Income Taxes
The components of income tax expense consist of the following:
December 31,
($ in thousands)20252024
Current tax expense
Federal$7,044 $3,030 
State1,817 1,127 
Total current tax expense$8,861 $4,157 
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
Federal$(2,533)$425 
State(659)(335)
Total deferred tax expense (benefit)
$(3,192)$90 
Total income tax expense
Federal$4,511 $3,455 
State1,158 792 
Total income tax expense$5,669 $4,247 
The components of net deferred income tax assets and liabilities on the balance sheet at December 31, 2025 and 2024, are as follows:
December 31,
($ in thousands)20252024
Deferred tax assets
Operating lease liabilities$1,103 $1,302 
Allowance for credit losses
8,650 2,274 
Accrued bonuses1,733 — 
Loan servicing rights553 316 
Accrued vacation205 — 
Nonqualified stock options159 154 
Restricted stock815 386 
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges65 — 
Unrealized losses on securities AFS— 24 
Other109 438 
Total deferred tax assets13,392 4,894 
Deferred tax liabilities
ROU asset(742)(875)
Other reserves(5,317)— 
Deferred loan fees, net(1,588)(2,159)
Net book value of fixed assets(2,776)(2,020)
Loan trailing fees(189)(335)
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges— (85)
Unrealized gains on securities AFS(74)— 
Other(361)(319)
Total deferred tax liabilities(11,047)(5,793)
Deferred tax assets (liabilities), net
$2,345 $(899)
The income tax expense recorded differs from the expected income tax expense and the reconciliation of these differences is as follows at December 31, 2025 and 2024:
December 31,
 20252024
($ in thousands)Amount%Amount%
Tax provision at the U.S. federal statutory rate$4,570 21.0 %$3,568 21.0 %
State income taxes, net915 4.2 %607 3.6 %
Nontaxable or nondeductible items:
Nondeductible compensation393 1.8 %27 0.2 %
Other nontaxable or nondeductible items13 0.1 %12 — %
Other adjustments:
Other(222)(1.0)%33 0.2 %
Income tax expense$5,669 26.1 %$4,247 25.0 %
Income taxes paid, net of refunds were as follows:
December 31,
($ in thousands)20252024
U.S. Federal$5,430 $4,247 
State and local taxes:
California
528 1,170 
Georgia
*904 
Illinois
*710 
New Jersey
543 *
New York
379 *
Other states
183 1,026 
Total income taxes paid, net of refunds$7,063 $8,057 
*The amount of income taxes paid during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 does not meet the 5% disaggregation threshold.
Realization of deferred tax assets is based on the Company's ability to generate sufficient future taxable income of the appropriate character. Management has reviewed all the available evidence, both positive and negative, and determined that a valuation allowance is not necessary as of December 31, 2025.
At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no material unrecognized tax benefits or accrued interest and penalties recorded.
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income tax within U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions. The Company remains subject to examination for income tax returns in all federal and state jurisdictions for the years ending on or after December 31, 2022.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 23, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 26, 2025
2023Mar 25, 2024
2022Mar 30, 2023

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.