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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
/x/ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the year ended December 31, 1997
/ / TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal period from to
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Commission file number 2-80070
CASS COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant specified in its charter)
Missouri 43-1265338
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.A. Employer
incorporation or organization) identification No.)
13001 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton, Missouri 63044
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (314) 506-5500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each Class Name of each exchange on which registered
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None None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock par value $.50
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(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be
contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form
10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. X
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As of March 13, 1998, 3,861,248 shares of common stock of the
registrant were outstanding; the aggregate market value of the shares of
common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates was approximately
$102,309,325 based upon the NASDAQ Stock Market closing price of $34.06
for March 13, 1998.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
1. Portions of registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year
ended December 31, 1997 are incorporated by reference in Part I and II
hereof.
2. Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be held on April 20, 1998 is incorporated by reference in Part III
hereof.
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PART I.
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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
--------
Cass Commercial Corporation
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Registrant, Cass Commercial Corporation (the "Company"), is a bank
holding corporation organized in 1982 under the laws of Missouri and approved
by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve system in February 1983 and
is governed by regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
system applying to bank holding companies. As of December 31, 1997, the
Company owned 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Cass Bank &
Trust Company ("Cass Bank") and Cass Information Systems, Inc. ("CIS"), a
nonbanking subsidiary. The business of the Company is providing supervisory
assistance to its subsidiaries in the form of centralized accounting, human
resources and internal auditing services.
The Company and its subsidiaries had 552 full-time and 16 part-time
employees as of March 15, 1998.
Total net revenue, income before income tax, identifiable assets,
depreciation and amortization expense and capital expenditures attributable
to each business segment, for the three years ended December 31, 1997 are set
forth in Note Thirteen of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on
page 30 of the Cass Commercial Corporation 1997 Annual Report, which note is
hereby incorporated by reference.
Cass Bank & Trust Company
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Cass Bank was organized as a Missouri Trust Company with banking powers
in 1906. Its principal banking office is located at 13001 Hollenberg Drive,
Bridgeton, Missouri.
Cass Bank provides banking services in the commercial, industrial and
residential areas it serves. However, its primary focus is privately owned
businesses and churches and church-related ministries. Services include
commercial, real estate and personal loans; checking, savings and time
deposit accounts and other financial management services. Although Cass Bank
has trust powers, it does not operate a trust department. At December 31,
1997, Cass Bank had total assets of $209,485,000, deposits of $176,533,000
and aggregate capital accounts of $23,271,000 and for the year ended December
31, 1997, had net income of $2,934,000.
Cass Bank encounters substantial competition in its banking business
from other banks located throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Savings
and loan associations, credit unions and other financial institutions also
provide competition. However, the principal competition is represented by
bank holding company affiliates, many of which are larger and have greater
resources than Cass Bank, and are able to offer a wide range of banking and
related services.
Cass Information Systems, Inc.
- ------------------------------
CIS, formerly operated as a division of Cass Bank, conducts information
and payment operations. In 1956, Cass Bank began the operation of a freight
payment service to meet the needs of shippers and receivers of freight and
transportation companies in the St. Louis metropolitan area. This service
was well received and, in 1967, its marketing was expanded to cover the
entire United States. The range and scope of the services have been expanded
significantly over the years, and today many Fortune 500 companies in the
United States utilize the broad array of services provided by CIS.
The headquarters and operations of CIS are at 13001 Hollenberg Drive,
Bridgeton, Missouri where 41,000 square feet of space is utilized. Other
operating locations are in Columbus, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois and Boston,
Massachusetts.
CIS's competition comes from both within and outside the banking
industry. Many banks, which had provided freight payment services in the
past, have ceased providing such services or have sold those operations. CIS
also competes with several nonbank companies throughout the United States.
The Company believes CIS to be the largest firm in the freight bill payment
industry in terms of the total dollars of freight bills paid, the total
number of employees on staff, total revenues and total assets employed.
Nonbank competition consists of five primary competitors and numerous small
freight bill audit firms
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located in cities throughout the United States. While offering freight
payment services, few of these audit firms compete on a national basis.
CIS owns several service marks for the freight payment services and
logistics information software it provides. Those marks deemed the most
valuable are:
Freightpay- The basic freight payment services provided by CIS
Ratemaker- The rate maintenance software product which is
provided to customers on a service basis as well
First Rate- The carrier selection software product which is also
available in a service environment
In addition, CIS either owns or has applied for nine other service marks.
CIS continues to expand its Electronic Data Interchange ("EDI")
capabilities. CIS currently processes over 45% of its freight payment
transactions via EDI and anticipates a continuing increase in this method of
processing.
CIS is not dependent on any one customer for a large portion of its
business. It has a varied client base with no individual client exceeding 5%
of total revenue.
For the year 1997, CIS had net income of $4,195,000. Total assets at
December 31, 1997 were $249,735,000.
REGULATION AND SUPERVISION
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General
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The Company and Cass Bank are extensively regulated under federal and
state law. These laws and regulations are intended to protect depositors,
not stockholders. To the extent that the following information describes
statutory or regulatory provisions, it is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provisions. Any change
in applicable laws or regulations may have a material effect on the business
and prospects of the Company. The operations of the Company may be affected
by legislative changes and by the policies of various regulatory authorities.
The Company is unable to predict the nature or the extent of the effects on
its business and earnings that fiscal or monetary policies, economic control
or new federal or state legislation may have in the future.
Federal Bank Holding Company Regulation
---------------------------------------
The Company is a bank holding company within the meaning of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"), and as such, it is
subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System (the "FRB"). The Company is required to file
quarterly and annual reports with the FRB and to provide to the FRB such
additional information as the FRB may require, and it is subject to regular
inspections by the FRB. The FRB also has extensive enforcement authority
over bank holding companies, including, among other things, the ability to
assess civil money penalties, to issue cease and desist or removal orders and
to require that a holding company divest subsidiaries (including its bank
subsidiaries). In general, enforcement actions may be initiated for
violations of law or regulations or for unsafe or unsound practices.
Under FRB policy, a bank holding company must serve as a source of
strength for its subsidiary banks. Under this policy the FRB may require,
and has required in the past, a bank holding company to contribute additional
capital to an undercapitalized subsidiary bank.
The BHC Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior
approval of the FRB before (1) acquiring, directly or indirectly, ownership
or control of any voting shares of another bank or bank holding company if,
after such acquisition, it would own or control more than 5% of such shares
(unless it already owns or controls the majority of such shares); (2)
acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of another bank or bank
holding company; or (3) merging or consolidating with another bank holding
company. The FRB will not approve any acquisition, merger or consolidation
that would have a
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substantially anticompetitive result, unless the anticompetitive effects of
the proposed transaction are clearly outweighed by a greater public interest
in meeting the convenience and needs of the community to be served. The FRB
also considers capital adequacy and other financial and managerial factors in
reviewing acquisitions or mergers.
With certain exceptions, the BHC Act also prohibits a bank holding
company from acquiring or retaining direct or indirect ownership or control
of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company which is not a bank or
bank holding company, or from engaging directly or indirectly in activities
other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks or providing
services for its subsidiaries. The principal exceptions to these
prohibitions involve certain non-bank activities which, by statute or by FRB
regulation or order, have been identified as activities closely related to
the business of banking or of managing or controlling banks. In making this
determination, the FRB considers whether the performance of such activities
by a bank holding company can be expected to produce benefits to the public
such as greater convenience, increased competition or gains in efficiency in
resources, which can be expected to outweigh the risks of possible adverse
effects such as decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or
unsound banking practices. The scope of permissible nonbanking activities
may be expanded from time to time by the FRB by regulation or order. Such
activities may also be affected by Federal legislation.
The FRB has issued a policy statement on the payment of cash dividends
by bank holding companies, which expresses the FRB's view that a bank holding
company should pay cash dividends only to the extent that its net income for
the past year is sufficient to cover both the cash dividends and a rate of
earning retention that is consistent with the holding company's capital
needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. The FRB also indicated
that it would be inappropriate for a company experiencing serious financial
problems to borrow funds to pay dividends. Furthermore, under the prompt
corrective regulations adopted by the FRB, the FRB may prohibit a bank
holding company from paying any dividends if the holding company's bank
subsidiary is classified as "undercapitalized."
A bank holding company is required to give the FRB prior written notice
of any purchase or redemption of its outstanding equity securities if the
gross consideration for the purchase or redemption, when combined with the
net consideration paid for all such purchases or redemptions during the
preceding 12 months, is equal to 10% or more of its consolidated net worth.
The FRB may disapprove such a purchase or redemption if it determines that
the proposal would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice or would violate
any law, regulation, FRB order, written agreement with the FRB, or any
condition imposed by the FRB. This notification requirement does not apply
to any company that is "well-capitalized" and "well-managed" as defined in
the regulation and is not subject to any unresloved supervisory issues.
Additional aspects of the regulation of bank holding companies under
Federal law are discussed below.
State Bank Holding Company Regulation
-------------------------------------
The Company, as a Missouri bank holding company, is also subject to
regulation by the Division of Finance of the State of Missouri (the "Division
of Finance"). Under the Missouri banking laws, prior approval of the
Division of Finance is required before a bank holding company may acquire
control of a Missouri chartered bank or a bank holding company incorporated
in Missouri. In addition, under the Missouri banking laws, it is unlawful
for any bank holding company to obtain control of any bank if the total
deposits in the bank together with the total deposits in all banks in
Missouri controlled by such bank holding company exceed 13% of the total
deposits held by all depository financial institutions in Missouri. In
computing deposits for purposes of this calculation, certificates of deposit
in the face amount of $100,000 or more, deposits from outside the United
States and deposits from banks not controlled by the bank holding company are
excluded. Depository financial institution is defined as any financial
institution which accepts deposits and which can insure such deposits through
an agency of the Federal government. As of December 31, 1997, the Company's
consolidated Missouri deposits represented less than 1% of the total deposits
held by all Missouri depository financial institutions.
Federal and State Bank Regulation
---------------------------------
Cass Bank is a Federally-insured Missouri state-chartered bank and is a
member of the Federal Reserve System. Cass Bank is subject to the
supervision and regulation of the Division of Finance, and to the supervision
and regulation of the FRB. These agencies may prohibit Cass Bank from
engaging in what they believe constitutes unsafe or unsound banking
practices.
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The maximum legal rate of interest which Cass Bank may charge on a
particular loan depends on a variety of factors such as the type of borrower,
the purpose of the loan, the amount of the loan and the date the loan is
made. There are several state and federal statutes which set maximum legal
rates of interest for various kinds of loans.
The ability of banks and bank holding companies to operate in multiple
locations or in more than one state is regulated by both Federal and state
law. Under the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act
of 1994 (the "Riegle-Neal Act"), "adequately capitalized and adequately
managed" bank holding companies may acquire bank subsidiaries located in any
state notwithstanding any state laws to the contrary, and adequately
capitalized and adequately managed national and state-chartered banks may
merge across state lines and keep the branches of the merging banks.
The Riegle-Neal Act permits states to require banks to be in existence for a
specified period of time up to five years before they can be acquired (either
by purchase or through an interstate bank merger) by out-of-state bank holding
companies, and to impose state wide market share limits on out-of-state bank
holding companies after their initial entry into the state. The Riegle-Neal
Act does not authorize interstate branching other than by a bank merger, such
as by opening a new branch in another state or by acquiring a branch in
another state (without acquiring the entire bank); however, any state may opt
to permit out-of-state banks to branch within the state by those methods.
The Community Reinvestment Act requires that, in connection with
examinations of financial institutions within its jurisdiction, the FRB shall
evaluate the record of the financial institutions in meeting the credit needs
of their local communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods,
consistent with the safe and sound operation of those banks. These factors
are also considered in evaluating mergers, acquisitions and applications to
open a branch or facility. Banks having branch offices in two or more states
will receive both an overall CRA performance rating and separate CRA ratings
for each of the states in which they have branches.
Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act is designed to protect banks
from abuse in financial transactions with companies with which the bank is
affiliated, by (i) limiting a bank's extensions of credit and other covered
transactions with any single affiliate to no more than 10% of the bank's
capital and surplus, and with all affiliates to no more than 20% of the
bank's capital and surplus, (ii) requiring that all of the bank's extensions
of credit to an affiliate be appropriately secured by collateral, (iii)
requiring that all transactions between a bank and its affiliates be on terms
and conditions consistent with safe and sound banking practices, and (iv)
prohibiting a bank or its subsidiaries from purchasing low-quality loans or
other assets from the bank's affiliates.
Cass Bank is also subject to certain restrictions imposed by the
Federal Reserve Act on extensions of credit to executive officers, directors,
principal shareholders or any related interest of such persons. Extensions
of credit (i) must be made on substantially the same terms, including
interest rates and collateral as, and follow credit underwriting procedures
that are not less stringent than, those prevailing at the time for comparable
transactions with persons not covered above and who are not employees, and
(ii) must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other
unfavorable features. Cass Bank is also subject to certain lending limits
and restrictions on overdrafts to such persons. A violation of these
restrictions may result in the assessment of substantial civil monetary
penalties on Cass Bank or any officer, director, employee, agent or other
person participating in the conduct of the affairs of Cass Bank, the
imposition of a cease and desist order and other regulatory sanctions.
Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991
("FDICIA"), each federal banking agency has adopted, by regulation,
guidelines on non-capital safety and soundness standards for institutions
under its authority. These cover, among other things, internal controls,
information systems and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit
underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and
benefits, such other operational and managerial standards as the agency
determines to be appropriate and standards for asset quality, earnings and
stock valuation. An institution which fails to meet these standards must
develop a plan acceptable to the agency, specifying the steps that the
institution will take to meet the standards. Failure to submit or implement
such a plan may subject the institution to regulatory sanctions. The Company
believes that Cass Bank meets all the standards of FDICIA. FDICIA also imposed
new capital standards on insured depository institutions, all of which are met
by Cass Bank.
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Deposit Insurance and Assessments
---------------------------------
As a Federal Depository Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") member
institution, the deposits of Cass Bank are currently insured to a maximum of
$100,000 per depositor through the Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF"), administered
by the FDIC, and Cass Bank is required to pay periodic deposit insurance
premium assessments to the FDIC.
The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system. Under the risk-based
assessment system, BIF members pay varying assessment rates depending upon
the level of the institution's capital and the degree of supervisory
concern over the institution. The assessment rates are set by the FDIC
semiannually. The FDIC reduced the assessment rates for 1997 to a range of
zero (0) cents to 27 cents per $100 of insured deposits. The Bank qualified
for the $0 assessment rate for 1997, however the Bank paid approximately
$21,000 in assessments from the Financing Corporation (FICO). The FICO debt
service assessment became applicable to all insured institutions as of
January 1, 1997, in accordance with the Deposit Insurance Act of 1996. The
FDIC has authority to increase the annual assessment rate if it determines
that a higher assessment rate is necessary to increase BIF's reserve ratio.
There is no cap on the annual assessment rate which the FDIC may impose.
Under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act
of 1989 ("FIRREA"), a depository institution insured by the FDIC can be held
liable for any loss incurred by, or reasonably expected to be incurred by,
the FDIC in connection with (i) the default of a commonly controlled
FDIC-insured depository institution or (ii) any assistance provided by the
FDIC to a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository institution in danger of
default (the "Cross Guarantee"). "Default" is defined generally as the
appointment of a conservator or receiver and "in danger of default" is
defined generally as the existence of certain conditions indicating either
that there is no reasonable prospect that the institution will be able to
meet the demands of its depositors or pay its obligations in the absence of
regulatory assistance, or that its capital has been depleted and there is no
reasonable prospect that it will be replenished in the absence of regulatory
assistance. The Cross Guarantee thus enables the FDIC to assess a holding
company's healthy BIF members for the losses of any of such holding company's
failed BIF members. Cross Guarantee liabilities are generally superior in
priority to obligations of the depository institution to its shareholders,
due solely to their status as shareholders, and obligations to other
affiliates. Under FIRREA, failure to meet applicable capital guidelines
could subject a banking institution to a variety of enforcement remedies
available to federal regulatory authorities, including the termination of
deposit insurance by the FDIC and a prohibition on the taking of "brokered
deposits."
Dividends
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The principal source of the Company's cash revenues is dividends
received from Cass Bank and CIS. The Missouri banking laws impose certain
limitations on the payment of dividends by Missouri state chartered banks
such as Cass Bank, as follows: (1) no dividends may be paid which would
impair capital; (2) until the surplus fund of a bank is equal to 40% of its
capital, no dividends may be declared unless there has been carried to the
surplus account no less than one-tenth of its net profits for the dividend
period; and (3) dividends are payable only out of a bank's undivided profits.
In addition, the appropriate regulatory authorities are authorized to
prohibit banks and bank holding companies from paying dividends which would
constitute an unsafe and unsound banking practice.
Capital Adequacy
----------------
The federal bank regulatory agencies use capital adequacy guidelines in
their examination and regulation of bank holding companies and banks. If the
capital falls below the minimum levels established by these guidelines, the
bank holding company or bank may be denied approval to acquire or establish
additional banks or non-bank businesses or to open facilities.
The FRB and FDIC have adopted risk-based capital guidelines for banks
and bank holding companies. The risk-based capital guidelines are designed
to make regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk
profile among banks and bank holding companies, to account for off-balance
sheet exposure and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets.
Assets and off-balance sheet items are assigned to broad risk categories,
each with appropriate weights. The resulting capital ratios represent
capital as a percentage of total risk-weighted assets and off-balance sheet
items. The guidelines are minimums, and the FRB has noted that bank holding
companies contemplating significant expansion programs should not allow
expansion to diminish their capital ratios and should maintain ratios well in
excess of the minimum. The current guidelines require all bank holding
companies and federally-regulated banks to maintain a minimum risk-based
total capital ratio equal to 8%, of which at least 4%
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must be Tier 1 capital (see description of Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital
below). Bank holding companies are required under such guidelines to deduct
all intangibles except purchased mortgage servicing rights from capital.
