Category: Weather

  • MIL-OSI USA: California joins federal partners to enhance flood protection and wildlife habitat in Sacramento River Basin

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 23, 2024

    What you need to know: State and federal partners today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost cooperation on multi-benefit water projects in the Sacramento River Basin. 

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted a new agreement between state and federal partners to enhance collaboration on floodplain projects in the Sacramento River Basin that bolster flood protection and habitat for fish and wildlife.
     
    The MOU furthers state-federal coordination on the planning, design and implementation of multi-benefit floodplain projects in the Sacramento River Basin that increase flood protection, restore habitat and ecosystems, improve groundwater recharge and water supply reliability, and sustain farming and managed wetland operations. The agreement is backed by the Floodplain Forward Coalition comprised of landowners, irrigation districts, and higher education and conservation groups.

    “As California grapples with more extreme cycles of wet and dry, it’s more important than ever that we leverage our common interests to meet the needs of our communities, wildlife and economy. This state-federal partnership with support from wide-ranging stakeholders demonstrates the kind of collaborative solutions that can safeguard our communities, wildlife, businesses and water supplies in the face of climate impacts.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The MOU was signed today in Sacramento by representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Department of Water Resources, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
     
    Sacramento Valley bypasses are natural overflow areas that are critical to protecting farms, cities and communities from floodwaters. The lowlands also serve as essential habitat for many fish, birds and wildlife, including Chinook salmon, that have historically relied on the basin’s floodplains for food and habitat during their migrations.
     
    More information on the MOU can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Valley National Bancorp Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY), the holding company for Valley National Bank, today reported net income for the third quarter 2024 of $97.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share, as compared to the second quarter 2024 net income of $70.4 million, or $0.13 per diluted common share, and net income of $141.3 million, or $0.27 per diluted common share, for the third quarter 2023. Excluding all non-core income and charges, our adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) was $96.8 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share, for the third quarter 2024, $71.6 million, or $0.13 per diluted common share, for the second quarter 2024, and $136.4 million, or $0.26 per diluted common share, for the third quarter 2023. See further details below, including a reconciliation of our non-GAAP adjusted net income, in the “Consolidated Financial Highlights” tables.

    Ira Robbins, CEO, commented, “The third quarter’s financial results highlight the significant progress that we continue to make towards achieving our strategic balance sheet goals. On October 23, 2024, we entered into an agreement to sell performing commercial real estate loans expected to total over $800 million at a very modest discount of approximately 1 percent to a single investor. This economically compelling transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2024 and reflects the strength and desirability of our commercial real estate portfolio. We have executed on a variety of strategic transactions this year that have notably strengthened our balance sheet and enhanced our financial flexibility.”

    Mr. Robbins continued, “This quarter’s results also indicated the early stages of normalized profitability which we expect will accelerate as we enter 2025. Net interest income and non-interest income both improved meaningfully from the second quarter 2024, and our operating expenses were well-controlled and effectively unchanged on a year-over-year basis. While recent weather events weighed on the sequential provision improvement that we anticipated, our pre-provision earnings continued to improve during the third quarter and could set the stage for more stable results in the near future. And most importantly, our thoughts are with those affected by the recent hurricanes in our Florida markets and the other areas in the southeast. We are strongly committed to supporting our associates, clients and communities throughout the rebuilding and recovery process.”

    Key financial highlights for the third quarter 2024:

    • Net Interest Income and Margin: Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis of $411.8 million for the third quarter 2024 increased $8.8 million compared to the second quarter 2024 and decreased $1.8 million as compared to the third quarter 2023. Our net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis also increased by 2 basis points to 2.86 percent in the third quarter 2024 as compared to 2.84 percent for the second quarter 2024. The increases from the second quarter 2024 were mostly due to continued yield expansion on average loans and additional interest income and higher yields from targeted growth within our available for sale securities portfolio. See the “Net Interest Income and Margin” section below for more details.
    • Loan Portfolio: Total loans decreased $956.4 million, or 7.6 percent on an annualized basis, to $49.4 billion at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024 mostly due to the transfer of performing commercial real estate loans totaling $823.1 million, net of unearned fees, to loans held for sale at September 30, 2024 and normal repayment activity mainly within the commercial real estate non-owner occupied and multi-family loans, as we continue to actively reduce these loan categories. Our commercial and industrial loans grew $320.1 million, or 13.5 percent on an annualized basis, to $9.8 billion at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024 due to solid organic growth during the third quarter 2024. Residential mortgage and total consumer loans also increased modestly during the third quarter 2024. See the “Loans” section below for more details.
    • Deposits: Actual ending balances for deposits increased $283.8 million to $50.4 billion at September 30, 2024 as compared to $50.1 billion at June 30, 2024 mainly due to higher period-end direct commercial customer money market and non-interest bearing deposits, partially offset by a decline in time deposits. See the “Deposits” section below for more details.
    • Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses for Loans: The allowance for credit losses for loans totaled $564.7 million and $532.5 million at September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024, respectively, representing 1.14 percent and 1.06 percent of total loans at each respective date. During the third quarter 2024, we recorded a provision for credit losses for loans of $75.0 million as compared to $82.1 million and $9.1 million for the second quarter 2024 and third quarter 2023, respectively. The third quarter 2024 provision reflects, among other factors, increased quantitative reserves allocated to commercial real estate loans, significant commercial and industrial loan growth and $8.0 million of qualitative reserves related to the estimated impact of Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida in late September 2024.
    • Credit Quality: Non-accrual loans totaled $296.3 million, or 0.60 percent of total loans at September 30, 2024 as compared to $303.3 million, or 0.60 percent of total loans at June 30, 2024. Total accruing past due loans (i.e., loans past due 30 days or more and still accruing interest) increased to 0.35 percent of total loans at September 30, 2024 as compared to 0.14 percent at June 30, 2024 largely due to two well-secured commercial real estate loans at various stages of expected collection within the early stage delinquency categories. Net loan charge-offs totaled $42.9 million for the third quarter 2024 as compared to $36.8 million and $5.5 million for the second quarter 2024 and third quarter 2023, respectively. The loan charge-offs in the third quarter 2024 included partial charge-offs totaling a combined $30.1 million related to two commercial real estate loan relationships. See the “Credit Quality” section below for more details.
    • Non-Interest Income: Non-interest income increased $9.5 million to $60.7 million for the third quarter 2024 as compared to the second quarter 2024 mainly due to increases in other income; wealth management and trust fees; and service charges on deposits totaling $11.2 million, $2.0 million, and $1.6 million, respectively. The increases in the aforementioned categories were partially offset by a $5.8 million mark to market loss (recorded within net losses on sales of loans) associated with the performing commercial real estate loans transferred to loans held for sale at September 30, 2024, as well as lower swap fees related to commercial loan transactions (within capital market fees) and insurance commissions. The increase in other income was mostly the result of income from litigation settlements totaling $7.3 million for the third quarter 2024.
    • Non-Interest Expense: Non-interest expense decreased $8.0 million to $269.5 million for the third quarter 2024 as compared to the second quarter 2024 largely due to a $6.2 million decrease in technology, furniture and equipment expense and a $3.8 million decrease in professional and legal expenses, partially offset by higher net occupancy expense during the third quarter 2024.
    • Efficiency Ratio: Our efficiency ratio was 56.13 percent for the third quarter 2024 as compared to 59.62 percent and 56.72 percent for the second quarter 2024 and third quarter 2023, respectively. See the “Consolidated Financial Highlights” tables below for additional information regarding our non-GAAP measures.
    • Performance Ratios: Annualized return on average assets (ROA), shareholders’ equity (ROE) and tangible ROE were 0.63 percent, 5.70 percent and 8.06 percent for the third quarter 2024, respectively. Annualized ROA, ROE, and tangible ROE, adjusted for non-core income and charges, were 0.62 percent, 5.64 percent and 7.97 percent for the third quarter 2024, respectively. See the “Consolidated Financial Highlights” tables below for additional information regarding our non-GAAP measures.

    Net Interest Income and Margin

    Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis of $411.8 million for the third quarter 2024 increased $8.8 million compared to the second quarter 2024 and decreased $1.8 million as compared to the third quarter 2023. Interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased $27.1 million to $861.9 million for the third quarter 2024 as compared to the second quarter 2024. The increase was mostly due to higher yields on both new loan originations and adjustable rate loans, as well as higher yields and additional interest income from targeted purchases of taxable investments within the available for sale securities portfolio during the second and third quarter 2024. Total interest expense increased $18.3 million to $450.1 million for the third quarter 2024 as compared to the second quarter 2024 mainly due to an increase in average time deposit balances coupled with higher costs on most interest bearing deposit products. See the “Deposits” and “Other Borrowings” sections below for more details.

    Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis of 2.86 percent for the third quarter 2024 increased by 2 basis points from 2.84 percent for the second quarter 2024 and decreased 5 basis points from 2.91 percent for the third quarter 2023. The increase as compared to the second quarter 2024 was largely driven by the higher yield on average interest earning assets largely offset by an increase in the cost of average interest bearing liabilities. The yield on average interest earning assets increased by 10 basis points to 5.98 percent on a linked quarter basis largely due to higher yielding investment purchases and new loan originations during the second and third quarter 2024. The overall cost of average interest bearing liabilities increased 7 basis points to 4.22 percent for the third quarter 2024 as compared to the second quarter 2024 largely due to higher interest rates on deposits. Our cost of total average deposits was 3.25 percent for the third quarter 2024 as compared to 3.18 percent and 2.94 percent for the second quarter 2024 and the third quarter 2023, respectively.

    Loans, Deposits and Other Borrowings

    Loans. Total loans decreased $956.4 million, or 7.6 percent on an annualized basis, to $49.4 billion at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024. Commercial and industrial loans grew by $320.1 million , or 13.5 percent on an annualized basis, to $9.8 billion at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024 largely due to our continued strategic focus on the expansion of new loan production within this category. Total commercial real estate (including construction) loans decreased $1.4 billion to $30.4 billion at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024. This decline was primarily driven by the transfer of $823.1 million of commercial real estate loans, net of unearned loan fees, from the loans held for investment portfolio to loans held for sale as of September 30, 2024. In addition, we remained highly selective on new originations and projects in an effort to reduce commercial real estate loan concentrations, mainly within the non-owner occupied and multifamily loan categories. Automobile loan balances increased by $60.9 million, or 13.8 percent on an annualized basis, to $1.8 billion at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024 mainly due to continued consumer demand generated by our indirect auto dealer network and low prepayment activity within the portfolio. Other consumer loans decreased $42.4 million, or 15.3 percent on an annualized basis, to $1.1 billion at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024 primarily due to the negative impact of the high level of market interest rates on the demand and usage of collateralized personal lines of credit.

    Deposits. Actual ending balances for deposits increased $283.8 million to $50.4 billion at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024 mainly due to an increase of $358.3 million in savings, NOW and money market deposits and an increase of $36.0 million in non-interest bearing deposits, partially offset by a decrease of $110.5 million in time deposits. Non-interest bearing deposit and savings, NOW and money market deposit balances increased at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024 mostly due to increases in national specialized deposits and higher direct commercial customer deposit accounts. Total indirect customer deposits (including both brokered money market and time deposits) totaled $9.1 billion in both September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024. Non-interest bearing deposits; savings, NOW and money market deposits; and time deposits represented approximately 22 percent, 50 percent and 28 percent of total deposits as of September 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to 22 percent, 49 percent and 29 percent of total deposits as of June 30, 2024, respectively.

    Other Borrowings. Short-term borrowings, consisting of securities sold under agreements to repurchase, decreased $5.5 million to $58.3 million at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024. Long-term borrowings totaled $3.3 billion at September 30, 2024 and also remained relatively unchanged as compared to June 30, 2024.

    Credit Quality

    Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In the early stages of the fourth quarter 2024, the credit quality of our Florida loan portfolio has remained resilient in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida in late September 2024, and Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 9, 2024. At this time, there have been relatively few loan concessions (mostly in the form of loan payment deferrals up to 90 days) for distressed borrowers impacted by the hurricanes. However, we continue to assess the impact of the hurricanes on our Florida client base and, where appropriate, we will work constructively with individual borrowers.

    Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). Total NPAs, consisting of non-accrual loans, other real estate owned (OREO) and other repossessed assets, decreased $7.8 million to $305.1 million at September 30, 2024 as compared to June 30, 2024. Non-accrual loans decreased $7.0 million to $296.3 million at September 30, 2024 as compared to $303.3 million at June 30, 2024. Non-accrual construction and commercial real estate loans decreased $20.7 million and $9.3 million to $24.7 million and $113.8 million, respectively, at September 30, 2024 as compared to June 30, 2024 mainly due to loan payoffs during the third quarter 2024. The decreases in these loan categories were partially offset by two new non-accrual commercial and industrial loans totaling $19.0 million, as well as moderate increases in non-accrual residential mortgage and consumer loans at September 30, 2024. OREO decreased $887 thousand at September 30, 2024 from June 30, 2024 mostly due to the sale of one commercial property, which resulted in the recognition of an immaterial loss for the third quarter 2024.

    Accruing Past Due Loans. Total accruing past due loans (i.e., loans past due 30 days or more and still accruing interest) increased $102.3 million to $174.7 million, or 0.35 percent of total loans, at September 30, 2024 as compared to $72.4 million, or 0.14 percent of total loans at June 30, 2024. Loans 30 to 59 days past due increased $69.1 million to $115.1 million at September 30, 2024 as compared to June 30, 2024 mainly due to a $74.5 million increase in commercial real estate loans, partially offset by a $7.0 million decline in consumer loan delinquencies. The increase in commercial real estate loans 30 to 59 days past due was mostly due to one new delinquent loan totaling $40.9 million, which is expected to be fully repaid, subject to the borrower’s pending sale of certain collateral, as well as a few other new loan delinquencies. Loans 60 to 89 days past due increased $42.9 million to $54.8 million at September 30, 2024 as compared to June 30, 2024 mostly due to one well-secured commercial real estate loan totaling $43.9 million currently in the process of loan modification. Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest decreased $9.7 million to $4.8 million at September 30, 2024 as compared to June 30, 2024 largely due to one $4.0 million construction loan that was fully repaid and one $4.2 million commercial real estate loan that migrated from this past due category to non-accrual loans during the third quarter 2024. All loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest are well-secured and in the process of collection.

    Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans and Unfunded Commitments. The following table summarizes the allocation of the allowance for credit losses to loan categories and the allocation as a percentage of each loan category at September 30, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023:

        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
            Allocation       Allocation       Allocation
            as a % of       as a % of       as a % of
        Allowance   Loan   Allowance   Loan   Allowance   Loan
      Allocation   Category   Allocation   Category   Allocation   Category
      ($ in thousands)
    Loan Category:                      
    Commercial and industrial loans $ 166,365   1.70 %   $ 149,243   1.57 %   $ 133,988   1.44 %
    Commercial real estate loans:                      
      Commercial real estate   249,608   0.93       246,316   0.87       191,562   0.68  
      Construction   59,420   1.70       54,777   1.54       53,485   1.40  
    Total commercial real estate loans   309,028   1.02       301,093   0.95       245,047   0.77  
    Residential mortgage loans   51,545   0.91       47,697   0.85       44,621   0.80  
    Consumer loans:                      
      Home equity   3,303   0.57       3,077   0.54       3,689   0.67  
      Auto and other consumer   18,086   0.63       18,200   0.63       14,830   0.52  
    Total consumer loans   21,389   0.62       21,277   0.62       18,519   0.55  
    Allowance for loan losses   548,327   1.11       519,310   1.03       442,175   0.88  
    Allowance for unfunded credit commitments   16,344         13,231         20,170    
    Total allowance for credit losses for loans $ 564,671       $ 532,541       $ 462,345    
    Allowance for credit losses for loans as a % total loans     1.14 %       1.06 %       0.92 %
                                 

    Our loan portfolio, totaling $49.4 billion at September 30, 2024, had net loan charge-offs totaling $42.9 million for the third quarter 2024 as compared to $36.8 million and $5.5 million for the second quarter 2024 and the third quarter 2023, respectively. Total gross loan charge-offs in the third quarter 2024 included partial charge-offs totaling $30.1 million related to two non-performing commercial real estate loan relationships that had combined specific reserves of $25.9 million within the allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2024.

    The allowance for credit losses for loans, comprised of our allowance for loan losses and unfunded credit commitments, as a percentage of total loans was 1.14 percent at September 30, 2024, 1.06 percent at June 30, 2024, and 0.92 percent at September 30, 2023. For the third quarter 2024, the provision for credit losses for loans totaled $75.0 million as compared to $82.1 million and $9.1 million for the second quarter 2024 and third quarter 2023, respectively. The provision for credit losses remained somewhat elevated for the third quarter 2024 largely due to higher quantitative reserves allocated to commercial real estate loans, commercial and industrial loan growth and $8.0 million of qualitative reserves related to the estimated impact of Hurricane Helene.

    The allowance for unfunded credit commitments increased to $16.3 million at September 30, 2024 from $13.2 million at June 30, 2024 mainly due to increases in both non-cancellable construction commitments and commercial and industrial standby letters of credit.

    As previously noted, we are currently evaluating the impact of Hurricane Milton, and we also continue to evaluate any further impact of Hurricane Helene, on our loan portfolio. While not anticipated based on information currently available, Hurricane Milton and unexpected losses from Hurricane Helene could result in a significant increase to the current hurricane related reserves within the allowance, loan charge-offs and our provision for the fourth quarter 2024.

    Capital Adequacy

    Valley’s total risk-based capital, common equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 leverage capital ratios were 12.56 percent, 9.57 percent, 10.29 percent and 8.40 percent, respectively, at September 30, 2024 as compared to 12.18 percent, 9.55 percent, 9.99 percent and 8.19 percent, respectively, at June 30, 2024. The increases in the total risk-based capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 leverage ratios as compared to June 30, 2024 were largely due to Valley’s issuance of 6.0 million shares of its 8.250 percent Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C on August 5, 2024. Net proceeds to Valley after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses were approximately $144.7 million.

    Investor Conference Call

    Valley will host a conference call with investors and the financial community at 11:00 AM (ET) today to discuss the third quarter 2024 earnings and related matters. Interested parties should preregister using this link: https://register.vevent.com/register to receive the dial-in number and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call. The teleconference will also be webcast live: https://edge.media-server.com and archived on Valley’s website through Monday, December 2, 2024. Investor presentation materials will be made available prior to the conference call at www.valley.com.

    About Valley

    As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with over $62 billion in assets. Valley is committed to giving people and businesses the power to succeed. Valley operates many convenient branch locations and commercial banking offices across New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California and Illinois, and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable team dedicated to meeting customer needs. Helping communities grow and prosper is the heart of Valley’s corporate citizenship philosophy. To learn more about Valley, go to www.valley.com or call our Customer Care Center at 800-522-4100.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about our business, new and existing programs and products, acquisitions, relationships, opportunities, taxation, technology, market conditions and economic expectations. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “intend,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “view,” “opportunity,” “allow,” “continues,” “reflects,” “would,” “could,” “typically,” “usually,” “anticipate,” “may,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “project” or similar statements or variations of such terms. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

    • the impact of market interest rates and monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. federal government and its agencies in connection with the prolonged inflationary pressures, which could have a material adverse effect on our clients, our business, our employees, and our ability to provide services to our customers;
    • the impact of unfavorable macroeconomic conditions or downturns, including an actual or threatened U.S. government shutdown, debt default or rating downgrade, instability or volatility in financial markets, unanticipated loan delinquencies, loss of collateral, decreased service revenues, increased business disruptions or failures, reductions in employment, and other potential negative effects on our business, employees or clients caused by factors outside of our control, such as the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, geopolitical instabilities or events (including the Israel-Hamas war and the escalation and regional expansion thereof); natural and other disasters (including severe weather events, such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton); health emergencies; acts of terrorism; or other external events;
    • the impact of potential instability within the U.S. financial sector in the aftermath of the banking failures in 2023 and continued volatility thereafter, including the possibility of a run on deposits by a coordinated deposit base, and the impact of the actual or perceived soundness, or concerns about the creditworthiness of other financial institutions, including any resulting disruption within the financial markets, increased expenses, including Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance assessments, or adverse impact on our stock price, deposits or our ability to borrow or raise capital;
    • the impact of negative public opinion regarding Valley or banks in general that damages our reputation and adversely impacts business and revenues;
    • changes in the statutes, regulations, policy, or enforcement priorities of the federal bank regulatory agencies;
    • the loss of or decrease in lower-cost funding sources within our deposit base;
    • damage verdicts or settlements or restrictions related to existing or potential class action litigation or individual litigation arising from claims of violations of laws or regulations, contractual claims, breach of fiduciary responsibility, negligence, fraud, environmental laws, patent, trademark or other intellectual property infringement, misappropriation or other violation, employment related claims, and other matters;
    • a prolonged downturn and contraction in the economy, as well as an unexpected decline in commercial real estate values collateralizing a significant portion of our loan portfolio;
    • higher or lower than expected income tax expense or tax rates, including increases or decreases resulting from changes in uncertain tax position liabilities, tax laws, regulations, and case law;
    • the inability to grow customer deposits to keep pace with loan growth;
    • a material change in our allowance for credit losses under CECL due to forecasted economic conditions and/or unexpected credit deterioration in our loan and investment portfolios;
    • the need to supplement debt or equity capital to maintain or exceed internal capital thresholds;
    • changes in our business, strategy, market conditions or other factors that may negatively impact the estimated fair value of our goodwill and other intangible assets and result in future impairment charges;
    • greater than expected technology related costs due to, among other factors, prolonged or failed implementations, additional project staffing and obsolescence caused by continuous and rapid market innovations;
    • cyberattacks, ransomware attacks, computer viruses, malware or other cybersecurity incidents that may breach the security of our websites or other systems or networks to obtain unauthorized access to personal, confidential, proprietary or sensitive information, destroy data, disable or degrade service, or sabotage our systems or networks;
    • results of examinations by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve Bank, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, require us to increase our allowance for credit losses, write-down assets, reimburse customers, change the way we do business, or limit or eliminate certain other banking activities;
    • application of the OCC heightened regulatory standards for certain large insured national banks, and the expenses we will incur to develop policies, programs, and systems that comply with the enhanced standards applicable to us;
    • our inability or determination not to pay dividends at current levels, or at all, because of inadequate earnings, regulatory restrictions or limitations, changes in our capital requirements, or a decision to increase capital by retaining more earnings;
    • unanticipated loan delinquencies, loss of collateral, decreased service revenues, and other potential negative effects on our business caused by severe weather, pandemics or other public health crises, acts of terrorism or other external events;
    • our ability to successfully execute our business plan and strategic initiatives; and
    • unexpected significant declines in the loan portfolio due to the lack of economic expansion, increased competition, large prepayments, risk mitigation strategies, changes in regulatory lending guidance or other factors.

