U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

 

FORM 10-KSB

 

x Annual report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

 

o Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from                   to                 .

 

Commission File No.:  000-51104

 

CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Small Business Issuer in its Charter)

 

Maryland

 

52-2180744

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

of incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

 

 

1804 West Street, Annapolis MD

 

21401

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Issuer’s Telephone Number:  410-280-6695

 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:   Common Stock, $0.01 par value

 

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act
Yes 
o   No  x .

 

Check whether the Issuer; (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports; and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x   No  o

 

Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-B contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  o   No  x .

 

The issuer’s revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 were approximately $11.44 million.

 

The aggregate market value of the outstanding Common Stock held by non-affiliates as of March 6, 2008 was approximately $15,593,832.

 

As of March 6, 2008, the number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. was 1,820,548.

 

Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format Yes  o   No  x .

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the following documents are hereby incorporated by reference in this Form 10-KSB:  the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the Year Ended December 31, 2007 —Part II ; the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 16, 2008 — Part III.

 

 



 

PART I

 

ITEM 1.  Description of Business.

 

CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on July 9, 1999, to serve as the bank holding company for a newly formed Maryland chartered commercial bank.  The Company was formed by a group of local businessmen and professionals with significant prior experience in community banking in the Company’s market area, together with an experienced community bank senior management team. The Company’s sole subsidiary, CommerceFirst Bank (the “Bank”), a Maryland chartered commercial bank and member of the Federal Reserve System, commenced banking operations on June 29, 2000.

 

The Bank operates from its headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland, and from branch offices in Lanham (opened in September 2004), Glen Burnie (opened in June 2006), Columbia (opened in August 2006), and Severna Park (opened in June 2007) Maryland.  The Bank does not anticipate opening any additional branches during 2008. The Bank believes it is well positioned to continue to grow assets and increase shareholder value while maintaining loan quality and individualized customer service.

 

The Bank operates as a community bank alternative to the super-regional financial institutions that dominate its primary market area. The cornerstone of the Bank’s philosophy is to provide superior, individualized service to its customers.  The Bank focuses on relationship banking, providing each customer with a number of services, familiarizing itself with, and addressing itself to, customer needs in a proactive, personalized fashion.

 

Description of Services.  The Bank offers full commercial banking services to its business and professional clients. The Bank emphasizes providing commercial banking services to sole proprietorships, small and medium-sized businesses, partnerships, corporations, and non-profit organizations and associations in and near the Bank’s primary service areas.  Limited retail banking services are offered to accommodate the individual needs of commercial customers as well as members of the communities the Bank serves.

 

The Bank’s loan portfolio consists of business and real estate loans. The business loans generally have variable rates and/or short maturities where the cash flow of the borrower is the principal source of debt service, with a secondary emphasis on collateral.  Real estate loans are made generally on commercial property and are structured with fixed rates that adjust in three to five years, generally with maturities of five to ten years, or with variable rates tied to various external indices and adjusting as the indices change. The Company’s portfolio contains a small amount of acquisition and construction loans (approximately $1million) which are well secured.

 

In general, the Bank offers the following credit services:

 

1)              Commercial loans for business purposes including working capital, equipment purchases, real estate, lines of credit, and government contract financing.  Asset based lending and accounts receivable financing are available on a selective basis.

2)              Real estate loans for business and investment purposes.

3)              Commercial lines of credit.

4)              Merchant credit card services are offered through an outside vendor.

 

The Bank has developed an expertise in making loans under the guarantee programs of the SBA. The Bank currently expects that it will sell the guaranteed portion of SBA loans to secondary market investors as soon as possible after funding, while retaining the uninsured portion. The sale of the guaranteed portion of such loans is expected to result in gains, and the Bank expects to receive fees for servicing the loans.  SBA guaranteed loans are subjected to the same underwriting standards applied to other loans.

 

The Bank’s lending activities carry the risk that the borrowers will be unable to perform on their obligations.  As such, interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board as well as national and local economic conditions can have a significant impact on the Bank’s and the Company’s results of operations.  To the extent that economic conditions deteriorate, business and individual borrowers may be less able to meet their obligations to the Bank in full in a timely

 

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manner, resulting in decreased earnings or losses to the Bank.  To the extent the Bank makes fixed rate loans, general increases in interest rates will tend to reduce the Bank’s spread as the interest rates the Bank must pay for deposits increase while interest income is flat.  Economic conditions and interest rates may also adversely affect the value of property pledged as security for loans.

 

Deposit services include business and personal checking accounts, NOW accounts, savings accounts, and a tiered Money Market Account basing the payment of interest on balances on deposit.  Certificates of Deposits are offered using a tiered rate structure and various maturities.  The acceptance of brokered deposits in limited amounts is utilized when deemed appropriate by management in order to have available funding sources for loans and investments.

 

Other services for business accounts include Internet banking services and cash management services.

 

Bills have been introduced in each of the last several Congresses that would permit banks to pay interest on checking and demand deposit accounts established by businesses, a practice which is currently prohibited by regulation. If the legislation effectively permitting the payment of interest on business demand deposits is enacted, of which there can be no assurance, it is likely that the Bank may be required to pay interest on some portion of its non-interest bearing deposits in order to compete against other banks.  As a significant portion of its deposits are non-interest bearing demand deposits established by businesses, payment of interest on these deposits could have a significant negative impact on its net income, net interest income, interest margin, return on assets and equity, and other indices of financial performance.  The Bank expects that other banks would be faced with similar negative impacts.  The Bank also expects that the primary focus of competition would continue to be based on other factors, such as quality of service.

