10-Q 1 d10q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT Quarterly Report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2006

Commission File Number 0-8076

 


LOGO FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Ohio   31-0854434

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Fifth Third Center

Cincinnati, Ohio 45263

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (513) 534-5300

 


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

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer   x                    Accelerated filer  ¨                    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

There were 558,066,338 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, without par value, outstanding as of September 30, 2006.

 



FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

INDEX

 

Part I. Financial Information   
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Item 2)   

Selected Financial Data

   3

Overview

   4

Recent Accounting Standards

   5

Critical Accounting Policies

   5

Statements of Income Analysis

   7

Business Segment Review

   14

Balance Sheet Analysis

   20
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk (Item 3)   

Risk Management – Overview

   25

Credit Risk Management

   25

Market Risk Management

   30

Liquidity Risk Management

   32

Capital Management

   33

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

   34

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

   35

Controls and Procedures (Item 4)

   36

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes (Item 1)

  

Balance Sheets (unaudited)

   37

Statements of Income (unaudited)

   38

Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited)

   39

Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

   40

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

   41
Part II. Other Information   
Legal Proceedings (Item 1)    57
Risk Factors (Item 1A)    57
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds (Item 2)    57
Signatures    58
Exhibits (Item 6)    59

This report may contain forward-looking statements about the Registrant and/or the company as combined with acquired entities within the meaning of Sections 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 175 promulgated thereunder, and 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 3b-6 promulgated thereunder, that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. This report may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Registrant and/or the combined company including statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words or phrases such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “trend,” “objective,” “continue,” “remain” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” “may” or similar expressions. There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (1) competitive pressures among depository institutions increase significantly; (2) changes in the interest rate environment reduce interest margins; (3) prepayment speeds, loan origination and sale volumes, charge-offs and loan loss provisions; (4) general economic conditions, either national or in the states in which the Registrant, one or more acquired entities and/or the combined company do business, are less favorable than expected; (5) political developments, wars or other hostilities may disrupt or increase volatility in securities markets or other economic conditions; (6) changes and trends in the securities markets; (7) legislative or regulatory changes or actions, or significant litigation, adversely affect the Registrant, one or more acquired entities and/or the combined company or the businesses in which the Registrant, one or more acquired entities and/or the combined company are engaged; (8) difficulties in combining the operations of acquired entities and (9) the impact of reputational risk created by the developments discussed above on such matters as business generation and retention, funding and liquidity. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements is available in the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of this filing are available at no cost on the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov or on the Registrant’s Web site at www.53.com. The Registrant undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report.

 

2


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Item 2)

The following is management’s discussion and analysis of certain significant factors that have affected Fifth Third Bancorp’s (“the Registrant” or “Fifth Third”) financial condition and results of operations during the periods included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which are a part of this filing. Reference to the Registrant incorporates the parent holding company and all consolidated subsidiaries.

TABLE 1: Selected Financial Data

 

     For the three months
ended September 30,
   Percent
Change
    For the nine months
ended September 30,
   Percent
Change
 

($ in millions, except per share data)

   2006     2005      2006     2005   

Income Statement Data

              

Net interest income (a)

   $ 719     745    (3 )%   $ 2,154       2,262    (5 )%

Noninterest income

     662     622    6       1,934       1,864    4  

Total revenue (a)

     1,381     1,367    1       4,088       4,126    (1 )

Provision for loan and lease losses

     87     69    26       236       197    20  

Noninterest expense

     767     732    5       2,257       2,164    4  

Net income

     377     395    (5 )     1,123       1,217    (8 )

Common Share Data

              

Earnings per share, basic

   $ .68     .71    (4 )%   $ 2.02       2.19    (8 )%

Earnings per share, diluted

     .68     .71    (4 )     2.01       2.18    (8 )

Cash dividends per common share

     .40     .38    5       1.18       1.08    9  

Book value per share

     17.96     16.93    6         

Dividend payout ratio

     58.8 %   53.5    10       58.7 %     49.5    19  

Financial Ratios

              

