Consumers Bancorp Inc: Form 10-K for the period ended Jun 30, 2023

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

General

Consumers Bancorp, Inc. (Corporation) is a bank holding company as defined under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (BHCA), and is a registered bank holding company under that act and was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1994. In February 1995, the Corporation acquired all the issued and outstanding capital stock of Consumers National Bank (Bank), a bank chartered under the laws of the United States of America. The Corporation’s activities have been limited primarily to holding the common stock of the Bank.

Consumers National Bank is a community-oriented financial institution that offers a wide range of commercial and consumer loan and deposit products, as well as mortgage, financial planning and investment services to individuals, farmers and small and medium sized businesses in our markets. Since 1965, the Bank’s main office has been serving Minerva, Ohio, and surrounding areas from its location at 614 East Lincoln Way, Minerva, Ohio. The Bank seeks to be the provider of choice for financial solutions to customers who value exceptional personalized service, local decision making, and modern banking technology. The Bank’s business involves attracting deposits from businesses and individual customers and using such deposits to originate commercial, mortgage and consumer loans in its market area, consisting primarily of Carroll, Columbiana, Jefferson, Mahoning, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties in Ohio. Its market includes these counties as well as the contiguous counties in northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. As of June 30, 2023, the Bank had 21 full-service branch locations and one loan production office. The Bank also invests in securities consisting primarily of obligations of U.S. government-sponsored entities, municipal obligations and mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae.

On July 16, 2021, the Corporation completed its acquisition (branch acquisition) of two branches located in Calcutta and Wellsville, Ohio from CFBank, National Association. In connection with the branch acquisition, the Corporation assumed $104,538 in branch deposits for a deposit premium of 1.75%. In addition, the Corporation acquired $15,602 of subordinated debt securities issued by unrelated financial institutions, $19,943 of loans, and recorded goodwill of $1,616. This transaction qualified as a business combination.

Supervision and Regulation

The Corporation and the Bank are subject to regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and other federal and state regulators. The regulatory framework is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole and not for the protection of shareholders and creditors. Earnings and dividends of the Corporation are affected by state and federal laws and regulations and by policies of various regulatory authorities. Changes in applicable law or in the policies of various regulatory authorities could affect materially the business and prospects of the Corporation and the Bank. The following describes selected federal and state statutory and regulatory provisions that have, or could have, a material impact on the Corporation. The following discussion of supervision and regulation is qualified in its entirety by reference to the statutory and regulatory provisions discussed.

Regulation of the Corporation

The Bank Holding Company Act: As a bank holding company, the Corporation is subject to regulation under the BHCA, and the examination and reporting requirements of the Federal Reserve Board. Under the BHCA, the Corporation is subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve Board and is required to file periodic reports regarding its operations and any additional information that the Federal Reserve Board may require.

The BHCA generally limits the activities of a bank holding company to banking, managing or controlling banks, furnishing services to or performing services for its subsidiaries and engaging in any other activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be so closely related to banking or to managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident to those activities. In addition, subject to certain exceptions, the BHCA requires every bank holding company to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board prior to acquiring substantially all the assets of any bank, acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of a bank or merging or consolidating with another bank holding company.

Under Federal Reserve Board policy, a bank holding company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to each subsidiary bank and to commit resources to support those subsidiary banks. Under this policy, the Federal Reserve Board may require a bank holding company to contribute additional capital to an undercapitalized subsidiary bank and may disapprove of the payment of dividends to shareholders if the Federal Reserve Board believes the payment of such dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice. The Federal Reserve Board has extensive enforcement authority over bank holding companies for violations of laws and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices.

Privacy Provisions of Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act: The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 contains extensive provisions on a customer’s right to privacy of non-public personal information. Under these provisions, a financial institution must provide its customers with the institution’s policies and procedures regarding the handling of customers’ non-public personal information. Except in certain cases, an institution may not provide personal information to unaffiliated third parties unless the institution discloses that such information may be disclosed, and the customer is given the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. The Corporation and the Bank are also subject to certain state laws that deal with the use and distribution of non-public personal information.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act: The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 contains important requirements for public companies in the areas of financial disclosure and corporate governance. In accordance with section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, written certifications by the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are required. These certifications attest that the Corporation’s quarterly and annual reports filed with the SEC do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact.

Regulation of the Bank

As a national bank, the Bank is subject to regulation, supervision, and examination by the OCC and by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). These examinations are designed primarily for the protection of the depositors of the Bank.

Dividend Restrictions: Dividends from the Bank are the primary source of funds for payment of dividends to the Corporation’s shareholders. There are statutory limits, however, on the amount of dividends the Bank can pay without regulatory approval. Under regulations promulgated by the OCC, the Bank may not declare a dividend in excess of its undivided profits. Additionally, the Bank may not declare a dividend if the total amount of all dividends, including the proposed dividend, declared by the Bank in any calendar year exceeds the total of its retained net income of that year to date, combined with its retained net income of the two preceding years, unless the dividend is approved by the OCC. The Bank may not declare or pay any dividend if, after making the dividend, the Bank would be “undercapitalized,” as defined in the federal regulations.

FDIC: The FDIC is an independent federal agency, which insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings associations up to certain prescribed limits and safeguards the safety and soundness of financial institutions. The deposits of the Bank are subject to the deposit insurance assessments of the Deposit Insurance Fund of the FDIC. Under the FDIC’s deposit insurance assessment system, the assessment rate for any insured institution varies according to regulatory capital levels of the institution and other factors such as supervisory evaluations.