Tier 1 capital for bank holding companies includes common shareholders'
equity, qualifying perpetual preferred stock (up to 25% of total Tier 1
capital, if cumulative; under a FRB rule, redeemable perpetual preferred
stock may not be counted as Tier 1 capital unless the redemption is subject
to the prior approval of the FRB) and minority interests in equity accounts
of consolidated subsidiaries, less intangibles except as described above.
Tier 2 capital includes: (i) the allowance for loan losses up to 1.25% of
risk-weighted assets; (ii) any qualifying perpetual preferred stock which
exceeds the amount which may be included in Tier 1 capital; (iii) hybrid
capital instruments; (iv) perpetual debt; (v) mandatory convertible
securities and (vi) subordinated debt and intermediate term preferred stock
of up to 50% of Tier 1 capital. Total capital is the sum of Tier 1 and Tier
2 capital less reciprocal holdings of other banking organizations, capital
instruments and investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries.
Banks' and bank holding companies' assets are given risk-weights of 0%,
20%, 50% or 100%, depending on the type of asset. In addition, certain
off-balance sheet items are given credit conversion factors to convert them to
asset equivalent amounts to which an appropriate risk-weight will apply.
These computations result in the total risk-weighted assets. Most loans are
assigned to the 100% risk-weight category, except for first mortgage loans
fully secured by residential property, which carry a 50% rating. Most
investment securities are assigned to the 20% category, except for municipal
or state revenue bonds, which have a 50% risk-weight, and direct obligations
of or obligations guaranteed by the United States Treasury or United States
Government agencies, which have a 0% risk-weight. In converting off-balance
sheet items, direct credit substitutes, including general guarantees and
standby letters of credit backing financial obligations, are given a 100%
conversion factor. Transaction related contingencies such as bid bonds,
other standby letters of credit and undrawn commitments, including commercial
credit lines with an initial maturity of more than one year, have a 50%
conversion factor. Short-term, self-liquidating trade contingencies are
converted at 20%, and short-term commitments have a 0% factor.
In assessing a bank's capital adequacy, the FRB and FDIC also take into
consideration market risks, i.e., the risk of loss from the change in value
of assets and liabilities due to changes in interest rates, and may require
an institution to increase its capital level to address such risks. These
agencies have also adopted a policy statement that provides guidance to
institutions on the management of interest rate risk.
The FRB also has implemented a leverage ratio, which is Tier 1 capital
as a percentage of total average assets less intangibles, to be used as a
supplement to the risk-based guidelines. The principal objective of the
leverage ratio is to place a constraint on the maximum degree to which a bank
holding company may leverage its equity capital base. The FRB requires a
minimum leverage ratio of 3%. However, for all but the most highly rated
bank holding companies and for bank holding companies seeking to expand, the
FRB expects an additional cushion of at least 100 to 200 basis points.
As of December 31, 1997, the Company and the Bank's risk-based Tier 1
Capital and Total Capital ratios, and Leverage ratio, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Company Cass
Consolidated Bank
------------ ----
<S> <C> <C>
Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets 21.48% 14.98%
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets 22.76% 16.23%
Tier 1 Capital to Average Assets 11.72% 11.67%
</TABLE>
FDICIA
------
FDICIA made extensive changes to the federal banking laws and
instituted certain changes to the supervisory process, including provisions
that mandate certain regulatory agency actions against undercapitalized
institutions within specified time limits. FDICIA contains various other
provisions that may affect the operations of banks and savings institutions.
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The prompt corrective action provision of FDICIA requires the federal
banking regulators to assign each insured institution to one of five capital
categories ("well capitalized", "adequately capitalized" or one of three
"undercapitalized" categories) and to take progressively more restrictive
actions based on the capital categorization, as specified below. Under
FDICIA, capital requirements include a leverage limit, a risk-based capital
requirement and any other measure of capital deemed appropriate by the
federal banking regulators for measuring the capital adequacy of an insured
depository institution. All institutions, regardless of their capital
levels, are restricted from making any capital distribution or paying any
management fees that would cause the institution to fail to satisfy the
minimum levels for any relevant capital measure.
The FDIC and the Federal Reserve Board adopted capital-related
regulations under FDICIA. Under those regulations, a bank is well
capitalized if it: (i) has a risk-based capital ratio of 10% or greater;
(ii) has a ratio of Tier I capital to risk-adjusted assets of 6% or greater;
(iii) has a ratio of Tier I capital to average assets of 5% or greater; and
(iv) is not subject to an order, written agreement, capital directive, or
prompt corrective action directive to meet and maintain a specific capital
for any capital measure. A bank is adequately capitalized if it is not "well
capitalized" and: (i) has a risk-based capital ratio of 8% or greater; (ii)
has a ratio of Tier I capital to risk-adjusted assets of 4% or greater; and
(iii) has a ratio of Tier I capital to average assets of 4% or greater
(except that certain associations rated "Composite 1" under the federal
banking agencies' CAMEL rating system may be adequately capitalized if their
ratios of core capital to average asset are 3% or greater). At December 31,
1997 Cass Bank was categorized as "well capitalized".
FDICIA generally requires annual on-site, full scope examinations by
each bank's primary federal regulator. It also requires management, the
independent audit committee and outside accountants to develop or approve
reports regarding the effectiveness of internal controls, legal compliance
and off-balance-sheet liabilities and assets.
Monetary Policy
---------------
The earnings of a bank holding company are affected by the policies of
regulatory authorities, including the FRB, in connection with the FRB's
regulation of the money supply. Various methods employed by the FRB are open
market operations in United States Government securities, changes in the
discount rate on member bank borrowings and changes in reserve requirements
against member bank deposits. These methods are used in varying combinations
to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and
deposits, and their use may also affect interest rates charged on loans or
paid on deposits. The monetary policies of the FRB have had a significant
effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are
expected to continue to do so in the future.
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I. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
INTEREST RATES AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL
THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS THE CONDENSED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS FOR EACH OF THE
PERIODS REPORTED, THE INTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE ON EACH CATEGORY OF
INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS AND INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES, AND THE AVERAGE
YIELD ON SUCH CATEGORIES OF INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS AND THE AVERAGE RATES PAID
ON SUCH CATEGORIES OF INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES FOR EACH OF THE PERIODS
REPORTED.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
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1997 1996 1995
---------------------------- -------------------------- ---------------------------
INTEREST INTEREST INTEREST
AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/ AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/ AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/
BALANCE EXPENSE RATE BALANCE EXPENSE RATE BALANCE EXPENSE RATE
------- -------- ------ ------- -------- ------ ------- -------- ------
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS<F1>
Earning assets:
Loans <F2><F3>:
Taxable $199,633 $16,781 8.41% $190,634 $16,096 8.44% $157,638 $13,949 8.85%
Tax-exempt <F4> 2,647 257 9.71 1,462 147 10.05 1,299 141 10.85
Debt and equity securities <F5>:
Taxable 146,534 9,074 6.19 158,884 9,729 6.12 160,193 9,741 6.08
Tax-exempt <F4> 1,493 114 7.64 1,407 110 7.82 854 70 8.20
Federal funds sold and other
short-term investments 57,900 3,181 5.49 40,639 2,132 5.25 51,602 2,972 5.76
-------- ------- -------- ------- -------- -------
Total earning assets 408,207 29,407 7.20 393,026 28,214 7.18 371,586 26,873 7.23
-------- ------- ==== -------- ------- ===== -------- ------- =====
Nonearning assets:
Cash and due from banks 17,665 17,945 15,645
Premises and equipment, net 7,902 8,091 7,731
Other assets 14,645 10,196 12,459
Allowance for loan losses (4,519) (6,305) (6,504)
-------- -------- --------
Total assets $443,900 $422,953 $400,917
======== ======== ========
<CAPTION>
(continued)
8
<PAGE> 10
AVERAGE BALANCES, INTEREST AND RATES, CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
---------------------------- -------------------------- ---------------------------
INTEREST INTEREST INTEREST
AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/ AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/ AVERAGE INCOME/ YIELD/
BALANCE EXPENSE RATE BALANCE EXPENSE RATE BALANCE EXPENSE RATE
------- -------- ------ ------- -------- ------ ------- -------- ------
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY<F1>
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing demand
deposits $ 31,873 $ 1,130 3.55% $ 24,895 $ 826 3.32% $ 20,791 $ 639 3.07%
Savings deposits 59,918 2,562 4.28 68,565 3,139 4.58 57,832 2,858 4.94
Time deposits of
$100,000 or more 3,984 222 5.57 4,512 242 5.36 4,715 267 5.66
Other time deposits 5,296 267 5.04 5,790 296 5.11 5,584 272 4.87
-------- ------- -------- ------- -------- -------
Total interest-
bearing deposits 101,071 4,181 4.14 103,762 4,503 4.34 88,922 4,036 4.54
Short-term borrowings 1,241 67 5.40 3,090 139 4.50 2,121 92 4.34
-------- ------- -------- ------- -------- -------
Total interest-bearing
liabilities 102,312 4,248 4.15 106,852 4,642 4.34 91,043 4,128 4.53
-------- ------- ==== -------- ------- ==== -------- ------- ====
Noninterest-bearing
liabilities:
Demand deposits 60,707 57,833 54,079
Accounts and drafts payable 223,990 206,269 207,424
Other liabilities 6,926 6,749 7,447
-------- -------- --------
Total liabilities 393,935 377,703 359,993
Stockholders' equity 49,965 45,250 40,924
-------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $443,900 $422,953 $400,917
======== ======== ========
Net interest income $25,159 $23,572 $22,745
======= ======= =======
Net interest margin 6.16% 6.00% 6.12%
==== ==== ====
<CAPTION>
(continued)
9
<PAGE> 11
AVERAGE BALANCES, INTEREST AND RATES, CONTINUED
<FN>
NOTES:
<F1> Balances shown are daily averages.
<F2> For purposes of these computations, nonaccrual loans are included in the average loan amounts outstanding.
Interest on nonaccrual loans is recorded when received as discussed further in Note One to the Company's 1997
Consolidated Financial Statements, incorporated by reference herein.
<F3> Interest income on loans includes net loan fees of $6,000, $8,000 and $26,000 for 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
<F4> Income is presented on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 34% for 1997, 1996 and 1995. The tax-
equivalent adjustment was approximately $124,000, $88,000 and $72,000 for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
<F5> For purposes of these computations, yields on investment securities are computed as interest income divided by
the average amortized cost of the investments.
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE> 12
INTEREST VOLUME AND RATE VARIANCE
THE FOLLOWING TABLE PRESENTS THE CHANGES IN INTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE BETWEEN
YEARS DUE TO CHANGES IN VOLUME AND INTEREST RATES. THAT PORTION OF THE CHANGE IN
INTEREST ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMBINED RATE/VOLUME VARIANCE HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO
RATE AND VOLUME CHANGES IN PROPORTION TO THE ABSOLUTE DOLLAR AMOUNTS OF THE
CHANGE IN EACH.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 COMPARED TO 1996 1996 COMPARED TO 1995
INCREASE (DECREASE) DUE INCREASE (DECREASE) DUE
TO CHANGE IN: TO CHANGE IN:
--------------------------------- ------------------------------
NET NET
VOLUME RATE CHANGE VOLUME RATE CHANGE
------ ---- ------ ------ ---- ------
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest earned on:
Loans <F1><F2>:
Taxable $ 757 $ (72) $ 685 $2,810 $(663) $2,147
Tax-exempt <F3>: 115 (5) 110 17 (11) 6
Debt and equity securities:
Taxable (764) 109 (655) (80) 68 (12)
Tax-exempt <F3>: 7 (3) 4 43 (3) 40
Federal funds sold and other
short-term investments 944 105 1,049 (591) (249) (840)
------ ----- ------ ------ ----- ------
Total interest income 1,059 134 1,193 2,199 (858) 1,341
------ ----- ------ ------ ----- ------
Interest expense on:
Interest-bearing demand deposits 244 60 304 133 54 187
Savings deposits (379) (198) (577) 502 (221) 281
Time deposits of $100,000 or more (29) 9 (20) (11) (14) (25)
Other time deposits (25) (4) (29) 10 14 24
Short-term borrowings (96) 24 (72) 44 3 47
------ ----- ------ ------ ----- ------
Total interest expense (285) (109) (394) 678 (164) 514
------ ----- ------ ------ ----- ------
Net interest income $1,344 $ 243 $1,587 $1,521 $(694) $ 827
====== ===== ====== ====== ===== ======
<FN>
NOTES:
<F1> Average balances include nonaccrual loans.
<F2> Interest income includes net loan fees.
<F3> Information is presented on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 34% for 1997, 1996 and 1995.
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE> 13
II. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
THE CARRYING VALUE OF DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES BY CATEGORY OF SECURITIES
FOR EACH YEAR, IS AS FOLLOWS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
----------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Government Treasury securities $ 93,148 $121,461 $102,992
Obligations of U.S. Government
corporations and agencies 31,410 36,513 43,751
States and political
subdivisions 1,492 1,492 916
Stock of the Federal Reserve Bank 201 201 201
-------- -------- --------
Total investments $126,251 $159,667 $147,860
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
AT DECEMBER 31, 1997, THE MATURITY OF DEBT SECURITIES IS AS FOLLOWS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AFTER AFTER
ONE YEAR FIVE YEARS
ONE THROUGH THROUGH AFTER WEIGHTED
YEAR OR FIVE TEN TEN AVERAGE
LESS YEARS YEARS YEARS YIELD
------- -------- ---------- ------- --------
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Government Treasury
securities $27,872 $65,276 $ -- $ -- 6.22%
Obligations of U.S. Govern-
ment corporations and
agencies 140 16,358 4,209 10,703 5.88
States and political
subdivisions <F1> 214 235 683 360 5.13
------- ------- ------ -------
Total investments $28,226 $81,869 $4,892 $11,063 6.13%
======= ======= ====== ======= ====
Weighted average yield 6.25% 6.09% 6.33% 5.98%
======= ======= ====== =======
<FN>
<F1> Rates on obligations of states and political subdivisions have been
adjusted to pretax equivalent rates using the incremental statutory
federal income tax rate of 34%. While yields by range of maturity
are routinely provided by the Company's accounting system on a tax
equivalent basis, the individual amounts of adjustments are not. In
total, at an assumed federal income tax rate of 34%, the adjustment
amounted to approximately $37,000.
</TABLE>
There was no single issuer of securities in the investment portfolio at
December 31, 1997 other than the U.S. Government and U.S. Government
corporations and agencies, for which the aggregate amortized cost exceeded
ten percent of total stockholders' equity.
12
<PAGE> 14
III. LOAN PORTFOLIO
THE COMPOSITION OF THE LOAN PORTFOLIO IS AS FOLLOWS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commercial and industrial $ 93,633 $ 94,962 $ 98,641 $ 91,500 $ 88,726
Real estate:
Mortgage 87,573 85,360 58,746 48,997 51,225
Construction 7,893 9,164 11,057 4,253 6,478
Industrial revenue bonds 2,520 2,851 1,117 1,561 2,208
Installment, net 3,066 3,794 3,954 5,226 4,738
Other 1,793 1,644 678 929 552
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total loans $196,478 $197,775 $174,193 $152,466 $153,927
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
LOANS AT DECEMBER 31, 1997 MATURE AS FOLLOWS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OVER ONE YEAR OVER
THROUGH FIVE YEARS FIVE YEARS
---------------------- -------------------
ONE YEAR FIXED FLOATING FIXED FLOATING
OR LESS RATE RATE RATE RATE TOTAL
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commercial and industrial $ 72,750 $19,114 $1,619 $ 150 $ -- $ 93,633
Real estate:
Mortgage 20,489 58,237 7,581 1,266 -- 87,573
Construction 6,243 -- -- 1,650 -- 7,893
Industrial revenue bonds 515 2,005 -- -- -- 2,520
Installment, net 1,310 1,756 -- -- -- 3,066
Other 1,793 -- -- -- -- 1,793
-------- ------- ------ ------ ----- --------
Total loans $103,100 $81,112 $9,200 $3,066 $ -- $196,478
</TABLE>
Loans have been classified as having "floating" interest rates if the rate
specified in the loan varies with the prime commercial rate of interest.
13
<PAGE> 15
RISK ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN LENDING ACTIVITIES
THE FOLLOWING ARE NONPERFORMING ASSETS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commercial, industrial and industrial
revenue bonds:
Nonaccrual $285 $480 $151 $247 $ 810
Contractually past due 90 days
or more 3 -- 186 -- --
Renegotiated loans 449 -- 278 213 975
Real estate-construction contractually
past due 90 days or more -- -- 15 -- --
Real estate-mortgage:
Nonaccrual -- -- -- -- 43
Contractually past due 90 days
or more 24 306 -- -- --
Installment-nonaccrual -- -- -- -- 104
---- ---- ---- ---- ------
Total nonperforming loans 761 786 630 460 1,932
Other real estate -- -- -- -- --
---- ---- ---- ---- ------
Total nonperforming assets $761 $786 $630 $460 $1,932
==== ==== ==== ==== ======
<FN>
<F1> Nonaccrual Loans
----------------
It is the policy of the Company to continually monitor its loan
portfolio and to discontinue the accrual of interest on any loan on
which payment of principal or interest in a timely manner in the
normal course of business is doubtful. Subsequent payments received
on such loans are applied to principal if there is any doubt as to
the collectibility of such principal; otherwise, these receipts are
recorded as interest income. Interest on nonaccrual loans, which
would have been recorded under the original terms of the loans, was
approximately $27,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997. Of this
amount, approximately $1,000 was actually recorded as interest income
on such loans.
