Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Description of Business and Basis of Presentation Heritage Commerce Corp (“HCC”) operates as a registered bank holding company for its wholly-owned subsidiary Heritage Bank of Commerce (“HBC” or the “Bank”), collectively referred to as the “Company”. HBC was incorporated on November 23, 1993 and commenced operations on June 8, 1994. HBC is a California state chartered bank which offers a full range of commercial and personal banking services to residents and the business/professional community in Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties of California. CSNK Working Capital Finance Corp. a California corporation, dba Bay View Funding (“Bay View Funding”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of HBC. Bay View Funding’s primary business operation is purchasing and collecting factored receivables. Factored receivables are receivables that have been transferred by the originating organization and typically have not been subject to previous collection efforts. In a factoring transaction Bay View Funding directly purchases the receivables generated by its clients at a discount to their face value. The transactions are structured to provide the clients with immediate working capital when there is a mismatch between payments to the client for a good and service and the payment of operating costs incurred to provide such good or service. The Company acquired Tri-Valley Bank (“Tri-Valley”) on April 6, 2018. Tri-Valley was merged with HBC, with HBC as the surviving bank. Tri-Valley’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s results of operations beginning April 7, 2018. The Company acquired United American Bank (“United American”) on May 4, 2018. United American was merged with HBC, with HBC as the surviving bank. United American’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s results of operations beginning May 5, 2018. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting policies generally accepted in the United States of America and general practices in the banking industry. The financial statements include the accounts of the Company. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, amounts held at the Federal Reserve Bank, and Federal funds sold. The Company is required to maintain reserves against certain of the deposit accounts with the Federal Reserve Bank. Federal funds are generally sold and purchased for one‑day periods. Cash Flows Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions, notes payable, repurchase agreements and other short‑term borrowings. Securities The Company classifies its securities as either available-for-sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase. Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income, net of taxes. A decline in the fair value of any available-for-sale or held-to-maturity security below amortized cost that is deemed other than temporary results in a charge to earnings and the corresponding establishment of a new cost basis for the security. In estimating other-than-temporary losses, management considers (1) the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near -term prospects of the issuer, (3) whether the fair value decline was affected by macroeconomic conditions, and (4) whether the Company has the intention to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before any anticipated recovery in fair value. Interest income includes amortization of purchase premiums or discounts. Premiums and discounts are amortized, or accreted, over the life of the related security as an adjustment to income using a method that approximates the interest method. Realized gains and losses are recorded on the trade date and determined using the specific identification method for the cost of securities sold. Loan Sales and Servicing The Company holds for sale the conditionally guaranteed portion of certain loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (collectively referred to as “SBA loans”). These loans are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings. Gains or losses on SBA loans held-for-sale are recognized upon completion of the sale, based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related loan sold. SBA loans are sold with servicing retained. Servicing assets recognized separately upon the sale of SBA loans consist of servicing rights and, for loans sold prior to 2009, interest‑only strip receivables (“I/O strips”). The Company accounts for the sale and servicing of SBA loans based on the financial and servicing assets it controls and liabilities it has incurred, reversing recognition of financial assets when control has been surrendered, and reversing recognition of liabilities when extinguished. Servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in gains on sale of loans. Servicing rights are amortized in proportion to and over the period of net servicing income and are assessed for impairment on an ongoing basis. Impairment is determined by stratifying the servicing rights based on interest rates and terms. Any servicing assets in excess of the contractually specified servicing fees are reclassified at fair value as an I/O strip receivable and treated like an available for sale security. Fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics, when available, or based upon discounted cash flows using market‑based assumptions. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance. The servicing rights, net of any required valuation allowance, and I/O strip receivable are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Servicing income, net of amortization of servicing rights, is recognized as noninterest income. The initial fair value of I/O strip receivables is amortized against interest income on loans. Loans Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of deferred loan origination fees and costs on originated loans, or unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased or acquired loans, and an allowance for loan losses. Interest on loans is accrued on the unpaid principal balance and is credited to income using the effective yield interest method. Interest on purchased or acquired loans and the accretion (amortization) of the related purchase discount (premium) is also credited to income using the effective yield interest method. A loan portfolio segment is defined as the level at which the Company uses a systematic methodology to determine the allowance for loan losses. A loan portfolio class is defined as a group of loans having similar risk characteristics and methods for monitoring and assessing risk. For all loan classes, when a loan is classified as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest is discontinued, any accrued and unpaid interest is reversed, and the amortization of deferred loan fees and costs is discontinued. For all loan classes, loans are classified as nonaccrual when the payment of principal or interest is 90 days past due, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans. In certain circumstances, loans that are under 90 days past due may also be classified as nonaccrual. Any interest or principal payments received on nonaccrual loans are applied toward reduction of principal. Nonaccrual loans generally are not returned to performing status until the obligation is brought current, the loan has performed in accordance with the contract terms for a reasonable period of time, and the ultimate collectability of the contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt. Non‑refundable loan fees and direct origination costs are deferred and recognized over the expected lives of the related loans using the effective yield interest method. Acquired Loans Loans acquired through purchase or through a business combination are recorded at their fair value at the acquisition date. Credit discounts or premiums are included in the determination of fair value; therefore, an allowance for loan losses is not recorded at the acquisition date. Should the Company's allowance for loan losses methodology indicate that the credit discount associated with acquired, non-purchased credit impaired loans, is no longer sufficient to cover probable losses inherent in those loans, the Company will establish an allowance for those loans through a charge to provision for loan losses. Acquired loans are evaluated upon acquisition for evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination such that it is probable at acquisition that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments. Such loans are classified as purchased credit impaired loans ("PCI loans"), while all other