Ameriserv Financial Inc: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2024

GENERAL

AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (the Company) is a bank holding company organized under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law. The Company became a holding company upon acquiring all of the outstanding shares of AmeriServ Financial Bank (the Bank) in January 1983. The Company’s other wholly owned subsidiary, the former AmeriServ Trust and Financial Services Company (the Trust Company), was merged with and into the Bank effective October 1, 2024. When used in this report, the “Company” may refer, depending on the context, to AmeriServ Financial, Inc. individually or AmeriServ Financial, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

The Company’s principal activities consist of owning and operating its wholly owned subsidiary entity. At December 31, 2024, the Company had, on a consolidated basis, total assets, deposits, and shareholders’ equity of $1.4 billion, $1.2 billion, and $107.2 million, respectively. The Company and its subsidiary derive substantially all of their income from banking, bank related services, and trust and wealth management related services. The Company functions primarily as a coordinating and servicing unit for its subsidiary entity in general management, accounting and taxes, loan review, internal audit, investment accounting, marketing and risk management.

As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to supervision and regular examination by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (PDB). The Company is also under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for matters relating to registered offerings and sales of its securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the disclosure and regulatory requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company’s common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the trading symbol “ASRV,” and the Company is subject to the NASDAQ rules applicable to listed companies.

AMERISERV FINANCIAL BANK

The Bank is a state bank chartered under the Pennsylvania Banking Code of 1965, as amended (Banking Code). Through 16 branch locations in Allegheny, Cambria, Centre, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties, Pennsylvania and Washington county, Maryland, the Bank conducts a general banking business. It is a full-service bank offering (i) retail banking services, such as demand, savings and time deposits, checking accounts, money market accounts, secured and unsecured consumer loans, mortgage loans, safe deposit boxes, holiday club accounts, and money orders; and (ii) lending, depository and related financial services to commercial, industrial, financial, and governmental customers, such as commercial real estate (CRE) mortgage loans, short and medium-term loans, revolving credit arrangements, lines of credit, inventory and accounts receivable financing, real estate construction loans, business savings accounts, time deposits, wire transfers, night depository, and lock box services. The Bank also operates 17 automated bank teller machines (ATMs) through its 24-hour banking network that are linked with NYCE, a regional ATM network, and CIRRUS, a national ATM network. AmeriServ Wealth Advisors, Inc. (AWA), a SEC-registered investment advisor, is a subsidiary of the Bank. The Company also operates loan production offices (LPOs) in Altoona and Wilkins Township in Pennsylvania.

As stated above, effective October 1, 2024, AmeriServ Trust and Financial Services Company merged with and into the Bank. The former Trust Company now functions as a division of the Bank, named AmeriServ Wealth and Capital Management. The division focuses on wealth management and administers assets valued at approximately $2.6 billion that are not recognized on the Company’s balance sheet at December 31, 2024. Wealth management includes personal trust products and services such as personal investment portfolio management, estate planning and administration, custodial services and pre-need trusts, as well as institutional trust products and services such as 401(k) plans, defined benefit and defined contribution employee benefit plans, and individual retirement accounts. The division also includes financial services, which provide the sale of mutual funds, annuities, and insurance products. AmeriServ Wealth and Capital Management also offers the union collective investment funds, the ERECT funds, which are designed to use union pension dollars in construction projects that utilize union labor.

We believe that the loss of one depositor or a related group of depositors would not have a materially adverse effect on the Bank’s business. The Bank’s business is not seasonal, nor does it have any risks attendant to foreign sources. A significant majority of the Bank’s customer base is located within a 250-mile radius of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the Bank’s headquarters.

The Bank is subject to supervision and regular examination by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and the PDB. Various federal and state laws and regulations govern many aspects of its banking operations. The following is a summary of key data (dollars in thousands) and ratios of the Bank at December 31, 2024:

RISK MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW

Risk identification and management are essential elements for the successful management of the Company. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various types of risk, which includes credit, interest rate and market, liquidity, operational, legal/compliance, strategic/reputational and security risk. The Company seeks to identify, manage and monitor these risks with policies, procedures, and various levels of oversight from the Company’s Board of Directors (the Board) and management. The Company has a Management Enterprise Risk Committee with Board of Director representation to help manage and monitor the Company’s risk position, which is reported formally to the Board, at a minimum, on a semi-annual basis.

Interest rate risk is the sensitivity of net interest income and the market value of financial instruments to the magnitude, direction, and frequency of changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk results from various repricing frequencies and the maturity structure of assets and liabilities. The Company uses its asset/liability management policy to monitor and manage interest rate risk.

Liquidity risk represents the inability to generate cash or otherwise obtain funds at reasonable rates to satisfy commitments to borrowers, as well as the obligations to depositors, debtholders and the funding of operating costs. The Company uses its asset/liability management policy and contingency funding plan to monitor and manage liquidity risk.

Credit risk represents the possibility that a customer may not perform in accordance with contractual terms resulting in an economic loss to the organization. Credit risk results from extending credit to customers, purchasing securities, and entering into certain off-balance sheet loan funding commitments. The Company’s primary credit risk occurs in the loan portfolio with limited credit risk within the investment portfolio due to holdings of corporate and municipal securities. The Company uses its credit policy and disciplined approach to evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses (the ACL) to monitor and manage credit risk. The Company’s investment policy and hedging policy seeks to limit the amount of credit risk that may be assumed in the investment portfolio and through hedging activities.

A significant portion of the Company's loan portfolio consists of commercial real estate loans, including owner occupied properties, non-owner-occupied properties, and other commercial properties. These types of loans are generally viewed as having more risk of default than residential real estate loans and depend on cash flows from the owner’s business or the property’s tenants to service the debt. The borrower’s cash flows may be affected significantly by general economic conditions, a downturn in the local economy or in occupancy rates in the market where the property is located, any of which could increase the likelihood of default. Commercial real estate loans also typically have larger loan balances, and, therefore, the deterioration of one or a few of these loans could cause a significant increase in the percentage of the Company's non-performing loans. An increase in non-performing loans could result in a loss of earnings from these loans, an increase in the provision for credit losses for loans, and an increase in charge-offs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The banking regulatory agencies have recently expressed concerns about weaknesses in the current commercial real estate market. Banking regulators generally give commercial real estate lending greater scrutiny and may require banks with higher levels of commercial real estate loans to implement enhanced risk management practices, including stricter underwriting, internal controls, risk management policies, more granular reporting, and portfolio stress testing, as well as possibly higher levels of allowances for credit losses and capital levels as a result of commercial real estate lending growth and exposures. If the Company's banking regulators determine that our commercial real estate lending activities are particularly risky and are subject to such heightened scrutiny, the Company may incur significant additional costs or be required to restrict certain of our commercial real estate lending activities. Furthermore, failures in the Company's risk management policies, procedures and controls could adversely affect our ability to manage this portfolio going forward and could result in an increased rate of delinquencies in, and increased losses from, this portfolio, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The following summarizes and describes the Company’s various loan categories, and the underwriting standards applied to each:

Commercial Loans

This category includes credit extensions to commercial and industrial borrowers. Business assets, including accounts receivable, inventory and/or equipment, typically secure these credits. The commercial loan segment includes commercial loans secured by owner occupied real estate. In appropriate instances, extensions of credit in this category are subject to collateral advance formulas. Balance sheet strength and profitability are considered when analyzing these credits, with special attention given to historical, current and prospective sources of cash flow, and the ability of the customer to sustain cash flow at acceptable levels. The Bank’s policy permits flexibility in determining acceptable debt service coverage ratios. Personal guarantees are frequently required; however, as the financial strength of the borrower increases, the Bank’s ability to obtain personal guarantees decreases. In addition to economic risk, this category is impacted by the strength of the borrower’s management, industry risk and portfolio concentration risk each of which are also monitored and considered during the underwriting process.

Commercial Loans Secured by Non-Owner Occupied Real Estate

This category includes various types of loans, including acquisition and construction of investment property. Maximum term, minimum cash flow coverage, leasing requirements, maximum amortization and maximum loan to value ratios are controlled by the Bank’s credit policy and follow industry guidelines and norms, and regulatory limitations. Personal guarantees are frequently required on CRE loans, especially if there is a speculative component to the credit. In addition to economic risk, this category is subject to geographic and portfolio concentration risk, each of which are monitored and considered in underwriting.

The Company utilizes a robust and diligent risk management framework to monitor the non-owner occupied commercial real estate segment of the portfolio. This analysis considers more forward-looking credit metrics such as stress test results and underwriting trend data, coupled with risk tolerance and concentration guidelines. The process is intended to allow identification of emerging risk, in part, to determine any future change to lending policy, underwriting practices or broader lending strategy prior to any indication of performance deterioration.

The commercial real estate loan segment includes the non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan classes of retail, multi-family, and other. At December 31, 2024, the Bank’s non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan concentration stood at 379% of total regulatory capital. It should be noted that this ratio increased from 375% at December 31, 2023, due to growth in non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan balances which more than offset the increase in total regulatory capital between years. Further, non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans represented 51.3% and 49.3% of total loans as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The following table presents our non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan portfolio by property type.

(IN THOUSANDS)

Residential Mortgages

This category includes mortgages that are secured by residential property. Underwriting of loans within this category is pursuant to Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae underwriting guidelines, with the exception of Community Loan Program loans, which have specialized internal loan program standards. The major risk in this category is that a significant downward economic trend would increase unemployment and cause payment default. The Bank does not engage, and has never engaged, in subprime residential mortgage lending.

Secondary Market Activities

The residential lending department of the Bank originates one-to-four family mortgage loans for customers, some of which are sold to outside investors in the secondary market and some of which are retained for the Bank’s portfolio. Mortgages sold in the secondary market are sold to investors on a “flow” basis; mortgages are priced and delivered on a “best efforts” pricing basis, with servicing released to the investor. As previously stated above, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac guidelines are used in underwriting all mortgages with the exception of a limited amount of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) loans and internal special programs. Mortgages with longer terms, such as 30-year, FHA, and VA loans, are usually sold. The remaining production of the department includes construction, adjustable-rate mortgages, and quality non-salable loans. These loans are usually kept in the Bank’s portfolio.

Consumer Loans

This category includes consumer installment loans and revolving credit plans. A meaningful portion of this portfolio consists of home equity loans secured by residential real estate. Underwriting is pursuant to industry norms and guidelines. The major risk in this category is a significant economic downturn.

INVESTMENTS

The strategic focus of the investment securities portfolio is managed for liquidity and earnings in a prudent manner that is consistent with proper bank asset/liability management and current banking practices. The objectives of portfolio management include consideration of proper liquidity levels, interest rate and market valuation sensitivity, and profitability. The investment portfolio of the Company and its subsidiary are proactively managed, including in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). All holdings must meet standards documented in its investment policy, unless otherwise approved by the Company’s CEO or the Asset/Liability Management Committee.

The investment portfolio is primarily made up of AAA rated agency mortgage-backed securities, high quality corporate securities, taxable municipal securities, and agency securities. Management strives to maintain a portfolio duration that is less than 60 months.