<F2> Potential Problem Loans
-----------------------
At December 31, 1997, after review of potential problem loans
identified by management including those noted above, management of
the Company concluded the allowance for loan losses was adequate. As
of December 31, 1997, approximately $2,541,000 of loans not included
in the table above were identified by management as having potential
credit problems which raised doubts as to the ability of the
borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms. Of this
balance of potential problem loans, $1,046,000 are deemed to be
impaired. While these borrowers are currently meeting all of the terms
of the applicable loan agreements, their financial condition has
caused management to believe that their loans may result in disclosure
at some future time as nonaccrual, past due or restructured.
<F3> Foreign Loans
-------------
The Company does not have any foreign loans.
14
<PAGE> 16
<F4> Loan Concentrations
-------------------
The Company has no concentrations of loans exceeding 10% of total
loans which are not otherwise disclosed in the loan portfolio
composition table. As can be seen in the loan composition table
above and discussed in Note Four to the Company's 1997 Consolidated
Financial Statements (included in the Company's 1997 Annual Report to
Stockholders incorporated herein by reference), the Company's primary
market niche is the privately held commercial company and churches
and church-related ministries. Loans to the commercial entities are
generally secured by the business assets of the company, including
accounts receivable, inventory, machinery and equipment, and the
building(s)/plant(s) from which the company operates. Operating lines
of credit to these companies generally are secured by accounts
receivable and inventory, with specific percentages of each
determined on a customer by customer basis, based on the business in
which the customer operates. Intermediate term credit for machinery
and equipment is generally loaned at some percentage of the value of
the equipment purchased, again depending on the type of machinery or
equipment purchased by the entity (e.g. less funds would be loaned on
restaurant equipment which has a lower resale value than certain
types of machinery which tend to hold their value). Long term credits
are secured by the entities' building(s)/plant(s) and are generally
loaned with a maximum 80% loan to value ratio.
Loans secured exclusively by commercial real estate are generally
made with a maximum 80% loan to value ratio, again depending upon the
Company's estimate of the resale value and ability for the property
to cash flow. The Company's loan policy requires an independent
appraisal for all loans over $250,000 secured by real estate. Company
management monitors the local economy in an attempt to determine
whether it has had a significant deteriorating effect on such
commercial real estate credits. When problems are identified,
appraised values are updated on a continual basis, either internally
or through ordering an updated external appraisal.
The Company's loan portfolio does not include a significant amount of
single family real estate mortgage or installment credits, as the
Company has not concentrated on the consumer side of the business.
<F5> Other Interest-Earning Assets
-----------------------------
The Company does not have any other interest-earning assets which
would have been included in nonaccrual, past due or restructured
loans if such assets were loans.
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE> 17
IV. SUMMARY OF LOAN LOSS EXPERIENCE
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF LOAN LOSS EXPERIENCE:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
--------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Allowance at beginning of year $ 4,396 $ 6,358 $ 6,334 $ 6,446 $ 6,953
Loans charged-off:
Commercial, industrial and IRB's 412 2,120 183 436 1,179
Real estate:
Mortgage -- -- -- -- --
Construction -- -- -- -- --
Installment -- 1 3 24 8
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total 412 2,121 186 460 1,187
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:
Commercial, industrial and IRB's 200 152 708 348 559
Real estate:
Mortgage -- -- -- -- --
Construction -- -- -- -- --
Installment -- 7 2 -- --
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total 200 159 710 348 559
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net loans charged-off (recovered) 212 1,962 (524) 112 628
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Provision charged to expense <F1> 300 -- (500) -- 121
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Allowance at end of year $ 4,484 $ 4,396 $ 6,358 $ 6,334 $ 6,446
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Loans outstanding:
Average $202,280 $192,096 $158,937 $142,696 $158,164
December 31 196,478 197,775 174,193 152,466 153,927
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to
loans outstanding:
Average 2.22% 2.29% 4.00% 4.44% 4.08%
December 31 2.28% 2.22% 3.65% 4.15% 4.19%
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans
outstanding .10% 1.02% (.33)% .08% .40%
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Allocation of allowance for loan losses <F2>:
Commercial, industrial and IRB's $ 4,001 $ 3,825 $ 5,582 $ 5,485 $ 5,956
Real estate:
Mortgage 366 119 502 492 143
Construction 15 173 7 101 --
Installment 102 279 267 256 347
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total $ 4,484 $ 4,396 $ 6,358 $ 6,334 $ 6,446
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Percent of categories to total loans:
Commercial and industrial and IRB's 48.9% 49.5% 57.3% 61.0% 59.1%
Real estate:
Mortgage 44.6 43.2 33.7 32.2 33.3
Construction 4.0 4.6 6.3 2.8 4.2
Installment 1.6 1.9 2.3 3.4 3.1
Other .9 .8 .4 .6 .3
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
<CAPTION>
See notes <F1> and <F2> on the following page.
16
<PAGE> 18
IV. SUMMARY OF LOAN LOSS EXPERIENCE, Continued
<FN>
<F1> Factors which influence management's determination of the provision for
loan losses charged to expense for each of the years presented above,
among other things, include evaluation of each nonperforming and/or
classified loan to determine the estimated loss exposure under
existing circumstances known to management; evaluation of all
potential problem loans identified in light of possible loss exposure
based upon existing circumstances known to management; an analysis of
the loan portfolio with regard to potential future loss exposure on
loans to specific customers and/or industries; current economic
conditions and an overall review of the remainder of the portfolio in
light of past loan loss experience.
<F2> The Company allocated its allowance for loan losses to the various loan
categories at December 31, 1997 based on the ratio of total
nonperforming loans over the last 5 years. Management views the
allowance for loan losses as being available for all potential or
presently unidentified loan losses which may occur in the future. The
risk of future losses that is inherent in the loan portfolio is not
precisely attributable to a particular loan or category of loans.
Allocations estimated for the categories do not specifically
represent that loan charge-offs of this magnitude will be required.
The allocation does not restrict future loan losses attributable to
a particular category of loans from being absorbed by the portion of
the allowance attributable to other categories of loans. The risk
factors considered when determining the overall level of the
allowance are the same when estimating the allocation by major
category, as specified in the above summary.
</TABLE>
17
<PAGE> 19
V. DEPOSITS
Certificates of deposit and other time deposits of $100,000 and more at
December 31, 1997 mature as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT
------
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED
IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C>
Three months or less $1,138
Three to six months 914
Six to twelve months 1,041
Over twelve months 418
------
Total $3,511
======
</TABLE>
The composition of average deposits and the average rates paid on those
deposits is represented in Table I included earlier in this discussion. The
Company does not have any significant deposits from foreign depositors.
VI. RETURN ON EQUITY AND ASSETS
The percent of net income to average assets and average stockholders' equity
and other data is presented below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
----------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Return on average total assets 1.58% 1.54% 1.55%
Return on average total stockholders' equity 14.03 14.41 15.18
Ratio of average total stockholders' equity
to average total assets 11.26 10.70 10.21
Ratio of total dividends declared
to net income 35.77 35.22 33.18
</TABLE>
18
<PAGE> 20
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
----------
CASS COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
- ---------------------------
The Company is currently headquartered at 13001 Hollenberg Drive,
Bridgeton, Missouri.
Cass Bank & Trust Company
- -------------------------
Cass Bank moved its main banking office to 13001 Hollenberg Drive,
Bridgeton, Missouri in April, 1997. The property is owned by CIS and Cass
Bank occupies approximately 20,500 square feet out of 61,500 square feet.
Cass Bank owns its facility at 1420 Thirteenth Street, St. Louis, which
consists of approximately 1,600 square feet with adjoining drive-up
facilities. Cass Bank also leases space on the first floor of the 1015
Locust Building, St. Louis, Missouri (1,500 square feet). Cass Bank has
additional leased facilities in Maryland Heights, Missouri (2,500 square
feet); Fenton, Missouri (1,250 square feet) and in Chesterfield, Missouri
(2,850 square feet).
Cass Information Systems, Inc.
- ------------------------------
CIS is currently headquartered at 13001 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton,
Missouri. This property is owned by CIS, and includes a building with
approximately 61,500 square feet of office space, 20,500 of which is occupied
by Cass Bank.
CIS also operates a production facility located in Columbus, Ohio where
approximately 20,000 square feet are leased through the year 2000. This
space is located at 2545 Farmers Drive, Columbus, Ohio. CIS operates an
additional production facility in Lowell, Massachusetts where approximately
25,800 square feet of office space is leased through October 31, 2005. CIS
also operates a production facility for its rating and software division in
Chicago, Illinois where approximately 10,000 square feet of office space is
leased through the year 2004.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
-----------------
The Company and its subsidiaries are not involved in any pending
proceedings other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to their
business. Management believes none of these proceedings, if determined
adversely, would have a material effect on the business or financial
condition of the Company or its subsidiaries.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
---------------------------------------------------
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the
fourth quarter of 1997.
19
<PAGE> 21
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
As of March 15, 1998, there were 301 holders of record of the
Company's common stock.
The Company's common stock was listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market
effective July 1, 1996. The high and low sales prices of the Company's
common stock for the third and fourth quarters of 1996 were from NASDAQ
Stock Market quotes. Prior to July 1, 1996, shares of the Company's common
stock were not listed or publicly traded on any securities exchange, or
actively traded in the over-the-counter market. However, there were
occasional sales of the Company's stock. High and low bid prices as reported
by the National Association of Securities Dealers' automated system for
reporting non-NASDAQ quotes for the first two quarters of 1996 were as listed
below. However, there may have been transactions at higher or lower prices
of which the Company is not aware.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996
---- ----
High Low High Low
---- --- ---- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1st Quarter $23 $19 1/4 $16 1/2 $13 3/4
2nd Quarter 27 1/4 20 17 1/2 12 1/2
3rd Quarter 26 1/2 24 3/4 18 7/8 18
4th Quarter 25 3/8 24 3/4 19 3/4 18 3/4
</TABLE>
Dividends paid by the Company during the two most recent fiscal years
were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dividends Per Share
-------------------
1997 1996
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
March 15 $.130 $.115
June 15 .130 .115
September 15 .130 .115
December 15 .260 .250
</TABLE>
20
<PAGE> 22
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
------------------------------------
THE FOLLOWING TABLE SETS FORTH CERTAIN SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Interest income:
Loans <F1> $16,951 $16,193 $14,042 $11,538 $12,315
Debt securities 9,151 9,801 9,787 8,772 6,896
Other 3,181 2,132 2,972 1,963 1,462
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total interest
income 29,283 28,126 26,801 22,273 20,673
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Interest expense:
Deposits 4,181 4,503 4,036 2,641 2,392
Short-term borrowings 67 139 92 42 48
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total interest
expense 4,248 4,642 4,128 2,683 2,440
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net interest
income 25,035 23,484 22,673 19,590 18,233
Provision for loan losses 300 -- (500) -- 121
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net interest income
after provision
for loan losses 24,735 23,484 23,173 19,590 18,112
Noninterest income 21,813 22,091 23,794 21,826 16,892
Noninterest expense 35,911 35,811 37,366 33,325 29,240
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income before income tax
expense 10,637 9,764 9,601 8,091 5,764
Income tax expense 3,626 3,245 3,387 2,509 1,554
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income before cumulative
effect of change in
accounting principle 7,011 6,519 6,214 5,582 4,210
Cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle -- -- -- -- 74
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net income $ 7,011 $ 6,519 $ 6,214 $ 5,582 $ 4,284
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
<CAPTION>
(Continued)
<FN>
<F1> Interest income on loans includes net loan fees.
21
<PAGE> 23
<CAPTION>
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA, CONTINUED
-----------------------------------------------
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS
EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share of common stock: <F2>
Basic $ 1.82 $ 1.69 $ 1.62 $ 1.46 $ 1.12
Diluted 1.79 1.66 1.61 1.46 1.12
Dividends .650 .595 .535 .505 .475
Average balances:
Total assets 443,900 422,953 400,197 369,126 342,039
Net loans 197,761 185,791 152,433 136,327 151,313
Debt and equity securities 148,027 160,291 161,047 154,264 110,127
Total deposits 161,778 161,595 143,001 140,970 144,819
Total stockholders'
equity 49,965 45,250 40,924 37,061 34,714
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Selected ratios:
Return on average
total assets 1.58% 1.54% 1.55% 1.51% 1.25%
Return on average
total stockholders' equity 14.03 14.41 15.18 15.06 12.34
Total stockholders' equity
to total assets at year-end 12.01 10.90 10.12 9.52 9.73
Allowance for loan losses
to loans at year-end 2.28 2.22 3.65 4.15 4.19
Nonperforming assets
to loans and other
real estate at year-end .39 .40 .36 .30 1.26
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)
to average loans .10 1.02 (.33) .08 .40
<FN>
<F2> 1993 income per share includes $.02 per share relating to the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.
</TABLE>
22
<PAGE> 24
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
---------------------------------------------------------------
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
---------------------
HIGHLIGHTS
- ----------
Net income for the year ended December 31, 1997 was $7,011,000 or $1.82
and $1.79 on a basic and dilutive earnings per share basis, respectively.
These results compare to net income of $6,519,000 or $1.69 and $1.66 on a
basic and dilutive earnings per share basis for 1996, and $6,214,000 or $1.62
and $1.61 on a basic and dilutive earnings per share basis for 1995. At
December 31, 1997 total assets were $438,327,000 compared to $438,322,000 at
December 31, 1996; loans were $196,478,000 compared to $197,775,000 and
deposits were $165,857,000 compared to $177,505,000. The following
paragraphs more fully discuss these highlights and other significant changes
and trends as they relate to the Company's financial condition, results of
operations, capital resources and liquidity during the three-year period
ended December 31, 1997. This discussion should be read in conjunction with
the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, which are
hereby incorporated by reference from the Company's 1997 Annual Report to
Stockholders.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
- ---------------------
Net Income
- ----------
Net income of $7,011,000 in 1997 increased from net income of
$6,519,000 in 1996 and $6,214,000 in 1995. Dilutive net income of $1.79 per
share in 1997 increased from dilutive net income of $1.66 per share in 1996
and $1.61 per share in 1995. The Company's return on average assets was
1.58% in 1997 compared to 1.54% in 1996 and 1.55% in 1995. Return on average
equity was 14.03% in 1997 compared to 14.41% in 1996 and 15.18% in 1995.
The main factors contributing to the increase in net income in 1997
over 1996 was the increase in average earning assets net of interest-bearing
liabilities from $286,174,000 in 1996 to $305,895,000 in 1997; an improvement
in the net interest margin from 6.00% in 1996 to 6.16% in 1997; and reduced
occupancy expenses for 1997. The main factor contributing to the increase in
net income in 1996 over 1995 were the increase in net average earning assets
from $280,543,000 in 1995 to $286,174,000 in 1996. See Table I beginning on
page 8.
Net Interest Income
- -------------------
The Company's tax-equivalent net interest margin on earning assets
increased in 1997 to 6.16% from 6.00% in 1996 and was 6.12% in 1995. The
prime rate declined to 8.25% in February, 1996 from 9.00% in 1995 and
remained at 8.25% throughout 1996 before increasing to 8.50% in March, 1997.
The average yield on earning assets increased to 7.20% in 1997 from 7.18% in
1996 and was 7.23% in 1995 (See Table I on pages 8 and 9). The Company is
adversely affected by decreases in the level of interest rates due to the
fact that its rate sensitive assets significantly exceed its rate sensitive
liabilities. Conversely, the Company is positively affected by increases in
the level of interest rates. This is primarily due to the noninterest-bearing
liabilities generated by CIS in the form of accounts and drafts payable (See
interest sensitivity gap measurement under the section entitled
"Asset/Liability Management Program"), as well as a significant portion of
the Company's loan portfolio bearing a floating rate of interest.
The increase of $19,721,000 in average net earning assets was the
primary contributor to the increase in net tax-equivalent interest income of
$1,587,000 in 1997 over 1996. The increase of $5,631,000 in average net
earning assets resulted in the increase in net tax-equivalent interest income
of $827,000 in 1996 over 1995. The mix of earning assets changed somewhat in
1997 with an increase of $10,184,000 in the average balance of loans and a
decrease of approximately $12,264,000 in debt and equity securities. The
increase in average total earning assets of $15,181,000 from $393,026,000 in
1996 to $408,207,000 in 1997 was funded mainly by an increase of over
$20,772,000 in average noninterest-bearing liabilities. The interest volume
and rate variance analysis presented on page 11 provides a detailed
explanation of the changes in net interest income for 1997 compared to 1996
and 1996 compared to 1995, respectively.
23
<PAGE> 25
Provision for Loan Losses
- -------------------------
The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $300,000 in 1997.
There was no provision for loan losses in 1996. The Company recorded a
negative provision for loan losses of $500,000 in 1995. Loan charge-offs, net
of recoveries, experienced by the Company were $212,000 in 1997, $1,962,000
in 1996 and $(524,000) in 1995. Loan charge-offs in 1996 included $2,000,000
in loans to two borrowers, one in the printing industry and one in the
wholesale supply business, which discontinued operations abruptly in late
1996. Net recoveries of $524,000 recorded in 1995 included $500,000
recovered on one loan which was charged off in 1992.
The allowance for loan losses was $4,484,000 at December 31, 1997,
compared to $4,396,000 at December 31, 1996 and $6,358,000 at December 31,
1995. The year-end 1997 allowance represents 2.28% of net outstanding loans.
At December 31, 1997, the level of nonperforming assets has decreased
slightly from $786,000 at December 31, 1996 to $761,000. The total past due
over 90 days and nonaccrual loans of $312,000 at December 31, 1997 represents
.16% of outstanding loans which is well below industry standards.