    A detailed discussion of factors that could affect our results is included in our SEC filings, including Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations, except as required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

    -Tables to Follow-

    VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
    CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
      September 30,   June 30,   September 30,   September 30,
    ($ in thousands, except for share data and stock price) 2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
    FINANCIAL DATA:                  
    Net interest income – FTE(1) $ 411,812     $ 402,984     $ 413,657     $ 1,209,643     $ 1,272,390  
    Net interest income $ 410,498     $ 401,685     $ 412,418     $ 1,205,731     $ 1,268,203  
    Non-interest income   60,671       51,213       58,664       173,299       173,038  
    Total revenue   471,169       452,898       471,082       1,379,030       1,441,241  
    Non-interest expense   269,471       277,497       267,133       827,278       822,270  
    Pre-provision net revenue   201,698       175,401       203,949       551,752       618,971  
    Provision for credit losses   75,024       82,070       9,117       202,294       29,604  
    Income tax expense   28,818       22,907       53,486       84,898       162,410  
    Net income   97,856       70,424       141,346       264,560       426,957  
    Dividends on preferred stock   6,117       4,108       4,127       14,344       12,031  
    Net income available to common shareholders $ 91,739     $ 66,316     $ 137,219     $ 250,216     $ 414,926  
    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                  
    Basic   509,227,538       509,141,252       507,650,668       508,904,353       507,580,197  
    Diluted   511,342,932       510,338,502       509,256,599       510,713,205       509,204,051  
    Per common share data:                  
    Basic earnings $ 0.18     $ 0.13     $ 0.27     $ 0.49     $ 0.82  
    Diluted earnings   0.18       0.13       0.27       0.49       0.81  
    Cash dividends declared   0.11       0.11       0.11       0.33       0.33  
    Closing stock price – high   9.34       8.02       10.30       10.80       12.59  
    Closing stock price – low   6.58       6.52       7.63       6.52       6.59  
    FINANCIAL RATIOS:                  
    Net interest margin   2.85 %     2.83 %     2.90 %     2.82 %     2.99 %
    Net interest margin – FTE(1)   2.86       2.84       2.91       2.83       3.00  
    Annualized return on average assets   0.63       0.46       0.92       0.57       0.93  
    Annualized return on avg. shareholders’ equity   5.70       4.17       8.56       5.20       8.72  
    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL DATA AND RATIOS:(2)                  
    Basic earnings per share, as adjusted $ 0.18     $ 0.13     $ 0.26     $ 0.50     $ 0.84  
    Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted   0.18       0.13       0.26       0.50       0.84  
    Annualized return on average assets, as adjusted   0.62 %     0.47 %     0.89 %     0.58 %     0.96 %
    Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity, as adjusted   5.64       4.24       8.26       5.27       8.94  
    Annualized return on avg. tangible shareholders’ equity   8.06       5.95       12.39       7.40       12.71  
    Annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity, as adjusted   7.97       6.05       11.95       7.50       13.04  
    Efficiency ratio   56.13       59.62       56.72       58.26       55.34  
                       
    AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET ITEMS:                  
    Assets $ 62,242,022     $ 61,518,639     $ 61,391,688     $ 61,674,588     $ 61,050,973  
    Interest earning assets   57,651,650       56,772,950       56,802,565       57,016,790       56,510,997  
    Loans   50,126,963       50,020,901       50,019,414       50,131,468       49,120,153  
    Interest bearing liabilities   42,656,956       41,576,344       40,829,078       41,932,616       39,802,966  
    Deposits   50,409,234       49,383,209       49,848,446       49,459,617       48,165,152  
    Shareholders’ equity   6,862,555       6,753,981       6,605,786       6,781,022       6,531,424  
                                           
      As Of
    BALANCE SHEET ITEMS: September 30,   June 30,   March 31,   December   September 30,
    (In thousands) 2024   2024   2024   2023   2023
    Assets $ 62,092,332     $ 62,058,974     $ 61,000,188     $ 60,934,974     $ 61,183,352  
    Total loans   49,355,319       50,311,702       49,922,042       50,210,295       50,097,519  
    Deposits   50,395,966       50,112,177       49,077,946       49,242,829       49,885,314  
    Shareholders’ equity   6,972,380       6,737,737       6,727,139       6,701,391       6,627,299  
                       
    LOANS:                  
    (In thousands)                  
    Commercial and industrial $ 9,799,287     $ 9,479,147     $ 9,104,193     $ 9,230,543     $ 9,274,630  
    Commercial real estate:                  
    Non-owner occupied   12,647,649       13,710,015       14,962,851       15,078,464       14,741,668  
    Multifamily   8,612,936       8,976,264       8,818,263       8,860,219       8,863,529  
    Owner occupied   5,654,147       5,536,844       4,367,839       4,304,556       4,435,853  
    Construction   3,487,464       3,545,723       3,556,511       3,726,808       3,833,269  
    Total commercial real estate   30,402,196       31,768,846       31,705,464       31,970,047       31,874,319  
    Residential mortgage   5,684,079       5,627,113       5,618,355       5,569,010       5,562,665  
    Consumer:                  
    Home equity   581,181       566,467       564,083       559,152       548,918  
    Automobile   1,823,738       1,762,852       1,700,508       1,620,389       1,585,987  
    Other consumer   1,064,838       1,107,277       1,229,439       1,261,154       1,251,000  
    Total consumer loans   3,469,757       3,436,596       3,494,030       3,440,695       3,385,905  
    Total loans $ 49,355,319     $ 50,311,702     $ 49,922,042     $ 50,210,295     $ 50,097,519  
                       
    CAPITAL RATIOS:                  
    Book value per common share $ 13.00     $ 12.82     $ 12.81     $ 12.79     $ 12.64  
    Tangible book value per common share(2)   9.06       8.87       8.84       8.79       8.63  
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets(2)   7.68 %     7.52 %     7.62 %     7.58 %     7.40 %
    Tier 1 leverage capital   8.40       8.19       8.20       8.16       8.08  
    Common equity tier 1 capital   9.57       9.55       9.34       9.29       9.21  
    Tier 1 risk-based capital   10.29       9.99       9.78       9.72       9.64  
    Total risk-based capital   12.56       12.18       11.88       11.76       11.68  
                                           
      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES: September 30,   June 30,   September 30,   September 30,
    ($ in thousands) 2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
    Allowance for credit losses for loans                  
    Beginning balance $ 532,541     $ 487,269     $ 458,676     $ 465,550     $ 483,255  
    Impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2022-02                           (1,368 )
    Beginning balance, adjusted   532,541       487,269       458,676       465,550       481,887  
    Loans charged-off:                  
    Commercial and industrial   (7,501 )     (14,721 )     (7,487 )     (36,515 )     (37,399 )
    Commercial real estate   (33,292 )     (22,144 )     (255 )     (56,640 )     (2,320 )
    Construction   (4,831 )     (212 )           (12,637 )     (9,906 )
    Residential mortgage               (20 )           (169 )
    Total consumer   (2,597 )     (1,262 )     (1,156 )     (5,668 )     (3,024 )
    Total loans charged-off   (48,221 )     (38,339 )     (8,918 )     (111,460 )     (52,818 )
    Charged-off loans recovered:                  
    Commercial and industrial   3,162       742       3,043       4,586       6,615  
    Commercial real estate   66       150       5       457       33  
    Construction   1,535                   1,535        
    Residential mortgage   29       5       30       59       186  
    Total consumer   521       603       362       1,521       1,513  
    Total loans recovered   5,313       1,500       3,440       8,158       8,347  
    Total net charge-offs   (42,908 )     (36,839 )     (5,478 )     (103,302 )     (44,471 )
    Provision for credit losses for loans   75,038       82,111       9,147       202,423       24,929  
    Ending balance $ 564,671     $ 532,541     $ 462,345     $ 564,671     $ 462,345  
    Components of allowance for credit losses for loans:                  
    Allowance for loan losses $ 548,327     $ 519,310     $ 442,175     $ 548,327     $ 442,175  
    Allowance for unfunded credit commitments   16,344       13,231       20,170       16,344       20,170  
    Allowance for credit losses for loans $ 564,671     $ 532,541     $ 462,345     $ 564,671     $ 462,345  
    Components of provision for credit losses for loans:                  
    Provision for credit losses for loans $ 71,925     $ 86,901     $ 11,221     $ 205,549     $ 29,359  
    Provision (credit) for unfunded credit commitments   3,113       (4,790 )     (2,074 )     (3,126 )     (4,430 )
    Total provision for credit losses for loans $ 75,038     $ 82,111     $ 9,147     $ 202,423     $ 24,929  
    Annualized ratio of total net charge-offs to total average loans   0.34 %     0.29 %     0.04 %     0.27 %     0.12 %
    Allowance for credit losses for loans as a % of total loans   1.14 %     1.06 %     0.92 %     1.14 %     0.92 %
                                           
      As Of
    ASSET QUALITY: September 30,   June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,
    ($ in thousands) 2024   2024   2024   2023   2023
    Accruing past due loans:                  
    30 to 59 days past due:                  
    Commercial and industrial $ 4,537     $ 5,086     $ 6,202     $ 9,307     $ 10,687  
    Commercial real estate   76,370       1,879       5,791       3,008       8,053  
    Residential mortgage   19,549       17,389       20,819       26,345       13,159  
    Total consumer   14,672       21,639       14,032       20,554       15,509  
    Total 30 to 59 days past due   115,128       45,993       46,844       59,214       47,408  
    60 to 89 days past due:                  
    Commercial and industrial   1,238       1,621       2,665       5,095       5,720  
    Commercial real estate   43,926             3,720       1,257       2,620  
    Residential mortgage   6,892       6,632       5,970       8,200       9,710  
    Total consumer   2,732       3,671       1,834       4,715       1,720  
    Total 60 to 89 days past due   54,788       11,924       14,189       19,267       19,770  
    90 or more days past due:                  
    Commercial and industrial   1,786       2,739       5,750       5,579       6,629  
    Commercial real estate         4,242                    
    Construction         3,990       3,990       3,990       3,990  
    Residential mortgage   1,931       2,609       2,884       2,488       1,348  
    Total consumer   1,063       898       731       1,088       391  
    Total 90 or more days past due   4,780       14,478       13,355       13,145       12,358  
    Total accruing past due loans $ 174,696     $ 72,395     $ 74,388     $ 91,626     $ 79,536  
    Non-accrual loans:                  
    Commercial and industrial $ 120,575     $ 102,942     $ 102,399     $ 99,912     $ 87,655  
    Commercial real estate   113,752       123,011       100,052       99,739       83,338  
    Construction   24,657       45,380       51,842       60,851       62,788  
    Residential mortgage   33,075       28,322       28,561       26,986       21,614  
    Total consumer   4,260       3,624       4,438       4,383       3,545  
    Total non-accrual loans   296,319       303,279       287,292       291,871       258,940  
    Other real estate owned (OREO)   7,172       8,059       88       71       71  
    Other repossessed assets   1,611       1,607       1,393       1,444       1,314  
    Total non-performing assets $ 305,102     $ 312,945     $ 288,773     $ 293,386     $ 260,325  
    Total non-accrual loans as a % of loans   0.60 %     0.60 %     0.58 %     0.58 %     0.52 %
    Total accruing past due and non-accrual loans as a % of loans   0.95       0.75       0.72       0.76       0.68  
    Allowance for losses on loans as a % of non-accrual loans   185.05       171.23       163.33       152.83       170.76  
                                           

    NOTES TO SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

    (1)   Net interest income and net interest margin are presented on a tax equivalent basis using a 21 percent federal tax rate. Valley believes that this presentation provides comparability of net interest income and net interest margin arising from both taxable and tax-exempt sources and is consistent with industry practice and SEC rules.  
    (2)   Non-GAAP Reconciliations. This press release contains certain supplemental financial information, described in the Notes below, which has been determined by methods other than U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) that management uses in its analysis of Valley’s performance. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to both management and investors in understanding Valley’s underlying operational performance, business and performance trends, and may facilitate comparisons of our current and prior performance with the performance of others in the financial services industry. Management utilizes these measures for internal planning, forecasting and analysis purposes. Management believes that Valley’s presentation and discussion of this supplemental information, together with the accompanying reconciliations to the GAAP financial measures, also allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to management. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for or superior to financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures may also be calculated differently from similar measures disclosed by other companies.  
           
    Non-GAAP Reconciliations to GAAP Financial Measures
     
      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
      September 30,   June 30,   September 30,   September 30,
    ($ in thousands, except for share data) 2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
    Adjusted net income available to common shareholders (non-GAAP):                  
    Net income, as reported (GAAP) $ 97,856     $ 70,424     $ 141,346     $ 264,560     $ 426,957  
    Add: FDIC Special assessment (a)         1,363             8,757        
    Add: Losses on available for sale and held to maturity debt securities, net (b)   1       4       443       12       476  
    Add: Restructuring charge (c)         334       (675 )     954       10,507  
    Add: Mark to market loss on commercial real estate loans transferred to loans held for sale (d)   5,794                   5,794        
    Add: Provision for credit losses for available for sale securities (e)                           5,000  
    Add: Merger related expenses (f)                           4,133  
    Less: Litigation settlements (g)   (7,334 )                 (7,334 )      
    Less: Gain on sale of commercial premium finance lending division (h)                     (3,629 )      
    Less: Net gains on sales of office buildings (h)               (6,721 )           (6,721 )
    Total non-GAAP adjustments to net income   (1,539 )     1,701       (6,953 )     4,554       13,395  
    Income tax adjustments related to non-GAAP adjustments (i)   437       (482 )     1,970       (1,269 )     (2,378 )
    Net income, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 96,754     $ 71,643     $ 136,363     $ 267,845     $ 437,974  
    Dividends on preferred stock   6,117       4,108       4,127       14,344       12,031  
    Net income available to common shareholders, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 90,637     $ 67,535     $ 132,236     $ 253,501     $ 425,943  
    __________                  
    (a) Included in the FDIC insurance expense.
    (b) Included in gains (losses) on securities transactions, net.
    (c) Represents severance expense related to workforce reductions within salary and employee benefits expense.
    (d) Included in (losses) gains on sales of loans, net.
    (e) Included in provision for credit losses for available for sale and held to maturity securities (tax disallowed).
    (f) Included in salary and employee benefits expense during the first quarter 2023.
    (g) Represents recoveries from legal settlements included in other income.
    (h) Included in gains (losses) on sales of assets, net within non-interest income.
    (i) Calculated using the appropriate blended statutory tax rate for the applicable period.
     
    Adjusted per common share data (non-GAAP):                  
    Net income available to common shareholders, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 90,637     $ 67,535     $ 132,236     $ 253,501     $ 425,943  
    Average number of shares outstanding   509,227,538       509,141,252       507,650,668       508,904,353       507,580,197  
    Basic earnings, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 0.18     $ 0.13     $ 0.26     $ 0.50     $ 0.84  
    Average number of diluted shares outstanding   511,342,932       510,338,502       509,256,599       510,713,205       509,204,051  
    Diluted earnings, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 0.18     $ 0.13     $ 0.26     $ 0.50     $ 0.84  
    Adjusted annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP):                  
    Net income, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 96,754     $ 71,643     $ 136,363     $ 267,845     $ 437,974  
    Average shareholders’ equity $ 6,862,555     $ 6,753,981     $ 6,605,786     $ 6,781,022     $ 6,531,424  
    Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets   2,008,692       2,016,766       2,042,486       2,016,790       2,051,727  
    Average tangible shareholders’ equity $ 4,853,863     $ 4,737,215     $ 4,563,300     $ 4,764,232     $ 4,479,697  
    Annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity, as adjusted (non-GAAP)   7.97 %     6.05 %     11.95 %     7.50 %     13.04 %
                                           
    Non-GAAP Reconciliations to GAAP Financial Measures (Continued)
     
      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
      September 30,   June 30,   September 30,   September 30,
    ($ in thousands, except for share data) 2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
    Adjusted annualized return on average assets (non-GAAP):                  
    Net income, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 96,754     $ 71,643     $ 136,363     $ 267,845     $ 437,974  
    Average assets $ 62,242,022     $ 61,518,639     $ 61,391,688     $ 61,674,588     $ 61,050,973  
    Annualized return on average assets, as adjusted (non-GAAP)   0.62 %     0.47 %     0.89 %     0.58 %     0.96 %
    Adjusted annualized return on average shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP):                  
    Net income, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 96,754     $ 71,643     $ 136,363     $ 267,845     $ 437,974  
    Average shareholders’ equity $ 6,862,555     $ 6,753,981     $ 6,605,786     $ 6,781,022     $ 6,531,424  
    Annualized return on average shareholders’ equity, as adjusted (non-GAAP)   5.64 %     4.24 %     8.26 %     5.27 %     8.94 %
    Annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP):                  
    Net income, as reported (GAAP) $ 97,856     $ 70,424     $ 141,346     $ 264,560     $ 426,957  
    Average shareholders’ equity $ 6,862,555     $ 6,753,981     $ 6,605,786     $ 6,781,022     $ 6,531,424  
    Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets   2,008,692       2,016,766       2,042,486       2,016,790       2,051,727  
    Average tangible shareholders’ equity $ 4,853,863     $ 4,737,215     $ 4,563,300     $ 4,764,232     $ 4,479,697  
    Annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP)   8.06 %     5.95 %     12.39 %     7.40 %     12.71 %
    Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP):                  
    Non-interest expense, as reported (GAAP) $ 269,471     $ 277,497     $ 267,133     $ 827,278     $ 822,270  
    Less: FDIC Special assessment (pre-tax)         1,363             8,757        
    Less: Restructuring charge (pre-tax)         334       (675 )     954       10,507  
    Less: Merger-related expenses (pre-tax)                           4,133  
    Less: Amortization of tax credit investments (pre-tax)   5,853       5,791       4,191       17,206       13,462  
    Non-interest expense, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 263,618     $ 270,009     $ 263,617     $ 800,361     $ 794,168  
    Net interest income, as reported (GAAP)   410,498       401,685       412,418       1,205,731       1,268,203  
    Non-interest income, as reported (GAAP)   60,671       51,213       58,664       173,299       173,038  
    Add: Losses on available for sale and held to maturity securities transactions, net (pre-tax)   1       4       443       12       476  
    Add: Mark-to-market loss on commercial real estate loans transferred to loans held for sale (pre-tax)   5,794                   5,794        
    Less: Litigation settlements (pre-tax)   (7,334 )                 (7,334 )      
    Less: Gain on sale of premium finance division (pre-tax)                     (3,629 )      
    Less: Net gains on sales of office buildings (pre-tax)               (6,721 )           (6,721 )
    Non-interest income, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 59,132     $ 51,217     $ 52,386     $ 168,142     $ 166,793  
    Gross operating income, as adjusted (non-GAAP) $ 469,630     $ 452,902     $ 464,804     $ 1,373,873     $ 1,434,996  
    Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)   56.13 %     59.62 %     56.72 %     58.26 %     55.34 %
                                           
      As of
      September 30,   June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,
    ($ in thousands, except for share data) 2024   2024   2024   2023   2023
    Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP):                  
    Common shares outstanding   509,252,936       509,205,014       508,893,059       507,709,927       507,660,742  
    Shareholders’ equity (GAAP) $ 6,972,380     $ 6,737,737     $ 6,727,139     $ 6,701,391     $ 6,627,299  
    Less: Preferred stock   354,345       209,691       209,691       209,691       209,691  
    Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets   2,004,414       2,012,580       2,020,405       2,029,267       2,038,202  
    Tangible common shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP) $ 4,613,621     $ 4,515,466     $ 4,497,043     $ 4,462,433     $ 4,379,406  
    Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) $ 9.06     $ 8.87     $ 8.84     $ 8.79     $ 8.63  
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP):                  
    Tangible common shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP) $ 4,613,621     $ 4,515,466     $ 4,497,043     $ 4,462,433     $ 4,379,406  
    Total assets (GAAP)   62,092,332       62,058,974       61,000,188       60,934,974       61,183,352  
    Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets   2,004,414       2,012,580       2,020,405       2,029,267       2,038,202  
    Tangible assets (non-GAAP) $ 60,087,918     $ 60,046,394     $ 58,979,783     $ 58,905,707     $ 59,145,150  
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)   7.68 %     7.52 %     7.62 %     7.58 %     7.40 %
                                           

    VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
    (in thousands, except for share data)

