Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Effective January 1, 2019, Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania changed its name to Univest Financial Corporation (the Corporation). The Corporation through its wholly owned subsidiary, Univest Bank and Trust Co. (the Bank), is engaged in domestic banking services for individuals, businesses, municipalities and non-profit organizations. Effective January 1, 2019, the Bank's wholly-owned subsidiary, Delview, Inc. was dissolved, with its wholly owned subsidiaries, transferring to the Bank upon dissolution. The Bank is the parent company of Girard Investment Services, LLC (formerly Univest Investments, Inc.), a full-service registered broker-dealer and a licensed insurance agency, Girard Advisory Services, LLC (formerly Girard Partners Ltd.), a registered investment advisory firm and Girard Pension Services, LLC (formerly TCG Investment Advisory, Inc.), a registered investment advisor, which provides investment consulting and management services to municipal entities. Effective January 1, 2019, the Bank's wealth management division was re-branded under the Girard name with the aforementioned name changes of several subsidiaries. The Bank is also the parent company of Univest Insurance, LLC, an independent insurance agency and Univest Capital, Inc., an equipment financing business. The Bank's subsidiaries serve to enhance the traditional banking services provided by the Bank.

At December 31, 2018, the Corporation has three reportable business segments: Banking, Wealth Management and Insurance. The Corporation determines the segments based primarily upon product and service offerings, through the types of income generated and the regulatory environment. This is strategically how the Corporation operates and has positioned itself in the marketplace. Accordingly, significant operating decisions are based upon analysis of each of these segments. For more detailed discussion and financial information on the business segments, see Note 22, “Segment Reporting.”

The Bank serves Bucks, Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania and Atlantic and Cape May Counties in New Jersey through thirty-nine banking offices and provides banking services to the residents and employees of fourteen retirement communities.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including the Bank as the Corporation’s primary subsidiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-year presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes include fair value measurement of investment securities available-for-sale, reserve for loan and lease losses and purchase accounting

Interest-earning Deposits with Other Banks

Interest-earning deposits with other banks consist of deposit accounts with other financial institutions generally having maturities of three months or less. At times, such balances exceed the FDIC limits for insurance coverage.

Investment Securities

Securities are classified as investment securities held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost if management has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Securities purchased with the intention of recognizing short-term profits are placed in the trading account and are carried at fair value. The Corporation did not have any trading account securities at December 31, 2018 or 2017. Securities classified as available-for-sale are those securities that the Corporation intends to hold for an indefinite period of time but not necessarily to maturity. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of estimated income taxes, reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity. Any decision to sell a security classified as available-for-sale would be based on various factors, including interest rates, changes in the maturity or mix of the Corporation's assets and liabilities, liquidity needs, regulatory capital considerations and other factors. Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date.

Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the expected life of the securities. Due to volatility in the financial markets, there is the risk that any future fair value could vary from that disclosed in the accompanying financial statements. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are recorded on the trade date, determined using the specific identification method and are included in the consolidated statements of income.

Management evaluates debt securities, which are comprised of U.S. government, government sponsored agencies, municipalities, corporate bonds and other issuers, for other-than-temporary impairment by considering the current economic conditions, the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, market interest rates, creditworthiness of the issuer and the credit rating of each security. Unrealized losses on the Corporation’s investments in debt securities that are deemed temporary in nature are recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax. Should it be determined that a security is impacted by deteriorating credit or if it is expected the value will not recover during the expected holding period, the credit portion of the loss is recognized in earnings. The Corporation does not have the intent to sell the debt securities and believes it is more likely than not, that it will not have to sell the securities before recovery of their cost basis.

The Corporation evaluates its equity securities for impairment.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock, Federal Reserve Bank Stock and Certain Other Investments without Readily Determinable Fair Values

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Bank held $14.6 million, respectively, in Federal Reserve Bank stock as required by the Federal Reserve Bank. The Bank is a member of the FHLB, and as such, is required to hold FHLB stock as a condition of membership as determined by the FHLB. The Bank is required to hold additional stock in the FHLB in relation to the level of outstanding borrowings. The Bank held FHLB stock of $13.6 million and $12.5 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Because ownership is restricted, the fair values of these investments are not readily determinable. As such, these investments are recorded at cost and evaluated for other-than-temporary impairment. The Corporation determined there was no other-than-temporary impairment of its investments in these stocks at December 31, 2018 or 2017.