Noninterest Income
- ------------------
Noninterest income is derived mainly from service fees generated by
CIS's Payment Systems and Software Systems Groups.
Total noninterest income decreased $278,000 (1.3%) in 1997 from 1996.
CIS's Payment Systems Group experienced an increase in processing revenue of
$165,000 (.9%) in 1997 from 1996. CIS acquired the Freight Management
Division of The First National Bank of Boston effective June 1, 1994. The
accounts of this division were converted to CIS's processing systems in two
phases. The first phase of conversion was completed in May, 1995 and the
second phase was completed in December, 1995. These conversions resulted in
a number of lost accounts which were expected and generally represented
accounts which were previously processed on an unprofitable basis. The
Boston operation accounted for a decrease in processing revenues of
$1,350,000 in 1996 compared to 1995. Once again, the Payment Systems Group
had a record processing year in paying over 21 million freight invoices with
a value of over $6.5 billion. CIS has continued to show strong earnings in
this line of business as more companies, particularly large Fortune 500
companies, seek to outsource this process. The volume of accepted new
business proposals remains strong and should result in increasing revenues in
CIS's Payment Systems Group as new accounts are placed in service throughout
1998.
CIS's Software Systems Group experienced a decrease in revenue of
$733,000 (22.2%) in 1997 compared to 1996. This decrease resulted primarily
from a decline in software sales due to increased competition from broad
based providers of logistics software in the marketplace.
Total noninterest income decreased $1,703,000 (7.2%) in 1996 over 1995.
CIS's Payment Systems Group experienced a decrease in processing revenue of
$1,188,000 (6.3%) in 1996 over 1995 which resulted from lost accounts upon
completion of the conversion of accounts acquired in the Bank of Boston
acquisition.
Noninterest Expense
- -------------------
Total noninterest expense increased $100,000 (.3%) in 1997 from 1996.
Salaries and benefits expense increased $96,000 (.4%) in 1997 compared
to 1996. Normal annual pay increases accounted for the increase.
Occupancy expense decreased $496,000 (23.5%) in 1997 compared to 1996.
The decrease was due primarily to the Company and the Bank moving their
headquarters in April, 1997 to a new facility which was added on to the
property owned by CIS in Bridgeton, Missouri. This consolidation of
facilities resulted in occupancy expense savings. Additionally, under
arrangements with building management, CIS's Chicago location received
$72,000 reimbursement for rent expense to vacate the building by the end of
1997, which was prior to the terms of their lease. Rent payments for the
last four months of 1997 were also abated, resulting in total decreased rent
expense of $160,000 for 1997 for the CIS Chicago location.
24
<PAGE> 26
Other noninterest expense increased $457,000 (6.3%) in 1997 compared to
1996. Expenses incurred for contract programming in CIS's Payment Systems
Group accounted for $200,000 of the increase. Consulting expense for product
development incurred by CIS's Software Systems Group accounted for $150,000
of the increase. Expenses associated with the headquarters move of the
Company and Bank in April, 1997 accounted for an increase of approximately
$40,000.
Noninterest expense decreased $1,555,000 (4.2%) in 1996 from 1995.
This decrease resulted primarily from decreased expenses at CIS's operation
in Boston upon completion of account conversions as described above. Total
noninterest expense excluding intercompany charges of the Boston facility
decreased $2,019,000 in 1996 compared to 1995.
Salaries and benefits expense decreased $814,000 (3.3%) in 1996
compared to 1995. CIS's Boston operation accounted for a decrease of
$979,000 resulting from staff attrition and adjustments as account
conversions were completed throughout 1995. The Company experienced an
increase of $165,000 (.8%) in the remainder of its operations in 1996.
Equipment expense decreased $101,000 (3.7%) in 1996 compared to 1995.
CIS's Boston operation accounted for this decrease entirely.
Other noninterest expense decreased $633,000 (8.1%) in 1996 compared to
1995. CIS's Boston operation accounted for a decrease of $832,000 which
included a write-off of approximately $300,000 of systems and equipment in
1995 resulting from the completion of systems conversions.
Balance Sheet Analysis
- ----------------------
Federal funds sold and other short-term investments increased from
$56,900,000 at December 31, 1996 to $88,275,000 at December 31, 1997. The
average balance of these accounts increased $17,261,000 (42.5%) from
$40,639,000 in 1996 to $57,900,000 in 1997. The increase in the average
balance of these accounts resulted from increased balances in accounts and
drafts payable and the rolloff of investments in debt securities. See Table
I, page 8 for a presentation of average balances.
Total loans decreased $1,297,000 (.7%) from $197,775,000 at December
31, 1996 to $196,478,000 at December 31, 1997. The average balances of loans
increased $10,184,000 (5.3%) in 1997 over 1996. Loan demand and new business
volume increased throughout 1997 and should continue into 1998.
Investments in debt and equity securities decreased $33,416,000 (20.9%)
from $159,667,000 at December 31, 1996 to $126,251,000 at December 31, 1997.
The average balance of investment in debt and equity securities decreased
$12,264,000 (7.7%) from $160,291,000 in 1996 to $148,027,000 in 1997.
Total earning assets decreased $3,338,000 (.8%) from $414,342,000 at
December 31, 1996 to $411,004,000 at December 31, 1997. The average balance
of earning assets increased $15,181,000 (3.9%) from $393,026,000 in 1996 to
$408,207,000 in 1997. This increase was largely funded by an increase in the
average balance of accounts and drafts payable.
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits decreased $286,000 (.5%) from
$62,244,000 at December 31, 1996 to $61,958,000 at December 31, 1997. The
average balance of these accounts increased $2,874,000 (5.0%) from
$57,833,000 in 1996 to $60,707,000 in 1997.
Interest-bearing deposits decreased from $115,261,000 at December 31,
1996 to $103,899,000 at December 31, 1997. The average balances of these
deposits decreased $2,691,000 (2.7%) from $103,762,000 in 1996 to
$101,071,000 in 1997. The most significant decrease in these deposits
occurred in interest-bearing commercial savings accounts with an increase in
interest-bearing demand deposits.
Accounts and drafts payable generated by CIS in its freight payment
operations increased $9,065,000 (4.4%) from $204,690,000 at December 31, 1996
to $213,755,000 at December 31, 1997. The average balances of these funds
increased $17,721,000 (8.6%) from $206,269,000 in 1996 to $223,990,000 in
1997. This increase has resulted from successful sales efforts leading to
the conversion of new customers.
25
<PAGE> 27
INFLATION
- ---------
Inflation can impact the financial position and results of the
operations of banks because banks hold monetary assets and monetary
liabilities. Monetary assets and liabilities are those which can be
converted into a fixed number of dollars, and include cash, investments,
loans and deposits. The Company's consolidated balance sheets, as is typical
of financial institutions, reflects a net positive monetary position
(monetary assets exceeding monetary liabilities). During periods of
inflation, the holding of a net positive monetary position will result in an
overall decline in the purchasing power of a bank.
A substantial part of the funds of the Company supporting loans and
investments do not require the payment of interest. Therefore, when market
interest rates decline, the decrease in interest income significantly exceeds
the reduction in interest expense. When interest rates increase, the reverse
effect will be experienced.
It is the policy of the Company to limit fixed rate loans to a maximum
term of five years to limit its exposure to interest rate risk.
LIQUIDITY
- ---------
At December 31, 1997 approximately 49% of the Company's loan portfolio
was composed of commercial and industrial loans, of which approximately 76%
represented loans maturing within one year. As of the same date, real estate
loans represented approximately 49% of the total and of these, approximately
28% represented balances maturing within one year. Approximately 2% of the
loan portfolio is represented by installment loans.
The liquidity of the Company is further exemplified by cash and due
from banks of $10,849,000 and federal funds sold and other short-term
investments of $88,275,000 at December 31, 1997.
Total investment in debt and equity securities represented
approximately 29% of total assets at year-end. Average total securities as a
percent of average total assets has decreased slightly in 1997 compared to
1996. This occurred as a result of an increase in loan demand and federal
funds sold and other short-term investments. Of the U.S. Government
securities in the Company's investment portfolio, which represented
approximately 74% of the total, approximately 30% have maturities of less
than one year. Obligations of U.S. Government corporations and agencies
comprise approximately 25% of the portfolio. Obligations of states and
political subdivisions and other security investments made up approximately
1% of the investment portfolio at December 31, 1997. Of the total portfolio,
approximately 87% of the securities had maturities of five years or less.
The deposits of the Company's banking subsidiary have also been stable,
consisting of a sizable volume of core deposits. Historically, the Company
has been a net provider of federal funds. Net federal funds sold averaged
$21,731,000 in 1997 and $10,166,000 in 1996. Additionally, the Company
averaged $36,169,000 in other short-term investments in 1997 and $30,473,000
in 1996. These investments were in money market funds backed by U.S.
Government and agency issues.
Cass Bank has unsecured lines at correspondent banks to purchase
federal funds up to a maximum of $14,200,000. Additionally, Cass Bank and
CIS have separate lines of credit at an unaffiliated financial institution in
the maximum amounts of $20,000,000 and $30,000,000, respectively.
26
<PAGE> 28
ASSET/LIABILITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
- ----------------------------------
The primary goal of the Company's asset/liability management program is
to maintain an appropriate balance between rate-sensitive assets and
liabilities. The Company's Investment Committee monitors the sensitivity of
its subsidiaries' assets and liabilities with respect to changes in interest
rates and repricing opportunities, and directs the overall acquisition and
allocation of funds.
The following table presents the Company's rate sensitive position at
December 31, 1997 for the various time frames indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OVER OVER
THREE SIX OVER ONE
THREE THROUGH THROUGH THROUGH OVER
VARIABLE MONTHS SIX TWELVE FIVE FIVE
RATE OR LESS MONTHS MONTHS YEARS YEARS TOTAL
-------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ----- -----
(DOLLARS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Earning assets:
Loans:
Taxable $ 81,259 $11,151 $ 6,301 $ 13,074 $ 79,107 $ 3,066 $193,958
Tax-exempt -- 215 233 67 2,005 -- 2,520
Debt and equity securities:
Taxable -- 6,138 7,962 14,011 81,634 14,912 124,657
Tax-exempt -- 115 -- -- 235 1,043 1,393
Other 201 -- -- -- -- -- 201
Federal funds sold and
other short term investments 88,275 -- -- -- -- -- 88,275
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total earning
assets 169,735 17,619 14,496 27,152 162,981 19,021 411,004
======== ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Interest-sensitive
liabilities:
Money market deposit
accounts 21,244 -- -- -- -- -- 21,244
Interest-bearing
demand accounts 11,372 -- -- -- -- -- 11,372
Savings deposits 62,660 -- -- -- -- -- 62,660
Time deposits:
$100,000 and more -- 1,138 914 1,041 418 -- 3,511
Less than $100,000 -- 1,678 1,132 1,139 1,163 -- 5,112
Short-term borrowings 406 -- -- -- -- -- 406
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total interest-bearing
liabilities $ 95,682 $ 2,816 $ 2,046 $ 2,180 $ 1,581 $ -- $104,305
======== ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Interest sensitivity gap:
Periodic $ 74,053 $14,803 $ 12,450 $ 24,972 $161,400 $ 19,021 $306,699
Cumulative 74,053 88,856 101,306 126,278 287,678 306,699 306,699
Ratio of interest-bearing
assets to interest-bearing
liabilities:
Periodic 1.77x 6.26x 7.09x 12.46x 103.09x -- 3.94x
Cumulative 1.77x 1.90x 2.01x 2.23x 3.76x 3.94x 3.94x
As can be seen from the above table, the Company's asset/liability mix is substantially different than most bank
holding companies, with positive "gaps" shown for every time horizon. This phenomenon demonstrates the dramatic
effect CIS, with its growing business and increasing levels of accounts and drafts payable has on the net interest
income of the Company. As such, the Company is susceptible to changes in interest rates, with a decreasing net
interest margin experienced in periods of declining interest rates, and correspondingly, an increase in the net
interest margin in periods of rising interest rates. While this situation is largely out of the control of Company
management, it is important to note that the overall net interest margin of 6.16% for 1997 is still substantially
higher than the average margin experienced by most bank holding companies, due to the higher percentage of interest
earning assets to interest bearing liabilities maintained by the Company than its bank holding company competitors.
</TABLE>
27
<PAGE> 29
CAPITAL RESOURCES
- -----------------
Stockholders' equity was $52,653,000 at December 31, 1997, an increase
of $4,872,000 (10.2%) from the amount at the end of 1996. The net increase
resulted from net income of $7,011,000, the payment of $2,508,000 in
dividends, the recognition of a net unrealized holding gain on debt and
equity securities available-for-sale of $259,000 and the amortization of
stock bonus plan awards of $110,000. Total dividends paid to shareholders
increased to $.65 per share in 1997 from $.60 per share in 1996.
Subsidiary dividends are the principal source of funds for payment of
dividends by the Company to its stockholders. The Missouri banking laws
impose certain limitations on the payment of dividends by Missouri state
chartered banks such as Cass Bank, as follows: (1) no dividends may be paid
which would impair capital; (2) until the surplus fund of a bank is equal to
40% of its capital, no dividends may be declared unless there has been
carried to the surplus account no less than one-tenth of its net profits for
the dividend period; and (3) dividends are payable only out of a bank's
undivided profits. In addition, the appropriate regulatory authorities are
authorized to prohibit banks and bank holding companies from paying dividends
which would constitute an unsafe and unsound banking practice.
The Company and its banking subsidiary continue to exceed all
regulatory capital requirements, as evidenced by the following capital ratios
at December 31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Company Cass
Consolidated Bank
------------ ----
<S> <C> <C>
Tier I Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets 21.48% 14.98%
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets 22.76 16.23
Tier I Capital to Average Assets 11.72 11.67
</TABLE>
THE YEAR 2000 ISSUE
- -------------------
Management has initiated a company-wide program to prepare the Company
and its subsidiaries' systems for Year 2000 compliance. The Year 2000 issue
relates to systems that were designed to use two digits rather than four to
define the applicable year. The Company and its subsidiaries have and will
incur charges for testing and correcting its computer systems to be Year 2000
compliant. These charges relate to internal staff costs as well as outside
service fees and other expenses. Programming changes and testing of systems
and software packages are expected to be substantially completed by December
31, 1998. In addition, the Company's credit risk assessment will include the
consideration of incremental risk that may be posed by customers' inability,
if any, to address Year 2000 issues. The Company has budgeted amounts toward
the objective of absorbing incremental costs incurred in addressing Year 2000
issues. If modifications to existing systems and conversions to new systems
proceed as scheduled, management presently believes that the Year 2000 issue
will not pose a substantial operating risk to the Company.
EFFECT OF PROSPECTIVE ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
- -----------------------------------------------
During June 1996, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 125, Accounting for
Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of
Liabilities (SFAS 125). SFAS 125 provides accounting and reporting standards
for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of
liabilities based on consistent application of a financial components
approach that focuses on control. It distinguishes transfers of financial
assets that are sales from transfers that are secured borrowings. Under the
financial components approach, after a transfer of financial assets, an
entity recognizes all financial and servicing assets it controls and
liabilities it has incurred and derecognizes financial assets it no longer
controls and liabilities that have been extinguished. Many of these assets
and liabilities are components of financial assets that existed prior to the
transfer. If a transfer does not meet the criteria for a sale, the transfer
is accounted for as a secured borrowing with pledge of collateral. SFAS 125
is effective for transfers and servicing of financial assets and
extinguishments of liabilities occurring after December 31, 1996, and is to
be applied prospectively. Earlier or retroactive application is not
permitted. The adoption of SFAS 125 on January 1, 1997 did not have a
material impact on the Company's financial statements.
In February 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128, Earnings per Share (SFAS 128) establishing standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share
28
<PAGE> 30
(EPS). SFAS 128 simplifies existing standards for computing EPS and makes
them comparable to international standards. It replaces the presentation of
primary EPS with a presentation of basic EPS. It also requires dual
presentation of basic and diluted EPS on the face of the income statement for
all entities with complex capital structures and requires a reconciliation of
the components of basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is
computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the
weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted
EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other
contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock
or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings
of the Company. SFAS 128 is effective for financial statements issued for
the periods ending after December 15, 1997, including interim periods, and
requires restatement of all prior-period EPS data presented. The adoption of
SFAS 128 did not have a material effect on the financial condition or
results of operations of the Company.
In February 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 129, Disclosure of Information about Capital Structure (SFAS
129) which establishes standards for disclosing information about an entity's
capital structure. SFAS 129 is effective for financial statements for periods
ending after December 15, 1997. Since SFAS 129 is a disclosure requirement, it
will have no impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income (SFAS 130) which establishes
standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components
(revenues, expenses, gains and losses) in a full set of general-purpose
general-purpose financial statements. SFAS 130 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 1997. Since SFAS 130 is a reporting and disclosure
requirement, it will have no impact on the Company's consolidated financial
statements.
In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 131, Disclosure about Segment of an Enterprise and Related
Information (SFAS 131) which establishes standards for the way that public
enterprises report information about operating segments in annual financial
statements and requires that those enterprises report selected information
about operating segments in interim reports issued to shareholders. SFAS 131
is effective for financial statements for periods beginning after December 15,
1997. Since SFAS 131 is a disclosure requirement, it will have no impact on
the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In February 1998, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 132, Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other
Postretirement Benefits (SFAS 132) which standardizes the disclosure
requirements for presenting information about pensions and other postretirement
benefits. SFAS 132 is effective for the years beginning after December 15,
1997. Since SFAS 132 is a disclosure requirement it will have no impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements.
FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
- --------------------------------------
Statements in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and the other sections of this Report
that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements.
