Kearny Financial (KRNY) Risk Factors

A failure in our internal controls could have a significant negative impact not only on our earnings, but also on the perception that clients, regulators and investors may have of us. We continue to devote a significant amount of effort, time and resources to continually strengthening our controls and ensuring compliance with complex accounting standards and banking regulations.

The composition and allocation of our investment portfolio has historically emphasized U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities and U.S. agency debentures. While such assets remain a significant component of our investment portfolio at June 30, 2024, prior enhancements to our investment policies, strategies and infrastructure have enabled us to diversify the composition and allocation of our securities portfolio. Such diversification has included investing in corporate debt, municipal obligations, subordinated debt securities issued by financial institutions and collateralized loan obligations. With the exception of collateralized loan obligations, these securities are generally backed only by the credit of their issuers while investments in collateralized loan obligations generally rely on the structural characteristics of an individual tranche within a larger investment vehicle to protect the investor from credit losses arising from borrowers defaulting on the underlying securitized loans. While we have invested primarily in investment grade securities, these securities are not backed by the federal government and expose us to a greater degree of credit risk than U.S. agency securities. Any decline in the credit quality of these securities exposes us to the risk that the market value of the securities could decrease which may require us to write down their value and could lead to a possible default in payment.

We have increased our originations of commercial business and construction loans, which generally have more risk than both one- to four-family residential and commercial mortgage loans. Since repayment of commercial business and construction loans may depend on the successful operation of the borrower's business or the successful completion of a construction project, repayment of such loans can be affected by adverse conditions in the real estate market or the local economy. If we continue to increase our originations of these loans, it may be necessary to increase the level of our allowance for credit losses because of the increased risk characteristics associated with these types of loans. Any such increase to our allowance for credit losses would adversely affect our earnings.

Over the past several years, we have increased our focus on commercial lending. Our increased commercial lending, however, exposes us to greater risks than one- to four-family residential lending. Unlike single-family, owner-occupied residential mortgage loans, which generally are made on the basis of the borrower's ability to make repayment from employment and other income sources, and are secured by real property whose value tends to be more easily ascertainable and realizable, the repayment of commercial loans typically is dependent on the successful operation and income stream of the borrower, which can be significantly affected by economic conditions, and are secured, if at all, by collateral that is more difficult to value or sell or by collateral which may depreciate in value. In addition, commercial loans generally carry larger balances to single borrowers or related groups of borrowers than one- to four-family mortgage loans, which increases the financial impact of a borrower's default. The risk exposure from our increased commercial lending is also a function of the markets in which we operate. Our commercial lending activity is generally focused on borrowers domiciled, and real estate located, within the states of New Jersey and New York. Regional risk factors and changes to local laws and regulations, including changes to rent regulations or foreclosure laws, may present greater risk than a more geographically diversified portfolio.

We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of many of our loans. In determining the required amount of the allowance for credit losses, we evaluate loans individually and establish credit loss allowances for specifically identified impairments. For loans not individually analyzed, we estimate losses and establish reserves based on reasonable and supportable forecasts and adjustments for qualitative factors. If the assumptions used in our calculation methodology are incorrect, our allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to cover losses inherent in our loan portfolio, resulting in further additions to our allowance. Our allowance for credit losses on loans was 0.78% of total loans at June 30, 2024 and significant additions to our allowance could materially decrease our net income. In addition, bank regulators periodically review our allowance for credit losses and may require us to increase our provision for credit losses or recognize further loan charge-offs. Any increase in our allowance for credit losses or loan charge-offs as required by these regulatory authorities might have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

As of June 30, 2024, our securities portfolio totaled $1.21 billion, or 15.7% of our total assets. Investment securities typically have lower yields than loans. For the year ended June 30, 2024, the weighted average yield of our investment securities portfolio was 4.38%, as compared to 4.45% for our loan portfolio. Accordingly, our net interest margin is lower than it would have been if a higher proportion of our interest-earning assets consisted of loans. Additionally, at June 30, 2024, $1.07 billion, or 88.8% of our investment securities, are classified as available for sale and reported at fair value with unrealized gains or losses excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income, which affects our reported equity. Accordingly, given the significant size of the investment securities portfolio classified as available for sale and due to possible mark-to-market adjustments of that portion of the portfolio resulting from market conditions, we may experience greater volatility in the value of reported equity. Moreover, given that we actively manage our investment securities portfolio classified as available for sale, we may sell securities which could result in a realized loss, thereby reducing our net income.