      September 30,   December 31,
      2024   2023
      (Unaudited)    
    Assets      
    Cash and due from banks $ 511,945     $ 284,090  
    Interest bearing deposits with banks   527,960       607,135  
    Investment securities:      
    Equity securities   73,071       64,464  
    Trading debt securities   3,996       3,973  
    Available for sale debt securities   2,602,260       1,296,576  
    Held to maturity debt securities (net of allowance for credit losses of $1,076 at September 30, 2024 and $1,205 at December 31, 2023)   3,573,960       3,739,208  
    Total investment securities   6,253,287       5,104,221  
    Loans held for sale (includes fair value of $17,153 at September 30, 2024 and $20,640 at December 31, 2023 for loans originated for sale)   843,201       30,640  
    Loans   49,355,319       50,210,295  
    Less: Allowance for loan losses   (548,327 )     (446,080 )
    Net loans   48,806,992       49,764,215  
    Premises and equipment, net   356,649       381,081  
    Lease right of use assets   335,032       343,461  
    Bank owned life insurance   730,081       723,799  
    Accrued interest receivable   250,131       245,498  
    Goodwill   1,868,936       1,868,936  
    Other intangible assets, net   135,478       160,331  
    Other assets   1,472,640       1,421,567  
    Total Assets $ 62,092,332     $ 60,934,974  
    Liabilities      
    Deposits:      
    Non-interest bearing $ 11,153,754     $ 11,539,483  
    Interest bearing:      
    Savings, NOW and money market   25,069,405       24,526,622  
    Time   14,172,807       13,176,724  
    Total deposits   50,395,966       49,242,829  
    Short-term borrowings   58,268       917,834  
    Long-term borrowings   3,274,340       2,328,375  
    Junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts   57,368       57,108  
    Lease liabilities   394,971       403,781  
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities   939,039       1,283,656  
    Total Liabilities   55,119,952       54,233,583  
    Shareholders’ Equity      
    Preferred stock, no par value; 50,000,000 authorized shares:      
    Series A (4,600,000 shares issued at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023)   111,590       111,590  
    Series B (4,000,000 shares issued at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023)   98,101       98,101  
    Series C (6,000,000 shares issued at September 30, 2024)   144,654        
    Common stock (no par value, authorized 650,000,000 shares; issued 509,252,936 shares at September 30, 2024 and 507,896,910 shares at December 31, 2023)   178,661       178,187  
    Surplus   5,002,718       4,989,989  
    Retained earnings   1,551,428       1,471,371  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (114,772 )     (146,456 )
    Treasury stock, at cost (186,983 common shares at December 31, 2023)         (1,391 )
    Total Shareholders’ Equity   6,972,380       6,701,391  
    Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity $ 62,092,332     $ 60,934,974  
                   

    VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
    (in thousands, except for share data)

      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
      September 30,   June 30,   September 30,   September 30,
      2024   2024   2023   2024   2023
    Interest Income                  
    Interest and fees on loans $ 786,680     $ 770,964     $ 753,638     $ 2,329,197     $ 2,124,036
    Interest and dividends on investment securities:                  
    Taxable   49,700       40,460       32,383       125,957       96,591
    Tax-exempt   4,855       4,799       4,585       14,450       15,485
    Dividends   5,929       6,341       5,299       19,098       18,001
    Interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments   13,385       10,902       17,113       33,969       66,594
    Total interest income   860,549       833,466       813,018       2,522,671       2,320,707
    Interest Expense                  
    Interest on deposits:                  
    Savings, NOW and money market   235,371       231,597       201,916       699,474       517,524
    Time   174,741       160,442       164,336       486,248       370,398
    Interest on short-term borrowings   451       691       5,189       21,754       89,345
    Interest on long-term borrowings and junior subordinated debentures   39,488       39,051       29,159       109,464       75,237
    Total interest expense   450,051       431,781       400,600       1,316,940       1,052,504
    Net Interest Income   410,498       401,685       412,418       1,205,731       1,268,203
    (Credit) provision for credit losses for available for sale and held to maturity securities   (14 )     (41 )     (30 )     (129 )     4,675
    Provision for credit losses for loans   75,038       82,111       9,147       202,423       24,929
    Net Interest Income After Provision for Credit Losses   335,474       319,615       403,301       1,003,437       1,238,599
    Non-Interest Income                  
    Wealth management and trust fees   15,125       13,136       11,417       46,191       32,180
    Insurance commissions   2,880       3,958       2,336       9,089       7,895
    Capital markets   6,347       7,779       7,141       19,796       35,000
    Service charges on deposit accounts   12,826       11,212       10,952       35,287       31,970
    Gains (losses) on securities transactions, net   47       3       (398 )     99       197
    Fees from loan servicing   3,443       2,691       2,681       9,322       8,054
    (Losses) gains on sales of loans, net   (3,644 )     884       2,023       (1,142 )     3,752
    Gains (losses) on sales of assets, net   55       (2 )     6,653       3,747       6,938
    Bank owned life insurance   5,387       4,545       2,709       13,167       7,736
    Other   18,205       7,007       13,150       37,743       39,316
    Total non-interest income   60,671       51,213       58,664       173,299       173,038
    Non-Interest Expense                  
    Salary and employee benefits expense   138,832       140,815       137,292       421,478       431,872
    Net occupancy expense   26,973       24,252       24,675       75,548       73,880
    Technology, furniture and equipment expense   28,962       35,203       37,320       99,627       106,304
    FDIC insurance assessment   14,792       14,446       7,946       47,474       27,527
    Amortization of other intangible assets   8,692       8,568       9,741       26,672       30,072
    Professional and legal fees   14,118       17,938       17,109       48,521       55,329
    Amortization of tax credit investments   5,853       5,791       4,191       17,206       13,462
    Other   31,249       30,484       28,859       90,752       83,824
    Total non-interest expense   269,471       277,497       267,133       827,278       822,270
    Income Before Income Taxes   126,674       93,331       194,832       349,458       589,367
    Income tax expense   28,818       22,907       53,486       84,898       162,410
    Net Income   97,856       70,424       141,346       264,560       426,957
    Dividends on preferred stock   6,117       4,108       4,127       14,344       12,031
    Net Income Available to Common Shareholders $ 91,739     $ 66,316     $ 137,219     $ 250,216     $ 414,926
                                         

    VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
    Quarterly Analysis of Average Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity and
    Net Interest Income on a Tax Equivalent Basis

      Three Months Ended
      September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
      Average       Avg.   Average       Avg.   Average       Avg.
    ($ in thousands) Balance   Interest   Rate   Balance   Interest   Rate   Balance   Interest   Rate
    Assets                                  
    Interest earning assets:                              
    Loans (1)(2) $ 50,126,963   $ 786,704     6.28 %   $ 50,020,901   $ 770,987     6.17 %   $ 50,019,414   $ 753,662     6.03 %
    Taxable investments (3)   5,977,211     55,629     3.72       5,379,101     46,801     3.48       4,915,778     37,682     3.07  
    Tax-exempt investments (1)(3)   573,059     6,145     4.29       575,272     6,075     4.22       620,439     5,800     3.74  
    Interest bearing deposits with banks   974,417     13,385     5.49       797,676     10,902     5.47       1,246,934     17,113     5.49  
    Total interest earning assets   57,651,650     861,863     5.98       56,772,950     834,765     5.88       56,802,565     814,257     5.73  
    Other assets   4,590,372             4,745,689             4,589,123        
    Total assets $ 62,242,022           $ 61,518,639           $ 61,391,688        
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity                                  
    Interest bearing liabilities:                                  
    Savings, NOW and money market deposits $ 25,017,504   $ 235,371     3.76 %   $ 24,848,266   $ 231,597     3.73 %   $ 23,016,737   $ 201,916     3.51 %
    Time deposits   14,233,209     174,741     4.91       13,311,381     160,442     4.82       14,880,311     164,336     4.42  
    Short-term borrowings   81,251     451     2.22       97,502     691     2.83       436,518     5,189     4.75  
    Long-term borrowings (4)   3,324,992     39,488     4.75       3,319,195     39,051     4.71       2,495,512     29,159     4.67  
    Total interest bearing liabilities   42,656,956     450,051     4.22       41,576,344     431,781     4.15       40,829,078     400,600     3.92  
    Non-interest bearing deposits   11,158,521             11,223,562             11,951,398        
    Other liabilities   1,563,990             1,964,752             2,005,426        
    Shareholders’ equity   6,862,555             6,753,981             6,605,786        
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 62,242,022           $ 61,518,639           $ 61,391,688        
                                       
    Net interest income/interest rate spread (5)     $ 411,812     1.76 %       $ 402,984     1.73 %       $ 413,657     1.81 %
    Tax equivalent adjustment       (1,314 )             (1,299 )             (1,239 )    
    Net interest income, as reported     $ 410,498             $ 401,685             $ 412,418      
    Net interest margin (6)         2.85             2.83             2.90  
    Tax equivalent effect         0.01             0.01             0.01  
    Net interest margin on a fully tax equivalent basis (6)         2.86 %           2.84 %           2.91 %

    _________

    (1) Interest income is presented on a tax equivalent basis using a 21 percent federal tax rate.
    (2) Loans are stated net of unearned income and include non-accrual loans.
    (3) The yield for securities that are classified as available for sale is based on the average historical amortized cost.
    (4) Includes junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts which are presented separately on the consolidated statements of condition.
    (5) Interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on interest earning assets and the average cost of interest bearing liabilities and is presented on a fully tax equivalent basis.
    (6) Net interest income as a percentage of total average interest earning assets.
       

    SHAREHOLDERS RELATIONS
    Requests for copies of reports and/or other inquiries should be directed to Tina Zarkadas, Assistant Vice President, Shareholder Relations Specialist, Valley National Bancorp, 70 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, by telephone at (973) 305-3380, by fax at (973) 305-1364 or by e-mail at tzarkadas@valley.com.

    Contact:   Michael D. Hagedorn
        Senior Executive Vice President and
        Chief Financial Officer
        973-872-4885

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Joint report explores scope for coordinated approaches on climate action, carbon pricing, and policy spillovers

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The report was presented on the 23rd of October by the Joint Task Force on Climate Action, Carbon Pricing, and Policy Spillovers, convened by the World Trade Organization and joined by the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the World Bank.

    Entitled “Working Together for Better Climate Action: Carbon Pricing, Policy Spillovers, and Global Climate Goals,” the report arrives at a time when countries around the world are scaling up actions to curb climate change. Mitigation policies are on the rise, including carbon pricing policies, with 75 carbon taxes and emission trading schemes currently in effect worldwide, covering approximately 24 per cent of global emissions

    The report stresses that climate action needs to be stepped up to meet global emission reduction targets, while contributing to broader development goals. It also makes four important contributions to that end: 

    • The report provides a common understanding of carbon pricing metrics to improve transparency on how countries are shifting incentives for decarbonization.
    • The report examines the composition of climate change mitigation policies, emphasizing the important role of carbon pricing as a cost-effective instrument that also raises revenues.
    • It outlines how international organizations can support the coordination of policies to foster positive and limit negative cross-border spillovers from climate change mitigation policies. The report also analyses the advantages and disadvantages of carbon border adjustment policies, including their impact on developing countries.
    • It shows how such coordination can help to scale up climate action by closing the transparency, implementation and ambition gaps.

    The report also makes clear that international organizations’ future work can help fill important knowledge gaps. These include a need for more granular and better data on embedded carbon prices and embedded emissions, the design of border adjustment policies and their interoperability, and other approaches to enhance cooperation to increase ambition and ensure a just transition for all.

    WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “Trade-related climate policies are on the rise, with over 5,500 measures linked to climate objectives notified to the WTO from 2009-2022. Such policies lead to cross-border spillovers which can increase trade tensions and retaliatory trade actions. Future work by international organizations should focus on concrete ways to come to the coordination of more ambitious carbon pricing policies which help to close the climate action gap and address their cross-border spillovers. This may require a framework to ensure interoperability between carbon pricing and other climate mitigation policies.”

    IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said: “This joint report of the five institutions highlights why carbon pricing and equivalent policies are important to scale up climate action. Global emissions need to be cut urgently to put the world on track to achieve the Paris goals and global ambition needs to be doubled to quadrupled. Carbon pricing should be an integral part of a well-designed policy mix, complemented with public investment support and sectoral policies, and international coordination on mitigation action could unlock progress.”

    OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said: “Countries currently take different approaches to reduce emissions, but achieving net zero requires us to align these efforts for a truly global impact. The OECD’s Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches, now with 59 members, is bringing together national perspectives and building a common understanding of climate policies and their effects. More coherent and better-coordinated global mitigation policies can help prevent negative cross-border impacts such as carbon leakage or trade distortions, while maximizing opportunities for innovation, cost savings and shared benefits from the climate transition.”

    UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan stated: “To ensure a just and green transition, UNCTAD encourages and supports developing countries in crafting the right policy mix to advance climate mitigation. We are strengthening our research and providing a safe space for dialogue to ensure that climate-related measures, including Border Carbon Adjustments mechanisms (BCAs) are evidence based and minimize negative spillovers on developing countries and other sustainable development goals. This is especially critical for less advanced economies, which often have limited productive capacity, infrastructure for monitoring, verification, reporting, and fiscal space. We are committed to helping developing countries decarbonize and diversify their economies by seizing environmental-related export opportunities and working with our member states to reduce the compliance and trade costs associated with these transitions.” 

    Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank’s Senior Managing Director (SMD), said: “Through its technical assistance and financing, the World Bank helps countries make sure climate policies are tailored to each country’s context, capacities, political constraints, and development priorities. We think carbon pricing can play a central role in these policies, because it provides the right incentive for the private sector and creates public revenues to support broad development progress and help vulnerable populations manage the green energy transition. But with every country introducing their own climate policies, there is also a growing need for more cooperation and coordination. The product of in-depth exchanges across five international organizations, this report provides concrete ideas to make sure climate policies are designed in ways that benefit lower-income economies and help them accelerate their development, create jobs, and participate in global value chains.”

    The report is available here.

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    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Spartanburg County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Spartanburg County

    Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Spartanburg County

    A Disaster Recovery Center will open in Spartanburg County to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.  Spartanburg CountySpartanburg Emergency Management175 Community College DriveSpartanburg, SC 29303Open Oct. 24-Nov. 6, 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.  Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are scheduled to open in other South Carolina counties. Click here to find centers that are already open in South Carolina. You can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. 
    kwei.nwaogu
    Thu, 10/24/2024 – 11:58

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: NJBPU Announces Adoption of Minimum Filing Requirements for Medium-and-Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    TRENTON – The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) announced on Wednesday the adoption of minimum filing requirements (MFRs) that direct the state’s investor-owned electric distribution companies (EDCs) to propose programs to expand charging access for medium-and-heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicles (EVs) and fleets. The expansion of New Jersey’s EV charging ecosystem will catalyze the ongoing clean transition of the state’s fleet, yielding significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions within the state’s transportation sector and improving localized air quality.

    New Jersey’s transportation sector accounts for nearly 40% of the state’s net GHG emissions, with MHD trucks and busses emitting an outsized share of those emissions. Low-income neighborhoods and communities of color are more likely to be exposed to these pollutants due to their disproportionate proximity to freight corridors, ports, and distribution centers. The adopted MFRs allow utilities to provide additional “bonus” incentives for overburdened municipalities and overburdened communities adjacent to Freight EV Corridors, as well as small businesses.

    “Today’s announcement by the BPU is a key part of my Administration’s whole-of-government approach to reducing harmful emissions from the transportation sector that negatively impact the health of our residents,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Along with New Jersey’s action on Advanced Clean Trucks and the Clean Corridors Coalition, we are building a robust charging infrastructure for a clean transportation future.”

    “Under Governor Murphy’s leadership and in coordination with New Jersey’s EDCs, the NJBPU remains at the forefront of advancing smart, clean transportation initiatives and infrastructure that provide considerable health and environmental benefits,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “These benefits are especially vital to the overburdened communities that have borne the brunt of air pollution and its health effects for far too long.”

    The MFRs will allow EDCs to propose incentives for the “Make Ready” chargers for public-serving fleets and certain private fleets located in or serving overburdened municipalities and overburdened communities adjacent to Freight EV Corridors.

    To ensure that MHD EV charging is built in scalable ways that take capacity into account, the MFRs will connect applicants to utilities and require that utilities create and update capacity maps demonstrating where the grid is capable of supporting MHD charging. In addition, they provide the framework for proactive planning for public charging stations over 500 kW, fleets, and multi-unit dwellings. These planning and technical services will help ensure that these projects are connecting with utilities early and often, allowing for better grid planning and accelerating this critical piece of the 2019 Energy Master Plan.

    The MFRs also require that EDCs create managed charging programs to balance the demand on the grid and encourage users to charge at night.

    The adopted MFRs build upon the Murphy Administration’s ongoing efforts to promote clean transportation and expand EV charging infrastructure across the state. EDCs will be required to file their proposed programs with the Board within 120 days of the Order.

    In July, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of the Clean Corridor Coalition, led by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, to receive a nearly $250 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. The Clean Corridor Coalition – which includes the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Delaware Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Transportation – aims to deploy EV charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission MHD vehicles along the Interstate-95 freight corridor.

    On Wednesday, the U.S. EPA and NJDEP announced the arrival of this historic funding at the Vince Lombardi Service Area in Ridgefield, New Jersey.

    About New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP)
    NJCEP, established on January 22, 2003, in accordance with the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), provides financial and other incentives to the State’s residential customers, businesses and schools that install high-efficiency or renewable energy technologies, thereby reducing energy usage, lowering customers’ energy bills and reducing environmental impacts. The program is authorized and overseen by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and its website is www.NJCleanEnergy.com.

    About the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) 

    NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at www.nj.gov/bpu.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter of the Year Ending December 31, 2024 and an Increase in the Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ASHEVILLE, N.C., Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTBI) (“Company”), the holding company of HomeTrust Bank (“Bank”), today announced preliminary net income for the third quarter of the year ending December 31, 2024 and an increase in its quarterly cash dividend.

    For the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024:

    • net income was $13.1 million compared to $12.4 million;
    • diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) were $0.76 compared to $0.73;
    • annualized return on assets (“ROA”) was 1.17% compared to 1.13%;
    • annualized return on equity (“ROE”) was 9.76% compared to 9.58%;
    • net interest margin was 4.00% compared to 4.08%;
    • provision for credit losses was $3.0 million compared to $4.3 million; and
    • quarterly cash dividends continued at $0.11 per share totaling $1.9 million for both periods.

    For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023:

    • net income was $40.6 million compared to $36.6 million;
    • diluted EPS were $2.37 compared to $2.18;
    • annualized ROA was 1.22% compared to 1.15%;
    • annualized ROE was 10.39% compared to 10.56%;
    • net interest margin was 4.03% compared to 4.29%;
    • provision for credit losses was $8.4 million compared to $11.7 million;
    • tax-free death benefit proceeds from life insurance were $1.1 million for both periods; and
    • cash dividends of $0.33 per share totaling $5.6 million compared to $0.30 per share totaling $5.1 million.

    Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 include the impact of the merger of Quantum Capital Corp. (“Quantum”) into the Company effective February 12, 2023. The addition of Quantum contributed total assets of $656.7 million, including loans of $561.9 million, and $570.6 million of deposits, all reflecting the impact of purchase accounting adjustments. Merger-related expenses of $4.7 million were recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, while a $5.3 million provision for credit losses was recognized during the same period to establish allowances for credit losses on both Quantum’s loan portfolio and off-balance-sheet credit exposure.

    The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per common share, reflecting a $0.01, or 9.0%, increase over the previous quarter’s dividend. This is the sixth increase of the quarterly dividend since the Company initiated cash dividends in November 2018. The dividend is payable on November 27, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 14, 2024.

    “We are pleased to report another quarter of strong financial results,” said Hunter Westbrook, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We maintained our top quartile net interest margin, our ninth straight quarter at 4.00% or more. In addition, noninterest income and expense were both in line with prior quarters. Our provision for credit losses of $3.0 million included an additional $2.2 million as a reserve build for the potential impact of Hurricane Helene upon our loan portfolio. We have begun working with our loan customers on payment deferrals of up to six months, and although we aren’t currently aware of any collectability issues, we will continue assessing the impact of the storm upon our customer base.

    “As you know, many of the communities we serve were affected by this storm, impacting both our employees and customers. I’d first like to thank our employees who have assisted in maintaining bank operations while also tending to their personal and familial responsibilities. It has been amazing to watch the teamwork, collaboration and personal sacrifice across all areas of the Bank as we remained functionally operational throughout the storm, including our electronic banking services and online operations. Currently, all of our banking locations are open with most of the affected areas in our markets recovering well and operating close to normal. As for our customers in the affected areas, it will take time to assess, react and recover from Hurricane Helene. We are committed to working with them to provide the banking support needed for their businesses and homes.

    “Lastly, I am thankful for the Company’s financial strength and geographic diversification which we have built over the last decade, with respect to both our employees and customer base, which provides the foundation to overcome unforeseen events such as this storm. We remain optimistic as we work together to continue the recovery.”

    WEBSITE: WWW.HTB.COM

    Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024
    Net Income.  Net income totaled $13.1 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to $12.4 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2024, an increase of $694,000, or 5.6%. Results for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were positively impacted by a decrease of $1.3 million in the provision for credit losses. Details of the changes in the various components of net income are further discussed below.

    Net Interest Income.  The following table presents the distribution of average assets, liabilities and equity, as well as interest income earned on average interest-earning assets and interest expense paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. All average balances are daily average balances. Nonaccruing loans have been included in the table as loans carrying a zero yield.