The FDIC is authorized to prohibit any insured institution from engaging in any activity that poses a serious threat to the insurance fund and may initiate enforcement actions against banks, after first giving the institution’s primary regulatory authority an opportunity to take such action. The FDIC may also terminate the deposit insurance of any institution that has engaged in or is engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.

Current Expected Credit Loss Model: In December 2018, the OCC, the Federal Reserve Board, and the FDIC issued a final rule to address regulatory treatment of credit loss allowances under the current expected credit loss (CECL) model. The rule revised the federal banking agencies’ regulatory capital rules to identify which credit loss allowances under the CECL model are eligible for inclusion in regulatory capital and to provide banking organizations the option to phase in over three years the day one adverse effects on regulatory capital that may result from the adoption of the CECL model. The Bank adopted the CECL model on July 1, 2023 since it’s a smaller reporting company and expects to elect to phase in the day-one effect of adopting CECL for regulatory capital purposes.

Risk-Based Capital Requirements: The Federal Reserve Board and the OCC employ similar risk-based capital guidelines in their examination and regulation of bank holding companies and national banks, respectively. The Corporation meets the definition of a Small Bank Holding Company and, therefore, was exempt from maintaining consolidated regulatory capital ratios. Instead, regulatory capital ratios only apply at the subsidiary bank level. The guidelines involve a process of assigning various risk weights to different classes of assets, then evaluating the sum of the risk-weighted balance sheet structure against the capital base. If capital falls below the minimum levels established by the guidelines, the bank holding company or bank may be denied approval to acquire or establish additional banks or non-bank businesses or to open new facilities. In addition, failure to satisfy capital guidelines could subject a banking institution to a variety of enforcement actions by federal bank regulatory authorities, including the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC and a prohibition on the acceptance of “brokered deposits.”

Effective January 1, 2020, qualifying community banking organizations may elect to comply with a greater than 9% community bank leverage ratio (CBLR) requirement in lieu of the currently applicable requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios. The CBLR is equal to Tier 1 capital divided by average total consolidated assets. In order to qualify for the CBLR election, a community bank must (i) have a leverage capital ratio greater than 9 percent, (ii) have less than $10 billion in average total consolidated assets, (iii) not exceed certain levels of off-balance sheet exposure and trading assets plus trading liabilities and (iv) not be an advanced approaches banking organization. A community bank that meets the above qualifications and elects to utilize the CBLR is considered to have satisfied the risk-based and leverage capital requirements in the generally applicable capital rules and is also considered to be "well capitalized" under the prompt corrective action rules. The Bank has not elected to be subject to the CBLR.

Unless a community bank qualifies for, and elects to comply with the CBLR beginning on January 1, 2020, national banks are required to maintain the Basel III minimum levels of regulatory capital. The Basel III capital requirements for U.S. banking organizations became effective on January 1, 2015 and were fully phased in by January 1, 2019. Under Basel III, the Bank is required to maintain a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6%, a total capital ratio of 8%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4%. Basel III also established a “capital conservation buffer” of 2.5% above the new regulatory minimum capital requirements, which effectively resulted in a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%, a total capital ratio of 10.5% and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 6.5%. The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banking institutions with a common equity Tier 1 ratio to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the conservation buffer will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases, and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.

The OCC and the FDIC may take various corrective actions against any undercapitalized bank and any bank that fails to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan or fails to implement a plan accepted by the OCC or the FDIC. These powers include, but are not limited to, requiring the institution to be recapitalized, prohibiting asset growth, restricting interest rates paid, requiring prior approval of capital distributions by any bank holding company that controls the institution, requiring divestiture by the institution of its subsidiaries or by the holding company of the institution itself, requiring new election of directors, and requiring the dismissal of directors and officers. The OCC’s final supervisory judgment concerning an institution’s capital adequacy could differ significantly from the conclusions that might be derived from the absolute level of an institution’s risk-based capital ratios. Therefore, institutions generally are expected to maintain risk-based capital ratios that exceed the minimum ratios. As of June 30, 2023, the Bank exceeded minimum regulatory capital requirements to be considered well-capitalized.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which regulates consumer financial products and services and certain financial services providers. The CFPB is authorized to prevent unfair, deceptive and abusive acts or practices and seeks to ensure consistent enforcement of laws so that consumers have access to fair, transparent and competitive markets for consumer financial products and services. Since it was established the CFPB has exercised extensive rulemaking and interpretive authority.

Interstate Banking and Branching: The Interstate Banking and Branch Efficiency Act of 1995 has eased restrictions on interstate expansion and consolidation of banking operations by, among other things: (i) permitting interstate bank acquisitions regardless of host state laws, (ii) permitting interstate merger of banks unless specific states have opted out of this provision, and (iii) permitting banks to establish new branches outside the state provided the law of the host state specifically allows interstate bank branching.

Community Reinvestment Act: The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requires depository institutions to assist in meeting the credit needs of their market areas, including low- and moderate-income areas, consistent with safe and sound banking practices. Under this Act, each institution is required to adopt a statement for each of its market areas describing the depository institution’s efforts to assist in its community’s credit needs. Depository institutions are periodically examined for compliance and assigned ratings. Banking regulators consider these ratings when considering approval of a proposed transaction by an institution. The Bank’s most recent CRA rating is satisfactory.

