cfbi-10q_20190930.htm

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

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 requirements for the past 90 days. YES ☒ NO ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). YES ☒ NO ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ☐ NO ☒

As of November 12, 2019, 7,557,848 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding.

	September 30, 2019 (unaudited)			December 31, 2018
	(In thousands)
Assets

Cash and due from banks, including reserve requirement of $2,032 and $1,834 at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively	$	3,329			3,817
Interest-earning deposits in other depository institutions		34,672			33,212
Cash and cash equivalents		38,001			37,029
Investment securities held-to-maturity (estimated fair value of $993)		—			1,000
Investment securities available-for-sale		4,047			21,145
Federal Home Loan Bank stock		278			580
Loans, net		248,125			227,424
Other real estate owned		140			508
Premises and equipment, net		8,590			8,896
Bank owned life insurance		7,410			7,251
Accrued interest receivable and other assets		3,136			3,862
Total assets	$	309,727			307,695

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities:
Savings accounts	$	23,539			24,511
Interest-bearing checking		49,687			53,752
Market rate checking		31,054			24,936
Non-interest bearing checking		30,409			28,472
Certificate of deposits		94,367			87,510
Total deposits		229,056			219,181
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		—			7,570
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		4,124			4,546
Total liabilities		233,180			231,297

Stockholders' equity:
Common stock (par value $0.01 per share, 19,000,000 shares authorized, 7,671,224 issued and 7,557,848 outstanding at September 30, 2019 and 7,538,250 issued and 7,478,992 outstanding at December 31, 2018)		77			75
Preferred stock (1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares outstanding)		—			—
Additional paid in capital		33,251			33,078
Treasury stock, 113,376 shares at September 30, 2019, and 59,258 shares at December 31, 2018, at cost		(1,268	)		(668	)
Unearned ESOP shares		(2,600	)		(2,689	)
Retained earnings		47,082			47,043
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		5			(441	)
Total stockholders' equity		76,547			76,398
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	309,727			307,695

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(In thousands)
Interest income:
Loans, including fees	$	3,671			3,695		$	10,464			10,197
Investment securities, including dividends		63			142			332			446
Interest-earning deposits		148			156			448			321
Total interest income		3,882			3,993			11,244			10,964
Interest expense:
Deposits		579			423			1,635			1,104
Borrowings		—			38			26			112
Total interest expense		579			461			1,661			1,216
Net interest income before provision for loan losses		3,303			3,532			9,583			9,748
Provision for loan losses		—			200			—			500
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		3,303			3,332			9,583			9,248
Non-interest income:
Service charges on deposit accounts		260			230			620			572
Small Business Administration (SBA) loan fees		1			(69	)		8			585
Other		274			207			602			427
Total non-interest income		535			368			1,230			1,584
Non-interest expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits		1,861			1,417			5,519			4,798
Deferred compensation		67			56			171			159
Occupancy		465			458			1,421			1,299
Advertising		37			49			104			132
Data processing		748			233			1,360			684
Other real estate owned		2			39			19			100
Net gain on sale of other real estate owned		(8	)		(35	)		(104	)		(59	)
Legal and accounting		505			385			1,037			872
Organizational dues and subscriptions		60			81			213			236
Director compensation		49			63			145			171
Federal deposit insurance premiums		16			16			48			48
Other		319			344			935			824
Total non-interest expenses		4,121			3,106			10,868			9,264
Income (loss) before income taxes		(283	)		594			(55	)		1,568
Income tax expense (benefit)		(87	)		135			(94	)		158
Net income (loss)	$	(196	)		459		$	39			1,410
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	(0.03	)	$	0.06		$	0.01		$	0.19

	Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2019
															Accumulated
			Additional												Other
	Common		Paid In			Treasury			Unearned			Retained			Comprehensive
	Stock		Capital			Stock			ESOP Shares			Earnings			Income (Loss)			Total
					(In thousands)
Beginning balance December 31, 2017	$	75	$	33,063		$	—		$	(2,807	)	$	45,485		$	(152	)	$	75,664
ESOP loan payment and release of ESOP shares		—		4			—			29			—			—			33
Change in unrealized loss on investment securities available-for-sale		—		—			—			—			—			(381	)		(381	)
Net income		—		—			—			—			333			—			333
Ending balance March 31, 2018	$	75	$	33,067		$	—		$	(2,778	)	$	45,818		$	(533	)	$	75,649
ESOP loan payment and release of ESOP shares		—		3			—			30			—			—			33
Change in unrealized loss on investment securities available-for-sale		—		—			—			—			—			(2	)		(2	)
Net income		—		—			—			—			618			—			618
Ending balance June 30, 2018	$	75	$	33,070		$	—		$	(2,748	)	$	46,436		$	(535	)	$	76,298
ESOP loan payment and release of ESOP shares		—		5			—			29			—			—			34
Purchase of treasury stock		—		—			(248	)		—			—			—			(248	)
Change in unrealized loss on investment securities available-for-sale		—		—			—			—			—			(160	)		(160	)
Net income		—		—			—			—			459			—			459
Ending balance September 30, 2018	$	75	$	33,075		$	(248	)	$	(2,719	)	$	46,895		$	(695	)	$	76,383

Beginning balance December 31, 2018	$	75	$	33,078		$	(668	)	$	(2,689	)	$	47,043		$	(441	)	$	76,398
ESOP loan payment and release of ESOP shares		—		1			—			30			—			—			31
Purchase of treasury stock		—		—			(600	)		—			—			—			(600	)
Change in unrealized gain on investment securities available-for-sale		—		—			—			—			—			373			373
Net income		—		—			—			—			117			—			117
Ending balance March 31, 2019	$	75	$	33,079		$	(1,268	)	$	(2,659	)	$	47,160		$	(68	)	$	76,319
ESOP loan payment and release of ESOP shares		—		2			—			29			—			—			31
Issuance of restricted stock awards		2		43			—			—			—			—			45
Stock based compensation expense		—		24			—			—			—			—			24
Change in unrealized gain on investment securities available-for-sale		—		—			—			—			—			218			218
Net income		—		—			—			—			118			—			118
Ending balance June 30, 2019	$	77	$	33,148		$	(1,268	)	$	(2,630	)	$	47,278		$	150		$	76,755
ESOP loan payment and release of ESOP shares		—		—			—			30			—			—			30
Stock based compensation expense		—		103			—			—			—			—			103
Change in unrealized loss on investment securities available-for-sale		—		—			—			—			—			(145	)		(145	)
Net loss		—		—			—			—			(196	)		—			(196	)
Ending balance September 30, 2019	$	77	$	33,251		$	(1,268	)	$	(2,600	)	$	47,082		$	5		$	76,547

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2019			2018
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	39			1,410
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for loan losses		—			500
Depreciation and amortization		689			694
Stock-based compensation expense		173			—
Deferred income tax		(17	)		446
ESOP expense		91			100
Net gain on sale of investment securities available-for-sale		(147	)		—
Net gain on sale of other real estate owned		(104	)		(59	)
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance		(159	)		(177	)
Change in:
Accrued interest receivable and other assets		586			114
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		(422	)		91
Net cash provided by operating activities		729			3,119
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of premises and equipment		(265	)		(799	)
Proceeds from sale of investment securities available-for-sale		16,360			—
Proceeds from paydowns of investment securities available-for-sale		1,370			1,607
Proceeds from maturity of investment securities held-to-maturity		1,000			—
Purchases of other investments		—			(43	)
Proceeds from sales of other investments		302			—
Net change in loans		(20,841	)		(7,367	)
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned		612			172
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,462	)		(6,430	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in demand and savings deposits		9,875			19,257
Purchase of treasury stock		(600	)		(248	)
Repayment of FHLB advances		(7,570	)		—
Net cash provided by financing activities		1,705			19,009
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		972			15,698
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		37,029			25,098
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	38,001			40,796
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	1,669			1,213
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing activities:
Other real estate owned acquired through foreclosure		140			67

Community First Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) is a savings and loan holding company headquartered in Covington, Georgia. The Company has one operating subsidiary, Newton Federal Bank (the “Bank”), conducting banking activities primarily in Newton County, Georgia and surrounding counties. The main emphasis of the Bank is providing mortgage loans in its primary lending area. It offers such customary banking services as consumer and commercial checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, mortgage, commercial and consumer loans, money transfers and a variety of other banking services. In October 2018, we opened an indirect automobile loan division, Community First Auto.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2019 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods presented. The interim consolidated financial information should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s September 30, 2018 Form 10-K. The results of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year or for any other period.

