Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GAWAYNE FISHER, also known as “Fruit” and “Tank,” 49, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 217 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for heading a large-scale drug trafficking ring while on federal supervised release.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2009, Fisher was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 10 years of imprisonment and eight years of supervised release for cocaine trafficking offenses.  He was released from prison in February 2015.

    In 2022, the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the Waterbury Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies determined that Fisher was trafficking narcotics while on federal supervised release.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Fisher and others were selling large quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as counterfeit oxycodone and alprazolam (Xanax) pills.

    Fisher and three of his associates were arrested on April 13, 2023.  On that date, a search of a West Main Street apartment in Waterbury that Fisher used as a stash location revealed approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl, 125,000 individual glassine bags containing fentanyl, and $7,574 in cash.  A search of Fisher’s residence on Beverly Avenue in Waterbury, and his vehicle, revealed approximately $175,110 in cash.  In addition, a search of a residence on Yale Street in Waterbury that Fisher’s co-conspirator used as a stash location revealed drug-processing equipment, approximately three kilograms of loose fentanyl, and approximately 75,000 individual bags containing fentanyl.

    Fisher has been detained since his arrest.  On January 11, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine, and one count of money laundering.

    Judge Bolden sentenced Fisher to 180 months of imprisonment for the narcotics trafficking and money laundering offenses, and a consecutive 37 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

    This investigation was conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Naugatuck, Ansonia, West Haven, Meriden, East Haven, Branford, Shelton, and Bristol Police Departments.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Lancaster Men Sentenced On Money Laundering Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Lopez, age 41, and Michael Torres, age 43, both of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, were sentenced on January 23, 2025, by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson on money laundering charges.  Lopez received a sentence of one year and one day in prison and Torres was sentenced to six months in prison.  Both defendants were ordered to serve one year on supervised release following completion of their prison terms.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Lopez owned C&D Motorsports, a car dealership located in Lancaster, where Torres was employed as a salesperson. Agents with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) began investigating C&D Motorsports and Lopez in 2019 after receiving reports that C&D Motorsports catered to known drug traffickers who were known to have purchased vehicles from the dealership, and that the dealership had not been filing currency transaction reports for cash sales in excess of $10,000, as required by federal law.

    IRS-CI conducted an undercover operation during which agents purported to be a drug trafficker and his girlfriend.  The undercover agents met with Torres and Lopez at C&D Motorsports on October 16, 2019, and discussed purchasing a vehicle using cash from drug trafficking and ensuring that the vehicle would be put in the girlfriend’s name and that the drug trafficker’s name would be omitted from paperwork filed in connection with the sale.  On December 11, 2019, the undercover agents returned to C&D Motorsports to meet with both Torres and Lopez to complete a cash purchase of a vehicle, which Lopez and Torres caused to be titled in a third party’s name.  A federal grand jury returned an indictment in February 2022, charging Lopez and Torres with conspiring to commit money laundering involving proceeds represented to have been from drug trafficking.

    Following a four-day trial in February 2024, a jury found both Lopez and Torres guilty of conspiring together to accept more than $33,000 in cash proceeds that were represented to be from the sale of cocaine, and to conceal the nature, source, ownership, and control of those proceeds by having the vehicle titled in a third party’s name.

    “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to unraveling complex financial transactions and money laundering schemes where individuals attempt to conceal the true source of their money,” stated Amy MacNeely, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.

    This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Haugsby and Joseph Terz prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Capital Bancorp, Inc. Announces 4Q and Full Year 2024 Results; Successful Close of the IFH Acquisition; Robust Organic Loan and Deposit Growth; Diversified Business Model Drives Strong Performance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

    • Net Income of $7.5 million, or $0.45 per share, and return on average assets of 0.96%
      • Net Income of $15.5 million, or $0.92 per share, and return on average assets of 1.97% as adjusted to exclude the impact of merger-related expenses, initial Integrated Financial Holdings, Inc. (“IFH”) Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”) provision, and a non-recurring legacy IFH equity and debt investment write-down (non-GAAP)(1)
    • Tangible Book Value Per Share(1) of $18.77, decreased 6.8%, or $1.36 as compared to $20.13 (3Q 2024), resulting from the acquisition of IFH and related purchase accounting impacts
    • Return on average equity of 8.50%, and return on average tangible common equity(1) of 9.47%
      • Core return on average equity(1) of 17.68%, and core return on average tangible common equity(1) of 19.19%
    • Net Interest Income increased $6.0 million, or 15.6% (not annualized), from 3Q 2024
    • Net Interest Margin (“NIM”) decreased to 5.87% as compared to 6.41% (3Q 2024)
      • Core NIM, as adjusted to exclude the impact of credit card loans (non-GAAP)(1) decreased to 4.05% as compared to 4.08% (3Q 2024)
      • Net purchase accounting accretion of $0.7 million for 4Q 2024 accounted for 9 basis points of the reported 5.87% NIM and 10 basis points of the reported 4.05% core NIM, respectively
    • Fee Revenue (noninterest income) totaled $11.9 million, or 21.2% of total revenue for 4Q 2024
      • Core Fee Revenue of $14.5 million, or 24.7% of total core revenue, increased $7.9 million from 3Q 2024, excluding a non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down of $2.6 million (non-GAAP)(1), primarily due to the acquisition of IFH
    • Gross Loan Growth in the quarter of $522.6 million includes $373.5 million from the acquisition of IFH, and $149.1 million from organic growth, or 28.2% annualized for 4Q 2024
      • Commercial and industrial loans of $554.6 million, or 21.0% of total gross loans at December 31, 2024 increased $282.7 million from September 30, 2024
    • Total Deposit Growth in the quarter of $575.7 million includes $459.0 million from the acquisition of IFH, and $116.7 million from organic growth, or 21.2% annualized for 4Q 2024
      • Noninterest bearing deposits increased $92.8 million, or 51.4% annualized from 3Q 2024
    • The ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans equaled 1.85% at December 31, 2024 including 1.44% for the legacy Capital Bank portfolio, down 7 basis points from 3Q. The additional ACL coverage results from the initial $15.5 million impact from the acquisition of the IFH portfolio.
    • Cash Dividend of $0.10 per share declared by the Board of Directors

    ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Capital Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CBNK), the holding company for Capital Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $7.5 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter 2024, compared to net income of $8.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2024, and $9.0 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter 2023. On October 1, 2024, the Company successfully completed its previously announced merger with IFH. Net income for the fourth quarter 2024 would have been $15.5 million, or $0.92 per diluted share if adjusted to exclude the impact of merger-related expenses, the initial IFH ACL provision, and a non-recurring equity and debt investment write down (non-GAAP)(1), compared to $9.2 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2024.

    The Company also declared a cash dividend on its common stock of $0.10 per share. The dividend is payable on February 26, 2025 to shareholders of record on February 10, 2025.

    “We are pleased to have successfully closed our acquisition of Integrated Financial Holdings, and we are now focused on merger integration and executing on the opportunities from our complementary lines of business,” said Ed Barry, CEO of the Company and the Bank. “We continue to benefit from our diversified business model which is driving growth across our platforms.”

    “The really strong performance of the commercial bank during the quarter was highlighted by record loan growth, solid deposit growth, and stable core net interest margin. I am particularly pleased by the growth of our commercial and industrial loans,” said Steven J. Schwartz, Chairman of the Company. “This outstanding organic growth is expected to continue to be a major contributing factor in our overall earnings growth in 2025 and beyond. The acquisition of IFH, while creating a lot of noise in the financial results of the 4th quarter, provides us with a new line of business loan servicing, processing, and packaging and a significant expansion of our government-guaranteed lending platform.”

    (1) Reconciliations of the non–U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measures are set forth in the Appendix at the end of this press release.

    Acquisition of Integrated Financial Holdings, Inc.
    On October 1, 2024, the Company successfully completed its previously announced merger with IFH. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, each share of IFH’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (“IFH Common Stock”) was converted into the right to receive (a) 1.115 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (“Capital Common Stock”); and (b) $5.36 in cash per share of IFH Common Stock held immediately prior to the Effective Time, in addition to cash in lieu of fractional shares. In addition, each stock option granted by IFH to purchase shares of IFH Common Stock, whether vested or unvested, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, was assumed by the Company and converted into an equivalent option to purchase Capital Common Stock, with the same terms and conditions as applied to the IFH stock option.

    Total assets, including purchase accounting adjustments, of $559.4 million acquired in connection with the IFH acquisition included gross loans of $373.5 million, loans held for sale of $41.7 million and total deposits of $459.0 million at October 1, 2024.

    During 2024, the Company incurred pre-tax merger-related expenses of $3.9 million, including expenses totaling $2.6 million for the fourth quarter 2024, generally consistent with modeled expectations.

    The fourth quarter earnings were also impacted by pre-tax provision credit losses on acquired loans of $4.2 million (“Initial IFH ACL Provision”) along with a non-recurring $2.6 million write-down of a legacy IFH equity and debt investment in a start-up. The net remaining value of the equity and debt investment is $0.2 million at December 31, 2024.

    The following table provides a reconciliation of the Company’s net income under GAAP to non-GAAP results excluding merger-related expenses, Initial IFH ACL Provision, and the non-recurring equity and debt write-down.

      Fourth Quarter 2024   Third Quarter 2024
    (in thousands, except per share data) Income Before Income Taxes   Income Tax Expense   Net Income   Diluted Earnings per Share   Income Before Income Taxes   Income Tax Expense(Benefit)   Net Income   Diluted Earnings per Share
    GAAP Earnings $ 10,776     $ 3,243     $ 7,533     $ 0.45     $ 11,499     $ 2,827     $ 8,672     $ 0.62  
    Add: Merger-Related Expenses   2,615       464       2,151           520       (37 )     557      
    Add: Non-recurring Equity and Debt Investment Write-Down   2,620             2,620                            
    Add: Initial IFH ACL Provision   4,194       1,025       3,169                            
    Non-GAAP Earnings $ 20,205     $ 4,732     $ 15,473     $ 0.92     $ 12,019     $ 2,790     $ 9,229     $ 0.66  
      Year Ended December 31, 2024
    (in thousands, except per share data) Income Before Income Taxes   Income Tax Expense   Net Income   Diluted Earnings per Share
    GAAP Earnings $ 41,832     $ 10,860     $ 30,972     $ 2.11  
    Add: Merger-Related Expenses   3,930       622       3,308      
    Add: Non-recurring Equity and Debt Investment Write-Down   2,620             2,620      
    Add: Initial IFH ACL Provision   4,194       1,025       3,169      
    Non-GAAP Earnings $ 52,576     $ 12,507     $ 40,069     $ 2.73  
                                   

    Note: The tax benefit associated with merger-related expenses has been adjusted to reflect the estimated nondeductible portion of the expenses.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    Earnings Summary

    Net income of $7.5 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, decreased $1.1 million compared to $8.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2024. Net income of $15.5 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, as adjusted to exclude the impact of merger-related expenses, Initial IFH ACL Provision and a $2.6 million non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down (non-GAAP)(1) for the fourth quarter 2024 compared to $9.2 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2024.

    • Net interest income of $44.3 million increased $6.0 million, or 15.6%, compared to the third quarter 2024.
      • Interest income of $61.7 million increased $9.1 million, or 17.3%, over the third quarter 2024, primarily from $7.9 million in portfolio loan interest income, as growth in average balances increased $539.3 million. Interest income from interest-bearing deposits held at other financial institutions increased $0.3 million, as average balances increased $49.1 million to $140.2 million. Interest income included $0.7 million from net purchase accounting amortization.
      • Interest expense of $17.4 million increased $3.1 million, or 21.9% over the third quarter 2024 due to increases in time deposits and borrowed funds of $2.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively, offset by a decrease in customer money market deposits of $0.3 million. Average balances increased $367.8 million, $53.5 million and $65.3 million, respectively. Interest expense included $1.4 million from net purchase accounting accretion.
    • The provision for credit losses was $7.8 million, an increase of $4.1 million from the third quarter 2024, which included the Initial IFH ACL Provision of $4.2 million, $2.4 million from organic commercial portfolio loan growth and $1.2 million from OpenSky provision in the quarter. Net charge-offs totaled $2.4 million, a $0.2 million decrease over the third quarter 2024, including $2.1 million from credit card related loans. At December 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio was 1.85%, up 34 basis points from the ratio at September 30, 2024 due to the initial purchase credit deteriorated (“PCD”) credit mark and initial non-PCD ACL provision. Excluding IFH, legacy Capital Bank ACL coverage ratio was 1.44%, a decrease of 7 basis points from the third quarter 2024.

    Earnings Summary (Continued)

    • Noninterest income of $11.9 million increased $5.3 million as compared to the third quarter 2024 primarily due to contributions from the IFH acquisition. Government loan servicing revenue (Windsor) totaled $4.0 million, government lending revenue totaled $2.3 million and loan servicing rights totaled $1.0 million, offset by a non-recurring equity and debt write-down of $2.6 million related to an IFH investment. Other income increased $1.0 million including $0.9 million related to an investment in an SBIC, while credit card fees declined $0.3 million.
    • Noninterest expense of $37.5 million increased $7.8 million as compared to the third quarter 2024, primarily from the IFH acquisition. Noninterest expense of $34.9 million, excluding merger-related expenses of $2.6 million, increased $5.7 million as compared to the third quarter 2024. Highlights include:
      • The fourth quarter 2024 includes $0.3 million of intangible amortization resulting from the transaction.
      • Salaries and employee benefits expenses of $16.5 million increased $3.2 million, primarily related to the acquisition of IFH.
      • Occupancy and equipment expenses of $3.0 million increased $1.2 million, primarily related to increased contract expense from the IFH acquisition of $0.5 million and software depreciation of $0.4 million.
      • Estimated total cost synergies resulting from the acquisition totaled $1.5 million in the fourth quarter 2024, generally consistent with modeled expectations.
    • Income tax expense of $3.2 million, or 30.1% of pre-tax income for the fourth quarter 2024, increased $0.4 million from $2.8 million, or 24.6% of pre-tax income for the third quarter 2024. The elevated tax rate in the quarter resulted from non-deductibility of an equity and debt write-down along with some merger-related expenses. Excluding merger-related expenses and the non-recurring equity and debt write-down, the effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter 2024 would have been 22.6%.

    Balance Sheet

    Total assets of $3.2 billion at December 31, 2024 increased $646.1 million, or 25.2% (not annualized), from September 30, 2024. Total assets, including $559.4 million acquired with the IFH acquisition, net of purchase accounting, included gross loans of $373.5 million, loans held for sale of $41.7 million and total deposits of $459.0 million at October 1, 2024.

    • Cash and cash equivalents of $205.3 million at December 31, 2024 increased $48.6 million from September 30, 2024.
    • Total portfolio loans of $2.6 billion at December 31, 2024 increased $522.6 million, or 24.8% (not annualized) from September 30, 2024. Total average loans increased $539.3 million quarter over quarter.
      • Owner-occupied commercial real estate loans increased $88.6 million, or 25.2% (not annualized) from September 30, 2024.
      • The average portfolio loans-to-deposit ratio of 99.27% for the three months ended December 31, 2024 remained stable.
    • Total deposits of $2.8 billion at December 31, 2024 increased $575.7 million, or 26.3% (not annualized), from September 30, 2024. The increase includes $190.6 million of customer time deposits, $92.8 million of noninterest-bearing deposits primarily related to growth in title company deposit balances, $130.2 million of growth in customer money market deposits and $180.0 million of growth in brokered time deposits, partially offset by a decrease in interest-bearing demand accounts of $27.6 million.
      • Insured and protected deposits were approximately $1.6 billion as of December 31, 2024, representing 57.1% of the Company’s deposit portfolio.
      • Low and no interest bearing deposits of $1.1 billion, 38.5% of deposits, increased $74.9 million, or 7.6% (not annualized) from September 30, 2024. Average noninterest-bearing deposits of $729.9 million increased $49.2 million, or 7.2% (not annualized), and represented 27.9% of total average deposits at December 31, 2024.
    • The investment securities portfolio continues to be classified as available-for-sale and had a fair market value of $223.6 million, or 7.0% of total assets, an effective duration of 3.0 years, with U.S. Treasury Securities representing 57% of the overall investment portfolio at December 31, 2024. The accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the investment securities portfolio increased $2.9 million during the quarter to ($11.5 million) as of December 31, 2024, which represents 3.2% of total stockholders’ equity. The Company does not have a held-to-maturity investment securities portfolio.
    • Liquidity The Company maintains stable and reliable sources of available borrowings, generally consistent with prior quarter. Sources of available borrowings at December 31, 2024 totaled $803.0 million, including available collateralized lines of credit of $595.7 million, unsecured lines of credit with other banks of $76.0 million and unpledged investment securities available as collateral for potential additional borrowings of $131.4 million.
    • Capital Positions As of December 31, 2024, the Company reported a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 13.74%, compared to 14.78% at September 30, 2024. At December 31, 2024, the Company and the Bank maintain regulatory capital ratios that exceed all capital adequacy requirements.

    Financial Metrics

    Net Interest Margin – Net interest margin decreased 54 basis points to 5.87% for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to prior quarter. Core net interest margin, as adjusted to exclude the impact of OpenSky credit card loans (non-GAAP)(1), decreased 3 basis points to 4.05% as compared to prior quarter. Net purchase accounting accretion for the fourth quarter 2024 was 9 basis points and 10 basis points for NIM and core NIM, respectively.

    • The average yield on interest earning assets of 8.17% decreased 62 basis points compared to the prior quarter, including 40 basis points from inclusion of IFH commercial assets. The yield on portfolio loans, as adjusted to exclude the impact of OpenSky credit card loans (non-GAAP)(1), of 6.98% for the fourth quarter 2024, decreased 17 basis points, primarily as a consequence of reduced market interest rates.
    • The total cost of deposits decreased 14 basis points to 2.50% for the fourth quarter 2024 as compared to the prior quarter. The total cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased 46 basis points to 3.46% for the fourth quarter 2024 as compared to the prior quarter.

    Efficiency Ratios The efficiency ratio was 66.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to 66.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The efficiency ratio was 59.3%, as adjusted to exclude the impact of merger-related expenses and a non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down (non-GAAP)(1), for the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to 64.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

    Credit Metrics and Asset Quality – The ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans equaled 1.85% at December 31, 2024, an increase of 34 basis points from September 20, 2024, which includes a 1.44% ACL coverage ratio for the legacy Capital Bank portfolio, down 7 basis points from 3Q. The additional ACL coverage results from the initial $15.5 million reserve on the $373.5 million IFH loan portfolio. Underlying credit performance and metrics were relatively stable and consistent with prior quarter when excluding the impact of the combination with IFH.

    Nonperforming assets increased 34 basis points to 0.94% of total assets at December 31, 2024 as compared to September 30, 2024. Total nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2024 increased $14.8 million to $30.2 million compared to September 30, 2024. At December 31, 2024, special mention loans totaled $60.0 million, or 2.3% of total portfolio loans, as compared to $20.3 million, or 1.0% of total portfolio loans, at September 30, 2024. At December 31, 2024, substandard loans totaled $48.4 million, or 1.8% of total portfolio loans, as compared to $23.8 million, or 1.1% of total portfolio loans, at September 30, 2024.