 

Source of Business.  Management believes that the market segments which the Bank targets, small to medium sized businesses and the professional base of the Bank’s market area, demand the convenience and personal service that a smaller, independent financial institution such as the Bank can offer.  It is these themes of convenience and personal service that form the basis for the Bank’s business development strategies.  The Bank provides services from its strategically located main office in Annapolis, Maryland, and from its branch offices in Lanham, Glen Burnie, Columbia, and Severna Park, Maryland. It believes these locations meet the needs of the Bank’s existing and potential customers, and provide prospects for additional growth and expansion.

 

The Bank has capitalized upon the extensive business and personal contacts and relationships of its Directors and Executive Officers to establish the Bank’s initial customer base.  To introduce new customers to the Bank, reliance is placed on aggressive officer-originated calling programs and director, customer and shareholder referrals.

 

The risk of nonpayment (or deferred payment) of loans is inherent in commercial banking.  The Bank’s marketing focus on small to medium-sized businesses may result in the assumption by the Bank of certain lending risks that are different from those attendant to loans to larger companies.  Management of the Bank carefully evaluates all loan applications and attempts to minimize its credit risk exposure by use of thorough loan application, approval and monitoring procedures; however, there can be no assurance that such procedures can significantly reduce such lending risks.

 

Employees

 

At December 31, 2007 the Bank employed 35 full time equivalents, two of whom are executive officers. The Chairman of the Board, an attorney in private practice, devotes considerable time each month to the advancement of the Bank, principally in business development activities. The Company (as distinguished from the Bank) does not have any employees or officers who are not employees or officers of the Bank.  None of the Bank’s employees are represented by any collective bargaining group, and the Bank believes that its employee relations are good.  The Bank provides a benefit program that includes health and dental insurance, a 401(k) plan, and life and long-term disability insurance for substantially all full time employees.

 

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Market Area and Competition

 

Location and Market Area.  The main office and the headquarters are located at 1804 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.  The second office is located at 4451 Parliament Place, Lanham, Maryland 20706, and opened in the third quarter of 2004. The third office is located at 910 Cromwell Park Drive, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 and opened late in the second quarter of 2006. The fourth office is located at 6230 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia, Maryland 20706 and opened in the third quarter of 2006. The Bank opened its fifth branch office located at 487 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, Maryland 21146, in June 2007.

 

The Company is located in one of the most dynamic regions in the United States. The Federal Government has a major direct and indirect influence on the economies, infrastructure and land use management of Washington, D.C. and the Maryland and Virginia counties surrounding Washington.  According to the State of Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development (the “Department”), the region is the nation’s 4 th largest market – with a population of 6.9 million and a workforce of 3.4 million – and is the home to three major airports, the nation’s capital and a highly educated workforce. The regional economy is perennially strong and diverse, boasts consistently high job growth and low unemployment and is increasingly service sector and small business oriented.  Information technology, the medical industry and tourism are all major growth industries for the region.  These industries are characterized by small niche oriented enterprises that thrive on their ability to tap the highly educated workforce and abundant access to the region’s substantial communications infrastructure.

 

The Bank’s market strategy is to grow within the Central Maryland corridor, which consists of Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Montgomery and Howard counties.  The Bank is currently focused on Anne Arundel, Prince George’s and Howard counties, areas which it believes have significant growth opportunities.

 

Anne Arundel County evolved from a bedroom community to Baltimore to be more heavily influenced by Washington growth factors.  Based on data provided by the County’s Economic Development Corporation, in the past two decades, the county has developed its own unique and diverse economy. This has occurred due to growth opportunities presented by Baltimore/Washington International Airport, which served over 20 million passengers in 2006 and has long been considered one of the State of Maryland’s prime economic engines; the National Security Agency, which has approximately 25 thousand employees; Northrop Grumman, a high-technology firm with over 7 thousand employees, the largest private sector employer in the county; the United States Naval Academy; the increasing tourism industry in the historic City of Annapolis and recently the Arundel Mills Mall. These unique attributes create attractive opportunities for small businesses to service both highly sophisticated enterprises and rapidly developing firms.  The local economy is dominated by small and mid-sized service sector enterprises.  Anne Arundel County is home to over 14 thousand businesses, 97% of which have fewer than 100 employees. The county’s economy has deep roots in Internet based services; high-technology telecommunications; product distribution, a result of proximity of goods arriving to the Port of Baltimore and BWI Airport; and technical support services.  Once home to large Maryland-based regional banks, financial services are now primarily provided by larger super-regional institutions such as Bank of America, SunTrust, Wachovia, M & T Bank and BB&T, all of which expanded into this highly attractive banking market over the past decade by acquisition. Based on data from the 2000 Census and in projected figures by the County’s Economic Development Corporation, Anne Arundel County has a population in excess of 600 thousand and provides 285 thousand civilian labor force jobs, 70% of which are in the service sector, and has a low 3.7% unemployment rate.  The mean household income of $76 thousand compares very favorably to the national average.

 

Prince George’s County . Relocating and expanding businesses have been increasingly attracted to Prince George’s County due to its competitively priced land and buildings, an integrated transportation system, proximity to Washington, D.C., and attractive business incentives such as the county’s Revitalization Tax Credit, a new High Technology Incentive Package, Enterprise Zone benefits and a foreign trade zone.  Increasingly restrictive land use policies in Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties have provided significant growth opportunities in Prince George’s.  The county closely mirrors Anne Arundel County with respect to small business enterprises, with 97% of the over 14 thousand employers having fewer than 100 workers.  Furthermore, government is also a significant influence, with 75 thousand Federal, state and county employees, led by Andrews Air Force Base, which has 17 thousand employees, and the University of Maryland which has over 11 thousand employees.  Similar to Anne

 

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Arundel County, large super-regional banking institutions have obtained additional market share in the suburban Washington market from the acquisition of many of the community banks that once existed in this area. Prince George’s County has a population of 805 thousand and an unemployment rate of 4.8%.  A favorable and accommodative business climate has helped fuel the strong housing market, with average sale prices above $300 thousand, and has attracted a highly educated workforce with an average household income of $55 thousand.

