UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

  

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014

 

OR

 

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from           to

 

Commission File No. 000-53869

 

FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Pennsylvania   23-2900790

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

     
102 E. Drinker St., Dunmore, PA   18512
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code     (570) 346-7667

  

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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. YES x NO ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES x NO ¨

 

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

 

Large Accelerated Filer o   Accelerated Filer o
     
Non-Accelerated Filer x   Smaller reporting company o

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date:

 

Common Stock, $1.25 par value   16,471,569 shares
(Title of Class)   (Outstanding at May 12, 2014)

 

 

 
 

  

Contents  
PART I.  Financial Information 3
Item 1.  Financial Statements 3
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition 3
Consolidated Statements of Operations 4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) 5
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity 6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 8
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 38
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 56
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 56
PART II.  Other Information 57
Item 1. Legal Proceedings. 57
Item 1A. Risk Factors. 58
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. 58
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities. 58
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. 58
Item 5. Other Information. 58
Item 6. Exhibits. 58

 

2
 

 

PART I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(unaudited)

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands, except share data)   2014     2013  
Assets                
Cash and cash equivalents:                
Cash and due from banks   $ 21,929     $ 19,295  
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks     16,051       84,261  
Total cash and cash equivalents     37,980       103,556  
Securities available for sale at fair value     234,531       203,867  
Securities held to maturity at amortized cost (fair value $0 and $2,424)     -       2,308  
Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, at cost     2,542       2,146  
Loans held for sale     69       820  
Loans, net of allowance for loan and lease losses of $12,589 and $14,017     641,565       629,880  
Bank premises and equipment, net     13,091       15,363  
Accrued interest receivable     2,590       2,191  
Intangible assets     426       467  
Bank-owned life insurance     28,334       28,167  
Other real estate owned     3,422       4,246  
Other assets     9,587       10,797  
Total Assets   $ 974,137     $ 1,003,808  
                 
Liabilities                
Deposits:                
Demand (non-interest-bearing)   $ 127,029     $ 157,550  
Interest-bearing     708,178       727,148  
Total deposits     835,207       884,698  
Borrowed funds:                
Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh advances     34,534       27,123  
Subordinated debentures     25,000       25,000  
Junior subordinated debentures     10,310       10,310  
Total borrowed funds     69,844       62,433  
Accrued interest payable     9,300       8,732  
Other liabilities     19,250       14,367  
Total Liabilities     933,601       970,230  
                 
Shareholders' Equity                
Preferred Shares ($1.25 par)                
Authorized: 20,000,000 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013                
Issued and outstanding: 0 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013     -       -  
Common Shares ($1.25 par)                
Authorized:  50,000,000 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013                
Issued and outstanding:  16,471,569 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013     20,589       20,589  
Additional paid-in capital     61,637       61,627  
Accumulated deficit     (42,033 )     (45,546 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     343       (3,092 )
Total shareholders' equity     40,536       33,578  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   $ 974,137     $ 1,003,808  

 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

3
 

 

FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 

    Three months ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands, except share data)   2014     2013  
Interest income                
Interest and fees on loans   $ 6,494     $ 6,607  
Interest and dividends on securities                
U.S. government agencies     743       423  
State and political subdivisions, tax-free     693       990  
State and political subdivisions, taxable     115       116  
Other securities     56       35  
Total interest and dividends on securities     1,607       1,564  
Interest on interest-bearing deposits and federal funds sold     23       39  
Total interest income     8,124       8,210  
Interest expense                
Interest on deposits     865       1,118  
Interest on borrowed funds                
Interest on Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh advances     96       126  
Interest on subordinated debentures     563       562  
Interest on junior subordinated debentures     49       51  
Total interest on borrowed funds     708       739  
Total interest expense     1,573       1,857  
Net interest income before credit for loan and lease losses     6,551       6,353  
Credit for loan and lease losses     (1,570 )     (1,224 )
Net interest income after credit for loan and lease losses     8,121       7,577  
Non-interest income                
Deposit service charges     690       678  
Net gain on the sale of securities     1,568       842  
Net gain on the sale of mortgage loans held for sale     75       110  
Net loss on the sale of education loans     (13 )     -  
Net gain on the sale of other real estate owned     29       13  
Gain on branch divestures     607       -  
Loan-related fees     93       108  
Income from bank-owned life insurance     167       172  
Other     237       536  
Total non-interest income     3,453       2,459  
Non-interest expense                
Salaries and employee benefits     3,400       3,320  
Occupancy expense     644       584  
Equipment expense     356       376  
Advertising expense     108       77  
Data processing expense     522       564  
Regulatory assessments     673       650  
Bank shares tax     176       241  
Expense of other real estate owned     163       218  
Credit for off-balance sheet commitments     (113 )     (121 )
Legal expense     647       615  
Professional fees     450       551  
Insurance expense     282       323  
Loan collection expenses     29       227  
Other operating expenses     654       680  
Total non-interest expense     7,991       8,305  
Income before income taxes     3,583       1,731  
Provision for income taxes     70       -  
Net income   $ 3,513     $ 1,731  
                 
Earnings per share:                
Basic   $ 0.21     $ 0.11  
Diluted   $ 0.21     $ 0.11  
                 
Cash dividends declared  per common  share   $ -     $ -  
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING:                
Basic     16,471,569       16,457,169  
Diluted     16,472,435       16,457,169  

 

 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

4
 

 

FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(unaudited)

 

    Three months ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Net income   $ 3,513     $ 1,731  
Other comprehensive income (loss):                
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available-for-sale     6,404       (1,943 )
Taxes     (2,177 )     661  
Net of tax amount     4,227       (1,282 )
                 
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income     (1,200 )     (842 )
Taxes     408       286  
Net of tax amount     (792 )     (556 )
                 
Total other comprehensive income (loss)     3,435       (1,838 )
                 
Total comprehensive income (loss)   $ 6,948     $ (107 )

 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

5
 

 

FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2013

(unaudited)

 

                            Accumulated        
    Number           Additional           Other     Total  
    of Common     Common     Paid-in     Accumulated     Comprehensive     Shareholders'  
(in thousands, except per share data)   Shares     Stock     Capital     Deficit     Income (Loss)     Equity  
BALANCES,  DECEMBER 31, 2012     16,457,169     $ 20,571     $ 61,584     $ (51,928 )   $ 6,698     $ 36,925  
Net income for the period     -       -       -       1,731       -       1,731  
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $947     -       -       -       -       (1,838 )     (1,838 )
Balances, March 31, 2013     16,457,169     $ 20,571     $ 61,584     $ (50,197 )   $ 4,860     $ 36,818  
                                                 
BALANCES,  DECEMBER 31, 2013     16,471,569     $ 20,589     $ 61,627     $ (45,546 )   $ (3,092 )   $ 33,578  
Net income for the period     -       -       -       3,513       -       3,513  
Restricted stock awards     -       -       10       -       -       10  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax of $1,769     -       -       -       -       3,435       3,435  
Balances, March 31, 2014     16,471,569     $ 20,589     $ 61,637     $ (42,033 )   $ 343     $ 40,536  

 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

6
 

 

 

FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Operating activities:                
Net income   $ 3,513     $ 1,731  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Investment securities amortization (accretion), net     295       (207 )
Equity in trust     (1 )     (1 )
Depreciation and amortization     382       329  
Stock-based compensation     10       -  
Credit for loan and lease losses     (1,570 )     (1,224 )
Credit for off-balance sheet commitments     (113 )     (121 )
Gain on the sale of available-for-sale securities     (1,200 )     (842 )
Gain on the sale of held-to-maturity securities     (368 )     -  
Gain on the sale of loans held for sale     (75 )     (110 )
Loss on the sale of education loans     13       -  
Gain on branch divestures     (607 )     -  
Gain on the sale of other real estate owned     (29 )     (13 )
Valuation adjustment of other real estate owned     53       -  
Income from bank-owned life insurance     (167 )     (172 )
Proceeds from the sale of loans held for sale     2,524       4,542  
Funds used to originate loans held for sale     (1,698 )     (3,664 )
Increase in interest receivable     (399 )     (419 )
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets     (453 )     4,108  
Increase in interest payable     568       574  
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities     4,822       (1,074 )
Total adjustments     1,987       1,706  
Net cash provided by operating activities     5,500       3,437  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:                
Maturities, calls and principal payments of available-for-sale securities     1,502       3,581  
Proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale securities     11,062       17,121  
Proceeds from the sale of held-to-maturity securities     2,686       -  
Purchases of available-for-sale securities     (37,129 )     (53,953 )
Net (purchase) redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh stock     (396 )     876  
Proceeds from the sale of education loans     2,537       -  
Net increase in loans to customers     (12,606 )     (16,950 )
Proceeds from the sale of other real estate owned     798       86  
Proceeds from the sale of bank premises and equipment through branch divestures     2,504       -  
Purchases of property and equipment     (380 )     (54 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (29,422 )     (49,293 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
Net decrease in deposits     (49,065 )     (30,867 )
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh advances     17,500       -  
Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh advances     (10,089 )     (6,205 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (41,654 )     (37,072 )
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (65,576 )     (82,928 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     103,556       115,271  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 37,980     $ 32,343  
Supplemental cash flow information                
Cash paid during the period for:                
Interest   $ 1,005     $ 1,283  
Income taxes     25       -  
Other transactions:                
Change in deferred gain on sale of other real estate owned     2       -  

 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

7
 

 

FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements are comprised of the accounts of First National Community Bancorp, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, First National Community Bank (the “Bank”), as well as the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and general practices within the banking industry. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014 have been included in the consolidated financial statements. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Prior period amounts have been reclassified when necessary to conform to the current period’s presentation. These reclassifications did not have an impact on the operating results or financial position of the Company. The operating results and financial position of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2014, may not be indicative of future results of operations and financial position.

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change in the near term are the allowance for loan and lease losses (“ALLL”), investment security valuations, the evaluation of investment securities and other real estate owned (“OREO”) for impairment, and the evaluation of deferred income taxes.

 

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s audited financial statements, included in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Note 2. New Authoritative Accounting Guidance

 

Accounting Guidance to be Adopted in Future Periods

 

ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists,” requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. If a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and not combined with deferred tax assets. This guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on January 1, 2015 may have on the operating results or financial position of the Company.

 

ASU 2014-04, Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): “Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure,” clarifies that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (a) the creditor obtaining legal title to residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (b) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2015 is not expected to have a material effect on the operating results or financial position of the Company.

 

ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360): “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” changes the criteria for reporting a discontinued operation. Under the new guidance, a disposal of a component of an entity or group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. This new guidance reduces complexity by removing the complex and extensive implementation guidance and illustrations that are necessary to apply the current definition of a discontinued operation. The new guidance also requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide users with more information about the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of a discontinued operation and will require pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting, which will provide users with information about the ongoing trends in a reporting organization’s results from continuing operations. A public company or not-for-profit organization that has issued or is a conduit bond obligor for securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an over-the-counter market is required to apply the new guidance prospectively to all disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an organization and all business or nonprofit activities that, on acquisition, are classified as held for sale that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2015 is not expected to have a material effect on the operating results or financial position of the Company.

 

8
 

 

Note 3. Regulatory Matters

 

The Bank is under a Consent Order (the “Order”) from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) dated September 1, 2010. The Company is also subject to a Written Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (the “Reserve Bank”) dated November 24, 2010.

 

OCC Consent Order . The Bank, pursuant to a Stipulation and Consent to the Issuance of a Consent Order dated September 1, 2010, without admitting or denying any wrongdoing, consented and agreed to the issuance of the Order by the OCC, the Bank’s primary regulator. The Order requires the Bank to undertake certain actions within designated timeframes, and to operate in compliance with the provisions thereof during its term. The Order is based on the results of an examination of the Bank as of March 31, 2009. Since the examination, management has engaged in ongoing discussions with the OCC and has taken steps to improve the condition, policies and procedures of the Bank. Compliance with the Order is monitored by a committee (the “Committee”) of at least three directors, none of whom is an employee or controlling shareholder of the Bank or its affiliates or a family member of any such person. The Committee is required to submit written progress reports to the OCC on a monthly basis. Effective April 10, 2014, the written progress report requirement was changed from monthly to quarterly as of quarter-end March 31, 2014. The Committee has submitted each of the required progress reports with the OCC. The members of the Committee are John P. Moses, Joseph Coccia, Joseph J. Gentile and Thomas J. Melone. The material provisions of the Order are set forth below with a description of the status of the Bank’s effort to comply with such provisions:

 

(i) By October 31, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Bank (the “Board”) was required to adopt and implement a three-year strategic plan (a “Strategic Plan”) which must be submitted to the OCC for review and prior determination of no supervisory objection; the Strategic Plan must establish objectives for the Bank’s overall risk profile, earnings performance, growth, balance sheet mix, off-balance sheet activities, liability structure, capital adequacy, reduction in the volume of nonperforming assets, product line development, and market segments that the Bank intends to promote or develop, and is to include strategies to achieve those objectives; if the Strategic Plan involves the sale or merger of the Bank, it must address the timeline and steps to be followed to provide for a definitive agreement within 90 days after the receipt of a determination of no supervisory objection;

 

The Bank has developed a Strategic Plan that it believes complies with the Order requirements. A three-year Strategic Plan for the period January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013 was prepared and submitted to the OCC for review. On an annual basis, the Bank prepares an updated and revised Strategic Plan. Strategic Plans for the three-year periods January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014 and January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015 were submitted to the OCC for review. The Strategic Plan for the three-year period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 was completed and submitted to the OCC for review in April 2014.

 

(ii) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to adopt and implement a three year capital plan (a “Capital Plan”), which must be submitted to the OCC for review and prior determination of no supervisory objection;

 

The Bank has developed a Capital Plan that it believes complies with the Order requirements to ensure that the Bank’s leverage ratio equals or exceeds 9% and the Bank’s total risk-based capital ratio equals or exceeds 13%. This Capital Plan for the period January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013 and its annual update and revisions for 2012 and 2013 were submitted to the OCC for review. The annual update and revision to the Capital Plan for the three-year period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 was completed and forwarded to the OCC for review in April 2014.

 

(iii) by November 30, 2010, the Bank was required to achieve and thereafter maintain a total risk-based capital equal to at least 13% of risk-weighted assets and a Tier 1 capital equal to at least 9% of adjusted total assets;

 

The Bank’s total risk-based capital ratio was 13.86% at March 31, 2014, which was above the 13.00% required by the Order. The Bank’s leverage capital ratio was 8.76% at March 31, 2014, which was below the 9.00% required by the Order. The Bank’s total risk-based capital increased 43 basis points, while the Bank’s leverage ratio increased 44 basis points at March 31, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013. The Bank continues to execute its Capital Plan and has engaged an outside financial advisory firm to assist the Bank in taking appropriate actions to achieve and maintain compliance with the capital requirements of the Order. Appropriate actions or combinations of actions may include capital accretion through current earnings, raising additional capital, reducing the Bank’s assets through sales of branch offices, loans or other real estate owned, or pursuing other strategic transactions.

 

9
 

  

(iv) the Bank may not pay any dividend or capital distribution unless it is in compliance with the higher capital requirements required by the Order, the Capital Plan, applicable legal requirements and, then only after receiving a determination of no supervisory objection from the OCC;

 

The Board has acknowledged the prohibition on payment of dividends or any other capital distributions without the prior written consent of the OCC. The Bank has not paid any dividends or capital distributions since the effective date of the Order.

 

(v) by November 15, 2010, the Committee must have reviewed the Board and the Board’s committee structure; by November 30, 2010, the Board was required to prepare or cause to be prepared an assessment of the capabilities of the Bank’s executive officers to perform their past and current duties, including those required to respond to the most recent examination report, and to perform annual performance appraisals of each officer;

 

The Committee completed its review of the Board and the Board committee structure on November 10, 2010 by reviewing the Board Structure Study report completed by an independent consultant engaged by the Committee. The report was forwarded to the OCC on November 24, 2010. The Company is in the process of implementing those recommendations and believes it is in compliance with the requirements of this provision.

 

The Board completed its assessment of the capabilities of the Bank’s executive officers upon receipt of a management study, completed by an independent consultant (the “Management Study”), on October 13, 2010. The Management Study was forwarded to the OCC on October 29, 2010. The Board of Directors completed a successful search for President and Chief Executive Officer in December 2011. Since the effective date of the Order, other changes have been made to the executive management team related to the size and complexity of the organization. The Board believes that it has prepared or caused to be prepared an assessment of the capabilities of the Bank’s executive officers to perform their past and current duties, including those required to respond to the most recent examination report.

 

Annual performance appraisals are prepared for each officer based on established and timely management goals to confirm that each officer is performing the duties outlined in his or her job description.

 

(vi) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to adopt, implement and thereafter ensure compliance with a comprehensive Conflict of Interest Policy applicable to the Bank’s and the Company’s directors, executive officers, principal shareholders and their affiliates and such person’s immediate family members and their related interests, employees, and by November 30, 2010, was required to review existing relationships with such persons to identify those, if any, not in compliance with the policy; and review all subsequent proposed transactions with such persons or modifications of transactions;

 

The Bank’s Conflict of Interest Policy has been revised to provide comprehensive guidance and a review was conducted of existing relationships to ensure compliance with the Conflict of Interest Policy. The revised policy was approved by the Board on September 29, 2010 and forwarded to the OCC on October 7, 2010. Additional revisions were approved by the Board on April 29, 2011, October 24, 2012, May 22, 2013 and November 14, 2013. The Board believes that is has adopted, implemented and maintained compliance with a comprehensive Conflict of Interest Policy in accordance with the requirements of the provision.

 

(vii) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to develop, implement and ensure adherence to policies and procedures for Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) compliance; and account opening and monitoring procedures compliance;

 

The Board believes it has developed and implemented a written program of policies and procedures to provide for compliance with the requirements of the BSA as well as compliance with account opening and monitoring procedures.

 

(viii) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to ensure the BSA audit function is supported by an adequately staffed department or third party firm; to adopt, implement and ensure compliance with an independent BSA audit; and to assess the capabilities of the BSA officer and supporting staff to perform present and anticipated duties;

 

The Board believes that the Bank’s BSA audit function is adequately staffed; and the BSA officer and staff have been assessed to determine their ability to implement and maintain compliance with the BSA policies and programs detailed above.

 

(ix) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to adopt, implement and ensure adherence to a written credit policy (the “Loan Policy”), including specified features, to improve the Bank’s loan portfolio management;

 

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The Bank’s written Loan Policy has been revised to improve guidance and control over the Bank’s lending functions. The revised policy was approved by the Board on October 27, 2010. Additional periodic Loan Policy revisions were approved by the Board from November 24, 2010 through April 2014 to for purposes of continued compliance with this provision.

