EX-13 3 ex13201410k.htm METRO BANCORP, INC. - EXHIBIT 13 Ex 13 2014 10K



Exhibit 13

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Management's Discussion and Analysis) analyzes the major elements of our consolidated balance sheets and statements of income. This section should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes.
 
Executive Summary

In 2014, Metro Bancorp, Inc. (Metro or the Company) achieved its highest annual net income in the Company's 29+ year history. Our net income of $21.1 million exceeded 2013 net income by $3.8 million, or 22%. Earnings per share rose 22% from $1.20 per diluted common share in 2013 to $1.46 per diluted common share for 2014.

We achieved growth in both loans and deposits in a disciplined manner while maintaining our commitment to drive long-term shareholder value. For the second straight year, Metro achieved record loan growth of $246.4 million, or 14%. We also increased total deposits by $141.1 million, or 6%, to $2.38 billion while decreasing our cost of funds. These strong growth figures reflect our ability to successfully grow organically in what has been a sometimes challenging economic environment. By attracting, retaining and deepening our customer relationships in the markets we serve, we will continue to maintain profitable growth in both loans and deposits as we continue to enhance shareholder value.

Total revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) grew by $6.2 million, or 5%, in 2014. At the same time, total noninterest expenses increased only $679,000, or less than 1%, after decreasing for three straight years. As a result, the Company's efficiency ratio improved by over 300 basis points (bps). The level of noninterest expenses for Metro in 2014 was our second lowest over the past six years. The stock market reacted positively to the Company's progress and, as a result, the market price of Metro's common stock increased 20% from $21.54 per common share at December 31, 2013 to $25.92 per common share at December 31, 2014.

In October 2014, we announced a series of shareholder return and cost-saving initiatives which include a stock buy-back program, an annual cash dividend, a reduction of annual operating expenses, a delay in branch openings and the redemption of our remaining Trust Preferred Securities. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to improve profitability, grow the value of the Metro franchise and drive long-term shareholder value. We enter 2015 with continued progress from the success of 2014 and a clear path of commitment to our customers and shareholder value.

Our 2014 key performance highlights are summarized below.

Income Statement Highlights:

The Company recorded net income for the year 2014 of $21.1 million, or $1.46 per diluted common share, up $3.8 million, or 22%, over $17.3 million, or $1.20 per diluted common share for 2013.

Total revenues for 2014 were $127.5 million, up $6.2 million, or 5%, compared to 2013.

Return on average stockholders' equity (ROE) for 2014 was 8.46% compared to 7.41% for 2013.

The Company's net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis for 2014, which continued to be compressed by the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and resultant interest rate environment was 3.58%, compared to 3.60% for 2013. The Company's deposit cost of funds for the year 2014 was 0.27% compared to 0.29% for the same period one year ago.

The provision for loan losses was $6.8 million for the year 2014, down 2% from $6.9 million for the prior year. Net loan charge- offs decreased by 46% from $9.0 million in 2013 to $4.9 million in 2014.

Total noninterest expenses for 2014 were up slightly by $679,000, or 1%, compared to 2013.

The efficiency ratio improved to 71.0% for 2014 compared to 74.1% for 2013.
 
Balance Sheet Highlights:

Loan growth continues to be strong as net loans grew $245.8 million, or 14%, over the past twelve months to $1.97 billion.

1





Nonperforming loans were 1.77% of total loans at December 31, 2014, compared to 2.30% of total loans one year ago.

Total assets reached $3.00 billion, an 8% increase over one year ago.

Our allowance for loan losses (allowance or ALL) totaled $25.0 million, or 1.25%, of total loans at December 31, 2014 as compared to $23.1 million, or 1.32%, of total loans at December 31, 2013.

Total deposits were $2.38 billion at December 31, 2014, up $141.1 million, or 6% over December 31, 2013. Total core deposits grew $108.9 million, or 5%, over the past twelve months and totaled $2.29 billion at December 31, 2014.

Metro's capital levels remain strong with a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.42%, a Tier 1 Leverage ratio of 9.00% and a tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of 8.83%.

Stockholders' equity totaled $265.5 million, or 8.86% of total assets, at the end of 2014. At December 31, 2014, the Company's book value per share was $18.60.

Late in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company initiated its previously announced 5% common share repurchase program. A total of 12,300 shares were purchased as of December 31, 2014.

Key financial highlights for 2014 compared to 2013 are summarized in the following table:
 
TABLE 1
 
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
%
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
2014
2013
Change
Total assets
$
2,997,572

$
2,781,118

8
 %
Total loans (net)
1,973,536

1,727,762

14

Total deposits
2,380,672

2,239,621

6

Total stockholders' equity
265,523

230,183

15

Total revenues
$
127,524

$
121,320

5
 %
Provision for loan losses
6,750

6,875

(2
)
Total noninterest expenses
90,548

89,869

1

Net income
21,085

17,260

22

Diluted net income per common share
1.46

1.20

22

 
Application of Critical Accounting Policies
 
Our accounting policies are fundamental to understanding Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for December 31, 2014 included herein. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These principles require our management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Since future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty, actual results may differ from those estimates. Management makes adjustments to its assumptions and estimates when facts and circumstances dictate. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis and predicate those estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management believes the following critical accounting policies encompass the more significant assumptions and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
 
Allowance for Loan Losses. The ALL represents the amount available for estimated probable losses embedded in Metro Bank's (the Bank) loan portfolio. While the allowance is maintained at a level believed to be adequate by management for estimated probable losses in the loan portfolio, the determination of the allowance is inherently subjective as it involves material estimates that can change significantly as more information becomes available.
 

2




While management uses available information to make such evaluations, future adjustments to the allowance and the provision for loan losses may be necessary if economic conditions or loan credit quality differ materially from the estimates and assumptions used in making the evaluations. The use of different assumptions could materially impact the level of the allowance and, therefore, the provision for loan losses to be charged against earnings. Such changes could impact future financial results.
 
Monthly, the Bank performs systematic reviews of its loan portfolios to identify probable losses and assess the overall probability of collection. These reviews include an analysis of historical loss experience, which results in the identification and quantification of loss factors. These loss factors are used in determining the appropriate level of allowance to cover the estimated probable losses in specific loan types. The estimates of loss factors can be impacted by many variables, such as the number of years of actual loss history included in the evaluation.

As part of the quantitative analysis of the adequacy of the ALL for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, management based its calculation of probable future loan losses on those loans collectively reviewed for impairment on a rolling two-year period of actual historical losses. Management may adjust the number of years used in the historical loss calculation depending on the state of the local, regional and national economies and other factors and the period of time which management believes will most accurately recognize unknown losses.

Significant estimates are involved in the determination of any loss related to impaired loans. The evaluation of an impaired loan is based on either (1) the discounted cash flows using the loan's effective interest rate, (2) the fair value of the collateral for collateral-dependent loans, or (3) the observable market price of the impaired loan. Each of these estimates involves management's judgment.

In addition to calculating the loss factors, the Bank may periodically adjust the factors for changes in levels and trends of charge-offs, delinquencies and nonaccrual loans; material changes in the mix, volume, or duration of the loan portfolio; changes in lending policies and procedures including underwriting standards; changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the level of such concentrations; and changes in national and local economic trends and conditions, among other things. Management judgment is exercised at many levels in making these evaluations.
 
An integral aspect of our risk management process is allocating the ALL to various components of the loan portfolio based upon an analysis of risk factors, such as demonstrated losses, industry risks and other segmentations and other judgmental factors.
 
Other-than-Temporary Impairment (OTTI) of Investment Securities. We perform no less than quarterly reviews of the fair value of the securities in the Company's investment portfolio and evaluate individual securities for declines in fair value that may be other-than-temporary. If declines are deemed other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized against earnings for the portion of the impairment deemed to be related to credit.  The remaining portion of the impairment that is not related to credit is written down to its current fair value through other comprehensive income.
 
Stock-Based Compensation. The Company recognizes compensation costs related to share-based payment transactions in the income statement based on the grant-date fair value of the stock-based compensation issued. Compensation costs are recognized over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. The grant-date fair value and ultimately, the amount of compensation expense recognized, are dependent upon certain assumptions we make such as the expected term the options will remain outstanding, the dividend yield and the volatility of our Company stock price and a risk free interest rate. This critical accounting policy is more fully described in Note 1 and Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this annual report for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
Fair Value Measurements. The Company is required to disclose the fair value of its financial instruments that are measured at fair value within a fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value, giving the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). These disclosures appear in Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014. Judgment is involved not only with deriving the estimated fair values but also with classifying the particular assets recorded at fair value in the fair value hierarchy. Estimating the fair value of impaired loans or the value of collateral securing foreclosed assets requires the use of significant unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). At December 31, 2014, the fair value of assets based on level 3 measurements constituted 2% of the total assets measured at fair value. The fair value of collateral securing impaired loans or constituting foreclosed assets is generally determined based upon independent third party appraisals of the properties, recent offers, or prices on comparable properties in the proximate vicinity. Such estimates can differ significantly from the amounts the Company would ultimately realize from the loan or disposition of the underlying collateral.
 
The Company's available for sale (AFS) investment security portfolio constitutes 98% of the total assets measured at fair value and all securities are classified as a level 2 fair value measurement (quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable,

3




either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability). Management utilizes third party service providers to aid in the determination of the fair value of the portfolio. Most securities are not quoted on an exchange, but are traded in active markets and fair values were obtained from matrix pricing on similar securities.

Deferred Taxes.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be used.  

The Company assesses whether or not the deferred tax assets would be realized in the future if the Company would not have future taxable income to use as an offset. If future taxable income is not expected to be available to use, a valuation allowance is required to be recognized. A valuation allowance would result in additional income tax expense in the period. The Company assesses if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of a valuation allowance is subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning both positive and negative evidence to support that the net deferred tax assets will be utilized. In order to evaluate whether or not a valuation allowance is necessary, the Company uses current forecasts of future income, the ability to carryback losses to preceding years, reviews possible tax planning strategies and assesses current and future economic and business conditions. Negative evidence utilized would include any cumulative losses in previous years and general business and economic trends. At December 31, 2014, the Company conducted such an analysis to determine if a valuation allowance was required and concluded that a valuation allowance was not necessary. A valuation allowance, if required, could have a significant impact on the Company's future earnings.

Results of Operations

For the year 2014, total revenues were $127.5 million, up $6.2 million, or 5%, compared to $121.3 million earned in 2013.

We derive total revenues from various sources, including:
Interest income from our loan portfolio;
Interest income from our securities portfolio;
Electronic banking services;
Fees associated with customer deposit accounts;
Fees from issuing loan commitments and standby letters of credit;
Fees from various cash management services; and
Sales of loans and securities.
 
Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income is the difference between interest income earned on loans, investment securities and other interest-earning assets and the interest expense paid on deposits, borrowed funds and long-term debt. Changes in net interest income and net interest margin result from the interaction between the volume and composition of interest-earning assets and their related yields; and the volume and composition of interest-bearing liabilities and their associated funding costs. Changes in net interest income are frequently measured by two statistics: net interest rate spread and net interest margin. Net interest rate spread is the difference between the average rate earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest margin represents the difference between interest income, including net loan fees earned, and interest expense, reflected as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.

Net interest income is our primary source of revenue. There are several factors that can affect our net interest income, including:
 
the volume, pricing, mix and maturity of the Bank's interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities;
market interest rate fluctuations; and
the level of nonperforming assets.

Net interest income on a fully tax-equivalent basis (which adjusts for the tax-exempt status of income earned on certain loans and investment securities in order to show such income as if it were taxable) increased $6.5 million, or 7%, to $100.0 million for 2014 over $93.5 million in 2013. The increase in net interest income was driven primarily by a higher level of average loans receivable, partially offset by a lower weighted-average yield earned on the loan portfolio in 2014 compared to 2013. The slight decrease in the yield earned on loans receivable in 2014 was the result of the sustained low interest rate environment as legacy loans originated in prior years with higher interest rates continued to pay down and thus makeup a smaller portion of total loans receivable. The impact of the lower overall loan yields on the Company's net interest income in 2014 was partially offset by continued efforts to manage down the Company's cost of funds through management's strategic deposit pricing process, combined with the positive impact of higher rate certificates of deposit (CDs) maturing and renewing into new term CDs at lower current rates or being deposited by customers into lower cost checking and savings accounts.

4





Interest income on a tax-equivalent basis for 2014 totaled $108.0 million, an increase of $6.3 million, or 6%, over 2013. This increase was related to the above-mentioned increase in the level of average loans receivable partially offset by lower yields earned on the overall loan portfolio due to the sustained low interest rate environment throughout 2014.

During 2014, average interest-earning assets were $2.77 billion, an increase of $195.7 million, or 8%, over 2013. This was the result of an increase in the average balance of loans receivable (including loans held for sale) of $215.4 million, or 13%, partially offset by a slight decrease in the average balance of investment securities of $19.6 million, or 2%.
 
The tax-equivalent yield on total interest-earning assets decreased by 5 bps, from 3.92% in 2013 to 3.87% in 2014.  This decrease primarily resulted from lower yields on our loan portfolio during 2014. Floating rate loans represented approximately 46% of our total loans receivable portfolio at December 31, 2014 and 45% of total loans receivable at December 31, 2013. The interest rates charged on the majority of these floating-rate loans are based on either the prime lending rate or London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and are currently lower than the interest rates associated with the fixed rate loans in our portfolio. As loans which we originated in prior years with higher fixed interest rates continued to amortize and/or mature throughout 2014, we reinvested these cash flows in new loan originations at lower yields given the current continued low interest rate environment. This has reduced our interest-earning asset yields and somewhat constrained our growth in interest income, even though our average earning assets grew 8% in 2014 over 2013. Despite expectations that the Federal Reserve will likely raise interest rates in 2015, we expect this trend of decreasing yields on our interest-earning asset portfolio could continue slightly in 2015, due to lower replacement yields on new loans until interest rates begin to increase. See the Interest Rate Sensitivity section later in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion.
 
