Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Business

Nature of Business:

SmartFinancial, Inc. (the "Company") is a bank holding company whose principal activity is the ownership and management of its wholly-owned subsidiary, SmartBank (the "Bank"). The Company provides a variety of financial services to individuals and corporate customers through its offices in East and Middle Tennessee, Alabama and Florida panhandle. The Company’s primary deposit products are interest-bearing demand deposits, savings and money market deposits, and time deposits. Its primary lending products are commercial, residential, and consumer loans.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation:

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Accounting Estimates

Accounting Estimates:

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of other real estate owned, deferred taxes, other than temporary impairments of securities, the fair value of financial instruments, goodwill, and business combination elements (Day 1 and Day 2 Valuation).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

For purposes of reporting consolidated cash flows, cash and due from banks includes cash on hand, cash items in process of collection and amounts due from banks. Cash and cash equivalents also includes interest-bearing deposits in banks and federal funds sold. Cash flows from loans, federal funds sold, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and deposits are reported net.

The in cash or on deposit Bank is required to maintain average balances with the Federal Reserve Bank. During 2020 the Federal Reserve Bank suspended reserve requirements to provide relief related to the COVID-19 pandemic, thus the Bank did not have a reserve requirement at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Securities

Securities:

Securities are classified based on management’s intention on the date of purchase.  All debt securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income. Securities that the Company has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and are carried at historical cost and adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities. Gains and losses on the sale of securities are recorded on the trade date and are determined using the specific identification method.

Transfers of investments securities into the held-to-maturity category from the available-for-sale category are made at fair value at the date of transfer.  The unrealized holdings gain or loss at the date of transfer is retained in accumulated other comprehensive income and in the carrying value of the held-to-maturity securities.  Such amounts are amortized over the remaining life of the security.

The Company evaluates securities quarterly for other than temporary impairment using relevant accounting guidance specifying that (a) if the Company does not have the intent to sell a debt security prior to recovery and (b) it is more likely than not that it will not have to sell the debt security prior to recovery, the security would not be considered other than temporarily impaired unless a credit loss has occurred in the security. If management does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that they will not have to sell the security before recovery of the cost basis, management will recognize the credit component of an other-than- temporary impairment of a debt security in earnings and the remaining portion in other comprehensive income.

Securities borrowed or purchased under agreements to resell and securities loaned or sold under agreements to repurchase are treated as collateralized financial transactions. These agreements are recorded at the amount at which the securities were acquired or sold plus accrued interest. It is the Company’s policy to take possession of securities purchased under resale agreements. The market value of these securities is monitored, and additional securities are obtained when deemed appropriate to ensure such transactions are adequately collateralized. The Company also monitors its exposure with respect to securities sold under repurchase agreements, and a request for the return of excess securities held by the counterparty is made when deemed appropriate.

Other Investments

Other Investments:

The Company is required to maintain an investment in capital stock of various entities, including the Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank. Based on redemption provisions of these entities, the stock has no quoted market value and is carried at cost. At their discretion, these entities may declare dividends on the stock. Management reviews restricted investments for impairment based on the ultimate recoverability of the cost basis in these stocks.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans Held for Sale:

Loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value. Gains and losses on sales of loans held for sale are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income in mortgage banking.

Loans held for sale are sold to investors with best effort intent and ability to sell loans as long as they meet the underwriting standards of the potential investor.

Loans and Leases

Loans and Leases:

Originated loans and leases for which management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are carried at the principal amount outstanding net of any unearned income, charge-offs and unamortized fees and costs.  Nonrefundable fees collected and certain direct costs incurred related to loan and lease originations are deferred and recorded as an adjustment to loans and leases outstanding. The net amount of the nonrefundable fees and costs is amortized to interest income over the contractual lives using methods that approximate a constant yield.