Investment securities classified as held to maturity are carried at amortized cost while investment securities classified as available for sale are reported at fair market value with unrealized aggregate appreciation/depreciation excluded from income and credited/charged to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders’ equity on a net of tax basis. The Company measures current expected credit losses on debt securities in accordance with ASC 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. See Note 1 within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the Company’s calculation of the allowance for credit losses on both the held to maturity and available for sale investment securities portfolios.

The following table sets forth the weighted average yield for each type of investment security and range of maturity as of December 31, 2024. Yields are not presented on a tax-equivalent basis but are based upon the cost basis and are weighted for the scheduled maturity.

Investment securities available for sale:

Investment securities held to maturity:

DEPOSITS

The Bank believes it has a stable core deposit base made up of traditional commercial bank products that exhibit modest fluctuation during the year, other than jumbo certificates of deposit and certain municipal deposits, which demonstrate some seasonality. The Company also utilizes certain AmeriServ Wealth and Capital Management specialty deposits related to the ERECT funds as a funding source, which serve as an alternative to wholesale borrowings and can exhibit some limited degree of volatility. The Company does not use brokered deposits as a funding source.

The following table sets forth the average balance of the Company’s deposits and average rates paid thereon for the past two calendar years:

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PERCENTAGES)

(1) Time deposits include certificates of deposit (CDs) and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the United States government that protects bank depositors against loss. The Bank is an FDIC-insured institution; therefore, deposits are insured up to the standard insurance amount of $250,000 per depositor. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the estimated amount of uninsured deposits was $435.7 million and $384.5 million, respectively. The estimate of uninsured deposits was done at a single account level and does not take into account total customer balances in the Bank. It should be noted that approximately 50% of these uninsured deposits relate to public funds from municipalities, government entities, and school districts which by law are required to be collateralized with investment securities or FHLB letters of credit to protect these depositor funds.

The maturities on CDs with balances that exceed the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 as of December 31, 2024, are as follows:

(IN THOUSANDS)

MONETARY POLICIES

Commercial banks are affected by the policies of various regulatory authorities including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve). An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the national supply of bank credit. Among the instruments of monetary policy used by the Federal Reserve are open market operations in U.S. Government securities, changes in the federal funds rate and discount rate on member bank borrowings, and changes in reserve requirements on bank deposits. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits, and may also affect interest rate charges on loans or interest paid for deposits. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future.

COMPETITION

The Company faces strong competition from other commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, and other financial or investment service institutions for business in the communities it serves. Several of these institutions are affiliated with major banking and financial institutions which are substantially larger and have greater financial resources than the Company. As the financial services industry continues to consolidate, the scope of potential competition affecting the Company will also increase. Brokerage houses, consumer finance companies, insurance companies, financial technology firms, and pension trusts are important competitors for various types of financial services. Personal and corporate trust investment counseling services are offered by insurance companies, other firms, and individuals. In addition, some of these competitors, such as credit unions, are subject to a lesser degree of regulation or taxation than that imposed on the Company.

MARKET AREA & ECONOMY

Both growth and inflation exceeded expectations in 2024. Gross domestic product growth slowed to 1.6% in the first quarter of 2024, but inflation spiked, sidelining the Federal Reserve until the end of the third quarter of 2024. Growth accelerated to 3.0% in the second quarter and 3.1% in the third quarter, but inflation receded. There was an unprecedented unemployment rise through 2024 due to slower hiring and steady, solid labor force growth. In fact, 2024 was the first time the unemployment rate ever rose more than 0.5% without significant layoffs. The unemployment rate was 4.1% in December. The rise in the unemployment rate during 2024 caused the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates despite economic strength. Market expectations for Fed easing went on a rollercoaster in 2024. Sticky inflation early in the year pulled expectations back, before labor market weakness in the summer reignited calls for quick cuts. The Fed initiated easing with a 50-basis point September cut, followed by 25-basis point cuts at both fourth quarter Federal Open Market Committee meetings. In the waning weeks of 2024, noting stalled inflation, the Fed signaled slower easing in 2025. The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized 2.3% in the fourth quarter of 2024, the slowest growth in three quarters. The 2024 annual growth was 2.5%. The resilience of American consumers was the driving force behind the solid economic growth. Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election and carried enough House and Senate seats to secure a Republican sweep of both the executive and legislative branches. Weighing President Trump’s plans, traders anticipate inflation and stronger growth, which could lead to higher yields and higher stocks. In 2024, the S&P 500 rose 23.3% and the U.S. Treasury 10-year yield rose 70-basis points to 4.58%. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation receded late in 2024, but not the core Consumer Price Index (CPI). Core PCE inflation was 2.8%, while core CPI inflation was 3.3%.

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where the Company is headquartered, continues to have a cost of living that is lower than the national average. Johnstown is home to The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and Conemaugh Health System. The high-tech defense industry is the main non-health care staple of the Johnstown economy, with the region fulfilling many federal government contracts, punctuated by one of the premier defense trade shows in the U.S., the annual Showcase for Commerce. The city also hosts annual events such as the Flood City Music Festival that attracts several thousand visitors. The Johnstown, PA MSA unemployment rate decreased from a 4.4% average in 2023 to a 4.1% average in 2024. The Johnstown, PA MSA continues to have one of the higher jobless rates among the 18 metropolitan statistical areas across the state. A declining population trend creates a growth challenge moving forward.

Economic conditions are stronger in the State College market and mirror economic conditions experienced in the national economy. The community is a college town, dominated economically and demographically by the presence of the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University. “Happy Valley” is another often-used term to refer to the State College area, including the borough and the townships of College, Harris, Patton, and Ferguson. The unemployment rate for the State College MSA decreased from a 2.9% average in 2023 to a 2.7% average in 2024 and remains one of the lowest of all regions in the Commonwealth. A large percentage of the population in State College falls into the 18- to 34-year-old age group, while potential customers in the Cambria/Somerset markets tend to be over 50 years of age.

Hagerstown in Washington County, Maryland offers a rare combination of business advantages providing a major crossroads location that is convenient to the entire East Coast at the intersection of I-81 and I-70. It has a workforce of over 400,000 with strengths in manufacturing and technology. It also offers an affordable cost of doing business and living, all within an hour of the Washington, D.C./Baltimore regions. There are also plenty of facilities and land slated for industrial/commercial development. Hagerstown has become a choice location for manufacturers, financial services, and distribution companies. The Hagerstown, MD-Martinsburg, WV MSA unemployment rate increased from a 2.8% average in 2023 to a 3.3% average in 2024.

The Company also has loan production offices in Wilkins Township in Allegheny County and Altoona in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Wilkins Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania is located 15 miles east of the city of Pittsburgh. While the city is historically known for its steel industry, today its economy is largely based on healthcare, education, technology and financial services. The city of Pittsburgh is home to many colleges, universities and research facilities, the most well-known of which are Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is rich in art and culture. Pittsburgh museums and cultural sites include the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Frick Art & Historical Center, and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts among numerous others. Pittsburgh is also the home of the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins. The unemployment rate for the Pittsburgh MSA decreased from a 3.7% average in 2023 to a 3.5% average in 2024.

Altoona is the business center of Blair County, Pennsylvania with a strong retail, government and manufacturing base. The top field of employment in Altoona and the metro area is healthcare. Its location along I-99 draws from a large trade area over a wide geographic area that extends to State College and Johnstown. It serves as the headquarters for Sheetz Corporation, which ranks on Forbes’ list of the top privately owned companies. In addition to being located adjacent to I-99 and a major highway system, Altoona also has easy access to rail and air transportation. The average unemployment rate in the Altoona MSA decreased from 3.5% in 2023 to 3.3% in 2024.

HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s long-term growth and success also depends on its ability to attract, develop and retain a high-performing workforce that represent the communities in which we operate. The Company strives to provide a work environment that promotes collaboration, productivity, and employee engagement, which in turn drives both employee and customer success, as well as benefits the communities in which the Company does business.

The Company’s executive team and the Compensation/Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors oversee the strategic management of the Company’s human capital resources, and the Company’s Human Resources Department manages the day-to-day of those resources.

Employee profile

The Company employed 313 people as of December 31, 2024, in full- and part-time positions. Approximately 149 non-supervisory employees of the Company are represented by the United Steelworkers AFL-CIO-CLC, Local Union 2635-06. The Company is under a four-year labor contract with the United Steelworkers Local, which expires on October 15, 2025. The contract calls for annual wage increases of 2% during the life of the contract. The Company has not experienced a work stoppage since 1979. Unionization in financial institutions remains exceptionally low with less than 0.25% of banks nationwide being covered by a collective bargaining agreement. This unique unionization situation creates both challenges and opportunities for the Company. The key goals of organized labor are to provide their members with strong wages and benefits, stable jobs, and safe and respectable workplaces. As a result of these key union goals, the Company’s salaries and benefit costs are higher than its non-union peers as we offer good wages and strong benefits which include affordable health care and strong retirement benefits with a portion of current union employees participating in a defined benefit pension plan. The Company has consistently viewed its positive union relationships as a potential source of additional revenue. Examples of success in these efforts include the previously mentioned ERECT Fund where the wealth and capital management division is trustee for this $253 million fund whose purpose is to invest in commercial construction projects with the requirement that they utilize union labor. The Bank has also been a preferred mortgage and consumer loan provider for the Pennsylvania State Education Association for 11 years which provides us with the opportunity to expand our lending in these products throughout Pennsylvania. Since the inception of the partnership, the Bank has funded over $330 million in mortgage and consumer loans to unionized teachers and their family members.

Competitive Compensation

As part of the Company’s compensation philosophy, market competitive programs are maintained for employees to attract and retain top talent. In addition to competitive base wages, additional programs include health and welfare benefits, a 401(k) Plan, flexible spending accounts, paid time off, family leave, and employee assistance programs. Some employees participate in a defined benefit pension plan. In addition, the Company promotes health and wellness by encouraging work-life balance and, where appropriate, offering flexible work schedules. The Company has also adopted a hybrid remote work policy for certain positions.

Talent and Promoting Members from Underrepresented Communities

A core tenet of the Company’s talent philosophy is to both develop talent from within and supplement with external hires. Whenever possible, the Company seeks to fill positions by promotion and transfer from within the organization. The Company’s talent acquisition team uses internal and external resources to recruit highly skilled and talented candidates; employee referrals are also encouraged.

The Company is dedicated to recruitment and career development practices that support its employees at all levels of the Company. The Company is committed to having a workforce that reflects the communities in which it serves. The Company strives to promote inclusion through defined Company values and behaviors. The Company is focused on sourcing and hiring with fair and equitable approaches, creating an environment where all employees can develop and thrive.