Loans Held For Sale

Loans Held for Sale

The Corporation originates mortgage loans for investment and for sale. At origination, a mortgage loan is identified as either for sale or for investment. Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value. Net unrealized losses are recognized by charges to non-interest income. Cash payments and cash receipts resulting from acquisitions and sales of loans are classified as operating cash flows if those loans are acquired specifically for resale. Cash receipts resulting from sales of loans that were not specifically acquired for resale are classified as investing cash inflows regardless of a change in the purpose for holding those loans.

Loans and Leases

Loans and leases are stated at the principal amount, net of deferred fees and costs and unearned discounts. Loan commitments are made to accommodate the financial needs of the customers. These commitments represent off-balance sheet items that are unfunded. The Corporation uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet financial instruments. Accrual of interest income on loans and leases ceases when collectability of interest and/or principal is questionable. If it is determined that the collection of interest previously accrued is uncertain, such accrual is reversed and charged to current earnings. Loans and leases are considered past due based upon failure to comply with contractual terms.

A loan or lease is typically classified as nonaccrual when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or management has serious doubts about the further collectability of principal or interest, even though the loan or lease is currently performing. When a loan or lease, including a loan or lease that is impaired, is classified as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest on such a loan or lease is discontinued. A loan or lease may remain on accrual status if it is in the process of collection and is either guaranteed or well secured. When a loan or lease is placed on nonaccrual status, unpaid interest credited to income is reversed and the amortization of the deferred fees and costs is suspended. Interest payments received on nonaccrual loans and leases are either applied against principal or reported as interest income, according to management’s judgment as to the ultimate collectability of principal. Loans and leases are usually restored to accrual status when the obligation is brought current, has performed in accordance with the contractual terms for a reasonable period of time, and the ultimate collectability of the total contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt. A loan or lease is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Corporation will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement or when a loan or lease is classified as a troubled debt restructuring. Interest on impaired loans and leases, which are not classified as nonaccrual, is recognized on the accrual basis.

Acquired Loans

Acquired loan portfolios are initially recorded at the acquisition date fair value. The fair value is based on guidance which defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Level 3 inputs are utilized to value the portfolio and include the use of present value techniques employing cash flow estimates and incorporate assumptions that marketplace participants would use in estimating fair values. In instances where reliable market information is not available, the Corporation uses assumptions in an effort to determine reasonable fair value. Specifically, management utilizes three separate fair value analyses which a market participant would employ in estimating the total fair value adjustment. The three separate fair valuation methodologies used are: 1) interest rate loan fair value analysis; 2) general credit fair value analysis; and 3) specific credit fair value analysis. There is no carryover related allowance for loan losses.

For loans acquired without evidence of credit quality deterioration, the fair value adjustments to reflect the fair value of the loans and the fair value adjustments to reflect the general credit risk of the loan portfolio are substantially recognized as interest income on a level yield amortization method based upon the expected life of the loan. Subsequent to the acquisition, the Corporation records a provision for loan losses for the acquired non-impaired loans only when additional deterioration of the portfolio is identified over the projections utilized in the initial fair value analysis.

For loans acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration, the Corporation prepares a specific credit fair value adjustment. Management reviews the acquired loan portfolio for loans meeting the definition of an impaired loan with deteriorated credit quality. Loans meeting this definition are reviewed by comparing the contractual cash flows to expected collectible cash flows. The aggregate expected cash flows less the acquisition date fair value results in an accretable yield amount. The accretable discount amount is recognized over the life of the loans on a level yield basis as an adjustment to yield. Any disposals of loans, including sales of loans, payments in full or foreclosures result in the derecognition of the loan at its carrying value with differences in actual results reflected in interest income. After the acquisition measurement period, the present value of any decreases in expected cash flows of acquired credit impaired loans will generally result in an impairment charge recorded as a provision for loan losses, resulting in an increase to the allowance.