We derive our income mainly from the difference or spread between the interest earned on loans, securities and other interest-earning assets and interest paid on deposits, borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities. In general, the larger the spread, the more we earn. When market rates of interest change, the interest we receive on our assets and the interest we pay on our liabilities will fluctuate. This can cause decreases in our spread and can adversely affect our income. Beginning in March 2022, in response to rising inflation, the Federal Reserve Board's Federal Open Market Committee systemically increased the target rate from 0.00% – 0.25% to 5.25% – 5.50% in July 2023. In addition, at June 30, 2024, the yield curve has remained inverted as short-term rates remain higher than long-term rates. Our net interest spread and net interest margin have been and may in the future be reduced by potential increases in our cost of funds that may outpace any increases in our yield on interest-earnings assets. In addition, it may take longer for our assets to reprice to adjust to a new rate environment because fixed rate loans do not fluctuate with interest rate changes and adjustable rate loans often have a specified initial fixed rate period before reset. As a result, a flattening or an inversion of the yield curve is likely to have a negative impact on our net interest income. Interest rates also affect how much money we lend. For example, when interest rates rise, the cost of borrowing increases and loan originations tend to decrease. In addition, changes in interest rates can affect the average life of loans and securities. For example, a reduction in interest rates generally results in increased prepayments of loans and mortgage-backed securities, as borrowers refinance their debt in order to reduce their borrowing cost. Changes in market interest rates also impact the value of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities as well as the value of our derivatives portfolios. In particular, the unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale and changes in the fair value of interest rate derivatives serving as cash flows hedges are reported, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income which is a component of stockholders' equity. Consequently, declines in the fair value of these instruments resulting from changes in market interest rates have, and may continue to, adversely affect stockholders' equity.

We operate in diverse markets and rely on the ability of our employees and systems to process a high number of transactions. Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from our operations, including but not limited to, the risk of fraud by employees or persons outside the Company, the execution of unauthorized transactions by employees, errors relating to transaction processing and technology, breaches of the internal control system and compliance requirements, and business continuation and disaster recovery. Insurance coverage may not be available for such losses, or where available, such losses may exceed insurance limits. This risk of loss also includes the potential legal actions that could arise as a result of an operational deficiency or as a result of noncompliance with applicable regulatory standards, adverse business decisions or their implementation, and client attrition due to potential negative publicity. In the event of a breakdown in the internal control system, improper operation of systems or improper employee actions, we could suffer financial loss, face regulatory action, and suffer damage to our reputation.

Public funds deposits are a notable source of funds for our lending and investment activities. At June 30, 2024, $531.5 million, or 10.3% of our total deposits, consisted of public funds deposits from local government entities in the state of New Jersey, such as townships, counties, school districts and charter schools. These deposits are collateralized by letters of credit from the FHLB or through the pledge of eligible investment securities. Given our reliance on these typically high-average balance public funds deposits as a source of funds, our inability to retain such funds could adversely affect our liquidity. Further, our public funds deposits are primarily floating rate interest-bearing demand deposit accounts and therefore their pricing is more sensitive to changes in interest rates. If we are forced to pay higher rates on our public funds accounts to retain those funds, or if we are unable to retain such funds and we are forced to rely on other sources of funds for our lending and investment activities, such as borrowings from the FHLB, the interest expense associated with these other funding sources may be higher than the rates we are currently paying on our public funds deposits, which would adversely affect our net interest income.

Liquidity is essential to our business. We rely on our ability to gather deposits, make investments and effectively manage the repayment and maturity schedules of loans to ensure that there is adequate liquidity to fund our operations and pay our obligations. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale and maturities of loans and securities and other sources could have a substantial negative effect on liquidity. Our most important source of funds is deposits. Deposit balances can decrease when customers perceive alternative investments as providing a better risk/return tradeoff, which are strongly influenced by external factors such as changes in interest rates, local and national economic conditions, the availability and attractiveness of alternative investments, and perceptions of the stability of the financial services industry generally and of our institution specifically. Further, the demand for deposits may be reduced due to a variety of factors such as demographic patterns, changes in customer preferences, reductions in consumers' disposable income, the monetary policy of the FRB, or regulatory actions that decrease customer access to particular products. If customers move money out of bank deposits and into other investments such as money market funds, we would lose a relatively low-cost source of funds, which would increase our funding costs and reduce net interest income. Any changes made to the rates offered on deposits to remain competitive with other financial institutions may also adversely affect profitability and liquidity. Other primary sources of funds consist of cash flows from operations, maturities and sales of investment securities and borrowings from the FHLB. We have the capacity to borrow additional funds from the FHLB as well as from the FRB without pledging additional collateral, and via unsecured overnight borrowings from other financial institutions. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our activities, or on terms that are acceptable, could be impaired by factors that affect us directly or the financial services industry or economy in general, such as disruptions in the financial markets, changes in the value of investment securities, negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry, a decrease in our business activity as a result of a downturn in markets, or adverse regulatory actions against us. Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet expenses, or to fulfill obligations such as repaying borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations. A lack of liquidity could also attract increased regulatory scrutiny and potential restraints imposed on us by regulators. Depending on the capitalization status and regulatory treatment of depository institutions, including whether an institution is subject to a supervisory prompt corrective action directive, certain additional regulatory restrictions and prohibitions may apply, including restrictions on growth, restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, restrictions or prohibitions on payment of dividends and restrictions on the acceptance of brokered deposits.