• general volatility of the securitization and capital markets;

• changes in our industry, interest rates or the general economy;

• changes in our business strategy;

• the degree and nature of our competition;

• availability and retention of qualified personnel; and

• the factors set forth in the section captioned "Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date made and the Company is not required to update forward-looking statements for subsequent or unanticipated events or circumstances.
Overview
We are a nationwide provider of equipment financing and working capital solutions, primarily to small businesses. We finance over 100 categories of commercial equipment important to our end user customers including copiers, certain commercial and industrial equipment, security systems, computers and telecommunications equipment. We access our end user customers through origination sources comprised of our existing network of independent equipment dealers and, to a much lesser extent, through relationships with lease brokers and through direct solicitation of our end user customers. Our leases are fixed-rate transactions with terms generally ranging from 36 to 60 months. At September 30, 2009, our lease portfolio consisted of approximately 94,000 accounts with an average original term of 49 months and average original transaction size of approximately $11,200.
Since our founding in 1997, we have grown to $628.1 million in total assets at September 30, 2009. Our assets are substantially comprised of our net investment in leases and loans which totaled $499.6 million at September 30, 2009. Personnel costs represent our most significant overhead expense and we actively manage our staffing levels to the requirements of our lease portfolio. As a financial services company, we continue to be impacted by the challenging economic environment. As a result, we have proactively lowered expenses in the first quarter of 2009, including reducing our workforce by 17% and closing our two smallest satellite sales offices (Chicago and Utah). A total of 49 employees company-wide were affected as a result of the staff reductions in the first quarter of 2009. We incurred pretax severance costs in the three months ended March 31, 2009 of approximately $500,000 related to the staff reductions. The total annualized pretax salary cost savings that are expected to result from the reductions are estimated to be approximately $2.3 million.

During the second quarter of 2009, we announced a further workforce reduction of 24%, or 55 employees company-wide, including the closure of our Denver satellite office. We incurred pretax severance costs in the three months ended June 30, 2009 of approximately $700,000 related to these staff reductions. The total annualized pretax salary cost savings that are expected to result from these reductions are estimated to be approximately $2.9 million. Although we believe that our estimates are appropriate and reasonable based on available information, actual results could differ from these estimates.
On March 20, 2007, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") approved the application of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Marlin Business Bank ("MBB"), to become an industrial bank chartered by the State of Utah. MBB commenced operations effective March 12, 2008. MBB provides diversification of the Company's funding sources and, over time, may add other product offerings to better serve our customer base.
On December 31, 2008, MBB received approval from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to (i) convert from an industrial bank to a state-chartered commercial bank and (ii) become a member of the Federal Reserve System. In addition, on December 31, 2008, Marlin Business Services Corp. received approval to become a bank holding company upon conversion of MBB from an industrial bank to a commercial bank.
On January 13, 2009, MBB converted from an industrial bank to a commercial bank chartered and supervised by the State of Utah and the Federal Reserve Board. In connection with the conversion of MBB to a commercial bank, Marlin Business Services Corp. became a bank holding company on January 13, 2009. We generally reach our lessees through a network of independent equipment dealers and lease brokers. The number of dealers and brokers that we conduct business with depends on, among other things, the number of sales account executives we have. Sales account executive staffing levels and the activity of our origination sources are shown below.

                           Nine Months
                              Ended
                          September 30,                 As of or For the Year Ended December 31,
                               2009             2008          2007         2006         2005         2004
Number of sales
account executives                    34             86          118          100          103          100
Number of originating

