BankUnited (BKU) 10-K2021 FY Annual report

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate," "project," "predict," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on management's current views with respect to future results, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions made by management using currently available information, such as market and industry data, historical performance and current financial trends. These statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by a forward-looking statement will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions, including those relating to the Company's operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity, including as impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the Company's underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation:

Additional factors are set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC, including this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

As used herein, the terms the "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to BankUnited, Inc. and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.

BankUnited, Inc., with total consolidated assets of $35.8 billion at December 31, 2021, is a bank holding company with one direct wholly-owned subsidiary, BankUnited, collectively, the Company. BankUnited, a national banking association headquartered in Miami Lakes, Florida, provides a full range of commercial lending and both commercial and consumer deposit services through banking centers located in Florida and the New York metropolitan area. The Bank also provides certain commercial lending and deposit products through national platforms and certain consumer deposit products through an online channel. Our core business strategy is to build a leading regional commercial and small business bank, with a distinctive value proposition based on strong service-oriented relationships, robust digital enabled customer experiences and operational excellence, with an entrepreneurial work environment that empowers employees to deliver their best. To date, we have executed our strategy primarily through organic growth.

Through the Bank's two commercial lending subsidiaries, Pinnacle and Bridge, we provide municipal, equipment and franchise financing on a national basis. Pinnacle, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, provides financing to state and local governmental entities directly and through vendor programs and alliances. Pinnacle offers a full array of financing structures including essential use equipment lease purchase and loan agreements and direct (private placement) bond refundings. Bridge, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, offers large corporate and middle market businesses equipment loans and leases including finance lease and operating lease structures through its equipment finance division. Bridge offers franchise equipment, acquisition and expansion financing through its franchise finance division.

Asset oversight committees meet at least quarterly and provide oversight of key credit governance, transactional, and credit management functions. These committees include:

Our In-house Lending Limits ranging from $75 million to $150 million, are based upon loan type and are further limited by our risk-based Hold Limits that incorporate our assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and industry exposure. These limits are significantly below our legal lending limit. These limits are reviewed periodically by the Credit Risk Management Committee and approved annually by the Board of Directors.

We offer traditional deposit products including commercial and consumer checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts and certificates of deposit with a variety of terms and rates as well as a robust suite of treasury, commercial payments and cash management services. We offer commercial and retail deposit products across our primary geographic footprint and certain commercial deposit, payments and treasury management products and services nationally. For our consumers, we also offer competitive money market and time deposit products through our online channel. Demand deposit balances are concentrated in commercial and small business accounts and our deposit growth strategy is focused on small business and middle market companies generally, as well as select industry verticals. Our service fee schedule and rates are competitive with other financial institutions in our markets.

Our primary banking markets are Florida and the Tri-State market of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, concentrated in the New York Metropolitan area. We believe both represent long-term attractive banking markets. In Florida, our focus is on urban markets including the Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville markets. We have launched lending operations in Atlanta, which are not currently material to our business operations, but are expected to be a growth opportunity. Additionally, we expect to open a full service branch in Texas in 2022.

Pinnacle and Bridge offer lending products and the Bank provides mortgage warehouse financing on a national basis. We also offer a suite of commercial deposit, treasury solutions and cash management products nationally, primarily focused on select industry verticals.

Our markets are highly competitive, containing not only a large number of community and regional banks, but also a significant presence of the country's largest commercial banks. We compete with other state, national and international banks as well as savings associations, savings banks and credit unions with physical presence in our market areas or targeting our market areas digitally for deposits and loans. In addition, we compete with financial intermediaries such as FinTech companies,

Interest rates on both loans and deposits and prices of fee-based services are significant competitive factors among financial institutions generally. Other important competitive factors include convenience, quality of customer service, availability and quality of digital offerings, community reputation, continuity of personnel and services, and, in the case of larger commercial customers, relative lending limits and ability to offer sophisticated cash management and other commercial banking services. While we continue to provide competitive interest rates on both depository and lending products, we believe that we can compete most successfully by focusing on the financial needs of growing companies and small and middle-market businesses, offering them a broad range of personalized services, digital platforms and sophisticated cash management tools tailored to their businesses.

The U.S. banking industry is highly regulated under federal and state law. These regulations have a material effect on the operations of BankUnited, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

Statutes, regulations and policies limit the activities in which we may engage and the conduct of our permitted activities and establish capital requirements with which we must comply. The regulatory framework is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, borrowers, customers and clients, the FDIC insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, and not for the protection of our stockholders or creditors. In many cases, the applicable regulatory authorities have broad enforcement power over bank holding companies, banks and their subsidiaries, including the power to impose substantial fines and other penalties for violations of laws and regulations. Further, the regulatory system imposes reporting and information collection obligations. We incur significant costs related to compliance with these laws and regulations. Banking statutes, regulations and policies are continually under review by federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies, and a change in them, including changes in how they are interpreted or implemented, could have a material impact on our business.

The material statutory and regulatory requirements that are applicable to us are summarized below. The description below is not intended to summarize all laws and regulations applicable to us.

BankUnited is a national bank. As a national bank organized under the National Bank Act, BankUnited is subject to ongoing and comprehensive supervision, regulation, examination and enforcement by the OCC.

Any entity that directly or indirectly controls a bank must be approved by the Federal Reserve Board under the BHC Act to become a BHC. BHCs are subject to regulation, inspection, examination, supervision and enforcement by the Federal Reserve Board under the BHC Act. The Federal Reserve Board's jurisdiction also extends to any company that is directly or indirectly controlled by a BHC.

BankUnited, Inc., which controls BankUnited, is a BHC and, as such, is subject to ongoing and comprehensive supervision, regulation, examination and enforcement by the Federal Reserve Board.

A principal objective of the U.S. bank regulatory system is to protect depositors by ensuring the financial safety and soundness of banking organizations. To that end, the banking regulators have broad regulatory, examination and enforcement authority. The regulators regularly examine the operations of banking organizations. In addition, banking organizations are subject to periodic reporting requirements.

The regulators have various remedies available if they determine that the financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity or other aspects of a banking organization's operations are less than satisfactory. The regulators may also take action if they determine that the banking organization or its management is violating or has violated any law or regulation. The regulators have the power to, among other things:

The FDIC may terminate a depository institution's deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution's financial condition is unsafe or unsound or that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices or has violated any applicable rule, regulation, order or condition enacted or imposed by the institution's regulatory agency. Engaging in unsafe or unsound practices or failing to comply with applicable laws, regulations and supervisory agreements could subject BankUnited, Inc., the Bank and their subsidiaries or their officers, directors and institution-affiliated parties to the remedies described above and other sanctions.

Banking laws impose notice, approval, and ongoing regulatory requirements on any stockholder or other party that seeks to acquire direct or indirect "control" of an FDIC-insured depository institution. These laws include the BHC Act and the Change in Bank Control Act. Among other things, these laws require regulatory filings by individuals or companies that seek to acquire direct or indirect "control" of an FDIC-insured depository institution. The determination of whether an investor "controls" a depository institution is based on all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the investment. As a general matter, a party is deemed to control a depository institution or other company if the party owns or controls 25% or more of any class of voting stock. Subject to rebuttal, a party may be presumed to control a depository institution or other company if the investor owns or controls 10% or more of any class of voting stock. Except under limited circumstances, BHCs are prohibited from acquiring, without prior approval, control of any other bank or BHC or substantially all the assets thereof or more than 5% of the voting shares of a bank or BHC which is not already a subsidiary.

Banking laws generally restrict the ability of BankUnited, Inc. to engage in activities other than those determined by the Federal Reserve Board to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. The GLB Act expanded the scope of permissible activities for a BHC that qualifies as a financial holding company. Under the regulations implementing the GLB Act, a financial holding company may engage in additional activities that are financial in nature or incidental or complementary to a financial activity. BankUnited, Inc. is not a financial holding company.

In addition, as a general matter, the establishment or acquisition by BankUnited, Inc. of a non-bank entity, or the initiation of a non-banking activity, requires prior regulatory approval. In approving acquisitions or the addition of activities, the Federal Reserve Board considers, among other things, whether the acquisition or the additional activities can reasonably be expected to produce benefits to the public, such as greater convenience, increased competition or gains in efficiency, that outweigh such possible adverse effects as undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or unsound banking practices.

The federal bank regulators view capital levels as important indicators of an institution's financial soundness. As a general matter, FDIC-insured depository institutions and their holding companies are required to maintain minimum capital relative to the amount and types of assets they hold. The final supervisory determination on an institution's capital adequacy is based on the regulator's assessment of numerous factors. Both BankUnited, Inc. and BankUnited are subject to regulatory capital requirements.