On October 25, 2018, both the Company and the Bank changed their fiscal year end from September 30 to December 31. This change will bring the Company and the Bank in line with industry standards and will improve accounting and reporting efficiencies by making the fiscal year-end and the calendar year-end the same. As a result of the change in fiscal year, the Company filed a Transition Report on Form 10-QT covering the transition period from October 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates common to the banking industry that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term include, but are not limited to, the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of other real estate acquired in connection with foreclosure or in satisfaction of loans and valuation allowances associated with the realization of deferred tax assets, which are based on future taxable income.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to GAAP and general practices within the banking industry. There have been no material changes or developments in the application of principles or in our evaluation of the accounting estimates and the underlying assumptions or methodologies that we believe to be Critical Accounting Policies as disclosed in the Company’s financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2018 included in the Company’s Form 10-K.

Net income (loss) per share is calculated for the period that the Company’s shares of common stock were outstanding which includes the current quarter and the same quarter in the previous year. The net loss for the current period was $196,000 and the weighted average common shares outstanding were 7,557,848. The net income for the current year to date period was $39,000 and the weighted average common shares outstanding were 7,504,891.

There have been no pronouncements issued during the quarter that would have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

Our only U.S. government sponsored enterprise security matured during the quarter ended of September 30, 2019, and was a debt financing security issued by a government agency with an amortized cost of $1.0 million. As of December 31, 2018, there was one U.S. government sponsored enterprise security with an amortized cost of $1.0 million, an unrealized loss of $7,000 and estimated fair value of $993,000.

There were no sales of securities held-to-maturity during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 or 2018.

The one held-to-maturity security was pledged to secure public deposits at December 31, 2018.

Investment securities available-for-sale at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are as follows: (in thousands)

	Amortized		Gross Unrealized		Gross Unrealized			Estimated
September 30, 2019	Cost		Gains		Losses			Fair Value
Municipal securities - tax exempt	$	—		—		—			—
Municipal securities - taxable		—		—		—			—
Government agency securities		501		—		(2	)		499
Government agency mortgage-backed securities		3,539		10		(1	)		3,548
Total	$	4,040		10		(3	)		4,047
December 31, 2018
Municipal securities - tax exempt	$	5,670		12		(73	)		5,609
Municipal securities - taxable		3,119		—		(132	)		2,987
Government agency securities		501		—		(10	)		491
Government agency mortgage-backed securities		12,451		—		(393	)		12,058
Total	$	21,741		12		(608	)		21,145

There were two securities in an unrealized loss position less than 12 months and one security was in an unrealized loss position 12 months or greater as of September 30, 2019. The unrealized losses on the debt securities arose due to changing interest rates and market conditions and are considered temporary because of acceptable investment grades where the repayment sources of principal and interest are largely backed by U.S. Government sponsored agencies or financially stable municipalities. The Company does not intend to sell the investments and it is not likely that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis which may be at maturity.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities available-for-sale at September 30, 2019, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Maturities of mortgage-backed securities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Therefore, these securities are not included in the maturity categories. (in thousands)

During the three months ended September 30, 2019 the Company sold 39 available for sale securities with a book value of $16.2 million at a net gain of $147,000 to provide additional liquidity. There were no sales of securities available-for-sale during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Securities with a carrying value of $3.1 million and $1.8 million were pledged to secure public deposits at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

Major classifications of loans, by collateral code, at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are summarized as follows: (in thousands)

The Bank grants loans and extensions of credit to individuals and a variety of firms and corporations located primarily in Newton County and other surrounding Georgia counties. A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is collateralized by improved and unimproved real estate and is dependent upon the real estate market.

Qualifying loans in the amount of $113.8 million and $125.0 million were pledged to secure the line of credit from Federal Home Loan Bank (the “FHLB”) at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

The following table presents the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans by portfolio segment and based on impairment method as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018: (in thousands)

September 30, 2019	Commercial (Secured by Real Estate)			Commercial and Industrial			Construction, Land and Acquisition & Development			Residential Mortgage			Consumer Installment			Unallocated			Total
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	$	1,619			1,520			108			641			127			7			4,022
Provision		(193	)		(150	)		68			(291	)		561			5			—
Charge-offs		—			(26	)		—			(125	)		(5	)		—			(156	)
Recoveries		77			28			—			236			1			—			342
Ending balance	$	1,503			1,372			176			461			684			12			4,208
Ending allowance attributable to loans:
Individually evaluated for impairment		1			—			—			16			—			—			17
Collectively evaluated for impairment		1,502			1,372			176			445			684			12			4,191
Total ending allowance	$	1,503			1,372			176			461			684			12			4,208
Loans:
Individually evaluated for impairment		2,205			—			—			3,430			—			—			5,635
Collectively evaluated for impairment		53,030			26,609			21,912			119,398			25,749			—			246,698
Total loans	$	55,235			26,609			21,912			122,828			25,749			—			252,333

September 30, 2018
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning balance	$	1,747			803			329			1,648			74			9			4,610
Provision	$	(551	)		2,021			(168	)		(814	)		20			(8	)		500
Charge-offs	$	(6	)		(1,275	)		—			(1,425	)		(33	)		—			(2,739	)
Recoveries	$	122			121			17			1,278			—			—			1,538
Ending balance	$	1,312			1,670			178			687			61			1			3,909
Ending allowance attributable to loans:
Individually evaluated for impairment	$	3			29			—			7			—			—			39
Collectively evaluated for impairment	$	1,309			1,641			178			680			61			1			3,870
Total ending allowance	$	1,312			1,670			178			687			61			1			3,909
Loans:
Individually evaluated for impairment	$	1,858			29			—			5,429			6			—			7,322
Collectively evaluated for impairment	$	37,910			28,346			20,188			130,079			2,549			—			219,072
Total loans	$	39,768			28,375			20,188			135,508			2,555			—			226,394

The Bank individually evaluates all loans for impairment that are on nonaccrual status or are rated substandard (as described below). Additionally, all troubled debt restructurings are evaluated for impairment. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current events and circumstances, it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan will not be collected. Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, at the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Interest payments received on impaired loans are applied as a reduction of the outstanding principal balance.

Impaired loans at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were as follows: (in thousands)

September 30, 2019	Recorded Investment		Unpaid Principal Balance		Allocated Related Allowance		Average Recorded Investment		Interest Income Recognized
With no related allowance recorded:
Commercial (secured by real estate)	$	802		803		—		824		3
Commercial and industrial		—		—		—		—		—
Construction, land and acquisition & development		—		—		—		—		—
Residential mortgage		2,154		2,156		—		2,180		23
Consumer installment		—		—		—		—		—
		2,956		2,959		—		3,004		26
With an allowance recorded:
Commercial (secured by real estate)		1,403		1,404		1		1,426		22
Commercial and industrial		—		—		—		—		—
Construction, land and acquisition & development		—		—		—		—		—
Residential mortgage		1,276		1,276		16		1,177		20
Consumer installment		—		—		—		—		—
		2,679		2,680		17		2,603		42
Total impaired loans	$	5,635		5,639		17		5,607		68

December 31, 2018
With no related allowance recorded:
Commercial (secured by real estate)	$	167		1,023		—		185		6
Commercial and industrial		—		—		—		—		—
Construction, land and acquisition & development		—		—		—		—		—
Residential mortgage		3,458		4,265		—		3,287		37
Consumer installment		1		1		—		6		—
		3,626		5,289		—		3,478		43
With an allowance recorded:
Commercial (secured by real estate)		1,759		1,759		3		1,777		27
Commercial and industrial		27		27		—		14		—
Construction, land and acquisition & development		—		—		—		—		—
Residential mortgage		140		139		2		141		2
Consumer installment		—		—		—		—		—
		1,926		1,925		5		1,932		29
Total impaired loans	$	5,552		7,214		5		5,410		72