    Performance Ratios – Annualized return on average assets (“ROAA”) and annualized return on average equity (“ROAE”), and ROATCE were 0.96%, 8.50%, and 9.47% respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to 1.42%, 12.59%, and 12.59% respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

    • Annualized ROAA, annualized ROAE, and annualized ROATCE were 1.97%, 17.46%, and 19.19% respectively, as adjusted to exclude the impact of merger-related expenses, Initial IFH ACL Provision, and a non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down (non-GAAP)(1), for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to 1.51%, 13.40%, and 13.40% respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

    Tangible Book Value – Book value per common share of $21.31 at December 31, 2024 increased $1.19 when compared to September 30, 2024. Tangible book value per common share(1) decreased $1.36, or 6.8%, to $18.77 at December 31, 2024 when compared to September 30, 2024. Tangible book value was impacted by the purchase accounting adjustments made in consequence of the IFH acquisition. The Company did not have goodwill or other intangible assets prior to the fourth quarter 2024. Therefore, tangible book value per share(1) was equal to book value per share for periods prior to the fourth quarter 2024.

    Commercial Bank

    Continued Portfolio Loan Growth – Gross portfolio loans, excluding OpenSky credit card loans, increased $522.9 million, to $2.5 billion, at December 31, 2024 compared to September 30, 2024.

    The $522.9 million gross portfolio loan growth includes commercial real estate loans of $156.4 million, residential real estate loans of $64.9 million and commercial and industrial loans of $282.7 million. Historical gross portfolio loan balances are disclosed in the Composition of Loans table within the Historical Financial Highlights.

    Net Interest Income – Interest income of $45.2 million increased $9.4 million from prior quarter, driven by loan growth and higher loan yields. Interest expense of $17.1 million increased $3.1 million, driven by an increase in average balances in the fourth quarter 2024.

    Credit Metrics – Nonperforming assets, comprised solely of nonaccrual loans, increased 34 basis point to 0.94% of total assets at December 31, 2024 compared to September 30, 2024. Total nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2024 increased to $30.2 million compared to $15.5 million at September 30, 2024 due primarily to the acquisition of IFH.

    Classified and Criticized Loans At December 31, 2024, special mention loans totaled $60.0 million, or 2.3% of total portfolio loans, as compared to $20.3 million, or 1.0% of total portfolio loans, at September 30, 2024. At December 31, 2024, substandard loans totaled $48.4 million, or 1.8% of total portfolio loans, as compared to $23.8 million, or 1.1% of total portfolio loans, at September 30, 2024.

    OpenSky

    Revenues Total revenue of $19.2 million decreased $0.5 million from the prior quarter. Interest income of $15.5 million decreased $0.2 million from the prior quarter. Average OpenSky credit card loan balances, net of reserves and deferred fees of $121.0 million for the fourth quarter 2024, increased $1.5 million, or 1.3% (not annualized), compared to prior quarter. Noninterest income of $3.7 million decreased $0.4 million as compared to the prior quarter, primarily related to lower annual fee income.

    Noninterest Expense – Total noninterest expense of $12.6 million decreased $0.7 million, primarily related to a reduction in quarterly advertising expense.

    Loan and Deposit Balances – Loan balances, net of reserves, of $127.8 million at December 31, 2024 increased by $0.7 million, or 0.5%, compared to $127.1 million at September 30, 2024. Corresponding deposit balances of $166.4 million at December 31, 2024 decreased $4.4 million, or 2.6%, compared to $170.8 million at September 30, 2024. Gross unsecured loan balances of $42.4 million at December 31, 2024 increased $2.7 million, or 6.8%, compared to $39.7 million at September 30, 2024. During the fourth quarter 2024, the number of credit card accounts increased by 3,614 to 552,566 from September 30, 2024.

    OpenSkyCredit – Portfolio credit metrics continue to be generally consistent with modeled expectations during the fourth quarter 2024. The provision for credit losses of $1.2 million decreased $1.1 million when compared to the prior quarter.

    Capital Bank Home Loans

    Originations of loans held for sale totaled $90.0 million during the fourth quarter, with $77.4 million of mortgage loans sold resulting in a gain on sale of loans of $1.9 million, representing a 2.45% of gain on sale as a percentage of total loans sold.

    Windsor Advantage

    Windsor Advantage is a loan service provider that offers community banks and credit unions with a comprehensive outsourced U.S. Small Business Association (“SBA”) 7(a) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) lending platform. Windsor Advantage generates fee income for the Company in connection with its servicing, processing and packaging of such loans for its financial institution clients.

    Fee Income – Gross government loan servicing revenue totaled $4.6 million, including $0.5 million of Capital Bank related servicing fees, during the fourth quarter 2024. Windsor’s total servicing portfolio was $2.5 billion at December 31, 2024.

    COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – Unaudited            
                               
      Quarter Ended   4Q24 vs 3Q24   4Q24 vs 4Q23
    (in thousands, except per share data) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023   $ Change   % Change   $ Change   % Change
    Earnings Summary                          
    Interest income $ 61,707     $ 52,610     $ 46,969     $ 9,097     17.3 %   $ 14,738     31.4 %
    Interest expense   17,380       14,256       12,080       3,124     21.9 %     5,300     43.9 %
    Net interest income   44,327       38,354       34,889       5,973     15.6 %     9,438     27.1 %
    Provision for credit losses   7,828       3,748       2,808       4,080     108.9 %     5,020     178.8 %
    Provision for (release of) credit losses on unfunded commitments   122       17       (106 )     105     617.6 %     228     (215.1 )%
    Noninterest income   11,913       6,635       5,936       5,278     79.5 %     5,977     100.7 %
    Noninterest expense   37,514       29,725       26,907       7,789     26.2 %     10,607     39.4 %
    Income before income taxes   10,776       11,499       11,216       (723 )   (6.3 )%     (440 )   (3.9 )%
    Income tax expense   3,243       2,827       2,186       416     14.7 %     1,057     48.4 %
    Net income $ 7,533     $ 8,672     $ 9,030     $ (1,139 )   (13.1 )%   $ (1,497 )   (16.6 )%
                                       
    Pre-tax pre-provision net revenue (“PPNR”) (1) $ 18,726     $ 15,264     $ 13,918     $ 3,462     22.7 %   $ 4,808     34.5 %
    PPNR, as adjusted(1) $ 23,961     $ 15,784     $ 13,918     $ 8,177     51.8 %   $ 10,043     72.2 %
                                       
    Common Share Data                                  
    Earnings per share – Basic $ 0.45     $ 0.62     $ 0.65     $ (0.17 )   (27.4 )%   $ (0.20 )   (30.8 )%
    Earnings per share – Diluted $ 0.45     $ 0.62     $ 0.65     $ (0.17 )   (27.4 )%   $ (0.20 )   (30.8 )%
    Earnings per share – Diluted, as adjusted(1) $ 0.92     $ 0.66     $ 0.65     $ 0.26     39.4 %   $ 0.27     41.5 %
    Weighted average common shares – Basic   16,595       13,914       13,897                  
    Weighted average common shares – Diluted   16,729       13,951       13,989                  
                               
    Return Ratios                          
    Return on average assets (annualized)   0.96 %     1.42 %     1.63 %                
    Return on average assets, as adjusted (annualized)(1)   1.97 %     1.51 %     1.63 %                
    Return on average equity (annualized)   8.50 %     12.59 %     14.44 %                
    Return on average equity, as adjusted (annualized)(1)   17.46 %     13.40 %     14.44 %                
    Return on average tangible common equity (annualized)(1)   9.47 %     12.59 %     14.44 %                
    Core return on average equity, as adjusted (annualized)(1)   17.68 %     13.40 %     14.44 %                
    Core return on average tangible common equity, as adjusted (annualized)(1)   19.19 %     13.40 %     14.44 %                

    ______________
    (1) Refer to Appendix for reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.

    COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – Unaudited (Continued)  
                   
      Year Ended        
      December 31,        
    (in thousands, except per share data)   2024       2023     $ Change   % Change
    Earnings Summary              
    Interest income $ 213,301     $ 183,206     $ 30,095     16.4 %
    Interest expense   58,555       41,680       16,875     40.5 %
    Net interest income   154,746       141,526       13,220     9.3 %
    Provision for credit losses   17,720       9,610       8,110     84.4 %
    Provision for (release of) credit losses on unfunded commitments   385       (101 )     486     (481.2 )%
    Noninterest income   31,410       24,975       6,435     25.8 %
    Noninterest expense   126,219       110,767       15,452     14.0 %
    Income before income taxes   41,832       46,225       (4,393 )   (9.5 )%
    Income tax expense   10,860       10,354       506     4.9 %
    Net income $ 30,972     $ 35,871     $ (4,899 )   (13.7 )%
                     
    Pre-tax pre-provision net revenue (“PPNR”) (1) $ 59,937     $ 55,734     $ 4,203     7.5 %
    PPNR, as adjusted(1) $ 66,487     $ 55,734     $ 10,753     19.3 %
                     
    Common Share Data                
    Earnings per share – Basic $ 2.12     $ 2.56     $ (0.44 )   (17.2 )%
    Earnings per share – Diluted $ 2.11     $ 2.55     $ (0.44 )   (17.3 )%
    Earnings per share – Diluted, as adjusted(1) $ 2.73     $ 2.55          
    Weighted average common shares – Basic   14,584       14,003          
    Weighted average common shares – Diluted   14,660       14,081          
                   
    Return Ratios              
    Return on average assets (annualized)   1.21 %     1.64 %        
    Return on average assets, as adjusted (annualized)(1)   1.57 %     1.64 %        
    Return on average equity (annualized)   10.78 %     14.91 %        
    Return on average equity, as adjusted (annualized)(1)   13.94 %     14.91 %        

    ______________
    (1) Refer to Appendix for reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.

    COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – Unaudited (Continued)        
                           
      Quarter Ended       Quarter Ended
      December 31,     September 30,   June 30,   March 31,
    (in thousands, except per share data)   2024       2023     % Change     2024       2024       2024  
    Balance Sheet Highlights                      
    Assets $ 3,206,911     $ 2,226,176       44.1 %   $ 2,560,788     $ 2,438,583     $ 2,324,238  
    Investment securities available-for-sale   223,630       208,329       7.3 %     208,700       207,917       202,254  
    Mortgage loans held for sale   21,270       7,481       184.3 %     19,554       19,219       10,303  
    Portfolio loans receivable (2)   2,630,163       1,903,288       38.2 %     2,107,522       2,021,588       1,964,525  
    Allowance for credit losses   48,652       28,610       70.1 %     31,925       30,832       29,350  
    Deposits   2,761,939       1,895,996       45.7 %     2,186,224       2,100,428       2,005,695  
    FHLB borrowings   22,000       22,000       %     52,000       32,000       22,000  
    Other borrowed funds   12,062       27,062       (55.4 )%     12,062       12,062       12,062  
    Total stockholders’ equity   355,139       254,860       39.3 %     280,111       267,854       259,465  
    Tangible common equity (1)   312,685       254,860       22.7 %     280,111       267,854       259,465  
                           
    Common shares outstanding   16,662       13,923       19.7 %     13,918       13,910       13,890  
    Book value per share $ 21.31     $ 18.31       16.4 %   $ 20.13     $ 19.26     $ 18.68  
    Tangible book value per share (1) $ 18.77     $ 18.31       2.5 %   $ 20.13     $ 19.26     $ 18.68  
    Dividends per share $ 0.10     $ 0.08       25.0 %   $ 0.10     $ 0.08     $ 0.08  

    ______________
    (1) Refer to Appendix for reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.
    (2) Loans are reflected net of deferred fees and costs.

    Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)        
      Three Months Ended Year Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
    Interest income                          
    Loans, including fees $ 58,602     $ 50,047     $ 48,275     $ 45,991     $ 45,109     $ 202,915     $ 174,760  
    Investment securities available-for-sale   1,539       1,343       1,308       1,251       1,083       5,441       4,815  
    Federal funds sold and other   1,566       1,220       1,032       1,127       777       4,945       3,631  
    Total interest income   61,707       52,610       50,615       48,369       46,969       213,301       183,206  
                               
    Interest expense                          
    Deposits   16,385       13,902       13,050       12,833       11,759       56,170       39,625  
    Borrowed funds   995       354       508       528       321       2,385       2,055  
    Total interest expense   17,380       14,256       13,558       13,361       12,080       58,555       41,680  
                               
    Net interest income   44,327       38,354       37,057       35,008       34,889       154,746       141,526  
    Provision for credit losses   7,828       3,748       3,417       2,727       2,808       17,720       9,610  
    Provision for (release of) credit losses on unfunded commitments   122       17       104       142       (106 )     385       (101 )
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   36,377       34,589       33,536       32,139       32,187       136,641       132,017  
    Noninterest income                          
    Service charges on deposits   241       235       200       207       240       883       964  
    Credit card fees   3,733       4,055       4,330       3,881       3,970       15,999       17,273  
    Mortgage banking revenue   1,821       1,882       1,990       1,453       1,166       7,146       4,896  
    Government lending revenue   2,301                               2,301        
    Government loan servicing revenue   3,993                               3,993        
    Loan servicing rights (government guaranteed)   1,013                               1,013        
    Non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down   (2,620 )                             (2,620 )      
    Other income   1,431       463       370       431       560       2,695       1,842  
    Total noninterest income   11,913       6,635       6,890       5,972       5,936       31,410       24,975  
    Noninterest expenses                          
    Salaries and employee benefits   16,513       13,345       13,272       12,907       11,638       56,037       48,754  
    Occupancy and equipment   2,976       1,791       1,864       1,613       1,573       8,244       5,673  
    Professional fees   2,150       1,980       1,769       1,947       1,930       7,846       9,270  
    Data processing   7,210       6,930       6,788       6,761       6,128       27,689       25,686  
    Advertising   1,032       1,223       2,072       2,032       1,433       6,359       6,161  
    Loan processing   969       615       476       371       198       2,431       1,633  
    Foreclosed real estate expenses, net         1             1             2       7  
    Merger-related expenses   2,615       520       83       712             3,930        
    Operational losses   993       1,008       782       931       1,490       3,714       4,613  
    Other operating   3,056       2,312       2,387       2,212       2,517       9,967       8,970  
    Total noninterest expenses   37,514       29,725       29,493       29,487       26,907       126,219       110,767  
    Income before income taxes   10,776       11,499       10,933       8,624       11,216       41,832       46,225  
    Income tax expense   3,243       2,827       2,728       2,062       2,186       10,860       10,354  
    Net income $ 7,533     $ 8,672     $ 8,205     $ 6,562     $ 9,030     $ 30,972     $ 35,871  
                                                           
    Consolidated Balance Sheets                  
      (unaudited)   (unaudited)   (unaudited)   (unaudited)   (audited)
    (in thousands, except share data) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
    Assets                  
    Cash and due from banks $ 25,433     $ 23,462     $ 19,294     $ 12,361     $ 14,513  
    Interest-bearing deposits at other financial institutions   179,841       133,180       117,160       72,787       39,044  
    Federal funds sold   58       58       57       56       407  
    Total cash and cash equivalents   205,332       156,700       136,511       85,204       53,964  
    Investment securities available-for-sale   223,630       208,700       207,917       202,254       208,329  
    Restricted investments   4,479       5,895       4,930       4,441       4,353  
    Loans held for sale   21,270       19,554       19,219       10,303       7,481  
    Portfolio loans receivable, net of deferred fees and costs   2,630,163       2,107,522       2,021,588       1,964,525       1,903,288  
    Less allowance for credit losses   (48,652 )     (31,925 )     (30,832 )     (29,350 )     (28,610 )
    Total portfolio loans held for investment, net   2,581,511       2,075,597       1,990,756       1,935,175       1,874,678  
    Premises and equipment, net   15,525       5,959       5,551       4,500       5,069  
    Accrued interest receivable   16,664       12,468       12,162       12,258       11,494  
    Goodwill   21,126                          
    Intangible assets   14,072                          
    Loan servicing assets   5,511                          
    Deferred tax asset   16,670       10,748       12,150       12,311       12,252  
    Bank owned life insurance   43,956       38,779       38,414       38,062       37,711  
    Other assets   37,165       26,388       10,973       19,730       10,845  
    Total assets $ 3,206,911     $ 2,560,788     $ 2,438,583     $ 2,324,238     $ 2,226,176  
                       
    Liabilities                  
    Deposits                  
    Noninterest-bearing $ 810,928     $ 718,120     $ 684,574     $ 665,812     $ 617,373  
    Interest-bearing   1,951,011       1,468,104       1,415,854       1,339,883       1,278,623  
    Total deposits   2,761,939       2,186,224       2,100,428       2,005,695       1,895,996  
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances   22,000       52,000       32,000       22,000       22,000  
    Other borrowed funds   12,062       12,062       12,062       12,062       27,062  
    Accrued interest payable   9,393       8,503       6,573       6,009       5,583  
    Other liabilities   46,378       21,888       19,666       19,007       20,675  
    Total liabilities   2,851,772       2,280,677       2,170,729       2,064,773       1,971,316  
                       
    Stockholders’ equity                  
    Common stock   167       139       139       139       139  
    Additional paid-in capital   128,598       55,585       55,005       54,229       54,473  
    Retained earnings   237,843       232,995       225,824       218,731       213,345  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (11,469 )     (8,608 )     (13,114 )     (13,634 )     (13,097 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   355,139       280,111       267,854       259,465       254,860  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 3,206,911     $ 2,560,788     $ 2,438,583     $ 2,324,238     $ 2,226,176  
                                           

    The following tables show the average outstanding balance of each principal category of our assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity, together with the average yields on our assets and the average costs of our liabilities for the periods indicated. Such yields and costs are calculated by dividing the annualized income or expense by the average daily balances of the corresponding assets or liabilities for the same period.

      Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2024
      Three Months Ended
    September 30, 2024
      Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2023
      Average
    Outstanding
    Balance
      Interest Income/
    Expense
      Average
    Yield/
    Rate(1)
      Average
    Outstanding
    Balance
      Interest Income/
    Expense
      Average
    Yield/
    Rate(1)
      Average
    Outstanding
    Balance
      Interest Income/
    Expense
      Average
    Yield/
    Rate(1)
      (in thousands)
    Assets                                  
    Interest earning assets:                                  
    Interest-bearing deposits $ 140,206     $ 1,446       4.10 %   $ 91,089     $ 1,137       4.97 %   $ 65,336     $ 680       4.13 %
    Federal funds sold   58                   57       1       6.98       1,574       21       5.29  
    Investment securities available-for-sale   236,951       1,539       2.58       221,303       1,343       2.41       223,132       1,083       1.93  
    Restricted investments   7,292       120       6.55       4,911       82       6.64       4,518       76       6.67  
    Loans held for sale   25,614       193       3.00       9,967       161       6.43       4,601       83       7.16  
    Portfolio loans receivable(2)(3)   2,592,960       58,409       8.96       2,053,619       49,886       9.66       1,863,298       45,026       9.59  
    Total interest earning assets   3,003,081       61,707       8.17       2,380,946       52,610       8.79       2,162,459       46,969       8.62  
    Noninterest earning assets   117,026               56,924               40,020          
    Total assets $ 3,120,107             $ 2,437,870             $ 2,202,479          
                                       
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                                  
    Interest-bearing liabilities:                                  
    Interest-bearing demand accounts $ 257,446       424       0.66     $ 228,365       321       0.56     $ 195,539       90       0.18  
    Savings   13,497       20       0.59       4,135       5       0.48       5,184       2       0.15  
    Money market accounts   763,526       7,131       3.72       698,239       7,442       4.24       680,697       7,139       4.16  
    Time deposits   847,618       8,810       4.13       479,824       6,134       5.09       380,731       4,528       4.72  
    Borrowed funds   97,116       995       4.08       43,655       354       3.23       41,823       321       3.05  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,979,203       17,380       3.49       1,454,218       14,256       3.90       1,303,974       12,080       3.68  
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                                  
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities   58,460               28,834               27,529          
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   729,907               680,731               622,941          
    Stockholders’ equity   352,537               274,087               248,035          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 3,120,107             $ 2,437,870             $ 2,202,479          
                                       
    Net interest spread           4.68 %             4.89 %             4.94 %
    Net interest income     $ 44,327             $ 38,354             $ 34,889      
    Net interest margin(4)           5.87 %             6.41 %             6.40 %

    _______________
    (1)   Annualized.
    (2)   Includes nonaccrual loans.
    (3)   For the three months ended December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, collectively, portfolio loans yield excluding credit card loans was 6.98%, 7.15% and 6.89%, respectively.
    (4)   For the three months ended December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, collectively, credit card loans accounted for 182, 233 and 248 basis points of the reported net interest margin, respectively.

      Year Ended December 31,
        2024       2023  
      Average
    Outstanding
    Balance
      Interest Income/
    Expense
      Average
    Yield/
    Rate(1)
      Average
    Outstanding
    Balance
      Interest Income/
    Expense
      Average
    Yield/
    Rate(1)
      (in thousands)
    Assets                      
    Interest earning assets:                      
    Interest-bearing deposits $ 98,319     $ 4,569       4.65 %   $ 70,407     $ 3,211       4.56 %
    Federal funds sold   57       3       5.26       1,597       74       4.63  
    Investment securities available-for-sale   228,909       5,441       2.38       245,466       4,815       1.96  
    Restricted investments   5,563       373       6.71       5,016       346       6.90  
    Loans held for sale   12,121       569       4.69       5,755       382       6.64  
    Portfolio loans receivable(2)(3)   2,142,638       202,346       9.44       1,816,968       174,378       9.60  
    Total interest earning assets   2,487,607       213,301       8.57       2,145,209       183,206       8.54  
    Noninterest earning assets   66,442               43,090          
    Total assets $ 2,554,049             $ 2,188,299          
                           
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                      
    Interest-bearing liabilities:                      
    Interest-bearing demand accounts $ 221,437     $ 1,003       0.45 %   $ 201,194     $ 298       0.15 %
    Savings   6,732       27       0.40       5,768       8       0.14  
    Money market accounts   704,002       28,741       4.08       642,013       23,510       3.66  
    Time deposits   561,369       26,399       4.70       360,464       15,809       4.39  
    Borrowed funds   63,686       2,385       3.74       59,302       2,055       3.47  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,557,226       58,555       3.76       1,268,741       41,680       3.29  
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                      
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities   34,043               24,026          
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   675,360               655,013          
    Stockholders’ equity   287,420               240,519          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 2,554,049             $ 2,188,299          
                           
    Net interest spread           4.81 %             5.25 %
    Net interest income     $ 154,746             $ 141,526      
    Net interest margin(4)           6.22 %             6.60 %

    (1)   Annualized.
    (2)   Includes nonaccrual loans.
    (3)   For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, collectively, portfolio loans yield excluding credit card loans was 7.03% and 6.65%, respectively.
    (4)   For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, collectively, credit card loans accounted for 222 and 264 basis points of the reported net interest margin, respectively.

    The Company’s reportable segments represent business units with discrete financial information whose results are regularly reviewed by management. The five segments include Commercial Banking, Capital Bank Home Loans (the Company’s mortgage loan division), OpenSky (the Company’s credit card division), Windsor Advantage and the Corporate Office.

    Effective January 1, 2024, the Company allocated certain expenses previously recorded directly to the Commercial Bank segment to the other segments. These expenses are for shared services also consumed by OpenSky, CBHL, and Corporate. The Company performs an allocation process based on several metrics the Company believes more accurately ascribe shared service overhead to each segment. The Company believes this reflects the cost of support for each segment that should be considered in assessing segment performance. Historical information has been recast to reflect financial information consistently with the 2024 presentation.

    The following schedule presents financial information for the periods indicated. Total assets are presented as of December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

    Segments                            
    For the three months ended December 31, 2024                
    (in thousands)   Commercial Bank   CBHL   OpenSky   Windsor Advantage   Corporate(2)   Eliminations   Consolidated
    Interest income   $ 45,195     $ 192     $ 15,454     $     $ 874     $ (8 )   $ 61,707  
    Interest expense     17,086       131                   171       (8 )     17,380  
    Net interest income     28,109       61       15,454             703             44,327  
    Provision for credit losses     6,651             1,177                         7,828  
    Provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments     122                                     122  
    Net interest income after provision     21,336       61       14,277             703             36,377  
    Noninterest income (loss)     4,547       1,676       3,743       4,566       (2,619 )           11,913  
    Noninterest expense(1)     16,539       2,377       12,595       2,670       3,333             37,514  
    Net income (loss) before taxes   $ 9,344     $ (640 )   $ 5,425     $ 1,896     $ (5,249 )   $     $ 10,776  
                                 
    Total assets   $ 2,994,356     $ 21,691     $ 125,913     $ 7,922     $ 376,930     $ (319,901 )   $ 3,206,911  
                                 
    For the three months ended September 30, 2024                
    (in thousands)   Commercial Bank   CBHL   OpenSky   Windsor Advantage   Corporate(2)   Eliminations   Consolidated
    Interest income   $ 35,805     $ 161     $ 15,625     $     $ 1,049     $ (30 )   $ 52,610  
    Interest expense     13,984       108                   194       (30 )     14,256  
    Net interest income     21,821       53       15,625             855             38,354  
    Provision for credit losses     1,453             2,294             1             3,748  
    Provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments     17                                     17  
    Net interest income after provision     20,351       53       13,331             854             34,589  
    Noninterest income     726       1,811       4,096             2             6,635  
    Noninterest expense(1)     12,422       2,395       13,276             1,632             29,725  
    Net income (loss) before taxes   $ 8,655     $ (531 )   $ 4,151     $     $ (776 )   $     $ 11,499  
                                 
    Total assets   $ 2,358,555     $ 19,831     $ 121,587     $     $ 300,325     $ (239,510 )   $ 2,560,788  
                                 
    For the three months ended December 31, 2023                
    (in thousands)   Commercial Bank   CBHL   OpenSky   Windsor Advantage   Corporate(2)   Eliminations   Consolidated
    Interest income   $ 30,957     $ 83     $ 15,035     $     $ 964     $ (70 )   $ 46,969  
    Interest expense     11,884       31                   235       (70 )     12,080  
    Net interest income     19,073       52       15,035             729             34,889  
    Provision for (release of) credit losses     691             2,125             (8 )           2,808  
    Release of credit losses on unfunded commitments     (106 )                                   (106 )
    Net interest income after provision     18,488       52       12,910             737             32,187  
    Noninterest income     773       1,166       3,996             1             5,936  
    Noninterest expense(1)     12,303       1,617       12,669             318             26,907  
    Net income (loss) before taxes   $ 6,958     $ (399 )   $ 4,237     $     $ 420     $     $ 11,216  
                                 
    Total assets   $ 2,051,945     $ 8,589     $ 117,477     $     $ 277,565     $ (229,400 )   $ 2,226,176  

    ________________________
    (1) Noninterest expense includes $6.3 million, $6.2 million, and $5.7 million in data processing expense in OpenSky’s segment for the three months ended December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.
    (2) The Corporate segment invests idle cash in revenue-producing assets including interest-bearing cash accounts, loan participations and other appropriate investments for the Company.

    Segments                            
    For the year ended December 31, 2024                
    (in thousands)   Commercial Bank   CBHL   OpenSky   Windsor Advantage   Corporate(2)   Eliminations   Consolidated
    Interest income   $ 147,464     $ 568     $ 61,785     $     $ 3,646     $ (162 )   $ 213,301  
    Interest expense     57,536       363                   818       (162 )     58,555  
    Net interest income     89,928       205       61,785             2,828             154,746  
    Provision for credit losses     10,331             7,329             60             17,720  
    Provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments     385                                     385  
    Net interest income after provision     79,212       205       54,456             2,768             136,641  
    Noninterest income (loss)     6,654       6,684       16,122       4,566       (2,616 )           31,410  
    Noninterest expense(1)     53,429       9,377       53,245       2,670       7,498             126,219  
    Net income (loss) before taxes   $ 32,437     $ (2,488 )   $ 17,333     $ 1,896     $ (7,346 )   $     $ 41,832  
                                 
    Total assets   $ 2,994,356     $ 21,691     $ 125,913     $ 7,922     $ 376,930     $ (319,901 )   $ 3,206,911  
                                 
    For the year ended December 31, 2023                
    (in thousands)   Commercial Bank   CBHL   OpenSky™   Windsor Advantage   Corporate(2)   Eliminations   Consolidated
    Interest income   $ 116,408     $ 382     $ 62,476     $     $ 4,238     $ (298 )   $ 183,206  
    Interest expense     40,896       135                   947       (298 )     41,680  
    Net interest income     75,512       247       62,476             3,291             141,526  
    Provision for credit losses     1,540             7,948             122             9,610  
    Release of credit losses on unfunded commitments     (101 )                                   (101 )
    Net interest income after provision     74,073       247       54,528             3,169             132,017  
    Noninterest income     2,737       4,909       17,325             4             24,975  
    Noninterest expense(1)     48,347       8,155       52,752             1,513             110,767  
    Net income (loss) before taxes   $ 28,463     $ (2,999 )   $ 19,101     $     $ 1,660     $     $ 46,225  
                                 
    Total assets   $ 2,051,945     $ 8,589     $ 117,477     $     $ 277,565     $ (229,400 )   $ 2,226,176  

    (1) Noninterest expense includes $24.9 million and $23.7 million in data processing expense in OpenSky’s segment for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
    (2) The Corporate segment invests idle cash in revenue-producing assets including interest-bearing cash accounts, loan participations and other appropriate investments for the Company.

    HISTORICAL FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – Unaudited
        Quarter Ended
    (in thousands, except per share data)   December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
    Earnings:                    
    Net income   $ 7,533     $ 8,672     $ 8,205     $ 6,562     $ 9,030  
    Earnings per common share, diluted     0.45       0.62       0.59       0.47       0.65  
    Net interest margin     5.87 %     6.41 %     6.46 %     6.24 %     6.40 %
    Net interest margin, excluding credit card loans (1)     4.05 %     4.08 %     4.00 %     3.85 %     3.92 %
    Return on average assets(2)     0.96 %     1.42 %     1.40 %     1.15 %     1.63 %
    Return on average equity(2)     8.50 %     12.59 %     12.53 %     10.19 %     14.44 %
    Efficiency ratio     66.70 %     66.07 %     67.11 %     71.95 %     65.91 %
                         
    Balance Sheet:                    
    Total portfolio loans receivable, net deferred fees   $ 2,630,163     $ 2,107,522     $ 2,021,588     $ 1,964,525     $ 1,902,643  
    Total deposits     2,761,939       2,186,224       2,100,428       2,005,695       1,895,996  
    Total assets     3,206,911       2,560,788       2,438,583       2,324,238       2,226,176  
    Total stockholders’ equity     355,139       280,111       267,854       259,465       254,860  
    Total average portfolio loans receivable, net deferred fees     2,592,960       2,053,619       1,992,630       1,927,372       1,863,298  
    Total average deposits     2,611,994       2,091,294       2,010,736       1,957,559       1,885,092  
    Portfolio loans-to-deposit ratio (period-end balances)     95.23 %     96.40 %     96.25 %     97.95 %     100.35 %
    Portfolio loans-to-deposit ratio (average balances)     99.27 %     98.20 %     99.10 %     98.46 %     98.84 %
                         
    Asset Quality Ratios:                    
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.94 %     0.60 %     0.58 %     0.62 %     0.72 %
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     1.15 %     0.73 %     0.70 %     0.73 %     0.84 %
    Net charge-offs to average portfolio loans (2)     0.37 %     0.51 %     0.39 %     0.41 %     0.53 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans     1.85 %     1.51 %     1.53 %     1.49 %     1.50 %
    Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans     160.88 %     206.50 %     219.40 %     204.37 %     178.34 %
                         
    Bank Capital Ratios:                    
    Total risk based capital ratio     12.82 %     13.76 %     14.51 %     14.36 %     14.81 %
    Tier 1 risk based capital ratio     11.56 %     12.50 %     13.25 %     13.10 %     13.56 %
    Leverage ratio     9.12 %     9.84 %     10.36 %     10.29 %     10.51 %
    Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio     11.56 %     12.50 %     13.25 %     13.10 %     13.56 %
    Tangible common equity     9.31 %     9.12 %     9.53 %     9.66 %     9.91 %
    Holding Company Capital Ratios:                    
    Total risk based capital ratio     15.48 %     16.65 %     16.98 %     16.83 %     17.38 %
    Tier 1 risk based capital ratio     13.83 %     14.88 %     15.19 %     15.03 %     15.55 %
    Leverage ratio     11.07 %     11.85 %     11.93 %     11.87 %     12.14 %
    Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio     13.74 %     14.78 %     15.08 %     14.92 %     15.43 %
    Tangible common equity     11.07 %     10.94 %     10.98 %     11.16 %     11.45 %

    _______________
    (1) Refer to Appendix for reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.
    (2) Annualized.

    HISTORICAL FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – Unaudited (Continued)
        Quarter Ended
    (in thousands, except per share data)   December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
    Composition of Loans:                    
    Commercial real estate, non owner-occupied   $ 471,329     $ 403,487     $ 397,080     $ 377,224     $ 351,116  
    Commercial real estate, owner-occupied     440,026       351,462       319,370       330,840       307,911  
    Residential real estate     688,552       623,684       601,312       577,112       573,104  
    Construction real estate     321,252       301,909       294,489       290,016       290,108  
    Commercial and industrial     554,550       271,811       255,686       254,577       239,208  
    Lender finance     28,574       29,546       33,294       13,484       11,085  
    Business equity lines of credit     3,090       2,663       2,989       14,768       14,117  
    Credit card, net of reserve(3)     127,766       127,098       122,217       111,898       123,331  
    Other consumer loans     2,089       2,045       1,930       738       950  
    Portfolio loans receivable   $ 2,637,228     $ 2,113,705     $ 2,028,367     $ 1,970,657     $ 1,910,930  
    Deferred origination fees, net     (7,065 )     (6,183 )     (6,779 )     (6,132 )     (7,642 )
    Portfolio loans receivable, net   $ 2,630,163     $ 2,107,522     $ 2,021,588     $ 1,964,525     $ 1,903,288  
                         
    Composition of Deposits:                    
    Noninterest-bearing   $ 810,928     $ 718,120     $ 684,574     $ 665,812     $ 617,373  
    Interest-bearing demand     238,881       266,493       266,070       193,963       199,308  
    Savings     13,488       3,763       4,270       4,525       5,211  
    Money markets     816,708       686,526       672,455       678,435       663,129  
    Customer time deposits     548,901       358,300       317,911       302,319       268,619  
    Brokered time deposits     333,033       153,022       155,148       160,641       142,356  
    Total deposits   $ 2,761,939     $ 2,186,224     $ 2,100,428     $ 2,005,695     $ 1,895,996  
                         
    Capital Bank Home Loan Metrics:                    
    Origination of loans held for sale   $ 89,998     $ 74,690     $ 82,363     $ 52,080     $ 45,152  
    Mortgage loans sold     77,399       67,296       66,417       40,377       34,140  
    Gain on sale of loans     1,897       1,644       1,732       1,238       1,015  
    Purchase volume as a % of originations     90.42 %     90.98 %     96.48 %     97.83 %     89.99 %
    Gain on sale as a % of loans sold(4)     2.45 %     2.44 %     2.61 %     3.07 %     2.97 %
    Mortgage commissions   $ 620     $ 598     $ 582     $ 490     $ 465  
                         
    OpenSkyPortfolio Metrics:                    
    Open customer accounts     552,566       548,952       537,734       526,950       525,314  
    Secured credit card loans, gross   $ 87,226     $ 89,641     $ 90,961     $ 85,663     $ 95,300  
    Unsecured credit card loans, gross     42,430       39,730       33,560       28,508       30,817  
    Noninterest secured credit card deposits     166,355       170,750       173,499       171,771       173,857  

    _______________
    (3) Credit card loans are presented net of reserve for interest and fees.
    (4) Gain on sale percentage is calculated as gain on sale of loans divided by mortgage loans sold.  

    Appendix

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

     

    The Company has presented the following non-GAAP (U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures because it believes that these measures provide useful and comparative information to assess trends in the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is consistent with how the Company evaluates its performance internally and these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the Company’s industry. Investors should recognize that the Company’s presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures might not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and the Company strongly encourages a review of its condensed consolidated financial statements in their entirety.