Interest expense for 2014 decreased $217,000, or 3%, from $8.2 million in 2013 to $8.0 million in 2014. This decrease was related to lower interest rates paid on most interest-bearing deposits and the repayment of $15.0 million of long-term debt, partially offset by increases in average deposit balances as well as increases in both the average balance of and rate paid on short-term borrowings.The average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits in 2014 was 0.34%, 3 bps less than in 2013, while the average rate paid on short-term borrowings increased in 2014 to 0.29% from 0.23% in 2013. Interest expense related to long-term debt decreased by $341,000 compared to 2013, due to the September 2014 call and retirement by the Company of $15.0 million Trust Capital Securities at par with an interest rate of 7.75% and the full-year impact of the March 2013 maturity of a $25.0 million Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) borrowing with an interest rate of 1.01%.

The aforementioned growth in the average balance of interest-earning assets was funded by an increase in the average balance of short-term borrowings of $87.1 million, an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits of $52.7 million and by an increase in the average balance of demand deposits and other noninterest-bearing funds of $53.9 million, partially offset by a $9.4 million decrease in long-term debt.

Our average deposit cost of funds decreased from 0.29% in 2013 to 0.27% for 2014. The decrease in the Company's deposit cost of funds is primarily related to the combination of time deposits that matured and renewed at lower interest rates as well as slightly lower interest rates paid in 2014 offsetting the increase in average balances on many of our interest checking, savings and money market deposit accounts. For time deposits, the average rate paid in 2014 was 1.08%, down 15 bps from 1.23% in 2013. Time deposits that were originated in previous years at much higher interest rates and matured in 2014 were either renewed into new CDs with much lower interest rates or shifted by our customers to their checking and/or savings accounts which typically pay even lower rates of interest than CDs. At December 31, 2014, $669.1 million, or 28%, of our total deposits were those of local municipalities, school districts, not-for-profit organizations or corporate cash management customers, where the interest rates paid are generally tied to an internally managed index rate. If short-term market interest rates increase, the deposit cost of funds will increase according to the increase in the respective index to which their interest rates are tied.
 
Average short-term borrowings increased by $87.1 million from $301.4 million in 2013 to $388.5 million in 2014. As previously mentioned, the increase in average short-term borrowings supplemented our growth in average deposit balances to fund the increase in the Company's average earning assets. The average cost of this nondeposit funding source increased to 0.29% in 2014 from 0.23% in 2013, primarily as a result from higher average rates on short-term FHLB advances. The average outstanding balance of long-term debt decreased from $21.0 million in 2013 to $11.6 million in 2014 as a result of the aforementioned 2013 maturity of a FHLB long-term advance and the retirement in September 2014 of a $15.0 million trust capital debt security. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included herein for further discussion regarding long-term debt. The aggregate average cost of all interest-bearing funding sources for the Company was 0.37% in 2014, compared to 0.41% in 2013. 

5




Table 2 below sets forth balance sheet items on a daily average basis for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and presents the daily average interest rates earned on assets and the daily average interest rates paid on liabilities for such periods. Nonaccrual loans have been included in the average loan balances. Securities include securities available for sale, securities held to maturity and restricted investments in bank stock. Securities available for sale are carried at amortized cost for purposes of calculating the average rate received on taxable securities. Yields on tax-exempt securities and loans are computed on a tax-equivalent basis, assuming a 35% tax rate.

TABLE 2
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
2013
2012
(dollars in thousands)
Average Balance
Interest
Average Rate
Average Balance
Interest
Average Rate
Average  Balance
Interest
Average Rate
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable
$
870,984

$
20,373

2.34
%
$
895,489

$
20,552

2.30
%
$
796,306

$
21,468

2.70
%
Tax-exempt
34,889

1,308

3.75

30,016

1,139

3.80

18,189

693

3.81

Total securities
905,873

21,681

2.39

925,505

21,691

2.34

814,495

22,161

2.72

Federal funds sold






2,696

1

0.05

Total loans
1,862,978

86,326

4.58

1,647,608

79,988

4.80

1,489,787

77,342

5.13

Total interest-earning assets
2,768,851

$
108,007

3.87
%
2,573,113

$
101,679

3.92
%
2,306,978

$
99,504

4.27
%
Allowance for loan losses
(24,381
)
 
 
(27,529
)
 
 
(24,919
)
 
 
Other noninterest-earning assets
141,106

 
 
155,738

 
 
175,324

 
 
Total assets
$
2,885,576

 
 
$
2,701,322

 
 
$
2,457,383

 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regular savings
$
465,620

$
1,314

0.28
%
$
436,618

$
1,365

0.31
%
$
398,242

$
1,422

0.36
%
Interest checking and money market
1,074,666

2,931

0.27

1,067,444

3,041

0.28

1,050,664

3,799

0.36

Time deposits
128,037

1,386

1.08

129,502

1,591

1.23

157,238

2,262

1.44

Public time and other noncore deposits
78,450

273

0.35

60,518

207

0.34

54,333

218

0.40

Total interest-bearing deposits
1,746,773

5,904

0.34

1,694,082

6,204

0.37

1,660,477

7,701

0.46

Short-term borrowings
388,518

1,136

0.29

301,447

712

0.23

86,333

203

0.23

Long-term debt
11,601

939

8.09

21,005

1,280

6.09

47,662

2,206

4.62

Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,146,892

$
7,979

0.37
%
2,016,534

$
8,196

0.41
%
1,794,472

$
10,110

0.56
%
Demand deposits (noninterest-bearing)
472,322

 
 
434,753

 
 
420,181

 
 
Other liabilities
17,038

 
 
17,006

 
 
13,958

 
 
Total liabilities
2,636,252

 
 
2,468,293

 
 
2,228,611

 
 
Stockholders' equity
249,324

 
 
233,029

 
 
228,772

 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
2,885,576

 
 
$
2,701,322

 
 
$
2,457,383

 
 
Net interest income and margin on
  a tax-equivalent basis
 
$
100,028

3.58
%
 
$
93,483

3.60
%
 
$
89,394

3.83
%
Tax-exempt adjustment
 
2,225

 
 
2,353

 
 
2,196

 
Net interest income and margin
 
$
97,803

3.50
%
 
$
91,130

3.51
%
 
$
87,198

3.74
%



6




A summary of net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis, net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis and net interest rate spread is presented in Table 3 below:

TABLE 3
 
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Change
% Change
Interest income on tax-equivalent basis
$
108,007

$
101,679

$
6,328

6
 %
Interest expense
7,979

8,196

(217
)
(3
)%
Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis
$
100,028

$
93,483

$
6,545

7
 %
Net interest margin fully tax-equivalent
3.58
%
3.60
%
 
 
Net interest rate spread
3.50
%
3.51
%
 
 

Table 4 demonstrates the relative impact on net interest income of changes in the volume of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in rates earned and paid by us on such assets and liabilities. For purposes of this table, nonaccrual loans have been included in the average loan balances and tax-exempt loans and securities are reported on a fully-taxable equivalent basis.

TABLE 4
 
2014 v. 2013
2013 v. 2012
 
Increase (Decrease)
Increase (Decrease)
 
Due to Changes in (1)
Due to Changes in (1) (2)
(in thousands)
Volume
Rate
Total
Volume
Rate
Total
Interest on securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable
$
(437
)
$
258

$
(179
)
$
2,280

$
(3,196
)
$
(916
)
Tax-exempt
182

(13
)
169

450

(4
)
446

Federal funds sold



(1
)

(1
)
Interest on loans
9,899

(3,561
)
6,338

6,351

(3,705
)
2,646

Total interest income
9,644

(3,316
)
6,328

9,080

(6,905
)
2,175

Interest on deposits:
 

 

 

 

 

 

Regular savings
93

(144
)
(51
)
43

(100
)
(57
)
Interest checking and money market
(61
)
(49
)
(110
)
(98
)
(660
)
(758
)
Time deposits
184

(389
)
(205
)
(228
)
(443
)
(671
)
Public funds time and other noncore deposits
64

2

66

7

(18
)
(11
)
Short-term borrowings
232

192

424

507

2

509

Long-term debt
(353
)
12

(341
)
(782
)
(144
)
(926
)
Total interest expense
159

(376
)
(217
)
(551
)
(1,363
)
(1,914
)
Net increase (decrease)
$
9,485

$
(2,940
)
$
6,545

$
9,631

$
(5,542
)
$
4,089

(1)
Changes due to both volume and rate have been allocated on a pro rata basis to either rate or volume.
(2)
Changes due to the difference in the number of days (2012 was a leap year) are divided between Volume and Rate columns based on each categories percent of the total difference.

Provision for Loan Losses
 
Management undertakes a rigorous and consistently applied process in order to evaluate the ALL and to determine the level of provision for loan losses, as previously stated in the Application of Critical Accounting Policies section in this Management's Discussion and Analysis. As stated in this policy, the Company currently uses a two-year period of actual historical losses when determining the allowance for loans that are evaluated collectively. Management continuously assesses the quality of the Company's loan portfolio in conjunction with the current state of the economy and its impact on our borrowers repayment ability and on loan collateral values in order to determine the appropriate historical loss period to use in our quantitative analysis. Considering these factors, management continued to use a two-year historical loss period throughout 2014 in determining the adequacy of the ALL.

7





The ALL as a percentage of total period-end loans decreased in both 2014 and 2013, primarily due to lower levels of individually-evaluated loans requiring a specific allowance. The following table presents the ALL and nonperforming loan balances along with certain related ratios:
 
TABLE 5
 
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Allowance for loan losses
$
24,998

$
23,110

$
25,282

Allowance as a percentage of total period-end loans
1.25
%
1.32
%
1.65
%
Total nonperforming loans
$
35,411

$
40,332

$
32,636

Nonperforming loans to total loans
1.77
%
2.30
%
2.13
%

Management believes that the provision for loan losses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 adequately supports the allowance balance at December 31, 2014. The following table presents information regarding the provision for loan losses, net loan charge-offs and net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively:
 
TABLE 6
 

 
2014 vs. 2013
 
2013 vs. 2012
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Decrease
% Decrease
2012
$ Change
% Change
Provision for loan losses
$
6,750

$
6,875

$
(125
)
(2
)%
$
10,100

$
(3,225
)
(32
)%
Net loan charge-offs
4,862

9,047

(4,185
)
(46
)
6,438

2,609

41

Net charge-offs as a percentage of
   average loans outstanding
0.26
%
0.55
%
 
 
0.44
%
 
 

The provision for loan losses decreased by $125,000 compared to the provision recorded in 2013. The decrease is due to a reduction in charge-offs, an increase in recoveries and upgrades of two specific loan relationships partially offset by an increase in loan receivables and an increase in additional loans needing specific reserves.

See the Loan and Asset Quality section later in this Management's Discussion and Analysis for further discussion regarding nonperforming loans. Also, see the Application of Critical Accounting Policies section in this Management's Discussion and Analysis regarding the ALL as well as Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included herein for further discussion regarding additional important factors and our methodology for determining the provision for loan losses. In addition, see our Forward-Looking Statements in this Management's Discussion and Analysis and risk factors associated with the provision for loan losses in Item 1A of our annual report on Form 10-K.
 

8




Noninterest Income
 
The breakdown of noninterest income for the period ended December 31, for each of the years 2012 through 2014 is presented in the table that follows:

TABLE 7
 
 
 
2014 vs. 2013
 
2013 vs. 2012
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Change
% Change
2012
$ Change
% Change
Card income
$
15,448

$
14,681

$
767

5
 %
$
14,090

$
591

4
 %
Service charges on deposit accounts
8,927

9,263

(336
)
(4
)
9,976

(713
)
(7
)
Other fee income
4,394

4,627

(233
)
(5
)
4,306

321

7

Net gains on sales of loans
1,034

955

79

8

1,220

(265
)
(22
)
Net gains (losses) on sales/calls of securities
(82
)
664

(746
)
(112
)
1,051

(387
)
(37
)
Debt prepayment charge




(140
)
140

(100
)
Net impairment loss on investment securities




(649
)
649

(100
)
Total noninterest income
$
29,721

$
30,190

$
(469
)
(2
)%
$
29,854

$
336

1
 %

Noninterest income is mainly comprised of card income, service charges on deposit accounts and gains on sales of loans. Noninterest income decreased by $469,000, or 2%, from $30.2 million in 2013 to $29.7 million in 2014. Card income for 2014 increased by $767,000, or 5%, over 2013 as the volume of transactions continued to increase. Conversely, service charges on deposit accounts and other income decreased $336,000 and $233,000, respectively, in 2014 from 2013 primarily due to lower overdraft service charges and the elimination of credit card income as a result of the Company selling its credit card portfolio in 2013. In 2014, total gains on sales of residential and Small Business Administration (SBA) loans were $1.0 million compared to $955,000 in 2013. Net losses on the sale of five investment securities totaled $82,000 for 2014 compared to net gains of $664,000 for 2013 on the sale or call of 30 securities. There were no OTTI losses recorded in either 2014 or 2013 in the Bank's investment portfolio. See the Securities section in Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding OTTI.

See the 2013 versus 2012 section later in this Management's Discussion and Analysis for a discussion of significant noninterest income changes for the years ended 2013 and 2012.


9




Noninterest Expenses
  
The breakdown of noninterest expenses for the period ended December 31, for each of the years 2012 through 2014 is presented and discussed below:

TABLE 8
 
 
 
2014 vs. 2013
 
2013 vs. 2012
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Change
% Change
2012
$ Change
% Change
Salaries and employee benefits
$
44,381

$
42,806

$
1,575

4
 %
$
41,241

$
1,565

4
 %
Occupancy
8,663

8,710

(47
)
(1
)
8,439

271

3

Furniture and equipment
3,707

4,540

(833
)
(18
)
4,842

(302
)
(6
)
Advertising and marketing
1,737

1,685

52

3

1,533

152

10

Data processing
13,538

12,838

700

5

13,590

(752
)
(6
)
Regulatory assessments and related fees
2,205

2,227

(22
)
(1
)
4,063

(1,836
)
(45
)
Telephone
3,440

3,643

(203
)
(6
)
3,480

163

5

Loan expense
1,406

2,024

(618
)
(31
)
1,384

640

46

Foreclosed real estate
402

422

(20
)
(5
)
1,335

(913
)
(68
)
Consulting fees
959

807

152

19

1,104

(297
)
(27
)
Pennsylvania shares tax
1,934

2,176

(242
)
(11
)
1,789

387

22

Other
8,176

7,991

185

2

8,344

(353
)
(4
)
Total noninterest expenses
$
90,548

$
89,869

$
679

1
 %
$
91,144

$
(1,275
)
(1
)%

After reducing the level of noninterest expenses for three straight years from 2011 through 2013, the Company was able to limit total noninterest expenses in 2014 to a slight increase of only 1% over 2013. A comparison of noninterest expenses for certain categories for 2014 versus 2013 is discussed below.