Loan and Lease Fees

Fees collected upon loan or lease origination and certain direct costs of originating loans and leases are deferred and recognized over the contractual lives of the related loans and leases as yield adjustments using the interest method. Upon prepayment or other disposition of the underlying loans and leases before their contractual maturities, any associated unearned fees or unamortized costs are recognized.

Reserve for Loan and Lease Losses

The reserve for loan and lease losses is maintained at a level representing management's best estimate of known risks and inherent losses in the portfolio, based upon management's evaluation of the portfolio's collectability. Management evaluates the need to establish reserves against losses on loans and leases on a quarterly basis. When changes in the reserve are necessary, an adjustment is made.

The reserve for loan and lease losses is adjusted through provisions for loan and lease losses charged against or credited to income. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the reserve for loan and lease losses, and any subsequent recoveries are credited to the reserve.

Reserve Required for Impaired Loans and Leases

A loan or lease is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect future payments of principal or interest as contractually due. The Bank applies its normal loan review procedures in determining if a loan is impaired, which includes reviewing the collectability of delinquent and internally classified loans on a regular basis and at least quarterly. In determining the likelihood of collecting principal and interest, the Bank considers all available and relevant information, including the borrower's actual and projected cash flows, balance sheet strength, liquidity and overall financial position. Additionally, all loans classified as troubled debt restructurings are considered impaired. When a loan is classified as impaired, an impairment analysis is performed within the quarter in which a loan is identified as impaired to determine if a valuation allowance is needed. The Bank re-examines each impaired loan on a quarterly basis to determine if any adjustment to the valuation allowance or net carrying amount of a loan is required. The Bank recognizes charge-offs associated with impaired loans when all or a portion of a loan is considered to be uncollectible. In measuring impairment, the Bank determines whether or not the loan is collateral dependent. A loan is collateral dependent if repayment is expected to be provided solely by the underlying collateral, which includes repayment from the proceeds from the sale of the collateral, cash flows from the continued operation of the collateral, or both, and there are no other available and reliable repayment sources. To determine the initial amount of impairment for a collateral dependent loan, the Bank utilizes a recent appraisal, an agreement of sale or a letter of intent. If the fair value of the underlying collateral, less costs to sell, is less than the loan's carrying amount, the Bank adds a provision to the reserve for loan and lease losses in the amount of the difference between fair value, less costs to sell, and the loan or lease's carrying amount. In subsequent periods, the Bank takes into consideration current facts and circumstances in analyzing whether the fair value of the collateral has increased or decreased significantly such that a change to the corresponding valuation allowance is required. If current facts and circumstances are insufficient to determine fair value, the Bank obtains a new appraisal.

For loans that are not collateral dependent, the Bank establishes a specific reserve on impaired loans based on management's estimate of the discounted cash flows the Bank expects to receive from the borrower. Factors considered in evaluating such cash flows include: (1) the strength of the customer's personal or business cash flows and personal guarantees; (2) the borrower's effort to cure the delinquency; (3) the availability of other sources of repayment; (4) the type and value of collateral, if applicable; and (5) the strength of our collateral position, if applicable.

General Reserve on the Remainder of the Portfolio

The Bank establishes a general reserve for loans and leases that are not considered impaired to recognize the inherent losses associated with lending activities. This general reserve is determined by segmenting the loan portfolio and assigning reserve factors to each category. The reserve factors are calculated using the Bank's historical losses and loss emergence periods, and are adjusted for significant factors that, in management's judgment, affect the collectability of the portfolio as of the evaluation date. These significant factors include:


•	Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses;


•	Changes in national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments;


•	Changes in the size and composition of the portfolio and in the terms of loans;


•	Changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff;


•	Changes in the volume and severity of past due loans, the volume of nonaccrual loans, and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans;


•	Changes in the quality of the institution’s loan review system;


•	Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans;


•	The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations; and


•	The effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the institution’s existing portfolio.