 

(x) the Board was required to take certain actions to resolve certain credit and collateral exceptions;

 

The Board believes that it has taken action to appropriately address the credit and collateral exceptions concerns detailed in the Order.

 

(xi) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to establish an effective, independent and ongoing loan review system to review, at least quarterly, the Bank’s loan and lease portfolios to assure the timely identification and categorization of problem credits; by October 31, 2010, to adopt and adhere to a program for the maintenance of an adequate ALLL, and to review the adequacy of the Bank’s ALLL at least quarterly;

 

The Board has established an independent and ongoing loan review program on a quarterly basis that it believes provides for the timely identification and categorization of problem credits.

 

The ALLL policy and methodologies have been reviewed and revised to determine the appropriate level of the ALLL, including documenting the analysis in accordance with GAAP and other applicable regulatory guidelines. The revised policy was approved by the Board on October 27, 2010 and is updated on an annual basis. The Board reviews the ALLL methodology analysis on a quarterly basis as part of the financial reporting process.

 

(xii) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to adopt and the Bank implement and adhere to a program to protect the Bank’s interest in criticized assets; and the Bank may only extend additional credit (including renewals) to a borrower whose loans are criticized under specified circumstances;

 

The Board committed to a program to reduce the Bank’s risk exposure to criticized assets by implementing a detailed monthly reporting and monitoring process. The Board believes that this program has resulted in a reduction in criticized assets.

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Order, since the date of the Order, the Bank has not extended any additional credit to, or for the benefit of, any borrower who has a loan or other extension of credit that either has been charged off or criticized without the prior approval of the Bank’s Board, or loan committee under specified circumstances, since the date of the Order.

 

(xiii) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to adopt and ensure adherence to action plans for each piece of other real estate owned;

 

The Board committed to action plans for each piece of other real estate owned centered around a robust reporting and monitoring process. The Board believes that this program has resulted in a substantial reduction in other real estate owned balances.

 

(xiv) by November 30, 2010, the Board was required to develop, implement and ensure adherence to a policy for effective monitoring and management of concentrations of credit;

 

The Board believes it developed and implemented a written concentration management program consistent with OCC Bulletin 2006-46 on November 24, 2010. This program was forwarded to the OCC on November 30, 2010. Loan concentration analysis reports are prepared and reviewed quarterly by the Board as part of the Bank’s loan portfolio management practices.

 

(xv) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to revise and implement the Bank’s Other Than Temporary Impairment Policy;

 

The Board believes that the Other Than Temporary Impairment Policy has been reviewed and revised so that the quarterly other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”) analysis process identifies and measures OTTI in accordance with GAAP and supervisory guidance, including Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 320-10-35 (Recognition and Presentation of Other-than-Temporary Impairments), OCC Bulletin 2009-11 dated April 17, 2009, "Other-than-Temporary Impairment Accounting" and OCC Call Report Instructions.

 

(xvi) by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to take action to maintain adequate sources of stable funding and liquidity and a contingency funding plan; by October 31, 2010, the Board was required to adopt, implement and ensure compliance with an independent, internal audit program;

 

The Board believes that it has taken action to maintain adequate sources of stable funding and liquidity and developed an appropriate contingency funding plan for the Bank. A liquidity funding policy that addresses liquidity needs, funding sources and contingency funding was approved by the Board on November 24, 2010 and has been implemented and is reviewed and updated annually. Additional policies related to liquidity, funding and contingency funding have since been created and are updated annually since the Order was executed.

 

11
 

 

The Board believes that it has taken appropriate steps to adopt, implement and comply with an independent adequately staffed internal audit program.

 

(xvii) take actions to correct cited violations of law; and adopt procedures to prevent future violations and address compliance management.

 

The Board and management believe that they have taken appropriate action to correct cited violations and adopted procedures designed to prevent future violations and address compliance management.

 

Federal Reserve Agreement . On November 24, 2010, the Company entered into the Agreement with the Reserve Bank. The Agreement requires the Company to undertake certain actions within designated timeframes, and to operate in compliance with the provisions thereof during its term. The material provisions of the Agreement are set forth below with a description of the status of the Company’s efforts to comply with such provisions:

 

(i) the Company’s Board was required to take appropriate steps to fully utilize the Company’s financial and managerial resources to serve as a source of strength to the Bank, including taking steps to ensure that the Bank complies with its Consent Order entered into with the OCC;

 

The Company has taken, and continues to take, steps the Board believes are appropriate to use the Company’s financial and managerial resources to serve as a source of strength to the Bank. The steps the Bank has taken to comply with the Order are discussed above.

 

(ii) the Company may not declare or pay any dividends without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank and the Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation (the “Director”) of the Federal Reserve Board;

 

The Company has acknowledged the prohibition on payment of dividends without the prior written consent of the Reserve Bank and Director. The Company has not paid any dividends since the effective date of the Agreement.

 

(iii) the Company may not take dividends or other payments representing a reduction of the Bank’s capital without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank;

 

The Company has acknowledged the prohibition on taking dividends or any other capital distributions from the Bank without the prior written consent of the Reserve Bank. The Bank has not paid and the Company has not received any dividends or capital distributions from the Bank since the effective date of the Agreement.

 

(iv) the Company and its nonbank subsidiary may not make any payment of interest, principal or other amounts on the Company’s subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank and the Director;

 

The Company has acknowledged the prohibition on any payment related to the Company’s subordinated debentures and trust preferred securities without the written approval of the Reserve Bank and Director. The Company has not made any payments of interest, principal or other amounts on the Company’s subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities since the effective date of the Agreement.

 

(v) the Company may not make any payment of interest, principal or other amounts on debt owed to insiders of the Company without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank and Director;

 

The Company has acknowledged the prohibition on any payment related to the debt owed to insiders of the Company without the written approval of the Reserve Bank and Director. The Company has not made any payments related to debt owed to insiders since the effective date of the Agreement.

 

(vi) the Company and its nonbank subsidiary may not incur, increase or guarantee any debt without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank;

 

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The Company has acknowledged the prohibition on incurring, increasing or guaranteeing any debt without the written approval of the Reserve Bank other than permitted borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). The Company has not incurred, increased or guaranteed any debt since the effective date of the Agreement.

 

(vii) the Company may not purchase or redeem any shares of its stock without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank;

 

The Company has acknowledged the prohibition on purchasing or redeeming any shares of its stock without the written approval of the Reserve Bank. The Company has not purchased or redeemed any shares of its stock since the effective date of the Agreement.

 

(viii) the Company was required to submit to the Reserve Bank, by January 23, 2011, an acceptable written plan to maintain sufficient capital at the Company on a consolidated basis. Thereafter, the Company must notify the Reserve Bank within 45 days of the end of any quarter in which the Company’s capital ratios fall below the approved capital plan’s minimum ratios, and submit an acceptable written plan to increase the Company’s capital ratios above the capital plan’s minimums;

 

The Company has developed a Capital Plan that it believes is acceptable and maintains sufficient capital at the Company on a consolidated basis. The Capital Plan was submitted to the Reserve Bank on January 11, 2011. The Capital Plan has since been updated at least annually and forwarded to the Reserve Bank. The annual update and revision to the Capital Plan for the three-year period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 was completed in conjunction with the annual budget and strategic planning initiatives and provided to the Reserve Bank in April 2014.

 

The Bank’s total risk-based capital ratio was 13.86% at March 31, 2014, which was above the 13% minimum required by the Order. Given the inability to achieve the minimum leverage ratio as stated in the capital requirements of the Order at the Bank level, the Company continues to update the Reserve Bank on a quarterly basis of its plans designed to increase its capital ratios above the Capital Plan minimums.

 

(ix) the Company was required to immediately take all actions necessary to ensure that: (1) each regulatory report accurately reflects the Company’s condition on the date for which it is filed and all material transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries; (2) each such report is prepared in accordance with its instructions; and (3) all records indicating how the report was prepared are maintained for supervisory review;

 

The Company believes that it has taken actions to ensure that all required regulatory reports are filed to accurately reflect its financial condition on the date filed, are prepared in accordance with instructions and that records detailing how the reports were filed are maintained and available for supervisory review.

 

(x) the Company was required to submit to the Reserve Bank, by January 23, 2011, acceptable written procedures to strengthen and maintain internal controls to ensure all required regulatory reports and notices filed with the Board of Governors are accurate and filed in accordance with the instructions for preparation;

 

The Company believes that it has designed effective written procedures and strengthened internal controls so that all required Board of Governors reports and notices filed are accurate and in accordance with instructions. The written procedures were provided to the Reserve Bank on January 21, 2011.

 

(xi) the Company was required to submit to the Reserve Bank, by January 8, 2011, a cash flow projection for 2011, reflecting the Company’s planned sources and uses of cash, and submit a cash flow projection for each subsequent calendar year at least one month prior to the beginning of such year;

 

The Company created a cash flow projection for 2011 and submitted it to the Reserve Bank on January 7, 2011 in accordance with requirements of the Agreement. Similar projections for 2012, 2013, and 2014 were provided to the Reserve Bank within the time requirements prescribed in the Agreement.

 

(xii) the Company must comply with: (1) the notice provisions of Section 32 of the FDI Act and Subpart H of Regulation Y in appointing any new director or senior executive officer or changing the duties of any senior executive officer; and (2) the restrictions on indemnification and severance payments of Section 18(k) of the FDI Act and Part 359 of the FDIC’s regulations;

 

The Company has acknowledged the notice requirements on the appointment of any new director or senior executive officer. The Company has filed the appropriate notice for each new director or senior executive officer since the date of the Agreement.

 

The Company acknowledges the restriction on indemnification and severance payments under Section 18(k) of the FDI Act and Part 359 of the FDIC’s regulations. The Company has not made any such indemnification or severance payments since the effective date of the Agreement without obtaining prior regulatory non-objection from the OCC and regulatory concurrence from the FDIC as required by Part 359.

 

13
 

 

(xiii) the Board must submit written progress reports within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter.

 

The Company’s Board has filed each of the required written progress reports with the Reserve Bank since the Agreement was executed.

 

Banking regulations also limit the amount of dividends that may be paid without prior approval of the Bank’s regulatory agency. At March 31, 2014, the Company and the Bank are restricted from paying any dividends, without regulatory approval.

 

The Company is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices must be met. Capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

 

Current quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier I capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier I capital (as defined) to average assets (as defined).

 

In accordance with the Order, the Bank is required to achieve and thereafter maintain a total risk-based capital ratio equal to at least 13.00% of risk-weighted assets and a Tier I capital ratio equal to at least 9.00% of adjusted total assets. As of March 31, 2014, the Bank met the 13.00% minimum requirement for the total-risk based capital ratio but did not meet the 9.00% minimum requirement for the Tier I leverage ratio. The minimum capital requirements under the Order take precedence over the standard regulatory capital adequacy definitions described in the tables below.

 

The Company’s and the Bank’s actual capital positions and ratios at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are presented in the following table:

 

Capital Analysis

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Company                
Tier I capital:                
Total tier I capital   $ 49,699     $ 46,165  
Tier II capital:                
Subordinated notes     24,851       23,085  
Allowable portion of allowance for loan losses     8,566       8,462  
Total tier II capital     33,417       31,547  
Total risk-based capital     83,116       77,712  
                 
Total risk-weighted assets   $ 680,873     $ 670,894  
Total average assets (for Tier I leverage ratio)   $ 978,912     $ 980,754  
                 
Bank                
Tier I capital:                
Total tier I capital   $ 85,740     $ 81,581  
Tier II capital:                
Allowable portion of allowance for loan losses     8,560       8,456  
Total tier II capital     8,560       8,456  
Total risk-based capital     94,300       90,037  
                 
Total risk-weighted assets   $ 680,385     $ 670,416  
Total average assets (for Tier I leverage ratio)   $ 978,887     $ 980,747  

 

14
 

 

The following tables present summary information regarding the Company’s and the Bank’s risk-based capital and related ratios at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

                            To Be Well  
                            Capitalized  
                            Under Prompt  
                For Capital     Corrective  
    Actual     Adequacy Purposes     Action Provision  
(dollars in thousands)   Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
March 31, 2014                                                
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)                                                
Company   $ 83,116       12.21 %   $ >54,470       >8.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank   $ 94,300       13.86 %   $ >54,431       >8.00 %   $ >68,039       >10.00 %
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets)                                                
Company   $ 49,699       7.30 %   $ >27,235       >4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank   $ 85,740       12.60 %   $ >27,215       >4.00 %   $ >40,823       >6.00 %
Tier I capital (to average assets)                                                
Company   $ 49,699       5.08 %   $ >39,156       >4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank   $ 85,740       8.76 %   $ >39,155       >4.00 %   $ >48,944       >5.00 %

 

                            To Be Well  
                            Capitalized  
                            Under Prompt  
                For Capital     Corrective  
    Actual     Adequacy Purposes     Action Provision  
(dollars in thousands)   Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
December 31, 2013                                                
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)                                                
Company   $ 77,712       11.58 %   $ >53,672       >8.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank   $ 90,037       13.43 %   $ >53,633       >8.00 %   $ >67,042       >10.00 %
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets)                                                
Company   $ 46,165       6.88 %   $ >26,836       >4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank   $ 81,581       12.17 %   $ >26,817       >4.00 %   $ >40,225       >6.00 %
Tier I capital (to average assets)                                                
Company   $ 46,165       4.71 %   $ >39,230       >4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank   $ 81,581       8.32 %   $ >39,230       >4.00 %   $ >49,038       >5.00 %

 

Note 4. LOANS

 

The following table summarizes loans receivable, net, by category at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Residential real estate   $ 117,560     $ 114,925  
Commercial real estate     225,651       218,524  
Construction, land acquisition and development     26,022       24,382  
Commercial and industrial     127,753       127,021  
Consumer     115,840       118,645  
State and political subdivisions     40,810       39,875  
Total loans, gross     653,636       643,372  
Unearned income     (149 )     (143 )
Net deferred loan fees and costs     667       668  
Allowance for loan and lease losses     (12,589 )     (14,017 )
Loans, net   $ 641,565     $ 629,880  

 

The Company has granted loans, letters of credit and lines of credit to certain executive officers and directors of the Company as well as to certain related parties of executive officers and directors. These loans, letters of credit and lines of credit were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated persons and, when made, did not involve more than normal risk of collectability. See Note 10 to these consolidated financial statements for more information about related party transactions.

 

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The Company originates one- to four-family mortgage loans primarily for sale in the secondary market. During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the Company sold $2.4 million of one- to four-family mortgages. The Company retains servicing rights on these mortgages.

 

The Company had $69 thousand and $820 thousand in loans held-for-sale at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. All loans held for sale are one- to four-family residential mortgage loans.

 

The Company sold substantially all of its education loans, which are categorized as consumer loans, to a third party during the three months ended March 31, 2014. The education loans had a recorded investment of $2.6 million at the time of sale. The Company recognized a loss of $13 thousand upon the sale of these loans which is included in non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

The Company does not have any lending programs commonly referred to as subprime lending. Subprime lending generally targets borrowers with weakened credit histories typically characterized by payment delinquencies, previous charge-offs, judgments, bankruptcies, or borrowers with questionable repayment capacity as evidenced by low credit scores or high debt-burden ratios.

 

See Note 2 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the 2013 Form 10-K for information about the risk characteristics related to the Company’s loan segments.

 

The Company provides for loan losses based on the consistent application of its documented ALLL methodology. Loan losses are charged to the ALLL and recoveries are credited to it. Additions to the ALLL are provided by charges against income based on various factors which, in management’s judgment, deserve current recognition of estimated probable losses. Loan losses are charged-off in the period the loans, or portions thereof, are deemed uncollectible. Generally, the Company will record a loan charge-off (including a partial charge-off) to reduce a loan to the estimated recoverable amount based on its methodology detailed below. The Company regularly reviews the loan portfolio and makes adjustments for loan losses in order to maintain the ALLL in accordance with GAAP. The ALLL consists primarily of the following two components:

 

(1) Specific allowances are established for impaired loans, which are defined by the Company as all loan relationships with an aggregate outstanding balance greater than $100 thousand that are rated substandard and on non-accrual status, rated doubtful or loss, and all troubled debt restructured loans (“TDRs”). The amount of impairment provided for as an allowance is represented by the deficiency, if any, between the carrying value of the loan and either (a) the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, (b) the loan’s observable market price, or (c) the fair value of the underlying collateral, less estimated costs to sell, for collateral dependent loans. Impaired loans that have no impairment losses are not considered for general valuation allowances described below. If the Company determines that collection of the impairment amount is remote, the Company will record a charge-off.

 

(2) General allowances are established for loan losses on a portfolio basis for loans that do not meet the definition of impaired. The Company divides its portfolio into loan segments, with loans exhibiting similar characteristics. Loans rated special mention or substandard and accruing, which are embedded in these loan segments, are then separated from these loan segments. These loans are then subject to an analysis placing increased emphasis on the credit risk associated with these specific loans. The Company applies an estimated loss rate to each loan group. The loss rates applied are based on the Company’s own historical loss experience based on the loss rate for each segment of loans with similar risk characteristics in its portfolio. In addition, management evaluates and applies certain qualitative or environmental factors that are likely to cause estimated credit losses associated with the Company’s existing portfolio to differ from historical experience, which are discussed below. This evaluation is inherently subjective, as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant revisions based upon changes in economic and real estate market conditions. Actual loan losses may be significantly more than the ALLL that is established, which could have a material negative effect on the Company’s operating results or financial condition.

 

Management makes adjustments for loan losses based on its evaluation of several qualitative and environmental factors, including but not limited to:

 

· Changes in national, local, and business economic conditions and developments, including the condition of various market segments;
· Changes in the nature and volume of the Company’s loan portfolio;

 

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· Changes in the Company’s lending policies and procedures, including underwriting standards, collection, charge-off and recovery practices and results;
· Changes in the experience, ability and depth of the Company’s lending management and staff;
· Changes in the quality of the Company's loan review system and the degree of oversight by the Company’s Board of Directors;
· Changes in the trend of the volume and severity of past due and classified loans, including trends in the volume of non-accrual loans, troubled debt restructurings and other loan modifications;
· The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the level of such concentrations;
· The effect of external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the Company's current loan portfolio; and
· Analysis of customers’ credit quality, including knowledge of their operating environment and financial condition.

 

Management evaluates the ALLL based on the combined total of the impaired and general components. Generally, when the loan portfolio increases, absent other factors, the ALLL methodology results in a higher dollar amount of estimated probable losses. Conversely, when the loan portfolio decreases, absent other factors, the ALLL methodology results in a lower dollar amount of estimated probable losses.

