10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/2002 Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2002

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS PURSUANT

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

(Mark one)

  x   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Fee Required)

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

 

  ¨   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (No Fee Required)

 

For the transition period from                         to                     .

 

Commission File No. 0-25034

 

GREATER BAY BANCORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

California

 

77-0387041

(State or other jurisdiction of

Incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

2860 West Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, California 94303

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 813-8200

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Common Stock, no par value

 

Guarantee of Greater Bay Bancorp with respect to the

9.00% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities of GBB Capital V

 

Preferred Share Purchase Rights

(Title of classes)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x  No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes  x  No  ¨

 

The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates, based upon the closing sale price of the Common Stock on June 28, 2002, as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System, was approximately $1,416,142,000. Shares of Common Stock held by each officer, director and holder of 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. Such determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes. Registrant has no non-voting common stock.

 

As of February 28, 2003, 51,772,700 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock were outstanding.

 

Document Incorporated By Reference:


 

Part Of Form 10-K Into Which Incorporated:


Definitive Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

 

Part III

 



ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

 

PART I

 

Discussions of certain matters contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and as such, may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which Greater Bay Bancorp (referred to as “we” or “our” when such reference includes Greater Bay Bancorp and its subsidiaries, collectively, “Greater Bay” when referring only to the parent company and “the Banks” when referring only to Greater Bay’s banking subsidiaries, Bank of Petaluma, Bank of Santa Clara, Bay Area Bank, Bay Bank of Commerce, Coast Commercial Bank, Cupertino National Bank, Golden Gate Bank, Mid-Peninsula Bank, Mt. Diablo National Bank, Peninsula Bank of Commerce and San Jose National Bank) operates, projections of future performance, perceived opportunities in the market and statements regarding our mission and vision. Our actual results, performance and achievements may differ materially from the results, performance and achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of some of the factors that might cause such a difference, see “ITEM 1. BUSINESS—Factors That May Affect Future Results of Operations”.

 

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS.

 

Greater Bay Bancorp

 

Greater Bay Bancorp (“Greater Bay”, on a parent-only basis, and “we” or “our”, on a consolidated basis) is a financial holding company with 11 bank subsidiaries (individually a “Bank” and collectively the “Banks”): Bank of Petaluma, Bank of Santa Clara, Bay Area Bank, Bay Bank of Commerce, Coast Commercial Bank, Cupertino National Bank, Golden Gate Bank, Mid-Peninsula Bank, Mt. Diablo National Bank, Peninsula Bank of Commerce, and San Jose National Bank. We also have a commercial insurance brokerage subsidiary, ABD Insurance and Financial Services (“ABD”). We also conduct business through the following divisions: CAPCO, Greater Bay Bank Contra Costa Region, Greater Bay Bank Fremont Region, Greater Bay Bank Carmel, Greater Bay Bank Marin, Greater Bay Bank Santa Clara Valley Group, Greater Bay Bank SBA Lending Group, Greater Bay Corporate Finance Group, Greater Bay International Banking Division, Greater Bay Trust Company, Matsco, Pacific Business Funding and the Venture Banking Group.

 

In addition to these divisions, we have the following subsidiaries which issued trust preferred securities and purchased Greater Bay’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures: GBB Capital II, GBB Capital III, GBB Capital IV, GBB Capital V, GBB Capital VI, and GBB Capital VII. We also created CNB Investment Trust I (“CNBIT I”), CNB Investment Trust II (“CNBIT II”), MPB Investment Trust (“MPBIT”), and SJNB Investment Trust (“SJNBIT”), all of which are Maryland real estate investment trusts and wholly owned subsidiaries of Cupertino National Bank, Mid-Peninsula Bank, and San Jose National Bank, respectively. These entities were formed in order to provide flexibility in raising capital.

 

We provide a wide range of commercial banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, real estate developers, property managers, business executives, professionals and other individuals. We operate community banking offices throughout the San Francisco Bay Area including the Silicon Valley, San Francisco and the San Francisco Peninsula, the East Bay, Santa Cruz, Marin, Monterey, and Sonoma Counties. ABD provides commercial insurance brokerage, employee benefits consulting and risk management solutions to business clients throughout the United States. We also own a broker-dealer, which executes mutual fund transactions. CAPCO’s office is located in Bellevue, Washington and operates in the Pacific Northwest. Matsco markets its dental and veterinarian financing services nationally.

 

At December 31, 2002, we had total assets of $8.1 billion, total loans, net, of $4.7 billion and total deposits of $5.3 billion.

 

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History

 

Greater Bay Bancorp was formed as the result of the November 1996 merger of Cupertino National Bancorp and Mid-Peninsula Bancorp. Mid-Peninsula Bancorp was incorporated in 1984 under the name San Mateo County Bancorp as the bank holding company of WestCal National Bank. In 1994, WestCal National Bank was merged with Mid-Peninsula Bank, which commenced operations in October 1987. Concurrently San Mateo County Bancorp changed its name to Mid-Peninsula Bancorp. On consummation of the November 1996 merger between Cupertino National Bancorp and Mid-Peninsula Bancorp, Mid-Peninsula Bancorp changed its name to Greater Bay Bancorp and Cupertino National Bank became a wholly-owned subsidiary.

 

Greater Bay has continued to expand its presence within its market area by affiliating with other quality banking organizations, and select niche financial services companies. In addition we have been successful in opening key regional bank locations to respond to market and client demands, while also selectively opening key new businesses that expand our product offerings.

 

The following provides a chronological listing of significant mergers and acquisitions that we have completed since November 27, 1996:

 

Date of merger


  

Entity


    

Former bank holding company


    

Year commenced operations


December 23, 1997

  

Peninsula Bank of Commerce

    

none

    

1981

May 8, 1998

  

Golden Gate Bank

    

Pacific Rim Bancorporation

    

1976

August 31, 1998

  

Pacific Business Funding Corporation(1)

    

n/a

    

1995

May 21, 1999

  

Bay Area Bank

    

Bay Area Bancshares

    

1979

October 15, 1999

  

Bay Bank of Commerce

    

Bay Commercial Services

    

1981

January 31, 2000

  

Mt. Diablo National Bank

    

Mt. Diablo Bancshares

    

1993

May 18, 2000

  

Coast Commercial Bank

    

Coast Bancorp

    

1982

July 21, 2000

  

Bank of Santa Clara

    

none

    

1973

October 13, 2000

  

Bank of Petaluma

    

none

    

1987

November 30, 2000

  

The Matsco Companies, Inc.(2)

    

n/a

    

1983

March 30, 2001

  

CAPCO Financial Company Inc.(3)

    

n/a

    

1990

October 23, 2001

  

San Jose National Bank

    

SJNB Financial Corp.

    

1982

March 12, 2002

  

ABD Insurance and Financial Services

    

n/a

    

1946


(1)   Operates as a division of Cupertino National Bank and conducts business under the name Pacific Business Funding.
(2)   Operates as a division of Cupertino National Bank and conducts business under the name Matsco.
(3)   Operates as a division of Cupertino National Bank and conducts business under the name CAPCO.

 

The acquisitions of The Matsco Companies, Inc., CAPCO, and ABD were accounted for using the purchase accounting method. All of the other acquisitions were accounted for as a pooling-of-interests and, accordingly, all of our financial information for the periods prior to the acquisitions has been restated as if these acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of the earliest reporting period presented.

 

Our Goals

 

We strive toward six primary goals. These goals are:

 

  ·   High Credit Quality.    Non-performing asset levels continue to be below our peer group. We have also implemented tighter underwriting standards and more aggressive management of non-accruals to adjust for the current economy.

 

  ·   Core Deposit Growth.    We strive to expand our deposit franchise internally through market penetration and cross-selling as part of our relationship banking model.

 

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  ·   Net Interest Margin.    Though declining rates have resulted in margin compression, we have eased the compression with our interest rate risk mitigation strategy and client relationship pricing initiatives. We manage our allocation of assets and liabilities so as to take advantage of anticipated changes in interest rates without putting either our future earnings or the market value of our portfolio equity at risk from unanticipated interest rate changes.

 

  ·   Non-interest Income.    We want to increase the percentage of our total revenue derived from fee income. The ABD acquisition increased our non-interest income as a percentage of revenues from 12.9% during 2001 to 31.4% during 2002.

 

  ·   Efficiency.    We continue to actively manage our efficiency ratio by reducing expenses and increasing individual productivity while always ensuring quality client service levels are maintained.

 

  ·   Relationship Management.    This value proposition continues to benefit our clients and our shareholders. As a market differentiator, the close relationship with a knowledgeable banker who has the expertise and authority to make client decisions appeals to business owners, managers and executives who demand a greater level of service.

 

Regional Community Banking Philosophy

 

In order to meet the demands of the increasingly competitive banking and financial services industries, we operate under a “Regional Community Banking Philosophy”. Our Regional Community Banking Philosophy is based on our belief that banking clients value doing business with locally managed banking offices that can provide a full service commercial banking relationship through an understanding of the clients’ financial needs and the flexibility to deliver customized solutions through our menu of products and services. We also believe that banks which affiliate with Greater Bay and implement our Regional Community Banking Philosophy are better able to build successful client relationships, as the holding company provides cost effective administrative support services while promoting local autonomy and flexibility in serving client needs.

 

Our banking subsidiaries have established strong reputations and client followings in their market areas through attention to client service and an understanding of client needs. The Banks’ reputations are the result of our relationship managers’ service efforts. The primary focus for the Banks' relationship managers is to cultivate and nurture their client relationships. Relationship managers are assigned to each borrowing client to provide continuity in the relationship. This emphasis on personalized relationships requires that all of the relationship managers maintain close ties to the communities in which they serve, so they are able to capitalize on their efforts through expanded business opportunities for the Banks.

 

While client service decisions and day-to-day operations are locally maintained, Greater Bay provides our banking offices expanded client support services, such as increased client lending capacity, business cash management, international trade finance services, and business insurance products. In addition, Greater Bay provides centralized administrative functions, including support in credit policy formulation and review, investment management, data processing, accounting, loan servicing and other specialized support functions. All of these centralized services are designed to enhance the ability of the relationship manager to expand their client relationship base.

 

Corporate Growth Strategy

 

Our primary goal is to become the preeminent independent financial services company in Northern California. Our primary business strategy is to focus on increasing our market share within the communities we serve through continued internal growth.

 

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Greater Bay Bancorp’s Family of Companies

 

We are organized primarily along community banking and insurance brokerage services business segments. We have aggregated 14 operating divisions into the community banking business segment. Our insurance brokerage services business segment consists of a single operating division, ABD, our insurance brokerage subsidiary. The services that our business segments provide are described further below.

 

Community Banking

 

We provide a wide range of commercial banking and financial services to small and medium-sized businesses, real estate developers and property managers, business executives, professionals and other individuals.

 

The Banks engage in the full complement of lending activities, including commercial, real estate and consumer loans. The Banks provide commercial loans for working capital and business expansion to small and medium-sized businesses with annual revenues generally in the range of $1.0 million to $100.0 million. We also provide an array of specialty finance products including international letters of credit and trade financing, loans to smaller businesses on which the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) generally provides guarantees, asset-based lending and accounts receivable factoring and loans and lease products tailored to the dental and veterinary health professions.