The Corporation maintains a reserve in other liabilities for off-balance sheet credit exposures that currently are unfunded in categories with historical loss experience.

Premises and Equipment

Land is stated at cost, and premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method and charged to operating expenses over the estimated useful lives of the assets or, for leasehold improvements, over the expected life of the related lease if less than the estimated useful life of the asset. The estimated useful life for new buildings constructed on land owned is forty years. For new buildings constructed on leased land or land improvements, the estimated useful life is the initial term including anticipated renewable terms, typically not exceeding twenty-five years. The useful life of purchased existing buildings is the estimated remaining useful life at the time of the purchase. Furniture, fixtures and equipment have estimated useful lives ranging from three to ten years.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Corporation accounts for its acquisitions using the purchase accounting method. Purchase accounting requires the total purchase price to be allocated to the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including certain intangible assets that must be recognized. Typically, this allocation results in the purchase price exceeding the fair value of net assets acquired, which is recorded as goodwill. Core deposit intangibles are a measure of the value of checking, money market and savings deposits acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. Core deposit intangibles are amortized using the sum of the year’s digits over their estimated useful lives of up to fifteen years. Customer related intangibles are amortized over their estimated useful lives of five to twelve years. The Corporation completes a goodwill analysis at least on an annual basis or more often if events and circumstances indicate that there may be impairment. The Corporation also completes an impairment test for other intangible assets on an annual basis or more often if events and circumstances indicate a possible impairment.

Mortgage servicing rights are recognized as separate assets when loans are sold and the servicing rights are retained. Capitalized mortgage servicing rights are reported in other intangible assets on the consolidated balance sheets and are amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing income on a basis similar to the interest method and an accelerated amortization method for loan payoffs. Mortgage servicing rights are evaluated for impairment, on a quarterly basis, based upon the fair value of the servicing rights as compared to amortized cost. The Corporation estimates the fair value of mortgage servicing rights using discounted cash flow models that calculate the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The model uses readily available prepayment speed assumptions for the current interest rates of the portfolios serviced. Mortgage servicing rights are carried at the lower of amortized cost or estimated fair value. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance, to the extent that fair value is less than the unamortized capitalized amoun

Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Corporation has invested in bank-owned life insurance (BOLI). BOLI involves the purchasing of life insurance by the Corporation for certain employees. The Corporation is the owner and beneficiary of the policies, however certain policies include split-dollar endorsements. Under these endorsements, beneficiaries of the insured individuals are entitled to a portion of the proceeds from the policy upon death of the insured. The life insurance investment is carried at the net cash surrender value of the underlying policies. Changes in the net cash surrender value of these policies are reflected in noninterest income. Proceeds from and purchases of bank owned life insurance are reflected in the consolidated statements of cash flows under investing activities. The Corporation recognizes a liability for the future death benefit for certain endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangements that provide an employee with a death benefit in a postretirement/termination period.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other real estate owned (OREO) represents properties acquired through customers’ loan defaults and is included in other assets. The real estate is originally stated at an amount equal to the fair value of the property, less estimated costs to sell. The fair value less cost to sell becomes the "original cost" of the OREO asset. The amount, if any, by which the carrying amount of the loan plus recorded accrued interest (the recorded loan amount) exceeds the fair value less cost to sell of the OREO, is charged against the reserve for loan and lease losses at the time of foreclosure or repossession. If the fair value less cost to sell of the OREO asset when taken into possession is greater than the recorded loan amount, the excess is first applied as a recovery against any prior charge-offs of the loan and any remaining gain is recorded as other noninterest income. Subsequently, OREO is reported at the lower of the original cost or the current fair value less cost to sell. Subsequent write-downs and any gain or loss upon the sale of OREO is recorded in other noninterest income. Capital improvement expenses associated with the construction or repair of the property are capitalized as part of the cost of the OREO asset; however, the capitalized expenses may not increase the OREO asset's recorded value to an amount greater than the asset's fair value after improvements and less cost to sell. Overages and subsequent carrying costs are expensed as incurred.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Corporation recognizes all derivative financial instruments on its balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income until the underlying transaction is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value is recognized in earnings immediately. To determine fair value, the Corporation uses third party pricing models that incorporate assumptions about market conditions and risks that are current at the reporting date.