(1) Monthly average of origination sources generating lease volume

Our revenue consists of interest and fees from our leases and loans and, to a lesser extent, income from our property insurance program and other fee income. Our expenses consist of interest expense and operating expenses, which include salaries and benefits and other general and administrative expenses. As a credit lender, our earnings are also significantly impacted by credit losses. For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, our annualized net credit losses were 5.80% of our average total finance receivables. We establish reserves for credit losses which require us to estimate inherent losses in our portfolio.
Our leases are classified under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") as direct financing leases, and we recognize interest income over the term of the lease. Direct financing leases transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership to the equipment lessee. Our net investment in direct finance leases is included in our consolidated financial statements in "net investment in leases and loans." Net investment in direct financing leases consists of the sum of total minimum lease payments receivable and the estimated residual value of leased equipment, less unearned lease income. Unearned lease income consists of the excess of the total future minimum lease payments receivable plus the estimated residual value expected to be realized at the end of the lease term plus deferred net initial direct costs and fees less the cost of the related equipment. Approximately 71% of our lease portfolio at September 30, 2009 amortizes over the term to a $1 residual value. For the remainder of the portfolio, we must estimate end of term residual values for the leased assets. Failure to correctly estimate residual values could result in losses being realized on the disposition of the equipment at the end of the lease term.

Since our founding, we have funded our business through a combination of variable-rate borrowings and fixed-rate asset securitization transactions, as well as through the issuance from time to time of subordinated debt and equity. Our variable-rate borrowing currently consists of a commercial paper ("CP") conduit warehouse facility which is being amortized. There is no available borrowing capacity in the facility. We have traditionally issued fixed-rate term debt through the asset-backed securitization market. Historically, leases have been funded through variable-rate borrowings until they were refinanced through the term note securitization at fixed rates. All of our term note securitizations have been accounted for as on-balance sheet transactions and, therefore, we have not recognized gains or losses from these transactions. As of September 30, 2009, $275.1 million, or 75.8%, of our borrowings were fixed-rate term note securitizations.
In addition, since its opening on March 12, 2008, MBB provides diversification of the Company's funding sources through the issuance of FDIC insured certificates of deposit raised nationally primarily through various brokered deposit relationships and on a direct basis from other financial institutions. Since we initially finance our fixed-rate leases with variable-rate financing, our earnings are exposed to interest rate risk should interest rates rise before we complete our fixed-rate term note securitizations. We generally benefit in times of falling and low interest rates. We are also dependent upon obtaining future financing to refinance our warehouse line of credit in order to grow our lease portfolio. We have historically completed a fixed-rate term note securitization approximately once a year. Due to the impact on interest rates from unfavorable market conditions and the available capacity in our warehouse facilities at the time, the Company elected not to complete a fixed-rate term note securitization in 2008. Failure to obtain such financing, or other alternate financing, represents a restriction on our growth and future financial performance.
We use derivative financial instruments to manage exposure to the effects of changes in market interest rates and to fulfill certain covenants in our borrowing arrangements. All derivatives are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value as either assets or liabilities. Accounting for the changes in fair value of derivatives depends on whether the derivative has been designated and qualifies for hedge accounting treatment pursuant to the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). While the Company may continue to use derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to changing interest rates, effective July 1, 2008, the Company discontinued the use of hedge accounting.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including credit losses, residuals, initial direct costs and fees, other fees, performance assumptions for stock-based compensation awards, the probability of forecasted transactions, the fair value of financial instruments and the realization of deferred tax assets. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties. Our consolidated financial statements are based on the selection and application of critical accounting policies, the most significant of which are described below.
Income recognition. Interest income is recognized under the effective interest method. The effective interest method of income recognition applies a constant rate of interest equal to the internal rate of return on the lease. When a lease or loan is 90 days or more delinquent, the contract is classified as being on non-accrual and we do not recognize interest income on that contract until it is less than 90 days delinquent.
Fee income consists of fees for delinquent lease and loan payments, cash collected on early termination of leases and net residual income. Net residual income includes income from lease renewals and gains and losses on the realization of residual values of leased equipment disposed at the end of term.

