SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

LCNB Corp. (the "Company" or “LCNB”), an Ohio corporation formed in December 1998, is a financial holding company whose principal activity is the ownership of LCNB National Bank (the "Bank"). The Bank was founded in 1877 and provides full banking services, including trust and brokerage services, to customers primarily in Southwestern and South Central Ohio.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and with general practices in the banking industry.

Certain prior period data presented in the financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 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

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash, balances due from banks, federal funds sold, and interest-bearing demand deposits with original maturities of three months or less. Deposits with other banks routinely have balances greater than FDIC insured limits. Management considers the risk of loss to be very low with respect to such deposits.

INVESTMENT SECURITIES

Certain municipal debt securities that management has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as “held-to-maturity” and recorded at amortized cost. Securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as “available-for-sale” and recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recognized as adjustments to interest income using the level-yield method. Realized gains or losses from the sale of securities are recorded on the trade date and are computed using the specific identification method.

Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired and for which the Company does not intend to sell the securities and it is not more likely than not that the securities will be sold before the anticipated recovery of the impairment are separated into losses related to credit factors and losses related to other factors. The losses related to credit factors are recognized in earnings and losses related to other factors are recognized in other comprehensive income. In estimating other than temporary impairment losses, management considers the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The Company's consolidated statements of income as of December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, do not reflect any such impairment.

Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") stock is an equity interest in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. It can be sold only at its par value of $100 per share and only to the FHLB or to another member institution. In addition, the equity ownership rights are more limited than would be the case for a public company because of the oversight role exercised by the Federal Housing Finance Agency in the process of budgeting and approving dividends. Federal Reserve Bank stock is similarly restricted in marketability and value. Both investments are carried at cost, which is their par value.

FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stock are both subject to minimum ownership requirements by member banks. The required investments in common stock are based on predetermined formulas.

LOANS

The Company’s loan portfolio includes most types of commercial and industrial loans, commercial loans secured by real estate, residential real estate loans, consumer loans, agricultural loans and other types of loans. Most of the properties collateralizing the loan portfolio are located within the Company’s market area.

Loans are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income, deferred origination fees and costs, and the allowance for loan losses. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. The delinquency status of a loan is based on contractual terms and not on how recently payments have been received. Generally, a loan is placed on non-accrual status when it is classified as impaired or there is an indication that the borrower’s cash flow may not be sufficient to make payments as they come due, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Subsequent cash receipts on non-accrual loans are recorded as a reduction of principal and interest income is recorded once principal recovery is reasonably assured. The current year's accrued interest on loans placed on non-accrual status is charged against earnings. Previous years' accrued interest is charged against the allowance for loan losses. Non-accrual loans are returned to accrual status when, in the opinion of management, the financial position of the borrower indicates there is no longer a reasonable doubt as to the timely collection of interest or principal.

Loan origination fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred and the net amount amortized as an adjustment of loan yields. These amounts are being amortized over the lives of the related loans.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into off-balance sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements when they are funded. The credit risk associated with these commitments is evaluated in a manner similar to the allowance for loan losses.

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that the collectibility of the principal is unlikely. Consumer loans are charged off when they reach 120 days past due. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

The provision for loan losses is determined by management based upon its evaluation of the amount needed to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level considered appropriate in relation to the estimated risk of losses inherent in the portfolio. Current methodology used by management to estimate the allowance takes into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, historic categorical trends, current delinquency levels as related to historical levels, portfolio growth rates, changes in composition of the portfolio, the current economic environment, as well as current allowance adequacy in relation to the portfolio. Management is cognizant that reliance on historical information coupled with the cyclical nature of the economy, including credit cycles, affects the allowance. Management considers all of these factors prior to making any adjustments to the allowance due the subjectivity and imprecision involved in allocation methodology. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are specifically reviewed for impairment. For such loans, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan. The general component covers loans not specifically reviewed for impairment and homogeneous loan pools, such as residential real estate and consumer loans. The general component is measured for each loan category separately based on each category’s average of historical loss experience over a trailing thirty-six month period, adjusted for qualitative factors. Such qualitative factors may include current economic conditions if different from the three-year historical loss period, trends in underperforming loans, trends in volume and terms of loan categories, concentrations of credit, and trends in loan quality.