 

Each quarter, management evaluates the ALLL and adjusts the ALLL as appropriate through a provision for loan losses. While the Company uses the best information available to make evaluations, future adjustments to the ALLL may be necessary if conditions differ substantially from the information used in making the evaluations. In addition, as an integral part of its examination process, the OCC periodically reviews the Company’s ALLL. The OCC may require the Company to adjust the ALLL based on its analysis of information available to it at the time of its examination.

 

The following table summarizes activity in the ALLL, by loan category, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

    Real Estate                          
                Construction,                          
                Land                 State and        
    Residential     Commercial     Acquisition and     Commercial           Political        
(in thousands)   Real Estate     Real Estate     Development     and Industrial     Consumer     Subdivisions     Total  
Three months ended March 31, 2014:                                                        
Allowance for loan losses:                                                        
                                                         
Beginning balance, January 1, 2014   $ 2,287     $ 6,017     $ 924     $ 2,321     $ 1,789     $ 679     $ 14,017  
Charge-offs     (9 )     -       -       (23 )     (237 )     -       (269 )
Recoveries     8       6       240       63       94       -       411  
Provisions (credits)     (172 )     (493 )     (289 )     (549 )     9       (76 )     (1,570 )
Ending balance, March 31, 2014   $ 2,114     $ 5,530     $ 875     $ 1,812     $ 1,655     $ 603     $ 12,589  
                                                         
Three months ended March 31, 2013:                                                        
Allowance for loan losses:                                                        
                                                         
Beginning balance, January 1, 2013   $ 1,764     $ 8,062     $ 2,162     $ 4,167     $ 1,708     $ 673     $ 18,536  
Charge-offs     (159 )     (48 )     (110 )     (45 )     (194 )     -       (556 )
Recoveries     8       45       5       1,516       143       -       1,717  
Provisions (credits)     271       823       (381 )     (2,033 )     82       14       (1,224 )
Ending balance, March 31, 2013   $ 1,884     $ 8,882     $ 1,676     $ 3,605     $ 1,739     $ 687     $ 18,473  

 

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The following table represents the allocation of the ALLL and the related loan balance, by loan category, disaggregated based on the impairment methodology at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    Real Estate                          
                Construction,                          
                Land                 State and        
    Residential     Commercial     Acquisition and     Commercial           Political        
(in thousands)   Real Estate     Real Estate     Development     and Industrial     Consumer     Subdivisions     Total  
March 31, 2014                                                        
Allowance for loan losses:                                                        
Individually evaluated for impairment   $ 3     $ 455     $ 1     $ 18     $ 2     $ -     $ 479  
Collectively evaluated for impairment     2,111       5,075       874       1,794       1,653       603       12,110  
Total   $ 2,114     $ 5,530     $ 875     $ 1,812     $ 1,655     $ 603     $ 12,589  
                                                         
Loans receivable:                                                        
Individually evaluated for impairment   $ 1,750     $ 6,684     $ 304     $ 129     $ 546     $ -     $ 9,413  
Collectively evaluated for impairment     115,810       218,967       25,718       127,624       115,294       40,810       644,223  
Total   $ 117,560     $ 225,651     $ 26,022     $ 127,753     $ 115,840     $ 40,810     $ 653,636  
                                                         
December 31, 2013                                                        
Allowance for loan losses:                                                        
Individually evaluated for impairment   $ 12     $ 296     $ 1     $ -     $ 1     $ -     $ 310  
Collectively evaluated for impairment     2,275       5,721       923       2,321       1,788       679       13,707  
Total   $ 2,287     $ 6,017     $ 924     $ 2,321     $ 1,789     $ 679     $ 14,017  
                                                         
Loans receivable:                                                        
Individually evaluated for impairment   $ 1,985     $ 6,626     $ 306     $ -     $ 316     $ -     $ 9,233  
Collectively evaluated for impairment     112,940       211,898       24,076       127,021       118,329       39,875       634,139  
Total   $ 114,925     $ 218,524     $ 24,382     $ 127,021     $ 118,645     $ 39,875     $ 643,372  

 

Credit Quality Indicators – Commercial Loans

 

Management continuously monitors the credit quality of the Company’s commercial loans by regularly reviewing certain credit quality indicators. Management utilizes credit risk ratings as the key credit quality indicator for evaluating the credit quality of the Company’s loan receivables.

 

The Bank’s commercial loan classification and credit grading processes are part of the lending, underwriting, and credit administration functions to ensure an ongoing assessment of credit quality. Accurate and timely loan classification and credit grading is a critical component of loan portfolio management. Loan officers are required to review their loan portfolio risk ratings regularly for accuracy. The loan review function uses the same risk rating system in the loan review process. This allows an independent third party to assess the quality of the portfolio and compare the accuracy of ratings with the loan officer’s and management’s assessment.

 

A formal loan classification and credit grading system reflects the risk of default and credit losses. A written description of the risk ratings is maintained that includes a discussion of the factors used to assign appropriate classifications of credit grades to loans. The process identifies groups of loans that warrant the special attention of management. The risk grade groupings provide a mechanism to identify risk within the loan portfolio and provide management and the Board with periodic reports by risk category. The credit risk ratings play an important role in the establishment and evaluation of the provision for loan and lease losses and the ALLL. After determining the historical loss factor which is adjusted for qualitative and environmental factors for each portfolio segment, the portfolio segment balances that have been collectively evaluated for impairment are multiplied by the general reserve loss factor for the respective portfolio segments to determine the general reserve. Loans that have an internal credit rating of special mention or substandard follow the same process; however, the qualitative and environmental factors are further adjusted for the increased risk.

 

The Company utilizes a loan rating system that assigns a degree of risk to commercial loans based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information and current economic trends, among other factors. Management analyzes these non-homogeneous loans individually by grading the loans as to credit risk and probability of collection for each type of loan. Commercial loans include commercial indirect auto loans which are not individually risk rated, and construction, land acquisition and development loans include residential construction loans which are also not individually risk rated. These loans are monitored on a pool basis due to their homogeneous nature as described in “Credit Quality Indicators – Other Loans” below. The Company risk rates certain residential real estate loans and consumer loans that are part of a larger commercial relationship using its credit grading system as described in “Credit Quality Indicators – Commercial Loans.” The grading system contains the following basic risk categories:

 

1. Minimal Risk

2. Above Average Credit Quality

 

18
 

 

3. Average Risk

4. Acceptable Risk

5. Pass - Watch

6. Special Mention

7. Substandard - Accruing

8. Substandard - Non-Accrual

9. Doubtful

10. Loss

 

This analysis is performed on a quarterly basis using the following definitions for risk ratings:

 

Pass - Assets rated 1 through 5 are considered pass ratings. These assets show no current or potential problems and are considered fully collectible. All such loans are considered collectively for ALLL calculation purposes. However, accruing TDRs that have been performing for an extended period of time, do not represent a higher risk of loss, and have been upgraded to a pass rating are evaluated individually for impairment.

 

Special Mention – Assets classified as special mention assets do not currently expose the Company to a sufficient degree of risk to warrant an adverse classification but do possess credit deficiencies or potential weaknesses deserving close attention.  Special Mention assets have a potential weakness or pose an unwarranted financial risk which, if not corrected, could weaken the asset and increase risk in the future.

 

Substandard - Assets classified as substandard have well defined weaknesses based on objective evidence, and are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

 

Doubtful - Assets classified as doubtful have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make collection or liquidation in full highly questionable and improbable based on current circumstances.

 

Loss - Assets classified as loss are those considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets is not warranted.

 

The following tables detail the recorded investment in loans receivable by loan category and credit quality indicator at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

Commercial Credit Quality Indicators
March 31, 2014
    Real Estate                    
                Construction, Land                          
    Residential     Commercial     Acquisition and     Commercial and           State and Political        
(in thousands)   Real Estate     Real Estate     Development     Industrial     Consumer     Subdivisions     Total  
Internal risk rating                                                        
Pass   $ 20,739     $ 200,921     $ 16,371     $ 116,101     $ 2,888     $ 39,542     $ 396,562  
Special mention     495       11,855       1,361       3,316       -       576       17,603  
Substandard     1,272       12,875       6,164       2,287       152       692       23,442  
Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Loss     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total   $ 22,506     $ 225,651     $ 23,896     $ 121,704     $ 3,040     $ 40,810     $ 437,607  

 

Commercial Credit Quality Indicators
December 31, 2013
    Real Estate                          
                Construction, Land                          
    Residential     Commercial     Acquisition and     Commercial and           State and Political        
(in thousands)   Real Estate     Real Estate     Development     Industrial     Consumer     Subdivisions     Total  
Internal risk rating                                                        
Pass   $ 19,050     $ 191,601     $ 13,781     $ 113,048     $ 2,546     $ 39,151     $ 379,177  
Special mention     869       12,568       1,361       3,777       -       -       18,575  
Substandard     1,347       14,355       6,168       4,525       157       724       27,276  
Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Loss     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total   $ 21,266     $ 218,524     $ 21,310     $ 121,350     $ 2,703     $ 39,875     $ 425,028  

 

19
 

  

Credit Quality Indicators – Other Loans

 

Certain residential real estate loans, consumer loans, and commercial indirect auto loans are monitored on a pool basis due to their homogeneous nature. Loans that are delinquent 90 days or more are placed on non-accrual status. The Company utilizes accruing versus non-accruing status as the credit quality indicator for these loan pools. The following tables present the recorded investment in residential real estate loans, residential construction, land acquisition, and development loans, commercial indirect auto loans, and consumer loans based on payment activity at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    March 31, 2014  
    Accruing     Non-Accruing        
(in thousands)   Loans     Loans     Total  
Residential real estate   $ 94,064     $ 990     $ 95,054  
Construction, land acquisition and development - residential     2,126       -       2,126  
Commercial - indirect auto     6,049       -       6,049  
Consumer     112,624       176       112,800  
Total   $ 214,863     $ 1,166     $ 216,029  

 

    December 31, 2013  
    Accruing     Non-Accruing        
(in thousands)   Loans     Loans     Total  
Residential real estate   $ 92,181     $ 1,478     $ 93,659  
Construction, land acquisition and development - residential     3,072       -       3,072  
Commercial - indirect auto     5,671       -       5,671  
Consumer     115,809       133       115,942  
Total   $ 216,733     $ 1,611     $ 218,344  

 

Included in loans receivable are loans for which the accrual of interest income has been discontinued due to deterioration in the financial condition of the borrowers. The recorded investment in these non-accrual loans was $5.8 million and $6.4 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Generally, loans are placed on non-accrual status when they become 90 days or more delinquent, and remain on non-accrual status until they are brought current, have six months of performance under the loan terms, and factors indicating reasonable doubt about the timely collection of payments no longer exist. Therefore, loans may be current in accordance with their loan terms, or may be less than 90 days delinquent and still be on a non-accrual status. Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest were $32 thousand and $19 thousand at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and consisted of loans that are well secured and are in the process of renewal.

 

20
 

 

The following tables present the detail, and delinquency status, of past due and non-accrual loans at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

Performing and Non-Performing Loan Delinquency Status
                               
    March 31, 2014  
    Delinquency Status  
    0-29 Days     30-59 Days     60-89 Days     >/= 90 Days        
(in thousands)   Past Due     Past Due     Past Due     Past Due     Total  
Performing (accruing) loans:                                        
Real estate:                                        
Residential real estate   $ 115,675     $ 610     $ 29     $ -     $ 116,314  
Commercial real estate     220,957       624       -       -       221,581  
Construction, land acquisition and development     25,945       32       -       -       25,977  
Total real estate     362,577       1,266       29       -       363,872  
                                         
Commercial and industrial     126,879       636       6       32       127,553  
                                         
Consumer     114,446       890       309       -       115,645  
                                         
State and political subdivisions     40,810       -       -       -       40,810  
Total performing (accruing) loans     644,712       2,792       344       32       647,880  
                                         
Non-accrual loans:                                        
Real estate:                                        
Residential real estate     367       152       200       527       1,246  
Commercial real estate     4,044       -       -       26       4,070  
Construction, land aquisition and development     -       -       -       45       45  
Total real estate     4,411       152       200       598       5,361  
                                         
Commercial and industrial     50       23       -       127       200  
                                         
Consumer     26       26       36       107       195  
                                         
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -       -       -  
Total non-accrual loans     4,487       201       236       832       5,756  
                                         
Total loans receivable   $ 649,199     $ 2,993     $ 580     $ 864     $ 653,636  

 

21
 

 

Performing and Non-Performing Loan Delinquency Status
    December 31, 2013  
    Delinquency Status  
    0-29 Days     30-59 Days     60-89 Days     >/= 90 Days        
(in thousands)   Past Due     Past Due     Past Due     Past Due     Total  
Performing (accruing) loans:                                        
Real estate:                                        
Residential real estate   $ 112,519     $ 571     $ 116     $ -     $ 113,206  
Commercial real estate     213,660       629       -       -       214,289  
Construction, land acquisition and development     24,259       78       -       -       24,337  
Total real estate     350,438       1,278       116       -       351,832  
                                         
Commercial and industrial     126,441       232       125       19       126,817  
                                         
Consumer     116,710       1,420       362       -       118,492  
                                         
State and political subdivisions     39,875       -       -       -       39,875  
Total peforming (accruing) loans     633,464       2,930       603       19       637,016  
                                         
Non-accrual loans:                                        
Real estate:                                        
Residential real estate     570       73       51       1,025       1,719  
Commercial real estate     4,183       52       -       -       4,235  
Construction, land acquisition and development     -       -       45       -       45  
Total real estate     4,753       125       96       1,025       5,999  
                                         
Commercial and industrial     181       -       23       -       204  
                                         
Consumer     14       31       16       92       153  
                                         
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -       -       -  
Total non-accrual loans     4,948       156       135       1,117       6,356  
                                         
Total loans receivable   $ 638,412     $ 3,086     $ 738     $ 1,136     $ 643,372  

 

22
 

 

The following tables present a distribution of the recorded investment, unpaid principal balance and the related allowance for the Company’s impaired loans, which have been analyzed for impairment under ASC 310, at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Non-accrual loans, other than TDRs, with aggregate loan relationship balances less than the $100 thousand loan relationship threshold are not evaluated individually for impairment and are accordingly not included in the following tables. However, these loans are evaluated collectively for impairment as homogenous pools in the general allowance under ASC Topic 450. Total non-accrual loans, other than TDRs, with balances less than the $100 thousand loan relationship threshold, that were evaluated under ASC Topic 450 amounted to $1.1 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

    March 31, 2014  
        Unpaid      
(in thousands)   Recorded
Investment
    Principal
Balance
    Related
Allowance
 
With no allowance recorded:                        
Real estate:                        
Residential real estate   $ 717     $ 800     $ -  
Commercial real estate     4,134       4,594       -  
Construction, land acquisition and development     -       -       -  
Total real estate loans     4,851       5,394       -  
                         
Commercial and industrial     -       -       -  
                         
Consumer     -       -       -  
                         
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -  
Total impaired loans with no related allowance recorded     4,851       5,394       -  
                         
With a related allowance recorded:                        
Real estate:                        
Residential real estate     1,033       1,033       3  
Commercial real estate     2,550       2,550       455  
Construction, land acquisition and development     304       304       1  
Total real estate loans     3,887       3,887       459  
                         
Commercial and industrial     129       129       18  
                         
Consumer     546       546       2  
                         
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -  
Total impaired loans with a related allowance recorded     4,562       4,562       479  
                         
Total impaired loans:                        
Real estate:                        
Residential real estate     1,750       1,833       3  
Commercial real estate     6,684       7,144       455  
Construction, land acquisition and development     304       304       1  
Total real estate loans     8,738       9,281       459  
                         
Commercial and industrial     129       129       18  
                         
Consumer     546       546       2  
                         
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -  
Total impaired loans   $ 9,413     $ 9,956     $ 479  

 

23
 

 

    December 31, 2013  
          Unpaid        
    Recorded     Principal     Related  
(in thousands)   Investment     Balance     Allowance  
With no allowance recorded:                        
Real estate:                        
Residential real estate   $ 1,043     $ 1,125     $ -  
Commercial real estate     4,060       4,435       -  
Construction, land acquisition and development     -       -       -  
Total real estate loans     5,103       5,560       -  
                         
Commercial and industrial     -       -       -  
                         
Consumer     -       -       -  
                         
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -  
Total impaired loans with no related allowance recorded     5,103       5,560       -  
                         
With a related allowance recorded:                        
Real estate:                        
Residential real estate     942       946       12  
Commercial real estate     2,566       2,566       296  
Construction, land acquisition and development     306       306       1  
Total real estate loans     3,814       3,818       309  
                         
Commercial and industrial     -       -       -  
                         
Consumer     316       316       1  
                         
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -  
Total impaired loans with a related allowance recorded     4,130       4,134       310  
                         
Total impaired loans:                        
Real estate:                        
Residential real estate     1,985       2,071       12  
Commercial real estate     6,626       7,001       296  
Construction, land acquisition and development     306       306       1  
Total real estate loans     8,917       9,378       309  
                         
Commercial and industrial     -       -       -  
                         
Consumer     316       316       1  
                         
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -  
Total impaired loans   $ 9,233     $ 9,694     $ 310  

 

The total recorded investment in impaired loans, which consists of non-accrual loans with an aggregate loan relationship of greater than $100,000 and performing TDRs, amounted to $9.4 million and $9.2 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The related allowance on impaired loans was $0.5 million and $0.3 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

24
 

 

The following table presents the average balance and interest income by loan category recognized on impaired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2014     2013  
(in thousands)   Average
Balance
    Interest
Income (1)
    Average
Balance
    Interest
Income (1)
 
Residential real estate   $ 1,790     $ 14     $ 2,168     $ 2  
Commercial real estate     6,628       31       10,875       93  
Construction, land acquisition and development     304       4       1,013       9  
Total real estate     8,722       49       14,056       104  
                                 
Commercial and industrial     129       -       -       -  
                                 
Consumer     457       4       -       -  
                                 
State and political subdivisions     -       -       -       -  
Total impaired loans   $ 9,308     $ 53     $ 14,056     $ 104  

 

 

(1) Interest income represents income recognized on performing TDRs.

 

The additional interest income that would have been earned on non-accrual and restructured loans for the quarter ended on March 31, 2014 and 2013 in accordance with their original terms approximated $103 thousand and $200 thousand, respectively.

 

Troubled Debt Restructured Loans

 

TDRs at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were $8.7 million and $8.1 million, respectively. Accruing and non-accruing TDRs were $4.8 million and $3.9 million, respectively at March 31, 2014 and $4.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively at December 31, 2013. Approximately $461 thousand and $301 thousand in specific reserves have been established for these loans as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

The modification of the terms of such loans included one or a combination of the following: a reduction of the stated interest rate of the loan, an extension of the maturity date, or a permanent reduction of the recorded investment in the loan.