    Earnings Metrics, as Adjusted Quarter Ended
    (in thousands, except per share data) December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
                       
    Net Income $ 7,533     $ 8,672     $ 8,205     $ 6,562     $ 9,030  
    Add: Merger-Related Expenses, net of tax   2,151       557       62       538        
    Add: Non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down   2,620                          
    Add: IFH ACL Provision, net of tax   3,169                          
    Net Income, as Adjusted $ 15,473     $ 9,229     $ 8,267     $ 7,100     $ 9,030  
                       
    Weighted Average Common Shares – Diluted   16,729       13,951       13,895       13,919       13,989  
    Earnings per Share – Diluted $ 0.45     $ 0.62     $ 0.59     $ 0.47     $ 0.65  
    Earnings per Share – Diluted, as Adjusted $ 0.92     $ 0.66     $ 0.59     $ 0.51     $ 0.65  
                       
    Average Assets $ 3,120,107     $ 2,437,870     $ 2,353,868     $ 2,299,234     $ 2,202,479  
    Return on Average Assets(1)   0.96 %     1.42 %     1.40 %     1.15 %     1.63 %
    Return on Average Assets, as Adjusted(1)   1.97 %     1.51 %     1.41 %     1.24 %     1.63 %
                       
    Average Equity $ 352,537     $ 274,087     $ 263,425     $ 258,892     $ 248,035  
    Return on Average Equity(1)   8.50 %     12.59 %     12.53 %     10.19 %     14.44 %
    Return on Average Equity, as Adjusted(1)   17.46 %     13.40 %     12.62 %     11.03 %     14.44 %
                       
    Net Interest Income (a) $ 44,327     $ 38,354     $ 37,057     $ 35,008     $ 34,889  
    Noninterest Income   11,913       6,635       6,890       5,972       5,936  
    Total Revenue $ 56,240     $ 44,989     $ 43,947     $ 40,980     $ 40,825  
    Noninterest Expense $ 37,514     $ 29,725     $ 29,493     $ 29,487     $ 26,907  
    Efficiency Ratio(2)   66.70 %     66.07 %     67.11 %     71.95 %     65.91 %
                       
    Noninterest Income $ 11,913     $ 6,635     $ 6,890     $ 5,972     $ 5,936  
    Add: Non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down   2,620                          
    Noninterest Income, as Adjusted (b) $ 14,533     $ 6,635     $ 6,890     $ 5,972     $ 5,936  
    Total Revenue, as Adjusted (a) + (b) $ 58,860     $ 44,989     $ 43,947     $ 40,980     $ 40,825  
                       
    Noninterest Expense $ 37,514     $ 29,725     $ 29,493     $ 29,487     $ 26,907  
    Less: Merger-Related Expenses   2,615       520       83       712        
    Noninterest Expense, as Adjusted $ 34,899     $ 29,205     $ 29,410     $ 28,775     $ 26,907  
    Efficiency Ratio, as Adjusted(2)   59.29 %     64.92 %     66.92 %     70.22 %     65.91 %

    _______________
    (1) Annualized.
    (2) The efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing noninterest expense by total revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income).

    Earnings Metrics, as Adjusted Year Ended
    (in thousands, except per share data) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
    Net Income $ 30,972     $ 35,871  
    Add: Merger-Related Expenses, net of tax   3,308        
    Add: Non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down   2,620        
    Add: IFH ACL Provision, net of tax   3,169        
    Net Income, as Adjusted $ 40,069     $ 35,871  
           
    Weighted average common shares – Diluted   14,660       14,081  
    Earnings per share – Diluted $ 2.11     $ 2.55  
    Earnings per share – Diluted, as Adjusted $ 2.73     $ 2.55  
           
    Average Assets $ 2,554,049     $ 2,188,299  
    Return on Average Assets(1)   1.21 %     1.64 %
    Return on Average Assets, as Adjusted(1)   1.57 %     1.64 %
           
    Average Equity $ 287,420     $ 240,519  
    Return on Average Equity(1)   10.78 %     14.91 %
    Return on Average Equity, as Adjusted(1)   13.94 %     14.91 %
           
    Net Interest Income (a) $ 154,746     $ 141,526  
    Noninterest Income   31,410       24,975  
    Total Revenue $ 186,156     $ 166,501  
    Noninterest Expense $ 126,219     $ 110,767  
    Efficiency Ratio(2)   67.80 %     66.53 %
           
    Noninterest Income $ 31,410     $ 24,975  
    Add: Non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down   2,620        
    Noninterest Income, as Adjusted (b) $ 34,030     $ 24,975  
    Total Revenue, as Adjusted (a) + (b) $ 188,776     $ 166,501  
           
    Noninterest Expense $ 126,219     $ 110,767  
    Less: Merger-Related Expenses   3,930        
    Noninterest Expense, as Adjusted $ 122,289     $ 110,767  
    Efficiency Ratio, as Adjusted(2)   64.78 %     66.53 %

    _______________
    (1) Annualized.
    (2) The efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing noninterest expense by total revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income).

    Net Interest Margin, as Adjusted Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
                       
    Net Interest Income $ 44,327     $ 38,354     $ 37,057     $ 35,008     $ 34,889  
    Less: Credit Card Loan Income   15,022       15,137       15,205       14,457       14,677  
    Net Interest Income, as Adjusted $ 29,305     $ 23,217     $ 21,852     $ 20,551     $ 20,212  
    Average Interest Earning Assets   3,003,081       2,380,946       2,307,070       2,254,663       2,162,459  
    Less: Average Credit Card Loans   120,993       119,458       111,288       110,483       114,551  
    Total Average Interest Earning Assets, as Adjusted $ 2,882,088     $ 2,261,488     $ 2,195,782     $ 2,144,180     $ 2,047,908  
    Net Interest Margin, as Adjusted   4.05 %     4.08 %     4.00 %     3.85 %     3.92 %
           
    Net Interest Margin, as Adjusted Year Ended
    (in thousands) December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
           
    Net Interest Income $ 154,746     $ 141,526  
    Less: Credit Card Loan Income   59,821       61,096  
    Net Interest Income, as Adjusted $ 94,925     $ 80,430  
    Average Interest Earning Assets   2,487,607       2,145,209  
    Less: Average Credit Card Loans   115,581       114,450  
    Total Average Interest Earning Assets, as Adjusted $ 2,372,026     $ 2,030,759  
    Net Interest Margin, as Adjusted   4.00 %     3.96 %
                   
    Portfolio Loans Receivable Yield, as Adjusted Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
                       
    Portfolio Loans Receivable Interest Income $ 58,409     $ 49,886     $ 48,143     $ 45,908     $ 45,026  
    Less: Credit Card Loan Income   15,022       15,137       15,205       14,457       14,677  
    Portfolio Loans Receivable Interest Income, as Adjusted $ 43,387     $ 34,749     $ 32,938     $ 31,451     $ 30,349  
    Average Portfolio Loans Receivable   2,592,960       2,053,619       1,992,630       1,927,372       1,863,298  
    Less: Average Credit Card Loans   120,993       119,458       111,288       110,483       114,551  
    Total Average Portfolio Loans Receivable, as Adjusted $ 2,471,967     $ 1,934,161     $ 1,881,342     $ 1,816,889     $ 1,748,747  
    Portfolio Loans Receivable Yield, as Adjusted   6.98 %     7.15 %     7.04 %     6.96 %     6.89 %
           
    Portfolio Loans Receivable Yield, as Adjusted Year Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
    Portfolio Loans Receivable Interest Income $ 202,346     $ 174,378  
    Less: Credit Card Loan Income   59,821       61,096  
    Portfolio Loans Receivable Interest Income, as Adjusted $ 142,525     $ 113,282  
    Average Portfolio Loans Receivable   2,142,638       1,816,968  
    Less: Average Credit Card Loans   115,581       114,450  
    Total Average Portfolio Loans Receivable, as Adjusted $ 2,027,057     $ 1,702,518  
    Portfolio Loans Receivable Yield, as Adjusted   7.03 %     6.65 %
                   
    Pre-tax, Pre-Provision Net Revenue (“PPNR”) Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Net Income $ 7,533     $ 8,672     $ 8,205     $ 6,562     $ 9,030  
    Add: Income Tax Expense   3,243       2,827       2,728       2,062       2,186  
    Add: Provision for Credit Losses   7,828       3,748       3,417       2,727       2,808  
    Add: Provision for (Release of) Credit Losses on Unfunded Commitments   122       17       104       142       (106 )
    Pre-tax, Pre-Provision Net Revenue (“PPNR”) $ 18,726     $ 15,264     $ 14,454     $ 11,493     $ 13,918  
                                           
           
    Pre-tax, Pre-Provision Net Revenue (“PPNR”) Year Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
    Net Income $ 30,972     $ 35,871  
    Add: Income Tax Expense   10,860       10,354  
    Add: Provision for Credit Losses   17,720       9,610  
    Add: Provision for (Release of) Credit Losses on Unfunded Commitments   385       (101 )
    Pre-tax, Pre-Provision Net Revenue (“PPNR”) $ 59,937     $ 55,734  
                   
    PPNR, as Adjusted Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Net Income $ 7,533     $ 8,672     $ 8,205     $ 6,562     $ 9,030  
    Add: Income Tax Expense   3,243       2,827       2,728       2,062       2,186  
    Add: Provision for Credit Losses   7,828       3,748       3,417       2,727       2,808  
    Add: Provision for (Release of) Credit Losses on Unfunded Commitments   122       17       104       142       (106 )
    Add: Merger-Related Expenses   2,615       520       83       712        
    Add: Non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down   2,620                          
    PPNR, as Adjusted $ 23,961     $ 15,784     $ 14,537     $ 12,205     $ 13,918  
                                           
           
    PPNR, as Adjusted Year Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
    Net Income $ 30,972     $ 35,871  
    Add: Income Tax Expense   10,860       10,354  
    Add: Provision for Credit Losses   17,720       9,610  
    Add: Provision for (Release of) Credit Losses on Unfunded Commitments   385       (101 )
    Add: Merger-Related Expenses   3,930        
    Add: Non-recurring equity and debt investment write-down   2,620        
    PPNR, as Adjusted $ 66,487     $ 55,734  
                   
    Allowance for Credit Losses to Total Portfolio Loans Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Allowance for Credit Losses $ 48,652     $ 31,925     $ 30,832     $ 29,350     $ 28,610  
    Total Portfolio Loans   2,630,163       2,107,522       2,021,588       1,964,525       1,903,288  
    Allowance for Credit Losses to Total Portfolio Loans   1.85 %     1.51 %     1.53 %     1.49 %     1.50 %
                                           
    Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Total Nonperforming Assets $ 30,241     $ 15,460     $ 14,053     $ 14,361     $ 16,042  
    Total Assets   3,206,911       2,560,788       2,438,583       2,324,238       2,226,176  
    Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets   0.94 %     0.60 %     0.58 %     0.62 %     0.72 %
                                           
    Nonperforming Loans to Total Portfolio Loans Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Total Nonperforming Loans $ 30,241     $ 15,460     $ 14,053     $ 14,361     $ 16,042  
    Total Portfolio Loans   2,630,163       2,107,522       2,021,588       1,964,525       1,903,288  
    Nonperforming Loans to Total Portfolio Loans   1.15 %     0.73 %     0.70 %     0.73 %     0.84 %
                                           
    Net Charge-Offs to Average Portfolio Loans Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Total Net Charge-Offs $ 2,427     $ 2,655     $ 1,935     $ 1,987     $ 2,477  
    Total Average Portfolio Loans   2,592,960       2,053,619       1,992,630       1,927,372       1,863,298  
    Net Charge-Offs to Average Portfolio Loans, Annualized   0.37 %     0.51 %     0.39 %     0.41 %     0.53 %
                                           
    Net Charge-offs to Average Portfolio Loans Year Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
           
    Total Net Charge-Offs $ 9,004     $ 8,473  
    Total Average Portfolio Loans   2,142,638       1,816,968  
    Net Charge-Offs to Average Portfolio Loans, Annualized   0.42 %     0.47 %
                   
    Tangible Book Value per Share Quarter Ended
    (in thousands, except share and per share data) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Total Stockholders’ Equity $ 355,139     $ 280,111     $ 267,854     $ 259,465     $ 254,860  
    Less: Preferred Equity                            
    Less: Intangible Assets   42,454                          
    Tangible Common Equity $ 312,685     $ 280,111     $ 267,854     $ 259,465     $ 254,860  
    Period End Shares Outstanding   16,662,405       13,917,891       13,910,467       13,889,563       13,922,532  
    Tangible Book Value per Share $ 18.77     $ 20.13     $ 19.26     $ 18.68     $ 18.31  
                                           
    Return on Average Tangible Common Equity Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Net Income $ 7,533     $ 8,672     $ 8,205     $ 6,562     $ 9,030  
    Add: Intangible Amortization, Net of Tax   198                          
    Net Tangible Income $ 7,731     $ 8,672     $ 8,205     $ 6,562     $ 9,030  
    Average Equity   352,537       274,087       263,425       258,892       248,035  
    Less: Average Intangible Assets   27,653                          
    Net Average Tangible Common Equity $ 324,884     $ 274,087     $ 263,425     $ 258,892     $ 248,035  
    Return on Average Equity   8.50 %     12.59 %     12.53 %     10.19 %     14.44 %
    Return on Average Tangible Common Equity   9.47 %     12.59 %     12.53 %     10.19 %     14.44 %
                                           
    Core Return on Average Tangible Common Equity Quarter Ended
    (in thousands) December 31, 2024   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
                       
    Net Income, as Adjusted $ 15,473     $ 9,229     $ 8,267     $ 7,100     $ 9,030  
    Add: Intangible Amortization, Net of Tax   198                          
    Net Tangible Income, as Adjusted $ 15,671     $ 9,229     $ 8,267     $ 7,100     $ 9,030  
    Core Return on Average Equity, as Adjusted   17.68 %     13.40 %     12.62 %     11.03 %     14.44 %
    Core Return on Average Tangible Common Equity, as Adjusted   19.19 %     13.40 %     12.62 %     11.03 %     14.44 %
                                           

    ABOUT CAPITAL BANCORP, INC.

    Capital Bancorp, Inc., Rockville, Maryland is a registered bank holding company incorporated under the laws of Maryland. Capital Bancorp has been providing financial services since 1999 and now operates bank branches in six locations in the greater Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland markets, one bank branch in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and one bank branch in Chicago, Illinois. Capital Bancorp had assets of approximately $3.2 billion at December 31, 2024 and its common stock is traded in the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CBNK.” More information can be found at the Company’s website www.CapitalBankMD.com under its investor relations page.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This earnings release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. Any statements about our management’s expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believes,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “optimistic,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this earnings release may turn out to be inaccurate. The inclusion of forward-looking information in this earnings release should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.  Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. For details on some of the factors that could affect these expectations, see risk factors and other cautionary language included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, below are certain factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in the forward-looking statements: changes in general economic, political, or industry conditions; geopolitical concerns, including the ongoing wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East; uncertainty in U.S. fiscal and monetary policy, including the interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation/deflation, interest rate, market, and monetary fluctuations; volatility and disruptions in global capital and credit markets; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success, impact, and timing of our business strategies, including market acceptance of any new products or services; the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws, and regulations, including those concerning taxes, banking, securities, and insurance, and the application thereof by regulatory bodies; cybersecurity threats and the cost of defending against them, including the costs of compliance with potential legislation to combat cybersecurity at a state, national, or global level; climate change, including any enhanced regulatory, compliance, credit and reputational risks and costs; the expected cost savings, synergies and other financial benefits from the acquisition of IFH or any other acquisition the Company has made or may make might not be realized within the expected time frames or at all; the effect of acquisitions we have made or may make, including, without limitation, the failure to achieve the expected revenue growth and/or expense savings from such acquisitions, and/or the failure to effectively integrate an acquisition target into our operations; and other factors that may affect our future results.

    These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this communication, and the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by law.

    FINANCIAL CONTACT: Dominic Canuso (301) 468-8848 x1403

    MEDIA CONTACT: Ed Barry (240) 283-1912

    WEB SITE: www.CapitalBankMD.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDIT Emphasizes the Importance of Protecting Personal Information During Data Privacy Week

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDIT Emphasizes the Importance of Protecting Personal Information During Data Privacy Week

    NCDIT Emphasizes the Importance of Protecting Personal Information During Data Privacy Week
    jrchonillo

    The N.C. Department of Information Technology is joining others from around the world Jan. 27-31 to recognize Data Privacy Week. This annual initiative focuses on building privacy awareness and empowering individuals and organizations to respect privacy, protect data and strengthen public trust. 

    “Because we lead much of our lives online, we leave a detailed digital trail. To protect ourselves, we must protect our data,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Reviewing privacy settings, disabling unnecessary location services, and paying close attention to what and where we reveal our personal information online are all good ways to limit who has access to our data.” 

    Identifying information collected online may be stored indefinitely and used to customize your experience or track your activity. Some companies may match it with other data to create a profile for you or sell your information. These profiles may contain information about your habits, interests, buying patterns and health.

    “With increasing connectivity and the rise of artificial intelligence and generative AI, protecting our personal information is more critical than ever,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione. “Remember a few key steps to safeguard your personal information like strong, unique passwords, two-factor authentication and careful review of each suspicious email, text or link prior to clicking that might try to trick you into revealing personal information.” 

    Here are some additional tips to help protect data privacy:

    • Review and manage privacy settings. Each device, application or browser has different features to limit how and with whom data is shared. It is important to check these regularly and adjust them as needed. You can use these direct links to update settings on popular devices and online services.
    • Streamline your online presence. Delete inactive accounts and apps you do not use. They may still be collecting and sending data. Disable tracking and turn off location services when you are not using them. Keep all software, operating systems and apps that you do use up to date.
    • Read the fine print.  Read the privacy policy and terms of use for any application you plan to use. Be thoughtful about who is allowed access to your personal information. Make sure you understand and agree with how your information will be used.  
    • Share with care. Think before posting information about yourself or others. Consider what the post reveals, who might see it and how it could be perceived now and in the future. Remember that information you post online may never fully be removed, and social media privacy settings may not stop your posts from being shared by others. Never share personal information that you use for security purposes, such as your date of birth or the name of your first pet or teacher, in online quizzes.
    • Be intelligent about artificial intelligence. While AI can be a helpful tool, it is important to remember that AI systems learn from user inputs. You should not share any personal or financial information, sensitive personal data from your workplace or intellectual property with publicly available AI.

    “It’s important to understand how to protect our own data, respect the privacy of others and minimize the amount of sensitive data we share because it may be used for unintended purposes,” said Cherie Givens, the state’s chief privacy officer.

    The Office of Privacy and Data Protection leads North Carolina’s privacy program and provides privacy guidance, services, resources and training to state agencies. The office works to embed a culture of privacy, data protection and transparency across state government and ensure that sensitive information entrusted to the state by residents, businesses and visitors is used for its intended purposes and remains protected.

    NCDIT will be sharing privacy tips and resources throughout the week on social media using the hashtag #DataPrivacyWeek. For more information and other helpful links, visit it.nc.gov/privacy.

    Jan 27, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Park National Corporation reports 2024 results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWARK, Ohio, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Park National Corporation (Park) (NYSE American: PRK) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024. Park’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.07 per common share, payable on March 10, 2025, to common shareholders of record as of February 14, 2025.

    “Our consistent and measured growth stems from our team’s absolute focus on meeting customer needs to produce meaningful results,” said Park Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Trautman. “Helping customers flourish remains our primary goal.”

    Park’s net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $38.6 million, a 57.7 percent increase from $24.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Fourth quarter 2024 net income per diluted common share was $2.37, compared to $1.51 for the fourth quarter of 2023. Park’s net income for the full year of 2024 was $151.4 million, a 19.5 percent increase from $126.7 million for the full year of 2023. Net income per diluted common share for the full year of 2024 was $9.32 compared to $7.80 for the full year of 2023.

    Park’s total loans increased 4.6 percent during 2024. Park’s total deposits increased 1.3 percent during 2024, with an increase of 2.7 percent including off balance sheet deposits. The combination of solid loan growth and steady deposits contributed to Park’s success in 2024.

    “As we enter the new year, we look forward to the opportunity to deepen relationships with our customers, communities and all stakeholders,” said Park President Matthew Miller. “Our bankers are dedicated to helping all those we serve achieve their financial goals and thrive in 2025.”

