form10-k.htm


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-K

 [X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
or
[  ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from  __________ to __________.

Commission File Number 0-11733
CHCO Logo
CITY HOLDING COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

West Virginia
55-0619957
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
25 Gatewater Road, Cross Lanes, WV
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
25313
(Zip Code)
 
304-769-1100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered:
None
 
None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $2.50 par value
(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  [ ] Yes  [X] No

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 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. [X] Yes  [ ] No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not 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-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

 
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [   ]
 
Accelerated filer [X]
     
Non-accelerated filer [   ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company [   ]


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

As of June 30, 2008, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter, the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock held by non-affiliates, based upon the closing price per share of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System, was approximately $635.9 million.  (Registrant has assumed that all of its executive officers and directors are affiliates.  Such assumption shall not be deemed to be conclusive for any other purpose.)

As of February 27, 2009, there were 15,933,781 shares of the Company’s common stock, $2.50 par value, outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the annual report to security holders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 are incorporated by reference into Part I, Item 1 and Part II, Items 6, 7, 7A, and 8. Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2009 annual shareholders’ meeting to be held on April 29, 2009 are incorporated by reference into Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

 
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Pages
     
Business
4-9
Risk Factors
10-15
Unresolved Staff Comments
15
Properties
15
Legal Proceedings
15
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
15
     
   
     
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
16-18
Selected Financial Data
18
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
18
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
18
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
18
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
19
Controls and Procedures
19
Other Information
19
     
   
     
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
19
Executive Compensation
20
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
20
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
20
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
20
     
   
     
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
21
     
 
22-23
 
24-26
   
     
     


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PART I

Business
 
City Holding Company (the “Company”) is a bank holding company headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia. The Company conducts its principal activities through its wholly-owned subsidiary, City National Bank of West Virginia (“City National”). Through its network of 69 banking offices in West Virginia (58 offices), Kentucky (8 offices), and Ohio (3 offices), City National provides credit, deposit, trust and investment management, and insurance products and services to its customers. In addition to its branch network, City National’s delivery channels include ATMs, check cards, interactive voice response systems, and internet technology. City National has approximately 7% of the deposit market share in West Virginia and the Company is the third largest bank holding company headquartered in West Virginia based on deposit share. The Company’s business activities are currently limited to one reportable business segment, which is community banking.
 
No portion of City National’s deposits are derived from a single person or persons, the loss of which could have a material adverse effect on liquidity, capital, or other elements of financial performance. Although no portion of City National’s loan portfolio is concentrated within a single industry or group of related industries, it historically has held residential mortgage loans as a significant portion of its loan portfolio. At December 31, 2008, 53% of the Company’s loan portfolio was categorized as residential mortgage and home equity loans. However, due to the fractionated nature of residential mortgage lending, there is no concentration of credits that would be considered materially detrimental to the Company’s financial position or operating results.
 
The Company’s business is not seasonal and has no foreign sources or applications of funds.  There are no anticipated material capital expenditures, or any expected material effects on earnings or the Company’s competitive position as a result of compliance with federal, state and local provisions enacted or adopted relating to environmental protection.
 
Competition
 
As noted previously, the Company’s principal markets are located in West Virginia. The majority of the Company’s banking offices are located in the areas of Charleston, Huntington, Beckley and Martinsburg where there is a significant presence of other financial service providers. In its markets, the Company competes with national, regional, and local community banks for deposit, credit, trust and investment management, and insurance customers. In addition to traditional banking organizations, the Company competes with credit unions, finance companies, insurance companies and other financial service providers who are able to provide specialty financial services to targeted customer groups. As further discussed below, changes in laws and regulations enacted in recent years have increased the competitive environment the Company faces to retain and attract customers.
 
Regulation and Supervision
 
Overview: The Company, as a registered bank holding company, and City National, as an insured depository institution, operate in a highly regulated environment and are regularly examined by federal and state regulators. The following description briefly discusses certain provisions of federal and state laws and regulations and the potential impact of such provisions to which the Company and City National are subject.  These federal and state laws and regulations are designed to reduce potential loss exposure to the depositors of such depository institutions and to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s insurance fund and are not intended to protect the Company’s security holders. Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the banking industry are frequently raised in Congress, in state legislatures, and before the various bank regulatory agencies.  The likelihood and timing of any changes and the impact such changes might have on the Company are impossible to determine with any certainty.  A change in applicable laws or regulations, or a change in the way such laws or regulations are interpreted by regulatory agencies or courts, may have a material impact on the business, operations and earnings of the Company.  To the extent that the following information describes statutory or regulatory provisions, it is qualified entirely by reference to the particular statutory or regulatory provision.
 


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As a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”), the Company is subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board. Federal banking laws require a bank holding company to serve as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary depository institutions and to commit resources to support such institutions in circumstances where it might not do so otherwise. Additionally, the Federal Reserve Board has jurisdiction under the BHCA to approve any bank or nonbank acquisition, merger or consolidation proposed by a bank holding company. The BHCA generally limits the activities of a bank holding company and its subsidiaries to that of banking, managing or controlling banks, or any other activity that is so closely related to banking or to managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. The BHCA also prohibits a bank holding company, with certain exceptions, from acquiring more than 5% of the voting shares of any company and from engaging in any business other than banking or managing or controlling banks. The Federal Reserve Board has by regulation determined that certain activities are closely related to banking within the meaning of the BHCA. These activities include: operating a mortgage company, finance company, credit card company or factoring company; performing certain data processing operations; providing investment and financial advice; and acting as an insurance agent for certain types of credit-related insurance.
 