 

The following tables show the pre- and post- modification recorded investment in loans modified as TDRs by loan category during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2014     2013  
          Pre-Modification     Post-Modification           Pre-Modification     Post-Modification  
          Outstanding     Outstanding           Outstanding     Outstanding  
    Number of     Recorded     Recorded     Number of     Recorded     Recorded  
(dollars in thousands)   Contracts     Investments     Investments     Contracts     Investments     Investments  
Troubled debt restructuring:                                                
Residential real estate     2     $ 183     $ 240       -     $ -     $ -  
Commercial real estate     4       238       238       1       477       477  
Construction, land acquisition and development     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Commercial and industrial     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Consumer     1       135       135       -       -       -  
Total new troubled debt restructurings     7     $ 556     $ 613       1     $ 477     $ 477  

 

The seven loans modified as TDRs during the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased the ALLL by $1 thousand at March 31, 2014.

 

The following tables present the types of modifications made during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    Three months ended March 31, 2014  
    Residential     Commercial              
(in thousands)   Real Estate     Real Estate     Consumer     Total  
Type of modification:                                
Extension of term   $ -     $ 238     $ 135     $ 373  
Extension of term and capitalization of taxes     240       -       -       240  
Total modifications   $ 240     $ 238     $ 135     $ 613  

 

25
 

 

 

    Three months ended March 31, 2013  
    Residential     Commercial              
(in thousands)   Real Estate     Real Estate     Consumer     Total  
Type of modification:                                
Principal forbearance   $ -     $ 477     $ -     $ 477  
Total modifications   $ -     $ 477     $ -     $ 477  

 

There were no TDRs which re-defaulted (defined as past due 90 days) during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and for which the payment re-default occurred within one year of the modification.

 

Note 5. Other Real Estate Owned

 

The following table presents the composition of OREO at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Land/lots   $ 2,780     $ 3,549  
Commercial real estate     615       647  
Residential real estate     27       50  
Total other real estate owned   $ 3,422     $ 4,246  

 

The following table presents the activity in OREO for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    For the Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Balance, January 1,   $ 4,246     $ 3,983  
Loans transferred to OREO     -       -  
Valuation adjustments     (53 )     -  
Carrying value of OREO sold     (771 )     (73 )
Balance, March 31,   $ 3,422     $ 3,910  

 

The following table details the components of net expense of OREO for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Insurance   $ 27     $ 35  
Legal fees     9       33  
Maintenance     10       25  
Professional fees     10       14  
Real estate taxes     49       56  
Utilities     3       7  
Other     5       55  
Impairment charges     53       -  
Total expense     166       225  
Income from the operation of foreclosed properties     (3 )     (7 )
Net expense of OREO   $ 163     $ 218  

 

26
 

  

Note 6. Securities

 

Securities have been classified as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity in the consolidated financial statements according to management’s intent. The following tables present the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and the fair value of the Company’s securities at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    March 31, 2014  
          Gross     Gross        
          Unrealized     Unrealized        
    Amortized     Holding     Holding        
(in thousands)   Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
Available-for-sale:                                
Obligations of U.S. government agencies   $ 18,873     $ 126     $ 8     $ 18,991  
Obligations of state and political subdivisions     69,836       2,646       1,058       71,424  
Government-sponsored agency:                                
Collateralized mortgage obligations     35,527       37       465       35,099  
Residential mortgage-backed securities     108,266       373       993       107,646  
Corporate debt securities     500       -       83       417  
Equity securities     1,010       -       56       954  
Total available-for-sale securities   $ 234,012     $ 3,182     $ 2,663     $ 234,531  

 

    December 31, 2013  
          Gross     Gross        
          Unrealized     Unrealized        
    Amortized     Holding     Holding        
(in thousands)   Cost     Gains     Losses     Fair Value  
Available-for-sale:                                
Obligations of state and political subdivisions   $ 79,488     $ 1,422     $ 2,856     $ 78,054  
Government-sponsored agency:                                
Collateralized mortgage obligations     35,906       46       1,153       34,799  
Residential mortgage-backed securities     91,648       98       2,090       89,656  
Corporate debt securities     500       -       93       407  
Equity securities     1,010       -       59       951  
Total available-for-sale securities   $ 208,552     $ 1,566     $ 6,251     $ 203,867  
                                 
Held-to-maturity:                                
Obligations of state and political subdivisions   $ 2,308     $ 116     $ -     $ 2,424  

 

At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, securities with a carrying amount of $232.7 million and $204.2 million, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure public deposits and for other purposes.

 

27
 

 

The following table shows the amortized cost and approximate fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities at March 31, 2014 using contractual maturities.  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturity because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Because mortgage-backed securities are not due at a single maturity date, they are not included in the maturity categories in the following maturity summary.

 

    March 31, 2014  
    Amortized     Fair  
(in thousands)   Cost     Value  
Amounts maturing in:                
One year or less   $ 450     $ 437  
After one year through five years     -       -  
After five years through ten years     38,604       39,242  
After ten years     50,155       51,153  
Collateralized mortgage obligations     35,527       35,099  
Residential mortgage-backed securities     108,266       107,646  
Total   $ 233,002     $ 233,577  

 

Gross proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale securities were $11.1 million and $17.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively, with gross gains of $1.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively realized upon the sales. The Company sold its entire held-to-maturity portfolio consisting of four obligations of states and political subdivisions with an aggregate amortized cost of $2.3 million in January, 2014. Gross proceeds received from the sale of the held-to-maturity portfolio were $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, with gross gains of $0.4 million realized upon the sale. The four securities were zero-coupon bonds of California municipalities. These securities were sold as part of management’s strategy to reduce the amount of potential credit risk within the investment portfolio.

 

The following tables indicate the length of time that individual securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    March 31, 2014  
    Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Greater     Total  
    Number           Gross     Number           Gross     Number           Gross  
    of     Fair     Unrealized     of     Fair     Unrealized     of     Fair     Unrealized  
(dollars in thousands)   Securities     Value     Losses     Securities     Value     Losses     Securities     Value     Losses  
Obligations of US government agencies     2     $ 7,784     $ 8       -     $ -     $ -       2     $ 7,784     $ 8  
Obligations of state and policitical subdivisions     13       7,675       524       14       4,403       534       27       12,078       1,058  
Government sponsored agency:                                                                        
Collateralized mortgage obligations     4       10,588       453       1       781       12       5       11,369       465  
Residential mortgage-backed securities     10       61,221       960       2       7,041       33       12       68,263       993  
Corporate debt securities     -       -       -       1       417       83       1       417       83  
Equity Securities     -       -       -       1       944       56       1       944       56  
Total     29     $ 87,268     $ 1,945       19     $ 13,586     $ 718       48     $ 100,855     $ 2,663  

 

28
 

 

    December 31, 2013  
    Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Greater     Total  
(in thousands)   Number
of
Securities
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Number
of
Securities
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Number
of
Securities
    Fair
Value
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions     58     $ 33,835     $ 1,837       18     $ 4,756     $ 1,019       76     $ 38,591     $ 2,856  
Government-sponsored agency:                                                                        
Collateralized mortgage obligations     11       31,683       1,139       1       833       14       12       32,516       1,153  
Residential mortgage-backed securities     13       79,046       1,961       2       7,506       129       15       86,552       2,090  
Corporate debt securities     -       -         -       1       407       93       1       407       93  
Equity securities     -       -         -       1       941       59       1       941       59  
Total     82     $ 144,564     $ 4,937       23     $ 14,443     $ 1,314       105     $ 159,007     $ 6,251  

 

Substantially all of the Company’s securities portfolio is comprised of debt securities, specifically single-maturity bonds of U.S. government agencies, obligations of states and political subdivisions, and residential mortgage-backed securities, including home equity conversion mortgages, and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) of U.S. government-sponsored agencies. The Company held 48 securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2014. Substantially all of the unrealized losses relate to debt securities.

 

In determining whether unrealized losses are other-than-temporary, management considers the following factors:

 

· The causes of the decline in fair value, such as credit deterioration, interest rate fluctuations, or market volatility;
· The severity and duration of the decline;
· Whether or not the Company expects to receive all contractual cash flows;
· The Company’s ability and intent to hold the security to allow for recovery in fair value, as well as the likelihood of such a recovery in the near term;
· The Company’s intent to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security, before recovery of its amortized cost basis, less any current-period credit loss.

 

Management performed a review of the fair values of all securities at March 31, 2014 and determined that movements in the values of the securities were consistent with the change in market interest rates. As a result of its review and considering the attributes of these debt securities, the Company concluded that OTTI did not exist at March 31, 2014. To date, the Company has received all scheduled principal and interest payments and expects to fully collect all future contractual principal and interest payments. The Company does not intend to sell the securities nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities.

 

Management does not believe that any individual unrealized loss at March 31, 2014 represents OTTI. The unrealized losses reported for obligations of U.S. government agencies, residential mortgage-backed securities and CMOs relate entirely to securities issued by FHLB, GNMA, FHLMC and FNMA that are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services or Aaa by Standard & Poor’s and are guaranteed by the U.S. government. The obligations of state and political subdivisions are comprised entirely of general-purpose debt obligations. The majority of these obligations have a credit quality rating of A or better and are secured by the unlimited taxing power of the issuer. In addition, the Company utilized a third party to perform an independent credit analysis of its state and political subdivision bonds that were either non-rated or had a rating below A. There were two obligations of state and political subdivisions that were either non-rated or had a rating below A. However, according to the independent credit analysis, these two bonds were considered investment grade.

 

Investments in FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) stock, which have limited marketability, are carried at cost and totaled $3.9 million and $3.5 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. FRB stock of $1.3 million is included in Other Assets at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Management noted no indicators of impairment for the FHLB of Pittsburgh and FRB of Philadelphia at March 31, 2014.

 

Note 7. Fair Value Measurements

 

In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches, including market, income and cost approaches. Accounting standards establish a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, which are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflects the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions the market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, which are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

29
 

 

The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement). A financial asset or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

 

· Level 1 valuation is based upon unadjusted quoted market prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

 

· Level 2 valuation is based upon quoted market prices for similar instruments traded in active markets, quoted market prices for identical or similar instruments traded in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by market data; and

 

· Level 3 valuation is derived from other valuation methodologies including discounted cash flow models and similar techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in determining fair value.

 

A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets recorded at fair value, and for estimating fair value of financial instruments not recorded at fair value, is set forth below.

 

Cash, Short-term Investments, Accrued Interest Receivable and Accrued Interest Payable

 

For these short-term instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Securities

 

The estimated fair values of available-for-sale equity securities are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized exchanges (Level 1 inputs). The estimated fair values for the Company’s investments in obligations of U.S. government agencies, obligations of state and political subdivisions, government-sponsored agency CMOs, government- sponsored agency residential mortgage-backed securities, and corporate debt securities are obtained by the Company from a nationally-recognized pricing service. This pricing service develops estimated fair values by analyzing like securities and applying available market information through processes such as benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing (Level 2 inputs), to prepare valuations. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and conditions, among other things and are based on market data obtained from sources independent from the Company. The Level 2 investments in the Company’s portfolio are priced using those inputs that, based on the analysis prepared by the pricing service, reflect the assumptions that market participants would use to price the assets. The Company has determined that the Level 2 designation is appropriate for these securities because, as with most fixed-income securities, those in the Company’s portfolio are not exchange-traded, and such non-exchange-traded fixed income securities are typically priced by correlation to observed market data. The Company has reviewed the pricing service’s methodology to confirm its understanding that such methodology results in a valuation based on quoted market prices for similar instruments traded in active markets, quoted markets for identical or similar instruments traded in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which the significant assumptions can be corroborated by market data as appropriate to a Level 2 designation.

 

For those securities for which the inputs used by an independent pricing service were derived from unobservable market information, the Company evaluated the appropriateness and quality of each price. The Company reviewed the volume and level of activity for all classes of securities and attempted to identify transactions which may not be orderly or reflective of a significant level of activity and volume. For securities meeting these criteria, the quoted prices received from either market participants or an independent pricing service may be adjusted, as necessary, to estimate fair value (fair values based on Level 3 inputs). If applicable, the adjustment to fair value was derived based on present value cash flow model projections prepared by the Company or obtained from third party providers utilizing assumptions similar to those incorporated by market participants.

 

The Company owned one security issued by a state and political subdivision that was valued using level 3 inputs. This security had an amortized cost of $450 thousand and $595 thousand at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. This security had a credit rating that was either withdrawn or downgraded by nationally recognized credit rating agencies, and as a result the market for these securities was inactive at both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. This security was historically priced using Level 2 inputs. The credit ratings withdrawal and downgrade have resulted in a decline in the level of significant other observable inputs for this investment security at the measurement dates. Broker pricing and bid/ask spreads are very limited for this security. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company obtained a bid indication from a third-party municipal trading desk to determine the fair value of this security.

 

30
 

 

Loans

 

Except for collateral dependent impaired loans, fair values of loans are estimated by discounting the projected future cash flows using market discount rates that reflect the credit, liquidity, and interest rate risk inherent in the loan. Projected future cash flows are calculated based upon contractual maturity or call dates, projected repayments and prepayments of principal. The estimated fair value of collateral dependent impaired loans is based on the appraised loan value or other reasonable offers less estimated costs to sell. The Company does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However from time to time, a loan is considered impaired and an allowance for credit losses is established. The specific reserves for collateral dependent impaired loans are based on the fair value of the collateral less estimated costs to sell. The fair value of the collateral is generally based on appraisals. In some cases, adjustments are made to the appraised values due to various factors including age of the appraisal, age of comparables included in the appraisal, and known changes in the market and in the collateral. When significant adjustments are based on unobservable inputs, the resulting fair value measurement is categorized as a Level 3 measurement.

 

Loans Held For Sale

 

Fair values of mortgage loans held for sale are based on commitments on hand from investors or prevailing market prices.

 

Mortgage Servicing Rights

 

The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is estimated using a discounted cash flow model that applies current estimated prepayments derived from the mortgage-backed securities market and utilizes a current market discount rate for observable credit spreads. The Bank does not record mortgage servicing rights at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

Restricted Stock

 

Ownership in equity securities of FHLB of Pittsburgh and the FRB is restricted and there is no established market for their resale. The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Deposits

 

The fair value of demand deposits, savings deposits, and certain money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.  The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit is estimated based on discounted cash flows using FHLB advance rates currently offered for similar remaining maturities.

 

Borrowed funds

 

The Bank uses discounted cash flows using rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities to estimate fair value.

 

Commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit

 

The fair value of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties. For fixed-rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates. The fair value of off-balance sheet commitments is insignificant and therefore not included in the table for non-recurring assets and liabilities.

 

31
 

 

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis

 

The following tables detail the financial asset amounts that are carried at fair value and measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine the fair value:

 

    Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2014  
                Significant     Significant  
          Quoted Prices     Other     Other  
          in Active Markets     Observable     Unobservable  
          for Identical  Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
(in thousands)   Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Available-for-sale securities:                                
Obligations of U.S. government agencies   $ 18,991     $ -     $ 18,991     $ -  
Obligations of state and political subdivisions     71,424       -       70,987       437  
Government-sponsored agency:                                
Collateralized mortgage obligations     35,099       -       35,099       -  
Residential mortgage-backed securities     107,646       -       107,646       -  
Corporate debt securities     417       -       417       -  
Equity securities     954       954       -       -  
Total available-for-sale securities   $ 234,531     $ 954     $ 233,140     $ 437  

 

    Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013  
                Significant     Significant  
          Quoted Prices     Other     Other  
          in Active Markets     Observable     Unobservable  
          for Identical  Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
(in thousands)   Fair Value     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Available-for-sale securities:                                
Obligations of state and political subdivisions   $ 78,054     $ -     $ 77,483     $ 571  
Government-sponsored agency:                                
Collateralized mortgage obligations     34,799       -       34,799       -  
Residential mortgage-backed securities     89,656       -       89,656       -  
Corporate debt securities     407       -       407       -  
Equity securities     951       951       -       -  
Total available-for-sale securities   $ 203,867     $ 951     $ 202,345     $ 571  

 

The following tables present a reconciliation and statement of operations classifications of gains and losses for all assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

Fair Value Measurements
Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
    State and Political Subdivisions  
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Balance at January 1,   $ 571     $ 1,739  
Amortization     -       -  
Accretion     -       -  
Purchases     -       -  
Paydowns     (145 )     (140 )
Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):                
Included in earnings     -       -  
Included in other comprehensive income     11       5  
Balance at March 31,   $ 437     $ 1,604  

 

There were no transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy during the periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

32
 

  

Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis

 

The following tables present assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis:

 

    Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2014  
          Quoted Prices in     Significant     Significant  
          Active     Other     Other  
          markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
          Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
(in thousands)   Fair Value (1)     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Collateral-dependent impaired loans   $ 4,914     $ -     $ -     $ 4,914  
Other real estate owned   $ 684     $ -     $ -     $ 684  

 

    Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013  
          Quoted Prices in     Significant     Significant  
          Active     Other     Other  
          markets for     Observable     Unobservable  
          Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
(in thousands)   Fair Value (1)     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Collateral-dependent impaired loans   $ 5,229     $ -     $ -     $ 5,229  
Other real estate owned   $ 3,931     $ -     $ -     $ 3,931  

 

 

(1) Represents carrying value and related write-downs for which adjustments are based on appraised value. Management makes adjustments to the appraised values as necessary to consider declines in real estate values since the time of the appraisal. Such adjustments are based on management’s knowledge of the local real estate markets.

 

Collateral-dependent impaired loans are classified as Level 3 assets and the estimated fair value of the collateral is based on the appraised value or other reasonable offers less estimated costs to sell. When the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the impairment is recorded through a valuation allowance or is charged off. The amount shown is the balance of impaired loans, net of any charge-offs and the related allowance for loan losses.

 

OREO properties are recorded at fair value less the estimated cost to sell at the date of the Company’s acquisition of the property. Subsequent to the Company’s acquisition, the balance may be written down further. It is the Company’s policy to obtain certified external appraisals of real estate collateral underlying impaired loans and OREO, and estimate fair value using those appraisals. Other valuation sources may be used, including broker price opinions, letters of intent and executed sale agreements.

