Kearny Financial (KRNY) Risk Analysis

At June 30, 2026, our goodwill totaled $113.5 million. We are required to periodically test our goodwill for impairment. The impairment testing process considers a variety of factors, including the current market price of our common stock, the estimated net present value of our assets and liabilities, and information concerning the terminal valuation of similarly situated insured depository institutions. If an impairment determination is made in a future reporting period, our earnings and the book value of goodwill will be reduced by the amount of the impairment. If an impairment loss is recorded, it will have little or no impact on the tangible book value of our common stock or our regulatory capital levels, but recognition of such an impairment loss could significantly restrict Kearny Bank's ability to make dividend payments to Kearny Financial and therefore adversely impact our ability to pay dividends to stockholders.

Among other sources of funds, we rely on wholesale funding, including short- and long-term borrowings and brokered deposits, to provide funds with which to make loans, purchase investment securities and provide for other liquidity needs. On June 30, 2026, wholesale funding totaled $1.9 billion, or approximately 24.8% of total assets. In the future, this funding may not be readily replaceable as it matures, or we may have to pay a higher rate of interest to maintain it. Not being able to maintain or replace those funds as they mature would adversely affect our liquidity. Paying higher interest rates to maintain or replace funding would adversely affect our net interest margin and operating results.

Liquidity is essential to our business. We rely on our ability to gather deposits, make investments and effectively manage the repayment and maturity schedules of loans to ensure that there is adequate liquidity to fund our operations and pay our obligations. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale and maturities of loans and securities and other sources could have a substantial negative effect on liquidity. Our most important source of funds is deposits. Deposit balances can decrease when customers perceive alternative investments, cash management solutions or payment technologies as providing a more attractive risk/return, convenience or utility proposition. Such preferences may be influenced by changes in interest rates, local and national economic conditions, the availability and attractiveness of competing products, including U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins and other digital asset-based alternatives, and perceptions regarding the stability of the financial services industry generally and our institution specifically. Further, the demand for deposits may be reduced due to a variety of factors such as demographic patterns, changes in customer preferences, reductions in consumers' disposable income, the monetary policy of the FRB, regulatory actions that decrease customer access to particular products, or the emergence and increased adoption of alternative payment, savings and transaction platforms. In particular, the growing acceptance of U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins and other digital asset-based payment technologies may provide consumers and businesses with alternatives to traditional bank deposits for storing value and conducting transactions. To the extent customers shift funds from bank deposits to stablecoins, money market funds or other competing cash management products, we could experience deposit outflows, increased funding competition and higher funding costs. Such developments could reduce a relatively low-cost source of funding,negatively affect net interest income, liquidity and profitability, and require us to offer more competitive deposit rates or seek alternative funding sources. Other primary sources of funds consist of cash flows from operations, maturities and sales of investment securities. We have the capacity to borrow additional funds from the FHLB as well as from the FRB without pledging additional collateral, and via unsecured overnight borrowings from other financial institutions. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our activities, or on terms that are acceptable, could be impaired by factors that affect us directly or the financial services industry or economy in general, such as disruptions in the financial markets, changes in the value of investment securities, negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry, a decrease in our business activity as a result of a downturn in markets, or adverse regulatory actions against us. Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet expenses, or to fulfill obligations such as repaying borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations. A lack of liquidity could also attract increased regulatory scrutiny and potential restraints imposed on us by regulators. Depending on the capitalization status and regulatory treatment of depository institutions, including whether an institution is subject to a supervisory prompt corrective action directive, certain additional regulatory restrictions and prohibitions may apply, including restrictions on growth, restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, restrictions or prohibitions on payment of dividends and restrictions on the acceptance of brokered deposits.

Public funds deposits are a notable source of funds for our lending and investment activities. At June 30, 2026, $638.8 million, or 11.2% of our total deposits, consisted of public funds deposits from local government entities in the state of New Jersey, such as townships, counties, school districts and charter schools. These deposits are collateralized by letters of credit from the FHLB or through the pledge of eligible investment securities. Given our reliance on these typically high-average balance public funds deposits as a source of funds, our inability to retain such funds could adversely affect our liquidity. Further, our public funds deposits are primarily floating rate interest-bearing demand deposit accounts and therefore their pricing is more sensitive to changes in interest rates. If we are forced to pay higher rates on our public funds accounts to retain those funds, or if we are unable to retain such funds and we are forced to rely on other sources of funds for our lending and investment activities, such as borrowings from the FHLB, the interest expense associated with these other funding sources may be higher than the rates we are currently paying on our public funds deposits, which would adversely affect our net interest income.