The accrual of interest on loans and leases is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet the contractual terms of the obligation payments as they become due, or at the time the loan or lease is 90 days past due, unless the loan is well-secured and in the process of collection. Unsecured loans and leases are typically charged off no later than 120 days past due. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan or lease. In all cases, loans and leases are placed on nonaccrual or charged-off at an earlier date if collection of principal and interest is considered doubtful. All interest accrued but not collected for loans and leases that are placed on nonaccrual or charged off is reversed against interest income, unless management believes that the accrual of interest is recoverable through the liquidation of collateral. Interest income on nonaccrual loans and leases is recognized on the cash basis, until the loans or leases are returned to accrual status. Loans and leases are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts

contractually due are brought current and the loan or lease has been performing according to the contractual terms for a period of not less than six months.

Acquired Loans

Acquired Loans:

Acquired loans and leases are those acquired in business combinations by the Company or Bank. The fair values of acquired loans and leases with evidence of credit deterioration, Purchased Credit Impaired loans and leases (“PCI loans and leases”), are recorded net of a nonaccretable discount and accretable discount. Any excess of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable discount and is recognized in interest income over the remaining life of the loan or lease when there is reasonable expectation about the amount and timing of such cash flows. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is the nonaccretable discount, which is included in the carrying amount of acquired loans and leases. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows will generally result in a provision for loan and lease losses. Subsequent significant increases in cash flows result in a reversal of the provision for loan and lease losses to the extent of prior charges or a reclassification of the difference from nonaccretable to accretable with a positive impact on the accretable discount. Acquired loans and leases are initially recorded at fair value at acquisition date. Accretable discounts related to certain fair value adjustments are accreted into income over the estimated lives of the loans or leases.

The Company accounts for PCI loans and leases acquired in the acquisition using the expected cash flows method of recognizing discount accretion based on the acquired loans and leases expected cash flows. Management recasts the estimate of cash flows expected to be collected on each acquired impaired loan and lease pool periodically. If the present value of expected cash flows for a pool is less than its carrying value, an impairment is recognized by an increase in the allowance for loan and lease losses and a charge to the provision for loan and lease losses. If the present value of expected cash flows for a pool is greater than its carrying value, any previously established allowance for loan and lease losses is reversed and any remaining difference increases the accretable yield which will be taken into interest income over the remaining life of the loan or lease pool. Purchased performing loans and leases are recorded at fair value, including a credit discount or premium. Credit losses on acquired performing loans and leases are estimated based on analysis of the performing portfolio at the time of purchase. Such estimated credit losses are recorded as nonaccretable discounts in a manner similar to purchased impaired loans and leases. The fair value discount other than for credit loss is accreted as an adjustment to yield over the estimated lives of the loans and leases. A provision for loan and lease losses is recorded for any deterioration in these loans or leases subsequent to the acquisition.

Allowance for Loan Losses and Lease Losses

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses:

The allowance for loan and lease losses is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for loan and lease losses charged to expense. Loan and lease losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan or lease balance is confirmed. Confirmed losses are charged off immediately. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb estimated losses relating to specifically identified loans and leases, as well as probable credit losses inherent in the balance of the loan and lease portfolio. The allowance for loan and lease losses is evaluated on a regular basis by management and is based upon management’s periodic review of the uncollectibility of loans and leases in light of historical experience, the nature and volume of the loan and lease portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans or leases, current economic conditions that may affect the borrower’s ability to pay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. This evaluation does not include the effects of expected losses on specific loans or leases or groups of loans or leases that are related to future events or expected changes in economic conditions.

The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans and leases that are classified as impaired. For impaired loans and leases, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows, collateral value, or observable market price of the impaired loan or lease is lower than the carrying value of that loan or lease. The general component covers non-impaired loans and leases and is based on the Company’s historical loss experience adjusted for other qualitative factors. Other adjustments may be made to the allowance for pools of loans and leases after an assessment of internal or external influences on credit quality that are not fully reflected in the historical loss or risk rating data.