INDUSTRY REGULATION

The financial services industry, and the operation of bank holding companies, is highly regulated by federal and state law, and by numerous regulations adopted by the federal and state banking agencies. Bank regulation affects all aspects of conducting business as a bank, including such major items as minimum capital requirements, limits on types and amounts of investments, loans and other assets, as well as borrowings and other liabilities, and numerous restrictions or requirements on the loan terms and other products made available to customers, particularly consumers. Federal deposit insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is required for all banks in the United States, and maintaining FDIC insurance requires observation of the various rules of the FDIC, as well as payment of deposit insurance premiums. New branches, or acquisitions or mergers, are required to be pre-approved by the responsible agency, which in the case of the Company is the Federal Reserve and the PDB. The Bank provides detailed financial information to its regulators, including a quarterly call report that is filed pursuant to detailed prescribed instructions to ensure that all U.S. banks report the same way. The U.S. banking laws and regulations are frequently updated and amended, especially in response to crises in the financial industry, such as the global financial crisis of 2008, which resulted in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act enacted in 2010 (the Dodd-Frank Act), a statute affecting many facets of the financial industry. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act was enacted into law in 2018 and was designed to ease certain restrictions imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act.

While it is impractical to discuss all laws and regulations that regularly affect the business of the Company, set forth below is an overview of some of the major provisions and statutes that apply.

CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS

One of the most significant regulatory requirements for banking institutions is minimum capital, imposed as a ratio of capital to assets. The Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (FDIA), identifies five capital categories for insured depository institutions: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized. It requires U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies to implement systems for prompt corrective action for insured depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements based on these categories. Both federal and state banking regulation impose progressively more restrictive constraints on operations, management and capital distributions, depending on the category in which an institution is classified. Unless a bank is well capitalized, it is subject to restrictions on its ability to utilize brokered deposits and on other aspects of its operations. Generally, a bank is prohibited from paying any dividend or making any capital distribution or paying any management fee to its holding company if the bank would thereafter be undercapitalized.

DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

The primary source of cash to pay dividends, if any, to the Company’s shareholders and to meet the Company’s obligations is dividends paid to the Company by the Bank. Dividend payments by the Bank to the Company are subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Banking Code, the FDIA and the regulation of the PDB and the Federal Reserve. Under the Banking Act and the FDIA, a bank may not pay any dividends if, after paying such dividends, it would be undercapitalized under applicable capital requirements. In addition to these explicit limitations, the federal regulatory agencies are authorized to prohibit a banking subsidiary or bank holding company from engaging in unsafe or unsound banking practices. Depending upon the circumstances, the agencies could take the position that paying a dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice.

It is the policy of the Federal Reserve that bank holding companies should generally pay cash dividends on common stock only out of income available from the immediately preceding year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. The policy provides that bank holding companies should not maintain a level of cash dividend that undermines the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength to its banking subsidiary. A bank holding company may not pay dividends when it is insolvent.

For more information regarding quarterly cash dividends, see Part II, Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities below.

PRIVACY PROVISIONS

Federal banking regulators adopted rules that limit the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose non-public information about customers to non-affiliated third parties. These limitations require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to non-affiliated third parties. The privacy provisions affect how consumer information is transmitted through diversified financial companies and conveyed to outside vendors. The Company believes it is in compliance with the various provisions.

USA PATRIOT ACT

A major focus of governmental policy on financial institutions has been aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The USA Patriot Act substantially broadened the scope of United States anti-money laundering laws and regulations by imposing significant new compliance and due diligence obligations, creating new crimes and penalties and expanding the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The United States Treasury Department has issued and, in some cases, proposed a number of regulations that apply various requirements of the USA Patriot Act to financial institutions. These regulations impose obligations on financial institutions to maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing and to verify the identity of their customers. Failure to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the Company.

Community Reinvestment Act

All FDIC-insured institutions have a responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and related regulations to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. In connection with its examination of a state-chartered bank, the federal bank regulators are required to assess an institution’s record of compliance with the CRA. On October 24, 2023, the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a final rule to strengthen and modernize the CRA regulations. Under the final rule, the asset size thresholds were updated to account for changes in the banking industry as follows: (a) “small banks” with assets less than $600 million (from less than $376 million), (b) “intermediate banks” with assets between $600 million and $2 billion (from between $376 million and $1.503 billion), and (c) “large banks” with assets greater than or equal to $2 billion (from $1.503 billion), each as adjusted for inflation subsequently. The assets as of December 31st in both of the prior two calendar years will be used to determine the appropriate size threshold. The agencies will evaluate large banks under four performance tests: the Retail Lending Test, the Retail Services and Products Test, the Community Development Financing Test, and the Community Development Services Test. For intermediate banks, the two performance tests will be: Retail Lending Test and the existing CD test, which is the default, but banks can opt-in to the CD Financing Test. The rule also exempts small and intermediate banks from new data collection requirements that apply to banks with assets of at least $2 billion and limits certain data collection and reporting requirements to large banks with assets greater than $10 billion. The applicability date for the majority of the provisions in the CRA regulations is January 1, 2026, and additional requirements will be applicable on January 1, 2027.

FDIC Insurance of Certain Accounts and Regulation by the FDIC

The Bank is an FDIC insured financial institution whereby the FDIC provides deposit insurance for a certain maximum dollar amount per customer. The Bank, as is true for all FDIC insured banks, is subject to deposit insurance assessments as determined by the FDIC.

Under the FDIC’s risk-based deposit premium assessment system, the assessment rates for an insured depository institution (IDI) are determined by an assessment rate calculator, which is based on a number of elements that measure the risk each institution poses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF). As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, the calculated assessment rate is applied to average consolidated assets less the average tangible equity of the IDI during the assessment period to determine the dollar amount of the quarterly assessment. Under the current system, premiums are assessed quarterly and could increase if, for example, criticized loans and leases and/or other higher risk assets increase, or balance sheet liquidity decreases. In addition, the FDIC can impose special assessments in certain instances. Deposit insurance assessments fund the DIF.

On November 16, 2023, the FDIC adopted a final rule on special assessment to recover the losses to the DIF from the protection of uninsured depositors following the closures of Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, CA, and Signature Bank, New York, NY during March 2023. The assessment base for the special assessment is equal to an IDI’s estimated uninsured deposits, reported for the quarter that ended December 31, 2022, adjusted to exclude the first $5 billion in estimated uninsured deposits from the IDI, or for IDIs that are part of a holding company with one or more subsidiary IDIs, at the banking organization level. The FDIC will collect the special assessment at an annual rate of approximately 13.4 basis points, over eight quarterly assessment periods. The FDIC retained the ability to cease collection early, extend the special assessment collection period, and impose a final shortfall special assessment to collect the difference between actual losses and the amounts collected after the receiverships for Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank terminate. The final rule was effective April 1, 2024, with the first collection for the special assessment reflected on the invoice for the first quarterly assessment period of 2024 with a payment date of June 28, 2024. The special assessment applies only to banking organizations with $5 billion or more in total consolidated assets. As such, it does not apply to the Company.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These filings are available to the public on the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Our internet address is http://www.ameriserv.com. We make available, free of charge on http://www.ameriserv.com, our annual, quarterly and current reports, and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practical after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

The Company maintains comprehensive and continually evolving processes for assessing, identifying, and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats, including any potential unauthorized occurrence on, or conducted through, the Company’s information systems that may result in adverse effects on the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of such systems or any information residing on such systems. The processes relating to cybersecurity threats are integrated into the Company’s overall risk management processes, which are overseen by the Board of Directors.

Risk Management and Strategy

The Company’s Enterprise Risk Management Policy assists the Board of Directors and management in clarifying their tolerance for identifying those credit, market, liquidity, operational, legal, compliance, strategic, reputation and security (information and physical) risks that have the potential to cause material financial harm to the institution, as well as describing a methodology for determining the proper level of controls to manage and mitigate those risks. Cybersecurity is a critical component of risk management, given the increasing reliance on technology and the increasing cybersecurity threat landscape. The Information Security Program is built on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) IT Handbooks, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Cybersecurity Controls (CSC), and industry best practice. The Information Security Program utilizes a defense in depth strategy that leverages multiple security measures to protect Company assets and information.

The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing management’s development and execution of the Company’s risk management process. Risk management is administered by a senior management team called the Management Enterprise Risk Committee (MERC). Periodic risk assessments are performed to identify technical and physical risks to information systems. These risk assessments identify internal and external threats that could cause a cybersecurity incident, assessing the likelihood of potential impact of those threats, and assessing the measures and controls in place to manage the risks. As per FFIEC guidance, a Change Management Policy and Committee are in place to manage changes to technology and systems. Information Security is a member of this Committee to evaluate changes for information security impact.

The Company leverages internal and external auditors to periodically review information technology and information security policy, processes, and controls to ensure they meet regulatory compliance and operate effectively. Independent penetration testing is performed annually.

The Company maintains an Incident Response Plan and a Crisis Communication Plan that provide documented guidelines for handling potential threats and taking appropriate measures including timely notification of cybersecurity threats and incidents to senior management and the Board of Directors when appropriate. The Incident Response Plan is managed by the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and is reviewed and tested at least annually. The Crisis Communication Plan, managed by the Director of Marketing and Alternative Delivery, is reviewed and tested at least annually.

The Company uses third-party vendors to assist in monitoring, detecting, and managing cyber threats, including managed security service monitoring, penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. The Management Enterprise Risk Committee has established risk management guidelines for third-party vendors. Through the Vendor Management Committee, the Company conducts due diligence reviews of third-party vendors before contracts or agreements for provision of services are signed and conducts ongoing due diligence and oversight procedures with the frequency of the procedures determined based on a risk assessment of the services provided. Generally, the Company’s agreements with service providers include requirements related to cybersecurity and data privacy. All such agreements are reviewed periodically. The Company cannot guarantee, however, that such agreements, due diligence, and oversight procedures will prevent a cybersecurity incident from impacting information systems. Moreover, as a result of applicable laws and regulations or applicable contractual provisions, the Company may be held responsible for cybersecurity incidents attributed to its service providers in relation to any data that the Company shares with such providers.

Notwithstanding our efforts at cybersecurity, no system of prevention is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee that we will be successful in preventing or mitigating a cybersecurity incident that could have a material adverse effect on us. To date, the Company has not detected any material cybersecurity incident to our own systems. Future cybersecurity incidents could, however, materially affect our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition.

Governance

The Company’s information technology resources are managed by the Information Technology Department, which is responsible for the first line of defense – identifying, assessing, and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats. The Information Technology Department is managed by the Chief Information Officer (CIO), who reports to the Company’s President and CEO. The present CIO has been employed by the Company in the information technology area for three years and was previously the CISO at the Company for two years. The present CIO has over 36 years of IT experience, 13 of that in banking. The CIO holds a current Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation.

The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) whose responsibilities constitute the second line of defense provides the vision, leadership, and strategies necessary to protect the information security of the Company. The CISO manages policy, procedure, and process to ensure the execution of the Company’s Information Security and Business Continuity/ Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) Programs. The CISO reports directly to the Chief Risk Officer to provide segregation between the first and second line of defense. The Information Security Department, among other duties, supervises internal employee training relating to cybersecurity risks, conducts access reviews relating to the Company’s information systems, and monitors implemented security measures. The CISO has over 30 years of IT and IT security experience in various organizations with 14 years in the banking industry.