USA PATRIOT Act: In 2001, Congress enacted the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Patriot Act). The Patriot Act is designed to deny terrorists and criminals the ability to obtain access to the United States’ financial system and has significant implications for depository institutions, brokers, dealers, and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The Patriot Act mandates that financial services companies implement additional policies and procedures with respect to additional measures designed to address any or all the following matters: money laundering, terrorist financing, identifying and reporting suspicious activities and currency transactions, and currency crimes.

The Anit-Money Laundering Act: In 2021, Congress enacted the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA), which amended the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 (BSA). The AMLA is intended to be a comprehensive reform and modernization to U.S. bank secrecy and anti-money laundering laws. Among other things, the AMLA codifies a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering compliance for financial institutions; requires the development of standards for evaluating technology and internal processes for BSA compliance; expands enforcement-related and investigation-related authority, including increasing available sanctions for certain BSA violations and instituting BSA whistleblower initiatives and protections.

Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation: The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries and regimes, under authority of various laws, including designated foreign countries, nationals and others. OFAC publishes lists of specially designated targets and countries. We are responsible for, among other things, blocking accounts of, and transactions with, such targets and countries, prohibiting unlicensed trade and financial transactions with them and reporting blocked transactions after their occurrence. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious financial, legal and reputational consequences, including applicable bank regulatory authorities not approving merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or prohibiting such transactions even if approval is not required. Regulatory authorities have imposed cease and desist orders and civil money penalties against institutions found to be violating these obligations.

Cybersecurity: In March 2015, federal regulators issued two related statements regarding cybersecurity. One statement indicates that financial institutions should design multiple layers of security controls to establish lines of defense and to ensure that their risk management processes also address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, including security measures to reliably authenticate customers accessing internet-based services of the financial institution. The other statement indicates that a financial institution’s management is expected to maintain sufficient business continuity planning processes to ensure the rapid recovery, resumption and maintenance of the institution’s operations after a cyberattack involving destructive malware. A financial institution is also expected to develop appropriate processes to enable recovery of data and business operations and address rebuilding network capabilities and restoring data if the institution or its critical service providers fall victim to this type of cyberattack.

In February 2018, the SEC published interpretive guidance to assist public companies in preparing disclosures about cybersecurity risks and incidents. These SEC guidelines, and any other regulatory guidance, are in addition to notification and disclosure requirements under state and federal banking law and regulations. In addition, in July 2023, the SEC adopted rules that require disclosure of material cybersecurity incidents, processes, if any, for assessing, identifying and managing material cybersecurity risk as well as whether any risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Corporation.

In November 2021, the OCC, the FRB and the FDIC issued a final rule, which became effective in May 2022, requiring banking organizations that experience a computer-security incident to notify certain entities. A computer-security incident occurs when actual or potential harm to the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an information system or the information occurs, or there is a violation or imminent threat of a violation to banking security policies and procedures. The affected bank must notify its respective federal regulator of the computer-security incident as soon as possible and no later than 36 hours after the bank determines a computer-security incident that rises to the level of a notification event has occurred. These notifications are intended to promote early awareness of threats to banking organizations and will help banks react to those threats before they manifest into larger incidents. This rule also requires bank service providers to notify their bank organization customers of a computer-security incident that has caused, or is reasonably likely to cause, a material service disruption or degradation.

Furthermore, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act, enacted in March 2022, will require, once administrative rules are adopted, certain covered entities, including those in the financial services industry, to report a covered cyber incident to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within 72 hours after it reasonably believes an incident has occurred. Separate reporting to CISA will also be required within 24 hours if a ransom payment is made as a result of a ransomware attack.

State regulators have also been increasingly active in implementing privacy and cybersecurity standards and regulations. Recently, several states have adopted regulations requiring certain financial institutions to implement cybersecurity programs and many states have also recently implemented or modified their data breach notification, information security and data privacy requirements. We expect this trend of state-level activity in those areas to continue and we are monitoring developments in the states in which our customers are located.

In the ordinary course of business, electronic communications and information systems are relied upon to conduct operations, to deliver services to customers and to store sensitive data. The Corporation employs a variety of preventative and detective tools to monitor, block, and provide alerts regarding suspicious activity, as well as to report on any suspected advanced persistent threats. Risks and exposures related to cybersecurity attacks are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the rapidly evolving nature and sophistication of these threats, increasing volume of attacks, as well as due to the expanding use of internet banking, mobile banking and other technology-based products and services by the Corporation and its customers.

Government Monetary Policy: The earnings of the Corporation are affected by general and local economic conditions and by the policies of various governmental regulatory authorities. In particular, the Federal Reserve Board regulates money and credit conditions and interest rates to influence general economic conditions, primarily through open market acquisitions or dispositions of United States Government securities, varying the discount rate on member bank borrowings and setting reserve requirements against member and nonmember bank deposits. Federal Reserve Board monetary policies have had a significant effect on the interest income and interest expense of commercial banks, including the Bank, and are expected to continue to do so in the future.

Executive and Incentive Compensation: Under the Dodd-Frank Act and rules adopted by the SEC in October 2022, public companies will be required, once stock exchanges adopt additional listing requirements, to adopt and implement “clawback” policies for incentive compensation payments and to disclose the details of the procedures for recovery of incentive compensation that was paid on the basis of erroneous financial information necessitating an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements. Such clawback policies are intended to apply to compensation paid within the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date the issuer is required to prepare a restatement and would cover all executives (including former executives) who received incentive awards.

Employees

As of June 30, 2023, the Bank employed 173 full-time and 21 part-time employees. None of the employees are represented by a collective bargaining group. Management considers its relations with employees to be good.