The Federal Reserve Board has established risk-based and leverage capital guidelines for BHCs, including BankUnited, Inc. The OCC has established substantially similar risk-based and leverage capital guidelines applicable to national banks, including BankUnited. BankUnited, Inc. and BankUnited are subject to capital rules implemented under the framework promulgated by the International Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (the "Basel III Capital Rules"). While some

The Basel III Capital Rules provide for the following minimum capital to risk-weighted assets ratios to be considered adequately capitalized:

The Basel III Capital Rules require institutions to retain a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% above these required minimum capital ratio levels. A minimum leverage ratio (tier 1 capital as a percentage of average total assets) of 4.0% is also required under the Basel III Capital Rules. Banking organizations that fail to maintain the minimum required capital conservation buffer could face restrictions on capital distributions or discretionary bonus payments to executive officers, with distributions and discretionary bonus payments being completely prohibited if no capital conservation buffer exists, or in the event of the following: (i) the banking organization's capital conservation buffer was below 2.5% at the beginning of a quarter; and (ii) its cumulative net income for the most recent quarterly period plus the preceding four calendar quarters is less than its cumulative capital distributions (as well as associated tax effects not already reflected in net income) during the same measurement period.

Under the FDIA, the federal bank regulatory agencies must take "prompt corrective action" against undercapitalized U.S. depository institutions. U.S. depository institutions are assigned one of five capital categories: "well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized," and "critically undercapitalized," and are subjected to differential regulation corresponding to the capital category within which the institution falls. As of December 31, 2021, a depository institution was deemed to be "well capitalized" if the banking institution had a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a CET1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.5% and a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater, and the institution was not subject to an order, written agreement, capital directive, or prompt corrective action directive to meet and maintain a specific level for any capital measure. Under certain circumstances, a well-capitalized, adequately-capitalized or undercapitalized institution may be treated as if the institution were in the next lower capital category. A banking institution that is undercapitalized is required to submit a capital restoration plan. Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject the institution to a variety of enforcement remedies by federal bank regulatory agencies, including: termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, restrictions on certain business activities, and appointment of the FDIC as conservator or receiver. As of December 31, 2021, BankUnited, Inc. and BankUnited were well capitalized.

All companies, including BHCs, that directly or indirectly control an insured depository institution, are required to serve as a source of strength for the depository institution. Under this requirement, BankUnited, Inc. in the future could be required to provide financial assistance to BankUnited should it experience financial distress. Such support may be required at times when, absent this statutory and Federal Reserve Policy requirement, a BHC may not be inclined to provide it.

Federal law currently imposes limitations upon certain capital distributions by national banks, such as certain cash dividends, payments to repurchase or otherwise acquire its shares, payments to stockholders of another institution in a cash-out merger and other distributions charged against capital. The Federal Reserve Board and OCC regulate all capital distributions by BankUnited directly or indirectly to BankUnited, Inc., including dividend payments.

BankUnited may not pay dividends to BankUnited, Inc. if, after paying those dividends, it would fail to meet the required minimum levels under risk-based capital guidelines and the minimum leverage capital ratio requirements, or in the event the OCC notified BankUnited that it was in need of more than normal supervision. Under the FDIA, an insured depository institution such as BankUnited is prohibited from making capital distributions, including the payment of dividends, if, after making such distribution, the institution would become "undercapitalized." Payment of dividends by BankUnited also may be restricted at any time at the discretion of the appropriate regulator if it deems the payment to constitute an unsafe and unsound banking practice.

BankUnited is subject to supervisory limits on its ability to declare or pay a dividend or reduce its capital unless certain conditions are satisfied.

In addition, it is the policy of the Federal Reserve Board that BHCs should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. The policy provides that BHCs should not maintain a level of cash dividends that undermines the BHC’s ability to serve as a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries.

Insured depository institutions are subject to restrictions on their ability to conduct transactions with affiliates and other related parties. Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act imposes quantitative limits, qualitative requirements, and collateral requirements on certain transactions by an insured depository institution with, or for the benefit of, its affiliates. Transactions covered by Section 23A include loans, extensions of credit, investment in securities issued by an affiliate, and acquisitions of assets from an affiliate. Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act requires that most types of transactions by an insured depository institution with, or for the benefit of, an affiliate be on terms at least as favorable to the insured depository institution as if the transaction were conducted with an unaffiliated third party.

The Federal Reserve Board's Regulation O and OCC regulations impose restrictions and procedural requirements in connection with the extension of credit by an insured depository institution to directors, executive officers, principal stockholders and their related interests.

The OCC currently charges fees to recover the costs of examining national banks, processing applications and other filings, and covering direct and indirect expenses in regulating national banks. Various regulatory agencies have the authority to assess additional supervision fees.

The FDIC is an independent federal agency that insures the deposits of federally insured depository institutions up to applicable limits. The FDIC also has certain regulatory, examination and enforcement powers with respect to FDIC-insured institutions. The deposits of BankUnited are insured by the FDIC up to applicable limits. As a general matter, the maximum deposit insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor.

Additionally, FDIC-insured depository institutions are required to pay deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC. The amount of a particular institution's deposit insurance assessment is based on that institution's risk classification under an FDIC risk-based assessment system. An institution's risk classification is assigned based on its capital levels and the level of supervisory concern the institution poses to the regulators.

The FDIA provides that, in the event of the "liquidation or other resolution" of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors of the institution (including the claims of the FDIC as subrogee of insured depositors) and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as a receiver will have priority over other general unsecured claims against the institution. Insured and uninsured depositors, along with the FDIC, will have priority in payment ahead of unsecured, non-deposit creditors, including BankUnited, Inc., with respect to any extensions of credit they have made to such insured depository institution.

As a national bank, BankUnited is required to hold shares of capital stock in a Federal Reserve Bank. BankUnited holds capital stock in the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. As a member of the Federal Reserve System, BankUnited has access to the Federal Reserve discount window lending and payment clearing systems.

BankUnited is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. Each FHLB provides a central credit facility primarily for its member institutions as well as other entities involved in home mortgage lending. Any advances from a FHLB must be secured by specified types of collateral. As a member of the FHLB, BankUnited is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB of Atlanta. BankUnited is in compliance with this requirement.

Under federal law, financial institutions must maintain anti-money laundering programs that include established internal policies, procedures, and controls; a designated compliance officer; an ongoing employee training program; a risk-based customer due diligence program; and testing of the program by an independent audit function. Financial institutions are also

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's OFAC is responsible for helping to ensure that U.S. entities do not engage in transactions with certain prohibited parties, as defined by various Executive Orders and Acts of Congress. OFAC publishes lists of persons, organizations, and countries suspected of money laundering or aiding, harboring or engaging in terrorist acts, known as Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. If BankUnited, Inc. or BankUnited finds a name on any transaction, account or wire transfer that is on an OFAC list, BankUnited, Inc. or BankUnited must freeze or block such account or transaction, file a suspicious activity report and notify the appropriate authorities.

Banking organizations are subject to numerous laws and regulations intended to protect consumers. These laws include, among others:

Many states and local jurisdictions have consumer protection laws analogous, and in addition to, those listed above. These federal, state and local laws regulate the manner in which financial institutions deal with customers when taking deposits, making loans, or conducting other types of transactions. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could give rise to regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by state and local attorneys general, and civil or criminal liability.

Banking organizations are subject to many federal and state laws and regulations governing the collection, use and protection of customer information. For example, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires BankUnited to periodically disclose its privacy policies and practices relating to sharing nonpublic customer information and enables retail customers to opt out of our ability to share information with unaffiliated third parties under certain circumstances. Other federal and state laws and regulations impact our ability to share certain information with affiliates and non-affiliates for marketing and/or non-marketing purposes, or to contact customers with marketing offers. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act also requires BankUnited to implement a comprehensive information security program that includes administrative, technical and physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information.

The CFPB is tasked with establishing and implementing rules and regulations under certain federal consumer protection laws with respect to the conduct of providers of certain consumer financial products and services. The CFPB has rulemaking authority over many of the statutes governing products and services offered to bank and thrift consumers. For banking organizations with assets of $10 billion or more, such as BankUnited, Inc. and the Bank, the CFPB has exclusive rule making and examination, and primary enforcement authority under certain federal consumer protection financial laws. In addition, states are permitted to adopt consumer protection laws and regulations that are stricter than those regulations promulgated by the CFPB.

The CRA is intended to encourage banks to help meet the credit needs of their service areas, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound operations. The bank regulators examine and assign each bank a public CRA rating.