The Company has established a Management Technology Committee and a Board Technology Committee. These Committees provide oversight and governance of information technology and the Information Security Program and meet quarterly. The Board Technology Committee’s responsibilities include: (1) monitoring the strategic deployment and usage of Information Technology throughout the Company using reports and presentations from management;

(2) oversight of cybersecurity preparedness through information security reports, discussion of internal events and discussion of cybersecurity topics pertinent to the Company and the industry; (3) oversight of activities in support of the Company’s business continuity/disaster recovery program to ensure optimal corporate resiliency in the unlikely event of a disaster; and (4) providing broad strategic guidance on the technology direction of the Company by, among other things, overseeing the development of the AmeriServ Strategic Technology Plan.

The principal offices of the Company occupy the five-story AmeriServ Financial building at the corner of Main and Franklin Streets in Johnstown plus eleven floors of the building adjacent thereto. The Company occupies the main office, and its subsidiary entity has 13 locations which are owned. Seven additional locations are leased with terms expiring from April 30, 2025 to December 31, 2033.

The Company is subject to various types of lawsuits and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, after review and consultation with counsel, there are no material legal proceedings currently pending to which the Company or its subsidiary is a party or of which any of their property is the subject.

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company including the related notes thereto, included elsewhere herein.

SELECTED FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023

PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW. The following table summarizes some of the Company’s key profitability performance indicators.

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT

The Company reported net income of $3,601,000, or $0.21 per diluted common share, for 2024. This compares to a net loss of $3,346,000, or $0.20 per diluted common share, for 2023. The year concluded with positive momentum driven by the Company’s strongest quarterly loan and deposit growth during the fourth quarter of 2024. Total loans grew by $30 million, or 2.9%, and deposits increased by $43 million, or 3.7%, for 2024. The earnings improvement between years was driven by the favorable comparison in the provision for credit losses, improved total revenue, and lower non-interest expense. Specifically, the lower provision for credit losses for 2024 reflects provision recoveries recognized in both the loan and securities portfolios during the first and third quarters while the 2023 provision was significantly higher due to the negative impact that the Rite Aid bankruptcy had on several commercial real estate properties. The Company saw solid growth in net interest income as its fourth quarter net interest margin increased by 17-basis points on a sequential basis. The community banking business continued to benefit from diversified revenue streams, with strong revenue and profit contribution from the wealth management division which caused total non-interest income to represent 33% of total revenue for 2024. Finally, because of the changing interest rate environment and effective capital management, the Company’s book value and tangible book value per share increased by 8.9% to $6.49 and 9.7% to $5.66(1), respectively, during the 2024 year.

The Company reported a net loss of $3.3 million, or $0.20 per diluted common share, in 2023. This compared to net income of $7.4 million, or $0.43 per diluted common share in 2022. The net loss was caused primarily by an increased provision for credit losses related to certain commercial real estate loans as well as management’s decision to execute an investment portfolio repositioning strategy. Additionally, total non-interest expense was higher for 2023, due to additional legal and professional services costs caused by litigation and responses to the actions of an activist investor. Overall, the Company’s 2023 net loss reflects the significantly higher provision for credit losses, decreased levels of both net interest income and non-interest income, and increased total non-interest expense.

(1) Non-GAAP financial information, see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” later in this MD&A.

NET INTEREST INCOME AND MARGIN. The Company’s net interest income represents the amount by which interest income on earning assets exceeds interest paid on interest bearing liabilities. Net interest income is a primary source of the Company’s earnings, and it is affected by interest rate fluctuations as well as changes in the amount and mix of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities. The following table compares the Company’s net interest income performance for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)

N/M – Not meaningful

The Company’s net interest income for the full year of 2024 increased by $28,000, or 0.1%, when compared to the full year of 2023. The Company’s net interest margin was 2.81% for the full year of 2024 representing a five-basis point decline from the full year of 2023. The decrease reflects net interest margin compression which existed for most of 2024 due to inversion in the U.S. Treasury yield curve. However, after demonstrating relative stability through the first three quarters of 2024, the net interest margin percentage improved meaningfully since the third quarter of 2024 by 17-basis points. With the Federal Reserve’s action to ease monetary policy beginning in September 2024 and continuing through the end of the year, the net interest margin improved as the U.S. Treasury yield curve became less inverted in the short end and began to exhibit a more normal shape in the mid to longer portion of the curve. Due to the favorable change in national interest rates, the Company believes that its balance sheet is well positioned for further quarterly net interest income growth and net interest margin improvement in 2025.

Overall, in 2024, the average balance of total interest earning assets was higher than the full year of 2023 average, totaling $1.3 billion. Specifically, total loans averaged $1.038 billion in 2024 which was $40.5 million, or 4.1%, higher than the 2023 full year average. Short-term investments and bank deposits averaged $3.9 million in 2024 which was relatively unchanged from the 2023 full year average. Total investment securities averaged $253.5 million in 2024 which was $8.7 million, or 3.3%, lower than the 2023 full year average. The increase in the average balance of total interest earning assets along with an improvement in the yield on earning assets, which increased from 4.84% to 5.18%, resulted in total interest income increasing by $5.6 million, or 9.3%, between years.

Total deposits, including non-interest bearing demand deposits, averaged $1.169 billion for the full year of 2024, which was $15.0 million, or 1.3%, higher than the $1.154 billion average for the full year of 2023. The 2024 full year average of short-term and FHLB borrowed funds was $79.6 million, which represented an increase of $21.6 million, or 37.3%. Overall, the cost of total interest bearing liabilities increased from 2.36% to 2.77% which resulted in total interest expense increasing by $5.6 million, or 22.6%, between years.

COMPONENT CHANGES IN NET INTEREST INCOME: 2024 VERSUS 2023. Regarding the separate components of net interest income, the Company’s total interest income in 2024 increased by $5.6 million, or 9.3%, when compared to 2023. Overall, the 2024 full year average balance of total interest earning assets increased over last year’s full year average by $31.8 million, or 2.5%, as there was an increased level of average total loans which was partially offset by decreased levels of short-term investments and bank deposits and total investment securities. In addition, interest income was favorably impacted by an increase in the earning asset yield which improved by 34-basis points from 4.84% to 5.18%. Most categories within the earning asset base, particularly loans and investment securities, demonstrated an interest income increase between years. The average total loan portfolio yield increased by 29-basis points from 5.18% to 5.47% in 2024 while the average yield on total investment securities increased by 32-basis points from 3.43% to 3.75%.

Total average loans for the full year of 2024 were higher than the 2023 average by $40.5 million, or 4.1%. In 2024, new loan originations exceeded payoff activity, resulting in total loans, on an end of period basis, demonstrating growth of $30.0 million, or 2.9%, since December 31, 2023. Loan originations were strongest in the fourth quarter of 2024 and more than doubled payoff activity. Overall, total loans averaged $1.038 billion for 2024. Total loan interest income improved between years due to the higher national interest rate environment during 2024, the increased level of average total loans outstanding, and also, a portion of CRE loans, that were booked at the onset of the COVID pandemic when interest rates were low, repriced upward during the fourth quarter of 2024. These favorable items resulted in total loan interest income improving by $5.1 million, or 9.9%, for the full year of 2024 when compared to last year.

Total investment securities averaged $253.5 million for the full year of 2024, which was $8.7 million, or 3.3%, lower than the $262.2 million average for the full year of 2023. The decrease reflects management’s strategy to allocate more cash flow from the securities portfolio to higher yielding loans while the Company controlled the amount of high cost overnight borrowed funds. Thus, new investment security purchases were primarily used to replace cash flow from maturing securities to maintain appropriate balances for pledging purposes related to public fund deposits. The improved yields for new securities purchases, along with management’s execution of an investment portfolio repositioning strategy in late December 2023, caused interest income from investments to increase by $515,000, or 5.7%, for the full year of 2024 compared to the full year of 2023. Finally, the full year of 2024 total average balance of short-term investments and bank deposits remained relatively consistent with last year totaling $3.9 million, as the Company re-deployed its excess liquidity into higher yield loans.

On the liability side of the balance sheet, the full year of 2024 total average deposits were $15.0 million, or 1.3%, higher when compared to 2023. The increase reflects the Company’s successful business development efforts, which more than offset a portion of the funds leaving the balance sheet from normal deposit run-off caused by greater pricing competition in the market to retain deposits because of the interest rate environment. The Company’s core deposit base continued to demonstrate the strength and stability that it has for many years. Total deposits grew during 2024 by $42.6 million, or 3.7%, on an end of period basis since December 31, 2023, demonstrating customer loyalty and confidence in the Bank. The Company does not utilize brokered deposits as a funding source. In addition to its loyal core deposit base, the Company has several other sources of liquidity, including a significant unused borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), overnight lines of credit at correspondent banks and access to the Federal Reserve Discount Window. The loan to deposit ratio averaged 89.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024, which indicates that the Company has ample capacity to continue to grow its loan portfolio and is well positioned to support its customers and community during times of economic volatility.

Total interest expense increased by $5.6 million, or 22.6%, for the full year of 2024 when compared to last year. Deposit interest expense was higher by $4.4 million, or 21.1%, for the full year as the average volume of total interest-bearing deposits grew by $27.9 million, or 2.9%, for the year. The year-over-year increase in total interest expense was primarily due to the impact of the rising national interest rates experienced during 2023, which resulted in certain deposit products, particularly public funds, which are tied to a market index, repricing upward. Additionally, increased market competition resulted in the Company raising rates on certain shorter-term certificates of deposit to retain funds. Also, there was an unfavorable deposit mix shift as the 2024 average of non-interest-bearing demand deposits declined by $12.9 million, or 6.7%, for the full year while, as mentioned above, total interest-bearing deposits increased. The pace of deposit cost increases slowed during the first three quarters of 2024 and then decreased during the fourth quarter as the Federal Reserve eased monetary policy during the final four months of 2024 by reducing short term interest rates by 100-basis points. This slowdown and reduction in deposit costs contributed to the stabilization and recent improvement in the net interest margin. The Company believes that deposit costs will decline further as the Federal Reserve continues their expected-tempered approach to reduce interest rates. Overall, for the full year of 2024, total interest bearing deposit costs were 2.57%, which was 39-basis points higher than total interest bearing deposit costs of 2.18% for the full year of 2023.

Total borrowings interest expense increased by $1.2 million, or 30.9%, for the full year of 2024 when compared to 2023. The increase primarily resulted from the impact that the higher national interest rates had on total borrowings cost through the first nine months of 2024. The Company’s utilization of overnight borrowed funds in 2024 was lower than the 2023 level while the level of advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank increased. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank averaged $51.6 million for the full year of 2024, which was $29.4 million, or 132.7%, higher than the $22.2 million average for the full year of 2023. The Company’s strategy to increase term advances to lock in lower rates than overnight borrowings due to the inversion in the short end of the yield curve has favorably impacted net interest income.