An unallocated component may be maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management’s estimate of probable losses. The unallocated component of the allowance reflects the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and general losses in the portfolio. As part of the risk management program, an independent review is performed on the loan and lease portfolio according to policy, which supplements management’s assessment of the loan and lease portfolio and the allowance for loan or lease losses. The result of the independent review is reported directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Loans and leases, for which the terms have been modified at the borrower’s request, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, are considered troubled debt restructurings and classified as impaired.

A loan or lease is considered impaired when it is probable, based on current information and events, the Company will be unable to collect all principal and interest payments due in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan or lease agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest when due. Loans and leases that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls are not classified as impaired. Impaired loans and leases are measured by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loans or leases effective interest rate, the loans or leases obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan or lease is collateral dependent. Interest on accruing impaired loans or leases is recognized as long as such loans or leases do not meet the criteria for nonaccrual status. Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans and leases are collectively evaluated for impairment.

The Company’s homogeneous loan and lease pools include consumer real estate loans, commercial real estate loans, construction and land development loans, commercial and industrial loans, leases and consumer and other loans. The general allocations to these loan and lease pools are based on the historical loss rates for specific loan and lease types and the internal risk grade, if applicable, adjusted for both internal and external qualitative risk factors.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

Troubled Debt Restructurings:

The Company designates loan modifications as Troubled Debt Restructurings ("TDRs") when for economic and legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, it grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider. TDRs can involve loans remaining on nonaccrual, moving to nonaccrual, or continuing on accrual status, depending on the individual facts and circumstances of the borrower. In circumstances where the TDR involves charging off a portion of the loan balance, the Company typically classifies these restructurings as nonaccrual.

In connection with restructurings, the decision to maintain a loan that has been restructured on accrual status is based on a current, well documented credit evaluation of the borrower’s financial condition and prospects for repayment under the modified terms. This evaluation includes consideration of the borrower’s current capacity to pay, which among other things may include a review of the borrower’s current financial statements, an analysis of global cash flow sufficient to pay all debt obligations, a debt to income analysis, and an evaluation of secondary sources of payment from the borrower and any guarantors. This evaluation also includes an evaluation of the borrower’s current willingness to pay, which may include a review of past payment history, an evaluation of the borrower’s willingness to provide information on a timely basis, and consideration of offers from the borrower to provide additional collateral or guarantor support. The credit evaluation also reflects consideration of the borrower’s future capacity and willingness to pay, which may include

evaluation of cash flow projections, consideration of the adequacy of collateral to cover all principal and interest, and trends indicating improving profitability and collectability of receivables.

Restructured nonaccrual loans may be returned to accrual status based on a current, well-documented credit evaluation of the borrower’s financial condition and prospects for repayment under the modified terms. This evaluation must include consideration of the borrower’s sustained historical repayment for a reasonable period, generally a minimum of six months, prior to the date on which the loan is returned to accrual status.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other Real Estate Owned:

Other real estate owned acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at fair value less selling costs. Any write-down to fair value less cost to sell, at the time of transfer to other real estate owned is charged to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent to foreclosure valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. Costs of improvements are capitalized, whereas costs relating to holding other real estate owned and subsequent write-downs to the value are expensed. As of December 31, 2021, the were no residential real estate properties where physical possession had been obtained and included with in other real estate owned assets and one property for $26 thousand at December 31, 2020.  There were no residential real estate loans in the process of foreclosure at December 31, 2021, and five totaling $384 thousand at December 31, 2020.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and Equipment:

Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the expected terms of the leases, if shorter. Expected terms include lease option periods to the extent that the exercise of such options is reasonably assured. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred while major additions and improvements are capitalized. Gains and losses on dispositions are included in current operations.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets:

Goodwill represents the cost in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired (including identifiable intangibles) in transactions accounted for as business combinations. Goodwill has an indefinite useful life and is evaluated for impairment annually, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

Other acquired intangible assets with finite lives, such as core deposit intangibles and customer list intangibles, are initially recorded at fair value and amortized over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of Financial Assets:

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company - put presumptively beyond the reach of the transferor and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity or the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

Bank Owned Life Insurance:

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain key employees. The purchase of these life insurance policies allows the Company to use tax-advantaged rates of return. Bank-owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments:

The Company applies hedge accounting to certain interest rate derivatives entered into for risk management purposes. In accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, all derivative instruments are recorded on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at their respective fair values. The accounting for changes in fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship. If the derivative instrument is not designated as a hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are recognized in earnings in the period of change.