The CRA requires bank regulators to take into account the bank's record in meeting the needs of its service area when considering an application by a bank to establish or relocate a branch or to conduct certain mergers or acquisitions. The Federal Reserve Board is required to consider the CRA records of a BHC's controlled banks when considering an application by the BHC to acquire a banking organization or to merge with another BHC. If BankUnited, Inc. or BankUnited applies for regulatory approval to make certain investments, the regulators will consider the CRA record of target institutions and BankUnited, Inc.'s depository institution subsidiaries. A less than satisfactory CRA rating could substantially delay approval or result in denial of an application. The regulatory agency's assessment of the institution's CRA performance is made available to the public. Following its most recent CRA performance evaluation in October 2021, BankUnited received an overall rating of "Satisfactory."

At December 31, 2021, we had 1,465 full-time employees and 30 part-time employees. None of our employees are parties to a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset and vital to our success. As such, we seek to hire and retain the best candidate for each position, without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, or other protected trait, but with an appreciation for a diversity of perspectives and experience. We have designed a compensation structure including an array of benefit plans and programs that we believe is attractive to our current and prospective employees.

Our goal is to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace where individuals are valued for their talents, feel free to express themselves and are empowered to reach their fullest potential. At December 31, 2021, 33% of the members of our Board of Directors were female and 44% were of diverse nationality or ethnicity. Approximately 58% of our workforce was female while ethnic and racial minorities constituted 60% of our workforce at December 31, 2021.

Through our iCARE™ initiative, which stands for Inclusive Community of Advocacy, Respect and Equality, employees are encouraged to participate in interactive events, community forums, affinity groups, an enterprise-wide mentorship program and multiple volunteer opportunities. BankUnited has partnered with five universities in our local markets to provide scholarships and internship programs, with a primary focus on minority students in their junior and senior years. We have also established the ATOM Pink Tank program in partnership with Florida International University; a six-month leadership development program which creates opportunities for female students in STEM to build upon their technical and leadership skills through participation in a series of roundtable discussions, a research challenge, and mentorship with senior-level executives from the Bank. A total of 16 students participated in the first Pink Tank program and three of these students were offered temporary or permanent roles with the Company. We offer diversity and inclusion training to all of our employees and all employees are given paid time to participate in volunteer opportunities in their communities and the communities we serve. We launched WomenEmpowered@BankUnited ("WE"), a community for women at BankUnited. In 2021, WE held two interactive events for all women at the Bank, including our female directors, and created eight affinity groups. To oversee the further evolution of the iCARE™ program, we have formed an iCARE™ Council consisting of 14 employees with diverse backgrounds and perspectives across different divisions in our organization.

BankUnited prioritizes employee health by focusing on wellness initiatives that incorporate mental, physical, intellectual, occupational, social, emotional, financial, cultural and spiritual components of wellness. We offer medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability insurance coverage, an employee assistance program, supplemental insurance plans, healthcare concierge services and parental leave for all employees. Our Wellness Program provides employees with on-site health screenings, eye exams, mammograms, vaccine clinics, nutrition consultations, music and art therapy, meditation sessions, live and virtual learning opportunities with area wellness experts, first aid, CPR, and safety courses, an on-site fitness center and on-site cafe. BankUnited received the Healthiest Employer Award from the South Florida Business Journal in 2021 and 2020. In 2021, BankUnited was listed among America's Top 100 Healthiest Employers by Springbuk HR Technology and was awarded the Worksite Wellness Award by the Florida Department of Health. For participation in our Wellness Program, we offer our team members a reduced premium rate for medical insurance coverage.

We have a Company sponsored 401(k) Plan, a tuition reimbursement program, flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts with Company contributions.

Through our Go for More™ Academy, we provide employees with training and resources designed to increase skillsets and product knowledge, develop leadership, promote collaboration and facilitate career development. Examples of our leadership development programs include our LEAD program for senior leaders, Rising Leaders Program for middle managers and the EXCELerate career development program for individual contributors. All of our employees are required to participate in compliance and cyber-security training.

We strongly believe that communication and employee engagement are keys to our success. Toward this end, we utilize a variety of channels to facilitate open and direct dialogue and communication, including: monthly CEO update video calls, weekly newsletters, town halls, social media updates and employee surveys.

In recognition of their hard work and efforts in the challenging environment faced by the Company over the past two years, the Company paid a special $5,000 bonus in the fourth quarter of 2021 to substantially all of its employees, regardless of their position in the organization.

Our website address is www.bankunited.com. Our electronic filings with the SEC (including all Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and if applicable, amendments to those reports) are available free of charge on the website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information posted on our website is not incorporated into this Annual Report. In addition, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports and other information filed with the SEC. The website can be accessed at http://www.sec.gov.

An investment in our common stock is subject to risks inherent in our business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us are described below. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference herein. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair our business operations.

If any of the events described in the risk factors should actually occur, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our securities could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The pandemic resulted in governmental authorities implementing numerous measures attempting to contain the spread and impact of COVID-19 such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders, and limitations on business activities, including in major markets in which the Company and its clients are located or do business. Vaccines have become available, most of these restrictions have been lifted or moderated and we believe economic indicators currently point to a continued recovery; however, the pandemic and these precautionary measures negatively impacted the global and domestic economies, including in the Company's primary market areas. There is no assurance that these or similar measures will not be reinstated, particularly if the trajectory of the virus worsens.

This macroeconomic environment has had, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on the Company’s business and operations as well as on the business and operations of the Company's borrowers, customers and counterparties. The actual, expected or potential impact of the pandemic resulted in reduction in the level of demand for certain of the Company's products and services, particularly certain lending products. While there has been significant economic recovery and we believe that economic indicators currently point to that recovery continuing, should economic and social impacts of COVID-19 persist or further deteriorate, the macroeconomic environment could have a further adverse effect on our business and operations, including, but not limited to, decreased demand for the Company’s products and services, protracted periods of lower interest rates which may negatively impact the Company's net interest margin, loss of income resulting from forbearances, deferrals and fee waivers provided by the Company to its borrowers, increased credit losses due to deterioration in the financial condition of our borrowers including declining asset and collateral values, which may increase our provision for credit losses and net charge-offs and possible constraints on liquidity and capital. The business operations of the Company may also be disrupted if significant portions of its workforce or those of vendors or third-party service providers are unable to work effectively, including because of illness, quarantines, government actions, restrictions in connection with the pandemic, and technology limitations and/or disruptions. The Company also faces an increased risk of litigation and governmental and regulatory scrutiny as a result of the effects of the pandemic on market and economic conditions and actions taken by governmental authorities in response to those conditions.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the Company may be subject to governmental vaccination and mask-wearing mandates. A recent vaccination mandate, requiring employees to show proof they have been fully vaccinated or provide a COVID-19 test at least once a week, was overturned by the Supreme Court. While current and future mandates are being challenged in state and federal courts, it is difficult to predict the full impact these mandates, if implemented, on our workforce, business and operations.

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as its regulatory capital ratios and liquidity, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic. Moreover, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may heighten many of the other risks described in this Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K including, but not limited to, financial market conditions, economic conditions, credit risk, interest rate risk, risk of security breaches and technology changes.

Optimizing risk adjusted returns, continued organic, diversified growth of our loan and deposit customer base, and improving the deposit mix are essential components of our business strategy. Commercial and consumer banking, for both loan and deposit products, in our primary markets is highly competitive. Our ability to achieve profitable organic growth is also dependent on economic conditions, on the interest rate environment, which is in turn dependent to a large degree on fiscal and monetary policy, and on depositor behavior and preferences. There is no guarantee that we will be able to successfully or profitably execute our fundamental business strategy.

While acquisitions have not historically been a primary component of our business strategy, we opportunistically consider potential acquisitions of financial institutions and complementary non-bank businesses. There are risks that may inhibit our ability to successfully execute such acquisitions, such as competition with other potential acquirers, the ability to obtain the

Growth, whether organic or through acquisition is dependent on the availability of capital and funding. Our ability to raise capital through the sale of stock or debt securities may be affected by market conditions, economic conditions or regulatory changes. There is no assurance that sufficient capital or funding to enable growth will be available in the future, upon acceptable terms or at all.

The primary markets we currently serve are Florida and the New York metropolitan area. Commercial and consumer banking in these markets is highly competitive. Our markets contain not only a large number of community and regional banks, but also a significant presence of the country's largest commercial banks. We compete with other state and national banks as well as savings and loan associations, savings banks and credit unions located in Florida, New York and adjoining states as well as those targeting our markets digitally for deposits and loans. In addition, we compete with financial intermediaries, such as FinTech companies, consumer finance companies, marketplace lenders, mortgage banking companies, insurance companies, securities firms, mutual funds and several government agencies as well as major retailers, all actively engaged in providing various types of loans and other financial services. The variety of entities providing financial services to businesses and consumers, as well as the technologies and delivery channels through which those services are provided are rapidly evolving.