The following table presents the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans, as well as the recorded investment in nonaccrual loans, as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 by class of loans: (in thousands)

September 30, 2019	30 -59 Days Past Due		60- 89 Days Past Due		90 Days or Greater Past Due		Total Past Due		Current		Total		Nonaccrual
Commercial (secured by real estate)	$	—		26		657		683		54,552		55,235		905
Commercial and industrial		93		—		18		111		26,498		26,609		18
Construction, land and acquisition & development		—		—		—		—		21,912		21,912		—
Residential mortgage		230		1,572		238		2,040		120,788		122,828		1,243
Consumer installment		47		39		19		105		25,644		25,749		19
Total	$	370		1,637		932		2,939		249,394		252,333		2,185

December 31, 2018
Commercial (secured by real estate)	$	—		—		—		—		50,716		50,716		56
Commercial and industrial		—		—		—		—		25,612		25,612		27
Construction, land and acquisition & development		—		—		—		—		12,367		12,367		—
Residential mortgage		196		1,039		228		1,463		136,693		138,156		1,744
Consumer installment		9		1		1		11		4,584		4,595		1
Total	$	205		1,040		229		1,474		229,972		231,446		1,828

There were no loans past due 90 days or greater and still accruing interest as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

There were no new troubled debt restructurings during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 or 2018. One troubled debt restructuring subsequently defaulted during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. No troubled debt restructurings subsequently defaulted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

The Bank has allocated an allowance for loan losses of approximately $16,000 and $5,000 to customers whose loan terms have been modified in troubled debt restructurings as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

The Bank categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information and current economic trends, among other factors. The Bank analyzes loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. This analysis is performed on a continuous basis. The Bank uses the following definitions for its risk ratings:

Special Mention. Loans have potential weaknesses that may, if not corrected, weaken or inadequately protect the Bank's credit position at some future date. Weaknesses are generally the result of deviation from prudent lending practices, such as over advances on collateral. Credits in this category should, within a 12-month period, move to Pass if improved or drop to Substandard if poor trends continue.

Substandard. Inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or by the collateral pledged, if any. Loans have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses such as primary source of repayment is gone or severely impaired or cash flow is insufficient to reduce debt. There is a distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Doubtful. Loans have weaknesses of those classified Substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full highly questionable and improbable. The likelihood of a loss on an asset or portion of an asset classified Doubtful is high.

Loss. Loans considered uncollectible and of such little value that the continuance as a Bank asset is not warranted. This does not mean that the loan has no recovery or salvage value, but rather the asset should be charged off even though partial recovery may be possible in the future.

Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered to be Pass rated loans. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans is as follows: (in thousands)

The aggregate amounts of certificates of deposit of $250,000 or more, the standard FDIC deposit insurance coverage limit per depositor, were approximately $17.1 million at September 30, 2019 and $14.2 million at December 31, 2018. The aggregate amounts of certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more were approximately $49.1 million at September 30, 2019 and $42.4 million at December 31, 2018.

The following Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”) advances, which required monthly or quarterly interest payments, were outstanding at December 31, 2018:

All of these advances were repaid during the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The FHLB advances were collateralized by certain loans which totaled approximately $125.0 million at December 31, 2018, and by the Company’s investment in FHLB stock which totaled approximately $580,000 at December 31, 2018.

The Company had one FHLB letter of credit of $4.5 million and $5.0 million, used to collateralize public deposits, outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

The Company sponsors an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) that covers all employees who meet certain service requirements. The Company makes annual contributions to the ESOP in amounts as defined by the plan document. These contributions are used to pay debt service and purchase additional shares. Certain ESOP shares are pledged as collateral for debt. As the debt is repaid, shares are released from collateral and allocated to active employees, based on the proportion of debt service paid in the year.

In April 2017, the ESOP borrowed $3.0 million payable to the Company for the purpose of purchasing shares of the Company’s common stock. A total of 295,499 shares were purchased with the loan proceeds as part of the Company’s initial stock offering. Total ESOP expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $30,000, $34,000, $91,000 and $100,000, respectively. The balance of the note payable of the ESOP was $2.7 million and $2.8 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Because the source of the loan payments is contributions received by the ESOP from the Company, the related note receivable is shown as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. As of September 30, 2019, 23,600 shares had been released.

In August 2018, shareholders approved, the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, which authorizes the issuance of up to 517,123 shares of common stock pursuant to restricted stock grants and up to 369,374 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of options.

A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock option grants, while the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant is used to estimate the fair value of restricted stock awards. The weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model for valuing stock option grants were as follows: Dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility of 20.35%; risk-free interest rate of 2.41%; expected average life of 7.5 years; and the weighted average per share fair value of options of $2.97.

Stock options of 247,479 with a weighted average exercise price of $10.10 were granted during the three months ended June 30, 2019. No options were granted during the three months ended September 30, 2019. No options were exercised or forfeited during the three months ended September 30, 2019. The weighted average remaining life of outstanding stock options at September 30, 2019, is 4.6 years and they have an aggregate intrinsic value of $0. The weighted average remaining life of exercisable stock options at September 30, 2019, is 4.6 years and they have an aggregate intrinsic value of $0.

Restricted stock of 132,974 shares with a weighted average grant date fair value of $10.10 was granted during the three months ended June 30, 2019. No shares were granted during the three months ended September 30, 2019. No stock has yet vested and none has been forfeited. There are 132,974 restricted shares outstanding with a weighted average grant date fair value of $10.10 at September 30, 2019.

The Company recognized approximately $103,000 and $173,000 of stock-based compensation expense (included in salary and employee benefits on the consolidated statements of income) during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, associated with its common stock awards granted to directors and officers. As of September 30, 2019, there was approximately $1.9 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to equity award grants. The cost is expected to be recognized over the remaining vesting period of approximately 4.6 years.

The Company utilizes fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. From time to time, the Company may be required to record at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis, such as impaired loans and other real estate owned. These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve application of the lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets. Additionally, the Company is required to disclose, but not record, the fair value of other financial instruments.

The Company groups assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. These levels are:

Level 1 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

Level 2 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

Level 3 – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

Following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value.

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Available-for-sale securities are recorded at market value. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using independent pricing models or other model-based valuation techniques such as the present value of future cash flows, adjusted for the security’s credit rating, prepayment assumptions and other factors such as credit loss assumptions. Level 1 securities include those traded on an active exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, and U.S. Treasury securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter market funds. Level 2 securities include mortgage-backed securities issued by government sponsored enterprises and state, county and municipal bonds. Securities classified as Level 3 include asset-backed securities in less liquid markets.

Held-to-maturity securities are recorded at cost, adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using independent pricing models or other model-based valuation techniques such as the present value of future cash flows, adjusted for the security’s credit rating, prepayment assumptions and other factors such as credit loss assumptions. Level 1 securities include those traded on an active exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, and U.S. Treasury securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter market funds. Level 2 securities include mortgage-backed securities issued by government sponsored enterprises and state, county and municipal bonds. Securities classified as Level 3 include asset-backed securities in less liquid markets.

The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, a loan is considered impaired and a specific reserve is established within the allowance for loan losses. Loans for which it is probable that payment of interest and principal will not be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement are considered impaired. Once a loan is identified as individually impaired, management measures impairment in accordance with GAAP. The fair value of impaired loans is estimated using one of three methods, including collateral value, market value of similar debt, and discounted cash flows. Those impaired loans not requiring an allowance represent loans for which the fair value of the expected repayments or collateral exceed the recorded investments in such loans. In accordance with GAAP, impaired loans where an allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral require classification in the fair value hierarchy. When the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price, the Company records the impaired loan as nonrecurring Level 2. When an appraised value is used or an appraisal is not available or management determines the fair value of the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value and there is no observable market price, the Company records the impaired loan as nonrecurring Level 3. For disclosure purposes, the fair value of fixed rate loans which are not considered impaired is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be

made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. For unimpaired variable rate loans, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value for disclosure purposes.