      Three Months Ended
      September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024
    (Dollars in thousands) Average
    Balance
    Outstanding
      Interest
    Earned /
    Paid
      Yield /
    Rate
      Average
    Balance
    Outstanding
      Interest
    Earned /
    Paid
      Yield /
    Rate
    Assets                      
    Interest-earning assets                      
    Loans receivable(1) $ 3,899,460     $ 63,305   6.46 %   $ 3,885,222     $ 62,161   6.43 %
    Debt securities available for sale   140,246       1,616   4.58       134,334       1,495   4.48  
    Other interest-earning assets(2)   144,931       1,728   4.74       140,376       1,758   5.04  
    Total interest-earning assets   4,184,637       66,649   6.34       4,159,932       65,414   6.32  
    Other assets   264,579               266,983          
    Total assets $ 4,449,216             $ 4,426,915          
    Liabilities and equity                      
    Interest-bearing liabilities                      
    Interest-bearing checking accounts $ 548,024     $ 1,278   0.93 %   $ 586,396     $ 1,445   0.99 %
    Money market accounts   1,335,798       10,757   3.20       1,298,177       10,221   3.17  
    Savings accounts   182,618       40   0.09       188,028       41   0.09  
    Certificate accounts   1,012,765       11,617   4.56       902,864       9,976   4.44  
    Total interest-bearing deposits   3,079,205       23,692   3.06       2,975,465       21,683   2.93  
    Junior subordinated debt   10,079       235   9.28       10,054       234   9.36  
    Borrowings   40,399       648   6.38       87,315       1,331   6.13  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   3,129,683       24,575   3.12       3,072,834       23,248   3.04  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   719,710               769,016          
    Other liabilities   65,097               63,503          
    Total liabilities   3,914,490               3,905,353          
    Stockholders’ equity   534,726               521,562          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 4,449,216             $ 4,426,915          
    Net earning assets $ 1,054,954             $ 1,087,098          
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities   133.71 %             135.38 %        
    Non-tax-equivalent                      
    Net interest income     $ 42,074           $ 42,166    
    Interest rate spread         3.22 %           3.28 %
    Net interest margin(3)         4.00 %           4.08 %
    Tax-equivalent(4)                      
    Net interest income     $ 42,442           $ 42,520    
    Interest rate spread         3.25 %           3.32 %
    Net interest margin(3)         4.03 %           4.11 %

    (1)  Average loans receivable balances include loans held for sale and nonaccruing loans.
    (2)  Average other interest-earning assets consist of FRB stock, FHLB stock, SBIC investments and deposits in other banks.
    (3)  Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
    (4)  Tax-equivalent results include adjustments to interest income of $368 and $354 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024, respectively, calculated based on a combined federal and state tax rate of 24%.

    Total interest and dividend income for the three months ended September 30, 2024 increased $1.2 million, or 1.9%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024, which was driven by a $1.1 million, or 1.8%, increase in loan interest income primarily due to the difference in the number of days in each quarter. Accretion income on acquired loans of $640,000 and $678,000 was recognized during the same periods, respectively, and was included in interest income on loans.

    Total interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024 increased $1.3 million, or 5.7%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024. The increase was primarily the result of increases in the average balances of money market and certificate accounts, partially offset by a decline in average borrowings outstanding.

    The following table shows the effects that changes in average balances (volume), including the difference in the number of days in the periods compared, and average interest rates (rate) had on the interest earned on interest-earning assets and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities:

      Increase / (Decrease)
    Due to
      Total
    Increase /
    (Decrease)
    (Dollars in thousands) Volume   Rate  
    Interest-earning assets          
    Loans receivable $ 916     $ 228     $ 1,144  
    Debt securities available for sale   83       38       121  
    Other interest-earning assets   76       (106 )     (30 )
    Total interest-earning assets   1,075       160       1,235  
    Interest-bearing liabilities          
    Interest-bearing checking accounts   (81 )     (86 )     (167 )
    Money market accounts   413       123       536  
    Savings accounts   (1 )           (1 )
    Certificate accounts   1,341       300       1,641  
    Junior subordinated debt   3       (2 )     1  
    Borrowings   (708 )     25       (683 )
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   967       360       1,327  
    Decrease in net interest income         $ (92 )


    Provision for Credit Losses.
      The provision for credit losses is the amount of expense that, based on our judgment, is required to maintain the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) at an appropriate level under the current expected credit losses model.

    The following table presents a breakdown of the components of the provision for credit losses:

      Three Months Ended      
    (Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   $ Change   % Change
    Provision for credit losses                
    Loans $ 2,990     $ 4,300     $ (1,310 )   (30 )%
    Off-balance-sheet credit exposure   (15 )     (40 )     25     63  
    Total provision for credit losses $ 2,975     $ 4,260     $ (1,285 )   (30 )%

    For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the “loans” portion of the provision for credit losses was the result of the following, offset by net charge-offs of $4.1 million during the quarter:

    • $0.4 million benefit driven by changes in the loan mix.
    • $1.2 million provision due to changes in the projected economic forecast, specifically the national unemployment rate, and changes in qualitative adjustments. Included in this change was the addition of a $2.2 million qualitative allocation for the potential impact of Hurricane Helene upon our loan portfolio.
    • $1.9 million decrease in specific reserves on individually evaluated loans as we charged-off specific reserves which had previously been established.

    For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the “loans” portion of the provision for credit losses was the result of the following, in addition to net charge-offs of $2.6 million during the quarter:

    • $0.1 million provision driven by changes in the loan mix.
    • $0.4 million benefit due to changes in the projected economic forecast and changes in qualitative adjustments.
    • $2.0 million increase in specific reserves on individually evaluated loans which was proportional to the increase in the associated loan balances which increased from $8.3 million to $16.3 million quarter-over-quarter, concentrated in the equipment finance and SBA portfolios.

    For the quarters ended September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024, the amounts recorded for off-balance-sheet credit exposure were the result of changes in the balance of loan commitments, loan mix and projected economic forecast as outlined above.

    Noninterest Income.  Noninterest income for the three months ended September 30, 2024 increased $169,000, or 2.1%, when compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024. Changes in the components of noninterest income are discussed below:

      Three Months Ended    
    (Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   $ Change   % Change
    Noninterest income              
    Service charges and fees on deposit accounts $ 2,336     $ 2,354     $ (18 )   (1 )%
    Loan income and fees   684       647       37     6  
    Gain on sale of loans held for sale   1,900       1,828       72     4  
    Bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) income   828       807       21     3  
    Operating lease income   1,637       1,591       46     3  
    Other   897       886       11     1  
    Total noninterest income $ 8,282     $ 8,113     $ 169     2 %
                                 
    • Gain on sale of loans held for sale: The increase was primarily driven by residential mortgage loans sold during the period. There were $21.7 million of residential mortgage loans originated for sale which were sold during the current quarter with gains of $479,000 compared to $21.3 million sold with gains of $351,000 in the prior quarter, with the improvement in profitability due to movement in interest rates. There were $54.6 million of HELOCs sold for a gain of $414,000 compared to $32.9 million sold with gains of $457,000 in the prior quarter. There were $12.9 million in sales of the guaranteed portion of SBA commercial loans with gains of $1.0 million for the quarter compared to $12.7 million sold and gains of $1.1 million for the prior quarter. Our hedging of mandatory commitments on the residential mortgage loan pipeline resulted in a gain of $18,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 versus a loss of $58,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

    Noninterest Expense.  Noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024 increased $375,000, or 1.2%, when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024. Changes in the components of noninterest expense are discussed below:

      Three Months Ended    
    (Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   $ Change   % Change
    Noninterest expense              
    Salaries and employee benefits $ 17,082     $ 16,608     $ 474     3 %
    Occupancy expense, net   2,436       2,419       17     1  
    Computer services   3,192       3,116       76     2  
    Telephone, postage and supplies   547       580       (33 )   (6 )
    Marketing and advertising   408       606       (198 )   (33 )
    Deposit insurance premiums   589       531       58     11  
    Core deposit intangible amortization   567       567            
    Other   5,764       5,783       (19 )    
    Total noninterest expense $ 30,585     $ 30,210     $ 375     1 %
                                 
    • Salaries and employee benefits: The quarter-over-quarter increase was primarily the result of executive pay increases effective this quarter and additional stock incentive expense associated with the vesting of performance-based equity awards.
    • Marketing and advertising: The decrease in expense was the result of both differences in the timing of when expenses were incurred quarter-over-quarter as well as a reduction in traditional media advertising (print, billboards, etc.) in favor of digital platforms at lower costs.

    Income Taxes.  The amount of income tax expense is influenced by the amount of pre-tax income, tax-exempt income, changes in the statutory rate and the effect of changes in valuation allowances maintained against deferred tax benefits. The effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024 were 21.9% and 21.4%, respectively.

    Comparison of Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023
    Net Income.  Net income totaled $40.6 million, or $2.37 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to $36.6 million, or $2.18 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, an increase of $4.0 million, or 11.0%. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were positively impacted by a decrease of $3.3 million in the provision for credit losses, a $1.4 million increase in noninterest income, and a $2.6 million decrease in noninterest expense, partially offset by a $2.0 million decrease in net interest income and a $1.3 million increase in income tax expense. Details of the changes in the various components of net income are further discussed below.

    Net Interest Income.  The following table presents the distribution of average assets, liabilities and equity, as well as interest income earned on average interest-earning assets and interest expense paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. All average balances are daily average balances. Nonaccruing loans have been included in the table as loans carrying a zero yield.

      Nine Months Ended
      September 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    (Dollars in thousands) Average
    Balance
    Outstanding
      Interest
    Earned /
    Paid
      Yield /
    Rate
      Average
    Balance
    Outstanding
      Interest
    Earned /
    Paid
      Yield /
    Rate
    Assets                      
    Interest-earning assets                      
    Loans receivable(1) $ 3,883,040     $ 185,418   6.38 %   $ 3,684,518     $ 162,526   5.90 %
    Debt securities available for sale   133,779       4,424   4.42       155,884       3,780   3.24  
    Other interest-earning assets(2)   138,956       5,576   5.36       137,065       5,356   5.22  
    Total interest-earning assets   4,155,775       195,418   6.28       3,977,467       171,662   5.77  
    Other assets   276,516               266,867          
    Total assets $ 4,432,291             $ 4,244,334          
    Liabilities and equity                      
    Interest-bearing liabilities                      
    Interest-bearing checking accounts $ 574,954     $ 4,149   0.96 %   $ 627,200     $ 3,241   0.69 %
    Money market accounts   1,305,217       30,642   3.14       1,206,119       18,604   2.06  
    Savings accounts   187,447       124   0.09       218,683       143   0.09  
    Certificate accounts   934,702       30,778   4.40       649,755       14,967   3.08  
    Total interest-bearing deposits   3,002,320       65,693   2.92       2,701,757       36,955   1.83  
    Junior subordinated debt   10,054       705   9.37       8,428       563   8.93  
    Borrowings   76,823       3,550   6.17       158,965       6,634   5.58  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   3,089,197       69,948   3.02       2,869,150       44,152   2.06  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   766,110               857,315          
    Other liabilities   55,217               54,513          
    Total liabilities   3,910,524               3,780,978          
    Stockholders’ equity   521,767               463,356          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 4,432,291             $ 4,244,334          
    Net earning assets $ 1,066,578             $ 1,108,317          
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities   134.53 %             138.63 %        
    Non-tax-equivalent                      
    Net interest income     $ 125,470           $ 127,510    
    Interest rate spread         3.26 %           3.71 %
    Net interest margin(3)         4.03 %           4.29 %
    Tax-equivalent                      
    Net interest income     $ 126,542           $ 128,413    
    Interest rate spread         3.30 %           3.74 %
    Net interest margin(3)         4.07 %           4.32 %

    (1)  Average loans receivable balances include loans held for sale and nonaccruing loans.
    (2)  Average other interest-earning assets consist of FRB stock, FHLB stock, SBIC investments and deposits in other banks.
    (3)  Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
    (4)  Tax-equivalent results include adjustments to interest income of $1,072 and $903 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively, calculated based on a combined federal and state tax rate of 24%.

    Total interest and dividend income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 increased $23.8 million, or 13.8%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, which was driven by a $22.9 million, or 14.1%, increase in interest income on loans. Accretion income on acquired loans of $2.0 million and $1.7 million was recognized during the same periods, respectively, and was included in interest income on loans. The overall increase in average yield on interest-earning assets was the result of both higher average balances and rising interest rates.

    Total interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 increased $25.8 million, or 58.4%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The change was primarily the result of increases in the cost of funds across all funding sources driven by higher market interest rates and increases in the average balances of money market and certificate accounts, partially offset by a decline in average borrowings outstanding.

    The following table shows the effects that changes in average balances (volume), including the difference in the number of days in the periods compared, and average interest rates (rate) had on the interest earned on interest-earning assets and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities:

      Increase / (Decrease)
    Due to
      Total
    Increase /
    (Decrease)
    (Dollars in thousands) Volume   Rate  
    Interest-earning assets          
    Loans receivable $ 8,927     $ 13,965     $ 22,892  
    Debt securities available for sale   (532 )     1,176       644  
    Other interest-earning assets   79       141       220  
    Total interest-earning assets   8,474       15,282       23,756  
    Interest-bearing liabilities          
    Interest-bearing checking accounts   (266 )     1,174       908  
    Money market accounts   1,557       10,481       12,038  
    Savings accounts   (20 )     1       (19 )
    Certificate accounts   6,592       9,219       15,811  
    Junior subordinated debt   109       33       142  
    Borrowings   (3,425 )     341       (3,084 )
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   4,547       21,249       25,796  
    Decrease in net interest income         $ (2,040 )

    Provision for Credit Losses.  The following table presents a breakdown of the components of the provision for credit losses:

      Nine Months Ended      
    (Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2024   September 30, 2023   $ Change   % Change
    Provision for credit losses                
    Loans $ 8,435     $ 12,120     $ (3,685 )   (30 )%
    Off-balance-sheet credit exposure   (35 )     (385 )     350     91  
    Total provision for credit losses $ 8,400     $ 11,735     $ (3,335 )   (28 )%

    For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the “loans” portion of the provision for credit losses was the result of net charge-offs of $8.9 million during the period, partially offset by a $0.4 million benefit due to changes in the loan mix.

    For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the “loans” portion of the provision for credit losses was the result of the following, in addition to net charge-offs of $3.9 million during the period:

    • $4.9 million provision to establish an allowance on Quantum’s loan portfolio.
    • $3.0 million provision due to changes in the projected economic forecast, specifically the national unemployment rate, and changes in qualitative adjustments.
    • $0.3 million increase in specific reserves on individually evaluated credits.

    For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the amounts recorded for off-balance-sheet credit exposure were the result of changes in the balance of loan commitments, loan mix and projected economic forecast as outlined above.

    Noninterest Income.  Noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 increased $1.4 million, or 5.8%, when compared to the same period last year. Changes in the components of noninterest income are discussed below:

      Nine Months Ended    
    (Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2024   September 30, 2023   $ Change   % Change
    Noninterest income              
    Service charges and fees on deposit accounts $ 6,839     $ 6,967     $ (128 )   (2 )%
    Loan income and fees   2,009       1,913       96     5  
    Gain on sale of loans held for sale   5,185       4,213       972     23  
    BOLI income   3,470       2,844       626     22  
    Operating lease income   5,087       4,515       572     13  
    Gain (loss) on sale of premises and equipment   (9 )     982       (991 )   (101 )
    Other   2,625       2,391       234     10  
    Total noninterest income $ 25,206     $ 23,825     $ 1,381     6 %
                                 
    • Gain on sale of loans held for sale: The increase in the gain on sale of loans held for sale was primarily driven by residential mortgage and SBA loans sold during the period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, there were $58.3 million of residential mortgage loans originated for sale which were sold with gains of $1.1 million compared to $48.7 million sold with gains of $633,000 for the corresponding period in the prior year, with the improvement in profitability due to movement in interest rates. There were $38.5 million of sales of the guaranteed portion of SBA commercial loans with gains of $3.1 million compared to $41.1 million sold and gains of $2.6 million for the corresponding period in the prior year. There were $95.4 million of HELOCs sold during the current period for a gain of $887,000 compared to $66.4 million sold and gains of $552,000 for the corresponding period in the prior year. Our hedging of mandatory commitments on the residential mortgage loan pipeline resulted in a gain of $15,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 versus a gain of $426,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
    • BOLI income: The increase was due to higher yielding policies as a result of restructuring the portfolio at the end of the prior calendar year.
    • Operating lease income: The increase in operating lease income was the result of $1.7 million in additional contractual earnings on a higher average outstanding balance of the associated contracts, partially offset by losses incurred on previously leased equipment, where we recognized a net loss of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 versus a net loss of $210,000 in the same period last year.
    • Gain (loss) on sale of premises and equipment: During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, two properties were sold for a combined gain of $982,000. No material disposal activity occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

    Noninterest Expense.  Noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 decreased $2.6 million, or 2.8%, when compared to the same period last year. Changes in the components of noninterest expense are discussed below:

      Nine Months Ended    
    (Dollars in thousands) September 30, 2024   September 30, 2023   $ Change   % Change
    Noninterest expense              
    Salaries and employee benefits $ 50,666     $ 49,436     $ 1,230     2 %
    Occupancy expense, net   7,292       7,556       (264 )   (3 )
    Computer services   9,396       9,386       10      
    Telephone, postage and supplies   1,712       1,942       (230 )   (12 )
    Marketing and advertising   1,659       1,555       104     7  
    Deposit insurance premiums   1,674       1,878       (204 )   (11 )
    Core deposit intangible amortization   1,896       2,324       (428 )   (18 )
    Merger-related expenses         4,741       (4,741 )   (100 )
    Other   16,364       14,490       1,874     13  
    Total noninterest expense $ 90,659     $ 93,308     $ (2,649 )   (3 )%
                               
    • Salaries and employee benefits: The increase was primarily the result of pay increases, partially offset by reductions in incentive pay.
    • Core deposit intangible amortization: The intangible recorded associated with the Quantum merger is being amortized on an accelerated basis, so the rate of amortization slowed year-over-year.
    • Merger-related expenses: The prior period included expenses associated with the Company’s merger with Quantum. No such expenses were incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
    • Other: The increase period-over-period was primarily driven by $1.7 million of additional depreciation expense on equipment subject to operating leases.

    Income Taxes. The amount of income tax expense is influenced by the amount of pre-tax income, tax-exempt income, changes in the statutory rate and the effect of changes in valuation allowances maintained against deferred tax benefits. The effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 were 21.3% and 21.0%, respectively.

    Balance Sheet Review
    Total assets decreased by $35.3 million to $4.6 billion and total liabilities decreased by $75.5 million to $4.1 billion, respectively, at September 30, 2024 as compared to December 31, 2023. The majority of these changes were the result of an increase in deposits, which, combined with the collection of BOLI redemption proceeds and cash and cash equivalents, were used to fund growth in loans and pay down borrowings.

    Stockholders’ equity increased $40.1 million to $540.0 million at September 30, 2024 as compared to December 31, 2023. Activity within stockholders’ equity included $40.6 million in net income and $4.5 million in stock-based compensation and stock option exercises, partially offset by $5.6 million in cash dividends declared. In addition, the improvement in the accumulated other comprehensive income was driven by a $1.6 million reduction of the unrealized loss on available for sale securities as a result of a decrease in market interest rates.

    As of September 30, 2024, the Bank was considered “well capitalized” in accordance with its regulatory capital guidelines and exceeded all regulatory capital requirements.

    Asset Quality
    The ACL on loans was $48.1 million, or 1.30% of total loans, at September 30, 2024 compared to $48.6 million, or 1.34% of total loans, at December 31, 2023. The drivers of this change are discussed in the “Comparison of Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 – Provision for Credit Losses” section above.

    Net loan charge-offs totaled $8.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to $3.9 million for the same period last year. As discussed in previous quarters, the increase in net charge-offs has been concentrated in our equipment finance portfolio, primarily smaller over-the-road truck loans, with net charge-offs of $5.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. In response, during the first quarter of calendar year 2024 the Company elected to cease further originations within the transportation sector of equipment finance loans. In spite of the increase, annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average assets for the loan portfolio as a whole were 0.31% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, in line with the Company’s historical experience, as compared to 0.14% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

    Nonperforming assets, made up of nonaccrual loans and repossessed assets, increased by $10.4 million, or 54.0%, to $29.8 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at September 30, 2024 compared to $19.3 million, or 0.41% of total assets, at December 31, 2023. Consistent with the change in net charge-offs, equipment finance loans made up the largest portion of nonperforming assets at $8.5 million and $6.5 million, respectively, at these same dates. In addition, owner occupied commercial real estate totaled $7.2 million and $912,000, respectively, at these same dates. These increases were mainly the result of a $3.1 million medical equipment relationship and $5.1 million owner occupied commercial real estate (OO CRE) relationship; however, in both cases losses are not currently anticipated. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans was 0.78% at September 30, 2024 compared to 0.53% at December 31, 2023.

    The ratio of classified assets to total assets increased to 0.99% at September 30, 2024 from 0.90% at December 31, 2023 as classified assets increased $4.1 million, or 9.8%, to $46.1 million at September 30, 2024 compared to $42.0 million at December 31, 2023. The largest portfolios of classified assets at September 30, 2024 included $11.7 million of non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans, $8.4 million of equipment finance loans, $7.1 million of SBA loans, $6.0 million of 1-4 family residential real estate loans, and $6.0 million of OO CRE loans.

    About HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc.
    HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for the Bank. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had assets of $4.6 billion. The Bank, founded in 1926, is a North Carolina state chartered, community-focused financial institution committed to providing value added relationship banking with over 30 locations as well as online/mobile channels. Locations include: North Carolina (the Asheville metropolitan area, the “Piedmont” region, Charlotte and Raleigh/Cary), South Carolina (Greenville and Charleston), East Tennessee (Kingsport/Johnson City, Knoxville and Morristown), Southwest Virginia (the Roanoke Valley) and Georgia (Greater Atlanta).

