CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

Previous wording

Our financial performance generally, as well as the ability of borrowers to make loan payments, the value of the collateral securing those loans, and the demand for loans and our other products and services, are highly dependent upon the business and economic conditions in the markets in which we operate and in the United States as a whole. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions, some of which are present in the current macroeconomic environment, have in the past and may in the future lead to credit quality concerns related to repayment ability and collateral protection as well as reduced demand for our products and services. Based on a review of the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2023 in light of current economic conditions, we recorded a provision for credit losses of $26.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2023. If the economic forecast or other factors worsen relative to the assumptions we utilized, our allowance for loan losses will increase accordingly in future periods.

Current wording

Our financial performance generally, as well as the ability of borrowers to make loan payments, the value of the collateral securing those loans, and the demand for loans and our other products and services, are highly dependent upon the business and economic conditions in the markets in which we operate and in the United States as a whole. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions, some of which are present in the current macroeconomic environment, have in the past and may in the future lead to credit quality concerns related to repayment ability and collateral protection as well as reduced demand for our products and services. Based on a review of the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2024, in light of current economic conditions, we recorded a provision for credit losses of $37.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2024. If the economic forecast or other factors worsen relative to the assumptions we utilized, our allowance for loan losses will increase accordingly in future periods.

Previous wording

The real estate collateral securing our borrowers’ obligations is principally located in California, and to a lesser extent, in New York, Washington, Illinois, Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Jersey. The value of such collateral depends upon conditions in the relevant real estate markets. These include general or local economic conditions and neighborhood characteristics, unemployment rates, real estate tax rates, the cost of operating the properties, governmental regulations and fiscal policies, acts of nature including earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes (which may result in uninsured losses), and other factors beyond our control. The direction of real estate sales and prices in many markets across the United States is not currently predictable and reductions in the value of our real estate collateral could cause us to have to foreclose on the real estate. If we are not able to realize a satisfactory amount upon foreclosure sales, we may have to own the properties, subjecting us to exposure to the risks and expenses associated with ownership. Any continued declines in real estate sales and prices coupled with any weakness in the economy and continued high unemployment will result in higher than expected loan delinquencies or problem assets, additional loan charge-offs and provisions for loan losses, a decline in demand for our products and services, or a lack of growth or a decrease in deposits, which may cause us to incur losses, adversely affect our capital, and hurt our business.

Current wording

The real estate collateral securing our borrowers’ obligations is principally located in California, and to a lesser extent, in New York, Washington, Illinois, Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Jersey. The value of such collateral depends upon conditions in the relevant real estate markets. These include general or local economic conditions and neighborhood characteristics, unemployment rates, real estate tax rates, the cost of operating the properties, governmental regulations and fiscal policies, acts of nature including wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes (which may result in uninsured losses), and other factors beyond our control. The direction of real estate sales and prices in many markets across the United States is not currently predictable and reductions in the value of our real estate collateral could cause us to have to foreclose on the real estate. If we are not able to realize a satisfactory amount upon foreclosure sales, we may have to own the properties, subjecting us to exposure to the risks and expenses associated with ownership. Any continued declines in real estate sales and prices coupled with any weakness in the economy and continued high unemployment will result in higher than expected loan delinquencies or problem assets, additional loan charge-offs and provisions for loan losses, a decline in demand for our products and services, or a lack of growth or a decrease in deposits, which may cause us to incur losses, adversely affect our capital, and hurt our business.

Previous wording

At December 31, 2023, our allowance for loan losses totaled $154.6 million and we had net charge-offs of $17.6 million for 2023. Although economic conditions in the real estate market in portions of Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties and the Central Valley of California where many of our commercial real estate and construction loan clients are based, have continued to improve, the economic recovery in these areas of California is uneven and in some areas rather slow, with relatively high and persistent unemployment, and economic growth appears to have slowed. Moreover, elevated interest rates may adversely affect real estate sales and the refinancing of existing real estate loans. As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $10.15 billion in commercial real estate and construction loans. Any deterioration in the real estate market generally and in the commercial real estate and residential building segments in particular could result in additional loan charge-offs and provisions for loan losses in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, net income, and capital. In addition, a recent change in accounting standards will result in a significant change in how we recognize credit losses as further disclosed in the risk factor below entitled, “Our financial results could be adversely affected by changes in accounting standards or tax laws and regulations.”