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“Gramm-Leach”) became law in November 1999. Gramm-Leach established a comprehensive framework to permit affiliations among commercial banks, investment banks, insurance companies, securities firms, and other financial service providers. Gramm-Leach permits qualifying bank holding companies to register with the Federal Reserve Board as “financial holding companies” and allows such companies to engage in a significantly broader range of financial activities than were historically permissible for bank holding companies. Although the Federal Reserve Board provides the principal regulatory supervision of financial services permitted under Gramm-Leach, the Securities and Exchange Commission and state regulators also provide substantial supervisory oversight. In addition to broadening the range of financial services a bank holding company may provide, Gramm-Leach also addressed customer privacy and information sharing issues and set forth certain customer disclosure requirements. The Company has no current plans to petition the Federal Reserve Board for consideration as a financial holding company.
 
The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (“Riegle-Neal”) permits bank holding companies to acquire banks located in any state. Riegle-Neal also allows national banks and state banks with different home states to merge across state lines and allows branch banking across state lines, unless specifically prohibited by state laws.
 
The International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (USA “Patriot Act”) was adopted in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.  The Patriot Act provides law enforcement with greater powers to investigate terrorism and prevent future terrorist acts.  Among the broad-reaching provisions contained in the Patriot Act are several designed to deter terrorists’ ability to launder money in the United States and provide law enforcement with additional powers to investigate how terrorists and terrorist organizations are financed.  The Patriot Act creates additional requirements for banks, which were already subject to similar regulations.  The Patriot Act authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to require financial institutions to take certain “special measures” when the Secretary suspects that certain transactions or accounts are related to money laundering.  These special measures may be ordered when the Secretary suspects that a jurisdiction outside of the United States, a financial institution operating outside of the United States, a class of transactions involving a jurisdiction outside of the United States or certain types of accounts are of “primary money laundering concern.”  The special measures include the following:  (a) require financial institutions to keep records and report on transactions or accounts at issue; (b) require financial institutions to obtain and retain information related to the beneficial ownership of any account opened or maintained by foreign persons; (c) require financial institutions to identify each customer who is permitted to use a payable-through or correspondent account and obtain certain information from each customer permitted to use the account; and (d) prohibit or impose conditions on the opening or maintaining of correspondent or payable-through accounts.  Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution.

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Capital Adequacy: Federal banking regulations set forth capital adequacy guidelines, which are used by regulatory authorities to assess the adequacy of capital in examining and supervising a bank holding company and its insured depository institutions. The capital adequacy guidelines generally require bank holding companies to maintain total capital equal to at least 8% of total risk-adjusted assets, with at least one-half of total capital consisting of core capital (i.e., Tier I capital) and the remaining amount consisting of “other” capital-eligible items (i.e., Tier II capital), such as perpetual preferred stock, certain subordinated debt, and, subject to limitations, the allowance for loan losses. Tier I capital generally includes common stockholders’ equity plus, within certain limitations, perpetual preferred stock and trust preferred securities. For purposes of computing risk-based capital ratios, bank holding companies must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items, calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and City National’s capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.
 
In addition to total and Tier I capital requirements, regulatory authorities also require bank holding companies and insured depository institutions to maintain a minimum leverage capital ratio of 3%. The leverage ratio is determined as the ratio of Tier I capital to total average assets, where average assets exclude goodwill, other intangibles, and other specifically excluded assets. Regulatory authorities have stated that minimum capital ratios are adequate for those institutions that are operationally and financially sound, experiencing solid earnings, have high levels of asset quality, and are not experiencing significant growth. The guidelines also provide that banking organizations experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels. In those instances where these criteria are not evident, regulatory authorities expect, and may require, bank holding companies and insured depository institutions to maintain higher than minimum capital levels.
 
Additionally, federal banking laws require regulatory authorities to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to depository institutions that do not satisfy minimum capital requirements. The extent of these powers depends upon whether the institutions in question are “well capitalized”, “adequately capitalized”, “undercapitalized”, “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized”, as such terms are defined under uniform regulations defining such capital levels issued by each of the federal banking agencies. As an example, a depository institution that is not well capitalized is generally prohibited from accepting brokered deposits and offering interest rates on deposits higher than the prevailing rate in its market. Additionally, a depository institution is generally prohibited from making any capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its holding company, may be subject to asset growth limitations and may be required to submit capital restoration plans if the depository institution is considered undercapitalized. The Company’s and City National’s regulatory capital ratios are presented in the following table:

   
December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
City Holding:
           
Tier I Risk-based
    14.12 %     15.30 %
Total
    15.11       16.19  
Tier I Leverage
    10.31       10.79  
                 
City National:
               
Tier I Risk-based
    12.51 %     12.53 %
Total
    13.51       13.42  
Tier I Leverage
    9.08       8.81  


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Dividends and Other Payments: The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from City National. Dividends from City National are essentially the sole source of cash for the Company. The right of the Company, and shareholders of the Company, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of City National through the payment of such dividends or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of City National, except to the extent that claims of the Company in its capacity as a creditor may be recognized.  Moreover, there are various legal limitations applicable to the payment of dividends to the Company as well as the payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders.  Under federal law, City National may not, subject to certain limited expectations, make loans or extensions of credit to, or invest in the securities of, or take securities of the Company as collateral for loans to any borrower. City National is also subject to collateral security requirements for any loans or extensions of credit permitted by such exceptions.
 