At the end of the original lease term, lessees may choose to purchase the equipment, renew the lease or return the equipment to the Company. The Company receives income from lease renewals when the lessee elects to retain the equipment longer than the original term of the lease. This income, net of appropriate periodic reductions in the estimated residual values of the related equipment, is included in fee income as net residual income. When the lessee elects to return the equipment at lease termination, the equipment is transferred to other assets at the lower of its basis or fair market value. The Company generally sells returned equipment to an independent third party, rather than leasing the equipment a second time. The Company does not maintain equipment in other assets for longer than 120 days. Any loss recognized on transferring the equipment to other assets, and any gain or loss realized on the sale of equipment to the lessee or to others is included in fee income as net residual income.
Fee income from delinquent lease payments is recognized on an accrual basis based on anticipated collection rates. Other fees are recognized when received. Management performs periodic reviews of the estimated residual values and any impairment, if other than temporary, is recognized in the current period. Insurance income is recognized on an accrual basis as earned over the term of the lease. Payments that are 120 days or more past due are charged against income. Ceding commissions, losses and loss adjustment expenses are recorded in the period incurred and netted against insurance income.
Initial direct costs and fees. We defer initial direct costs incurred and fees received to originate our leases and loans in accordance with the Receivables Topic and the Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs Subtopic of the FASB ASC. The initial direct costs and fees we defer are part of the net investment in leases and loans, and are amortized to interest income using the effective interest method. We defer third-party commission costs as well as certain internal costs directly related to the origination activity. Costs subject to deferral include evaluating the prospective customer's financial condition, evaluating and recording guarantees and other security arrangements, negotiating terms, preparing and processing documents and closing the transaction. The fees we defer are documentation fees collected at inception. The realization of the deferred initial direct costs, net of fees deferred, is predicated on the net future cash flows generated by our lease and loan portfolios.
Lease residual values. A direct financing lease is recorded at the aggregate future minimum lease payments plus the estimated residual values less unearned income. Residual values reflect the estimated amounts to be received at lease termination from lease extensions, sales or other dispositions of leased equipment. These estimates are based on industry data and on our experience. Management performs periodic reviews of the estimated residual values and any impairment, if other than temporary, is recognized in the current period. Allowance for credit losses. In accordance with the Contingencies Topic of the FASB ASC, we maintain an allowance for credit losses at an amount sufficient to absorb losses inherent in our existing lease and loan portfolios as of the reporting dates based on our projection of probable net credit losses. We evaluate our portfolios on a pooled basis, due to their composition of small balance, homogenous accounts with similar general credit risk characteristics, diversified among a large cross section of variables including industry, geography, equipment type, obligor and vendor. To project probable net credit losses, we perform a migration analysis of delinquent and current accounts based on historic loss experience. A migration analysis is a technique used to estimate the likelihood that an account will progress through the various delinquency stages and ultimately charge off. In addition to the migration analysis, we also consider other factors including recent trends in delinquencies and charge-offs; accounts filing for bankruptcy; account modifications; recovered amounts; forecasting uncertainties; the composition of our lease and loan portfolios; economic conditions; and seasonality. The various factors used in the analysis are reviewed on a periodic basis. We then establish an allowance for credit losses for the projected probable net credit losses based on this analysis. A provision is charged against earnings to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the appropriate level. Our policy is to charge-off against the allowance the estimated unrecoverable portion of accounts once they reach 121 days delinquent.
Our projections of probable net credit losses are inherently uncertain, and as a result we cannot predict with certainty the amount of such losses. Changes in economic conditions, the risk characteristics and composition of the portfolios, bankruptcy laws, and other factors could impact our actual and projected net credit losses and the related allowance for credit losses. To the degree we add new leases and loans to our portfolios, or to the degree credit quality is worse than expected, we record expense to increase the allowance for credit losses for the estimated net losses inherent in our portfolios. Actual losses may vary from current estimates.
Securitizations. Since inception, we have completed nine term note securitizations of which six have been repaid. In connection with each transaction, we established a bankruptcy remote special-purpose subsidiary and issued term debt to institutional investors. Under the Transfers and Servicing Topic of the FASB ASC, our securitizations do not qualify for sales accounting treatment due to certain call provisions that we maintain as well as the fact that the special purpose entities used in connection with the securitizations also hold the residual assets. Accordingly, assets and related debt of the special purpose entities are included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our leases and restricted interest-earning deposits with banks are assigned as collateral for these borrowings and there is no further recourse to our general credit. Collateral in excess of these borrowings represents our maximum loss exposure.