    Headquartered in Newark, Ohio, Park National Corporation has $9.8 billion in total assets (as of December 31, 2024). Park’s banking operations are conducted through its subsidiary The Park National Bank. Other Park subsidiaries are Scope Leasing, Inc. (d.b.a. Scope Aircraft Finance), Guardian Financial Services Company (d.b.a. Guardian Finance Company) and SE Property Holdings, LLC.

    Complete financial tables are listed below.

    Category: Earnings

    SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

    Park cautions that any forward-looking statements contained in this news release or made by management of Park are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future financial performance. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in Park’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by our filings with the SEC. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.

    Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation: (1) Park’s ability to execute our business plan successfully and within the expected timeframe; (2) adverse changes in future economic and financial market conditions; (3) adverse changes in real estate values and liquidity in our primary market areas; (4) the financial health of our commercial borrowers; (5) adverse changes in federal, state and local governmental law and policy, including the regulatory landscape, capital markets, elevated government debt, potential changes in tax legislation, government shutdown, infrastructure spending and social programs; (6) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits; (7) our litigation and regulatory compliance exposure; (8) increased credit risk and higher credit losses resulting from loan concentrations; (9) competitive pressures among financial services organizations; (10) changes in accounting policies and practices as may be adopted by regulatory agencies; (11) Park’s assumptions and estimates used in applying critical accounting policies and modeling which may prove unreliable, inaccurate or not predictive of actual results; (12) Park’s ability to anticipate and respond to technological changes and Park’s reliance on, and the potential failure of, a number of third-party vendors to perform as expected; (13) failures in or breaches of Park’s operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors and other service providers; (14) negative impacts on financial markets and the economy of any changes in the credit ratings of the U.S. Treasury obligations and other U.S. government-backed debt, as well as issues surrounding the levels of U.S., European and Asian government debt and concerns regarding the growth rates and financial stability of certain sovereign governments, supranationals and financial institutions in Europe and Asia; (15) effects of a fall in stock market prices on Park’s asset and wealth management businesses; (16) continued availability of earnings and excess capital sufficient for the lawful and prudent declaration of dividends; (17) the impact on Park’s business, personnel, facilities or systems of losses related to acts of fraud, scams and schemes of third parties; (18) the impact of widespread natural and other disasters, pandemics, dislocations, regional or national protests and civil unrest (including any resulting branch closures or damages), military or terrorist activities or international hostilities on the economy and financial markets generally and on us or our counterparties specifically; (19) the potential further deterioration of the U.S. economy due to financial, political, or other shocks; (20) the effect of healthcare laws in the U.S. and potential changes for such laws that may increase our healthcare and other costs and negatively impact our operations and financial results; (21) the impact of larger or similar-sized financial institutions encountering problems that may adversely affect the banking industry; and (22) other risk factors relating to the financial services industry.

    Park does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the results of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement was made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.

       
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION  
    Financial Highlights  
    As of or for the three months ended December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023  
                     
        2024       2024       2023       Percent change vs.  
    (in thousands, except common share and per common share data and ratios) 4th QTR 3rd QTR 4th QTR   3Q ’24   4Q ’23  
    INCOME STATEMENT:                
    Net interest income $ 103,445     $ 101,114     $ 95,074       2.3   % 8.8   %
    Provision for credit losses   3,935       5,315       1,809       (26.0 ) % 117.5   %
    Other income   31,064       36,530       15,519       (15.0 ) % 100.2   %
    Other expense   83,241       85,681       79,043       (2.8 ) % 5.3   %
    Income before income taxes $ 47,333     $ 46,648     $ 29,741       1.5   % 59.2   %
    Income taxes   8,703       8,431       5,241       3.2   % 66.1   %
    Net income $ 38,630     $ 38,217     $ 24,500       1.1   % 57.7   %
                     
    MARKET DATA:                
    Earnings per common share – basic (a) $ 2.39     $ 2.37     $ 1.52       0.8   % 57.2   %
    Earnings per common share – diluted (a)   2.37       2.35       1.51       0.9   % 57.0   %
    Quarterly cash dividend declared per common share   1.06       1.06       1.05         % 1.0   %
    Special cash dividend declared per common share   0.50                   N.M.   N.M.  
    Book value per common share at period end   76.98       76.74       71.06       0.3   % 8.3   %
    Market price per common share at period end   171.43       167.98       132.86       2.1   % 29.0   %
    Market capitalization at period end   2,770,134       2,713,152       2,141,235       2.1   % 29.4   %
                     
    Weighted average common shares – basic (b)   16,156,827       16,151,640       16,113,215         % 0.3   %
    Weighted average common shares – diluted (b)   16,283,701       16,264,393       16,216,562       0.1   % 0.4   %
    Common shares outstanding at period end   16,158,982       16,151,640       16,116,479         % 0.3   %
                     
    PERFORMANCE RATIOS: (annualized)                
    Return on average assets (a)(b)   1.54   %   1.53   %   0.98   %   0.7   % 57.1   %
    Return on average shareholders’ equity (a)(b)   12.32   %   12.56   %   8.81   %   (1.9 ) % 39.8   %
    Yield on loans   6.21   %   6.24   %   5.84   %   (0.5 ) % 6.3   %
    Yield on investment securities   3.46   %   3.74   %   3.88   %   (7.5 ) % (10.8 ) %
    Yield on money market instruments   4.75   %   5.38   %   5.30   %   (11.7 ) % (10.4 ) %
    Yield on interest earning assets   5.82   %   5.88   %   5.48   %   (1.0 ) % 6.2   %
    Cost of interest bearing deposits   1.90   %   2.06   %   1.84   %   (7.8 ) % 3.3   %
    Cost of borrowings   3.86   %   3.97   %   4.42   %   (2.8 ) % (12.7 ) %
    Cost of paying interest bearing liabilities   1.99   %   2.15   %   2.01   %   (7.4 ) % (1.0 ) %
    Net interest margin (g)   4.51   %   4.45   %   4.17   %   1.3   % 8.2   %
    Efficiency ratio (g)   61.60   %   61.98   %   70.93   %   (0.6 ) % (13.2 ) %
                     
    OTHER DATA (NON-GAAP) AND BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION:                
    Tangible book value per common share (d) $ 66.89     $ 66.62     $ 60.87       0.4   % 9.9   %
    Average interest earning assets   9,176,540       9,100,594       9,120,407       0.8   % 0.6   %
    Pre-tax, pre-provision net income (j)   51,268       51,963       31,550       (1.3 ) % 62.5   %
                     
    Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.  
                     
                     
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION  
    Financial Highlights (continued)  
    As of or for the three months ended December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023
     
                     
              Percent change vs.  
    (in thousands, except ratios) December 31,
    2024
    September 30,
    2024
    December 31,
    2023
      3Q ’24   4Q ’23  
    BALANCE SHEET:                
    Investment securities $ 1,100,861     $ 1,233,297     $ 1,429,144       (10.7 ) % (23.0 ) %
    Loans   7,817,128       7,730,984       7,476,221       1.1   % 4.6   %
    Allowance for credit losses   87,966       87,237       83,745       0.8   % 5.0   %
    Goodwill and other intangible assets   163,032       163,320       164,247       (0.2 ) % (0.7 ) %
    Other real estate owned (OREO)   938       1,119       983       (16.2 ) % (4.6 ) %
    Total assets   9,805,350       9,903,049       9,836,453       (1.0 ) % (0.3 ) %
    Total deposits   8,143,526       8,214,671       8,042,566       (0.9 ) % 1.3   %
    Borrowings   280,083       306,964       517,329       (8.8 ) % (45.9 ) %
    Total shareholders’ equity   1,243,848       1,239,413       1,145,293       0.4   % 8.6   %
    Tangible equity (d)   1,080,816       1,076,093       981,046       0.4   % 10.2   %
    Total nonperforming loans   69,932       71,541       61,118       (2.2 ) % 14.4   %
    Total nonperforming assets   70,870       72,660       62,101       (2.5 ) % 14.1   %
                     
    ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:                
    Loans as a % of period end total assets   79.72   %   78.07   %   76.01   %   2.1   % 4.9   %
    Total nonperforming loans as a % of period end loans   0.89   %   0.93   %   0.82   %   (4.3 ) % 8.5   %
    Total nonperforming assets as a % of period end loans + OREO + other nonperforming assets   0.91   %   0.94   %   0.83   %   (3.2 ) % 9.6   %
    Allowance for credit losses as a % of period end loans   1.13   %   1.13   %   1.12   %     % 0.9   %
    Net loan charge-offs $ 3,206     $ 4,653     $ 2,666       (31.1 ) % 20.3   %
    Annualized net loan charge-offs as a % of average loans (b)   0.16   %   0.24   %   0.14   %   (33.3 ) % 14.3   %
                     
    CAPITAL & LIQUIDITY:                
    Total shareholders’ equity / Period end total assets   12.69   %   12.52   %   11.64   %   1.4   % 9.0   %
    Tangible equity (d) / Tangible assets (f)   11.21   %   11.05   %   10.14   %   1.4   % 10.6   %
    Average shareholders’ equity / Average assets (b)   12.47   %   12.20   %   11.16   %   2.2   % 11.7   %
    Average shareholders’ equity / Average loans (b)   16.08   %   15.76   %   14.94   %   2.0   % 7.6   %
    Average loans / Average deposits (b)   93.00   %   92.69   %   89.48   %   0.3   % 3.9   %
                     
    Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.      
               
       
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION  
    Financial Highlights  
    Year months ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023        
               
    (in thousands, except common share and per common share data and ratios)   2024       2023       Percent change vs ’23  
    INCOME STATEMENT:          
    Net interest income $ 398,019     $ 373,113       6.7   %
    Provision for credit losses   14,543       2,904       400.8   %
    Other income   122,588       92,634       32.3   %
    Other expense   321,339       309,239       3.9   %
    Income before income taxes $ 184,725     $ 153,604       20.3   %
    Income taxes   33,305       26,870       23.9   %
    Net income $ 151,420     $ 126,734       19.5   %
               
    MARKET DATA:          
    Earnings per common share – basic (a) $ 9.38     $ 7.84       19.6   %
    Earnings per common share – diluted (a)   9.32       7.80       19.5   %
    Quarterly cash dividend declared per common share   4.24       4.20       1.0   %
    Special cash dividend declared per common share   0.50             N.M.    
               
    Weighted average common shares – basic (b)   16,143,708       16,163,500       (0.1 ) %
    Weighted average common shares – diluted (b)   16,244,797       16,250,019         %
               
    PERFORMANCE RATIOS:          
    Return on average assets (a)(b)   1.53   %   1.27   %   20.5   %
    Return on average shareholders’ equity (a)(b)   12.65   %   11.55   %   9.5   %
    Yield on loans   6.14   %   5.55   %   10.6   %
    Yield on investment securities   3.74   %   3.73   %   0.3   %
    Yield on money market instruments   5.16   %   5.00   %   3.2   %
    Yield on interest earning assets   5.78   %   5.18   %   11.6   %
    Cost of interest bearing deposits   1.97   %   1.52   %   29.6   %
    Cost of borrowings   4.05   %   3.79   %   6.9   %
    Cost of paying interest bearing liabilities   2.08   %   1.67   %   24.6   %
    Net interest margin (g)   4.41   %   4.11   %   7.3   %
    Efficiency ratio (g)   61.44   %   65.87   %   (6.7 ) %
               
    ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:          
    Net loan charge-offs $ 10,322     $ 4,921       109.8   %
    Net loan charge-offs as a % of average loans (b)   0.14   %   0.07   %   100.0   %
               
    CAPITAL & LIQUIDITY          
    Average shareholders’ equity / Average Assets (b)   12.09   %   11.02   %   9.7   %
    Average shareholders’ equity / Average loans (b)   15.69   %   15.19   %   3.3   %
    Average loans / Average deposits (b)   92.34   %   86.39   %   6.9   %
               
    OTHER DATA (NON-GAAP) AND BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION:          
    Average interest earning assets   9,085,850       9,171,721       (0.9 ) %
    Pre-tax, pre-provision net income (j)   199,268       156,508       27.3   %
               
    Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.  
       
     
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
    Consolidated Statements of Income
                     
        Three Months Ended   Twelve Month Ended
        December 31   December 31
    (in thousands, except share and per share data)     2024     2023     2024     2023
                     
    Interest income:                
    Interest and fees on loans   $ 120,870   $ 108,495   $ 467,602   $ 399,795
    Interest on debt securities:                
    Taxable     8,641     13,055     41,718     52,786
    Tax-exempt     1,351     2,248     5,524     10,966
    Other interest income     2,751     1,408     8,121     8,123
    Total interest income     133,613     125,206     522,965     471,670
                     
    Interest expense:                
    Interest on deposits:                
    Demand and savings deposits     19,802     19,467     82,789     71,776
    Time deposits     7,658     6,267     29,594     12,677
    Interest on borrowings     2,708     4,398     12,563     14,104
    Total interest expense     30,168     30,132     124,946     98,557
                     
    Net interest income     103,445     95,074     398,019     373,113
                     
    Provision for credit losses     3,935     1,809     14,543     2,904
                     
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses     99,510     93,265     383,476     370,209
                     
    Other income     31,064     15,519     122,588     92,634
                     
    Other expense     83,241     79,043     321,339     309,239
                     
    Income before income taxes     47,333     29,741     184,725     153,604
                     
    Income taxes     8,703     5,241     33,305     26,870
                     
    Net income   $ 38,630   $ 24,500   $ 151,420   $ 126,734
                     
    Per common share:                
    Net income – basic   $ 2.39   $ 1.52   $ 9.38   $ 7.84
    Net income – diluted   $ 2.37   $ 1.51   $ 9.32   $ 7.80
                     
    Weighted average common shares – basic     16,156,827     16,113,215     16,143,708     16,163,500
    Weighted average common shares – diluted     16,283,701     16,216,562     16,244,797     16,250,019
                     
    Cash dividends declared:                
    Quarterly dividend   $ 1.06   $ 1.05   $ 4.24   $ 4.20
    Special dividend   $ 0.50   $   $ 0.50   $
                             
       
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION   
    Consolidated Balance Sheets  
             
    (in thousands, except share data) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023  
             
    Assets        
             
    Cash and due from banks $ 122,363     $ 160,477    
    Money market instruments   38,203       57,791    
    Investment securities   1,100,861       1,429,144    
    Loans   7,817,128       7,476,221    
    Allowance for credit losses   (87,966 )     (83,745 )  
    Loans, net   7,729,162       7,392,476    
    Bank premises and equipment, net   69,522       74,211    
    Goodwill and other intangible assets   163,032       164,247    
    Other real estate owned   938       983    
    Other assets   581,269       557,124    
    Total assets $ 9,805,350     $ 9,836,453    
             
    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity        
             
    Deposits:        
    Noninterest bearing $ 2,612,708     $ 2,628,234    
    Interest bearing   5,530,818       5,414,332    
    Total deposits   8,143,526       8,042,566    
    Borrowings   280,083       517,329    
    Other liabilities   137,893       131,265    
    Total liabilities $ 8,561,502     $ 8,691,160    
             
             
    Shareholders’ Equity:        
    Preferred shares (200,000 shares authorized; no shares outstanding at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023) $     $    
    Common shares (No par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 17,623,104 shares issued at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023)   463,706       463,280    
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 1,243,848     $ 1,145,293    
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 9,805,350     $ 9,836,453    
     
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION 
    Consolidated Average Balance Sheets
               
      Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
      December 31,   December 31,
    (in thousands)   2024     2023       2024     2023  
               
    Assets          
               
    Cash and due from banks $ 122,949   $ 134,593     $ 129,070   $ 147,414  
    Money market instruments   230,591     105,425       157,292     162,544  
    Investment securities    1,167,467     1,544,942       1,265,680     1,716,037  
    Loans   7,757,229     7,387,512       7,627,419     7,222,479  
    Allowance for credit losses   (87,608 )   (85,493 )     (85,930 )   (87,002 )
    Loans, net   7,669,621     7,302,019       7,541,489     7,135,477  
    Bank premises and equipment, net   70,615     76,718       72,689     79,443  
    Goodwill and other intangible assets   163,221     164,466       163,669     164,960  
    Other real estate owned   1,079     1,342       1,192     1,654  
    Other assets   582,785     560,683       570,183     550,025  
    Total assets $ 10,008,328   $ 9,890,188     $ 9,901,264   $ 9,957,554  
               
               
    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity          
               
    Deposits:          
    Noninterest bearing $ 2,593,128   $ 2,694,148     $ 2,564,009   $ 2,814,259  
    Interest bearing   5,747,671     5,561,845       5,696,185     5,546,015  
    Total deposits   8,340,799     8,255,993       8,260,194     8,360,274  
    Borrowings   279,149     394,423       309,996     371,955  
    Other liabilities   140,700     136,046       133,954     128,182  
    Total liabilities $ 8,760,648   $ 8,786,462     $ 8,704,144   $ 8,860,411  
               
    Shareholders’ Equity:          
    Preferred shares $   $     $   $  
    Common shares   462,146     461,864       461,433     460,973  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes   (41,229 )   (108,219 )     (60,619 )   (98,154 )
    Retained earnings   978,267     906,091       949,160     884,711  
    Treasury shares   (151,504 )   (156,010 )     (152,854 )   (150,387 )
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 1,247,680   $ 1,103,726     $ 1,197,120   $ 1,097,143  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 10,008,328   $ 9,890,188     $ 9,901,264   $ 9,957,554  
               
     
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION 
    Consolidated Statements of Income – Linked Quarters
               
      2024 2024 2024 2024 2023
    (in thousands, except per share data) 4th QTR 3rd QTR 2nd QTR 1st QTR 4th QTR
               
    Interest income:          
    Interest and fees on loans  $ 120,870 $ 120,203 $ 115,318 $ 111,211 $ 108,495
    Interest on debt securities:          
    Taxable   8,641   10,228   10,950   11,899   13,055
    Tax-exempt   1,351   1,381   1,382   1,410   2,248
    Other interest income   2,751   1,996   1,254   2,120   1,408
    Total interest income   133,613   133,808   128,904   126,640   125,206
               
    Interest expense:          
    Interest on deposits:          
    Demand and savings deposits   19,802   22,762   20,370   19,855   19,467
    Time deposits   7,658   7,073   7,525   7,338   6,267
    Interest on borrowings   2,708   2,859   3,172   3,824   4,398
    Total interest expense   30,168   32,694   31,067   31,017   30,132
               
    Net interest income   103,445   101,114   97,837   95,623   95,074
               
    Provision for credit losses   3,935   5,315   3,113   2,180   1,809
               
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   99,510   95,799   94,724   93,443   93,265
               
    Other income   31,064   36,530   28,794   26,200   15,519
               
    Other expense   83,241   85,681   75,189   77,228   79,043
               
    Income before income taxes   47,333   46,648   48,329   42,415   29,741
               
    Income taxes   8,703   8,431   8,960   7,211   5,241
               
    Net income  $ 38,630 $ 38,217 $ 39,369 $ 35,204 $ 24,500
               
    Per common share:          
    Net income – basic $ 2.39 $ 2.37 $ 2.44 $ 2.18 $ 1.52
    Net income – diluted $ 2.37 $ 2.35 $ 2.42 $ 2.17 $ 1.51
                         