acquired loans are classified as non-PCI loans. The Company has elected to account for PCI loans on an individual loan level. The Company estimates the amount and timing of expected cash flows for each loan. The expected cash flow in excess of the loan's carrying value, which is fair value on the date of acquisition, is referred to as the accretable yield, and is recorded as interest income over the remaining expected life of the loan. The excess of the loan's contractual principal and interest over expected cash flows is referred to as the non-accretable difference, and is not recorded in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. Quarterly, management performs an evaluation of expected future cash flows for PCI loans. If current expectations of future cash flows are less than management's previous expectations, other than due to decreases in interest rates and prepayment assumptions, an allowance for loan losses is recorded with a charge to current period earnings through provision for loan losses. If there has been a probable and significant increase in expected future cash flows over that which was previously expected, the Company would first reduce any previously established allowance for loan and lease losses, and then record an adjustment to interest income through a prospective increase in the accretable yield. There were no PCI loans at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Allowance for Loan Losses The allowance for loan losses is an estimate of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio. Loans are charged‑off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance for loan losses. Management’s methodology for estimating the allowance balance consists of several key elements, which include specific allowances on individual impaired loans and the formula driven allowances on pools of loans with similar risk characteristics. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off. Specific allowances are established for impaired loans. Management considers a loan to be impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled interest payments. Loans for which the terms have been modified with a concession granted, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, are considered troubled debt restructurings and classified as impaired. When a loan is considered to be impaired, the amount of impairment is measured based on the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell, if the loan is collateral dependent, or on the present value of expected future cash flows or values that are observable in the secondary market if the loan is not collateral dependent. The amount of any impairment will be charged off against the allowance for loan losses if the amount is a confirmed loss or, alternatively, a specific allocation within the allowance will be established. Loans that are considered impaired are specifically excluded from the formula portion of the allowance for loan losses analysis. The formula driven allowance on pools of loans covers all loans that are not impaired and is based on historical losses of each loan segment adjusted for current factors. In calculating the historical component of our allowance, we aggregate our loans into one of three loan segments: Commercial, Real Estate and Consumer. Each segment of loans in the portfolio possess varying degrees of risk, based on, among other things, the type of loan being made, the purpose of the loan, the type of collateral securing the loan, and the sensitivity the borrower has to changes in certain external factors such as economic conditions. The following provides a summary of the risks associated with various segments of the Company’s loan portfolio, which are factors management regularly considers when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance: Commercial loans consist primarily of commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans (business lines of credit), and other commercial purpose loans. Repayment of commercial and industrial loans is generally provided from the cash flows of the related business to which the loan was made. Adverse changes in economic conditions may result in a decline in business activity, which may impact a borrower’s ability to continue to make scheduled payments. The factored receivables at Bay View Funding are included in the Company’s commercial loan portfolio; however, they are evaluated for risk primarily based on the agings of the receivables. Faster turning receivables imply less risk and therefore warrant a lower associated allowance. Should the overall aging for the portfolio increase, this structure will by formula increase the allowance to reflect the increasing risk. Should the portfolio turn more quickly, it would reduce the associated allowance to reflect the reducing risk. Real estate loans consist primarily of loans secured by commercial real estate (“CRE”) and residential real estate. Also included in this segment are land and construction loans and home equity lines of credit secured by real estate. As the majority of this segment is comprised of commercial real estate loans, risks associated with this segment lay primarily within these loan types. Adverse economic conditions may result in a decline in business activity and increased vacancy rates for commercial properties. These factors, in conjunction with a decline in real estate prices, may expose the Company to the potential for losses if a borrower cannot continue to service the loan with operating revenues, and the value of the property has declined to a level such that it no longer fully covers the Company’s recorded investment in the loan. Consumer loans consist primarily of a large number of small loans and lines of credit. The majority of installment loans are made for consumer and business purchases. Weakened economic conditions may result in an increased level of delinquencies within this segment, as economic pressures may impact the capacity of such borrowers to repay their obligations. As a result of the matters mentioned above, changes in the financial condition of individual borrowers, economic conditions, historical loss experience and the condition of the various markets in which collateral may be sold may all affect the required level of the allowance for loan losses and the associated provision for loan losses. The estimated loss factors for pools of loans that are not impaired are based on determining the probability of default and loss given default for loans within each segment of the portfolio, adjusted for significant factors that, in management’s judgment, affect collectibility as of the evaluation date. The Company’s historical delinquency experience and loss experience are utilized to determine the probability of default and loss given default for segments of the portfolio where the Company has experienced losses since the first quarter of 2009. For segments of the portfolio where the Company has no significant prior loss experience, the Company uses quantifiable observable industry data to determine the probability of default and loss given default. Risk factors impacting loans in each of the portfolio segments include broad deterioration of property values, reduced consumer and business spending as a result of continued high unemployment and reduced credit availability and lack of confidence in a sustainable recovery. The historical loss experience is adjusted for management’s estimate of the impact of other factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These other factors include consideration of the following: the overall level of concentrations and trends of classified loans; loan concentrations within a portfolio segment or division of a portfolio segment; identification of certain loan types with higher risk than other loans; existing internal risk factors; and management’s evaluation of the impact of local and national economic conditions on each of our loan types. Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments Financial instruments include off‑balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded. Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank Stock As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) system, the Bank is required to own common stock in the FHLB based on the Bank’s level of borrowings and outstanding FHLB advances. FHLB stock is carried at cost and classified as a restricted security. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income. As a member of the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) of San Francisco, the Bank is required to own stock in the FRB of San Francisco based on a specified ratio relative to our capital. FRB stock is carried at cost and may be sold back to the FRB at its carrying value. Cash dividends received are reported as income. Company-Owned Life Insurance and Split‑Dollar Life Insurance Benefit Plan The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain directors and officers. Company-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 charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement. The purchased insurance is subject to split‑dollar insurance agreements with the insured participants, which continues after the participant’s employment and retirement. Accounting guidance requires that a liability be recorded primarily over the participant’s service period when a split-dollar life insurance agreement continues after a participant’s employment or retirement. The required accrued liability is based on either the post-employment benefit cost for the continuing life insurance or the future death benefit depending on the contractual terms of the underlying agreement. Premises and Equipment Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization are computed on the straight‑line basis over the lesser of the respective lease terms or estimated useful lives. The Company owns one building which is being depreciated over 40 years. Furniture, equipment, and leasehold improvements are depreciated over estimated useful lives generally ranging from five to fifteen years. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long‑lived assets on an ongoing basis. Business Combinations The Company accounts for acquisitions of businesses using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Management utilizes various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analyses to determine these fair values. Any excess of the purchase price over amounts allocated to the acquired assets, including identifiable intangible assets, and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill resulted from the acquisition of Tri-Valley on April 6, 2018 and United American on May 4, 2018, and from acquisitions in prior years. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment is recognized in the period identified. Other intangible assets consist of a core deposit intangible assets from the Focus Business Bank (“Focus”) acquisition in August 2015, the Tri-Valley acquisition in April 2018, and the United American acquisition in May 2018, and below market value lease intangible assets from the Tri-Valley and United American acquisitions. In addition, a customer relationship and brokered relationship intangible assets arising from the Bay View Funding acquisition in November 2014 are included in other intangible assets. They are initially measured at fair value and then are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The core deposits intangible assets from the acquisitions are being amortized on an accelerated method over ten years. The below market value lease intangible assets are being amortized on the straight line method over three years for United American and eleven years for Tri-Valley. The customer relationship and brokered relationship intangible assets from the Bay View Funding acquisition are being amortized over ten years. Foreclosed Assets Assets acquired through or instead of loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through operations. Operating costs after acquisition are expensed. Gains and losses on disposition are included in noninterest expense. There were no foreclosed assets at December 31, 2018 and 2017. Retirement Plans Expenses for the Company’s non‑qualified, unfunded defined benefits plan consists of service and interest cost and amortization of gains and losses not immediately recognized. Employee 401(k) and profit sharing plan expense is the amount of matching contributions. Deferred compensation and supplemental retirement plan expense allocates the benefits over years of service. Loss Contingencies Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s accounting policy for legal costs related to loss contingencies is to accrue for the probable fees that can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s accounting policy for uncertain recoveries is to recognize the anticipated recovery when realization is deemed probable. Income Taxes The Company files consolidated Federal and combined and separate state income tax returns. Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax payable or refunded, the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities, and low income housing investment losses, net of tax benefits received. Some items of income and expense are recognized in different years for tax purposes when applying generally accepted accounting principles, leading to timing differences between the Company’s actual tax liability and the amount accrued for this liability based on book income. These temporary differences comprise the “deferred” portion of the Company’s tax expense or benefit, which is accumulated on the Company’s books as a deferred tax asset or deferred tax liability until such time as they reverse. Realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon the Company generating sufficient taxable income to obtain benefit from the reversal of net deductible temporary differences and utilization of tax credit carryforwards for Federal and California state income tax purposes. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable is subject to adjustment in future periods based on estimates of future taxable income. Under generally accepted accounting principles, a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is highly subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, including forecasts of future income, cumulative losses, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions. In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance intended to simplify several areas of accounting for share-based compensation programs, including the income tax impact, classification on the statement of cash flows, and forfeitures. The Company adopted the new guidance on share-based compensation during the first quarter of 2017. All excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share‑based payment awards) are recognized as income tax expense or benefit on the income statement. The tax effects of exercised or vested awards are treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a reduction to tax expense of ($424,000) and ($146,000) for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), was signed into law, which among other things reduces the federal corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%, effective January 1, 2018. When tax rates change, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires companies to remeasure certain tax-related assets and liabilities as of the date of enactment of the new legislation with the resulting tax effects accounted for as a discrete item recorded as a component of tax expense or benefit in the reporting period. A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense. Stock‑Based Compensation Compensation cost is recognized for stock options and restricted stock awards issued to employees and directors, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black‑Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock awards. Compensation cost is recognized over the required 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. Compensation cost recognized reflects estimated forfeitures, adjusted as necessary for actual forfeitures. Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to gains and losses that are included in comprehensive income (loss) but are excluded from net income (loss) because they have been recorded directly in equity, net of tax, under the provisions of certain accounting guidance. The Company’s sources of other comprehensive income (loss) are unrealized gains and losses on securities available‑for‑sale, and I/O strips, which are treated like available‑for‑sale securities, and the liabilities related to the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and the split‑dollar life insurance benefit plan. Reclassification adjustments result from gains or losses that were realized and included in net income (loss) of the current period that also had been included in other comprehensive income as unrealized holding gains and losses. Segment Reporting HBC is a commercial bank serving customers located in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Benito, and San Mateo counties of California. Bay View Funding provides business essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. No customer accounts for more than 10 percent of revenue for HBC or the Company. With the previous acquisition of Bay View Funding, the Company has two reportable segments consisting of Banking and Factoring. Reclassifications Certain items in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation. These reclassifications did not affect previously reported net income or shareholders’ equity. Adoption of New Accounting Standards In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard replaces most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The new standard was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. Adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures as the Company’s primary sources of revenues are derived from interest and dividends earned on loans, investment securities, and other financial instruments that are not within the scope of the standard. The Company’s revenue recognition pattern for revenue streams within the scope of the standard, including but not limited to service charges on deposit accounts and gains/losses on the sale of other real estate owned (“OREO”), did not change significantly from current practice. The standard permits the use of either the full retrospective or modified retrospective transition method. The Company elected to use the modified retrospective transition method which requires application of the standard to uncompleted contracts at the date of adoption however, periods prior to the date of adoption were not retrospectively revised as the impact of the standard on uncompleted contracts at the date of adoption was not material. See Note 19 – Revenue Recognition for more information. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” The guidance affects the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements of financial instruments. The standard was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and resulted in the use of an exit price rather than an entrance price to determine the fair value of financial instruments not measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 15 – Fair Value regarding the valuation of the loan portfolio. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The standard amended existing guidance to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The amendments require that an employer report 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. The other components of net benefit costs 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. The amendments allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018, and there was no material impact to the financial statements. Newly Issued, but not yet Effective Accounting Standards In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” This update revises the model to assess how a lease should be classified and provides guidance for lessees and lessors, when presenting right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases, at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. This update became effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued supplementary ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides for an additional transition method allowing for a modified retrospective adoption approach where the guidance would only be applied to existing leases in effect at the adoption date and new leases going forward, with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the adoption date and additional required disclosures regarding leasing arrangements only for those periods after adoption. This update also allows lessors to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are met. The Company has elected the practical expedients permitted by ASU 2018-11. The Company developed and is currently executing on a project plan for implementing the provisions of the new lease standard. At the adoption date, the Company expects to report increased assets and liabilities of approximately $9.6 million on its consolidated statement of financial condition as a result of recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities related to non-cancelable operating lease agreements for office space, which currently are not recorded on its consolidated statement of financial condition. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will be material to its Consolidated Statement of Income. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard is the final guidance on the new current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. The amendments in this update replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to estimate future credit loss estimates. As CECL encompasses all financial assets carried at amortized cost, the requirement that reserves be established based on an organization’s reasonable and supportable estimate of expected credit losses extends to held-to-maturity debt securities. The update amends the accounting for credit losses on available for sale securities, whereby credit losses will be presented as an allowance as opposed to a write down. In addition, CECL will modify the accounting for purchased loans with credit deterioration since origination, so that reserves are established at the date of acquisition for purchased loans. Lastly, the amendment requires enhanced disclosures on the significant estimates and judgments used to estimate credit losses, as well as on the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. These disclosures require organizations to present the currently required credit quality disclosures disaggregated by the year of origination or vintage. The guidance allows for a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative effect adjustment to the balance sheet upon adoption (charge to retained earnings instead of the income statement). The new guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019. While early application is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, the Company plans to adopt this standard on January 1, 2020. The Company has established a company-wide, cross-functional governance structure, which oversees overall strategy for implementation of CECL. We are currently evaluating various loss methodologies to determine their correlation to our various loan categories historical performance. In the first quarter of 2018, we contracted with a third party vendor to provide a model and assist with assessing processes, portfolio segmentation, and model development. The Company also continues to believe that the adoption of the standard will result in an overall increase in the allowance for loan losses to cover credit losses over the estimated life of the financial assets. However, the magnitude of the increase in its allowance for loan losses at the adoption date will depend upon the nature and characteristics of the portfolio at the adoption date, as well as macroeconomic conditions and forecasts at that time. In January 2017, the FASB issued accounting standards ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The provisions of the update eliminate the existing second step of the goodwill impairment test which provides for the allocation of reporting unit fair value among existing assets and liabilities, with the net remaining amount representing the implied fair value of goodwill. In replacement of the existing goodwill impairment rule, the update will provide that impairment should be recognized as the excess of any of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the fair value of the reporting unit. Under the provisions of this update, the amount of the impairment is limited to the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. For public business entities that are SEC filers, the amendments of the update will become effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Management does not expect the requirements of this update to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. This update shortens the amortization period of certain callable debt securities held at a premium to the earliest call date. The amendments in this update are effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within that fiscal year; however, early adoption is permitted. If early adoption of this update is elected by the Company, any adjustments will be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year. The amendments will be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption and the Company will be required to provide change in accounting principle disclosures. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting guidance and an estimate of the impact to the Company’s financial statements is not known.