Other real estate properties are adjusted to fair value upon transfer of the loans to other real estate. Subsequently, other real estate assets are carried at fair value less estimated selling costs. Fair value is based upon independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral or management’s estimation of the value of the collateral. When the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price, the Bank records the other real estate as nonrecurring Level 2. When an appraised value is used or an appraisal is not available or management determines the fair value of the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value and there is no observable market price, the Bank records the other real estate asset as nonrecurring Level 3.

The carrying value of the cash surrender value of life insurance reasonably approximates fair value.

The fair value of savings accounts, interest bearing checking accounts, non-interest bearing checking accounts and market rate checking accounts is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date, while the fair value of fixed maturity certificates of deposit is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using current rates at which comparable certificates would be issued.

The fair value of Federal Home Loan Bank fixed rate borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows, based on the current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

Commitments to extend credit are short-term and, therefore, the carrying value and the fair value are considered immaterial for disclosure.

The Company’s only assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are available-for-sale securities that had fair values of approximately $4.0 million and $21.1 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. They are classified as Level 2.

The Company may be required, from time to time, to measure certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP. These include assets that are measured at the lower of cost or market that were recognized at fair value below cost at the end of the period. Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are included in the table below as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands).

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values (in thousands) of the Company’s financial instruments at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are as follows:

	September 30, 2019				December 31, 2018
	Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
	Amount		Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	38,001		38,001		37,029		37,029
Investment securities
available-for-sale	$	4,047		4,047		21,145		21,145
held-to-maturity	$	—		—		1,000		993
FHLB Stock	$	278		278		580		580
Loans, net	$	248,125		226,605		227,424		198,403
Cash surrender value of life insurance	$	7,410		7,410		7,251		7,251
Financial liabilities:
Deposits	$	229,056		230,100		219,181		219,319
FHLB advances	$	—		—		7,570		7,656

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on many judgments. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. Significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments include deferred income taxes and premises and equipment. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in the estimates.

On August 19, 2019, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Community Interim Corporation, which has been formed to facilitate the Merger (defined below), and ABB Financial Group, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“ABB”), pursuant to which Community Interim Corporation will merge with and into ABB, with ABB as the surviving corporation. Immediately thereafter, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, ABB will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation. These transactions are referred to as the “Merger.” Following the consummation of the Merger, Affinity Bank, a Georgia-chartered bank and the wholly-owned subsidiary of ABB, will merge with and into the Bank, with the Bank as the surviving institution.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of ABB common stock will be converted into the right to receive $7.50 in cash. Including consideration to be received by holders of options to purchase ABB common stock, the transaction is valued at approximately $40.3 million. In addition, $5.9 million of preferred stock that has been issued by ABB will be redeemed, and $1.4 million of trust preferred securities issued by a subsidiary of ABB will be acquired by the Company and canceled. All accrued but unpaid dividends and interest will be paid on the preferred stock and trust preferred securities.

The Merger is expected to close either late in the fourth quarter of 2019 or the first quarter of 2020. The Merger is subject to approval by ABB’s stockholders as well as regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing in Part I, Item 1, of this report on Form 10-Q.

This report contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “target” and words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

These forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. We are under no duty to and do not take any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this report.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements:

Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements.

A summary of our accounting policies is described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018. The discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which are prepared in conformity with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of income and expenses. We consider the accounting policies discussed below to be significant accounting policies. The estimates and assumptions that we use are based on historical experience and various other factors and are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions, resulting in a change that could have a material impact on the carrying value of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.

The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) contains provisions that, among other things, reduce certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. As an “emerging growth company” we may delay adoption of new or revised accounting pronouncements applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are made applicable to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Accordingly, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is a reserve for estimated credit losses on individually evaluated loans determined to be impaired as well as estimated credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Actual credit losses, net of recoveries, are deducted from the allowance for loan losses. Loans are charged off when management believes that the collectability of the principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance for loan losses. A provision for loan losses, which is a charge against earnings, is recorded to bring the allowance for loan losses to a level that, in management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb probable losses in the loan portfolio. Management’s evaluation process used to determine the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses is subject to the use of estimates, assumptions, and judgment. The evaluation process involves gathering and interpreting many qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect probable credit losses. Because interpretation and analysis involves judgment, current economic or business conditions can change, and future events are inherently difficult to predict, the anticipated amount of estimated loan losses and therefore the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses could change significantly.

The allocation methodology applied by the Bank is designed to assess the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses and includes allocations for specifically identified impaired loans and loss factor allocations for all remaining loans, with a component primarily based on historical loss rates and a component primarily based on other qualitative factors. The methodology includes evaluation and consideration of several factors, such as, but not limited to, management’s ongoing review and grading of loans, facts and issues related to specific loans, historical loan loss and delinquency experience, trends in past due and non-accrual loans, existing risk characteristics of specific loans or loan pools, the fair value of underlying collateral, current economic conditions and other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect potential credit losses. While management uses the best information available to make its evaluation, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if there are significant changes in economic conditions or circumstances underlying the collectability of loans. Because each of the criteria used is subject to change, the allocation of the allowance for loan losses is made for analytical purposes and is not necessarily indicative of the trend of future loan losses in any particular loan category. The total allowance is available to absorb losses from any segment of the loan portfolio. Management believes the allowance for loan losses was appropriate at September 30, 2019. The allowance analysis is reviewed by the board of directors on a quarterly basis in compliance with regulatory requirements. In addition, various regulatory agencies periodically review the allowance for loan losses. As a result of such reviews, we may have to adjust our allowance for loan losses. However, regulatory agencies are not directly involved in the process of establishing the allowance for loan losses as the process is the responsibility of the Bank and any increase or decrease in the allowance is the responsibility of management.

Income Taxes. The assessment of income tax assets and liabilities involves the use of estimates, assumptions, interpretation, and judgment concerning certain accounting pronouncements and federal and state tax codes. There can be no assurance that future events, such as court decisions or positions of federal and state taxing authorities, will not differ from management’s current assessment, the impact of which could be significant to the results of operations and reported earnings.

The Company and the Bank file a federal and a state income tax return. Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes and do not necessarily represent amounts currently payable under tax laws. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed annually for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax law rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income tax expense. Valuation allowances are established when it is more likely than not that a portion of the full amount of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. The Company may also recognize a liability for unrecognized tax benefits from uncertain tax positions. Unrecognized tax benefits represent the differences between a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit recognized and measured in the financial statements. Penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense.

Total assets increased $2.0 million, or 0.6%, to $309.7 million at September 30, 2019 from $307.7 million at December 31, 2018. The increase was due primarily to an increase in loans, partially offset by a decrease in investment securities.

Cash and cash equivalents increased $972,000, or 2.6%, to $38.0 million at September 30, 2019 from $37.0 million at December 31, 2018, as investment securities were sold and deposits increased partially offset by use of cash to fund loan growth.

Loans increased $20.7 million, or 9.1%, to $248.1 million at September 30, 2019 from $227.4 million at December 31, 2018. Construction loans increased $9.5 million, or 77.2%, to $21.9 million at September 30, 2019 from $12.4 million at December 31, 2018 as draws on previously closed construction loans were disbursed and as new construction loans were made, including a $1.3 million Small Business Administration construction loan. Consumer loans increased $21.2 million or 460.4% to $25.7 million at September 30, 2019 from $4.6 million at December 31, 2018, as we opened our indirect automobile lending division, Community First Auto, in October 2018 and have seen loan volume increase significantly as more automobile dealership relationships were established. Commercial real estate loans increased $4.5 million, or 8.9% to $55.2 million at September 30, 2019 from $50.7 million at December 31, 2018 and commercial and industrial increased $997,000, or 3.9%, to $26.6 million at September 30, 2019 from $25.6 million at December 31, 2018. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in one-to-four family residential real estate loans of $15.3 million, or 11.1%, to $122.8 million at September 30, 2019 from $138.2 million at December 31, 2018 as mortgage loans continue to be refinanced at lower rates than we offer.