Available Information

The Corporation files annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. These filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov). Shareholders may also read and copy any document that the Corporation files at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Shareholders may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.

The Corporation’s reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are available, free of charge, on our website (www.consumers.bank (http://www.consumers.bank)) as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with or furnished to the SEC. The Corporation’s Code of Ethics Policy, which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Corporation, and its Code of Ethics for Principal Financial Officers, which is applicable to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, are each available on the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance of the Corporation’s website. The Corporation intends to post amendments to or waivers from either of its Code of Ethics Policies on its website. A printed copy of any of these documents will be provided to any requesting shareholder.

The Bank operates 21 full-service banking facilities and one loan production office (LPO) as noted below:

The Bank considers its physical properties to be in good operating condition and suitable for the purposes for which they are being used. In management’s opinion, all properties owned and operated by the Bank are adequately insured.

The Corporation is not a party to any pending material legal or administrative proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business of the Corporation. Further, there are no material legal proceedings in which any director, executive officer, principal shareholder or affiliate of the Corporation is a party or has a material interest therein that is adverse to the Corporation. No routine litigation in which the Corporation is involved is expected to have a material adverse impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Corporation.

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

General

The following is management’s analysis of the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations as of and for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. This discussion is designed to provide a more comprehensive review of the operating results and financial position than could be obtained from an examination of the financial statements alone. This analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes and the selected financial data included elsewhere in this report.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are not statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “may,” “continue,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “will,” “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Any such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this report or the respective dates of the relevant incorporated documents, as the case may be, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results for future periods to differ materially from those anticipated or projected include, but are not limited to:

• changes in local, regional and national economic conditions becoming less favorable than we expect, resulting in a deterioration in asset credit quality or debtors being unable to meet their obligations because of high unemployment rates and inflationary pressures;
• rapid fluctuations in market interest rates could result in changes in fair market valuations and a decline in net interest income;
• changes in the level of non-performing assets and charge-offs;
• unanticipated changes in our liquidity position, including, but not limited to, changes in the cost of liquidity and our ability to find alternative funding sources;
• the effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities, and insurance) with which we must comply;
• the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board;
• breaches of security or failures of our technology systems due to technological or other factors and cybersecurity threats;
• changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
• declining asset values impacting the underlying value of collateral;
• changes in accounting policies, rules and interpretations;
• our ability to attract and retain qualified employees;
• competitive pressures on product pricing and services; and
• changes in the reliability of our vendors, internal control systems or information systems.

The risks and uncertainties identified above are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial also may adversely affect us. Should any known or unknown risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, those developments could have material adverse effects on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Overview

Consumers Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio, owns all the issued and outstanding capital stock of Consumers National Bank, a bank chartered under the laws of the United States of America. The Corporation’s activities have been limited primarily to holding the common stock of the Bank. The Bank’s business involves attracting deposits from businesses and individual customers and using such deposits to originate commercial, mortgage and consumer loans in its market area, consisting primarily of Carroll, Columbiana, Jefferson, Mahoning, Stark, Summit, and Wayne counties in Ohio. Its market includes these counties as well as the contiguous counties in northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia. The Bank also invests in securities consisting primarily of U.S. government-sponsored entities, municipal obligations, mortgage-backed and collateralized mortgage obligations issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae.

On July 16, 2021, the Corporation completed the branch acquisition and assumed $104,538 of branch deposits for a 1.75% deposit premium and purchased $15,602 in subordinated debt securities issued by unrelated financial institutions and $19,943 in loans. In relation to the branch acquisition, the Corporation recorded goodwill of $1,616. This transaction qualified as a business combination.

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Years Ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022

Net Income. Net income was $10,674 for fiscal year 2023 compared with $11,192 for fiscal year 2022. The following key factors summarize our results of operations for the year ended June 30, 2023 compared with the same prior year period:

• net interest income increased by $969, or 3.0%, in fiscal year 2023, primarily because of a $51,065, or 5.6%, increase in average interest-earning assets;
• a $855 provision for loan loss expense was recorded during fiscal year 2023 compared with $735 during fiscal year 2022; and
• total other expenses increased by $1,470, or 6.3%, in fiscal year 2023 due to increases in salaries and employee benefits; occupancy and equipment expenses; and professional and director fees.

Return on average equity and return on average assets were 20.27% and 1.05%, respectively, for fiscal year 2023 compared with 16.43% and 1.17%, respectively, for the same period last year.

Net Interest Income. Net interest income, the difference between interest income earned on interest-earning assets and interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities, is the largest component of the Corporation’s earnings. Net interest income is affected by changes in the volumes, rates and composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. In addition, prevailing economic conditions, fiscal and monetary policies, and the policies of various regulatory agencies all affect market rates of interest and the availability and cost of credit, which, in turn, can significantly affect net interest income.

Net interest margin is calculated by dividing net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis (FTE) by total interest-earning assets. FTE income includes tax-exempt income, restated to a pre-tax equivalent, based on the statutory federal income tax rate of 21.0%. All average balances are daily average balances. Non-accruing loans are included in average loan balances and average securities include unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, while yields are based on average amortized cost.