1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Heritage Commerce Corp (“HCC”) operates as a registered bank holding company for its wholly-owned subsidiary Heritage Bank of Commerce (“HBC” or the “Bank”), collectively referred to as the “Company”. HBC was incorporated on November 23, 1993 and commenced operations on June 8, 1994. HBC is a California state chartered bank which offers a full range of commercial and personal banking services to residents and the business/professional community in Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties of California.

CSNK Working Capital Finance Corp. a California corporation, dba Bay View Funding (“Bay View Funding”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of HBC. Bay View Funding’s primary business operation is purchasing and collecting factored receivables. Factored receivables are receivables that have been transferred by the originating organization and typically have not been subject to previous collection efforts. In a factoring transaction Bay View Funding directly purchases the receivables generated by its clients at a discount to their face value. The transactions are structured to provide the clients with immediate working capital when there is a mismatch between payments to the client for a good and service and the payment of operating costs incurred to provide such good or service.

The Company acquired Tri-Valley Bank (“Tri-Valley”) on April 6, 2018. Tri-Valley was merged with HBC, with HBC as the surviving bank. Tri-Valley’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s results of operations beginning April 7, 2018.

The Company acquired United American Bank (“United American”) on May 4, 2018. United American was merged with HBC, with HBC as the surviving bank. United American’s results of operations have been included in the Company’s results of operations beginning May 5, 2018.

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting policies generally accepted in the United States of America and general practices in the banking industry. The financial statements include the accounts of the Company. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, amounts held at the Federal Reserve Bank, and Federal funds sold. The Company is required to maintain reserves against certain of the deposit accounts with the Federal Reserve Bank. Federal funds are generally sold and purchased for one‑day periods.

Cash Flows

Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions, notes payable, repurchase agreements and other short‑term borrowings.

Securities

The Company classifies its securities as either available-for-sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase. Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income, net of taxes.

A decline in the fair value of any available-for-sale or held-to-maturity security below amortized cost that is deemed other than temporary results in a charge to earnings and the corresponding establishment of a new cost basis for the security. In estimating other-than-temporary losses, management considers (1) the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near -term prospects of the issuer, (3) whether the fair value decline was affected by macroeconomic conditions, and (4) whether the Company has the intention to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before any anticipated recovery in fair value.

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premiums or discounts. Premiums and discounts are amortized, or accreted, over the life of the related security as an adjustment to income using a method that approximates the interest method. Realized gains and losses are recorded on the trade date and determined using the specific identification method for the cost of securities sold.

Loan Sales and Servicing

The Company holds for sale the conditionally guaranteed portion of certain loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (collectively referred to as “SBA loans”). These loans are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings.

Gains or losses on SBA loans held-for-sale are recognized upon completion of the sale, based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related loan sold.

SBA loans are sold with servicing retained. Servicing assets recognized separately upon the sale of SBA loans consist of servicing rights and, for loans sold prior to 2009, interest‑only strip receivables (“I/O strips”). The Company accounts for the sale and servicing of SBA loans based on the financial and servicing assets it controls and liabilities it has incurred, reversing recognition of financial assets when control has been surrendered, and reversing recognition of liabilities when extinguished. Servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value with the income statement effect recorded in gains on sale of loans. Servicing rights are amortized in proportion to and over the period of net servicing income and are assessed for impairment on an ongoing basis. Impairment is determined by stratifying the servicing rights based on interest rates and terms. Any servicing assets in excess of the contractually specified servicing fees are reclassified at fair value as an I/O strip receivable and treated like an available for sale security. Fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics, when available, or based upon discounted cash flows using market‑based assumptions. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance. The servicing rights, net of any required valuation allowance, and I/O strip receivable are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Servicing income, net of amortization of servicing rights, is recognized as noninterest income. The initial fair value of I/O strip receivables is amortized against interest income on loans.

Loans

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of deferred loan origination fees and costs on originated loans, or unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased or acquired loans, and an allowance for loan losses. Interest on loans is accrued on the unpaid principal balance and is credited to income using the effective yield interest method. Interest on purchased or acquired loans and the accretion (amortization) of the related purchase discount (premium) is also credited to income using the effective yield interest method.

A loan portfolio segment is defined as the level at which the Company uses a systematic methodology to determine the allowance for loan losses. A loan portfolio class is defined as a group of loans having similar risk characteristics and methods for monitoring and assessing risk.

For all loan classes, when a loan is classified as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest is discontinued, any accrued and unpaid interest is reversed, and the amortization of deferred loan fees and costs is discontinued. For all loan classes, loans are classified as nonaccrual when the payment of principal or interest is 90 days past due, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans. In certain circumstances, loans that are under 90 days past due may also be classified as nonaccrual. Any interest or principal payments received on nonaccrual loans are applied toward reduction of principal. Nonaccrual loans generally are not returned to performing status until the obligation is brought current, the loan has performed in accordance with the contract terms for a reasonable period of time, and the ultimate collectability of the contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt.

Non‑refundable loan fees and direct origination costs are deferred and recognized over the expected lives of the related loans using the effective yield interest method.