Securities available-for-sale decreased $17.1 million to $4.0 million at September 30, 2019 from $21.1 million at December 31, 2018, due to the sale of a large portion of the investment portfolio to fund loan growth and by paydowns on mortgage-backed securities.

Total deposits increased $9.9 million, or 4.5%, to $229.1 million at September 30, 2019 from $219.2 million at December 31, 2018. The increase included increases of $6.9 million, or 7.8% in certificates of deposit, $6.1 million, or 24.5%, in market rate checking accounts, and $1.9 million, or 6.8%, in non-interest-bearing checking accounts, partially offset by decreases of $4.1 million, or 7.6%, in interest-bearing checking accounts and $972,000, or 4.0%, in savings accounts.

We had no outstanding borrowings at September 30, 2019, compared to $7.6 million of Federal Home Loan Bank advances at December 31, 2018, as we have funded our operations with excess cash provided by an increase in deposits and the sale of investment securities.

Stockholders’ equity was $76.5 million at September 30, 2019, compared to $76.4 million at December 31, 2018. Net income of $39,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income from increases in the fair value of our securities during the period contributed to the increase in stockholders’ equity.

The following tables set forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the periods indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are monthly average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts, and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or interest expense.

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2019								2018
	Average Outstanding Balance			Interest		Average Yield/Rate			Average Outstanding Balance			Interest		Average Yield/Rate
	(Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
Loans	$	244,329		$	3,671		6.01	%	$	220,375		$	3,695		6.71	%
Securities		13,514			59		1.72	%		22,554			132		2.33	%
Interest-earning deposits		21,657			148		2.74	%		33,107			156		1.89	%
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta stock		278			4		6.39	%		583			10		6.63	%
Total interest-earning assets		279,778			3,882		5.55	%		276,619			3,993		5.77	%
Non-interest-earning assets		30,999								22,023
Total assets	$	310,777							$	298,642

Interest-bearing liabilities:
Savings accounts	$	24,414		$	8		0.13	%	$	24,090		$	6		0.10	%
Interest-bearing checking		45,837			83		0.73	%		49,648			89		0.71	%
Market rate checking accounts		27,821			71		1.03	%		23,137			44		0.76	%
Certificates of deposits		93,155			417		1.78	%		85,751			284		1.33	%
Total interest-bearing deposits		191,227			579		1.21	%		182,626			423		0.93	%
Borrowings		—			—		—			7,681			38		1.96	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		191,227			579		1.21	%		190,307			461		0.97	%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities		42,715								31,788
Total liabilities		233,942								222,095
Total stockholders' equity		76,835								76,547
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	310,777							$	298,642
Net interest income				$	3,303							$	3,532
Net interest rate spread (1)							4.34	%							4.80	%
Net interest-earning assets (2)	$	88,551							$	86,312
Net interest margin (3)							4.72	%							5.11	%
Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities		146.31	%							145.35	%

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2019								2018
	Average Outstanding Balance			Interest		Average Yield/Rate			Average Outstanding Balance			Interest		Average Yield/Rate
	(Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
Loans	$	238,298		$	10,464		5.85	%	$	221,363		$	10,197		6.14	%
Securities		18,855			315		2.23	%		23,484			419		2.35	%
Interest-earning deposits		18,936			448		3.15	%		23,779			321		1.80	%
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta stock		346			17		6.55	%		568			27		6.32	%
Total interest-earning assets		276,435			11,244		5.42	%		269,194			10,964		5.43	%
Non-interest-earning assets		30,323								23,205
Total assets	$	306,757							$	292,399

Interest-bearing liabilities:
Passbook savings accounts	$	24,968		$	23		0.12	%	$	24,211		$	13		0.07	%
Interest bearing checking		52,356			274		0.70	%		45,091			215		0.63	%
Market Rate checking accounts		26,027			179		0.92	%		23,069			92		0.53	%
Certificates of Deposits		91,063			1,159		1.70	%		85,360			784		1.23	%
Total interest-bearing deposits		194,414			1,635		1.12	%		177,731			1,104		0.83	%
Borrowings		1,717			26		2.02	%		7,607			112		1.96	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		196,131			1,661		1.13	%		185,338			1,216		0.87	%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities		34,126								30,961
Total liabilities		230,257								216,299
Total stockholders' equity		76,500								76,100
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	306,757							$	292,399
Net interest income				$	9,583							$	9,748
Net interest rate spread (1)							4.29	%							4.56	%
Net interest-earning assets (2)	$	80,304							$	83,856
Net interest margin (3)							4.62	%							4.82	%
Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities		140.94	%							145.24	%

The following table presents the effects of changing rates and volumes on our net interest income for the periods indicated. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The total column represents the sum of the prior columns. For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018									Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018
	Increase (Decrease) Due to						Total			Increase (Decrease) Due to						Total
							Increase									Increase
	Volume			Rate			(Decrease)			Volume			Rate			(Decrease)
	(In thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
Loans	$	1,558		$	(1,582	)	$	(24	)	$	953		$	(686	)	$	267
Securities		(44	)		(29	)		(73	)		(82	)		(22	)		(104	)
Interest-earning deposits and federal funds		(248	)		240			(8	)		(110	)		237			127
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta stock		(6	)		—			(6	)		(12	)		2			(10	)
Total interest-earning assets		1,260			(1,371	)		(111	)		749			(469	)		280

Interest-bearing liabilities:
Savings accounts		—			2			2			—			10			10
Interest-bearing checking		(15	)		9			(6	)		37			22			59
Market rate checking		10			17			27			13			74			87
Certificates of deposits		27			106			133			56			319			375
Total deposits		22			134			156			106			425			531
Borrowings		(18	)		(20	)		(38	)		(91	)		5			(86	)
Total interest-bearing liabilities		4			114			118			15			430			445

Change in net interest income	$	1,256		$	(1,485	)	$	(230	)	$	734		$	(899	)	$	(165	)

Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

General. Net income decreased $655,000 to a net loss of $196,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to net income of $459,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease was due primarily to an increase in non-interest expenses of $1.0 million, primarily related to annual salary increases and stock based compensation as well as data processing expense related to our core system conversion.

Interest Income. Interest income decreased $111,000, or 2.8%, to $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $4.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease was due to decreases in interest income on all interest-earning asset categories.

Interest income on loans decreased $24,000, or 0.6%, to $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Our average balance of loans increased $24.0 million, or 10.9%, to $244.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $220.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in the average balance of loans resulted primarily from the opening of our indirect automobile lending division, Community First Auto, in October 2018. Our average yield on loans decreased 70 basis points to 6.01% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from 6.71% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, due primarily to changes in our loan portfolio composition and competitive pressure on rates.

Interest income on securities (excluding Federal Home Loan Bank stock) decreased $73,000 to $59,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $132,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The average balance of securities decreased $9.0 million, or 40.1%, to $13.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $22.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, due to the sale of a large portion of the portfolio and paydowns on mortgage-backed securities and our using the funds received to fund loan growth instead of reinvesting in securities. The average yield on securities decreased 61 basis points, to 1.72% from 2.33%.

Interest income on interest-earning deposits decreased $8,000 or 5.1%, to $148,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $156,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in interest income on interest-earning deposits was due to an $11.5 million, or 34.6%, decrease in the average balance, as we used excess cash to fund loan growth, partially offset by an increase in yield of 85 basis points.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $118,000, or 25.6%, to $579,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $461,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018, due to an increase in interest expense on deposits, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense on borrowings.

Interest expense on certificates of deposit increased $133,000 to $417,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $284,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The average rate we paid on certificates of deposit increased 45 basis points to 1.78% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from 1.33% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting our increasing interest rates in response to changes in market interest rates. The average balance of certificates of deposit increased to $93.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to $85.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Interest expense on market rate checking accounts and savings accounts also increased $27,000, or 61.4%, and $2,000, or 33.3%, respectively.

Interest expense on borrowings decreased to $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to $38,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as we repaid our FHLB advances during the first quarter of 2019 and have funded our operations with excess cash provided by an increase in deposits and the sale of securities and securities paydowns.