City National is subject to various statutory restrictions on its ability to pay dividends to the Company.  Specifically, the approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) is required prior to the payment of dividends by City National in excess of its earnings retained in the current year plus retained net profits for the preceding two years.  The payment of dividends by the Company and City National may also be limited by other factors, such as requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines.  The OCC has the authority to prohibit any bank under its jurisdiction from engaging in an unsafe and unsound practice in conducting its business. Depending upon the financial condition of City National, the payment of dividends could be deemed to constitute such an unsafe or unsound practice.  The Federal Reserve Board and the OCC have indicated their view that it generally would be an unsafe and unsound practice to pay dividends except out of current operating earnings.  The Federal Reserve Board has stated that, as a matter of prudent banking, a bank or bank holding company should not maintain its existing rate of cash dividends on common stock unless (1) the organization’s net income available to common shareholders over the past year has been sufficient to fund fully the dividends and (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition. Moreover, the Federal Reserve Board has indicated that bank holding companies should serve as a source of managerial and financial strength to their subsidiary banks. Accordingly, the Federal Reserve Board has stated that a bank holding company should not maintain a level of cash dividends to its shareholders that places undue pressure on the capital of bank subsidiaries, or that can be funded only through additional borrowings or other arrangements that may undermine the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength.
 
During 2007 and 2008 combined, City National received regulatory approval and paid $88.6 million of cash dividends to the Parent Company, while generating net profits of $78.1 million.  Therefore, City National will be required to obtain regulatory approval prior to declaring any cash dividends to the Parent Company during 2009.  Although regulatory authorities have approved prior cash dividends, there can be no assurance that future dividend requests will be approved.
 
During 2008, the Company used cash obtained from these dividends primarily to: (1) pay common dividends to shareholders, (2) remit interest payments on the Company’s junior subordinated debentures, and (3) fund repurchases of the Company’s common shares. Management believes that the Company’s available cash balance, together with cash dividends from City National, is adequate to satisfy its funding and cash needs in 2009.
 
Governmental Policies
 
The Federal Reserve Board regulates money and credit and interest rates in order to influence general economic conditions. These policies have a significant influence on overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits and affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for time and savings deposits. Federal Reserve monetary policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future.
 
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
 
In response to the financial crisis affecting the banking system and financial markets, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (“EESA”) was signed into law on October 3, 2008, and established the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”). As part of TARP, the U.S. Treasury established the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) to provide up to $700 billion of funding to eligible financial institutions through the purchase of capital stock and other financial instruments for the purpose of stabilizing and providing liquidity to the U.S. financial markets. Due to its strong capital position, the Company elected not to apply for participation in TARP.  In connection with EESA, there have been numerous actions by the Federal Reserve Board, Congress, the U.S. Treasury, the FDIC, the SEC and others to further the economic and banking industry stabilization efforts under EESA. It remains unclear at this time what further legislative and regulatory measures will be implemented under EESA affecting the Company.
 

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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
 
On February 17, 2009 President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”), more commonly known as the economic stimulus or economic recovery package. ARRA includes a wide variety of programs intended to stimulate the economy and provide for extensive infrastructure, energy, health, and education needs. In addition, ARRA imposes certain new executive compensation and corporate expenditure limits on all current and future TARP recipients that are in addition to those previously announced by the U.S. Treasury, until the institution has repaid the U.S. Treasury, which is now permitted under ARRA without penalty and without the need to raise new capital, subject to the U.S. Treasury’s consultation with the recipient’s appropriate regulatory agency.
 
Future Legislation
 
Various other legislative and regulatory initiatives, including proposals to overhaul the banking regulatory system and to limit the investments that a depository institution may make with insured funds, are from time to time introduced in Congress and state legislatures, as well as regulatory agencies. Such legislation may change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company and its subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways, and could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance depending upon whether any of this potential legislation will be enacted, and if enacted, the effect that it or any implementing regulations, would have on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. With the recent enactments of EESA and ARRA, the nature and extent of future legislative and regulatory changes affecting financial institutions is very unpredictable at this time.  The Company cannot determine the ultimate effect that such potential legislation, if enacted, would have upon its financial condition or operations.
 
Executive Officers of the Registrant
 
At December 31, 2008, the executive officers of the Company were as follows:
Name
Age
Business Experience
     
Charles R. Hageboeck
46
President and Chief Executive Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV since February 1, 2005.  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV from June 2001 – January 31, 2005.
Craig G. Stilwell
53
Executive Vice President of Retail Banking, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV since February 2005.  Executive Vice President of Marketing & Human Resources, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV from May 2001 – February 2005.
John A. DeRito
59
Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking, City Holding Company and City National Bank, Charleston, WV since June 25, 2004. Regional Credit Officer for the West Virginia Central Region of BB&T, Charleston, WV from November 2000 – June 2004.  Senior Vice President and Credit Officer, One Valley Bank, Charleston, WV from November 1983 – November 2000.
John W. Alderman, III
44
Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, City Holding Company and City National Bank since April 1997.
David L. Bumgarner
43
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank since February 2005.  Audit Senior Manager, Arnett & Foster, PLLC from August 2000 – January 2005.
 
Employees
 
The Company had 811 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 2008.