A loan is considered impaired when management believes, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. An impaired loan is measured by the present value of expected future cash flows using the loan's effective interest rate. An impaired collateral-dependent loan may be measured based on collateral value. Smaller-balance homogeneous loans, including residential mortgage and consumer installment loans, that are not evaluated individually are collectively evaluated for impairment.

Loans acquired from the merger are recorded at fair value with no carryover of the acquired entity's previously established allowance for loan losses. The excess of expected cash flows over the estimated fair value of acquired loans is recognized as interest income over the remaining contractual lives of the loans using the level yield method.

Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows will require additions to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent improvements in expected cash flows result in the recognition of additional interest income over the then-remaining contractual lives of the loans.

Impaired loans acquired are accounted for under FASB ASC 310-30. Factors considered in evaluating whether an acquired loan was impaired include delinquency status and history, updated borrower credit status, collateral information, and updated loan-to-value information. The difference between contractually required payments at the time of acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected is referred to as the nonaccretable difference. The interest component of the cash flows expected to be collected is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized as interest income over the remaining contractual life of the loan using the level yield method. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows will require additions to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent improvements in expected cash flows will result in a reclassification from the nonaccretable difference to the accretable yield.

PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on both the straight-line and accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally 15 to 40 years for premises and 3 to 10 years for equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the terms of the respective leases or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Costs incurred for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED

Other real estate owned includes properties acquired through foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure. Such property is held for sale and is initially recorded at fair value, less costs to sell, establishing a new cost basis. Fair value is primarily based on a property appraisal obtained at the time of transfer and any periodic updates that may be obtained thereafter. The allowance for loan losses is charged for any write down of the loan’s carrying value to fair value at the date of acquisition. Any subsequent reductions in fair value and expenses incurred from holding other real estate owned are charged to other non-interest expense. Costs, excluding interest, relating to the improvement of other real estate owned are capitalized. Gains and losses from the sale of other real estate owned are included in other non-interest expense.

Other real estate owned also includes in-substance foreclosed properties, which are properties that the Company has taken physical control of, regardless of whether formal foreclosure proceedings have occurred.

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized, but is instead subject to an annual review for impairment.

Mortgage servicing rights on originated mortgage loans that have been sold are initially recorded at their estimated fair values. Mortgage servicing rights are amortized to loan servicing income in proportion to and over the period of estimated servicing income. Such assets are periodically evaluated as to the recoverability of their carrying value.

The Company’s other intangible asset relates to core deposits acquired from business combinations. These intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Management evaluates whether events or circumstances have occurred that indicate the remaining useful life or carrying value of the amortizing intangible should be revised.

BANK OWNED LIFE INSURANCE

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain officers of the Company. The Company is the beneficiary of these policies and has recorded the estimated cash surrender value in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Income on the policies, based on the increase in cash surrender value and any incremental death benefits, is included in other non-interest income in the consolidated statements of income.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDIT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

LCNB has elected to account for its investment in an affordable housing tax credit limited partnership using the proportional amortization method described in FASB ASU 2014-01, "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects (A Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)." Under the proportional amortization method, an investor amortizes the initial cost of the investment to income tax expense in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense. The investment in the limited partnership is included in other assets and the unfunded amount is included in accrued interest and other liabilities in LCNB's consolidated balance sheets.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. A financial instrument’s level within the hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three broad input levels are:


•	Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the reporting date;


•	Level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and


•	Level 3 - inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability.

Accounting guidance permits, but does not require, companies to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The decision to elect the fair value option is made individually for each instrument and is irrevocable once made. Changes in fair value for the selected instruments are recorded in earnings. The Company did not select any financial instruments for the fair value election in 2015 or 2014.

ADVERTISING EXPENSE

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are recorded as a marketing expense, a component of non-interest expense.

PENSION PLANS

Eligible employees of the Company hired before 2009 participate in a multiple-employer qualified noncontributory defined benefit retirement plan. This plan is accounted for as a multi-employer plan because assets contributed by an employer are not segregated in a separate account or restricted to provide benefits only to employees of that employer.

Citizens National had a qualified noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan, which has been assumed by the Company, that covers eligible employees hired before May 1, 2005. This is a single employer plan.