 

The Company discloses fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the Statement of Financial Condition, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The following estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, management judgment is required to interpret data and develop fair value estimates. Accordingly, the estimates below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

 

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at March 31, 2014 and at December 31, 2013:

 

    Fair Value   March 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
(in thousands)   Measurement   Carrying Value     Fair Value     Carrying Value     Fair Value  
Financial assets                                    
Cash and short term investments   Level 1   $ 37,980     $ 37,980     $ 103,556     $ 103,556  
Securities available for sale    See previous table     234,531       234,531       203,867       203,867  
Securities held to maturity    Level 2     -       -       2,308       2,424  
FHLB and FRB Stock   Level 2     3,892       3,892       3,496       3,496  
Loans held for sale    Level 2     69       69       820       820  
Loans, net   Level 3     641,565       644,908       629,880       632,536  
Accrued interest receivable    Level 2     2,590       2,590       2,191       2,191  
Mortgage servicing rights   Level 3     478       978       529       990  
                                     
Financial liabilities                                    
Deposits    Level 2     835,207       837,204       884,698       887,056  
Borrowed funds   Level 2     69,844       73,341       62,433       65,642  
Accrued interest payable    Level 2     9,300       9,300       8,732       8,732  

 

33
 

  

Note 8.  Earnings per Share

 

For the Company, the numerator of both the basic and diluted earnings per common share is net income available to common shareholders (which is equal to net income less dividends on preferred stock and related discount accretion). The weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in the denominator for basic earnings per common share is increased to determine the denominator used for diluted earnings per common share by the effect of potentially dilutive common share equivalents utilizing the treasury stock method. For the Company, common share equivalents are outstanding stock options to purchase the Company’s common shares and unvested restricted stock.

 

The following table presents the calculation of both basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    Three months ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands, except share data)   2014     2013  
Net income   $ 3,513     $ 1,731  
                 
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding     16,471,569       16,457,169  
Plus: Common share equivalents     866       -  
Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding     16,472,435       16,457,169  
                 
Income per common share:                
Basic   $ 0.21     $ 0.11  
Diluted   $ 0.21     $ 0.11  

 

Common share equivalents, in the table above, exclude stock options of 77,937 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 129,170 stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2013 with exercise prices that exceed the average market price of the Company’s common shares during the periods presented. Inclusion of these stock options would be anti-dilutive to the diluted earnings per common share calculation.

 

Note 9. Other Comprehensive Income

 

The following tables summarize the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

 

    Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
    Amount      
    Reclassified from      
    Accumulated      
    Other      
    Comprehensive     Affected Line Item in the
(in thousands)   Income (Loss)     Consolidated Statements of Operations
Available-for-sale securities:            
Reclassification adjustment for net gains reclassified into net income   $ (1,200 )   Net gain on sale of securities
Taxes     408     Income taxes
Net of tax amount   $ (792 )    

 

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    Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
    Amount      
    Reclassified from      
    Accumulated      
    Other      
    Comprehensive     Affected Line Item in the
(in thousands)   Income (Loss)     Consolidated Statements of Operations
Available-for-sale securities:            
Reclassification adjustment for net gains reclassified into net income   $ (842 )   Net gain on sale of securities
Taxes     286     Income taxes
Net of tax amount   $ (556 )    

 

The following table summarizes the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Beginning balance   $ (3,092 )   $ 6,698  
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications     4,227       (1,282 )
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     (792 )     (556 )
Net other comprehensive income (loss) during the period     3,435       (1,838 )
Ending balance   $ 343     $ 4,860  

 

Note 10. Related Party Transactions

 

The Company and the Bank have engaged in and intend to continue to engage in banking and financial transactions in the conduct of its business with directors and executive officers of the Company and the Bank and their related parties.

 

The Bank has granted loans, letters of credit and lines of credit to directors, executive officers and their related parties. The following table summarizes the changes in the total amounts of such outstanding loans, advances under lines of credit, as well as repayments during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Outstanding at beginning of the year   $ 32,506     $ 33,296  
New loans and advances     13,974       12,188  
Repayments / reductions     (9,799 )     (10,853 )
Other (1)     -       (256 )
Outstanding at end of period   $ 36,681     $ 34,375  

 

 

(1) "Other" represents loans to related parties that ceased being related parties during the period.

 

At March 31, 2014, loans to directors, executive officers and their related parties which were not performing in accordance with the terms of the loan agreements totaled $90 thousand.

 

Included in related party loans is a commercial line of credit with a company owned by a director with a total aggregate balance of $10.0 million at March 31, 2014. The Company also sold a participation interest in this line to the same director in the amount of $5.2 million, of which $4.0 million is outstanding. The Bank receives a 25 basis point annual servicing fee from this director on the participation balance.

 

Deposits from directors, executive officers and their related parties held by the Bank at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 amounted to $99.4 million and $115.5 million, respectively. Interest paid on the deposits amounted to $23 thousand and $35 thousand for the three months ended on March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

In the course of its operations, the Company acquires goods and services from and transacts business with various companies of related parties. The Company believes these transactions were made on the same terms as those for comparable transactions with unrelated parties. The Company recorded payments for these services of $0.5 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

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Subordinated notes held by officers and directors and/or their related parties totaled $10.0 million at both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. There was no interest paid to directors on these notes for the three months ended on March 31, 2014 and 2013. Interest accrued and unpaid on the notes totaled $3.3 million at March 31, 2014.

 

Note 11. Stock Compensation Plans

 

On August 30, 2000, the Company’s Board adopted the 2000 Employee Stock Incentive Plan (the “Stock Incentive Plan”) in which options may be granted to key officers and other employees of the Company. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued upon exercise of the options under the plan cannot exceed 1,100,000 shares. Options and rights granted under the Stock Incentive Plan become exercisable six months after the date the options are awarded and expire ten years after the award date. Upon exercise, the shares are issued from the Company’s authorized but unissued stock. The Stock Incentive Plan expired on August 30, 2010. Therefore, no further grants will be made under the plan.

 

The Board also adopted on August 30, 2000, the 2000 Independent Directors Stock Option Plan (the “Directors’ Stock Plan”) for directors who are not officers or employees of the Company. The aggregate number of shares issuable under the Directors’ Stock Plan cannot exceed 550,000 shares and are exercisable six months from the date the awards are granted and expire three years after the award date. Upon exercise, the shares are issued from the Company’s authorized but unissued shares. The Directors’ Stock Plan expired on August 30, 2010, therefore, no further grants will be made under the plan.

 

No compensation expense related to options under either the Stock Incentive Plan or the Directors’ Stock Plan was required to be recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s stock option plans:

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2014     2013  
                         
          Weighted           Weighted  
          Average           Average  
          Exercise           Exercise  
    Shares     Price     Shares     Price  
Outstanding at January 1.     82,598     $ 15.98       129,170     $ 14.26  
Granted     -       -       -       -  
Exercised     -       -       -       -  
Forfeited     (4,661 )     16.05       -       -  
Outstanding at March 31,     77,937     $ 15.98       129,170     $ 14.26  
Options exercisable at March 31,     77,937     $ 15.98       129,170     $ 14.26  
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the period           $ -             $ -  
Stock-based compensation expense           $ -             $ -  

 

At March 31, 2014 and 2013 the exercisable options had no total intrinsic value and there was no unrecognized compensation expense.

 

The following table presents information pertaining to options outstanding at March 31, 2014:

 

    Options Outstanding     Options Excercisable  
          Weighted                    
          Average     Weighted           Weighted  
          Remaining     Average           Average  
    Number     Contractual     Exercise     Number     Exercise  
Range of Exercise Price   Outstanding     Life     Price     Exercisable     Price  
$10.81 - $23.13     77,937       3.2     $ 15.98       77,937     $ 15.98  

 

On November 28, 2012, the Board of Directors adopted the 2012 Employee Stock Grant Plan (the “2012 Stock Grant Plan”) under which shares of common stock not to exceed 16,000 were authorized to be granted to employees. On December 17, 2012, the Company granted 50 shares of the Company’s common stock to each active full and part time employee. There were 15,050 shares granted under the 2012 Stock Grant Plan at a fair value of $3.05 per share. On November 27, 2013, the Board of Directors adopted the 2013 Employee Stock Grant Plan (the “2013 Stock Grant Plan”) under which shares of common stock not to exceed 15,000 were authorized to be granted to employees. On December 2, 2013, the Company granted 50 shares of the Company’s common stock to each active full and part time employee. There were 14,400 shares granted under the 2013 Stock Grant Plan at a fair value of $4.26 per share. The total cost of these grants, which was included in salary expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, amounted to $61 thousand and $46 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. No additional shares were granted under either plan.

 

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The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, formally adopted a Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (“LTIP”) on October 23, 2013. The LTIP was ratified at the 2013 Annual Shareholders Meeting on December 23, 2013. The LTIP is designed to reward executives and key employees for their contributions to the long-term success of the Company, primarily as measured by the increase in the Company’s stock price. The LTIP authorizes up to 1,200,000 shares of common stock for issuance and provides the Board with the authority to offer several different types of long-term incentives, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units and performance shares. The Board approved initial awards under the terms of the LTIP, which were granted to executives and key employees on March 1, 2014. The initial grant was comprised solely of 45,750 shares of restricted stock. At March 31, 2014, there were 1,154,250 shares of common stock available for award under the LTIP. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, stock-based compensation expense totaled $10 thousand and was included in salaries and employee benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock awards at March 31, 2014 was $297 thousand.

 

The following table the status of the Company’s unvested restricted stock awards at March 31, 2014 and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2014:

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2014  
          Weighted-  
          Average  
    Restricted     Grant Date  
    Shares     Fair Value  
Unvested at January 1,     -     $ -  
Awards granted     45,750       6.70  
Forfeitures     -       -  
Vestings     -       -  
Unvested at March 31,     45,750     $ 6.70  

 

Note 12. Contingencies

 

On May 24, 2012, a putative shareholder filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas for Lackawanna County (“Shareholder Derivative Suit”) against certain present and former directors and officers of the Company (the “Individual Defendants”) alleging, inter alia, breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, corporate waste, and unjust enrichment. The Company was named as a nominal defendant. The parties to the Shareholder Derivative Suit commenced settlement discussions and on December 18, 2013, the Court entered an Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Proposed Settlement subject to notice to shareholders. On February 4, 2014, the Court issued a Final Order and Judgment for the matter granting approval of a Stipulation of Settlement (the “Settlement”) and dismissing all claims against the Company and the Individual Defendants. As part of the Settlement, there was no admission of liability by the Individual Defendants. Pursuant to the Settlement, the Individual Defendants, without admitting any fault, wrongdoing or liability, agreed to settle the derivative litigation for $5.0 million. The $5.0 million Settlement payment was made to the Company on March 28, 2014. The Individual Defendants reserved their rights to indemnification under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, resolutions adopted by the Board, the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law and any and all rights they have against the Company’s and the Bank’s insurance carriers. In accordance therewith, the Company had recorded a $5.0 million liability for this indemnification at March 31, 2014, which is included in other liabilities. The Company netted the income related to the receipt of the $5.0 million Settlement payment and the $5.0 million expense associated with recording the liability to indemnify the Individual Defendants and therefore there was no effect on the operating results of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2014. In addition, in conjunction with the Settlement, the Company accrued $2.5 million related to fees and costs of the plaintiff’s attorneys, which was included in non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013. On April 1, 2014, the Company paid the $2.5 million related to the fees and costs of the plaintiff’s attorneys, and paid $2.5 million as partial indemnification to the Individual Defendants.

 

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There have been no changes in the status of the other litigation disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”)

 

This Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with the more detailed and comprehensive disclosures included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. In addition, please read this section in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein.

 

We are in the business of providing customary retail and commercial banking services to individuals and businesses. Our core market is Northeastern Pennsylvania.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The Company may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements,” including statements contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in its reports to shareholders, and in other communications by the Company, which are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control). The words “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause the Company’s financial performance to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in the Company’s markets; the effects of, and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; the timely development of and acceptance of new products and services; the ability of the Company to compete with other institutions for business; the composition and concentrations of the Company’s lending risk and the adequacy of the Company’s reserves to manage those risks; the valuation of the Company’s investment securities; the ability of the Company to pay dividends or repurchase common shares; the ability of the Company to retain key personnel; the impact of any pending or threatened litigation against the Company; the marketability of shares of the Company and fluctuations in the value of the Company’s share price; the impact of the Company’s ability to comply with its regulatory agreements and orders; the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal controls; the ability of the Company to attract additional capital investment; the impact of changes in financial services’ laws and regulations (including laws concerning capital adequacy, taxes, banking, securities and insurance); the impact of technological changes and security risks upon the Company’s information technology systems; changes in consumer spending and saving habits; the nature, extent, and timing of governmental actions and reforms, and the success of the Company at managing the risks involved in the foregoing and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

 

The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not all inclusive. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis only as of the date of this report, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report.

 

Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in the Annual Report and other documents that the Company periodically files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management has made estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated statements of condition and results of operations for the periods indicated. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

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The Company’s accounting policies are fundamental to understanding management’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations. Management has identified the policies on the determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses (“ALLL”), securities valuation and impairment evaluation, and valuation of other real estate owned (“OREO”) and income taxes to be critical, as management is required to make subjective and/or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available.

 

The judgments used by management in applying the critical accounting policies discussed below may be affected by a further and prolonged deterioration in the economic environment, which may result in changes to future financial results. Specifically, subsequent evaluations of the loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the ALLL in future periods, and the inability to collect on outstanding loans could result in increased loan losses. In addition, the valuation of certain securities in the Company’s investment portfolio could be negatively impacted by illiquidity or dislocation in marketplaces resulting in significantly depressed market prices thus leading to impairment losses.

 

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

 

Management continually evaluates the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, and performs a formal review of the adequacy of the ALLL on a quarterly basis. The ALLL is established through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings and is maintained at a level management considers adequate to absorb estimated probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the evaluation date. Loans, or portions of loans, determined by management to be uncollectible are charged off against the ALLL, while recoveries of amounts previously charged off are credited to the ALLL.

 

Determining the amount of the ALLL is considered a critical accounting estimate because it requires significant judgment and the use of estimates related to the amount and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans based on historical loss experience, qualitative factors, and consideration of current economic trends and conditions, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. Various banking regulators, as an integral part of their examination of the Company, also review the ALLL. Such regulators may require, based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination, that certain loan balances be charged off or require that adjustments be made to the ALLL. Additionally, the ALLL is determined, in part, by the composition and size of the loan portfolio.

 

The ALLL consists of two components, a specific component and a general component. The specific component relates to loans that are classified as impaired. For such loans an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows, collateral value or observable market price of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan. The general component covers all other loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted by qualitative factors. The general reserve component of the ALLL is based on pools of unimpaired loans segregated by loan segment and risk rating categories of “Pass”, “Special Mention” or “Substandard and Accruing.” Historical loss factors and various qualitative factors are applied based on the risk profile in each risk rating category to determine the appropriate reserve related to those loans. Substandard loans on nonaccrual status above the $100 thousand loan relationship threshold and all loans considered troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) are classified as impaired.

 

See Note 4 -“Loans” of the consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 hereof for additional information about the ALLL.

 

Securities Valuation

 

Management utilizes various inputs to determine the fair value of its investment portfolio. To the extent they exist, unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets (Level 1) or quoted prices for similar assets or models using inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly (Level 2) are utilized to determine the fair value of each investment in the portfolio. In the absence of observable inputs or if markets are illiquid, valuation techniques are used to determine fair value of any investments that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement (Level 3). For Level 3 inputs, valuation techniques are based on various assumptions, including, but not limited to, cash flows, discount rates, adjustments for nonperformance and liquidity, and liquidation values. A significant degree of judgment is involved in valuing investments using Level 3 inputs. The use of different assumptions could have a positive or negative effect on the consolidated statements of financial condition or results of operations. See Note 6-“Securities” and Note 7-“Fair Value Measurements” of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 hereof for additional information about the Company’s securities valuation techniques.

 

On a quarterly basis, management evaluates individual investment securities classified as held-to-maturity and available-for-sale having unrealized losses to determine whether or not the security is other-than-temporarily-impaired (“OTTI”). The analysis of OTTI requires the use of various assumptions, including but not limited to, the length of time an investment’s fair value is less than book value, the severity of the investment’s decline, any credit deterioration of the issuer, whether management intends to sell the security, and whether it is more-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis. Debt investment securities deemed to be OTTI are written down by the impairment related to the estimated credit loss, and the non-credit related impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income. The Company did not recognize OTTI charges on investment securities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 within the consolidated statements of operations.

 

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Other Real Estate Owned

 

OREO consists of property acquired by foreclosure, abandonment or conveyance of deed in-lieu of foreclosure of a loan, and bank premises that is no longer used for operation or for future expansion. OREO is held for sale and is initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell at the date of acquisition or transfer, which establishes a new cost basis. Upon acquisition of the property through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, any write-down to fair value less estimated selling costs is charged to the ALLL. The determination is made on an individual asset basis. Bank premises no longer used for operations or future expansion is transferred to OREO at its fair value less estimated selling costs with any related write-down included in non-interest expense. Subsequent to acquisition, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less cost to sell. Fair value is determined through external appraisals, current letters of intent, broker price opinions or executed agreements of sale. Costs relating to the development and improvement of the OREO properties may be capitalized; holding period costs and any subsequent changes to the valuation allowance are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Income Taxes

 

The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could impact our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

The Company records an income tax provision or benefit based on the amount of tax currently payable or receivable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting purposes. Management conducts quarterly assessments of all available evidence to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that will more-likely-than-not be realized. The available evidence used in connection with these assessments includes taxable income in current and prior periods, cumulative losses in prior periods, projected future taxable income, potential tax-planning strategies, and projected future reversals of deferred tax items. Management’s assumptions and estimates take into consideration its interpretation of tax laws and possible outcomes of current and future audits conducted by tax authorities. These assessments involve a certain degree of subjectivity which may change significantly depending on the related circumstances. If actual results differ from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating the amount and timing of tax recognized, there can be no assurance that additional expenses will not be required in future periods.

 

In connection with determining the income tax provision or benefit, the Company considers maintaining liabilities for uncertain tax positions and tax strategies that management believes contain an element of uncertainty. Periodically, the Company evaluates each of its tax positions and strategies to determine whether a liability for uncertain tax benefits is required. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any uncertain tax positions or tax strategies and no liability was required to be recorded.

 

New Authoritative Accounting Guidance

 

ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists,” requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. If a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and not combined with deferred tax assets. This guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect the adoption of ASU 2013-11 on January 1, 2015 may have on the operating results or financial position of the Company.

 

ASU 2014-04, Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): “Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure,” clarifies that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (a) the creditor obtaining legal title to residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (b) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2015 is not expected to have a material effect on the operating results or financial position of the Company.

 

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ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360): “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” changes the criteria for reporting a discontinued operation. Under the new guidance, a disposal of a component of an entity or group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. This new guidance reduces the complexity by removing the complex and extensive implementation guidance and illustrations that are necessary to apply the current definition of a discontinued operation. The new guidance also requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide users with more information about the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of a discontinued operation and will require pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting, which will provide users with information about the ongoing trends in a reporting organization’s results from continuing operations. Public companies and not-for-profit organizations that have issued or is a conduit bond obligor for securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an over-the-counter market should apply the new guidance prospectively to all disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an organization and all business or nonprofit activities that, on acquisition, are classified as held for sale that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2015 is not expected to have a material effect on the operating results or financial position of the Company.

