NOTE 7. Loans

Loans are made to individuals and commercial entities. Specific loan terms vary as to interest rate, repayment and collateral requirements based on the type of loan requested and the credit worthiness of the prospective borrower. Credit risk tends to be geographically concentrated in that a majority of the loan customers are located in the markets serviced by the Bank, most notably in New Jersey. Additionally, the New Jersey credit concentration is primarily focused within the counties that the Company operates in. Loan performance may be adversely affected by factors impacting the general economy or conditions specific to the real estate market such as geographic location and/or property type. A description of the Company’s different loan segments follows:

SBA Loans: SBA 7(a) loans, on which the SBA has historically provided guarantees of up to 90 percent of the principal balance, are considered a higher risk loan product for the Company than its other loan products. The guaranteed portion of the Company’s SBA loans is generally sold in the secondary market with the nonguaranteed portion held in the portfolio as a loan held for investment. SBA loans are for the purpose of providing working capital, business acquisitions, financing the purchase of equipment, inventory or commercial real estate and for other business purposes. Loans are guaranteed by the businesses’ major owners. SBA loans are made based primarily on the historical and projected cash flow of the business and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided.

Loans held for sale includes the guaranteed portion of SBA loans and are reflected at the lower of aggregate cost or market value. When sales of SBA loans do occur, the premium received on the sale and the present value of future cash flows of the servicing assets are recognized in income. All criteria for sale accounting must be met in order for the loan sales to occur.

Servicing assets represent the estimated fair value of retained servicing rights, net of servicing costs, at the time loans are sold. Servicing assets are amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing revenues. Impairment is evaluated based on stratifying the underlying financial assets by date of origination and term. Fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics, when available, or based upon discounted cash flows using market-based assumptions.

Serviced loans sold to others are not included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income and fees collected for loan servicing are credited to noninterest income when earned, net of amortization on the related servicing assets, in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Commercial and Commercial Construction Loans: Commercial credit is extended primarily to middle market and small business customers. Commercial loans are generally made in the Company’s marketplace for the purpose of providing working capital, financing the purchase of equipment, inventory or commercial real estate and for other business purposes. The SBA 504 program consists of real estate backed commercial mortgages where the Company has the first mortgage and the SBA has the second mortgage on the property. Loans will generally be guaranteed in full or for a meaningful amount by the businesses’ major owners. Commercial loans are made based primarily on the historical and projected cash flow of the business and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided.

Residential Mortgage, Consumer and Residential Construction Loans: The Company originates mortgage and consumer loans including principally residential real estate and home equity lines and loans and residential construction lines. The Company originates qualified mortgages which are generally sold in the secondary market and nonqualified mortgages which are generally held for investment. Each loan type is evaluated on debt to income, type of collateral, loan to collateral value, credit history and Company relationship with the borrower.

Loans held for sale includes a portion of residential mortgage loans and are reflected at the lower of aggregate cost or market value. When sales of residential mortgage loans do occur, the premium received on the sale and the present value of future cash flows of the servicing assets are recognized in income. All criteria for sale accounting must be met in order for the loan sales to occur.

Inherent in the lending function is credit risk, which is the possibility a borrower may not perform in accordance with the contractual terms of their loan. A borrower’s inability to pay their obligations according to the contractual terms can create the risk of past due loans and, ultimately, credit losses, especially on collateral deficient loans. The Company minimizes its credit risk by loan diversification and adhering to credit administration policies and procedures. Due diligence on loans begins when the Company initiates contact regarding a loan with a borrower. Documentation, including a borrower’s credit history, materials establishing the value and liquidity of potential collateral, the purpose of the loan, the source of funds for repayment of the loan and other factors, are analyzed before a loan is submitted for approval. The commercial loan portfolio is then subject to on-going internal reviews for credit quality which in part is derived from ongoing collection and review of borrowers’ financial information, as well as, independent credit reviews performed by an independent external firm.

The Company’s extension of credit is governed by the Loan Policy which was established to control the quality of the Company’s loans. This policy and the underlying procedures are reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors on a regular basis.

Credit Ratings

The Company places all SBA, commercial, commercial construction and residential construction loans into various credit risk rating categories based on an assessment of the expected ability of the borrowers to properly service their debt. The assessment considers numerous factors including, but not limited to, current financial information on the borrower, historical payment experience, strength of any guarantor, nature of and value of any collateral, acceptability of the loan structure and documentation, relevant public information and current economic trends. The credit risk rating is evaluated at the time of loan approval and subsequently during the annual reviews, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Loan Policy.

The Company uses the following regulatory definitions for criticized and classified risk ratings:

Pass: Risk ratings of 1 through 6 are used for loans that are performing, as they meet, and are expected to continue to meet, all of the terms and conditions set forth in the original loan documentation, and are generally current on principal and interest payments. These performing loans are termed “Pass”.

Special Mention: These loans have a potential weakness that deserves Management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, the potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loans or of the institution’s credit position at some future date.

Substandard: These loans are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans classified as Substandard have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Doubtful: These loans have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as Substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full highly questionable and improbable, based on currently existing facts,

conditions and values. Once a borrower is deemed incapable of repayment of unsecured debt, the loan is termed a “Loss” and charged off immediately, subject to government guarantee.

Loss: These loans are considered uncollectible and hold minute value that their continuance as bankable loans is no longer warranted. This classification does not imply zero possible recovery or salvage value; rather, it is neither practical nor desirable to postpone writing off the asset despite some partial recovery occurring later.

For residential mortgage and consumer loans, Management uses performing versus nonperforming as the best indicator of credit quality. Nonperforming loans consist of loans that are not accruing interest (nonaccrual loans) as a result of principal or interest being in default for a period of 90 days or more or when the ability to collect principal and interest according to the contractual terms is in doubt. These credit quality indicators are updated on an ongoing basis, as a loan is placed on nonaccrual status as soon as Management believes there is sufficient doubt as to the ultimate ability to collect interest on a loan.

Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans

Nonaccrual loans consist of loans that are not accruing interest as a result of principal or interest being in default, typically for a period of 90 days or more or when the ability to collect principal and interest according to the contractual terms is in doubt. When a loan is classified as nonaccrual, interest accruals are discontinued and all past due interest previously recognized as income is reversed and charged against current period earnings. Generally, until the loan becomes current, any payments received from the borrower are applied to outstanding principal until such time as Management determines that the financial condition of the borrower and other factors merit recognition of a portion of such payments as interest income. Loans may be returned to an accrual status when the ability to collect is reasonably assured and when the loan is brought current as to principal and interest. The risk of loss is difficult to quantify and is subject to fluctuations in collateral values, general economic conditions and other factors. The Company values its collateral through the use of appraisals, broker price opinions and knowledge of its local market.

The Company is using the practical expedient to exclude accrued interest receivable from credit loss measurement. At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, there was $12.1 million and $12.0 million of accrued interest on loans, respectively.

Individually Evaluated Loans

The Company has defined individually evaluated loans to be all nonperforming loans. Management individually evaluates a loan when, based on current information and events, it is determined that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the loan contract.