FFKY First Financial Service Corp.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General Business Overview

First Financial Service Corporation was incorporated in August 1989 under Kentucky law and became the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown (the “Bank”), effective on June 1, 1990. Since that date, we have engaged in no significant activity other than holding the stock of the Bank and directing, planning and coordinating its business activities. Unless the text clearly suggests otherwise, references to "us," "we," or "our" include First Financial Service Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Bank. Accordingly, the information set forth in this report, including financial statements and related data, relates primarily to the Bank and its subsidiaries.

We are headquartered in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The Bank was originally founded in 1923 as a state-chartered institution and became federally chartered in 1940. In 1987, the Bank became a federally chartered savings bank and converted from mutual to stock form. The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of Cincinnati and, since converting to a state charter in 2003, has been subject to regulation, examination and supervision by the FDIC and the KDFI. Our deposits are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund administered by the FDIC.

We serve the needs and cater to the economic strengths of the local communities in which we operate, and we strive to provide a high level of personal and professional customer service. We offer a variety of financial services to our retail and commercial banking customers. These services include personal and corporate banking services and personal investment financial counseling services.

Our full complement of lending services includes:

We also provide a broad selection of deposit instruments. These include:

We also support our customers by providing services such as:

Through our personal investment financial counseling services, we offer a wide variety of non-insured investments including mutual funds, equity investments, and fixed and variable annuities. We invest in the wholesale capital markets to manage a portfolio of securities and use various forms of wholesale funding. The security portfolio contains a variety of instruments, including callable debentures, taxable and non-taxable debentures, fixed and adjustable rate mortgage backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and corporate securities.

Our results of operations depend primarily on net interest income, which is the difference between interest income from interest-earning assets and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities. Our operations are also affected by non-interest income, such as service charges, loan fees, gains and losses from the sale of mortgage loans and revenue earned from bank owned life insurance. Our principal operating expenses, aside from interest expense, consist of compensation and employee benefits, occupancy costs, data processing expense, FDIC insurance premiums, costs associated with other real estate and provisions for loan losses.

REGULATORY MATTERS

Since January 2011, the Bank has operated under Consent Orders with the FDIC and KDFI. In the most recent Consent Order, the Bank agreed to achieve and maintain a Tier 1 capital ratio of 9.0% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.0% by June 30, 2012. The Bank also agreed that if it should be unable to reach the required capital levels by that date, and if directed in writing by the FDIC, then within 30 days the Bank would develop, adopt and implement a written plan to sell or merge itself into another federally insured financial institution. To date the Bank has not received such a written direction. The Consent Order also prohibits the Bank from declaring dividends without the prior written approval of the FDIC and KDFI and requires the Bank to develop and implement plans to reduce its level of non-performing assets and concentrations of credit in commercial real estate loans, maintain adequate reserves for loan and lease losses, implement procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, and take certain other actions. A copy of the most recent Consent Order is included as Exhibit 10.8 to our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 30, 2012.

At December 31, 2013, the Bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio was 7.96% and the total risk-based capital ratio was 13.48%, compared to the minimum 9.00% and 12.00% capital ratios required by the Consent Order and compared to 6.53% and 12.21% at December 31, 2012. For the fifth consecutive quarter, we have achieved and maintained the required total risk-based capital ratio. Our Tier 1 capital ratio also steadily improved, but has yet to reach the Consent Order minimum. We are continuing to explore strategic alternatives to achieve and maintain the Tier 1 capital ratio as well as to comply with all of the other terms of the Consent Order.

The Consent Order requires us to obtain the consent of the FDIC and the KDFI in order for the Bank to pay cash dividends to the Corporation. In addition, due to the Bank’s designation as a “troubled institution,” the Bank cannot accept, renew or rollover brokered deposits, and is restricted in the amount of interest it can pay on deposits.

On April 20, 2011, the Corporation entered into a formal agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, which requires the Corporation to obtain regulatory approval before declaring any dividends and to take steps to ensure the Bank complies with the Consent Order. We also may not redeem shares or obtain additional borrowings without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Bank regulatory agencies have discretion when an institution does not meet the terms of a consent order. The agencies may initiate changes in management, issue mandatory directives, impose monetary penalties or refrain from formal sanctions, depending on individual circumstances. Any action taken by bank regulatory agencies could damage our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business.

Market Area

We operate 17 full-service banking centers in six contiguous counties in central Kentucky along the Interstate 65 corridor and within the Louisville metropolitan area. Our markets range from Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky approximately 40 miles north of our headquarters in Elizabethtown, Kentucky to Hart County, Kentucky, approximately 30 miles south of Elizabethtown. Our markets are supported by a diversified industry base and have a regional population of over 1 million. We operate in Hardin, Nelson, Hart, Bullitt, Meade and Jefferson counties in Kentucky. We control in the aggregate 19% of the deposit market share in our central Kentucky markets outside of Louisville.

The following table shows our market share and rank in terms of deposits as of June 30, 2013, in each Kentucky county where we have offices. We have four offices in Jefferson County, which is Louisville, Kentucky. The Louisville metropolitan area has a population of more than one million.