Current wording

At December 31, 2024, our allowance for loan losses totaled $161.8 million and we had net charge-offs of $29.7 million for 2024. Although economic conditions in the real estate market in portions of Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties and the Central Valley of California where many of our commercial real estate and construction loan clients are based, have continued to improve, the economic recovery in these areas of California is uneven and in some areas rather slow, with relatively high and persistent unemployment, and economic growth appears to have slowed. However, a declining interest rate environment may positively affect real estate sales and the refinancing of existing real estate loans. As of December 31, 2024, we had approximately $10.35 billion in commercial real estate and construction loans. Any deterioration in the real estate market generally and in the commercial real estate and residential building segments in particular could result in additional loan charge-offs and provisions for loan losses in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, net income, and capital. In addition, a change in accounting standards could result in a significant change in how we recognize credit losses as further disclosed in the risk factor below entitled, “Our financial results could be adversely affected by changes in accounting standards or tax laws and regulations.”

Previous wording

We seek to minimize the adverse effects of changes in interest rates by structuring our asset-liability composition to obtain the maximum spread. We use interest rate sensitivity analysis and a simulation model to assist us in estimating the optimal asset-liability composition. However, such management tools have inherent limitations that impair their effectiveness. Moreover, the long-term effects of the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented quantitative easing and tapering off are unknown, and while interest rates have risen, they remain at historically low levels. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in minimizing the adverse effects of changes in interest rates.

Current wording

We seek to minimize the adverse effects of changes in interest rates by structuring our asset-liability composition to obtain the maximum spread. We use interest rate sensitivity analysis and a simulation model to assist us in estimating the optimal asset-liability composition. However, such management tools have inherent limitations that impair their effectiveness. Moreover, the long-term effects of the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented quantitative easing and tapering off are unknown, and while interest rates have risen, they still remain at relatively low levels. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in minimizing the adverse effects of changes in interest rates.

Previous wording

Based on past experience, we believe that our deposit accounts are relatively stable sources of funds. If we increase interest rates paid to retain deposits, our earnings may be adversely affected, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet our expenses, pay dividends to our stockholders or to fulfill obligations such as repaying our borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, negative news about us or the banking industry in general could negatively impact market and/or customer perceptions of our company, which could lead to a loss of depositor confidence and an increase in deposit withdrawals, particularly among those with uninsured deposits.

Current wording

Based on past experience, we believe that our deposit accounts are relatively stable sources of funds. If we increase interest rates paid to retain deposits, our earnings may be adversely affected, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet our expenses, pay dividends to our stockholders or to fulfill obligations such as repaying our borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, negative news about the Company or the banking industry in general could negatively impact market and/or customer perceptions of our business, which could lead to a loss of depositor confidence and an increase in deposit withdrawals, particularly among those with uninsured deposits.

Previous wording

Our loan portfolio includes commercial loans and commercial real estate loans, which are secured by hotels and motels, shopping/retail centers, service station and car wash, industrial and warehouse properties, and other types of commercial properties. Commercial and commercial real estate loans may carry more risk as compared to other types of lending, because they typically involve larger loan balances often concentrated with a single borrower or groups of related borrowers. This may result in larger charge-offs on commercial and commercial real estate loans on a per loan basis than those incurred with our residential or consumer loan portfolios. These loans also may expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by residential real estate. The payment experience on commercial real estate loans that are secured by income producing properties are typically dependent on the successful operation of the related real estate project and thus, may subject us to adverse conditions in the real estate market or to the general economy. The collateral securing these loans typically cannot be liquidated as easily as residential real estate. If we foreclose on these loans, our holding period for the collateral typically is longer than residential properties because there are fewer potential purchasers of the collateral.