The Corporation may use interest-rate swap agreements to modify interest rate characteristics from variable to fixed or fixed to variable in order to reduce the impact of interest rate changes on future net interest income. The Corporation accounts for its interest-rate swap contracts in cash flow hedging relationships by establishing and documenting the effectiveness of the instrument in offsetting the change in cash flows of assets or liabilities that are being hedged. To determine effectiveness, the Corporation performs an analysis to identify if changes in fair value of the derivative correlate to the equivalent changes in the forecasted interest receipts related to a specified hedged item. Recorded amounts related to interest-rate swaps are included in other assets or liabilities. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as hedges of future cash flows are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income until the underlying forecasted transactions occur, at which time the deferred gains and losses are recognized in earnings. The change in fair value of the ineffective part of the instrument would be charged to earnings, potentially causing material fluctuations in reported earnings in the period of the change relative to comparable periods. In a fair value hedge, the fair values of the interest rate swap agreements and changes in the fair values of the hedged items are recorded in the Corporation’s consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized in the consolidated statement of income. The difference between changes in the fair values of interest rate swap agreements and the hedged items represents hedge ineffectiveness and is recorded in net interest income in the consolidated statement of income. The Corporation performs an assessment, both at the inception of the hedge and quarterly thereafter, to determine whether these derivatives are highly effective in offsetting changes in the value of the hedged items.

The Corporation has agreements with third-party financial institutions whereby the third-party financial institution enters into interest rate derivative contracts with loan customers referred to them by the Corporation. By the terms of the agreements, the third-party financial institution has recourse to the Corporation for any exposure created under each swap contract in the event the customer defaults on the swap agreement and the agreement is in a paying position to the third-party financial institution. The Corporation records the fair value of credit derivatives in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The Corporation recognizes changes in the fair value of credit derivatives, net of any fees received, in other noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income.

In connection with its mortgage banking activities, the Corporation enters into commitments to originate certain fixed-rate residential mortgage loans for customers, also referred to as interest rate locks. In addition, the Corporation enters into forward commitments for the future sale of mortgage loans to third-party investors to hedge the effect of changes in interest rates on the value of the interest rate locks. Forward loan sale commitments may also be in the form of commitments to sell individual mortgage loans at a fixed price at a future date. Both the interest rate locks and the forward loan sale commitments are accounted for as derivatives and carried at fair value, determined as the amount that would be necessary to settle each derivative financial instrument at the balance sheet date. Gross derivative assets and liabilities are recorded within other assets and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, with changes in fair value during the period recorded within the net gain on mortgage banking activities on the consolidated statements of income.

Income Taxes

There are two components of income tax expense: current and deferred. Current income tax expense approximates cash to be paid or refunded for taxes for the applicable period. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between amounts reported for financial statement and tax purposes. Deferred income taxes are computed using the asset and liability method, such that deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial reporting amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities based on currently enacted tax laws and tax rates in effect for the periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are subject to management’s judgment based upon available evidence that future taxes are “more likely than not” to be realized. If management determines that the Corporation is not more likely than not to realize some or all of the net deferred tax asset in the future, a charge to income tax expense may be required to reduce the value of the net deferred tax asset to the expected realizable value. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Penalties are recorded in noninterest expense in the year they are assessed and paid and are treated as a nondeductible expense for tax purposes. Interest is recorded in noninterest expense in the year it is assessed and paid and is treated as a deductible expense for tax purposes.