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Available Information
 
The Company’s Internet website address is www.cityholding.com.  The Company makes available free of charge through its website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information on the Company’s website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this report or incorporated into any other filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the Company’s annual report will be made available, free of charge, upon written request.
 
Statistical Information
 
The information noted below is provided pursuant to Guide 3 -- Statistical Disclosure by Bank Holding Companies. Page references are to the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2008 and such pages have been filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K and are incorporated herein by reference.


 
Description of Information
 
Page
Reference
1.
Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders'
 
 
Equity; Interest Rates and Interest Differential
 
 
a.
Average Balance Sheets
5
 
b.
Analysis of Net Interest Earnings
6-7
 
c.
Rate Volume Analysis of Changes in
Interest Income and Expense
7
       
2.
Investment Portfolio
 
 
a.
Book Value of Investments
13
 
b.
Maturity Schedule of Investments
13
 
c.
Securities of Issuers Exceeding 10% of
Stockholders’ Equity
13
       
3.
Loan Portfolio
 
 
a.
Types of Loans
14
 
b.
Maturities and Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates
14
 
c.
Risk Elements
17
 
d.
Other Interest Bearing Assets
N/A
       
4.
Summary of Loan Loss Experience
17
     
5.
Deposits
   
 
a.
Breakdown of Deposits by Categories, Average Balance
And Average Rate Paid
5
 
b.
Maturity Schedule of Time Certificates of Deposit
and Other Time Deposits of $100,000 or More
20
       
6.
Return on Equity and Assets
4
       
7.
Short-term Borrowings
20

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Risk Factors

An investment in the Company’s common stock is subject to risks inherent to the Company’s business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect the Company are described below. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations.  You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, before making an investment in the Company’s common stock.  If any of the following risks occur, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

The Company’s Business May be Adversely Affected by Conditions in the Financial Markets and Economic Conditions Generally

Since December 2007, the United States has been in a recession. Business activity across a wide range of industries and regions is greatly reduced and local governments and many businesses are in serious difficulty due to the lack of consumer spending and the lack of liquidity in the credit markets. Unemployment has increased significantly.
 
Since mid-2007, and particularly during the second half of 2008, the financial services industry and the securities markets generally were materially and adversely affected by significant declines in the values of nearly all asset classes and by a serious lack of liquidity. This was initially triggered by declines in home prices and the values of subprime mortgages, but spread to all mortgage and real estate asset classes, to leverage bank loans and to nearly all asset classes, including equities. The global markets have been characterized by substantially increased volatility and short-selling and an overall loss of investor confidence, initially in financial institutions, but more recently in companies in a number of other industries and in the broader markets.
 
Market conditions have also led to the failure or merger of a number of prominent financial institutions. Financial institution failures or near-failures have resulted in further losses as a consequence of defaults on securities issued by them and defaults under contracts entered into with such entities as counterparties. Furthermore, declining asset values, defaults on mortgages and consumer loans, and the lack of market and investor confidence, as well as other factors, have all combined to increase credit default swap spreads, to cause rating agencies to lower credit ratings, and to otherwise increase the cost and decrease the availability of liquidity, despite very significant declines in Federal Reserve borrowing rates and other government actions. Some banks and other lenders have suffered significant losses and have become reluctant to lend, even on a secured basis, due to the increased risk of default and the impact of declining asset values on the value of collateral. The foregoing has significantly weakened the strength and liquidity of some financial institutions worldwide. In 2008, the U.S. government, the Federal Reserve and other regulators have taken numerous steps to increase liquidity and to restore investor confidence, including investing approximately $200 billion in the equity of other banking organizations, but asset values have continued to decline and access to liquidity continues to be very limited.
 
The Company’s financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, is highly dependent upon on the business environment in the markets where the Company operates, in the States of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, and in the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, high business and investor confidence, and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by: declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.
 
Overall, during 2008, the business environment has been adverse for many households and businesses in the United States and worldwide. The business environments in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, and the markets in which the Company operates have been less adverse than in the United States generally but continue to deteriorate. It is expected that the business environment in the States of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, the United States and worldwide will continue to deteriorate for the foreseeable future. There can be no assurance that these conditions will improve in the near term. Such conditions could adversely affect the credit quality of the Company’s loans, results of operations and financial condition.

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The Value of the Company’s Common Stock May Fluctuate
 
The market for the Company’s common stock may experience significant price and volume fluctuations in response to a number of factors including actual or anticipated quarterly variations in operating results, changes in expectations of future financial performance, changes in estimates by securities analysts, governmental regulatory action, banking industry reform measures, customer relationship developments and other factors, many of which will be beyond the Company’s control.
 
Furthermore, the stock market in general, and the market for financial institutions in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of the Company’s common stock, regardless of actual operating performance.

The Trading Volume In The Company’s Common Stock Is Less Than That Of Other Larger Financial Services Companies

Although the Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ), the trading volume in its common stock is less than that of other larger financial services companies. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of the Company’s common stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which the Company has no control. Given the lower trading volume of the Company’s common stock, significant sales of the Company’s common stock, or the expectation of these sales, could cause the Company’s stock price to fall.

Future Sales of Shares of the Company’s Common Stock Could Negatively Affect its Market Price
 
Future sales of substantial amounts of the Company’s common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock in the open market. We make no prediction as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on the market price of the Company’s common stock.
 