Salary expenses and employee benefits, which represent the largest component of our noninterest expenses, increased $1.6 million, or 4%, in 2014 over 2013. This increase was primarily a combined result of an increase in employee compensation levels as well as the cost of benefits including medical coverage.

Furniture and equipment expenses totaled $3.7 million in 2014, down 18%, or $833,000 from 2013. The decrease was primarily the result of lower depreciation expense due to certain store and back office furniture and equipment reaching the end of its estimated depreciable life during 2014.

Data processing expense totaled $13.5 million in 2014, 5%, or $700,000 more than in 2013. The increase was primarily the result of higher processing costs from third party service providers as well as expenses associated with the implementation of our mobile banking product platform during 2014.
 
Loan expenses totaled $1.4 million in 2014, a decrease of $618,000, or 31%, compared to 2013. This decrease is due in large part to the elimination of credit card expenses. The recovery of legal fees and other related expenses that were expensed in prior periods on a few problem commercial real estate loans as well as lower overall problem loan expenses also contributed to the decline in 2014.

Consulting fees totaled $959,000 in 2014, up $152,000, or 19%, over 2013, primarily due to an increase in specialized services utilized during 2014.
 
Pennsylvania bank shares tax expense of $1.9 million decreased $242,000, or 11%, from 2013 due to a lower tax rate effective for tax years beginning on January 1, 2014, partially offset by the growth of the Bank's balance sheet which is used in the bank shares tax assessment calculation.

See the 2013 versus 2012 section later in this Management's Discussion and Analysis for a discussion of significant noninterest expense changes for the years ended 2013 and 2012.

One key measure used to monitor progress in controlling overhead expenses is the ratio of net noninterest expenses to average assets. For purposes of this calculation, net noninterest expenses equal total noninterest expenses minus total noninterest income; the lower the

10




ratio, the better. This ratio improved again in 2014 for the fifth year in a row which reflects the Company's continued strong focus on containing costs while showing strong balance sheet growth.

Another productivity measure is the operating efficiency ratio. This ratio expresses the relationship of noninterest expenses to net interest income plus noninterest income. Again, the lower the percentage, the more efficient the Company is. The improvement of this ratio for 2014 was the result of a 7% increase in net interest income and only a 1% increase in noninterest expenses over 2013 levels. This also marks the fifth straight year that Metro has achieved improvement in its efficiency ratio.

TABLE 9
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Net noninterest expenses to average assets
2.11
%
2.21
%
2.49
%
Operating efficiency ratio
71.00
%
74.08
%
77.87
%

Provision for Federal Income Taxes

The following table presents information regarding the provision for federal income taxes and the effective and statutory tax rates:
 
TABLE 10
 
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Provision for federal income taxes
$
9,141

$
7,316

$
4,914

Effective tax rate
30
%
30
%
31
%
Statutory tax rate
35
%
35
%
35
%

The effective tax rate is the ratio of income tax expense to income before taxes.
 
Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities.
 
At December 31, 2014, deferred tax assets amounted to $13.7 million and deferred tax liabilities totaled $4.8 million. Deferred tax assets are realizable primarily through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences. Management currently anticipates the Company's future earnings will be adequate to utilize all of its net deferred tax assets. The Company used current forecasts of future expected income, possible tax planning strategies, current and future economic and business conditions (such as the possibility of a decrease in real estate value for properties the Bank holds as collateral on loans), the probability that taxable income will continue to be generated in future periods and the current year's tax liability to make the determination. See Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included herein, for an additional analysis of the provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.


11




Net Income and Net Income per Common Share
 
The major categories of the income statement and their respective impact to the increase in net income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are presented below:

TABLE 11
 
 
 
2014 vs. 2013
 
2013 vs. 2012
(in thousands, except per share data)
2014
2013
$ Change
% Change
2012
$ Change
% Change
Net interest income
$
97,803

$
91,130

$
6,673

7
 %
$
87,198

$
3,932

5
 %
Provision for loan losses
6,750

6,875

(125
)
(2
)
10,100

(3,225
)
(32
)
Noninterest income
29,721

30,190

(469
)
(2
)
29,854

336

1

Noninterest expenses
90,548

89,869

679

1

91,144

(1,275
)
(1
)
Provision for income taxes
9,141

7,316

1,825

25

4,914

2,402

49

Net income
$
21,085

$
17,260

$
3,825

22
 %
$
10,894

$
6,366

58
 %
Net Income per Common Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Basic
$
1.48

$
1.21

$
0.27

22
 %
$
0.77

$
0.44

57
 %
   Diluted
1.46

1.20

0.26

22

0.77

0.43

56


See Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included herein, for an analysis of earnings per share.

Return on Average Assets and Average Stockholders' Equity
 
Return on average assets (ROA) measures our net income in relation to our total average assets. Return on average stockholders' equity (ROE) indicates how effectively we can generate net income on the capital invested by our stockholders. ROE is calculated by dividing net income by average stockholders' equity.

The ROA and ROE ratios are presented in the following table:
 
TABLE 12
 
December 31,
 
2014
2013
Return on average assets
0.73
%
0.64
%
Return on average stockholders' equity
8.46

7.41

 
2013 versus 2012
 
Refer to the earlier Results of Operations sections of this Management's Discussion and Analysis for tables which reflect a detailed comparison of the years ended 2013 versus 2012. Certain significant changes for the years ended 2013 versus 2012 are discussed below:
 
Net income for 2013 was $17.3 million, or $1.20 per diluted common share, up $6.4 million, or 58%, over $10.9 million, or $0.77 per diluted common share recorded in 2012.

Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis for 2013 was $93.5 million, an increase of $4.1 million, or 5%, over 2012. Interest income on earnings assets on a tax-equivalent basis totaled $101.7 million, an increase of $2.2 million or 2%, over 2012. Interest expense for 2013 was $8.2 million, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 19%, from 2012.
 
Our net interest rate spread decreased to 3.51% in 2013 from 3.71% in 2012 on a fully tax-equivalent basis. The fully tax-equivalent net interest margin decreased 23 bps from 3.83% in 2012 to 3.60% in 2013.
 
The provision for loan losses totaled $6.9 million in 2013 compared to $10.1 million in 2012. Net charge-offs in 2013 totaled $9.0 million, or 0.55%, of average loans outstanding as compared to $6.4 million, or 0.44%, of average loans outstanding in 2012.
 

12




Noninterest income for 2013 increased by $336,000, or 1%, from 2012 to $30.2 million. Included in total noninterest income in 2013 were net gains of $955,000 on the sale of residential loans and a $664,000 gain on the sale of investment securities. Comparably, included in total noninterest income in 2012 were gains of $1.2 million on the sale of residential loans and a $1.1 million gain on the sale of investment securities, partially offset by $649,000 of net impairment charges on investment securities. Also, netted against noninterest income in 2012 was a $140,000 charge to repurchase and retire Trust Capital Securities.
 
Noninterest expenses totaled $89.9 million for 2013, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 1%, from 2012. A comparison of noninterest expenses for certain categories for 2013 and 2012 is discussed below.
 
Salary expenses and employee benefits increased by $1.6 million, or 4%, in 2013 from 2012. This increase was primarily a combined result of an increase in full-time equivalent employees as well as an increase in employee compensation levels which had been held relatively flat over the past few years when the Company recorded net losses or lower levels of net income.
 
Advertising and marketing expenses totaled $1.7 million in 2013, a $152,000, or 10%, increase over 2012. 

Data processing expenses decreased by $752,000, or 6%, in 2013 from 2012. The decrease was primarily the result of lower processing costs from third party service providers during 2013.

Regulatory assessments and related fees of $2.2 million in 2013 were $1.8 million, or 45%, lower than for 2012. The decrease was primarily the result of a one-time nonrecurring expense of $1.5 million for a civil money penalty assessed against the Bank by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) during 2012. The Bank also experienced a $317,000, or 13%, decrease in FDIC deposit insurance fee assessments in 2013 compared to 2012 primarily as a result of the Bank's release from a consent order in 2012. See the Regulatory Matters section in Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion regarding the civil monetary penalty.

Loan expenses totaled $2.0 million in 2013, an increase of $640,000, or 46%, over 2012. This increase was due to customer unpaid real estate taxes which were paid by the Bank to secure collateral on certain problem loans, one of which was moved into foreclosed real estate during the first half of the year at a fair market value of $2.0 million.
 
Foreclosed real estate expenses of $422,000 for 2013 decreased by $913,000, or 68%, compared to $1.3 million in 2012. The decrease was primarily a result of a $640,000 pretax loss on the sale of a specific property during 2012. Write-downs of foreclosed assets totaling $89,000 in 2013 compared to $257,000 of write-downs in 2012 and lower operating costs on properties in 2013 also contributed to the decrease.

Consulting fees decreased $297,000, or 27%, in 2013 to $807,000 compared to $1.1 million in 2012. The decrease was related to the reduced need for consulting services in 2013 compared to the level utilized in 2012.

Pennsylvania bank shares tax expense of $2.2 million increased $387,000, or 22%, over 2012 as a result of the growth of the Bank's balance sheet which is used in the bank shares tax assessment calculation.

For 2013, the Company's operating efficiency ratio was 74.08% compared to 77.87% for 2012. The improvement of this ratio was the result of a higher level of net interest income and noninterest income in 2013 combined with a lower level of noninterest expenses.

Financial Condition
 
Securities
 
The Company maintains a securities portfolio in order to provide liquidity, to manage interest rate risk and to use as collateral on borrowings and on certain governmental deposits. Securities are purchased and sold as part of our overall asset and liability management strategy. The classification of all securities is determined at the time of purchase. Securities expected to be held for an indefinite period of time are classified as securities available for sale and are carried at fair value. Decisions by management to purchase or sell these securities are based on an assessment of financial and economic conditions, including changes in prepayment risks and interest rates, liquidity needs, capital adequacy, collateral requirements for pledging, alternative asset and liability management strategies, tax considerations and regulatory requirements.
 
Securities are classified as held to maturity (HTM) if, at the time of purchase, management has both the intent and ability to hold the securities until maturity. HTM securities are carried at amortized cost. Sales of securities in this portfolio should only occur after a security has returned more than 85% of its principal and could be sold without tainting the Company's intent with respect to the remaining HTM portfolio or in unusual and rare situations where significant unforeseeable changes in circumstances may cause a change in intent. Examples of such instances would include deterioration in the issuer's creditworthiness that is evidently supportable and significant or a change in

13




tax law that eliminates or reduces the tax-exempt status of interest (but not the revision of marginal tax rates applicable to interest income). HTM securities cannot be sold based upon any of the decisions used to sell securities available for sale as listed above. See Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included herein, for further analysis of our securities portfolio.
 
Based on the amortized cost, approximately 99% of our investment securities carry fixed rate coupons that do not change over the life of the securities. Many of the amortizing securities are purchased at premiums or discounts, which are amortized or accreted over the estimated average life of the amortizing securities as an adjustment to the yield.  The estimated average life may change depending on changes in the estimated rate of prepayments, thus affecting the yields we recognize. Premiums and discounts on nonamortizing securities, such as government and municipal bonds, are amortized or accreted to their maturity date or call date. At December 31, 2014, the taxable equivalent yield on our total investment securities portfolio was 2.38%, up 2 bps over 2.36% at December 31, 2013. This increase was due to purchases of new securities in 2014 at slightly higher yields than those purchased in previous years.

Throughout 2014 there was a general decline in interest rates and a flattening of the yield curve as investors were apprehensive about the timing of future increases in short-term interest rates by the Federal Reserve as well as ongoing global economic turmoil. Investors fled to the safety of U.S. Treasuries pushing up their prices and thus lowering rates, especially toward the end of the year. The yield on the five-year Treasury note fell 13 bps from 1.78% at September 30, 2014 to 1.65% at December 31, 2014. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell 35 bps from 2.52% at September 30, 2014 to 2.17% at December 31, 2014. The fair value of investment securities is affected by the interest rate, credit spreads, market volatility, and liquidity conditions. The general decline in interest rates therefore improved the fair market value of the Company’s existing securities.
 
At December 31, 2014, the weighted-average life and duration of our total securities portfolio was approximately 5.4 years and 4.8 years, respectively, as compared to 6.2 years and 5.4 years, respectively, at December 31, 2013. The weighted-average life of the portfolio is calculated by estimating the average rate of repayment of the underlying collateral of each security. Mortgage-backed obligations historically experience repayment rates in excess of the scheduled repayments, causing a shorter weighted-average life of the security.

Our securities portfolio contained no derivatives as of December 31, 2014 or 2013.
 
The fair value of the Bank's AFS securities portfolio decreased $57.9 million in 2014, from $585.9 million at December 31, 2013 to $528.0 million at December 31, 2014. The change was a combined result of $30.3 million of sales, $69.4 million of principal pay downs and net premium amortization and discount accretion of $310,000, partially offset by net unrealized gains of $19.4 million and purchases of $22.7 million. At December 31, 2014, the unrealized loss on securities available for sale included in stockholders' equity as accumulated other comprehensive loss totaled $3.9 million, net of tax, compared to a $16.5 million unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of tax, at December 31, 2013. The AFS portfolio is comprised of U.S. Government agency securities, agency residential mortgage-backed securities (MBSs), agency collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and municipal securities. The market prices for most securities held in the Company's portfolio improved in 2014 and management believes that the fluctuation in unrealized gains and losses on these securities at December 31, 2014 was primarily the result of changes in general market interest rates and prices. At December 31, 2014, the weighted-average life, duration and taxable equivalent yield of our AFS portfolio was approximately 5.0 years, 4.5 years and 2.27%, respectively, as compared to 5.6 years, 4.9 years and 2.27%, respectively, at December 31, 2013.
 