     
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION 
    Detail of other income and other expense – Linked Quarters
               
       2024   2024  2024  2024   2023 
    (in thousands) 4th QTR 3rd QTR 2nd QTR 1st QTR 4th QTR
               
    Other income:          
    Income from fiduciary activities $ 11,122   $ 10,615 $ 10,728 $ 10,024   $ 8,943  
    Service charges on deposit accounts   2,319     2,362   2,214   2,106     2,054  
    Other service income   3,277     3,036   2,906   2,524     2,349  
    Debit card fee income   6,511     6,539   6,580   6,243     6,583  
    Bank owned life insurance income   1,519     2,057   1,565   2,629     1,373  
    ATM fees   415     471   458   496     517  
    Pension settlement gain   365     5,783          
    Loss on sale of debt securities, net   (128 )       (398 )   (7,875 )
    Gain (loss) on equity securities, net   1,852     1,557   358   (687 )   353  
    Other components of net periodic benefit income   2,651     2,204   2,204   2,204     1,893  
    Miscellaneous   1,161     1,906   1,781   1,059     (671 )
    Total other income $ 31,064   $ 36,530 $ 28,794 $ 26,200   $ 15,519  
               
    Other expense:          
    Salaries $ 37,254   $ 38,370 $ 35,954 $ 35,733   $ 36,192  
    Employee benefits   10,129     10,162   9,873   11,560     10,088  
    Occupancy expense   2,929     3,731   2,975   3,181     3,344  
    Furniture and equipment expense   2,375     2,571   2,454   2,583     2,824  
    Data processing fees   10,450     11,764   9,542   8,808     9,605  
    Professional fees and services   10,465     7,842   6,022   6,817     7,015  
    Marketing   1,949     1,464   1,164   1,741     1,716  
    Insurance   1,600     1,640   1,777   1,718     1,708  
    Communication   1,104     955   1,002   1,036     993  
    State tax expense   1,145     1,116   1,129   1,110     1,158  
    Amortization of intangible assets   288     287   320   320     334  
    Foundation contributions       2,000         1,000  
    Miscellaneous   3,553     3,779   2,977   2,621     3,066  
    Total other expense $ 83,241   $ 85,681 $ 75,189 $ 77,228   $ 79,043  
               
     
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION 
    Asset Quality Information
                 
        Year ended December 31,
    (in thousands, except ratios)     2024       2023       2022       2021       2020    
                 
    Allowance for credit losses:            
    Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period   $ 83,745     $ 85,379     $ 83,197     $ 85,675     $ 56,679    
    Cumulative change in accounting principle; adoption of ASU 2022-02 in 2023 and ASU 2016-13 in 2021           383             6,090          
    Charge-offs     18,334       10,863       9,133       5,093       10,304    
    Recoveries     8,012       5,942       6,758       8,441       27,246    
    Net charge-offs (recoveries)     10,322       4,921       2,375       (3,348 )     (16,942 )  
    Provision for (recovery of) credit losses     14,543       2,904       4,557       (11,916 )     12,054    
    Allowance for credit losses, end of period   $ 87,966     $ 83,745     $ 85,379     $ 83,197     $ 85,675    
                 
    General reserve trends:            
    Allowance for credit losses, end of period   $ 87,966     $ 83,745     $ 85,379     $ 83,197     $ 85,675    
    Allowance on accruing purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans (purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loans for years 2020 and prior)                             167    
    Allowance on purchased loans excluded from collectively evaluated loans (for years 2020 and prior)     N.A.       N.A.       N.A.       N.A.       678    
    Specific reserves on individually evaluated loans     1,299       4,983       3,566       1,616       5,434    
    General reserves on collectively evaluated loans   $ 86,667     $ 78,762     $ 81,813     $ 81,581     $ 79,396    
                 
    Total loans   $ 7,817,128     $ 7,476,221     $ 7,141,891     $ 6,871,122     $ 7,177,785    
    Accruing PCD loans (PCI loans for years 2020 and prior)     2,174       2,835       4,653       7,149       11,153    
    Purchased loans excluded from collectively evaluated loans (for years 2020 and prior)     N.A.       N.A.       N.A.       N.A.       360,056    
    Individually evaluated loans (k)     53,149       45,215       78,341       74,502       108,407    
    Collectively evaluated loans   $ 7,761,805     $ 7,428,171     $ 7,058,897     $ 6,789,471     $ 6,698,169    
                 
    Asset Quality Ratios:            
    Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a % of average loans     0.14   %   0.07   %   0.03   %   (0.05 ) %   (0.24 ) %
    Allowance for credit losses as a % of period end loans     1.13   %   1.12   %   1.20   %   1.21   %   1.19   %
    General reserve as a % of collectively evaluated loans     1.12   %   1.06   %   1.16   %   1.20   %   1.19   %
                 
    Nonperforming assets:            
    Nonaccrual loans   $ 68,178     $ 60,259     $ 79,696     $ 72,722     $ 117,368    
    Accruing troubled debt restructurings (for years 2022 and prior) (k)     N.A.       N.A.       20,134       28,323       20,788    
    Loans past due 90 days or more     1,754       859       1,281       1,607       1,458    
    Total nonperforming loans   $ 69,932     $ 61,118     $ 101,111     $ 102,652     $ 139,614    
    Other real estate owned     938       983       1,354       775       1,431    
    Other nonperforming assets                       2,750       3,164    
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 70,870     $ 62,101     $ 102,465     $ 106,177     $ 144,209    
    Percentage of nonaccrual loans to period end loans     0.87   %   0.81   %   1.12   %   1.06   %   1.64   %
    Percentage of nonperforming loans to period end loans     0.89   %   0.82   %   1.42   %   1.49   %   1.95   %
    Percentage of nonperforming assets to period end loans     0.91   %   0.83   %   1.43   %   1.55   %   2.01   %
    Percentage of nonperforming assets to period end total assets     0.72   %   0.63   %   1.04   %   1.11   %   1.55   %
                 
    Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.
                 
     
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION 
    Asset Quality Information (continued)
                 
        Year ended December 31,
    (in thousands, except ratios)    2024  2023  2022  2021  2020
                 
    New nonaccrual loan information:            
    Nonaccrual loans, beginning of period   $ 60,259 $ 79,696 $ 72,722 $ 117,368 $ 90,080
    New nonaccrual loans     65,535   48,280   64,918   38,478   103,386
    Resolved nonaccrual loans     57,616   67,717   57,944   83,124   76,098
    Nonaccrual loans, end of period   $ 68,178 $ 60,259 $ 79,696 $ 72,722 $ 117,368
                 
    Individually evaluated commercial loan portfolio information (period end): (k)
    Unpaid principal balance   $ 58,158 $ 47,564 $ 80,116 $ 75,126 $ 109,062
    Prior charge-offs     5,009   2,349   1,775   624   655
    Remaining principal balance     53,149   45,215   78,341   74,502   108,407
    Specific reserves     1,299   4,983   3,566   1,616   5,434
    Book value, after specific reserves   $ 51,850 $ 40,232 $ 74,775 $ 72,886 $ 102,973
                 
    Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.
     
           
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION      
    Financial Reconciliations            
    NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS            
      THREE MONTHS ENDED   TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
    (in thousands, except share and per share data) December 31,
    2024
    September 30,
    2024
    December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
    December 31,
    2023
    Net interest income $ 103,445     $ 101,114     $ 95,074       $ 398,019     $ 373,113    
    less purchase accounting accretion related to NewDominion and Carolina Alliance acquisitions   250       281       124         1,154       633    
    less interest income on former Vision Bank relationships   38       9       35         54       631    
    Net interest income – adjusted $ 103,157     $ 100,824     $ 94,915       $ 396,811     $ 371,849    
                 
    Provision for credit losses $ 3,935     $ 5,315     $ 1,809       $ 14,543     $ 2,904    
    less recoveries on former Vision Bank relationships         (234 )             (1,304 )     (788 )  
    Provision for credit losses – adjusted $ 3,935     $ 5,549     $ 1,809       $ 15,847     $ 3,692    
                 
    Other income $ 31,064     $ 36,530     $ 15,519       $ 122,588     $ 92,634    
    less loss on sale of debt securities, net   (128 )           (7,875 )       (526 )     (7,875 )  
    less pension settlement gain   365       5,783               6,148          
    less impact of strategic initiatives   117             (1,038 )       775       (1,038 )  
    less Vision related OREO valuation adjustments, net         1       (370 )       115       (370 )  
    less other service income related to former Vision Bank relationships   299             40         312       175    
    Other income – adjusted $ 30,411     $ 30,746     $ 24,762       $ 115,764     $ 101,742    
                 
    Other expense $ 83,241     $ 85,681     $ 79,043       $ 321,339     $ 309,239    
    less core deposit intangible amortization related to NewDominion and Carolina Alliance acquisitions   288       287       334         1,215       1,323    
    less Foundation contribution         2,000       1,000         2,000       1,000    
    less special incentive         1,700               1,700          
    less building demolition costs   44       349               458          
    less direct expenses related to collection of payments on former Vision Bank loan relationships   215                     215       100    
    Other expense – adjusted $ 82,694     $ 81,345     $ 77,709       $ 315,751     $ 306,816    
                 
    Tax effect of adjustments to net income identified above (i) $ (83 )   $ (414 )   $ 2,188       $ (787 )   $ 1,991    
                 
    Net income – reported $ 38,630     $ 38,217     $ 24,500       $ 151,420     $ 126,734    
    Net income – adjusted (h) $ 38,319     $ 36,659     $ 32,730       $ 148,459     $ 134,222    
                 
    Diluted earnings per common share $ 2.37     $ 2.35     $ 1.51       $ 9.32     $ 7.80    
    Diluted earnings per common share, adjusted (h) $ 2.35     $ 2.25     $ 2.02       $ 9.14     $ 8.26    
                 
    Annualized return on average assets (a)(b)   1.54   %   1.53   %   0.98   %     1.53   %   1.27   %
    Annualized return on average assets, adjusted (a)(b)(h)   1.52   %   1.47   %   1.31   %     1.50   %   1.35   %
                 
    Annualized return on average tangible assets (a)(b)(e)   1.56   %   1.56   %   1.00   %     1.56   %   1.29   %
    Annualized return on average tangible assets, adjusted (a)(b)(e)(h)   1.55   %   1.49   %   1.34   %     1.52   %   1.37   %
                 
    Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity (a)(b)   12.32   %   12.56   %   8.81   %     12.65   %   11.55   %
    Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity, adjusted (a)(b)(h)   12.22   %   12.05   %   11.76   %     12.40   %   12.23   %
                 
    Annualized return on average tangible equity (a)(b)(c)   14.17   %   14.52   %   10.35   %     14.65   %   13.60   %
    Annualized return on average tangible equity, adjusted (a)(b)(c)(h)   14.06   %   13.93   %   13.83   %     14.37   %   14.40   %
                 
    Efficiency ratio (g)   61.60   %   61.98   %   70.93   %     61.44   %   65.87   %
    Efficiency ratio, adjusted (g)(h)   61.63   %   61.55   %   64.48   %     61.31   %   64.28   %
                 
    Annualized net interest margin (g)   4.51   %   4.45   %   4.17   %     4.41   %   4.11   %
    Annualized net interest margin, adjusted (g)(h)   4.50   %   4.43   %   4.17   %     4.39   %   4.09   %
    Note: Explanations for footnotes (a) – (k) are included at the end of the financial tables in the “Financial Reconciliations” section.  
         
           
    PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION      
    Financial Reconciliations (continued)            
                 
    (a) Reported measure uses net income
    (b) Averages are for the three months ended December 31, 2024, September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, as appropriate
    (c) Net income for each period divided by average tangible equity during the period. Average tangible equity equals average shareholders’ equity during the applicable period less average goodwill and other intangible assets during the applicable period.
                 
    RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY TO AVERAGE TANGIBLE EQUITY:      
      THREE MONTHS ENDED   TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
      December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023   December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    AVERAGE SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 1,247,680 $ 1,210,565 $ 1,103,726   $ 1,197,120 $ 1,097,143
    Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets   163,221   163,509   164,466     163,669   164,960
    AVERAGE TANGIBLE EQUITY $ 1,084,459 $ 1,047,056 $ 939,260   $ 1,033,451 $ 932,183
                 
    (d) Tangible equity divided by common shares outstanding at period end. Tangible equity equals total shareholders’ equity less goodwill and other intangible assets, in each case at the end of the period.
                 
    RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY TO TANGIBLE EQUITY:
      December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023      
    TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 1,243,848 $ 1,239,413 $ 1,145,293      
    Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets   163,032   163,320   164,247      
    TANGIBLE EQUITY $ 1,080,816 $ 1,076,093 $ 981,046      
                 
    (e) Net income for each period divided by average tangible assets during the period. Average tangible assets equal average assets less average goodwill and other intangible assets, in each case during the applicable period.
                 
    RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE ASSETS TO AVERAGE TANGIBLE ASSETS      
      THREE MONTHS ENDED   TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
      December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023   December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    AVERAGE ASSETS $ 10,008,328 $ 9,920,633 $ 9,890,188   $ 9,901,264 $ 9,957,554
    Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets   163,221   163,509   164,466     163,669   164,960
    AVERAGE TANGIBLE ASSETS $ 9,845,107 $ 9,757,124 $ 9,725,722   $ 9,737,595 $ 9,792,594
                 
    (f) Tangible equity divided by tangible assets. Tangible assets equal total assets less goodwill and other intangible assets, in each case at the end of the period.
                 
    RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL ASSETS TO TANGIBLE ASSETS:
      December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023      
    TOTAL ASSETS $ 9,805,350 $ 9,903,049 $ 9,836,453      
    Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets   163,032   163,320   164,247      
    TANGIBLE ASSETS $ 9,642,318 $ 9,739,729 $ 9,672,206      
                 
    (g) Efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing total other expense by the sum of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and other income. Fully taxable equivalent net interest income reconciliation is shown assuming a 21% corporate federal income tax rate. Additionally, net interest margin is calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis by dividing fully taxable equivalent net interest income by average interest earning assets, in each case during the applicable period.
                 
    RECONCILIATION OF FULLY TAXABLE EQUIVALENT NET INTEREST INCOME TO NET INTEREST INCOME
      THREE MONTHS ENDED   TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
      December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023   December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Interest income $ 133,613 $ 133,808 $ 125,206   $ 522,965 $ 471,670
    Fully taxable equivalent adjustment   617   594   838     2,432   3,726
    Fully taxable equivalent interest income $ 134,230 $ 134,402 $ 126,044   $ 525,397 $ 475,396
    Interest expense   30,168   32,694   30,132     124,946   98,557
    Fully taxable equivalent net interest income $ 104,062 $ 101,708 $ 95,912   $ 400,451 $ 376,839
                 
    (h) Adjustments to net income for each period presented are detailed in the non-GAAP reconciliations of net interest income, provision for credit losses, other income, other expense and tax effect of adjustments to net income.
    (i) The tax effect of adjustments to net income was calculated assuming a 21% corporate federal income tax rate.
    (j) Pre-tax, pre-provision (“PTPP”) net income is calculated as net income, plus income taxes, plus the provision for credit losses, in each case during the applicable period. PTPP net income is a common industry metric utilized in capital analysis and review. PTPP is used to assess the operating performance of Park while excluding the impact of the provision for credit losses.
                 
     
    RECONCILIATION OF PRE-TAX, PRE-PROVISION NET INCOME
      THREE MONTHS ENDED   TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
      December 31, 2024 September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023   December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
    Net income $ 38,630 $ 38,217 $ 24,500   $ 151,420 $ 126,734
    Plus: Income taxes   8,703   8,431   5,241     33,305   26,870
    Plus: Provision for credit losses   3,935   5,315   1,809     14,543   2,904
    Pre-tax, pre-provision net income $ 51,268 $ 51,963 $ 31,550   $ 199,268 $ 156,508
                 
    (k) Effective January 1, 2023, Park adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-02. Among other things, this ASU eliminated the concept of troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). As a result of the adoption of this ASU and elimination of the concept of TDRs, total nonperforming loans (“NPLs”) and total nonperforming assets (“NPAs”) each decreased by $20.1 million effective January 1, 2023. Additionally, as a result of the adoption of this ASU, individually evaluated loans decreased by $11.5 million effective January 1, 2023.
     

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Crash blocks Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Fergusson Drive is currently blocked near the Silverstream Bridge following a crash.

    The two-vehicle crash occurred just before 9am.

    No injuries have been reported.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

    ENDS

    issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI: Financial Institutions, Inc. Appoints Angela J. Panzarella to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WARSAW, N.Y., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI) (the “Company”), the parent company of Five Star Bank (the “Bank”) and Courier Capital, LLC, today announced the appointment of Angela J. Panzarella as a new independent member of the Boards of Directors of both the Company and the Bank, on January 22, 2025.

    Ms. Panzarella brings extensive business and nonprofit leadership experience, including as CEO of the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County from 2018 to 2020 and through her 20-year tenure with Bausch + Lomb, as well as prior public company board experience. During her eight years of board service to publicly-traded Transcat, Inc., a Rochester-based calibration services and equipment provider, she served as Chair of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Technology and Governance Committees. Ms. Panzarella’s appointment increases the size of the Company’s Board to twelve members, eleven of whom are independent and three of whom were appointed within the last four years. She will serve on the Audit and Management Development & Compensation Committees.

    “We are incredibly pleased to welcome Angela Panzarella to the Boards of Directors of both Financial Institutions, Inc. and Five Star Bank,” said Susan R. Holliday, Chair of the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank. “Having spent the majority of her career in the highly regulated health care industry, we expect that her experience overseeing corporate strategy, financial and business operations, business development, and more, will prove to be a tremendous asset as our Company continues to execute on its long-term strategy.”

    “Angela is not only a seasoned executive with a proven ability to develop and execute successful business strategies that drive strong financial outcomes, often on a global scale, but a respected leader in the Greater Rochester community, a key growth market for us,” said Martin K. Birmingham, President, CEO and Director of the Company and the Bank. “As we continue to grow and evolve as a company, we look forward to benefitting from her perspective and counsel.”

    Prior to joining the YWCA, Ms. Panzarella served as President of ACM Medical Laboratory, Inc., a leader in clinical and global central laboratory services. From 1988 to 2008, she held a variety of executive and legal roles at Bausch + Lomb, most recently as President of the Canada and Latin American Division and Corporate Vice President of Global Vision Care. She began her career as an attorney with Harris Beach PLLC.

    Active in the community, Ms. Panzarella previously served on the boards of directors for UR Medicine Home Care and the United Way of Greater Rochester. She earned her B.A. from St. John Fisher College and J.D. from the Albany Law School of Union University.

    About Financial Institutions, Inc.
    Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI) is a financial holding company with approximately $6.2 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, financial planning and consulting services to individuals and families, businesses, institutions, non-profits and retirement plans. Learn more at Five-StarBank.com and FISI-Investors.com.