Net Interest Income. Net interest income decreased $229,000, or 6.5%, and was $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Our average net interest-earning assets increased by $2.2 million, or 2.6%, to $88.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $86.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, while our net interest rate spread decreased by 46 basis points to 4.34% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from 4.80% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting a 22 basis point decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets and a 24 basis point increase in the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Our net interest margin was 4.72% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to 5.11% for the three months ended September 30, 2018.

Provision for Loan Losses. Provisions for loan losses are charged to operations to establish an allowance for loan losses at a level necessary to absorb known and inherent losses in our loan portfolio that are both probable and reasonably estimable at the date of the consolidated financial statements. In evaluating the level of the allowance for loan losses, management analyzes several qualitative loan portfolio risk factors including, but not limited to, management’s ongoing review and grading of loans, facts and issues related to specific loans, historical loan loss and delinquency experience, trends in past due and non-accrual loans, existing risk characteristics of specific loans or loan pools, the fair value of underlying collateral, current economic conditions and other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect potential credit losses. See “—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for additional information.

After an evaluation of these factors, we recorded no provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and a provision of $200,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018. Our allowance for loan losses was $4.2 million at September 30, 2019 compared to $4.0 million at December 31, 2018 and $3.9 million at September 30, 2018. The allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.67% at September 30, 2019 compared to 1.74% at December 31, 2018 and 1.73% at September 30, 2018. The allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans was 192.59% at September 30, 2019 compared to 220.0% at December 31, 2018 and 178.10% at September 30, 2018. We had net recoveries of $28,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2019.

To the best of our knowledge, we have recorded all loan losses that are both probable and reasonable to estimate at September 30, 2019. However, future changes in the factors described above, including, but not limited to, actual loss experience with respect to our loan portfolio, could result in material increases in our provision for loan losses. In addition, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as an integral part of its examination process, will periodically review our allowance for loan losses, and as a result of such reviews, we may have to adjust our allowance for loan losses. However, regulatory agencies are not directly involved in the process of establishing the allowance for loan losses as the process is our responsibility and any increase or decrease in the allowance is the responsibility of management.

Non-interest Income. Non-interest income increased $167,000, or 45.4%, to $535,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 from $368,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018. This was a result of increases in service charges on deposit accounts, an SBA accounting adjustment in the prior year and a gain on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities in the amounts of $30,000, $68,000 and $67,000, respectively, during the three months ended September 30, 2019.

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Change
	2019			2018			Amount			Percent
	(Dollars in thousands)
Salaries and employee benefits	$	1,861		$	1,417		$	444			31.3	%
Deferred compensation		67			56			11			19.6	%
Occupancy		465			458			7			1.5	%
Advertising		37			49			(12	)		(24.5	)%
Data processing		748			233			515			221.0	%
Other real estate owned		2			39			(37	)		(94.9	)%
Net gain on sale of other real estate owned		(8	)		(35	)		27			77.1	%
Legal and accounting		505			385			120			31.2	%
Organizational dues and subscriptions		60			81			(21	)		(26.0	)%
Director compensation		49			63			(14	)		(22.2	)%
Federal deposit insurance premiums		16			16			—			—
Other		319			344			(25	)		(7.3	)%
Total non-interest expenses	$	4,121		$	3,106		$	1,015			32.7	%

Salaries and employee benefits expense increased due to annual salary increases and rising benefits expense as well as stock-based compensation related to equity grants. Data processing expense increased due to core system conversion related expenses. Legal and accounting expense increased due to our proposed acquisition of ABB Financial Group, Inc.

Income Tax Expense. We recorded an income tax benefit of $87,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to an income tax expense of $135,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 due to lower income before taxes in the 2019 period and generation of additional tax credits.

Comparison of Operating Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

General. Net income decreased $1.4 million to $39,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease was due to an increase in non-interest expenses of $1.6 million, primarily related to annual salary increases, stock-based compensation related to equity grants and core conversion expenses, and decreases in net interest income of $165,000 and non-interest income of $354,000, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $252,000.

Interest Income. Interest income increased $280,000, or 2.6%, to $11.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $11.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase was due to increases in interest income on loans and interest-earning deposits, partially offset by a decrease in interest income on investment securities.

Interest income on loans increased $267,000, or 2.6%, to $10.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $10.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Our average balance of loans increased $16.9 million, or 7.7%, to $238.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $221.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in the average balance of loans resulted primarily from the opening of our indirect automobile lending division, Community First Auto, in October 2018. Our average yield on loans decreased 29 basis points to 5.85% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from 6.14% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, due primarily to changes in our loan portfolio composition and competitive pressure on rates.

Interest income on interest-earning deposits increased $127,000 or 39.6%, to $448,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $321,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in interest income on interest-earning deposits was due primarily to a 135 basis point increase in yield, reflecting increases in market interest rates. Our average balance of interest-earning deposits decreased $4.8 million, or 20.4%, to $18.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $23.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as excess cash was used to fund loan growth.

Interest income on securities (excluding Federal Home Loan Bank stock) decreased $104,000 to $315,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $419,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The average balance of securities decreased $4.6 million, or 19.7%, to $18.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $23.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The average yield on securities decreased 12 basis points, to 2.23% from 2.35%.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $445,000, or 36.6%, to $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, due to an increase in interest expense on deposits, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense on borrowings.

We experienced an increase in interest expense for all deposit categories. Interest expense on certificates of deposit increased $375,000 to $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $784,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The average rate we paid on certificates of deposit increased 47 basis points to 1.70% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from 1.23% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting our increasing interest rates in response to changes in market interest rates. The average balance of certificates of deposit increased to $91.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to $85.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Interest expense on interest-bearing checking accounts increased $59,000 to $274,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to $215,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The average balance of and rate paid on interest-bearing checking accounts increased to $52.4 million and 0.70%, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from $45.1 million and 0.63%, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as we saw an increase in the number of Kasasa reward based checking accounts opened. Interest expense on market rate checking accounts and savings accounts also increased $87,000, or 94.6%, and $10,000, or 76.9%, respectively.

Interest expense on borrowings decreased to $26,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to $112,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as the average balance of borrowings decreased to $1.7 million from $7.6 million, as we repaid our FHLB advances during the first quarter and have funded our operations with excess cash provided by an increase in deposits and the sale of securities and securities paydowns.

Net Interest Income. Net interest income decreased $165,000, or 1.7%, and was $9.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to $9.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Our average net interest-earning assets decreased by $3.6 million, or 4.2%, to $80.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $83.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, and our net interest rate spread decreased by 27 basis points to 4.29% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from 4.56% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting increases in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Our net interest margin decreased by 20 basis points to 4.62% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from 4.82% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

After an evaluation of these factors, we recorded no provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and a provision or $500,000 for nine months ended September 30, 2018. Our allowance for loan losses was $4.2 million at September 30, 2019 compared to $4.0 million at December 31, 2018 and $3.9 million at September 30, 2018. The allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.67% at September 30, 2019 compared to 1.74% at December 31, 2018 and 1.73% at September 30, 2018. The allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans was 192.59% at September 30, 2019 compared to 220.0% at December 31, 2018 and 178.10% at September 30, 2018. We had net recoveries of $186,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Non-interest Income. Non-interest income decreased $354,000, or 22.3%, to $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 from $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in Small Business Administration loan fees of $577,000, due to fewer Small Business Administration loans being closed during the period, partially offset by increases in service charges on deposit accounts and other non-interest income of $48,000 and $175,000, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

	Nine Months Ended September 30,						Change
	2019			2018			Amount			Percent
	(Dollars in thousands)
Salaries and employee benefits	$	5,519		$	4,798		$	721			15.0	%
Deferred compensation		171			159			12			7.5	%
Occupancy		1,421			1,299			122			9.4	%
Advertising		104			132			(28	)		(21.2	)%
Data processing		1,360			684			676			98.8	%
Other real estate owned		19			100			(81	)		(81.0	)%
Net gain on sale of other real estate owned		(104	)		(59	)		(45	)		76.3	%
Legal and accounting		1,037			872			165			19.0	%
Organizational dues and subscriptions		213			236			(23	)		(9.7	)%
Director compensation		145			171			(26	)		(15.3	)%
Federal deposit insurance premiums		48			48			—			—
Other		935			824			111			13.5	%
Total non-interest expenses	$	10,868		$	9,264		$	1,604			17.3	%

Salaries and employee benefits expense increased due to annual salary increases and rising benefits expense as well as stock-based compensation related to equity grants. Data processing expense increased due to expenses associated with our core system conversion. Legal and accounting expense increased due to our proposed acquisition of ABB Financial Group, Inc. Occupancy expense increased due to software and license agreement expenses related to the core system conversion.