During 2014, the carrying value of securities in the HTM portfolio increased $41.2 million, from $283.8 million at December 31, 2013 to $325.0 million at December 31, 2014. The change was a combined result of $57.7 million of purchases and net premium amortization and discount accretion of $106,000, partially offset by principal pay downs of $16.0 million and $603,000 of securities sold. The securities held in this portfolio include U.S. Government agency securities, agency residential MBSs, agency CMOs, corporate debt securities and municipal securities. At December 31, 2014, the weighted-average life, duration and taxable equivalent yield of our HTM portfolio was approximately 6.2 years, 5.4 years and 2.56%, respectively, as compared to 7.6 years, 6.4 years and 2.53%, respectively, at December 31, 2013.
 
In 2014, the Company sold a total of five agency CMO securities with a combined fair market value of $30.9 million and realized net losses of $82,000. Four of these securities with a combined fair market value of $30.3 million had been classified as available for sale. One security with a fair market value of $614,000 had been classified as held to maturity, however, the security was an amortizing piece where the current par value had fallen to less than 15% of its original par value and could be sold without tainting the remaining HTM portfolio. The Company uses the specific identification method to record security sales.
 
No investment in securities of a single non-U.S. Government or government agency issuer exceeded ten percent of shareholders' equity at December 31, 2014.
In December 2013, the U.S. banking agencies, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued final regulations to implement provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection

14




Act (Dodd-Frank Act) called the “Volcker Rule”. The regulations limit certain proprietary trading and includes several exclusions and exemptions surrounding security holdings. In December 2014, the implementation date was extended allowing banking entities to have until July 21, 2016 to conform their activities that were in place prior to December 31, 2013 with the requirements of the Volcker Rule. As of December 31, 2014, we had three securities with a fair value of $2.9 million that would be subject to those regulations. We are in the process of evaluating the full impact of the Volcker Rule on our current securities activities and our ownership interests in covered securities and do not believe it will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

The amortized cost of AFS and HTM securities are summarized in the following table:

TABLE 13
 
December 31,
 (in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
33,995

 
$
33,995

 
$
33,994

Residential MBSs
60,196

 
65,795

 
55,614

Agency CMOs
409,823

 
483,591

 
547,641

Municipal securities
29,985

 
27,950

 
26,890

Total available for sale
$
533,999

 
$
611,331

 
$
664,139

Held to Maturity:
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government agency securities
$
149,112

 
$
149,096

 
$
178,926

Residential MBSs
14,226

 
7,849

 
23,827

Agency CMOs
146,952

 
118,893

 
49,051

Corporate debt securities
5,000

 
5,000

 
15,000

Municipal securities
9,704

 
2,976

 
2,979

Total held to maturity
$
324,994

 
$
283,814

 
$
269,783

 
The contractual maturity distribution and weighted-average yield of our AFS and HTM portfolios at December 31, 2014 are summarized in Table 14. For mortgage-backed obligations, the contractual maturities may be significantly different than actual maturities. Changes in payment patterns and prepayments may occur depending on the market conditions and other economic variables. Weighted-average yield is calculated by multiplying the book yield times the book value for each security within each maturity range. Tax-exempt obligations have been tax effected, assuming a tax rate of 35%.

TABLE 14
December 31, 2014
Due Under 1 Year
Due 1-5 Years
Due 5-10 Years
Due Over 10 Years
Total
(dollars in thousands)
Amount/Yield
Amount/Yield
Amount/Yield
Amount/Yield
Amount/Yield
Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$

%
$

%
$
33,995

2.00
%
$

%
$
33,995

2.00
%
Residential MBSs






60,196

2.53

60,196

2.53

Agency CMOs






409,823

2.14

409,823

2.14

Municipal securities


4,797

2.71

15,665

3.72

9,523

4.39

29,985

3.77

Total available for sale
$

%
$
4,797

2.71
%
$
49,660

2.54
%
$
479,542

2.23
%
$
533,999

2.27
%
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Held to Maturity:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government agency securities
$

%
$

%
$
92,944

2.17
%
$
56,168

2.94
%
$
149,112

2.46
%
Residential MBSs




1,410

4.97

12,816

3.43

14,226

3.58

Agency CMOs






146,952

2.47

146,952

2.47

Corporate debt securities
5,000

3.00







5,000

3.00

Municipal securities




7,829

3.54

1,875

3.85

9,704

3.60

Total held to maturity
$
5,000

3.00
%
$

%
$
102,183

2.31
%
$
217,811

2.66
%
$
324,994

2.56
%
 

15




Note: Securities available for sale are carried at amortized cost in the table above for purposes of calculating the weighted-average yield received on such securities.
 
Loans Held for Sale
 
Loans held for sale are comprised of student loans, selected residential mortgage loans and the guaranteed portion of certain SBA loans the Company originates with the intention of selling in the future. Held for sale loans are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, calculated in the aggregate. At the present time, the majority of the Company's residential loans are originated with the intent to sell to the secondary market unless the loan is nonconforming to secondary market standards or if we agree not to sell the loan due to a customer's request. The residential mortgage loans that are designated as held for sale are sold to other financial institutions in correspondent relationships and the Bank does not retain the servicing. The sale of these loans takes place typically within 30 days of funding. During 2014, originations of residential loans totaled $36.2 million and $34.6 million of residential loans were sold.

During 2014, the Company began originating certain SBA loans with the intent to sell the guaranteed portion of the loans. The Company received proceeds of $11.9 million on sales of SBA HFS loans in 2014 and recognized a gain of $444,000 on those sales. Included within sales of SBA HFS loans were SBA loans with a carrying amount of $9.3 million previously classified as loans receivable and subsequently transferred to the loans held for sale portfolio and sold at a gain of $310,000. There were no SBA loan sales in 2013 or 2012.

Total loans held for sale were $5.0 million and $6.2 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, loans held for sale were comprised of $2.4 million of student loans and $2.6 million of residential mortgages as compared to $3.1 million of student loans and $3.1 million of residential mortgages at December 31, 2013.  Loans held for sale, as a percentage of total consolidated assets, were less than 1% at December 31, 2014 and 2013. At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, no residential mortgage loans held for sale were past due or impaired. At December 31, 2014 and 2013 there was $211,000 and $374,000, respectively, of student loans held for sale that were past due. These student loans are guaranteed by the federal government, limiting risk to the Bank in the event of default by the borrower.

Loans Receivable
 
Commercial loans outstanding are comprised of commercial and industrial, tax-exempt, owner occupied real estate, commercial construction and land development and commercial real estate loans. Consumer type loans consist of residential real estate mortgages, home equity loans, consumer lines of credit and other consumer-related loans. We manage risk associated with our loan portfolio in part through diversification, with what we believe are sound policies and underwriting procedures that are reviewed, updated and approved at least annually, as well as through our ongoing loan monitoring efforts. Additionally, we monitor concentrations of loans or loan relationships by purpose, collateral or industry.

Total gross loans receivable increased by $247.7 million, or 14%, from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2014. Loan originations and participations purchased in 2014 totaled approximately $706.5 million and were lower than those in 2013 by approximately $6.6 million, or 1%. The Bank experienced growth in all but one loan category during 2014 as a result of general economic improvement in the markets we serve, growth in the breadth and experience of the lending team as well as expansion of the Bank's middle market lending function. The Company's particularly strong growth in commercial real estate loans reflects a steady progression over the past year in this portfolio, owing to continued strengthening in the real estate markets the Bank serves combined with increased opportunities. Also included in gross loans are deposit accounts that are reclassified as loans as a result of overdrawn deposit account balances. The total of overdrawn deposit accounts reclassified as loans aggregated $647,000 at December 31, 2014 compared to $578,000 at December 31, 2013.

Total loans receivable represented 84% of total deposits and 67% of total assets at December 31, 2014 compared to 78% and 63%, respectively, at December 31, 2013.


16




The following table reflects the composition of the Company's loan portfolio:

TABLE 15
 
December 31,
 
 
(in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Change
% Change
Commercial and industrial
$
525,127

$
447,144

$
77,983

17
 %
Commercial tax-exempt
71,151

81,734

(10,583
)
(13
)
Owner occupied real estate
332,070

302,417

29,653

10

Commercial construction and land development
138,064

133,176

4,888

4

Commercial real estate
594,276

473,188

121,088

26

Residential
110,951

97,766

13,185

13

Consumer
226,895

215,447

11,448

5

Gross loans receivable
1,998,534

1,750,872

247,662

14

Less: ALL
24,998

23,110

1,888

8

Net loans receivable
$
1,973,536

$
1,727,762

$
245,774

14
 %

The following table summarizes the composition of our loan portfolio by segment as of December 31, for each of the years 2010 through 2014.

TABLE 16
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
Commercial and industrial
$
525,127

$
447,144

$
376,988

$
321,988

$
337,398

Commercial tax-exempt
71,151

81,734

92,202

81,532

85,863

Owner occupied real estate
332,070

302,417

268,372

279,372

241,553

Commercial construction and land development
138,064

133,176

100,399

103,153

112,094

Commercial real estate
594,276

473,188

394,404

364,405

313,194

Residential
110,951

97,766

83,899

83,940

81,124

Consumer
226,895

215,447

212,533

202,278

207,979

Gross loans receivable
$
1,998,534

$
1,750,872

$
1,528,797

$
1,436,668

$
1,379,205

 
Our commercial and industrial loans are typically made to small and medium-sized businesses and represented 26% of our total loans outstanding at December 31, 2014. The average loan size originated in 2014 in this category was approximately $480,000 as compared to approximately $351,000 in 2013. Our underwriting policy has maximum terms for these loans depending on the loan type within the commercial and industrial loans category. The primary source of repayment is the cash flow from the ongoing operations and activities conducted by the business. Collateral for these types of loans varies depending upon the type and purpose of the loans as well as management's credit evaluations of the respective borrowers and generally includes business assets and/or personal assets of the borrower. The value of the collateral in this category may vary depending on market conditions. Metro maintains advance rate guidelines for particular collateral categories to mitigate the risk that, upon default, the collateral is insufficient to cover the outstanding loan balance.

Commercial tax exempt loans represented 4% of our total loans at December 31, 2014 and are made primarily to municipalities and school districts and rely on the cash flows of the borrowing entity for repayment. The average loan size originated in 2014 in this category was approximately $1.0 million; there were no originations in this category in 2013. We underwrite these loans based upon our established underwriting guidelines and our analysis of the cash flow, operating results and financial condition of the borrower.

Owner occupied real estate loans represented 17% of our total loans at December 31, 2014, are made for commercial properties and are typically made to small and medium-sized businesses. The primary source of repayment is the cash flow from the ongoing operations and activities conducted by the business or a related interest of the business or an affiliate of the party who owns the property. Based on our underwriting standards, loans in this category are secured by real property and typically require owner guarantees. The average loan size originated in 2014 in this category was approximately $893,000, which includes one substantial loan origination. Excluding that one loan origination, the average loan size originated in 2014 was $531,000 as compared to approximately $561,000 in 2013.

17





Our commercial real estate and our construction and land development loans are typically made to small and medium-sized investors, builders and developers and made up 29% and 7%, respectively, of our total loans outstanding at December 31, 2014. These loans are secured by mortgages on real property (principally one to four family rental, multi-family rental, office and other commercial properties) located primarily in South Central Pennsylvania. The average loan size originated in 2014 in these categories was approximately $474,000 and $713,000, respectively. The average loan size originated in 2013 in these categories was approximately $602,000 and $659,000, respectively. Our underwriting guidelines establish maximum terms and advanced rates depending on the type of loan within the commercial real estate category. A five-year call option is standard on commercial mortgages. Our underwriting guidelines also establish maximum loan-to-value ratios depending upon the type of primary collateral, typically require owner guarantees and may require other collateral depending on our assessment of the overall risk. 
  
Residential real estate mortgage loans represented approximately 6% of our total loans at December 31, 2014. Loans in this category are collateralized by first mortgages on residential properties located primarily in South Central Pennsylvania. We underwrite these loans based upon our established underwriting guidelines.
 
Consumer term loans and consumer lines of credit represented 11% of our total loans outstanding at December 31, 2014 and are secured by first and second mortgages, personal assets of the borrower or may be unsecured. As of December 31, 2014, approximately $217.8 million, or 96%, of the total for this category were secured by real estate (14% of which were secured by second mortgages), $4.4 million were loans collateralized by personal assets of the borrower and $4.7 million were unsecured. Our underwriting policy sets limitations on the terms of the loans, defines allowable collateral and the method of valuation of the collateral, outlines acceptable debt to income ratios as well as acceptable credit sources to determine if the applicant meets our standards. We review lines of credit annually and remove availability if the borrower is no longer compliant with our underwriting standards or is delinquent. As of December 31, 2014, unused commitments under consumer lines of credit were $112.1 million compared to $106.0 million at December 31, 2013.
 
The maturity ranges of the loan receivable portfolio and the amounts of loans with fixed interest rates and floating interest rates in each maturity range, as of December 31, 2014, are presented in the following table:

TABLE 17
 
December 31, 2014
(in thousands)
Due Within
One Year
Due 1-5 
Years
Due Over 
Five Years
Total
Commercial and industrial
$
211,122

$
229,349

$
84,656

$
525,127

Commercial tax exempt
32,910

26,833

11,408

71,151

Owner occupied real estate
26,010

88,321

217,739

332,070

Commercial construction and land development
71,216

49,282

17,566

138,064

Commercial real estate
67,492

172,251

354,533

594,276

Residential
17,092

14,823

79,036

110,951

Consumer
48,483

51,741

126,671

226,895

Gross loans receivable
$
474,325

$
632,600

$
891,609

$
1,998,534

Interest rates:
 

 

 

 

  Fixed
$
151,683

$
337,031

$
593,374

$
1,082,088

  Floating
322,642

295,569

298,235

916,446

Gross loans receivable
$
474,325

$
632,600

$
891,609

$
1,998,534


Concentrations of Credit Risk
 
The Bank manages risk associated with its loan portfolio in part through diversification and through what management believes are sound policies and underwriting procedures that are reviewed, updated and approved at least annually, as well as through its ongoing loan monitoring efforts. Additionally, the Bank monitors and manages concentrations of loans or loan relationships by purpose, collateral or industry. Management reviews various concentration reports regularly and reports areas of risk in the portfolio and quantifies, if any, exceptions made to policies and procedures to its board of directors no less than quarterly. At December 31, 2014, there was no concentration of credit risk with any one borrower.