Current wording

Our loan portfolio includes commercial loans and commercial real estate loans, which are secured by hotels and motels, shopping/retail centers, service station and car wash, industrial and warehouse properties, residential apartments/multifamily, and other types of commercial properties. Commercial and commercial real estate loans may carry more risk as compared to other types of lending, because they typically involve larger loan balances often concentrated with a single borrower or groups of related borrowers. This may result in larger charge-offs on commercial and commercial real estate loans on a per loan basis than those incurred with our residential or consumer loan portfolios. These loans also may expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by residential real estate. The payment experience on commercial real estate loans that are secured by income producing properties are typically dependent on the successful operation of the related real estate project and thus, may subject us to adverse conditions in the real estate market or to the general economy. The collateral securing these loans typically cannot be liquidated as easily as residential real estate. If we foreclose on these loans, our holding period for the collateral typically is longer than residential properties because there are fewer potential purchasers of the collateral.

Previous wording

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, extreme weather conditions, droughts, hurricanes, floods, and other acts of nature, geopolitical events such as those involving civil unrest, changes in government regimes, terrorism or military conflict, climate change related events (including both chronic changes such as sea level rise as well as climate change’s contribution to the intensity and frequency of various natural disasters or other catastrophic events) and pandemics and other public health crises, and other catastrophic events could, among other things, (i) adversely affect our business operations and those of our clients, counterparties and service providers; (ii) cause substantial damage and loss to real and personal property, some of which may not be covered by insurance; (iii) impair our borrowers’ ability to service their loans; (iv) decrease the level and duration of deposits by clients; (v) erode the value of loan collateral; (vi) result in an increase in the amount of our non-performing loans and a higher level of non-performing assets (including real estate owned), net charge-offs, and provision for loan losses; (vii) reduce the availability of insurance at prices acceptable to us or our prospective borrowers; or (viii) lead to other operational difficulties and impair our ability to manage our business. We also could be adversely affected if our key personnel or a significant number of our employees were to become unavailable due to a public health crisis (such as another outbreak of a contagious disease), natural disaster, war, act of terrorism, accident, or other reason. Natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, geopolitical events, public health crises and other catastrophic events could also negatively affect our clients, counterparties and service providers, as well as result in disruptions in general economic activity and the financial and real estate markets.

Current wording

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, extreme weather conditions, droughts, hurricanes, floods, and other acts of nature, geopolitical events such as those involving civil unrest, changes in government regimes, terrorism or military conflict, climate change related events (including both chronic changes such as sea level rise as well as climate change’s contribution to the intensity and frequency of various natural disasters or other catastrophic events) and pandemics and other public health crises, and other catastrophic events have in the past and may in the future, among other things, (i) adversely affect our business operations and those of our clients, counterparties and service providers; (ii) cause substantial damage and loss to real and personal property, some of which may not be covered by insurance; (iii) impair our borrowers’ ability to service their loans; (iv) decrease the level and duration of deposits by clients; (v) erode the value of loan collateral; (vi) result in an increase in the amount of our non-performing loans and a higher level of non-performing assets (including real estate owned), net charge-offs, and provision for loan losses; (vii) reduce the availability of insurance at prices acceptable to us or our prospective borrowers; or (viii) lead to other operational difficulties and impair our ability to manage our business. We also could be adversely affected if our key personnel or a significant number of our employees were to become unavailable due to a public health crisis (such as another outbreak of a contagious disease), natural disaster, war, act of terrorism, accident, or other reason. Natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, geopolitical events, public health crises and other catastrophic events could also negatively affect our clients, counterparties and service providers, as well as result in disruptions in general economic activity and the financial and real estate markets.

Previous wording

Governments have become increasingly focused on the effects of climate change and related environmental issues, and various policymakers with jurisdiction over us have adopted, or are considering adopting, climate-related policies or regulations which may require us to incur increased costs. For example, the SEC has published proposed rules that would require companies to provide significantly expanded climate-related disclosures in their periodic reporting, which may require us to incur significant additional costs to comply, including the implementation of significant additional internal controls processes and procedures regarding matters that have not been subject to such controls in the past, and impose increased oversight obligations on our management and board of directors. At the state level, the California legislature recently passed legislation requiring that certain entities doing business in California with revenues exceeding $1 billion report their direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation authorizes regulations which could administer penalties against reporting entities for non-compliance. This legislation and similar legislation that may be introduced in future may require us to incur various and significant costs to comply. Various banking regulators, including the FDIC and the New York Department of Financial Services, have also proposed guidelines for climate-related risk management. While guidance from the FDIC is aimed at financial institutions with over $100 billion in consolidated assets, there is no guarantee that we will not be subject to additional regulation regarding climate-related risk management in future. The Federal Reserve Board, for example, may incorporate climate-related risks into its supervisory stress tests