Retirement Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

Substantially all employees who were hired before December 8, 2009 are covered by a noncontributory retirement plan. Effective December 31, 2009, the benefits previously accrued under the noncontributory retirement plan were frozen and the plan was amended and converted to a cash balance plan, with participants not losing any pension benefits already earned in the plan. Prior to the cash balance plan conversion effective December 31, 2009, the plan provided benefits based on a formula of each participant’s final average pay. Future benefits under the cash balance plan accrue by crediting participants annually with an amount equal to a percentage of earnings in that year based on years of credited service as defined in the plan. Employees hired on or after December 8, 2009 are not eligible to participate in the noncontributory retirement plan. The Corporation also provides supplemental executive retirement benefits to certain former executives, a portion of which is in excess of limits imposed on qualified plans by federal tax law. These plans are non-qualified benefit plans. These non-qualified benefit plans are not offered to new participants and all current participants are now retired. The Corporation provides certain postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits for retired employees. The Corporation’s measurement date for plan assets and obligation is fiscal year-end. The Corporation recognizes on its consolidated balance sheet the funded status of its defined pension plans and changes in the funded status of the plan in the year in which the changes occur. An under-funded position would create a liability and an over-funded position would create an asset, with a correlating deferred tax asset or liability. The net impact would be an adjustment to equity as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Corporation recognizes as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits that arise during the period.

The Corporation sponsors a 401(k) deferred salary savings plan, which is a qualified defined contribution plan, and which covers all employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, and provides that the Corporation make matching contributions as defined by the plan.

The Corporation sponsors a Supplemental Non-Qualified Pension Plan (SNQPP) which was established in 1981 prior to the existence of 401(k) deferred salary savings, employee stock purchase and long-term incentive plans and therefore is not offered to new participants. All current participants are now retired. These non-qualified plans are accounted for under guidance for deferred compensation arrangements.

Stock-Based Compensation

The fair value of share based awards is recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period based on the grant-date fair value of the awards. The Corporation uses the Black-Scholes Model to estimate the fair value of each option on the date of grant. The Black-Scholes Model estimates the fair value of employee stock options using a pricing model which takes into consideration the exercise price of the option, the expected life of the option, the current market price and its expected volatility, the expected dividends on the stock and the current risk-free interest rate for the expected life of the option. The Corporation grants stock options to employees with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the shares at the date of grant.

The Corporation grants both fixed and variable (performance-based) restricted stock. The performance-based restricted stock awards vest based upon the Corporation’s performance with respect to certain financial measures over a three-year period. The fair value of fixed restricted stock is equivalent to the fair value on the date of grant and is amortized over the vesting period. The fair value of the performance-based restricted stock is equivalent to the fair value on the date of grant and is amortized over the vesting period adjusted for a probability factor of achieving the performance goals.

Dividend Reinvestment and Employee Stock Purchase Plans

The Univest Dividend Reinvestment Plan allows for the issuance of 1,968,750 shares of common stock. During 2018 and 2017, 57,838 and 60,602 shares, respectively, were issued under the dividend reinvestment plan, with 259,445 shares available for future purchase at December 31, 2018.

The 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan allows for the issuance of 984,375 shares of common stock. Employees may elect to make contributions to the plan in an aggregate amount not less than 2% or more than 10% of such employee’s total compensation. These contributions are then used to purchase stock during an offering period determined by the Corporation’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan Committee. The purchase price of the stock is 90% of the closing sale price on the last trading day of each quarter. Compensation expense is recognized as the discount is greater than 5% of the fair value. During 2018 and 2017, 26,628 and 22,092 shares, respectively, were issued under the employee stock purchase plan, with 628,545 shares available for future purchase at December 31, 2018.

Marketing and Advertising Costs

The Corporation’s accounting policy is to expense marketing and advertising costs as incurred.

Statement of Cash Flows

The Corporation has defined those items included in the caption “Cash and due from banks” and "Interest-earning deposits with other banks" as cash and cash equivalents.

Trust Assets

Assets under Management

Assets held by the Corporation in a fiduciary or agency capacity for its customers are not included in the consolidated financial statements since such items are not assets of the Corporation.