 

The Banks offer a wide range of deposit products, including personal and business checking and savings accounts, time deposits and individual retirement accounts. The Banks also offer a wide range of specialized services designed to attract and service the needs of clients and include cash management and international trade finance services for business clients, traveler’s checks, safe deposit and MasterCard and Visa merchant deposit services.

 

Through the Greater Bay Trust Company, a division of Cupertino National Bank, we provide trust services to support the trust needs of the Banks’ business and private banking clients. These services include, but are not limited to, custodial, investment management, estate planning resources and employee benefit plan services.

 

A summary of our banking subsidiaries’ assets, loans, deposits and banking offices at December 31, 2002 is as follows:

 

    

Assets


  

Loans


  

Deposits


    

Number of

banking offices


    

(Dollars in millions)

Bank of Petaluma

  

$

372.2

  

$

139.5

  

$

244.4

    

4

Bank of Santa Clara

  

 

550.7

  

 

219.8

  

 

336.3

    

8

Bay Area Bank

  

 

400.4

  

 

182.8

  

 

232.0

    

1

Bay Bank of Commerce

  

 

298.1

  

 

133.7

  

 

188.4

    

3

Coast Commercial Bank

  

 

582.5

  

 

241.8

  

 

394.9

    

7

Cupertino National Bank

  

 

2,253.6

  

 

1,735.3

  

 

1,210.3

    

7

Golden Gate Bank

  

 

465.4

  

 

206.9

  

 

262.8

    

1

Mid-Peninsula Bank

  

 

1,554.0

  

 

1,079.5

  

 

1,201.1

    

5

Mt. Diablo National Bank

  

 

501.0

  

 

187.9

  

 

355.8

    

4

Peninsula Bank of Commerce

  

 

534.5

  

 

217.3

  

 

329.1

    

1

San Jose National Bank

  

 

727.4

  

 

426.9

  

 

531.2

    

4

 

Insurance Brokerage Services

 

ABD is a commercial insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm operating throughout the western United States. ABD is engaged in selling commercial, personal property, casualty, employee benefits,

 

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life and retirement insurance products and providing consulting services to consumers of those products, enabling their clients to strengthen their risk management programs. At December 31, 2002, ABD had over $1.1 billion of insurance premiums serviced and $88.5 million in gross revenues for the ten-month period ended December 31, 2002.

 

Market Area

 

The Banks concentrate on marketing their services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals and individuals in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma Counties. All population data is as of January 2002 and was obtained from the State of California Department of Finance Demographic Research Unit.

 

  ·   Bank of Petaluma’s primary base of operations is in Petaluma, California and extends through Sonoma County. Sonoma County has a population of approximately 471,000.

 

  ·   Bank of Santa Clara’s primary base of operations is in Santa Clara, California, which is located in the geographic area referred to as the “Silicon Valley”. Bank of Santa Clara’s operation extends throughout Santa Clara County. Santa Clara County has a population of approximately 1,719,000.

 

  ·   Bay Area Bank’s primary base of operations is in Redwood City, California and includes central San Mateo County. San Mateo County has a population of approximately 717,000.

 

  ·   Bay Bank of Commerce’s primary base of operations is San Leandro, California and extends through Alameda and Southern Contra Costa Counties. Alameda County and Contra Costa County have populations of approximately 1,487,000 and 982,000, respectively.

 

  ·   Coast Commercial Bank’s primary base of operations is in Santa Cruz, California and extends through Santa Cruz County. Coast Commercial Bank also maintains a banking office in Monterey County. Santa Cruz County and Monterey County have populations of approximately 260,000 and 410,000, respectively.

 

  ·   Cupertino National Bank’s primary base of operations is in Cupertino, California, which is in the center of the geographic area referred to as the “Silicon Valley”. Cupertino National Bank’s operations extend throughout Santa Clara County.

 

  ·   Golden Gate Bank’s primary base of operations is centered in the City and County of San Francisco. San Francisco County has a population of approximately 794,000.

 

  ·   Mt. Diablo National Bank’s primary base of operations is Danville, California and extends through Contra Costa and northern Alameda Counties.

 

  ·   Mid-Peninsula Bank’s primary base of operations is centered in Palo Alto, California and extends from northern Santa Clara County through San Mateo County. Mid-Peninsula Bank also maintains banking offices in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin Counties. Marin County has a population of approximately 250,000.

 

  ·   Peninsula Bank of Commerce’s primary base of operations is centered in Millbrae, California, and includes northern San Mateo County and extends into San Francisco County.

 

  ·   San Jose National Bank’s primary base of operations is centered in San Jose, California, and includes Santa Clara County.

 

The commercial base of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, San Mateo and Sonoma Counties is diverse and includes computer and semiconductor manufacturing, professional services, biotechnology, printing and publishing, aerospace, defense and real estate construction, as well as wholesale and retail trade. As a result of our geographic concentration, our results depend largely upon economic conditions in these areas, which exhibited weakness in 2002. No assurance can be given that significant improvement in the economy will occur in 2003. A prolonged economic downturn could have a

 

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material adverse impact on the quality of our loan portfolio and the demand for our products and services, and accordingly on our results of operations. See “Item 1. Business—Factors That May Affect Future Results of Operations.”

 

We market our dental and veterinarian financing services nationally through our Matsco division. At December 31, 2002, approximately $487.7 million of Matsco’s outstanding loans and leases are with borrowers located outside of California. Those loans and leases are distributed throughout the United States, with the largest volume having been originated in Florida, where Matsco has outstanding loans and leases totaling approximately $38.4 million. Our asset based lending services are marketed through our offices in California and Bellevue, Washington, which covers the Pacific Northwest.

 

ABD provides commercial insurance brokerage, employee benefits consulting and risk management solutions to business clients throughout the United States.

 

Lending Activities

 

Underwriting and Credit Administration

 

Each Bank’s lending activities are guided by the basic lending policies established by Greater Bay and our Credit Policy Committee and approved by each Bank’s Board of Directors. Each loan must meet minimum underwriting criteria established in the Bank’s lending policy. Loan requests are approved on a pooled-authority basis up to a maximum limit for each Bank. Loan requests exceeding these limits are submitted to our Officers’ Loan Committee, which consists of the Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Greater Bay, the Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Mid-Peninsula Bank, the Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Greater Bay, and three Regional Credit Administrators. All members of the Officers’ Loan Committee are also officers of the individual Banks. Loan requests which exceed the limits of our Officers’ Loan Committee are submitted to the Directors’ Loan Committee. Each of these committees meets on a regular basis in order to provide timely responses to the Banks’ clients.

 

Our credit administration function includes an internal loan review and the regular use of an outside loan review firm. In addition, our Directors’ Loan Committee, Credit Risk Management Committee, Chief Administrative Officer/Chief Financial Officer and Controller review information at least once a month related to delinquencies, nonperforming assets, classified assets and other pertinent information to evaluate credit risk within each Bank’s loan portfolio and to review our allowance for loan losses. Additionally, our Credit Policy Committee reviews nonperforming assets and our allowance for loan losses quarterly.

 

Loan Portfolio

 

The composition of our gross loan portfolio at December 31, 2002 was as follows:

 

  ·   Approximately 43.0% were commercial loans;

 

  ·   Approximately 33.5% were commercial term real estate loans;

 

  ·   Approximately 14.8% were in real estate construction and land loans;

 

  ·   Approximately 5.2% were other real estate term loans, primarily secured by residential real estate; and

 

  ·   The balance of the portfolio consists of consumer loans.

 

The interest rates the Banks charge varies with the degree of risk, size and maturity of the loans. In addition, competition from other financial services companies and analyses of the client’s deposit relationship with the Bank and the Bank’s cost of funds impact the interest rate charged on loans.

 

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Commercial Loans.    In their commercial loan portfolios, the Banks provide personalized financial services to the diverse commercial and professional businesses in their market areas. Commercial loans, including those made by the Venture Banking Group, consist primarily of short-term loans (normally with a maturity of up to one year) to support business operations. The Banks focus on businesses with annual revenues generally between $1.0 million and $100.0 million with borrowing needs generally between $2.0 million and $10.0 million. The Banks’ commercial clients are drawn from a wide variety of manufacturing, technology, real estate, wholesale and service businesses. Commercial loans also include those loans made by the Greater Bay Corporate Finance Group.

 

Commercial loans typically include revolving lines of credit collateralized by inventory, accounts receivable and equipment. In underwriting commercial loans, we emphasize the borrower's earnings history, capitalization and secondary sources of repayment. In some instances, we require third party guarantees or highly liquid collateral (such as time deposits and investment securities). Commercial loan pricing is generally at a rate tied to the prime rate, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal, or the Banks' reference rates.

 

The Venture Banking Group provides innovative lending products and other financial services, tailored to the needs of start-up and development-stage companies. The Venture Banking Group’s typical clients include venture capital and technology companies, ranging from multimedia, software and telecommunications providers to biotechnology and medical device firms. Borrowings are generally secured by minimum cash balances, accounts receivable, intellectual property rights, inventory and equipment of the companies. The financial strength of these companies also tends to be bolstered by the presence of venture capital investors among their shareholders. Because many of these technology companies are in the start-up or development phase, they may not generate any revenues for several years. We often receive warrants from these companies as part of the compensation for our services. As of December 31, 2002, the Venture Banking Group had loans outstanding to start-up and development stage companies of approximately $4.8 million.

 

We participate as a preferred lender in many SBA programs through the Greater Bay Bank SBA Lending Group. As a preferred lender, we have authority to authorize, on behalf of the SBA, the SBA guaranty on loans under the 7A program. This can represent a substantial savings to the customer as this status results in more rapid turnaround of loan applications submitted to the SBA for approval. The SBA Lending Group utilizes both the 504 program, which is focused toward longer-term financing of buildings and other long-term assets, and the 7A program, which is primarily used for financing of the equipment, inventory and working capital needs of eligible businesses generally over a three-to-seven-year term. The collateral position in the SBA loans is enhanced by the SBA guaranty in the case of 7A loans, and by lower loan-to-value ratios under the 504 program. The SBA Lending Group generally sells the guaranteed portion of its SBA loans in the secondary market.

 

We offer a complete range of financial products and services through our Matsco division to meet the needs of dentists and veterinarians throughout their professional careers. Matsco’s principal financial products include practice start-up financing, practice expansion financing, practice acquisition financing, working capital and financing for retirement planning. These products are structured as either equipment leases or loans.

 

We offer asset-based lending and accounts receivable factoring products through our Pacific Business Funding and CAPCO divisions that provide alternative funding and support programs designed to enhance our small business banking services.

 

Commercial Real Estate Term Loans.    The Banks provide medium-term commercial real estate loans secured by commercial or industrial buildings where the owner either uses the property for business purposes or derives income from tenants. Our loan policies require the principal balance of the loan, generally between $400,000 and $15.0 million, to be no more than 70% of the lower of actual or stabilized appraised value of the underlying real estate collateral. The loans, which are typically secured by first deeds of trust only, generally have terms of no more than seven to ten years and are amortized over 20-25 years. Most of these loans have rates tied to the prime rate, with many adjusting whenever the prime rate changes; the remaining loans adjust every two or three years depending on the term of the loan.

 

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Real Estate Construction and Land Loans.    The Banks’ real estate construction loan activity focuses on providing short-term (generally less than one year maturity) loans to individuals and developers with whom the Banks have established relationships for the construction primarily of single family residences in the Banks’ market areas. Real estate construction loans for single family residences typically range between approximately $500,000 and $1.0 million, and for multi-unit projects typically ranging between approximately $1.5 million and $5.0 million.