Derivatives. The Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC requires recognition of all derivatives at fair value as either assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for subsequent changes in the fair value of these derivatives depends on whether each has been designated and qualifies for hedge accounting treatment pursuant to the accounting standard. Prior to July 1, 2008, the Company entered into derivative contracts which were accounted for as cash flow hedges under hedge accounting as prescribed by U.S. GAAP. Under hedge accounting, the effective portion of the gain or loss on a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge was reported net of tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, until the pricing of the related term securitization. The derivative gain or loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income is then reclassified into earnings as an adjustment to interest expense over the terms of the related borrowings.
While the Company may continue to use derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to changing interest rates, effective July 1, 2008, the Company discontinued the use of hedge accounting. By discontinuing hedge accounting effective July 1, 2008, any subsequent changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, including those that had previously been accounted for under hedge accounting, is recognized immediately in gain (loss) on derivatives. This change creates volatility in our results of operations, as the fair value of our derivative financial instruments changes over time, and this volatility may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. For the forecasted transactions that are probable of occurring, the derivative gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income as of June 30, 2008 will be reclassified into earnings as an adjustment to interest expense over the terms of the related forecasted borrowings, consistent with hedge accounting treatment. In the event that the related forecasted borrowing is no longer probable of occurring, the related gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income is recognized in earnings immediately.
The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC establishes a framework for measuring fair value under U.S. GAAP and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in a orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability at the measurement date (exit price). Because the Company's derivatives are not listed on an exchange, the Company values these instruments using a valuation model with pricing inputs that are observable in the market or that can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.
Stock-based compensation. We issue both restricted shares and stock options to certain employees and directors as part of our overall compensation strategy. The Compensation-Stock Compensation Topic of the FASB ASC establishes fair value as the measurement objective in accounting for share-based payment arrangements and requires all entities to apply a fair-value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees, except for equity instruments held by employee share ownership plans.
Stock-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the awards ultimately expected to vest. Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period. We use the Black-Scholes valuation model to measure the fair value of our stock options utilizing various assumptions with respect to expected holding period, risk-free interest rates, stock price volatility, and dividend yield. The assumptions are based on subjective future expectations combined with management judgment.
The Company uses judgment in estimating the amount of awards that are expected to be forfeited, with subsequent revisions to the assumptions if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. In addition, for performance-based awards the Company estimates the degree to which the performance conditions will be met to estimate the number of shares expected to vest and the related compensation expense. Compensation expense is adjusted in the period such performance estimates change.
Income taxes. The Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC requires the use of the asset and liability method under which deferred taxes are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, given the provisions of the enacted tax laws. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences.

Significant management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any necessary valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets. The process involves summarizing temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of items, for example, leases for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our management must then assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income or tax carry-back availability and, to the extent our management believes recovery is not likely, a valuation allowance must be established. To the extent that we establish a valuation allowance in a period, an expense must be recorded within the tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
At September 30, 2009, there have been no material changes to the liability for uncertain tax positions and there are no significant unrecognized tax benefits. The periods subject to general examination for the Company's federal return include the 2006 tax year to the present. The Company files state income tax returns in various states which may have different statutes of limitations. Generally, state income tax returns for years 2005 through the present are subject to examination.
The Company records penalties and accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. Such adjustments have historically been minimal and immaterial to our financial results.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Comparison of the Three-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 Net income. Net income of $508,000 was reported for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $0.04. This net . . .