The Company enters into interest rate swaps (“swaps”) to facilitate customer transactions and meet their financial needs.  Upon entering into these instruments to meet customer needs, the Company enters into offsetting positions with large U.S. financial institutions in order to minimize the risk to the Company.  These swaps are derivatives, but are not designated as hedging instruments.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current earnings. The gain or loss on the derivative instrument is presented on the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item.

Leases

Leases

Leases

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Service charges on deposit accounts – These deposit account-related fees represent monthly account maintenance and transaction-based service fees such as overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees, stop payment fees and wire transfer fees. For account maintenance services, revenue is recognized at the end of the statement period when our performance obligation has been satisfied. All other revenues from transaction-based services are recognized at a point in time when the performance obligation has been completed.

Investment services – These primarily represent sales commissions on various product offerings, transaction fees and asset management fees. The performance obligation for investment services is the provision of services to place annuity products issued by the counterparty to investors and the provision of services to manage the client’s assets, including brokerage custodial and other management services. Revenue from investment services is recognized over the period in which services are performed and is based on a percentage of the value of the assets under management/administration.

Insurance commissions –These represent commissions earned on the issuance of insurance products and services. The performance obligation is generally satisfied upon the issuance of the insurance policy and revenue is recognized when the commission payment is remitted by the insurance carrier or policy holder depending on whether the billing is performed by the insurance agency or the carrier.

Interchange and debit card transaction fees, net – These represent interchange fees from customer debit and credit card transactions earned when a cardholder engages in a transaction with a merchant as well as fees charged to merchants for providing them the ability to accept and process the debit and credit card transaction. Revenue is recognized when the performance obligation has been satisfied, which is upon completion of the card transaction. Additionally, as the Bank is acting as an agent for the customer and transaction processor, costs associated with cardholder and merchant services transactions are netted against the fee income.

Other –This consists of several forms of recurring revenue such as income earned on changes in the cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance and interest rate swap fees.  For the remaining immaterial transactions, revenue is recognized when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs:

The Company expenses all advertising and marketing costs as incurred.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes:

The income tax accounting guidance results in two components of income tax expense: current and deferred. Current income tax expense reflects taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period by applying the provisions of the enacted tax law to the taxable income or excess of deductions over revenues. The Company determines deferred income taxes using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is based on the tax effects of the differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and enacted changes in tax rates and laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. Deferred tax assets are recognized if it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the tax position will be realized or sustained upon examination. Deferred tax assets may be reduced by deferred tax liabilities and a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of evidence available, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Stock-Based Compensation Plans:

The Company has stock options, restricted stock awards and stock appreciation rights under stock-based compensation plans, which are described in more detail in Note 13-Employee Benefits. The plans have been accounted for under the accounting guidance (FASB ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation) which requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. That cost will be measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. The stock compensation accounting guidance covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including stock options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights, and stock or other stock based awards.

The stock compensation accounting guidance requires that compensation cost for all stock awards be calculated and recognized over the employees’ service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded-vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. A Black-Scholes model is used to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant is used for restrictive stock awards and stock grants.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income:

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, primarily, (1) unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and (2) unrealized gains and losses on effective portions of fair value security hedges, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income.