Return on average assets

     1.41 %   1.51    (7 )%     1.42 %     1.59    (11 )%

Return on average equity

     15.1     16.6    (9 )     15.5       17.6    (12 )

Average equity as a percent of average assets

     9.33     9.11    2       9.19       9.04    2  

Tangible equity

     7.40     6.84    8         

Net interest margin (a)

     2.99     3.16    (5 )     3.03       3.27    (7 )

Efficiency (a)

     55.5     53.5    4       55.2       52.4    5  

Credit Quality

              

Net losses charged off

   $ 79     64    23 %   $ 219       183    20 %

Net losses charged off as a percent of average loans and leases

     .43 %   .38    13       .41 %     .37    11  

Allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of loans and leases

     1.04     1.06    (2 )       

Allowance for credit losses as a percent of loans and leases (b)

     1.14     1.16    (2 )       

Nonperforming assets as a percent of loans, leases and other assets, including other real estate owned

     .56     .51    10         

Average Balances

              

Loans and leases, including held for sale

   $ 73,938     68,556    8 %   $ 72,896     $ 66,812    9 %

Total securities and other short-term investments

     21,582     24,915    (13 )     22,309       25,578    (13 )

Total assets

     105,868     103,699    2       105,452       102,501    3  

Transaction deposits

     48,543     47,568    2       48,923       47,591    3  

Core deposits

     59,337     56,298    5       59,257       55,862    6  

Wholesale funding

     33,040     34,615    (5 )     33,022       34,089    (3 )

Shareholders’ equity

     9,878     9,451    5       9,696       9,262    5  

Regulatory Capital Ratios

              

Tier I capital

     8.60 %   8.42    2 %       

Total risk-based capital

     10.56     10.54    —           

Tier I leverage

     8.52     7.93    7         

(a) Amounts presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis.
(b) The allowance for credit losses is the sum of the allowance for loan and lease losses and the reserve for unfunded commitments.

 

3


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

OVERVIEW

This overview of management’s discussion and analysis highlights selected information in the financial results of the Registrant and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. For a more complete understanding of trends, events, commitments, uncertainties, liquidity, capital resources and critical accounting policies and estimates, you should carefully read this entire document. Each of these items could have an impact on the Registrant’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Registrant is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. At September 30, 2006, the Registrant had $105.8 billion in assets, operated 19 affiliates with 1,145 full-service Banking Centers including 115 Bank Mart® locations open seven days a week inside select grocery stores and 2,114 Jeanie® ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Missouri. The Registrant reports on five business segments: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, Investment Advisors and Fifth Third Processing Solutions (“FTPS”). During the first quarter of 2006, the Registrant began separating its Retail line of business into the Branch Banking and Consumer Lending business segments. All prior year information has been updated to reflect this presentation.

The Registrant believes that banking is first and foremost a relationship business where the strength of the competition and challenges for growth can vary in every market. Its affiliate operating model provides a competitive advantage by keeping the decisions close to the customer and by emphasizing individual relationships. Through its affiliate operating model, individual managers, from the banking center to the executive level, are given the opportunity to tailor financial solutions for their customers.

The Registrant’s revenues are fairly evenly dependent on net interest income and noninterest income. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, net interest income, on a fully taxable equivalent (“FTE”) basis, and noninterest income provided 52% and 48% of total revenue, respectively. Therefore, changes in interest rates, credit quality, economic trends and the capital markets are primary factors that drive the performance of the Registrant. As discussed later in the Risk Management section, risk identification, measurement, monitoring, control and reporting are important to the management of risk and to the financial performance and capital strength of the Registrant.