FTE net interest income for fiscal year 2023 was $33,919, an increase of $660 or 2.0%, from $33,259 in fiscal year 2022. The Corporation’s tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.37% for fiscal year 2023 and 3.60% for fiscal year 2022. FTE interest income for fiscal year 2023 was $41,143, an increase of $6,470, or 18.70%, from fiscal year 2022, primarily due to a $51,065, or 5.6%, increase in average interest-earning assets from fiscal year 2022. The growth in average interest-earning assets was primarily a result of a $65,313, or 10.9%, increase in average loans. In fiscal year 2022, interest income was positively impacted by $2,612 in interest and fee income that was recognized on Paycheck Protection Program loans. The Corporation’s yield on average interest-earning assets was 4.09% for the 2023 fiscal year compared with 3.75% for the same period last year.

Interest expense for fiscal year 2023 was $7,224, an increase of $5,810 from fiscal year 2022 primarily because of the rapid increase in current market interest rates and the increased competition for deposits. The Corporation’s average cost of funds was 1.03% for fiscal year 2023 compared with 0.22% for the same prior year period.

Average Balance Sheet and Net Interest Margin

(1) Calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis utilizing a statutory federal income tax rate of 21.0%.

The following table presents the changes in the Corporation’s interest income and interest expense resulting from changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Changes attributable to both rate and volume that cannot be segregated have been allocated in proportion to the changes due to rate and volume.

INTEREST RATES AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL

(In thousands)

(1) Nontaxable income is adjusted to a fully tax equivalent basis utilizing a statutory federal income tax rate of 21.0%.

(2) Non-accrual loan balances are included for purposes of computing the rate and volume effects although interest on these balances has been excluded.

Provision for Loan Losses. The provision for loan losses represents the charge to income necessary to adjust the allowance for loan losses to an amount that represents management’s assessment of the estimated probable credit losses in the Corporation’s loan portfolio that have been incurred at each balance sheet date. The amount of the provision is affected by loan charge-offs, recoveries and changes in specific and general allocations required for the allowance for loan losses. Management considers a number of factors that impact the provision for loan losses, such as historical loss experience, the present and prospective financial condition of borrowers, the current conditions within the markets where the Corporation originates loans, the status of nonperforming assets, the estimated underlying value of the collateral and other factors related to the ultimate collectability of the loan portfolio.

A provision for loan loss expense of $855 was recorded in fiscal year 2023 compared with $735 in fiscal year 2022. The loan loss provision expense recorded in fiscal year 2023 was primarily due to the organic growth within the loan portfolio. For fiscal year 2023, net charge offs of $291, or 0.04% of total loans, were recorded compared with $46, or 0.01% of total loans, for the same period last year. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 1.09% at June 30, 2023 and 1.17% at June 30, 2022. The decline in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was due to the improvement in economic conditions as the economy has remained resilient following the pandemic and through the rapid rise in short-term interest rates. Also, substandard and non-accrual loans are at very low levels.

Non-performing loans were $104, or 0.01% of total loans, as of June 30, 2023. This compared with $440, or 0.07% of total loans, as of June 30, 2022. Non-performing loans declined primarily because two loans that had a balance of $382 as of June 30, 2022 were returned to accrual status during fiscal year 2023. Non-performing loans have been considered in management’s analysis of the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses. Management and the Board of Directors closely monitor these loans and believe the prospect for recovery of principal, less identified specific reserves, are favorable.

Other Income. Total other income increased by $12, or 0.3%, to $4,747 for fiscal year 2023. Service charges on deposit accounts increased by $138, or 9.5%, in fiscal year 2023 primarily as a result of increases in personal and business service charges on demand deposit accounts. Debit card interchange income increased by $112, or 5.4% in fiscal year 2023 because of increased debit card usage and an increase in the number of cards issued. These increases were partially offset by mortgage banking activity income decreasing by $287 in fiscal year 2023 because of the increase in mortgage rates impacting refinancing and new home sales volume.

Other Expenses. Total other expenses were $24,685 for the year ended June 30, 2023; an increase of $1,470, or 6.3%, from $23,215 for the year ended June 30, 2022.

Salaries and employee benefit expenses increased by $760, or 5.7%, during fiscal year 2023 primarily due to merit and cost of living increases and lower deferred loan costs. These increases were partially offset by lower salary continuation plan expenses because of an increase in the discount rate and lower incentive expenses.

Professional and director fees increased by $187, or 21.3%, during fiscal year 2023 from the same period last year primarily because of an increase in director fees and consulting expenses. Director fees increased mainly due to the issuance of restricted stock awards and units in fiscal year 2023 as the Corporation started issuing restricted stock units in fiscal year 2023 to better align the expense recognition with the performance criteria. In addition, consulting fees were higher in fiscal year 2023 as the Corporation prepared for the additional documentation and audit requirements of the FDIC Improvement Act of 1991 since the Corporation now has over $1 billion in total assets and as it prepared for the adoption of the current expected credit loss model accounting standard.

Financial institutions tax expenses decreased by $64, or 11.8%, in fiscal year 2023 since this is a capital-based tax and total capital was lower as of the measurement date in fiscal year 2023 because of the accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Other expenses increased by $256, or 12.7%, because of increases primarily in insurance, postage, and loan expenses as a result of the growth in the organization.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense totaled $2,248 and $2,339 and the effective tax rates were 17.4% and 17.3% for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Income tax expense was calculated utilizing a statutory federal income tax rate of 21.0% in fiscal years 2023 and 2022. The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate as a result of tax-exempt income from obligations of states and political subdivisions, loans and bank owned life insurance earnings.

Financial Condition

Total assets as of June 30, 2023 were $1,060,024 compared with $977,313 at June 30, 2022, an increase of $82,711, or 8.5%. The growth in total assets is mainly attributable to an increase of $98,519, or 16.1%, in total loans and was primarily funded by a $65,971, or 7.4%, increase in total deposits.