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, but instead are based on certain assumptions including statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions and statements about future economic performance and projections of financial items. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by forward-looking statements. The factors that could result in material differentiation include, but are not limited to, the impact of bank failures or adverse developments involving other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; the remaining effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on general economic and financial market conditions and on public health, both nationally and in the Company’s market areas; natural disasters, including the effects of Hurricane Helene; expected revenues, cost savings, synergies and other benefits from merger and acquisition activities might not be realized to the extent anticipated, within the anticipated time frames, or at all, costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected, and goodwill impairment charges might be incurred; increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in general economic conditions, both nationally and in our market areas; legislative and regulatory changes; and the effects of inflation, a potential recession, and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission – which are available on the Company’s website at www.htb.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Any of the forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release or in the documents the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made and may turn out to be wrong because of inaccurate assumptions, the factors described above or other factors that management cannot foresee. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

    Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

    (Dollars in thousands) September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
    (1)
      September 30,
    2023
    Assets                  
    Cash $ 18,980     $ 18,382     $ 16,134     $ 18,307     $ 18,090  
    Interest-bearing deposits   274,497       275,808       364,359       328,833       306,924  
    Cash and cash equivalents   293,477       294,190       380,493       347,140       325,014  
    Certificates of deposit in other banks   29,290       32,131       33,625       34,722       35,380  
    Debt securities available for sale, at fair value   140,552       134,135       120,807       126,950       134,348  
    FHLB and FRB stock   18,384       19,637       13,691       18,393       19,612  
    SBIC investments, at cost   15,489       15,462       14,568       13,789       14,586  
    Loans held for sale, at fair value   2,968       1,614       2,764       3,359       4,616  
    Loans held for sale, at the lower of cost or fair value   189,722       224,976       220,699       198,433       200,834  
    Total loans, net of deferred loan fees and costs   3,698,892       3,701,454       3,648,152       3,640,022       3,659,914  
    Allowance for credit losses – loans   (48,131 )     (49,223 )     (47,502 )     (48,641 )     (47,417 )
    Loans, net   3,650,761       3,652,231       3,600,650       3,591,381       3,612,497  
    Premises and equipment, net   69,603       69,880       70,588       70,937       72,463  
    Accrued interest receivable   17,523       18,412       16,944       16,902       16,513  
    Deferred income taxes, net   10,100       10,512       11,222       11,796       9,569  
    BOLI   90,021       89,176       88,369       88,257       106,059  
    Goodwill   34,111       34,111       34,111       34,111       34,111  
    Core deposit intangibles, net   7,162       7,730       8,297       9,059       9,918  
    Other assets   68,130       66,667       67,183       107,404       56,477  
    Total assets $ 4,637,293     $ 4,670,864     $ 4,684,011     $ 4,672,633     $ 4,651,997  
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity                  
    Liabilities                  
    Deposits $ 3,761,588     $ 3,707,779     $ 3,799,807     $ 3,661,373     $ 3,640,961  
    Junior subordinated debt   10,096       10,070       10,045       10,021       9,995  
    Borrowings   260,013       364,513       291,513       433,763       452,263  
    Other liabilities   65,592       64,874       69,473       67,583       64,367  
    Total liabilities   4,097,289       4,147,236       4,170,838       4,172,740       4,167,586  
    Stockholders’ equity                  
    Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding                            
    Common stock, $0.01 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized(2)   175       175       175       174       174  
    Additional paid in capital   175,495       172,907       172,919       172,366       171,663  
    Retained earnings   368,383       357,147       346,598       333,401       321,799  
    Unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) shares   (4,099 )     (4,232 )     (4,364 )     (4,497 )     (4,629 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   50       (2,369 )     (2,155 )     (1,551 )     (4,596 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   540,004       523,628       513,173       499,893       484,411  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 4,637,293     $ 4,670,864     $ 4,684,011     $ 4,672,633     $ 4,651,997  

    (1)  Derived from audited financial statements.
    (2)  Shares of common stock issued and outstanding were 17,514,922 at September 30, 2024; 17,437,326 at June 30, 2024; 17,444,787 at March 31, 2024; 17,387,069 at December 31, 2023; and 17,380,307 at September 30, 2023.

    Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    (Dollars in thousands) September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Interest and dividend income              
    Loans $ 63,305     $ 62,161     $ 185,418     $ 162,526  
    Debt securities available for sale   1,616       1,495       4,424       3,780  
    Other investments and interest-bearing deposits   1,728       1,758       5,576       5,356  
    Total interest and dividend income   66,649       65,414       195,418       171,662  
    Interest expense              
    Deposits   23,692       21,683       65,693       36,955  
    Junior subordinated debt   235       234       705       563  
    Borrowings   648       1,331       3,550       6,634  
    Total interest expense   24,575       23,248       69,948       44,152  
    Net interest income   42,074       42,166       125,470       127,510  
    Provision for credit losses   2,975       4,260       8,400       11,735  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses   39,099       37,906       117,070       115,775  
    Noninterest income              
    Service charges and fees on deposit accounts   2,336       2,354       6,839       6,967  
    Loan income and fees   684       647       2,009       1,913  
    Gain on sale of loans held for sale   1,900       1,828       5,185       4,213  
    BOLI income   828       807       3,470       2,844  
    Operating lease income   1,637       1,591       5,087       4,515  
    Gain (loss) on sale of premises and equipment               (9 )     982  
    Other   897       886       2,625       2,391  
    Total noninterest income   8,282       8,113       25,206       23,825  
    Noninterest expense              
    Salaries and employee benefits   17,082       16,608       50,666       49,436  
    Occupancy expense, net   2,436       2,419       7,292       7,556  
    Computer services   3,192       3,116       9,396       9,386  
    Telephone, postage and supplies   547       580       1,712       1,942  
    Marketing and advertising   408       606       1,659       1,555  
    Deposit insurance premiums   589       531       1,674       1,878  
    Core deposit intangible amortization   567       567       1,896       2,324  
    Merger-related expenses                     4,741  
    Other   5,764       5,783       16,364       14,490  
    Total noninterest expense   30,585       30,210       90,659       93,308  
    Income before income taxes   16,796       15,809       51,617       46,292  
    Income tax expense   3,684       3,391       11,020       9,712  
    Net income $ 13,112     $ 12,418     $ 40,597     $ 36,580  

    Per Share Data

        Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
        September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Net income per common share(1)                
    Basic   $ 0.77     $ 0.73     $ 2.38     $ 2.19  
    Diluted   $ 0.76     $ 0.73     $ 2.37     $ 2.18  
    Average shares outstanding                
    Basic     16,931,793       16,883,028       16,891,619       16,532,335  
    Diluted     17,027,824       16,904,098       16,938,328       16,553,319  
    Book value per share at end of period   $ 30.83     $ 30.03     $ 30.83     $ 27.87  
    Tangible book value per share at end of period(2)   $ 28.57     $ 27.73     $ 28.57     $ 25.47  
    Cash dividends declared per common share   $ 0.11     $ 0.11     $ 0.33     $ 0.30  
    Total shares outstanding at end of period     17,514,922       17,437,326       17,514,922       17,380,307  

    (1)  Basic and diluted net income per common share have been prepared in accordance with the two-class method.
    (2)  See Non-GAAP reconciliations below for adjustments.

    Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data

      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Performance ratios(1)          
    Return on assets (ratio of net income to average total assets) 1.17 %   1.13 %   1.22 %   1.15 %
    Return on equity (ratio of net income to average equity) 9.76     9.58     10.39     10.56  
    Yield on earning assets 6.34     6.32     6.28     5.77  
    Rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities 3.12     3.04     3.02     2.06  
    Average interest rate spread 3.22     3.28     3.26     3.71  
    Net interest margin(2) 4.00     4.08     4.03     4.29  
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities 133.71     135.38     134.53     138.63  
    Noninterest expense to average total assets 2.73     2.74     2.73     2.94  
    Efficiency ratio 60.74     60.08     60.17     61.66  
    Efficiency ratio – adjusted(3) 60.30     59.66     60.19     58.98  

    (1)  Ratios are annualized where appropriate.
    (2)  Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
    (3)  See Non-GAAP reconciliations below for adjustments.

      At or For the Three Months Ended
      September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Asset quality ratios                  
    Nonperforming assets to total assets(1) 0.64 %   0.54 %   0.43 %   0.41 %   0.25 %
    Nonperforming loans to total loans(1) 0.78     0.68     0.55     0.53     0.32  
    Total classified assets to total assets 0.99     0.91     0.80     0.90     0.76  
    Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans(1) 166.51     194.80     235.18     251.60     400.41  
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans 1.30     1.33     1.30     1.34     1.30  
    Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized) 0.42     0.27     0.24     0.29     0.27  
    Capital ratios                  
    Equity to total assets at end of period 11.64 %   11.21 %   10.96 %   10.70 %   10.41 %
    Tangible equity to total tangible assets(2) 10.88     10.44     10.18     9.91     9.60  
    Average equity to average assets 12.02     11.78     11.51     11.03     10.84  

    (1)  Nonperforming assets include nonaccruing loans and repossessed assets. There were no accruing loans more than 90 days past due at the dates indicated. At September 30, 2024, $8.7 million, or 30.4%, of nonaccruing loans were current on their loan payments as of that date.
    (2)  See Non-GAAP reconciliations below for adjustments.

    Loans

    (Dollars in thousands) September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Commercial real estate loans                  
    Construction and land development $ 300,905     $ 316,050     $ 304,727     $ 305,269     $ 352,143  
    Commercial real estate – owner occupied   544,689       545,631       532,547       536,545       526,534  
    Commercial real estate – non-owner occupied   881,340       892,653       881,143       875,694       880,348  
    Multifamily   114,155       92,292       89,692       88,623       83,430  
    Total commercial real estate loans   1,841,089       1,846,626       1,808,109       1,806,131       1,842,455  
    Commercial loans                  
    Commercial and industrial   286,809       266,136       243,732       237,255       237,366  
    Equipment finance   443,033       461,010       462,649       465,573       470,387  
    Municipal leases   158,560       152,509       151,894       150,292       147,821  
    Total commercial loans   888,402       879,655       858,275       853,120       855,574  
    Residential real estate loans                  
    Construction and land development   63,016       70,679       85,840       96,646       103,381  
    One-to-four family   627,845       621,196       605,570       584,405       560,399  
    HELOCs   194,909       188,465       184,274       185,878       185,289  
    Total residential real estate loans   885,770       880,340       875,684       866,929       849,069  
    Consumer loans   83,631       94,833       106,084       113,842       112,816  
    Total loans, net of deferred loan fees and costs   3,698,892       3,701,454       3,648,152       3,640,022       3,659,914  
    Allowance for credit losses – loans   (48,131 )     (49,223 )     (47,502 )     (48,641 )     (47,417 )
    Loans, net $ 3,650,761     $ 3,652,231     $ 3,600,650     $ 3,591,381     $ 3,612,497  

    Deposits

    (Dollars in thousands) September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Core deposits                  
    Noninterest-bearing accounts $ 684,501     $ 683,346     $ 773,901     $ 784,950     $ 827,362  
    NOW accounts   534,517       561,789       600,561       591,270       602,804  
    Money market accounts   1,345,289       1,311,940       1,308,467       1,246,807       1,195,482  
    Savings accounts   179,762       185,499       191,302       194,486       202,971  
    Total core deposits   2,744,069       2,742,574       2,874,231       2,817,513       2,828,619  
    Certificates of deposit   1,017,519       965,205       925,576       843,860       812,342  
    Total $ 3,761,588     $ 3,707,779     $ 3,799,807     $ 3,661,373     $ 3,640,961  

    Non-GAAP Reconciliations
    In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in the United States (“GAAP”), this earnings release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, which include: the efficiency ratio, tangible book value, tangible book value per share and the tangible equity to tangible assets ratio. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures and ratios as presented are useful for both investors and management to understand the effects of certain items and provide an alternative view of its performance over time and in comparison to its competitors. These non-GAAP measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied and are not audited. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for total stockholders’ equity or operating results determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

    Set forth below is a reconciliation to GAAP of the Company’s efficiency ratio:

        Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    (Dollars in thousands)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      September 30,
    2023
    Noninterest expense   $ 30,585     $ 30,210     $ 90,659     $ 93,308  
    Less: merger expense                       4,741  
    Noninterest expense – adjusted   $ 30,585     $ 30,210     $ 90,659     $ 88,567  
                     
    Net interest income   $ 42,074     $ 42,166     $ 125,470     $ 127,510  
    Plus: tax-equivalent adjustment     368       354       1,072       903  
    Plus: noninterest income     8,282       8,113       25,206       23,825  
    Less: BOLI death benefit proceeds in excess of cash surrender value                 1,143       1,092  
    Less: loss (gain) on sale of premises and equipment                 (9 )     982  
    Net interest income plus noninterest income – adjusted   $ 50,724     $ 50,633     $ 150,614     $ 150,164  
    Efficiency ratio   60.74 %   60.08 %   60.17 %   61.66 %
    Efficiency ratio – adjusted   60.30 %   59.66 %   60.19 %   58.98 %
                             

    Set forth below is a reconciliation to GAAP of tangible book value and tangible book value per share:

        As of
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Total stockholders’ equity   $ 540,004     $ 523,628     $ 513,173     $ 499,893     $ 484,411  
    Less: goodwill, core deposit intangibles, net of taxes     39,626       40,063       40,500       41,086       41,748  
    Tangible book value   $ 500,378     $ 483,565     $ 472,673     $ 458,807     $ 442,663  
    Common shares outstanding     17,514,922       17,437,326       17,444,787       17,387,069       17,380,307  
    Book value per share   $ 30.83     $ 30.03     $ 29.42     $ 28.75     $ 27.87  
    Tangible book value per share   $ 28.57     $ 27.73     $ 27.10     $ 26.39     $ 25.47  

    Set forth below is a reconciliation to GAAP of tangible equity to tangible assets:

        As of
    (Dollars in thousands)   September 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2024
      March 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2023
    Tangible equity(1)   $ 500,378     $ 483,565     $ 472,673     $ 458,807     $ 442,663  
    Total assets     4,637,293       4,670,864       4,684,011       4,672,633       4,651,997  
    Less: goodwill, core deposit intangibles, net of taxes     39,626       40,063       40,500       41,086       41,748  
    Total tangible assets   $ 4,597,667     $ 4,630,801     $ 4,643,511     $ 4,631,547     $ 4,610,249  
    Tangible equity to tangible assets   10.88 %   10.44 %   10.18 %   9.91 %   9.60 %

    (1)  Tangible equity (or tangible book value) is equal to total stockholders’ equity less goodwill and core deposit intangibles, net of related deferred tax liabilities.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: ConnectM Launches Intelligent AI-Driven Heat Pump Following AHRI Cold Climate Certification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNTM) (“ConnectM” or the “Company”), a technology company focused on the electrification economy, today announced its groundbreaking AI-powered heat pump has received the prestigious AHRI (Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute) Cold Climate Certification, representing a significant milestone in energy-efficient heating solutions. This certification follows the previously announced launch and underscores ConnectM’s commitment to delivering state-of-the-art technology that meets the highest standards for performance in even the harshest of winter conditions.

    The AHRI Cold Climate Certification is awarded to products that demonstrate superior heating efficiency, especially in cold environments where traditional heat pumps struggle. ConnectM’s heat pump excels in maintaining warmth without the energy consumption spikes which are typically associated with extreme cold weather. By achieving this certification, our system stands out as a reliable, eco-friendly solution for homes in colder regions, aligning perfectly with global decarbonization and sustainability goals.

    Bhaskar Panigrahi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ConnectM, commented, “Receiving AHRI Cold Climate Certification validates the Company’s AI-driven heat pump’s ability to operate efficiently and effectively in temperatures as low as -15°F. This certification is crucial as it provides consumers with the assurance that ConnectM’s heat pump not only meets but exceeds the industry benchmarks, specifically 5ºF and below, for energy savings and comfort. Homeowners in colder climates can now benefit from cutting-edge technology that drastically reduces their energy consumption, lowers heating costs, and helps to decrease their carbon footprint.”

    As part of the Company’s ongoing efforts to make advanced heating technology accessible, ConnectM is proud to announce that its certified heat pump will be available through its nationwide network of ConnectM Service providers in Q4 2024. Customers can now enjoy the benefits of this intelligent heat pump, powered by advanced AI algorithms that optimize performance based on real-time environmental data. These features ensure not only energy efficiency but also peak performance during the most challenging cold weather conditions.

    About ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.   

    ConnectM is a technology company focused on advancing the electrification economy by integrating electrified energy assets with its AI-powered technology solutions platform. The Company provides residential and light commercial buildings and all-electric original equipment manufacturers with a proprietary Energy Intelligence Network platform to accelerate the transition to solar and all-electric heating, cooling, and transportation. Leveraging technology, data, artificial intelligence, contemporary design, and behavioral economics, ConnectM aims to make electrification more user-friendly, affordable, precise, and socially impactful. As a vertically integrated company with wholly owned service networks and a comprehensive technology stack, ConnectM empowers customers to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, lower overall energy costs, and minimize their carbon footprint.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.connectm.com/

    Contact:

    MZ North America
    (203) 741-8811

    ConnectM@mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Managing Director’s Global Policy Agenda, Annual Meeting 2024: Secure A Soft Landing And Break From The Low Growth–High Debt Path

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Summary

    The global economy has proven resilient, and a soft landing is within reach. Inflation has moderated thanks to tight monetary policy and fading supply shocks, and growth is expected to remain steady. But uncertainty remains significant, with risks tilted to the downside; medium-term growth prospects are lackluster; public debt has reached record highs and is expected to approach 100 percent of GDP by 2030; and geoeconomic fragmentation threatens to undo decades of gains from cross-border economic integration. At the same time, transformative changes—the green transition, demographic shifts, and digitalization, including artificial intelligence—are poised to reshape the global economy, creating challenges but also opportunities. Against this background, the key policy priorities are to secure a soft landing and break from the low growth-high debt path, and address other medium-term challenges. Monetary policy should ensure inflation returns durably to the target, and fiscal policy needs to decisively pivot toward consolidation to rebuild buffers and safeguard debt sustainability. Growth-enhancing reforms are urgently needed to lift growth prospects by boosting investment, job creation, and productivity. Domestic policies must be complemented by multilateral efforts to support countries with debt vulnerabilities, protect gains from economic integration, accelerate climate action, and harness benefits of new technologies while mitigating the risks. As it has done since its founding 80 years ago, the IMF will continue to adapt to serve its members with tailored policy advice, financial lifelines when needed, and capacity development. The Fund will remain a strong advocate for multilateralism and economic integration as foundations on which to build a resilient and inclusive global economy.

    Subject: Artificial intelligence, Balance of payments, Capital flows, Climate change, Credit, Debt sustainability, Digitalization, Environment, External debt, Fiscal policy, Inflation, Money, Poverty, Poverty reduction strategy, Prices, Revenue mobilization, Technology

    Keywords: Republic of, Advanced Economies, Artificial intelligence, Artificial intelligence, Capital flows, Capital flows, Climate change, Climate change, Credit, Debt sustainability, Debt sustainability, Digitalization, Digitalization, Economic integration, Economic integration, Global, Growth, Inflation, Inflation, Integrated Policy Framework, Integrated Policy Framework, Moldova, Poverty reduction strategy, Poverty reduction strategy, Reforms, Revenue mobilization, Revenue mobilization, Senegal

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-Evening Report: Want to build healthier cities? Make room for bird and tree diversity

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Buxton, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Carleton University

    More than five million Canadians — approximately one in eight of us — are living with a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder. The prevalence of mental disorders is on the rise, with a third of those with a disorder reporting unmet or partially met needs for mental health-care services.

    The stresses of the city, where more than 70 per cent of Canadians now live, can increase the risk of poor mental health even further.

    When most people think about caring for their mental health, they may think about getting more exercise, getting more sleep and making sure they’re eating healthy. Increasingly, research is showing that spending time in nature surrounded by plants and wildlife can also contribute to preventing and treating mental illness.

    Our research focuses on the importance of birds and trees in urban neighbourhoods in promoting mental well-being. In our study, we combined more than a decade of health and ecological data across 36 Canadian cities and found a positive association between greater bird and tree diversity and self-rated mental health.

    The well-being benefits of healthy ecosystems will probably not come as a great surprise to urban dwellers who relish days out in the park or hiking in a nearby nature reserve. Still, the findings of our study speak to the potential of a nature-based urbanism that promotes the health of its citizens.




    Read more:
    How the health of honeybee hives can inform environmental policies in Canadian cities


    Birds, trees and human connection

    Across cultures and societies, people have strong connections with birds. The beauty of their bright song and colour have inspired art, music and poetry. Their contemporary cultural relevance has even earned them an affectionate, absurdist internet nickname: “birbs”.

    There’s something magical about catching a glimpse of a bird and hearing birdsong. For many urbanites, birds are our daily connection to wildlife and a gateway to nature. In fact, even if we don’t realize it, humans and birds are intertwined. Birds provide us with many essential services — controlling insects, dispersing seeds and pollinating our crops.

    People have similarly intimate connections with trees. The terms tree of life, family trees, even tree-hugger all demonstrate the central cultural importance trees have in many communities around the world. In cities, trees are a staple of efforts to bring beauty and tranquility.

    When the Australian city of Melbourne gave urban trees email addresses for people to report problems, residents responded by writing thousands of love letters to their favourite trees. Forest bathing, a practice of being calm and quiet among trees, is a growing wellness trend.

    Birds and trees as promoters of urban wellness

    Contact with nature and greenspace have a suite of mental health benefits.

    Natural spaces reduce stress and offer places for recreation and relaxation for urban dwellers, but natural diversity is key. A growing amount of research shows that the extent of these benefits may be related to the diversity of different natural features.

    For example, in the United States, higher bird diversity is associated with lower hospitalizations for mood and anxiety disorders and longer life expectancy. In a European study, researchers found that bird diversity was as important for life satisfaction as income.