Net interest income, which continues to be the Registrant’s largest revenue source, is the difference between interest income earned on assets such as loans, leases and securities, and interest expense paid on liabilities such as deposits and borrowings. Net interest income is affected by the general level of interest rates, the relative level of short- and long-term interest rates, changes in interest rates and changes in the amount and composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Generally, the rates of interest the Registrant earns on its assets and owes on its liabilities are established for a period of time. The change in market interest rates over time exposes the Registrant to interest rate risk through potential adverse changes to net interest income and financial position. The Registrant manages this risk by continually analyzing and adjusting the composition of its assets and liabilities based on their payment streams and interest rates, the timing of their maturities and their sensitivity to changes in market interest rates. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, the Registrant enters into certain derivative transactions as part of its overall strategy to manage its interest rate and prepayment risks.

The Registrant is also exposed to the risk of losses on its loan and lease portfolio as a result of changing expected cash flows caused by loan defaults and inadequate collateral, among other factors.

Noninterest income is derived primarily from electronic funds transfer (“EFT”) and merchant transaction processing fees, card interchange, fiduciary and investment management fees, banking fees and service charges and mortgage banking revenue.

Net interest income, net interest margin, net interest rate spread and the efficiency ratio are presented in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on an FTE basis. The FTE basis adjusts for the tax-favored status of income from certain loans and securities held by the Registrant that are not taxable for federal income tax purposes. The Registrant believes this presentation to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income as it provides a relevant comparison between taxable and non-taxable amounts.

The Registrant’s net income was $377 million in the third quarter of 2006, a five percent decrease compared to $395 million for the same period last year. Earnings per diluted share were $.68 for the third quarter, a four percent decrease from $.71 for the same period last year. The Registrant’s quarterly dividend was $.40 per common share in the third quarter of 2006, a five percent increase over the $.38 dividend in the third quarter of 2005.

Net interest income (FTE) decreased three percent compared to the same period last year. Net interest margin decreased to 2.99% in the third quarter of 2006 from 3.16% in the same period last year and from 3.01% in the second quarter of 2006 largely due to the rise in short-term interest rates, the impact of the primarily fixed-rate securities portfolio and mix shifts within the core deposit base. Noninterest income increased six percent over the same period last year due to continued strong growth in electronic payment processing and corporate banking revenue and an $11 million increase in net securities gain partially offset by a $9 million decline in mortgage banking revenue. Noninterest expense increased five percent over the same quarter last year primarily due to increases in volume-related bankcard expenditures, equipment expenditures and occupancy expense related to the addition of de-novo banking centers and investments in technology, as well as an $11 million debt termination charge.

 

4


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

 

Credit quality metrics deteriorated slightly in the third quarter of 2006. Net charge-offs as a percent of average loans and leases were .43% in the third quarter of 2006 compared to .37% in the second quarter of 2006 and .38% in the third quarter of 2005. At September 30, 2006, nonperforming assets as a percent of loans and leases increased to .56% from .49% at June 30, 2006 and .51% at September 30, 2005.

The Registrant’s capital ratios exceed the “well-capitalized” guidelines as defined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”). As of September 30, 2006, the Tier I capital ratio was 8.60% and the total risk-based capital ratio was 10.56%.

The Registrant continues to invest in the geographic areas that offer the best growth prospects, as it believes this investment is the most cost efficient method of expansion within its largest affiliate markets. During the first nine months of 2006, the Registrant opened 40 net new banking centers (excluding relocations and consolidations of existing facilities) with plans to add 10 to 12 new banking centers in high-growth markets during the fourth quarter of 2006.

RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Note 2 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements provides a complete discussion of the new accounting standards adopted by the Registrant during 2006 and 2005 and the expected impact of accounting standards issued but not yet required to be adopted.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

The Registrant maintains an allowance to absorb probable loan and lease losses inherent in the portfolio. The allowance is maintained at a level the Registrant considers to be adequate and is based on ongoing quarterly assessments and evaluations of the collectibility and historical loss experience of loans and leases. Credit losses are charged and recoveries are credited to the allowance. Provisions for loan and lease losses are based on the Registrant’s review of the historical credit loss experience and such factors that, in management’s judgment, deserve consideration under existing economic conditions in estimating probable credit losses. In determining the appropriate level of the allowance, the Registrant estimates losses using a range derived from “base” and “conservative” estimates. The Registrant’s strategy for credit risk management includes a combination of conservative exposure limits significantly below legal lending limits and conservative underwriting, documentation and collections standards. The strategy also emphasizes diversification on a geographic, industry and customer level, regular credit examinations and quarterly management reviews of large credit exposures and loans experiencing deterioration of credit quality.