 

Howard County . Expansion into neighboring Howard County is a natural extension of the Bank’s strategic growth plan. Howard County is situated in the heart of the corridor between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Howard County’s geographic location has resulted in the substantial growth of a wide variety of industries, including high-tech and life science businesses, in addition to transportation and education related activities. Accessible to I-95 and I-70, the county is located within a 20-minute drive of Baltimore/Washington International Airport and the Port of Baltimore, and serves as a bedroom community for both Baltimore and Washington D.C. area employers, in addition to having a strong economic base of its own. Howard County’s almost 8 thousand businesses employ about 12 thousand workers; only 250 of those businesses have more than 100 workers. Like the other counties in which the Company operates, the population and workforce of Howard County are highly educated, and income levels are favorably high.  Per capita income for 2002 in Howard County was in excess of $45 thousand, as compared to $36 thousand for Maryland as a whole and almost $31,000 nationally.

 

Competition.  Deregulation of financial institutions and holding company acquisitions of banks across state lines has resulted in widespread, fundamental changes in the financial services industry.  This transformation, although occurring nationwide, is particularly intense in the greater Baltimore/Washington, DC area.  In Anne Arundel, Prince George’s and Howard Counties, competition is exceptionally keen from large banking institutions headquartered outside of Maryland.  In addition, the Bank competes with other community banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, mortgage companies, finance companies and others providing financial services.  Among the advantages that many of these institutions have over the Bank are their abilities to finance extensive advertising campaigns, maintain extensive branch networks and technology investments, and to directly offer certain services, such as international banking and trust services, which the Bank does not directly offer.  Further, the greater capitalization of the larger institutions allows for substantially higher lending limits than the Bank.  Certain of these competitors have other advantages, such as tax exemption in the case of credit unions, and lesser regulation in the case of mortgage companies and finance companies.

 

Regulation

 

The following summaries of statutes and regulations affecting bank holding companies do not purport to be complete discussions of all aspects of such statutes and regulations and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text thereof.

 

The Company.  The Company is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, (the “Act”) and is subject to supervision by the Federal Reserve Board.  As a bank holding company, the Company is required to file with the Federal Reserve Board an annual report and such other additional information as the Federal Reserve Board may require pursuant to the Act.  The Federal Reserve Board may also make examinations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries.

 

The Act requires approval of the Federal Reserve Board for, among other things, the acquisition by a proposed bank holding company of control of more than five percent (5%) of the voting shares, or substantially all the assets, of any bank or the merger or consolidation by a bank holding company with another bank holding company.  The Act also generally permits the acquisition by a bank holding company of control or substantially all the assets of any bank located in a state other than the home state of the bank holding company, except where the bank has not been in existence for the minimum period of time required by state law, but if the bank is at least 5 years old, the Federal Reserve Board may approve the acquisition.

 

With certain limited exceptions, a bank holding company is prohibited from acquiring control of any voting shares of any company which is not a bank or bank holding company and from engaging directly or indirectly in any activity other than banking or managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to or performing service for its authorized subsidiaries.  A bank holding company may, however, engage in or acquire an interest in, a company that

 

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engages in activities which the Federal Reserve Board has determined by order or regulation to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be properly incident thereto.  In making such a determination, the Federal Reserve Board is required to consider whether the performance of such activities can reasonably be expected to produce benefits to the public, such as convenience, increased competition or gains in efficiency, which outweigh possible adverse effects, such as undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or unsound banking practices.  The Federal Reserve Board is also empowered to differentiate between activities commenced de novo and activities commenced by the acquisition, in whole or in part, of a going concern.  Some of the activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined by regulation to be closely related to banking include making or servicing loans, performing certain data processing services, acting as a fiduciary or investment or financial advisor, and making investments in corporations or projects designed primarily to promote community welfare.

 

Subsidiary banks of a bank holding company are subject to certain restrictions imposed by the Federal Reserve Act on any extensions of credit to the bank holding company or any of its subsidiaries, or investments in the stock or other securities thereof, and on the taking of such stock or securities as collateral for loans to any borrower.  Further, a holding company and any subsidiary bank are prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with the extension of credit.  A subsidiary bank may not extend credit, lease or sell property, or furnish any services, or fix or vary the consideration for any of the foregoing on the condition that: (i) the customer obtain or provide some additional credit, property or services from or to such bank other than a loan, discount, deposit or trust service; (ii) the customer obtain or provide some additional credit, property or service from or to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company; or (iii) the customer not obtain some other credit, property or service from competitors, except for reasonable requirements to assure the soundness of credit extended.

 

Effective on March 11, 2000, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the “GLB Act”) allows a bank holding company or other company to certify status as a financial holding company, which allows such company to engage in activities that are financial in nature, that are incidental to such activities, or are complementary to such activities. The GLB Act enumerates certain activities that are deemed financial in nature, such as underwriting insurance or acting as an insurance principal, agent or broker, underwriting, dealing in or making markets in securities, and engaging in merchant banking under certain restrictions.  It also authorizes the Federal Reserve Board to determine by regulation what other activities are financial in nature, or incidental or complementary thereto. The GLB Act allows a wider array of companies to own banks, which could result in companies with resources substantially in excess of the Company’s entering into competition with the Company and the Bank.