Shares of the Company’s Common Stock Are Not FDIC Insured
 
Neither the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation nor any other governmental agency insures the shares of the Company’s common stock. Therefore, the value of your shares in the Company will be based on their market value and may decline.
 
Anti-takeover Defenses May Delay or Prevent Future Mergers
 
The Company has entered into a Rights Agreement with SunTrust, as its rights agent, designed to discourage the accumulation of shares in excess of 15% of the Company’s outstanding shares. This agreement could limit the price that some investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of the Company’s common stock and may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control.

The Company’s Ability To Pay Dividends Is Limited
 
Holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to dividends if, and when, they are declared by the Company’s Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. Although the Board of Directors has declared cash dividends in the past, the current ability to pay dividends is largely dependent upon the receipt of dividends from City National. Federal and state laws impose restrictions on the ability of City National to pay dividends. Additional restrictions are placed upon the Company by the policies of federal regulators, including the Federal Reserve Board’s November 14, 1985 policy statement, which provides that bank holding companies should pay dividends only out of the past year's net income, and then only if their prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with their capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition. In general, future dividend policy is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon a number of factors, including the Company’s and City National’s future earnings, capital requirements, regulatory constraints and financial condition.
-11-


An Economic Slowdown in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio Could Hurt Our Business
 
Because the Company focuses its business in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, an economic slowdown in these states could hurt our business. An economic slowdown could have the following consequences:
·  
Loan delinquencies may increase;
·  
Problem assets and foreclosures may increase;
·  
Demand for the products and services of City National may decline; and
·  
Collateral (including real estate) for loans made by City National may decline in value, in turn reducing customers’ borrowing power, and making existing loans less secure.
 
The Company and City National are Extensively Regulated
 
The operations of the Company and City National are subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental authorities and are subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing requirements and restrictions on them. Policies adopted or required by these governmental authorities can affect the Company’s business operations and the availability, growth and distribution of the Company’s investments, borrowings and deposits. In addition, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency periodically conducts examinations of the Company and City National and may impose various requirements or sanctions.
 
Proposals to change the laws governing financial institutions are frequently raised in Congress and before bank regulatory authorities. Changes in applicable laws or policies could materially affect the Company’s business, and the likelihood of any major changes in the future and their effects are impossible to determine. Moreover, it is impossible to predict the ultimate form any proposed legislation might take or how it might affect the Company.

The Company is Subject to Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s earnings and cash flows are largely dependent upon its net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income earned on interest-earning assets such as loans and securities and interest expense paid on interest-bearing liabilities such as deposits and borrowed funds. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the Company’s control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest the Company receives on loans and securities and the amount of interest it pays on deposits and borrowings, but such changes could also affect (i) the Company’s ability to originate loans and obtain deposits, (ii) the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, and (iii) the average duration of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities portfolio. If the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings increase at a faster rate than the interest rates received on loans and other investments, the Company’s net interest income, and therefore earnings, could be adversely affected. Earnings could also be adversely affected if the interest rates received on loans and other investments fall more quickly than the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings.

Although management believes it has implemented effective asset and liability management strategies, including the use of derivatives as hedging instruments, to reduce the potential effects of changes in interest rates on the Company’s results of operations, any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. See the section captioned “Risk Management” in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations located elsewhere in this report for further discussion related to the Company’s management of interest rate risk.


-12-


The Company’s Allowance for Loan Losses May Not Be Sufficient

The Company maintains an allowance for loan losses, which is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense that represents management’s best estimate of probable losses in the existing portfolio of loans. The allowance, in the judgment of management, is necessary to provide for estimated loan losses and risks inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of the allowance reflects management’s continuing evaluation of industry concentrations; specific credit risks; loan loss experience; current loan portfolio quality; present economic, political and regulatory conditions and unidentified losses inherent in the current loan portfolio. The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires the Company to make significant estimates of current credit risks and future trends, all of which may undergo material changes. Changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding existing loans, identification of additional problem loans and other factors, both within and outside of the Company’s control, may require an increase in the allowance for loan losses. In addition, bank regulatory agencies periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses and may require an increase in the provision for loan losses or the recognition of further loan charge-offs, based on judgments different than those of management. In addition, if charge-offs in future periods exceed the allowance for loan losses, the Company will need additional provisions to increase the allowance for loan losses. Any increases in the allowance for loan losses will result in a decrease in net income and, possibly, capital, and may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses at least quarterly, which includes testing certain individual loans as well as collective pools of loans for impairment. This evaluation includes an assessment of actual loss experience within each category of the portfolio, individual commercial and commercial real estate loans that exhibit credit weakness; current economic events, including employment statistics, trends in bankruptcy filings, and other pertinent factors; industry or geographic concentrations, and regulatory guidance.  See the section captioned “Allowance and Provision for Loan Losses” in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations located elsewhere in this report for further discussion related to the Company’s process for determining the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses.

Customers May Default On the Repayment Of Loans
 
City National’s customers may default on the repayment of loans, which may negatively impact the Company’s earnings due to loss of principal and interest income. Increased operating expenses may result from the allocation of management time and resources to the collection and work-out of the loan. Collection efforts may or may not be successful causing the Company to write off the loan or repossess the collateral securing the loan, which may or may not exceed the balance of the loan.

