Note 19 — Off-Balance Sheet Commitments

The Bank is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk similar to the risk involved with on-balance sheet items recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and may expire without ever being utilized.

The Bank’s exposure to credit losses in the event of non-performance by the other party to commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for extending loan facilities to customers. The Bank evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Bank upon an extension of credit, was based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. Collateral held varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, premises and equipment, and income-producing or borrower-occupied properties.

Some of the commitments to fund existing loans, lines of credit and letters of credit are expected to expire without being drawn upon. Therefore, the total commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. As of December 31, 2023, the Bank was obligated on $120.0 million of letters of credit to the FHLBSF which were being used as collateral for public fund deposits, including $120.0 million of deposits from the State of California.

The allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet items is maintained at a level believed to be sufficient to absorb probable losses related to these unfunded credit facilities. The determination of the allowance adequacy is based on periodic evaluations of the unfunded credit facilities including an assessment of the probability of commitment usage, credit risk factors for loans outstanding to these same customers, and the terms and expiration dates of the unfunded credit facilities. Net adjustments to the allowance for credit losses related to off-balance sheet items are included in other operating expenses.