 

The GLB Act made substantial changes in the historic restrictions on non-bank activities of bank holding companies, and allows affiliations between types of companies that were previously prohibited.  The GLB Act also allows banks to engage in a wider array of non-banking activities through “financial subsidiaries.”

 

The Bank.  The Bank, as a Maryland chartered commercial bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System (a “state member bank”) and whose accounts are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) up to the maximum legal limits of the FDIC, is subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the Maryland Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Reserve Board.  The regulations of these various agencies govern most aspects of the Bank’s business, including required reserves against deposits, loans, investments, mergers and acquisitions, borrowing, dividends and location and number of branch offices. The laws and regulations governing the Bank generally have been promulgated to protect depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund, and not for the purpose of protecting stockholders.

 

Competition among commercial banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions has increased following enactment of legislation that greatly expanded the ability of banks and bank holding companies to engage in interstate banking or acquisition activities.  As a result of federal and state legislation, banks in the Washington D.C./Maryland/Virginia area can, subject to limited restrictions, acquire or merge with a bank in another of the jurisdictions, and can branch de novo in any of the jurisdictions.  Additionally, legislation has been proposed which may result in non-banking companies being authorized to own banks, which could result in companies with resources substantially in excess of the Company’s entering into competition with the Company and the Bank.

 

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Banking is a business that depends on interest rate differentials.  In general, the differences between the interest paid by a bank on its deposits and its other borrowings and the interest received by a bank on loans extended to its customers and securities held in its investment portfolio constitute the major portion of the bank’s earnings.  Thus, the earnings and growth of the Bank will be subject to the influence of economic conditions generally, both domestic and foreign, and also to the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States and its agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve Board, which regulates the supply of money through various means including open market dealings in United States government securities.  The nature and timing of changes in such policies and their impact on the Bank cannot be predicted.

 

Branching and Interstate Banking.   The federal banking agencies are authorized to approve interstate bank merger transactions without regard to whether such transaction is prohibited by the law of any state, unless the home state of one of the banks has opted out of the interstate bank merger provisions of the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (the “Riegle-Neal Act”) by adopting a law after the date of enactment of the Riegle-Neal Act and prior to June 1, 1997 which applies equally to all out-of-state banks and expressly prohibits merger transactions involving out-of-state banks.  Interstate acquisitions of branches are permitted only if the law of the state in which the branch is located permits such acquisitions.  Such interstate bank mergers and branch acquisitions are also subject to the nationwide and statewide insured deposit concentration limitations described in the Riegle-Neal Act.

 

The Riegle-Neal Act authorizes the federal banking agencies to approve interstate branching de novo by national and state banks in states that specifically allow for such branching.  The District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia have all enacted laws that permit interstate acquisitions of banks and bank branches and permit out-of-state banks to establish de novo branches.

 

The Bank is subject to the provisions of Section 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and Federal Reserve Regulation W of the Federal Reserve Bank which place limits on the amount of loans or extensions of credit to affiliates (as defined in the Federal Reserve Act), investments in or certain other transactions with affiliates and on the amount of advances to third parties collateralized by the securities or obligations of affiliates.  The law and regulation limit the aggregate amount of transactions with any individual affiliate to ten percent (10%) of the capital and surplus of the Bank and also limit the aggregate amount of transactions with all affiliates to twenty percent (20%) of capital and surplus.  Loans and certain other extensions of credit to affiliates are required to be secured by collateral in an amount and of a type described in the regulation, and the purchase of low quality assets from affiliates is generally prohibited. The law and Regulation W also, among other things, prohibit an institution from engaging in certain transactions with certain affiliates (as defined in the Federal Reserve Act) unless the transactions are on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to such institution and/or its subsidiaries, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with non-affiliated entities.  In the absence of comparable transactions, such transactions may only occur under terms and circumstances, including credit standards, that in good faith would be offered to or would apply to non-affiliated companies.

 

The Bank is subject to the restrictions contained in Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation O thereunder on loans to executive officers, directors and principal stockholders.  Under Section 22(h), loans to a director, an executive officer or a greater-than-10% stockholder of a bank as well as certain affiliated interests of any of the foregoing may not exceed, together with all other outstanding loans to such person and affiliated interests, the loans-to-one-borrower limit applicable to national banks (generally 15% of the institution’s unimpaired capital and surplus), and all loans to all such persons in the aggregate may not exceed the institution’s unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus.  Regulation O also prohibits the making of loans in an amount greater than $25,000 or 5% of capital and surplus but in any event not over $500,000, to directors, executive officers and greater-than-10% stockholders of a bank, and their respective affiliates, unless such loans are approved in advance by a majority of the board of directors of the bank with any “interested” director not participating in the voting.  Furthermore, Regulation O requires that loans to directors, executive officers and principal stockholders of a bank be made on terms substantially the same as those that are offered in comparable transactions to unrelated third parties unless the loans are made pursuant to a benefit or compensation program that is widely available to all employees of the bank and does not give preference to insiders over other employees.  Regulation O also prohibits a depository institution from paying overdrafts over $1,000 of any of its executive

 

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officers or directors unless they are paid pursuant to written pre-authorized extension of credit or transfer of funds plans.

 

All of the Bank’s loans to its and the Company’s executive officers, directors and greater-than-10% stockholders, and affiliated interests of such persons, comply with the requirements of Regulation W and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O.