Business Combinations

Business Combinations:

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method of accounting, acquired assets and assumed liabilities are included with the acquirer’s accounts as of the date of acquisition at estimated fair value, with any excess of purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired (including identifiable intangible assets) capitalized as goodwill. In the event that the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeds the purchase price, an acquisition gain is recorded for the difference in consolidated statements of income for the period in which the acquisition occurred. An intangible asset is recognized as an asset apart from goodwill when it arises from contractual or other legal rights or if it is capable of being separated or divided from the acquired entity and sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged. In addition, acquisition-related costs and restructuring costs are recognized as period expenses as incurred. Estimates of fair value are subject to refinement for a period not to exceed one year from acquisition date as information relative to acquisition date fair values becomes available.

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share:

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive common share equivalents using the treasury stock method. Dilutive common share equivalents include common shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and restricted stock.

Operating Segments

Operating Segments:

The Company’s chief operating decision maker primarily manages operations and assesses financial performance on a Company-wide basis. However, in addition to the discrete financial information that is provided for the Company as a whole, financial information is also provided for the wealth management services, insurance services and mortgage origination segments, respectively. While the chief operating decision maker uses the financial information related to these

segments to analyze business performance and allocate resources, these segments do not meet the quantitative threshold under GAAP to be considered a reportable segment. As such, these operating segments, along with the banking operations segment, are aggregated into a single reportable operating segment in the Consolidated Financial Statements. No revenues are derived from foreign countries or from external customers that comprise more than 10% of the Company’s revenues.

Recently Issued Not Yet Effective Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Not Yet Effective Accounting Pronouncements:

The following is a summary of recent authoritative pronouncements not yet in effect that could impact the accounting, reporting, and/or disclosure of financial information by the Company.

In October 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board approved a delay for the implementation of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326). The Board decided that CECL will be effective for larger Public Business Entities ("PBEs") that are SEC filers, excluding Smaller Reporting Companies ("SRCs") as currently defined by the SEC, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For calendar-year-end companies, this will be January 1, 2020. The determination of whether an entity is an SRC will be based on an entity’s most recent assessment in accordance with SEC regulations and the Company meets the regulations as an SRC. For all other entities, the Board decided that CECL will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all entities, early adoption will continue to be permitted; that is, early adoption is allowed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years (that is, effective January 1, 2019, for calendar-year-end companies). The Company does not plan to adopt this standard early and being that the Company is an SRC, adoption is required for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022.

Under the CECL model, we will be required to present certain financial assets carried at amortized cost, such as loans held for investment and held-to-maturity debt securities, at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is to be based on information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. This measurement will take place at the time the financial asset is first added to the balance sheet and periodically thereafter. This differs significantly from the “incurred loss” model currently required under GAAP, which delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred. Accordingly, we expect that the adoption of the CECL model will materially affect how we determine our allowance for loan losses and could require us to significantly increase our allowance. Moreover, the CECL model may create more volatility in the level of our allowance for loan losses. If we are required to materially increase our level of allowance for loan losses for any reason, such increase could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

A cross-functional working group comprised of individuals from credit administration, risk management and accounting and finance are in place implementing and developing the data, forecast, processes, and portfolio segmentation that will be used in the models that will estimate the expected credit loss for each loan segment. The Company has contracted with a third party vendor solution to assist us in the application, analysis, and model development required with implementation of ASU 2016-13. The Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact of adopting ASU 2016-13, and it will be influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of our loan and securities portfolio, as well as the economic conditions and forecasts as of each reporting period. These economic conditions and forecasts could be significantly different in future periods.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements:

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.”  This ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the guidance in ASC 740 related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences.  The new guidance also simplifies aspects of the

accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill.  Finally, it clarifies that single-member limited liability companies and similar disregarded entities that are not subject to income tax are not required to recognize an allocation of consolidated income tax expense in their separate financial statements, but they could elect to do so.  ASU 2019-12 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020.  ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). It is intended to help stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period. The guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company implemented a transition plan to identify and modify its loans and other financial instruments, including certain indebtedness, with attributes that are either directly or indirectly influenced by LIBOR. As of December 31, 2021, the Company ceased issuance of new LIBOR loans. Alternative reference rates at this time are predominantly Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) based.  Remaining LIBOR transition project activities include remediation of remaining LIBOR products by June of 2023. ASU 2020-04 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Operating, Accounting and Reporting Considerations related to COVID-19