The table that follows provides an analysis of net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis (non-GAAP) setting forth (i) average assets, liabilities, and shareholders’ equity, (ii) interest income earned on interest earning assets and interest expense paid on interest bearing liabilities, (iii) average yields earned on interest earning assets and average rates paid on interest bearing liabilities, (iv) interest rate spread (the difference between the average yield earned on interest earning assets and the average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities), and (v) net interest margin (net interest income as a percentage of average total interest earning assets). For purposes of this table, loan balances include non-accrual loans, and interest income on loans includes loan fees or amortization of such fees which have been deferred. Regulatory stock is included within available for sale investment securities for this analysis. Additionally, a tax rate of 21% was used to compute tax-equivalent interest income and yields (non-GAAP). The tax equivalent adjustments to interest income on loans for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $26,000 and $15,000, respectively, which is reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measure at the bottom of the table. Differences between the net interest spread and margin from a GAAP basis to a tax-equivalent basis were not material.

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PERCENTAGES)

Net interest income may also be analyzed by segregating the volume and rate components of interest income and interest expense. The table below sets forth an analysis of volume and rate changes in net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis. For purposes of this table, changes in interest income and interest expense are allocated to volume and rate categories based upon the respective percentage changes in average balances and average rates. Changes in net interest income that could not be specifically identified as either a rate or volume change were allocated proportionately to changes in volume and changes in rate.

(IN THOUSANDS)

LOAN QUALITY. The Company’s written lending policies require underwriting, loan documentation, and credit analysis standards to be met prior to funding any loan. After the loan has been approved and funded, continued periodic credit review is required. At a minimum, credit reviews are mandatory for all commercial and commercial mortgage loan relationships with aggregate balances in excess of $1,000,000 within a 12-month period. The Company’s commercial relationship managers are responsible for the timely and accurate risk rating of the loans in their portfolios at origination and on an ongoing basis. Risk ratings are assigned by the account officer but require independent review and rating concurrence from the Company’s internal Loan Review Department.

In addition to loan monitoring by the account officer and Loan Review Department, the Company also requires presentation of all credits rated pass-6 with aggregate balances greater than $2,000,000, all credits rated special mention or substandard with aggregate balances greater than $250,000, and all credits rated doubtful with aggregate balances greater than $100,000 on an individual basis to the Company’s Loan Loss Reserve Committee on a quarterly basis. Additionally, the Asset Quality Task Force, which is a group comprised of senior level personnel, meets monthly to monitor the status of problem loans.

(IN THOUSANDS,

EXCEPT PERCENTAGES)

(1) Non-performing loans are comprised of loans that are on a non-accrual basis and loans that are contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest and principal payments.

(2) Total classified loans include non-performing residential mortgage and consumer loans.

The increase in accruing loan delinquency since year-end 2023 was attributable to delinquency on a commercial loan relationship as well as an increase in residential mortgage and consumer loan delinquency. Non-performing loans totaled $10.9 million, or 1.02% of total loans, at December 31, 2024 which was a decrease from the December 31, 2023 total of $12.4 million, or 1.19% of total loans. The decrease in non-performing loans primarily reflects the Company’s foreclosure of and subsequent transfer to other real estate owned (OREO) of a $1.5 million non-accrual commercial real estate (CRE) loan and a $1.2 million commercial and industrial (C&I) loan returned to accruing status as well as a reduction in non-accrual residential mortgage loans. These decreases were partially offset by the transfer to non-accrual status of a $2.0 million CRE loan and a $400,000 C&I loan. Classified loans decreased $1.4 million, or 5.8%, from December 31, 2023 and totaled $23.6 million at December 31, 2024. Various risk rating as well as charge-down and normal paydown activity impacted classified loan balances during 2024. Specifically, the aforementioned transfer to OREO along with a $1.6 million charge-down of a substandard CRE loan and the risk rating upgrade of a $3.6 million non-owner occupied CRE loan contributed to the decrease in classified loans. These decreases were partially offset by the risk rating downgrade of a $6.4 million commercial and commercial real estate loan relationship.

We also continue to closely monitor the loan portfolio given the number of relatively large-sized commercial and commercial real estate loans within the portfolio. As of December 31, 2024, the 25 largest credits represented 24.0% of total loans outstanding, which represents an increase from December 31, 2023 when it was 22.7%.

ALLOWANCE AND PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES. ASC 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, requires the Company to measure the current expected credit losses (CECL) on financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans and held to maturity (HTM) securities, and off-balance sheet credit exposures such as unfunded commitments. In addition, ASC 326 requires credit losses on available for sale (AFS) debt securities to be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down when management does not intend to sell or believes that it is not more likely than not they will be required to sell the security. The Company believes this is a critical accounting policy since it involves significant estimates and judgments.

The following table sets forth the allowance for credit losses and certain ratios for the periods ended.

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PERCENTAGES)

For the full year of 2024, the Company recognized an $884,000 provision for credit losses after recognizing a $7.4 million provision in 2023, resulting in a favorable change of $6.5 million. The lower provision for credit losses in 2024 reflects provision recoveries recognized in both the loan and securities portfolios in the first and third quarters which were more than offset by the unfavorable impact charge-off activity had on the loss rates used to calculate the allowance for loan credit losses in accordance with CECL along with growth in the loan portfolio. Additionally, the 2023 provision was significantly higher due to the negative impact that the Rite Aid bankruptcy had on several commercial real estate loan properties along with the recognition of a $926,000 allowance for a subordinated debt investment in the AFS securities portfolio.

The allowance for loan credit losses declined since December 31, 2023 by $1.1 million, or 7.6%, to $13.9 million at December 31, 2024. Overall, the Company continues to maintain solid coverage of both total loans and non-performing loans as the allowance for loan credit losses provided 127% coverage of non-performing loans and 1.30% of total loans at December 31, 2024. This compares to allowance coverage of non-performing loans of 122% and total loans of 1.45% as of December 31, 2023.

The following table sets forth changes specific to the allowance for loan credit losses and certain ratios for the periods ended.

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS AND PERCENTAGES)

The following schedule sets forth the allocation of the allowance for loan credit losses among the various loan categories. The entire allowance for loan credit losses is available to absorb future losses in any loan category.

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PERCENTAGES)

The disproportionately higher allocations for commercial loans, including commercial loans secured by owner occupied real estate and commercial & industrial loans, and commercial loans secured by non-owner occupied real estate reflect the increased credit risk associated with those types of lending, the Company’s historical loss experience in these categories, and other qualitative factors.

The allowance for credit losses on the investment securities portfolio was comprised of $360,000 on available for sale securities and $89,000 on held to maturity securities as of December 31, 2024. This compares to $926,000 on available for sale securities and $37,000 on held to maturity securities as of December 31, 2023. The allowance for credit losses on available for sale securities decreased $566,000, or 61.1%, since year-end 2023 due to the successful sale of the Signature Bank subordinated debt investment which was partially offset by the establishment of an allowance for credit losses on another corporate available for sale security that was deemed to be credit impaired in 2024.

Based on the Company’s current allowance for credit losses methodology and the related assessment of the inherent risk factors contained within the Company’s investment securities and loan portfolios, we believe that the allowance for credit losses was adequate at December 31, 2024 to cover losses within the Company’s investment securities and loan portfolios.

NON-INTEREST INCOME. Non-interest income for 2024 totaled $18.0 million, an increase of $1.6 million, or 9.7%, from 2023. Factors contributing to the higher level of non-interest income in 2024 included:

• during the first quarter of 2023, the Company recognized a $1.7 million gain from AmeriServ Financial Bank selling all 7,859 shares of Class B common stock of Visa Inc. There was no such gain in 2024;
• a $1.3 million, or 73.4%, increase in other income due to the necessary adjustments to the fair value of a risk participation agreement as well as the credit valuation adjustment to the market value of the interest rate swap contracts that the Company executed to accommodate the needs of certain borrowers while managing its interest rate risk position. These adjustments reflect the changing national interest rates which favorably impacted 2024 by $866,000. Also favorably impacting other income was the Company recognizing a $250,000 signing bonus in 2024 that resulted from successful negotiations related to the renewal of an expiring contract with Visa;
• wealth management fees improved by $1.1 million, or 9.3%, due in part to a strong performance from Financial Services, within our wealth and capital management division, that resulted from new business growth. Also, the increase in wealth management fees reflects the improving market conditions particularly for equity securities as major market indexes continued their ascent to record highs in 2024. Overall, the fair market value of wealth management assets totaled $2.6 billion at December 31, 2024 and increased by $37.7 million, or 1.5%, since December 31, 2023; and
• the Company recognized a $922,000 loss on an investment portfolio repositioning strategy during 2023. There were no investment security gains or losses recognized in 2024.

Non-interest income for 2023 totaled $16.4 million, a decrease of $303,000, or 1.8%, from 2022. Factors contributing to the lower level of non-interest income in 2023 included:

• AmeriServ Financial Bank sold all 7,859 shares of the Class B common stock of Visa, Inc., which it owned for a sale price of $1.7 million. The shares had no carrying value on the balance sheet and, as the Bank had no historical cost basis in the shares, the entire sale price was recognized as a gain. The Company elected to capture this gain in 2023 due to the volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets;
• the Company recognized a $922,000 loss on investment securities during 2023 after selling $16.8 million of available for sale (AFS) investment securities which included both government agency obligations and municipal bonds. No gain or loss on the sale of investment securities was recognized in 2022. The sold securities had an average yield of 3.1% and an effective duration of 3.3 years. The proceeds from this sale were used to purchase new government agency mortgage-backed securities that have a yield of 5.2% and an effective duration of 3.6 years;
• a $765,000, or 30.0%, decrease in other income due primarily to the recognition of an unfavorable adjustment to the fair market value of a risk participation agreement as well as the recognition of a credit valuation adjustment to the market value of the interest rate swap contracts that the Company executed to accommodate the needs of certain borrowers while managing its interest rate risk position; and
• a $354,000, or 3.0%, decrease in wealth management fees due to the unfavorable market conditions for both equity securities and particularly bonds which existed for the majority of the 2023 year that more than offset the positive impact of new customer business growth. Overall, the fair market value of wealth management assets totaled $2.5 billion at December 31, 2023.

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE. Non-interest expense for 2024 totaled $48.7 million and decreased by $628,000, or 1.3%, from 2023. Factors contributing to the lower non-interest expense in 2024 included:

• a $1.2 million, or 4.2%, decrease in salaries and employee benefits due to the net favorable impact of certain items within this broad category. Total salaries cost was down by $847,000, or 4.0%, after the Company incurred additional salary expense in 2023 related to a strategy to consolidate certain executive level positions in the wealth management business. Total health care cost was $516,000, or 13.4%, lower compared to last year and reflects management’s effective negotiations with our current health care provider that resulted in not having to recognize any premium costs in January 2024. These favorable items were partially offset by an increased level of incentive compensation by $294,000, or 25.1%, which corresponds to the strong performance of our wealth and capital management division;
• a $533,000, or 10.0%, decrease in professional fees. Professional fees in both 2024 and 2023 were impacted by litigation and responses to the actions of an activist shareholder. These activist related costs amounted to $1.5 million for 2024 compared to $2.2 million for 2023 as a Cooperation and Settlement Agreement was reached with the activist shareholder in June 2024;
• a $479,000, or 17.3%, increase in other expense due primarily to the recognition of a pension settlement charge totaling $471,000 in 2024. A settlement charge must be recognized when the total dollar amount of lump sum distributions paid from the pension plan to retired employees exceeds a threshold of expected annual service and interest costs in the current year;
• a $385,000, or 8.7%, increase in data processing and IT expense due to additional expenses related to monitoring our computing and network environment; and
• a $306,000, or 42.8%, increase in FDIC insurance due to an increase in both the asset assessment base as well as the assessment rate.