Previously Securitized Loans May Become Impaired
 
City National’s previously securitized loans may become impaired, requiring an impairment charge to be recognized through the Company’s provision for loan losses.  The Company accounts for the previously securitized loans by accreting into income the discount on these loans based on their estimated collectibility.  This requires the Company to make estimates for prepayments and defaults on previously securitized loans.  Should any of the actual prepayments or defaults adversely impact collectibility of these loans, the Company would be required to take an impairment charge on the previously securitized loans.  See the section captioned “Previously Securitized Loans” in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations located elsewhere in this report for further discussion related to the Company’s process for determining the appropriate valuation of the Company’s previously securitized loans.



-13-


Due To Increased Competition, the Company May Not Be Able To Attract and Retain Banking Customers At Current Levels
 
The Company faces competition from the following:
·  
local, regional and national banks;
·  
savings and loans;
·  
internet banks;
·  
credit unions;
·  
finance companies; and
·  
brokerage firms serving the Company’s market areas.
 
In particular, City National’s competitors include several major national financial and banking companies whose greater resources may afford them a marketplace advantage by enabling them to maintain numerous banking locations and mount extensive promotional and advertising campaigns. Additionally, banks and other financial institutions may have products and services not offered by the Company, which may cause current and potential customers to choose those institutions. Areas of competition include interest rates for loans and deposits, efforts to obtain deposits and range and quality of services provided. If the Company is unable to attract new and retain current customers, loan and deposit growth could decrease causing the Company’s results of operations and financial condition to be negatively impacted.

The Company May Be Required To Write Down Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Causing Its Financial Condition And Results To Be Negatively Affected
 
When the Company acquires a business, a portion of the purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired determines the amount of the purchase price that is allocated to goodwill acquired. At December 31, 2008, the Company’s goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets were approximately $58.2 million. Under current accounting standards, if the Company determines goodwill or intangible assets are impaired, it would be required to write down the value of these assets. The Company conducts an annual review to determine whether goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are impaired. The Company recently completed such an impairment analysis and concluded that no impairment charge was necessary for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company cannot provide assurance whether it will be required to take an impairment charge in the future. Any impairment charge would have a negative effect on its shareholders’ equity and financial results and may cause a decline in our stock price.
 
Acquisition Opportunities May Present Challenges
 
The Company continually evaluates opportunities to acquire other businesses. However, the Company may not have the opportunity to make suitable acquisitions on favorable terms in the future, which could negatively impact the growth of its business. The Company expects that other banking and financial companies, many of which have significantly greater resources, will compete with it to acquire compatible businesses. This competition could increase prices for acquisitions that the Company would likely pursue, and its competitors may have greater resources than it does. Also, acquisitions of regulated businesses such as banks are subject to various regulatory approvals. If the Company fails to receive the appropriate regulatory approvals, it will not be able to consummate an acquisition that it believes is in its best interests.
 
Any future acquisitions may result in unforeseen difficulties, which could require significant time and attention from our management that would otherwise be directed at developing our existing business. In addition, we could discover undisclosed liabilities resulting from any acquisitions for which we may become responsible. Further, the benefits that we anticipate from these acquisitions may not develop.
 

-14-


The Company’s Controls and Procedures May Fail or Be Circumvented

Management regularly reviews and updates the Company’s internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of the Company’s controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company May Not Be Able To Attract and Retain Skilled People

The Company’s success depends, in large part, on its ability to attract and retain key people. Competition for the best people in most activities engaged in by the Company can be intense and the Company may not be able to hire people or to retain them. The unexpected loss of services of one or more of the Company’s key personnel could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business because of their skills, knowledge of the Company’s market, years of industry experience and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel.

Unresolved Staff Comments

None

Properties
 
City National owns the Company’s executive offices, located at 25 Gatewater Road, Charleston, West Virginia. City National operates 69 branch offices, with 58 offices in West Virginia, eight in Kentucky, and three offices in Ohio. The West Virginia locations are primarily centered in the Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, and Martinsburg markets. City National owns 50 locations and leases 19 locations, pursuant to operating leases.  All of the properties are suitable and adequate for their current operations and are generally being fully utilized.
 
City National also owns a thirty thousand square foot office building in an unincorporated area approximately fifteen miles west of Charleston, West Virginia. This facility formerly housed loan operations personnel, but has since been vacated by the Company. The building is currently being leased to a third party.
 

Legal Proceedings
 
The Company is engaged in various legal actions that it deems to be in the ordinary course of business. As these legal actions are resolved, the Company could realize positive and/or negative impact to its financial performance in the period in which these legal actions are ultimately decided. There can be no assurance that current actions will have immaterial results, either positive or negative, or that no material actions may be presented in the future.
 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
None

-15-


 
PART II

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Common Stock Market and Dividends
 
The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol CHCO. This table sets forth the cash dividends paid per share and information regarding the market prices per share of the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated. The price ranges are based on transactions as reported on the NASDAQ stock market. At December 31, 2008, there were 3,148 shareholders of record. 
   
Cash
             
   
Dividends
   
Market Value
 
   
Per Share
   
Low
   
High
 
2008
                 
Fourth Quarter
  $ 0.34     $ 29.08     $ 42.88  
Third Quarter
    0.34       35.74       47.28  
Second Quarter
    0.34       37.29       44.15  
First Quarter
    0.34       32.51       41.37  
                         
2007
                       
Fourth Quarter
  $ 0.31     $ 33.41     $ 39.15  
Third Quarter
    0.31       31.16       39.59  
Second Quarter
    0.31       37.67       40.93  
First Quarter
    0.31       38.04       41.54  
 
As noted in the section captioned Dividends and Other Payments included in Item 1. Business, the section captioned Liquidity included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Note Eighteen of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is dependent upon the ability of City National to pay dividends to City Holding (“Parent Company”).