Larger commercial loans that exhibit probable or observed credit weakness are subject to individual review. Where appropriate, allowances are allocated to individual loans based on management’s estimate of the borrower’s ability to repay the loan given the availability of collateral, other sources of cash flow and legal options available to the Registrant. The review of individual loans includes those loans that are impaired as provided in SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan.” Any allowances for impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or the fair value of the underlying collateral. The Registrant evaluates the collectibility of both principal and interest when assessing the need for loss accrual. Historical loss rates are applied to other commercial loans not subject to specific allowance allocations. The loss rates are derived from a migration analysis, which tracks the net charge-off experience sustained on loans according to their internal risk grade. The risk grading system currently utilized for allowance analysis purposes encompasses ten categories. The Registrant also maintains a dual risk rating system that provides for thirteen probability of default grade categories and an additional six grade categories for estimating actual losses given an event of default. The probability of default and estimated loss given default evaluations are not separated in the ten-grade risk rating system. The Registrant is in the process of completing significant validation and testing of the dual risk rating system prior to implementation for allowance analysis purposes. The dual risk rating system is expected to be consistent with Basel II requirements and will allow for more precision in the analysis of commercial credit risk.

Homogenous loans and leases, such as consumer installment, residential mortgage and automobile leases are not individually risk graded. Rather, standard credit scoring systems and delinquency monitoring are used to assess credit risks. Allowances are established for each pool of loans based on the expected net charge-offs for one year. Loss rates are based on the average net charge-off history by loan category.

Historical loss rates for commercial and consumer loans may be adjusted for significant factors that, in management’s judgment, reflect the impact of any current conditions on loss recognition. Factors that management considers in the analysis include the effects of the national and local economies, trends in the nature and volume of loans (delinquencies, charge-offs and nonaccrual loans), changes in mix, credit score migration comparisons, asset quality trends, risk management and loan administration, changes in the internal lending policies and credit standards, collection practices and examination results from bank regulatory agencies and the Registrant’s internal credit examiners.

 

5


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

 

Regardless of the extent of the evaluation of the previously discussed factors, certain inherent but undetected losses are probable within the loan and lease portfolios. An unallocated component to the allowance is maintained to recognize the imprecision in estimating and measuring loss when evaluating allowances for individual loans or pools of loans. Allowances on individual loans and historical loss rates are reviewed quarterly and adjusted as necessary based on changing borrower and/or collateral conditions and actual collection and charge-off experience.

Loans acquired by the Registrant through a purchase business combination are evaluated for possible credit impairment. Reduction to the carrying value of the acquired loans as a result of credit impairment is recorded as an adjustment to goodwill. The Registrant does not carry over the acquired company’s allowance for loan and lease losses nor does the Registrant add to its existing allowance for the acquired loans as part of purchase accounting.

The Registrant’s determination of the allowance for commercial loans is sensitive to the risk grade it assigns to these loans. In the event that 10% of commercial loans in each risk category would experience a downgrade of one risk category, the allowance for commercial loans would increase by approximately $72 million at September 30, 2006. The Registrant’s determination of the allowance for residential and retail loans is sensitive to changes in estimated loss rates. In the event that estimated loss rates would increase by 10%, the allowance for residential and retail loans would increase by approximately $24 million at September 30, 2006. As several quantitative and qualitative factors are considered in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses, these sensitivity analyses do not necessarily reflect the nature and extent of future changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses. They are intended to provide insights into the impact of adverse changes in risk grades and inherent losses and do not imply any expectation of future deterioration in the risk rating or loss rates. Given current processes employed by the Registrant, management believes the risk grades and inherent loss rates currently assigned are appropriate.