The financial services industry is likely to become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Banks, securities firms and insurance companies can merge under the umbrella of a financial holding company, which can offer virtually any type of financial service, including banking, securities underwriting, insurance (both agency and underwriting) and merchant banking. Increased competition among financial services companies may adversely affect our ability to market our products and services. Technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for banks to compete in our markets without a retail footprint by offering competitive rates, as well as non-banks, including online providers and a growing number of FinTech companies, to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks. Many of our competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and may have lower cost structures. Additionally, due to their size or particular technology capabilities, many competitors may offer a broader range of products and services or may be able to offer better pricing for certain products and services than we can.

Our ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, including:

Failure to perform well in any of these areas could significantly weaken our competitive position, which could adversely affect our growth and profitability, which, in turn, could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Crypto-currencies and blockchain technology eventually may be the foundation for greatly enhancing transactional security throughout the banking industry, but also may eventually greatly reduce or alter the need for banks as financial deposit-keepers and intermediaries.

We believe that our continued growth and future success will depend in large part on the skills of our senior management team and other key personnel. We believe our senior management team possesses valuable knowledge about and experience in the banking industry and that their knowledge and relationships could be difficult to replicate. The composition of our senior management team and our other key personnel may change over time. Although our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer has entered into an employment agreement with us, he may not complete the term of his employment agreement or renew it upon expiration. Other members of our senior management team are not subject to employment agreements. Our success also depends on the experience of other key personnel and on their relationships with the customers and communities they serve. The loss of service of one or more of our executive officers or key personnel, or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

Concerns over the long-term impacts of climate change have led and will continue to lead to governmental efforts to mitigate those impacts. Consumers and businesses may change their behavior as a result of these concerns. We and our customers may need to respond to new laws and regulations as well as consumer and business preferences resulting from climate change concerns. We and our customers may face cost increases, asset value reductions and operating process changes. The impact on our customers will likely vary depending on their specific attributes, including reliance on or role in carbon intensive activities. Among the impacts to us could be a drop in demand for our products and services, particularly in certain sectors. In addition, we could face reductions in creditworthiness on the part of some customers or in the value of assets securing loans. Our efforts to take these risks into account in making lending and other decisions, including by increasing our business with climate-friendly companies, may not be effective in protecting us from the negative impact of new laws and regulations or changes in consumer or business behavior. One of our primary market areas is the state of Florida, particularly in coastal areas; as such, we may have an increased vulnerability to the ultimate impacts of climate change as compared to certain of our competitors.

There is increased focus, including from governmental organizations, investors, customers and employees on ESG issues such as environmental stewardship, climate change, diversity and inclusion, racial justice and workplace culture and conduct. We have expended and may further expend resources to monitor, report and adopt policies and practices that we believe will improve compliance with our evolving ESG goals and plans, as well as third party imposed ESG related standards and expectations. If our ESG practices do not meet evolving rules and regulations or investor or other stakeholder expectations and standards, then our reputation, our ability to attract or retain leading experts, employees and other professionals, and our ability to attract new customers and investors could be negatively impacted. Similarly, our failure or perceived failure to pursue or fulfill our current or future goals, targets and objectives or to satisfy various reporting standards within the timelines we announce, or at all, could also have similar negative impacts.

In addition, organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters, and unfavorable ratings of the Company may lead to negative investor sentiment, stock price fluctuations and the diversion of investment to other companies.

As a lender, we are exposed to the risk that our customers will be unable to repay their loans according to their terms and that the collateral securing the payment of their loans, if any, may be insufficient to ensure repayment. Credit losses are inherent in the business of making loans. We are also subject to credit risk that is embedded in our securities portfolio. Our credit risk

We maintain an ACL that represents management's estimate of current expected credit losses, or the amount of amortized cost basis not expected to be collected, on our loan portfolio and the amount of credit loss impairment on our available for sale securities portfolio. Determining the amount of the ACL is complex and requires extensive judgment by management about matters that are inherently subjective and uncertain. The measurement of expected credit losses encompasses information about historical events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. Factors that may be considered in determining the amount of the ACL include but are not necessarily limited to, product or collateral type, industry, geography, internal risk rating, credit characteristics such as credit scores or collateral values, delinquency rates, historical or expected credit loss patterns and other quantitative and qualitative factors considered by management to have an impact on the adequacy of the ACL and the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. The adequacy of the ACL is also dependent on the effectiveness of the underlying models used in determining the estimate.

If management's assumptions and judgments prove to be incorrect, our credit loss models prove to be inaccurate or our processes and controls governing the determination of the amount of the ACL prove ineffective, our ACL may be insufficient and we may be required to increase our ACL. In addition, regulatory authorities periodically review our ACL and may require us to increase our provision for credit losses or recognize further loan charge-offs, based on judgments different than those of our management. Adverse economic conditions could make management's estimate even more complex and difficult to determine. Any increase in our ACL will result in a decrease in net income and capital and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. See Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Analysis of the Allowance for Credit Losses" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Allowance for Credit Losses."

In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with clients and counterparties, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of clients and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. We also may rely on representations of clients and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and, with respect to financial statements, on reports of independent auditors.

A material portion of our loans are secured by residential or commercial real estate. The ability of our borrowers to repay their obligations and our financial results may therefore be adversely affected by changes in real estate values. Commercial real estate valuations in particular are highly subjective, as they are based on many assumptions. Such valuations can be significantly affected over relatively short periods of time by changes in business climate, economic conditions, demographic and market trends such as the potential impact of the ongoing shift to on-line shopping on retail properties or the recent trend toward remote work on office properties, occupancy rates, the level of rents, regulatory changes such as recent changes to New York rent regulation, interest rates and, in many cases, the results of operations of businesses and other occupants of the real property. The properties securing income-producing investor real estate loans may not be fully leased at the origination of the loan. A borrower's ability to repay these loans is dependent upon stabilization of the properties and additional leasing through the life of the loan or the borrower's successful operation of a business. Weak economic conditions may impair a borrower's business operations, lead to elevated vacancy rates or lease turnover, slow the execution of new leases or result in falling rents. These factors could result in further deterioration in the fundamentals underlying the commercial real estate market and the deterioration in value of some of our loans. Similarly, residential real estate valuations can be impacted by housing trends, demographic trends, the availability of financing at reasonable interest rates, the level of supply of available housing, governmental policy regarding housing and housing finance and general economic conditions affecting consumers. Real estate values may also be impacted by weather events and other man-made or natural disasters, or ultimately, by the impact of climate change.

We make credit and reserve decisions based on current real estate values, the current conditions of borrowers, properties or projects and our expectations for the future. If real estate values or fundamentals underlying the commercial and residential real estate markets decline, we could experience higher delinquencies and charge-offs beyond that provided for in the ACL.

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by residential or commercial real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans, in which case, we are exposed to the risks and costs inherent in the ownership of real estate. The amount that we, as a mortgagee, may realize after a default is dependent upon factors outside of our control, including:

Unlike some larger financial institutions that are more geographically diversified, our operations are concentrated in Florida and the New York tri-state area. Additionally, a significant portion of our loans secured by real estate are secured by commercial and residential properties in these geographic regions. Accordingly, the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, and the value of the collateral securing such loans, may be significantly affected by economic conditions in these regions or by changes in the local real estate markets. Disruption or deterioration in economic conditions in the markets we serve could result in one or more of the following:

Our equipment leasing business is exposed to asset risk resulting from ownership of the equipment on operating lease. Asset risk arises from fluctuations in supply and demand for the underlying leased equipment. We are exposed to the risk that, at the end of the lease term or in the event of early termination, the value of the asset will be lower than expected, resulting in reduced future lease income over the remaining life of the asset or a lower sale value. Demand for and the valuation of the leased equipment is sensitive to shifts in general and industry specific economic and market trends, governmental regulations and changes in trade flows from specific events such as natural or man-made disasters. A significant portion of our equipment under operating lease consists of railcars and other equipment used directly or indirectly in oil and gas drilling activities; future

Our business and financial performance are impacted by market interest rates and movements in those rates. Since a high percentage of our assets and liabilities are interest bearing or otherwise sensitive in value to changes in interest rates, changes in rates, in the shape of the yield curve or in spreads between different types of rates can have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations and the values of our assets and liabilities. Changes in the value of investment securities available for sale and certain derivatives directly impact equity through adjustments of accumulated other comprehensive income and changes in the values of certain other assets and liabilities may directly or indirectly impact earnings. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors over which we have no control and which we may not be able to anticipate adequately, including general economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of various governmental bodies, particularly the Federal Reserve Board.