Commercial real estate and commercial construction and land development loans, which includes some tax exempt commercial real estate loans aggregated $732.3 million at December 31, 2014, compared to $606.4 million at December 31, 2013. These loans were 36%

18




of total loans outstanding and made up the largest portion of loans on the Company's balance sheet at December 31, 2014. The commercial real estate loan portfolio is principally to borrowers throughout Cumberland, Dauphin, York, Berks, Lancaster and Lebanon counties of Pennsylvania where the Bank has full-service store locations.

Loan and Asset Quality
 
Nonperforming Assets
Nonperforming assets include nonaccruing loans, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest and foreclosed assets. Nonaccruing troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) are included in nonperforming loans. A TDR is a loan in which the contractual terms have been modified resulting in the Bank granting a concession to a borrower who is experiencing financial difficulties in order for the Bank to have a greater opportunity of collecting the indebtedness from the borrower.  A TDR loan may still be classified as accruing even though it has been restructured, in which case it is excluded from nonperforming assets.

The following table presents information regarding the Bank's nonperforming assets at December 31, 2010 through 2014. Nonaccruing as well as accruing TDRs are broken out at the bottom portion of the table. TDRs decreased for the second straight year in 2014 from $29.2 million at December 31, 2013 to $25.7 million at December 31, 2014. This $3.5 million, or 12%, decrease is discussed in detail later in this Loan and Asset Quality section. Additionally, asset quality ratios and details on the interest income related to nonaccrual loans are presented at the bottom of the table.

TABLE 18
 
 
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Nonperforming Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
11,634

 
$
10,217

 
$
11,289

 
$
10,162

 
$
23,103

Commercial tax-exempt
 

 

 

 

 

Owner occupied real estate
 
7,416

 
4,838

 
3,119

 
2,895

 
4,318

Commercial construction and land development
 
3,228

 
8,587

 
6,300

 
8,511

 
14,155

Commercial real estate
 
5,824

 
6,705

 
5,659

 
7,820

 
5,424

Residential
 
4,987

 
7,039

 
3,203

 
2,912

 
3,609

     Consumer
 
1,877

 
2,577

 
2,846

 
1,829

 
1,579

Total nonaccrual loans
 
34,966

 
39,963

 
32,416

 
34,129

 
52,188

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing
 
445

 
369

 
220

 
692

 
650

Total nonperforming loans
 
35,411

 
40,332

 
32,636

 
34,821

 
52,838

Foreclosed assets
 
7,681

 
4,477

 
2,467

 
7,072

 
6,768

     Total nonperforming assets
 
$
43,092

 
$
44,809

 
$
35,103

 
$
41,893

 
$
59,606

Troubled Debt Restructurings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonaccruing TDRs (included in nonaccrual
  loans above)
 
$
15,030

 
$
17,149

 
$
13,247

 
$
10,282

 
$

Accruing TDRs
 
10,712

 
12,091

 
19,559

 
12,835

 
177

Total TDRs
 
$
25,742

 
$
29,240

 
$
32,806

 
$
23,117

 
$
177

Nonperforming loans to total loans
 
1.77
%
 
2.30
%
 
2.13
%
 
2.42
%
 
3.83
%
Nonperforming assets to total assets
 
1.44
%
 
1.61
%
 
1.33
%
 
1.73
%
 
2.67
%
Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans
 
$
498

 
$
509

 
$
551

 
$
586

 
$
340

Interest income that would have been recorded under
 the original terms of the loans
 
$
1,752

 
$
2,011

 
$
3,099

 
$
2,880

 
$
3,363



19




The Bank continues to manage nonperforming assets to either exit the relationship, work with the borrower to return the relationship to a performing status or sell the collateral in the case of foreclosed real estate. The Bank's nonperforming assets and the reasons for changes in the balances of those components between December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014 are discussed in the paragraphs that follow.

Nonaccrual Loans

The Bank generally places a loan on nonaccrual status and ceases accruing interest when the loan is past due 90 days or more, unless the loan is both well-secured and in the process of collection.

Loans which have been partially charged off remain on nonaccrual status and are subject to the Bank's standard recovery policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, foreclosure proceedings, a forbearance agreement or restructuring that results in classification as a TDR, unless collectibility of the entire balance of principal and interest is no longer in doubt and the loan is current or will be brought current within a short period of time.

Total nonaccrual loans were $35.0 million at December 31, 2014, down from $40.0 million at December 31, 2013. Out of the $40.0 million nonaccrual balance from December 31, 2013, approximately $17.0 million still remain as nonaccrual loans in the Bank’s portfolio at December 31, 2014, with a cumulative specific reserve of $1.4 million associated with these remaining loans.  Approximately $13.0 million of the nonaccrual loans from December 31, 2013 were upgraded or paid while the remaining balance was charged off or moved to the foreclosed real estate portfolio. 

The following table details the change in the total nonaccrual loan balances during 2014:

TABLE 19
 
Twelve Months Ended
(in thousands)
December 31, 2014
Nonaccrual loans beginning balance
$
39,963

Additions
26,137

Principal charge-offs
(7,630
)
Pay downs
(14,847
)
Upgrades to accruing status
(3,767
)
Transfers to foreclosed assets
(4,890
)
Nonaccrual loans ending balance
$
34,966


During 2014, the additions to nonaccrual status of $26.1 million consisted of 55 commercial loans ranging from $3,000 to approximately $3.3 million and 55 consumer loans averaging $63,000 each of unpaid principal balances. The additions were offset by pay downs of $14.8 million, charge-offs of $7.6 million, upgrades to accruing status of $3.8 million and transfers to foreclosed real estate of $4.9 million, resulting in the $5.0 million reduction of nonaccrual loans during 2014. Current nonaccrual commercial loans are not concentrated in any particular industry or business. As reflected above, the portfolio is frequently changing with new additions, pay downs, upgrades, transfers to foreclosed real estate, and charge-offs when necessary.


















20




The table that follows provide additional details of the components of certain nonaccrual commercial loan categories.

TABLE 20
 
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Commercial and Industrial:
 
 
 
Number of loans
33

 
35

Number of loans greater than $1 million
4

 
3

Average outstanding balance of those loans:
 
 
 
Greater than $1 million
$
1,811

 
$
1,807

Less than $1 million
$
162

 
$
150

Owner Occupied Real Estate:
 
 
 
Number of loans
19

 
13

Number of loans greater than $1 million
2

 
2

Average outstanding balance of those loans:
 

 
 
Greater than $1 million
$
1,289

 
1,448

Less than $1 million
$
287

 
199

Commercial Real Estate:
 
 
 
Number of loans
24

 
29

Number of loans greater than $1 million
1

 
1

Average outstanding balance of those loans:
 
 
 
Greater than $1 million
$
2,291

 
$
2,346

Less than $1 million
$
157

 
$
157


Foreclosed Assets
Foreclosed assets totaled $7.7 million at December 31, 2014 compared to $4.5 million at December 31, 2013. The total was comprised of 11 properties at December 31, 2014, compared to 12 properties at December 31, 2013. The change in foreclosed real estate during 2014 is the result of the transfer of 12 properties into this category totaling approximately $4.9 million, partially offset by the sale of 13 properties for a total of $1.7 million. As of December 31, 2014, four foreclosed asset properties with a total carrying value of $3.7 million were under contract to be sold. During 2014, the Company realized a net gain of $53,000 on the sale of foreclosed assets and incurred $455,000 of net operating costs related to foreclosed assets.
The Bank obtains third party appraisals on foreclosed real estate to support the fair market value of the collateral. Appraisals are ordered by the Company's Real Estate Loan Administration Department which is independent of both the loan workout and loan production functions. All appraisals are performed by a Board approved, certified general appraiser. The Company charges down loans based on the fair value of the collateral as determined by the current appraisal less any unpaid real estate taxes and any costs to sell before the properties are transferred to foreclosed real estate. Subsequent to transferring a property to foreclosed real estate, the Company may incur additional write-down expense based on updated appraisals and offers for purchase or prices on comparable properties in the proximate vicinity.
Troubled Debt Restructurings

As mentioned previously, a troubled debt restructuring (TDR) is a loan in which the contractual terms have been modified, resulting in the Bank granting a concession to a borrower who is experiencing financial difficulties, in order for the Bank to have a greater opportunity of collecting the indebtedness from the borrower. Concessions could include, but are not limited to, granting a material extension of time, entering into a forbearance agreement, adjusting the interest rate, accepting interest only payments for an extended period of time, a change in the amortization period or a combination of any of these concessions. An additional benefit to Metro in granting a concession is to avoid foreclosure or repossession of collateral in an attempt to minimize losses. All TDRs are impaired loans, however, a loan may still be classified as accruing even though it has been restructured. Management evaluates these loans using the same guidelines it uses for all loans to determine if there is reasonable assurance of repayment. For further discussion of these guidelines, see the following section on Impaired and Other Problem Loans.


21




Nonaccrual TDRs may be reclassified as accruing TDRs when the borrower has consistently made contractual payments of principal and interest for at least six consecutive months and the Bank expects full repayment of the modified loan's principal and interest. The loan will no longer be classified as a TDR when the interest rate is equal to or greater than the rate that the Bank was willing to accept at the time of the restructuring for a new loan with comparable risk and the loan is no longer impaired based on the terms specified by the restructuring agreement.

Total TDR balances decreased by $3.5 million, or 12%, during 2014. As of December 31, 2014, TDRs totaled $25.7 million, of which $15.0 million were included in total nonaccruing loans and the Company had a cumulative specific reserve of $1.7 million on four of those loans. The remaining $10.7 million of TDRs were accruing at December 31, 2014. TDR loans totaled $29.2 million at December 31, 2013, of which $17.1 million were included in total nonaccruing loans and the remaining $12.1 million were accruing. The decrease during 2014 in TDRs is reflected in the table below. The additions in the table below do not include loans that were restructured prior to December 31, 2013 that received additional concessions during 2014.

TABLE 21
 
Twelve Months Ended
(in thousands)
December 31, 2014
TDR loans beginning balance
$
29,240

Additions
12,830

Advances
6

Charge-offs
(7,236
)
Pay downs
(6,898
)
Transfers to foreclosed assets
(2,200
)
TDR loans ending balance
$
25,742


Impaired and Other Problem Loans

Impaired loans include nonaccrual loans in addition to loans which the Bank, based on current information, does not expect to receive both the principal and interest amounts due from a borrower according to the contractual terms of the original loan agreement. These loans totaled $46.3 million at December 31, 2014 with an aggregate specific allowance allocation of $5.6 million compared to impaired loans totaling $52.6 million at December 31, 2013 with a $5.6 million aggregate specific allowance allocation. The total combined specific allowance allocations at December 31, 2014 related to seven loan relationships compared to four loan relationships at December 31, 2013.
Impaired loans have been evaluated as to risk exposure in determining the adequacy of the ALL. See Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, included herein, for an age analysis of loans receivable and tables that detail impaired loans and credit quality indicators.

The past due portfolio is constantly in various stages of collection efforts, restructures when appropriate, foreclosure or charge-off. During 2014, $14.0 million of past due loans at December 31, 2013 improved to current status and another $8.9 million of past due loans paid off by December 31, 2014.  Additionally, $5.4 million and $4.5 million of those loans past due at December 31, 2013, were charged off or moved to foreclosed real estate, respectively. A total of $18.9 million in current loans at December 31, 2013, subsequently became delinquent and were reported as past due at December 31, 2014. Out of the $18.9 million of loans that became past due after December 31, 2013, $7.1 million were 30-59 days past due, $4.7 million were 60-89 days past due while the remainder, or $7.1 million were 90 days past due or greater at December 31, 2014, with $9.5 million of those loans classified as nonaccrual.

Total impaired loans decreased by $6.3 million in 2014. Of those loans deemed to be impaired at December 31, 2013, $5.4 million were charged off and an additional $4.5 million were transferred to foreclosed assets in 2014. Impaired loans without a specific reserve at December 31, 2013 totaling $18.8 million remained impaired without a specific reserve at December 31, 2014, while $1.8 million of impaired loans with specific reserves at December 31, 2013 remained impaired with a specific reserve at December 31, 2014.  A total of $17.7 million of loans were downgraded in 2014 and deemed to be impaired subsequent to December 31, 2013 with $6.6 million of these loans having a specific reserve related to them. Impaired loans totaling $10.7 million as of December 31, 2013, subsequently paid off in 2014.

The Bank generally obtains third party appraisals ordered by the Real Estate Loan Administration Department on nonperforming loans secured by real estate at the time the loan is determined to be impaired. The Bank charges down loans based on the appropriate discounted fair value of the collateral as determined by the current appraisal or other collateral valuations less any unpaid real estate taxes and any

22




costs to sell. The charge-down of any impaired loan is done upon receipt and satisfactory review of the appraisal or other collateral valuation and, in no event, later than the end of the quarter in which the appraisal or valuation was accepted by the Bank. No significant time lapses during this process have occurred for any period presented.

The Bank also considers the volatility of the fair value of the collateral, timing and reliability of the appraisal, timing of the third party's inspection of the collateral, confidence in the Bank's lien on the collateral, historical losses on similar loans and other factors based on the type of real estate securing the loan. As deemed necessary, the Bank will perform inspections of the collateral to determine if an adjustment of the value of the collateral is necessary.
The Bank may create a specific allowance for all or a part of a particular loan in lieu of a charge-off as a result of management's evaluation of the impaired loan. In these instances, the Bank has determined that a loss is probable, but not imminent based upon available information surrounding the credit at the time of the analysis, however, management believes a reserve is appropriate to acknowledge the probable risk of loss.
The Company's ALL has performed a detailed review of the impaired loans and of the collateral related to these credits and believes, to the best of its knowledge, that the ALL remains adequate for the level of risk inherent in these loans at December 31, 2014.
Any criticized or classified loan not considered impaired is reviewed to determine if impairment exists. Such loan classifications totaled $53.6 million at December 31, 2014 compared to $38.6 million at December 31, 2013 and were comprised of $26.1 million of special mention rated loans and $27.5 million of substandard accruing loans which were not deemed impaired. These problem loans were included in the general pool of loans to determine the adequacy of the ALL at December 31, 2014.