Securities. Total securities were $286,575 at June 30, 2023, of which $279,605 were classified as available-for-sale and $6,970 were classified as held-to-maturity. The securities portfolio is mainly comprised of mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, state and political subdivisions and government-sponsored enterprises. The following tables summarize the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities at June 30, 2023 and 2022 and the corresponding amounts of gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss:

14

The following tables summarize the amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity securities at June 30, 2023 and 2022 and the corresponding gross unrecognized gains and losses:

The following tables summarize the amounts and distribution of the Corporation’s securities held and the weighted average yields as of June 30, 2023:

15

The weighted average interest rates are based on coupon rates for securities purchased at par value and on effective yields considering amortization or accretion if the securities were purchased at a premium or discount. The weighted average yield on tax-exempt obligations has been calculated on a tax equivalent basis. Average yields are based on amortized cost balances.

Loans. Loan receivables increased by $98,519, or 16.1%, to $710,362 at June 30, 2023 compared to $611,843 at June 30, 2022. Commercial loans increased by $25,547, or 29.3%, primarily because of a third-party residential mortgage warehouse line-of-credit that had a balance of $10,000 as of June 30, 2023 and had a zero balance as of June 30, 2022. Consumer loans increased by $20,588, or 45.9%, primarily as a result of the expansion of indirect auto lending and an increase in direct auto loans due to successful marketing campaigns. Major classifications of loans, net of deferred loan fees and costs, were as follows as of June 30:

16

The following table shows the major classifications of loans, net of deferred fees and costs, which are based on the contractual terms for repayment of principal, that are due in the periods indicated as of June 30, 2023:

The following is a schedule of fixed and variable rate 1-4 family residential real estate construction, commercial and commercial real estate loans due after one year (variable rate loans are those loans with floating or adjustable interest rates) as of June 30, 2023:

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses balance and the provision charged to expense are judgmentally determined by management based upon a periodic review of the loan portfolio for valuation purposes and to determine the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Management establishes allowances for estimated losses on loans based upon its evaluation of the pertinent factors underlying the types and quality of loans; historical loss experience based on volume and types of loans; trend in portfolio volume and composition; level and trend of nonperforming assets; detailed analysis of individual loans for which full collectability may not be assured; determination of the existence and realizable value of the collateral and guarantees securing such loans and the current economic conditions affecting the collectability of loans in the portfolio.

Failure to receive principal and interest payments when due on any loan results in efforts to restore such loan to a current status. Loans are classified as non-accrual when, in the opinion of management, full collection of principal and accrued interest is not expected. The loans must be brought and kept current for six sustained payments before being considered for removal from non-accrual status. Commercial and commercial real estate loans are classified as impaired if management determines that full collection of principal and interest, in accordance with the terms of the loan documents, is not probable. If a loan is impaired, a portion of the allowance is allocated so the loan is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected from the collateral. Loans are evaluated for impairment when payments are delayed, typically 90 days or more, or when it is probable that not all principal and interest amounts will be collected according to the original terms of the loan. As of June 30, 2023, impaired loans totaled $405, of which $54 are included in non-accrual loans. Continued unsuccessful collection efforts generally lead to initiation of foreclosure or other legal proceedings.

The following table summarizes non-accrual loans, non-performing assets, impaired and restructured loans, and associated ratios for the years ended June 30:

*Not meaningful

The non-performing loans are either in the process of foreclosure or efforts are being made to work with the borrower to bring the loan current. Properties and vehicles acquired by the Corporation as a result of foreclosure or repossession, or by deed in lieu of foreclosure, are classified as “other real estate and repossessed assets owned” until they are sold or otherwise disposed of.

The following table summarizes the Corporation’s loan loss experience, and provides a breakdown of the charge-off, recovery and other activity for the years ended June 30:

The following schedule is a breakdown of the allowance for loan losses allocated by type of loan and related ratios:

While management’s periodic analysis of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses may allocate portions of the allowance for specific problem loan situations, the entire allowance is available for any loan charge-off that may occur. While the Corporation has historically experienced strong trends in asset quality, due to the current economic concerns with high inflation and rising interest rates, uncertainty remains regarding future levels of criticized and classified loans, nonperforming loans and charge-offs. Management will continue to closely monitor changes in the loan portfolio and adjust the provision accordingly.

Other Assets: As of June 30, 2023, the total accrued interest receivable and other assets were $22,967 compared with $10,184 as of June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2023, a $10,250 investment in a limited partnership that invests in qualified affordable housing projects that will generate tax benefits for the investors is included in other assets. See Note 16—Affordable Tax Credit Partnership to the Consolidated Financial Statements, for information concerning the low-income housing tax credit investment.

Deposits. Total deposits increased by $65,971, or 7.4%, from $886,562 at June 30, 2022 to $952,533 at June 30, 2023. As market rates have risen, customers have chosen to move funds from savings and money market deposit products to higher yielding certificates of deposits. As of June 30, 2023, the Corporation maintained a favorable funding mix with 26.3% of total deposits in noninterest-bearing demand deposits, 16.0% in interest-bearing demand deposits, 35.2% in savings and money market deposits, and 22.5% in certificates and other time deposits.