Our earnings and cash flows depend to a great extent upon the level of our net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on loans, investments and other interest earning assets, and the interest we pay on interest bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. The flattening of the yield curve and tightening credit spreads have limited our ability to add higher yielding assets to the balance sheet. If the flat rate environment persists beyond current forecasts, or the curve flattens further or inverts, downward pressure on our net interest margin may be exacerbated, negatively impacting our net interest income in the future. Changes in interest rates can increase or decrease our net interest income, because different types of assets and liabilities may react differently, and at different times, to market interest rate changes. When interest bearing liabilities mature or reprice more quickly than interest earning assets in a period of rising rates, an increase in interest rates could reduce net interest income. When interest earning assets mature or reprice more quickly than interest bearing liabilities, falling interest rates could reduce net interest income. An increase in interest rates may, among other things, reduce the demand for loans and lower-priced deposit products, decrease loan repayment rates and negatively affect borrowers' ability to meet their obligations. A decrease in the general level of interest rates may affect us through, among other things, increased prepayments on our loan and mortgage-backed securities portfolios. Competitive conditions may also impact the interest rates we are able to earn on new loans or are required to pay on deposits, negatively impacting both our ability to grow deposits and interest earning assets and our net interest income.

We attempt to manage interest rate risk by adjusting the rates, maturity, repricing, mix and balances of the different types of interest-earning assets and interest bearing liabilities and through the use of hedging instruments; however, interest rate risk management techniques are not precise, and we may not be able to successfully manage our interest rate risk. Our ability to manage interest rate risk could be negatively impacted by longer fixed rate terms on loans being added to our portfolio or by unpredictable behavior of depositors in various interest rate environments. A rapid or unanticipated increase or decrease in interest rates, changes in the shape of the yield curve or in spreads between rates could have an adverse effect on our net interest margin and results of operations.

The FCA, which regulates LIBOR, advanced the process of phasing out LIBOR by discontinuing the one-week and two-month LIBOR tenors effective December 31, 2021. The remaining tenors will be discontinued effective June 30, 2023. The Company has implemented SOFR as its preferred alternative to LIBOR, and continues to evaluate the use of other alternative reference rates. Although the full impact of transition remains unclear, this change may have an adverse impact on the value of, return on and trading markets more globally for a broad array of financial products, including any LIBOR-based securities, loans, borrowings and derivatives that are included in our financial assets and liabilities. The discontinuation of LIBOR may create uncertainty or differences in the calculation of the applicable interest rate or payment amount depending on the terms of the governing instruments, which may also impact our net interest income. In addition, LIBOR may perform differently during the phase-out period than in the past which could result in lower interest earned on certain assets and a reduction in the value of certain assets. When LIBOR rates are no longer available, and we are required to implement substitute indices for the calculation of interest rates under our loan agreements with our borrowers, we may incur additional expenses in effecting the transition, and may be subject to disputes or litigation with customers over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR of the substitute indices, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Banking

From time to time, we may launch new lines of business or offer new banking products and services, which offerings may significantly increase operational, credit or reputational risks. Significant effort and resources may be required to manage and oversee the successful development, implementation, launch or scaling of new offerings, which effort and resources may be diverted from other of our products or services. While we invest significant time and resources in developing, marketing and managing new products and services, there are material uncertainties that could adversely impact estimated implementation and operational costs or projected adoption, sales, revenues or profits, and no assurance can be given that any new offerings will be

We are exposed to many types of operational risks, including the risk of fraud or theft by employees or outsiders and operational errors, including clerical or record-keeping errors or those resulting from ineffective processes and controls or faulty or disabled technology. The occurrence of any of these events could cause us to suffer financial loss, face regulatory action and suffer damage to our reputation.

Because the nature of the financial services business involves a high volume of transactions, certain errors may be repeated or compounded before they are discovered and successfully rectified. Our necessary dependence upon automated systems to record and process transactions and our large transaction volume may further increase the risk that technical flaws or employee tampering or manipulation of those systems will result in losses that are difficult to detect. The occurrence of any of these events could result in a diminished ability to operate our business as well as potential liability to customers and counterparties, reputational damage and regulatory intervention, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our business is highly dependent on the successful and uninterrupted functioning of our information technology and telecommunications systems. We rely on these systems to process new and renewed loans, gather deposits, process customer and other transactions, provide customer service, facilitate collections, and share data across our organization. The failure of these systems could interrupt our operations. We may be subject to disruptions of our information technology and telecommunications systems arising from events that are wholly or partially beyond our control which may give rise to disruption of service to customers. Because our information technology and telecommunications systems interface with and depend on third-party systems, we could experience service denials if demand for such services exceeds capacity or such third-party systems fail or experience interruptions. If sustained or repeated, a system failure or service denial could result in a deterioration of our ability to process new and renewed loans, gather deposits, process customer transactions, provide customer service, compromise our ability to operate effectively, damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, and/or subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We rely on third parties to provide key components of our business infrastructure and major systems including, but not limited to, core banking systems such as loan servicing and deposit transaction processing systems, cloud based data storage, our electronic funds transfer transaction processing, cash management, online banking services, and computer and networking infrastructure. We have migrated a significant portion of our core information technology systems, data storage and customer-facing applications to private and public cloud infrastructure platforms. If we fail to administer these new environments in a well-managed, secure and effective manner, or if these platforms become unavailable or do not meet their service level agreements for any reason, we may experience unplanned service disruption or unforeseen costs which could result in material harm to our business, financial condition and results of operations. We must successfully develop and maintain information, financial reporting, disclosure, data-protection and other controls adapted to our reliance on outside platforms and providers. In addition, service providers could experience system breakdowns or failures, outages, downtime, cyber-attacks, adverse changes to financial condition, bankruptcy, or other adverse conditions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation. While we have an established third party risk management framework and select and monitor the performance of third-party vendors carefully, we do not control their actions. Any problems caused by these third parties, including those resulting from disruptions in communication services provided by a vendor, failure of a vendor to handle current or higher volumes, failure of a vendor to provide services for any reason or poor performance of services, or the termination of a third-party software license or service agreement on which any of these systems is based, could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to our customers and otherwise conduct our business. In many cases, our operations rely heavily on the secure processing, storage and transmission of information and the monitoring of a large number of transactions on a minute-by-minute basis, and even a short interruption in service could have significant consequences. Financial or operational difficulties of a third-party vendor could also adversely affect our operations if those difficulties interfere with the vendor's

In the normal course of our business, we collect, process, and retain sensitive and confidential client and customer information. Despite the security measures we have in place, our facilities and systems may be vulnerable to cyber-attacks, security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors, or other similar events, especially because, in the case of any intentional breaches, the techniques used change frequently or are not recognized until launched, and cyber-attacks can originate from a wide variety of sources, including third parties.

We provide our customers the ability to bank remotely, including online, via mobile devices and over the telephone. The secure transmission of confidential information over the internet and other remote channels is a critical element of remote banking. Our network could be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, phishing schemes and other security breaches. In addition to cyber-attacks or other security breaches involving the theft of sensitive and confidential information, hackers have engaged in attacks against financial institutions, particularly denial of service attacks, designed to disrupt key business services such as customer-facing websites. We may be required to spend significant capital and other resources to protect against the threat of security breaches and computer viruses, or to alleviate problems caused by security breaches or viruses. Any cyber-attack or other security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential customer information could severely damage our reputation, erode confidence in the security of our systems, products and services, expose us to the risk of litigation and liability, disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business.

In addition, we interact with and rely on financial counterparties for whom we process transactions and who process transactions for us and rely on other third parties, as discussed above. Each of these third parties may be targets of the same types of fraudulent activity, computer break-ins, and other cyber security breaches described above. The cyber security measures that they maintain to mitigate the risk of such activity may be different from our own and, in many cases, we do not have any control over the types of security measures they may choose to implement. We may also incur costs as a result of data or security breaches of third parties with whom we do not have a significant direct relationship. As a result of financial entities and technology systems becoming more interdependent and complex, a cyber incident, information breach or loss, or technology failure that compromises the systems or data of one or more financial entities could have a material impact on counterparties or other market participants, including us.

Concerns regarding the effectiveness of our measures to safeguard personal information, or even the perception that such measures are inadequate, could cause us to lose customers or potential customers for our products and services and thereby reduce our revenues.

We have taken measures to implement safeguards to support our operations, but our ability to conduct business may be adversely affected by any significant disruptions to us or to third parties with whom we interact. We have a comprehensive set of information security policies and protocols and a dedicated information security division that reports to the Chief Information Officer, with oversight by the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors. The Risk Committee receives regular reporting related to information security risks and the monitoring and management of those risks.