The Registrant’s primary market areas for lending are Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Missouri. When evaluating the adequacy of allowances, consideration is given to this regional geographic concentration and the closely associated effect changing economic conditions have on the Registrant’s customers.

In the current year, the Registrant has not substantively changed any material aspect of its overall approach to determine its allowance for loan and lease losses. There have been no material changes in assumptions or estimation techniques as compared to prior periods that impacted the determination of the current period allowance for loan and lease losses. Based on the procedures discussed above, the Registrant is of the opinion that the allowance of $761 million was adequate, but not excessive, to absorb estimated credit losses associated with the loan and lease portfolio at September 30, 2006.

Valuation of Securities

Securities are classified as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading on the date of purchase. Only those securities classified as held-to-maturity, and which management has both the intent and ability to hold to maturity, are reported at amortized cost. Available-for-sale and trading securities are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of related deferred income taxes, included in accumulated other comprehensive income on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and noninterest income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, respectively. The fair value of a security is determined based on quoted market prices. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value is determined based on quoted prices of similar instruments. Realized securities gains or losses are reported within noninterest income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities are reviewed quarterly for possible other-than-temporary impairment. The review includes an analysis of the facts and circumstances of each individual investment such as the severity of loss, the length of time the fair value has been below cost, the expectation for that security’s performance, the creditworthiness of the issuer and the Registrant’s intent and ability to hold the security. A decline in value that is considered to be other-than-temporary is recorded as a loss within noninterest income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. At September 30, 2006, 93% of the unrealized losses in the available-for-sale security portfolio were comprised of securities issued by U.S. Treasury and Government agencies, U.S. Government sponsored agencies and states and political subdivisions as well as agency mortgage-backed securities. The Registrant believes the price movements in these securities are dependent upon the movement in market interest rates. The Registrant also maintains its intent and ability to hold these securities.

Reserve for Unfunded Commitments

The reserve for unfunded commitments is maintained at a level believed by management to be sufficient to absorb estimated probable losses related to unfunded credit facilities. The determination of the adequacy of the reserve is based upon an evaluation of the unfunded credit facilities, including an assessment of historical commitment utilization experience, credit risk grading and credit grade migration. Net adjustments to the reserve for unfunded commitments are included in other noninterest expense.

 

6


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

 

Taxes

The Registrant estimates income tax expense based on amounts expected to be owed to the various tax jurisdictions in which the Registrant conducts business. On a quarterly basis, management assesses the reasonableness of its effective tax rate based upon its current estimate of the amount and components of net income, tax credits and the applicable statutory tax rates expected for the full year. The estimated income tax expense is recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the balance sheet method and are reported in accrued taxes, interest and expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is based on the tax effects of the differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities and recognizes enacted changes in tax rates and laws. Deferred tax assets are recognized subject to management judgment that realization is more likely than not.

Accrued taxes represent the net estimated amount due or to be received from taxing jurisdictions and are reported in accrued taxes, interest and expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Registrant evaluates and assesses the relative risks and appropriate tax treatment of transactions and filing positions after considering statutes, regulations, judicial precedent and other information and maintains tax accruals consistent with its evaluation of these relative risks and merits. Changes to the estimate of accrued taxes occur periodically due to changes in tax rates, interpretations of tax laws, the status of examinations being conducted by taxing authorities and changes to statutory, judicial and regulatory guidance that impact the relative risks of tax positions. These changes, when they occur, can affect deferred taxes and accrued taxes as well as the current period’s income tax expense and can be significant to the operating results of the Registrant. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the recently issued accounting statement, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. As described in greater detail in Note 9 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Internal Revenue Service is currently challenging the Registrant’s tax treatment of certain leasing transactions.

