form10-k.htm


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-K

 [X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011
or
[  ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from  __________ to __________.

Commission File Number 0-11733
CHCO logo
CITY HOLDING COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

West Virginia
55-0619957
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)
 
25 Gatewater Road, Cross Lanes, WV
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Identification No.)
 
25313
(Zip Code)
 
304-769-1100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered:
None
 
None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $2.50 par value
(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  [ ] Yes  [X] No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.  [ ] Yes  [X] No

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  [X] Yes  [ ] No


 
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Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

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

Large accelerated filer [   ]
 
Accelerated filer [X]
     
Non-accelerated filer [   ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
[ ] Yes  [X] No

As of June 30, 2011, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter, the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock held by non-affiliates, based upon the closing price per share of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, was approximately $479.7 million.  (Registrant has assumed that all of its executive officers and directors are affiliates.  Such assumption shall not be deemed to be conclusive for any other purpose.)

As of March 9, 2012, there were 14,745,184 shares of the Company’s common stock, $2.50 par value, outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the annual report to security holders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 are incorporated by reference into Part I, Item 1 and Part II, Items 6, 7, 7A, and 8. Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2012 annual shareholders’ meeting to be held on April 25, 2012 are incorporated by reference into Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

 
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PART I

Business
 
City Holding Company (the “Company”) is a bank holding company headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia. The Company conducts its principal activities through its wholly-owned subsidiary, City National Bank of West Virginia (“City National”). Through its network of 68 banking offices in West Virginia (57 offices), Kentucky (8 offices), and Ohio (3 offices), City National provides credit, deposit, trust and investment management, and insurance products and services to its customers. In addition to its branch network, City National’s delivery channels include ATMs, check cards, interactive voice response systems, and internet technology. City National has approximately 7% of the deposit market share in West Virginia and the Company is the third largest bank holding company headquartered in West Virginia based on deposit share. The Company’s business activities are currently limited to one reportable business segment, which is community banking.
 
No portion of City National’s deposits are derived from a single person or persons, the loss of which could have a material adverse effect on liquidity, capital, or other elements of financial performance. Although no portion of City National’s loan portfolio is concentrated within a single industry or group of related industries, it historically has held residential mortgage loans as a significant portion of its loan portfolio. At December 31, 2011, approximately 54% of the Company’s loan portfolio was categorized as residential mortgage and home equity loans. However, due to the fractionated nature of residential mortgage lending, there is no concentration of credits that would be considered materially detrimental to the Company’s financial position or operating results.
 
The Company’s business is not seasonal and has no foreign sources or applications of funds.  There are no anticipated material capital expenditures, or any expected material effects on earnings or the Company’s competitive position as a result of compliance with federal, state and local provisions enacted or adopted relating to environmental protection.
 
The Company’s loan portfolio is comprised of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, residential real estate, home equity, consumer loans, DDA overdrafts and previously securitized loans.
 
The commercial and industrial loan portfolio consists of loans to corporate borrowers primarily in small to mid-size industrial and commercial companies, as well as automobile dealers, service, retail and wholesale merchants. Collateral securing these loans includes equipment, machinery, inventory, receivables and vehicles. Commercial and industrial loans are considered to contain a higher level of risk than other loan types although care is taken to minimize these risks. Numerous risk factors impact this portfolio including industry specific risks such as economy, new technology, labor rates and cyclicality, as well as customer specific factors, such as cash flow, financial structure, operating controls and asset quality.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company reported $130.9 million of loans classified as “Commercial and Industrial.”
 
Commercial real estate loans consist of commercial mortgages, which generally are secured by nonresidential and multi-family residential properties, including hotel/motel and apartment lending. Commercial real estate loans are to many of the same customers and carry similar industry risks as the commercial and industrial loans.    As of December 31, 2011, the Company reported $732.1 million of loans classified as “Commercial Real Estate.”
 
The Company diversifies risk within the commercial and industrial and commercial real estate portfolios by closely monitoring industry concentrations and portfolios to ensure that it does not exceed established lending guidelines. Diversification is intended to limit the risk of loss from any single unexpected economic event or trend. Underwriting standards require a comprehensive credit analysis and independent evaluation of virtually all larger balance commercial loans by the loan committee prior to approval.
 
Residential mortgage loans represent loans to consumers for the purchase or refinance of a residence. These loans are generally financed over a 15- to 30- year term, and in most cases, are extended to borrowers to finance their primary residence. In some cases, government agencies or private mortgage insurers guarantee the loan. The Company sells a majority of our fixed-rate originations in the secondary market.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company reported $638.6 million of loans classified as “Residential Real Estate.”
 
 
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Home equity lending includes both home equity loans and lines-of-credit. This type of lending, which is secured by a first- or second- mortgage on the borrower’s residence, allows customers to borrow against the equity in their home. Real estate market values as of the time the loan or line is granted directly affect the amount of credit extended.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company reported $433.0 million of loans classified as “Home Equity.”
 
Consumer loans are secured by automobiles, boats, recreational vehicles, and other personal property. The Company monitors the risk associated with these types of loans by monitoring such factors as portfolio growth, lending policies and economic conditions. Underwriting standards are continually evaluated and modified based upon these factors. As of December 31, 2011, the Company reported $35.8 million of loans classified as “Consumer.”
 
DDA overdraft balances reflect demand deposit accounts that have been overdrawn by deposit customers and have been reclassified as loans.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company reported $2.6 million of loans classified as “DDA Overdrafts.”
 
The Company’s loan underwriting guidelines and standards are updated periodically and are presented for approval by the Board of Directors. The purpose of the standards and guidelines is to grant loans on a sound and collectible basis; to invest available funds in a safe, profitable manner; to serve the legitimate credit needs of the communities in our primary market area; and to ensure that all loan applicants receive fair and equal treatment in the lending process. It is the intent of the underwriting guidelines and standards to: minimize loan losses by carefully investigating the credit history of each applicant, verify the source of repayment and the ability of the applicant to repay, collateralize those loans in which collateral is deemed to be required, exercise care in the documentation of the application, review, approval, and origination process, and administer a comprehensive loan collection program. The above guidelines are adhered to and subject to the experience, background and personal judgment of the loan officer assigned to the loan application.
 
The Company categorizes commercial loans by industry according to the Standard Industry Classification System (SIC) to monitor the portfolio for possible concentrations in one or more industries. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has no industry classifications that exceeded 10% of total loans.
 
Market Area
 
As of December 2011, West Virginia’s unemployment rate was 7.7% as compared to the national average of 8.5% according to the Workforce West Virginia.  West Virginia’s unemployment rate for December of 7.7% decreased from December 2010’s rate of 9.4%.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2011 estimates, West Virginia’s population was approximately 1.9 million and has increased 2.5% over the past 10 years.  The median home price in the Charleston, WV metropolitan area was $130,000 for 2011 and $129,000 for 2010, while the number of home sales in West Virginia increased 9.7% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors.
 