Financial products and services have become increasingly technology driven. Our ability to meet the needs of our customers competitively, and in a cost-efficient manner, is dependent on our ability to keep pace with and pro-actively and quickly respond to technological advances and to invest in new technology as it becomes available. Many of our larger competitors have greater resources to invest in technology than we do and may be better equipped to market new technology-driven products and services. The widespread adoption of new technologies, including, but not limited to, digitally-enabled products and delivery channels and payment systems, could require us to incur substantial expenditures to modify or adapt our existing products and services. Our failure to respond to the impact of technological change could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to engage in routine funding and other transactions could be adversely affected by the stability and actions of other financial services institutions. Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, servicing,

Adverse developments affecting the overall strength and soundness of the financial services industry as a whole and third parties with whom we have important relationships could have a negative impact on our business even if we are not subject to the same adverse developments.

We operate in a highly regulated environment, and are subject to comprehensive statutory, legal and regulatory regimes, see Item 1 "Business—Regulation and Supervision." Intended to protect customers, depositors, the DIF, and the overall financial stability of the United States, these laws and regulations, among other matters, prescribe minimum capital requirements, impose limitations on the business activities in which we can engage, limit the dividend or distributions that BankUnited can pay to BankUnited, Inc., restrict the ability of institutions to guarantee our debt, and impose specific accounting requirements on us. Banking regulators may also from time to time focus on issues that may impact the pace of growth of our business, our ability to execute our business strategy and our operations. Compliance with laws and regulations can be difficult and costly, and changes to laws and regulations often impose additional compliance costs. In addition, federal banking agencies, including the OCC, Federal Reserve Board and CFPB, periodically conduct examinations of our business, including compliance with laws and regulations. Our failure to comply with these laws and regulations, even if the failure follows good faith effort or reflects a difference in interpretation, could subject us to restrictions on our business activities, fines, remedial actions, administrative orders and other penalties, any of which could adversely affect our results of operations and capital base.

Further, federal, state and local legislators and regulators regularly introduce measures or take actions that would modify the regulatory requirements applicable to banks, their holding companies and other financial institutions. Changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policies could adversely affect the operating environment for the Company in substantial and unpredictable ways, increase our cost of doing business, impose new restrictions on the way in which we conduct our operations or add significant operational constraints that might impair our profitability. We cannot predict whether new legislation will be enacted and, if enacted, the effect that it, or any implementing regulations, would have on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Changes in political administrations are likely to introduce new or modified regulations and related regulatory guidance and supervisory oversight. Newly enacted laws may significantly impact the regulatory framework in which we operate and may require material changes to our business processes in short timeframes. Inability to meet new statutory requirements within the prescribed periods could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as impact our reputation.

We may identify opportunities to complement and expand our business by pursuing strategic acquisitions of financial institutions and other complementary businesses. We must generally receive federal regulatory approval before we can acquire an institution or business. In determining whether to approve a proposed acquisition, federal banking regulators will consider, among other factors, the effect of the acquisition on competition, our financial condition, our future prospects, and the impact of the proposal on U.S. financial stability. The regulators also review current and projected capital ratios and levels, the competence, experience, and integrity of management and its record of compliance with laws and regulations, the convenience and needs of the communities to be served (including the acquiring institution's record of compliance under the CRA) and the effectiveness of the acquiring institution in combating money laundering activities. Such regulatory approvals may not be granted on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. We may also be required to sell or close branches as a condition to receiving regulatory approval, which condition may not be acceptable to us or, if acceptable to us, may reduce the benefit of any acquisition.

The Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, and other laws and regulations require financial institutions, among other duties, to institute and maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and file suspicious activity and currency transaction reports as appropriate. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, established by the U.S. Treasury Department to administer the Bank Secrecy Act, 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 Internal Revenue Service. There is also increased scrutiny of compliance with the sanctions programs and rules administered and enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

In order to comply with regulations, guidelines and examination procedures in this area, we dedicate significant resources to the ongoing execution of our anti-money laundering program, continuously monitor and enhance as necessary our policies and procedures and maintain a robust automated anti-money laundering software solution. If our policies, procedures and systems are deemed deficient or the policies, procedures and systems of financial institutions that we may acquire in the future are deemed deficient, we could be subject to liability, including fines and regulatory actions such as restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and the necessity to obtain regulatory approvals to proceed with certain aspects of our business plan, including our expansion plans.

The CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and other fair lending laws and regulations impose nondiscriminatory lending requirements on financial institutions. The Department of Justice and other federal agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A successful challenge to an institution's performance under the CRA or fair lending laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including the required payment of damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, imposition of restrictions on mergers and acquisitions activity, and restrictions on expansion activity. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution's performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation.

Insured depository institutions such as BankUnited are required to pay deposit insurance premiums to the FDIC, which maintains a DIF. If the current level of deposit premiums is insufficient for the DIF to meet its funding requirements in the future, special assessments or increases in deposit insurance premiums may be required. A change in BankUnited's risk classification within the FDIC's risk-based assessment framework could also result in increased deposit insurance premiums. We are generally unable to control the amount of premiums that we are required to pay for FDIC insurance. If there are additional bank or financial institution failures in the future, we may be required to pay FDIC premiums higher than current levels. Any future additional assessments or increases in FDIC insurance premiums may adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

Our business requires the collection and retention of large volumes of customer data, including personally identifiable information in various information systems that we maintain and in those maintained by third parties with whom we contract to provide data services. We are subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations governing the privacy and protection of personal information of individuals (including customers, employees, suppliers and other third parties). For example, our business is subject to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which, among other things: (i) imposes certain limitations on our ability to share nonpublic personal information about our customers with non-affiliated third parties; (ii) requires that we provide certain disclosures to customers about our information collection, sharing and security practices and afford customers the right to “opt out” of any information sharing by us with non-affiliated third parties (with certain exceptions); and (iii) requires that we develop, implement and maintain a written comprehensive information security program containing appropriate safeguards based on our size and complexity, the nature and scope of our activities, and the sensitivity of customer information we process, as well as plans for responding to data security breaches. Various state and federal banking regulators and states have also enacted data security breach notification requirements with varying levels of individual, consumer, regulatory or law enforcement notification in certain circumstances in the event of a security breach. Ensuring that our collection, use, transfer and storage of personal information complies with all applicable laws and regulations increases our costs. Furthermore, we may not be able to ensure that all of our customers, suppliers, counterparties and other third parties have appropriate controls in place to protect the confidentiality of the information that they exchange with us, particularly where such information is

Our ability to originate new business and maintain existing customer relationships is highly dependent upon customer and other external perceptions of our business practices. Adverse perceptions regarding our business practices could damage our reputation in the customer, funding and capital markets, leading to difficulties in generating and maintaining business as well as obtaining financing. Negative public opinion can result from our actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities, including lending practices, employee relations, corporate governance and acquisitions and from actions taken by government regulators and community organizations in response to those activities. Adverse developments with respect to external perceptions regarding the practices of our competitors, or our industry as a whole, or the general economic climate may also adversely impact our reputation. These perceptions about us could cause our business to be negatively affected and exacerbate the other risks that we face. In addition, adverse reputational impacts on third parties with whom we have important relationships may adversely impact our reputation. Adverse reputational impacts or events may also increase our litigation risk.

Our enterprise risk management framework is designed to identify and minimize or mitigate the risks to which we are subject, as well as any losses stemming from such risks. Although we seek to identify, measure, monitor, report, and control our exposure to such risks, and employ a broad and diversified set of risk monitoring and mitigation techniques in the process, those techniques are inherently limited in their ability to anticipate the existence or development of risks that are currently unknown and unanticipated. The ineffectiveness of our enterprise risk management framework in mitigating the impact of known risks or the emergence of previously unknown or unanticipated risks may result in our incurring losses in the future that could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

Deterioration in business or economic conditions generally, or more specifically in the principal markets in which we do business, could have one or more of the following adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations:

Our accounting policies and estimates are fundamental to our reported financial condition and results of operations. Management is required to make difficult, complex or subjective judgments in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies. In some cases, management must select an accounting policy or method from two or more alternatives, any of which may be reasonable under the circumstances, yet may result in us reporting materially different results than would have been reported under a different alternative.

From time to time, the FASB and SEC may change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes can be difficult to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard

Tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and relevant governmental taxing authorities, which are sometimes subject to prolonged evaluation periods until a final resolution is reached. In establishing a provision for income tax expense, filing returns and establishing the value of deferred tax assets and liabilities for purposes of its financial statements, the Company must make judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws. If the judgments, estimates and assumptions the Company uses in establishing provisions, preparing its tax returns or establishing the value of deferred tax assets and liabilities for purposes of its financial statements are subsequently found to be incorrect, there could be a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and retain key people. Due to competition and other factors, we may have difficulty recruiting qualified personnel, including uniquely qualified personnel to ensure the continued growth and successful operation of our business. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our key personnel could have an adverse impact on our business.