Income Tax Expense. We incurred income tax benefit of $94,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to income tax expense of $158,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 due to the net loss in the 2019 period and generation of additional tax credits.

General. Our most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk because, as a financial institution, the majority of our assets and liabilities are sensitive to changes in interest rates. Therefore, a principal part of our operations is to manage interest rate risk and limit the exposure of our financial condition and results of operations to changes in market interest rates. Our Asset/Liability Management Committee is responsible for evaluating the interest rate risk inherent in our assets and liabilities, for determining the level of risk that is appropriate, given our business strategy, operating environment, capital, liquidity and performance objectives, and for managing this risk consistent with the policy and guidelines approved by our board of directors. We currently utilize a third-party modeling program, prepared on a quarterly basis, to evaluate our sensitivity to changing interest rates, given our business strategy, operating environment, capital, liquidity and performance objectives, and for managing this risk consistent with the guidelines approved by the board of directors.

We have sought to manage our interest rate risk in order to minimize the exposure of our earnings and capital to changes in interest rates. We have implemented the following strategies to manage our interest rate risk:

By following these strategies, we believe that we are better positioned to react to increases in market interest rates. In addition, during the year ended September 30, 2018, we introduced adjustable-rate, one- to four-family residential real estate loans in addition to our existing home equity loans and lines of credit, which are originated with adjustable interest rates.

We do not engage in hedging activities, such as engaging in futures, options or swap transactions, or investing in high-risk mortgage derivatives, such as collateralized mortgage obligation residual interests, real estate mortgage investment conduit residual interests or stripped mortgage backed securities.

Net Interest Income. We analyze our sensitivity to changes in interest rates through a net interest income model. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and securities, and the interest we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. We estimate what our net interest income would be for a 12-month period. We then calculate what the net interest income would be for the same period under the assumptions that the United States Treasury yield curve increases or decreases instantaneously by 200 and 400 basis point increments, with changes in interest rates representing immediate and permanent, parallel shifts in the yield curve. A basis point equals one-hundredth of one percent, and 100 basis points equals one percent. An increase in interest rates from 3% to 4% would mean, for example, a 100 basis point increase in the “Change in Interest Rates” column below.

The table below sets forth, as of September 30, 2019, the calculation of the estimated changes in our net interest income that would result from the designated immediate changes in the United States Treasury yield curve.

The table above indicates that at September 30, 2019, in the event of an instantaneous parallel 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would have experienced a 3.57% increase in net interest income, and in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would have experienced a 6.88% decrease in net interest income. At September 30, 2018, in the event of an instantaneous parallel 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would have experienced a 0.65% increase in net interest income, and in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would have experienced a 7.34% decrease in net interest income.

Net Economic Value. We also compute amounts by which the net present value of our assets and liabilities (net economic value or “NEV”) would change in the event of a range of assumed changes in market interest rates. This model uses a discounted cash flow analysis and an option-based pricing approach to measure the interest rate sensitivity of net portfolio value. The model estimates the economic value of each type of asset, liability and off-balance sheet contract under the assumptions that the United States Treasury yield curve increases or decreases instantaneously by 200 and 400 basis point increments, with changes in interest rates representing immediate and permanent, parallel shifts in the yield curve.

The table below sets forth, as of September 30, 2019, the calculation of the estimated changes in our NEV that would result from the designated immediate changes in the United States Treasury yield curve.

The table above indicates that at September 30, 2019, in the event of an instantaneous parallel 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would have experienced a 4.50% decrease in net economic value, and in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would have experienced a 2.90% decrease in net economic value. At September 30, 2018, in the event of an instantaneous parallel 200 basis point increase in interest rates, we would have experienced a 9.66% decrease in net economic value, and in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, we would have experienced a 0.52% increase in net economic value.

GAP Analysis. In addition, we analyze our interest rate sensitivity by monitoring our interest rate sensitivity “gap.” Our interest rate sensitivity gap is the difference between the amount of our interest-earning assets maturing or repricing within a specific time period and the amount of our interest-bearing liabilities maturing or repricing within that same time period. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest rate sensitive assets maturing or repricing during a period exceeds the amount of interest rate sensitive liabilities maturing or repricing during the same period, and a gap is considered negative when the amount of interest rate sensitive liabilities maturing or repricing during a period exceeds the amount of interest rate sensitive assets maturing or repricing during the same period.

The following table sets forth our interest-earning assets and our interest-bearing liabilities at September 30, 2019, which are anticipated to reprice or mature in each of the future time periods shown based upon certain assumptions. The amounts of assets and liabilities shown which reprice or mature during a particular period were determined in accordance with the earlier of term to repricing or the contractual maturity of the asset or liability. The table sets forth an approximation of the projected repricing of assets and liabilities at September 30, 2019, on the basis of contractual maturities, anticipated prepayments and scheduled rate adjustments. The loan amounts in the table reflect principal balances expected to be redeployed and/or repriced as a result of contractual amortization and as a result of contractual rate adjustments on adjustable-rate loans. Amounts are based on a preliminary balance sheet as of September 30, 2019, and may not equal amounts included in our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. However, we believe that there would be no material changes in the results of the gap analysis if the unaudited financial results included in Part 1, Item 1 of this quarterly report had been utilized.

	Time to Repricing
	Zero to 90 Days			Zero to 180 Days			Zero Days to One Year			Zero Days to Two Years			Zero Days to Five Years			Total
				(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and due from banks	$	34,415			34,415			34,415			34,415			34,415		$	37,744
Investments		475			655			1,490			2,070			3,256			4,325
Net loans		31,809			52,158			73,886			115,494			189,522			248,071
Other assets		—			—			—			—			—			18,320
Total	$	66,699			87,228			109,791			151,979			227,193		$	308,460


Liabilities:
Non-maturity deposits	$	48,368			52,587			61,025			77,901			121,471		$	146,740
Certificates of deposit		8,066			18,413			30,616			44,623			79,651			94,418
Borrowings		2,686			2,686			2,686			2,686			2,686			2,686
Other liabilities		—			—			—			—			—			2,705
Equity capital		—			—			—			—			—			61,911
Total (1)	$	59,120			73,686			94,327			125,210			203,808		$	308,460

Asset/liability gap	$	7,579			13,542			15,464			26,769			23,385
Gap/assets ratio (2)		2.46	%		4.39	%		5.01	%		8.68	%		7.58	%

At September 30, 2019, our asset/liability gap from zero days to one year was positive $15.5 million, resulting in a gap/assets ratio of 5.01%. At September 30, 2018, our asset/liability gap from zero days to one year was positive $10.0 million, resulting in a gap/assets ratio of 3.22%.

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodologies used in the above interest rate risk measurements. Modeling changes require making certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. In this regard, the net interest income and net economic value tables presented assume that the composition of our interest-sensitive assets and liabilities existing at the beginning of a period remains constant over the period being measured and assumes that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration or repricing of specific assets and liabilities. Accordingly, although the net interest income and NEV tables provide an indication of our interest rate risk exposure at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on net interest income and NEV and will differ from actual results. Furthermore, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods to repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Additionally, certain assets, such as adjustable-rate loans, have features that restrict changes in interest rates both on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. In the event of changes in interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels would likely deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the gap table.

Interest rate risk calculations also may not reflect the fair values of financial instruments. For example, decreases in market interest rates can increase the fair values of our loans, deposits and borrowings.