 

Executive Summary

 

The following overview should be read in conjunction with our MD&A in its entirety.

 

Management continued to take proactive measures in order to reduce risk, improve asset quality and strengthen the Company’s and the Bank’s capital positions. In addition to these strategies, management focused on improving efficiency through profit enhancement initiatives aimed at developing new sources of non-interest revenue, reducing the level of non-interest expense, improving processes and reevaluating current staffing requirements.

 

In the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into a Branch Purchase and Deposit/Loan Assumption Agreement (the “Branch Purchase Agreement”) with ESSA Bank and Trust (“ESSA”) for ESSA to acquire certain assets and liabilities of the Bank’s Marshalls Creek and Stroudsburg branches, both located in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Pursuant to this transaction, which closed on January 24, 2014, the Bank sold deposits of $8.8 million, real and personal property of $2.5 million and loans of $1.1 million. The Company realized a net gain on the branch divesture of $607 thousand, which is included in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

The Company recorded net income of $3.5 million, or $0.21 per diluted common share, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to net income of $1.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted common share for the same three months of 2013. The $1.8 million improvement in earnings was due primarily to a $1.0 million increase in non-interest income, an increase in the credit for loan and lease losses of $346 thousand, a decrease in non-interest expense of $314 thousand and an increase in net interest income of $198 thousand. Annualized return on average assets and return on average equity were 1.44% and 37.92%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to 0.73% and 18.78%, respectively, for three months ended March 31, 2013. The Company did not pay any dividends during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

Total assets decreased $29.7 million, or 3.0%, to $974.1 million at March 31, 2014 from $1.0 billion at December 31, 2013. The balance sheet reduction reflected a $65.6 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents, which was due primarily to a $49.5 million decrease in total deposits. Loans, net of deferred loan origination fees and costs, unearned income and the ALLL grew $11.7 million, or 1.9%, while available-for-sale investment securities increased $30.7 million, or 15.0%.

 

Total deposits decreased $49.5 million, or 5.6%, to $835.2 million at March 31, 2014 as compared to $884.7 million at December 31, 2013. During the same period, non-interest-bearing demand deposits decreased $30.5 million, or 19.4%, and interest-bearing deposits decreased $19.0 million, or 2.6%. The decrease in deposits reflected cyclical deposit trends related to the receipt of tax monies of the Company’s municipal customers, the sale of the Monroe County branches and continued runoff of certificates of deposit due to the sustained low interest rate environment. The Company’s borrowings with the FHLB increased $7.4 million, or 27.3%, to $34.5 million at March 31, 2014 from $27.1 million at December 31, 2013.

 

Total shareholders’ equity increased $6.9 million, or 20.5%, to $40.5 million at March 31, 2014 from $33.6 million at December 31, 2013. The capital improvement resulted primarily from net income of $3.5 million, coupled with a $3.4 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive income, which resulted primarily from appreciation in the fair value of available-for-sale securities offset by the tax impact of the appreciation.

 

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On May 24, 2012, a putative shareholder filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas for Lackawanna County (“Shareholder Derivative Suit”) against certain present and former directors and officers of the Company (the “Individual Defendants”) alleging, inter alia, breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, corporate waste, and unjust enrichment. The Company was named as a nominal defendant. The parties to the Shareholder Derivative Suit commenced settlement discussions and on December 18, 2013, the Court entered an Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Proposed Settlement subject to notice to shareholders. On February 4, 2014, the Court issued a Final Order and Judgment for the matter granting approval of a Stipulation of Settlement (the “Settlement”) and dismissing all claims against the Company and the Individual Defendants. As part of the Settlement, there was no admission of liability by the Individual Defendants. Pursuant to the Settlement, the Individual Defendants, without admitting any fault, wrongdoing or liability, agreed to settle the derivative litigation for $5.0 million. The $5.0 million Settlement payment was made to the Company on March 28, 2014. The Individual Defendants reserved their rights to indemnification under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, resolutions adopted by the Board, the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law and any and all rights they have against the Company’s and the Bank’s insurance carriers. In accordance therewith, the Company had recorded a $5.0 million liability for this indemnification at March 31, 2014, which is included in other liabilities. The Company netted the income related to the receipt of the $5.0 million Settlement payment and the $5.0 million expense associated with recording the liability to indemnify the Individual Defendants and therefore there was no effect on the operating results of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2014. In addition, in conjunction with the Settlement, the Company accrued $2.5 million related to fees and costs of the plaintiff’s attorneys, which was included in non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013. On April 1, 2014, the Company paid the $2.5 million related to the fees and costs of the plaintiff’s attorneys, and paid $2.5 million as partial indemnification to the Individual Defendants.

 

Summary of Performance

 

Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income is the difference between (i) interest income - interest and fees on interest-earning assets, and (ii) interest expense - interest paid on the Company’s deposits and borrowed funds. Net interest income represents the largest component of the Company’s operating income and, as such, is the primary determinant of profitability. Net interest income is impacted by variations in the volume, rate and composition of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, changes in general market rates and the level of non-performing assets. Interest income is shown on a fully tax-equivalent basis and is calculated by adjusting tax-free interest using a marginal tax rate of 34.0% in order to equate the yield to that of taxable interest rates. Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis increased $47 thousand comparing the three-month periods ending March 31, 2014 and 2013. Despite the slight increase in tax-equivalent income, the Company’s tax-equivalent net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, fell 17 basis points to 3.10% in 2014 from 3.27% in 2013. Tax-equivalent net interest margin, a key measurement used in the banking industry to measure income from earning assets relative to the cost to fund those assets, is calculated by dividing tax-equivalent net interest income by average interest-earning assets. The margin decrease was primarily due to lower yields on earning assets, coupled with an increase in average earning assets, which was partially mitigated by a decrease in average funding costs. Rate spread, the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities shown on a fully tax-equivalent basis, was 2.98% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, a decrease of 17 basis points compared to 3.15% for the same period of 2013.

 

Interest income on a tax equivalent basis decreased $237 thousand to $8.7 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 compared to $8.9 million in 2013. The decrease resulted from a 34 basis point decrease in the tax-equivalent yield on average earning assets from 4.13% in 2013 to 3.79% in 2014, which negatively impacted tax-equivalent interest income by $581 thousand. Specifically, the tax-equivalent yield on average securities fell 71 basis points, while the tax-equivalent yield on average loans decreased 36 basis points. With respect to investment securities, the Company sold certain tax-free municipal bonds in an effort to reduce potential concentration and credit risk within the portfolio and increased its holdings of U.S. government-sponsored agency bonds and mortgage-backed securities. The decrease in loan yields reflected the Company’s asset/liability strategy which focused on originating loans with adjustable interest rates in order to position the balance sheet to react favorably to a rise in market interest rates. Partially mitigating the decrease in tax-equivalent interest income due to decline in yield was a $52.8 million, or 6.1%, increase in average earning assets to $914.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $861.4 million for the same three-month period of 2013, which resulted in an increase to interest income of $344 thousand. Specifically, the average balances of loans and investment securities grew $43.2 million and $28.0 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by an $18.4 million decrease in average interest-bearing deposits in other banks and federal funds sold.

 

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased $284 thousand to $1.6 million from $1.9 million for the same three months of 2013. The reduction in interest expense largely reflected an 18 basis point reduction in the cost of funds from 0.98% in 2013 to 0.80% in 2014, which led to a decrease in interest expense of $437 thousand due to changes in rate. Specifically, the Company’s cost of deposits decreased 15 basis points, while its borrowing costs decreased 168 basis points. Partially offsetting the decrease in funding costs was a $25.9 million, or 3.4%, increase in average interest-bearing liabilities to $784.7 million for the first quarter of 2014 from $758.8 million for the same quarter of 2013. The increase in average interest-bearing liabilities resulted in a $153 thousand increase in interest expense due to volume. Total deposits averaged $9.5 million higher than the first quarter of 2013, while average borrowings increased $16.4 million over the same period of 2013. The increase in average total deposits reflected increases in interest-bearing demand, savings and time deposits over $100 thousand of $19.6 million, $3.4 million and $15.5 million, respectively. Partially offsetting these increases was a $29.0 million decrease in the average balance of other time deposits. The Company did not aggressively compete for time deposits. Longer-term time deposits that matured were repositioned into short-term products whenever possible.

 

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Net interest income depends upon the relative amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest rate earned or paid on them. The following table presents certain information about the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition and consolidated statements of operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, and reflects the average yield on assets and average cost of liabilities for the periods indicated. Such yields and costs are calculated by dividing income or expense by the average balance of assets or liabilities, respectively, for the periods shown. Average balances are derived from average daily balances. The yields include amortization of fees which are considered adjustments to yields.

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31, 2014     March 31, 2013  
    Average           Yield/     Average           Yield/  
(dollars in thousands)   Balance     Interest     Cost     Balance     Interest     Cost  
ASSETS                                                
Earning assets (2)(3)                                                
Loans-taxable (4)   $ 610,513     $ 6,160       4.04 %   $ 573,833     $ 6,277       4.38 %
Loans-tax free (4)     41,709       506       4.85 %     35,169       500       5.69 %
Total loans (1)(2)     652,222       6,666       4.09 %     609,002       6,777       4.45 %
Securities-taxable     165,937       914       2.20 %     116,187       574       1.98 %
Securities-tax free     59,975       1,050       7.00 %     81,727       1,500       7.34 %
Total securities (1)(5)     225,912       1,964       3.48 %     197,914       2,074       4.19 %
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks and federal funds sold     36,018       23       0.26 %     54,466       39       0.29 %
Total earning assets     914,152       8,653       3.79 %     861,382       8,890       4.13 %
Non-earning  assets     78,270                       100,955                  
Allowance for loan and lease losses     (14,130 )                     (19,177 )                
Total assets   $ 978,292                     $ 943,160                  
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                
Interest-bearing liabilities                                                
Interest-bearing demand deposits     331,144       112       0.14 %     311,587       159       0.20 %
Savings deposits     87,631       15       0.07 %     84,200       26       0.12 %
Time deposits over $100,000     160,149       306       0.76 %     144,633       317       0.88 %
Other time deposits     139,968       432       1.23 %     168,943       616       1.46 %
Total interest-bearing deposits     718,892       865       0.48 %     709,363       1,118       0.63 %
Borrowed funds and other interest-bearing liabilities     65,846       708       4.30 %     49,429       739       5.98 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities     784,738       1,573       0.80 %     758,792       1,857       0.98 %
Demand deposits     132,712                       125,394                  
Other liabilities     23,785                       22,102                  
Shareholders' equity     37,057                       36,872                  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $ 978,292                     $ 943,160                  
Net Interest Income/Interest                                                
Rate Spread (6)             7,080       2.98 %             7,033       3.15 %
Tax equivalent adjustment             (529 )                     (680 )        
Net interest income as reported           $ 6,551                     $ 6,353          
                                                 
Net interest margin (7)                     3.10 %                     3.27 %

 

  (1) Interest income is presented on a tax equivalent basis using a 34% rate.
  (2) Loans are stated net of unearned income.
  (3) Non-accrual loans are included in loans within earning assets.
  (4) Loan fees included in interest income are not significant.
  (5) The yields for securities that are classified as available-for-sale are based on the average historical amortized cost.
  (6) Interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities
    and is presented on a tax-equivalent basis.
  (7) Net interest income as a percentage of total average interest earning assets.

 

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Rate Volume Analysis

 

The most significant impact on net income between periods is derived from the interaction of changes in the volume and rates earned or paid on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The volume of earning assets, specifically loans and investments, compared to the volume of interest-bearing liabilities represented by deposits and borrowings, combined with the spread, produces the changes in net interest income between periods. Components of interest income and interest expense are presented on a tax-equivalent basis using the statutory federal income tax rate of 34%.

 

The following table summarizes the effect that changes in volumes of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest rates earned and paid on these assets and liabilities have on net interest income. The net change or mix component attributable to the combined impact of rate and volume changes has been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.

 

    March 31,  
    2014 vs. 2013  
    Increase (Decrease)  
    Due to     Due to     Total  
(in thousands)   Volume     Rate     Change  
Interest Income:                        
Loans - taxable   $ 387     $ (504 )   $ (117 )
Loans - tax free     85       (79 )     6  
Total loans     472       (583 )     (111 )
Securities - taxable     268       72       340  
Securities - tax free     (384 )     (66 )     (450 )
Total securities     (116 )     6       (110 )
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks and federal funds sold     (12 )     (4 )     (16 )
Total interest income     344       (581 )     (237 )
                         
Interest Expense:                        
Interest-bearing demand deposits     9       (56 )     (47 )
Savings deposits     1       (12 )     (11 )
Time deposits over $100,000     32       (43 )     (11 )
Other time deposits     (97 )     (87 )     (184 )
Total interest-bearing deposits     (55 )     (198 )     (253 )
Borrowed funds and other interest-bearing liabilities     208       (239 )     (31 )
Total interest expense     153       (437 )     (284 )
Net interest income   $ 191     $ (144 )   $ 47  

 

Provision for Loan and Lease Losses

 

Management closely monitors the loan portfolio and the adequacy of the ALLL by considering underlying borrower financial performance and collateral values and associated credit risks. Future material adjustments may be necessary to the provision for loan and lease losses and the ALLL if economic conditions or loan performance differ substantially from the assumptions management used in making its evaluation of the ALLL. The provision for loan and lease losses is an expense charged against net interest income to provide for probable losses attributable to uncollectible loans and is based on management’s analysis of the adequacy of the ALLL. A credit to loan and lease losses reflects the reversal of amounts previously charged to the ALLL.

 

The Company recorded a credit for loan and lease losses of $1.6 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, compared to a credit of $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The release of reserves in the first quarter of 2014 reflected the continued improvement in asset quality metrics, reductions in historical loss and qualitative factors and net recoveries on previously charged-off loans.

 

Non-interest Income

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, non-interest income totaled $3.5 million, an increase of $1.0 million, from $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The 40.4% improvement resulted from an increase in net gains from the sale of securities and a gain on branch divestures during the quarter. Net gains on the sale of securities amounted to $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2014, compared to $842 thousand for the same quarter of 2013. Also favorably affecting non-interest income was a gain on the divesture of the Company’s Monroe County branch offices of $0.6 million, which resulted from the Branch Purchase Agreement with ESSA as discussed above. Partially offsetting these increases was a $0.3 million decrease in other income due to the settlement of an insurance claim in the first quarter of 2013.

 

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Non-interest Expense

 

Non-interest expense totaled $8.0 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2013. The $0.3 million, or 3.8%, decrease was due primarily to reductions in loan collection expenses and professional fees. Loan collection expenses declined $198 thousand, or 87.2%, as the Company’s level of non-performing assets and loan delinquencies continued to improve. Professional fees declined $101 thousand, or 18.3%, as the Company continued to reduce its reliance on outside consultants and focused on managing controllable expenses.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

The Company evaluates the carrying amount of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis or more frequently, if necessary, in accordance with the guidance provided in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740 (“ASC 740”), in particular, applying the criteria set forth therein to determine whether it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized within its life cycle, based on the weight of available evidence. If management makes a determination based on the available evidence that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized in future periods, a valuation allowance is calculated and recorded. These determinations are inherently subjective and dependent upon estimates and judgments concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence. In conducting the deferred tax asset analysis, the Company believes it is important to consider the unique characteristics of an industry or business. In particular, characteristics such as taxable income in current and prior periods, cumulative losses in prior periods, projected future taxable income, levels of capital and reserves, ability to absorb potential losses, and projected future reversals of deferred tax items. Management’s assumptions and estimates also take into consideration its interpretation of tax laws and possible outcomes of current and future audits conducted by tax authorities.

 

The Company recorded a provision for income taxes in the amount of $70 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The provision is related solely to an estimate for alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). There was no provision for income taxes recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

 

The net deferred tax asset before consideration of a valuation allowance was $34.1 million at March 31, 2014 and $34.5 million at December 31, 2013. At both dates, the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition reflected a full valuation allowance. In future periods, the Company anticipates that it will have a minimal tax provision or benefit until such time as it is able to reverse the deferred tax asset valuation allowance that it recorded in 2009. To the extent that the Company generates taxable income in a given quarter, the valuation allowance may be reduced to fully or partially offset the corresponding income tax expense. Any remaining deferred tax asset valuation allowance may be reversed through income tax expense only once the Company can demonstrate a sustainable return to profitability and conclude that it is more likely than not the deferred tax asset will be utilized prior to expiration.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Assets

 

Total assets decreased $29.7 million, or 2.96%, to $974.1 million at March 31, 2014 from $1.0 billion at December 31, 2013. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in cash and cash equivalents related to a $49.5 million reduction in deposits. The Company experienced favorable loan demand, which resulted in an $11.7 million increase in loans, net of unearned income and the ALLL. Available-for-sale securities increased $30.7 million as management invested available liquidity. Cash and cash equivalents declined $65.6 million, while total borrowed funds, specifically with the FHLB of Pittsburgh, increased $7.4 million when comparing March 31, 2014 to December 31, 2013.

 

As discussed above, in the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into the Branch Purchase Agreement with ESSA for ESSA to acquire certain assets and liabilities of the Bank’s Marshalls Creek and Stroudsburg branches, both located in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Pursuant to this transaction, which closed on January 24, 2014, the Company sold deposits of $8.8 million, real and personal property of $2.5 million and loans of $1.1 million. The Company realized a net gain on the branch divesture of $607 thousand, which is included in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $65.6 million, or 63.3%, during the three months ended March 31, 2014 to $38.0 million from $103.6 million at December 31, 2013. The decrease resulted primarily from a $49.5 million decrease in total deposits, coupled with increases in cash used for loans and purchases of loans and available-for-sale securities of $11.7 million and $30.7 million, respectively. The Company did not pay any dividends during the quarter ended March 31, 2014 as it suspended paying dividends to conserve capital and comply with regulatory requirements.

 

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Securities

 

The Company’s investment securities portfolio provides a source of liquidity needed to meet expected loan demand and provides a source of interest income to increase our profitability. Additionally, the Company utilizes the investment securities portfolio to meet pledging requirements to secure public deposits and for other purposes. Investment securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported as a component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. The Company determines the appropriate classification of investment securities at the time of purchase. The decision to purchase or sell investment securities is based upon the current assessment of long- and short-term economic and financial conditions, including the interest rate environment and asset/liability management strategies. Securities with limited marketability and/or restrictions, such as FHLB of Pittsburgh and FRB stocks, are carried at cost. FRB stock is included in other assets.