 

Residential real estate construction loans are typically secured by first deeds of trust and require guarantees of the borrower. The economic viability of the project and the borrower’s creditworthiness are primary considerations in the loan underwriting decision. Generally, these loans provide an attractive yield, but may carry a higher than normal risk of loss or delinquency, particularly if general real estate values decline. The Banks utilize approved independent local appraisers and loan-to-value ratios which generally do not exceed 65% to 75% of the appraised value of the property. The Banks monitor projects during the construction phase through regular construction inspections and a disbursement program tied to the percentage of completion of each project.

 

The Banks also occasionally make land loans to borrowers who intend to construct a single family residence on the lot generally within twelve months. In addition, the Banks also make commercial real estate construction loans to high net worth clients with adequate liquidity for construction of office and warehouse properties. Such loans are typically secured by first deeds of trust and require guarantees of the borrower.

 

Other Real Estate Loans.    Other real estate loans include equity lines of credit secured primarily by second deeds of trust on single-family residences. Most of these loans bear interest rates based on the prime rate and have terms of no more than ten years. The other significant component included in other real estate is comprised of SBA loans participated under the 7a program. Such loans may be revolving and have maturities up to one year, or they may be amortizing over terms up to 25 years. In most cases, 7a loans are secured by both business assets and deeds of trust.

 

Consumer and Other Loans.    The Banks’ consumer and other loan portfolio is divided between installment loans secured by automobiles and aircraft, and home improvement loans and lines of credit which are often secured by residential real estate. Installment loans tend to be fixed rate and longer-term (one-to-five year maturity), while the equity lines of credit and home improvement loans are generally at a floating rate and are reviewed for renewal on an annual basis. The Banks also have a minimal portfolio of credit card loans, issued as an additional service to its clients.

 

We also provide a wide range of financial services to support the international banking needs of the Banks’ clients, including identifying certain risks of conducting business abroad and providing international letters of credit, documentary collections and other trade finance services. In 2001, the Export-Import Bank of the United States increased our International Banking Division’s delegated authority status from the “Medium” level to the “High” level to provide foreign receivable financing to local exporters. The Export-Import Bank allows “High” level delegated authority lenders to approve working capital loans up to $5.0 million per exporter, and to approve an aggregate total of up to $75.0 million in loans.

 

Deposits

 

The Banks obtain deposits primarily from small and medium-sized businesses, business executives, professionals and other individuals. Each of the Banks offers the usual and customary range of depository products that commercial banks provide to customers. The Banks’ deposits are not received from a single depositor or group of affiliated depositors, the loss of any one of which would have a material adverse effect on our business or any of the Banks. Rates paid on deposits vary among the categories of deposits due to different terms, the size of the individual deposit, and rates paid by competitors on similar deposits.

 

Cupertino National Bank has two business units that provide significant support to its deposit base. The Greater Bay Trust Company has approximately 10.2% of its trust assets under management in liquid funds that

 

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are retained in Cupertino National Bank savings accounts. At December 31, 2002, these funds totaled $62.2 million. The Venture Banking Group is another source of deposits as most of the start-up phase companies have significant liquidity that is deposited in Cupertino National Bank as part of the banking relationship. At December 31, 2002, the Venture Banking Group’s clients had $287.1 million in deposits at Cupertino National Bank.

 

Competition

 

The banking and financial services industry in California generally, and in the Banks’ market areas specifically, is highly competitive. The increasingly competitive environment is a result primarily of changes in regulation, changes in technology and product delivery systems, and the accelerating pace of consolidation among financial services providers. The Banks compete for loans, deposits, and customers with other commercial banks, savings and loan associations, securities and brokerage companies, mortgage companies, insurance companies, finance companies, money market funds, credit unions, and other nonbank financial service providers. Many of these competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets and offer a broader range of financial services than the Banks.

 

In order to compete with other financial services providers, the Banks principally rely upon local promotional activities, personal relationships established by officers, directors, and employees with their customers, and specialized services tailored to meet the needs of the communities served. In those instances where the Banks are unable to accommodate a customer’s needs, the Banks may arrange for those services to be provided by their correspondents. The Banks have 45 offices located in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma counties in California.

 

As of June 30, 2002, the latest date for which the FDIC branch data is available, the Banks’ deposits represented 3.05% of the deposits for all financial service companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, which includes Napa and Solano Counties in addition to the nine counties shown below. At that same date, the Banks’ deposits represented:

 

  ·   1.23% of the deposits for all financial service companies in Alameda County;

 

  ·   1.96% of the deposits for all financial service companies in Contra Costa County;

 

  ·   5.41% of the deposits for all financial service companies in San Mateo County;

 

  ·   8.12% of the deposits for all financial service companies in Santa Clara County;

 

  ·   10.45% of the deposits for all financial service companies in Santa Cruz County;

 

  ·   3.05% of the deposits for all financial service companies in Sonoma County; and

 

  ·   Less than 1.00% of the deposits for all financial service companies in Marin, Monterey, and San Francisco Counties.

 

Economic Conditions, Government Policies, Legislation, and Regulation

 

Our profitability, like most financial institutions, is primarily dependent on interest rate differentials. In general, the difference between the interest rates paid by the Banks on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and other borrowings, and the interest rates received by the Banks on their interest-earning assets, such as loans extended to their clients and securities held in their investment portfolios, comprise the major portion of our earnings. These rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of Greater Bay and the Banks, such as inflation, recession and unemployment, and the impact which future changes in domestic and foreign economic conditions might have on Greater Bay and the Banks cannot be predicted.

 

The monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government and the policies of regulatory agencies, particularly the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) influence our

 

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business. The Federal Reserve implements national monetary policies (with objectives such as curbing inflation and combating recession) through its open-market operations in U.S. Government securities by adjusting the required level of reserves for depository institutions subject to its reserve requirements, and by varying the target federal funds and discount rates applicable to borrowings by depository institutions. The actions of the Federal Reserve in these areas influence the growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits and also affect interest rates earned on interest-earning assets and paid on interest-bearing liabilities. We cannot fully predict the nature and impact on Greater Bay and the Banks of any future changes in monetary and fiscal policies.

 

From time to time, legislative acts, as well as regulations, are enacted which have the effect of increasing the cost of doing business, limiting or expanding permissible activities, or affecting the competitive balance between banks and other financial services providers. Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the operations and taxation of banks, bank holding companies, and other financial institutions and financial services providers are frequently made in the U.S. Congress, in the state legislatures, and before various regulatory agencies. See “Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation.”

 

Supervision and Regulation

 

General

 

Bank holding companies and banks are extensively regulated under both federal and state law. This regulation is intended primarily for the protection of depositors and the deposit insurance fund and not for the benefit of shareholders of Greater Bay. Set forth below is a summary description of the material laws and regulations which relate to the operations of Greater Bay and the Banks and recent regulatory developments affecting Greater Bay. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable laws and regulations.

 

Greater Bay

 

Greater Bay is a registered bank holding company, and subject to regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). In addition, and as further described below, effective on February 1, 2002, Greater Bay became a financial holding company under the BHCA as amended by the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act of 1999. See “—Financial Services Modernization Legislation.” Greater Bay is required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports and such additional information as the Federal Reserve may require pursuant to the BHCA. The Federal Reserve may conduct examinations of Greater Bay and its subsidiaries.

 

The Federal Reserve may require that Greater Bay terminate an activity or terminate control of or liquidate or divest certain subsidiaries, affiliates or investments when the Federal Reserve believes the activity or the control of the subsidiary or affiliate constitutes a significant risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any of its banking subsidiaries. The Federal Reserve also has the authority to regulate provisions of certain bank holding company debt, including the authority to impose interest ceilings and reserve requirements on such debt. Under certain circumstances, Greater Bay must file written notice and obtain approval from the Federal Reserve prior to purchasing or redeeming its equity securities. Furthermore, Greater Bay is required by the Federal Reserve to maintain certain levels of capital. See “—Capital Standards.”

 

As a bank holding company, Greater Bay is required, except in certain statutorily prescribed instances, to seek the prior approval of the Federal Reserve for the acquisition of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or substantially all of the assets of any bank or bank holding company and from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks, or furnishing services to its subsidiaries. When a bank holding company makes an effective election to become a financial holding company, the Federal Reserve Board’s prior approval is not required to acquire ownership or control of entities engaged in specified financial activities (not including other banks, bank holding company or savings associations). The existing restrictions on directly or indirectly acquiring a bank or bank holding

 

10


company are applicable to all bank holding companies and financial holding companies. Prior approval of the Federal Reserve is also required for the merger or consolidation of Greater Bay and another bank holding company.

 

Under Federal Reserve regulations, a holding company is required to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary banks and may not conduct its operations in an unsafe or unsound manner. In addition, it is the Federal Reserve’s policy that a holding company should stand ready to use available resources to provide adequate capital funds to its subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity and should maintain the financial flexibility and capital raising capacity to obtain additional resources for assisting its subsidiary banks. A holding company’s failure to meet its obligations to serve as a source of strength to its subsidiary banks will generally be considered by the Federal Reserve to be an unsafe and unsound banking practice or a violation of the Federal Reserve’s regulations or both.

 

Bank holding companies that elect to become a financial holding company, like Greater Bay, may affiliate with securities firms and insurance companies and engage in other activities that are financial in nature or are incidental or complementary to activities that are financial in nature. "Financial in nature" activities include:

 

  ·   securities underwriting;

 

  ·   dealing and market making;

 

  ·   sponsoring mutual funds and investment companies;

 

  ·   insurance underwriting and brokerage;

 

  ·   merchant banking; and

 

  ·   activities that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines from time to time to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto.

 

Prior to filing a declaration of its election to become a financial holding company, all of the bank holding company's depository institution subsidiaries must be well capitalized, well managed, and, except in limited circumstances, in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act.

 

Failure to sustain compliance with the financial holding company election requirements or correct any noncompliance within a fixed time period could lead to divestiture of subsidiary banks or require all activities of such company to conform to those permissible for a bank holding company. Moreover, low examination ratings, regulatory concerns regarding management, controls, assets, operations or other factors can all potentially result in practical limitations on the ability of a bank or holding company to engage in new activities, acquire new businesses, repurchase its stock or pay dividends, or continue to conduct existing activities. A bank holding company that is not also a financial holding company can only engage in banking and such other activities determined by the Federal Reserve to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto.

 

Cure Agreement

 

On January 3, 2003, Greater Bay received a notice from the Federal Reserve that followed the completion of the most recent regulatory examinations of Greater Bay and the Banks. In response to the notice, Greater Bay delivered to the Federal Reserve a corrective action plan designed to enhance its enterprise wide risk management program. Prior to receipt of the notice from the Federal Reserve, Greater Bay had already dedicated significant time and resources to addressing these items, and commenced many of the action items contained within the corrective action plan, including the appointment in December 2002 of a Chief Risk Officer to oversee Greater Bay’s Enterprise Wide Risk Management Group.