Such statements are subject to important risks and uncertainties which could
cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed
in any such forward-looking statements made herein. The aforesaid
uncertainties include, but are not limited to: burdens imposed by federal
and state regulators, credit risk related to borrowers' ability to repay
loans from Cass Bank, concentration of loans in the St. Louis Metropolitan
area which subjects Cass Bank to risks associated with changes in the local
economy, risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates, competition
from other banks and other financial institutions, some of which are not as
heavily regulated as Cass Bank and, particularly in the case of CIS, risks
associated with breakdowns in data processing systems and competition from
other providers of similar services.
29
<PAGE> 31
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
----------------------------------------------------------
The Company faces market risk to the extent that the fair values of its
financial instruments are affected by changes in interest rates. The asset/
liability management discipline as applied at the Company seeks to limit the
volatility, to the extent possible, of both earnings and the fair value of
equity that can result from changes in market interest rates. This is
accomplished by limiting the maturities of fixed rate investments, loans, and
deposits; matching fixed rate assets and liabilities to the extent possible;
and optimizing the mix of non-interest fee and net interest income. However,
as can be seen from the table contained in the Asset Liability Management
section, the Company's asset/liability mix is significantly different than most
other bank holding companies, with positive "gaps" shown for every time
horizon. This phenomenon demonstrates the dramatic effect that CIS, with its
large percentage of accounts and drafts payable, has on the net interest income
of the Company. As such, the Company is susceptible to changes in interest
rates, with a decreasing net interest margin and fair value of equity
experienced in periods of declining interest rates, and correspondingly, an
increase in the net interest margin and fair value of equity in periods of
rising interest rates.
The following table presents the Company's projected change in fair
value of equity for various rate shock levels as of December 31, 1997. All
market risk sensitive instruments presented in this table are held to
maturity or available for sale. The Company has no trading securities.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===========================================================================
Change in Basis Points Fair Value % Change
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <C> <C>
-300 $96,291,000 -11%
-200 $100,857,000 -7%
-100 $105,001,000 -3%
-50 $106,872,000 -2%
0 $108,647,000 0
+50 $110,340,000 +2%
+100 $111,966,000 +3%
+200 $115,022,000 +6%
+300 $117,809,000 +8%
===========================================================================
</TABLE>
The preceding table indicates that at December 31, 1997, in the event
of a sudden and sustained increase in prevailing market interest rates, the
Company's fair value of equity would be expected to increase. In the event
of a sudden and sustained decrease in prevailing market interest rates, the
Company's fair value of equity would be expected to decrease.
Computations of prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate
changes are based on numerous assumptions including relative levels of market
interest rates, loan prepayments, and deposit decay, and should not be relied
upon as indicative of actual results. Furthermore, the computations do not
contemplate any actions management could undertake in response to such changes
in interest rates.
Certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented
in the computation of fair value of equity. Actual values may differ from the
projections presented, should market conditions vary from the assumptions used
in the calculations of fair value of equity.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
-------------------------------------------
The consolidated financial statements and related footnotes of the
Company and its subsidiaries on pages 14 through 31 of its Annual Report to
Stockholders and the report thereon of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP on page 31 of
the Annual Report to Stockholders are hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
---------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
--------------------
NONE
30
<PAGE> 32
PART III.
---------
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
--------------------------------------------------
Information concerning directors and executive officers of the Registrant
is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive Proxy
Statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a copy of which will be
filed no later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
----------------------
Information concerning executive compensation is incorporated herein by
reference from the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its 1998 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, a copy of which will be filed not later than 120
days after the close of the fiscal year.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
--------------------------------------------------------------
Information concerning security ownership of certain beneficial owners
and management is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's
definitive Proxy Statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a
copy of which will be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the
fiscal year.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
----------------------------------------------
Information concerning certain relationships and transactions is
incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive Proxy
Statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a copy of which will
be filed not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
31
<PAGE> 33
PART IV.
--------
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) The following documents are incorporated by reference in or filed
as an exhibit to this report.
(1) Financial Statements:
---------------------
Annual Report
Page Number
-------------
CASS COMMERCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
--------------------------------------------
Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31,
1997 and 1996 14
Consolidated Statements of Income for the
years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and
1995 15
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 16
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders'
Equity for the years ended December 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995 17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 18-31
Independent Auditors Report 31
(2) Financial Statement Schedules:
------------------------------
None other than those included as Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) Exhibits
--------
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of Registrant,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-8
Registration Statement No. 333-44499
3.2 By Laws of Registrant, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 to Form S-8 Registration Statement No.
333-44499
10.1 1995 Restricted Stock Bonus Plan, as amended,
including form of Restriction Agreement,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form
S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-44499
10.2 1995 Performance-Based Stock Option Plan, as amended,
including form of Option Agreement, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form S-8 Registration
Statement No. 333-44497
13 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders (only those
portions of such Annual Report as are incorporated
by reference in parts I and II hereof shall be
deemed a part of this Report)
21 Subsidiaries of registrant, incorporated
by reference to Item 1, Business
23 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
There were no reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter
ended December 31, 1997.
32
<PAGE> 34
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this Report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CASS COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ Lawrence A. Collett
----------------------------------------
Lawrence A. Collett
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ Eric H. Brunngraber
----------------------------------------
Eric H. Brunngraber
Vice President-Secretary
(Chief Financial and Accounting Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed below on the dates indicated by the following persons on
behalf of the Company and in their capacity as a member of the Board of
Directors to the Company.
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ Lawrence A. Collett
----------------------------------------
Lawrence A. Collett
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ Thomas J. Fucoloro
----------------------------------------
Thomas J. Fucoloro
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ Harry J. Krieg
----------------------------------------
Harry J. Krieg
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ Jake Nania
----------------------------------------
Jake Nania
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ A. J. Signorelli
----------------------------------------
A. J. Signorelli
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ John J. Vallina
----------------------------------------
John J. Vallina
Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ Bruce E. Woodruff
----------------------------------------
Bruce E. Woodruff
33
<PAGE> 1
CASS COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
CASS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
CASS INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC.
The three-strand cord of rope is highly symbolic for Cass Commercial
Corporation. Each strand represents one of the key operating companies
contributing to the total results of the corporation. This three-part
illustration is also appropriate because each of the three operations,
working independently, could not reach the same level of performance as can
be achieved working in tandem. Our ability to work together, in a highly
integrated fashion, is critical to continuing our excellent service and
financial performance into the future. The three strands, held together by
God's faithfulness and providence, represent the organization's desire to
work in unison to achieve excellence in all areas.
A Cord of Three Strands
Is Not Quickly Torn Apart.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
1
<PAGE> 2
CASS COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS
1997 marked another year of record earnings for Cass Commercial Corporation.
Net income after taxes increased to $7,011,000, an increase of $492,000 or
7.5% from 1996. On a per share basis, net earnings were $1.82 compared to
$1.69 in 1996. We are pleased to announce these results for our shareholders
and to see the benefits emanating from the unique integration of operations
of the holding company and its subsidiaries. As related to assets, net
earnings represented 1.59% of average assets outstanding. This continues the
trend of high-performance earnings that has been a hallmark of our company.
Cass is, once again, among the leaders in the industry in terms of earnings
on assets.
Total capital exceeded $52.6 million and approximates 12.0% of assets,
placing the company in a very stable financial condition. Capital remains
significantly higher than industry averages, providing our customers and
shareholders a high level of protection.
Our loan portfolio continues to be conservatively managed. The reserve
for losses to loans outstanding was approximately 2.3% at year-end.
Non-accrual loans were only $285,000, or .15% of average loans outstanding.
Total problem loans were only $1,331,000, representing just .68% of total loans
outstanding at year-end. Therefore, despite growth in total assets, the
quality of our loan portfolio continues to be outstanding.
These results place Cass in a very profitable, stable, growing and
strong financial position at year-end. We thank God for providing these
outstanding results.
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
Many factors contributed to our performance during 1997. One of the
most significant achievements was the sizable amount of new business gained
in our payables processing services. 1997 was another record year of new
accounts in our freight payment operations. This is the fourth consecutive
year in which we experienced record volume. The market for outsourcing
freight payables and transportation information activities remains strong and
the new business pipeline is good as we enter 1998. Our quality
of service, processing integrity and breadth of capabilities continue to be
the highest in the industry. Our position of leadership in the industry
remains solid.
1997 was also a year of record earnings for our privately held business
and church-related banking segments. This was primarily due to the relocation
of our headquarters facility which improved our operating efficiencies, and
the integration of certain administrative tasks within the organization. The
market for financial services remains strong and the company is extremely
pleased with the results of its banking operations in 1997.
2
<PAGE> 3
ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES
During the year several of our business operations were integrated. The
headquarters facility of Cass Bank & Trust Company was integrated with the
offices of Cass Information Systems, Inc. in April 1997, producing sizable
operating economies and allowing the organizations to work more closely
together. All of our companies are now headquartered on our eight-acre campus
in Bridgeton, Missouri. These moves are producing the highest level of
integrated activities in our recent past, as well as providing our staff with
an improved operating facility. We are indeed pleased with the outcome of
these activities.
Three new branches opened in the St. Louis region during 1997. Our new
facility in Fenton is targeted to serve the commercial customer base in the
southwest section of the region. This branch serves privately held companies
and churches in this rapidly growing area. We also opened a new facility in
Chesterfield Valley to serve the expanding business community in the western
corridor of the metropolitan area. Finally, a new branch was opened in
Bridgeton to serve businesses in Earth City and the North County areas. These
new branches strategically position our banking operations to reach a broader
base of commercial customers in the St. Louis region.
Also during the year, we restructured certain functions for added
efficiency and growth. The customer service, commercial lending and
marketing operations of Cass Bank & Trust Company were merged into distinct
operating teams to provide better service and marketing response. We are
excited by the outcome of this restructuring and the new staff that has been
added to facilitate the Bank's growth.
We have also restructured our financial operations to integrate many
activities shared by the holding company and our two subsidiary operations.
New information systems and processing technologies are being added in our
financial and accounting operations to provide needed management information
and to give added controls as the company grows to larger activity levels.
Additionally, our Chicago Software Group was converted from an
independent, stand-alone operation and was merged into the Payment Services
Group of Cass Information Systems, Inc. (CIS). This change gives significant
stability to this operating unit and provides additional technology support
to assist CIS in meeting its growth and service challenges. This group will
continue supporting its related Rating and Software Service operations. We
also moved our Chicago operations into a new, more efficient operating
location.
During 1997, we unveiled our new utility processing and information
services. The need for information about energy-related costs has accelerated
and, in response to market demand, we introduced a line of utility processing
and information services for large corporations. The initial growth has been
encouraging. A new marketing and sales staff has been added to serve this
growing, important market segment.
3
<PAGE> 4
BUSINESS SETMENTS
As a result of the activities during 1997, Cass Commercial Corporation
now operates in four distinct business segments:
PRIVATELY HELD COMPANIES
This business segment serves the financial needs of commercial
customers in the metropolitan St. Louis region with sales up to $75 million.
This market has been the traditional banking focus for the company. Customer
relationships in this business area continued to grow in 1997 and, as a
result of our restructuring and marketing activities, we believe that future
growth in this business segment appears strong. As we enter 1998, we are
better equipped and more capable of serving a larger number of businesses and
can provide a broader array of financial services than ever before.
CHURCH AND CHURCH-RELATED MINISTRIES
For the fourth consecutive year, the volume of financial services to
this important community continued to grow. We intend to expand our services
to this important market and we anticipate continued growth in new
relationships.
We believe the expansion of activities among church and para-church
organizations will bring about needed changes in moral and ethical behavior
in the United States. We have seen this change occurring in the St. Louis
region and are pleased that God has allowed us to be a partner with many of
these organizations.
FREIGHT BILL PAYMENT, AUDIT, SOFTWARE AND TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION SERVICES
This business segment continues to provide exceptional growth for the
company. Our strong position in the marketplace allows us to be a leader in
developing new relationships and in serving these important Fortune 500
industrial customers. Our high levels of service - along with our flexibility
and breadth of information capabilities - allow us to meet the needs of most
organizations that handle these activities internally. Our commitment to grow
and nurture this core business continues unabated.
UTILITY PROCESSING AND INFORMATION SERVICES
This emerging market provides us with an opportunity to leverage our
parallel activities in the freight bill processing arena. The deregulation of
utility companies throughout the country is occurring, and the demand for
information services exists. We are meeting this need by providing a new team
of marketing and sales professionals. We anticipate significant growth in
this new business segment.
We have restructured and positioned Cass to grow its businesses in each
of these four important segments. For the near future, we anticipate that
improved results from each segment will allow us to achieve above average
financial performance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
During 1997, we added more new customer relationships than in any
previous year in our history. We are eager to serve these new relationships
and to continue broadening our activities with additional institutions. This
growth could not have occurred without the support of our existing customers
and their willingness to promote the Cass organization to others. We are
honored by their support and we recognize our
4
<PAGE> 5
responsibility to provide quality service to our customers - service that allows
them to be efficient and profitable.
Our staff continues to be highly committed to achieving excellence. It
is unfortunate that we are unable to assign a value to our staff on the
Balance Sheet. For they are - by far - our most important asset. Their
efforts are the key to serving our customers and providing the services
necessary to meet market demands. Since we are a service company, the
capabilities, competencies and commitment of our staff is critical. We are
indeed thankful to all of our employees for their outstanding efforts in
1997.
Our Board of Directors and shareholders continue to support our
organization in so many important ways. Their long-standing commitment to
Cass Commercial Corporation has been unwavering. We want to thank them for
their faithfulness to the company again in 1997.
In May 1997, we experienced a very tragic event as Richard E. Stein, a
Senior Commercial Lender in our banking operation, passed away suddenly. Dick
had been with the company more than 20 years and provided leadership in
growing our commercial lending activities. He was an individual who clearly
displayed the conservativeness, excellence and thoroughness that we seek to
achieve at Cass. All of us in the Cass organization wish to express once
again our condolences to Dick's family and our regret at the loss of his
presence.
Like every other year in our history, 1997 would not have been possible
were it not for God's divine hand leading us through successes and
disappointments. Only my heart can express to God the gratitude I have for
his unwavering support of the Cass organization. Words simply are inadequate!
In previous annual reports, we have commented on the importance of our
culture at Cass in trying to please God through the way we conduct our
activities and through our desire to give Him the honor and glory He so
richly deserves. Although unworthy of His grace and mercy, we again
acknowledge His Lordship and Sovereignty. We hope He, above all, is satisfied
with our performance, for in the end, His approval is all that matters.
/s/ L.A. Collett
Lawrence A. Collett
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
5
<PAGE> 6
FINANCIAL SERVICES TO
PRIVATELY HELD BUSINESSES
QUALITY AND STRENGTH
1997 was a year of solid performance in our core banking services to
privately held companies. While our marketing "calling" program yielded new
banking relationships, further improvement in credit quality was also
achieved in an already strong loan portfolio. The year ended with "Impaired"
loans at only .68% of total loans (well below national targets for excellent
asset quality). Other quality measures such as loans past due also remain at
historic lows. This benefits our clients, as well as shareholders, since
clients rely on a lender's experience as an important indicator of safety and
soundness in any financing they might be contemplating. Further, these
measures show that we are building a strong platform for sustainable growth
and are taking a long-term approach to our business objectives.
GROWTH
A continuing objective for our company is to maintain a low ratio of
clients-per-bank-officer so that personal attention devoted to each client
remains at the very highest levels. In response, we added more bankers to the
Cass team in 1997. The ongoing consolidation in the St. Louis banking
community has given us the opportunity to improve the Cass talent pool of
bankers who are knowledgeable and experienced, and have a service
orientation.
In 1997 we took significant steps to support long-term growth in our
core commercial niche by expanding our network of bank locations. This is
best illustrated by our new headquarters in the Bridgeton/Earth City area.
Exemplifying that Cass is not the usual bank, the facility is clearly built
for business banking, not retail banking. We also added two new branch
locations - in Chesterfield Valley and Fenton - to enhance our capabilities
to serve new clients as well as provide convenience for existing ones.
INNOVATION
Innovation and uniqueness in serving privately held companies have been
hallmarks of Cass. Some of these innovations include: often maintaining a
lower Prime commercial lending rate than our competitors, locating the
majority of our bank branches in business parks, putting remote deposit drop
boxes throughout the St. Louis metro area and offering specialized Marketing
and Customer Relations officers in addition to Lending officers. These
services and many more were designed for one primary purpose ... to create a
superior banking experience
[MAP--METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS LOCATIONS]
6
<PAGE> 7
[PHOTO]
Our new headquarters facility in Bridgeton, Missouri, now provides over
63,000 square feet of space on an eight-acre campus, convenient to the
expanding Earth City and North County business communities.
for our business clients. This spirit of innovation continues today as we
continually seek to refine and improve our products and our clients'
satisfaction. Some of our new innovations include:
CASS BANKING TEAMS - The traditional specialties of Lending, Marketing
and Customer Relations have been woven together from separate departments
into integrated banking teams under the leadership of a Team Leader. This
integration creates a more seamless flow of communications among various
internal disciplines and improves responsiveness to our customers. It also
allows our clients to have an ongoing relationship with several Bank
officers, improving accessibility and service while minimizing the effects of
single officer turnover. As many banks strive to dedicate fewer and fewer
bankers to their customer base through the use of automated credit scoring
programs and centralized call centers, Cass is actually making more minds
available, helping its clients with smart solutions.
TAILORED PRODUCTS - At Cass, we continue to provide banking products
that are tailored for privately held companies. Our clients benefit from
moderate-cost products with very high technical functionality. This is
achieved by balancing the in-house technical expertise from our processing
lines of business with the knowledge of the needs of our customers. Although
we offer most of the banking products used by Fortune 500 companies
(electronic commerce, online information reporting, wholesale lockbox
services, controlled disbursement accounts, money fund investments, etc.),
our banking fees do not reflect the cost of capacity enhancements that only
large companies use.