While it is difficult to forecast impaired loans due to numerous variables, the Bank, through its credit risk management tools and other credit metrics, believes it has currently identified the material problem loans in the portfolio.
As a result of future economic trends, it is possible that the Company may experience increased levels of nonperforming assets and additional losses in the future.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The ALL is established in the form of a provision expense for loan losses and is reduced by loan charge-offs, net of recoveries. When loans are deemed to be uncollectible, they are charged off. Management has established a reserve that it believes is adequate for estimated losses in the loan portfolio. In conjunction with an outsourced third party loan review function that operates independently of the lending function, management monitors the loan portfolio to identify risks on a timely basis so that an appropriate allowance is maintained. Based on an evaluation of the loan portfolio, management presents a quarterly review of the ALL to the board of directors, indicating any changes in the allowance since the last review. In making the evaluation, management considers the results of recent regulatory examinations, which typically include a review of the ALL as an integral part of the examination process.
 
In establishing the ALL, management evaluates, on a quantitative basis, impaired loans to determine a reserve for those loans based on that review. In addition, an allowance for the remainder of the loan portfolio is determined based on historical loss experience within certain components of the portfolio. These allocations may be modified if current conditions indicate that loan losses may differ from historical experience. In addition, a portion of the allowance is established for losses inherent in the loan portfolio, which have not been identified by the quantitative processes described above. This determination inherently involves a higher degree of subjectivity and considers risk factors that may not have yet manifested themselves in historical loss experience. These factors include:

Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards;
Changes in levels and trends of collection, charge-off and recovery practices;
Changes in the volume and severity of past due loans, the volume of nonaccrual loans and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans;
Material changes in the mix, volume or duration of the portfolio;
Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans;
Changes in the quality of our loan review system;
Changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff;
The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the level of such concentrations; and

23




Changes in international, national, regional and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectibility of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments and the effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in our existing portfolio.

More specifically, the methodology utilized to assess the adequacy of the allowance includes:

Identifying loans for individual review under current guidance as required by GAAP. Generally, the loans identified for individual review consist of larger balance commercial business loans and commercial real estate loans;
Assessing whether the loans identified for review are “impaired” based on the probability that all amounts due under the loan will or will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement;
For loans identified as impaired, calculating the estimated fair value of the loans, using one of the following methods, (a) observable market price, (b) discounted cash flow or (c) the value of the underlying collateral;
Identifying other loans for evaluation collectively as required by GAAP. In general, these other loans include residential mortgages and consumer loans;
Segmenting loans into groups with similar characteristics and allocating an ALL to each segment based on recent loss history and other relevant information; and
Reviewing the results to determine the appropriate amount of the ALL.

While the ALL is maintained at a level believed to be adequate by management to cover estimated losses in the loan portfolio, determination of the ALL is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. Changes in these estimates may impact the provisions charged to expense in future periods.

The majority of the Company’s charge-offs come from loans deemed impaired. All nonaccruing loans are considered impaired.  Once a loan is impaired, an analysis is performed on the specific loan and on any related loans to determine whether or not a probable loss exists. Regardless of whether a charge-off is recorded or a specific reserve has been allocated, both are taken into consideration when calculating the adequacy of the allowance. At December 31, 2014, $1.4 million of specific reserves were previously included in the allowance as specific reserves at December 31, 2013. Additionally, charge-offs during the 2014 year were partially absorbed by December 31, 2013 specific reserves previously mentioned in the Provision for Loan Loss section. These aforementioned factors reduced the allowance requirement as a percentage of year-end loans receivable, which decreased from 1.32% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2013, to 1.25% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2014.

The Company recorded provisions of $6.8 million to the ALL in 2014, compared to $6.9 million for 2013. During 2014, net charge-offs for the year totaled $4.9 million, or 0.26%, of average loans outstanding, excluding loans held for sale, compared to $9.0 million, or 0.55%, of average loans outstanding for 2013. Of the total net charge-offs during 2014, $4.2 million were included in nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2013. Approximately $3.2 million, or 66%, of total net charge-offs for 2014 were concentrated in three loan relationships. Comparatively, approximately $7.6 million, or 84% of total net charge-offs for 2013 were concentrated in a total of five loan relationships.

See the Application of Critical Accounting Policies section in this Management's Discussion and Analysis regarding the ALL as well as Notes 1 and 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included herein for further discussion regarding our ALL.


24




Table 22 summarizes the transactions in the ALL for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 and each of the preceding four years.

TABLE 22
 
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
Balance at beginning of year
$
23,110

$
25,282

$
21,620

$
21,618

$
14,391

Provisions charged to operating expenses
6,750

6,875

10,100

20,592

21,000

 
29,860

32,157

31,720

42,210

35,391

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:
 
 

 

 

 

   Commercial and industrial
1,468

1,122

227

156

407

   Commercial tax-exempt





   Owner occupied real estate
325

3

7

60

3

   Commercial construction and land development
546

490

517

11

58

   Commercial real estate
203


97

15

25

   Residential
20

10

4

68

5

   Consumer
248

76

67

135

24

Total recoveries
2,810

1,701

919

445

522

 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans charged-off:
 
 

 

 

 

   Commercial and industrial
(1,754
)
(3,427
)
(2,302
)
(7,945
)
(5,995
)
   Commercial tax-exempt





   Owner occupied real estate
(775
)
(295
)
(772
)
(254
)
(614
)
   Commercial construction and land development
(1,293
)
(2,844
)
(1,378
)
(10,629
)
(3,779
)
   Commercial real estate
(1,105
)
(2,773
)
(1,853
)
(852
)
(2,138
)
   Residential
(1,466
)
(332
)
(308
)
(188
)
(705
)
   Consumer
(1,279
)
(1,077
)
(744
)
(1,167
)
(1,064
)
Total charged-off
(7,672
)
(10,748
)
(7,357
)
(21,035
)
(14,295
)
Net charge-offs
(4,862
)
(9,047
)
(6,438
)
(20,590
)
(13,773
)
Balance at end of year
$
24,998

$
23,110

$
25,282

$
21,620

$
21,618

Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding
0.26
%
0.55
%
0.44
%
1.43
%
0.98
%
ALL to year-end loans
1.25
%
1.32
%
1.65
%
1.50
%
1.57
%

Allocation of the ALL
 
The allocation of the ALL is not necessarily indicative of the categories in which future credit losses may occur. The total allowance is available to absorb losses from any segment of loans. The allocations in the following table were determined by a combination of the following factors: specific allocations made on loans considered impaired as determined by management and the loan review committee, a general allocation on nonimpaired loans based on qualitative and historical losses in each loan type category combined with a weighting of the current loan composition. The following table details the allocation of the ALL to the various categories.

25




TABLE 23
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
 
% Gross Loans
 
Amount
 
% Gross Loans
 
Amount
 
% Gross Loans
 
Amount
 
% Gross Loans
 
Amount
 
% Gross Loans
Commercial and industrial
$
11,714

 
26
%
 
$
8,178

 
25
%
 
$
9,959

 
25
%
 
$
8,400

 
22
%
 
$
9,679

 
24
%
Commercial tax-exempt
55

 
4

 
72

 
5

 
83

 
6

 
79

 
6

 
86

 
6

Owner occupied real estate
1,931

 
17

 
2,180

 
17

 
2,129

 
17

 
729

 
20

 
910

 
18

Commercial construction
and land development
4,242

 
7

 
5,559

 
8

 
7,222

 
7

 
7,840

 
7

 
5,420

 
8

Commercial real estate
4,707

 
29

 
4,161

 
27

 
3,983

 
26

 
3,241

 
25

 
4,002

 
23

Residential
796

 
6

 
960

 
6

 
324

 
5

 
435

 
6

 
442

 
6

Consumer
931

 
11

 
1,303

 
12

 
793

 
14

 
831

 
14

 
702

 
15

Unallocated
622

 

 
697

 

 
789

 

 
65

 

 
377

 

Total
$
24,998

 
100
%
 
$
23,110

 
100
%
 
$
25,282

 
100
%
 
$
21,620

 
100
%
 
$
21,618

 
100
%
 
Deposits
 
Total deposits at December 31, 2014 were $2.38 billion, up $141.1 million, or 6%, over total deposits of $2.24 billion at December 31, 2013. Total deposits include public time deposits and brokered deposits that the Bank regards as noncore deposits. Noncore deposit balances represent only 4% of the Bank's total deposits at December 31, 2014 compared to 3% at December 31, 2013. Noncore deposits grew by $32.1 million primarily as a result of higher public fund time deposits. The composition of the Bank's deposits at both December 31, 2014 and 2013 as well as the growth in the various deposit categories during 2014 was as follows:

TABLE 24
 
December 31,
 
 
(in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Change
% Change
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
478,724

$
443,287

$
35,437

8
%
Interest checking and money market
1,131,637

1,110,568

21,069

2

Savings
546,045

496,495

49,550

10

Time
224,266

189,271

34,995

18

Total
$
2,380,672

$
2,239,621

$
141,051

6
%

The change in deposits by type of customer was as follows:

TABLE 25
 
December 31,
 
 
(in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Change
% Change
Consumer
$
1,016,724

$
960,214

$
56,510

6
 %
Commercial
707,738

651,211

56,527

9

Government
561,072

565,175

(4,103
)
(1
)
Total core deposits
2,285,534

2,176,600

108,934

5

Noncore
95,138

63,021

32,117

51

Total deposits
$
2,380,672

$
2,239,621

$
141,051

6
 %


26




The average balances and weighted-average rates paid on deposits are presented below. Brokered deposits averaging $5.4 million and $4.9 million during 2014 and 2013 are included in their respective categories.
 
TABLE 26
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
(dollars in thousands)
Average Balance/Rate
 
Average Balance/Rate
 
Average Balance/Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
472,322

 
 
 
$
434,753

 
 
 
$
420,181

 
 
Interest checking and money market
1,079,928

 
0.27
%
 
1,071,374

 
0.28
%
 
1,050,664

 
0.36
%
Savings
465,620

 
0.28

 
436,618

 
0.31

 
398,242

 
0.36

Time
201,225

 
0.82

 
186,090

 
0.97

 
211,571

 
1.17

Total deposits
$
2,219,095

 
0.27
%
 
$
2,128,835

 
0.29
%
 
$
2,080,658

 
0.37
%
 
The decrease in the average rates paid on deposits over the past three years are a direct result of the general level of short-term market interest rates and the Company's pricing of its deposit rates paid in accordance with such market rates. See the Results of Operations section earlier in this Management's Discussion and Analysis regarding the Company's cost of deposits.

The remaining maturities for time deposits with balances of $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2014 are presented in Table 27.

TABLE 27
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
3 months or less
$
27,821

3 to 6 months
64,035

6 to 12 months
18,014

Over 12 months
32,415

Total
$
142,285

 
Short-Term Borrowings
 
Short-term borrowings used to meet temporary funding needs consist of overnight federal funds purchased as well as overnight and short-term advances from the FHLB. For 2014, short-term borrowings averaged $388.5 million, an $87.1 million, or 29%, increase over 2013. The increase in 2014 resulted from utilizing this funding source to support the strong loan growth that outpaced deposit growth. Rates paid by the Company on short-term borrowings are set by the respective creditors and are directly related to the level of overall general market interest rates. In 2014, the average cost of this nondeposit funding source increased due to higher average rates paid on short-term FHLB advances. The following table details the above discussion:

TABLE 28
 
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Outstanding balance at period-end
$
333,475

$
277,750

$
113,225

Weighted-average interest rate at period-end
0.29
%
0.24
%
0.22
%
Maximum amount outstanding at any one month-end
$
514,075

$
346,775

$
164,175

Average outstanding balance
$
388,518

$
301,447

$
86,333

Weighted-average interest rate on average outstanding balances
0.29
%
0.23
%
0.23
%


27




Long-Term Debt
 
At December 31, 2014 the Company had no long-term debt as compared to $15.8 million at December 31, 2013. During the third quarter of 2014, the Company called and retired at par $15.8 million of Trust Capital Securities through Commerce Harrisburg Capital Trust III, our Delaware business trust subsidiary. The retirement of this debt will reduce the Company's pretax interest expense by $1.1 million annually going forward. At December 31, 2013, the $15.8 million of Capital Trust Securities qualified as Tier I capital for regulatory capital purposes. See Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 for further analysis of our long-term debt.
 
Stockholders' Equity
  
At December 31, 2014, stockholders' equity totaled $265.5 million, an increase of $35.3 million, or 15%, over December 31, 2013. Net income of $21.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 contributed to the majority of the increase in stockholders' equity. The increase in stockholders' equity was also partially the result of $12.6 million in other comprehensive income as the increase in quoted market prices on the Company's AFS securities portfolio decreased their unrealized loss position, net of income tax impacts, from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2014. See Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included herein, for additional discussion regarding Stockholders' Equity. A summary of the Company's stockholders' equity section for the current year end compared to December 31, 2013 is presented in Table 29.

TABLE 29
 
December 31,
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Change
% Change
Preferred stock
$
400

$
400

$

 %
Common stock
14,233

14,157

76

1

Surplus
160,588

158,650

1,938

1

Retained earnings
94,496

73,491

21,005

29

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(3,875
)
(16,515
)
12,640

(77
)
Treasury stock
(319
)

(319
)

Total stockholders' equity
$
265,523

$
230,183

$
35,340

15
 %

The Company offers a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan and received proceeds from stock purchases through this plan of $77,000 during 2014 and $67,000 during 2013.