Competition
 
As noted previously, the Company’s principal markets are located in West Virginia. The majority of the Company’s banking offices are located in the areas of Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, Lewisburg and Martinsburg where there is a significant presence of other financial service providers. In its markets, the Company competes with national, regional, and local community banks for deposit, credit, trust and investment management, and insurance customers. In addition to traditional banking organizations, the Company competes with credit unions, finance companies, insurance companies and other financial service providers who are able to provide specialty financial services to targeted customer groups. As further discussed below, changes in laws and regulations enacted in recent years have increased the competitive environment the Company faces to retain and attract customers.
 
Regulation and Supervision
 
Overview: The Company, as a registered financial holding company, and City National, as an insured depository institution, operate in a highly regulated environment and are regularly examined by federal and state regulators. The following description briefly discusses certain provisions of federal and state laws and regulations and the potential impact of such provisions to which the Company and City National are subject.  These federal and state laws and regulations are designed to reduce potential loss exposure to the depositors of such depository institutions and to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s insurance fund and are not intended to protect the Company’s security holders. Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the banking industry are frequently raised in Congress, in state legislatures, and before the various bank regulatory agencies.  The likelihood and timing of any changes and the impact such changes might have on the Company are impossible to determine with any certainty.  A change in applicable laws or regulations, or a change in the way such laws or regulations are interpreted by regulatory agencies or courts, may have a material impact on the business, operations and earnings of the Company.  To the extent that the following information describes statutory or regulatory provisions, it is qualified entirely by reference to the particular statutory or regulatory provision.
 
 
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As a financial holding company, the Company is regulated under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”), and is subject to inspection, examination and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board. The BHCA provides generally for “umbrella” regulation of bank holding companies such as the Company by the Federal Reserve Board, and for functional regulation of banking activities by bank regulators, securities activities by securities regulators, and insurance activities by insurance regulators. The Company is also under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is subject to the disclosure and regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as administered by the SEC. The Company is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ) under the trading symbol “CHCO,” and is subject to the rules of the NASDAQ for listed companies.
 
City National is organized as a national banking association under the National Bank Act. It is subject to regulation and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).
 
In general, the BHCA limits the business of bank holding companies to banking, managing or controlling banks and other activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. Under the BHCA, bank holding companies that qualify and elect to be financial holding companies may engage in any activity, or acquire and retain the shares of a company engaged in any activity, that is either (i) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity (as determined by the Federal Reserve Board in consultation with the OCC) or (ii) complementary to a financial activity and does not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally (as solely determined by the Federal Reserve Board). Activities that are financial in nature include securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting and making merchant banking investments.
 
The BHC Act generally limits acquisitions by bank holding companies that are not qualified as financial holding companies to commercial banks and companies engaged in activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. The Federal Reserve Board has the power to order any bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve Board has reasonable grounds to believe that continuation of such activity or such ownership or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness, safety or stability of any bank subsidiary of the bank holding company.
 
The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (“Riegle-Neal”) permits bank holding companies to acquire banks located in any state. Riegle-Neal also allows national banks and state banks with different home states to merge across state lines and allows branch banking across state lines, unless specifically prohibited by state laws.

 
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The International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (USA “Patriot Act”) was adopted in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.  The Patriot Act provides law enforcement with greater powers to investigate terrorism and prevent future terrorist acts.  Among the broad-reaching provisions contained in the Patriot Act are several designed to deter terrorists’ ability to launder money in the United States and provide law enforcement with additional powers to investigate how terrorists and terrorist organizations are financed.  The Patriot Act creates additional requirements for banks, which were already subject to similar regulations.  The Patriot Act authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to require financial institutions to take certain “special measures” when the Secretary suspects that certain transactions or accounts are related to money laundering.  These special measures may be ordered when the Secretary suspects that a jurisdiction outside of the United States, a financial institution operating outside of the United States, a class of transactions involving a jurisdiction outside of the United States or certain types of accounts are of “primary money laundering concern.”  The special measures include the following:  (a) require financial institutions to keep records and report on transactions or accounts at issue; (b) require financial institutions to obtain and retain information related to the beneficial ownership of any account opened or maintained by foreign persons; (c) require financial institutions to identify each customer who is permitted to use a payable-through or correspondent account and obtain certain information from each customer permitted to use the account; and (d) prohibit or impose conditions on the opening or maintaining of correspondent or payable-through accounts.  Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution.
 
The Company and its subsidiary bank and nonfinancial subsidiaries are affiliates within the meaning of the Federal Reserve Act.  The Federal Reserve Act imposes limitations on a bank with respect to extensions of credit to, investments in, and certain other transactions with, its parent bank holding company and the holding company’s other subsidiaries.  Furthermore, bank loans and extensions of credit to affiliates are also subject to various collateral requirements.
 
The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”) requires depository institutions to assist in meeting the credit needs of their market areas consistent with safe and sound banking practice. Under the CRA, each depository institution is required to help meet the credit needs of its market areas by, among other things, providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. Depository institutions are periodically examined for compliance with the CRA and are assigned ratings. In order for a financial holding company to commence any new activity permitted by the BHCA, or to acquire any company engaged in any new activity permitted by the BHCA, each insured depository institution subsidiary of the financial holding company must have received a rating of at least “satisfactory” in its most recent examination under the CRA. Furthermore, banking regulators take into account CRA ratings when considering approval of a proposed transaction.  City National received a satisfactory rating on its most recent CRA examination.
 