Valuation of Servicing Rights

When the Registrant sells loans through either securitizations or individual loan sales in accordance with its investment policies, it often retains servicing rights. Servicing rights resulting from loan sales are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing revenues. Servicing rights are assessed for impairment monthly, based on fair value, with temporary impairment recognized through a valuation allowance and permanent impairment recognized through a write-off of the servicing asset and related valuation allowance. Key economic assumptions used in measuring any potential impairment of the servicing rights include the prepayment speeds of the underlying loans, the weighted-average life, the discount rate, the weighted-average coupon and the weighted-average default rate, as applicable. The primary risk of material changes to the value of the servicing rights resides in the potential volatility in the economic assumptions used, particularly the prepayment speeds.

The Registrant monitors risk and adjusts its valuation allowance as necessary to adequately reserve for any probable impairment in the portfolio. For purposes of measuring impairment, the servicing rights are stratified based on the financial asset type and interest rates. In addition, the Registrant obtains an independent third-party valuation of mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”) on a quarterly basis. Fees received for servicing loans owned by investors are based on a percentage of the outstanding monthly principal balance of such loans and are included in noninterest income as loan payments are received. Costs of servicing loans are charged to expense as incurred.

The change in the fair value of MSRs at September 30, 2006, due to immediate 10% and 20% adverse changes in the current prepayment assumption would be approximately $23 million and $43 million, respectively, and due to immediate 10% and 20% favorable changes in the current prepayment assumption would be approximately $25 million and $51 million, respectively. The change in the fair value of the MSR portfolio at September 30, 2006, due to immediate 10% and 20% adverse changes in the discount rate assumption would be approximately $18 million and $35 million, respectively, and due to immediate 10% and 20% favorable changes in the discount rate assumption would be approximately $19 million and $40 million, respectively. Sensitivity analysis related to other consumer and commercial servicing rights is not material to the Registrant’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be used with caution. As the figures indicate, change in fair value based on a 10% and 20% variation in assumptions typically cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumptions to change in fair value may not be linear. Also, the effect of variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the retained interests is calculated without changing any other assumption; in reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another, which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities. Additionally, the effect of the Registrant’s non-qualifying hedging strategy, which is maintained to lessen the impact of changes in value of the MSR portfolio, is excluded from the above analysis.

STATEMENTS OF INCOME ANALYSIS

Net Interest Income

The increases in short-term rates during the second quarter of 2006 negatively impacted the Registrant’s net interest margin in the third quarter. The net interest margin declined to 2.99% from 3.01% in the second quarter and 3.16% in the third quarter of 2005. Net interest income (FTE) was $719 million for the third quarter of 2006, an increase of $3 million compared to the sequential quarter and a decline of $26 million compared to the prior year quarter. In terms of mix between volume and yield, the impact of

 

7


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

 

changes in interest rates on net interest income (FTE) was a decrease of eight percent from the third quarter of 2005. Given the moderation of short-term rate increases during the third quarter, the Registrant currently expects a stable to slightly improved net interest margin in the fourth quarter with future trends dependent on the timing of any further short-term interest rate changes, the growth and composition of core deposits and loan growth.

Total average earning assets were relatively flat versus the second quarter and increased two percent over the third quarter of 2005. Margin compression was the result of a decrease in net interest spread of 7 basis points (“bp”) compared to the second quarter of 2006 and 40 bp compared to the third quarter 2005. The decrease in net interest spread was the result of higher short-term funding costs and the yield curve continuing to be flat, the impact of the primarily fixed rate security portfolio and a change in mix within core deposits. The average interest rate spread between the 3-month Treasury bill and the 10-year Treasury note compressed from 78 bp in the third quarter of 2005 to 24 bp in the second quarter of 2006 to negative 15 bp in the third quarter of 2006, illustrating the relative pressure between shorter-term and longer-term funding costs and general security portfolio reinvestment opportunities. The decrease in net interest rate spread was partially offset by an increased benefit from free funding of 73 bp in the third quarter of 2006, up 5 bp from the second quarter of 2006 and 23 bp over the third quarter of 2005. The relatively large increase in the benefit of free funding over the third quarter of 2005 was the result of higher funding costs and an improvement in the net free funding position of the Registrant, calculated as the total of noninterest-bearing liabilities and equity less noninterest-earning assets, which increased two percent to $16.8 billion.