 

Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) requires that, in connection with examinations of financial institutions within their respective jurisdictions, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or the Office of Thrift Supervision shall evaluate the record of the financial institutions in meeting the credit needs of their local communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of those institutions.  The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial institutions nor does it limit an institution’s discretion to develop the types of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular community, consistent with the CRA.  An institution’s CRA activities are considered in, among other things, evaluating mergers, acquisitions and applications to open a branch or facility, as well as determining whether the institution will be permitted to exercise certain of the powers allowed by the GLBA.  The CRA also requires all institutions to make public disclosure of their CRA ratings. The Bank was last examined for CRA compliance as of October 2005 and received a CRA rating of “satisfactory.”

 

USA Patriot Act.   Under the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, commonly referred to as the “USA Patriot Act” or the “Patriot Act”, financial institutions are subject to prohibitions against specified financial transactions and account relationships, as well as enhanced due diligence standards intended to detect, and prevent, the use of the United States financial system for money laundering and terrorist financing activities.  The Patriot Act requires financial institutions, including banks, to establish anti-money laundering programs, including employee training and independent audit requirements, meet minimum standards specified by the act, follow minimum standards for customer identification and maintenance of customer identification records, and regularly compare customer lists against lists of suspected terrorists, terrorist organizations and money launderers.  The costs or other effects of the compliance burdens imposed by the Patriot Act or future anti-terrorist, homeland security or anti-money laundering legislation or regulations cannot be predicted with certainty.

 

Capital Adequacy Guidelines.   The Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC have adopted risk based capital adequacy guidelines pursuant to which they assess the adequacy of capital in examining and supervising banks and bank holding companies and in analyzing bank regulatory applications.  Risk-based capital requirements determine the adequacy of capital based on the risk inherent in various classes of assets and off-balance sheet items.

 

State member banks are expected to meet a minimum ratio of total qualifying capital (the sum of core capital (Tier 1) and supplementary capital (Tier 2)) to risk weighted assets of 8%.  At least half of this amount (4%) should be in the form of core capital.  These requirements apply to the Bank and will apply to the Company (a bank holding company) once its total assets equal $500,000,000 or more, it engages in certain highly leveraged activities or it has publicly held debt securities.

 

Tier 1 Capital generally consists of the sum of common stockholders’ equity and perpetual preferred stock (subject in the case of the latter to limitations on the kind and amount of such stock which may be included as Tier 1 Capital), less goodwill, without adjustment for changes in the market value of securities classified as “available for sale” in accordance with FAS 115.  Tier 2 Capital consists of the following: hybrid capital instruments; perpetual preferred stock which is not otherwise eligible to be included as Tier 1 Capital; term subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock; and, subject to limitations, general allowances for loan losses.  Assets are adjusted under the risk-based guidelines to take into account different risk characteristics, with the categories ranging from 0% (requiring no risk-based capital) for assets such as cash, to 100% for the bulk of assets which are typically held by a bank holding company, including certain multi-family residential and commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans and consumer loans.  Residential first mortgage loans on one to four family residential real estate and certain seasoned multi-family residential real estate loans, which are not 90 days or more past-due or non-performing and which have been

 

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made in accordance with prudent underwriting standards are assigned a 50% level in the risk-weighing system, as are certain privately-issued mortgage-backed securities representing indirect ownership of such loans.  Off-balance sheet items also are adjusted to take into account certain risk characteristics.

 

In addition to the risk-based capital requirements, the Federal Reserve Board has established a minimum 3.0% Leverage Capital Ratio (Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted assets) requirement for the most highly-rated banks, with an additional cushion of at least 100 to 200 basis points for all other banks, which effectively increases the minimum Leverage Capital Ratio for such other banks to 4.0% - 5.0% or more.  The highest-rated banks are those that are not anticipating or experiencing significant growth and have well diversified risk, including no undue interest rate risk exposure, excellent asset quality, high liquidity, good earnings and, in general, those which are considered a strong banking organization.  A bank having less than the minimum Leverage Capital Ratio requirement shall, within 60 days of the date as of which it fails to comply with such requirement, submit a reasonable plan describing the means and timing by which the bank shall achieve its minimum Leverage Capital Ratio requirement.  A bank which fails to file such plan is deemed to be operating in an unsafe and unsound manner, and could subject the bank to a cease-and-desist order. Any insured depository institution with a Leverage Capital Ratio that is less than 2.0% is deemed to be operating in an unsafe or unsound condition pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the “FDIA”) and is subject to potential termination of deposit insurance.  However, such an institution will not be subject to an enforcement proceeding solely on account of its capital ratios, if it has entered into and is in compliance with a written agreement to increase its Leverage Capital Ratio and to take such other action as may be necessary for the institution to be operated in a safe and sound manner.  The capital regulations also provide, among other things, for the issuance of a capital directive, which is a final order issued to a bank that fails to maintain minimum capital or to restore its capital to the minimum capital requirement within a specified time period.  Such directive is enforceable in the same manner as a final cease-and-desist order.