    People’s connection to a greater diversity of birds and trees could be because we evolved to recognize that the presence of more species indicates a safer environment — one with more things to eat and more shelter. Biodiverse environments are also less work for the brain to interpret, allowing restoration of cognitive resources.

    To explore the relationship between biodiversity and mental health in urban Canada, we brought together unique datasets. First, we collected bird data sourced from community scientists, where people logged their bird sightings on an app. We then compared this data with tree diversity data from national forest inventories.

    Finally, we compared both of these data sets to a long-standing health survey that has interviewed approximately 65,000 Canadians each year for over two decades.

    We found that living in a neighbourhood with higher than average bird diversity increased reporting of good mental health by about seven per cent. While living in a neighbourhood with higher than average tree diversity increased good mental health by about five per cent.

    Importance of urban birds and trees

    The results of our study, and those of others, show a connection between urban bird and tree diversity, healthy ecosystems and people’s mental well-being. This underscores the importance of urban biodiversity conservation as part of healthy living promotion.

    Protecting wild areas in parks, planting pollinator gardens and reducing pesticide use could all be key strategies to protect urban wildlife and promote people’s well-being. Urban planners should take note.




    Read more:
    Eco-anxiety: climate change affects our mental health – here’s how to cope


    We’re at a critical juncture: just as we are beginning to understand the well-being benefits of birds and trees, we’re losing species at a faster rate than ever before. It’s estimated that there are three billion fewer birds in North America compared to the 1970s and invasive pests will kill 1.4 million street trees over the next 30 years.

    By promoting urban biodiversity, we can ensure a sustainable and healthy future for all species, including ourselves.

    Rachel Buxton receives funding from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, National Institutes of Health, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

    Emma J. Hudgins received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies for this work. She currently receives funding from Plant Health Australia.

    Stephanie Prince Ware has received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    ref. Want to build healthier cities? Make room for bird and tree diversity – https://theconversation.com/want-to-build-healthier-cities-make-room-for-bird-and-tree-diversity-235379

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Global: Want to build healthier cities? Make room for bird and tree diversity

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rachel Buxton, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Carleton University

    More than five million Canadians — approximately one in eight of us — are living with a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder. The prevalence of mental disorders is on the rise, with a third of those with a disorder reporting unmet or partially met needs for mental health-care services.

    The stresses of the city, where more than 70 per cent of Canadians now live, can increase the risk of poor mental health even further.

    When most people think about caring for their mental health, they may think about getting more exercise, getting more sleep and making sure they’re eating healthy. Increasingly, research is showing that spending time in nature surrounded by plants and wildlife can also contribute to preventing and treating mental illness.

    Our research focuses on the importance of birds and trees in urban neighbourhoods in promoting mental well-being. In our study, we combined more than a decade of health and ecological data across 36 Canadian cities and found a positive association between greater bird and tree diversity and self-rated mental health.

    The well-being benefits of healthy ecosystems will probably not come as a great surprise to urban dwellers who relish days out in the park or hiking in a nearby nature reserve. Still, the findings of our study speak to the potential of a nature-based urbanism that promotes the health of its citizens.




    Read more:
    How the health of honeybee hives can inform environmental policies in Canadian cities


    Birds, trees and human connection

    Across cultures and societies, people have strong connections with birds. The beauty of their bright song and colour have inspired art, music and poetry. Their contemporary cultural relevance has even earned them an affectionate, absurdist internet nickname: “birbs”.

    There’s something magical about catching a glimpse of a bird and hearing birdsong. For many urbanites, birds are our daily connection to wildlife and a gateway to nature. In fact, even if we don’t realize it, humans and birds are intertwined. Birds provide us with many essential services — controlling insects, dispersing seeds and pollinating our crops.

    People have similarly intimate connections with trees. The terms tree of life, family trees, even tree-hugger all demonstrate the central cultural importance trees have in many communities around the world. In cities, trees are a staple of efforts to bring beauty and tranquility.

    When the Australian city of Melbourne gave urban trees email addresses for people to report problems, residents responded by writing thousands of love letters to their favourite trees. Forest bathing, a practice of being calm and quiet among trees, is a growing wellness trend.

    Birds and trees as promoters of urban wellness

    Contact with nature and greenspace have a suite of mental health benefits.

    Natural spaces reduce stress and offer places for recreation and relaxation for urban dwellers, but natural diversity is key. A growing amount of research shows that the extent of these benefits may be related to the diversity of different natural features.

    For example, in the United States, higher bird diversity is associated with lower hospitalizations for mood and anxiety disorders and longer life expectancy. In a European study, researchers found that bird diversity was as important for life satisfaction as income.

    People’s connection to a greater diversity of birds and trees could be because we evolved to recognize that the presence of more species indicates a safer environment — one with more things to eat and more shelter. Biodiverse environments are also less work for the brain to interpret, allowing restoration of cognitive resources.

    To explore the relationship between biodiversity and mental health in urban Canada, we brought together unique datasets. First, we collected bird data sourced from community scientists, where people logged their bird sightings on an app. We then compared this data with tree diversity data from national forest inventories.

    Finally, we compared both of these data sets to a long-standing health survey that has interviewed approximately 65,000 Canadians each year for over two decades.

    We found that living in a neighbourhood with higher than average bird diversity increased reporting of good mental health by about seven per cent. While living in a neighbourhood with higher than average tree diversity increased good mental health by about five per cent.

    Importance of urban birds and trees

    The results of our study, and those of others, show a connection between urban bird and tree diversity, healthy ecosystems and people’s mental well-being. This underscores the importance of urban biodiversity conservation as part of healthy living promotion.

    Protecting wild areas in parks, planting pollinator gardens and reducing pesticide use could all be key strategies to protect urban wildlife and promote people’s well-being. Urban planners should take note.




    Read more:
    Eco-anxiety: climate change affects our mental health – here’s how to cope


    We’re at a critical juncture: just as we are beginning to understand the well-being benefits of birds and trees, we’re losing species at a faster rate than ever before. It’s estimated that there are three billion fewer birds in North America compared to the 1970s and invasive pests will kill 1.4 million street trees over the next 30 years.

    By promoting urban biodiversity, we can ensure a sustainable and healthy future for all species, including ourselves.

    Rachel Buxton receives funding from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, National Institutes of Health, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

    Emma J. Hudgins received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies for this work. She currently receives funding from Plant Health Australia.

    Stephanie Prince Ware has received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    ref. Want to build healthier cities? Make room for bird and tree diversity – https://theconversation.com/want-to-build-healthier-cities-make-room-for-bird-and-tree-diversity-235379

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAVIFOR Officer Provides Critical Relief to Asheville Following Hurricane Helene’s Impact

    Source: United States Navy

    With a background shaped by multiple deployments in challenging environments, McQueen was well-prepared for the devastation he encountered. His experience taught him to remain focused under pressure, prioritize critical tasks, and, above all, keep pushing the mission forward. He quickly organized supplies and departed Norfolk for Asheville, making stops to pick up additional equipment and resources along the way.

    Brock felt a deep sense of urgency as he headed to North Carolina after receiving a call from his family about the devastation in his childhood town. Upon arriving in Asheville, he immediately recognized the severity of the situation and saw the path of devastation Helene had left firsthand. His brother, a member of the local firefighting team, had already been on the front lines of the relief effort. McQueen saw an opportunity to help not only his family but the wider community, where his leadership and problem-solving skills were quickly put to use. “When I saw the state of things, I knew I had to jump in,” McQueen said. “Helping my family was a priority, but this was about the whole community coming together.”

    Reporting to the Volunteer Fire Department in Fairview, a Buncombe County community just outside of Asheville, McQueen’s military training in logistics and coordination proved invaluable.

    For six days, McQueen was fully immersed in the recovery effort. His military training became an indispensable asset to the local response teams, who relied on his expertise to organize and conduct welfare checks across the region. Working alongside firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel, McQueen assisted with the search and rescue of residents that were unaccounted for after floodwaters damaged multiple neighborhoods, ensuring no one was left behind.

    McQueen’s ability to communicate effectively with the local community played a key role in dispelling misinformation and ensuring the right resources went to those in need. His attention to detail, honed by years of military service, helped him identify discrepancies in reports and correct false information spreading through the area.

    One of his most significant contributions was turning a small UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) project into a highly effective data collection asset. He spearheaded the integration of UAV operators from different departments, ensuring their platforms worked together seamlessly.

    “Seeing how quickly the UAV team became a critical tool for recovery was rewarding,” McQueen reflected. “It was just an idea at first, but everyone came together to make it work.”

    The result was a vital resource for first responders—real-time aerial mapping of damaged homes, infrastructure, and roadways. His efforts also led to the discovery of missing persons and damaged areas that had gone unnoticed.

    A local fire chief noted that Lt. Cmdr. McQueen’s involvement was transformative for the team. He handled complex tasks that enabled the personnel to focus on other emergency responses, and his leadership provided the additional support needed to navigate those critical days.

    Yet, despite his success, McQueen understood that the road to recovery was far from over. “The community came together after the storm, which was amazing to see,” he said. “But I know that the hard work doesn’t end when the relief trucks leave. It’s going to take a long time to rebuild.”

    McQueen’s warfighter resiliency and the mental toughness developed through multiple deployments enabled him to remain focused on the daily challenges of the relief effort, keeping the mission on track. His training and experience, combined with a deep sense of duty to his family and community, made a lasting impact on the Fairview Community as it began the long process of recovery from Hurricane Helene.

    As Lt. Cmdr. McQueen packed up and prepared to leave Asheville on the seventh day, a mix of emotions weighed on him. Driving out of the storm-ravaged town, he glanced at the landscape one last time—the uprooted trees, battered homes, and streets still lined with debris. The devastation was still everywhere, and the work was far from finished. He had done everything he could in the short time he had, but as he started the long drive back to Virginia, he couldn’t help but feel a pull to stay longer, to continue helping the community that had welcomed him so warmly.

    “Disaster doesn’t discriminate,” McQueen said. “It hits everyone, and when it does, all we can do is come together to lift each other up. I’m just grateful I could play a part in that.”

    As he crossed the state line back into Virginia, McQueen’s thoughts turned to his own family. He knew they needed him, too, especially with his upcoming Permanent Change of Station (PCS) looming. His role as a father and husband couldn’t be put on hold, even for a crisis like this one. Still, he found solace in the fact that he had made a meaningful impact, and that others would carry on the work he had started.

    “It was tough to leave,” McQueen admitted. “But I felt like I’d done all I could for now. I just hope the efforts we started there will continue.”

    For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NavalInformationForces/ or the public web page at https://www.navifor.usff.navy.mil.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Chester County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    Disaster Recovery Center will open in Chester County to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.  
    Chester CountyChester County Government Office1476 J A Cochran BypassChester, SC 29706
    Open Oct. 24-26, 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.  
    Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are scheduled to open in other South Carolina counties. Click here to find centers that are already open in South Carolina. You can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. 
    To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. 
    Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.
    The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.
    FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City-wide approach proposed to improve walking, wheeling and cycling networks in Sheffield A Long-term investment plan which could see measures such as improved pavements and cycle facilities so that more people can walk and cycle more to local destinations will be discussed by the Council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee next week. 24 October 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    A Long-term investment plan which could see measures such as improved pavements and cycle facilities so that more people can walk and cycle more to local destinations will be discussed by the Council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee next week.

    The plan will build on the information the Council has gathered about what destinations people want to get to in their local communities and how it can be made easier for them to do so by walking, wheeling and cycling.

    Over the next 6 months the plan will be developed and will include a three-pronged approach: projects currently underway; medium-term projects, looking ahead about 10 years; and a long-term vision of how the desired network will look by around 2045.

    The proposals could include a range of measures such as wider pavements, more pedestrian crossings, measures to reduce vehicle speeds and segregated cycle routes, with current projects such as School Streets continuing as well, in a bid to make Sheffield more accessible for walking, wheeling and cycling and give people more choice about how they travel

    Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield is changing, it’s transforming into a city fit for everyone. Along with the fantastic regeneration of a number of areas, including the Heart of the City, Attercliffe and Castlegate, we want to make it easier, safer and healthier for people to walk or cycle.

    “We have ambitious plans, as part of our Transport Vision, to connect large parts of Sheffield through the improvement of walking and cycling routes, helping us to tackle congestion and give people a genuine choice about how they travel We’ll also be installing new facilities where current ones don’t exist.  Good active travel networks provide connectivity between different areas and a safe, pleasant, accessible environment for people to enjoy together”

    “In our recent outreach we were keen to hear from people who do not usually respond to Council surveys. We were really pleased to reach people and hear views from local neighbourhoods about the barriers they face trying to make short journeys by walking, wheeling and cycling.

    “This feedback is invaluable to us and we will incorporate it and build upon it as we move forward in devising the Investment Plan.”

    Angela Argenzio, Chair of Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “By taking the opportunity to lead a more active life it will not only improve people’s health, it will improve air quality too. This work all links into the Fair and Healthy Sheffield Plan, which intends to close the unfair gaps in length and quality of life by prioritising improvements to the health and wellbeing of those who need it the most first. ”

    The investment plan is being progressed in conjunction with a South Yorkshire family of Investment Plans for Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster and with a South Yorkshire Active Travel Strategy being developed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Australia: eInvoicing-enabled entities

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    These Australian Government entities are registered on the Peppol network. They appear on the Peppol Directory along with hundreds of state, territory and local government organisations, and thousands of other Australian businesses who can receive eInvoices.

    If you supply to any of the entities listed below and can send eInvoices you may be paid faster. For more information visit Getting PaidExternal Link on the Department of Finance’s website or talk to your contract manager in the Government entity about any specific requirements.

    Australian Government entities able to receive eInvoices

    ABN

    Entity name

    73 147 176 148

    Administrative Review Tribunal

    80 246 994 451

    Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

    50 802 255 175

    Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency

    92 661 124 436

    Attorney-General’s Department

    26 331 428 522

    Australian Bureau of Statistics

    34 864 955 427

    Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research

    54 488 464 865

    Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission

    97 250 687 371

    Australian Commission on Safety and Quality In Health Care

    55 386 169 386

    Australian Communications and Media Authority

    94 410 483 623

    Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

    11 259 448 410

    Australian Crime Commission

    84 425 496 912

    Australian Digital Health Agency

    21 133 285 851

    Australian Electoral Commission

    17 864 931 143

    Australian Federal Police

    19 892 732 021

    Australian Film Television & Radio School

    63 384 330 717

    Australian Financial Security Authority

    81 098 497 517

    Australian Fisheries Management Authority

    69 405 937 639

    Australian Government Solicitor

    47 996 232 602

    Australian Human Rights Commission

    31 162 998 046

    Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme

    63 257 175 248

    Australian Institute of Criminology

    64 001 053 079

    Australian Institute of Family Studies

    65 377 938 320

    Australian Maritime Safety Authority

    33 020 645 631

    Australian National Audit Office

    13 059 525 039

    Australian Office of Financial Management

    56 253 405 315

    Australian Organ & Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority

    79 635 582 658

    Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

    99 470 863 260

    Australian Public Service Commission

    61 321 195 155

    Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)

    35 931 927 899

    Australian Renewable Energy Agency

    35 201 451 156

    Australian Research Council

    86 768 265 615

    Australian Securities & Investments Commission

    37 467 566 201

    Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

    22 323 254 583

    Australian Signals Directorate

    72 581 678 650

    Australian Skills Quality Authority

    67 374 695 240

    Australian Sports Commission

    67 250 046 148

    Australian Submarine Agency

    51 824 753 556

    Australian Taxation Office

    11 764 698 227

    Australian Trade and Investment Commission

    32 770 513 371

    Australian Transaction Reports & Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)

    65 061 156 887

    Australian Transport Safety Bureau

    64 909 221 257

    Australian War Memorial

    92 637 533 532

    Bureau of Meteorology

    21 075 951 918

    Cancer Australia

    44 808 014 470

    Civil Aviation Safety Authority

    43 669 904 352

    Clean Energy Finance Corporation

    72 321 984 210

    Clean Energy Regulator

    60 585 018 782

    Climate Change Authority

    41 640 788 304

    Comcare Australia

    64 703 642 210

    Commonwealth Grants Commission

    34 190 894 983

    Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

    68 706 814 312

    Department of Defence

    69 289 134 420

    Department of Defence Army & Air Force Canteen Service

    12 862 898 150

    Department of Education

    96 584 957 427

    Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

    61 970 632 495

    Department of Finance

    47 065 634 525

    Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade

    83 605 426 759

    Department of Health and Aged Care

    33 380 054 835

    Department of Home Affairs

    74 599 608 295

    Department of Industry, Science and Resources

    86 267 354 017

    Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

    52 997 141 147

    Department of Parliamentary Services

    36 342 015 855

    Department of Social Services

    18 526 287 740

    Department of the House of Representatives

    49 775 240 532

    Department of the Parliamentary Budget Office

    23 991 641 527

    Department of the Senate

    92 802 414 793

    Department of the Treasury

    23 964 290 824

    Department of Veterans’ Affairs & the Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission

    96 257 979 159

    Digital Transformation Agency

    13 051 694 963

    Director of National Parks

    99 696 833 561

    Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission

    12 212 931 598

    eSafety Commissioner

    93 614 579 199

    Fair Work Commission

    49 110 847 399

    Federal Court of Australia

    20 537 066 246

    Food Standards Australia New Zealand

    40 465 597 854

    Future Fund Board of Guardians

    53 156 699 293

    Future Fund Management Agency

    80 091 799 039

    Geoscience Australia

    12 949 356 885

    Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

    27 598 959 960

    Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

    26 424 781 530

    Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority

    59 912 679 254

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

    51 248 702 319

    Inspector-General of Taxation

    38 113 072 755

    IP Australia

    13 679 821 382

    Murray-Darling Basin Authority

    47 446 409 542

    National Anti-Corruption Commission

    36 889 228 992

    National Archives of Australia

    87 361 602 478

    National Blood Authority

    75 149 374 427

    National Capital Authority

    56 552 760 098

    National Competition Council

    25 617 475 104

    National Disability Insurance Agency

    40 816 261 802

    National Emergency Management Agency

    27 855 975 449

    National Gallery of Australia

    88 601 010 284

    National Health and Medical Research Council

    15 337 761 242

    National Health Funding Body

    30 429 895 164

    National Indigenous Australians Agency

    22 385 178 289

    National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority

    67 890 861 578

    National Transport Commission

    72 581 678 650

    National Vocational Education and Training Regulator

    40 293 545 182

    NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

    61 900 398 761

    North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority

    87 904 367 991

    Office of National Intelligence

    41 425 630 817

    Office of Parliamentary Counsel

    80 959 780 601

    Office of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board

    92 702 019 575

    Office of the Australian Accounting Standards Board

    85 249 230 937

    Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

    53 003 678 148

    Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman

    41 036 606 436

    Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

    43 884 188 232

    Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman

    15 862 053 538

    Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

    27 478 662 745

    Office Of the Inspector-General of Aged Care

    67 332 668 643

    Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence & Security

    67 582 329 284

    Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General

    87 767 208 148

    Office of the Special Investigator

    30 620 774 963

    Old Parliament House

    78 094 372 050

    Productivity Commission

    45 307 308 260

    Professional Services Review

    99 528 049 038

    Regional Investment Corporation

    45 852 104 259

    Royal Australian Mint

    25 203 754 319

    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

    81 840 374 163

    Safe Work Australia

    46 741 353 180

    Screen Australia

    32 745 854 352

    Seafarers Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority

    90 794 605 008

    Services Australia

    17 090 574 431

    Snowy Hydro Limited

    91 314 398 574

    Special Broadcasting Service Corporation

    70 588 505 483

    Sport Integrity Australia

    50 658 250 012

    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency

    18 108 001 191

    The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

    40 939 406 804

    Therapeutic Goods Administration

    57 155 285 807

    Torres Strait Regional Authority

    47 641 643 874

    Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE-supported Green Economic Forum 2024 facilitates green growth in Central Asia

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE-supported Green Economic Forum 2024 facilitates green growth in Central Asia

    Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic speaks in front of 500 participants of the Green Economic Forum 2024. (OSCE/Chyngyz Zhanybekov) Photo details

    Bishkek, 23 October 2024 – Over 500 participants from Central Asia gathered at the Green Economic Forum 2024 to set priorities for advancing sustainable development across the region. The event brought together government officials, international experts, and business leaders to explore strategies for green economic growth, environmental sustainability, and regional co-operation.
    Key discussions focused on renewable energy, eco-friendly construction, waste management, and green financing. The forum provided a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration, helping governments and businesses identify joint actions for green projects, ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP-29) in Baku.
    In his opening remarks, Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized the forum’s importance in linking economic growth with environmental protection. “The green economy is not just a concept, it is a solution for achieving a balanced, long-term development that safeguards our natural resources,” noted Baisalov.
    Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, underscored the significance of regional collaboration. “Promoting a green economy is essential for achieving sustainable development goals in the face of climate change. Today’s discussions fosters stronger partnerships between businesses, governments, and industry associations, paving the way for innovative solutions in Central Asia,” Ambassador Rogov stated.
    The forum also provided an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their eco-friendly products/ solutions at the exhibition held during the event. Entrepreneurs exchanged contacts and ideas, facilitating regional business connections and laying the groundwork for future contracts, which will boost cross-border collaboration on green innovations.
    The forum’s outcomes contribute to shaping national strategies and policies, driving the region’s transition towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement on United Nations Day

    Source: Government of Canada News

    “Today we mark 79 years since the United Nations was founded based on peace, equality and the rule of law. Eight decades later, Canada firmly believes that the United Nations is still the only global institution capable of addressing the challenges of our time. There’s no alternative that brings together nations of all sizes on an equal footing to collectively address the complex issues we are all facing…”

    October 24, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada 

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

    “Today we mark 79 years since the United Nations was founded based on peace, equality and the rule of law. Eight decades later, Canada firmly believes that the United Nations is still the only global institution capable of addressing the challenges of our time. There’s no alternative that brings together nations of all sizes on an equal footing to collectively address the complex issues we are all facing.