 

On February 17, 2003, Greater Bay entered into a cure agreement with the Federal Reserve which incorporates the terms of Greater Bay’s corrective action plan. To improve Greater Bay’s risk management

 

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program, the action plan requires enhancements to policies and procedures relating to interest rate sensitivity, liquidity and capital management, asset risk management, and compliance. In the area of interest rate sensitivity, Greater Bay will perform additional stress testing of its interest rate risk exposure under best case and worse case scenarios, review its interest rate risk limits and test its core deposit assumptions. Liquidity management will be augmented by stress testing the liquidity position under various scenarios and by developing a more sophisticated monitoring system for Greater Bay’s funding strategy. In addition, Greater Bay will establish a process to quantify and support the appropriateness of established capital limits relative to its risk profile. In the area of asset risk management, Greater Bay will establish commercial real estate concentration limits, improve the documentation supporting the allowance for loan and lease losses and strengthen systems relating to loan and investment policies. Greater Bay will also enhance the processes for identifying and monitoring legal risks to ensure future compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering laws.

 

To maintain its financial holding company status, Greater Bay must complete the corrective action plan by July 7, 2003 or such additional time as the Federal Reserve may permit. During this period, Greater Bay may not engage in new financial holding company activities or acquire nonbank subsidiaries engaged in financial activities without the prior written approval of the Federal Reserve. If the corrective action is not completed within the relevant time period, the Federal Reserve could impose additional limitations or conditions on our conduct or activities, require Greater Bay to divest its subsidiary Banks, or, at Greater Bay’s election, engage only in activities permissible for bank holding companies. Such a development would potentially adversely impact Greater Bay’s insurance brokerage activities conducted through Greater Bay’s subsidiary, ABD, although Greater Bay believes it could mitigate the impact of this development through alternative means of conducting these activities.

 

As part of its enterprise wide risk management program, Greater Bay continually evaluates the impact of its multi-bank charter structure on its operations, business, clients and regulatory compliance. While no decision has been made, we are exploring whether a simplified structure might enhance our risk management program and alleviate some of the issues addressed in the cure agreement. By maintaining our individual bank names, local bank management, our relationship style of banking and strong community involvement, a simplified structure may enable us to continue to operate under our Regional Community Banking Philosophy and, at the same time, enhance our risk management program.

 

The Banks

 

We have three national banking subsidiaries and eight bank subsidiaries which are California chartered banks and members of the Federal Reserve. The national banks are subject to primary supervision, regulation and periodic examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “Comptroller”) and are also subject to regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the Federal Reserve. The state-chartered banks are subject to primary supervision, regulation and periodic examination by the California Commissioner of Financial Institutions (“Commissioner”) and the Federal Reserve, and are subject to the regulations of the FDIC.

 

If, as a result of a bank examination, the Comptroller or the Federal Reserve should determine that the financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity, or other aspects of one of the Bank’s operations are unsatisfactory or that the bank or its management is violating or has violated any law or regulation, various remedies are available to these regulatory agencies. Such remedies include the power to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, to require affirmative action to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in capital, to restrict the growth of the Bank, to assess civil monetary penalties, to remove officers and directors, and ultimately to terminate the Bank’s deposit insurance, which for a California chartered bank would result in a revocation of the Bank’s charter. The Commissioner separately has many of the same remedial powers.

 

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The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

On July 30, 2002, President Bush signed into law The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This new legislation addresses accounting oversight and corporate governance matters, including:

 

  ·   the creation of a five-member oversight board appointed by the Securities & Exchange Commission that will set standards for accountants and have investigative and disciplinary powers;

 

  ·   the prohibition of accounting firms from providing various types of consulting services to public clients and requiring accounting firms to rotate partners among public client assignments every five years;

 

  ·   increased penalties for financial crimes;

 

  ·   expanded disclosure of corporate operations and internal controls and certification of financial statements;

 

  ·   enhanced controls on and reporting of insider trading; and

 

  ·   statutory separations between investment bankers and analysts.

 

We have implemented procedures to comply with the requirements for expanded disclosure of internal controls and the certification of the financial statements. A significant portion of the remaining items in the new legislation will become effective during 2003. We are currently evaluating what impacts the new legislation and its implementing regulations will have upon our operations, including a likely increase in certain outside professional costs.

 

USA Patriot Act of 2001

 

On October 26, 2001, President Bush signed the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (“Patriot Act”). The Patriot Act is intended to strengthen the U.S law enforcement and the intelligence communities’ abilities to work cohesively to combat terrorism on a variety of fronts. The potential impact of the Patriot Act on financial institutions of all kinds is significant and wide ranging. The Patriot Act contains sweeping anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws in addition to current requirements and requires various regulations, including:

 

  ·   due diligence requirements for financial institutions that administer, maintain, or manage private banks accounts or correspondent accounts for non-US persons;

 

  ·   standards for verifying customer identification at account opening;

 

  ·   rules to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators, and law enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering; and

 

  ·   reports by non-financial trades and businesses filed with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for transactions exceeding $10,000, and filing of suspicious activities reports by securities brokers and dealers if they believe a customer may be violating U.S. laws and regulations.

 

On July 23, 2002, the U.S. Treasury proposed regulations requiring institutions to incorporate into their written money laundering plans a customer identification program implementing reasonable procedures for:

 

  ·   verifying the identity of any person seeking to open an account, to the extent reasonable and practicable;

 

  ·   maintaining records of the information used to verify the person’s identity; and

 

  ·   determining whether the person appears on any list of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations.

 

Account is defined as a formal banking or business relationship established to provide ongoing services, dealings, or other financial transactions. We do not expect the proposed regulations will have a material impact on our operations.

 

Financial Services Modernization Legislation

 

General.    On November 12, 1999, President Clinton signed into law the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the “GLBA”). The general effect of the law is to establish a comprehensive framework to permit affiliations

 

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among commercial banks, insurance companies, securities firms, and other financial service providers by revising and expanding the BHCA framework to permit a holding company system to engage in a full range of financial activities through a new entity known as a Financial Holding Company.

 

The law also:

 

  ·   Broadened the activities that may be conducted by national banks, banking subsidiaries of bank holding companies, and their financial subsidiaries;

 

  ·   Provided an enhanced framework for protecting the privacy of consumer information;

 

  ·   Adopted a number of provisions related to the capitalization, membership, corporate governance, and other measures designed to modernize the Federal Home Loan Bank system;

 

  ·   Modified the laws governing the implementation of the Community Reinvestment Act; and

 

  ·   Addressed a variety of other legal and regulatory issues affecting both day-to-day operations and long-term activities of financial institutions.

 

Greater Bay and the Banks do not believe that the GLBA will have a material adverse effect on operations in the near-term. However, to the extent that it permits banks, securities firms, and insurance companies to affiliate, the financial services industry may experience further consolidation. The GLBA is intended to grant to community banks certain powers as a matter of right that larger institutions have accumulated on an ad hoc basis. Nevertheless, this act may have the result of increasing the amount of competition that Greater Bay and the Banks face from larger institutions and other types of companies offering financial products, many of which may have substantially more financial resources than Greater Bay and the Banks.

 

Expanded Bank Activities.    The GLBA also permits national banks to engage in expanded activities through the formation of financial subsidiaries. A national bank may have a subsidiary engaged in any activity authorized for national banks directly or any financial activity, except for insurance underwriting, insurance investments, real estate investment or development, or merchant banking, which may only be conducted through a subsidiary of a financial holding company. Financial activities include all activities permitted under new sections of the BHCA or permitted by regulation. Because California permits commercial banks chartered by the state to engage in any activity permissible for national banks, Greater Bay’s state-chartered bank subsidiaries will be permitted to form subsidiaries to engage in the activities authorized by the GLBA, to the same extent as a national bank.

 

A national bank seeking to have a financial subsidiary, and each of its depository institution affiliates, must be “well-capitalized,” “well-managed” and in compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. The total assets of all financial subsidiaries may not exceed the lesser of 45% of a bank’s total assets, or $50 billion. A national bank must exclude from its assets and equity all equity investments, including retained earnings, in a financial subsidiary. The assets of the subsidiary may not be consolidated with the bank’s assets. The bank must also have policies and procedures to assess financial subsidiary risk and protect the bank from such risks and potential liabilities.

 

Dividends and Other Transfers of Funds

 

Dividends from the Banks constitute the principal source of income to Greater Bay. Greater Bay is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Banks. The Banks are subject to various statutory and regulatory restrictions on their ability to pay dividends to Greater Bay. Under such restrictions, the amount available for payment of dividends to Greater Bay by the Banks totaled $87.2 million at December 31, 2002. In addition, the Banks’ regulators have the authority to prohibit any one of the Banks from paying dividends, depending upon the Bank’s respective financial condition, if such payment is deemed to constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.

 

Cross Guarantees

 

Our insured depository institution subsidiaries are also subject to cross-guaranty liability under federal law. This means that if one FDIC-insured depository institution subsidiary of a multi-institution bank holding

 

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company fails or requires FDIC assistance, the FDIC may assess commonly controlled depository institutions for the estimated losses suffered by the FDIC. Such a liability could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of any assessed subsidiary institution and on Greater Bay as the common parent. While the FDIC’s cross-guaranty claim is generally junior to the claim of depositors, holders of secured liabilities, general creditors and subordinated creditors, it is generally superior to the claims of shareholders and affiliates.

 

Transactions with Affiliates

 

The Banks are subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law on any extensions of credit to, or the issuance of a guarantee or letter of credit on behalf of, Greater Bay or other affiliates, the purchase of, or investments in, stock or other securities thereof, the taking of such securities as collateral for loans, and the purchase of assets of Greater Bay or other affiliates. Such restrictions prevent Greater Bay and such other affiliates from borrowing from the Bank unless the loans are secured by marketable obligations of designated amounts. Further, such secured loans and investments by the Banks to or in Greater Bay or to or in any other affiliate are limited, individually, to 10.0% of the respective bank’s capital and surplus (as defined by federal regulations), and such secured loans and investments are limited, in the aggregate, to 20.0% of the Bank’s capital and surplus (as defined by federal regulations). California law also imposes certain restrictions with respect to transactions involving Greater Bay and other controlling persons of the Banks. Additional restrictions on transactions with affiliates may be imposed on the Bank under the prompt corrective action provisions of federal law. See “ITEM 1. BUSINESS—Supervision and Regulation—Prompt Corrective Action and Other Enforcement Mechanisms.”

 

Capital Standards

 

The federal banking agencies have adopted risk-based minimum capital guidelines intended to provide a measure of capital that reflects the degree of risk associated with a banking organization’s operations for both transactions reported on the balance sheet as assets and transactions which are recorded as off balance sheet items. Under these guidelines, nominal dollar amounts of assets and credit equivalent amounts of off balance sheet items are multiplied by one of several risk adjustment percentages, which range from 0% for assets with low credit risk to 100% for assets with relatively high credit risk.

 

The guidelines require a minimum ratio of qualifying total capital to risk-adjusted assets of 8% and a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-adjusted assets of 4%. In addition to the risk-based guidelines, federal banking regulators require banking organizations to maintain a minimum amount of Tier 1 capital to total assets, referred to as the leverage ratio. For a banking organization rated in the highest of the five categories used by regulators to rate banking organizations, the minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to total assets must be 3%. In addition to these uniform risk-based capital guidelines and leverage ratios that apply across the industry, the regulators have the discretion to set individual minimum capital requirements for specific institutions at rates significantly above the minimum guidelines and ratios.

 

Prompt Corrective Action and Other Enforcement Mechanisms

 

Federal banking agencies possess broad powers to take corrective and other supervisory action to resolve the problems of insured depository institutions, including but not limited to those institutions that fall below one or more prescribed minimum capital ratios. Each federal banking agency has promulgated regulations defining the following five categories in which an insured depository institution will be placed, based on its capital ratios: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. At December 31, 2002, each of the Banks and Greater Bay exceeded the required ratios for classification as “well capitalized”.