Earnings per Share

The Corporation uses the two-class method to calculate earnings per share as the unvested restricted stock issued under the Corporation's equity incentive plans are participating shares with nonforfeitable rights to dividends. Under the two-class method, earnings per common share are computed by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to both common shares and participating securities based on the number of weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect additional common shares that would have been outstanding if options on common shares had been exercised, as well as any adjustment to income that would result from the assumed issuance. Potential common shares that may be issued by the Corporation relate solely to outstanding stock options, and are determined using the treasury stock method.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2018

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2018-02, "Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income." This ASU clarifies the accounting treatment of the reclassification of certain income tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Corporation elected to early adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2018 for all stranded tax effects resulting from tax reform and reclassified stranded tax effects, totaling $3.9 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The Corporation's policy for releasing income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income is to release such effects on an individual basis as each item is liquidated, sold or extinguished. See Note 14, "Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income" for additional detail.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost." The amendments in this ASU require that an employer that sponsors defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans present the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. Other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. If a separate line item or items are not used, the line item or items used in the income statement to present the other components of net benefit cost must be disclosed. The Corporation adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2018 with retrospective application for prior period presentation. Effective January 1, 2018, components of net benefit income other than the service cost component are presented in the Corporation's statement of income in other noninterest expense rather than in salaries, benefits and commission expense. Prior period components of net benefit income other than the service cost component were reclassed to other noninterest expense in the Corporation's statement of income.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." This ASU addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The ASU requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. At December 31, 2017, the Corporation had financial services equity securities with a carrying value of $1.1 million which included an unrealized net gain of $666 thousand. At December 31, 2017, $433 thousand was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income which represented the unrealized net gain, net of incomes taxes, based on the Corporation's statutory tax rate at December 31, 2017. In addition, at December 31, 2017, the Corporation had money market mutual funds with a fair value and amortized cost of $6.0 million which were reclassified to equity securities under this guidance. The Corporation adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2018 with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of January 1, 2018. The balance in accumulated other comprehensive income of $433 thousand was reclassified to retained earnings effective January 1, 2018. The carrying value of the equity securities, at January 1, 2018, did not change; however, any future increases or decreases in fair value is recorded as an increase or decrease to the carrying value and recognized in other noninterest income. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Corporation recognized a $153 thousand net loss on equity securities in other noninterest income.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” and subsequent related updates. The Corporation adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method though no adjustments were made to retained earnings as a result of the adoption. The Corporation provided expanded disclosures related to recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. See Note 23, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers."

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Yet to Be Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" and subsequent related updates to revise the accounting for leases. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases based on the present value of future lease payments. Lessor accounting activities are largely unchanged from existing lease accounting. Disclosures will be required by lessees and lessors to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. Early adoption is permitted. This new guidance is effective for the first interim period within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, or January 1, 2019 for the Corporation.