On July 21 2010, sweeping financial regulatory reform legislation entitled the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act” (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was signed into law. Generally, the Dodd-Frank Act was effective the day after it was signed into law, but different effective dates apply to specific sections of the law.  The Dodd-Frank Act implements far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape, including provisions that, among other things, will:
 
·  
Centralize responsibility for consumer financial protection by creating a new agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which will have rulemaking authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that would apply to all banks and have broad powers to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws;
 
·  
Change standards for Federal preemption of state laws related to federally chartered institutions and their subsidiaries;
 
·  
After a three-year phase-in period which begins January 1, 2013, remove trust preferred securities as a permitted component of a holding company’s tier 1 capital;
 
·  
Require the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to seek to make its capital requirements for national banks countercyclical so that capital requirements increase in times of economic expansion and decrease in times of economic contraction;
 
 
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·  
Require financial holding companies, such as City, to be well-capitalized and well-managed as of July 21, 2011. Bank holding companies and banks must also be both well-capitalized and well-managed in order to acquire banks located outside their domiciled state;
 
·  
Provide for an increase in the FDIC assessment for depository institutions with assets of $10 billion or more, increases in the minimum reserve ratio for the deposit insurance fund from 1.15% to 1.35% and changes in the basis for determining FDIC premiums from deposits to assets;
 
·  
Require large, publicly traded bank holding companies with assets of $10 billion or more to establish a risk committee responsible for the oversight of enterprise risk management;
 
·  
Provide for new disclosure and other requirements relating to executive compensation and corporate governance.  These disclosures and requirements apply to all public companies, not just financial institutions;
 
·  
Permanently increase the $250 thousand limit for federal deposit insurance and increases the cash limit of Securities Investor Protection Corporation protection from $100 thousand to $250 thousand and provide unlimited federal deposit insurance until January 1, 2013 for non-interest bearing demand transaction accounts at all insured depository institutions;
 
·  
Repeal the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits;
 
·  
Amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) to, among other things, give the Federal Reserve the authority to establish rules regarding interchange fees charged for electronic debit transactions by payment card issuers having assets over $10 billion and to enforce a new statutory requirement that such fees be reasonable and proportional to the actual cost of a transaction to the issuer;
 
·  
Enhance the requirements for certain transactions with affiliates under the Federal Reserve Act, including an expansion of the “covered transactions” definition and increase the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered transactions must be maintained;
 
·  
Strengthen the existing limits on a depository institution’s credit exposure to one borrower by expanding the scope of limitations to include credit exposure arising from derivative transactions, repurchase agreements, and securities lending and borrowing transactions;
 
·  
Strengthen loan restrictions to insiders by expanding the types of transactions subject to various limits, including derivative transactions, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending or borrowing transactions.  Additionally, restrictions on certain asset sales to and from an insider to an institution, including requirements that such sales be on market terms and approved by the institution’s board of directors in certain situations are to be put in place; and
 
·  
Increase the authority of the Federal Reserve to examine City and its non-bank subsidiaries.
 
Uncertainty remains as to the ultimate impact of the Act, which could have a material adverse impact either on the financial services industry as a whole, or on City’s business, results of operations and financial condition.  Provisions in the legislation that affect deposit insurance assessments, payment of interest on demand deposits and interchange fees could increase the costs associated with deposits as well as place limitations on certain revenues those deposits may generate. Provisions in the legislation that revoke the Tier 1 capital treatment of trust preferred securities and otherwise require revisions to the capital requirements of the Company and City National Bank could require the Company and City National Bank to seek other sources of capital in the future.

 
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Capital Adequacy: Federal banking regulations set forth capital adequacy guidelines, which are used by regulatory authorities to assess the adequacy of capital in examining and supervising a bank holding company and its insured depository institutions. The capital adequacy guidelines generally require bank holding companies to maintain total capital equal to at least 8% of total risk-adjusted assets, with at least one-half of total capital consisting of core capital (i.e., Tier I capital) and the remaining amount consisting of “other” capital-eligible items (i.e., Tier II capital), such as perpetual preferred stock, certain subordinated debt, and, subject to limitations, the allowance for loan losses. Tier I capital generally includes common stockholders’ equity plus, within certain limitations, perpetual preferred stock and trust preferred securities. For purposes of computing risk-based capital ratios, bank holding companies must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items, calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and City National’s capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.
 
In addition to total and Tier I capital requirements, regulatory authorities also require bank holding companies and insured depository institutions to maintain a minimum leverage capital ratio of 3%. The leverage ratio is determined as the ratio of Tier I capital to total average assets, where average assets exclude goodwill, other intangibles, and other specifically excluded assets. Regulatory authorities have stated that minimum capital ratios are adequate for those institutions that are operationally and financially sound, experiencing solid earnings, have high levels of asset quality, and are not experiencing significant growth. The guidelines also provide that banking organizations experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels. In those instances where these criteria are not evident, regulatory authorities expect, and may require, bank holding companies and insured depository institutions to maintain higher than minimum capital levels.
 
Additionally, federal banking laws require regulatory authorities to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to depository institutions that do not satisfy minimum capital requirements. The extent of these powers depends upon whether the institutions in question are “well capitalized”, “adequately capitalized”, “undercapitalized”, “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized”, as such terms are defined under uniform regulations defining such capital levels issued by each of the federal banking agencies. As an example, a depository institution that is not well capitalized is generally prohibited from accepting brokered deposits and offering interest rates on deposits higher than the prevailing rate in its market. Additionally, a depository institution is generally prohibited from making any capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its holding company, may be subject to asset growth limitations and may be required to submit capital restoration plans if the depository institution is considered undercapitalized. The Company’s and City National’s regulatory capital ratios are presented in the following table:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
City Holding:
           
Tier I Risk-based
    13.12 %     13.88 %
Total
    14.07       14.81  
Tier I Leverage
    10.18       10.54  
                 
City National:
               
Tier I Risk-based
    12.03 %     12.67 %
Total
    12.99       13.61  
Tier I Leverage
    9.32       9.62  

 
Dividends and Other Payments: The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from City National. Dividends from City National are essentially the sole source of cash for the Company. The right of the Company, and shareholders of the Company, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of City National through the payment of such dividends or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of City National, except to the extent that claims of the Company in its capacity as a creditor may be recognized.  Moreover, there are various legal limitations applicable to the payment of dividends to the Company as well as the payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders.  Under federal law, City National may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, make loans or extensions of credit to, or invest in the securities of, or take securities of the Company as collateral for loans to any borrower. City National is also subject to collateral security requirements for any loans or extensions of credit permitted by such exceptions.
 
 
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City National is subject to various statutory restrictions on its ability to pay dividends to the Company.  Specifically, the approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) is required prior to the payment of dividends by City National in excess of its earnings retained in the current year plus retained net profits for the preceding two years.  The payment of dividends by the Company and City National may also be limited by other factors, such as requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines.  The OCC has the authority to prohibit any bank under its jurisdiction from engaging in an unsafe and unsound practice in conducting its business. Depending upon the financial condition of City National, the payment of dividends could be deemed to constitute such an unsafe or unsound practice.  The Federal Reserve Board and the OCC have indicated their view that it generally would be an unsafe and unsound practice to pay dividends except out of current operating earnings.  The Federal Reserve Board has stated that, as a matter of prudent banking, a bank or bank holding company should not maintain its existing rate of cash dividends on common stock unless (1) the organization’s net income available to common shareholders over the past year has been sufficient to fund fully the dividends and (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition. Moreover, the Federal Reserve Board has indicated that bank holding companies should serve as a source of managerial and financial strength to their subsidiary banks. Accordingly, the Federal Reserve Board has stated that a bank holding company should not maintain a level of cash dividends to its shareholders that places undue pressure on the capital of bank subsidiaries, or that can be funded only through additional borrowings or other arrangements that may undermine the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength.
 