The following is a schedule of average deposit amounts and average rates paid on each category for the periods included:

Uninsured deposits as of June 30, 2023 were $267,449, or 28.1% of total deposits, and includes $95,445 of uninsured public fund deposits that are fully collateralized. Uninsured deposits as of June 30, 2022 were $264,350, or 29.8% of total deposits, and includes $95,075 of uninsured public fund deposits that are fully collateralized. Uninsured deposits as of June 30, 2023 and 2022 are based on estimates and include portions of FDIC-insured deposit accounts that exceed the insurance limit of $250 thousand per separately insured depositor.

The following table summarizes time deposits issued in amounts of more than $250 thousand as of June 30, 2023 by time remaining until maturity:

Short-term Borrowings: Short-term borrowings increased by $5,072, or 23.8%, to $26,367 at June 30, 2023 from $21,295 at June 30, 2022. This increase was primarily associated with large new deposits from existing local commercial customers into the sweep repurchase agreement product that is fully collateralized. See Note 8—Short-Term Borrowings to the Consolidated Financial Statements, for information concerning short-term borrowings.

Other Liabilities: As of June 30, 2023, the total accrued interest payable and other liabilities was $16,864 compared with $7,230 as of June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2023, an unfunded commitment of $9,668 associated with an affordable housing tax credit investment was included in other liabilities. See Note 16—Affordable Tax Credit Partnership to the Consolidated Financial Statements, for information concerning the low-income housing tax credit investment.

Capital Resources

Total shareholders’ equity increased by $1,514 from $53,970 as of June 30, 2022 to $55,484 at June 30, 2023. The primary reason for the increase in shareholders’ equity was because of net income of $10,674 for the 2023 fiscal year which was partially offset by an increase of $7,855 in the accumulated other comprehensive loss from the mark-to-market of available-for-sale securities and from cash dividends paid of $2,095. The total accumulated other comprehensive loss was $29,961 as of June 30, 2023. Available-for-sale securities and shareholders’ equity were impacted by rapidly rising interest rates during 2022 and 2023 causing the accumulated other comprehensive loss to increase as available-for-sale securities are marked to fair market value. As market interest rates rise, the fair value of fixed-rate securities decline with a corresponding net of tax decline recorded in the accumulated other comprehensive loss portion of equity. This unrealized loss in securities is temporary and is adjusted monthly for additional market interest rate fluctuations, principal paydowns, calls, and maturities. The Corporation has significant sources of liquidity and therefore does not expect to have to sell securities to fund growth.

For fiscal year 2023, the average equity to average total assets ratio was 5.16% and the dividend payout ratio was 19.6%. For fiscal year 2022, the average equity to average total assets ratio was 7.10% and the dividend payout ratio was 17.4%.

At June 30, 2023, management believes the Bank complied with all regulatory capital requirements. Based on the Bank’s computed regulatory capital ratios, the OCC has determined the Bank to be well capitalized under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act as of its latest exam date. The Bank’s actual and required capital amounts are disclosed in Note 13-Regulatory Matters to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management is not aware of any matters occurring subsequent to that exam that would cause the Bank’s capital category to change.

At June 30, 2023, the Corporation had no unconsolidated, related special purpose entities, nor did the Corporation engage in hedging contracts, such as interest rate swaps, which may expose the Corporation to liabilities greater than the amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. The Corporation’s investment policy prohibits engaging in derivative contracts for speculative trading purposes; however, in the future, the Corporation may pursue certain contracts, such as interest rate swaps, to execute a sound and defensive interest rate risk management policy.

Liquidity

Management considers the asset position of the Bank to be sufficiently liquid to meet normal operating needs and conditions. The Bank’s earning assets are divided primarily between loans and available-for-sale securities, with any excess funds placed in federal funds sold or interest-bearing deposit accounts with other financial institutions.

For fiscal year 2023, net cash inflows from operating activities were $13,316, net cash inflows from financing activities were $69,706 and net cash outflows from investing activities were $92,219. Major sources of cash were a $65,971 net increase in deposits and $37,794 in cash received from sales, maturities, or principal pay downs of available-for-sale securities. Major uses of cash were a $98,945 net increase in loans and $31,799 of purchases of available-for-sale securities. Total cash and cash equivalents were $20,952 as of June 30, 2023 compared to $18,529 at June 30, 2022.

The Bank groups its loan portfolio into four major categories: commercial loans; commercial real estate loans; 1-4 family residential real estate loans; and consumer loans. The Bank’s 1-4 family residential real estate loan portfolio primarily consists of fixed and variable rate mortgage loans for terms generally not longer than thirty years and variable rate home equity lines of credit. Commercial and commercial real estate loans are comprised of both variable rate notes subject to interest rate changes based on the prime rate or Treasury index, and fixed rate notes having maturities of generally not greater than twenty years. Consumer loans offered by the Bank are generally written for periods of up to seven years, based on the nature of the collateral. These may be either installment loans having regular monthly payments or demand type loans for short periods of time.

Funds not allocated to the Bank’s loan portfolio are invested in various securities having diverse maturity schedules. A majority of the Bank’s securities are held in obligations of U.S. Government-sponsored entities, mortgage-backed securities, and investments in tax-exempt municipal bonds.

The Bank offers several forms of deposit products to its customers. We believe the rates offered by the Bank and the fees charged for them are competitive with others currently available in the market area. While the Bank continues to be under competitive pressures in the Bank’s market area as financial institutions attempt to attract and keep new deposits, we believe many commercial and retail customers are turning to community banks. Compared to our peers, the Corporation’s core deposits consist of a larger percentage of noninterest-bearing demand deposits resulting in a lower cost of funds of 1.03% for fiscal year 2023.