 

Under recent guidance by the federal banking regulators, banks which have concentrations in construction, land development or commercial real estate loans (other than loans for majority owner occupied properties) would be expected to maintain higher levels of risk management and, potentially, higher levels of capital.  It is possible that we may be required to maintain higher levels of capital than we would otherwise be expected to maintain as a result of our levels of construction, development and commercial real estate loans, which may require us to obtain additional capital

 

Prompt Corrective Action.   Under Section 38 of the FDIA, each federal banking agency is required to implement a system of prompt corrective action for institutions that it regulates.  The federal banking agencies have promulgated substantially similar regulations to implement the system of prompt corrective action established by Section 38 of the FDIA.  Under the regulations, a bank shall be deemed to be: (i) “well capitalized” if it has a Total Risk Based Capital Ratio of 10.0% or more, a Tier 1 Risk Based Capital Ratio of 6.0% or more, a Leverage Capital Ratio of 5.0% or more and is not subject to any written capital order or directive; (ii) “adequately capitalized” if it has a Total Risk Based Capital Ratio of 8.0% or more, a Tier 1 Risk Based Capital Ratio of 4.0% or more and a Tier 1 Leverage Capital Ratio of 4.0% or more (3.0% under certain circumstances) and does not meet the definition of “well capitalized;” (iii) “undercapitalized” if it has a Total Risk Based Capital Ratio that is less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 Risk based Capital Ratio that is less than 4.0% or a Leverage Capital Ratio that is less than 4.0% (3.0% under certain circumstances); (iv) “significantly undercapitalized” if it has a Total Risk Based Capital Ratio that is less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 Risk Based Capital Ratio that is less than 3.0% or a Leverage Capital Ratio that is less than 3.0%; and (v) “critically undercapitalized” if it has a ratio of tangible equity to total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0%.

 

An institution generally must file a written capital restoration plan which meets specified requirements with an appropriate federal banking agency within 45 days of the date the institution receives notice or is deemed to have notice that it is undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized or critically undercapitalized.  A federal banking agency must provide the institution with written notice of approval or disapproval within 60 days after receiving a capital restoration plan, subject to extensions by the applicable agency.

 

An institution that is required to submit a capital restoration plan must concurrently submit a performance guaranty by each company that controls the institution.  Such guaranty shall be limited to the lesser of (i) an amount equal to 5.0% of the institution’s total assets at the time the institution was notified or deemed to have notice that it was

 

9



 

undercapitalized or (ii) the amount necessary at such time to restore the relevant capital measures of the institution to the levels required for the institution to be classified as adequately capitalized.  Such a guaranty shall expire after the federal banking agency notifies the institution that it has remained adequately capitalized for each of four consecutive calendar quarters.  An institution which fails to submit a written capital restoration plan within the requisite period, including any required performance guaranty, or fails in any material respect to implement a capital restoration plan, shall be subject to the restrictions in Section 38 of the FDIA which are applicable to significantly undercapitalized institutions.

 

A “critically undercapitalized institution” is to be placed in conservatorship or receivership within 90 days unless the FDIC formally determines that forbearance from such action would better protect the deposit insurance fund.  Unless the FDIC or other appropriate federal banking regulatory agency makes specific further findings and certifies that the institution is viable and is not expected to fail, an institution that remains critically undercapitalized on average during the fourth calendar quarter after the date it becomes critically undercapitalized must be placed in receivership.  The general rule is that the FDIC will be appointed as receiver within 90 days after a bank becomes critically undercapitalized unless extremely good cause is shown and the federal regulators agree to an extension.  In general, good cause is defined as capital that has been raised and is imminently available for infusion into the Bank except for certain technical requirements that may delay the infusion for a period of time beyond the 90 day time period.

 

Immediately upon becoming undercapitalized, an institution shall become subject to the provisions of Section 38 of the FDIA, which (i) restrict payment of capital distributions and management fees; (ii) require that the appropriate federal banking agency monitor the condition of the institution and its efforts to restore its capital; (iii) require submission of a capital restoration plan; (iv) restrict the growth of the institution’s assets; and (v) require prior approval of certain expansion proposals.  The appropriate federal banking agency for an undercapitalized institution also may take any number of discretionary supervisory actions if the agency determines that any of these actions is necessary to resolve the problems of the institution at the least possible long-term cost to the deposit insurance fund, subject in certain cases to specified procedures.  These discretionary supervisory actions include: requiring the institution to raise additional capital; restricting transactions with affiliates; requiring divestiture of the institution or the sale of the institution to a willing purchaser; and any other supervisory action that the agency deems appropriate.  These and additional mandatory and permissive supervisory actions may be taken with respect to significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized institutions.

 

Additionally, under Section 11(c)(5) of the FDIA, a conservator or receiver may be appointed for an institution where:  (i) an institution’s obligations exceed its assets;  (ii) there is substantial dissipation of the institution’s assets or earnings as a result of any violation of law or any unsafe or unsound practice;  (iii) the institution is in an unsafe or unsound condition;  (iv) there is a willful violation of a cease-and-desist order;  (v) the institution is unable to pay its obligations in the ordinary course of business;  (vi) losses or threatened losses deplete all or substantially all of an institution’s capital, and there is no reasonable prospect of becoming “adequately capitalized” without assistance;  (vii) there is any violation of law or unsafe or unsound practice or condition that is likely to cause insolvency or substantial dissipation of assets or earnings, weaken the institution’s condition, or otherwise seriously prejudice the interests of depositors or the insurance fund;  (viii) an institution ceases to be insured;  (ix) the institution is undercapitalized and has no reasonable prospect that it will become adequately capitalized, fails to become adequately capitalized when required to do so, or fails to submit or materially implement a capital restoration plan; or (x) the institution is critically undercapitalized or otherwise has substantially insufficient capital.

 

Regulatory Enforcement Authority .  Federal banking law grants substantial enforcement powers to federal banking regulators. This enforcement authority includes, among other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, to issue cease-and-desist or removal orders and to initiate injunctive actions against banking organizations and institution-affiliated parties.  In general, these enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of laws and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices.  Other actions or inactions may provide the basis for enforcement action, including misleading or untimely reports filed with regulatory authorities.

