Fidelity D & D Bancorp (FDBC) Risk Analysis

Basel III targets higher levels of base capital, certain capital buffers and a migration toward common equity as the key source of regulatory capital. Although the new capital requirements are phased in over the next decade and may change substantially before final implementation, Basel III signals a growing effort by domestic and international bank regulatory agencies to require financial institutions, including depository institutions, to maintain higher levels of capital. The direction of the Basel III implementation activities or other regulatory requirements could require additional capital to support our business risk profile prior to final implementation of the Basel III standards. If the Company and the Bank are required to maintain higher levels of capital, the Company and the Bank may have fewer opportunities to invest capital into interest-earning assets, which could limit the profitable business operations available to the Company and the Bank and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

A significant portion of the Company's loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, the Company may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, the Company may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws may require the Company to incur substantial expense and may materially reduce the affected property's value or limit the Company's ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase the Company's exposure to environmental liability. Although the Company has policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before initiating any foreclosure action on real property, these reviews may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may incorporate AI solutions into platforms that deliver products and services to its customers, including solutions developed by third parties whose AI is integrated into its products and services. The Company may be exposed to legal liability and reputational risk if the AI the Company uses is or is alleged to be deficient, inaccurate, or biased because the AI algorithms are flawed, insufficient, of poor quality, or reflect unwanted forms of bias, particularly if third party AI integrated with its platforms produces false or "hallucinatory" inferences. Data practices by the Company or others that result in controversy could impair the acceptance of AI, which could undermine the decisions, predictions, or analysis that AI applications produce.  Its customers and potential customers may express adverse opinions concerning its use of AI and machine learning that could result in brand or reputational harm, competitive harm, or legal liability. If the Company develops Generative AI, its content creation may require additional investment as testing for bias, accuracy and unintended, harmful impact is often complex and may be costly. As a result, the Company may need to increase the cost of its products and services which may make it less competitive, particularly if its competitors incorporate AI more quickly or successfully. Governmental bodies have implemented laws and are considering further regulation of AI (including machine learning), which could negatively impact its ability to use and develop AI. The Company is unable to predict how application of existing laws, including federal and state privacy and data protection laws, and adoption of new laws and regulations applicable to AI will affect it but it is likely that compliance with such laws and regulations will increase its compliance costs, and such increase may be substantial and adversely affect its results of operations. Furthermore, its use of Generative AI and other forms of AI may expose us to risks relating to intellectual property ownership and licensing rights, including copyright of Generative AI and other AI output as these issues have not been fully interpreted by federal courts or been fully addressed by federal or state legislation or regulations.

The Company's success depends primarily on the general economic conditions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the specific local markets in which the Company operates. Unlike larger national or other regional banks that are more geographically diversified, the Company provides banking and financial services to customers primarily in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania and Northampton County in Eastern Pennsylvania. The local economic conditions in these areas have a significant impact on the demand for the Company's products and services as well as the ability of the Company's customers to repay loans, the value of the collateral securing loans and the stability of the Company's deposit funding sources. A significant decline in general economic conditions caused by inflation, recession, acts of terrorism, an outbreak of hostilities or other international or domestic occurrences or instability, unemployment, changes in securities markets or other factors could impact these local economic conditions and, in turn, have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

The commercial real estate market nationally, regionally, and locally has recently been subject to increased levels of volatility.  Many believe that commercial real estate in the commercial office sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation and change that started during the recent pandemic but also continues due to evolving workplace environments.  These changes in the marketplace affect the demand for commercial office space which in turn may affect the credit status, profitability, and collectability, of existing and future commercial real estate office sector loans.  As explained above in greater detail in the risk factor for Lending Risk, volatility and increases in non-performing loans could have an adverse impact on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.