Stock Repurchase Plan
 
The following table sets forth information regarding the Company's common stock repurchases transacted during the quarter:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Period
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
 
Total
Number
of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (a)
 
 
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
 
                     
October 1 – October 31, 2008
42,609
 
$
36.39
 
42,609
   
799,991
 
                     
November 1 – November 30, 2008
164,200
 
$
35.30
 
164,200
   
635,791
 
                     
December 1 - December 31, 2008
93,303
 
$
34.25
 
93,303
   
542,488
 
 
(a)  
In August 2007, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had authorized the Company to buy back up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock, in open market transactions at prices that are accretive to continuing shareholders.  No timetable was placed on the duration of this share repurchase program.


-16-



Stock-Based Compensation Plan
 
Information regarding stock-based compensation awards outstanding and available for future grants as of December 31, 2008, segregated between stock-based compensation plans approved by shareholders and stock-based compensation plans not approved by shareholders, is presented in the table below.  Additional information regarding stock-based compensation plans is presented in Note Fourteen Employee Benefit Plans of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plan Category
 
 
 
Number of Shares to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Awards
          (a)         
   
 
 
 
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding awards
          (b)         
   
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
          (c)          
 
                   
Plans approved by shareholders
    305,909     $ 32.05       666,900  
Plans not approved by shareholders
    -       -       -  
Total
    305,909     $ 32.05       666,900  
 


-17-


 
Stock Performance
 
The following graph sets forth the cumulative total shareholder return (assuming reinvestment of dividends) to the Company’s shareholders during the five-year period ended December 31, 2008, as well as an overall stock market index (The Nasdaq Stock Market Index) and the Company’s Peer Group. The Peer Group consists of certain publicly-traded banking institutions over $1 billion but less than $8 billion in assets located in West Virginia and adjoining states. The trading symbols for such financial institutions include: FCBC, SASR, CTBI, NPBC, UBSH, WSBC, STEL, HNBC, PRK, RBCAA, PEBO, STBA, UBSI, FFBC, UVSP, FNB, NBTB, FCF, CBU, and FPFC.  The stock performance shown on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.
 
 
                    2008 Stock Performance Graph
 
This graph shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Company specifically incorporates this report by reference. It will not be otherwise filed under such Acts.
 

Selected Financial Data
 
Selected Financial Data on page 1 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in this report as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.
 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on pages 2 through 22 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in this report as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Information appearing under the caption “Risk Management” appearing on pages 10-11 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in this report as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
The consolidated financial statements, notes to consolidated financial statements, reports of management and the independent registered public accounting firm included on pages 23 through 53 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in this report as Exhibit 13, are incorporated herein by reference.

-18-


 

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
None

Controls and Procedures
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-15b under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company carried out an evaluation, with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company required to be included in the Company’s periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
 
(a)  
Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting appears on page 23 of the Annual Report to Shareholders of City Holding Company for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in this report as Exhibit 13, is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(b)  
The Company did not have any changes in internal control over financial reporting during its fourth quarter for the year ending December 31, 2008, that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
The Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included in Item 8. of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 

Other Information
 
None
 
PART III

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
 
Certain information regarding executive officers is included under the section captioned “Executive Officers of The Registrant” in Part I, Item 1, elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Other information required by this Item appears under the captions “ELECTION OF DIRECTORS”, “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS”, “REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE”, “SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE” in the Company's 2009 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.
 
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to the Company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, and all directors, officers and employees of the Company and has posted such Code of Ethics on its website at www.cityholding.com under the “Corporate Governance” link.   A copy of the Company’s Code of Ethics covering all employees will be mailed without charge upon request to Investor Relations, City Holding Company, 25 Gatewater Road, P. O. Box 7520, Charleston, WV  25356-0520.  Any amendments to or waivers from any provision of the Code of Ethics applicable to the Company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or chief accounting officer will be disclosed by timely posting such information on the Company’s internet website.
 


-19-



Executive Compensation
 
The information required by Item 11 of FORM 10-K appears under the captions "COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS", “COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS”, “ANNUAL COMPENSATION”, “EQUITY HOLDINGS”, “POST-EMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS”, and “BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” in the Company's 2009 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
The information required by Item 12 of FORM 10-K appears under the caption "COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT" in the Company's 2009 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, Director Independence
 
The information required by Item 13 of FORM 10-K appears under the caption "CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS" in the Company's 2009 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 
The information required by Item 14 of FORM 10-K appears under the caption "PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES" in the Company's 2009 Proxy Statement that will be filed within 120 days of fiscal year end and is hereby incorporated by reference.

-20-


 
PART IV

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
 

 (a)
(1)
Financial Statements.  Reference is made to Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules.  These schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
 
(3)
Exhibits.  The exhibits listed in the “Exhibit Index” on pages 24-26 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K included herein are filed herewith or incorporated by reference from previous filings.
(b)
See (a) (3) above.
(c)
See (a) (1) and (2) above.
 