 

Deposit Insurance Premiums.   Pursuant to deposit insurance reform legislation, in December 2006 the FDIC adopted a new risk based assessment system for determining deposit insurance premiums. Under the new requirements, four risk categories (I-IV), each subject to different premium rates, are established, based upon an institution’s status as well capitalized, adequately capitalized or undercapitalized, and the institution’s supervisory

 

10



 

rating.  Under the new rules, all insured depository institutions will pay deposit insurance premiums, currently ranging between 5 and 7 basis points on an institution’s assessment base for institution’s in risk category I (well capitalized institutions perceived as posing the least risk to the insurance fund), and 10, 28 and 40 basis points for institutions in risk categories II, III and IV.  The levels of rates are subject to periodic adjustment by the FDIC.

 

ITEM 2.  Description of Property.

 

The main office of the Bank and the executive offices of the Bank and the Company are located at 1804 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland, in a brick and masonry structure. The Company leases 8,100 square feet in the building under a five-year lease, which commenced in April 2000. Rent expense was $211,553, $196,842 and $192,017 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.   The Company has exercised the first of three five-year renewal options.

 

The second office of the Bank is located at 4451 Parliament Place, Lanham, Maryland in a masonry structure. The Bank leases 2,100 square feet in the building under a ten-year lease (with an exit option at the end of five years) which commenced in June 2004. Rent expense was $33,109, $31,317 and $29,274 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

The third office of the Bank is located at 910 Cromwell Park Drive, Glen Burnie, Maryland in a masonry structure. The Bank leases 2,600 square feet in the building under a five-year lease (with one five-year renewal option) which commenced in June 2006.  Rent expense was $ 80,675 and $32,833 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (partial year), respectively.

 

The fourth office of the Bank is located at 6230 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia, Maryland in a masonry structure. The Bank leases 2,400 square feet in the building under a ten-year lease (with one five-year renewal option) which commenced in August 2006.  Rent expense was $70,006 and $20,233 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (partial year), respectively.

 

The fifth office of the Bank is located at 485 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, Maryland in a masonry structure. The Bank leases approximately 1,500 square feet in the building under a five-year lease (with two five-year renewal options) which commenced in June 2007. Rent expense was $26,761during 2007.

 

Management believes adequate insurance coverage is in force on all of its properties.

 

ITEM 3.  Legal Proceedings.

 

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company may become involved in routine legal proceedings.  At December 31, 2007, the Company is a party to a lawsuit filed by a loan customer alleging, primarily, the lack of commercially reasonable efforts to collect loan repayments from collateral liquidation by the Company. The plaintiffs are seeking release of remaining debts in the amount of $583 thousand, release of remaining collateral related thereto and certain damages approximating $3 million. The Company believes that the allegations are without merit and will vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit.

 

ITEM 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.  Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

(a) Market for Common Stock and Dividends. The information regarding the market for the Company’s Common Stock, the number of holders of the common stock and dividend history required under Item 5(a) is hereby

 

11



 

incorporated herein by reference from the material under the caption “Market for Common Stock and Dividends” in the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.  See Item 11 of this annual report for Equity Compensation Plan Information.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Shares.   None.

 

(b) Use of Proceeds: Not applicable

 

(c)  Issuer Repurchases of Securities during the Fourth Quarter of 2007.   None.

 

ITEM 6.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

 

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the material appearing under the caption “Management Discussion and Analysis” in the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

ITEM 7. Financial Statements.

 

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

ITEM 8.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

ITEM 8A(T).  Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated, as of the last day of the period covered by this report, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The management of CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) is responsible for the preparation, integrity and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and reflect management’s judgments and estimates concerning the effects of events and transactions that are accounted for or disclosed.

 

Management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective internal control over financial reporting.  The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report reliable financial data. The internal control system contains monitoring mechanisms, and appropriate actions are taken to correct identified deficiencies. Management believes that internal controls over financial reporting, which are subject to scrutiny by management and the Company’s internal auditors, support the integrity and reliability of the financial statements. Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control system, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of internal controls. Accordingly, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. In addition, because of changes in conditions and circumstances, the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.

 

12



 

Management assessed the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. This assessment was conducted based on the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission “Internal Control - Integrated Framework”. Based on this assessment, management believes that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. Management’s assessment concluded that there were no material weaknesses within the Company’s internal control structure.  The 2007 end of year consolidated financial statements have been audited by the independent accounting firm of Trice Geary & Myers LLC (“TGM”). Personnel from TGM were given unrestricted access to all financial records and related data, including minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees thereof.  Management believes that all representations made to the independent auditors were valid and appropriate. The resulting report from TGM accompanies the financial statements.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company, acting through its Audit Committee (the “Committee”), is responsible for the oversight of the Company’s accounting policies, financial reporting and internal control. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised entirely of outside directors who are independent of management. The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment and compensation of the independent auditors and approves decisions regarding the appointment or removal of members of the internal audit function. The Committee meets periodically with management, the independent auditors, and the internal auditors to insure that they are carrying out their responsibilities. The Committee is also responsible for performing an oversight role by reviewing and monitoring the financial, accounting, and auditing procedures of the Company in addition to reviewing the Company’s financial reports. The independent auditors and the internal auditors have full and unlimited access to the Audit Committee, with or without the presence of the management of the Company, to discuss the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, and any other matters which they believe should be brought to the attention of the Audit Committee.

 

There were no changes in the Bank’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Bank’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

The annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

ITEM 8B.  Other Information

 

None.