 

An institution that, based upon its capital levels, is classified as well capitalized, adequately capitalized, or undercapitalized may be treated as though it were in the next lower capital category if the appropriate federal banking agency, after notice and opportunity for hearing, determines that an unsafe or unsound condition or an

 

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unsafe or unsound practice warrants such treatment. At each successive lower capital category, an insured depository institution is subject to more restrictions. The federal banking agencies, however, may not treat a significantly undercapitalized institution as critically undercapitalized unless its capital ratio actually warrants such treatment.

 

In addition to measures taken under the prompt corrective action provisions, commercial banking organizations may be subject to potential enforcement actions by the federal regulators for unsafe or unsound practices in conducting their businesses or for violations of any law, rule, regulation, or any condition imposed in writing by the agency or any written agreement with the agency. Finally, pursuant to an interagency agreement, the FDIC can examine any institution that has a substandard regulatory examination score or is considered undercapitalized—without the express permission of the institution’s primary regulator.

 

Safety and Soundness Standards

 

The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines designed to assist the federal banking agencies in identifying and addressing potential safety and soundness concerns before capital becomes impaired. The guidelines set forth operational and managerial standards relating to: (i) internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, (ii) loan documentation, (iii) credit underwriting, (iv) asset growth, (v) earnings, and (vi) compensation, fees and benefits. In addition, the federal banking agencies have also adopted safety and soundness guidelines with respect to asset quality and earnings standards. These guidelines provide six standards for establishing and maintaining a system to identify problem assets and prevent those assets from deteriorating. Under these standards, an insured depository institution should: (i) conduct periodic asset quality reviews to identify problem assets, (ii) estimate the inherent losses in problem assets and establish reserves that are sufficient to absorb estimated losses, (iii) compare problem asset totals to capital, (iv) take appropriate corrective action to resolve problem assets, (v) consider the size and potential risks of material asset concentrations, and (vi) provide periodic asset quality reports with adequate information for management and the board of directors to assess the level of asset risk. These new guidelines also set forth standards for evaluating and monitoring earnings and for ensuring that earnings are sufficient for the maintenance of adequate capital and reserves.

 

Premiums for Deposit Insurance

 

Through the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”), the FDIC insures the deposits of Greater Bay’s depository institution subsidiaries up to prescribed limits for each depositor. The amount of FDIC assessments paid by each BIF member institution is based on its relative risk of default as measured by regulatory capital ratios and other factors. Specifically, the assessment rate is based on the institution’s capitalization risk category and supervisory subgroup category. An institution's capitalization risk category is based on the FDIC’s determination of whether the institution is well capitalized, adequately capitalized or less than adequately capitalized. An institution's supervisory subgroup category is based on the FDIC’s assessment of the financial condition of the institution and the probability that FDIC intervention or other corrective action will be required.

 

The assessment rate currently ranges from zero to 27 cents per $100 of domestic deposits. The FDIC may increase or decrease the assessment rate schedule on a semi-annual basis. Due to continued growth in deposits and some recent bank failures, the BIF is nearing its minimum ratio of 1.25% of insured deposits as mandated by law. If the ratio drops below 1.25%, it is likely the FDIC will be required to assess premiums on all banks for the first time since 1996. Any increase in assessments or the assessment rate could have a material adverse effect on Greater Bay’s earnings, depending on the amount of the increase.

 

The FDIC is authorized to terminate a depository institution's deposit insurance upon a finding by the FDIC that the institution’s financial condition is unsafe or unsound or that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices or has violated any applicable rule, regulation, order or condition enacted or imposed by the institution's regulatory agency. The termination of deposit insurance for one or more of Greater Bay’s subsidiary depository institutions could have a material adverse effect on Greater Bay's earnings, depending on the collective size of the particular institutions involved.

 

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Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Developments

 

The Banks are subject to certain fair lending requirements and reporting obligations involving home mortgage lending operations and Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) activities. The CRA generally requires the federal banking agencies to evaluate the record of a financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its local communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. A bank may be subject to substantial penalties and corrective measures for a violation of certain fair lending laws. The federal banking agencies may take compliance with such laws and CRA obligations into account when regulating and supervising other activities. Furthermore, financial institutions are subject to annual reporting and public disclosure requirements for certain written agreements that are entered into between insured depository institutions or their affiliates and nongovernmental entities or persons that are made pursuant to, or in connection with, the fulfillment of the CRA.

 

A bank’s compliance with its CRA obligations is based on a performance-based evaluation system which bases CRA ratings on an institution’s lending service and investment performance. When a bank holding company applies for approval to acquire a bank or other bank holding company, the Federal Reserve will review the assessment of each subsidiary bank of the applicant bank holding company, and such records may be the basis for denying the application. The results of the most recent exam for each of the Banks are as follows

 

Bank


  

Date of most recent examination


  

CRA rating


Bay Area Bank

  

November 1999

  

Satisfactory

Bay Bank of Commerce

  

December 2001

  

Satisfactory

Bank of Petaluma

  

September 1998

  

Outstanding

Bank of Santa Clara

  

December 2002

  

Satisfactory

Coast Commercial Bank

  

December 2001

  

Satisfactory

Cupertino National Bank

  

October 1999

  

Outstanding

Golden Gate Bank

  

December 2002

  

Satisfactory

Mt. Diablo National Bank

  

February 1999

  

Satisfactory

Mid-Peninsula Bank

  

December 2001

  

Outstanding

Peninsula Bank of Commerce

  

December 2001

  

Satisfactory

San Jose National Bank

  

October 1999

  

Satisfactory

 

The regulatory agencies Cupertino National Bank and San Jose National Bank completed examinations of those institutions in December 2002. The regulatory agencies have not yet issued any reports on those examinations. Management does not expect any significant changes in these banks’ ratings.

 

Federal Reserve System

 

The Federal Reserve Board requires all depository institutions to maintain non-interest bearing reserves at specified levels against their transaction accounts (primarily checking, NOW, and Super NOW checking accounts) and non-personal time deposits. At December 31, 2002, the Banks were in compliance with these requirements.

 

Nonbank Subsidiaries

 

Many of Greater Bay's nonbank subsidiaries also are subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve and other applicable federal and state agencies. Greater Bay's insurance brokerage subsidiary is subject to regulation by applicable state insurance regulatory agencies. Greater Bay's securities brokerage subsidiary is regulated by the SEC, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and state securities regulators. Other nonbank subsidiaries of Greater Bay are subject to the laws and regulations of both the federal government and the various states in which they conduct business.

 

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Employees

 

At December 31, 2002, we had 1,735 full-time employees. None of the employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our employee relations to be satisfactory.

 

Website

 

Our website address is www.gbbk.com. We make available free of charge on our website our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such reports with the SEC. None of the information on or hyperlinked from our website is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Factors That May Affect Future Results of Operations

 

In addition to the other information contained in this report, the following risks may affect us. If any of these risks occurs, our business, financial condition or operating results could be adversely affected.

 

Changes in market interest rates may adversely affect our performance.

 

Our earnings are impacted by changing interest rates. Changes in interest rates impact the demand for new loans, the credit profile of existing loans, the rates received on loans and securities and rates paid on deposits and borrowings. The relationship between the rates received on loans and securities and the rates paid on deposits and borrowings is known as interest rate spread. Given our current volume and mix of interest-bearing liabilities and interest-earning assets, our interest rate spread could be expected to increase during times of rising interest rates and, conversely, to decline during times of falling interest rates. Significant fluctuations in interest rates may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our financial holding company status may be revoked if we fail to implement the corrective action plan incorporated as part of our cure agreement with the Federal Reserve.

 

As a result of the most recent regulatory examination of Greater Bay and the Banks, Greater Bay entered into a cure agreement with the Federal Reserve requiring Greater Bay to enhance its enterprise wide risk management program. To maintain its financial holding company status, Greater Bay must complete a corrective action plan required by the cure agreement. If Greater Bay fails to complete the corrective action plan in the time the Federal Reserve permits, Greater Bay may, at its option, divest itself of its subsidiary banks or limit its activities to those permissible for a bank holding company. This could adversely affect Greater Bay’s insurance brokerage activities conducted through ABD. See “Item 1—Supervision and Regulation”. Further regulatory action by the Federal Reserve or any other regulator may adversely affect our operations and our ability to pursue our business strategy.

 

We are subject to government regulation that could limit or restrict our activities, which in turn could adversely impact our operations.

 

The financial services industry is regulated extensively. Federal and state regulation is designed primarily to protect the deposit insurance funds and consumers, and not primarily for the benefit our shareholders. These regulations can sometimes impose significant limitations on our operations. In addition, these regulations are constantly evolving and may change significantly over time. Significant new laws or changes in existing laws or repeal of existing laws may cause our results to differ materially. Further, federal monetary policy, particularly as implemented through the Federal Reserve System, significantly affects credit conditions for us.

 

Our Bay Area business focus and economic conditions in the Bay Area could adversely affect our operations.

 

Our Bay Area business focus could adversely affect our operations if economic conditions in the Bay Area deteriorated. Our operations are located in Northern California and concentrated primarily in Alameda, Contra

 

18


Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties, which includes the area known as the “Silicon Valley.” As a result of this geographic concentration, our results depend largely upon economic and business conditions in these areas. The economy in our market areas has exhibited weakness.

 

Many publicly and privately held technology firms have experienced a decline in their stock prices and valuations. At the same time, firms in the technology industry have experienced greater difficulty than in the past in obtaining capital and funding. The inability of such firms to obtain necessary capital and funding has adversely affected existing business and resulted in a slowdown in the growth of the technology industry. A prolonged or further decline in economic and business conditions in our market areas, particularly in the technology and real estate industries on which the Bay Area depends, could have a material impact on the quality of our loan portfolio or the demand for our products and services, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. A continued weakening in the national economy might further exacerbate local economic conditions. The extent of the future impact of these events on economic and business conditions cannot be predicted.

 

Competition may adversely affect our performance.

 

The financial services business in our market areas is highly competitive. It is becoming increasingly competitive due to changes in regulation, technological advances, and the accelerating pace of consolidation among financial services providers. We face competition both in attracting deposits and in making loans. We compete for loans principally through the interest rates and loan fees we charge and the efficiency and quality of services we provide. Increasing levels of competition in the banking and financial services businesses may reduce our market share or cause the prices we charge for our services to fall. Our results may differ in future periods depending upon the nature or level of competition.

 

If a significant number of borrowers, guarantors and related parties fail to perform as required by the terms of their loans, we will sustain losses.

 

A significant source of risk arises from the possibility that losses will be sustained if a significant number of our borrowers, guarantors and related parties fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their loans. We have adopted underwriting and credit monitoring procedures and credit policies, including the establishment and review of the allowance for credit losses, that management believes are appropriate to minimize this risk by assessing the likelihood of nonperformance, tracking loan performance and diversifying our credit portfolio. These policies and procedures, however, may not prevent unexpected losses that could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Failure to successfully execute our growth strategy or to integrate recently acquired subsidiaries could adversely affect our performance.