 

At March 31, 2014, the Company’s investment portfolio was comprised principally of U.S. government-sponsored agencies, including residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and single-maturity bonds, and taxable and tax-exempt obligations of state and political subdivisions and obligations. Other than the obligations of U.S. government-sponsored agencies, there was one security issuer, St. Clair County, IL School District, whose aggregate carrying value of securities held by the Company exceeded 10.0% of shareholders’ equity as of March 31, 2014. The aggregate carrying value of the securities of this issuer was $4.2 million at March 31, 2014.

 

The following table sets forth the carrying value of available-for-sale securities, which are carried at fair value, and held-to-maturity securities, which are carried at amortized cost, at the dates indicated:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Available-for-sale securities                
Obligations of U.S. government agencies   $ 18,991     $ -  
Obligations of state and political subdivisions     71,424       78,054  
Government-sponsored agency:                
Collateralized mortgage obligations     35,099       34,799  
Residential mortgage-backed securities     107,646       89,656  
Corporate debt securities     417       407  
Equity securities     954       951  
Total   $ 234,531     $ 203,867  
                 
Held-to-maturity securities                
Obligations of state and political subdivisions   $ -     $ 2,308  

 

The Company sold 19 of its obligations of state and political subdivisions during the three months ended March 31, 2014. During the first quarter of 2014, the Company sold its entire holdings of held-to-maturity securities comprised of four zero-coupon obligations of state and political subdivisions with an aggregate amortized cost of $2.3 million in January, 2014. Gross proceeds received from the sale of the held-to-maturity portfolio were $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, with gross gains of $0.4 million realized upon the sale. The four obligations were bonds of California municipalities. These securities were sold as part of management’s strategy to reduce the amount of potential credit and concentration risk within the investment portfolio. The remaining 15 obligations had an aggregate amortized cost of $9.9 million. The Company realized a gain of $1.2 million on the sale of available-for-sale securities. The gains on the sale of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities were included in non-interest income in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company purchased ten securities totaling $37.1 million. Specifically, purchases included $18.3 million in holdings of home equity conversion mortgages and $18.8 million of single-maturity bonds of U.S. government-sponsored agencies.

 

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The following table sets forth the maturities of available-for-sale securities at March 31, 2014 and the weighted-average yields of such securities calculated on the basis of the cost and effective yields weighted for the scheduled maturity of each security:

 

    March 31, 2014  
                            Collateralized              
                            Mortgage              
                            Obligations and              
    Within     > 1 – 5     6 - 10     Over     Mortgage-Backed     No Fixed        
(dollars in thousands)   One Year     Years     Years     10 Years     Securities (3)     Maturity     Total  
Available-for-sale securities                                                        
Obligations of U.S. government agencies   $ -     $ -     $ 18,991     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 18,991  
Yield                     2.65 %                             2.65 %
Obligations of state and political subdivisions (1)     437       -       20,251       50,736       -       -       71,424  
Yield     6.35 %             4.30 %     6.94 %                     6.19 %
Government-sponsored agencies:                                                        
Collateralized mortgage obligations     -       -       -       -       35,099       -       35,099  
Yield                                     2.52 %             2.52 %
Residential mortgage-backed securities:     -       -       -       -       107,646       -       107,646  
Yield                                     2.00 %             2.00 %
Corporate debt securities     -       -       -       417       -       -       417  
Yield                             0.96 %                     0.96 %
Equity securities (2)     -       -       -       -       -       954       954  
Yield                                             3.57 %     3.57 %
Total available-for-sale securities   $ 437     $ -     $ 39,242     $ 51,153     $ 142,745     $ 954     $ 234,531  
Weighted yield     6.35 %     0.00 %     3.50 %     6.89 %     2.13 %     3.57 %     3.41 %

 

(1) Yields on state and municipal securities have been adjusted to tax-equivalent yields using a 34.0% federal income tax rate.
(2) Yield represents actual return for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
(3) Collateralized mortgage obligations and residential mortgage-backed securities are not due at a single maturity date.

 

The majority of the Company’s securities portfolio is comprised of residential mortgage-backed securities, including holdings of home equity conversion mortgages and pools of conventional one- to four-family residential mortgages, and CMOs, obligations of states and political subdivisions and single-maturity bonds of U.S. government agencies. The Company held 48 securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2014. Substantially all of the unrealized losses relate to debt securities.

 

In determining whether unrealized losses are other-than-temporary, management considers the following factors:

 

· The causes of the decline in fair value, such as credit deterioration, interest rate fluctuations, or market volatility;
· The severity and duration of the decline;
· Whether or not the Company expects to receive all contractual cash flows;
· The Company’s ability and intent to hold the security to allow for recovery in fair value, as well as the likelihood of such a recovery in the near term;
· The Company’s intent to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

 

Management performed a review of the fair values of all securities as of March 31, 2014 and determined that changes in the fair values of the securities were consistent with the change in market interest rates. As a result of its review and considering the attributes of these debt securities, the Company concluded that the decreases in estimated fair value were temporary and OTTI did not exist at March 31, 2014. To date, the Company has received all scheduled principal and interest payments and expects to fully collect all future contractual principal and interest payments. The Company does not intend to sell the securities nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities.

 

Management does not believe that any individual unrealized loss at March 31, 2014 represents OTTI. The unrealized losses reported for obligations of U.S. government agencies, residential mortgage-backed securities and CMOs relate entirely to securities issued by FHLB, GNMA, FHLMC and FNMA that are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services or Aaa by Standard & Poor’s and are guaranteed by the U.S. government. The obligations of state and political subdivisions are comprised entirely of general-purpose debt obligations. The majority of these obligations have a credit quality rating of A or better and are secured by the unlimited taxing power of the issuer. In addition, the Company utilized a third party to perform an independent credit analysis of its state and political subdivision bonds that were either non-rated or had a rating below A. There were two obligations of state and political subdivisions that were either non-rated or had a rating below A. However, according to the independent credit analysis, these two bonds were considered investment grade.

 

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Investments in FHLB and FRB stock, which have limited marketability, are carried at a cost of $3.9 million and $3.5 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. FRB stock of $1.3 million is included in Other Assets at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Management noted no indicators of impairment for the FHLB of Pittsburgh and FRB of Philadelphia at March 31, 2014.

 

Loans

 

During the first three months of 2014, the Company experienced increased demand for its lending products, as new loan originations exceeded maturities and payoffs. As a result, net loans increased $11.7 million, or 1.9%, to $641.6 million and represented 65.9% of total assets at March 31, 2014, from $629.9 million, or 62.7% of total assets, at December 31, 2013. Historically, commercial lending activities have represented a significant portion of the Company’s loan portfolio. This includes commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans and construction, land acquisition and development loans.

 

From a collateral standpoint, a majority of the Company’s loan portfolio consisted of loans secured by real estate. Real estate secured loans, which include commercial real estate, construction, land acquisition and development, residential real estate loans and home equity lines of credit (“HELOCs”), increased $11.3 million, or 2.9%, to $398.3 million at March 31, 2014 from $387.0 million at December 31, 2013. Real estate secured loans as a percentage of total gross loans increased to 60.9% at March 31, 2014 from 60.2% as of December 31, 2013.

 

Commercial and industrial loans increased $0.8 million, or 0.6%, during the year to $127.8 million at March 31, 2014 from $127.0 million at December 31, 2013. Commercial and industrial loans consist primarily of equipment loans, working capital financing, revolving lines of credit and loans secured by cash and marketable securities. Loans secured by commercial real estate increased $7.1 million, or 3.3%, to $225.6 million at March 31, 2014 from $218.5 million at December 31, 2013. Commercial real estate loans include long-term commercial mortgage financing and are primarily secured by first or second lien mortgages. Construction, land acquisition and development loans increased $1.6 million, or 6.7%, during the quarter to $26.0 million at March 31, 2014 from $24.4 million at December 31, 2013. The Company continues to monitor its exposure to this higher-risk portfolio segment.

 

Residential real estate loans totaled $117.6 million at March 31, 2014, an increase of $2.6 million, or 2.3%, from $114.9 million at December 31, 2013. The components of residential real estate loans include fixed-rate and variable-rate mortgage loans. HELOCs are not included in this category but are included in consumer loans. The Company primarily underwrites fixed-rate purchase and refinance of residential mortgage loans for sale in the secondary market to reduce interest rate risk and provide funding for additional loans.

 

Consumer loans decreased $2.8 million, or 2.4%, during the first three months of 2014 to $115.8 million at March 31, 2014 from $118.6 million at December 31, 2013. During the first quarter of 2014, the Company sold its education loan portfolio to a third party. This portfolio had a recorded investment of $2.6 million at the time of sale and the Company realized a loss of $13 thousand upon the sale, which is included in non-interest income in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

Loans to state and municipal governments increased $0.9 million, or 2.3%, to $40.8 million at March 31, 2014 from $39.9 million at December 31, 2013. The increase was attributable to new originations.

 

The following table summarizes loans receivable, net by category at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Residential real estate   $ 117,560     $ 114,925  
Commercial real estate     225,651       218,524  
Construction, land acquisition and development     26,022       24,382  
Commercial and industrial     127,753       127,021  
Consumer     115,840       118,645  
State and political subdivisions     40,810       39,875  
 Total loans, gross     653,636       643,372  
Unearned income     (149 )     (143 )
Net deferred loan fees and costs     667       668  
Allowance for loan and lease losses     (12,589 )     (14,017 )
 Loans, net   $ 641,565     $ 629,880  

 

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At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s loan portfolio was concentrated in the following industries:

 

    March 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
(in thousands)   Amount     % of Gross
Loans
    Amount     % of Gross
Loans
 
Automobile dealers   $ 20,636       3.16 %   $ 18,467       2.87 %
Land subdivision     15,210       2.33 %     15,974       2.48 %
Colleges and Universities     12,545       1.92 %     12,671       1.97 %
Solid waste landfills     12,065       1.85 %     12,254       1.90 %
Physicians     10,730       1.64 %     13,932       2.17 %
Hotels     10,667       1.63 %     9,847       1.53 %
Office complexes/units     9,523       1.46 %     9,636       1.50 %

 

Asset Quality

 

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are stated at the amount of unpaid principal, net of unearned interest, deferred loan fees and costs, and reduced by the ALLL. The ALLL is established through a provision for loan and lease losses charged to earnings.

 

The Company has established and consistently applies loan policies and procedures designed to foster sound underwriting and credit monitoring practices. The Company manages credit risk through the efforts of loan officers, the loan review function, and the Loan Quality and the ALLL management committees, as well as oversight from the Board of Directors. The Company continually evaluates its credit risk management practices to ensure it is reacting to problems in the loan portfolio in a timely manner, although, as is the case with any financial institution, a certain degree of credit risk is dependent in part on local and general economic conditions that are beyond the Company’s control.

 

Under the Company’s risk rating system, loans that are rated pass/watch, special mention, substandard, doubtful, or loss are reviewed regularly as part of the Company’s risk management practices. The Company’s Loan Quality Committee, which consists of key members of senior management and credit administration, meets monthly or more often as necessary to review individual problem credits and workout strategies and provides monthly reports to the Board of Directors.

 

A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts due (including principal and interest) according to the contractual terms of the note and loan agreement. For purposes of the Company’s analysis, loans that are modified under a troubled debt restructuring (“TDRs”), loans rated substandard and non-accrual, and loans that are identified as doubtful or loss are considered impaired. Impaired loans are analyzed individually to determine the amount of impairment. The Company utilizes the fair value of collateral method for collateral-dependent loans. A loan is considered to be collateral dependent when repayment of the loan is expected to be provided through the liquidation of the collateral held. For impaired loans that are secured by real estate, external appraisals are obtained annually, or more frequently as warranted, to ascertain a fair value so that the impairment analysis can be updated. Should a current appraisal not be available at the time of impairment analysis, other sources of valuation may be used including, current letters of intent, broker price opinions or executed agreements of sale. For non-collateral- dependent loans, the Company measures impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows, net of disposal costs, discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate.

 

Loans to borrowers that are experiencing financial difficulty that are modified and result in the Company granting concessions to the borrower are classified as TDRs and are considered to be impaired. Such concessions generally involve an extension of a loan’s stated maturity date, a reduction of the stated interest rate, payment modifications, capitalization of property taxes with respect to residential mortgage loans or a combination of these modifications. Non-accrual TDRs are returned to accrual status if principal and interest payments, under the modified terms, are brought current, are performing under the modified terms for six consecutive months, and management believes that collection of the remaining interest and principal is probable.

 

Non-performing loans are monitored on an ongoing basis as part of the Company’s loan review process. Additionally, work-out efforts continue and are actively monitored for non-performing loans and OREO through the Loan Quality Committee. A potential loss on a non-performing asset is generally determined by comparing the outstanding loan balance to the fair market value of the pledged collateral, less cost to sell.

 

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Loans are placed on non-accrual when a loan is specifically determined to be impaired or when management believes that the collection of interest or principal is doubtful. This generally occurs when a default of interest or principal has existed for 90 days or more, unless such loan is well secured and in the process of collection, or when management becomes aware of facts or circumstances that the loan would default before 90 days. The Company determines delinquency status based on the number of days since the date of the borrower’s last required contractual loan payment. When the interest accrual is discontinued, all unpaid interest income is reversed and charged back against current earnings. Any subsequent cash payments received are applied, first to the outstanding loan amounts, then to the recovery of any charged-off loan amounts, with any excess treated as a recovery of lost interest. A non-accrual loan is returned to accrual status when the loan is current as to principal and interest payments, is performing according to contractual terms for six consecutive months and future payments are reasonably assured.

 

Management actively manages impaired loans in an effort to reduce loan balances by working with customers to develop strategies to resolve borrower difficulties, through sale or liquidation of collateral, foreclosure, and other appropriate means. Real estate values in the Company’s market area have appeared to stabilize. However, a weakening of economic and employment conditions could result in real estate devaluations, which could negatively impact asset quality and, accordingly, cause an increase in the provision for loan and lease losses.

 

Under the fair value of collateral method, the impaired amount of the loan is deemed to be the difference between the loan amount and the fair value of the collateral, less the estimated costs to sell. For the Company’s calculations for real estate secured loans, a factor of 10% is generally utilized to estimate costs to sell, which is based on typical cost factors, such as a 6% broker commission, 1% transfer taxes, and 3% various other miscellaneous costs associated with the sales process. If the valuation indicates that the fair value has deteriorated below the carrying value of the loan, either the entire loan is written off or the difference between the fair value and the principal balance is charged off. For impaired loans for which the value of the collateral less costs to sell exceeds the loan value, the impairment is considered to be zero.

 

The following table presents non-performing loans, including non-performing TDRs, OREO and accruing TDRs at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Non-accrual loans   $ 5,756     $ 6,356  
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing     32       19  
Total non-performing loans     5,788       6,375  
Other real estate owned     3,422       4,246  
Total non-performing loans and OREO   $ 9,210     $ 10,621  
                 
Accruing TDRs   $ 4,792     $ 3,995  
Non-performing loans as a percentage of gross loans     0.89 %     0.99 %

 

Management continued to manage problem credits through heightened work-out efforts on non-performing loans and disposing of its holdings of foreclosed properties. The Company’s asset quality continued to improve during the first quarter of 2014. Total non-performing loans and OREO decreased $1.4 million, or 13.3%, to $9.2 million at March 31, 2014 from $10.6 million at December 31, 2013. The Company’s ratio of non-performing loans to total gross loans improved to 0.89% at March 31, 2014 from 0.99% at December 31, 2013, as management continued to reduce the balance of non-accrual loans. The Company’s ratio of non-performing loans and OREO as a percentage of shareholders’ equity decreased to 22.7% at March 31, 2014 from 31.6% at December 31, 2013. Despite the decrease, the percentage remains elevated and further deterioration in economic conditions could lead to additional increases in impaired loans.

 

The average balance of impaired loans was $9.3 million and $14.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company recorded $53 thousand and $104 thousand of interest income on impaired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

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The following table presents the changes in non-performing loans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Balance at January 1,   $ 6,375     $ 9,709  
Loans newly placed on non-accrual     497       624  
Changes in loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing     13       (57 )
Loans transferred to OREO     -       -  
Loans returned to performing status     (213 )     (73 )
Loans charged-off     (246 )     (546 )
Loan payments received     (638 )     (825 )
Balance at March 31,   $ 5,788     $ 8,832  

 

The additional interest income that would have been earned on non-accrual and restructured loans for the quarter ended on March 31, 2014 and 2013 in accordance with their original terms approximated $103 thousand and $200 thousand, respectively.

 

The following table presents accruing loan delinquencies and non-accrual loans as a percentage of gross loans at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

Accruing Loan Delinquencies and Non-accrual Loans

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2014     2013  
Accruing:                
30-59 days     0.43 %     0.46 %
60-89 days     0.05 %     0.09 %
90+ days     0.01 %     0.00 %
Non-accrual     0.88 %     0.99 %
Total Delinquencies     1.37 %     1.54 %

 

The decrease in total delinquencies as a percentage of gross loans at March 31, 2014 was primarily due to the more rigorous collections of non-performing loans. In its evaluation for the ALLL, management considers a variety of qualitative factors including changes in the volume and severity of delinquencies.

 

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

 

The ALLL represents management’s estimate of probable loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The ALLL is analyzed in accordance with GAAP and is maintained at a level that is based on management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the ALLL in relation to the risks inherent in the loan portfolio.

 

As part of its evaluation, management considers qualitative and environmental factors, including, but not limited to:

 

Changes in national, local, and business economic conditions and developments, including the condition of various market segments;
Changes in the nature and volume of the Company’s loan portfolio;
Changes in the Company’s lending policies and procedures, including underwriting standards, collection, charge-off and recovery practices and results;
Changes in the experience, ability and depth of the Company’s management and staff;
Changes in the quality of the Company’s loan review system and the degree of oversight by the Company’s Board of Directors;
Changes in the trend of the volume and severity of past due and classified loans, including trends in the volume of non-accrual loans, TDRs and other loan modifications;
The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the level of such concentrations;

 

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The effect of external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the Company’s current loan portfolio; and
Analysis of its customers’ credit quality, including knowledge of their operating environment and financial condition.

 

Evaluations are intrinsically subjective, as the results are estimated based on management knowledge and experience and are subject to interpretation and modification as information becomes available or as future events occur. Management monitors the loan portfolio on an ongoing basis with emphasis on weakness in both the real estate market and the economy in general and its effect on repayment. Adjustments to the ALLL are made based on management’s assessment of the factors noted above.