At December 31, 2011, City National could pay dividends up to $22.7 million plus net profits for 2012, as defined by statute, up to the dividend declaration date without prior regulatory permission.  During 2011, the Company used cash obtained from these dividends primarily to: (1) pay common dividends to shareholders, (2) remit interest payments on the Company’s junior subordinated debentures, and (3) fund repurchases of the Company’s common shares. Management believes that the Company’s available cash balance, together with cash dividends from City National, is adequate to satisfy its funding and cash needs in 2012.
 
Governmental Policies
 
The Federal Reserve Board regulates money and credit and interest rates in order to influence general economic conditions. These policies have a significant influence on overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits and affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for time and savings deposits. Federal Reserve monetary policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future.
 
Deposit Insurance
 
Substantially all of the deposits of City National are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) of the FDIC and are subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the DIF. On April 1, 2011, the deposit insurance assessment base changed from total domestic deposits to average total assets minus average tangible equity, pursuant to a rule issued by the FDIC as required by the Dodd-Frank Act.
 
In November 2009, the FDIC issued a rule that required all insured depository institutions, with limited exceptions, to prepay their estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, 2011 and 2012. In December 2009, the Corporation paid $11.6 million in prepaid risk-based assessments and $5.7 million of that amount is included in other assets as prepaid deposit insurance in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011. FDIC insurance expense totaled $2.6 million, $3.7 million and $2.2 million in 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the FDIC has established 2.0% as the designated reserve ratio (DRR), that is, the ratio of the DIF to insured deposits. The Dodd-Frank Act directs the FDIC to amend its assessment regulations so that future assessments will generally be based upon a depository institution’s average total consolidated assets minus the average tangible equity of the insured depository institution during the assessment period, whereas assessments were previously based on the amount of an institution’s insured deposits. The minimum deposit insurance fund rate will increase from 1.15% to 1.35% by September 30, 2020, and the cost of the increase will be borne by depository institutions with assets of $10 billion or more.  At least semi-annually, the FDIC will update its loss and income projections for the fund and, if needed, will increase or decrease assessment rates, following notice-and-command rulemaking if required.
 
 
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On November 9, 2010 and January 18, 2011, the FDIC (as mandated by Section 343 of the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,” as described below) adopted rules providing for unlimited deposit insurance for traditional noninterest-bearing transaction accounts and IOLTA accounts for two years starting December 31, 2010. This coverage applies to all insured deposit institutions, and there is no separate FDIC assessment for the insurance. Furthermore, this unlimited coverage is separate from, and in addition to, the coverage provided to depositors with respect to other accounts held at an insured depository institution.
 
Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (“FDIA), the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon finding that an institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.
 
Basel III
 
In December 2010, the Basel Committee released its final framework for strengthening international capital and liquidity regulation, now officially identified by the Basel Committee as “Basel III”. Basel III, when implemented by the U.S. banking agencies and fully phased-in, will require bank holding companies and their bank subsidiaries to maintain substantially more capital, with a greater emphasis on common equity. Basel III increases the minimum Tier 1 common equity ratio to 4.5%, net of regulatory deductions, and introduces a capital conservation buffer of an additional 2.5% of common equity to risk-weighted assets, raising the target minimum common equity ratio to 7%. This capital conservation buffer also increases the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio from 6% to 8.5% and the minimum total capital ratio from 8% to 10.5%. In addition, Basel III introduces a countercyclical capital buffer of up to 2.5% of common equity or other fully loss absorbing capital for periods of excess credit growth. Basel III also introduces a non-risk adjusted Tier 1 leverage ratio of 3%, based on a measure of total exposure rather than total assets, and new liquidity standards.
 
U.S. banking agencies have informally indicated that they expect to propose regulations implementing Basel III during the first half of 2012. Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act requires or permits the Federal banking agencies to adopt regulations affecting banking institutions’ capital requirements in a number of respects, including potentially more stringent capital requirements for systemically important financial institutions. Accordingly, the regulations ultimately applicable to City and its banking subsidiaries may be substantially different from the Basel III final framework as published in December 2010. The requirements to maintain higher levels of capital or to maintain higher levels of liquid assets could adversely impact the Company’s and City National’s financial results.
 
Future Legislation
 
Various other legislative and regulatory initiatives, including proposals to overhaul the banking regulatory system and to limit the investments that a depository institution may make with insured funds, are from time to time introduced in Congress and state legislatures, as well as regulatory agencies. Such legislation may change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company and its subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways, and could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance depending upon whether any of this potential legislation will be enacted, and if enacted, the effect that it or any implementing regulations, would have on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The nature and extent of future legislative and regulatory changes affecting financial institutions is very unpredictable at this time.  The Company cannot determine the ultimate effect that such potential legislation, if enacted, would have upon its financial condition or operations.

 
-11-


 
Executive Officers of the Registrant
 
At December 31, 2011, the executive officers of the Company were as follows:
Name
Age
Business Experience
     
Charles R. Hageboeck, Ph.D.
49
President and Chief Executive Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV since February 1, 2005.  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV from June 2001 – January 31, 2005.
Craig G. Stilwell
56
Executive Vice President of Retail Banking, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV since February 2005.  Executive Vice President of Marketing & Human Resources, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV from May 2001 – February 2005.
John A. DeRito
61
Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV since June 25, 2004.
David L. Bumgarner
46
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank since February 2005.  Audit Senior Manager, Arnett & Foster, PLLC from August 2000 – January 2005.
Michael T. Quinlan, Jr.
43
Senior Vice President, Branch Banking, City Holding Company and City National Bank since August 2001
 
Employees
 
The Company had 795 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 2011.
 
Available Information
 
The Company’s Internet website address is www.bankatcity.com.  The Company makes available free of charge through its website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information on the Company’s website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this report or incorporated into any other filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the Company’s annual report will be made available, free of charge, upon written request.

 
-12-


 
Statistical Information
 
The information noted below is provided pursuant to Guide 3 -- Statistical Disclosure by Bank Holding Companies. Page references are to the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2011 and such pages have been filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K and are incorporated herein by reference.