Lending Activities

Commercial Real Estate Lending . At December 31, 2013, we had $279.9 million outstanding in commercial real estate loans. We originate commercial loans that are primarily secured by real estate and primarily in our market area. In recent years, we have put greater emphasis on originating loans for small and medium-sized businesses from our various locations. We make commercial loans to a variety of industries. Substantially all of the commercial real estate loans we originate have adjustable interest rates with maturities of 20 years or less or are loans with fixed interest rates and maturities of five years or less. The security for commercial real estate loans includes retail businesses, warehouses, churches, apartment buildings and motels. In addition, the payment experience of loans secured by income producing properties typically depends on the success of the related real estate project and thus may be more vulnerable to adverse conditions in the real estate market or in the economy generally.

Loans secured by multi-family residential property, consisting of properties with more than four separate dwelling units, amounted to $22.9 million of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2013. These loans are included in the $279.9 million outstanding in commercial real estate loans discussed above. We generally do not lend above 75% of the appraised values of multi-family residences on first mortgage loans. The mortgage loans we currently offer on multi-family dwellings are generally one or five year ARMs with maturities of 20 years or less.

Residential Real Estate . Residential mortgage loans are secured primarily by single-family homes. The majority of our mortgage loan portfolio is secured by real estate in our markets outside of Louisville and our residential mortgage loans do not have sub-prime characteristics. Fixed rate residential real estate loans we originate have terms ranging from ten to thirty years. Interest rates are competitively priced within the primary geographic lending market and vary according to the term for which they are fixed. At December 31, 2013, we had $99.3 million in residential mortgage loans outstanding.

We generally emphasize the origination of adjustable-rate mortgage loans ("ARMs") when possible. We offer seven ARM products with an annual adjustment, which is tied to a national index with a maximum adjustment of 2% annually, and a lifetime maximum adjustment cap of 6%. As of December 31, 2013, approximately 56% of our residential real estate loans were adjustable rate loans with adjustment periods ranging from one to seven years and balloon loans of seven years or less. Originating these ARMs can be more difficult in a low interest rate environment where there is a significant demand for fixed rate mortgages. We limit the maximum loan-to-value ratio on one-to-four-family residential first mortgages to 90% of the appraised value and generally limit the loan-to-value ratio on second mortgages on one-to-four-family dwellings to 90%.

Commercial Business Lending . We make secured and unsecured loans for commercial, corporate, business, and agricultural purposes, including issuing letters of credit and engaging in inventory financing and commercial leasing activities. Commercial loans generally are made to small-to-medium size businesses located within our defined market area. Commercial loans generally carry a higher yield and are made for a shorter term than real estate loans. Commercial loans, however, involve a higher degree of risk than residential real estate loans due to potentially greater volatility in the value of the assigned collateral, the need for more technical analysis of the borrower’s financial position, the potentially greater impact that changing economic conditions may have on the borrower’s ability to retire debt, and the additional expertise required for commercial lending personnel. Commercial business loans outstanding at December 31, 2013, totaled $20.6 million.

Consumer Lending . Consumer loans include loans on automobiles, boats, recreational vehicles and other consumer goods, as well as loans secured by savings accounts, home improvement loans, and unsecured lines of credit. As of December 31, 2013, consumer loans outstanding were $67.1 million. Home equity lines of credit as of December 31, 2013, totaled $41.9 million.

Our underwriting standards reflect the greater risk in consumer lending than in residential real estate lending. Among other things, the capacity of individual borrowers to repay can change rapidly, particularly during an economic downturn, collection costs can be relatively higher for smaller loans, and the value of collateral may be more likely to depreciate. Our Consumer Lending Policy establishes the appropriate consumer lending authority for all loan officers based on experience, training, and past performance for approving high quality loans. Loans beyond the authority of individual officers must be approved by additional officers, the Executive Loan Committee or the Board of Directors, based on the size of the loan. We require detailed financial information and credit bureau reports for each consumer loan applicant to establish the applicant’s credit history, the adequacy of income for debt retirement, and job stability based on the applicant’s employment records. Co-signers are required for applicants who are determined marginal or who fail to qualify individually under these standards. Adequate collateral is required on the majority of consumer loans. The Executive Credit Committee monitors and evaluates unsecured lending limits by each loan officer.

The indirect consumer loan portfolio is comprised of new and used automobile, motorcycle and all terrain vehicle loans originated on our behalf by a select group of auto dealers within the service area. Indirect consumer loans are considered to have greater risk of loan losses than direct consumer loans due to, among other things: borrowers may have no existing relationship with us; borrowers may not be residents of the lending area; less detailed financial statement information may be collected at application; collateral values can be more difficult to determine; and the condition of vehicles securing the loan can deteriorate rapidly. All applications are approved by specific lending officers, selected based on experience in this field, who obtain credit bureau reports on each application to assist in the decision. Aggressive collection procedures encourage more timely recovery of late payments. At December 31, 2013, total loans under the indirect consumer loan program totaled $13.0 million.

Subsidiary Activities

First Service Corporation of Elizabethtown (“First Service”), our licensed brokerage affiliate, provides investment services to our customers and offers tax-deferred annuities, government securities, mutual funds, and stocks and bonds. First Service employs four full-time employees. The net income of First Service was $109,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Heritage Properties, LLC, holds real estate acquired through foreclosure that is available for sale. Currently, twenty-six properties valued at $11.6 million are held for sale.

We provide title insurance coverage for mortgage borrowers through First Heartland Title, LLC. The subsidiary is a joint venture with a title insurance company in Hardin County and we hold a 48% interest in First Heartland Title. The subsidiary generated $143,000 in income for the year ended December 31, 2012, of which our portion was $69,000.