 

Our financial performance and profitability will depend on our ability to execute our corporate growth strategy and manage our recent and possible future growth. Although management believes that it has substantially integrated the business and operations of recently acquired subsidiaries, there can be no assurance that unforeseen issues relating to the assimilation of these subsidiaries will not adversely affect us. In addition, any future acquisitions and our continued growth may present operating and other problems that could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our financial performance will also depend on our ability to maintain profitable operations through implementation of our Regional Community Banking Philosophy, which is described earlier. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be able to execute our growth strategy or maintain the level of profitability that we have recently experienced.

 

Our future warrant income can not be predicted.

 

We have historically obtained rights to acquire stock, in the form of warrants, in certain clients as part of negotiated credit facilities. We may not be able to realize gains from these equity instruments in future periods

 

19


due to fluctuations in the market prices of the underlying common stock of these companies. The timing and amount of income, if any, from the disposition of client warrants typically depend upon factors beyond our control, including the general condition of the public equity markets, levels of mergers and acquisitions activity, and legal and contractual restrictions on our ability to sell the underlying securities. Therefore, future gains cannot be predicted and are likely to vary materially from period to period.

 

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES.

 

We occupy our administrative offices under a lease which, including options to renew, expires in 2007. The Banks own nine of their offices and lease 70 additional offices throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Those leases expire under various dates, including options to renew, through December 2017.

 

We believe our present facilities are adequate for our present needs but anticipate the need for additional facilities as we continue to grow. We believe that, if necessary, we could secure suitable alternative facilities on similar terms without adversely affecting operations.

 

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

From time to time, we are involved in certain legal proceedings arising in the normal course of our business. Management believes that the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on us.

 

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

 

There were no submission of matters to a vote of securities holders during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

20


PART II

 

ITEM 5.     MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

 

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “GBBK”. The quotations shown reflect for the periods indicated the high and low closing sales prices for our common stock as reported by Nasdaq.

 

For the period indicated


  

High


  

Low


  

Cash dividends declared


2002

                    

Fourth quarter

  

$

18.98

  

$

13.62

  

$

0.125

Third quarter

  

 

29.06

  

 

17.69

  

 

0.125

Second quarter

  

 

36.77

  

 

28.78

  

 

0.125

First quarter

  

 

34.63

  

 

26.04

  

 

0.115

2001

                    

Fourth quarter

  

$

29.73

  

$

19.98

  

$

0.115

Third quarter

  

 

28.45

  

 

21.30

  

 

0.115

Second quarter

  

 

27.46

  

 

21.00

  

 

0.10  

First quarter

  

 

42.88

  

 

24.81

  

 

0.10  

 

We estimate that there were approximately 3,650 common shareholders and 95 convertible preferred shareholders of record at February 7, 2003.

 

For information on the ability of the Banks’ to pay dividends and make loans to Greater Bay, see “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—Financial Condition—Liquidity and Cash Flow” and Note 24 of the NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ITEM 6.    SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA.

 

Information regarding Selected Consolidated Financial Data appears on page A-1 under the caption “Selected Financial Highlights” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Information regarding MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS appears on pages A-2 through A-32 under the caption “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

Information regarding Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk appears on pages A-25 through A-29 under the caption “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

21


ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

 

Information regarding Financial Statements and Supplementary Data appears on A-33 through A-78 under the caption “CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS,” “CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS,” “CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME,” “CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY,” “CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS” and “NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

 

Not applicable.

 

22


PART III

 

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

 

We intend to file a definitive proxy statement for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”) with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2002. Information regarding directors of Greater Bay will appear under the caption “DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSALS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD—Proposal 1: “Election of Directors” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and executive officers will appear under the captions “INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS—Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance by Directors and Executive Officers” and “—Executive Officers” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

 

Information regarding executive compensation will appear under the captions “INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS—How We Compensate Executive Officers,” “—How We Compensate Directors,” “—Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment and Change of Control Arrangements,” “—Executive Committee’s Report on Executive Compensation,” “—Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “—Performance Graph” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

 

The following table summarizes information as of December 31, 2002 relating to equity compensation plans of Greater Bay pursuant to which grants of options, restricted stock, or other rights to acquire shares may be granted from time to time.

 

Plan category


    

Number of securities

to be issued upon

exercise of outstanding

options, warrants

and rights (a)


    

Weighted-average

exercise price of

outstanding options,

warrants and

rights (b)


    

Number of securities remaining available for future

issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))


Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

    

6,438,483

    

$

22.17

    

2,850,791

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(1)

    

15,110

    

 

9.54

    

—  

      
    

    

Total

    

6,453,593

    

 

22.14

    

2,850,791

      
    

    

(1)   The sole equity compensation plan not previously submitted to Greater Bay shareholders for approval is the Mt. Diablo Bancshares 1992 Stock Option Plan, as amended, which was assumed by Greater Bay in January 2000 in connection with Greater Bay’s acquisition of Mt. Diablo Bancshares and Mt. Diablo National Bank. Pursuant to this plan, options were originally available for grant to original Mt. Diablo employees, directors and organizers at no less than the fair market value of the stock subject to the option at the date of grant. As of December 31, 2002, no additional shares of Greater Bay were available for issuance under the plan.

 

Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters will appear under the caption “INFORMATION ABOUT GREATER BAY STOCK OWNERSHIP” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

23


ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

 

Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions will appear under the caption “INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS—Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

24


PART IV

 

ITEM 14.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Within the 90 days prior to the date of filing this report, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure of controls and procedures are effective.

 

There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of our evaluation.

 

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

 

(a)    1.    Financial Statements

 

The following documents are filed as part of this report:

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2002 and 2001

  

A-33

Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002

  

A-34

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002

  

A-35

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002

  

A-36

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002

  

A-37

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

  

A-38

Report of Independent Accountants

  

A-79

 

2.    Financial Statement Schedules

 

Not applicable.

 

3.    Exhibits

 

See Item 14(c) below.

 

(b)    Reports on Form 8-K

 

During the fourth quarter of 2002, the Company filed the following Current Reports on Form 8-K: (1) December 16, 2002 (reporting under Item 5, 7, and 9 the appointment of Kenneth Shannon as Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer and the declaration of the fourth quarter cash dividend); (2) November 8, 2002, (reporting under Item 5, 7, and 9 Greater Bay Bancorp’s slide presentation); (3) October 16, 2002 (reporting under Item 5, 7, and 9) release of 2002 third quarter financial results and 2002 and 2003 guidance).

 

(c)    Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K

 

Reference is made to the Exhibit Index on pages 30 through 32 for exhibits filed as part of this report.

 

(d)    Additional Financial Statements

 

Not applicable.

 

25


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 4th day of March, 2003.

 

GREATER BAY BANCORP

By

 

/s/    DAVID L. KALKBRENNER        


   

David L. Kalkbrenner

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature


  

Title


 

Date


/s/    DAVID L. KALKBRENNER        


David L. Kalkbrenner

  

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    STEVEN C. SMITH        


Steven C. Smith

  

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    ROBERT A. ARCHER        


Robert A. Archer

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    FREDERICK J. DE GROSZ        


Frederick J. de Grosz

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    SUSAN B. FORD        


Susan B. Ford

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    JOHN M. GATTO        


John M. Gatto

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    JAMES E. JACKSON        


James E. Jackson

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    STANLEY A. KANGAS        


Stanley A. Kangas

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    DANIEL G. LIBARLE        


Daniel G. Libarle

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    REX D. LINDSAY        


Rex D. Lindsay

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

 

26


 

Signature


  

Title


 

Date


/s/    ARTHUR K. LUND        


Arthur K. Lund

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    GEORGE M. MARCUS        


George M. Marcus

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    DUNCAN L. MATTESON        


Duncan L. Matteson

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    GLEN MCLAUGHLIN        


Glen McLaughlin

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    LINDA R. MEIER        


Linda R. Meier

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    DONALD H. SEILER        


Donald H. Seiler

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    WARREN R. THOITS        


Warren R. Thoits

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    JAMES C. THOMPSON        


James C. Thompson

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

/s/    THADDEUS J. WHALEN, JR.        


Thaddeus J. Whalen, Jr.

  

Director

 

March 4, 2003

 

27


CERTIFICATION

 

I, David L. Kalkbrenner, certify that:

 

  1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Greater Bay Bancorp;

 

  2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

 

  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

 

  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

 

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weakness in internal controls; and

 

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

  6.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective action with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

/s/    DAVID L. KALKBRENNER


David L. Kalkbrenner

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Date: March 4, 2003

 

28


CERTIFICATION

 

I, Steven C. Smith, certify that:

 

  1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Greater Bay Bancorp;

 

  2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

 

  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

 

  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

  a.   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

 

  b.   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  c.   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

  a.   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weakness in internal controls; and

 

  b.   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

  6.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective action with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

/s/    STEVEN C. SMITH


Steven C. Smith

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative

Officer and Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: March 4, 2003

 

29


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.


  

Exhibit


2

  

Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of March 11, 2002, by and among Greater Bay Bancorp, ABD Insurance and Financial Services, ABD Acquisition Corp. and Alburger Basso deGrosz Insurance Services Inc. (16)

3.1

  

Articles of Incorporation of Greater Bay Bancorp, as amended and restated (1)

3.2

  

Bylaws of Greater Bay Bancorp, as amended and restated (15)

3.3

  

Certificate of Determination of Series A Preferred Stock of Greater Bay Bancorp (filed as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 hereto)

3.4

  

Certificate of Determination of the Rights, Preferences, Privileges and Restrictions of Series B Preferred Stock of the Registrant (17)

4.1

  

Rights Agreement (2)

4.2

  

Certificate of Determination of the Rights, Preferences, Privileges and Restrictions of Series A Preferred Stock of the Registrant (See Exhibit 4.1 hereto)

4.3

  

Certificate of Determination of the Rights, Preferences, Privileges and Restrictions of Series B Preferred Stock of the Registrant (See Exhibit 3.4 hereto)

4.4

  

Indenture dated as of April 24, 2002 between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (18)

4.5

  

Form of Zero Coupon Senior Convertible Contingent Debt Securities (CODES) due 2002 (included in Exhibit 4.30) (18)

4.6

  

Resale Registration Rights Agreement among Greater Bay Bancorp, Lehman Brothers Inc. and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. dated as of April 24, 2002 (18)

4.7

  

Indenture between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as Debenture Trustee, dated as of August 12, 1998 (5)

4.8

  

Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of GBB Capital II, among Greater Bay Bancorp, Wilmington Trust Company and the Administrative Trustees named therein dated as of August 12, 1998 (5)

4.9

  

Common Securities Guarantee Agreement of Greater Bay Bancorp, dated as of August 12, 1998 (5)

4.10

  

Series B Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement of Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company dated as of November 27, 1998 (4)

4.11

  

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of GBB Capital III, dated as of March 23, 2000 (6)

4.12

  

Indenture, dated as of March 23, 2000, between Greater Bay Bancorp and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (6)

4.13

  

Guarantee Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2000, by and between Greater Bay Bancorp and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (6)

4.14

  

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of GBB Capital IV, dated as of May 19, 2000 (7)

4.15

  

Indenture, dated as of May 19, 2000, between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (7)

4.16

  

Common Securities Guarantee Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2000 between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (7)

4.17

  

Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2000, between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (1)

 

30


Exhibit No.