The growth in average loans and leases since the third quarter of 2005 outpaced core deposit growth for the same period by $2.3 billion. The funding shortfall was more than offset by a $3.5 billion reduction in the average available-for-sale securities portfolio, as the Registrant continues to use cash flows from its securities portfolio to reduce its reliance on wholesale funding. In the third quarter of 2006, the Registrant sold approximately $726 million from its securities portfolio, which represented nearly all of its position in Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) callable debt, in order to manage its credit exposure to certain government-sponsored entities. For the third quarter of 2006, wholesale funding represented 42% of interest-bearing liabilities, down from 45% for the same period in the prior year. In the current interest rate environment, the Registrant expects to continue to use cash flows from its securities portfolio during the remainder of 2006 to fund its loan and lease growth that is in excess of its core deposit growth.

During the third quarter of 2006, the Registrant continued its deposit pricing strategy of moving away from promotional rates and towards highly competitive daily rates. As part of this strategy, the Registrant maintains competitive deposit rates in all of its affiliate markets and across all of its deposit products. Additionally, interest checking balances have continued to migrate into money market, savings and time deposit accounts. During the third quarter of 2006, interest-checking balances were 36% of average interest-bearing core deposits and savings and money market combined to represent 41%, compared to 44% and 36%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2005.

The cost of interest-bearing core deposits was 3.32% in the third quarter of 2006, up from 3.12% in the second quarter of 2006 and 2.24% in the third quarter of 2005. Despite the increasing deposit rates, the relative cost advantage of interest-bearing core deposits compared to wholesale funding increased from 127 bp from the third quarter of 2005 and 188 bp in the second quarter of 2006 to 196 bp in the third quarter of 2006.

Interest income (FTE) from loans and leases increased $277 million, or 27%, compared to the third quarter of 2005. The increase resulted from the growth in average loans and leases of eight percent for the third quarter of 2006 over the comparable period in 2005 as well as a 106 bp increase in average rates. The increase in average loans and leases included growth in commercial loans and leases of 10% and growth in average consumer loans and leases of five percent compared to the third quarter of 2005.

Interest income (FTE) from investment securities and short-term investments decreased $28 million to $243 million for the third quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 due to the previously mentioned reduction of the investment securities portfolio. The average yield on taxable securities increased by only 17 bp as a result of 84% of the debt securities within the available-for-sale portfolio being fixed-rate securities and the relative stability in longer-term interest rates.

The interest on core deposits increased $143 million, or 60%, in the third quarter of 2006 over the comparable period in 2005 due to increases in short-term interest rates and increasing average balances. Average interest-bearing core deposits increased $3.4 billion, or eight percent, compared to the third quarter of 2005. The Registrant continues to focus on growing its core deposit balances in order to improve the funding mix and improve net interest margin trends. The growth in noninterest-bearing funds and other core deposits is a critical component in the growth of net interest income.

The interest on wholesale funding increased by $132 million, or 43%, in the third quarter over the comparable period in 2005 due to increasing short-term interest rates partially offset by a $1.6 billion decrease in average balances. The Registrant continues to reduce its reliance on wholesale funding by funding loan growth with core deposits and cash flows from its securities portfolio. Included within other short-term borrowings are the Registrant’s customer repo sweep balances, which were $2.5 billion on an average basis for both the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

8


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (continued)

 

TABLE 2: Consolidated Average Balance Sheets and Analysis of Net Interest Income (FTE)

 

For the three months ended

   September 30, 2006     September 30, 2005     Attribution of Change
in Net Interest Income (a)
 

($ in millions)

   Average
Balance
    Revenue/
Cost
  

Average
Yield/

Rate

    Average
Balance
    Revenue/
Cost
  

Average
Yield/

Rate

    Volume    

Yield/

Rate

    Total  

Assets

                    

Interest-earning assets:

                    

Loans and leases (b):

                    

Commercial loans

   $ 20,769