Security Federal (SFDL) Risk Analysis

Our business operations are significantly influenced by the extensive body of accounting regulations in the United States. Regulatory bodies periodically issue new guidance, altering accounting rules and reporting requirements, which can substantially affect the preparation and reporting of our financial statements. These changes might necessitate retrospective application, potentially leading to restatements of prior period financial statements. One such significant change in 2023 was the implementation of the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model, which we adopted on January 1, 2023.  Under the CECL model, financial assets carried at amortized cost, such as loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, are presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This forward-looking approach in estimating expected credit losses contrasts starkly with the prior, "incurred loss" model, which delays recognition until a loss is probable. CECL mandates considering historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable forecasts affecting collectability, leading to periodic adjustments of financial asset values. However, this forward-looking methodology, reliant on macroeconomic variables, introduces the potential for increased earnings volatility due to unexpected changes in these indicators between periods. An additional consequence of CECL is an accounting asymmetry between loan-related income, recognized periodically based on the effective interest method, and credit losses, recognized upfront at origination. This asymmetry might create the perception of reduced profitability during loan expansion periods due to the immediate recognition of expected credit losses. Conversely, periods with stable or declining loan levels might seem relatively more profitable as income accrues gradually for loans where losses had been previously recognized.

Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies and methods so they comply with generally accepted accounting principles and reflect management's judgment regarding the most appropriate manner to report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, management must select the accounting policy or method to apply from two or more alternatives, any of which might be reasonable under the circumstances, yet might result in us reporting materially different results than would have been reported under a different alternative. Certain accounting policies are critical to presenting our financial condition and results of operations. They require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments about matters that are uncertain. Materially different amounts could be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions or estimates. These critical accounting policies include, but are not limited to the allowance for credit losses on loans, securities and unfunded commitments; the valuation of real estate acquired in connection with foreclosures or in satisfaction of loans; income taxes, including tax provisions and realization of deferred tax assets; and the fair value of assets and liabilities. Because of the uncertainty of estimates involved in these matters, we may be required, among other things, to significantly increase the allowance for credit losses and/or sustain credit losses that are significantly higher than the reserve provided. For more information, refer to "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Estimates" contained in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this 2025 Form 10-K.