  

Exhibit


  4.18

  

Form of Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of GBB Capital V (8)

  4.19

  

Form of Indenture between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (8)

  4.20

  

Form of Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement (8)

  4.21

  

Form of Common Securities Guarantee Agreement (8)

  4.22

  

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of GBB Capital VI dated July 16, 2001 (8)

  4.23

  

Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2001, between Greater Bay Bancorp and The Bank of New York, as trustee (8)

  4.24

  

Guarantee Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2001, between Greater Bay Bancorp and The Bank of New York, as trustee (8)

  4.25

  

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of GBB Capital VII, dated as of April 10, 2002 (19)

  4.26

  

Indenture, dated as of April 10, 2002, between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company as Trustee (19)

  4.27

  

Guarantee Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2002, between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee (19)

10.1 (a)

  

Employment Agreement with David L. Kalkbrenner, dated as of January 1, 1999 (9) (10)

10.1 (b)

  

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement with David L. Kalkbrenner, dated as of December 11, 2000 (1) (9)

10.2

  

Employment Agreement with Byron Scordelis, dated March 26, 2001, effective as of May 15, 2001 (9) (11)

10.3

  

Employee Supplemental Compensation Benefits Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, between Greater Bay Bancorp and David L. Kalkbrenner (9) (10)

10.4

  

Employee Supplemental Compensation Benefits Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, between Mid-Peninsula Bank and Susan K. Black (9) (10)

10.5

  

Employee Supplemental Compensation Benefits Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, between Cupertino National Bank and David R. Hood (9) (10)

10.6

  

Employee Supplemental Compensation Benefits Agreement, dated as of April 6, 1998, between Greater Bay Bancorp and Gregg A. Johnson (9) (10)

10.7

  

Employee Supplemental Compensation Benefits Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, between Greater Bay Bancorp and Steven C. Smith (9) (10)

10.8

  

Greater Bay Bancorp 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (9) (15)

10.9

  

Greater Bay Bancorp Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (9) (20)

10.10

  

Greater Bay Bancorp Change in Control Pay Plan I, as amended and restated (9)

10.11

  

Greater Bay Bancorp Change in Control Pay Plan II, as amended and restated (9)

10.12

  

Greater Bay Bancorp Termination and Layoff Pay Plan I (9) (12)

10.13(a)

  

Greater Bay Bancorp Termination and Layoff Pay Plan II (9) (12)

10.13(b)

  

Amendment No. 1 to Greater Bay Bancorp Termination and Layoff Pay Plan II (9) (13)

10.14

  

Greater Bay Bancorp 1997 Elective Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended (1) (9)

10.15

  

Greater Bay Bancorp Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan (9) (14)

 

31


Exhibit No.


  

Exhibit


10.16

  

Form of Indemnification Agreement between Greater Bay Bancorp and with directors and certain executive officers (3)

10.17(a)

  

Term Loan and Security Agreement between Greater Bay Bancorp and US Bank, N.A. dated July 31, 2002, and form of Promissory Note

10.17(b)

  

First Amendment to Term Loan and Security Agreement between Greater Bay Bancorp and US Bank, N.A. dated December 16, 2002

10.18(a)

  

364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement among Greater Bay Bancorp, Initial Lenders (identified therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated as of December 16, 2002 and form of Promissory Note

10.18(b)

  

Pledge Agreement between Greater Bay Bancorp and Wells Fargo Bank, dated as of December 16, 2002

10.18(c)

  

Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2003, among Greater Bay Bancorp, Initial Lenders (identified therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, including form of Security Agreement

12.1

  

Statement re Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

21

  

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

23.1

  

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

99.1

  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act


  1.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2001
  2.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp's Form 8-A12G filed with the SEC on November 25, 1998
  3.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 5, 1997
  4.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 17, 1999
  5.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 28, 1998
  6.   Incorporated herein by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 12, 2000
  7.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 1, 2000
  8.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-65772 and 333-65772-01) filed with the SEC on July 25, 2001
  9.   Represents executive compensation plans and arrangements of Greater Bay Bancorp
10.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on January 31, 2000
11.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 3, 2001
12.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 1998
13.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 4, 1999
14.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-76004) filed with the SEC on December 27, 2001

 

32


15.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2002
16.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 24, 2002
17.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on April 23, 2002
18.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-96909) filed with the SEC on July 22, 2002
19.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 6, 2002
20.   Incorporated by reference from Greater Bay Bancorp’s Form S-8 (File No. 33-98943) filed with the SEC on August 29, 2002

 

33


SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The following table represents the selected financial information at and for the five years ended December 31, 2002:

 

    

2002


    

2001


    

2000*


    

1999*


    

1998*


 
    

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Statement of Operations Data

                                            

Interest income

  

$

505,412

 

  

$

507,241

 

  

$

423,639

 

  

$

298,634

 

  

$

244,269

 

Interest expense

  

 

159,418

 

  

 

199,956

 

  

 

165,892

 

  

 

110,710

 

  

 

90,219

 

    


  


  


  


  


Net interest income

  

 

345,994

 

  

 

307,285

 

  

 

257,747

 

  

 

187,924

 

  

 

154,050

 

Provision for loan losses

  

 

59,776

 

  

 

54,727

 

  

 

28,821

 

  

 

14,901

 

  

 

8,715

 

    


  


  


  


  


Net interest income after provision for loan losses

  

 

286,218

 

  

 

252,558

 

  

 

228,926

 

  

 

173,023

 

  

 

145,335

 

Non-interest income(1)

  

 

155,510

 

  

 

44,842

 

  

 

47,131

 

  

 

44,845

 

  

 

23,765

 

Operating expenses(1)

  

 

245,401

 

  

 

191,116

 

  

 

165,228

 

  

 

140,106

 

  

 

104,669

 

    


  


  


  


  


Income before income tax expense

  

 

196,327

 

  

 

106,284

 

  

 

110,829

 

  

 

77,762

 

  

 

64,431

 

Income tax expense

  

 

72,053

 

  

 

26,468

 

  

 

43,665

 

  

 

26,461

 

  

 

23,158

 

    


  


  


  


  


Net income

  

$

124,274

 

  

$

79,816

 

  

$

67,164

 

  

$

51,301

 

  

$

41,273

 

    


  


  


  


  


Per Share Data(2)

                                            

Net income per common share

                                            

Basic

  

$

2.35

 

  

$

1.61

 

  

$

1.40

 

  

$

1.15

 

  

$

0.95

 

Diluted

  

 

2.30

 

  

 

1.57

 

  

 

1.33

 

  

 

1.09

 

  

 

0.88

 

Cash dividends per common share(3)

  

 

0.49

 

  

 

0.43

 

  

 

0.35

 

  

 

0.24

 

  

 

0.19

 

Book value per common share

  

 

11.64

 

  

 

9.31

 

  

 

7.92

 

  

 

6.63

 

  

 

5.73

 

Common shares outstanding at year end

  

 

51,577,795

 

  

 

49,831,682

 

  

 

48,748,713

 

  

 

46,174,308

 

  

 

43,876,750

 

Average common shares outstanding

  

 

51,056,000

 

  

 

49,498,000

 

  

 

47,899,000

 

  

 

44,599,000

 

  

 

43,664,000

 

Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

  

 

54,135,000

 

  

 

50,940,000

 

  

 

50,519,000

 

  

 

47,078,000

 

  

 

46,741,000

 

Performance Ratios

                                            

Return on average assets

  

 

1.50

%

  

 

1.18

%

  

 

1.34

%

  

 

1.33

%

  

 

1.36

%

Return on average shareholders’ equity

  

 

20.29

%

  

 

17.77

%

  

 

19.21

%

  

 

18.92

%

  

 

17.69

%

Net interest margin

  

 

4.54

%

  

 

4.86

%

  

 

5.56

%

  

 

5.29

%

  

 

5.50

%

Dividend payout ratio(3)

  

 

23.61

%

  

 

27.88

%

  

 

27.82

%

  

 

20.80

%

  

 

20.93

%

Equity to assets ratio

  

 

8.43

%

  

 

5.89

%

  

 

6.63

%

  

 

7.11

%

  

 

7.50

%

Balance Sheet Data—At Period End

                                            

Assets

  

$

8,075,727

 

  

$

7,877,054

 

  

$

5,818,155

 

  

$

4,304,811

 

  

$

3,351,982

 

Loans, net

  

 

4,791,160

 

  

 

4,370,977

 

  

 

3,973,329

 

  

 

2,813,329

 

  

 

2,070,607

 

Investment securities

  

 

2,562,986

 

  

 

2,970,630

 

  

 

1,091,064

 

  

 

863,590

 

  

 

754,035

 

Deposits

  

 

5,272,273

 

  

 

4,990,071

 

  

 

4,750,404

 

  

 

3,736,621

 

  

 

2,869,341

 

Borrowings

  

 

1,737,243

 

  

 

2,095,896

 

  

 

463,267

 

  

 

150,577

 

  

 

135,095

 

Trust Preferred Securities

  

 

204,000

 

  

 

218,000

 

  

 

99,500

 

  

 

49,000

 

  

 

49,000

 

Preferred stock of real estate investment trust subsidiaries of the Banks

  

 

15,650

 

  

 

15,000

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

Convertible preferred stock

  

 

80,900

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

Common shareholders’ equity

  

 

600,159

 

  

 

463,684

 

  

 

385,948

 

  

 

306,114

 

  

 

251,436

 

Asset Quality Ratios

                                            

Nonperforming assets** to total loans and other real estate owned

  

 

0.80

%

  

 

0.69

%

  

 

0.32

%

  

 

0.26

%

  

 

0.25

%

Nonperforming assets** to total assets

  

 

0.47

%

  

 

0.39

%

  

 

0.22

%

  

 

0.17

%

  

 

0.15

%

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

  

 

2.70

%

  

 

2.77

%

  

 

2.24

%

  

 

1.89

%

  

 

1.82

%

Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming assets**

  

 

339.77

%

  

 

402.79

%

  

 

702.37

%

  

 

762.84

%

  

 

917.04

%

Net charge-offs to average loans

  

 

1.19

%

  

 

0.59

%

  

 

0.33

%

  

 

0.07

%

  

 

0.11

%

Regulatory Capital Ratios

                                            

Leverage Ratio

  

 

8.61

%

  

 

8.01

%

  

 

8.79

%

  

 

8.32

%

  

 

8.36

%

Tier 1 Capital

  

 

11.71

%

  

 

10.49

%

  

 

9.57

%

  

 

9.92

%

  

 

10.86

%

Total Capital

  

 

12.97

%

  

 

12.79

%

  

 

10.87

%

  

 

11.23

%

  

 

12.66

%


*   Restated on a historical basis to reflect the mergers described in notes 1 and 2 of the Company’s annual report on a pooling-of-interest basis.
**   Excludes accruing loans past due 90 days or more and restructured loans.
(1)   As a result of the ABD acquisition in March 2002, our 2002 results included insurance agency commissions and fees totaling $88.5 million and operating expenses totaling $73.6 million. There were no such insurance agency commissions and fees or expenses for prior years.
(2)   Restated to reflect 2-for-1 stock split effective as of April 30,1998 and the 2-for-1 stock split effective as of October 4, 2000.
(3)   Includes only those dividends declared by Greater Bay, and excludes those dividends paid by Greater Bay’s subsidiaries prior to the completion of their mergers with Greater Bay.

