The following discussion and analysis is intended to provide a comprehensive review of the Company's operating results and financial condition. The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Information related to the comparison of the results of operations for the years December 31, 2021 to 2020 is found in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2022.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views and are not historical facts. These statements may include statements regarding projected performance for periods following the date of this report. These statements can generally be identified by use of phrases such as "believe," "expect," "will," "seek," "should," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "target," "project," "commit" or other words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future financial condition, results of operations, objectives, strategies, plans, goals or future performance and business are also forward-looking statements. Statements that project future financial conditions, results of operations and shareholder value are not guarantees of performance and many of the factors that will determine these results and values are beyond our ability to control or predict. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, but not limited to, those described in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections and other parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. The following is a non-exclusive list of factors, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

? changes in general economic conditions, either nationally, in California, or in

our local markets;

? inflation, changes in interest rates, securities market volatility and monetary

fluctuations;

? increases in competitive pressures among financial institutions and businesses

offering similar products and services;

? the future impact of the COVID-19 virus;

? higher defaults in our loan portfolio than we expect;

? changes in management's estimate of the adequacy of the allowance for credit

losses;

? risks associated with our growth and expansion strategy and related costs;

? increased lending risks associated with our high concentration of real estate

loans;

? legislative or regulatory changes or changes in accounting principles, policies


  or guidelines;


? technological changes;

? failure to raise the debt limit on U.S. debt;

? regulatory or judicial proceedings; and

? other factors and risks including those described under "Risk Factors" and

"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of

Operations" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, expected, projected, intended, committed or believed. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Please take into account that forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (or documents incorporated by reference, if applicable).




                                       40

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table of Contents

The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if it later becomes aware that actual results are likely to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

Overview

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (the "Company", "FMCB", or "we") is the holding company for Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the "Bank" or "FMB). The Bank is a full-service community bank providing loans, deposit and cash management services to individuals and businesses. Our primary clients are small to medium-sized businesses that require highly personalized commercial banking products and services. The Bank has 29 branch locations and 3 ATMs that have been serving communities in the mid-Central Valley and East Bay of California for over 100 years.

The primary source of funding for our asset growth has been the generation of core deposits, which we raise through our existing branch locations, newly opened branch locations, or through acquisitions. Our recent loan growth is primarily the result of organic growth generated by our seasoned relationship managers and supporting associates who provide outstanding service and responsiveness to our clients or through acquisitions.

Our results of operations are largely dependent on net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income we earn on interest earning assets, which are comprised of loans, investment securities and short-term investments, and the interest we pay on our interest bearing liabilities, which are primarily deposits, and, to a lesser extent, other borrowings. Management strives to match the re-pricing characteristics of the interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities to protect net interest income from changes in market interest rates and changes in the shape of the yield curve.

We measure our performance by calculating our net interest margin, return on average assets, and return on average equity. Net interest margin is calculated by dividing net interest income, which is the difference between interest income on interest earning assets and interest expense on interest bearing liabilities, by average interest earning assets. Net interest income is our largest source of revenue. Interest rate fluctuations, as well as changes in the amount and type of earning assets and liabilities, combine to affect net interest income. We also measure our performance by our efficiency ratio, which is calculated by dividing non-interest expense by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.




                                       41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table of Contents

© Edgar Online, source Glimpses