Operating, Accounting and Reporting Considerations related to COVID-19:

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy.  In response to this crisis, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020.  The CARES Act provides an estimated $2.2 trillion to stimulate the economy by supporting individuals and businesses through loans, grants, tax changes, and other types of relief through the COVID-19 pandemic.  Some of the provisions applicable to the Company include, but are not limited to:

● Accounting for Loan Modifications – Section 4013 of the CARES Act provides that a financial institution may elect to suspend (1) the requirements under GAAP for certain loan modifications that would otherwise be categorized as a TDR and (2) any determination that such loan modifications would be considered a TDR, including the related impairment for accounting purposes.  See Note 5 Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses for more information.

● Paycheck Protection Program - The CARES Act established the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), an expansion of the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) 7(a) loan program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (“EIDL”), administered directly by the SBA.  The Company is a participant in the PPP.  See Note 5 Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses for more information.

● Mortgage Forbearance - Under the CARES Act, through the earlier of December 31, 2020, or the termination date of the COVID-19 national emergency, a borrower with a federally backed mortgage loan that is experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 may request a forbearance.  A multifamily borrower with a federally backed multifamily mortgage loan that was current as of February 1, 2020, and is experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 may request forbearance on the loan for up to 30 days, with up to two additional 30-day periods at the borrower’s request.

Also in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), in consultation with the

state financial regulators (collectively, the “agencies”) issued a joint interagency statement (issued March 22, 2020; revised statement issued April 7, 2020).  Some of the provisions applicable to the Company include, but are not limited to:

● Accounting for Loan Modifications - Loan modifications that do not meet the conditions of the CARES Act may still qualify as a modification that does not need to be accounted for as a TDR.  The agencies confirmed with FASB staff that short-term modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19 to borrowers who were current prior to any relief are not TDRs.  This includes short-term (e.g., six months) modifications such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or insignificant delays in payment.  See Note 5 Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses for more information.

● Past Due Reporting - With regard to loans not otherwise reportable as past due, financial institutions are not expected to designate loans with deferrals granted due to COVID-19 as past due because of the deferral.  A loan’s payment date is governed by the due date stipulated in the legal agreement.  If a financial institution agrees to a payment deferral, these loans would not be considered past due during the period of the deferral.

● Nonaccrual Status and Charge-offs - During short-term COVID-19 modifications, these loans generally should not be reported as nonaccrual or as classified.

The Company began offering short-term loan modifications to assist borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency.  The Company offered deferral options of: 1) three months deferral of payment and then three months of interest only, 2) three months of interest only, 3) three months deferral of payment, 4) six months of interest only. These modifications generally meet the criteria of both Section 4013 of the CARES Act and the joint interagency statement, and therefore, the Company does not account for such loan modifications as TDRs.   On August 3, 2020, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council on behalf of its members (collectively “the FFIEC members”) issued a joint statement on additional loan accommodations related to COVID-19.  The joint statement clarifies that for loan modifications in which Section 4013 is being applied, subsequent modifications could also be eligible under Section 4013.  To be eligible, each loan modification must be (1) related to the COVID event; (2) executed on a loan that was not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019; and (3) executed between March 1, 2020, and the earlier of (A) 60 days after the date of termination of the National Emergency or (B) December 31, 2020.  All of the Company’s loan modifications granted under Section 4013 of the CARES Act are in compliance with the aforementioned FFIEC requirements.  Accordingly, the Company does not account for such loan modifications as TDRs.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications:

Certain captions and amounts in the 2020 consolidated financial statements were reclassified to conform to the 2021 presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on net income and shareholders’ equity, as previously reported.