Note 16 - Income Taxes

The components of income tax (benefit) expense are summarized as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2025

2024

2023

(In Thousands)

Current income tax (benefit) expense:

Federal

$

(783)

$

4,529

$

8,917

State

954

2,860

5,592

171

7,389

14,509

Deferred income tax (benefit) expense:

Federal

(3,778)

351

(1,634)

State

(2,164)

(93)

(903)

(5,942)

258

(2,537)

Total Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

$

(5,771)

$

7,647

$

11,972


Note 16 - Income Taxes (continued)

The tax effects of existing temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are as follows:

December 31,

2025

2024

Deferred income tax assets:

(In Thousands)

OREO write down

$

4,310 

$

-

Allowance for credit losses

9,868 

10,176 

Nonaccrual interest

1,868 

749 

Net operating loss carry forwards

2,542 

1,070 

Lease liability

3,184 

3,756 

Unrealized loss on securities

1,330 

2,149 

Capital loss carryover (1)

477 

477 

Deferred fees and costs

498 

782 

Other

1,932 

2,094 

26,009 

21,253

Reserve against capital loss carryover

(477)

-

25,532 

21,253

Deferred income tax liabilities:

Purchase accounting adjustment on premises and equipment acquired

(66)

(69)

Right-of-use assets

(3,047)

(3,626)

SBA servicing asset

(210)

(252)

Borrowing modification

-

(125)

(3,323)

(4,072)

Net Deferred Tax Asset

$

22,209 

$

17,181

(1) Tax benefit relating to capital loss on securities sold in 2023 which will expire in 2028.

A summary of the change in the net deferred tax asset is as follows:

 

Years Ended December 31,

2025

2024

(In Thousands)

Balance at beginning of year:

$

17,181

$

18,213 

Deferred tax benefit

5,942

(258)

Other comprehensive income

Available-for-sale securities

(892)

(618)

Benefit plan

(22)

(156)

Balance at end of year

$

22,209

$

17,181 

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making this assessment, management has considered the profitability of current core operations, future market growth, forecasted earnings, future taxable income, and ongoing, feasible and permissible tax planning strategies. The Company has determined that it would not be able to realize a portion of its net deferred tax asset in the future, and a $477,000 adjustment to the net deferred tax asset was charged to earnings. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income and capital gains during the periods in which temporary differences are deductible and carry forwards are available. The Company believes it will generate sufficient future taxable income to realize the tax benefits related to the remaining net deferred tax assets in our consolidated statements of financial condition.

In conjunction with the Company’s acquisition of IA Bancorp in 2018, the Company acquired a federal net operating loss carry forward of $8.7 million. This carry forward is available for use through 2035; however, in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 382, usage of the carry forward is limited to $459,000 annually on a cumulative basis (portions of the $459,000 not used in a particular year may be added to subsequent usage). At both December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had $5.1 million remaining of this federal net operating loss carry forward available to offset future taxable income for federal tax reporting purposes.

In 2025, the Company has generated a $4.4 million federal net operating loss carryover with no expiration date and $7.1 million state net operating loss carryover that expires in 2045.


Note 16 - Income Taxes (continued)

The following table presents a reconciliation between the reported income tax expense and the income tax expense which would be computed by applying the normal federal income tax rate of 21.0 percent to income before income tax expense.

Years Ended December 31,

2025

2024

2023

(In Thousands)

Amount

Percent

Amount

Percent

Amount

Percent

Federal income tax (benefit) expense at statutory rate

$

(3,843)

21.00

%

$

5,517 

21.00 

%

$

8,706 

21.00 

%

Increases (decreases) in income taxes resulting from:

State income tax, net of federal income tax effect (1)

(1,175)

6.42

2,186 

8.32 

3,704 

8.94 

Tax-exempt income

(15)

0.08

(13)

(0.05)

(30)

(0.07)

Bank-owned life insurance earnings

(698)

3.81

(553)

(2.10)

(368)

(0.89)

Capital loss carryover valuation allowance

477

(2.60)

-

-

-

-

Other items, net

(517)

2.83

510 

1.94 

(40)

(0.10)

Effective Income Tax Expense

$

(5,771)

$

7,647 

$

11,972 

Effective Income Tax Rate

31.54

%

29.11

%

28.88

%

(1) State benefits in New Jersey make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect in this category.

The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 on a retrospective basis for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 and has included the following table as a result of the adoption, which presents income taxes paid net of refunds received (in thousands):

Years Ended December 31,

2025

2024

2023

(In Thousands)

U.S. Federal

$

291 

$

4,300 

$

10,600 

State and Local income tax, net of federal income tax effect:

New Jersey

715 

1,400 

5,130 

New York State

442 

597 

1,258 

New York City

253 

502 

939 

Pennsylvania

100 

80 

100 

Total income taxes paid

1,801 

6,879 

18,027 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 9, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 7, 2025
2023Mar 8, 2024
2022Mar 9, 2023
2021Mar 9, 2022
2020Mar 10, 2021
2019Mar 11, 2020
2018Mar 18, 2019
2017Mar 6, 2018
2016Mar 13, 2017
2015Mar 14, 2016

About Income Taxes Disclosures

The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.

Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.