As previously discussed in the Executive Summary section of this Management's Discussion and Analysis, in mid-October of 2014, the Company announced a 5% common stock share repurchase program which began late in December. As of December 31, 2014, a total of 12,300 common shares had been repurchased for a total cost of $319,000.

A 5% common stock repurchase could total approximately 710,000 shares of Metro common stock. Under current Exchange Act and the SEC's regulations, there are limitations as to how many shares of its common stock the Company can buyback on any one particular day. As a result, management estimates that, based on those guidelines and the current average daily trading volume in the Company's common stock, a 5% stock buyback program could take several months to complete.

Also in mid-October 2014, the Company announced the initiation of an annual cash dividend of $0.28 per common share, which began in the first quarter of 2015. On January 23, 2015, Metro's board of directors declared a first quarter 2015 cash dividend of $0.07 per common share which was subsequently paid on February 25, 2015 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 4, 2015. The total amount of the dividend paid in February 2015 was approximately $993,000.
 
Supplemental Reporting of Non-GAAP Based Financial Measures

Tangible common equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP based financial measure calculated using non-GAAP based amounts. Total stockholders' equity to total assets is the most directly comparable measure, which is calculated using GAAP-based amounts. The Company calculates the tangible common equity to tangible assets by excluding the balance of preferred stock and any intangible assets; however, the Company did not have any intangible assets at either December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013. Management believes that tangible common equity to tangible assets has been a focus for some investors and assists in analyzing Metro's capital position without regard to

28




the effect of preferred stock. Although this non-GAAP financial measure is frequently used by investors to evaluate a company, non-GAAP financial measurements have inherent limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analyses of results as reported under GAAP. A reconciliation of tangible common equity to tangible assets is set forth in the table that follows:
TABLE 30
 
December 31, 2014
December 31, 2013
Total stockholders' equity to assets (GAAP)
8.86
%
8.28
%
Less: Effect of excluding preferred stock
0.03
%
0.04
%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets
8.83
%
8.24
%

Capital Adequacy

Risk-based capital provides the basis for which all banks are evaluated in terms of capital adequacy. The risk-based capital standards require all banks to have Tier 1 capital of at least 4% and total capital, including Tier 1 capital, of at least 8% of risk-adjusted assets. Tier 1 capital includes common stockholders' equity and qualifying perpetual preferred stock together with related surpluses and retained earnings. Total capital may be comprised of total Tier 1 capital plus limited life preferred stock, qualifying debt instruments and the ALL.
 
The following table provides a comparison of the Company's and the Bank's risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratios to the minimum regulatory requirements for the periods indicated:

TABLE 31
 
Company
 
Bank
Minimum Regulatory Requirements
Well-Capitalized Threshold
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
(Bank Only)
Total Capital
13.42
%
 
14.59
%
 
12.60
%
 
14.09
%
8.00
%
10.00
%
Tier 1 Capital
12.28

 
13.41

 
11.46

 
12.91

4.00

6.00

Leverage ratio (to total average assets)
9.00

 
9.39

 
8.40

 
9.04

4.00

5.00

 
The decrease in both of the Company’s capital ratios shown above is primarily the result of an increase in risk-adjusted assets resulting from 14% year over year net loan receivable growth combined with the redemption in 2014 of $15 million of Trust Preferred Securities which were previously included in Tier 1 and total risk-based capital. The decrease in both of the Bank’s capital ratios in 2014 was primarily the result of an increase in risk-adjusted assets resulting from 14% net loan receivable growth combined with a $25 million dividend paid from the Bank to the Company during 2014, both of which were partially offset by net income of $22.5 million recorded by the Bank for the year.

At December 31, 2014, the capital levels of the Bank met the regulatory definition of a “well-capitalized” financial institution, which is defined by a leverage capital ratio exceeding 5%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio exceeding 6% and a total risk-based capital ratio exceeding 10%.

Regulatory Capital Changes
In July 2013, the federal banking agencies issued final rules to implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act. We have evaluated these new rules and believe the Company and the Bank will be able to comply with the targeted capital ratios upon implementation of the revised requirements, as finalized. For further discussion please refer to Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included herein.

Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol METR. The following table sets forth the prices on the NASDAQ Global Select Market known to us for the period beginning January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, there were approximately 2,500 holders of record of the Company's common stock. The market price of Metro common stock increased 20% throughout 2014 from $21.54 per share at December 31, 2013 to $25.92 per share at December 31, 2014.


29




TABLE 32
 
Sales Price
Quarter Ended:
High
Low
December 31, 2014
$
26.84

$
22.25

September 30, 2014
24.61

22.05

June 30, 2014
23.44

20.01

March 31, 2014
22.04

19.08

December 31, 2013
$
23.09

$
19.85

September 30, 2013
22.65

18.45

June 30, 2013
20.85

15.94

March 31, 2013
17.49

12.85

 

The following graph shows the yearly percentage change in the Company's cumulative total shareholder return on its common stock from December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2014 compared with the cumulative total return of the NASDAQ Bank Index and the NASDAQ Composite Market Index.


Interest Rate Sensitivity
 
The management of interest rate sensitivity seeks to avoid fluctuating net interest margins and to provide consistent net interest income through periods of changing interest rates.

Our risk of loss arising from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments, or market risk, is composed primarily of interest rate risk. The primary objective of our asset/liability management activities is to maximize net interest income while maintaining acceptable levels of interest rate risk. Our Asset/Liability Committee (ALCO) is responsible for establishing policies to limit exposure to interest rate risk and to ensure procedures are established to monitor compliance with those policies. Our board of directors reviews the guidelines

30




established by ALCO.
 
An interest rate sensitive asset or liability is one that, within a defined time period, either matures or experiences an interest rate change in line with general market interest rates. Historically, the most common method of estimating interest rate risk was to measure the maturity and repricing relationships between interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities at specific points in time, referred to as “GAP,” typically one year. Under this method, a company is considered liability sensitive when the amount of its interest-bearing liabilities exceeds the amount of its interest-earning assets within the one-year horizon. However, assets and liabilities with similar repricing characteristics may not reprice at the same time or to the same degree. As a result, our GAP does not necessarily predict the impact of changes in general levels of interest rates on net interest income.

Table 33 shows our GAP position as of December 31, 2014. The repricing assumptions used in the table are as follows:
Fixed rate loans receivable are scheduled according to their contractual amortization and payment schedules specific to each loan. A market consensus Constant Prepayment Rate (CPR) based on historical actual experience is applied to fixed rate commercial and consumer loans;
Floating rate loans receivable that are tied to a floating index, such as the New York Prime lending rate, are scheduled according to their repricing characteristics;
Fixed rate securities with prepayment characteristics, such as MBSs and CMOs, are scheduled based upon their remaining weighted-average lives as calculated utilizing a market consensus CPR. Fixed rate securities with call options are analyzed in the context of the existing interest rate environment to estimate the likelihood of their call and to project their resulting payment schedule. All other fixed rate securities are assumed to reprice at their contractual maturity;
Floating rate securities that are tied to a floating index, such as the LIBOR rate, are scheduled according to their repricing characteristics;
Fixed rate deposit transaction accounts are scheduled to reprice in accordance with core deposit analytics produced by an independent consultant: the balance in the 1-90 day category is determined by their estimated interest rate sensitivities; and the categories beyond 365 days are based upon their estimated decay rates;
Floating rate deposit transaction accounts that are tied to a floating index, such as the Fed Funds rate, are scheduled in the 1-90 day category; and
Time deposit accounts, short-term borrowings and trust capital securities are scheduled based upon their contractual maturity dates.

TABLE 33
 
December 31, 2014
(dollars in thousands)
1 - 90
Days
91 - 180
Days
181 - 365
Days
1 - 5
Years
Beyond 5
Years
Total
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans receivable, including loans held for sale
$
951,121

$
50,310

$
108,303

$
768,788

$
125,008

$
2,003,530

Securities
49,849

36,286

64,379

276,301

446,664

873,479

Total interest-earning assets
1,000,970

86,596

172,682

1,045,089

571,672

2,877,009

Interest-bearing liabilities:
 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest checking, money market and savings
589,696



260,033

827,953

1,677,682

Time deposits
47,466

75,381

30,250

71,169


224,266

Short-term borrowings
333,475





333,475

Total interest-bearing liabilities
970,637

75,381

30,250

331,202

827,953

2,235,423

Period GAP
30,333

11,215

142,432

713,887

(256,281
)
$
641,586

Cumulative GAP
$
30,333

$
41,548

$
183,980

$
897,867

$
641,586

 

Cumulative RSA / RSL
103.13
%
103.97
%
117.09
%
163.79
%
128.70
%
 

Notes: Securities are reported at face value for purposes of this table. Securities include restricted investments in bank stock for purposes of this table. RSA means rate sensitive assets; RSL means rate sensitive liabilities.
 

31




Shortcomings are inherent in any GAP analysis since certain assets and liabilities may not move proportionately as interest rates change. As the interest rate environment has become more dynamic, we have continued to place greater reliance on interest income sensitivity modeling and less on GAP reporting.
 
Our management understands that the preparation of GAP reports can only provide a guide to the impact of the movement of interest rates. Modeling is the best means to predict the movement in interest rates. This is true because even with the achievement of a perfectly matched balance sheet (per a GAP report), we may be subject to interest rate risk due to: differences in the timing of repricing, basis risk, market risk, customer ability to prepay loans or withdraw funds and yield curve risk.
 
Our management believes the simulation of net interest income in different interest rate environments provides a more meaningful measure of interest rate risk. Income simulation analysis captures not only the potential of all assets and liabilities to mature or reprice, but also the probability that they will do so. Income simulation also attends to the relative interest rate sensitivities of these items and projects their behavior over an extended period of time. Finally, income simulation permits management to assess the probable effects on the balance sheet not only of changes in interest rates, but also of proposed strategies for responding to them.
 
Our income simulation model analyzes interest rate sensitivity by projecting net interest income over the next 24 months in a flat rate scenario versus net interest income in alternative interest rate scenarios. Our management continually reviews and refines its interest rate risk management process in response to the changing economic climate. Currently, our model projects up to a plus 500 bp increase and a 100 bp decrease during the next year, with rates remaining constant in the second year. The minus100 bp scenario is not considered very likely, given the low absolute level of short-term interest rates. 
 
Our ALCO policy has established that income sensitivity will be considered acceptable in the 100 bp and 200 bp scenarios if overall net interest income volatility is within 4% of forecasted net interest income in the first year and within 5% using a two-year time frame. In the 300 bp and 400 bp scenarios income sensitivity will be considered acceptable if net interest income volatility is within 5% of forecasted net interest income in the first year and within 6% using a two-year time frame. In the 500 bp scenario income sensitivity will be considered acceptable if net interest income volatility is within 6% of forecasted net interest income in the first year and within 7% using a two-year time frame.

The following table compares the impact on forecasted net income at December 31, 2014 and 2013 of a plus 300, plus 200 and plus 100 bp change in interest rates.
 
TABLE 34
 
Plus 300
Plus 200
Plus 100
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
Twelve Months
(0.33
)%
(0.50
)%
(0.49
)%
Twenty-Four Months
3.51
 %
1.92
 %
0.49
 %
December 31, 2013
 

 

 

Twelve Months
(2.21
)%
(1.68
)%
(1.02
)%
Twenty-Four Months
(0.34
)%
(0.48
)%
(0.51
)%
 
As displayed in the above table, December 31, 2014’s income simulation modeling indicated net interest income is slightly negatively impacted in the first twelve months in rising interest rate scenarios despite the Company’s positive cumulative GAP position at the one year time frame. Because of the low absolute level of current interest rates, a significant portion of floating rate loans have currently hit their floors and would absorb initial upward movements in interest rates without providing any benefit to the Company from an increase in their corresponding loan rates. Partially offsetting this effect are floating rate deposits which have also hit their floors, and likewise would show no increase in cost with initial upward interest rate movements. The net result of these two factors is the negative first year impact to net interest income in rising interest rate scenarios. The second year (months 13 through 24) impact of rising interest rates is positive, as by month 13 each scenario’s full interest rate movement has occurred and caused floored accounts to experience rate increases. This second year positive impact offsets the negative impact in the first 12 months resulting in the positive 24 month impacts shown in the table above.
Management continues to evaluate additional strategies in conjunction with the Company's ALCO to effectively manage the interest rate risk position. Such strategies could include the sale of a portion of our AFS investment portfolio, purchasing floating rate securities, altering the mix of our deposits by type and therefore rate paid, the use of risk management tools such as interest rate swaps and caps, adjusting the investment leverage position funded by short-term borrowings and further extending the maturity structure of the Bank's short-term borrowing position.

32




 
Management uses many assumptions to calculate the impact of changes in interest rates. Actual results may not be similar to our projections due to several factors including the timing and frequency of rate changes, market conditions and the shape of the yield curve. In general, a flattening of the interest rate yield curve would result in reduced net interest income compared to a normal-shaped interest rate curve scenario and proportionate rate shift assumptions. Actual results may also differ due to management's actions, if any, in response to the changing rates.
 
Management also monitors interest rate risk by utilizing a market value of equity model. The model assesses the impact of a change in interest rates on the market value of all our assets and liabilities, as well as any off balance sheet items. Market value of equity is defined as the market value of assets less the market value of liabilities plus the market value of off-balance sheet items. The model calculates the market value of equity in the current rate scenario and then compares the market value of equity given immediate increases and decreases in rates.  Our ALCO policy indicates that the level of interest rate risk is unacceptable in the 100 bp immediate interest rate change scenarios if there is a resulting loss of more than 15% of the market value calculated in the current rate scenario. In the 200 bp immediate interest rate change scenario a loss of more than 25% loss of market value is deemed unacceptable. A loss of more than 35% is defined as unacceptable in the 300 bp immediate rate change scenario, while a loss of more than 40% is unacceptable in immediate rate change scenarios of 400 bps or more. At December 31, 2014 the market value of equity calculation indicated acceptable levels of interest rate risk in all scenarios per the policies established by our ALCO.
 