 
Description of Information
 
Page
Reference
1.
Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders'
 
 
Equity; Interest Rates and Interest Differential
 
 
a.
Average Balance Sheets
5
 
b.
Analysis of Net Interest Earnings
6
 
c.
Rate Volume Analysis of Changes in Interest Income and Expense
7
       
2.
Investment Portfolio
 
 
a.
Book Value of Investments
12
 
b.
Maturity Schedule of Investments
13
 
c.
Securities of Issuers Exceeding 10% of Stockholders’ Equity
12
       
3.
Loan Portfolio
 
 
a.
Types of Loans
13
 
b.
Maturities and Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates
15
 
c.
Risk Elements
15-19
 
d.
Other Interest Bearing Assets
N/A
       
4.
Summary of Loan Loss Experience
17
     
5.
Deposits
   
 
a.
Breakdown of Deposits by Categories, Average Balance And Average Rate Paid
5
 
b.
Maturity Schedule of Time Certificates of Deposit and Other Time Deposits of $100,000 or More
20
       
6.
Return on Equity and Assets
4
       
7.
Short-term Borrowings
21

 
-13-


 

Risk Factors

An investment in the Company’s common stock is subject to risks inherent to the Company’s business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect the Company are described below. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations.  You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, before making an investment in the Company’s common stock.  If any of the following risks occur, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

The Company’s Business May be Adversely Affected by Conditions in the Financial Markets and Economic Conditions Generally

The business environment that the Company operates in the United States and worldwide could deteriorate, which could affect the credit quality of the Company’s loans, results of operations, and financial condition.  From December 2007 through June 2009, the United States was in a recession. Business activity across a wide range of industries and regions was greatly reduced and local governments and many businesses continue to be in serious difficulty due to the lack of consumer spending and the lack of liquidity in the credit markets. Unemployment increased significantly during this time period.
 
As a result of the recession, the financial services industry and the securities markets have been materially and adversely affected by significant declines in the values of nearly all asset classes and by a serious lack of liquidity. This was initially triggered by declines in home prices and the values of subprime mortgages but spread to all mortgage and real estate asset classes, to leverage bank loans and to nearly all asset classes, including equities. The global markets have been characterized by substantially increased volatility and short-selling and an overall loss of investor confidence, initially in financial institutions but more recently in companies in a number of other industries and in the broader markets.
 
Market conditions have also led to the failure or merger of a number of prominent financial institutions. Financial institution failures or near-failures have resulted in further losses as a consequence of defaults on securities issued by them and defaults under contracts entered into with such entities as counterparties.  As a result of these events and the projection of future failures, the capitalization level of the deposit insurance fund has been significantly weakened and the FDIC has increased the deposit insurance premiums paid by financial institutions.  Furthermore, declining asset values, defaults on mortgages and consumer loans, and the lack of market and investor confidence, as well as other factors, have all combined to increase credit default swap spreads, to cause rating agencies to lower credit ratings, and to otherwise increase the cost and decrease the availability of liquidity, despite very significant declines in Federal Reserve borrowing rates and other government actions. Some banks and other lenders have suffered significant losses and have become reluctant to lend, even on a secured basis, due to the increased risk of default and the impact of declining asset values on the value of collateral. The foregoing has significantly weakened the strength and liquidity of some financial institutions worldwide.
 
The Company’s financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, is highly dependent upon on the business environment in the markets where the Company operates, in the States of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, and in the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, high business and investor confidence, and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by: declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.
 
Overall, during 2011, the business environment has continued to be adverse for many households and businesses in the United States and worldwide. While the business environments in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, the United States and worldwide have shown improvement since the recession, there can be no assurance that these conditions will continue to improve. Such conditions could adversely affect the credit quality of the Company’s loans, results of operations and financial condition.
 
 
-14-


The Value of the Company’s Common Stock May Fluctuate
 
The market for the Company’s common stock may experience significant price and volume fluctuations in response to a number of factors including actual or anticipated quarterly variations in operating results, changes in expectations of future financial performance, changes in estimates by securities analysts, governmental regulatory action, banking industry reform measures, customer relationship developments and other factors, many of which will be beyond the Company’s control.
 
Furthermore, the stock market in general, and the market for financial institutions in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of the Company’s common stock, regardless of actual operating performance.

The Trading Volume In The Company’s Common Stock Is Less Than That Of Other Larger Financial Services Companies

Although the Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the trading volume in its common stock is less than that of other larger financial services companies. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of the Company’s common stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which the Company has no control. Given the lower trading volume of the Company’s common stock, significant sales of the Company’s common stock, or the expectation of these sales, could cause the Company’s stock price to fall.

Future Sales of Shares of the Company’s Common Stock Could Negatively Affect its Market Price
 
Future sales of substantial amounts of the Company’s common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock in the open market. We make no prediction as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on the market price of the Company’s common stock.
 
Shares of the Company’s Common Stock Are Not FDIC Insured
 
Neither the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation nor any other governmental agency insures the shares of the Company’s common stock. Therefore, the value of your shares in the Company will be based on their market value and may decline.
 
The Company’s Ability To Pay Dividends Is Limited
 
Although the Board of Directors has declared cash dividends in the past, the current ability to pay dividends is largely dependent upon the receipt of dividends from City National. Federal and state laws impose restrictions on the ability of City National to pay dividends. Holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to dividends if, and when, they are declared by the Company’s Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. Additional restrictions are placed upon the Company by the policies of federal regulators, including the Federal Reserve Board’s November 14, 1985 policy statement, which provides that bank holding companies should pay dividends only out of the past year’s net income, and then only if their prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with their capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition. In general, future dividend policy is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon a number of factors, including the Company’s and City National’s future earnings, capital requirements, regulatory constraints and financial condition.


 
-15-


An Economic Slowdown in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio Could Hurt Our Business
 
Because the Company focuses its business in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, an economic slowdown in these states could hurt our business. An economic slowdown could have the following consequences:
·  
Loan delinquencies may increase;
·  
Problem assets and foreclosures may increase;
·  
Demand for the products and services of City National may decline; and
·  
Collateral (including real estate) for loans made by City National may decline in value, in turn reducing customers’ borrowing power, and making existing loans less secure.
 
The Company and City National are Extensively Regulated
 
Policies adopted or required by governmental authorities can adversely affect the Company’s business operations and the availability, growth and distribution of the Company’s investments, borrowings and deposits.  The operations of the Company and City National are subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental authorities and are subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing requirements and restrictions on them. In addition, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency periodically conducts examinations of the Company and City National and may impose various requirements or sanctions.
 
Proposals to change the laws governing financial institutions are frequently raised in Congress and before bank regulatory authorities. Changes in applicable laws or policies could materially affect the Company’s business, and the likelihood of any major changes in the future and their effects are impossible to determine. Moreover, it is impossible to predict the ultimate form any proposed legislation might take or how it might affect the Company.