Our net interest margin is lower than it would have been if a higher proportion of our interest-earning assets consisted of loans. Additionally, at June 30, 2026, $964.4 million, or 90.0% of our investment securities, are classified as available for sale and reported at fair value with unrealized gains or losses excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income, which affects our reported equity. Accordingly, given the significant size of the investment securities portfolio classified as available for sale and due to possible mark-to-market adjustments of that portion of the portfolio resulting from market conditions, we may experience greater volatility in the value of reported equity. Moreover, given that we actively manage our investment securities portfolio classified as available for sale, we may sell securities which could result in a realized loss, thereby reducing our net income. Changes in market interest rates also impact the value of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities as well as the value of our derivatives portfolios. In particular, the unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale and changes in the fair value of interest rate derivatives serving as cash flows hedges are reported, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income which is a component of stockholders' equity. Consequently, declines in the fair value of these instruments resulting from changes in market interest rates have, and may continue to, adversely affect stockholders' equity.

We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of many of our loans. In determining the required amount of the allowance for credit losses, we evaluate loans individually and establish credit loss allowances for specifically identified impairments. For loans not individually analyzed, we estimate losses and establish reserves based on reasonable and supportable forecasts and adjustments for qualitative factors. If the assumptions used in our calculation methodology are inaccurate, our allowance for credit losses may be insufficient to cover losses inherent in our loan portfolio, resulting in further additions to our allowance. Significant additions to our allowance could materially decrease our net income. In addition, bank regulators periodically review our allowance for credit losses and may require us to increase our provision for credit losses or recognize further loan charge-offs. Any increase in our allowance for credit losses or loan charge-offs as required by these regulatory authorities might have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We derive our income mainly from the difference or spread between the interest earned on loans, securities and other interest-earning assets and interest paid on deposits, borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities. As such, our earnings are highly sensitive to changes in market interest rates, which directly influence the relationship between the yields on our interest-earning assets and the costs of our interest-bearing liabilities. Because the repricing characteristics of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are not perfectly matched, changes in market interest rates may alter the spread between asset yields and funding costs, resulting in fluctuations in net interest margin. In particular, if funding costs increase more rapidly than asset yields, or if asset yields decline more rapidly than funding costs, our net interest margin and net interest income could be adversely affected. Changes in interest rates may also affect the economic value of our assets, liabilities and stockholders' equity, which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. We are unable to predict changes in market interest rates, which are affected by many factors beyond our control, including inflation, unemployment, money supply, governmental policy, monetary policy actions of the Federal Open Market Committee ("FOMC"), the imposition of tariffs, domestic and international events and changes in the United States and other financial markets.

As of June 30, 2026, a significant portion of our loan portfolio is scheduled to reset or mature during fiscal 2027. Many of these loans were originated in calendar 2021 and 2022 at interest rates below current market levels. As these loans reprice, mature, or require refinancing, borrowers may face higher borrowing costs and increased debt service obligations. Higher interest rates and tighter credit conditions may adversely affect borrowers' cash flows, financial condition, and ability to obtain replacement financing on acceptable terms. As a result, some borrowers may experience difficulty meeting their repayment obligations, which could lead to increased delinquencies or defaults. Any such deterioration in borrower performance could adversely affect our asset quality and operating results.

We operate in diverse markets and rely on the ability of our employees and systems to process a high number of transactions. Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from our operations, including but not limited to, the risk of fraud by employees or persons outside the Company, the execution of unauthorized transactions by employees, errors relating to transaction processing and technology, breaches of the internal control system and compliance requirements, and business continuation and disaster recovery. Insurance coverage may not be available for such losses, or where available, such losses may exceed insurance limits. This risk of loss also includes the potential legal actions that could arise as a result of an operational deficiency or as a result of noncompliance with applicable regulatory standards, adverse business decisions or their implementation, and client attrition due to potential negative publicity. In the event of a breakdown in the internal control system, improper operation of systems or improper employee actions, we could suffer financial loss, face regulatory action, and suffer damage to our reputation.

Our commercial real estate ("CRE") lending exposes us to greater risks than one- to four-family residential lending. Unlike single-family, owner-occupied residential mortgage loans, which generally are made on the basis of the borrower's ability to make repayment from employment and other income sources, and are secured by real property whose value tends to be more easily ascertainable and realizable, the repayment of commercial real estate loans typically is dependent on the successful operation, occupancy levels, rental income and cash flows generated by the underlying property, all of which can be significantly affected by economic conditions. In addition, commercial real estate loans generally carry larger balances to single borrowers or related groups of borrowers than one- to four-family mortgage loans, which increases the financial impact of a borrower's default. The risk exposure from our increased commercial real estate lending is also a function of the markets in which we operate. Our commercial real estate lending activity is generally focused on borrowers domiciled, and real estate located, within the states of New Jersey and New York. Regional risk factors and changes to local laws and regulations, including changes to rent regulations or foreclosure laws, may present greater risk than a more geographically diversified portfolio.