BankUnited's corporate headquarters is located in leased office space in Miami Lakes, Florida. We also lease office space in Manhattan and in Melville, Long Island. Our subsidiaries lease office space in Baltimore, Maryland and Scottsdale, Arizona. At December 31, 2021, we provided banking services at 67 banking centers located in Florida and New York. We believe that our facilities are in good condition and are adequate to meet our operating needs for the foreseeable future.

See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for more information on our premises and equipment.

The Company is involved as plaintiff or defendant in various legal actions arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, based upon advice of legal counsel, the likelihood is remote that the impact of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, would be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

None.

Shares of our common stock trade on the NYSE under the symbol "BKU". The last sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on February 22, 2022 was $43.45 per share. As of February 22, 2022, there were 562 stockholders of record of our common stock.

The information set forth under the caption "Equity Compensation Plan Information" in our definitive proxy statement for the Company's 2022 annual meeting of stockholders (the "Proxy Statement") is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share on its common stock for each of the four quarters of 2021 and 2020, resulting in total dividends for 2021 and 2020 of $83.4 million and $88.1 million, respectively; or $0.92 per common share for each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Dividends from the Bank are the principal source of funds for the payment of dividends on our common stock. The Bank is subject to certain restrictions that may limit its ability to pay dividends to us. See "Business—Regulation and Supervision—Regulatory Limits on Dividends and Distributions". The quarterly dividends on our common stock are subject to the discretion of our board of directors and dependent on, among other things, our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

The graph set forth below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on an initial investment of $100 in our common stock between December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2021, with the comparative cumulative total return of such amount on the S&P 500 Index, the S&P 500 Bank Index and the KBW Nasdaq Regional Bank Index over the same period. Reinvestment of all dividends is assumed to have been made in our common stock.

The following discussion and analysis presents the more significant factors that affected our financial condition as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and results of operations for each of the years then ended. Refer to Item 7 "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2021 for a discussion and analysis of the more significant factors that affected periods prior to 2020.

In evaluating our financial performance, we consider the level of and trends in net interest income, the net interest margin, the cost of deposits, levels and composition of non-interest income and non-interest expense, performance ratios such as the return on average equity and return on average assets and asset quality ratios, including the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans, non-performing assets to total assets, trends in criticized and classified assets and portfolio delinquency and charge-off trends. We consider growth in and the composition of earning assets and deposits, trends in funding mix and cost of funds. We analyze these ratios and trends against our own historical performance, our budgeted performance and the financial condition and performance of comparable financial institutions.

Performance highlights include:

Our vision is to be the leading regional commercial and small business bank, with a distinctive value proposition based on strong service-oriented relationships, robust digital enabled customer experiences, and operational excellence with an entrepreneurial work environment that empowers employees to deliver their best. Management has identified the following strategic priorities for our Company:

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and follow general practices within the banking industry. Application of these principles requires management to make complex and subjective estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable and appropriate under current circumstances. These assumptions form the basis for our judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from independent, objective sources. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis. Use of alternative assumptions may have resulted in significantly different estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Accounting policies are an integral part of our financial statements. A thorough understanding of these accounting policies is essential when reviewing our reported results of operations and our financial position. We believe that the critical accounting policies and estimates discussed below involve a heightened level of management judgment due to the complexity, subjectivity and sensitivity involved in their application.

Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements contains a further discussion of our significant accounting policies.

The ACL represents management's estimate of current expected credit losses, or the amount of amortized cost basis not expected to be collected, on our loan portfolio and the amount of credit loss impairment on our AFS securities portfolio. Determining the amount of the ACL is considered a critical accounting estimate because of its complexity and because it requires extensive judgment and estimation. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to change that may have a material impact on the amount of the ACL include:

Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements describes the methodology used to determine the ACL.

See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

Net interest income is the difference between interest earned on interest earning assets and interest incurred on interest bearing liabilities and is the primary driver of core earnings. Net interest income is impacted by the mix of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, the ratio of interest earning assets to total assets and of interest bearing liabilities to total funding sources, movements in market interest rates, the shape of the yield curve, levels of non-performing assets and pricing pressure from competitors.

The mix of interest earning assets is influenced by loan demand, market and competitive conditions in our primary lending markets, by management's continual assessment of the rate of return and relative risk associated with various classes of earning assets and liquidity considerations. The mix of interest bearing liabilities is influenced by the Company's liquidity profile, management's assessment of the desire for lower cost funding sources weighed against relationships with customers and growth expectations, our ability to attract and retain core deposit relationships, competition for deposits in the Company's markets and the availability and pricing of other sources of funds.

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, information about (i) average balances, the total dollar amount of taxable equivalent interest income from earning assets and the resultant average yields; (ii) average balances, the total dollar amount of interest expense on interest bearing liabilities and the resultant average rates; (iii) net interest income; (iv) the interest rate spread; and (v) the net interest margin. Non-accrual loans are included in the average balances presented in this table; however, interest income foregone on non-accrual loans is not included. Interest income, yields, spread and margin have been calculated on a tax-equivalent basis for loans and investment securities that are exempt from federal income taxes, at a federal tax rate of 21% (dollars in thousands):

The net interest margin, calculated on a tax-equivalent basis, was 2.38% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 2.35% for the year ended December 31, 2020. The reduction in cost of interest bearing liabilities outpaced the decline in the yield on interest earning assets for the year.

Offsetting factors impacting the net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 included:

The provision for credit losses is a charge or credit to earnings required to maintain the ACL at a level consistent with management’s estimate of expected credit losses on financial assets carried at amortized cost at the balance sheet date. The amount of the provision is impacted by changes in current economic conditions, as well as in management's reasonable and supportable economic forecast, loan originations and runoff, changes in portfolio mix, risk rating migration and portfolio seasoning, changes in specific reserves, changes in expected prepayment speeds and other assumptions. The provision for credit losses also includes amounts related to off-balance sheet credit exposures and may include amounts related to accrued interest receivable and AFS debt securities.

The following table presents the components of the provision for credit losses for the periods indicated (in thousands):

The most impactful factors driving the recovery of credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were improvements in current and forecasted economic conditions.

The evolving COVID-19 situation and its actual and forecasted impact on economic conditions have led and may continue to lead to volatility in the provision for credit losses.

The determination of the amount of the ACL is complex and involves a high degree of judgment and subjectivity. See “Analysis of the Allowance for Credit Losses” below for more information about how we determine the appropriate level of the ACL.

The following table presents a comparison of the categories of non-interest income for the periods indicated (in thousands):

The increase in deposit service charges for the year ended December 31, 2021 resulted primarily from higher treasury management fee income, related to growth in commercial non-interest bearing DDA relationships as well as expanded product offerings and pricing discipline stemming from our BankUnited 2.0 initiatives.

The decrease in income from lease financing for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 related to the decrease in the balance of operating lease equipment and re-leasing of certain assets at lower rates.

The following table presents the components of non-interest expense for the periods indicated (in thousands):

Deposit insurance expense decreased by $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, reflecting a decrease in the assessment rate.

Professional fees for the year ended December 31, 2021 includes $4.2 million related to a tax settlement with the state of Florida.

The increases in technology and telecommunications expense are reflective of a variety of technology investments including digital, payments and data analytics capabilities.

We recognized a loss on discontinuance of cash flow hedges totaling $44.8 million related to the termination of pay-fixed interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $401 million at a weighted average pay rate of 3.24% during the fourth quarter of 2021.

Depreciation and impairment of operating lease equipment for the year ended December 31, 2021 included an impairment charge of $2.8 million related to certain sand cars.

The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $34.4 million and $51.5 million, respectively. The Company's effective income tax rate was 7.66% and 20.66% for the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2021 was impacted by a settlement with the Florida Department of Revenue related to certain tax matters for the 2009-2019 tax years and a reduction in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits arising primarily from expiration of statutes of limitation in the Federal and certain state jurisdictions. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for information about income taxes.

For the year ended December 31, 2021 we saw growth in total deposits of $1.9 billion, with non-interest bearing demand deposits increasing by $2.0 billion. Borrowings decreased by $1.2 billion and liquidity was deployed into the securities portfolio, which grew by $888 million. Total loans declined by $101 million for 2021; however, there was a shift in loan portfolio composition as the residential portfolio grew by $2.0 billion and the commercial portfolio in the aggregate declined by $2.1 billion. These trends were continuations of those seen in the prior year, and reflective of the environment predicated by the COVID-19 pandemic as systemic liquidity grew, residential loan demand and the residential housing market remained strong, while commercial loan demand was muted and our risk appetite for commercial lending was more limited. The shift in deposit mix is also consistent with management's key strategic objective of growing non-interest bearing deposits and improving the overall quality of the deposit base.

Led by growth in average investment securities, average interest-earning assets increased by $1.3 billion to $34.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $32.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020, while average interest bearing liabilities declined by $1.8 billion over the same period. Average non-interest bearing deposits increased by $2.7 billion to $8.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The following table shows the amortized cost and carrying value, which, with the exception of investment securities held to maturity, is fair value, of investment securities at the dates indicated:

Our investment strategy has focused on insuring adequate liquidity, maintaining a suitable balance of high credit quality, diverse assets, managing interest rate risk, and generating acceptable returns given our established risk parameters. We have sought to maintain liquidity by investing a significant portion of the portfolio in high quality liquid securities including U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency and sponsored enterprise securities. Investment grade municipal securities provide liquidity and attractive tax-equivalent yields. We have also invested in highly rated structured products, including private-label commercial and residential MBS, collateralized loan obligations, single family real estate-backed securities and non-mortgage asset-backed securities that, while somewhat less liquid, provide us with attractive yields. Relatively short effective portfolio duration helps mitigate interest rate risk. Based on the Company’s assumptions, the estimated weighted average life of the investment portfolio as of December 31, 2021 was 4.2 years and the effective duration of the portfolio was 1.5 years.

The investment securities available for sale portfolio was in a net unrealized gain position of $3.8 million at December 31, 2021. Net unrealized gains at December 31, 2021 included $55.4 million of gross unrealized gains and $51.6 million of gross unrealized losses. Investment securities available for sale in unrealized loss positions at December 31, 2021 had an aggregate fair value of $5.3 billion. The ratings distribution of our AFS securities portfolio at December 31, 2021 is depicted in the chart below:

We evaluate the credit quality of individual securities in the portfolio quarterly to determine whether we expect to recover the amortized cost basis of the investments in unrealized loss positions. This evaluation considers, but is not necessarily limited to, the following factors, the relative significance of which varies depending on the circumstances pertinent to each individual security:

We do not intend to sell securities in significant unrealized loss positions at December 31, 2021. Based on an assessment of our liquidity position and internal and regulatory guidelines for permissible investments and concentrations, it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell securities in significant unrealized loss positions prior to recovery of amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity.

The timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by the U.S. government, U.S. government agencies and U.S. government sponsored enterprises is explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. Government. As such, there is an assumption of zero credit loss and the Company expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.

None of the impaired private label securities had missed principal or interest payments or had been downgraded by a NRSRO at December 31, 2021. The Company performed an analysis comparing the present value of cash flows expected to be collected to the amortized cost basis of impaired private label securities. This analysis was based on a scenario that we believe to be more severe than our reasonable and supportable economic forecast at December 31, 2021, and incorporated assumptions about voluntary prepayment rates, collateral defaults, delinquencies, other collateral quality measures, loss severity, recovery lag and other relevant factors. Our analysis also considered the structural characteristics of each security and the level of credit enhancement provided by that structure. Based on the results of this analysis, none of the private label AFS securities in unrealized loss positions were projected to sustain credit losses at December 31, 2021.

The following table presents subordination levels and average internal stress scenario losses for select portfolio segments at December 31, 2021:

For further discussion of our analysis of impaired investment securities AFS for credit loss impairment see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

We use third-party pricing services to assist us in estimating the fair value of investment securities. We perform a variety of procedures to ensure that we have a thorough understanding of the methodologies and assumptions used by the pricing services including obtaining and reviewing written documentation of the methods and assumptions employed, conducting interviews with valuation desk personnel and reviewing model results and detailed assumptions used to value selected securities as considered necessary. Our classification of prices within the fair value hierarchy is based on an evaluation of the nature of the significant assumptions impacting the valuation of each type of security in the portfolio. We have established a robust price challenge process that includes a review by our treasury front office of all prices provided on a monthly basis. Any price evidencing unexpected month over month fluctuations or deviations from our expectations based on recent observed trading activity and other information available in the marketplace that would impact the value of the security is challenged. Responses to the price challenges, which generally include specific information about inputs and assumptions incorporated in the valuation and their sources, are reviewed in detail. If considered necessary to resolve any discrepancies, a price will be obtained from additional independent valuation sources. We do not typically adjust the prices provided, other than through this established challenge process. Our primary pricing services utilize observable inputs when available, and employ unobservable inputs and proprietary models only when observable inputs are not available. As a matter of course, the services validate prices by comparison to recent trading activity whenever such activity exists. Quotes obtained from the pricing services are typically non-binding.

The majority of our investment securities are classified within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. U.S. Treasury securities and marketable equity securities are classified within level 1 of the hierarchy. While at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed increased volatility and dislocation in the market for certain securities, we believe the fiscal and monetary response to the crisis was effective in supporting liquidity and stabilizing markets. These circumstances did not lead to a change in the categorization of any fair value estimates within the fair value hierarchy.

For additional discussion of the fair values of investment securities, see Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements.

The following table shows the weighted average prospective yields, categorized by scheduled maturity, for AFS investment securities as of December 31, 2021. Scheduled maturities have been adjusted for anticipated prepayments when applicable. Yields on tax-exempt securities have been calculated on a tax-equivalent basis, based on a federal income tax rate of 21%:

The loan portfolio comprises the Company’s primary interest-earning asset. The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

For the year ended December 31, 2021, total loans declined by $101 million, while total loans, excluding the PPP, grew by $432 million.

Growth in residential and other consumer loans for the year ended December 31, 2021 totaled $2.0 billion, including $603 million in GNMA early buyout loans. In the aggregate, excluding PPP, commercial loans declined by $1.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021. Line utilization remained below historical levels and accelerated prepayment activity continued. MWL line utilization declined to 56% at December 31, 2021 compared to 62% at December 31, 2020, we believe related to some normalization in this segment after a period of high refinance activity.

PPP loans declined by $533 million during the year ended December 31, 2021, resulting primarily from full or partial forgiveness on loans under the First and Second Draw programs.

The following table shows the composition of residential and other consumer loans at the dates indicated (in thousands):

The 1-4 single family residential loan portfolio, excluding government insured residential loans, is primarily comprised of loans purchased through established correspondent channels. 1-4 single family residential mortgage loans are primarily closed-end, first lien jumbo mortgages for the purchase or re-finance of owner occupied property. The loans have terms ranging from 10 to 30 years, with either fixed or adjustable interest rates. At December 31, 2021, $697 million or 11% were secured by investor-owned properties.

The Company acquires non-performing FHA and VA insured mortgages from third party servicers who have exercised their right to purchase these loans out of GNMA securitizations (collectively, "government insured pool buyout loans" or "buyout loans"). Buyout loans that re-perform, either through modification or self-cure, may be eligible for re-securitization. The Company and the servicer share in the economics of the sale of these loans into new securitizations. The balance of buyout loans totaled $2.0 billion at December 31, 2021. The Company is not the servicer of these loans.

The following charts present the distribution of the 1-4 single family residential mortgage portfolio at the dates indicated:

The following table presents a breakdown of the 1-4 single family residential mortgage portfolio, excluding government insured residential loans, categorized between fixed rate loans and ARMs at the dates indicated below (dollars in thousands):

The shift from a higher proportion of ARM loans to a higher proportion of fixed rate loans is broadly reflective of borrower preferences in a low interest rate environment.

Commercial loans include commercial and industrial loans and leases, loans secured by owner-occupied commercial real-estate, multi-family properties and other income-producing non-owner occupied commercial real estate, a limited amount of construction and land loans, SBA loans, mortgage warehouse lines of credit, PPP loans, municipal loans and leases originated by Pinnacle and franchise and equipment finance loans and leases originated by Bridge.

The following charts present the distribution of the commercial loan portfolio at the dates indicated (dollars in millions):

Commercial real estate loans include term loans secured by non-owner occupied income producing properties including rental apartments, mixed-use properties, industrial properties, retail shopping centers, free-standing single-tenant buildings, office buildings, warehouse facilities, hotels, real estate secured lines of credit, as well as credit facilities to institutional real estate entities such as REITs and commercial real estate investment funds.

The following table presents the distribution of commercial real estate loans by property type along with weighted average DSCRs and LTVs at December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):

DSCRs and LTVs in the table above are based on the most recent information available. Geographic distribution in the table above is based on location of the underlying collateral property.

The Company’s commercial real estate underwriting standards most often provide for loan terms of five to seven years, with amortization schedules of no more than thirty years. LTV ratios are typically limited to no more than 75%. Construction and land loans, included by property type in the table above, represented 0.7% of the total loan portfolio at December 31, 2021.

Included in the table above are approximately $122 million of mixed-use properties in New York, consisting of $57 million categorized as multi-family, $46 million categorized as retail and $19 million categorized as office. The New York multi-family portfolio included $474 million of loans collateralized by properties with some or all of the units subject to rent regulation at December 31, 2021, substantially all of which were stabilized properties.

The following tables present the distribution of stabilized rent-regulated multi-family loans, by DSCR and LTV at December 31, 2021 (in thousands):