STRONG MOMENTUM
As we go forward, demand for our services is strong. Our level of
pending new business is encouraging. This is due, we believe, to an under-met
need to serve privately held businesses with high-technology and high-touch
products. At Cass,we take the time to listen and develop helpful solutions.
We explain why credit is extended or denied in a way that makes sense to
business owners. We are a bank that uses its core competencies in innovative
ways that add value. Finally, we conduct our business with discipline and
integrity - leaving little doubt of our trustworthiness as a financial
institution.
7
<PAGE> 8
FINANCIAL SERVICES TO CHURCHES AND CHURCH-RELATED MINISTRIES
1997 was the fourth consecutive year of solid growth in providing
financial services to churches and church-related ministries.
We were intentionally deliberate in developing our church and
church-related ministry business segment in order to properly assess and
determine its appropriateness within the bank's niche strategy. To date, we
are satisfied that this segment is synergistically compatible and is a logical
extension of our financial services.
This development period has provided the following insights:
FIRST, lending to churches is solid business. Every one of our church
customers has managed its financial responsibilities in a manner that is
above reproach.
SECOND, we can adapt our proven "team management" methodology, to
successfully market financial services to these important institutions.
THIRD, we can develop and consistently apply appropriate underwriting
standards to church lending.
FOURTH, we see a strong demand for church and church-related ministry
lending and depository services, both now and into the future.
We have successfully implemented our "Cass team" approach to this
business segment, which includes identifying the church's vision; assessing
its resources, capabilities and needs; and building a relationship with the
church staff and officers. Our team then develops a comprehensive financial
plan and banking proposal for each of our prospects.
One of the defining and unique aspects of our approach to churches is
taking the time to listen, understand and provide in-depth counsel. We assist
in developing a comprehensive financial plan which addresses both the lending
and depository needs of the church, and in assisting it to be a better
steward of its finances.
Many times this entails "walking with" our churches over a period of
years, until they have taken the necessary steps and are prepared to
establish a relationship with a financial institution.
"The Psalmist says, what will last? His righteousness will endure forever.
"And there's an old fashioned word, consecration, which is the notion of
taking that which is common and putting it aside for a holy purpose. We don't
make it holy by consecrating it, but we set it aside for greater purposes
than are ordinary.
"Cass, by its ideals, is saying, we know that our bank's activities are
common things, but we are going to set them aside for a grander purpose. We
are going to trust that the Lord will use us, in very ordinary ways, to
accomplish extra-ordinary purposes. Even righteous purposes.
"Because, those are things that will endure. It is true you know - all
that which is done for man will pass. Only that which is done for God will last,
and will last forever. An eternal purpose in an earthly company."
A SEMINARY PRESIDENT
8
<PAGE> 9
"God has established four major institutions in human life: there is the home or
the family; the church or the spiritual family; there is human government; and
work.
"I think what stands out in my mind in regard to Cass Bank is that it
truly views itself as a divine institution, not inferior to home, or to the
family of faith, or government, but rather a partner with these other divine
institutions in serving God and the needs of people.
"This is seen in the bank's corporate vision, in its service
orientation, in its charitable contributions, in its publications, and most
significantly in its people, and in its leadership.
"Cass accepts its role as an institution that is raised up by God and
sustained by God, and its future is dependent upon God."
THE SENIOR PASTOR OF ONE OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY'S LEADING CHURCHES
"Cass and I began a relationship about four years ago. They have knocked down
walls in the African American community among pastors and businessmen that I
have never seen come down in such a way.
"Cass has established many relationships that have matured to this day
as strong partnerships that have helped us share trust and belief in one
another.
"With man some things may not be possible, but with God all things are
possible."
A CASS CUSTOMER, WHO IS BOTH A
BUSINESSMAN AND A PASTOR
In 1997, the growth in our new church relationships was more than
double the prior year's. As in previous years, we added a diverse
representation of small, medium and larger-size church relationships across a
variety of denominations.
To date, we have used our line of banking products and services to
address the churches' loan and depository needs. We have gathered research
among various-sized church congregations, and analyzed their financial
systems and their current and future needs. This research
has helped us develop a comprehensive, tailored product and service line.
Perhaps the most effective manner to judge how we approach and serve
our customers is from the testimonies of our customers. Some of these are
highlighted for your review.
At Cass, we believe lending to churches is an excellent avenue for the
restoration and renewal of both city and suburban communities. We believe it
is an excellent opportunity to best use the gifts and resources God has
entrusted to us. We are indeed thankful that we can play a small part in
helping churches and ministries to successfully complete their important
work.
9
<PAGE> 10
TRANSPORTATION/FREIGHT PAYMENT, AUDIT AND INFORMATION SERVICES
Cass Information Systems (CIS) continued to have outstanding success in
1997 selling freight bill payment, auditing, carrier rating and management
information systems. When combined with the new business gained in 1996,
growth has been at a record pace for the last two years. Processing volume
surpassed last year's level and projections for 1998 indicate another record
year. Electronic processing (Electronic Data Interchange) was expanded and
now represents 45% of our invoice transactions.
Our market is comprised of companies seeking to outsource their freight
bill payment and related support activities, and to install management and
financial information systems that allow them to respond to the dynamics of
the supply chain network. Our strategy is to implement systems that automate
invoice payment processing and focus on enhancing imaging and information
delivery systems, including the Internet. Access to invoice transactions on
the Internet became available to our customers and the carriers they
patronize in 1997. Cass now
FREIGHT INDEX FROM 1994 TO 1997
[GRAPH]
Cass is recognized as an authoritative resource for logistics information and
trend analysis. For the last 5 years, Cass' Freight Index has been accepted as a
leading indicator of the general economy. The index is a regular feature in
Traffic World Magazine and is cited periodically by most major trade
publications.
10
<PAGE> 11
supports the most comprehensive invoice and shipment inquiry system in the
industry and will continue to expand Internet applications to augment current
information delivery systems.
Through CIS, we offer services and capabilities that allow customers to
take advantage of comprehensive processing and information systems. This
includes our Rate Management Systems that electronically apply the negotiated
carrier cost to each shipment transaction. We also provide complete
electronic processing of freight bills and associated invoices. Freight bills
processed by Cass are automatically audited by an integrated electronic
processing system. We integrate with our customers' accounting systems,
providing detail to the product and SKU level. Our customers' also have
access to freight bill and shipment records using the Internet and an
Interactive Voice Response System. Freight bills can be imaged for archival
purposes. Management information is available in paper, data files and P/C
service based systems.
Our customers are supported by the highest level of customer service,
with service professionals assigned to each relationship to ensure
high-quality performance and efficiency.
Cass' Rating Software offers the premier rating system in the industry.
Cass continues to devote its efforts to enhance the delivery of rating and
shipment costing information. This software is now integrated with Cass'
processing services to provide more integrated capabilities for our
customers.
Cass remains the only company in the industry that customizes its
processing and information systems to meet customer-specific transportation
and financial requirements. Our flexibility, commitment to providing the
latest technology and customer focus distinguish Cass as a market leader.
The demand for our services has never been stronger. Companies
continue to seek outsourcing solutions for non-core business activities such
as invoice processing and payment. Our strategy is to introduce electronic
commerce services and develop information delivery systems that meet the
business requirements of this growing market.
11
<PAGE> 12
UTILITIES PAYMENT PROCESSING AND INFORMATION SERVICES
On March 31, 1998, California will likely become the first state to
fully deregulate retail electricity generation - power provided to
commercial, industrial and residential customers. Virtually all remaining
states are developing their own energy deregulation strategies. Forbes
magazine recently reported on the potential industry consolidation:
"The numbers are awesome. Electric power is a $215 billion industry.
Natural gas is $90 billion. They're merging into one energy provided business
that dwarfs both the local and long distance telephone business and airline
business. And soon customers of all stripes will be able to vie for their
customers."
In 1995, at the request of several customers, Cass developed a utility
payment and management information system. The characteristics of the
impending deregulation of the energy industry are similar to those of other
industries that have been deregulated in the past.
[PHOTO]
Prior to deregulation, accelerated utility payment schedules are
mandated. As virtual monopolies in their franchised territories - wielding
the threat of service interruption - utilities assess substantial late fees
and interest penalties for delinquent payments.
"It is reasonable to expect that deregulation will cause the nation's $215
billion electric bill to drop by 20% - 30% or more in the next five to ten
years."
FORTUNE MAGAZINE
Utility invoice processing is a niche application. Familiarity with
units of measure, prices, quantities and types of service requires a
specialized expertise that differs from traditional accounts payable.
The processing of utility invoices for the purpose of avoiding disrupted
energy service is very important but is not an activity to which companies
are inclined to devote special resources.
The electric and natural gas industries are in the throes of a new,
deregulated era in which information will be critical for companies to help
take advantage of market-driven pricing and vendor selection. The source of
this information will come from the utility invoice.
Cass Information Systems (CIS) has been in the business of processing
payables for more than 40 years. We believe that the market for
12
<PAGE> 13
outsourcing of utility payables and energy information is compelling. The
business is an extension of our core business.
THE NATION'S UTILITY BILL
[CHART]
The nation's utility bill is estimated as shown in the chart above.
Residential customers comprise one-third of this bill or $175 billion.
Cass' potential market for utility payables and energy
information is the $350 billion annually paid by commercial and industrial
customers.
In late 1995 and in 1996, Cass piloted and implemented three national
utility payables accounts. During 1997, a limited marketing program was
initiated and eight more companies became customers. The pilot program and
limited roll-out have been deliberate and methodical. Without exception, the
success of each implementation exceeded our customers' expectations. We are
now in the process of launching a national expansion of our Utility Payables
and Energy Information Services.
The information needed to manage the demand (supply of energy) resource
costs will require companies to rewrite their existing payables applications,
integrating payables and energy-related data capture into a single process.
They will also need a stand-alone energy information system to manage this
significant cost center.
Outsourcing utility and energy information systems to Cass provides
faster service at a lower cost than could be achieved internally. Cass has
developed an integrated processing system that responds to the accelerated
schedules inherent in the industry and provides for the extraction of data.
This allows our customers to properly assess and analyze their energy costs
and negotiate with an expanding market of energy suppliers.
As more companies outsource utility payables, we will take advantage of
the economies of centralized billing and payment consolidation using
Electronic Date Interchange (EDI) to automate the payment and information
collection process. We will also leverage an information base that will be
invaluable as companies seek to reduce their energy bills by 20% - 30%.
13
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<TABLE>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<CAPTION>
December 31
-----------------------
Assets (In Thousands of Dollars, Except per Share Data) 1997 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash and due from banks $ 10,849 $ 10,256
Federal funds sold and other short-term investments 88,275 56,900
-----------------------
Cash and cash equivalents 99,124 67,156
-----------------------
Investment in debt and equity securities:
Held-to-maturity, estimated market value of $90,389 and
$118,362 at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively 90,139 118,313
Available-for-sale, at estimated market value 36,112 41,354
-----------------------
Total investment in debt and equity securities 126,251 159,667
-----------------------
Loans, net of unearned income 196,478 197,775
Less: Allowance for loan losses 4,484 4,396
-----------------------
Loans, net 191,994 193,379
-----------------------
Premises and equipment, net 9,957 8,079
Accrued interest receivable 3,137 3,366
Other assets 7,864 6,675
-----------------------
Total assets $438,327 $438,322
=======================
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing $ 61,958 $ 62,244
Interest-bearing 103,899 115,261
-----------------------
Total deposits 165,857 177,505
Accounts and drafts payable 213,755 204,690
Short-term borrowings 406 2,476
Other liabilities 5,656 5,870
-----------------------
Total liabilities 385,674 390,541
-----------------------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.50 per share;
2,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued -- --
Common stock, par value $.50 per share;
20,000,000 shares authorized and 4,000,000 shares issued 2,000 2,000
Surplus 4,740 4,740
Retained earnings 46,879 42,376
Unrealized holding gain on investment
in debt and equity securities available-for-sale,
net of tax 364 105
Common shares in treasury, at cost (141,452 shares
at December 31, 1997 and 1996) (1,284) (1,284)
Unamortized stock bonus awards (46) (156)
-----------------------
Total stockholders' equity 52,653 47,781
-----------------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $438,327 $438,322
=======================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE> 15
<TABLE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------
(In Thousands of Dollars, Except per Share Data) 1997 1996 1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans $16,951 $16,193 $14,042
Interest on debt securities:
Taxable 9,074 9,729 9,741
Exempt from federal income taxes 77 72 46
Interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments 3,181 2,132 2,972
--------------------------------------
Total interest income 29,283 28,126 26,801
--------------------------------------
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits 4,181 4,503 4,036
Interest on short-term borrowings 67 139 92
--------------------------------------
Total interest expense 4,248 4,642 4,128
--------------------------------------
Net interest income 25,035 23,484 22,673
Provision for loan losses 300 -- (500)
--------------------------------------
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 24,735 23,484 23,173
--------------------------------------
Noninterest income:
Information services revenue:
Freight payment and processing revenue 17,863 17,698 18,886
Freight rating services income 2,564 3,297 3,726
Service charges on deposit accounts 524 532 431
Gain on sale of debt securities 216 -- --
Other 646 564 751
--------------------------------------
Total noninterest income 21,813 22,091 23,794
--------------------------------------
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits 23,983 23,887 24,701
Occupancy expense 1,619 2,115 2,122
Equipment expense 2,654 2,611 2,712
Other 7,655 7,198 7,831
--------------------------------------
Total noninterest expense 35,911 35,811 37,366
--------------------------------------
Income before income tax expense 10,637 9,764 9,601
Income tax expense 3,626 3,245 3,387
--------------------------------------
Net income $ 7,011 $ 6,519 $ 6,214
======================================
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 1.82 $ 1.69 $ 1.62
--------------------------------------
Diluted $ 1.79 $ 1.66 $ 1.61
======================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE> 16
<TABLE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31
---------------------------------
(In Thousands of Dollars) 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 7,011 $ 6,519 $ 6,214
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 2,470 2,583 2,544
Amortization of stock bonus awards 110 110 64
Provision for loan losses 300 -- (500)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) 271 854 (111)
Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable 229 (422) 72
Gain on sale of debt securities (216) -- --
Other operating activities, net (1,884) (82) 1,020
---------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 8,291 9,562 9,303
---------------------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of debt securities available-for-sale 14,235 -- --
Proceeds from prepayments and maturities of debt securities:
Held-to-maturity 28,076 20,192 16,197
Available-for-sale 1,178 6,918 7,175
Purchases of debt and equity securities:
Held-to-maturity -- (8,608) (347)
Available-for-sale (9,835) (30,632) --
Net decrease (increase) in loans 1,085 (25,544) (21,203)
Purchases of premises and equipment, net (3,901) (1,747) (3,004)
---------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 30,838 (39,421) (1,182)
---------------------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in noninterest-bearing demand,
interest-bearing demand and savings deposits (10,878) 16,277 16,267
Net decrease in time deposits (770) (498) (481)
Net increase (decrease) in accounts and drafts payable, net 9,065 (4,339) (4,720)
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings (2,070) (2,471) 2,435
Purchase of treasury stock -- -- (24)
Cash dividends paid (2,508) (2,296) (2,062)
---------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (7,161) 6,673 11,415
---------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 31,968 (23,186) 19,536
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 67,156 90,342 70,806
---------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 99,124 $ 67,156 $ 90,342
=================================
Supplemental information:
Interest paid $ 4,301 $ 4,669 $ 4,043
Income taxes paid 2,785 2,295 3,221
Debt securities transferred from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale -- -- 3,993
=================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
16
<PAGE> 17
<TABLE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<CAPTION> Unrealized
Holding Gain
(Loss) on Unamortized
Securities Stock
Common Retained Available- Treasury Bonus
(In Thousands of Dollars, Except per Share Data) Stock Surplus Earnings for-Sale Stock Awards Total
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance, December 31, 1994 $10,000 $(3,300) $34,001 $(405) $(1,550) $ -- $38,746
Net income -- -- 6,214 -- -- -- 6,214
Cash dividends ($.54 per share) -- -- (2,062) -- -- -- (2,062)
Purchase of 2,266 common shares
for Treasury -- -- -- -- (24) -- (24)
Change in unrealized holding
gains and losses on investment
in debt and equity securities
available-for-sale -- -- -- 375 -- -- 375
Issuance of 32,000 common shares
pursuant to Stock Bonus Plan -- 40 -- -- 290 (330) --
Amortization of Stock Bonus
Plan awards -- -- -- -- -- 64 64
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1995 10,000 (3,260) 38,153 (30) (1,284) (266) 43,313
Net income -- -- 6,519 -- -- -- 6,519
Cash dividends ($.60 per share) -- -- (2,296) -- -- -- (2,296)
Change in unrealized holding
gains and losses on investment
in debt and equity securities
available-for-sale -- -- -- 135 -- -- 135
Reduction in par value of common
stock (8,000) 8,000 -- -- -- -- --
Amortization of Stock Bonus
Plan awards -- -- -- -- -- 110 110
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1996 2,000 4,740 42,376 105 (1,284) (156) 47,781
Net income -- -- 7,011 -- -- -- 7,011
Cash dividends ($.65 per share) -- -- (2,508) -- -- -- (2,508)
Change in unrealized holding
gains and losses on investment
in debt and equity securities
available-for-sale -- -- -- 259 -- -- 259
Amortization of Stock Bonus
Plan awards -- -- -- -- -- 110 110
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1997 $ 2,000 $ 4,740 $46,879 $ 364 $(1,284) $ (46) $52,653
===============================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
17
<PAGE> 18
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE ONE
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Cass Commercial Corporation (the Company) provides a full range of banking
services to individual, corporate and institutional customers through its wholly
owned subsidiary bank, Cass Bank & Trust Company (the Bank). The Bank is subject
to competition from other financial and nonfinancial institutions throughout the
metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, area. Additionally, the Company and the Bank
are subject to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies and undergo
periodic examinations by those regulatory agencies.
