NSTS Bancorp, Inc. Commitments Disclosure
Note 12: Commitments and Contingencies
In the ordinary course of business, the Bank has various commitments and contingent liabilities that are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Bank.
Financial Instruments
The Bank does not engage in the use of interest rate swaps or futures, forwards or option contracts.
At December 31, 2025 and 2024, unused lines of credit and outstanding commitments to originate loans were as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||
| Unused line of credit | $ | 7,220 | $ | 8,950 | ||||
| Commitments to originate loans | 1,586 | 1,109 | ||||||
| Total commitments | $ | 8,806 | $ | 10,059 | ||||
Concentrations of Credit Risk
The Bank generally originates single-family residential loans within its primary lending area which is Lake County, Illinois and the surrounding area. These loans are secured by the underlying properties.
The Bank maintains its cash in deposit accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank or other institutions, the balances of which may exceed federally insured limits. The Bank has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Bank believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.
Interest Rate Risk
The Bank assumes interest rate risk (the risk that general interest rate levels will change) as a result of its normal operations. As a result, fair values of its financial instruments will change when interest rate levels change, and that change may be either favorable or unfavorable to the Bank. Management attempts to match maturities of assets and liabilities to the extent believed necessary to minimize interest rate risk. However, borrowers with fixed rate obligations are less likely to prepay in a rising rate environment and more likely to prepay in a falling rate environment. Conversely, depositors who are receiving fixed rates are more likely to withdraw funds before maturity in a rising rate environment and less likely to do so in a falling rate environment. Management monitors rates and maturities of assets and liabilities and attempts to minimize interest rate risk by adjusting terms of new loans and deposits and by investing in securities with terms that mitigate the overall interest rate risk.
Litigation
Due to the nature of its business activities, the Bank is at times subject to legal action which arises in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Bank.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 27, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Mar 28, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Mar 28, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 30, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Mar 22, 2022 | |
About Commitments Disclosures
Commitments and contingencies disclosures catalog a company's off-balance-sheet obligations and legal exposures — purchase commitments, guarantee arrangements, pending litigation, and regulatory proceedings. These items represent potential future cash outflows that may not appear as liabilities on the balance sheet until they become probable and estimable.
Key signals: litigation reserves and disclosed loss ranges quantify management's estimate of legal exposure, but unquantified "reasonably possible" losses often represent the larger risk. Watch for changes in language around pending cases — shifts from "remote" to "reasonably possible" or increases in estimated loss ranges signal deteriorating outcomes. Unconditional purchase obligations and take-or-pay contracts create fixed cost structures that reduce operational flexibility. Guarantee arrangements for subsidiaries or joint ventures can create cascading obligations. Compare the total commitment schedule against projected free cash flow to assess whether the company can meet its obligations without additional financing.