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Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) - 2024 Q4 - Annual Report

Acquisition and Mergers - Peoples Bancorp Inc. completed the acquisition of Limestone Bancorp Inc. in an all-stock merger, resulting in the issuance of 6,827,668 common shares valued at 177.9million[18].LoanPortfolioCompositionAsofDecember31,2024,commercialloansrepresentedapproximately60.3177.9 million[18]. Loan Portfolio Composition - As of December 31, 2024, commercial loans represented approximately 60.3% of Peoples Bank's total loan portfolio, with commercial and industrial loans comprising 21.2%[23][28]. - The portfolio of insurance premium finance loans increased to 4.2% of total loans at December 31, 2024, up from 3.3% at December 31, 2023[34]. - Peoples Bank's construction loans accounted for 5.2% of total loans at December 31, 2024, compared to 5.9% at December 31, 2023[30]. - Peoples Bank's commercial real estate loans comprised 33.9% of total loans at December 31, 2024, down from 35.7% at December 31, 2023[29]. - At December 31, 2024, 61.1% of the commercial loan portfolio consisted of variable interest rate loans[25]. - Peoples Bank's equipment leases and financing agreements represented 6.4% of total loans at December 31, 2024, slightly down from 6.7% at December 31, 2023[35]. - As of December 31, 2024, residential real estate loans comprised 13.2% of total loans, up from 12.9% in 2023, with 2.3 million held for sale and 346.2millionserviced[37].Homeequitylinesofcreditrepresented3.7346.2 million serviced[37]. - Home equity lines of credit represented 3.7% of total loans at December 31, 2024, compared to 3.4% in 2023, with 99.2% of the portfolio in variable interest rate loans[41]. - Consumer indirect loans accounted for 10.5% of total loans as of December 31, 2024, down from 10.8% in 2023[44]. - Peoples Bank's consumer direct loans comprised 1.7% of total loans at December 31, 2024, down from 2.1% in 2023[46]. Financial Performance and Strategy - The company aims to improve operating efficiency by focusing resources on offices and markets with the greatest earnings opportunities[17]. - The share repurchase program authorized on January 28, 2021, allowed for the purchase of up to 30.0 million in common shares, with 3.0millionrepurchasedin2024[19].Investmentsecuritiesmadeup20.73.0 million repurchased in 2024[19]. - Investment securities made up 20.7% of total assets at December 31, 2024, increasing from 19.6% in 2023[49]. - The unfunded commitment related to overdraft services was 79.6 million as of December 31, 2024[48]. Employee and Workplace Initiatives - As of December 31, 2024, Peoples had 1,479 full-time equivalent employees, a slight increase from 1,478 in 2023[59]. - Peoples has implemented a 15minimumwageacrosstheorganization,withallassociatesmeetingorexceedingthisthresholdasofJanuary2023[59].PeopleshasbeenrecognizedasoneofAmericasBestWorkplacesandBestRegionalBanksin2024,andhasreceivedaccoladesasa"BestBanktoWorkFor"fromAmericanBankerforfourconsecutiveyears[59].RegulatoryandComplianceMattersTheFDICinsuresdepositsatPeoplesBankupto15 minimum wage across the organization, with all associates meeting or exceeding this threshold as of January 2023[59]. - Peoples has been recognized as one of America's Best Workplaces and Best Regional Banks in 2024, and has received accolades as a "Best Bank to Work For" from American Banker for four consecutive years[59]. Regulatory and Compliance Matters - The FDIC insures deposits at Peoples Bank up to 250,000 per depositor, backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government[73]. - The FDIC has established a designated reserve ratio (DRR) of 2.0% for the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF), with a statutory minimum of 1.35% to be achieved by September 30, 2028[77]. - The FDIC projected that the DIF reserve ratio increased from 1.15% as of December 31, 2023, to 1.21% as of June 30, 2024, indicating progress towards the statutory minimum[78]. - The BHC Act requires bank holding companies to be "well managed" and "well capitalized" to engage in new activities or acquisitions[81]. - To be classified as "well capitalized," a bank must maintain a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6.5% and a total risk-based capital of at least 10.0%[102]. - The Basel III Capital Rules set minimum capital ratios: common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5%, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0%, and total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%[92]. - The Federal Reserve Board has adopted risk-based capital guidelines that consider off-balance sheet exposures in evaluating capital adequacy[91]. - The regulatory agencies have a system of prompt corrective action for undercapitalized institutions, categorized into five capital levels[89]. - The Federal Reserve may require financial holding companies to contribute additional capital to undercapitalized subsidiary banks[84]. Cybersecurity and Data Protection - Peoples Bank is monitoring state-level privacy and cybersecurity regulations as they continue to evolve[126]. - Peoples has not detected significant data loss or material financial losses related to cybersecurity attacks, but risks remain high due to evolving threats and increased use of technology-based services[129]. - The company employs a layered defensive approach to manage cybersecurity controls, including encryption and multi-factor authentication technology[129]. - Cybersecurity incidents could lead to increased costs for remediation, litigation, and regulatory scrutiny, negatively impacting Peoples' financial results[171]. - Federal regulators require banking organizations to notify them of computer-security incidents within 36 hours of determination[125]. - The SEC's new rules require public companies to disclose material cybersecurity incidents within four business days[128]. Economic and Market Risks - Inflation and rising interest rates have led to a decline in the trading value of previously issued government securities, impacting Peoples' business operations and customer repayment abilities[152]. - The macroeconomic environment is susceptible to global events, with ongoing geopolitical conflicts potentially causing significant market disruptions and volatility[150][151]. - Economic conditions such as high inflation and elevated interest rates could adversely affect borrowers' ability to make loan payments, impacting Peoples' financial condition[184]. - Changes in interest rates could adversely affect Peoples' profitability, as net interest income is significantly dependent on the difference between interest income and interest expense[142]. - Peoples' loan portfolio is significantly exposed to credit risk, particularly from commercial loans, which are more susceptible to defaults during economic downturns[183]. Capital and Liquidity Considerations - Peoples may need to seek additional capital in the future, but availability is uncertain and could adversely affect financial condition and operations[192]. - The company believes it has effective asset and liability management strategies to mitigate interest rate risk, although unexpected changes could adversely affect financial results[144]. - Peoples' ability to pay dividends is limited and may be affected by regulatory constraints, impacting liquidity and financial condition[197]. - The accuracy of information from customers and counterparties is critical, as reliance on misleading financial statements could negatively impact financial results[198]. - Changes in accounting standards may materially impact how Peoples records and reports its financial condition and results of operations[207]. - Increases in FDIC insurance premiums may adversely affect Peoples Bank's earnings and ability to pay dividends[210]. Community and Social Responsibility - Peoples Bank received an overall "Satisfactory" rating in its most recent Community Reinvestment Act evaluation by the Federal Reserve Board[104]. - The Federal Reserve Board's final rule on the CRA, effective January 1, 2026, aims to enhance access to credit in low- and moderate-income communities[105].