The Company also provides information services through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Cass Information Systems, Inc. (CIS). These logistics-related
services include processing and payment of freight charges, preparation of
transportation management reports, auditing of freight charges and rating of
freight shipments. CIS is subject to competition from other commercial concerns
providing similar services to companies throughout the United States and Canada.
The consolidated balance sheet caption, "Accounts and Drafts Payable," consists
of obligations related to freight bill payment services which are performed for
customers.
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company and its subsidiaries
conform to generally accepted accounting principles. The following is a
description of the more significant of those policies:
BASIS OF PRESENTATION The consolidated financial statements include the accounts
of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries after elimination of
intercompany transactions.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, Company management is
required to make estimates and assumptions which significantly affect the
reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. A significant
estimate which is particularly susceptible to change in a short period of time
is the determination of the allowance for loan losses.
STOCK SPLIT The company announced a two-for-one stock split in the form of a
100% stock dividend payable March 15, 1997, to stockholders of record as of
March 5, 1997. All per share data for prior years has been restated to give
effect to the stock split. As a result of the restatement, surplus in the
years prior to 1996 reflected a negative balance.
INVESTMENT IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES At the time of purchase, debt
securities are classified into one of two categories: available-for-sale or
held-to-maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are those securities which the
Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. All equity
securities, and debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity, are
classified as available-for-sale.
Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value.
Held-to-maturity securities are recorded at amortized cost, adjusted for the
amortization of premiums or discounts. Unrealized gains and losses, net of
the related tax effect, on available-for-sale securities are excluded from
earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity until
realized. Gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities are
determined using the specific identification method.
A decline in the market value of any available-for-sale or
held-to-maturity security below cost that is deemed other than temporary is
charged to earnings and results in the establishment of a new cost basis for
the security.
The Bank is required to maintain an investment in the capital stock of
the Federal Reserve Bank.
18
<PAGE> 19
The stock is recorded at cost, which represents redemption value.
INTEREST ON LOANS Interest on loans is recognized based upon the principal
amounts outstanding. It is the Company's policy to discontinue the accrual of
interest when there is reasonable doubt as to the collectibility of principal
or interest. Subsequent payments received on such loans are applied to
principal if there is any doubt as to the collectibility of such principal;
otherwise, these receipts are recorded as interest income. The accrual of
interest on a loan is resumed when the loan is current as to payment of both
principal and interest and/or the borrower demonstrates the ability to pay
and remain current.
INFORMATION SERVICES REVENUE Revenue from logistics-related services is
recognized when fees are billed to customers, generally monthly.
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES The allowance for loan losses is increased by
provisions charged to expense and reduced by net charge-offs. The provisions
charged to expense are based on economic conditions, past losses, collection
experience, risk characteristics of the portfolio and such other factors
which, in management's judgment, deserve current recognition.
Management believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb
losses in the loan portfolio. While management uses all available information
to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be
necessary based on changes in economic conditions. Additionally, various
regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process,
periodically review the Bank's allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may
require the Bank to increase the allowance for loan losses based on their
judgments and interpretations about information available to them at the time
of their examination.
PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT Premises and equipment are stated at cost less
accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed over the
estimated useful lives of the assets, or the respective lease terms for
leasehold improvements, using straight-line and accelerated methods.
Estimated useful lives are 31-1/2 to 39 years for buildings, 8 to 10 years fo
leasehold improvements and 3 to 10 years for furniture, fixtures and
equipment. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS Cost in excess of fair value of net assets acquired and
fair value in excess of cost of net assets acquired have resulted from
business acquisitions which were accounted for using the purchase method.
Cost in excess of fair value of net assets acquired and fair value in
excess of cost of net assets acquired are amortized on a straight-line basis
over 3 to 15 years.
Assets and liabilities acquired in business acquisitions accounted for
by the purchase method were recorded at their estimated fair value at the
date of acquisition. The premiums and discounts related to the fair value
adjustments are amortized using the level-yield method.
LINES OF CREDIT At December 31, 1997, the Bank has $14,200,000 of unsecured
federal funds lines of credit in place with unaffiliated financial
institutions. Additionally, at December 31, 1997, the Bank and CIS have
separate lines of credit of $20,000,000 and $30,000,000, respectively, under
securities sold under repurchase agreements with an unaffiliated financial
institution.
INCOME TAXES Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the
estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the
financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and
their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured
using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary
differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred
tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income
in the period that includes the enactment date.
EARNINGS PER SHARE The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per
19
<PAGE> 20
Share" (SFAS 128) on December 31, 1997. SFAS 128 replaced the previously
reported primary earnings per share and fully-diluted earnings per share with
basic and diluted earnings per share. Unlike primary earnings per share, basic
earnings per share excludes any dilutive effect of stock options. Diluted
earnings per share is very similar to fully-diluted earnings per share. All
prior-period earnings per share amounts have been restated to conform with the
requirements of SFAS 128.
Earnings per share is computed based upon the weighted average number of
shares of common stock outstanding during each year. The weighted average
number of shares was 3,858,548, 3,858,548 and 3,845,968 in 1997, 1996 and
1995, respectively.
The only dilutive instruments are stock options with a dilutive effect of
59,000, 46,938 and 9,822 in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, which result
in weighted average shares and dilutive potential common shares of 3,917,548,
3,905,486 and 3,855,790 in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
CASH FLOWS For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the
Company considers due from banks, federal funds sold and other short-term
investments to be cash equivalents.
RECLASSIFICATIONS Certain amounts in the 1996 and 1995 consolidated financial
statements have been reclassified to conform with the 1997 presentation. Such
reclassifications have no effect on previously reported net income.
NOTE TWO
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital
requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet
minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly
additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could
have a direct material effect on the Company's consolidated financial
statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines, the Company and the Bank must
meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of
assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under
regulatory accounting practices. The Company and the Bank's capital amounts
and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the
regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
Quantitative measures established by regulators to ensure capital
adequacy require the Company and the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and
ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier I capital (as defined
in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier I
capital (as defined) to average assets
The Company and the Bank's actual and required capital amounts and
ratios as of December 31, 1997, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Requirement
To Be Well Capitalized
Capital Under Prompt Corrective
Actual Requirements Action Provisions
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars In Thousands) Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):
Cass Commercial Corporation $54,751 22.76% $19,246 8.00% $ N/A N/A%
Cass Bank & Trust Company 25,140 16.23 12,392 8.00 15,491 10.00
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets):
Cass Commercial Corporation $51,686 21.48% $ 9,623 4.00% $ N/A N/A%
Cass Bank & Trust Company 23,199 14.98 6,196 4.00 9,294 6.00
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tier I capital (to average assets):
Cass Commercial Corporation $51,686 11.72% $17,643 4.00% $ N/A N/A%
Cass Bank & Trust Company 23,199 11.67 7,950 4.00 9,938 5.00
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
20
<PAGE> 21
(as defined). Management as of December 31, 1997, the Company and the Bank
meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.
The Bank is also subject to the regulatory framework for prompt
corrective action. The most recent notification from the regulatory agencies,
dated February 10, 1997, categorized the Bank as well capitalized. To be
categorized as well capitalized, the Bank must maintain minimum total
risk-based, Tier I risk-based, and Tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the
table. There are no conditions or events since that notification that
management believes have changed the Bank's category.
NOTE THREE
INVESTMENT IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES
Debt and equity securities have been classified in the consolidated balance
sheets according to management's intent.
The amortized cost and estimated market values of debt securities classified
as held-to-maturity at December 31, 1997 and 1996, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997
---------------------------------------------------------
Gross Gross Estimated
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Market
(In Thousands) Cost Gains Losses Value
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Government
Treasury
securities $66,473 $443 $ (32) $66,884
Obligations of
U.S. Government
corporations
and agencies 22,174 17 (221) 21,970
States and political
subdivisions 1,492 46 (3) 1,535
---------------------------------------------------------
$90,139 $506 $(256) $90,389
=========================================================
<CAPTION>
1996
-----------------------------------------------------
Gross Gross Estimated
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Market
(In Thousands) Cost Gains Losses Value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Government
Treasury
securities $ 90,646 $761 $(218) $ 91,189
Obligations of
U.S. Government
corporations
and agencies 26,175 -- (520) 25,655
States and political
subdivisions 1,492 33 (7) 1,518
-----------------------------------------------------
$118,313 $794 $(745) $118,362
=====================================================
</TABLE>
The amortized cost and estimated market value of debt securities
classified as held-to-maturity at December 31, 1997, by contractual maturity,
are as follows. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities
because borrowers have the right to prepay obligations with or without
prepayment penalties.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997
--------------------------
Estimated
Amortized Market
(In Thousands) Cost Value
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Due in 1 year or less $28,086 $28,164
Due after 1 year through
5 years 55,194 55,313
Due after 5 years through
10 years 1,776 1,812
Due after 10 years 5,083 5,100
-------------------------
$90,139 $90,389
=========================
</TABLE>
21
<PAGE> 22
NOTE THREE continued
The amortized cost and estimated market values of debt and equity
securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 1997 and 1996,
are summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gross Gross Estimated
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Market
(In Thousands) Cost Gains Losses Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Government
Treasury
securities $26,271 $404 $ -- $26,675
Obligations of
U.S. Government
corporations
and agencies 9,089 178 (31) 9,236
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total debt
securities 35,360 582 (31) 35,911
Stock of the
Federal
Reserve Bank 201 -- -- 201
---------------------------------------------------------------
$35,561 $582 $(31) $36,112
===============================================================
<CAPTION>
1996
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gross Gross Estimated
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Market
(In Thousands) Cost Gains Losses Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Government
Treasury
securities $30,558 $287 $ (30) $30,815
Obligations of
U.S. Government
corporations
and agencies 10,437 40 (139) 10,338
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total debt
securities 40,995 327 (169) 41,153
Stock of the
Federal
Reserve Bank 201 -- -- 201
---------------------------------------------------------------
$41,196 $327 $(169) $41,354
===============================================================
</TABLE>
The amortized cost and estimated market value of debt securities
classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 1997, by contractual
maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual
maturities because borrowers have the right to prepay obligations with or
without prepayment penalties.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997
-----------------------
Estimated
Amortized Market
(In Thousands) Cost Value
- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Due in 1 year or less $ 140 $ 140
Due after 1 year through
5 years 26,271 26,675
Due after 5 years through
10 years 3,065 3,116
Due after 10 years 5,884 5,980
-----------------------
$35,360 $35,911
=======================
</TABLE>
The amortized cost of debt securities pledged to secure public
deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and for other
purposes was approximately $13,048,000 and $18,026,000 at December 31, 1997
and 1996, respectively.
Proceeds from the sales of debt securities classified as
available-for-sale during 1997 were $14,235,000. Gross gains of $216,000 were
realized on those sales. No debt or equity securities were sold in 1996 or
1995.
NOTE FOUR
LOANS
A summary of loan categories at December 31, 1997 and 1996, is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Commercial and industrial $ 93,633 $ 94,962
Real estate:
Mortgage 87,573 85,360
Construction 7,893 9,164
Industrial revenue bonds 2,520 2,851
Installment, net 3,066 3,794
Other 1,793 1,644
-----------------------
$196,478 $197,775
=======================
</TABLE>
22
<PAGE> 23
The Company grants commercial, industrial, residential and consumer
loans to customers throughout the metropolitan St. Louis area. The Company
does not have any particular concentration of credit in any one economic
sector; however, a substantial portion of the commercial and industrial loans
are extended to small- and medium-sized, closely held commercial companies in
this market area, and are generally secured by the assets of the business.
Such loans are subject to the economic changes inherent in the
St. Louis marketplace.
Aggregate loan transactions involving executive officers and directors
of the Company and its subsidiaries and loans to associates of executive
officers and directors for the year ended December 31, 1997, are summarized
below. Such loans were made in the normal course of business on substantially
the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing
at the same time for comparable transactions with other persons, and did not
involve more than the normal risk of collectibility.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Aggregate balance, January 1, 1997 $2,637
New loans 6
Payments (430)
-------
Aggregate balance, December 31, 1997 $2,213
======
</TABLE>
A summary of the activity in the allowance for loan losses for 1997,
1996 and 1995 is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balance, January 1 $4,396 $ 6,358 $6,334
Provision charged
to expense 300 -- (500)
Loans charged off (412) (2,121) (186)
Recoveries of loans
previously charged off 200 159 710
-----------------------------------------
Net loan recoveries
(charge offs) (212) (1,962) 524
-----------------------------------------
Balance, December 31 $4,484 $ 4,396 $6,358
=========================================
</TABLE>
A summary of impaired loans at December 31, 1997 and 1996, is as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Nonaccrual loans $ 285 $ 480
Impaired loans continuing
to accrue interest 1,046 2,746
--------------------
Total impaired loans $1,331 $3,226
====================
</TABLE>
The allowance for loan losses on impaired loans was $643,000 and
$892,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Impaired loans with no
related allowance for loan losses totaled $71,000 and $2,243,000 at December
31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The average balance of impaired loans during
1997 and 1996 was $1,362,000 and $1,157,000, respectively.
A summary of interest income on impaired loans for 1997, 1996 and 1995
is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997
-------------------------------------------
Impaired Loans
Nonaccrual Continuing to
(In Thousands) Loans Accrue Interest Total
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income recognized $ 1 $45 $46
Interest income if
interest had accrued 27 53 80
<CAPTION>
1996
-------------------------------------------
Impaired Loans
Nonaccrual Continuing to
(In Thousands) Loans Accrue Interest Total
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income recognized $221 $260 $481
Interest income if
interest had accrued 299 279 578
<CAPTION>
1995
-------------------------------------------
Impaired Loans
Nonaccrual Continuing to
(In Thousands) Loans Accrue Interest Total
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income recognized $ 4 $109 $113
Interest income if
interest had accrued 18 112 130
</TABLE>
23
<PAGE> 24
NOTE FIVE
PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT
A summary of premises and equipment at December 31, 1997 and 1996, is as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Land $ 367 $ 367
Buildings 6,264 3,082
Leasehold improvements 1,278 2,025
Furniture, fixtures
and equipment 16,591 15,709
Construction in progress -- 435
-----------------------
24,500 21,618
Less accumulated depreciation
and amortization 14,543 13,539
-----------------------
$ 9,957 $ 8,079
=======================
</TABLE>
Depreciation charged to expense in 1997, 1996 and 1995 amounted to $1,932,000,
$1,913,000 and $1,960,000, respectively.
The Company's subsidiaries lease various premises and equipment under
operating lease agreements which expire at various dates through 2005. The
following is a schedule, by year, of future minimum rental payments required
under operating leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms
in excess of one year as of December 31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands)
---------------------------------------
<S> <C>
1998 $ 676
1999 670
2000 670
2001 378
2002 343
2003 and thereafter 861
------
$3,598
======
</TABLE>
Rental expense for 1997, 1996 and 1995 was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Minimum rentals $1,205 $1,712 $1,725
Less sublease rentals -- -- (16)
---------------------------------
Net rental expense $1,205 $1,712 $1,709
=================================
</TABLE>
NOTE SIX
INTEREST-BEARING DEPOSITS
Interest-bearing deposits consist of the following at December 31, 1997 and
1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
NOW and Money Market
Demand Accounts $ 32,616 $ 33,279
Savings deposits 62,660 72,589
Time deposits:
Less than $100,000 5,112 5,599
$100,000 and more 3,511 3,794
------------------------
$103,899 $115,261
========================
</TABLE>
Interest on deposits consists of the following for 1997, 1996 and 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NOW and Money Market
Demand Accounts $1,130 $ 826 $ 639
Savings deposits 2,562 3,139 2,858
Time deposits:
Less than $100,000 267 296 272
$100,000 and more 222 242 267
------------------------------
$4,181 $4,503 $4,036
==============================
</TABLE>
The scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit are summarized as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
1997 1996
--------------------------------------------------
Percent Percent
Amount of Total Amount of Total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Due within:
One year $7,043 81.7% $7,903 84.1%
Two years 1,320 15.3 893 9.5
Three years 242 2.8 413 4.4
Four years 14 0.1 184 2.0
Five years 4 0.1 -- --
--------------------------------------------------
$8,623 100.0% $9,393 100.0%
==================================================
</TABLE>
24
<PAGE> 25
NOTE SEVEN
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan which covers
substantially all of its employees. The Company's subsidiaries accrue and make
contributions designed to fund normal service costs on a current basis using the
projected unit credit with service proration method to amortize prior service
costs arising from improvements in pension benefits and qualifying service prior
to the establishment of the plan over a period of approximately 30 years.