The Company is Subject to Interest Rate Risk

Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest the Company receives on loans and securities and the amount of interest it pays on deposits and borrowings, but such changes could also affect (i) the Company’s ability to originate loans and obtain deposits, (ii) the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, and (iii) the average duration of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities portfolio. The Company’s earnings and cash flows are largely dependent upon its net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income earned on interest-earning assets such as loans and securities and interest expense paid on interest-bearing liabilities such as deposits and borrowed funds. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the Company’s control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. If the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings increase at a faster rate than the interest rates received on loans and other investments, the Company’s net interest income, and therefore earnings, could be adversely affected. Earnings could also be adversely affected if the interest rates received on loans and other investments fall more quickly than the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings.

Although management believes it has implemented effective asset and liability management strategies, including the use of derivatives as hedging instruments, to reduce the potential effects of changes in interest rates on the Company’s results of operations, any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. See the section captioned “Risk Management” in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations located elsewhere in this report for further discussion related to the Company’s management of interest rate risk.


 
-16-


The Company’s Allowance for Loan Losses May Not Be Sufficient

The Company maintains an allowance for loan losses, which is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense that represents management’s best estimate of probable losses in the existing portfolio of loans. The allowance, in the judgment of management, is necessary to provide for estimated loan losses and risks inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of the allowance reflects management’s continuing evaluation of industry concentrations; specific credit risks; loan loss experience; current loan portfolio quality; present economic, political and regulatory conditions and unidentified losses inherent in the current loan portfolio. The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires the Company to make significant estimates of current credit risks and future trends, all of which may undergo material changes. Changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding existing loans, identification of additional problem loans and other factors, both within and outside of the Company’s control, may require an increase in the allowance for loan losses. In addition, bank regulatory agencies periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses and may require an increase in the provision for loan losses or the recognition of further loan charge-offs, based on judgments different than those of management. In addition, if charge-offs in future periods exceed the allowance for loan losses, the Company will need additional provisions to increase the allowance for loan losses. Any increases in the allowance for loan losses will result in a decrease in net income and, possibly, capital, and may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses at least quarterly, which includes testing certain individual loans as well as collective pools of loans for impairment. This evaluation includes an assessment of actual loss experience within each category of the portfolio, individual commercial and commercial real estate loans that exhibit credit weakness; current economic events, including employment statistics, trends in bankruptcy filings, and other pertinent factors; industry or geographic concentrations, and regulatory guidance.  See the section captioned “Allowance and Provision for Loan Losses” in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations located elsewhere in this report for further discussion related to the Company’s process for determining the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses.

Customers May Default On the Repayment of Loans
 
City National’s customers may default on the repayment of loans, which may negatively impact the Company’s earnings due to loss of principal and interest income. Increased operating expenses may result from the allocation of management time and resources to the collection and work-out of the loan. Collection efforts may or may not be successful causing the Company to write off the loan or repossess the collateral securing the loan, which may or may not exceed the balance of the loan.

Due To Increased Competition, the Company May Not Be Able To Attract and Retain Banking Customers At Current Levels
 
The Company faces competition from the following:
·  
local, regional and national banks;
·  
savings and loans;
·  
internet banks;
·  
credit unions;
·  
finance companies; and
·  
brokerage firms serving the Company’s market areas.
 
In particular, City National’s competitors include several major national financial and banking companies whose greater resources may afford them a marketplace advantage by enabling them to maintain numerous banking locations and mount extensive promotional and advertising campaigns. Additionally, banks and other financial institutions may have products and services not offered by the Company, which may cause current and potential customers to choose those institutions. Areas of competition include interest rates for loans and deposits, efforts to obtain deposits and range and quality of services provided. If the Company is unable to attract new and retain current customers, loan and deposit growth could decrease causing the Company’s results of operations and financial condition to be negatively impacted.
 
 
-17-


The Company May Be Required To Write Down Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Causing Its Financial Condition And Results To Be Negatively Affected
 
When the Company acquires a business, a portion of the purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired determines the amount of the purchase price that is allocated to goodwill acquired. At December 31, 2011, the Company’s goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets were approximately $56.2 million. Under current accounting standards, if the Company determines goodwill or intangible assets are impaired, it would be required to write down the value of these assets. The Company conducts an annual review to determine whether goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are impaired. The Company recently completed such an impairment analysis and concluded that no impairment charge was necessary for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company cannot provide assurance whether it will be required to take an impairment charge in the future. Any impairment charge would have a negative effect on its shareholders’ equity and financial results and may cause a decline in our stock price.
 
Acquisition Opportunities May Present Challenges
 
The Company expects that other banking and financial companies, many of which have significantly greater resources, will compete with it to acquire compatible businesses. The Company continually evaluates opportunities to acquire other businesses. However, the Company may not have the opportunity to make suitable acquisitions on favorable terms in the future, which could negatively impact the growth of its business. This competition could increase prices for acquisitions that the Company would likely pursue, and its competitors may have greater resources than it does. Also, acquisitions of regulated businesses such as banks are subject to various regulatory approvals. If the Company fails to receive the appropriate regulatory approvals, it will not be able to consummate an acquisition that it believes is in its best interests.
 
Any future acquisitions may result in unforeseen difficulties, which could require significant time and attention from our management that would otherwise be directed at developing our existing business. In addition, we could discover undisclosed liabilities resulting from any acquisitions for which we may become responsible. Further, the benefits that we anticipate from these acquisitions may not develop.
 
The Company’s Controls and Procedures May Fail or Be Circumvented

Any failure or circumvention of the Company’s controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.  Management regularly reviews and updates the Company’s internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met.

Significant Legal Actions Could Result in Substantial Liabilities

From time to time, the Company is subject to claims related to our operations.  These claims and legal actions, including supervisory actions by our regulators, could involve large monetary claims and cause the Company to incur significant defense claims.  As a result, the Company may be exposed to substantial liabilities, which could negatively affect on its shareholders’ equity and financial results.

The Company May Not Be Able To Attract and Retain Skilled People

The unexpected loss of services of one or more of the Company’s key personnel could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business because of their skills, knowledge of the Company’s market, years of industry experience and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel.  The Company’s success depends, in large part, on its ability to attract and retain key people. Competition for the best people in most activities engaged in by the Company can be intense and the Company may not be able to hire people or to retain them.

 
-18-



Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Properties
 
City National owns the Company’s executive offices, located at 25 Gatewater Road, Charleston, West Virginia. City National operates 68 branch offices, with fifty-seven offices in West Virginia, eight in Kentucky, and three offices in Ohio. The West Virginia locations are primarily centered in the Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, and Martinsburg markets. City National owns fifty-one locations and leases seventeen locations, pursuant to operating leases.  All of the properties are suitable and adequate for their current operations and are generally being fully utilized.
 