 

For purposes of its analysis, all loan relationships with an aggregate balance greater than $100 thousand that are rated substandard and non-accrual, identified as doubtful or loss, and all TDRs are considered impaired and are analyzed individually to determine the amount of impairment. Circumstances such as construction delays, declining real estate values, and the inability of the borrowers to make scheduled payments have resulted in these loan relationships being classified as impaired. The Company utilizes the fair value of collateral method for collateral-dependent loans and TDRs for which repayment depends on the sale of collateral. For non-collateral-dependent loans and TDRs, the Company measures impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate. With regard to collateral-dependent loans, appraisals are received at least annually to ensure that impairment measurements reflect current market conditions. Should a current appraisal not be available at the time of impairment analysis, other valuation sources including current letters of intent, broker price opinions or executed agreements of sale may be used. Only downward adjustments are made based on these supporting values. Included in all impairment calculations is a cost to sell adjustment of approximately 10%, which is based on typical cost factors, including a 6% broker commission, 1% transfer taxes and 3% various other miscellaneous costs associated with the sales process. Sales costs are periodically revised based on actual experience. The ALLL analysis is adjusted for subsequent events that may arise after the end of the reporting period but before the financial reports are filed.

 

The Company’s ALLL consists of both specific and general components. At March 31, 2014, the ALLL that related to impaired loans that are individually evaluated for impairment, the guidance for which is provided by ASC 310 “Impairment of a Loan” (“ASC 310”), was $479 thousand, or 3.8%, of the total ALLL. A general allocation of $12.1 million was calculated for loans analyzed collectively under ASC 450 “Contingencies” (“ASC 450”), which represented 96.2% of the total ALLL of $12.6 million. The ratio of the ALLL to total loans at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was 1.93% and 2.18%, respectively, based on total loans of $653.6 million and $643.4 million, respectively. The decrease in the ALLL as a percentage of total loans reflects asset quality improvements and lower levels of net charge-offs than in the past, coupled with increased loan demand. See “Asset Quality” for further information.

 

The following table presents an allocation of the ALLL and percent of loans in each category at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

Allocation of the Allowance for Loan Losses
 
    March 31, 2014     December 31, 2013  
          Percentage           Percentage  
          of Loans           of Loans  
          in Each           in Each  
          Category           Category  
    Allowance     to Total     Allowance     to Total  
(in thousands)   Amount     Loans     Amount     Loans  
Residential real estate   $ 2,114       17.99 %   $ 2,287       17.86 %
Commercial real estate     5,530       34.52 %     6,017       33.97 %
Construction, land acquisition and development     875       3.98 %     924       3.79 %
Commercial and industrial     1,812       19.55 %     2,321       19.74 %
Consumer     1,655       17.72 %     1,789       18.44 %
State and political subdivision     603       6.24 %     679       6.20 %
Total   $ 12,589       100.00 %   $ 14,017       100.00 %

 

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The following table presents an analysis of ALLL for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

    For the three months ended March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Balance at beginning of period   $ 14,017     $ 18,536  
Charge-offs:                
Residential real estate     9       159  
Commercial real estate     -       48  
Construction, land acquisition and development     -       110  
Commercial and industrial     23       45  
Consumer     237       194  
State and political subdivisions     -       -  
Total charge-offs     269       556  
Recoveries of charged-off loans:                
Residential real estate     8       8  
Commercial real estate     6       45  
Construction, land acquisition and development     240       5  
Commercial and industrial     63       1,516  
Consumer     94       143  
State and political subdivisions     -       -  
Total recoveries     411       1,717  
Net recoveries     (142 )     (1,161 )
Credit for loan and lease losses     (1,570 )     (1,224 )
Balance at end of period   $ 12,589     $ 18,473  
                 
Net recoveries during the period as a percentage of average loans outstanding during the period     (0.02 )%     (0.19 )%
                 
Allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of gross loans at end of period     1.93 %     3.00 %

 

Other Real Estate Owned

 

At March 31, 2014, OREO consisted of 19 properties with an aggregate carrying value of $3.4 million, a decrease of $0.8 million from $4.2 million at December 31, 2013. The Company did not foreclose on any properties during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. The expenses related to maintaining OREO as well as the subsequent write-down of property values related to declines in value subsequent to foreclosure amounted to $163 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $218 thousand for the same period in 2013. There were three properties with an aggregate carrying value of $771 thousand that were sold during the three months ended March 31, 2014. The Company sold two properties with an aggregate carrying value of $73 thousand during the three months ended March 31, 2013. Net gains on the sale of other real estate owned were $29 thousand and $13 thousand, respectively for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

The Company is actively marketing these properties for sale through a variety of channels including internal marketing and the use of outside brokers/realtors. The carrying value of OREO is generally calculated at an amount not greater than 90% of the most recent fair market appraised value. A 10% factor is generally used to estimate costs to sell, which is based on typical cost factors, such as 6% broker commission, 1% transfer taxes, and 3% various other miscellaneous costs associated with the sales process. This market value is updated on an annual basis or more frequently if new valuation information is available. Further deterioration in the real estate market could result in additional losses on these properties.

 

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The following table presents the activity in OREO:

 

    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Balance, beginning of period   $ 4,246     $ 3,983  
Loans transferred to OREO     -       -  
Valuation adjustments     (53 )     -  
Carrying value of OREO sold     (771 )     (73 )
Balance, end of period   $ 3,422     $ 3,910  

 

The following schedule reflects a breakdown of OREO for the periods reviewed:

 

    For the Three Months Ended  
    March 31,     December 31,  
(in thousands)   2014     2013  
Land / lots   $ 2,780     $ 3,549  
Commercial real estate     615       647  
Residential real estate     27       50  
Total other real estate owned   $ 3,422     $ 4,246  

 

Liabilities

 

Total liabilities were $933.6 million at March 31, 2014, a decrease of $36.6 million, or 3.8%, from $970.2 million at December 31, 2013. Deposit liabilities decreased $49.5 million, or 5.6%, to $835.2 million at March 31, 2014 compared to $884.7 million at December 31, 2013. The decrease in deposits reflected cyclical deposit trends of the Company’s municipal customers, the Monroe County branch divestures and continued runoff of certificates of deposit. During the same period, non-interest-bearing demand deposits decreased by $30.5 million, or 19.4%, while interest-bearing deposits decreased $19.0 million, or 2.6%. The Company continued to pursue the pricing strategy focused on reducing funding costs. In addition, the Company continued to reposition maturing longer-term time deposits into short-term products, whenever possible, and allowed the residual to run-off. Borrowed funds increased by $7.4 million, or 11.9%, during the first three months of 2014 to $69.8 million from $62.4 million at December 31, 2013.

 

Equity

 

Total shareholders’ equity increased $6.9 million to $40.5 million at March 31, 2014 from $33.6 million at December 31, 2013. Net income of $3.5 million and a $3.4 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive income were the primary factors leading to the capital improvement. The increase in accumulated other comprehensive income was primarily attributed to appreciation in the fair value of securities held in the available-for-sale portfolio. Book value per common share was $2.46 at March 31, 2014 compared to $2.04 at December 31, 2013.

 

Liquidity

 

The term liquidity refers to the ability of the Company to generate sufficient amounts of cash to meet its cash flow needs. Liquidity is required to fulfill the borrowing needs of the Company’s credit customers and the withdrawal and maturity requirements of its deposit customers, as well as to meet other financial commitments. The Company’s liquidity position is impacted by several factors, which include, among others, loan origination volumes, loan and investment maturity structure and cash flows, deposit demand and certificate of deposit maturity structure and retention. Management monitors the Company’s liquidity position and fluctuations daily, so that the Company can adapt accordingly to market influences and balance sheet trends. Management also forecasts liquidity needs and develops strategies to ensure adequate liquidity at all times.

 

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The Company’s statements of cash flows present the change in cash and cash equivalents from operating, investing and financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents, cash and due from banks and interest-bearing deposits in other banks, are the Company’s most liquid assets. At March 31, 2014, cash and cash equivalents totaled $38.0 million, a decrease of $65.6 million compared to $103.6 million at December 31, 2013. Cash outlays for investing and financing activities used $29.4 million and $41.7 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents during the three months ended March 31, 2014. The $29.4 million in cash used for investing activities, resulted primarily from a net increase in loans to customers of $12.6 million and $37.1 million in purchases of available-for-sale securities, partially offset by proceeds from sales, maturities, calls and principal reductions from securities totaling $15.3 million. The $41.7 million in cash used in financing activities resulted primarily from a $49.1 million decrease in deposits. These outflows more than entirely offset the net cash inflow from operating activities of $5.5 million .

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity

 

Market risk is the risk to earnings and/or financial position resulting from adverse changes in market rates or prices, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates or equity prices. The Company’s exposure to market risk is primarily interest rate risk associated with our lending, investing and deposit gathering activities, all of which are other than trading. Changes in interest rates affect earnings by changing net interest income and the level of other interest-sensitive income and operating expenses. In addition, variations in interest rates affect the underlying economic value of our assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items.

 

Asset and Liability Management

 

The Company manages these objectives through its Asset and Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”) and its Rate and Liquidity and Investment Committees, which consist of the members of senior management and certain members of the finance department. Members of the committees meet regularly to develop balance sheet strategies affecting the future level of net interest income, liquidity and capital.  The major objectives of ALCO are to:

 

· Manage exposure to changes in the interest rate environment by limiting the changes in net interest margin to an acceptable level within a reasonable range of interest rates;
· Ensure adequate liquidity and funding;
· Maintain a strong capital base; and
· Maximize net interest income opportunities.

 

ALCO monitors the Company’s exposure to changes in net interest income over both a one-year planning horizon and a longer-term strategic horizon. ALCO uses net interest income simulations and economic value of equity (“EVE”) simulations as the primary tools in measuring and managing the Company’s position and considers balance sheet forecasts, the Company’s liquidity position, the economic environment, anticipated direction of interest rates and the Company’s earnings sensitivity to changes in these rates in its modeling. In addition, ALCO has established policy tolerance limits for acceptable negative changes in net interest income. Furthermore, as part of its ongoing monitoring, ALCO has been enhanced to require periodic back testing of modeling results, which involves after-the-fact comparisons of projections with the Company’s actual performance to measure the validity of assumptions used in the modeling techniques.

 

Earnings at Risk and Economic Value at Risk Simulations

 

Earnings at Risk

 

Earnings-at-risk simulation measures the change in net interest income and net income under various interest rate scenarios. Specifically, given the current market rates, ALCO looks at “earnings at risk” to determine anticipated changes in net interest income from a base case scenario with scenarios of + 200/-100 basis points changes to interest rates. The simulation takes into consideration that not all assets and liabilities re-price equally and simultaneously with market rates (i.e., savings rate).

 

Economic Value at Risk

 

While earnings-at-risk simulation measures the short-term risk in the balance sheet, economic value (or portfolio equity) at risk measures the long-term risk by finding the net present value of the future cash flows from the Company’s existing assets and liabilities. ALCO examines this ratio regularly, and given the current rate environment, has utilized rate shocks of +200/- 100 basis points for simulation purposes. Management recognizes that, in some instances, this ratio may contradict the “earnings at risk” ratio.

 

While ALCO regularly performs a wide variety of simulations under various strategic balance sheet and treasury yield curve scenarios, the following results reflect the Company’s sensitivity over the subsequent twelve months based on the following assumptions:

 

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· Asset and liability levels using March 31, 2014 as a starting point;
· Cash flows are based on contractual maturity and amortization schedules with applicable prepayments derived from internal historical data and external sources; and
· Cash flows are reinvested into similar instruments so as to keep interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability levels constant.

 

The following table illustrates the simulated impact of a 200 basis point upward and a 100 basis point downward movement in interest rates on net interest income and the change in economic value.  The impact of the rate movements were developed by simulating the effect of rates changing over a twelve-month period from the March 31, 2014 levels.

 

    RATES + 200   RATES – 100   POLICY LIMITS  
Earnings at risk:              
Percent change in net interest income   2.5%   0.2%   -10.0%/-5.0%  
               
Economic value at risk:              
Percent change in economic value of equity   (8.7)%   (2.8)%   -20.0%/-10.0%  

 

Under the model, the Company’s net interest income is expected to increase 2.5%, while the Company’s economic value of equity is expected to decrease 8.7%, under a 200 basis point upward movement in interest rates. The anticipated increase in net interest income reflects the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio, which is comprised of a significant balance of variable-rate loans, which will reprice immediately or in the near term. In comparison, results for a similar model at December 31, 2013 simulated a 3.9% increase in net interest income under a 200 basis point upward movement in interest rates.

 

This analysis does not represent a Company forecast and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results. These simulations are based on numerous assumptions: the nature and timing of interest rate levels, prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacements of asset and liability cash flows, and other factors. While assumptions reflect current economic and local market conditions, the Company cannot make any assurances as to the predictive nature of these assumptions, including changes in interest rates, customer preferences, competition and liquidity needs, or what actions ALCO might take in responding to these changes.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

In the normal course of operations, the Company engages in a variety of financial transactions that, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, are not recorded in our consolidated financial statements or are recorded in amounts that differ from the notional amounts. These transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate, and liquidity risk. Such transactions are used for general corporate purposes and for customer needs. Corporate purpose transactions are used to help manage credit, interest rate, and liquidity risk or to optimize capital. Customer transactions are used to manage customers’ requests for funding.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions that would have or would be reasonably likely to have a material effect on its consolidated financial condition.

 

Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

There have been no material changes in the company’s exposure to market risk during the first three months of 2014.  For discussion of the Company’s exposure to market risk, refer to Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk, contained in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

   

Item 4 — Controls and Procedures

 

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2014.

 

56
 

 

There were no changes made to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II  Other Information

 

Item 1 — Legal Proceedings.

 

On August 8, 2011, the Company announced that it had received document subpoenas from the SEC.  The information requested generally relates to disclosure and financial reporting by the Company and the restatement of the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, and the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010. The Company is presently cooperating with the SEC in this matter.

 

On May 24, 2012, a putative shareholder filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas for Lackawanna County (“Shareholder Derivative Suit”) against certain present and former directors and officers of the Company (the “Individual Defendants”) alleging, inter alia, breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, corporate waste, and unjust enrichment. The Company was named as a nominal defendant. The parties to the Shareholder Derivative Suit commenced settlement discussions and on December 18, 2013, the Court entered an Order Granting Preliminary Approval of Proposed Settlement subject to notice to shareholders. On February 4, 2014, the Court issued a Final Order and Judgment for the matter granting approval of a Stipulation of Settlement (the “Settlement”) and dismissing all claims against the Company and the Individual Defendants. As part of the Settlement, there was no admission of liability by the Individual Defendants. Pursuant to the Settlement, the Individual Defendants, without admitting any fault, wrongdoing or liability, agreed to settle the derivative litigation for $5.0 million. The $5.0 million Settlement payment was made to the Company on March 28, 2014. The Individual Defendants reserved their rights to indemnification under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, resolutions adopted by the Board, the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law and any and all rights they have against the Company’s and the Bank’s insurance carriers. In accordance, the Company had recorded a liability for this indemnification at March 31, 2014, which is included in other liabilities. In addition, in conjunction with the Settlement, the Company accrued $2.5 million related to fees and costs of the plaintiff’s attorneys, which was included in non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013. On April 1, 2014, the Company paid the $2.5 million related to fees and costs of the plaintiff’s attorneys and partial indemnification of the Individual Defendants in the amount of $2.5 million.

 

On September 5, 2012, Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland (“F&D”) filed an action against the Company and its subsidiary, First National Community Bank, as well as several current and former officers and directors of the Company, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. F&D has asserted a claim for the rescission of a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy and a bond that it had issued to the Company. On November 9, 2012, the Company and the Bank answered the claim and asserted counterclaims. The Company and the other defendants are defending the claims. At this time, the matter is in a preliminary stage and the Company cannot reasonably determine the outcome or potential range of loss in connection with this matter.

 

On August 13, 2013, Steven Antonik, individually, as Administrator of the Estate of Linda Kluska, William R. Howells, and Louise A. Howells, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated, filed a consumer protection class action against the Company and Bank in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, seeking equitable, injunction and monetary relief to address an alleged pattern and practice of wrong doing by the Bank relating to the repossession and sale of the Plaintiffs’ and class members’ financed motor vehicles.  This matter is in its early discovery stage.  At this time the Company cannot reasonably determine the outcome or potential range of loss.

 

On September 17, 2013, Charles Saxe, III individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated filed a consumer class action against the Bank in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas alleging violations of the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code in connection with the repossession and resale of financed vehicles.  This matter is in its early discovery stage.  At this time the Company cannot reasonably determine the outcome or potential range of loss.

 

The Company has been subject to tax audits and is also a party to routine litigation involving various aspects of its business, such as claims to enforce liens, condemnation proceedings on properties in which the Company holds security interests, claims involving the making and servicing of real property loans and other issues incident to its business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse impact on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

 

The Company is also a party to routine litigation involving various aspects of its business none of which is expected to have a material adverse impact on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

 

57
 

 

Item 1A — Risk Factors.

 

Management of the Company does not believe there have been any material changes in the risk factors that were previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2013.

 

Item 2 — Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

None.

 

Item 3 - Defaults upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4 — Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5 - Other Information.

 

None.

 

Item 6 — Exhibits.

 

The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference.

 

EXHIBIT 3.1   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated May 19, 2010 — filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on May 19, 2010, is hereby incorporated by reference.
     
EXHIBIT 3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws — filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, as filed on November 12, 2013, is hereby incorporated by reference.
     
EXHIBIT 4.1   Form of Common Stock Certificate — filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed on March 16, 2010, is hereby incorporated by reference.
     
EXHIBIT 4.2   Form of Subordinated Note — filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 28, 2009, is hereby incorporated by reference.
     
EXHIBIT 10.1+   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement – filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A on April 8, 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference.
     
EXHIBIT 10.2+   Form of Stock Option Award Agreement – filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 on January 24, 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference.
     
EXHIBIT 31.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer
     
EXHIBIT 31.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer
     
EXHIBIT 32.1**   Section 1350 Certification —Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

 

EXHIBIT 101.INS   XBRL INSTANCE DOCUMENT
     
EXHIBIT 101.SCH   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA
     
EXHIBIT 101.CAL   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION CALCULATION LINKBASE
     
EXHIBIT 101.DEF   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE
     
EXHIBIT 101.LAB   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE
     
EXHIBIT 101.PRE   XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE

 

*   Filed herewith

** Furnished herewith

+   Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement

 

58
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

Registrant:  FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.

 

Date: May 12, 2014 By: /s/ Steven R. Tokach
  Steven R. Tokach
  President and Chief Executive Officer
   
   
   
Date: May 12, 2014 By: /s/ James M. Bone, Jr.
  James M. Bone, Jr., CPA
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  Principal Financial Officer
   
   
   
Date: May 12, 2014 By: /s/ Stephanie A. Westington
  Stephanie A. Westington, CPA
  Senior Vice President and Controller
  Principal Accounting Officer

 

59

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