TREASURY STOCK

Common stock shares repurchased are recorded at cost. Cost of shares retired or reissued is determined using the weighted average method.

STOCK OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD PLANS

The cost of employee services received in exchange for stock option grants is the grant-date fair value of the award estimated using an option-pricing model. The compensation cost for restricted stock awards is based on the market price of the Company's common stock at the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares granted that are expected to vest. The estimated cost is recognized over the period the employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period. The Company uses a Black-Scholes pricing model and related assumptions for estimating the fair value of stock option grants and a five-year vesting period for stock options and restricted stock.

INCOME TAXES

Deferred income taxes are determined using the liability method of accounting. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the tax effects of temporary differences between the book and tax basis of the various balance sheet assets and liabilities and gives current recognition to changes in tax rates and laws.

Management analyzes material tax positions taken in any income tax return for any tax jurisdiction and determines the likelihood of the positions being sustained in a tax examination. 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.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is adjusted for the dilutive effects of stock options and warrants. The diluted average number of common shares outstanding has been increased for the assumed exercise of stock options and warrants with the proceeds used to purchase treasury shares at the average market price for the period.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

ASU No. 2014-08, "Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity"

ASU No. 2014-08 was issued in April 2014 and changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and provides for expanded disclosures in this area. The new guidance provides that only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations and that these strategic shifts should have a major effect on an organization's operations and financial results. ASU No. 2014-08 was effective in the first quarter of 2015 for public companies with calendar year-ends.

ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)"

ASU No. 2014-09 was issued in May 2014 and and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance for contracts to transfer goods or services or other nonfinancial assets. Lease contracts, insurance contracts, and most financial instruments are not included in the scope of this update. ASU No. 2014-09 provides that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance enumerates five steps that entities should follow in achieving this core principle. Additional disclosures providing information about contracts with customers are required. As extended by ASU No. 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date," ASU No. 2014-09 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Transitional guidance is included in the update. Earlier adoption is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Since LCNB's products are substantially financial in nature, adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2014-12, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force"

ASU No. 2014-12 was issued in June 2014 and requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition and that current guidance for awards with performance conditions be followed. ASU No. 2014-12 is effective for all entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in the update either prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. None of LCNB's currently outstanding stock option grants contain the performance targets described in this update and adoption of ASU No. 2014-11 is not expected to have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2014-13, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Measuring the Financial Assets and the Financial Liabilities of a Consolidated Collateralized Financing Entity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)"

ASU No. 2014-13 was issued in August 2014 and applies to entities that are required to (1) consolidate a collateralized financing entity ("CFE") under the guidance for Variable Interest Entities, (2) measure all of the financial assets and financial liabilities of the CFE at fair value, and (3) reflect the changes in fair value in earnings. Under ASU 2014-13, entities that meet these criteria can elect to measure both the financial assets and the financial liabilities of the CFE using the more observable of the fair value of the financial assets and the fair value of the financial liabilities, thereby eliminating the difference between the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities. If that alternative is not elected, then ASU 2014-13 indicates that the fair value of the financial assets and the fair value of the financial liabilities of the consolidated CFE should be measured in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, and differences between the fair value of the financial assets and the financial liabilities of the consolidated CFE should be reflected in earnings and attributed to the reporting entity in the consolidated statement of income or loss. The provisions of ASU 2014-13 are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. LCNB currently does not have any CFE investments and adoption of ASU No. 2014-13 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern"

ASU No. 2014-15 was issued in August 2014 and requires management to evaluate for each annual and interim reporting period whether it is probable that the entity will not be able to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that financial statements are issued (or are available to be issued, where applicable). Certain disclosures, as described in the update, are required if management identifies substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern. ASU No. 2014-15 will take effect in the annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is permitted. Adoption of ASU No. 2014-15 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2014-16, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)"

ASU No. 2014-16 was issued in November 2014 and requires an entity to determine the nature of the host contract by considering all stated and implied substantive terms and features of the hybrid financial instrument, weighing each term and feature on the basis of the relevant facts and circumstances, when evaluating whether the host contract is more akin to a debt or equity instrument. ASU No. 2014-16 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The effects of initially adopting ASU No. 2014-16 should be applied on a modified retrospective basis to existing hybrid financial instruments issued in the form of a share as of the beginning of the fiscal year for which the update is effective. Retrospective application to all relevant prior periods is permitted. Early adoption, including adoption in an interim period, is permitted. LCNB currently does not have any outstanding hybrid financial instruments issued as a share and adoption of ASU No. 2014-16 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2015-01, "Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items"

ASU No. 2015-01 was issued in January 2015 and eliminates from the income statement the concept of extraordinary items. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-01 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations.