City National also owns a thirty thousand square foot office building in an unincorporated area approximately fifteen miles west of Charleston, West Virginia. This facility formerly housed loan operations personnel, but has since been vacated by the Company. The building is currently being leased to a third party.
 

Legal Proceedings
 
City National Bank is currently in a civil action pending in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, in a case styled Thomas Casto v. City National Bank, N.A.  This putative class action asserts that the plaintiffs, and others similarly situated, were wrongfully assessed overdraft fees in connection with City National Bank accounts.  The plaintiffs alleged that City National Bank’s policy of posting debit and check transactions from high to low order was in violation of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, constituted a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and created an unjust enrichment to City National Bank.
 
On August 5, 2011, the Company and plaintiffs’ attorneys submitted a Preliminary Motion to Approve Settlement to the Kanawha County Circuit Court.  The motion asked the Court to approve a settlement in which City National Bank will pay the eligible members of the class a total of $3.0 million and will forgive and release $2.5 million in account balances of accounts of former customers who are no longer customers of the bank, but left overdrawn accounts.  The parties have since agreed to revise the Preliminary Motion to Approve Settlement and now City National Bank will pay the eligible members of the class a total of $3.4 million and will forgive and release $3.5 million in account balances of accounts of former customers who are no longer customers of the bank, but left overdrawn accounts.
 
In addition, the Company is engaged in various legal actions that it deems to be in the ordinary course of business. As these legal actions are resolved, the Company could realize positive and/or negative impact to its financial performance in the period in which these legal actions are ultimately decided. There can be no assurance that current actions will have immaterial results, either positive or negative, or that no material actions may be presented in the future.
 

Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

 
-19-


 
PART II

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Common Stock Market and Dividends
 
The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHCO. This table sets forth the cash dividends paid per share and information regarding the market prices per share of the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated. The price ranges are based on transactions as reported on the NASDAQ stock market. At December 31, 2011, there were 2,802 shareholders of record. 
   
Cash
             
   
Dividends
   
Market Value
 
   
Per Share
   
Low
   
High
 
2011
                 
Fourth Quarter
  $ 0.35     $ 26.06     $ 35.10  
Third Quarter
    0.34       26.82       33.96  
Second Quarter
    0.34       30.55       36.37  
First Quarter
    0.34       33.79       37.22  
                         
2010
                       
Fourth Quarter
  $ 0.34     $ 30.37     $ 38.03  
Third Quarter
    0.34       26.87       31.15  
Second Quarter
    0.34       27.88       37.28  
First Quarter
    0.34       30.37       34.92  
 
As noted in the section captioned Dividends and Other Payments included in Item 1. Business, the section captioned Liquidity included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Note Nineteen of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is dependent upon the ability of City National to pay dividends to City Holding (“Parent Company”).

Stock Repurchase Plan
 
The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s common stock repurchases during the quarter:
Period
 
Total Number
Of Shares
Purchased
   
Average Price
Paid per
Share
   
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced Plans
Or Programs(a)
   
Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
 
October 1 – October 31, 2011
    50,000       26.67       50,000       722,023  
                                 
November 1 – November 30, 2011
    --       --       --       722,023  
                                 
December 1 – December 31, 2011
    30,000       34.25       30,000       692,023  
                                 
(a) On July 27, 2011, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had authorized the Company to buy back up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock, in open market transactions at prices that are accretive to continuing shareholders. No timetable was placed on the duration of this share repurchase program.
 
 

 

 
-20-


Stock-Based Compensation Plan
 
Information regarding stock-based compensation awards outstanding and available for future grants as of December 31, 2011, segregated between stock-based compensation plans approved by shareholders and stock-based compensation plans not approved by shareholders, is presented in the table below.  Additional information regarding stock-based compensation plans is presented in Note Fifteen, Employee Benefit Plans, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plan Category
 
 
 
Number of Shares to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Awards
(a)
   
 
 
 
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding awards
(b)
   
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(c)
 
                   
Plans approved by shareholders
    293,817     $ 33. 95       703,500  
Plans not approved by shareholders
    -       -       -  
Total
    293,817     $ 33.95       703,500  
 
Stock Performance
 
The following graph sets forth the cumulative total shareholder return (assuming reinvestment of dividends) to the Company’s shareholders during the five-year period ended December 31, 2011, as well as an overall stock market index (The Nasdaq Stock Market Index) and the Company’s Peer Group. The Peer Group consists of certain publicly-traded banking institutions over $1 billion but less than $9 billion in assets located in West Virginia and adjoining states. The trading symbols for such financial institutions include: SRCE, BMTC, CFNL, CBU, CTBI, FISI, FCF, FCBC, THFF, GABC, NBTB, ORRF, RBCAA, SYBT, SASR, SCBT, TMP, UVSP and WSBC.  The stock performance shown on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.
 
Stock Performance Graph

 
-21-

 
 
 
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
City Holding Company
100.00
85.40
90.96
88.41
103.44
100.83
NASDAQ Composite
100.00
110.66
66.42
96.54
114.06
113.16
Peer Group
100.00
79.65
97.77
69.14
89.28
85.76
 
This graph shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Company specifically incorporates this report by reference. It will not be otherwise filed under such Acts.
 

Selected Financial Data
 
Selected Financial Data on page 1 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in this report as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.
 


 
-22-



Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 2 through 22 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in this report as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Information appearing under the caption “Risk Management” appearing on pages 9-10 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in this report as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
The consolidated financial statements, notes to consolidated financial statements, reports of management and the independent registered public accounting firm included on pages 23 through 61 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in this report as Exhibit 13, are incorporated herein by reference.
 

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
None

Controls and Procedures
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-15b under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company required to be included in the Company’s periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
 
(a)  
Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting appears on page 23 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in this report as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(b)  
The Company did not have any changes in internal control over financial reporting during its fourth quarter for the year ending December 31, 2011, that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
The Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included in Item 8. of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 

Other Information
 
None

 
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PART III

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
 
Certain information regarding executive officers is included under the section captioned “Executive Officers of The Registrant” in Part I, Item 1, elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Other information required by this Item appears under the captions “ELECTION OF DIRECTORS”, “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS”, “REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE”, “SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE” in the Company's 2012 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.
 
In December 2009, the Company adopted a new Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which applies to all employees (including its chief executive officer, chief financial officer and principal accounting officer).  Members of the Board of Directors are governed by a separate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics approved in January 2004.  Both of the Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics have been posted on its website at www.bankatcity.com under the “Corporate Governance” link located at the bottom of the page.   A copy of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics covering all employees and/or a copy of Code of Business Conduct and Ethics covering the Board of Directors will be mailed without charge upon request to Investor Relations, City Holding Company, 25 Gatewater Road, P.O. Box 7520, Charleston, WV  25356-0520.  Any amendments to or waivers from any provision of the Code of Ethics applicable to the Company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or principal accounting officer will be disclosed by timely posting such information on the Company’s internet website.