Competition

The banking business is highly competitive. We face substantial competition both in attracting and retaining deposits and in lending. Direct competition for deposits comes from commercial banks, savings institutions, and credit unions located in north-central Kentucky, and less directly from money market mutual funds, prepaid card services and from sellers of corporate and government debt securities.

The primary competitive factors in lending are interest rates, loan origination fees and the range of services offered by the various financial institutions. Competition for origination of real estate loans normally comes from commercial banks, savings institutions, mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, and insurance companies. Many of these competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits than the Bank currently has.

We have offices in nine cities in six central Kentucky counties. In addition to the financial institutions with offices in these counties, we compete with several commercial banks and savings institutions in surrounding counties, many of which have assets substantially greater than we have. These competitors attempt to gain market share through their financial product mix, pricing strategies, internet banking and banking center locations. In addition, Kentucky's interstate banking statute, which permits banks in all states to enter the Kentucky market if they have reciprocal interstate banking statutes, has further increased competition for us. We believe that competition from both bank and non-bank entities will continue to remain strong in the near future.

Employees

As of December 31, 2013, we employed 278 employees, of which 267 were full-time and 11 part-time. None of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement and management considers its relationship with employees to be good.

Regulation

General Regulatory Matters . The Bank is a Kentucky chartered commercial bank and is subject to supervision and regulation, which involves regular bank examinations, by both the FDIC and the KDFI. Our deposits are insured by the FDIC. Kentucky’s banking statutes contain a “super-parity” provision that permits certain well-rated Kentucky banks to engage in any banking activity in which a national bank operating in any state, a state bank, thrift or savings bank operating in any other state, or a federally chartered thrift or federal savings association meeting the qualified thrift lender test and operating in any state could engage, provided the Kentucky bank first obtains a legal opinion specifying the statutory or regulatory provisions that permit the activity.

In connection with our conversion, we registered to become a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, and are subject to supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve Board. As a bank holding company, we are required to file with the Federal Reserve Board annual and quarterly reports and other information regarding our business operations and the business operations of our subsidiaries. We are also subject to examination by the Federal Reserve Board and to its operational guidelines. We are subject to the Bank Holding Company Act and other federal laws and regulations regarding the types of activities in which we may engage, and to other supervisory requirements, including regulatory enforcement actions for violations of laws and regulations.

Regulators have broad enforcement powers over bank holding companies and banks, including, but not limited to, the power to mandate or restrict particular actions, activities, or divestitures, impose monetary fines and other penalties for violations of laws and regulations, issue consent, cease and desist or removal orders, seek injunctions, publicly disclose such actions and prohibit unsafe or unsound practices. This authority includes both informal actions and formal actions to effect corrective actions or sanctions.

Certain regulatory requirements applicable to the Corporation and the Bank are referred to below or elsewhere in this filing. The description of statutory provisions and regulations applicable to banks and their holding companies set forth in this filing does not purport to be a complete description of such statutes and regulations and their effect on the Corporation or the Bank and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual laws and regulations.

We are required by regulation to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. In its 2012 Consent Order, the Bank agreed to achieve and maintain a Tier 1 capital ratio of 9.0% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.0% by June 30, 2012. At December 31, 2013, our Tier 1 capital ratio was 7.96% and our total risk-based capital ratio was 13.48%. We notified the bank regulatory agencies that the Tier 1 capital ratio would not be achieved and that we are continuing to explore our strategic alternatives to achieve and maintain the Tier 1 capital ratio as well as to comply with all of the other terms of the Consent Order.

On April 20, 2011 the Corporation entered into a formal agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis which requires the Corporation to obtain regulatory approval before declaring any dividends. We also may not redeem shares or obtain additional borrowings without prior approval.

Acquisitions, Change in Control and Branching . As a bank holding company, we must obtain Federal Reserve Board approval before acquiring, directly or indirectly, ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting stock of a bank, and before engaging in, or acquiring a company that is not a bank but is engaged in certain non-banking activities. In approving these acquisitions, the Federal Reserve Board considers a number of factors, and weighs the expected benefits to the public such as greater convenience, increased competition and gains in efficiency, against the risks of possible adverse effects such as undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or unsound banking practices. The Federal Reserve Board also considers the financial and managerial resources of the bank holding company, its subsidiaries and any company to be acquired, and the effect of the proposed transaction on these resources. It also evaluates compliance by the holding company's financial institution subsidiaries and the target institution with the Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act generally requires each financial institution to take affirmative steps to ascertain and meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate income neighborhoods.

Federal law also prohibits a person or group of persons from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company without notifying the Federal Reserve Board in advance and then only if the Federal Reserve Board does not object to the proposed transaction. The Federal Reserve Board has established a rebuttable presumptive standard that the acquisition of 10% or more of the voting stock of a bank holding company, in the absence of a larger shareholder, would constitute an acquisition of control of the bank holding company. In addition, any company is required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board before acquiring 25% (5% in the case of an acquirer that is a bank holding company) or more of any class of a bank holding company’s voting securities, or otherwise obtaining control or a “controlling influence” over a bank holding company.

Kentucky law generally permits a Kentucky chartered bank to establish a branch office in any county in Kentucky. A Kentucky bank may also, subject to regulatory approval and certain restrictions, establish a branch office outside of Kentucky. Well-capitalized Kentucky banks that have been in operation at least three years and that satisfy certain criteria relating to, among other things, their composite and management ratings, may establish a branch in Kentucky without the approval of the Commissioner of the KDFI, upon notice to the KDFI and any other state bank with its main office located in the county where the new branch will be located. Branching by all other banks requires the approval of the Commissioner of the KDFI, who must ascertain and determine that the public convenience and advantage will be served and promoted and that there is a reasonable probability of the successful operation of the branch. In any case, the transaction must also be approved by the FDIC, which considers a number of factors, including financial history, capital adequacy, earnings prospects, character of management, needs of the community and consistency with corporate powers.

Section 613 of the Dodd-Frank Act effectively eliminated the interstate branching restrictions set forth in the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994. Banks located in any state may now de novo branch in any other state, including Kentucky. Such unlimited branching power will likely increase competition within the markets in which the Corporation and the Bank operate.

Other Financial Activities . The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 permits a bank holding company to elect to become a financial holding company, which permits the holding company to conduct activities that are “financial in nature.” To become and maintain its status as a financial holding company, the bank holding company and all of its affiliated depository institutions must be well-capitalized, well managed, and have at least a satisfactory Community Reinvestment Act rating. We have not filed an election to become a financial holding company and are ineligible to do so due to the Bank’s “troubled institution” designation and entering into the Consent Order.

Subject to certain exceptions, insured state banks are permitted to control or hold an interest in a financial subsidiary that engages in a broader range of activities than are permissible for national banks to engage in directly, subject to any restrictions imposed on a bank under the laws of the state under which it is organized. Conducting financial activities through a bank subsidiary can impact capital adequacy and regulatory restrictions may apply to affiliate transactions between the bank and its financial subsidiaries.

Other Holding Company Regulations . Federal law substantially restricts transactions between financial institutions and their affiliates. As a result, a bank is limited in extending credit to its holding company (or any non-bank subsidiary), in investing in the stock or other securities of the bank holding company or its non-bank subsidiaries, and/or in taking such stock or securities as collateral for loans to any borrower. Moreover, transactions between a bank and a bank holding company (or any non-bank subsidiary) for loans to any borrower must generally be on terms and under circumstances at least as favorable to the bank as those prevailing in comparable transactions with independent third parties or, in the absence of comparable transactions, on terms and under circumstances that in good faith would be available to nonaffiliated companies.

Under Federal Reserve Board policy, a bank holding company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to each of its banking subsidiaries and to commit resources for their support. Such support may restrict the Corporation’s ability to pay dividends, and may be required at times when, absent this Federal Reserve Board policy, a holding company may not be inclined to provide it. A bank holding company may also be required to guarantee the capital restoration plan of an undercapitalized banking subsidiary. In addition, any capital loans by the Corporation to the Bank are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of the Bank. In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of subsidiary banks will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment. The Dodd-Frank Act codifies the Federal Reserve Board’s existing “source of strength” policy that holding companies act as a source of strength to their insured institution subsidiaries by providing capital, liquidity and other support in times of distress.

Regulatory Capital Requirements . The Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC have substantially similar risk-based and leverage capital guidelines applicable to the banking organizations they supervise. Under the risk-based capital requirements, we are generally required to maintain a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets (including certain off-balance sheet activities, such as standby letters of credit) of 8%. At least half of the total capital (4%) must be composed of common equity, retained earnings and qualifying perpetual preferred stock and certain hybrid capital instruments, less certain intangibles (“Tier 1 capital”). The remainder may consist of certain subordinated debt, certain hybrid capital instruments, qualifying preferred stock and a limited amount of the loan loss allowance (“Tier 2 capital” which, together with Tier 1 capital, composes “total capital”). To be considered well-capitalized under the risk-based capital guidelines, an institution must maintain a total risk-weighted capital ratio of at least 10% and a Tier 1 risk-weighted ratio of 6% or greater.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”), among other things, identifies five capital categories for insured depository institutions: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized. Due to the losses we have incurred in recent quarters and our elevated levels of non-performing loans and other real estate, the FDIC, KDFI and the Bank entered into the Consent Order described above under “Regulatory Matters.” The Consent Order resulted in the Bank being categorized as a "troubled institution" by bank regulators, which by definition does not permit the Bank to be considered "well-capitalized". The "troubled institution" designation also prohibits the Bank from accepting, renewing or rolling over brokered deposits and restricts the amount of interest the Bank may pay on deposits. Unless the Bank is granted a waiver because it resides in a market that the FDIC determines is a high rate market, the Bank is limited to paying deposit interest rates .75% above the average rates computed by the FDIC. The Bank has elected not to pursue such a waiver and to adhere to the average rates computed by the FDIC plus the .75% rate cap.

FDICIA also requires the bank regulatory agencies to implement systems for “prompt corrective action” for institutions that fail to meet minimum capital requirements within these five categories, with progressively more severe restrictions on operations, management and capital distributions according to the category in which an institution is placed. Failure to meet capital requirements can also cause an institution to be directed to raise additional capital. FDICIA also mandates that the agencies adopt safety and soundness standards relating generally to operations and management, asset quality and executive compensation, and authorizes administrative action against an institution that fails to meet such standards.

In addition, the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC have each adopted risk-based capital standards that explicitly identify concentrations of credit risk and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as an institution’s ability to manage these risks, as important factors to be taken into account by each agency in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. The capital guidelines also provide that an institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates be considered by the agency as a factor in evaluating a banking organization’s capital adequacy. In addition to the “prompt corrective action” directives, failure to meet capital guidelines can subject a banking organization to a variety of other enforcement remedies, including additional substantial restrictions on its operations and activities, termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, and under some conditions the appointment of a conservator or receiver.

New Capital Requirements . In December 2010 and January 2011, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published the final texts of reforms on capital and liquidity generally referred to as “Basel III.” Although Basel III is intended to be implemented by participating countries for large, internationally active banks, its provisions are likely to be considered by United States banking regulators in developing new regulations applicable to other banks in the United States, including the Bank. For banks in the United States, among the most significant provisions of Basel III concerning capital are the following:

The Basel III provisions on liquidity include complex criteria establishing a liquidity coverage ratio (“LCR”) and net stable funding ratio (“NSFR”). The purpose of the LCR is to ensure that a bank maintains adequate unencumbered, high quality liquid assets to meet its liquidity needs for 30 days under a severe liquidity stress scenario. The purpose of the NSFR is to promote more medium and long-term funding of assets and activities, using a one-year horizon. Although Basel III is described as a “final text,” it is subject to the resolution of certain issues and to further guidance and modification, as well as to adoption by United States banking regulators, including decisions as to whether and to what extent it will apply to United States banks that are not large, internationally active banks. We are already subject to capital requirements imposed by our Consent Order that are higher than Basel III.

Dividends . The Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. The majority of our revenue is from dividends we receive from the Bank. The Bank is subject to laws and regulations that limit the amount of dividends it can pay. If, in the opinion of a federal regulatory agency, an institution under its jurisdiction is engaged in or is about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice, the agency may require, after notice and a hearing, that the institution cease and desist from such practice. The federal banking agencies have indicated that paying dividends that deplete an institution's capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice. Under FDICIA, an insured institution may not pay a dividend if payment would cause it to become undercapitalized or if it already is undercapitalized. Moreover, the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC have issued policy statements providing that bank holding companies and banks should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.

Under Kentucky law, dividends by Kentucky banks may be paid only from current or retained net profits. Before any dividend may be declared for any period (other than with respect to preferred stock), a bank must increase its capital surplus by at least 10% of the net profits of the bank for the period until the bank's capital surplus equals the amount of its stated capital attributable to its common stock. Moreover, the KDFI Commissioner must approve the declaration of dividends if the total dividends to be declared by a bank for any calendar year would exceed the bank's total net profits for such year combined with its retained net profits for the preceding two years, less any required transfers to surplus or a fund for the retirement of preferred stock or debt. We are also subject to the Kentucky Business Corporation Act, which generally prohibits dividends to the extent they result in the insolvency of the corporation from a balance sheet perspective or if becoming unable to pay debts as they come due. Under the terms of the Consent Order described under “Regulatory Matters” above, the Bank cannot pay any dividends or distributions without prior regulatory approval. The Corporation has also agreed with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to not pay any dividends or distributions without prior regulatory approval.

Consumer Protection Laws . We are subject to a number of federal and state laws designed to protect borrowers and promote lending to various sectors of the economy and population. These laws include, among others, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and state law counterparts.

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (“HMDA”). HMDA has grown out of public concern over credit shortages in certain urban neighborhoods. One purpose of HMDA is to provide public information that will help show whether financial institutions are serving the housing credit needs of the neighborhoods and communities in which they are located. HMDA also includes a “fair lending” aspect that requires the collection and disclosure of data about applicant and borrower characteristics, as a way of identifying possible discriminatory lending patterns and enforcing anti-discrimination statutes. HMDA requires institutions to report data regarding applications for loans for the purchase or improvement of single family and multi-family dwellings, as well as information concerning originations and purchases of such loans. Federal bank regulators rely, in part, upon data provided under HMDA to determine whether depository institutions engage in discriminatory lending practices. The appropriate federal banking agency, or in some cases the Department of Housing and Urban Development, enforces compliance with HMDA and implements its regulations. Administrative sanctions, including civil money penalties, may be imposed by supervisory agencies for violations of HMDA.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act. This statute prohibits discrimination against an applicant in any credit transaction, whether for consumer or business purposes, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age (except in limited circumstances), receipt of income from public assistance programs or good faith exercise of any rights under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Under the Fair Housing Act, it is unlawful for any lender to discriminate in its housing-related lending activities against any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or familial status. Among other things, these laws prohibit a lender from denying or discouraging credit on a discriminatory basis, making excessively low appraisals of property based on racial considerations, or charging excessive rates or imposing more stringent loan terms or conditions on a discriminatory basis. In addition to private actions by aggrieved borrowers or applicants for actual and punitive damages, the U.S. Department of Justice and other regulatory agencies can take enforcement action seeking injunctive and other equitable relief or sanctions for alleged violations.

Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”). TILA is designed to ensure that credit terms are disclosed in a meaningful way so that consumers may compare credit terms more readily and knowledgeably. As result of TILA, all creditors must use the same credit terminology and expressions of rates, and disclose the annual percentage rate, the finance charge, the amount financed, the total of payments and the payment schedule for each proposed loan. Violations of TILA may result in regulatory sanctions and in the imposition of both civil and, in the case of willful violations, criminal penalties. Under certain circumstances, TILA also provides a consumer with a right of rescission, which if exercised within three business days would require the creditor to reimburse any amount paid by the consumer to the creditor or to a third party in connection with the loan, including finance charges, application fees, commitment fees, title search fees and appraisal fees. Consumers may also seek actual and punitive damages for violations of TILA.

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”). RESPA requires lenders to provide borrowers with disclosures regarding the nature and cost of real estate settlements. RESPA also prohibits certain abusive practices, such as kickbacks, and places limitations on the amount of escrow accounts. Violations of RESPA may result in imposition of penalties, including: (1) civil liability equal to three times the amount of any charge paid for the settlement services or civil liability of up to $1,000 per claimant, depending on the violation; (2) awards of court costs and attorneys’ fees; and (3) fines of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”). FCRA requires the Bank to adopt and implement a written identity theft prevention program, paying particular attention to several identified “red flag” events. The program must assess the validity of address change requests for card issuers and for users of consumer reports to verify the subject of a consumer report in the event of notice of an address discrepancy. FCRA gives consumers the ability to challenge banks with respect to credit reporting information provided by the bank. FCRA also prohibits banks from using certain information it may acquire from an affiliate to solicit the consumer for marketing purposes unless the consumer has been given notice and an opportunity to opt out of such solicitation for a period of five years.

Loans to One Borrower. Under current limits, loans and extensions of credit outstanding at one time to a single borrower and not fully secured generally may not exceed 15% of an institution’s unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus. Loans and extensions of credit fully secured by certain readily marketable collateral may represent an additional 10% of unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus.

Federal law currently contains extensive customer privacy protection provisions. Under these provisions, a financial institution must provide to its customers, at the inception of the customer relationship and annually thereafter, the institution’s policies and procedures regarding the handling of customers’ nonpublic personal financial information. These provisions also provide that, except for certain limited exceptions, an institution may not provide such personal information to unaffiliated third parties unless the institution discloses to the customer that such information may be so provided and the customer is given the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. Federal law makes it a criminal offense, except in limited circumstances, to obtain or attempt to obtain customer information of a financial nature by fraudulent or deceptive means.

The Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). This statute requires the FDIC to assess our record in meeting the credit needs of the communities we serve, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and persons. The FDIC's assessment of our record is made available to the public. The assessment also is part of the Federal Reserve Board's consideration of applications to acquire, merge or consolidate with another banking institution or its holding company, to establish a new branch office or to relocate an office. The Federal Reserve Board will also assess the CRA record of the subsidiary banks of a bank holding company in its consideration of any application to acquire a bank or other bank holding company, which may be the basis for denying the application.

Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) . BSA was enacted to deter money laundering, establish regulatory reporting standards for currency transactions and improve detection and investigation of criminal, tax and other regulatory violations. BSA and subsequent laws and regulations require us to take steps to prevent the use of the Bank in the flow of illegal or illicit money, including, without limitation, ensuring effective management oversight, establishing sound policies and procedures, developing effective monitoring and reporting capabilities, ensuring adequate training and establishing a comprehensive internal audit of BSA compliance activities.

In recent years, federal regulators have increased the attention paid to compliance with the provisions of BSA and related laws, with particular attention paid to “Know Your Customer” practices. Banks have been encouraged by regulators to enhance their identification procedures prior to accepting new customers in order to deter criminal elements from using the banking system to move and hide illegal and illicit activities.

USA Patriot Act . The Patriot Act contains anti-money laundering measures affecting insured depository institutions, broker-dealers and certain other financial institutions. The Patriot Act requires financial institutions to implement policies and procedures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, including standards for verifying customer identification at account opening, and rules to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators and law enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering. The Patriot Act also grants the Secretary of the Treasury broad authority to establish regulations and to impose requirements and restrictions on financial institutions’ operations. In addition, the Patriot Act requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to consider the effectiveness of a financial institution’s anti-money laundering activities when reviewing bank mergers and bank holding company acquisitions.

The Corporation and the Bank, like all U.S. companies and individuals, are prohibited from transacting business with certain individuals and entities named on the Office of Foreign Asset Control's ("OFAC") list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. Failure to comply may result in fines and other penalties. OFAC issued guidance for financial institutions in which it asserted that it may, in its discretion, examine institutions determined to be high risk or to be lacking in their efforts to comply with these prohibitions.

Federal Deposit Insurance Assessments. The deposits of the Bank are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund of the FDIC and are subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain that Fund. The FDIC utilizes a risk-based assessment system that imposes insurance premiums based upon a risk matrix that takes into account a bank's capital level and supervisory rating.

In 2007, the FDIC imposed deposit assessment rates based on the risk category of insured banks.  Risk Category I is the lowest risk category while Risk Category IV is the highest risk category.  Because of favorable loss experience and a healthy reserve ratio in the Bank Insurance Fund of the FDIC at that time, well-capitalized and well-managed banks, have in recent years paid minimal premiums for FDIC insurance.

On October 16, 2008, the FDIC published a restoration plan designed to replenish the Deposit Insurance Fund over a period of five years and to increase the deposit insurance reserve ratio, which decreased to 1.01% of insured deposits on June 30, 2008, to the statutory minimum of 1.15% of insured deposits by December 31, 2013.  In order to implement the restoration plan, the FDIC proposed to change both its risk-based assessment system and its base assessment rates.  For the first quarter of 2009 only, the FDIC increased all FDIC deposit assessment rates by 7 basis points. These new rates range from 12 to 14 basis points for Risk Category I institutions to 50 basis points for Risk Category IV institutions.

Under the FDIC's restoration plan, the FDIC proposed to establish new initial base assessment rates that will be subject to adjustment as described below.  Beginning April 1, 2009, the base assessment rates would range from 12 to 16 basis points for Risk Category I institutions to 45 basis points for Risk Category IV institutions.

Changes to the risk-based assessment system include increasing premiums for institutions that rely on excessive amounts of brokered deposits, increasing premiums for excessive use of secured liabilities (including Federal Home Loan Bank advances), lowering premiums for smaller institutions with very high capital levels, and adding financial ratios and debt issuer ratings to the premium calculations for banks with over $10 billion in assets, while providing a reduction for their unsecured debt.

Either an increase in the Risk Category of our bank subsidiary or adjustments to the base assessment rates could result in a material increase in our expense for federal deposit insurance. Because the Bank entered into the Consent Order and is designated a “troubled institution” it is in a higher risk category and now pays one of the highest deposit assessment rates.

In addition, all institutions with deposits insured by the FDIC are required to pay assessments to fund interest payments on bonds issued by the Financing Corporation, a mixed-ownership government corporation established to recapitalize a predecessor to the Deposit Insurance Fund. The current annualized assessment rate is 1.14 basis points, or approximately .285 basis points per quarter. These assessments will continue until the Financing Corporation bonds mature in 2019.

The FDIC implemented a five basis point emergency special assessment on insured depository institutions as of June 30, 2009.  The special assessment was paid on September 30, 2009.  This assessment resulted in a cost of $477,000 and is reflected in our income statement for 2009. The interim rule also authorizes the FDIC to impose an additional emergency assessment of up to 10 basis points in respect to deposits for quarters ended after June 30, 2009 if necessary to maintain public confidence in federal deposit insurance. In addition, during the fourth quarter of 2009, the FDIC approved that all banks prepay three and a quarter years worth of FDIC assessments on December 31, 2009.  The prepayment is based on average third quarter deposits.  The prepaid amount will be amortized over the prepayment period.  Our prepayment was $7.5 million and has now been fully amortized.  

On February 7, 2011, the FDIC Board of Directors adopted a final rule (with changes that went into effect beginning with the second quarter 2011), which redefined the deposit insurance assessment base as required by the Dodd-Frank Act; made changes to assessment rates; implemented Dodd-Frank’s Deposit Insurance Fund dividend provisions; and revised the risk-based assessment system for all large insured depository institutions, which are generally those institutions with at least $10 billion in total assets. Nearly all of the 7,600-plus institutions with assets less than $10 billion paid smaller assessments as a result of this final rule. The final rule:

The FDIC is authorized to set the reserve ratio for the Deposit Insurance Fund annually at between 1.15% and 1.50% of estimated insured deposits. The Dodd-Frank Act mandates that the statutory minimum reserve ratio of the Deposit Insurance Fund increase from 1.15% to 1.35% of insured deposits by September 30, 2020. Banks with assets of less than $10 billion are exempt from any additional assessments necessary to increase the reserve fund above 1.15%.

The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any insured depository institution, including the Bank, if it determines after a hearing that the institution has engaged or is engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, order or any condition imposed by an agreement with the FDIC. It also may suspend deposit insurance temporarily during the hearing process for the permanent termination of insurance, if the institution has no tangible capital. If insurance of accounts is terminated, the accounts at the institution at the time of the termination, less subsequent withdrawals, shall continue to be insured for a period of six months to two years, as determined by the FDIC. Management is aware of no existing circumstances which would result in termination of the Bank's deposit insurance.

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (“EESA”). Enacted in October 2008, EESA authorized the Treasury Department to purchase from financial institutions and their holding companies up to $700 billion in mortgage loans, mortgage-related securities and certain other financial instruments, including debt and equity securities issued by financial institutions and their holding companies in a troubled asset relief program (“TARP”). The purpose of TARP is to restore confidence and stability to the U.S. banking system and to encourage financial institutions to increase their lending to customers and to each other. The Treasury Department allocated $250 billion towards the TARP Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”). Under the CPP, Treasury purchased debt or equity securities from participating institutions, including us.

TARP also includes direct purchases or guarantees of troubled assets of financial institutions. Participants in the CPP are subject to executive compensation limits and are encouraged to expand their lending and mortgage loan modifications. For details regarding our sale of $20 million of Senior Preferred Shares to the Treasury Department through the CPP, see “Item7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Capital and Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” On April 29, 2013, Treasury sold our Senior Preferred Shares to six funds in an auction.  Following the sale, the full $20 million stated value of our Senior Preferred Shares remains outstanding and our obligation to pay deferred and future dividends, currently at an annual rate of 9%, continues until our Senior Preferred Shares are fully retired.

EESA also increased FDIC deposit insurance on most accounts from $100,000 to $250,000. This increase was in place until December 31, 2013, and has since been made permanent by the Dodd-Frank Act.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”). Enacted in February 2009, ARRA includes a wide variety of programs intended to stimulate the economy and provide for extensive infrastructure, energy, health, and education needs. In addition, ARRA imposes certain new executive compensation and corporate expenditure limits on all current and future CPP recipients, including the Corporation, until the institution has repaid the Treasury. ARRA also permits CPP participants to redeem the preferred shares held by the Treasury Department without penalty and without the need to raise new capital, subject to the Treasury’s consultation with the recipient’s appropriate regulatory agency. We have not redeemed any of the preferred shares we issued to the Treasury.