Acquired Loans

Loans acquired through purchase or through a business combination are recorded at their fair value at the acquisition date. Credit discounts or premiums are included in the determination of fair value; therefore, an allowance for loan losses is not recorded at the acquisition date. Should the Company's allowance for loan losses methodology indicate that the credit discount associated with acquired, non-purchased credit impaired loans, is no longer sufficient to cover probable losses inherent in those loans, the Company will establish an allowance for those loans through a charge to provision for loan losses. Acquired loans are evaluated upon acquisition for evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination such that it is probable at acquisition that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments. Such loans are classified as purchased credit impaired loans ("PCI loans"), while all other acquired loans are classified as non-PCI loans.

The Company has elected to account for PCI loans on an individual loan level. The Company estimates the amount and timing of expected cash flows for each loan. The expected cash flow in excess of the loan's carrying value, which is fair value on the date of acquisition, is referred to as the accretable yield, and is recorded as interest income over the remaining expected life of the loan. The excess of the loan's contractual principal and interest over expected cash flows is referred to as the non-accretable difference, and is not recorded in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Quarterly, management performs an evaluation of expected future cash flows for PCI loans. If current expectations of future cash flows are less than management's previous expectations, other than due to decreases in interest rates and prepayment assumptions, an allowance for loan losses is recorded with a charge to current period earnings through provision for loan losses. If there has been a probable and significant increase in expected future cash flows over that which was previously expected, the Company would first reduce any previously established allowance for loan and lease losses, and then record an adjustment to interest income through a prospective increase in the accretable yield. There were no PCI loans at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is an estimate of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio. Loans are charged‑off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance for loan losses. Management’s methodology for estimating the allowance balance consists of several key elements, which include specific allowances on individual impaired loans and the formula driven allowances on pools of loans with similar risk characteristics. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off.

Specific allowances are established for impaired loans. Management considers a loan to be impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled interest payments. Loans for which the terms have been modified with a concession granted, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, are considered troubled debt restructurings and classified as impaired. When a loan is considered to be impaired, the amount of impairment is measured based on the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell, if the loan is collateral dependent, or on the present value of expected future cash flows or values that are observable in the secondary market if the loan is not collateral dependent. The amount of any impairment will be charged off against the allowance for loan losses if the amount is a confirmed loss or, alternatively, a specific allocation within the allowance will be established. Loans that are considered impaired are specifically excluded from the formula portion of the allowance for loan losses analysis.

The formula driven allowance on pools of loans covers all loans that are not impaired and is based on historical losses of each loan segment adjusted for current factors. In calculating the historical component of our allowance, we aggregate our loans into one of three loan segments: Commercial, Real Estate and Consumer. Each segment of loans in the portfolio possess varying degrees of risk, based on, among other things, the type of loan being made, the purpose of the loan, the type of collateral securing the loan, and the sensitivity the borrower has to changes in certain external factors such as economic conditions. The following provides a summary of the risks associated with various segments of the Company’s loan portfolio, which are factors management regularly considers when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance:

Commercial loans consist primarily of commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans (business lines of credit), and other commercial purpose loans. Repayment of commercial and industrial loans is generally provided from the cash flows of the related business to which the loan was made. Adverse changes in economic conditions may result in a decline in business activity, which may impact a borrower’s ability to continue to make scheduled payments. The factored receivables at Bay View Funding are included in the Company’s commercial loan portfolio; however, they are evaluated for risk primarily based on the agings of the receivables. Faster turning receivables imply less risk and therefore warrant a lower associated allowance. Should the overall aging for the portfolio increase, this structure will by formula increase the allowance to reflect the increasing risk. Should the portfolio turn more quickly, it would reduce the associated allowance to reflect the reducing risk.

Real estate loans consist primarily of loans secured by commercial real estate (“CRE”) and residential real estate. Also included in this segment are land and construction loans and home equity lines of credit secured by real estate. As the majority of this segment is comprised of commercial real estate loans, risks associated with this segment lay primarily within these loan types. Adverse economic conditions may result in a decline in business activity and increased vacancy rates for commercial properties. These factors, in conjunction with a decline in real estate prices, may expose the Company to the potential for losses if a borrower cannot continue to service the loan with operating revenues, and the value of the property has declined to a level such that it no longer fully covers the Company’s recorded investment in the loan.

Consumer loans consist primarily of a large number of small loans and lines of credit. The majority of installment loans are made for consumer and business purchases. Weakened economic conditions may result in an increased level of delinquencies within this segment, as economic pressures may impact the capacity of such borrowers to repay their obligations.

As a result of the matters mentioned above, changes in the financial condition of individual borrowers, economic conditions, historical loss experience and the condition of the various markets in which collateral may be sold may all affect the required level of the allowance for loan losses and the associated provision for loan losses.

The estimated loss factors for pools of loans that are not impaired are based on determining the probability of default and loss given default for loans within each segment of the portfolio, adjusted for significant factors that, in management’s judgment, affect collectibility as of the evaluation date. The Company’s historical delinquency experience and loss experience are utilized to determine the probability of default and loss given default for segments of the portfolio where the Company has experienced losses since the first quarter of 2009. For segments of the portfolio where the Company has no significant prior loss experience, the Company uses quantifiable observable industry data to determine the probability of default and loss given default. Risk factors impacting loans in each of the portfolio segments include broad deterioration of property values, reduced consumer and business spending as a result of continued high unemployment and reduced credit availability and lack of confidence in a sustainable recovery. The historical loss experience is adjusted for management’s estimate of the impact of other factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These other factors include consideration of the following: the overall level of concentrations and trends of classified loans; loan concentrations within a portfolio segment or division of a portfolio segment; identification of certain loan types with higher risk than other loans; existing internal risk factors; and management’s evaluation of the impact of local and national economic conditions on each of our loan types.