Executive Compensation
 
The information required by Item 11 of FORM 10-K appears under the captions "COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS", “COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS”, “EQUITY HOLDINGS”, “POST-EMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS”, and “BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” in the Company's 2012 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
The information required by Item 12 of FORM 10-K appears under the caption "COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT" in the Company's 2012 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
 
The information required by Item 13 of FORM 10-K appears under the captions "CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS" and “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS” in the Company's 2012 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 
The information required by Item 14 of FORM 10-K appears under the caption "PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES" in the Company's 2012 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.

 
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PART IV

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
 

 (a)
(1)
Financial Statements.  Reference is made to Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules.  These schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
 
(3)
Exhibits.  The exhibits listed in the “Exhibit Index” on pages 28-30 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K included herein are filed herewith or incorporated by reference from previous filings.
(b)
See (a) (3) above.
(c)
See (a) (1) and (2) above.
 

 


 
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Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date:  March 15, 2012
 
City Holding Company
 
   
(Registrant)
     
     
   
/s/ Charles R. Hageboeck, Ph.D.
 
   
Charles R. Hageboeck, Ph.D.
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
     
   
/s/ David L. Bumgarner
 
   
David L. Bumgarner
   
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
   
(Principal Financial Officer)
     




POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 29, 2012. Each of the directors and/or officers of City Holding Company whose signature appears below hereby appoints Philip L. McLaughlin, and/or Charles R. Hageboeck Ph.D., as his attorney-in-fact to sign in his name and behalf, in any and all capacities stated below and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments to this report on Form 10-K, making such changes in this report on Form 10-K as appropriate, and generally to do all such things in their behalf in their capacities as officers and directors to enable City Holding Company to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.


/s/ Philip L. McLaughlin
 
/s/ David W. Hambrick
Philip L. McLaughlin
 
David W. Hambrick
Chairman
 
Director
     
     
     
/s/ Hugh R. Clonch
 
/s/ Charles R. Hageboeck, Ph.D.
Hugh R. Clonch
 
Charles R. Hageboeck, Ph.D.
Director
 
Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer
     
     
     
/s/ Oshel B. Craigo
 
/s/ Tracy W. Hylton, II
Oshel B. Craigo
 
Tracy W. Hylton, II
Director
 
Director
     
     
     



     
     
   
/s/ C. Dallas Kayser
John R Elliot
 
C. Dallas Kayser
Director
 
Director
     
     
     
/s/ William H. File, III
 
/s/ James L. Rossi
William H. File, III
 
James L. Rossi
Director
 
Director
     
     
     
/s/ Robert D. Fisher
 
/s/ Sharon H. Rowe
Robert D. Fisher
 
Sharon H. Rowe
Director
 
Director
     
     
     
/s/ Jay C. Goldman
   
Jay C. Goldman
   
Director
   
     

 
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EXHIBIT INDEX
 
The following exhibits are filed herewith or are incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit
Description
2(a)
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated November 14, 2011, by and among Virginia Savings Bancorp, Inc., Virginia Savings Bank, F.S.B.., City Holding Company and City National Bank of West Virginia (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 8-K dated November 14, 2011, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2011).
3(a)
Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, Amendment No. 1 to City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 2-86250, filed November 4, 1983 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
3(b)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated March 6, 1984 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 8-K Report dated March 7, 1984, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 1984).
3(c)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated March 4, 1986 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1986, filed March 31, 1987 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
3(d)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated September 29, 1987 (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 33-23295, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 1988).
3(e)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated May 6, 1991 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1991, filed March 17, 1992 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
3(f)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated May 7, 1991 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1991, filed March 17, 1992 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
3(g)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated August 1, 1994 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended September 30, 1994, filed November 14, 1994 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
3(h)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated December 9, 1998 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1998, filed March 31, 1999 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
3(i)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated June 13, 2001 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed June 22, 2001 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
3(j)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated May 10, 2006 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, filed August 9, 2006 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).


 
 
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3(k)
Amended and Restated Bylaws of City Holding Company, revised February 28, 2007 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 1, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
3(l)
Amended and Restated Bylaws of City Holding Company, revised February 24, 2010 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 1, 2010 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
4(b)
Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement dated as of November 30, 2005 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from City Holding Company’s Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A, filed December 21, 2005, with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(a)
Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan for the Directors of the Bank of Raleigh, dated January 1987 (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed March 2, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(b)
Form of Deferred Compensation Agreement for the Directors of the National Bank of Summers, dated January 15, 1987  (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed March 2, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(c)
City Holding Company’s 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, Exhibit 4.1 to City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-87667, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 1999).
10(d)
Amendment No. 1 to City Holding Company’s 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, Exhibit 4.2 to City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-87667, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 1999).
10(e)
Amendment No. 2 to City Holding Company’s 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed August 14, 2002 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(f)
City Holding Company’s 2003 Incentive Plan (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed March 21, 2003 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(g)
Form of Employment Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and between City Holding Company and Charles R. Hageboeck, Ph.D. (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 31, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(h)
Form of Employment Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and between City Holding Company and Craig G. Stilwell (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 31, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(i)
Form of Change of Control Agreement, dated February 1, 2005, by and between City Holding Company and David L. Bumgarner (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed March 2, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(j)
Form of Change in Control and Termination Agreement, dated June 28, 2004, by and between City Holding Company and John A. DeRito (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed March 7, 2006 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
 
 
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10(k)
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust City Holding Capital Trust III, dated as of March 27, 2008 (attached and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10Q, Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(l)
Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2008, between City Holding Company and Wells Fargo, National Association, as Trustee (attached and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10Q, Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(m)
City Holding Company Guarantee Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2008 (attached and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10Q, Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(n)
Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated December 19, 2011, by and among City Holding Company, City National Bank of West Virginia and Charles R. Hageboeck (attached to and incorporated by reference from City Holding Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 21, 2011, with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
10(o)
Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated December 19, 2011, by and among City Holding Company, City National Bank of West Virginia and Craig G. Stilwell (attached to and incorporated by reference from City Holding Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 21, 2011, with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
Portions of City Holding Company Annual Report to Shareholders for Year Ended December 31, 2011.
Subsidiaries of City Holding Company
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
24
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof)
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Charles R. Hageboeck, Ph.D.
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by David L. Bumgarner
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Charles R. Hageboeck, Ph.D.
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by David L. Bumgarner
 
 
-30-