Liquidity describes our ability to meet the financial obligations that arise in the ordinary course of business. Liquidity is primarily needed to meet the borrowing and deposit withdrawal requirements of our customers and to fund current and planned expenditures. Our primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments on loans and securities, proceeds from the sale of loans, and proceeds from maturities of securities. We also have the ability to borrow from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. At September 30, 2019, we had a $76.7 million line of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, with a $4.5 letter of credit outstanding, and we had a $5.0 million unsecured federal funds line of credit and a $7.5 million unsecured federal funds line of credit. No amount was outstanding on these lines of credit at September 30, 2019.

While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and securities are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions, and competition. Our most liquid assets are cash and short-term investments including interest-bearing demand deposits. The levels of these assets are dependent on our operating, financing, lending, and investing activities during any given period.

Our cash flows are comprised of three primary classifications: cash flows from operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $729,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Net cash used in investing activities, which consist primarily of disbursements for loan originations, was $1.5 million and $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Net cash provided by financing activities, which consist primarily of activity in deposit accounts and repayments of FHLB advances, was $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $19.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

We are committed to maintaining a strong liquidity position. We monitor our liquidity position on a daily basis. We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds to meet our current funding commitments. Based on our deposit retention experience and current pricing strategy, we anticipate that a significant portion of maturing time deposits will be retained.

At September 30, 2019, we exceeded all of our regulatory capital requirements and ere categorized as “well capitalized.” Management is not aware of any conditions or events since the most recent notification that would change our category. The Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios for September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are presented in the table below (in thousands).

						For Capital					To Be Well Capitalized
						Adequacy					Under Prompt Corrective
	Actual					Purposes					Action Provisions
	Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio
As of September 30, 2019:
Common Equity Tier 1
(to Risk Weighted Assets)	$	61,672		28	%	$	9,928		4.50	%	$	14,341		6.50	%
Total Capital
(to Risk Weighted Assets)	$	64,448		29	%	$	17,650		8	%	$	22,063		10	%
Tier I Capital
(to Risk Weighted Assets)	$	61,672		28	%	$	13,238		6	%	$	17,650		8	%
Tier I Capital
(to Average Assets)	$	61,672		20	%	$	12,275		4	%	$	15,343		5	%

As of December 31, 2018:
Common Equity Tier 1
(to Risk Weighted Assets)	$	60,880		29	%	$	9,292		4.50	%	$	13,422		6.50	%
Total Capital
(to Risk Weighted Assets)	$	63,479		31	%	$	16,519		8	%	$	20,649		10	%
Tier I Capital
(to Risk Weighted Assets)	$	60,880		29	%	$	12,389		6	%	$	16,519		8	%
Tier I Capital
(to Average Assets)	$	60,880		20	%	$	12,291		4	%	$	15,363		5	%

In accordance with the recently enacted Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, the federal banking agencies have adopted, effective January 1, 2020, a final rule whereby financial institutions and financial institution holding companies that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets and meet other qualifying criteria, including a leverage ratio of greater than 9%, will be eligible to opt into a “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” framework. The framework will first be available for use in the Bank’s March 31, 2020 Call Report. Qualifying community banking organizations that elect to use the community bank leverage ratio framework and that maintain a leverage ratio of greater than 9% will be considered to have satisfied the generally applicable risk-based and leverage capital requirements in the agencies’ capital rules and will be considered to have met the “well capitalized” ratio requirements under the Prompt Corrective Action statutes. The agencies reserved the authority to disallow the use of the Community Bank Leverage Ratio by a financial institution or holding company based on the risk profile of the organization.

Commitments. As a financial services provider, we routinely are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risks, such as commitments to extend credit and unused lines of credit. While these contractual obligations represent our future cash requirements, a significant portion of commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process accorded to loans we make. At September 30, 2019, we had outstanding commitments to originate loans of $29.6 million. We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds available to meet our current lending commitments. Time deposits that are scheduled to mature in less than one year from September 30, 2019 totaled $30.6 million. Management expects that a substantial portion of the maturing time deposits will be renewed. However, if a substantial portion of these deposits is not retained, we may utilize Federal Home Loan Bank advances or raise interest rates on deposits to attract new accounts, which may result in higher levels of interest expense.

Contractual Obligations. In the ordinary course of our operations, we enter into certain contractual obligations. Such obligations include data processing services, operating leases for premises and equipment, agreements with respect to borrowed funds and deposit liabilities.

The information required by this item is included in Part 1, Item 2 of this quarterly report under “Management of Market Risk.”

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of September 30, 2019. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

We are not involved in any pending legal proceedings as a defendant other than routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. At September 30, 2019, we were not involved in any legal proceedings the outcome of which would be material to our financial condition or results of operations.

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

United States of America		82-1147778
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3175 Highway 278 Covington, Georgia		30014
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

		Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements	2

	Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2019 (unaudited) and December 31, 2018 (unaudited)	2

	Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited)	3

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited)	4

	Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited)	5
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited)	6

	Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements	7

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	18

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	32

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	32

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	33

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	33

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	33

Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	33

Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	33

Item 5.	Other Information	33

Item 6.	Exhibits	34

	SIGNATURES	35


Advance Date	Advance		Interest Rate	Maturity	Rate	Call Feature
10/25/2017	$	2,710,000	1.98%	10/26/2020	Fixed	None
10/25/2017		1,250,000	1.81%	10/25/2019	Fixed	None
11/13/2017		1,190,000	1.87%	11/13/2019	Fixed	None
11/13/2017	2,420,000		2.02%	11/13/2020	Fixed	None
	$	7,570,000

Change in Interest Rates (basis points) (1)	Net Interest Income Year 1 Forecast		Year 1 Change from Level
	(Dollars in thousands)
+400	$	13,100		6.95	%
+200		12,684		3.57	%
Level		12,247	—
-200		11,404		(6.88	)%
-400		10,940		(10.67	)%

Change in Interest			Estimated Increase (Decrease) in NEV						NEV as a Percentage of Present Value of Assets (3)
Rates (basis points) (1)	Estimated NEV (2)		Amount			Percent			NEV Ratio (4)			Increase (Decrease) (basis points)
(Dollars in thousands)
+400	$	68,713	$	(7,575	)		(9.93	)%		23.71	%		(30	)
+200		72,853		(3,435	)		(4.50	)%		24.00	%		(1	)
—		76,288	—			—				24.01	%	—
-200		74,078		(2,210	)		(2.90	)%		22.76	%		(125	)
-400		72,654		(3,634	)		(4.76	)%		22.43	%		(158	)


Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered

Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐

Non-accelerated filer	☒	Smaller reporting company	☒

Emerging growth company	☒

September 30, 2019	Pass		Special Mention		Substandard		Doubtful/ Loss		Total
Commercial (secured by real estate)	$	54,530		—		705		—		55,235
Commercial and industrial		26,064		—		545		—		26,609
Construction, land and acquisition & development		21,912		—		—		—		21,912
Residential mortgage		116,807		315		5,706		—		122,828
Consumer installment		25,675		—		74		—		25,749
Total	$	244,988		315		7,030		—		252,333

September 30, 2019	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Other real estate owned	$	—		—		140		140
Impaired loans		—		—		5,618		5,618
Total assets at fair value	$	—		—		5,758		5,758

December 31, 2018	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Other real estate owned	$	—		—		508		508
Impaired loans		—		—		5,547		5,547
Total assets at fair value	$	—		—		6,055		6,055

Exhibit
Number		Description

3.1		Charter of Community First Bancshares, Inc. (1)

3.2		Bylaws of Community First Bancshares, Inc. (2)

3.3 10.1		Amendment to Bylaws of Community First Bancshares, Inc. (3) Amendment 1, dated as of October 9, 2019, to the Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2018, by and between Community First Bancshares, Inc., Newton Federal Bank and Johnny S. Smith (4)

31.1		Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2		Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32		Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101.0		The following materials for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Balance Sheets, (ii) Statements of Income (Loss), (iii) Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iv) Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Financial Statements

		COMMUNITY FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

Date:	November 13, 2019	/s/ Johnny S. Smith
		Johnny S. Smith
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Date:	November 13, 2019	/s/ Tessa M. Nolan
		Tessa M. Nolan
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer