ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock is subject to risks inherent in our business. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information included in this report. In addition to the risks and uncertainties described below, other risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Risks disclosed in this section may have already materialized. The value or market price of our common stock could decline due to any of these identified or other risks, and you could lose all or part of your investment. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.
Risks Relating to Macroeconomic Conditions
Changes in interest rates could adversely affect our performance.
Our results of operations depend to a great extent on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest earned on interest-earning assets such as loans and investment securities, and the interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities such as deposits and borrowings. We are exposed to interest rate risk because our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities do not react uniformly or concurrently to changes in interest rates, as they may have different time periods for adjustment and can be tied to different measures of rates. Interest rates are sensitive to factors that are beyond our control, including domestic and international economic conditions, including inflation, and the policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve, implemented through open market operations, the federal funds rate (“Fed Funds Rate”) targets, and the discount rate for banking borrowings and reserve requirements, affect prevailing interest rates. A material change in any of these policies could have a material impact on us or our customers (including borrowers), and therefore on our results of operations.
Loan originations and repayment rates tend to increase with declining interest rates and decrease with rising interest rates. Increases in interest rates can negatively impact our business, including a possible reduction in customers’ or potential customers’ desire to borrow money or adversely affecting customers’ ability to repay on outstanding loans by increasing their debt obligations. On the deposit side, increasing interest rates generally lead to higher rates paid for our deposit accounts. While we manage the sensitivity of our assets and liabilities, large, unanticipated, or rapid increases in market interest rates may have an adverse impact on our net interest income and could decrease our mortgage refinancing business and related fee income, and could cause an increase in delinquencies and non-performing loans and leases in our adjustable-rate loans. In addition, interest rate volatility can affect the value of our loans and leases, investments and other interest-rate sensitive assets and our ability to realize gains on the sale or resolution of these assets, which in turn may affect our liquidity. Although we have implemented risk management strategies, as well as policies and procedures designed to manage the risks associated with changes in market interest rates, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully manage our interest rate risk. If borrower or depositor behavior or overall economic conditions in the future are significantly different than we anticipate, then our risk mitigation may be insufficient to protect against interest rate risk and our operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.
A significant or sustained economic downturn could result in increases in our level of non-performing loans and leases and/or reduce demand for our products and services, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our business and results of operations are affected by the financial markets and general economic conditions, including factors such as the level and volatility of interest rates, inflation, home prices, unemployment and under-employment levels, bankruptcies, household income and consumer spending. We operate in an uncertain economic environment due to a variety of other reasons including, but not limited to, trade policies and disputes, tariffs, geopolitical tensions and global military conflicts, and volatile energy prices. The risks associated with our business become more acute in periods of a slowing economy or slow growth. Furthermore, given our high concentration of loans secured by real estate in California and New York, the Company remains particularly susceptible to a downturn in those states’ economies. These negative events may cause us to incur losses and may adversely affect our capital, financial condition and results of operations.
The specific impact on us of unfavorable or uncertain economic or market conditions is difficult to predict, could be long or short term, and may be direct or indirect. A worsening of business and economic conditions generally or specifically in the principal markets in which we conduct business could have adverse effects, including the following:
• a decrease in the demand for, or the availability of, loans and other products and services we offer;
• a decrease in deposit balances, including low-cost and non-interest-bearing deposits, and changes in our interest rate mix toward higher-cost deposits;
• an increase in the number of borrowers who become delinquent, file for protection under bankruptcy laws or default on their loans or other obligations to us, which could lead to higher levels of nonperforming assets, net charge-offs, and provisions for credit losses;
• a decrease in the value of loans and other assets secured by collateral such as consumer or commercial real estate;
• a decrease in net interest income from our lending and deposit gathering activities;
• an impairment of certain intangible assets such as goodwill;
• an increase in competition resulting from increasing consolidation within the financial services industry; and
• an increase in borrowing costs in excess of changes in the rate at which we reinvest funds.
Inflation has negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact our business and our profitability.
Prolonged periods of inflation have impacted, and may continue to impact our profitability by negatively impacting our non-interest expenses, including increasing expense related to talent acquisition and retention. Additionally, inflation has led to, and may continue to lead to, a decrease in consumer and client purchasing power and negatively affect the need or demand for our products and services. If significant inflation continues, our business could be negatively affected by, among other things, increased default rates leading to credit losses which could decrease our willingness to offer new credit extensions. These inflationary pressures could adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
The value of our securities in our investment portfolio may decline in the future.
The fair market value of our investment securities may be adversely affected by general economic and market conditions, including changes in interest rates, credit spreads, and the occurrence of any events adversely affecting the issuer of particular securities in our investments portfolio or any given market segment or industry in which we are invested. We analyze our available-for-sale securities on a quarterly basis to measure any impairment and potential credit losses. The process for determining impairment and any credit losses usually requires complex, subjective judgments about the future financial performance of the issuer in order to assess the probability of receiving principal and interest payments sufficient to recover our amortized cost of the security. Because of changing economic and market conditions affecting issuers, we may be required to recognize credit losses in future periods, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The weakness of other financial institutions or other companies in the financial services industries could adversely affect us.
Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, and transacting with one another. We have exposure to many different counterparties, and we routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial industry, including brokers-dealers, other commercial banks, investment banks, mutual and hedge funds, and other financial institutions. As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial services institutions, or the financial services industry generally, could lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by us or by other institutions and organizations. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of default of our counterparty or client. In addition, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by us cannot be liquidated, liquidated timely, or liquidated at prices sufficient to recover the full amount of the financial instrument exposure due to us. There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
Further, in our fund finance commercial lending business, clients have capital call lines of credit, the repayment of which is dependent on the payment of capital calls or management fees by the limited partner investors in the funds managed by these firms. These third parties may not be able to meet their financial obligations to our clients or to us, which ultimately could have an adverse impact on us.
Events, both actual or rumored, involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally have in the past, and may in the future, lead to erosion of customer confidence in the financial services industry, deposit volatility, liquidity issues, stock price volatility and other adverse developments, including increased regulatory oversight, increased premiums for the FDIC insurance program, higher capital requirements or changes in the way regulatory capital is calculated, and impositions of additional restrictions through regulatory changes or supervisory or enforcement activities. As a result, our operating margins, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
The economy, financial services industry and our business and operating results could be adversely affected by the political environment and governmental fiscal and monetary policies .
Our business and financial results are significantly affected by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government of the United States and its agencies. We are particularly affected by the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve, including the regulation of the supply of money and credit in the United States. The Federal Reserve and its policies influence the availability and demand for loans and deposits, the rates and other terms for loans and deposits, the conditions in equity, fixed-income, currency, and other markets, and the value of securities and other financial instruments. Both the timing and the nature of any changes in monetary or fiscal policies, as well as their consequences for the economy and the markets in which we operate, are beyond our control and difficult to predict but could adversely affect our business and operating results.
It is difficult to predict the legislative and executive regulatory changes that will result from the current Congress and Presidential Administration. President Trump and certain members of Congress have advocated for the reduction of regulation of the financial services industry. Congress and the current administration may also cause broader economic changes due to various changes in the federal government’s approach to regulation and administration. New appointments to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”) could also affect monetary policy and interest rates. Future legislation, regulation, and changes in trade and fiscal policy, including uncertainty surrounding the ongoing operations of the CFPB, could affect the banking industry as a whole, including our business and results of operations, in ways that are difficult to predict. In addition, our results of operations could be adversely affected by changes in the way in which existing statutes and regulations are interpreted or applied by courts and government agencies, including, but not limited to, changes resulting from efforts to limit the operations of the CFPB.
Changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, may adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The current Presidential Administration has implemented, or threatened to implement, tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, as well as other trade restrictions, against U.S. trading partners. In response to tariffs, foreign countries have implemented, or may implement, retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Historically, tariffs have led to increased trade and political tensions. Political tensions as a result of trade policies could reduce trade volume, investment, technological exchange, and other economic activities between major international economies, resulting in a material adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets. It may also cause the prices of our customers’ products to increase, which could reduce demand for such products, or reduce our customers’ margins, and adversely impact their revenues, financial results, and ability to service debt. This, in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, to the extent changes in the international trade environment have a negative impact on us or on the markets in which we operate our business, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted in the future. At this time, it remains unclear what the U.S. government or foreign governments will or will not continue to do with respect to tariff policies or international trade agreements and policies.
Risks Relating to Regulation of our Business
Changes in laws, regulations or oversight or increased enforcement activities by regulatory agencies may increase our costs and adversely affect our business and operations.
We operate in a highly regulated industry and are subject to oversight, regulation and examination by federal and/or state governmental authorities under various laws, regulations and policies, which impose requirements or restrictions on our operations, capitalization, payment of dividends, mergers and acquisitions, investments, loans and interest rates charged and interest rates paid on deposits. We must also comply with federal anti-money laundering, bank secrecy, tax withholding and reporting, and various consumer protection statutes and regulations. A considerable amount of management time and resources is devoted to oversight of, and development, implementation and execution of controls and procedures relating to, compliance with these laws, regulations and policies.
The laws, rules, regulations and supervisory policies governing our business are intended primarily for the protection of our depositors, our customers, the financial system and the FDIC insurance fund, not our stockholders or other creditors and
are subject to regular modification and change. New or amended laws, rules, regulations and policies, including those resulting from changes in U.S. Presidential administration, could impact our operations, increase our capital requirements or substantially restrict our growth and adversely affect our ability to operate profitably by making compliance more difficult or expensive, restricting our ability to originate or sell loans, or impacting the amount of interest or other charges or fees earned on loans or other products. It is difficult to predict future changes in regulation or the competitive impact that any such changes would have on our business. Any new laws, rules and regulations could make compliance more difficult, expensive, costly to implement or may otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition or growth prospects. Other changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, or policies, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways including subjecting us to additional costs, limiting the types of financial services and products we may offer, and increasing the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products.
The Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, and similar laws and regulations require financial institutions, among other duties, to institute and maintain effective anti-money laundering programs and to file suspicious activity and currency transaction reports as appropriate. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the United States Department of Treasury, is authorized to impose significant civil money penalties for violations of those requirements and has engaged in coordinated enforcement efforts with the individual federal banking regulators, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service. There is increased scrutiny of compliance with the rules enforced by the OFAC. Federal and state bank regulators have focused on compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering regulations. Several banking institutions have received large fines, or suffered limitations on their operations, for non-compliance with these laws and regulations. Although we have developed policies, procedures and processes designed to assist in compliance with these laws and regulations, no assurance can be given that these policies, procedures and processes will be effective in detecting violations of these laws and regulations. If our policies, procedures, processes and systems are deemed deficient, we may be subject to liability, including fines and regulatory actions such as restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and the necessity to obtain regulatory approval to proceed with acquisitions and other strategic transactions, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Failure to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing could have material adverse reputational consequences for us.
State regulators have been increasingly active in implementing privacy and cybersecurity standards and regulations. Many states have also recently implemented or modified their data breach notification and data privacy requirements. New laws or changes to existing laws, including privacy-related enforcement activity, increase our operating and compliance costs (including technology costs) and could reduce income from certain business initiatives or restrict our ability to provide certain products and services. Our failure, or perceived failure, to comply with privacy policies, or applicable data protection and information security laws, regulations, rules, standards or contractual obligations, could result in significant regulatory or governmental investigations or actions, litigation, fines, sanctions, and damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our failure to comply with current, or adapt to new or changing, laws, regulations or policies could result in enforcement actions and sanctions against us by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and/or reputation damage, along with corrective action plans required by regulatory agencies, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and the value of our common stock.
The financial services industry and broader economy may be subject to new or changing regulation or government policy.
Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions in administrative law could redefine the power of federal agencies to interpret and apply federal regulations, which could affect our business, prospects and operations, and our financial performance. In Loper Bright , the U.S. Supreme Court held that the U.S. Administrative Procedure Act requires that courts exercise independent judgment to determine whether a federal agency has acted within its statutory authority, and not to defer to an agency interpretation when a statute is ambiguous. The Loper Bright decision may result in additional legal challenges to interpretations by federal regulatory agencies, including those which Axos and the Bank rely on and intend to rely on in the future. Successful challenges of such regulations and guidance could have an impact on our business which could be material. Further, President Trump issued Executive Order 14215 in February of 2025, requiring all executive departments and agencies, including the FRB in connection with its supervision and regulation of financial institutions, to submit all proposed and final significant regulatory actions to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs prior to publication in the Federal Register. Potential increased regulatory uncertainty following Loper Bright and delays or other impacts to the federal agency rulemaking process following Executive Order 14215 could adversely impact the financial services industry and the broader economy, as well as our business and operations.
Failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, or to satisfy our regulators' supervisory expectations, could subject us to supervisory or enforcement action, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we do not comply with applicable laws or regulations, if we are deemed to have engaged in unsafe or unsound conduct, or if we do not satisfy our regulators’ supervisory expectations, we may be subject to regulatory scrutiny, supervisory criticism, litigation and/or a wide range of potential monetary penalties, or enforcement actions. Such actions could arise even if we are acting in good faith or operating under a reasonable interpretation of the law. Such actions could include monetary penalties, payment of damages, restitution or disgorgement of profits, directives to take remedial action or to cease or modify practices, restrictions on growth or expansionary proposals, denial or refusal to accept applications, removal of officers or directors, a prohibition on dividends or capital distributions, increases in capital or liquidity requirements and/or termination of the Bank’s FDIC deposit insurance. Such actions could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, including as a result of reputational harm.
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to changes in federal and state tax laws and the interpretation of existing laws and examinations and challenges by taxing authorities .
Our financial performance is impacted by federal and state tax laws. Given the current economic and political environment and ongoing budgetary pressures, the enactment of new federal or state legislation or new interpretations of existing tax laws could adversely impact our tax position, in some circumstances retroactively. The Inflation Reduction Act (the “IRA”), which established a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax on adjusted book income (of corporations that have an average adjusted book income in excess of $1 billion over a three-tax year period) for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022, may impact the Company’s cash tax payments and tax credit carryforward balances. The IRA includes a nondeductible 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of corporate stock for transactions occurring after December 31, 2022, which increases the Company’s cost of share repurchases exceeding certain thresholds. Additionally, in June 2025, the State of California adopted its fiscal year 2026 budget, which, among other things, changed the way financial institutions’ multi-state income is apportioned to the State of California. This change impacted the Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities and its expected effective income tax rate for fiscal years 2026 and beyond. The consequences of the IRA, the 2025 change in California state tax law, the enactment of new federal or state tax legislation, or other changes in the interpretation of existing law, including provisions impacting income tax rates, apportionment, consolidation or combination, income, expenses, and credits, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity.
In the normal course of business, we are routinely subjected to examinations and audits from federal, state, and local taxing authorities regarding tax positions taken by us and the determination of the amount of taxes due. These examinations may relate to income, franchise, gross receipts, payroll, property, sales and use, or other tax returns. The challenges made by taxing authorities may result in adjustments to the amount of taxes due and may result in the imposition of penalties and interest. If any such challenges are not resolved in our favor, they could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity.
Our broker-dealer and investment advisory businesses subject us to regulatory risks.
Our broker-dealer and investment advisory businesses subject us to regulation by the SEC, FINRA, other self-regulatory organizations (“SROs”), state securities commissions, and other regulatory bodies. Violations of the laws and regulations governed by these agencies could result in censure; penalties and fines; the issuance of cease-and-desist orders; the restriction, suspension, or expulsion from the securities industry of the Company or its officers or employees; or other similar adverse consequences, any of which could cause us to incur losses and adversely affect our capital, financial condition and results of operations. Clearing securities firms are subject to substantially more regulatory control and examination than introducing brokers that rely on others to perform clearing functions. Similarly, the attorney general of each state could bring legal action to ensure compliance with state securities laws, and regulatory agencies in foreign countries have similar authority. Our ability to comply with multiple laws and regulations pertaining to the securities industry depends in large part on our ability to establish and maintain an effective compliance function. The failure to establish and enforce reasonable compliance procedures, even if unintentional, could subject us to significant losses or disciplinary or other actions. Federally registered investment advisers are regulated and subject to examination by the SEC. In addition, the Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on our investment advisory business, including fiduciary duties, disclosure obligations, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, marketing restrictions and general anti-fraud prohibitions. Our failure to comply with the Advisers Act and associated rules and regulations of the SEC could subject us to enforcement proceedings and sanctions for violations, including censure or termination of SEC registration, litigation and reputational harm. In addition, our investment advisory business is subject to notice filings and the anti-fraud rules of state securities regulators. See “Regulation of the Securities Business Segment.”
Policies and regulations enacted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may negatively impact our consumer business and increase our compliance burdens.
Our consumer business, including our mortgage and deposit businesses, may be adversely affected by the policies enacted or regulations adopted by the CFPB, which, under the Dodd-Frank Act, has broad rule-making authority over consumer financial products and services. While it is difficult to quantify any future increases in our regulatory compliance burden, the costs associated with regulatory compliance, including the need to hire additional compliance personnel, may continue to increase.
We are subject to numerous laws designed to protect consumers, and failure to comply with these laws could lead to a wide variety of sanctions .
The Community Reinvestment Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, and other fair lending laws and regulations (collectively, “Fair Lending Laws”) impose community investment and nondiscriminatory lending requirements on financial institutions. The CFPB, the Department of Justice and other federal and state agencies are responsible for enforcing these federal laws and regulations and comparable state provisions. Federal, state or local consumer lending laws may restrict our ability to originate certain mortgage loans or increase our risk of liability with respect to such loans. A successful regulatory challenge to an institution’s performance under the Fair Lending Laws could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, restrictions on mergers and acquisitions, restrictions on expansion and restrictions on entering new business lines. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. Such actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Commercial Loans, Mortgage Loans and Mortgage-Backed Securities
Our real estate loan portfolio is subject to certain risks including market, environmental and project-specific risks.
Our real estate loan portfolio encompasses commercial real estate, residential real estate, and real estate construction and land loans, which implicate a variety of risks, including: (i) market risks including increased competition in pricing and loan structure, macroeconomic conditions in the United States and in the markets where we lend, and decreased commercial and residential real estate values in the markets where we lend; (ii) environmental risks including natural disasters and impact on underlying real estate collateral and environmental liabilities with respect to real properties acquired; and (iii) project-specific risks including higher construction costs, failure by developers and contractors to meet project specifications or timelines, and buyers of completed construction projects not being able to secure permanent financing.
Declining real estate values, particularly in California and New York, could reduce the value of our loan and lease portfolio and impair our profitability and financial condition.
The majority of the loans in our portfolio are secured by real estate. At June 30, 2025, approximately 35.8% and 28.2% of our real estate loan portfolio was secured by real estate located in California and New York, respectively. In recent years, there has been significant volatility in real estate values. If real estate values decrease or more of our borrowers experience financial difficulties, we will experience increased charge-offs, as the proceeds resulting from foreclosure may be significantly lower than the amounts outstanding on such loans and the time to foreclose may be extended. In addition, declining real estate values frequently accompany periods of economic downturn or recession and increasing unemployment, all of which can lead to lower demand for mortgage loans of the types we originate and impact the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. A decline of real estate values or decline of the credit position of our borrowers could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Many of our mortgage loans are multifamily residential loans and defaults on such loans would harm our business.
At June 30, 2025, our multifamily residential loans were $2.9 billion or 13.6% of our loan portfolio. The payment on such loans is typically dependent on the cash flows generated by the projects, which are affected by the supply and demand for multifamily residential units and commercial property within the relative market. If the market for multifamily residential units and commercial property experiences a decline in demand, multifamily and commercial borrowers may suffer losses on their projects and be unable to repay their loans. If residential housing values were to decline or nationwide unemployment levels rise, we are likely to experience increases in the level of our non-performing loans and foreclosures in future periods.
A decrease in the mortgage buying activity of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and MBS’s guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or a failure by Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae, and Freddie Mac to satisfy their obligations with respect to their RMBS could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
During the last three fiscal years we have sold approximately $297.7 million of residential mortgage loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and into MBS guaranteed by Ginnie Mae. As of June 30, 2025, approximately 70.8% of our securities portfolio consisted of RMBS issued or guaranteed by these entities. Since 2008, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been in conservatorship, with its primary regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, acting as conservator. The United States government may enact structural changes to one or more of the government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”), including privatization, consolidation and/or a reduction in the ability of GSEs to purchase mortgage loans or guarantee mortgage obligations. We cannot predict if, when or how the conservatorships will end, or what associated changes (if any) may be made to the structure, mandate or overall business practices of either of the GSEs. Accordingly, there continues to be uncertainty regarding the future of the GSEs, including whether they will continue to exist in their current form and whether they will continue to meet their obligations with respect to their RMBS. A substantial reduction in mortgage purchasing activity by the GSEs could result in a material decrease in the availability of residential mortgage loans and the number of qualified borrowers, which in turn may lead to increased volatility in the residential housing market, including a decrease in demand for residential housing and a corresponding drop in the value of real property that secures current residential mortgage loans, as well as a significant increase in interest rates. In a rising or higher interest rate environment, our originations of mortgage loans may decrease, which would result in a decrease in mortgage loan revenues and a corresponding decrease in non-interest income. Any decision to change the structure, mandate or overall business practices of the GSEs and/or the relationship among the GSEs, the government and the private mortgage loan markets, or any failure by the GSEs to satisfy their obligations with respect to their RMBS, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Commercial and industrial and commercial real estate loans may expose our company to greater financial and credit risk than other loans.
Our commercial and industrial loan portfolio was approximately $6.8 billion at June 30, 2025, or 31.6% of our total loan portfolio. Commercial loans generally carry large balances and may involve a greater degree of financial and credit risk than other loans. The increased financial and credit risk associated with these types of loans are a result of several factors, including the concentration of principal in a limited number of loans and borrowers, the types of business and collateral, the size of loan balances, the effects of nationwide and regional economic conditions on income-producing properties and businesses and the increased difficulty of evaluating and monitoring these types of loans. Sustained economic downturns increases the risk of credit losses or charge-offs related to our commercial and industrial loans. Underwriting and portfolio management activities cannot completely eliminate all risks related to these loans. Any significant failure to pay on time or other significant default by our clients would materially and adversely affect us.
Our commercial real estate portfolio was approximately $6.9 billion, or 32.2% of our total loan portfolio at June 30, 2025. The commercial real estate loans we make are secured by income-producing properties such as office buildings, retail centers, mixed-use buildings and multi-tenanted light industrial properties. At June 30, 2025, $389.2 million, or 7%, of our commercial real estate specialty loan portfolio was secured by office buildings. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a potentially long-term negative impact on certain commercial real estate portfolios due to the risk that tenants may reduce the office space they lease as some portion of the workforce continues to work remotely on a hybrid or full-time basis. A reduction in the need for office space could result in a reduction in demand for these categories of commercial office and/or in our customers’ ability to repay their loans, which, in turn, may have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Commercial real estate markets may face downward pressure due in part to increasing interest rates and declining property values. Accordingly, the federal banking agencies may apply increased regulatory scrutiny to institutions with commercial real estate loan portfolios that are fast growing or large relative to the institutions’ total capital. Banking regulatory authorities may require banks with higher levels of commercial real estate loans to implement enhanced risk management practices – including stricter underwriting, additional internal controls and risk management policies, more detailed reporting, and portfolio stress testing – as well as potential higher allowances for credit losses and capital levels as a result of commercial real estate lending growth and exposure. Our failure to adequately implement enhanced risk management policies, procedures and controls could adversely affect our ability to manage the commercial real estate segment of our loan portfolio and could result in an increased rate of delinquencies in, and increased losses from, our loan portfolio, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
A downturn in the real estate market in our primary market areas of California and New York could result in an increase in the number of borrowers who default on their loans and a reduction in the value of the collateral securing their loans, which in turn could have an adverse effect on our profitability and asset quality. If we are required to liquidate the collateral securing a loan to satisfy the debt during a period of reduced real estate values, our earnings and shareholders’ equity
could be adversely affected. Unexpected decreases in commercial real estate prices coupled with slow economic growth and elevated levels of unemployment could drive losses beyond those which are provided for in our allowance for loan losses. We also may incur losses on commercial real estate loans due to declines in occupancy rates and rental rates, which may decrease property values and may decrease the likelihood that a borrower may find permanent financing alternatives. Any of these events could increase our costs, require management's time and attention, and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our mortgage origination business is subject to fluctuations based upon seasonal and other factors and, as a result, our results of operations for any given quarter may not be indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year.
Our mortgage origination business is subject to several variables that can impact loan origination volume, including seasonal and interest rate fluctuations. We typically experience increased loan origination volume from purchases of homes during the second and third calendar quarters, when more people tend to move and buy or sell homes. In addition, an increase in the general level of interest rates may, among other things, adversely affect the demand for mortgage loans and our ability to originate mortgage loans. In particular, if mortgage interest rates increase, the demand for residential mortgage loans and the refinancing of residential mortgage loans will likely decrease, which will have an adverse effect on our mortgage origination activities. Conversely, a decrease in the general level of interest rates, among other things, may lead to increased competition for mortgage loan origination business.
As a result of these variables, our results of operations for any single quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year or any other quarter.
Risks Relating to our Business Operations
Our results of operations could vary as a result of the methods, estimates, and judgments that we use in applying our accounting policies, including with respect to our allowance for credit losses.
From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. In addition, the FASB, SEC, bank regulators and outside independent auditors may revise their previous interpretations regarding existing accounting regulations and the application of these accounting standards. The methods, estimates and judgments that we use in applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on our results of operations. Such methods, estimates and judgments, include methodologies to value our securities, estimate our allowance for credit losses and evaluate goodwill and other intangibles for impairment. These methods, estimates and judgments are, by their nature, subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions; factors may arise over time that lead us to change our methods, estimates and judgments. Changes in those methods, estimates and judgments could significantly affect our results of operations. These changes can be difficult to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations.
If our allowance for credit losses is not sufficient to cover actual credit losses, our earnings, capital adequacy and overall financial condition may suffer materially.
Our loans are generally secured by single family, multifamily and commercial real estate properties or other commercial assets, each initially having a fair market value generally greater than the amount of the loan secured. Although our loans and leases are typically secured, the risk of default, generally due to a borrower’s inability to make scheduled payments on his or her loan, is an inherent risk of the Banking Business Segment. In determining the amount of the allowance for credit losses, we make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan and lease portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers, the value of the real estate serving as collateral for the repayment of our loans and our loss history. Defaults by borrowers could result in losses that exceed our loan and lease loss reserves. We may not have sufficient repayment experience to be certain whether the established allowance for loan and lease losses is adequate for certain types of loans and leases. We may have to establish a larger allowance for credit losses in the future if, in our judgment, it becomes necessary.
To the extent that we fail to adequately address the risks associated with non-residential lending, particularly in commercial and industrial lending, including loans collateralized by customer securities, we may experience increases in levels of non-performing loans and leases and be forced to record additional provisions for credit losses, which would adversely affect our capital levels and reduce our profitability. Rapid changes in the fair value of the customer securities serving as collateral may not be sufficiently covered by any excess collateral. For further information about our commercial and industrial lending business, please refer to “Business - Loan Portfolio - Commercial & Industrial - Non-Real Estate.”
While we believe we have established appropriate underwriting and ongoing monitoring policies and procedures for our lending activities, there can be no assurance that such underwriting and ongoing monitoring policies and procedures are, or
will continue to be, appropriate or that losses on loans will not require increased allowances for loan and lease losses. Any increase in our allowance for loan and lease losses would increase our expenses and consequently may adversely affect our profitability, capital adequacy and overall financial condition.
Changes in the value of goodwill and other intangible assets could reduce our earnings.
The Company accounts for goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which, in general, requires that goodwill not be amortized, but rather tested for impairment at least annually at the reporting unit level using the two step approach. Testing for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets is performed annually and involves the identification of reporting units and the estimation of fair values. The estimation of fair values involves a high degree of judgment and subjectivity in the assumptions used. Changes in the local and national economy, the federal and state legislative and regulatory environments for financial institutions, the stock market, interest rates and other external factors (such as natural disasters or significant world events), including factors described herein, may occur from time to time, often with great unpredictability, and may materially impact the fair value of publicly traded financial institutions and could result in an impairment charge at a future date.
Our risk management processes and procedures may not be effective in mitigating our risks .
We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor and control material risks to which we are subject, including, for example, credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, strategic risk and operational risk. If the models that we use to manage these risks are ineffective at predicting future losses or are otherwise inadequate, we may incur unexpected losses or otherwise be adversely affected. In addition, the information we use in managing our credit and other risks may be inaccurate or incomplete as a result of error or fraud, both of which may be difficult to detect and avoid. There may also be risks that exist, or that develop in the future, that we have not appropriately anticipated, identified or mitigated, including when processes or technology change or new products and services are introduced. If our risk management framework does not effectively identify and control our risks, we could suffer unexpected losses or be adversely affected, and that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Higher FDIC assessments could negatively impact profitability.
FDIC insurance premiums are risk based and, accordingly, higher premiums are charged to banks that have lower capital ratios or higher risk profiles, including increased construction and development and commercial and industrial lending, declining credit quality metrics, and increased brokered deposits and higher levels of borrowing. As a result, a decrease in the Bank’s capital ratios, or a negative evaluation by the FDIC, may increase the Bank’s net funding cost and reduce its earnings.
The deposits of the Bank are insured by the FDIC up to legal limits and, accordingly, subjected to the payment of FDIC deposit insurance assessments, which are determined in accordance with a defined calculation. The FDIC imposed a special assessment to recover the losses in connection with the receiverships of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Increases in assessment rates or further special assessments may occur in the future, especially if there are significant additional financial institution failures. Any future special assessments, increases in assessment rates or required prepayments in FDIC insurance premiums could reduce our profitability or limit our ability to pursue certain business opportunities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our broker-dealer and advisory businesses subject us to a variety of risks associated with the securities industry.
Our broker-dealer business subjects us to a number of risks and challenges, including risks related to operationalizing internal controls and regulatory functions; our ability to retain key personnel; our ability to limit the outflow of deposits and successfully retain and manage assets; our ability to retain correspondents who may choose to perform their own clearing services, move their clearing business to one of our competitors or exit the business; and our ability to attract customers and generate new assets in areas not previously served.
In addition, the broker-dealer business may subject us to risks related to the movement of equity prices. For example, if securities prices decline rapidly, the value of our collateral for margin and other positions could fall below the amount of the indebtedness secured by these securities, and in rapidly appreciating markets, our risk of loss may increase due to short positions. The securities lending and securities trading and execution businesses subject us to risk of loss if a counterparty fails to perform or if collateral securing the counterparty’s obligations is insufficient. In securities transactions generally, we may be subject to market risk during the period between the execution of a trade and its settlement. Significant failures by our customers, including correspondents, or clients to honor their obligations, or increases in their rates of default, together with insufficient collateral and reserves, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, poor investment returns and declines in client assets, due to either general market conditions or under-performance (relative to our competitors or to benchmarks) of our investment products, may affect our
ability to retain existing assets, prevent clients from transferring their assets out of products or their accounts, or inhibit our ability to attract new clients or additional assets from existing clients. Any such poor performance could adversely affect our advisory and custody business and the fees that we earn on client assets.
Our broker-dealer and advisory businesses are also subject to regulatory requirements and risks discussed above under “Regulation of the Securities Business Segment” in “Supervision and Regulation” and “Our broker-dealer and investment advisory businesses subject us to regulatory risks” herein. Our broker-dealer business exposes us to other risks and uncertainties that are common in the securities industry, including intense competition, and potentially new areas and types of litigation including lawsuits based on allegations concerning our correspondents or based upon the correspondent’s actions even though we do not control their activities. These actions may become more common or frequent, particularly if there is a prolonged decrease in equity prices resulting in investor losses. Allegations of violations of securities laws or FINRA rules, even if not ultimately asserted or proved, could substantially impact our results of operations and lead to reputational harm.
The regulatory environment in which our broker-dealer business operates is subject to frequent change. Our business, financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected as a result of new or revised legislation or regulations imposed by the U.S. Congress, the SEC, FINRA or other U.S. federal and state governmental and regulatory authorities. The business, financial condition and operating results of our broker-dealer business may be adversely affected by changes in the interpretation and enforcement of existing laws and rules by these governmental and regulatory authorities.
Our broker-dealer business is subject to the net capital requirements of the SEC, FINRA and various self-regulatory organizations. These requirements typically specify the minimum level of net capital a broker-dealer must maintain and mandate that a significant part of its assets be kept in relatively liquid form. Failure to maintain the required net capital may subject a firm to limitation of its activities, including suspension or revocation of its registration by the SEC and suspension or expulsion by FINRA and other regulatory bodies, and ultimately may require its liquidation.
We are subject to stringent capital requirements and may need to raise additional capital in the future, and that capital may not be available or its cost may be high.
We are required by regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. In addition, we may elect to raise additional capital to support the growth of our business or to finance acquisitions, if any, or we may elect to raise additional capital for other reasons. We may seek to do so through the issuance of, among other things, our common stock or securities convertible into our common stock, which could dilute existing stockholders’ interests in the Company.
Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend in part on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions, our financial performance and a number of other factors, many of which are outside our control. Accordingly, we cannot provide assurance on our ability to raise additional capital if needed or whether it can be raised on terms acceptable to us. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed or on terms acceptable to us, it may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, raising equity capital will have a dilutive effect on the equity interests of our existing stockholders and may cause our stock price to decline.
Liquidity and access to adequate funding cannot be assured.
Liquidity is essential to our business and the inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, equity and debt offerings, or other sources could have a materially adverse effect on our liquidity. The Bank may not be able to meet the cash flow requirements of its customers who may be either depositors wanting to withdraw funds or borrowers needing assurance that sufficient funds will be available to meet their credit needs. Company specific factors such as a decline in our credit rating, an increase in the cost of capital from financial capital markets, a decrease in business activity due to adverse regulatory action or other company specific event, or a decrease in depositor or investor confidence may impair our access to funding with acceptable terms adequate to finance our activities. General factors related to the financial services industry such as a severe disruption in financial markets, a decrease in industry expectations, or a decrease in business activity due to political or environmental events may impair our access to liquidity. Our ability to attract and maintain depositors during a time of actual or perceived distress or instability in the banking industry may be limited. Additionally, we may acquire brokered deposits, which may be more price sensitive than other types of deposits, and may become less available if alternative investments offer higher returns. We rely primarily upon deposits and FHLB advances. Our ability to attract deposits could be negatively impacted by a public perception of our financial prospects or by increased deposit rates available at troubled institutions suffering from shortfalls in liquidity. The FHLB advances and the FRBSF discount window are subject to regulation and other factors beyond our control, including changes to FHLB’s underwriting guidelines for wholesale borrowings or lending policies. These factors may adversely affect the availability and pricing of advances to members such as the Bank. Selected sources of liquidity may become unavailable to the Bank if it were to no longer be considered “well-capitalized.”
A reduction in our credit ratings could adversely affect our access to capital and could increase our cost of funds .
The credit rating agencies regularly evaluate the Company and the Bank, and credit ratings are based on a number of factors, including our financial strength and ability to generate earnings, as well as factors not entirely within our control, such as conditions affecting the financial services industry, the economy, and changes in rating methodologies more generally. There can be no assurance that we will maintain our current credit ratings. A downgrade of the credit ratings of the Company or the Bank could adversely affect our access to liquidity and capital and could significantly increase our cost of funds, trigger additional collateral or funding requirements, and decrease the number of investors and counterparties willing to lend to us or purchase our securities, thereby, potentially reducing our ability to generate earnings.
Our inability to manage our growth or deploy assets profitably could harm our business and decrease our overall profitability, which may cause our stock price to decline.
Our assets and deposit base have grown substantially in recent years, and we anticipate that we will continue to grow over time, perhaps significantly. To manage the expected growth of our operations and personnel, we will be required to manage multiple aspects of the business simultaneously, including to, among other things: (i) improve existing and implement new transaction processing, operational and financial systems, procedures and controls; (ii) maintain effective credit scoring and underwriting guidelines; (iii) maintain sufficient levels of regulatory capital and liquidity; and (iv) expand our employee base and train and manage this growing employee base. In addition, acquiring other companies, asset pools or deposits may involve risks such as exposure to potential asset quality issues, disruption to our normal business activities and diversion of management’s time and attention due to integration and conversion efforts. If we are unable to manage growth effectively or execute integration efforts properly, we may not be able to achieve the anticipated benefits of growth and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
In addition, we may not be able to sustain past levels of profitability as we grow, and our past levels of profitability should not be considered a guarantee or indicator of future success. If we are not able to maintain our levels of profitability by deploying deposits in profitable assets or investments, our net interest margin and overall level of profitability will decrease and our stock price may decline.
New lines of business, purchased assets or liabilities or new products and services may subject us to additional risks.
From time to time, we may implement new lines of business, purchase assets or liabilities or offer new products and services. In addition, we will continue to make investments in research, development, and marketing for new products and services. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets for such products and services are not fully developed. Initial timetables for the development and introduction of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved, price and profitability targets may not prove feasible and customers may fail to accept our new products and services. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives, counterparty or third-party performance and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business, a purchase of assets or liabilities or a new product or service. Furthermore, the burden on management and our information technology of introducing any new line of business, purchasing of assets or liabilities and/or introducing new products or services could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers .
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into certain transactions, we rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers, including financial statements, credit reports, tax returns and other financial information. We may also rely on representations from customers or other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate or misleading information, financial statements, credit reports, tax returns or other financial information, including information falsely provided as a result of identity theft, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We face strong competition for customers and may not succeed in implementing our business strategy.
Our business strategy depends on our ability to remain competitive. There is strong competition for customers from existing financial institutions. Technology and other changes allow parties to complete financial transactions through alternative methods rather than through banks. Consumers can now maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts, mutual funds or general-purpose reloadable prepaid cards. Consumers can also complete transactions, such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation,” could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and
the related income generated from those deposits. Technology has also lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-bank, financial technology companies (“FinTechs”) to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks. FinTechs continue to emerge and compete with traditional financial institutions across a wide variety of products and services. Consumers have demonstrated a growing willingness to obtain banking services from FinTechs. As a result, our ability to remain competitive is increasingly dependent upon our ability to maintain critical technological capabilities, and to identify and develop new, value-added products for existing and future customers. Our competitors also include large, publicly-traded, internet-based banks, as well as smaller internet-based banks; “brick and mortar” banks, including those that have implemented websites to facilitate online banking; and traditional banking institutions such as thrifts, finance companies, credit unions and mortgage banks. Some of these competitors have been in business for a long time and have broader name recognition and a more established customer base. Most of our competitors are larger and have greater financial and personnel resources. In order to compete profitably, we may need to reduce the rates we offer on loans and leases and investments and increase the rates we offer on deposits, which actions may adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
To remain competitive, we believe we must successfully implement our business strategy. Our success depends on, among other things:
• Having a large and increasing number of customers who use our bank for their banking needs;
• Our ability to attract, hire and retain key personnel as our business grows;
• Our ability to secure additional capital as needed;
• The relevance of our products and services to customer needs and demands and the rate at which we and our competitors introduce or modify new products and services;
• Our ability to offer products and services with fewer employees than competitors;
• The satisfaction of our customers with our customer service;
• Ease of use of our websites and smartphone applications;
• Our ability to provide a secure and stable technology platform for financial services that provides us with reliable and effective operational, financial and information systems; and
• Integration of our broker-dealer and registered investment-advisory businesses.
If we are unable to implement our business strategy, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our business depends on a strong brand, and failing to maintain and enhance our brand could hurt our ability to maintain or expand our customer base.
The brand identities that we have developed will significantly contribute to the success of our business. Maintaining and enhancing the “Axos” brands (including our other trade styles and trade names) is critical to expanding our customer base. We believe that the importance of brand recognition will increase due to the relatively low barriers to entry for our “brick and mortar” competitors in the internet-based banking market. Our brands could be negatively impacted by a number of factors, including data privacy and security issues, service outages, product malfunctions, and trademark infringement. If we fail to maintain and enhance our brands generally, or if we incur excessive expenses in these efforts, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Our reputation and business could be damaged by negative publicity.
Reputational risk is inherent in our business. Negative publicity or reputational harm can result from actual or alleged conduct in a number of areas, including legal and regulatory compliance, lending practices, corporate governance, litigation, inadequate protection of customer data, illegal or unauthorized acts taken by third parties that supply products or services to us, the behavior of our employees, the customers with whom we have chosen to do business and negative publicity for other financial institutions. Negative publicity or information regarding our business and personnel, whether or not accurate or true, may be posted on social media or other Internet forums or published by news organizations. The speed and pervasiveness with which information can be disseminated through these channels, in particular social media, may magnify risks relating to negative publicity. Damage to our reputation could adversely impact our ability to attract new, and maintain existing, loan and deposit customers, employees and business relationships, and, particularly with respect to our broker-dealer and registered investment adviser businesses, could result in the imposition of new regulatory requirements, operational restrictions, enhanced supervision and/or civil money penalties. Such damage could also adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital. Any such damage to our reputation could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We could be exposed to fraud risks that affect our operations and reputation.
We face significant risks related to various types of fraud, including fraud or theft by colleagues or outsiders and unauthorized transactions, which could result in financial loss, litigation, and damage to our reputation. We rely heavily on information provided by clients and third parties in conducting our business, and misrepresentations in this information can lead to funding loans that do not meet our expectations or on unfavorable terms. We bear the risk of loss associated with such misrepresentations, and it can be challenging to recover any monetary losses suffered. We have implemented various controls and security measures, but because of their inherent limitations, internal controls may not prevent or detect misrepresentations. Further, the failure of any of these controls could result in a failure to detect or mitigate fraud risks in a timely manner.
Extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, rising sea levels, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest, public health issues, or other adverse external events could harm our business.
The potential impacts of extreme weather conditions, natural disasters and rising sea levels, could impact our operations as well as those of our customers and third party vendors upon which we rely. Our Bank is based in San Diego, California, and approximately 35.8% of our real estate loan portfolio was secured by real estate located in California at June 30, 2025. In addition, some of our computer systems that operate our internet websites and their back-up systems are located in San Diego, California. Historically, California has been vulnerable to natural disasters. Therefore, we are susceptible to the risks of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, wildfires, floods and mudslides, t he nature and magnitude of which cannot be predicted and may be exacerbated by global climate change . Natural disasters could harm our operations directly through interference with communications, including the interruption or loss of our websites, which would prevent us from gathering deposits, originating loans and leases and processing and controlling our flow of business, as well as through the destruction of facilities and our operational, financial and management information systems. A natural disaster or recurring power outages may also impair the value of our largest class of assets, our loan and lease portfolio, which is substantially composed of real estate loans. Losses from disasters for which borrowers are uninsured or under-insured may reduce borrowers’ ability to repay mortgage loans. Natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest, public health issues, or other adverse external events could each negatively impact our business operations or the stability of our deposit base, cause significant property damage, adversely impact the values of collateral securing our loans and/or interrupt our borrowers’ abilities to conduct their business in a manner to support their debt obligations, which could result in losses and increased provisions for credit losses. Although we have implemented several back-up systems and protections (and maintain standard business interruption insurance), these measures may not protect us fully from the effects of a natural disaster, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest, public health issues, or other adverse external events . The occurrence of natural disasters, particularly in California, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations, although the greater Los Angeles area fires in early 2025 did not have material impact to the Company.
Our success depends in large part on the continuing efforts of key executives. If we are unable to retain these key personnel or attract, hire and retain others to oversee and manage our Company, our business could suffer.
Our success depends substantially on the skill and abilities of our senior management team, including our Chief Executive Officer and President, Gregory Garrabrants, and other employees that perform multiple functions that might otherwise be performed by separate individuals at larger banks. The loss of the services of any of these individuals or other key employees, whether through termination of employment, disability, or other means, could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, our ability to grow and manage our growth depends on our ability to continue to identify, attract, hire, train, retain and motivate highly skilled executive, technical, managerial, sales, marketing, customer service and professional personnel. The implementation of our business plan and our future success will depend on such qualified personnel. Competition for employees is intense in many areas of the financial services industry, and there is a risk that we will not be able to successfully attract, onboard, or retain sufficiently qualified personnel. If we fail to attract and retain the necessary personnel, or if the costs of employee compensation or benefits increase substantially, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We are exposed to risk of environmental liability with respect to properties to which we take title.
In the course of our business, we may foreclose and take title to real estate, including commercial real estate, and could be subject to environmental liabilities with respect to those properties. We may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property damage, personal injury, investigation and clean-up costs incurred by these parties in connection with environmental contamination or may be required to investigate or clean up hazardous or toxic substances or chemical releases at a property. The costs associated with investigation or remediation activities could be substantial. In addition, if we are the owner or former owner of a contaminated site, we may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. If we become subject to significant environmental liabilities, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Technology Risks
We rely on technology and information systems that may be disrupted, which would pose operational risks.
We rely on technology and information systems for, among other things, communications, processing customer transactions, recordkeeping and financial controls. We rely substantially upon third-party service providers for our core banking and securities transactions technology and to protect us from system failures or disruptions. This reliance may mean that we will not be able to resolve operational problems internally or on a timely basis, which could lead to customer dissatisfaction or long-term disruption of our operations. Due to our interconnectivity with these third parties, we may be adversely affected if any of them are subject to a cyber-attack or other privacy or information security event, including those arising due to the use of mobile technology or a third-party cloud environment. Our operations depend upon our ability to replace a third-party service provider if it experiences difficulties that interrupt operations or if an essential third-party service terminates. If these service arrangements are terminated for any reason without an immediately available substitute arrangement, our operations may be severely interrupted or delayed. If such interruption or delay were to continue for a substantial period of time, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Privacy concerns relating to our technology could damage our reputation and deter current and potential customers from using our products and services.
We are subject to various privacy, information security and data protection laws and regulations, such as the GLBA, which among other things requires privacy disclosures and maintenance of a robust security program. These laws and regulations are rapidly evolving and growing in complexity, and could have a significant impact on our current and planned privacy, data protection and information security-related practices, our collection, use, sharing, retention and safeguarding of consumer and employee information, and some of our current or planned business activities. The costs of compliance with these laws or regulatory actions may increase our operational costs, restrict our ability to provide certain products and services, reduce income from certain business initiatives, or result in interruptions or delays in the availability of systems.
Concerns about our practices with regard to the collection, use, disclosure or security of personal information of our customers or other privacy related matters, even if unfounded, could damage our reputation and results of operations. While we strive to comply with all applicable data protection laws and regulations, as well as our own posted privacy policies, any failure or perceived failure to comply may result in proceedings or actions against us by government entities or others, or could cause us to lose customers, which could potentially have an adverse effect on our business.
Misconduct by employees and third-party vendors could also result in fraudulent, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of clients or improper use of confidential personal information. The Company may not be able to prevent employee errors or misconduct, and the precautions the Company takes to detect this type of activity might not be effective in all cases. Employee errors or misconduct could subject the Company to civil claims for negligence or regulatory enforcement actions, including fines and restrictions on our business.
As nearly all of our products and services are smartphone and internet-based, the amount of data we store for our customers on our servers (including personal information) has been increasing and will continue to increase. Any systems failure or compromise of our security that results in the release of our customers’ data could seriously limit the adoption of our products and services, as well as harm our reputation and brand and, therefore, our business. We may need to expend significant resources to protect against security breaches. System enhancements and updates may create risks associated with implementing new systems and integrating them with existing ones. Due to the complexity and interconnectedness of information technology systems, the process of enhancing our technical layers of defense can create a risk of systems disruptions and security issues. In addition, addressing certain information security vulnerabilities, such as hardware-based vulnerabilities, may affect the performance of our information technology systems. The ability of our hardware and software providers to deliver patches and updates to mitigate vulnerabilities in a timely manner can introduce additional risks, particularly when a vulnerability is being actively exploited by threat actors.
The risk that these types of events could seriously harm our business is likely to increase as we add more customers and expand the number of smartphone and internet-based products and services we offer.
We have risks of systems failure and disruptions to operations.
The computer systems, internet connectivity and network infrastructure utilized by us and others could be vulnerable to unforeseen problems. This is true of both our internally developed systems and the systems of our third-party service providers. Our operations are dependent upon our ability to protect critical infrastructure against damage from fire, power loss, telecommunication failure, or other catastrophic events.
Any damage or failure that causes an interruption in our operations could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
If our security measures are breached, or if our services are subject to information security incidents that degrade or deny the ability of customers to access our products and services, our products and services may be perceived as not being secure, customers may curtail or stop using our products and services, and we may incur significant legal and financial exposure.
Our products and services involve the storage and transmission of customers’ proprietary information, and security breaches could expose us to a risk of loss of this information, litigation, and potential liability. Through our cybersecurity risk management program, we employ cybersecurity measures that are designed to prevent, detect, and respond to cybersecurity incidents, including management-level engagement and corporate governance, formalized risk management processes, advanced technical controls, incident response planning, frequent vulnerability testing, vendor management, intrusion monitoring, the maintenance of a security awareness program, and established partnerships with appropriate government and law enforcement agencies. These procedures cannot assure we will be fully protected from a cybersecurity incident. Our security measures may be breached due to the actions of organized crime, hackers, terrorists, nation-states, activists and other outside parties, employee error, failure to follow security procedures, malfeasance, or otherwise. As a result, an unauthorized party may obtain access to our data or our customers’ data. In addition, to access our products and services, our customers use personal computers, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices that are beyond our control environment. Outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or customers to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to our data or our customers’ data. Other types of information security incidents may include computer viruses, malicious or destructive code, denial-of-service attacks, ransomware or ransom demands to not expose security vulnerabilities in the Company’s systems or the systems of third parties. Further, the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) by cybercriminals may increase the frequency and severity of cybersecurity attacks against us or our service providers and others on whom we rely. Any such breach or unauthorized access could result in significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation, and a loss of confidence in the security of our products and services that could potentially have an adverse effect on our business. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. If an actual or perceived breach of our security or the security of any our third-party vendors occurs, such as hacking or identity theft, it could cause serious negative consequences, including significant disruption of our operations, misappropriation of confidential information, or damage to computers or systems, and may result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws, financial loss and loss of confidence in our security measures. As a result, we could lose customers, suffer employee productivity losses, incur technology replacement and incident response costs, be subject to additional regulatory scrutiny, and be subject to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are heavily reliant on technology, and a failure in effectively implementing technology initiatives or anticipating future technology needs or demands could adversely affect our business or financial results.
We depend on technology to deliver our products and services and to conduct our business and operations. To remain technologically competitive and operationally efficient, we invest in system upgrades, new solutions, and other technology initiatives. Many of these initiatives take a significant amount of time to develop and implement, are tied to critical systems, and require substantial financial, human, and other resources. Although we take steps to mitigate the risks and uncertainties associated with these initiatives, no assurance can be provided that they will be implemented on time, within budget, or without negative financial, operational, or customer impact or that, once implemented, they will perform as we or our customers expect. We may not succeed in anticipating or keeping pace with future technology needs, the technology demands of customers, or the competitive landscape for technology. If we are not able to anticipate and keep pace with existing and future technology needs, our business, financial results, or reputation could be negatively impacted.
The development and use of AI present risks and challenges that may adversely impact our business.
The banking and financial services industry continually experiences technological changes, with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services, including recent and rapid developments in AI, including with agentic AI. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our clients by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy client demands for convenience, as well as to assess the proper operation of AI models and capabilities to create additional efficiencies in our operations. We may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our clients. In addition, the implementation of technological changes and upgrades to maintain current systems and integrate new ones may also create service interruptions, transaction processing errors, and system conversion delays and may cause us to fail to comply with applicable laws. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully manage the risks associated with our increased
dependency on technology. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the banking and financial services industry could negatively affect our revenue and profitability.
We or our third-party vendors, clients or counterparties may develop or incorporate AI technology in certain business processes, services or products. The development and use of AI presents a number of risks and challenges to our business. The legal and regulatory environment relating to AI is uncertain and rapidly evolving, both in the United States and internationally, and includes regulatory schemes targeted specifically at AI as well as provisions in intellectual property, privacy, consumer protection, employment and other laws applicable to the use of AI. These evolving laws and regulations could require changes in our implementation of AI technology and increase our compliance costs and the risk of non-compliance. AI models, particularly generative AI models, may produce output or take action that is incorrect, that results in the release of private, confidential, or proprietary information, that reflects biases included in the data on which they are trained, that infringes on the intellectual property rights of others, or that is otherwise harmful. In addition, the complexity of many AI models makes it challenging to understand why they are generating particular outputs. This limited transparency increases the challenges associated with assessing the proper operation of AI models, understanding and monitoring the capabilities of the AI models, reducing erroneous output, eliminating bias and complying with regulations that require documentation or explanation of the basis on which decisions are made.
Further, we may rely on AI models developed by third parties, and would be dependent in part on the manner in which those third parties develop, train and deploy their models, including risks arising from the inclusion of any unauthorized material in the training data for their models, the effectiveness of the steps these third parties have taken to limit the risks associated with the output of their models and other matters over which we may have limited visibility. Any of these risks could expose us to liability or adverse legal or regulatory consequences and harm our reputation and the public perception of our business or the effectiveness of our security measures.
We are also exposed to risks arising from the use of AI technologies by bad actors to commit fraud and misappropriate funds and to facilitate cyberattacks. Generative AI, if used to perpetrate fraud or launch cyberattacks, could create panic at a particular financial institution or exchange, which could pose a threat to financial stability.
Risks Associated with our Common Stock
The market price of our common stock may be volatile.
Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for our stockholders to resell their common stock when desired. Our common stock price may fluctuate significantly due to a variety of factors that may include the following:
• actual or expected variations in quarterly results of operations;
• recommendations by securities analysts;
• operating and stock price performance of companies deemed comparable by investors;
• news reports relating to trends, concerns, and other issues in the financial services industry;
• perceptions in the marketplace about our Company or competitors;
• new technology used, or services offered, by competitors;
• significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments by, or involving, our Company or competitors;
• failure to integrate acquisitions or realize expected benefits from acquisitions;
• changes in government regulations;
• geopolitical conditions, such as acts or threats of terrorism or military action; and
• the other factors described herein.
General market fluctuations; industry factors; political conditions; and general economic conditions and events, such as economic slowdowns, recessions, interest rate changes, changes in government tariff and trade policies; or credit loss trends, could cause our common stock price to decrease regardless of operating results.
Provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and Delaware laws might discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our Company or changes in our management and, therefore, depress the trading price of our common stock.
Provisions of our Certification of Incorporation, by-laws and Delaware laws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares of our common stock. These provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. These provisions include:
• supermajority voting provisions providing that certain sections of our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws may not be amended or repealed by our stockholders without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power, and requiring the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power to remove a director or directors and only for cause;
• our classified Board of Directors, which may tend to discourage a third-party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us since the classification of our Board of Directors generally increases the difficulty of replacing a majority of directors;
• advance notice provisions requiring stockholders seeking to nominate candidates to be elected as directors at an annual meeting or to bring business before an annual meeting to comply with the written procedure specified in our By-laws;
• the inability of stockholders to act by written consent or to call special meetings;
• the ability of our Board of Directors to make, alter or repeal our by-laws;
• the ability of our Board of Directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock without stockholder approval; and
• the additional shares of authorized common stock and preferred stock available for issuance under our Certificate of Incorporation, which could be issued at such times, under such circumstances and with such terms and conditions as to impede a change in control.
In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless such transactions are approved by our Board of Directors. The existence of the foregoing provisions and anti-takeover measures could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. They could also deter potential acquirers of our Company, thereby reducing the likelihood that you could receive a premium for your common stock in an acquisition.
General Risk Factors
Our acquisitions involve integration and other risks.
From time to time we undertake acquisitions of assets, deposits, lines of business and other companies consistent with our operating and growth strategies. Acquisitions generally involve a number of risks and challenges, including our ability to integrate the acquired operations and the associated internal controls and regulatory functions into our current operations, our ability to retain key personnel of the acquired operations, our ability to limit the outflow of acquired deposits and successfully retain and manage acquired assets, our ability to attract new customers and generate new assets in areas not previously served, and the possible assumption of risks and liabilities related to litigation or regulatory proceedings involving the acquired operations. Additionally, no assurance can be given that the operation of acquisitions would not adversely affect our existing profitability, that we would be able to achieve results in the future similar to those achieved by the acquired operations, that we would be able to compete effectively in the markets served by the acquired operations, or that we would be able to manage any growth resulting from the transaction effectively. We also face the risk that the anticipated benefits of any acquisition may not be realized fully or at all, or within the time period expected.
As a public company, we face the risk of stockholder lawsuits and other related or unrelated litigation, particularly if we experience declines in the price of our common stock.
We are subject to a variety of litigation pertaining to fiduciary and other claims and legal proceedings. Currently, there are certain legal proceedings pending against us in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of any legal proceeding is inherently uncertain, we believe any liabilities arising from pending legal matters have been adequately accounted for based on the probability of a charge. However, if actual results differ from our expectations, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. For a detailed discussion on current legal proceedings, see Item 3 - “Legal Proceedings.”
Our controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented.
We regularly review and update our internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, compliance monitoring activities and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well-designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could result in regulatory investigations or penalties, reduce investor confidence, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, reputation and financial condition. In addition, if we identify material
weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting or are required to restate our financial statements, we could be required to implement expensive and time-consuming remedial measures. We could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and potentially subject us to litigation. Any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting or restatement of our financial statements could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, reputation, and financial condition.