 

A-1


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

Greater Bay Bancorp (“Greater Bay”, on a parent-only basis, and “we” or “our”, on a consolidated basis) is a bank holding company with 11 bank subsidiaries: Bank of Petaluma, Bank of Santa Clara, Bay Area Bank, Bay Bank of Commerce, Coast Commercial Bank, Cupertino National Bank, Golden Gate Bank, Mid-Peninsula Bank, Mt. Diablo National Bank, Peninsula Bank of Commerce, and San Jose National Bank. We also have a commercial insurance brokerage subsidiary, ABD Insurance and Financial Services (“ABD”). We also conduct business through the following divisions: CAPCO, Greater Bay Bank Contra Costa Region, Greater Bay Bank Fremont Region, Greater Bay Bank Carmel, Greater Bay Bank Marin, Greater Bay Bank Santa Clara Valley Group, Greater Bay Bank SBA Lending Group, Greater Bay Corporate Finance Group, Greater Bay International Banking Division, Greater Bay Trust Company, Matsco, Pacific Business Funding and the Venture Banking Group.

 

In addition to these divisions, we have the following subsidiaries which issued trust preferred securities and purchased Greater Bay’s junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures: GBB Capital II, GBB Capital III, GBB Capital IV, GBB Capital V, GBB Capital VI, and GBB Capital VII. We also created CNB Investment Trust I (“CNBIT I”), CNB Investment Trust II (“CNBIT II”), MPB Investment Trust (“MPBIT”), and SJNB Investment Trust (“SJNBIT”), all of which are Maryland real estate investment trusts and wholly owned subsidiaries of Cupertino National Bank, Mid-Peninsula Bank, and San Jose National Bank, respectively. These entities were formed in order to provide flexibility in raising capital.

 

We provide a wide range of commercial banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, real estate developers, property managers, business executives, professionals and other individuals. We operate throughout the San Francisco Bay Area including Silicon Valley, San Francisco and the San Francisco Peninsula, the East Bay, Santa Cruz, Marin, Monterey, and Sonoma Counties. ABD provides commercial insurance brokerage, employee benefits consulting and risk management solutions to business clients throughout the United States. We also own a broker-dealer, which executes mutual fund transactions. CAPCO’s office is located in Bellevue, Washington and operates in the Pacific Northwest. Matsco markets its dental and veterinarian financing services nationally.

 

We have participated in eight acquisitions during the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, as described in Note 2 of the NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. With the exception of the acquisitions of The Matsco Companies, Inc., CAPCO, and ABD, all of these acquisitions were accounted for as a pooling-of-interests and, accordingly, all of our financial information for the periods prior to such acquisitions has been restated as if the acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented. The acquisitions with The Matsco Companies, Inc., CAPCO, and ABD were accounted for using the purchase accounting method and, accordingly, their results of operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the dates of acquisition.

 

All outstanding and weighted average share amounts presented in this report have been restated to reflect the 2-for-1 stock splits effective as of April 30, 1998 and as of October 4, 2000.

 

The following discussion and analysis is intended to provide greater details of our results of operations and financial condition. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the information under “Selected Financial Information” and our consolidated financial data included elsewhere in this document. Certain statements under this caption constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, competition in the geographic and business areas in which we conduct our operations, fluctuation in interest rates, credit quality and government regulation and other factors discussed in the annual report on

 

A-2


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

 

Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 under ITEM 1. “BUSINESS—Factors That May Affect Future Results of Operations”.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our accounting policies are integral to understanding the results reported. Accounting policies are described in detail in Note 1 of the NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Our most complex accounting policies require management’s judgment to ascertain the valuation of assets, liabilities, commitments and contingencies. We have established detailed policies and control procedures that are intended to ensure valuation methods are well controlled and applied consistently from period to period. In addition, the policies and procedures are intended to ensure that the process for changing methodologies occurs in an appropriate manner. The following is a brief description of our current accounting policies involving significant management valuation judgments.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The allowance for loan losses represents management’s best estimate of losses inherent in the existing loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is increased by the provision for loan losses charged to expense and reduced by loans charged off, net of recoveries. The allowance for loan losses is determined based on management’s assessment of several factors: reviews and evaluation of individual loans, changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions and the related impact on specific borrowers and industry groups, historical loan loss experiences and the level of classified and nonperforming loans.

 

Loans are considered impaired if, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The measurement of impaired loans is generally based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the historical effective interest rate stipulated in the loan agreement, except that all collateral-dependent loans are measured for impairment based on the fair value of the collateral. In measuring the fair value of the collateral, management uses assumptions and methodologies consistent with those that would be utilized by unrelated third parties.

 

Changes in the financial condition of individual borrowers, in economic conditions, in historical loss experience and in the condition of the various markets in which collateral may be sold may all affect the required level of the allowance for loan losses and the associated provision for loan losses.

 

Available for Sale Securities

 

The fair value of most securities classified as available for sale are based on quoted market prices. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are extrapolated from the quoted prices of similar instruments.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

As discussed in Note 3 of the NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, we must assess goodwill and other intangible assets each year for impairment. This assessment involves estimating cash flows for future periods. If the future cash flows were materially less than the recorded goodwill and other intangible assets balances, we would be required to take a charge against earnings to write down the assets to the lower value.

 

Deferred Tax Assets

 

We use an estimate of future earnings to support our position that the benefit of our deferred tax assets will be realized. If future income should prove non-existent or less than the amount of the deferred tax assets within

 

A-3


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

 

the tax years to which they may be applied, the asset may not be realized and our net income will be reduced. Our deferred tax assets are described further in Note 15 of the NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

Supplemental Employee Compensation Benefits Agreements

 

As described in detail in Note 17 of the NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, we have entered into supplemental employee compensation benefits agreements with certain executive and senior officers. The measurement of the liability under these agreements includes estimates involving life expectancy, length of time before retirement, and the expected returns on the bank owned life insurance policies used to fund those agreements. Should these estimates prove materially wrong, we could incur additional or reduced expense to provide the benefits.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table summarizes net income, earnings per share and key financial ratios for the periods indicated using key measurements. These measurements are based on our net income, as reported on the face of our financial statements that are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

    

Net income


 
    

Year ended December 31, 2002


      

Year ended December 31, 2001


      

Year ended December 31, 2000


 
    

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Net income

  

$

124,274

 

    

$

79,816

 

    

$

67,164

 

Earnings per common share:

                              

Basic

  

$

2.35

 

    

$

1.61

 

    

$

1.40

 

Diluted

  

$

2.30

 

    

$

1.57

 

    

$

1.33

 

Return on average assets

  

 

1.50

%

    

 

1.18

%

    

 

1.34

%

Return on average shareholders’ equity

  

 

20.29

%

    

 

17.77

%

    

 

19.21

%

 

Net income for 2002 increased 55.7% to $124.3 million, or $2.30 per diluted share, compared to net income of $79.8 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, for 2001.

 

The 55.7% increase in net income during 2002 as compared to 2001 was primarily the result of significant growth in average loans and investments and insurance agency commissions and fees resulting from the acquisition of ABD in March 2002 and absence of merger and other related costs, and was partially offset by a decrease in our net yield on interest earning assets and increases in our operating expenses. For 2002, net interest income increased 12.6% as compared to 2001. This increase was primarily due to a 20.4% increase in average interest-earning assets for 2002 as compared to 2001. Increases in operating expenses were required due to the acquisition of ABD and, to a lesser degree, to service and support our growth. Also, our 2002 results has $0 in merger and other related costs, as compared to $29.2 million ($17.6 million, net of taxes) in 2001. As a result, increases in revenue were partially offset for 2002 by a 28.4% increase in operating expenses, as compared to 2001.

 

Net income for 2001 increased 18.8% to $79.8 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, compared to net income of $67.2 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, for 2000.

 

The 18.8% increase in net income during 2001 as compared to 2000 was also primarily the result of significant growth in loans and investments. For 2001, net interest income increased 19.2% as compared to 2000. This increase was primarily due to a 36.4% increase in average interest-earning assets for 2001 as compared to

 

A-4


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

 

2000. The increases in loans, trust assets and deposits also contributed to the 8.5% increase in loan and international banking fees, service charges and other fees, and trust fees. Increases in operating expenses were required to service and support our growth. As a result, increases in revenue were partially offset for 2001 by a 15.7% increase in operating expenses, as compared to 2000. Results for 2001 included warrant income of $581,000 ($337,000, net of taxes) compared to $13.0 million ($7.6 million, net of taxes) during 2000. In addition, 2001 results included merger and other related costs of $29.2 million ($17.6 million, net of taxes) compared to $33.5 million ($21.9 million, net of taxes) in 2000.

 

Net Interest Income—Overview

 

Our interest rate risk (“IRR”) strategy focuses on mitigating IRR in our balance sheet. We primarily use on balance sheet matching techniques and, to a very limited extent, derivatives to manage IRR. Two years ago, our balance sheet had substantial IRR in a falling rate environment, as the majority of our loans had interest rates tied to the prime rate. Interest rates on those loans move downward immediately upon a market interest rate decrease, compared to our interest-bearing liabilities, which did not reprice as quickly, nor did they reprice to the same levels, as the interest rate sensitive loans. At that time, we initiated a program to shift the funding source for our specialty finance businesses, which consist of the CAPCO, Corporate Finance, Matsco and Pacific Business Funding divisions, from a core deposit base to a wholesale funding strategy. This funding shift corresponded with our original strategy for financing these niche specialty finance businesses. This strategy also changed our balance sheet to a more leveraged position that was designed to protect our net interest income in a declining interest rate environment.

 

Over the course of the last 24 months, interest rates have declined as reflected by the fed funds rate that has declined by over 525 basis points. The impact of the rapid decline in rates was substantially mitigated by our IRR strategy, while also protecting our net interest income. For 2002, our net interest margin declined 32 basis points from the net interest margin for 2001.

 

While in the short term market rates may continue to decline, we anticipate interest rates will rise in the future and believe we will benefit from a more asset-sensitive balance sheet over the next two to three years. To take advantage of this opportunity, we began a process to de-leverage the balance sheet by reducing the size of the investment portfolio and wholesale borrowings in the latter part of 2002. This de-leveraging strategy seeks to capture value on securities where prepayments are accelerating and to create a more asset-sensitive balance sheet by using investment cash flows to repay borrowings rather than be reinvested. In the short-term, we anticipate that increased core deposit and loan growth will mitigate loss of net interest income. However, even if core growth does not completely offset the net interest income shortfall in the short term, we believe this strategy will position us to take advantage of a rising rate environment with an asset-sensitive balance sheet. We will continue this process in 2003, with a target of approximately $2.0 billion for our investment securities portfolio, a reduction of $1.2 billion, or 37%, from its peak in early 2002. While $2.0 billion is currently the target for our investment portfolio, market conditions or a different mix of fixed rate versus variable rate assets could change the ultimate portfolio size and composition.

 

Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income increased 12.6% to $346.0 million in 2002 from $307.3 million in 2001. This increase was primarily due to the $1.3 billion, or 20.4%, increase in average interest-earning assets which was partially offset by a 32 basis point decrease in our net yield on interest-earning assets.

 

Net interest income increased 19.2% in 2001 from $257.7 million in 2000. This increase was primarily due to the $1.7 billion, or 36.4%, increase in average interest-earning assets and was partially offset by a 70 basis point decrease in our net yield on interest-earning assets.

 

A-5


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

 

 

The following table presents, for the years indicated, our condensed average balance sheet information together with interest income and yields earned on average interest-earning assets and interest expense and rates paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. Average balances are average daily balances.

 

 

   

Years ended December 31,


 
   

2002


   

2001


   

2000


 
   

Average

balance(1)


 

Interest


  

Average 

yield/rate


   

Average

balance(1)


 

Interest


  

Average