    “We need this unique and essential forum more than ever. This year, we have seen the most armed conflicts since the United Nation’s inception. They have displaced millions, with women and girls often bearing the brunt of the violence and instability they bring. Climate change has led to more frequent and severe weather events, including flooding and droughts, and contributed to rising levels of extreme poverty, inequality and instability. In a rapidly changing world, the United Nations is critical in driving global solutions.

    “Canada is a key contributor to the United Nations and its sixth-largest donor. Our contributions are numerous and varied. We champion efforts to speed up the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], with our prime minister serving as co-chair of the SDG Advocates. We firmly support sustainable development and climate change initiatives and strongly advocate for human rights and gender equality.

    “At the recent United Nations General Assembly, Canada reiterated that countries around the world are faced with a choice. We can choose a world where rules can be broken by the powerful, bringing us back to darker times of tension and conflict. Or we can choose a world that upholds human rights, opportunities for all, peace and prosperity—bringing us to a world where people solve problems by working together.

    “Canada remains committed to ensuring that the United Nations continues to be a force for good in the world. We are actively working with partners so that the organization remains fit for purpose now and in the future. This means a United Nations that embodies the principles on which it is founded. This should be reflected in the top leadership which is why Canada calls for the next secretary-general to be a woman and for countries intending to put forward candidates to give due consideration to women candidates.

    “As we look ahead, Canada is committed to working with the United Nations and its member states to consolidate the gains in gender equality made to date and to confront efforts to reverse the progress made on existing rights and principles and stifle further needed progress. Together, we will work toward a strong, effective United Nations as a pillar of the rules-based international system.”

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Global: As Colombia hosts a UN biodiversity summit, its own Amazonian rainforest is in crisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jesica Lopez, PhD Candidate, Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, Lund University

    Colombia hosts 18% of the world’s bird species – more than any other country. Ariboen / shutterstock

    The city of Cali, in Colombia, is hosting the UN’s 16th biodiversity summit, known as Cop16. The summit, which runs until Friday, November 1, is focused on how countries will fulfil previous pledges to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and water and restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.

    It’s a noble aim, yet Colombia itself shows just how far we have to go.

    If you travel south east from Cali, over the Andes mountains, you drop into the Amazon basin. From there, rainforest stretches for hundreds of kilometres to the border with Brazil – and far beyond. This rainforest is the main reason Colombia ranks as the fourth most biodiverse country in the world. Nowhere else has as many species of birds. Only Brazil and China have more trees.

    But the region is experiencing an environmental crisis. I recently completed a PhD on the northern Colombian Amazon, in which I tracked how the rainforest is fast being deforested and turned into pastures for cattle ranches. I particularly looked at how this affects hotspots of plant and animal life in rugged valleys on the Amazonian side of the Andes – spectacularly biodiverse places even by Colombian standards – and looked at what can be done to protect them.

    ‘Natural regions’ of Colombia. Most of Amazonia (dark green) is rainforest, along with parts of the Orinoco basin (light green) and the Pacific region (purple).
    Milenioscuro / wiki / Geographic Institute Agustín Codazzi, CC BY-SA

    This is not an easy part of the world in which to do such work – the NGO Global Witness ranks Colombia as the single most dangerous country for environmental defenders. While documenting legal and illegal cattle ranching, I was often reminded to be aware of exactly who I was contacting and to be wary of which questions I was asking.

    Activists and researchers often face violence from those who profit from deforestation, and I had to work closely with organisations and authorities that secured own safety. Very harrowing experiences are not uncommon.

    Despite these risks, many continue their efforts, driven by a deep commitment to protecting the Amazon and its biodiversity. Their bravery only underscores the urgent need for stronger protections and enforcement.

    Peace led to more deforestation

    For decades, the region was mostly controlled by the Farc guerrilla army. The Farc was largely funded by kidnappings and the drug trade, and wasn’t interested in large-scale farming.

    All this changed after the government of Colombia signed a peace agreement with the Farc in 2016. Since then, deforestation has increased, as both legal and illegal land tenants have acquired land for farming through what they call “sustainable development” practices. This mostly involves turning forest into pasture for cattle, the main driver of deforestation across Latin America.

    Cattle ranches are the main driver of deforestation.
    Jordi Romo / shutterstock

    Things peaked in 2018, when 2,470 square kilometres of forest was lost in Colombia – equivalent to a circular area more than 50 kilometres across. Rates of deforestation have reduced slightly since then (though the data isn’t very reliable), but appear to be increasing once again in 2024.

    The recent increase might be attributed to the demand to produce more coca or rear more cattle, along with pressure from extractive industries like mining. The spread of roads and other infrastructure further into the rainforest have also opened up new opportunities.

    Billions more needed to stop deforestation

    In its 2018 Living Forest Report, the WWF included Colombia’s Chocó-Darién and Amazon forests in its list of 11 “deforestation fronts” across the planet. These fronts are where it projected the largest concentrations of forest loss or severe degradation would occur in the period till 2030.

    No wonder then that Colombia’s environmental crisis has drawn international attention. Countries like Germany, Norway and the UK have supported its efforts to reduce deforestation, pledging about €22 million under the UN’s reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation scheme (known as REDD+). This is a good start, but much more is needed.

    The Amazon winds through dense forest on the border between Colombia and Peru.
    Jhampier Giron M / shutterstock

    Indeed, the Global Biodiversity Framework, the international treaty that underlies the Cop16 negotiations in Cali, estimates we’ll need an extra US$700 billion each year to protect biodiversity.

    An important issue at the summit is therefore how to mobilise sufficient financial resources, particularly for developing countries. The previous global biodiversity summit, held in Canada in 2022, established that wealthy countries should provide US$30 billion annually to low-income countries by 2030.

    Ahead of this year’s summit, countries were expected to submit new national biodiversity plans detailing how they’ll meet the 30% protection goals. Most failed to do so – including Colombia. Despite this setback, delegates in Cali will hopefully develop robust mechanisms to monitor progress and ensure countries are held accountable for meeting their targets.

    Other critical issues include reforms to benefit small-scale farmers in the Amazon. The region’s current economic model is centred on reshaping the land and extracting resources, but it has not generated prosperity for these more sustainable farmers. That same economic model has also failed to protect the forest itself.

    The summit should also work towards recognising indigenous peoples’ rights and traditional knowledge, and including their voices in policy decisions, and must address violence against environmental defenders.

    These are all huge issues in Colombia and indeed any country where cattle farmers are eyeing up pristine rainforest. The summit in Cali represents a great opportunity for the world to seriously tackle the dual biodiversity and climate crisis.



    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.


    Jesica Lopez works for Lund University.

    ref. As Colombia hosts a UN biodiversity summit, its own Amazonian rainforest is in crisis – https://theconversation.com/as-colombia-hosts-a-un-biodiversity-summit-its-own-amazonian-rainforest-is-in-crisis-241776

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Releases Critical Report Outlining National Flood Insurance Program Crisis, Urges Congress to Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today released a new report detailing the current state of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the issues that led to skyrocketing premiums for millions of homeowners. The report explains the historical developments that led NFIP to this moment, key findings following a thorough examination of the crisis, and next steps Washington must take.
    “This report confirms what Louisiana homeowners already know—the National Flood Insurance Program is broken,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We must understand the problem to properly diagnose it and address it. This report clearly lays out why flood insurance premiums are out of control, but also why there is reason to hope.”
    For over 50 years, Americans have relied on the NFIP for affordable flood insurance to protect them in case of a natural disaster or major flood. NFIP is often the only flood insurance option for many communities. However, skyrocketing insurance premiums caused by FEMA’s new risk assessment program, Risk Rating 2.0, have left many Louisianans with no way to protect their families and homes. Cassidy’s report found that Risk Rating 2.0 makes flood insurance unaffordable, puts the entire program at financial risk, and runs contrary to Congressional intent. 
    Click here to read the full report and here to read the one-pager.
    Background
    In January, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on NFIP at the request of Cassidy. The hearing highlighted the urgent need for Congress to act and featured a Louisiana witness. Cassidy also participated in a roundtable hosted by GNO, Inc. and the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance before introducing the bill to hear from community leaders and advocates on the issue.
    Cassidy traveled St. Bernard Parish last year to talk with residents about their flood insurance premiums, resulting in the second episode of his series Bill on the Hill.
    Over the last several months, Cassidy has delivered a series of speeches on the Senate floor calling for action on NFIP. Most recently, he demanded that Congress reauthorize and reform the program just before its authorization expired at the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Assessing the U.S. and Global Climate in September 2024

    Source: US National Oceanographic Data Center

    September Highlights:

    The release of the September 2024 U.S. and Global Climate Reports was delayed due to significant infrastructure damage near NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) headquarters in Asheville, NC from Hurricane Helene. NCEI is in the process of returning to full operations and anticipates restoration of most data feeds in the near future.

    • Temperatures were above average across much of North and South America as well as Europe, but globally, temperatures averaged cooler than what was observed during September 2023, ending the 15-month record streak of record warm global temperatures.
    • The year-to-date global temperature was the warmest such period on record, with North America, South America, Europe, and Africa each ranking first.
    • The contiguous U.S. was second warmest on record with record warm conditions blanketing portions of the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and south Florida.
    • Year-to-date temperatures across the contiguous U.S. averaged second warmest on record.
    • Hurricane Helene was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida, the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Maria (2017), and the deadliest to strike the U.S. mainland since Katrina (2005).
    • Three new hurricanes (Debby, Helene, and Milton) and one tornado outbreak were added to the 2024 Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disaster total. The year-to-date total now stands at 24 events — the second-highest event total for this period.
       

    Temperature

    The September global surface temperature was 2.23°F (1.24°C) above the 20th-century average of 59.0°F (15.0°C), making it the second warmest September on record. This value was 0.34°F (0.19°C) cooler than what was observed during September 2023. According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, there is a 99.8% chance that 2024 will rank as the warmest year on record.

    The average temperature of the contiguous U.S. in September was 68.6°F, 3.8°F above average, ranking second warmest in the 130-year record. Generally, September temperatures were above average across much of the contiguous U.S., with near average temperatures observed from portions of central Texas to the central Atlantic Coast. Arizona, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota each ranked warmest on record for September.

    Other Highlights

    • Arctic sea ice extent was the sixth smallest in the 46-year record at 1.69 million square miles. Antarctic sea ice extent was 6.59 million square miles, the second lowest on record.
    • The Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent in September was slightly below average. Snow cover over North America was below average (by 320,000 square miles); Eurasia was slightly above average (by 90,000 square miles).
    • Global Precipitation in September was near the long-term average. Notably, much of the Sahara desert had its wettest September on record, driven by the rare passage of an extratropical cyclone on September 7-8.  
    • The U.S. has sustained 400 separate weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2024). The total cost of these 400 events exceeds $2.790 trillion.
      • Cost estimates for Hurricanes Helene and Milton have yet to be determined and are not part of the cost total at this time. 
      • The 2024 Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Event Disaster total of 24 events through mid-October is second only to the 27 events reported by this time last year.

    This monthly summary from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides to government, business, academia and the public to support informed decision-making. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit the Climate at a Glance and National Maps webpages. For a more complete summary of global climate conditions and events, explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.
     

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Dispatch from Pennsylvania: How marketing affects swing voters as U.S. election looms

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Dave Bussiere, Associate Professor, Marketing, University of Windsor

    Americans will soon elect their next president after a race for the White House that is essentially tied. From a marketing perspective, think of Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris as each holding 45 per cent market share. The remaining 10 per cent includes undecided voters and people disinclined to vote.

    My political marketing class at the University of Windsor is using a marketing lens to understand the variables that will influence the outcome on Nov. 5. My recent road trip to the battleground state of Pennsylvania gave me insight into the strength of both the Democratic and Republican brands.

    I am viewing the parties as long-established brands. There is brand loyalty to both parties. Those brands’ current success, however, is influenced by the ongoing campaign.

    In terms of the Democratic Party, voters obviously aren’t being asked to buy it, but they are being asked to buy the party as augmented or diminished by Harris, its current presidential candidate. The same can be said for Trump’s Republican party.

    From a marketing perspective, we can monitor promotional efforts that include traditional media, social media, debates, interviews and rallies, and we receive updates on the parties’ fundraising efforts — essentially a promotional budget. We’ll see the results of these efforts on Nov. 5.

    Predicting results

    This is the third time I’ve offered a political marketing course based on an American presidential election. The class focuses on understanding the core party brands, and the impact of candidates, debates, media coverage and Political Action Committees. Students forecast the election results the day before the election.

    The presidency is not decided by the national popular vote. It is a state-by-state competition, with each state assigned votes in the Electoral College. There are 538 Electoral College votes, so 270 are needed to win.

    Most states are predictable. California will undoubtedly vote Democrat (54 votes); Texas will more than likely vote Republican once again (40 votes). The election therefore comes down to seven swing states: Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.




    Read more:
    North Carolina is not really a red or blue state − and that makes political predictions much more difficult


    The Democrats, with 226 safe Electoral College votes, have 20 possible routes to 270 — and 19 of them require a Pennsylvania win. Republicans, with 219 safe Electoral College votes, have 21 possible routes to 270 — 19 also require a Pennsylvania win. That’s why I decided to drive through Pennsylvania and speak to voters.

    Understanding Pennsylvania

    I was in Pennsylvania during the week of Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, just after Hurricane Helene hit the southeast, when a vice-presidential debate was held in New York, as the Longshoremen started to strike and as Hurricane Milton was bearing down on Florida.

    First I went to Erie, a bellwether county with a long history of having the same voting pattern as the full state of Pennsylvania, so it’s a strong predictor of statewide results. I went to a Pittsburgh suburb, and then to the borough of State College, home of Penn State University. I periodically left the interstate to drive through other towns to see the signs, grab lunch and talk.

    Each time, my introduction was simple:

    “I’m a marketing professor from Canada running a class about the U.S. presidential election. Would you mind explaining to me how you think Pennsylvania will vote? I do not need to know how you will vote.”

    The university students I spoke to were juniors and seniors. Other than the students, the people I spoke to would be considered working class, a mix of blue collar and white collar. The non-students were 35 to retirement age. Everyone I spoke said they’d voted in the 2022 mid-term election and intended to vote this year.

    At an Erie car show, voters I interviewed were evenly split between a group of 50-plus men with vintage cars and male university students with newer vehicles. I heard from both groups that Pennsylvania was divided, but that the mood between the parties differed.

    Both argued that people voting Democrat were brand-loyal or rejecting the Trump brand. Both age groups, including Democratic voters, noted that Trump supporters were primarily focused only on him as the current Republican brand offering.

    Economic concerns

    Most said the biggest issue that will most influence undecided voters is the economy, followed closely by a more narrow economic concern — inflation.

    One Democrat conveyed a simple message that was representative. Asked who would take Erie County: “Democrats.” Asked why they would win, he replied: “I’m just hoping.”

    Contrast that with a visit to a diner in Erie. One woman explained that she supports Harris because of reproductive rights. Everyone else backed Trump because of his policies on the economy, the southern border, international wars and crime.

    One diner patron had been to a recent Trump rally in Erie. He described it as a rock concert and spoke of the excitement, and hearing Trump say the exact same lines he always says. “It was your favourite rock band playing their hits,” he said.

    I left Erie understanding that Democrats were brand loyal or voting to avoid Trump. Republicans, however, never referenced past voting or leaders. They were simply Trump supporters.

    The Pittsburgh scene

    Pittsburgh was a bust. I chose the wrong town outside Pittsburgh. While I spoke to dozens of voters in Erie, I found only two people to speak to in Smithton.

    State College was different. My hotel was close to Penn State University, and there was a restaurant/sports bar on the hotel property.

    I entered at 4 p.m. The bartender asked why I was in town. A nearby patron said that he would answer questions. Then another person volunteered. I left seven hours later. People were asking to be next.

    I spoke to people from all political spectrums. Of the 40-plus people I spoke with, one couple illustrated the mood in the state particularly well. She is a Republican. He is a Democrat. He explained: “There is too much going on — inflation, the hurricanes, the Longshoremen strike, steel and fracking, illegal immigration. Too much.”

    He shrugged his shoulders, discouraged. She smiled, eager for Election Day.

    Conclusions from talking to voters

    If the election were held today, I believe Republicans would win Pennsylvania based on my conversations with voters. But that could change if there is a change in one of the key topics: strong or unanticipated positive economic news, perhaps, or if a new issue or story develops that has not yet impacted the race.

    The road trip provided insights into voter decision-making. It highlighted the importance of brand loyalty and enthusiasm. A substantial portion of voters indicated they wished both parties had different leaders. This could impact voter turnout.

    It also illuminated a key difference between traditional consumer decision-making and voter decision-making. If, on Black Friday, I prefer Walmart’s offering over Amazon’s, I am not impacted by my neighbour’s purchase decision.

    In politics, however, how my neighbour votes will influence my life for the next four years.

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

    ref. Dispatch from Pennsylvania: How marketing affects swing voters as U.S. election looms – https://theconversation.com/dispatch-from-pennsylvania-how-marketing-affects-swing-voters-as-u-s-election-looms-241336

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS Reinvents Widely Used NLCD

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Annual NLCD arrived October 24, 2024, with a new ability to look at land cover and land change year by year, and over a longer time span than previous versions: from 1985 to 2023.

    Two years of effort went into the reinvention of a resource that’s widely used by federal agencies, state and local governments, researchers and many others. NLCD has contributed to a foundation of data essential for land monitoring, planning and decision-making.

    While Annual NLCD focuses on the ground, it relies on data captured 438 miles up. Satellites in the Landsat Program provide the long time series of data that allows users of Annual NLCD to compare change over time such as city growth, wildfire effects and forest fluctuations. 

    Previously, NLCD offered land cover information every two to three years from 2001 to 2021. Annual NLCD offers land cover information for every year for nearly four decades and has a shorter production time going forward. The new October release, called Annual NLCD Collection 1.0, includes information from the previous year for the lower 48 United States, just as the update in 2025 will include information from 2024.

     

    Upgrading ‘Built-in, Foundational Layer’ 

    Annual NLCD, produced at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, is part of a larger suite of land cover mapping and monitoring data produced by the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) consortium, a group of federal agencies that coordinate and generate consistent and relevant land cover information at the national scale.

    The new “Annual” part of NLCD comes in response to the needs of people who use NLCD data. As Earth Observation Applications Coordinator for the USGS National Land Imaging Program, it’s Zhuoting Wu’s job to know what kinds of Earth observation products are valued most by federal agencies. 

    Through a survey, Wu discovered: “NLCD is the most widely used observation product we surveyed. People use it pretty much for everything. It goes into models or applications as a built-in, foundational layer.”

    Terry Sohl, Chief of the Integrated Science and Applications Branch at EROS, agreed. “The user community is so extensive,” he said. “There are so many federal agencies that absolutely rely on it, whether it’s the Bureau of Land Management, whether it’s the Environmental Protection Agency for regulatory concerns, whether it’s Fish and Wildlife for habitat management, or whether it’s Health and Human Services. It’s hard to find an agency that does not use NLCD.”

    However, in the federal survey from Wu, users did express the desire for annual updates produced more quickly.

    In the meantime, another EROS-led land cover project arose to provide annual land cover and change information stretching back to 1985. However, Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP), first released in 2020, did not contain as much detail about land cover types as NLCD, especially in urban and forested areas.

    Wu said users found NLCD useful for its classification detail and LCMAP for its frequency, but “a combination of the two really gets the needs met.” That combination is Annual NLCD.

    The USGS EROS Center’s production of the Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) involves Terry Sohl, Chief of the Integrated Science and Applications Branch; Physical Scientist Jon Dewitz; and Research Geographer Jesslyn Brown.

    Evolution of NLCD Leads to ‘Touching Every Landsat Pixel’

    Work on the original NLCD product began well before high performance computing and cloud computing could provide automation. Processes have changed since Annual NLCD team member Jon Dewitz spent two years leading field work nearly 20 years ago to figure out which land classes should be labeled where. 

    “Making a land cover map from scratch is very different than developing an algorithm,” Dewitz said.

    That hard-earned information proved foundational to the progression of NLCD, however; processes for each data release grew more automated over time. “This has been a gradual evolution,” Dewitz said. “It’s another magnitude of effort to produce Annual NLCD because are we touching every Landsat pixel.”

    That “magnitude of effort” might be stating it mildly. The number of Landsat pixels processed for Annual NLCD numbered 295 trillion, from a total of 310 terabytes of Landsat data used.

    The task of creating Annual NLCD required new methods involving a lot of research and development, along with engineering. 

    One improvement that helped the team produce Annual NLCD in just two years was the ability to process the vast amount of imagery in the cloud alongside the Landsat data. “That is enabling us to make things faster,” said Jesslyn Brown, the Annual NLCD project manager, compared to previously having to move the imagery to a supercomputer for processing.

    Deep Learning Key to Development 

    Deep learning is another technological advantage the team leveraged for processing. Deep learning is a type of artificial intelligence that uses large amounts of data and, like the human brain, learns to recognize patterns—in imagery, for example—to solve problems or make predictions. This was especially important for Annual NLCD because datasets that helped with past NLCD land cover decisions didn’t go as far back as 1985. 

    The six different Annual NLCD science products, with examples all shown of the Marysville, Washington, area. 

    “We had to rely a lot more on the spectral imagery and also on deep learning to do a better job of inferring what’s happening in the Landsat imagery,” Dewitz said. “Deep learning really did a great job of linking all of that data together.”

    EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has long been an advocate for the use of data science to help solve scientific challenges. “Annual NLCD is blazing the trail as among the first generation of operational products at EROS that incorporate deep learning methods to improve performance,” Doucette said. “And I believe that we’re just getting started with where we can take machine learning methods at EROS.”

    Rylie Fleckenstein, the Research and Development (R&D) technical lead for Annual NLCD and a contractor at EROS, looked at previous methods for producing NLCD and LCMAP to help determine the new Annual NLCD process—“moving away from the hand editing, so to speak, and incorporating algorithms or different approaches to automate the process.”

    That production process included a change detection component, like LCMAP had, to determine where and when change had occurred on the landscape, and also a classification component to determine the type of land cover in an area. Some refinement was necessary in areas with trickier or inaccurate classifications. 

    The resulting new release contains a suite of six products associated with land cover and change: 

    • Land Cover: The predominant land cover class
    • Land Cover Change: The change between one year and the next
    • Land Cover Confidence: The probability value for the land cover class
    • Fractional Impervious Surface: The amount of area covered by artificial surfaces like pavement or concrete
    • Impervious Descriptor: The differentiation between roads and other artificial surfaces
    • Spectral Change Day of Year: The timing of a significant change in Landsat data  

    Team Met Challenges During ‘Intense Two Years’

    Brown estimated about 30 people have been involved in producing Annual NLCD. That includes scientists and engineers involved in the research and production stages, and also those collecting reference data to check for errors and validate the results.

    Dewitz praised the team for all they accomplished in the two-year timeframe. “The R&D team was challenged and pushed, and they performed wonderfully,” he said. 

    The engineering side had to do much of their work while R&D was still going on. “Thankfully we have an excellent engineering team,” Dewitz said. “They worked in pieces and did kind of a hybrid engineering process.”

    Sohl, the EROS science chief, thinks the infrastructure developed to produce Annual NLCD should be helpful for other science projects, too. 

    “This has been an intense two years,” Sohl said. “I’m just so proud of the team. They have worked so hard, and they performed a minor miracle in terms of completely revamping the methodology and moving all of the technology into the cloud. Now that we have this infrastructure set up, it really facilitates the next level of improvements for Annual NLCD.”

     

     

    Improvements Helpful for Heat and Flooding Studies

    Annual NLCD is national in scope, but on a local level, it fills the need that cities or other entities have for detailed and accurate land cover information that spans decades.

    George Xian, a research physical scientist at EROS, is grateful that Annual NLCD has arrived so he can start using it in his urban heat island work. He is in the midst of expanding his study of trends in changing average surface temperatures and hotspot locations from 50 to 300 U.S. cities.

    This type of information is important for cities to know because they can develop plans to help residents cope during periods of extreme heat, which can cause illness or death in vulnerable populations.

    For the 50-city study, Xian and his colleagues needed the annual land cover data beginning with 1985 that LCMAP provided, but also the more detailed information about paved surfaces, concrete and rooftops—collectively called impervious surfaces, which typically retain more heat—contained in NLCD. “We had to use a so-called hybrid way to integrate NLCD and LCMAP to gather the data for this four-category urban area and also annual change,” Xian said.

    The Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) is produced at the USGS EROS Center, which is located in a rural area north of Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls has steadily grown in size and population, as seen here in red in an Annual NLCD animation spanning nearly 40 years. Annual NLCD provides four different developed classes to provide more detailed information about cities.

    For the expanded study with more than 300 cities from 1985 to 2023, Xian said, “we can use Annual NLCD to directly define our urban categories into four categories. We can study their variations and their variation impact to the urban heat island. We can directly pull the data into our algorithm and use it. We don’t need to regenerate the data.”

    Ryan Corcoran is looking forward to using Annual NLCD as well. He serves as the Coordinated Needs Management Strategy (CNMS) team lead at Niyam IT, which is part of the Advancing Resilience in Communities joint venture that provides planning, engineering and mapping support for FEMA’s Zone 1.  One aspect that Corcoran and his colleagues work with involves checking whether flood studies of river and coastal areas remain valid after a period of time, or whether conditions have changed and require a new study.

    In the past, Corcoran said they have had to use multiple data sources, including NLCD, for baseline watershed information and to assess annual changes. 

    “We are excited about the upcoming expansion of the NLCD. It will make it easier for us to calculate baseline watershed imperviousness and land use changes using a single dataset,” Corcoran said. “The availability of this extensive data is critical, as we sometimes validate flood studies that date back to the 1970s. Increased data availability allows us to better evaluate flood risk, especially when validating older flood studies.”

    More Access to Annual NLCD Data

    Annual NLCD users have more options to access the data than before. The data is still available on the MRLC website, but it also has been added to the cloud and to the USGS EROS data access site EarthExplorer. 

    “We’re trying to respond to people’s requests for data in all kinds of different ways,” said Brown, the Annual NLCD project manager.

    The data will be updated more frequently, too. “In the past, it’s usually taken over a year, if not more, to do an NLCD update,” said science branch chief Sohl. “We’re setting the stage where, by the middle of every year, we’re going to have an update for the previous year.”

    Annual NLCD is providing more useful information more quickly for the people relying on it—which, as it turns out, might be most of us, with NLCD’s history as a key source of data woven into the background of society.   

    “Annual NLCD represents the next generation of highly accurate mapping information that keeps pace with evolving user needs,” said EROS Director Doucette. “Annual NLCD products will become increasingly relevant toward assessing land use and land condition. They provide key change indicators for understanding environmental interactions and consequences. These are the kinds of things that decision makers ultimately want to know.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt on International Day of Climate Action

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Statement from Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt on International Day of Climate Action


    Today, as Manitoba marks International Day of Climate Action, our government is reaffirming our commitment to taking meaningful climate action to protect Manitoba’s lands and waters and work towards net zero targets.

    Started by young people concerned about the impact of climate change, the International Day of Climate Action has grown into a worldwide movement that our government stands proudly behind. I would like to say thank you to all those who continue to raise awareness and push this important issue to the forefront around the world and right here in Manitoba.

    In our first year in government, we’ve made protecting our beautiful province from climate change a priority and we have been working hard to make real change for Manitobans. Some of the notable steps we’ve taken include:

    • Introduced the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Rebate Program, which provides rebates of $4,000 on the purchase of a new eligible electric vehicle, $1,000 to $4,000 on leasing an eligible electric vehicle, and $2,500 on the purchase of pre-owned eligible electric vehicles, ensuring more Manitobans can make the switch away from fossil fuels.
    • Advanced, for the first time in Manitoba’s history, a plan to support Indigenous owned, utility-scale electricity resource supply through the creation of government-to-government partnerships in wind generation.
    • Invested in projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Low Carbon Economy Fund, in partnership with the federal government.
    • Enacted the first-ever formal nutrient reduction target for Lake Winnipeg and its tributaries for improving water quality in Manitoba.
    • Signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seal River Watershed Alliance, Indigenous nations and Government of Canada to formally work together on a feasibility assessment to establish a potential Indigenous protected and conserved area in the 50,000 square kilometre Seal River Watershed.
    • Unveiled the Affordable Energy Plan, which charts the path towards Manitoba’s energy future through building out the grid to grow new clean energy, including wind generation to increase good green jobs, grid reliability, and keep energy rates low for years to come.
    • Restored almost $400,000 in funding to Climate Change Connection, Green Action Centre, and Manitoba Eco-Network to help take tangible action on climate change.
    • Invested in projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Low Carbon Economy Fund, in partnership with the federal government.
    • Enacted the first-ever formal nutrient reduction target for Lake Winnipeg and its tributaries for improving water quality in Manitoba.
    • Appointed a new board of directors for Efficiency Manitoba and issued a new mandate letter to the Crown corporation, focusing on reducing our fossil fuel emissions.
    • Supported the City of Winnipeg with $10 million for wastewater infrastructure.

    There still remains a lot of work to do, and we are up for the challenge. As the minister of environment and climate change, I look forward to working closely with all Manitobans as we create a greener and cleaner Manitoba.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government launches new initiative to support climate resilient housing and infrastructure across communities

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Ottawa, Ontario, October 24, 2024 —Communities across Canada will be able to build environmentally friendly, climate-resilient housing and infrastructure with support from the Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure (CTHI).

    Today, Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, launched a suite of tools, resources, and support services that will be available, free of cost, to communities to help them adapt their infrastructure to changing climate conditions, and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions during new home and infrastructure constructions. The federal government invested $94.7 million in CTHI, and it will include a help desk, an online platform, and a roster of climate and infrastructure experts.

    The Climate Help Desk provides communities with direct support and guidance on infrastructure and climate-related concerns. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada operates the help desk which offers advice and best practices on how to make environmentally friendly and climate resilient considerations during project planning and development.

    In collaboration with ICLEI Canada – an organization that supports local governments by providing them with the expertise and resources to take climate action in their communities – we have also launched the ClimateInsight.ca Platform. The platform will ease the burden of data collection for small and medium sized communities. With guided navigation, the platform will provide easy access to curated tools and resources on one dedicated website.

    Finally, in partnership with the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) – a national research organization dedicated to achieving healthy urban development – we will be launching the Roster of Climate and Infrastructure Experts in December 2024. The federal government’s investment will help CUI  establish a roster of employees consisting of housing, infrastructure, and climate experts. This service will allow small communities with eligible infrastructure and housing projects to request climate related support. The roster will match communities with specialized experts to provide project-specific advice on reducing emissions and increasing climate resilience.

    Investing in the tools and services needed to improve the resiliency of Canadian infrastructure will support the continued success and economic growth of communities for years to come.

    Quotes

    “As we deal with the growing impacts of climate change, the Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure will help us work with communities across the country to ensure that new homes and infrastructure have minimal impact on the environment, while better protecting people, their houses, their businesses, and their livelihoods from the impacts of climate change.”

    The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “The impacts of extreme weather and climate change are no longer distant concerns. This is a new reality municipalities need to prepare for now more than ever while simultaneously shifting towards a net-zero future. Climate Insight will play a crucial role in equipping local practitioners with the data and information they need to build low-carbon, climate-resilient communities.”

    Megan Meaney, Executive Director, ICLEI Canada

    “Communities across Canada are facing an unprecedented challenge in adapting to the growing impacts of climate change while modernizing critical infrastructure. To help advance a sustainable and resilient future, we must support these communities from coast to coast to coast, empowering them to consider climate information in infrastructure decision making. The Roster of Climate and Infrastructure Experts plays a vital role by equipping local governments in smaller communities with the specialized expertise needed to integrate innovative approaches to infrastructure projects that foster locally specific climate solutions.”

    Mary W. Rowe, President & CEO, Canadian Urban Institute

    Quick facts

    • On June 27, 2023, the federal government released National Adaptation Strategy. It commits $1.6 billion in new federal funding to help address both immediate and future climate risks to Canadian communities. 

    • The National Adaptation Strategy and Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan have committed $94.7M over 5 years to deliver a climate toolkit and services through the Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure initiative (CTHI).

    • The Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure will support the development of integrated climate-related tools, resources and services for communities:

      • Climate Help Desk to provide direct support to address infrastructure and climate-related inquiries;
      • Roster of Climate and Infrastructure Experts to provide access to expert advice to strengthen climate-related considerations of public infrastructure and housing projects; and
      • Climate Tools and Resources that are widely available and accessible through the ClimateInsight.ca Platform.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Centers to Close in Ascension, Assumption Parishes

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Centers to Close in Ascension, Assumption Parishes

    Disaster Recovery Centers to Close in Ascension, Assumption Parishes

    BATON ROUGE, La. –Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) serving Louisiana survivors of Hurricane Francine in Gonzales and Napoleonville will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25.The Gonzales center (Ascension Parish) is located at Lamar Dixon Expo Center, 9039 St. Landry Road, Gonzales, LA 70737.The Napoleonville center (Assumption Parish) is located at Assumption High School, North Building, 4880 Hwy 308, Napoleonville, LA 70390.Additional locations in Lafourche, Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes are open. To find the DRC nearest to you, visit DRC Locator (fema.gov).The centers will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.Residents in all nine parishes can visit any DRC to meet with representatives of FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with other community partners. No appointment is needed to visit the center. The centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish).You do not have to visit a center to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is by going online at disasterassistance.gov/.Additional options when applying include:Download the FEMA App for mobile devices. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4817. Follow FEMA Region 6 social media at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/femaregion6.
    alexa.brown
    Thu, 10/24/2024 – 15:35

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: TransAlta Declares Dividends

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of TransAlta Corporation (TSX: TA) (NYSE: TAC) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per common share payable on January 1, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2024.

    The Board of Directors also declared the following quarterly dividend on its Cumulative Redeemable Rate Reset First Preferred Shares for the period starting from and including September 30, 2024, up to but excluding December 31, 2024:

    Preferred Shares TSX Stock Symbol Dividend Rate Dividend Per Share Record Date Payment Date
    Series A TA.PR.D 2.877% $0.17981 December 1, 2024 December 31, 2024
    Series B* TA.PR.E 6.235% $0.39182 December 1, 2024 December 31, 2024
    Series C TA.PR.F 5.854% $0.36588 December 1, 2024 December 31, 2024
    Series D* TA.PR.G 7.305% $0.45906 December 1, 2024 December 31, 2024
    Series E TA.PR.H 6.894% $0.43088 December 1, 2024 December 31, 2024
    Series G TA.PR.J 6.773% $0.42331 December 1, 2024 December 31, 2024

    * Please note the quarterly floating rate on the Series B and Series D Preferred Shares will be reset every quarter.

    All currency is expressed in Canadian dollars except where noted. When the dividend payment date falls on a weekend or holiday the payment is made the following business day.

    About TransAlta Corporation:

    TransAlta owns, operates and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States and Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder value. TransAlta provides municipalities, medium and large industries, businesses and utility customers with affordable, energy efficient and reliable power. Today, TransAlta is one of Canada’s largest producers of wind power and Alberta’s largest producer of hydro-electric power. For over 113 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud member of the communities where we operate and where our employees work and live. TransAlta aligns its corporate goals with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, which also defines sustainable goals for businesses. Our reporting on climate change management has been guided by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S2 Climate-related Disclosures Standard and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. TransAlta has achieved a 66 per cent reduction in GHG emissions or 21.3 million tonnes CO2e since 2015 and received an upgraded MSCI ESG rating of AA.

    For more information about TransAlta, visit our web site at transalta.com.

    For more information:

    Investor Inquiries: Media Inquiries:
    Phone: 1-800-387-3598 in Canada and US Phone: 1-855-255-9184
    Email: investor_relations@transalta.com Email: ta_media_relations@transalta.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley, Schneider, Kildee Introduce Legislation to Expand Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production and Reduce Carbon Emissions

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Urges Congress to Quickly Pass a Disaster Recovery Package

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, The Hill published an op-ed by Senator Thom Tillis on the importance for elected officials in Congress to step up and be proactive with long-term disaster recovery assistance. 
    Read the full op-ed HERE.
    Tillis on North Carolina’s recovery from Helene:
    “The recovery process will be long and difficult and will require years and billions of dollars of assistance. That is why it is so important for elected officials in Congress to step up and be proactive — not reactive — with long-term disaster recovery assistance. This is why I have led a bipartisan group of senators in disaster-hit states calling on Congress to end its seven-week recess and come back to Washington to pass a disaster funding package that initiates the long-term recovery process for victims and communities ravaged by Helene and Milton.” 
    Tillis on the need to replenish the SBA Disaster Loan Fund and FEMA Disaster Relief Fund:
    “The most pressing need is to replenish the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan fund, which has already run out of money. Few Helene victims have flood insurance, so the SBA’s various disaster recovery programs are key to long-term recovery. By utilizing these programs, victims can access low-interest loans to replace lost property or repair or rebuild their homes or small businesses. The loans can also be used to provide a financial cushion for small businesses that face an economic loss in the months ahead due to the storm. Now that funding for the SBA disaster loan program has run out, it risks delays in processing storm victims’ loans and their ability to get their lives back together. We cannot let this continue to go on. 
    “FEMA is also in danger of running out of money in its Disaster Relief Fund. The hurricane season isn’t over until November and the National Hurricane Center is already monitoring tropical disturbances that could turn into more full-blown storms. It may only get worse.” 
    Tillis on the broken disaster response and recovery process:
    “The fact is, the federal disaster response and recovery process is broken and many Americans understandably have concerns. First, there are questions about prioritization. It was telling that in a 24-hour period in the wake of Helene, the Biden-Harris administration bragged about sending $100 million in transportation funding to rebuild roads in Western North Carolina as it also pledged $157 million in assistance to Lebanon. That is reflective of an administration that can’t read a room and doesn’t have its priorities in order. Wrong message, wrong time. Additionally, there has been a big political dust-up over FEMA money being used for illegal immigrants. This confusion could have been avoided if FEMA had been laser-focused on its mission to respond to natural disasters. FEMA should never have become a funding conduit for responding to the Biden-Harris administration’s border security crisis.
    “Secondly, and most important, is the question about competency. The federal government is already too slow and bureaucratic, but the disaster recovery process takes it to another level. The long-term funding for recovery is, shockingly, neither permanent nor predictable and requires constant reauthorization from Congress. I have worked across the aisle to introduce legislation that would help fix this problem by establishing a permanent and predictable funding process for long-term recovery and getting assistance to families and business owners sooner. 
    “There also needs to be a drastic improvement in how FEMA assists victims who suffer property damage. I recently introduced a bipartisan bill to end the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to disaster relief and cut the red tape that prevents many individuals and communities from accessing the relief they desperately need when they need it.” 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Oconee County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Oconee County

    Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Oconee County

    A Disaster Recovery Center will open in Oconee County to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.  Oconee CountyBountyland Education Campus100 Vocational DriveSeneca, SC 29672Open Oct. 23-25, 8 a.m.- 7 p.m. Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are scheduled to open in other South Carolina counties. Click here to find centers that are already open in South Carolina.  You can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. 
    kwei.nwaogu
    Wed, 10/23/2024 – 21:18

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Disaster Loans Available in South Carolina for Private Non-Profit Organizations

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that certain Private Non-Profit organizations (PNPs) in South Carolina that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans for damages as a result of Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 25.

    Eligible PNP organizations in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chester, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, Williamsburg and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation may apply. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges. 

    PNP organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  The interest rate is 3.25%, with terms up to 30 years.

    On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.

    Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by any disaster.

    The SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs, such as ongoing operating expenses for PNP organizations.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage. 

    PNP organizations are urged to contact their county’s Emergency Manager to provide information about their organization. The information will be submitted to FEMA to determine eligibility for a Public Assistance grant or whether the PNP should be referred to SBA for disaster loan assistance. 

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.  Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is Dec. 5, 2024. The deadline to submit economic injury applications is July 7, 2025. 

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.   

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: REPS. BISHOP, SCOTT, AND BROWN HIGHLIGHT FARM BILL IN SUMTER COUNTY

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

    LESLIE, Ga. – On Monday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) – the top Democrat on the U.S. House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee as well as a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee – visited Minor Brothers Farms in Sumter County to discuss the Farm Bill. He was joined by Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) and Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) who are the Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.

    “Congressman Austin Scott, Congresswoman Shontel Brown, and I are working hard in Congress on a new Farm Bill,” said Congressman Bishop. “Meeting in the field with peanut and cotton farmers allowed us to hear from them and see, first-hand, the challenges they face producing the food and fiber that feeds America and clothes the world. We were able to have a frank, bipartisan conversation about the immediate need for economic assistance and swift passage of the Farm Bill as well as disaster relief our producers require following the recent hurricane.”

    “And of course, we were eager to join with them in discussing how Congress can provide urgent help,” added Congressman Bishop.

    Congressman Bishop noted it is important for Members of Congress from other areas of the country to visit America’s farmers and producers in places like Middle and Southwest Georgia so that they are armed with sufficient information to support agriculture in the Farm Bill and get the nation’s farmers and producers the resources that they need.

    “I appreciated the opportunity to visit Minor Brothers Farms in Sumter County with Congressman Bishop and Congressman Scott. My sincere thanks are extended to Congressman Bishop for welcoming me to his district to hear directly from peanut and cotton farmers. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I will continue working with my colleagues to pass a Farm Bill that supports farmers and producers as well as people in need,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

    Dick Minor, a Sumter County farmer, commented, “We were pleased to host Representatives Sanford Bishop, Austin Scott, and Shontel Brown this week at our farm. In addition to these Members of Congress, we had numerous agricultural organizations to participate in discussions involving the 2024 Farm Bill, agricultural economic assistance, H2A issues, and disaster relief for those that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. These Members hold senior positions for agricultural policy in the U.S. House of Representatives, and we appreciate their interest in bipartisan solutions to very important issues to the agricultural industry.”

    The Farm Bill is the definitive law that governs food and agriculture policy by authorizing federal programs important to farmers, producers, nutrition programs, the agriculture industry, and rural development.

    In May 2024, Congressman Bishop voted in support of the Farm Bill passed by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. In September, he sent a letter to House and Senate leaders and to the House Agriculture Committee leadership urging them to set aside differences and commit to pass a Farm Bill before the end of this Congress.

    Among its many provisions, the bill increases reference prices for commodities and crop insurance payments to help stabilize income for farmers and protect them from market volatility. It also authorizes voluntary and locally led incentive-based conservation programs and global promotion of U.S. agriculture.

    House Republican leaders have not scheduled the Farm Bill for a vote. Some Republicans and Democrats have raised budgetary concerns about the bill and the U.S. Senate is working on its own version of the Farm Bill. Congressman Bishop remains committed to working towards a bipartisan bill this year that will get the full support of the U.S. Congress and that can be signed into law by President Biden.

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    PHOTO CAPTION: Congressman Bishop (center) flanked by Congresswoman Shontel Brown of Ohio and Congressman Austin Scott from the neighboring Georgia’s 8th Congressional District visit Minor Brothers Farms in Leslie, GA.

    MIL OSI USA News