The Corporation will adopt this new guidance effective January 1, 2019, retrospectively at the beginning of the period of adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings at January 1, 2019. The Corporation expects to elect the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance which among other things, allows carry forward of the historical lease classification. All leases in which the Corporation is the lessee are classified as operating leases and continue to be classified as such. The Corporation continues to separately account for lease and non-lease components as historically reported and expects to elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine the lease term for existing leases. The Corporation has implemented a third party lease accounting system to assist with the measurement of lease liabilities and related right-of-use assets, the post-implementation administration aspect of lease accounting, and the preparation of applicable disclosures related to the new guidance. The Corporation has identified and reviewed the lease contracts applicable to the new guidance that will impact the financial statements at the transition date. The Corporation expects to record approximately $40.0 million of operating lease liabilities and $37.0 million of related right-of-use assets at January 1, 2019. Additionally, existing deferred rent liability of approximately $1.0 million will be released through retained earnings effective January 1, 2019. The Corporation expects to record a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings of approximately $1.5 million, net of tax, at January 1, 2019, representing the difference between the value of the Corporation’s lease liabilities and related right-of-use assets, offset by the release of existing deferred rent liability. These estimates, based on our active lease portfolio, may change as the Corporation finalizes the implementation process, or due to changes in the lease portfolio, which could include changes in lease commencement dates or changes to renewal options and lease termination expectations. The initial and continued impact of the recording of operating lease assets will have a negative impact on all Corporation and Bank regulatory capital ratios.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities" and subsequent related updates. The amendments in this update expand and refine hedge accounting for both non-financial and financial risk components and aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. The ASU amends the presentation and disclosure requirements and changes how entities assess effectiveness. The ASU eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and requires all items that affect earnings be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged items. The amendments in this guidance permit the use of the Overnight Index Swap rate based on Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes to facilitate the LIBOR to SOFR transition. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years for public business entities, or January 1, 2019 for the Corporation. Early adoption is permitted, including an interim period. The amended presentation and disclosure guidance is required only prospectively. The Corporation will adopt this guidance on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings effective January 1, 2019. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Corporation recorded income of $83 thousand and $0 thousand, respectively, related to ineffectiveness for a cash flow hedge, which will be reclassified from retaining earnings in the amount of $66 thousand, net of tax, to accumulated other comprehensive income, effective January 1, 2019. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on the Corporation's financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, “Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities.” This ASU shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date rather than the maturity of the security. Securities within the scope of this guidance are those that have explicit, non-contingent call features that are callable at fixed prices and on preset dates. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, or January 1, 2019 for the Corporation. Early adoption is permitted, including an interim period. This ASU is to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. At December 31, 2018, the Corporation had $11.3 million of callable debt securities. Upon implementation, using the modified retrospective basis effective January 1, 2019, the Corporation expects to record a cumulative-effect adjustment resulting in a reduction in the unamortized premium balance for certain callable debt securities of approximately $50 thousand and a reduction in retained earnings of approximately $40 thousand, net of tax, for the incremental amortization. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on the Corporation's financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This ASU requires businesses and other organizations to measure the current expected credit losses (CECL) on financial assets, such as loans, net investments in leases, certain debt securities, bond insurance and other receivables. The amendments affect entities holding financial assets and net investments in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. Current GAAP requires an incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses that delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred. The amendments in this ASU replace the incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonableness and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. An entity should apply the amendments through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (modified-retrospective approach). Acquired credit impaired loans for which the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 310-30 has been previously applied should prospectively apply the guidance in this ASU. A prospective transition approach is required for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment has been recognized before the effective date. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those years for public business entities that are SEC filers, or January 1, 2020 for the Corporation. The Corporation is in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on the Corporation's financial statements; however, it is anticipated that the reserve for loan and lease losses will increase upon adoption of CECL and that the increased reserve level will decrease shareholders' equity and regulatory capital and ratios.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." This ASU eliminates Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Under the new guidance, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. Public business entities that are SEC filers should adopt the amendments in this ASU for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, or for the Corporation's goodwill impairment test in 2020. Early adoption is permitted for goodwill impairment tests with measurement dates after January 1, 2017. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on the Corporation's financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, "Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans." The amendments in this ASU modify the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit plans or other postretirement plans. Disclosures removed by this ASU include the following: 1) amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit costs over the next fiscal year; 2) amount and timing of plan assets expected to be returned to the employer; and 3) the effects of a one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on the net periodic benefit costs and the benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. Additional disclosures required by this ASU include: 1) the weighted-average interest crediting rates used in an entity's cash balance pension plans and other similar plans and 2) explanations for reasons for significant changes in the benefit obligation or plan assets. All amendments should be applied retrospectively. This ASU is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 or December 31, 2020 for the Corporation. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on the Corporation's financial statement disclosures but will result in revised disclosures for retirement plans and other postretirement benefits.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement." This ASU applies to all entities that are required, under existing GAAP, to make disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements. Disclosures removed by this ASU are the amount and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 measurements. This ASU modifies disclosures relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value. Additional disclosures required by this ASU include: 1) change in unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and 2) range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. The prospective method of transition is required for the new disclosure requirements. The other amendments should be applied retrospectively. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years or January 1, 2020 for the Corporation. Early adoption is permitted. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on the Corporation's financial statements but will result in revised disclosures for fair value.