 


-21-


 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date:  February 25, 2009
 
City Holding Company
 
   
(Registrant)
     
     
   
/s/ Charles R. Hageboeck
 
   
Charles R. Hageboeck
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
(Principal Executive Officer)
     
     
   
/s/ David L. Bumgarner
 
   
David L. Bumgarner
   
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
   
(Principal Financial Officer)
     




POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 25, 2009. Each of the directors and/or officers of City Holding Company whose signature appears below hereby appoints Philip L. McLaughlin, and/or Charles R. Hageboeck, as his attorney-in-fact to sign in his name and behalf, in any and all capacities stated below and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments to this report on Form 10-K, making such changes in this report on Form 10-K as appropriate, and generally to do all such things in their behalf in their capacities as officers and directors to enable City Holding Company to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.



/s/ Philip L. McLaughlin
 
/s/ David W. Hambrick
Philip L. McLaughlin
 
David W. Hambrick
Chairman
 
Director
     
     
     
/s/ Hugh R. Clonch
 
/s/ Charles R. Hageboeck
Hugh R. Clonch
 
Charles R. Hageboeck
Director
 
Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer
     
     
     
/s/ Oshel B. Craigo
 
/s/ Tracy W. Hylton, II
Oshel B. Craigo
 
Tracy W. Hylton, II
Director
 
Director
     
 
 
-22-

     
     
/s/ John R Elliot
 
/s/ C. Dallas Kayser
John R Elliot
 
C. Dallas Kayser
Director
 
Director
     
     
     
/s/ William H. File, III
 
/s/ James L. Rossi
William H. File, III
 
James L. Rossi
Director
 
Director
     
     
     
/s/ Robert D. Fisher
 
/s/ Sharon H. Rowe
Robert D. Fisher
 
Sharon H. Rowe
Director
 
Director
     
     
     
/s/ Jay C. Goldman
 
/s/ Mary H. Williams
Jay C. Goldman
 
Mary H. Williams
Director
 
Director
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     



 
-23-


EXHIBIT INDEX
 
The following exhibits are filed herewith or are incorporated herein by reference.
 
Exhibit                         Description
 
3(a)
Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, Amendment No. 1 to City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 2-86250, filed November 4, 1983 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
3(b)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated March 6, 1984 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 8-K Report dated March 7, 1984, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 1984).
 
3(c)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated March 4, 1986 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1986, filed March 31, 1987 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
3(d)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated September 29, 1987 (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 33-23295, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 1988).
 
3(e)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated May 6, 1991 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1991, filed March 17, 1992 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
3(f)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated May 7, 1991 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1991, filed March 17, 1992 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
3(g)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated August 1, 1994 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company's Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended September 30, 1994, filed November 14, 1994 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
3(h)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated December 9, 1998 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1998, filed March 31, 1999 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
3(i)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated June 13, 2001 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed June 22, 2001 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
3(j)
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of City Holding Company, dated May 10, 2006 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, filed August 9, 2006 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
3(k)
Amended and Restated Bylaws of City Holding Company, revised February 28, 2007 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 1, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
4(a)
Rights Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2001 (the “Rights Agreement”), between City Holding Company and SunTrust Bank, as Rights Agent (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed June 22, 2001 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).

 
-24-


 
4(b)
Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement dated as of November 30, 2005 (attached to, and incorporated by reference from City Holding Company’s Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A, filed December 21, 2005, with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
 
10(a)
Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan for the Directors of the Bank of Raleigh, dated January 1987 (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed March 2, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(b)
Form of Deferred Compensation Agreement for the Directors of the National Bank of Summers, dated January 15, 1987  (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed March 2, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
 10(c)
City Holding Company’s 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, Exhibit 4.1 to City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-87667, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 1999).
 
10(d)
Amendment No. 1 to City Holding Company’s 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, Exhibit 4.2 to City Holding Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-87667, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 1999).
 
10(e)
Amendment No. 2 to City Holding Company’s 1993 Stock Incentive Plan (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed August 14, 2002 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(f)
City Holding Company’s 2003 Incentive Plan (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed March 21, 2003 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(g)
Form of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2003, by and between City Holding Company and Gerald R. Francis (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2003, filed March 11, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(h)
Form of Employment Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and between City Holding Company and Charles R. Hageboeck (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 31, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(i)
Form of Employment Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and between City Holding Company and Craig G. Stilwell (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 31, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(j)
Form of Employment Agreement, dated July 25, 2007, by and between City Holding Company and John W. Alderman, III (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed August 1, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).

 
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10(k)
Form of Change of Control Agreement, dated February 1, 2005, by and between City Holding Company and David L. Bumgarner (attached to and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed March 2, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(l)
Form of Change in Control and Termination Agreement, dated June 28, 2004, by and between City Holding Company and John A. DeRito (attached to, and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed March 7, 2006 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(m)
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust City Holding Capital Trust III, dated as of March 27, 2008 (attached and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10Q, Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(n)
Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2008, between City Holding Company and Wells Fargo, National Association, as Trustee (attached and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10Q, Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
10(o)
City Holding Company Guarantee Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2008 (attached and incorporated by reference from, City Holding Company’s Form 10Q, Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2008 with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
 
Portions of City Holding Company Annual Report to Shareholders for Year Ended December 31, 2008.
 
Subsidiaries of City Holding Company
 
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
24               Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof)
 
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Charles R. Hageboeck
 
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by David L. Bumgarner
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Charles R. Hageboeck
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by David L. Bumgarner


 

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