 

Part III

 

ITEM 9.  Directors, Executive Officers, Promoter, Control Persons and Corporate Governance of Registrant; Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

The information required under Item 9 is hereby incorporated herein by reference from the material under the caption “Election of Directors” contained under the caption “Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 16, 2008.

 

Code of Ethics.   The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to the President/Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer.  The Company will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics without charge upon written request directed to Candace M. Springmann, Corporate Secretary, CommerceFirst Bancorp, Inc, 1804 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

 

There have been no material changes in the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors since the proxy statement for the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

13



 

ITEM 10. Executive Compensation

 

The information required by Item 10 is hereby incorporated herein by reference from the material under the caption “Election of Directors - Executive Compensation,” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 16, 2008.

 

ITEM 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding options and other rights to purchase common stock under the Company’s compensation plans.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan category

 

Number of securities to be issued
upon exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and rights

 

Weighted average exercise price of
outstanding options, warrants and
rights

 

Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a)

 

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)

 

0

 

N/A

 

0

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

126,372

(1)

$

10.00

 

0

 

Total

 

126,372

 

$

10.00

 

0

 

 


(1) Column (a) reflects 106,372 shares of common stock subject to issuance upon the exercise of warrants issued to organizers of the Company and Bank under the Organizer’s Agreement and related Warrant Plan, as amended and restated, which provided for the issuance to organizers of warrants to purchase an aggregate of 15% of the number of shares sold in the Company’s initial registered offering of shares of its common stock.  The warrants are fully vested, and have a term ending in August 2010.  The warrants are subject to call by the Company upon the occurrence of certain events, and are subject to mandatory exercise or forfeiture upon certain regulatory events.  Column (a) also includes options to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share issuable to certain officers of the Company under the Company’s 2004 Non-qualified Stock Option Plan. No additional options may be issued under the Non-qualified Stock Option Plan.

 

The other information required by Item 11 is hereby incorporated herein by reference from the material under the caption “Voting Securities and Principal Shareholders” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 16, 2008.

 

ITEM 12.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

The information required by Item 12 is hereby incorporated herein by reference from the material under the caption “Election of Directors” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 16, 2008 .

 

14



 

ITEM 13.  Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibits

 

 

 

3(a)

 

Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (1)

3(b)

 

Bylaws of the Company (1)

10(a)

 

Employment Agreement between Richard J. Morgan and the Company (2)

10(b)

 

Employment Agreement between Lamont Thomas and the Company (3)

10(c)

 

2004 Non Incentive Option Plan (4)

10(d)

 

First Amendment to Employment Agreement between Lamont Thomas and the Company (5)

10(e)

 

Employment Agreement between Michael T. Storm and CommerceFirst Bank (6)

11

 

Statement regarding Computation of Per Share Income – Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Exhibit 13.

13

 

Annual Report to Shareholders

21

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

 

 

 

The sole subsidiary of the Registrant is CommerceFirst Bank, a Maryland chartered commercial bank.

 

 

 

23

 

Consent of Trice Geary & Myers, LLC

31(a)

 

Certification of Richard J. Morgan, President and CEO

31(b)

 

Certification of Michael T. Storm, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

32(a)

 

Certification of Richard J. Morgan, President and Chief Executive Officer

32(b)

 

Certification of Michael T. Storm, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

99(a)

 

Amended and Restated Organizers Agreement (7)

 


(1)            Incorporated by reference to exhibit of the same number filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2, as amended, (File No. 333-91817)

(2)            Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s to Registration Statement on Form SB-2, as amended) (File No. 333-91817)

(3)            Incorporated by reference to exhibits 10(c) to the Company’s to Registration Statement on Form SB-2, as amended) (File No. 333-91817)

(4)            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 
333-119988).Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company’s to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 
333-109138)

(5)            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the period ended March 31, 2007.

(6)            Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the period ended September 30, 2007.

(7)            Incorporated by reference to exhibit s 99(b) and 99(d) to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2, as amended (File No. 333-91817)

 

ITEM 14                 Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The information required by Item 14 is hereby incorporated herein by reference from the material under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 16, 2008.

 

15



 

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

COMMERCEFIRST BANCORP, INC

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 6, 2008

By:

/s/ Richard J. Morgan,

 

 

Richard J. Morgan, President and CEO

 

In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

 

Position

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

s/ Milton D. Jernigan II

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

March 6, 2008

Milton D. Jernigan II

 

of the Company and the Bank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/ Richard J. Morgan

 

Director, President and CEO of the

 

March 6, 2008

Richard J. Morgan

 

Company and the Bank

 

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/ Edward B. Howlin, Jr.

 

Director of the Company and the Bank

 

March 6, 2008

Edward B. Howlin, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/ Charles L. Hurtt, Jr., CPA

 

Director of the Company and the Bank

 

March 6, 2008

Charles L. Hurtt, Jr., CPA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/ Lamont Thomas

 

Director of Company and the Bank

 

March 6, 2008

Lamont Thomas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/ Robert R. Mitchell

 

Director of the Company and the Bank

 

March 6, 2008

Robert R. Mitchell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/ John A. Richardson, Sr.

 

Director of the Company and the Bank

 

March 6, 2008

John A. Richardson, Sr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/ George C. Shenk, Jr.

 

Director of the Company and the Bank

 

March 6, 2008

George C. Shenk, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director of the Company and the Bank

 

March   , 2008

Jerome A. Watts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/ Michael T. Storm

 

Executive Vice President/Chief Financial

 

March 6, 2008

Michael T. Storm

 

Officer of the Company and the Bank

 

 

 

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

16


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