined in a historic partnership to tackle crime and keep Americans safe. 

    Participants of the meeting included representatives from the Los Angeles HSI, ATF, ERO, FBI, and U.S. Attorney offices.

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    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: Social media influencers blur the lines between political content and campaigning, potentially affecting elections

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Louise Stahl, PhD candidate, Communication, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

    Online influencers sharing political content can fall into an unregulated grey zone. (Shutterstock)

    Political commentary occurs regularly on social media. From politicians and parties promoting their platforms to journalists sharing day-to-day news and everyday people sharing their thoughts, there is no shortage of online content commenting on what governments are doing, aren’t doing and should be doing.

    A recent development has been the rise in online content creators, which has become a profession in and of itself. And social media influencers — those content creators who have developed a brand persona around their popular social media accounts — have plenty to say when it comes to politics. They promote politicians, encourage voting, comment on social issues and share political news. They can also be involved in disinformation and foreign interference campaigns.

    Our recent report, Influencers and Elections: The many roles that content creators play in elections, looks at the blurred lines between influencers and advertisers, celebrity endorsers, campaign volunteers, media outlets, data brokers, journalists and lobbyists, and the impact this can have on election outcomes.

    Social media influencers discuss their political views on CBC News.

    Influencing politics

    Influencers play multiple roles in the political communication ecosystem, acting in ways similar to celebrities, journalists, advertisers, activists and others.

    Influencers might be paid for the content or endorse political campaigns voluntarily. Some interview politicians or produce their own commentary. And others express political views independently, without any formal political ties.

    These increasingly blurred lines make it challenging to distinguish between genuine support, co-ordinated marketing or reliable news sources. It also makes it harder for voters to evaluate the credibility and intent behind political messages — which makes it harder for policymakers to regulate it.

    Influencers are increasingly integral to election campaign strategies. Political campaigns work with influencers to reach audiences traditional media often misses, or to target specific groups with tailored messaging. And influencers’ deep understanding of social media platforms enable them to create content that can spread quickly and effectively, maximizing reach and engagement.

    Influencers can act as advertisers who are paid to promote politicians or parties, celebrity endorsers donating their time and reach to campaigns or campaign volunteers sharing content online. Unlike traditional advertisements and celebrities, influencers have more interactive and intimate relationships with their audiences.

    Influencers are invested in appearing authentic, reliable and relatable while also projecting aspirational lifestyles. This makes them particularly persuasive, and their content perceived as genuine and independent, even if it has been paid for or co-ordinated.

    Influencers’ ability to move between personal expression and strategic campaigns makes them extremely powerful. At the same time, they are difficult to regulate or hold accountable. The multiple roles they play, and the flexibility they have in shifting from one role to another, allow them to evade the traditional categories that regulation depends on.

    For instance, it is often difficult to distinguish between authentic support and paid sponsorship. Influencers may endorse a politician because they genuinely support them or as part of a formal campaign. Influencers may be paid to share particular messages or negotiate informal arrangements involving perks like access to exclusive events. Because they do not always disclose these ties, this content can often go unregulated.

    While Canadian election laws are clear that paid advertisement spending needs to be reported, other forms of compensation and co-ordination do not require disclosure. This means that social media users may find it difficult to tell when an influencer’s support is authentic, part of a co-ordinated effort, or sponsored in some way.

    Influencers and journalism

    Influencers have also become central to sharing news, performing a role previously reserved for journalists. Influencers conduct interviews and provide updates and commentary. Research shows that users — especially younger ones — pay more attention to online influencers and celebrities for news than they do traditional news sources.

    In Canada, this trend may have accelerated after the implementation of the Online News Act in 2023, which led Meta to restrict news access on Instagram and Facebook. News influencers are filling this gap.

    Unlike professional journalists, many influencers operate without journalistic training, professional standards, editorial oversight or accountability measures. As such, some become unintentionally involved in the spread of disinformation. Others have been co-opted into disinformation campaigns, which see influencers as a path to plausible deniability, as their content can be presented as opinion rather than a co-ordinated effort.

    While online influencers adapt to these overlapping roles, many politicians and journalists are adopting strategies similar to those of influencers: building personal brands, cultivating authenticity and fostering relationships with their audiences.

    This scenario makes the boundaries between political entities and content creators even more difficult to define.

    Younger people pay more attention to online influencers and celebrities for news than they do traditional news sources.
    (Shutterstock)

    Understanding influencer

    From endorsing candidates to shaping political narratives and mimicking reporters, influencers play multiple political roles in Canada.

    What is organic political support and what is co-ordinated marketing? Who is doing independent political reporting and who is spreading disguised propaganda? And who is being paid? These questions need to be answered to know how to interpret influencers’ content — and how to apply rules around transparency, advertising and political speech.

    Currently, media literacy strategies revolve around teaching users how to find trusted sources, gather information from a range of sources and question how content reaches them.

    When it comes to political information shared by influencers, this means asking whether the influencer is sponsored or collaborating with some political entity. It means considering whether they talk about how they source and verify their information. It also means not relying on a single or small group of influencers who share the same ideas within a given online community.

    Regulating influencers

    Current regulatory frameworks are not equipped to handle influencer political content and its possible effects on elections. Election laws were designed around clear professional categories, media-centric advertising and centralized communication environments. This is no longer the information ecosystem that we exist in.

    The lack of clear definitions and regulatory blind spots creates loopholes that political campaigns can exploit to evade ad transparency and spending laws. Meanwhile, policymakers struggle to find the balance between regulating political advertising via influencers and guaranteeing their freedom of expression.

    Canada’s regulatory framework has to evolve, including clear definitions of political content and advertising, as well as disclosure requirements for paid or co-ordinated political message.

    Elizabeth Dubois receives funding from SSHRC and the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue, University of Ottawa.

    Michelle Bartleman receives funding from SSHRC.

    Louise Stahl does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Social media influencers blur the lines between political content and campaigning, potentially affecting elections – https://theconversation.com/social-media-influencers-blur-the-lines-between-political-content-and-campaigning-potentially-affecting-elections-255382

    MIL OSI – Global Reports