Current wording

Governments have become increasingly focused on the effects of climate change and related environmental issues, and various policymakers with jurisdiction over us have adopted, or are considering adopting, climate-related policies or regulations which may require us to incur increased costs. For example, the SEC published proposed rules that would require companies to provide significantly expanded climate-related disclosures in their periodic reporting, which would have required us to incur significant additional costs to comply, including the implementation of significant additional internal controls processes and procedures regarding matters that have not been subject to such controls in the past, and impose increased oversight obligations on our management and board of directors. While the application of this rule is currently stayed pending resolution of legal challenges and recent comments from the acting commissioner of the SEC indicate that the SEC may not defend the rule against such legal challenges, the SEC may seek to enact new rules related to environmental issues in the future. In the absence of an SEC rule requiring such disclosures, certain states may be more likely to implement legislation at the state-level requiring climate and other environmental disclosure. For instance, the California legislature passed legislation requiring that certain entities doing business in California with revenues exceeding $1 billion report their direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation authorizes regulations which could administer penalties against reporting entities for non-compliance. This legislation and similar legislation that may be introduced in future may require us to incur various and significant costs to comply. Various banking regulators, including the FDIC and the New York Department of Financial Services, have also proposed guidelines for climate-related risk management. While guidance from the FDIC is aimed at financial institutions with over $100 billion in consolidated assets, there is no guarantee that we will not be subject to additional regulation regarding climate-related risk management in future. The Federal Reserve Board, for example, may incorporate climate-related risks into its supervisory stress tests

Previous wording

Because our business is highly regulated, the laws, rules, regulations, and supervisory guidance and policies applicable to us are subject to regular modification and change. Perennially, various laws, rules and regulations are proposed, which, if adopted, could impact our operations, increase our capital requirements or substantially restrict our growth and adversely affect our ability to operate profitably by making compliance much more difficult or expensive, restricting our ability to originate or sell loans, or further restricting the amount of interest or other charges or fees earned on loans or other products. The Dodd-Frank Act, for example, instituted major changes to the banking and financial institutions regulatory regimes, such as changes to Regulation Z promulgated by the CFPB that may make it more difficult for us to underwrite consumer mortgages and to compete with large national mortgage service providers. Further regulation could increase the assessment rate we are required to pay to the FDIC, adversely affecting our earnings. Other changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, or policies, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. It is very difficult to predict the competitive impact that any such changes would have on the banking and financial services industry in general or on our business in particular. Such changes may, among other things, increase the cost of doing business, limit permissible activities, or affect the competitive balance between banks and other financial institutions. See Part I — Item 1 — “Business — Regulation and Supervision.”

Current wording

Because our business is highly regulated, the laws, rules, regulations, and supervisory guidance and policies applicable to us are subject to regular modification and change. Perennially, various laws, rules and regulations are proposed, which, if adopted, could impact our operations, increase our capital requirements or substantially restrict our growth and adversely affect our ability to operate profitably by making compliance much more difficult or expensive, restricting our ability to originate or sell loans, or further restricting the amount of interest or other charges or fees earned on loans or other products. The Dodd-Frank Act, for example, instituted major changes to the banking and financial institutions regulatory regimes, such as changes to Regulation Z promulgated by the CFPB that may make it more difficult for us to underwrite consumer mortgages and to compete with large national mortgage service providers. Further regulation could increase the assessment rate we are required to pay to the FDIC, adversely affecting our earnings. Other changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, or policies, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Additionally, the current Presidential Administration may seek to make changes to our current regulatory framework and the agencies that regulate our business, which changes may include combining or disbanding certain regulatory agencies. It is very difficult to predict the competitive impact that any such changes would have on the banking and financial services industry in general or on our business in particular. Such changes may, among other things, increase the cost of doing business, limit permissible activities, or affect the competitive balance between banks and other financial institutions. See Part I — Item 1 — “Business — Regulation and Supervision.”