Non-interest expense for 2023 totaled $49.4 million and increased by $1.4 million, or 2.8%, from 2022. Factors contributing to the higher non-interest expense in 2023 included:

• the rise in total non-interest expense was primarily due to increased legal and professional fees related to the activities of an activist investor and a proxy contest relating to the Company’s 2023 annual meeting. These costs amounted to $2.2 million for the full year of 2023. As expected, costs related to the activist shareholder declined as the year progressed;
• a $2.5 million, or 47.7%, reduction in other expense as the Company did not have to recognize a pension settlement charge in 2023;
• a $1.1 million, or 4.0%, increase in salaries and employee benefits expense. The increase was attributable to management restructuring costs within the wealth and capital management division, annual employee merit increases, a greater level of full-time equivalent employees as the Company filled certain open positions that were vacant, and the impact that inflationary pressures were having on the cost of new hires. Partially offsetting the higher level of salaries were lower incentive compensation and reduced pension expense as there were fewer employees in the defined benefit pension plan due to numerous retirements over the past few years;
• a $485,000, or 12.3%, increase in data processing and IT expenses due to increased software costs from our core data provider and additional expenses related to monitoring our computing and network environment; and
• a $200,000, or 38.8%, increase in FDIC insurance due to an increase in both the asset assessment base as well as the assessment rate.

INCOME TAX EXPENSE. The Company recorded an income tax expense of $798,000, or an effective tax rate of 18.1%, in 2024 compared to an income tax benefit of $1.0 million in 2023. The income tax benefit in 2023 resulted from the Company’s recognition of a net loss. The Company’s deferred tax asset was $1.4 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $2.7 million at December 31, 2023, resulting primarily from the change in the allowance for credit losses, the fair value of the available for sale investment securities portfolio, and the pension liability, which were partially offset by the net operating loss.

SEGMENT REPORTING. The chief operating decision maker of the Company is our President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO has authority over all divisions within the Company. While the CEO monitors the revenue streams of the various products and services, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Company-wide basis. Additionally, the Company’s Board of Directors evaluates performance on a macro level basis and reviews financial reports that describe the consolidated operating performance of all the divisions of the Company. Accordingly, all of the financial service operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.

BALANCE SHEET. The Company’s total consolidated assets of $1.422 billion at December 31, 2024 increased by $32.7 million, or 2.4%, from the $1.390 billion level at December 31, 2023. This change was related to increased levels of cash and cash equivalents, total loans, other real estate owned (OREO) and repossessed assets, and other assets, which were partially offset by a decrease in investment securities. Specifically, loans and loans held for sale increased by $30.0 million, or 2.9%, as new loan originations exceeded payoff activity. Loan originations were strongest in the fourth quarter of 2024 and more than doubled payoff activity. Cash and cash equivalents increased by only $3.7 million, or 26.5%, as the excess liquidity created by the decrease in total investment securities and the increase in total deposits was primarily redirected to the loan portfolio. OREO and repossessed assets increased $1.7 million due to the foreclosure of a non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan secured by an office property during the second quarter of 2024. Finally, other assets increased $6.9 million, or 18.8%, due to an increase in the positive balance of the accrued pension liability. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $10.2 million, or 4.5%, in total investment securities. The decrease reflects management’s strategy to allocate more cash flow from the securities portfolio to higher yielding loans while the Company controlled the amount of high cost overnight borrowed funds.

Total deposits increased by $42.6 million, or 3.7%, during 2024. This demonstrates customer confidence and the strength and loyalty of our core deposit base along with successful business development efforts, which more than offset a portion of funds leaving the balance sheet due to greater pricing competition. As of December 31, 2024, the 25 largest depositors represented 27.6% of total deposits, which is an increase from December 31, 2023 when it was 22.4%. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the estimated amount of uninsured deposits was $435.7 million and $384.5 million, respectively. The estimate of uninsured deposits was done at a single account level and does not take into account total customer balances in the Bank. It should be noted that approximately 50% of these uninsured deposits relate to public funds from municipalities, government entities, and school districts which by law are required to be collateralized with investment securities or FHLB letters of credit to protect these depositor funds. Total borrowings have decreased by $14.8 million, or 17.3%, since year-end 2023. This change was driven by a decrease in short-term borrowings which was partially offset by an increase in FHLB term advances. Specifically, short-term borrowings decreased by $26.3 million, or 64.2%. Given the high cost of overnight borrowed funds, management has been effectively controlling the usage of this funding source. In addition, the inversion in the yield curve has caused FHLB term advances to have rates that are lower than the cost of overnight borrowed funds. Therefore, FHLB term advances increased in 2024 by $11.5 million, or 25.8%.

The Company’s total shareholders’ equity increased by $5.0 million, or 4.9%, since year-end 2023. Capital was increased during 2024 by the Company’s $3.6 million of net income and the positive impact on accumulated other comprehensive loss from the recognition of the settlement charge in connection with the defined benefit pension plan and the revaluation of the pension obligation totaling $4.3 million, the increased market value of the available for sale investment securities portfolio totaling $398,000, and the fair value adjustment on the interest rate hedges totaling $217,000. These increases were partially offset by the $2.0 million common stock cash dividend and the $1.5 million common stock repurchase completed in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement executed with the activist shareholder. The Company returned approximately 56% of its 2024 earnings to its shareholders through the quarterly common stock cash dividend. The Company continues to be considered well capitalized for regulatory purposes with a risk based capital ratio of 12.70% and an asset leverage ratio of 7.68% at December 31, 2024. The Company’s book value per common share was $6.49 while its tangible book value per common share was $5.66(1) at December 31, 2024. The increase in the Company’s book value and tangible book value per share in 2024 reflects the favorable adjustment for both the unrealized loss on available for sale securities and the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and the accretive repurchase of 628,003 shares of common stock from the activist shareholder. In addition, the Company’s equity to assets ratio was 7.54% and its tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 6.64%(1) at December 31, 2024.

(1) Non-GAAP financial information, see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” later in this MD&A.

LIQUIDITY. The Company’s liquidity position continues to be strong. Total average deposits for the full year of 2024 were $15.0 million, or 1.3%, higher compared to the 2023 full year average. The increase is reflective of the Company’s successful business development efforts, which more than offset a portion of the funds leaving the balance sheet from normal deposit run-off caused by greater pricing competition in the market to retain deposits because of the interest rate environment. The Company’s core deposit base continued to demonstrate the strength and stability that it has for many years. Total deposits grew during 2024 by $42.6 million, or 3.7%, on an end of period basis since December 31, 2023, demonstrating customer loyalty and confidence in AmeriServ Financial Bank. The Company does not utilize brokered deposits as a funding source. In addition to its strong, loyal core deposit base, the Company has several other sources of liquidity, including a significant unused borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), overnight lines of credit at correspondent banks and access to the Federal Reserve Discount Window. Overall, the core deposit base is adequate to fund the Company’s operations. Cash flow from maturities, prepayments and amortization of securities is used to help fund loan growth.

Average short-term investments remained relatively stable during 2024 compared to last year, decreasing slightly by $89,000, or 2.3%. Advances from the FHLB averaged $51.6 million in 2024 which was $29.4 million, or 132.7%, higher than the $22.2 million average in 2023. Management’s strategy to increase term advances to lock in lower rates than overnight borrowings due to the inversion in the short end of the yield curve has favorably impacted net interest income. Management continues to monitor the changing economic conditions and adjust pricing strategies accordingly which largely determines customer behavior and the level of total deposits as well as shifts within the total deposit mix. Diligent monitoring and management of our short-term investment position and our level of overnight borrowed funds remains a priority. Given the high cost of overnight borrowed funds, management has been effectively controlling the usage of this funding source. The Company’s utilization of overnight borrowed funds during 2024 was lower than the 2023 level. Short-term borrowings averaged $28.0 million in 2024 after averaging $35.8 million in 2023. Continued loan growth and prudent investment in securities are critical to achieve the best return on the normal level of earning asset cash flow that occurs each month. In 2024, purchases of securities were slow as more funds were allocated to the loan portfolio. Loan pipelines are currently at a typical level. We strive to operate our loan to deposit ratio in a range of 80% to 100%. The Company’s loan to deposit ratio averaged 88.8% in 2024, which indicates that the Company has ample capacity to continue to grow its loan portfolio and is well positioned to support its customers and community during times of economic volatility. We are also well positioned to service our existing loan pipeline and grow our loan to deposit ratio while remaining within our guideline parameters.

Liquidity can also be analyzed by utilizing the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Cash and cash equivalents increased by $3.7 million from December 31, 2023 to $17.7 million at December 31, 2024 due to $24.1 million of net cash provided in financing activities and $2.7 million of net cash provided by operating activities more than offsetting $23.1 million of net cash used in investing activities. Within investing activities, cash advanced for new loans originated totaled $183.0 million and was $33.5 million higher than the $149.5 million of cash received from loan principal payments. Within financing activities, total short-term borrowings decreased by $26.3 million, total FHLB borrowings increased by $11.5 million while total deposits increased by $42.6 million.

The holding company had $6.8 million of cash, short-term investments, and investment securities at December 31, 2024, which represents a $1.4 million decrease from the holding company’s cash position since December 31, 2023. Dividend payments from our subsidiaries provided ongoing cash to the holding company. At December 31, 2024, our subsidiary Bank had $2.9 million of cash available for immediate dividends to the holding company under applicable regulatory formulas. Overall, we believe that the holding company has sufficient liquidity to meet its subordinated debt interest payments and its dividend payout level with respect to its common stock.

Financial institutions must maintain liquidity to meet day-to-day requirements of depositors and borrowers, take advantage of market opportunities, and provide a cushion against unforeseen needs. Liquidity needs can be met by either reducing assets or increasing liabilities. Sources of asset liquidity are provided by short-term investments, interest bearing deposits with banks, and federal funds sold. These assets totaled $17.7 million and $14.0 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Maturing and repaying loans, as well as the monthly cash flow associated with mortgage-backed securities and security maturities are other significant sources of asset liquidity for the Company.