    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 “believe,” “anticipate,” “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; 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 the impact of a pandemic or 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.

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd49cdb2-c77b-4d34-9745-23f9029a6398

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Nasdaq Announces Mid-Month Open Short Interest Positions in Nasdaq Stocks as of Settlement Date January 15, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the end of the settlement date of January 15, 2025, short interest in 3,099 Nasdaq Global MarketSM securities totaled 12,402,417,655 shares compared with 12,137,206,474 shares in 3,085 Global Market issues reported for the prior settlement date of December 31, 2024. The mid-January short interest represents 2.56 days compared with 2.50 days for the prior reporting period.

    Short interest in 1,635 securities on The Nasdaq Capital MarketSM totaled 2,424,890,788 shares at the end of the settlement date of January 15, 2025, compared with 2,331,105,942 shares in 1,643 securities for the previous reporting period. This represents a 1.00 day average daily volume; the previous reporting period’s figure was 1.00.

    In summary, short interest in all 4,734 Nasdaq® securities totaled 14,827,308,443 shares at the January 15, 2025 settlement date, compared with 4,728 issues and 14,468,312,416 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This is 1.82 days average daily volume, compared with an average of 1.78 days for the prior reporting period.

    The open short interest positions reported for each Nasdaq security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is generally understood to mean the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller.

    For more information on Nasdaq Short interest positions, including publication dates, visit http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/short-interest.aspx or http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/short_interest.asp.

    About Nasdaq:
    Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions, and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on X @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

    Media Contact:
    Jennifer Lawson
    jennifer.lawson@nasdaq.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d7a3942-1329-4f8e-8919-a36537776f50

    NDAQO

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Booker, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Designating January as Muslim-American Heritage Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and 8 of their Senate colleagues, along with U.S. Representative André Carson (D, IN-07), in introducing a resolution recognizing January as Muslim-American Heritage Month and celebrating the achievements of Muslims living in the United States. The resolution highlights the incredible contributions Muslim Americans have made across multiple sectors of society—from medical professionals to entrepreneurs, to faith leaders, athletes, and public servants—to help build a better nation.
    The resolution further notes the religious discrimination experienced by Muslim Americans, saying: “nearly 50 percent of Muslim Americans have reported experiencing religious discrimination, with that number rising to 64 percent for Muslim Americans whose appearance identifies them as Muslim, such as women who wear the hijab or headscarf.”
    The resolution stresses the “need for public education, awareness, and policies that are culturally competent when describing, discussing, or addressing the impacts of being Muslim American in all aspects of the society of the United States.”
    “I’m proud to join my colleagues once again in celebrating Muslim-American Heritage Month this January,” said Senator Murray. “Their voices and contributions are integral to the American story. I will always stand with Muslim-Americans—in Washington and all across our country—and speak up against hate and intolerance.”
    In addition to Senators Murray and Booker, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
    The full text of the resolution can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Melfort — Melfort RCMP investigating fatal collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On January 24, 2025 at approximately 12:30 p.m., Melfort RCMP received a report of a collision on Highway #41 in the RM of Flett’s Springs.

    Officers immediately responded. Investigation determined two SUVs collided.

    One SUV had three occupants. All three were declared deceased by EMS at the scene. They have been identified as a 70-year-old female from Crystal Springs, a 42-year-old female from Saskatoon and a 44-year-old male from Saskatoon. Their families have been notified.

    The driver of the other SUV, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, was taken to hospital for injuries described as non-life-threatening in nature.

    Highway #41 was closed during initial investigation but has since re-opened. Melfort RCMP continue to investigate with the assistance of a Saskatchewan RCMP collision reconstructionist.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Moose Jaw — Moose Jaw RCMP investigating fatal rollover

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On January 25, 2025 at approximately 9:55 p.m., Moose Jaw RCMP received a report of a rollover on Highway #1 near Parkbeg, SK.

    Officers immediately responded. The driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, was declared deceased by EMS at the scene.

    He has been identified as a 48-year-old from Dinsmore, SK. His family has been notified.

    Moose Jaw RCMP continue to investigate with the assistance of a Saskatchewan RCMP collision reconstructionist.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Statement On Trump Gutting Federal School Safety Advisory Board

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    January 27, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Friday released a statement on the Trump administration terminating the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse Advisory Board, a 26-person committee created by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act:
    “President Trump doesn’t care about keeping our kids safe from gun violence. First, he shuttered the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Now, he has terminated all 26 members – from the parents of school shooting victims to directors of widely trusted school safety organizations– currently serving on a nonpartisan board created by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to make classrooms safer. This board is enshrined in law and to remove these members without any reason shows how little he cares about our kids and the challenge school leaders face in keeping them safe. President Trump should reinstate these members immediately and stop playing politics with our children’s safety.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Schumer, Murray, Kim Lead 47 Senators In Introducing Resolution Condemning Trump’s Pardons Of Jan. 6 Rioters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    January 27, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) on Monday led a group of 47 senators, including U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), in introducing a new resolution condemning the pardons of individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers. The resolution follows the move by President Trump, on the first day of his second term, to grant full, complete, and unconditional pardons to over 1,500 people charged with committing crimes in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and to commute the sentences of 14 others, including leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers— far-right militias. Among those pardoned by Trump were 169 people who pled guilty to assaulting police officers on January 6th.  During the siege of the Capitol that day, over 80 U.S. Capitol Police Officers were assaulted, as well as over 60 officers from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
    The senators’ resolution, Condemning the pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers, simply states: “Resolved, That the Senate disapproves of any pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police officers.” Murphy and Blumenthal will seek unanimous consent on the Senate floor to pass the resolution.
    “Trump’s pardons of January 6th rioters who viciously assaulted law enforcement officers send a dangerous message: if you’re willing to commit violence in his name, there are no consequences,” said Murphy. “This endorsement of political violence not only undermines our justice system, but it also makes our nation less safe and emboldens those who would attack our democracy.”
    “President Trump’s blanket pardons of armed insurrectionists, who were convicted by juries of everyday Americans, is the ultimate disrespect for police officers who were brutally assaulted on January 6,” said Blumenthal. “These sickening pardons are a clear endorsement of political violence and discredit justice and the rule of law. I urge my Republican colleagues who were protected that terrible day—and who now stay silent—to join in condemning the violence that occurred and standing with the officers who put their lives on the line for their safety.”
    U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the resolution. In total, 46 senators signed onto the resolution.
    Full text of the resolution is available HERE.
    According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, approximately 1,572 defendants have been federally charged with crimes associated with the attack of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. This includes approximately 598 charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder, including approximately 171 defendants charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer. As proven in court, the weapons used and carried on Capitol grounds during the January 6th attack include firearms; OC spray; tasers; edged weapons, including a sword, axes, hatchets, and knives; and makeshift weapons, such as destroyed office furniture, fencing, bike racks, stolen riot shields, baseball bats, hockey sticks, flagpoles, PVC piping, and reinforced knuckle gloves.
    Among others, the individuals who assaulted law enforcement officers and were granted full, unconditional pardons by President Trump this week include:
    Taylor James Johnatakis, of Kingston, Washington, was convicted of three felonies in November 2023, including assaulting officers. Prosecutors said that he “coordinated a violent assault on a line of police officers defending” the Capitol and that video shows he “used a metal barricade to attack officers head on and grabbed one officer to prevent him from defending himself against other attacking rioters.”
    Julian Khater, who assaulted a U.S. police office—Brian Sicknick—and later pled guilty to assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon.
    Robert Palmer, who attacked police with a fire extinguisher, a wooden plank, and a pole.
    Tyler Bradley Dykes of Bluffton, South Carolina, who was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for stealing a police riot shield and twice using it against officers. He pleaded guilty to two felony counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers.
    Devlyn Thompson, who hit a police officer with a metal baton.
    Andrew Taake, of Houston, Texas, who was sentenced to a little more than six years for assaulting law enforcement officers with bear spray and a metal whip.
    Christopher Quaglin, who federal prosecutors said “viciously assaulted numerous officers” and was one of the most violent rioters, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
    David Dempsey, who, according to prosecutors, “was one of the most violent rioters,” and received 20 years in prison. Prosecutors also said Dempsey had a “very significant history of arrests and convictions” prior to the January 6th attack.
    Daniel Rodriguez, of Fontana, California, who plunged a stun gun into the neck of Washington Police Officer Michael Fanone multiple times.
    Ryan Nichols, of Longview, Texas, who assaulted officers with pepper spray, and later on Jan. 6, at his hotel room, he called for additional violence.
    Howard Richardson, of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, who struck a police officer three times with a flagpole, hard enough to break the flagpole.
    Robert Sanford, from Chester, Pennsylvania, who hit two police officers in the head with a fire extinguisher and threw a traffic cone at another officer.
    Jonathan Munafo, of Albany, New York, who punched a police officer, stole the officer’s riot shield, and struck a Capitol office window with two poles.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Management of Natura 2000 sites: the Habitats Directive and the case of the Bagnoli-Coroglio site of national interest – E-000198/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000198/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Raffaele Topo (S&D), Irene Tinagli (S&D), Pina Picierno (S&D), Giuseppe Lupo (S&D), Annalisa Corrado (S&D), Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Antonio Decaro (S&D)

    Part of the environmental rehabilitation and urban regeneration programme for the Bagnoli-Coroglio Site of National Interest, ‘Upgrading the Arena San Antonio (ASA) wastewater collector and its coastal sewage outfall points’ is a project which will double the collector’s capacity and will consequently also provide for the opening of new coastal bypass outlets located within the Special Area of Conservation ‘Fondali marini di Gaiola e Nisida’ (IT8030041), which is part of the Natura 2000 Network.

    Managed by Invitalia, this project was approved by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and is being funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

    Though the Coroglio wastewater pre-treatment plant’s bypass outlet has been contaminating the local waters for years, a positive impact assessment has been annexed to the Ministry’s project. In total, 88 negative opinions – half of which authored by biologists and specialists – have been issued concerning the project. A number of citizens, associations and other bodies also oppose the plan to increase the ASA collector’s capacity for the reasons we have outlined.

    In view of the above, what steps will the Commission take to check that the project approved by the Italian Ministry of the Environment is not in breach of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC?

    Submitted: 17.1.2025

    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – DCAM in the DROI Subcommittee Meeting on 27 January 2025 – Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America, including the EU-Central America Association Parliamentary Committee

    Source: European Parliament

    The Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and in association with the Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America (DCAM) held an Exchange of views on the human rights situation in Nicaragua on 27 January 2025 in its meeting.

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Imported fish contaminated with microplastics – E-000225/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000225/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR), Galato Alexandraki (ECR)

    Dangerous microplastics have now been detected in six popular species of fish – the main one being pink shrimp, as reported by scientists from the College of Agricultural Sciences in Oregon. Microplastics – pieces of plastic with a diameter of less than 5 mm and invisible to the naked eye – have been linked to severe health issues, such as cancer. Microplastics were found in 99 % of the samples taken by the Oregon scientists, who carried out a laboratory analysis of more than 1 800 individual marine creatures. The study was carried out in Pacific waters, but similar data has been collected in other seas that have been polluted with plastics. The researchers took 182 samples from six species, two of which are likely being imported into the EU, namely pink shrimp and chinook salmon.

    In view of the above, can the Commission say:

    • 1.Does it plan to ban – or at least step up checks on – imports of these two fish species into the EU?
    • 2.Does it have a list of the main fish imports to be checked for microplastics as a matter of priority, with references to the country of origin?
    • 3.Which European countries have the best practices for dealing with plastic contamination/pollution?

    Submitted: 20.1.2025

    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – ‘Demographic change in Europe: a toolbox for action’ – European Social Fund Plus – E-000215/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000215/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Idoia Mendia (S&D)

    In October 2023, the Commission adopted a communication[1] presenting a set of policy tools available to the Member States for managing demographic change and its impact on the EU’s society and economy, including its global competitiveness, named ‘Demographic change in Europe: a toolbox for action’.

    To reinforce data and evidence on ageing and demographic change in the EU, the Commission committed to ensuring that, in 2024, the employment and social innovation strand of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) would address key aspects of demographic developments, such as ageing and long-term care. Additionally, it pledged to publish a study by 2025 on the implications of the rising need for long-term care.

    • 1.How did the ESF+ address the rising need for long-term care as a key aspect of demographic change in 2024, including the projects developed and the budget allocated to this area?
    • 2.When will the study on the implications of the rising need for long-term care be published and presented to Parliament?

    Submitted: 20.1.2025

    • [1] Commission communication of 11 October 2023 entitled ‘Demographic change in Europe: a toolbox for action’ (COM(2023)0577), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52023DC0577.
    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Suspension of shipping services in Spanish and European ports – E-000221/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000221/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (PPE), Borja Giménez Larraz (PPE)

    On 13 January 2025, the Danish shipping company Maersk announced that its MECL service, which connects the Middle East and India with the United States, will stop calling at one of the main ports in southern Europe – the port of Algeciras in Spain – and will instead call at the Moroccan port of Tanger Med. Similarly, in February 2024 the German freight shipping company Hapag-Lloyd decided to suspend calls at the port of Valencia to relocate to the other side of the Mediterranean.

    These relocations are two blatant cases of carbon leakage, as the shipping companies will be exempted from EU ETS charges which, since January 2024, apply a surcharge on shipping freight.

    I would therefore like to ask the Commission:

    • 1.Given that competitiveness is one of the pillars of the new Commission, what measures will it adopt to ensure that European ports such as Algeciras and Valencia remain attractive and relevant for the main international trade routes?
    • 2.What measures will it take to stem this carbon leakage to other ports and maintain the competitiveness of the European Union?

    Submitted: 20.1.2025

    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Rules applied by the Commission to determine whether an impact assessment will precede a legislative proposal – E-000226/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000226/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Auke Zijlstra (PfE), Ton Diepeveen (PfE)

    The principles of good governance require the Commission to carry out an impact assessment prior to a legislative initiative, with the aim being to evaluate the potential economic, social and environmental consequences of the proposed legislation in question. Increasingly though, on the pretext of urgency or owing to ‘the nature of the proposal’, the Commission decides not to carry out an impact assessment. Recent examples of this include the European sanctions against Russia, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the State Aid Temporary Framework, certain measures on customs and border controls owing to Brexit, the European Digital Identity Regulation and the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova.

    In its proposal for a regulation COM/2024/0469, we are even told the following in Chapter 3, 4th indent: ‘An assessment in the form of a Commission staff working document supporting the proposal will be prepared within 3 months of the regulation’s adoption.’

    • 1.What rules does the Commission apply to determine whether an impact assessment will be carried out as part of the preparation of a legislative proposal?
    • 2.Does the Commission agree that the credibility of an impact assessment is undermined when it is stated prior to such an assessment that the outcome thereof will be positive?

    Submitted: 20.1.2025

    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Netherlands: Samotics secures €20 million EIB financing to accelerate the transformation of industrial efficiency and reliability with AI

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • Dutch-based leader in electrical data analytics for condition and energy efficiency monitoring signs €20 million financing with European Investment Bank.
    • Samotics will use the funds to accelerate the research and development on its technology, which can boost reliability and energy efficiency in electrical motors using AI.
    • The EIB financing is supported by the European Commission under its InvestEU initiative.

    Dutch-based electrical data analytics company Samotics has signed a €20 million financing agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to accelerate its research and development activities. The EIB’s investment will enhance the company’s solutions regarding the monitoring of machine health and energy efficiency, while accelerating work on its next-generation integrated solution, planned for launch this year. The funding aligns with Samotics’ mission to make industries more reliable, efficient, and sustainable.

    The EIB Group wants to accelerate digitalisation and innovation in Industry 4.0 related technology, such as artificial intelligence and microchips, as this kind of innovation is key to Europe’s green and digital transitions, and crucial in ensuring its technological and strategic autonomy. Reliability and energy efficiency are instrumental for Europe’s public and private efforts for decarbonisation and sustainability across different sectors. The EIB’s financing benefits from the backing of the “Future Tech” guarantee within the InvestEU initiative of the European Commission.

    “This is one those applications where the use of artificial intelligence can really make a difference.“ stated EIB Vice President Robert de Groot. “It highlights that modern challenges require modern solutions, and this intelligent way to pre-empting problems and optimising energy efficiency is an important element in our decarbonisation journey. As part of our commitment to supporting technology and innovations critical for Europe’s competitiveness, we are proud to back Samotics.”.

    This funding from the EIB highlights the trust placed in our technology and its potential to revolutionise industrial reliability and sustainability. It’s a defining moment for Samotics as we further accelerate our growth and innovation journey,” said Jasper Hoogeweegen, CEO of Samotics.

    The electrical signature analysis (ESA) that Samotics technology applies, relies on the principle that subtle changes in the operational characteristics of an electrical motor, often occurring before a failure, impact the machine’s magnetic field. This affects the supply voltage and operating current, and by using various analytical techniques, ESA provides a comprehensive overview of the entire powertrain, from motor to transmission to load, to accurately predict faults.

    Samotics’ system specifically focuses on AI driven monitoring and analysis to predict malfunctioning, detect energy inefficiencies and provide actionable recommendations. The system can be installed directly in the electric cabinet, avoiding the need to access the often-inaccessible motors. The predictive analytics for malfunction detection are vital, as these motors typically support critical infrastructure where unplanned downtime is unacceptable, and the costs of complete failure are high. Additionally, identifying and correcting energy inefficiencies can significantly reduce operating costs.

    Background information:

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The Netherlands owns a 5,2% share of the EIB. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals and national priorities. More than 90% of its activity is in Europe. Over the last ten years, the EIB has made available more than €27 billion in financing for Dutch projects in various sectors, including research & development, sustainable mobility, drinking water, healthcare and SMEs. The EIB will announce its 2024 annual figures on January 30th 2025.

    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments previously available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    Samotics is a leading company in electrical data analytics for condition and energy efficiency monitoring. It has developed a predictive maintenance and energy efficiency optimisation solution for industrial companies based on Electrical Signature Analysis. The company’s system specifically focuses on monitoring and analysing electric motors to detect energy inefficiencies and predict malfunctioning through Artificial Intelligence driven recommendations.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova – E-000186/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000186/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Auke Zijlstra (PfE)

    There are currently strong calls for Moldova to join the EU as soon as possible. To this end, the Commission has proposed a regulation on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova[1]. The following questions arise in this regard:

    • 1.It is stated on page 4 of the regulation that ‘a formal stakeholder consultation could not be carried out due to the urgency of preparing the proposal’. Page 5 further mentions that an ‘impact assessment’ will be carried out only after adoption of the regulation. Also at the meeting of the Moldova delegation on 10 December, DG NEAR appeared to be in a great hurry. What is the reason for all of this?
    • 2.Moldova is required to ‘fight disinformation’[2]. Can the Commission explain what is meant exactly by ‘disinformation’?
    • 3.EU financial assistance to Moldova may be reduced in case of problems, except if such assistance concerns ‘civil society’[3]. Can the Commission clarify which ‘civil society organisations’ in Moldova are the intended interlocutors/partners and/or final recipients of EU funds?