Jumbo time deposits (those with balances of $250 and over) were $46,822 and $18,164 at June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These deposits are monitored closely by the Bank and typically priced on an individual basis. When these deposits are from a municipality, certain bank-owned securities are pledged to guarantee the safety of these public fund deposits as required by Ohio law. The Corporation has the option to use a fee paid broker to obtain deposits from outside its normal service area as an additional source of funding. However, these deposits are not relied upon as a primary source of funding and there were no brokered deposits as of June 30, 2023 or 2022.

To provide additional sources of liquidity, the Corporation has lines of credit with other financial institutions and has entered into agreements with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (FHLB) and the Federal Reserve Discount Window. As of June 30, 2023, advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati totaled $8,776 compared with $8,256 as of June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2023, the Bank had the ability to borrow an additional $109,442 from the FHLB of Cincinnati based on a blanket pledge of qualifying first mortgage and multi-family loans. The Corporation considers the FHLB of Cincinnati to be a reliable source of liquidity funding, secondary to its deposit base.

Dividends from the Bank are the primary source of funds for payment of dividends to our shareholders. However, there are statutory limits on the amount of dividends the Bank can pay without regulatory approval. Under these regulations, the amount of dividends that may be paid in any calendar year is limited to the current year’s net profits, combined with the retained net profits of the preceding two years, subject to the capital requirements described above. Additionally, the Bank may not declare or pay any dividend if, after making the dividend, the Bank would be “undercapitalized,” as defined in the federal regulations. As of June 30, 2023, the Bank could, without prior approval, declare a dividend of approximately $21,811.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

The financial statements and related data presented herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which require the measurement of financial position and results of operations primarily in terms of historical dollars without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all the assets and liabilities of the Corporation are monetary in nature. Therefore, as a financial institution, interest rates have a more significant impact on the Corporation’s performance than the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services. The liquidity, maturity structure and quality of the Corporation’s assets and liabilities are critical to the maintenance of acceptable performance levels.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Significant Estimates

The financial condition and results of operations for the Corporation presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements, accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and management’s discussion and analysis are, to a large degree, dependent upon the Corporation’s accounting policies. The selection and application of these accounting policies involve judgments, estimates and uncertainties that are susceptible to change. The most significant accounting policies followed by the Corporation are presented in Note 1-Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Consolidated Financial Statements. These policies, along with the disclosures presented in the other financial statement notes, provide information on how significant assets and liabilities are valued in the financial statements and how those values are determined.

Management views critical accounting policies to be those which are highly dependent on subjective or complex judgments, estimates and assumptions, and where changes in those estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the financial statements. In the event different assumptions or conditions were to prevail, and depending upon the severity of such changes, the possibility of materially different financial condition or results of operations is a reasonable likelihood. Management has identified the following as critical accounting policies:

Allowance for Loan Losses. The determination of the allowance for loan losses involves considerable subjective judgment and estimation by management. The allowance for loan losses is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense, which represents management’s best estimate of probable losses that have been incurred within the existing portfolio of loans. The balance in the allowance for loan losses is determined based on management’s review and evaluation of the loan portfolio in relation to past loss experience, the size and composition of the portfolio, current economic events and conditions and other pertinent factors, including management’s assumptions as to future delinquencies, recoveries, and losses. All these factors may be susceptible to significant change. Among the many factors affecting the allowance for loan losses, some are quantitative while others require qualitative judgment. Although management believes its process for determining the allowance adequately considers all the potential factors that could potentially result in credit losses, the process includes subjective elements and may be susceptible to significant change. To the extent actual outcomes differ from management’s estimates, additional provisions for loan losses may be required that would adversely impact the Corporation’s financial condition or earnings in future periods.

Goodwill. The Corporation accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are recorded at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition with any excess of the cost of the acquisition over the fair value recorded as goodwill. The carrying value of goodwill is tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The evaluation for impairment involves comparing the current estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. If the current estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, no additional testing is required, and an impairment loss is not recorded. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, further valuation procedures are performed that could result in impairment of goodwill being recorded. Further valuation procedures would include allocating the estimated fair value to all assets and liabilities of the reporting unit to determine an implied goodwill value. If the implied value of goodwill of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

Management evaluated goodwill as of April 30, 2023, the measurement date, utilizing an income approach that incorporated a discounted cash flow model that involved management assumptions based upon future growth and earnings projections. The estimated fair value of the reporting unit was then compared to the current carrying value to determine if impairment had occurred. It is our opinion that, as of the measurement date, the aggregate fair value of the reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit. Therefore, management concluded that goodwill was not impaired. Although we believe our assumptions are reasonable, actual results may vary significantly and it is impossible to know the future impact of evolving economic conditions. If for any future period it is determined that there has been impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill balances, the Corporation will record a charge to earnings, which could have a material adverse effect on net income, but not risk based capital ratios.

Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

The following table presents, as of June 30, 2023, the Corporation’s significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations by payment date. The payment amounts represent those amounts contractually due to the recipient and do not include any unamortized premiums or discounts. Further discussion of the nature of each obligation is included in the referenced note to the consolidated financial statements.

Note 14-Commitments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk to the Consolidated Financial Statements discusses in greater detail other commitments and contingencies and the various obligations that exist under those agreements. These commitments and contingencies consist primarily of commitments to extend credit to borrowers under lines of credit.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

With the participation of the Corporation’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was performed, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of Consumers Bancorp, Inc. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2023 based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Based on that assessment, we have concluded that, as of June 30, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Corporation’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Corporation’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit the Corporation to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

Changes In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Corporation’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal controls over financial reporting.