Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2017

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Accounting. The amendments simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including accounting for excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies, classifying excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, accounting for forfeitures, classifying awards that permit share repurchases to satisfy statutory tax-withholding requirements and classifying tax payments on behalf of employees on the statement of cash flows. For public business entities, the amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim period within those annual periods. Early adopt is permitted for any organization in any interim or annual period. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09, the Company began recognizing the tax effects of exercised or vested awards as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur, resulting in a $1.1 million tax benefit to the Company for the first quarter of 2017.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships. The amendments clarify that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument designated as a hedging instrument does not, in and of itself, require designation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria remain the same. The Update is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim periods within those years. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company's operating results or financial condition.

Certain Acquired Loans

Certain Acquired Loans–As part of business acquisitions, the Bank acquires certain loans that have shown evidence of credit deterioration since origination. These acquired loans are recorded at the allocated fair value, such that there is no carryover of the seller’s allowance for loan losses. Such acquired loans are accounted for individually. The Bank estimates the amount and timing of expected cash flows for each purchased loan, and the expected cash flows in excess of the allocated fair value is recorded as interest income over the remaining life of the loan (accretable yield). The excess of the loan’s contractual principal and interest over expected cash flows is not recorded (non-accretable difference). Over the life of the loan, expected cash flows continue to be estimated. If the present value of expected cash flows is less than the carrying amount, a loss is recorded through the allowance for loan losses. If the present value of expected cash flows is greater than the carrying amount, it is recognized as part of future interest income.

Goodwill and Core Deposit Intangible

Goodwill and Core Deposit Intangible–Goodwill is generally determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree, over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events and circumstances exist that indicate the necessity for such impairment tests to be performed. The Company has selected November 30 as the date to perform the annual impairment test. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. Goodwill is the only intangible asset with an indefinite life on our balance sheet.

Core deposit intangible assets arising from whole bank acquisitions are amortized on a straight-line amortization method over their estimated useful lives, which range from 6 to 10 years.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates–The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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 financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.