Liability liquidity can be met by attracting deposits with competitive rates, using repurchase agreements, buying federal funds, or utilizing the facilities of the Federal Reserve or the FHLB systems. The Company utilizes a variety of these methods of liability liquidity. Additionally, the Company’s subsidiary bank is a member of the FHLB, which provides the opportunity to obtain short-term to longer-term advances based upon the Company’s investment in certain residential mortgage, commercial real estate, and commercial and industrial loans. At December 31, 2024, the Company had $277 million of overnight borrowing availability at the FHLB, $41 million of short-term borrowing availability at the Federal Reserve Bank and $35 million of unsecured federal funds lines with correspondent banks. The Company believes it has ample liquidity available to fund outstanding loan commitments if they were fully drawn upon.

CAPITAL RESOURCES. The Bank exceeds all regulatory capital ratios for each of the periods presented and is considered well capitalized. The Company’s common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 9.19%, the tier 1 capital ratio was 9.19%, and the total capital ratio was 12.70% at December 31, 2024. The Company’s tier 1 leverage ratio was 7.68% at December 31, 2024. We anticipate that we will maintain our strong capital ratios throughout 2025.

Capital generated from earnings will be utilized to pay the common stock cash dividend and will support controlled balance sheet growth. Total Parent Company cash was $6.8 million at December 31, 2024. There is a particular emphasis on ensuring that the subsidiary bank has appropriate levels of capital to support its non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan concentration, which stood at 379% of regulatory capital at December 31, 2024. It should be noted that this ratio increased from 375% at December 31, 2023 due to growth in non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan balances which more than offset the increase in total regulatory capital between years.

Our focus is on preserving capital to support customer lending and allow the Company to take advantage of business opportunities as they arise. The Company’s Board of Directors expects to continue the common stock dividend at its current level of $0.03 per quarter given the Company’s strong capital position and projected earnings power. While the Company has frequently executed common stock buyback programs in the past, we presently do not have one in place due to the reduced level of our tangible common equity ratio at 6.64%(1). At December 31, 2024, the Company had approximately 16.5 million common shares outstanding.

During 2024, the Company executed a Stock Purchase Agreement with an activist shareholder, Driver Opportunity Partners (Driver), in connection with a settlement agreement. Under the stock purchase agreement, the Company repurchased 628,003 shares of common stock from Driver at a per share price of $2.38. Because the shares were acquired at a price below book value, the stock repurchase was accretive to all shareholders.

The Basel III capital standards establish the minimum capital levels in addition to the well capitalized requirements under the federal banking regulations prompt corrective action. The capital rules also impose a 2.5% capital conservation buffer (CCB) on top of the three minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. Banking institutions that fail to meet the effective minimum ratios once the CCB is taken into account will be subject to constraints on capital distributions, including dividends and share repurchases, and certain discretionary executive compensation. The severity of the constraints depends on the amount of the shortfall and the institution’s “eligible retained income” (four quarter trailing net income, net of distributions and tax effects not reflected in net income). The Company and the Bank meet all capital requirements, including the CCB, and continue to be committed to maintaining strong capital levels that exceed regulatory requirements while also supporting balance sheet growth and providing a return to our shareholders.

Under the Basel III capital standards, the minimum capital ratios are:

(1) Non-GAAP financial information, see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” later in this MD&A.

INTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY. Asset/liability management involves managing the risks associated with changing interest rates and the resulting impact on the Company’s net interest income, net income and capital. The management and measurement of interest rate risk at the Company is performed by using the following tools: (i) simulation modeling, which analyzes the impact of interest rate changes on net interest income, net income and capital levels over specific future time periods. The simulation modeling forecasts earnings under a variety of scenarios that incorporate changes in the absolute level of interest rates, the shape of the yield curve, prepayments and changes in the volumes and rates of various loan and deposit categories. The simulation modeling incorporates assumptions about reinvestment and the repricing characteristics of certain assets and liabilities without stated contractual maturities; (ii) market value of portfolio equity sensitivity analysis; and (iii) static GAP analysis, which analyzes the extent to which interest rate sensitive assets and interest rate sensitive liabilities are matched at specific points in time. The overall interest rate risk position and strategies are reviewed by senior management and the Company’s Board of Directors on an ongoing basis.

The following table presents a summary of the Company’s static GAP positions at December 31, 2024:

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS AND PERCENTAGES)

(1) Time deposits include certificates of deposit (CDs) and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

When December 31, 2024 is compared to December 31, 2023, the Company’s cumulative GAP ratio through three months indicates that the Company’s balance sheet is liability sensitive and demonstrates an increase in the level of liability sensitivity. The increase primarily results from a substantial increase in the level of interest-bearing deposits while short-term borrowings and total rate sensitive assets remained relatively consistent. We experienced a higher level of interest-bearing demand deposits and time deposits which more than offset a decline in the level of money market accounts. The Company’s interest rate sensitivity position shifts from being liability sensitive to an asset sensitive position over six months and beyond as more of our loans begin to reprice. In particular, a significant level of commercial real estate loans that were booked during the onset of COVID when interest rates were significantly lower are scheduled to reprice in the second half of 2025 and through 2026. Finally, the balance of FHLB term advances at December 31, 2024 increased $11.5 million, or 25.8%, from the prior year, due to the modest inversion in the short end of the yield curve resulting in FHLB term advances having interest rates that are lower than the cost of overnight borrowings.

Management places primary emphasis on simulation modeling to manage and measure interest rate risk. The Company’s asset/liability management policy seeks to limit net interest income variability over the first twelve months of the forecast period to -5.0% and -7.5%, which include interest rate movements of 100 and 200 basis points, respectively. Additionally, the Company also uses market value sensitivity measures to further evaluate the balance sheet exposure to changes in interest rates. The Company monitors the trends in market value of portfolio equity sensitivity analysis on a quarterly basis.

The following table presents an analysis of the sensitivity inherent in the Company’s net interest income and market value of portfolio equity. The interest rate scenarios in the table compare the Company’s base forecast, which was prepared using a flat interest rate scenario, to scenarios that reflect immediate interest rate changes of 100 and 200 basis points. Each rate scenario contains unique prepayment and repricing assumptions that are applied to the Company’s existing balance sheet that was developed under the flat interest rate scenario.

The Company believes that its overall interest rate risk position is well controlled. The execution of $70 million of interest rate hedges during 2023, in order to fix the cost of certain deposits that are indexed and move with short-term interest rates, reduced the Company’s negative variability of net interest income in a rising interest rate environment and helped slow net interest margin compression. The fed funds rate is currently at a targeted range of 4.25% to 4.50% as the Federal Reserve took action during the third and fourth quarters of 2024 to ease monetary policy and decrease the rate a total of 100 basis points.

The Company’s interest rate risk position is relatively neutral. The variability of net interest income was slightly negative in the upward rate scenarios as the Company was marginally more exposed to liabilities repricing upward to a greater extent than assets. Specifically, the cost of funds was immediately impacted when short-term national interest rates increase because certain deposit products and overnight borrowed funds move with the market. This was partially offset by the Company’s investment securities portfolio and the scheduled repricing of loans tied to an index, such as SOFR or prime. In addition to the interest rate hedges discussed above, the Company has effectively utilized interest rate swaps for interest rate risk management purposes. The interest rate swaps allow our customers to lock in fixed interest rates while the Company retains the benefit of interest rates moving with the market. Regarding interest bearing liabilities, the Company will continue its disciplined approach to price its core deposit accounts in a controlled but competitive manner and control the amount of overnight borrowed funds. Overall, based on the slight change in the variability of net interest income in the various interest rate scenarios, the Company is well positioned to sustain either a rate increase or decrease.

The market value of portfolio equity increases in the upward rate shocks due to the improved value of the Company’s core deposit base. Negative variability of market value of portfolio equity occurs in the downward rate shocks due to a reduced value for core deposits.

Within the investment securities portfolio at December 31, 2024, 73.0% of the portfolio was classified as available for sale and 27.0% as held to maturity. The available for sale classification provides management with greater flexibility to manage the securities portfolio to better achieve overall balance sheet rate sensitivity goals and provide liquidity if needed. The mark to market of the available for sale securities does inject more volatility in the book value of equity, but has no impact on regulatory capital. There were 259 available for sale securities that were in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2024. These unrealized losses were primarily a result of increases in market yields from the time of purchase. Management generally views changes in fair value caused by changes in interest rates as temporary; therefore, no provision for credit losses has been recorded for these securities. Management does not intend to sell these securities and does not believe it will be required to sell these securities before they recover in value or mature. Furthermore, it is the Company’s intent to manage its long-term interest rate risk by continuing to sell a portion of newly originated fixed-rate 30-year mortgage loans into the secondary market (excluding construction and any jumbo loans). The Company sells 15-year fixed-rate mortgage loans into the secondary market as well, depending on market conditions. For the year ended December 31, 2024, 41.2% of all residential mortgage loan production was sold into the secondary market.

The amount of loans outstanding by category as of December 31, 2024, which are due in (i) one year or less, (ii) more than one year through five years, (iii) more than five years through 15 years, and (iv) over 15 years, are shown in the following table.

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)

The loan maturity information was based upon original loan terms. In the ordinary course of business, loans maturing within one year may be renewed, in whole or in part, as to principal amount at interest rates prevailing at the date of renewal.

The following table summarizes the fixed-rate and floating-rate loans due in more than one year by portfolio segment.

(IN THOUSANDS)

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS. The Company incurs off-balance sheet risks in the normal course of business in order to meet the financing needs of its customers. These risks derive from commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Such commitments and standby letters of credit involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to these commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by their contractual amounts. The Company uses the same credit and collateral policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as for all other lending. The Company had various outstanding commitments to extend credit approximating $233.2 million and standby letters of credit of $8.7 million as of December 31, 2024.

The Company can also use various interest rate contracts, such as interest rate swaps, caps, and floors to help manage interest rate and market valuation risk exposure, which is incurred in normal recurrent banking activities. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $66.5 million in the notional amount of interest rate swap assets outstanding, with a fair value of $4.7 million. Simultaneously, the Company had $66.5 million in the notional amount of interest rate swap liabilities outstanding, with a negative fair value of $4.7 million. The Company entered into a risk participation agreement (RPA) with the lead bank of a commercial real estate loan arrangement. As a participating bank, the Company guarantees the performance on a borrower-related interest rate swap contract. The notional amount of the RPA outstanding at December 31, 2024 was $4.9 million, with a negative fair value of $207,000. In addition, the Company has entered into three interest rate swaps with a total notional value of $70 million in order to hedge the interest rate risk associated with certain floating-rate time deposit accounts. At December 31, 2024, the hedges had a negative fair value of $169,000.

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, municipal deposit letters of credit issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh on behalf of AmeriServ Financial Bank naming applicable municipalities as beneficiaries totaled $174.4 million and $121.4 million, respectively. The letters of credit serve as collateral, in place of pledged securities, for municipal deposits maintained at AmeriServ Financial Bank.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES. This document contains certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per share are considered to be non-GAAP measures and are calculated by dividing tangible equity by tangible assets or shares outstanding. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide information to investors that is useful in understanding its financial condition. This non-GAAP data should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and is not a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures, and because not all companies use the same calculation of tangible common equity and tangible assets, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures calculated by other companies.