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments

Financial instruments include off‑balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank Stock

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) system, the Bank is required to own common stock in the FHLB based on the Bank’s level of borrowings and outstanding FHLB advances. FHLB stock is carried at cost and classified as a restricted security. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.

As a member of the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) of San Francisco, the Bank is required to own stock in the FRB of San Francisco based on a specified ratio relative to our capital. FRB stock is carried at cost and may be sold back to the FRB at its carrying value. Cash dividends received are reported as income.

Company-Owned Life Insurance and Split‑Dollar Life Insurance Benefit Plan

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain directors and officers. Company-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 charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement. The purchased insurance is subject to split‑dollar insurance agreements with the insured participants, which continues after the participant’s employment and retirement.

Accounting guidance requires that a liability be recorded primarily over the participant’s service period when a split-dollar life insurance agreement continues after a participant’s employment or retirement. The required accrued liability is based on either the post-employment benefit cost for the continuing life insurance or the future death benefit depending on the contractual terms of the underlying agreement.

Premises and Equipment

Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization are computed on the straight‑line basis over the lesser of the respective lease terms or estimated useful lives. The Company owns one building which is being depreciated over 40 years. Furniture, equipment, and leasehold improvements are depreciated over estimated useful lives generally ranging from five to fifteen years. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long‑lived assets on an ongoing basis.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for acquisitions of businesses using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Management utilizes various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analyses to determine these fair values. Any excess of the purchase price over amounts allocated to the acquired assets, including identifiable intangible assets, and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill resulted from the acquisition of Tri-Valley on April 6, 2018 and United American on May 4, 2018, and from acquisitions in prior years. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment is recognized in the period identified.

Other intangible assets consist of a core deposit intangible assets from the Focus Business Bank (“Focus”) acquisition in August 2015, the Tri-Valley acquisition in April 2018, and the United American acquisition in May 2018, and below market value lease intangible assets from the Tri-Valley and United American acquisitions. In addition, a customer relationship and brokered relationship intangible assets arising from the Bay View Funding acquisition in November 2014 are included in other intangible assets. They are initially measured at fair value and then are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The core deposits intangible assets from the acquisitions are being amortized on an accelerated method over ten years. The below market value lease intangible assets are being amortized on the straight line method over three years for United American and eleven years for Tri-Valley. The customer relationship and brokered relationship intangible assets from the Bay View Funding acquisition are being amortized over ten years.

Foreclosed Assets

Assets acquired through or instead of loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through operations. Operating costs after acquisition are expensed. Gains and losses on disposition are included in noninterest expense. There were no foreclosed assets at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Retirement Plans

Expenses for the Company’s non‑qualified, unfunded defined benefits plan consists of service and interest cost and amortization of gains and losses not immediately recognized. Employee 401(k) and profit sharing plan expense is the amount of matching contributions. Deferred compensation and supplemental retirement plan expense allocates the benefits over years of service.

Loss Contingencies

Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s accounting policy for legal costs related to loss contingencies is to accrue for the probable fees that can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s accounting policy for uncertain recoveries is to recognize the anticipated recovery when realization is deemed probable.

Income Taxes

The Company files consolidated Federal and combined and separate state income tax returns. Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax payable or refunded, the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities, and low income housing investment losses, net of tax benefits received. Some items of income and expense are recognized in different years for tax purposes when applying generally accepted accounting principles, leading to timing differences between the Company’s actual tax liability and the amount accrued for this liability based on book income. These temporary differences comprise the “deferred” portion of the Company’s tax expense or benefit, which is accumulated on the Company’s books as a deferred tax asset or deferred tax liability until such time as they reverse.

Realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon the Company generating sufficient taxable income to obtain benefit from the reversal of net deductible temporary differences and utilization of tax credit carryforwards for Federal and California state income tax purposes. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable is subject to adjustment in future periods based on estimates of future taxable income. Under generally accepted accounting principles, a valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is highly subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, including forecasts of future income, cumulative losses, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions.

In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance intended to simplify several areas of accounting for share-based compensation programs, including the income tax impact, classification on the statement of cash flows, and forfeitures. The Company adopted the new guidance on share-based compensation during the first quarter of 2017. All excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share‑based payment awards) are recognized as income tax expense or benefit on the income statement. The tax effects of exercised or vested awards are treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a reduction to tax expense of ($424,000) and ($146,000) for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), was signed into law, which among other things reduces the federal corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%, effective January 1, 2018. When tax rates change, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires companies to remeasure certain tax-related assets and liabilities as of the date of enactment of the new legislation with the resulting tax effects accounted for as a discrete item recorded as a component of tax expense or benefit in the reporting period.

A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense.

Stock‑Based Compensation

Compensation cost is recognized for stock options and restricted stock awards issued to employees and directors, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black‑Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock awards. Compensation cost is recognized over the required 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. Compensation cost recognized reflects estimated forfeitures, adjusted as necessary for actual forfeitures.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Total comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to gains and losses that are included in comprehensive income (loss) but are excluded from net income (loss) because they have been recorded directly in equity, net of tax, under the provisions of certain accounting guidance. The Company’s sources of other comprehensive income (loss) are unrealized gains and losses on securities available‑for‑sale, and I/O strips, which are treated like available‑for‑sale securities, and the liabilities related to the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and the split‑dollar life insurance benefit plan. Reclassification adjustments result from gains or losses that were realized and included in net income (loss) of the current period that also had been included in other comprehensive income as unrealized holding gains and losses.

