CONNECTONE BN(CNOBP) - 2024 Q4 - Annual Report

Assets and Mergers - ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. has total assets of $9.880 billion[25] - The company completed the merger with Greater Hudson Bank, acquiring approximately$0.4 billion in loans and deposits[16] - The merger with Bancorp of New Jersey resulted in the acquisition of approximately $0.8 billion in loans and deposits[18] - The upcoming merger with The First of Long Island Corporation is expected to close in the first or second quarter of 2025, with FLIC having total assets of$4.1 billion and total deposits of $3.3 billion[20] - The company has acquired GHB, BoeFly, and BNJ since January 1, 2019, and is pending regulatory approval for the acquisition of FLIC[133] - The company is expected to exceed$10 billion in assets upon consummation of its merger with The First National Bank of Long Island, subjecting it to examination by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau[58] Business Model and Operations - ConnectOne Bank operates a "branch-lite" model, focusing on efficiency and technology investments to serve clients in the New York Metropolitan area and South Florida[26] - The company offers a broad range of deposit and loan products, deriving a majority of revenue from net interest income[31] - ConnectOne Bank's market area includes robust markets in New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, with plans for continued expansion[29] - BoeFly, a subsidiary, connects small to medium-sized businesses with funding solutions through a digital marketplace[27] - The company emphasizes attracting quality business relationship officers to enhance client acquisition and retention[29] - The Company’s strategy emphasizes personalized banking services and cross-selling products to enhance client relationships and maintain funding costs[207] Employee and Training Initiatives - The Company had 489 full-time employees and 4 part-time and temporary employees as of December 31, 2024[43] - In 2024, 71 employees were promoted into new roles, reflecting the Company's focus on internal promotions[49] - ConnectOne University provided comprehensive job skills and cybersecurity training, advancing leadership skills for 125 managers in 2024[44] Regulatory Environment and Capital Requirements - The Dodd-Frank Act requires banking regulators to seek to make capital standards countercyclical, impacting capital requirements for the Company[58] - The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act raised the asset threshold for stress tests from $10 billion to$250 billion, providing regulatory relief for midsized banks[60] - The Company and the Bank are required to maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio of 4.5%, a Tier 1 Capital Ratio of 6.0%, and a Total Capital Ratio of 8.0%[73] - The New Rules require a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% composed entirely of CET1, on top of the minimum risk-weighted asset ratios[69] - An institution will be classified as "well capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0%[64] - The Company has elected not to opt into the Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework[79] - The Company is studying the revisions to the Community Reinvestment Act regulations to determine the impact on its operations, which is currently uncertain[88] Loan Portfolio and Credit Losses - As of December 31, 2024, the company had $6.3 billion in commercial real estate loans, representing 76.2$82.7 million as of December 31, 2024, an increase from $82.0 million in 2023, primarily due to increases in individually evaluated allowance[201] - The quantitative component of the allowance for credit losses for collectively evaluated loans decreased by$7.4 million to $81.2 million as of December 31, 2024, attributed to a decrease in collectively evaluated loans of$54.4 million[202] - The qualitative component of the allowance for credit losses increased by $8.0 million, reflecting trends in qualitative loss factors over 2024[202] Financial Performance - Net income available to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 was$67.8 million, a decrease of $13.2 million, or 16.3$81.0 million for 2023[211] - Diluted earnings per share for 2024 were $1.76, reflecting a 15.0$2.07 for 2023[211] - Net income available to common stockholders for 2023 was $81.0 million, a decrease of$38.2 million, or 32.1%, compared to $119.2 million for 2022[212] - Diluted earnings per share for 2023 were$2.07, a 31.2% decrease from $3.01 for 2022[212] - The company's net interest income is primarily influenced by the difference between interest earned on interest-earning assets and interest paid on borrowed funds[208] - Net interest margin is affected by the weighted average rates on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities[208] Risks and Challenges - The company may face challenges in raising additional capital to support its growth-oriented business strategy[102] - The impact of remote work on the commercial real estate market remains uncertain, potentially affecting borrowers' repayment capabilities[106] - Increased competition for deposits may require the company to raise interest rates to retain existing deposits or attract new ones[119] - The company faces substantial competition from fintech companies, which may offer more favorable terms and reduce margins on banking services[122] - The company may incur impairment to goodwill if significant negative industry trends or reduced cash flow estimates occur[132] - The inability to receive dividends from the bank could adversely affect the company's financial condition and results of operations[129] - The company is subject to heightened regulatory requirements due to its approaching$10 billion in total assets, which may increase operating costs[141] - Unanticipated costs related to the merger could have a dilutive effect on ConnectOne's earnings per share, potentially resulting in lower earnings than anticipated[154] - ConnectOne may face challenges in attracting and retaining customers during the merger process due to uncertainties affecting employees and business relationships[149] Cybersecurity and Compliance - Cybersecurity is a material part of ConnectOne's business, and incidents could have a material effect on its operations and reputation, although no significant incidents have occurred to date[174] - The Company maintains a cybersecurity risk mitigation program that includes monthly vulnerability scanning and annual risk assessments[178] Shareholder and Stock Information - The Company has a share repurchase program authorized for up to 2,000,000 shares, with 282,370 shares repurchased during the year ended December 31, 2024[190] - As of December 31, 2024, there were 641,118 shares remaining for repurchase under the share repurchase program[191] - The Company’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "CNOB," with 678 stockholders of record as of December 31, 2024[188]