The pension cost for 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $538,000, $478,000 and $616,000,
respectively, and included the following components:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Service cost - benefits
earned during the year $ 706 $ 682 $ 675
Interest cost on projected
benefit obligations 544 492 432
Actual return on
plan assets (622) (656) (1,076)
Net amortization
and deferral (90) (40) 585
-------------------------------
Net periodic
pension cost $ 538 $ 478 $ 616
==============================
</TABLE>
The plan's funded status and amounts recognized in the Company's
consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 1997 and 1996 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Actuarial present value of
benefit obligations:
Accumulated benefit obligation,
including vested benefits
of $6,139 in 1997 and
$4,818 in 1996 $(6,284) $(4,942)
Effect of increase in
compensation levels (2,686) (3,034)
----------------------------
Projected benefit obligation
for service rendered through
December 31 (8,970) (7,976)
Plan assets at fair value 9,232 7,487
----------------------------
Plan assets greater (less) than
projected benefit obligation 262 (489)
============================
Unfunded projected
benefit obligation 262 (489)
Unrecognized prior service cost 148 155
Unrecognized net gains (1,861) (1,354)
----------------------------
Accrued pension cost $(1,451) $(1,688)
============================
</TABLE>
The weighted-average discount rate and the rate of increase in future
compensation levels used in determining the actuarial present value of the
projected benefit obligation were 7.25% and 4.00% in 1997, 7.50% and 5.00% in
1996 and 8.00% and 5.00% in 1995. The expected long-term rate of return on
assets was 8.00% in 1997, 1996 and 1995.
The Company maintains a noncontributory profit sharing plan which
covers substantially all of its employees. Employer contributions are
calculated based upon formulas which relate to current operating results and
other factors. Profit sharing expense recognized in the consolidated
statements of income in 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $1,564,000, $1,433,000 and
$1,377,000, respectively.
The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) plan to provide
additional retirement benefits to substantially all employees. Contributions
under the 401(k) plan for 1997, 1996 and 1995 were $220,000, $227,000 and
$220,000, respectively.
25
<PAGE> 26
NOTE SEVEN continued
During May 1995, the Company implemented a restricted stock bonus plan
which provides for the issuance of up to 100,000 shares of the Company's
common stock. During 1995, 32,000 shares of common stock were awarded to five
officers of the Company. At the time of the awards, the price per share of
Company common stock was $10.32, which resulted in the establishment of a
contra stockholders' equity account with a balance of $330,000. Amortization
of the restricted stock bonus awards totaled $110,000, $110,000 and $64,000
for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The shares of common stock awarded
vest over a three-year period.
Also during May 1995, the Company implemented a performance-based stock
option plan which provides for the granting of options on up to 400,000
shares of Company common stock. These options vest over a period not to
exceed seven years, but the vesting period can be less based on the Company's
attainment of certain financial operating performance criteria. The Company's
original grant of stock options occurred during May 1995. At that time,
options to purchase 120,000 shares were granted at an exercise price of
$10.32. The table below summarizes all subsequent activity.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Shares Price
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Balance at December 31, 1996 120,000 $10.32
Granted 14,500 23.34
Forfeited 16,000 10.32
-------
Balance at December 31, 1997 118,500 11.91
======= ======
</TABLE>
No options have vested or been exercised at December 31, 1997. At December
31, 1997, 104,000, 6,000 and 8,500 options were outstanding at exercise
prices of $10.32, $20.36 and $25.45, respectively.
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the stock option plan
in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting
for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25) and, accordingly, recognizes no
compensation expense as the exercise price of the Company's employee stock
options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant.
In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation" (SFAS 123). The Company elected not to adopt the recognition
provisions of SFAS 123. However, under the provisions of SFAS 123, an entity
that continues to apply APB 25 shall disclose certain pro forma information
as if the fair value based accounting method in SFAS 123 had been used to
account for stock-based compensation costs. The pro forma effects were
calculated and are immaterial to the results of operations of the Company.
NOTE EIGHT
OTHER NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Details of other noninterest expense for 1997, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Postage, printing
and supplies $2,129 $2,114 $2,340
Advertising and business
development 1,437 1,441 1,392
Professional fees 1,320 903 918
Data processing services 652 655 741
FDIC insurance premiums 21 2 155
Other 2,096 2,083 2,285
------------------------------
Total other noninterest
expense $7,655 $7,198 $7,831
==============================
</TABLE>
26
<PAGE> 27
NOTE NINE
REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS
Subsidiary dividends are the principal source of funds for payment of dividends
by the Company to its stockholders. The Company's subsidiary bank is subject to
regulations which require the maintenance of minimum capital levels. At December
31, 1997, unappropriated retained earnings of $12,878,000 were available for the
declaration of dividends to the Company without prior approval from regulatory
authorities.
Restricted funds on deposit used to meet regulatory reserve requirements
amounted to approximately $3,504,000 and $2,719,000 at December 31, 1997 and
1996, respectively.
NOTE TEN
INCOME TAXES
The components of income tax expense for 1997, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current:
Federal $3,114 $2,238 $3,171
State 241 153 327
Deferred 271 854 (111)
-----------------------------------
$3,626 $3,245 $3,387
===================================
</TABLE>
A reconciliation of expected income tax expense, computed by applying the
effective federal statutory rate of 34% for 1997, 1996 and 1995 to income before
income tax expense, to reported income tax expense, is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Expected income
tax expense $3,617 $3,320 $3,264
(Reductions) increases
resulting from:
Tax-exempt interest (78) (53) (43)
State taxes, net
of federal benefit 159 101 216
Amortization of
intangibles (98) (98) (98)
Other, net 26 (25) 48
-------------------------------
Income tax expense $3,626 $3,245 $3,387
===============================
</TABLE>
The tax effects of temporary differences which give rise to significant
portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December
31, 1997 and 1996, are presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In Thousands) 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for loan losses $ 993 $1,011
Accrued pension cost 500 581
Premises and equipment 51 123
Other 206 141
--------------------
Total deferred tax assets 1,750 1,856
--------------------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Unrealized gain on investment
in debt and equity securities
available-for-sale (187) (53)
Discount accretion (355) (271)
Other (137) (56)
--------------------
Total deferred tax liabilities (679) (380)
--------------------
Net deferred tax asset $1,071 $1,476
====================
</TABLE>
A valuation allowance would be provided on deferred tax assets when it
is more likely than not that some portion of the assets will not be realized.
The Company has not established a valuation allowance at December 31, 1997 or
1996, due to management's belief that all criteria for recognition have been
met, including the existence of a history of taxes paid sufficient to support
the realization of deferred tax assets.
NOTE ELEVEN
CONTINGENCIES
The Company's subsidiaries are involved in various pending legal actions and
proceedings in which claims for damages are asserted. Management, after
discussion with legal counsel, believes the ultimate resolution of these
legal actions and proceedings will not have a material effect upon the
Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
27
<PAGE> 28
NOTE TWELVE
DISCLOSURES ABOUT FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company is party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the
normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These
financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, commercial letters
of credit and standby letters of credit. The Company's exposure to credit loss
in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument
for commitments to extend credit, commercial letters of credit and standby
letters of credit is represented by the contractual amounts of those
instruments.
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as
there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commercial
and standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company
to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These
off-balance-sheet financial instruments generally have fixed expiration dates or
other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since some of the
financial instruments may expire without being drawn upon, the total amounts do
not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Commitments to extend
credit and letters of credit are subject to the same underwriting standards as
those financial instruments included on the consolidated balance sheets. The
Company evaluates each customer's credit-worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The
amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary upon extension of the credit,
is based on management's credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held
varies, but is generally accounts receivable, inventory, residential or
income-producing commercial property or equipment.
Conditional commitments to extend credit, commercial letters of credit and
standby letters of credit totaled approximately $96,709,000, $13,000 and
$2,164,000, respectively, at December 31, 1997.
Following is a summary of the carrying amounts and estimated fair
values of the Company's financial instruments at December 31, 1997 and 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997
-------------------------------
Estimated
Carrying Fair
(In Thousands) Amount Value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Balance sheet assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 99,124 $ 99,124
Investment in debt and
equity securities 126,251 126,501
Loans, net 191,994 192,531
Accrued interest receivable 3,137 3,137
-------------------------------
$420,506 $421,293
===============================
Balance sheet liabilities:
Deposits $165,857 $165,880
Accounts and drafts payable 213,755 213,755
Short-term borrowings 406 406
Accrued interest payable 93 93
-------------------------------
$380,111 $380,134
===============================
<CAPTION>
1996
-------------------------------
Estimated
Carrying Fair
(In Thousands) Amount Value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Balance sheet assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 67,156 $ 67,156
Investment in debt and
equity securities 159,667 159,716
Loans, net 193,379 193,726
Accrued interest receivable 3,366 3,366
-------------------------------
$423,568 $423,964
===============================
Balance sheet liabilities:
Deposits $177,505 $177,509
Accounts and drafts payable 204,690 204,690
Short-term borrowings 2,476 2,476
Accrued interest payable 146 146
-------------------------------
$384,817 $384,821
===============================
</TABLE>
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair
value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practicable to
estimate that value:
CASH AND OTHER SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS For cash and due from banks, federal
funds sold, short-term investments, accrued interest
28
<PAGE> 29
receivable, short-term borrowings, accounts and drafts payable and accrued
interest payable, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value
because of the demand nature or short maturities of these instruments.
INVESTMENT IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES Fair values are based on quoted
market prices or dealer quotes.
LOANS The fair value of loans 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 and for the same remaining maturities.
DEPOSITS The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts and certain
money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.
The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit is estimated using
the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities. The
fair value estimates above do not include the benefit that results from the
low-cost funding provided by the deposit liabilities compared to the cost of
borrowing funds in the market nor the benefit derived from the customer
relationship inherent in existing deposits.
COMMITMENTS TO EXTEND CREDIT AND STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT The fair value of
commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are estimated
using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking
into account the remaining terms of the agreements, the likelihood of the
counterparties drawing on such financial instruments and the present
credit-worthiness of such counterparties. The Company believes such
commitments have been made at terms which are competitive in the markets in
which it operates; however, no premium or discount is offered thereon and,
accordingly, the Company has not assigned a value to such instruments for
purposes of this disclosure.
LIMITATIONS 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. Other significant assets or
liabilities that are not considered financial assets or liabilities include
premises and equipment and the benefit that results from the low-cost funding
provided by the deposit liabilities compared to the cost of borrowing funds in
the market (core deposit intangible). In addition, 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 any of the
estimates.
Management is concerned that reasonable comparability between financial
institutions may not be likely due to the wide range of permitted valuation
techniques and numerous estimates which must be made given the absence of
active secondary markets for many of the financial instruments. This lack of
uniform valuation methodologies also introduces a greater degree of
subjectivity to these estimated fair values.
Fair value estimates are made as of 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
management's judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current
economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments
and other factors. 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.
NOTE THIRTEEN
INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION
The services provided by the Company are classified into two industry
segments: Information Services and Banking Services which are more
29
<PAGE> 30
NOTE THIRTEEN continued
fully discussed in Note One. Total net revenue is comprised of total interest
income and total noninterest income, less provision for loan losses.
Intersegment revenues or transfers were not significant.
Summarized information about the Company's operations in each industry
as of and for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, is
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Net Revenue
---------------------------------------
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Information Services $35,918 $35,501 $37,226
Banking Services 15,035 14,823 13,995
Eliminations (157) (107) (126)
---------------------------------------
Total $50,796 $50,217 $51,095
=======================================
<CAPTION>
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax
---------------------------------------
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Information Services $ 6,352 $6,069 $6,369
Banking Services 4,464 3,868 3,372
Corporate Items (179) (173) (140)
---------------------------------------
Total $10,637 $9,764 $9,601
=======================================
<CAPTION>
Identifiable Assets
----------------------------------------
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Information Services $246,488 $237,963 $238,762
Banking Services 209,485 212,776 195,562
Corporate Items 52,882 47,909 43,505
Eliminations (70,528) (60,326) (49,771)
----------------------------------------
Total $438,327 $438,322 $428,058
========================================
<CAPTION>
Depreciation and Amortization Expense
--------------------------------------
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Information Services $2,024 $2,057 $2,120
Banking Services 420 494 395
Corporate Items 26 32 29
--------------------------------------
Total $2,470 $2,583 $2,544
======================================
<CAPTION>
Capital Expenditures
--------------------------------------
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Information Services $3,427 $1,509 $2,888
Banking Services 468 249 251
Corporate Items 6 21 56
--------------------------------------
Total $3,901 $1,779 $3,195
======================================
</TABLE>
NOTE FOURTEEN
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT
COMPANY
Following are the condensed balance sheets of the Company (parent company
only) as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related condensed schedules
of income and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Condensed Balance Sheets
--------------------------
December 31
--------------------------
(In Thousands) 1997 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Assets:
Cash $ 471 $ 130
Investment in Cass Bank &
Trust Company 23,271 21,612
Investment in Cass Information
Systems, Inc. 28,666 25,617
Other assets 474 550
--------------------------
Total assets $52,882 $47,909
--------------------------
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Total liabilities $ 229 $ 128
Total stockholders' equity 52,653 47,781
--------------------------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $52,882 $47,909
==========================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Condensed Schedules of Income
--------------------------------------------------
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
(In Thousands) 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income:
Dividends received
from subsidiaries $2,680 $2,380 $2,140
Management fees from
subsidiaries 1,282 954 949
--------------------------------------------------
Total income 3,962 3,334 3,089
--------------------------------------------------
Expenses:
Salaries and employee
benefits 1,130 835 883
Other expenses 331 292 206
--------------------------------------------------
Total expenses 1,461 1,127 1,089
--------------------------------------------------
Income before income
taxes and equity in
undistributed income
of subsidiaries 2,501 2,207 2,000
Income tax benefit (61) (59) (48)
--------------------------------------------------
2,562 2,266 2,048
Equity in undistributed
income of subsidiaries 4,449 4,253 4,166
--------------------------------------------------
Net income $7,011 $6,519 $6,214
==================================================
</TABLE>
30
<PAGE> 31
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Condensed Schedules of Cash Flows
---------------------------------------------------
December 31
---------------------------------------------------
(In Thousands) 1996 1995 1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from
operating activities:
Net income $ 7,011 $ 6,519 $ 6,214
Adjustments to reconcile
net income to net
cash provided by
operating activities:
Net income of
subsidiaries exclusive
of management fees (8,410) (7,587) (7,255)
Dividends from
subsidiaries 2,680 2,380 2,140
Management fees from
subsidiaries 1,282 954 949
Amortization of stock
bonus plan 110 110 64
Other, net 176 (200) (192)
---------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by
operating activities 2,849 2,176 1,920
---------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from
financing activities:
Cash dividends paid (2,508) (2,296) (2,062)
Purchases of treasury stock -- -- (24)
---------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in
financing activities (2,508) (2,296) (2,086)
---------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in
cash and cash equivalents 341 (120) (166)
Cash and cash equivalents
at beginning of year 130 250 416
---------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents
at end of year $ 471 $ 130 $ 250
===================================================
</TABLE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
REPORT
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS
CASS COMMERCIAL CORPORATION:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cass
Commercial Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 1997
and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and
stockholders' equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1997. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cass
Commercial Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and
the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in
the three-year period ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
January 29, 1998
31
<PAGE> 32
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
DIRECTORS
CASS COMMERCIAL
CORPORATION,
CASS BANK & TRUST
COMPANY AND CASS
INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Lawrence A. Collett
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer,
Cass Commercial
Corporation
John J. Vallina
President, Cass Bank &
Trust Company
Robert J. Bodine
Chairman Emeritus,
Bodine Aluminum, Inc.
Thomas J. Fucoloro
Consultant
Harry J. Krieg
Chairman Emeritus
Howard A. Kuehner
Investor
Jake Nania
Investor
Irving A. Shepard
President, Venture
Consultants, Inc.
A.J. Signorelli
Founder, Andrews
Educational &
Research Center and
Hope Educational &
Research Center
Bruce E. Woodruff
Attorney; of counsel to
Armstrong, Teasdale,
Schlafly & Davis
OFFICERS
CASS COMMERCIAL
CORPORATION
Lawrence A. Collett
Chairman of the Board-
Chief Executive Officer
Eric H. Brunngraber
Vice President, Secretary,
& Chief Financial Officer
William C. Bouchein
Vice President, Treasurer
Marla A. Fusz
Controller
Wayne D. Muskopf
Vice President,
Human Resources
LOCATIONS
CASS COMMERCIAL
CORPORATION
13001 Hollenberg Drive
Bridgeton, Missouri 63044
(314) 506-5500
CASS BANK & TRUST
COMPANY
13001 Hollenberg Drive
Bridgeton, Missouri 63044
(314) 506-5500
CHESTERFIELD FACILITY
702 Spirit 40 Park Drive
Suite 100
Chesterfield,
Missouri 63005
(314) 506-5595
DOWNTOWN FACILITIES
1015 Locust Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63101
(314) 506-5585
1420 N. 13th Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63106
(314) 506-5580
FENTON FACILITY
509 Rudder Road
Fenton, Missouri 63026
(314) 506-5590
WEST PORT FACILITY
11657 Adie Road
Maryland Heights,
Missouri 63043
(314) 506-5575
CASS INFORMATION
SYSTEMS, INC.
PAYMENT SYSTEMS GROUP
13001 Hollenberg Drive
Bridgeton, Missouri 63044
(314) 506-5500
2545 Farmers Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43235
(614) 766-2277
900 Chelmsford Street
Lowell, Massachusetts
10151
(978) 446-0101
SOFTWARE SYSTEMS GROUP
Hartford Plaza
150 South Wacker Drive
Suite 2600
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 782-6694
10-K
A copy of the Company's
1997 Annual Report filed
with the Securities and
Exchange Commission
on Form 10-K is available
to stockholders without
charge. To obtain a copy,
direct your request to
Investor Relations, 13001
Hollenberg Drive,
Bridgeton, Missouri
63044.
32
<PAGE> 1
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
The Board of Directors
Cass Commercial Corporation:
We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements
No. 33-91456, No. 33-91568, No. 333-44497, and No. 333-44499 on Form S-8
of Cass Commercial Corporation (Cass) of our report dated January 29, 1998,
relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Cass Commercial Corporation
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1997, which report appears
in the December 31, 1997 annual report on Form 10-K of Cass.
/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
March 13, 1998
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