ASU No. 2015-02, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis"

ASU No. 2015-02 was issued in February 2015 and provides additional guidance for consolidation of legal entities. It (1) modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities or voting interest entities, (2) eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (3) affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with variable interest entities, and (4) provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with requirements that are similar to those in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for registered money market funds. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-02 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2015-03, "Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs"

ASU No. 2015-03 was issued in April 2015 and requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 is to be applied on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented is adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2015-05, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement"

ASU No. 2015-05 was issued in April 2015 and provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. Examples of cloud computing arrangements include software as a service, platform as a service, infrastructure as a service, and other similar hosting arrangements. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-05 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2015-07, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)"

ASU No. 2015-07 was issued in May 2015 and applies to entities that measure an investment's fair value using the net asset value per share, or an equivalent, as a practical expedient. ASU No. 2015-07 eliminates the requirement to classify such investments within the fair value hierarchy. Formerly, Topic 820 required certain disclosures for all investments eligible to be assessed at fair value with the net asset value per share practical expedient. ASU No. 2015-07 requires these disclosures only for investments that are actually measured using the practical expedient. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments are to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. LCNB measures the fair value of a mutual fund investment using the net asset value per share practical expedient and disclosures concerning this investment will be affected by the adoption of ASU No. 2015-07. Adoption will not have an impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2015-15, "Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements, Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting"

ASU No. 2015-15 was issued in August 2015. Given the absence of authoritative guidance within ASU No. 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") staff announced that they will not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The amendments in this update are to be applied on a retrospective basis and are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-15 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2015-16, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments"

ASU No. 2015-16 was issued in September 2015 and applies to all entities that have reported provisional amounts for items in a business combination for which the accounting is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs and during the measurement period have an adjustment to provisional amounts recognized. ASU No. 2015-16 requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provision amounts during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The acquirer is also required to record in the same period's financial statements the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, resulting from the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The update also requires an entity to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded

in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The amendments in this update are to be applied prospectively and are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Adoption of ASU No. 2015-16 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2016-01, "Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities"

ASU No. 2016-01 was issued in January 2016 and applies to all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities. It makes targeted changes to generally accepted accounting principles for public companies as follows:


1.	Requires most equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income.


2.	Simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. When a qualitative assessment indicates that impairment exists, an entity is required to measure the investment at fair value.


3.	Eliminates the requirement to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet.


4.	Requires use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes.


5.	Requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments.


6.	Requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements.


7.	Clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets.

For public business entities, the new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)"

ASU No. 2016-02 was issued in February 2016 and requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments ("the lease liability") and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. When measuring assets and liabilities arising from a lease, the lessee should include payments to be made in optional periods only if the lessee is reasonably certain, as defined, to exercise an option to the lease or not to exercise an option to terminate the lease. Optional payments to purchase the underlying asset should be included if the lessee is reasonably certain it will exercise the purchase option. Most variable lease payments should be excluded except for those that depend on an index or a rate or are in substance fixed payments.

A lessee shall classify a lease as a finance lease if it meets any of five listed criteria:


1.	The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term.


2.	The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.


3.	The lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset.


4.	The present value of the sum of the lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset.


5.	The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term.

For finance leases, a lessee shall recognize in the statement of comprehensive income interest on the lease liability separately from amortization of the right-of-use asset. Amortization of the right-of-use asset shall be on a straight-line basis, unless another basis is more representative of the pattern in which the lessee expects to consume the right-of-use asset’s future economic benefits. If the lease does not meet any of the five criteria, the lessee shall classify it as an operating lease and shall recognize a single lease cost on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. If a lessee makes this election, it should recognize lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The amendments in this update are to be applied using a modified retrospective approach, as defined, and are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted. LCNB management is currently evaluating the financial statement impact of adopting the new guidance.