    Submitted: 16.1.2025

    • [1] COM(2024)469final.
    • [2] CONF-MD 2, AD11/24, p.16.
    • [3] CONF-MD 2, 21 June 2024, AD 11/24, p. 15.
    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Problematic environmental footprint of heat pumps – E-002528/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Heat pump is a key technology to decarbonise the heating and cooling sector[1]. In the building sector, replacing a boiler by a heat pump in the EU allows to reduce the gas consumption by 95% or more and has thus been identified in the REPowerEU plan[2] as one of the means to reduce fossil fuel consumption, gas in particular.

    The Commission is working on reducing the environmental impacts of heat pumps beyond their effect on gas consumption and on their CO2 emission reduction and will present in that direction revised ecodesign requirements for space heaters, including heat pumps, in 2025.

    Environmental impacts and circularity of wind turbines are extensively studied and covered in Commission’s reports[3]. A sustainability assessment is given in the Annex 2 of the Clean Energy Technology Observatory (CETO)[4].

    As regards cars, a study on the life-cycle assessment of conventional and alternatively fuelled vehicles showed that battery electric vehicles score best for most of the environmental impact categories[5].

    The Commission is working on the development of a methodology for the assessment and the consistent data reporting of the full life-cycle CO2 emissions of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles under Regulation (EU) 2019/631[6].

    The Commission evaluated the REPowerEU plan in 2024[7]. Over the past 2 years, it has helped the EU save energy (including 18% natural gas savings), diversify its supplies, reduce energy prices, produce clean energy and smartly combine investments and reforms.

    • [1] IEA, 2024, Energy technology perspectives.
    • [2] Communication REPowerEU Plan COM(2022)230.
    • [3] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2024-000347-ASW_EN.html#def1
    • [4] European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Mc Govern, L., Tapoglou, E., Georgakaki, A., Mountraki, A., Letout, S., Ince, E., Gea Bermudez, J., Schmitz, A. and Grabowska, M., Clean Energy Technology Observatory: Wind Energy in the European Union — 2024 Status Report on Technology Development, Trends, Value Chains and Markets, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/0882709, JRC139320.
    • [5] European Commission: Directorate-General for Climate Action, Hill, N., Amaral, S., Morgan-Price, S., Nokes, T. et al., Determining the environmental impacts of conventional and alternatively fuelled vehicles through LCA — Final report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2020, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2834/91418
    • [6] Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles .
    • [7] https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/markets-and-consumers/actions-and-measures-energy-prices/repowereu-2-years_en
    Last updated: 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Malta Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Randolph De Battista, the new Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. De Battista had been serving as a member of Parliament in Malta’s House of Representatives since 2022.  He was Chief Executive Officer of Malta’s Labour Party Partit Laburista for two separate terms, from 2022 to 2024 and from 2017 to 2020.  He worked as Chef de Cabinet in the office of Malta’s Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels from 2014 to 2017 and as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Union Affairs in Malta from 2013 to 2014.

    Mr. De Battista began his career as a reporter.  He worked as editor of an online media portal from April 2021 to April 2022. He has a Doctor of Laws (2012), a Diploma of Notary Public (2010), and a Bachelor of Laws (2009), all from the University of Malta. 

    _________

    CR.25.047E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Invites Media to Pre-Super Bowl Tours at New Orleans Facility

    Source: NASA

    Media are invited to visit NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans between Tuesday, Feb. 4, and Thursday, Feb. 6, ahead of Super Bowl LIX for an inside look America’s rocket factory, as well as interview agency experts.
    During this behind-the-scenes visit, media will tour NASA’s location for the manufacturing and production of large-scale space structures and see hardware that will carry astronauts back to the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign.
    Registered members of the media will have the opportunity to:

    Capture images and video of hardware NASA Michoud is building for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and SLS exploration upper stage for the agency’s Artemis campaign.
    Tour special locations around NASA Michoud, one of the largest facilities in the world, with 43 acres of manufacturing space under one roof — a space large enough to contain more than 31 professional football fields.
    Learn about NASA’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and welding equipment — including the world’s largest friction-stir welding tool.

    Media must RSVP no later than 6 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 30, to Jonathan Deal at: jonathan.deal@nasa.gov and Craig Betbeze at: craig.c.betbeze@nasa.gov. Please indicate a preferred date to visit between Feb. 4 and Feb. 6. This event is open to U.S. media. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online.
    Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.
    Learn more about NASA’s Artemis campaign:
    https://www.nasa.gov/artemis
    -end- 
    Rachel KraftNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1100rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov
    Jonathan DealMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. 256-544-0034 jonathan.e.deal@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Brooklyn Park Men Plead Guilty to Trafficking Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Two Brooklyn Park men have pleaded guilty in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine throughout central and northern Minnesota, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

    According to court documents, on June 22, 2024, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper initiated the traffic stop of a white Ford Expedition on Highway 10 in Royalton, Minnesota. As the trooper approached the vehicle, he noticed several indications of drug trafficking activity including a single screwdriver, flashlight, black electric tape, loose panels and molding around the radio and center console, and a marijuana pipe, as well as a marijuana blunt roach and flakes all over the center console. The driver, Dillon Peter-Cody Clemens, 38, and his passenger, Jacob Seth Cobb, 30, both had revoked driver’s licenses. Clemens and Cobb claimed to be on their way to Motley, Minnesota, to purchase a motorcycle but could not provide the name or street address of the seller. The trooper deployed his K9 to search the vehicle, and the K9 alerted to the driver’s side door seam. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed what appeared to be a one-pound package of methamphetamine. Clemens and Cobb were subsequently arrested.

    Clemens and Cobb were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Clemens pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Cobb also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine before Judge Menendez on January 21, 2025. Their sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota State Patrol and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Syngen Kanassatega is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Willis Aviation Services Limited and TUI Airways Forge Transformative Long-Term Base Maintenance Partnership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and global provider of aviation services, announces its subsidiary, Willis Aviation Services Limited (“WASL”), a leading aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) provider, has entered into a long-term General Terms Agreement with TUI Airways (“TUI”) to provide long-term base maintenance on TUI’s narrowbody aircraft, starting with two Boeing 737NG maintenance checks. Utilizing its specialized knowledge, WASL will conduct comprehensive base maintenance services for TUI at its expanding facility located at Teesside International Airport in Northeastern England.

    “We are thrilled to collaborate with TUI Airways, a highly regarded airline recognized for its customer-centric approach and operational excellence. This partnership underscores our dedication to providing top-tier MRO solutions, supporting TUI’s fleet, and contributing to local economic growth by creating skilled job opportunities within the UK aerospace industry,” said Austin C. Willis, Chief Executive Officer of WLFC.

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation
    Willis Lease Finance Corporation (“WLFC”) leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services through Willis Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services.

    Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing  and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

    CONTACT: Lynn Mailliard Kohler
      Director, Global Corporate Communications
      (415) 328-4798
       

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Members consider China’s request for panel to examine electric vehicle measures in Türkiye

    Source: World Trade Organization

    DS629: Türkiye — Measures Concerning Electric Vehicles and Other Types of Vehicles from China

    China submitted a request for the establishment of a dispute panel to rule on various measures taken by Türkiye concerning electric vehicles (“EVs”) and certain other types of vehicles originating in China. Consultations took place on 20-21 November in an effort to resolve the dispute but failed to produce a mutually agreed solution, prompting China to submit its request for the panel. 

    China said Türkiye’s measures are protectionist and discriminatory, and violate Türkiye’s core obligations under the WTO agreements, including most favoured nation treatment, tariff bindings, and general elimination of quantitative restrictions. China expressed grave concerns that some members, including Türkiye, have introduced restrictive measures on Chinese new energy products, including EVs, which are inconsistent with WTO rules. Increased tech protectionism is not a solution, China said, adding that the panel request is one of the responses to such unlawful measures.

    Türkiye said the two sides had constructive consultations in November 2024 and that it shared information and clarifications with its Chinese colleagues in a cooperative manner. Türkiye said its measures are completely justified against the backdrop of the strong challenges its automotive industry has been facing for many years due to anti-competitive practices, subsidization, and excess capacity. These problems should be addressed in the relevant WTO bodies for a level playing field in industrial sectors. Against that background, Türkiye said it cannot at this time agree to the establishment of a panel.

    The DSB took note of the statements and agreed to revert to this matter should the requesting member wish to do so.

    DS597: United States – Origin Marking Requirement (Hong Kong, China)

    The United States once again raised the matter of the panel ruling in DS597 at the DSB meeting. The US said it was raising the matter as a result of recent developments in Hong Kong, China regarding free speech and human rights.  The US referred back to its previous statements regarding its position on essential security and its reasons for placing this item on the DSB agenda.

    Hong Kong, China said the US again raising this matter and questioning its inherent rights under international law was an abuse of WTO rules. The panel ruling clearly confirms that the US action lacks legal justification, Hong Kong, China said, adding that it stands ready to proceed through the due process of appeal should the US lift its blockage on the appointment of Appellate Body members.

    China reiterated its objections to the item being on the DSB agenda and said any member, regardless of its power and size, should refrain from taking unilateral and protectionism measures in the name of national security or using it as a vehicle to disregard the core principles of the WTO and interfere in other members’ internal affairs.

    Appellate Body appointments

    Colombia, speaking on behalf of 130 members, introduced for the 83rd time the group’s proposal to start the selection processes for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body. The extensive number of members submitting the proposal reflects a common interest in the functioning of the Appellate Body and, more generally, in the functioning of the WTO’s dispute settlement system, Colombia said.

    The United States noted that a new US President was inaugurated on 20 January, and the US is currently transitioning to a new Administration.  Members are aware of the longstanding US concerns with WTO dispute settlement that have persisted across US administrations; those concerns remain unaddressed and it does not support the proposed decision, the United States said.

    Twenty members then took the floor to comment. Most reiterated their support for the joint proposal and for the urgent need to restore a fully functioning dispute settlement system as soon as possible. Many welcomed the progress made in the dispute settlement reform discussions to date and the proposal by the General Council Chair to initiate consultations with interested delegations to hear views on how to build on progress made in a manner that would further advance dispute settlement reform work.

    Several members said they looked forward to hearing from the Chair on how those consultations would be organized.  Ten members urged others to consider joining the Multi-party interim appeal arrangement (MPIA), a contingent measure to safeguard the right to appeal in the absence of a functioning Appellate Body. 

    Colombia said on behalf of the 130 members it regretted that for the 83rd occasion members have not been able to launch the selection processes. Ongoing conversations about reform of the dispute settlement system should not prevent the Appellate Body from continuing to operate fully, and members shall comply with their obligation under the Dispute Settlement Understanding to fill the vacancies as they arise, Colombia said for the group.

    Surveillance of implementation

    Australia presented a status report regarding its implementation of the panel ruling in the case brought by China in DS603, “Australia — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty Measures on Certain Products from China.”  Australia said it provided a written status report in this dispute on 16 January noting that Australia has fully implemented the ruling and that the matter is now resolved.

    China thanked Australia for its statement and said this case demonstrates the effectiveness of the WTO dispute settlement system. At a time when the multilateral trading system faces unprecedented challenges, cooperation among members is vital to maintaining the effective operation of the dispute settlement mechanism, China said.  China added that it is ready to work with Australia and other members to continue to resolve trade frictions under the WTO framework.

    The United States presented status reports with regard to DS184, “US — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Products from Japan”,  DS160, “United States — Section 110(5) of US Copyright Act”, DS464, “United States — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on Large Residential Washers from Korea”, and DS471, “United States — Certain Methodologies and their Application to Anti-Dumping Proceedings Involving China.”

    The European Union presented a status report with regard to DS291, “EC — Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products.”

    Indonesia presented its status reports in DS477 and DS478, “Indonesia — Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and Animal Products.” 

    Next meeting

    The next regular DSB meeting will take place on 24 February 2025.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Deadly Attack on Hospital in Darfur

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

    The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack that hit the Saudi Teaching Hospital in El Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur state on 24 January, in which at least 70 patients and their relatives were reportedly killed, with dozens more wounded.

    This appalling attack which affected the only functioning hospital in Darfur’s largest city comes after more than 21 months of war have left much of Sudan’s healthcare system in tatters.

    The Secretary-General reiterates that, under international humanitarian law, the wounded and sick, as well as medical personnel and medical facilities, must be respected and protected at all times.  He further recalls that perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable, and that the deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities may constitute a war crime.

    The Secretary-General renews his appeal for the parties to immediately cease the fighting and take steps towards the lasting peace that the people of Sudan demand.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Taking a stand against antisemitism

    Since Oct. 7, 2023, when the Jewish community in Israel faced its largest targeted and deadly attacks since the Holocaust, antisemitism has been on the rise around the world. There is no place for hate, discrimination and racism in Alberta and the classroom is no exception. To make sure all students, including those from the Jewish community feel safe, welcomed and cared for in the classroom, Alberta’s government will ensure that the new draft grades 7 to 9 social studies curriculum will teach students about the prejudice that groups face.

    As part of curriculum development, Alberta’s government engaged extensively with education partners and Jewish organizations in 2023-24 to inform the development of social studies curriculum. Later this winter, additional engagement will begin to ensure that inclusion of this content in the new curriculum will enable students to take a stand against rising antisemitism.

    “I firmly believe we must do everything possible to combat rising antisemitism and educate young Albertans about the realities of antisemitism. Ensuring all students learn about the injustices faced by those who historically were, and continue to be, marginalized, or who have experienced discrimination will help us confront hate and build stronger communities.”

    Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

    The inclusion of antisemitism in the new draft grades 7 to 9 social studies curriculum builds upon the Alberta government’s commitment to have students learn about injustices faced by those who historically were, and continue to be, marginalized, or who have experienced discrimination. In November 2023, Alberta’s government made Holocaust education a mandatory component of the social studies curriculum and the newly developed draft K to 6 social studies curriculum also includes content on antisemitism.

    “The Calgary Jewish Federation applauds Alberta’s government for taking meaningful action in combating the spread of antisemitism through this critical initiative. We also look forward to continuing to work with Alberta’s government on the implementation of Holocaust education in our schools.”

    Rob Nagus, chief executive officer, Calgary Jewish Federation

    “The Jewish Federation of Edmonton commends the Alberta government for both reaffirming its commitment to mandatory Holocaust education and for equipping students to take a stand against rising antisemitism. By ensuring these critical lessons are part of the learning experience for students, we are fostering empathy, understanding and resilience in future generations. We look forward to further collaborating with Alberta Education in making sure these important teachings are delivered effectively across all grades.”

    Stacey Leavitt-Wright, chief executive officer, Jewish Federation of Edmonton

    Alberta Education will continue engaging with the Calgary Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Edmonton, and other Jewish organizations as work on the draft social studies curriculum continues. Feedback from these organizations will be used in the decision-making process about when and where students learn about antisemitism in junior high.

    Quick facts

    • In Alberta’s current K to 12 social studies curriculum, students learn about injustices faced by those who historically were, and continue to be, marginalized, or who have experienced discrimination.
    • The new draft grades K to 6 social studies curriculum was released in April 2024 for optional classroom piloting, which began in September 2024 before implementation during the 2025-26 school year.

    Related news

    • Refined courses coming to classrooms | Cours améliorés prochainement dans les salles de classe (Nov 14, 2024)
    • New draft social studies curriculum ready to pilot | La nouvelle ébauche du curriculum d’études sociales prête pour la mise à l’essai (Apr 26, 2024)
    • Mandatory Holocaust education for Alberta students (Nov 10, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Padma Shri for Hariman Sharma: The Apple Man of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 27 JAN 2025 4:16PM by PIB Delhi

    Shri Hariman Sharma, a visionary farmer from Himachal Pradesh, has been honored with Padma Shri, the highest Civilian Award for his transformative contribution to Indian agriculture.  He developed an innovative, self- pollinating, low chilling apple variety called HRMN – 99, that has revolutionized the apple cultivation landscape in the country and brought a juicy nutritive variety more within reach in terms of geography and affordability.  

    Unlike commercial apple varieties that require temperate climates and extended chilling hours, HRMN-99 thrives in tropical, sub-tropical, and plain regions with summer temperatures reaching 40-45°C, enabling apple farming in areas where it was previously considered unviable.

    Orphaned during childhood, Hariman Sharma’s journey from the mountainous lanes of his tiny hamlet Paniala, located in Bilaspur (HP) to the great halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan is truly inspirational not only for the farming community, but also for the students, researchers and horticulturists of the country. Despite all odds, Shri Sharma completed his education till matric and pursued his passion for farming and pomology.

    The story of the HRMN-99 apple variety began in 1998 when Hariman Sharma planted a few seeds from discarded apples used for household consumption in his backyard. Remarkably, one of these seeds sprouted the following year, and by 2001, the plant bore fruit despite the warm climate of Paniala, situated at an elevation of 1,800 feet. Realizing its potential, he carefully tended to the mother plant and propagated it through grafting, eventually establishing a flourishing apple orchard.  Over the following decade, he focused on expanding his orchards by experimenting with various scions, grafting techniques and refining his innovative apple variety. Despite his efforts to share this breakthrough with regions having similar climatic conditions, his work initially garnered limited attention from both the farming and scientific communities.

    In 2012, the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, scouted this innovation. NIF verified the distinctness of the variety and supported its validation by facilitating molecular studies, fruit quality testing, and multi-location trials in collaboration with ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities, state agriculture departments, farmers and volunteers spread across the country. Through these collaborative efforts, the variety has expanded to 29 states and UTs, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Pondicherry, Himachal Pradesh as well as planted at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. NIF also facilitated the registration of the variety at the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, New Delhi.

    For his innovation, Shri Hariman Sharma was conferred the National Award in 2017 during the 9th National Biennial Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards by then Hon’ble President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee. He also has several accolades to his credit including the National Innovative Farmer Award by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry, GoI (2016), IARI Fellow Award (2017), Kisan Vaigyanik Upadhi by DDG, ICAR (2017), National Best Farmer Award (2018), Rashtriya Krishak Samrat Samman (2018) Jagjivan Ram Krishi Abhinav Award (2019) and several state and central government awards. He also represented India in the 4th ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF) held during November 2023 in Malaysia.

    The HRMN-99 variety, characterized by its striped red-over-yellow skin, soft and juicy pulp, and ability to produce up to 75 kg of fruit per plant annually, has empowered thousands of farmers across India. NIF also supported its commercial adoption, establishing apple orchards and providing training to in collaboration with the State Agriculture Departments and the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP) under North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER, Govt of India to transplant the variety through the North-eastern states at large scale, resulting over one lakhs of saplings of the variety have been planted in all NE states for providing an additional source of income to the farmers.

    Shri Hariman Sharma’s exceptional innovation has not only transformed apple cultivation in India but has also inspired innumerable farmers with additional income and better nutritional access. Through his efforts, the apple once considered rich man’s diet is in the reach of common man. Recognition of his efforts through the Padma Shri Award, stands as a testament to the transformative power of grassroots innovations in addressing national challenges and creating sustainable livelihoods, aligning with the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

     

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News