Segment Reporting

HBC is a commercial bank serving customers located in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Benito, and San Mateo counties of California. Bay View Funding provides business essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. No customer accounts for more than 10 percent of revenue for HBC or the Company. With the previous acquisition of Bay View Funding, the Company has two reportable segments consisting of Banking and Factoring.

Reclassifications

Certain items in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation. These reclassifications did not affect previously reported net income or shareholders’ equity.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard replaces most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The new standard was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. Adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures as the Company’s primary sources of revenues are derived from interest and dividends earned on loans, investment securities, and other financial instruments that are not within the scope of the standard. The Company’s revenue recognition pattern for revenue streams within the scope of the standard, including but not limited to service charges on deposit accounts and gains/losses on the sale of other real estate owned (“OREO”), did not change significantly from current practice. The standard permits the use of either the full retrospective or modified retrospective transition method. The Company elected to use the modified retrospective transition method which requires application of the standard to uncompleted contracts at the date of adoption however, periods prior to the date of adoption were not retrospectively revised as the impact of the standard on uncompleted contracts at the date of adoption was not material. See Note 19 – Revenue Recognition for more information.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” The guidance affects the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements of financial instruments. The standard was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and resulted in the use of an exit price rather than an entrance price to determine the fair value of financial instruments not measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 15 – Fair Value regarding the valuation of the loan portfolio.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The standard amended existing guidance to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The amendments require that an employer report 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. The other components of net benefit costs 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. The amendments allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018, and there was no material impact to the financial statements.

Newly Issued, but not yet Effective Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” This update revises the model to assess how a lease should be classified and provides guidance for lessees and lessors, when presenting right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases, at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. This update became effective for the Company on January 1, 2019.

In July 2018, the FASB issued supplementary ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides for an additional transition method allowing for a modified retrospective adoption approach where the guidance would only be applied to existing leases in effect at the adoption date and new leases going forward, with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the adoption date and additional required disclosures regarding leasing arrangements only for those periods after adoption. This update also allows lessors to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are met. The Company has elected the practical expedients permitted by ASU 2018-11.

The Company developed and is currently executing on a project plan for implementing the provisions of the new lease standard. At the adoption date, the Company expects to report increased assets and liabilities of approximately $9.6 million on its consolidated statement of financial condition as a result of recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities related to non-cancelable operating lease agreements for office space, which currently are not recorded on its consolidated statement of financial condition. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will be material to its Consolidated Statement of Income.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard is the final guidance on the new current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. The amendments in this update replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to estimate future credit loss estimates. As CECL encompasses all financial assets carried at amortized cost, the requirement that reserves be established based on an organization’s reasonable and supportable estimate of expected credit losses extends to held-to-maturity debt securities. The update amends the accounting for credit losses on available for sale securities, whereby credit losses will be presented as an allowance as opposed to a write down. In addition, CECL will modify the accounting for purchased loans with credit deterioration since origination, so that reserves are established at the date of acquisition for purchased loans. Lastly, the amendment requires enhanced disclosures on the significant estimates and judgments used to estimate credit losses, as well as on the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. These disclosures require organizations to present the currently required credit quality disclosures disaggregated by the year of origination or vintage. The guidance allows for a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative effect adjustment to the balance sheet upon adoption (charge to retained earnings instead of the income statement). The new guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019. While early application is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, the Company plans to adopt this standard on January 1, 2020. The Company has established a company-wide, cross-functional governance structure, which oversees overall strategy for implementation of CECL. We are currently evaluating various loss methodologies to determine their correlation to our various loan categories historical performance. In the first quarter of 2018, we contracted with a third party vendor to provide a model and assist with assessing processes, portfolio segmentation, and model development. The Company also continues to believe that the adoption of the standard will result in an overall increase in the allowance for loan losses to cover credit losses over the estimated life of the financial assets. However, the magnitude of the increase in its allowance for loan losses at the adoption date will depend upon the nature and characteristics of the portfolio at the adoption date, as well as macroeconomic conditions and forecasts at that time.

In January 2017, the FASB issued accounting standards ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The provisions of the update eliminate the existing second step of the goodwill impairment test which provides for the allocation of reporting unit fair value among existing assets and liabilities, with the net remaining amount representing the implied fair value of goodwill. In replacement of the existing goodwill impairment rule, the update will provide that impairment should be recognized as the excess of any of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the fair value of the reporting unit. Under the provisions of this update, the amount of the impairment is limited to the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. For public business entities that are SEC filers, the amendments of the update will become effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Management does not expect the requirements of this update to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. This update shortens the amortization period of certain callable debt securities held at a premium to the earliest call date. The amendments in this update are effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within that fiscal year; however, early adoption is permitted. If early adoption of this update is elected by the Company, any adjustments will be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year. The amendments will be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption and the Company will be required to provide change in accounting principle disclosures. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting guidance and an estimate of the impact to the Company’s financial statements is not known.