Dodd–Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 is intended to affect a fundamental restructuring of federal banking regulation. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act creates a new Financial Stability Oversight Council to identify systemic risks in the financial system and gives federal regulators new authority to take control of and liquidate financial firms. The Dodd-Frank Act additionally creates a new independent federal regulator to administer federal consumer protection laws.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires various federal agencies to promulgate numerous and extensive implementing regulations, which has been ongoing since 2010. It is difficult to predict what impact the implementing regulations will have on community banks like the Bank, including their lending and credit practices, until final regulations are adopted. Although the substance and scope of these forthcoming regulations cannot be determined at this time, it is expected that the implementing regulations, particularly those provisions relating to the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, will increase our operating and compliance. Among the provisions that affect the Corporation are the following:

Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders . The Dodd-Frank Act applies Section 23A and Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act (governing transactions with insiders) to derivative transactions, repurchase agreements and securities lending and borrowing transactions that create credit exposure to an affiliate or an insider. Any such transactions with affiliates must be fully secured. The current exemption from Section 23A for transactions with financial subsidiaries is eliminated. The Dodd-Frank Act additionally prohibits an insured depository institution from purchasing an asset from or selling an asset to an insider unless the transaction is on market terms and, if representing more than 10% of capital, is approved in advance by the disinterested directors.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau . The Dodd-Frank Act creates a new, independent federal agency called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), which is granted broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement powers under various federal consumer financial protection laws, including the ECOA, TILA, RESPA, FCRA, Fair Debt Collection Act, the Consumer Financial Privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act ("GLBA") and certain other statutes. The CFPB has examination and primary enforcement authority with respect to depository institutions with $10 billion or more in assets. Smaller institutions will be subject to rules promulgated by the CFPB, but will continue to be examined and supervised by federal banking regulators for consumer compliance purposes. The CFPB has authority to prevent unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices in connection with the offering of consumer financial products. The Dodd-Frank Act authorizes the CFPB to establish certain minimum standards for the origination of residential mortgages including a determination of the borrower’s ability to repay. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act will allow borrowers to raise certain defenses to foreclosure if they receive any loan other than a “qualified mortgage” as defined by the CFPB. The Dodd-Frank Act permits states to adopt consumer protection laws and standards that are more stringent than those adopted at the federal level and, in certain circumstances, permits state attorneys general to enforce compliance with both the state and federal laws and regulations. Federal preemption of state consumer protection law requirements, traditionally an attribute of the federal savings association charter, has also been modified by the Dodd-Frank Act and now requires a case-by-case determination of preemption by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) and eliminates preemption for subsidiaries of a bank. Depending on the implementation of this revised federal preemption standard, the operations of the Bank could become subject to additional compliance burdens in the states in which it operates.

Ability to Repay (“ATR) Rule Qualified Mortgage Loans (“QML”s) – On January 10, 2013, the CFPB issued a final rule implementing the ATR requirement in the Dodd-Frank Act. The rule, among other things, requires lenders to consider a consumer's ability to repay a mortgage loan before extending credit to the consumer and limits prepayment penalties. The rule also establishes certain protections from liability for mortgage lenders with regard to QMLs they originate. For this purpose, the rule defines QMLs to include loans with a borrower debt-to-income ratio of less than or equal to 43% or, alternatively, a loan eligible for purchase by the FNMA or Freddie Mac while they operate under Federal conservatorship or receivership, and loans eligible for insurance or guarantee by the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) or U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”). Additionally, QMLs may not: (i) contain excess upfront points and fees; (ii) have a term greater than 30 years; or (iii) include interest-only or negative amortization payments. The rule was effective January 10, 2014, and the Bank is currently evaluating its full impact on the Bank’s mortgage operations.

On January 17, 2013, the CFPB issued a series of final rules as part of an ongoing effort to address mortgage servicing reforms and create uniform standards for the mortgage servicing industry. The rules increase requirements for communications with borrowers, address requirements around the maintenance of customer account records, govern procedural requirements for responding to written borrower requests and complaints of errors, and provide guidance around servicing of delinquent loans, foreclosure proceedings and loss mitigation efforts, among other measures. These rules were also effective January 10, 2014 and will likely lead to increased costs to service loans across the mortgage industry. The Corporation is continuing to evaluate these rules and their impact on the Bank’s mortgage operations.

Deposit Insurance . The Dodd-Frank Act permanently increases the maximum deposit insurance amount for banks, savings institutions and credit unions to $250,000 per depositor, retroactive to January 1, 2009, and extended unlimited deposit insurance to non interest-bearing transaction accounts through December 1, 2012. The Dodd-Frank Act also broadens the base for FDIC insurance assessments. Assessments will now be based on the average consolidated total assets less tangible equity capital of a financial institution. As described above, the Dodd-Frank Act requires the FDIC to increase the reserve ratio of the Deposit Insurance Fund from 1.15% to 1.35% of insured deposits by 2020 and eliminates the requirement that the FDIC pay dividends to insured depository institutions when the reserve ratio exceeds certain thresholds. The Dodd-Frank Act also eliminates the federal statutory prohibition against the payment of interest on business checking accounts.

Capital . Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the proceeds of trust preferred securities are excluded from Tier 1 capital unless such securities were issued prior to May 19, 2010 by bank or savings and loan holding companies with less than $15 billion of assets. The legislation also establishes a floor for capital of insured depository institutions that cannot be lower than the standards in effect today, and directs the federal banking regulators to implement new leverage and capital requirements within 18 months that take into account off-balance sheet activities and other risks, including risks relating to securitized products and derivatives.

Uncertainty remains as to ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, but the Board and management anticipates that the provisions summarized above, as well as others set forth in the Dodd-Frank Act, could have an adverse impact on the financial services industry as a whole and our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Available Information

Our internet website address is http://www.ffsbky.com . Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available or may be accessed free of charge through the Investor Relations section of our internet website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.