The following table sets forth the calculation of the Company’s tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per share at December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except share and ratio data):

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and conform to general practices within the banking industry. Accounting and reporting policies for the pension liability, allowance for credit losses (related to investment securities, loans, and unfunded commitments), and derivatives (interest rate swaps/hedges) are deemed critical because they involve the use of estimates and require significant management judgments. Application of assumptions different than those used by the Company could result in material changes in the Company’s financial position or results of operation.

ACCOUNT — Pension liability

BALANCE SHEET REFERENCE — Other assets

INCOME STATEMENT REFERENCE — Salaries and employee benefits and Other expense

DESCRIPTION

Pension costs and liabilities are dependent on assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, benefits earned, interest costs, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates, and other factors. In accordance with GAAP, actual results that differ from the assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, generally affect recognized expense and the recorded obligation of future periods. While management believes that the assumptions used are appropriate, differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may affect the Company’s pension obligations and future expense. Additionally, pension expense can also be impacted by settlement accounting charges if the amount of employee selected lump sum distributions exceed the total amount of service and interest component costs of the net periodic pension cost in a particular year. Our pension benefits are described further in Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

ACCOUNT — Allowance for credit losses

BALANCE SHEET REFERENCE — Investment securities, net of allowance for credit losses, Allowance for credit losses – loans, Other liabilities

INCOME STATEMENT REFERENCE — Provision for credit losses

DESCRIPTION

The Company measures the current expected credit losses (CECL) on financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans and held to maturity (HTM) securities, and off-balance sheet credit exposures such as unfunded commitments. In addition, ASC 326 requires credit losses on available for sale (AFS) debt securities to be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down when management does not intend to sell or believes that it is not more likely than not, they will be required to sell the security.

The Company measures expected credit losses on held to maturity debt securities, which are comprised of U.S. government agency and mortgage-backed securities as well as taxable municipal, corporate, and other bonds. The Company’s agency and mortgage-backed securities are issued by U.S. government entities and agencies and are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major rating agencies, and have a long history of no credit losses. As such, no allowance for credit losses has been established for these securities. The allowance for credit losses on the taxable municipal, corporate, and other bonds within the held to maturity securities portfolio is calculated using the PD/LGD method. The calculation is completed on a quarterly basis using the default studies provided by an industry leading source. Based on management judgment, certain qualitative adjustments, such as the Company’s historical loss experience and/or the issuer’s credit quality, may be applied.

The Company measures expected credit losses on available for sale debt securities when the Company does not intend to sell, or when it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For available for sale debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this evaluation indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, equal to the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis.

The allowance for credit losses (ACL) is a valuation reserve established and maintained by charges against income and is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans, or portions thereof, are charged off against the ACL when they are deemed uncollectible.

The ACL is an estimate of expected credit losses, measured over the contractual life of a loan, which considers our historical loss experience, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. Determination of an appropriate ACL is inherently subjective and may have significant changes from period to period. The methodology for determining the ACL has two main components: evaluation of expected credit losses for certain groups of homogeneous loans that share similar risk characteristics and evaluation of loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans.

The allowance for credit losses is calculated with the objective of maintaining reserve levels believed by management to be sufficient to absorb current expected credit losses. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the allowance is based on periodic evaluations of the credit portfolio and other relevant factors. However, this quarterly evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates. This process also considers economic conditions, for a reasonable and supportable forecast period of two years. All of these factors may be susceptible to significant change.

To the extent actual outcomes differ from management estimates, additional provision for credit losses may be required that would adversely impact earnings in future periods.

The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which it is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancelable. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life.

ACCOUNT — Derivatives (interest rate swaps/hedges)

BALANCE SHEET REFERENCE — Other assets and Other liabilities

INCOME STATEMENT REFERENCE — Other income

DESCRIPTION

The Company periodically enters into derivative instruments to meet the financing, interest rate and equity risk management needs of its customers or the Bank.

The Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and measures those instruments at fair value. For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative and hedged item related to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. Changes in fair value of derivatives designated and accounted for as cash flow hedges, to the extent they are effective as hedges, are recorded in other comprehensive loss, net of deferred taxes and are subsequently reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings. Any hedge ineffectiveness would be recognized in the income statement line item pertaining to the hedged item.

To accommodate the needs of our customers and support the Company’s asset/liability positioning, we may enter into interest rate swap agreements with customers and a large financial institution that specializes in these types of transactions. The Company enters into offsetting positions to minimize interest rate and equity risk to the Company. These derivative financial instruments are reported at fair value with any resulting gain or loss recorded in current period earnings in amounts that offset. These instruments and their offsetting positions are recorded in other assets and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

THE STRATEGIC FOCUS:

AmeriServ Financial is committed to improving shareholder value by striving for consistently improving financial performance; providing our customers with products and exceptional service for every step in their lifetime financial journey; cultivating an employee atmosphere rooted in trust, empowerment and growth; and serving our communities through employee involvement and a philanthropic spirit. We will strive to provide our shareholders with consistently improved financial performance; the products, services and know-how needed to forge lasting banking for life customer relationships; a work environment that challenges and rewards staff; and the manpower and financial resources needed to make a difference in the communities we serve. Our strategic initiatives will focus on these four key constituencies:

• Shareholders — We strive to increase earnings per share; identifying and managing revenue growth and expense control; and managing risk. Our goal is to increase value for AmeriServ shareholders by growing earnings per share and narrowing the financial performance gap between AmeriServ and its peer banks. We try to return earnings to shareholders through a combination of dividends and share repurchases (though none are currently authorized) subject to maintaining sufficient capital to support balance sheet growth and economic uncertainty. We strive to educate our employee base as to the meaning/importance of earnings per share as a performance measure. Our goal is to develop a value-added combination for increasing revenue and controlling expenses that is rooted in developing and offering high-quality financial products and services; an existing branch network; electronic banking capabilities with 24/7 convenience; and providing truly exceptional customer service. We explore branch consolidation opportunities and further leverage union affiliated revenue streams, prudently manage the Company’s risk profile to improve asset yields and increase profitability and continue to identify and implement technological opportunities and advancements to drive efficiency for the holding company and its affiliates.
• Customers — The Company expects to provide exceptional customer service, identifying opportunities to enhance the Banking for Life philosophy by providing products and services to meet the financial needs in

every step through a customer’s life cycle, and further defining the role technology plays in anticipating and satisfying customer needs. We anticipate providing leading banking systems and solutions to improve and enhance customers’ Banking for Life experience. We will provide customers with a comprehensive offering of financial solutions including retail and business banking, home mortgages and wealth management at one location. We have upgraded and modernized select branches to be more inviting and technologically savvy to meet the needs of the next generation of AmeriServ customers without abandoning the needs of our existing demographic.

• Staff — We are committed to developing high-performing employees, establishing and maintaining a culture of trust and effectively and efficiently managing staff attrition. We will employ a workforce succession plan to manage anticipated staff attrition while identifying and grooming high performing staff members to assume positions with greater responsibility within the organization. We will employ technological systems and solutions to provide staff with the tools they need to perform more efficiently and effectively.
• Communities — We will continue to promote and encourage employee community involvement and leadership while fostering a positive corporate image. This will be accomplished by demonstrating our commitment to the communities we serve through assistance in providing affordable housing programs for low-to-moderate-income families; donations to qualified charities; and the time and talent contributions of AmeriServ staff to a wide range of charitable and civic organizations.

This Form 10-K contains various forward-looking statements and includes assumptions concerning the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates, intentions, operations, future results, and prospects, including statements that include the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations, are subject to risk and uncertainties and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although we do not make forward-looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this Form 10-K, even if subsequently made available on our website or otherwise, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Form 10-K. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company provides the following cautionary statement identifying important factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) which could cause the actual results or events to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements and related assumptions.

Such factors include the following: (i) the effect of changing regional and national economic conditions; (ii) the effects of trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve; (iii) significant changes in interest rates and prepayment speeds; (iv) inflation, stock and bond market, and monetary fluctuations; (v) credit risks of commercial, real estate, consumer, and other lending activities; (vi) changes in federal and state banking and financial services laws and regulations and supervisory actions by such regulators, including bank failures; (vii) the presence in the Company’s market area of competitors with greater financial resources than the Company; (viii) the timely development of competitive new products and services by the Company and the acceptance of those products and services by customers and regulators (when required); (ix) the willingness of customers to substitute competitors’ products and services for those of the Company and vice versa; (x) changes in consumer spending and savings habits; (xi) unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings; (xii) the ability to attract new or retain existing deposits or to retain or grow loans, including growth from unfunded closed loans; (xiii) the ability to generate future revenue growth or to control future growth in non-interest expense, including, but not limited to, those related to technological changes, including changes regarding artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, changes affecting oversight of the financial services industry, and changes intended to manage or mitigate climate and related environmental risks; (xiv) the impact of failure in, or breach of, our operational or security systems or those of third parties with whom we do business, including as a result of cyberattacks or an increase in the incidence of fraud, illegal payments, security breaches or other illegal acts impacting us or our customers; and (xv) other external developments which could materially impact the Company’s operational and financial performance.

The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive, and neither such list, nor any forward-looking statement takes into account the impact that any future acquisition may have on the Company and on any such forward-looking statement.

Risk identification and management are essential elements for the successful management of the Company. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various types of risk, including interest rate, credit, and liquidity risk. The Company seeks to identify, manage and monitor these risks with policies, procedures, and various levels of managerial and Board oversight. The Company’s objective is to optimize profitability while managing and monitoring risk within Board approved policy limits.

Interest rate risk is the sensitivity of net interest income and the market value of portfolio equity to the magnitude, direction, and frequency of changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk results from various repricing frequencies and the maturity structure of assets, liabilities, and hedges. The Company uses its asset/liability management policy and hedging policy to control and manage interest rate risk. For information regarding the effect of changing interest rates on the Company’s net interest income and market value of its portfolio equity, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Interest Rate Sensitivity.”

Liquidity risk represents the inability to generate cash or otherwise obtain funds at reasonable rates to satisfy commitments to borrowers, as well as the obligations to depositors, debtholders and to fund operating expenses. The Company uses its asset/liability management policy and contingency funding plan to control and manage liquidity risk. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity.”

Credit risk represents the possibility that a customer may not perform in accordance with contractual terms. Credit risk results from extending credit to customers, purchasing securities, and entering into certain off-balance sheet loan funding commitments. The Company’s primary credit risk occurs in the loan portfolio and to a lesser extent in the corporate and municipal portions of the investment portfolio. The Company uses its credit policy and disciplined approach to evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses to control and manage credit risk. The Company’s investment policy and hedging policy strictly limit the amount of credit risk that may be assumed in the investment portfolio and through hedging activities.

For information regarding the market risk of the Company’s financial instruments, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Interest Rate Sensitivity.” The Company’s principal market risk exposure is to interest rates.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As of December 31, 2024, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, on the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2024.

Disclosure controls and procedures are the controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in its reports filed and submitted under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 is included in Item 8.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.