The market value of equity model reflects certain estimates and assumptions regarding the impact on the market value of our assets and liabilities given immediate changes in rates. One of the key assumptions is the market value assigned to our core deposits, or the core deposit premiums. Using an independent consultant, we have completed and updated comprehensive core deposit studies in order to assign our own core deposit premiums as permitted by regulation. The studies have consistently confirmed management's assertion that our core deposits have stable balances over long periods of time, are generally insensitive to changes in interest rates and have significantly longer average lives and durations than our loans and investment securities. Thus, these core deposit balances provide an internal hedge to market fluctuations in our fixed rate assets. The most recent study calculates an average life of our core deposit transaction accounts of 9.9 years, up from 9.6 years at December 31, 2013. Management believes the core deposit premiums produced by its market value of equity model at December 31, 2014 provide an accurate assessment of our interest rate risk.  
 
Liquidity
 
The objective of liquidity risk management is to ensure our ability to meet our financial obligations. These obligations include the payment of deposits on demand at their contractual maturity; the repayment of borrowings as they mature; the payment of lease obligations as they become due; the ability to fund new and existing loans and other funding commitments; and the ability to take advantage of new business opportunities. There are two fundamental risks in our liquidity risk management. The first is if we are unable to meet our funding requirements at a reasonable and profitable cost. The second is the potential inability to operate our business because adequate contingency liquidity is not available in a stressed environment or under adverse conditions.

We manage liquidity risk at both the Bank and the holding company (the Parent) levels to help ensure that we can obtain cost-effective funding to meet current and future obligations and to help ensure that we maintain an appropriate level of contingent liquidity. The board of directors is responsible for approving our Liquidity Policy to be managed by the ALCO and management.
 
Liquidity is measured and monitored daily, allowing management to better understand and react to balance sheet trends. On a quarterly basis, a comprehensive liquidity analysis is reviewed by our board of directors. The analysis provides a summary of the current liquidity measurements, projections and future liquidity positions given various levels of liquidity stress. Management also maintains a detailed Liquidity Contingency Plan designed to respond to an overall decline in the financial condition of the banking industry or a problem specific to the Company.

Bank Level Liquidity - Uses

At the bank level, primary liquidity obligations include funding loan commitments, satisfying deposit withdrawal requests and maturities and debt service related to bank borrowings. We also maintain adequate bank liquidity to meet future potential loan demand, purchase investment securities and provide for other business needs as necessary.

Bank Level Liquidity - Sources

Liquidity sources are found on both sides of the balance sheet. Our single largest source of bank liquidity is the deposit base that comes from our retail, commercial business and government deposit customers. Liquidity is also provided on a continuous basis through scheduled and unscheduled principal reductions and interest payments on outstanding loans and investments, maturing short-term assets, the ability to sell marketable securities and from borrowings.

33




 
Our investment portfolio consists primarily of U.S. Government agency CMOs and MBSs. Cash flows from such investments are dependent upon the performance of the underlying mortgage loans and are generally influenced by the level of interest rates. As rates increase, cash flows generally decrease as prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans slow. As rates decrease, cash flows generally increase as prepayments increase. The current market environment has negatively impacted the fair market value of certain securities in the Bank's investment portfolio and therefore the Bank is not inclined to act on a sale of such securities for liquidity purposes at this time. With interest rates at or near record-lows, the Bank would more likely be inclined to borrow from one of the sources discussed in the following paragraph.

We also maintain secondary sources of liquidity which can be drawn upon if needed. These secondary sources of liquidity include a $15.0 million line of credit through a correspondent bank, a $20.0 million line of credit through another correspondent bank and $799.0 million of borrowing capacity at the FHLB. The Bank is a member of the FHLB-Pittsburgh and, as such, has access to advances secured generally by residential mortgage and other mortgage-related loans. In addition, we have the ability to borrow at the Federal Reserve Bank's (FRB) Discount Window to meet short-term liquidity requirements. The FRB, however, is not viewed as the primary source of our borrowings, but rather as a potential source of liquidity under certain circumstances, in a stressed environment or during a market disruption. This potential source is secured by agency residential MBSs and CMOs, as well as agency debentures.

The Company's potential and available liquidity through FHLB and other secondary sources is presented in the following table.

TABLE 35
 
December 31,
 
(in thousands)
2014
2013
$ Increase
Potential liquidity
$
834,019

$
722,453

$
111,566

Available liquidity
450,395

369,577

80,818


The $111.6 million increase in potential liquidity in 2014 was due to an increase in the Bank's borrowing capacity primarily as a result of a higher level of qualifying collateral. FHLB borrowing capacity is determined based on asset levels on a quarterly lag basis. The $80.8 million increase in available liquidity occurred as a result of the aforementioned capacity increase, partially offset by the utilization of a higher borrowing level in 2014.

The Parent Company Liquidity - Uses

At the parent level, primary liquidity obligations include unallocated corporate expenses, funding its subsidiaries, dividend payments to Metro stockholders and common stock or preferred stock share repurchases or acquisitions.

The Parent Company Liquidity - Sources

The principal source of the Parent's liquidity is dividends it receives from the subsidiary Bank, which may be impacted by: Bank-level capital needs, laws and regulations, corporate policies, or other factors. The Bank issued $25.0 million in dividends to the Parent in 2014, which was used to redeem the $15.0 million of Trust Preferred Securities and to fund planned repurchases of the Company's common stock and cash dividends to holders of the Company's common stock. There were no dividends to the Parent in 2013. The Bank is subject to regulatory restrictions on its ability to pay dividends to the Parent. See Note 15 Regulatory Matters in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for December 31, 2014, included herein, for additional information regarding dividend restrictions.

In addition to dividends from the subsidiary, other sources of liquidity for the Parent include proceeds from common stock options exercised as well as proceeds from the issuance of common stock under Metro's stock purchase plan. We could also generate liquidity for Metro and its subsidiaries through the issuance of debt and equity securities. See Notes 10 and 12 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for December 31, 2014, included herein, for additional information regarding capital securities.

Consolidated Liquidity

The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included herein, provide additional information on our sources and uses of funds. From a funding standpoint, we have been able to rely over the years on a stable base of strong “core” deposit growth. The decrease from 2013 to 2014 in cash from operating activities was primarily attributable to a decrease in proceeds from sales of loans held for sale, partially offset by an increase in net income in 2014 and a lower amount of originations of loans held for sale as compared to 2013. Cash used by investing activities increased $17.3 million compared to 2013 primarily due to an increase in loans receivable partially offset by a net redemption of restricted investments in bank stock and a net decrease in cash provided by investment securities activity. Financing

34




activities resulted in higher net cash provided in 2014 compared to 2013, which was mostly from net deposit growth of $141.1 million compared to $8.3 million of deposit growth in 2013, and lower repayments of long-term debt, partially offset by from lower net proceeds from short-term borrowings.

The major categories of the statement of cash flows and their respective impact to cash and cash equivalents is presented below:

TABLE 36
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
37,711

$
44,540

Net cash used by investing activities
(221,652
)
(204,323
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
181,777

148,197

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
44,996

56,582

Cash and cash equivalents at year-end
$
42,832

$
44,996


Aggregate Contractual Obligations
 
The following table represents our on-and-off balance sheet aggregate contractual obligations to make future payments:

TABLE 37
 
December 31, 2014
(in thousands)
Less than
1 Year
1 to 3
Years
3 to 5
Years
Over 5
Years
Total
Time deposits
$
153,097

$
27,275

$
43,894

$

$
224,266

Fiserv Solutions, Inc. obligation
7,516

3,572



11,088

Operating leases
2,444

4,341

3,909

13,153

23,847

Sponsorship obligation
338

677

338


1,353

Total
$
163,395

$
35,865

$
48,141

$
13,153

$
260,554

 
For further discussion regarding our commitments and contingencies, please see Notes 7 and 18 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for December 31, 2014, included herein.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
During the conduct of ordinary business operations we routinely enter into contracts for services. These contracts may require payment for services to be provided in the future and may also contain penalty clauses for the early termination of the contract. Management is not aware of any additional commitments or contingent liabilities, which may have a material adverse impact on our liquidity or capital resources.
 
We are also party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. See Note 5 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for December 31, 2014, included herein, for additional information.
 

35




Forward-Looking Statements

This annual report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which we refer to as the Exchange Act, with respect to the financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, future performance and business of Metro Bancorp, Inc. These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond our control).   The words “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. 
 
While we believe our plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions as reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that any of them will be achieved.

You should understand that various factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 10-K, could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, including: 

the effects of and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies, including in particular interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including the duration of such policies;
general economic or business conditions, either nationally, regionally or in the communities in which we do business, may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and loan performance or a reduced demand for credit;
federal budget and tax negotiations and their effects on economic and business conditions in general and our customers in particular;
the federal government’s inability to reach a deal to permanently raise the debt ceiling and the potential negative results on economic and business conditions;
the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and other changes in laws and regulations affecting the financial services industry (including laws concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance as well as enhanced expectations of regulators);
possible impacts of the capital and liquidity requirements of the Basel III standards as implemented or to be implemented by the Federal Reserve and other US regulators, as well as other regulatory pronouncements and prudential standards;
changes in regulatory policies on positions relating to capital distributions;
our ability to generate sufficient earnings to justify capital distributions;
continued effects of the aftermath of recessionary conditions and the impacts on the economy in general and our customers in particular, including adverse impacts on loan utilization rates as well as delinquencies, defaults and customers' ability to meet credit obligations;
our ability to manage current levels of impaired assets;
continued levels of loan volume origination;
the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses or any provisions;
the views and actions of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regarding consumer credit protection laws and regulations;
changes resulting from legislative and regulatory actions with respect to the current economic and financial industry environment;
changes in the FDIC deposit fund and the associated premiums that banks pay to the fund;
interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations;
the results of the regulatory examination and supervision process;
unanticipated regulatory or legal proceedings and liabilities and other costs;
compliance with laws and regulatory requirements of federal, state and local agencies, including regulatory expectations regarding enhanced compliance programs;

36




our ability to continue to grow our business internally or through acquisitions and successful integration of new or acquired entities while controlling costs;
deposit flows;
the inability to achieve anticipated cost savings in the amount of time expected, and the emergence of unexpected offsetting costs in the compliance or risk management areas or otherwise;
changes in consumer spending and saving habits relative to the financial services we provide;
the ability to hedge certain risks economically and effectively;
the loss of key officers or other personnel;
changes in accounting principles, policies and guidelines as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and other accounting standards setters;
the timely development of competitive new products and services by us and the acceptance of such products and services by customers;
the willingness of customers to substitute competitors’ products and services for our products and services and vice versa, based on price, quality, relationship or otherwise;
other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, pricing, products and services;
rapidly changing technology;
our continued relationships with major customers;
the effect of terrorist attacks and threats of actual war;
interruption or breach in security of our information systems, including cyber-attacks, resulting in failures or disruptions in customer account management, general ledger processing and loan or deposit systems or disclosure of confidential information;
our ability to maintain compliance with the exchange rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.;
our ability to maintain the value and image of our brand and protect our intellectual property rights;
disruptions due to flooding, severe weather or other natural disasters or Acts of God; and
our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

Because such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these factors or any of our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference, the dates of those documents. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of us except as required by applicable law.
 
The Company may, from time to time, make written or oral “forward-looking statements”, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the SEC (including the annual report on Form 10-K and the exhibits thereto), in its reports to stockholders and in other communications by the Company, which are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
 
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
 
Interest rates, which may be affected by inflation, have a more significant impact on our performance than do the effects of general levels of inflation, since most of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services as measured by Personal Consumption Expenditures price index. The liquidity and maturity structure of our assets and liabilities are critical to the maintenance of acceptable performance levels.


37




Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Our exposure to market risk principally includes interest rate risk, which was previously discussed. Historically, our net interest margin has remained fairly stable. Our net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 3.50%, a decrease of 1 bp from 3.51% for the year ended December 31, 2013. See the section titled “Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin” in this Management's Discussion and Analysis for further discussion regarding our net interest margin performance.
 
Currently, we have 96% of our deposits in accounts which we consider core deposits. These accounts, which have a relatively low interest cost, have historically contributed significantly to our net interest margin.

38




Metro Bancorp, Inc.
Report on Management's Assessment of Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting
 
Metro Bancorp, Inc. is responsible for the preparation, integrity, and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. The consolidated financial statements and notes included in this annual report have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles and necessarily include some amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments.
We, as management of Metro Bancorp, Inc., are responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting that is designed to produce reliable financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of the assets of the Company; provide reasonable assurance that the transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, that receipts and expenditures of the Company are only being made in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. The system of internal control over financial reporting as it relates to the financial statements is evaluated for effectiveness by management and tested for liability through a program of internal audits. Actions are taken to correct potential deficiencies as they are identified.
Any system of internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control will provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.
Management assessed the Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, in relation to criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting as described in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concludes that, as of December 31, 2014, its system of internal control over financial reporting is effective and meets the criteria of Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013).
BDO USA LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2014, appearing elsewhere in this annual report, and has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, as stated in their report, which is included herein.


 
 /s/ Gary L. Nalbandian
 
Gary L. Nalbandian
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 (Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 /s/ Mark A. Zody
 
Mark A. Zody
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
March 16, 2015
 

                                                                                                                              







 


39





        

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


Board of Directors and Stockholders
Metro Bancorp, Inc.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania


We have audited Metro Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Report on Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Metro Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the COSO criteria.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Metro Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended and our report dated March 16, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion.


/s/ BDO USA, LLP


Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
March 16, 2015


40






Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


Board of Directors and Stockholders
Metro Bancorp, Inc.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Metro Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Company”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on those consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Metro Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 16, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion.



/s/ BDO USA, LLP


Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
March 16, 2015
















41




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
of Metro Bancorp, Inc.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of Metro Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2012. Metro Bancorp, Inc.’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of Metro Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.


/s/ Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 15, 2013





42




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
December 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
2014
 
2013
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
42,832

 
$
44,996

Securities, available for sale at fair value
528,038

 
585,923

Securities, held to maturity at cost (fair value 2014: $319,923; 2013: $263,697)
324,994

 
283,814

Loans, held for sale
4,996

 
6,225

Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
(allowance 2014: $24,998; 2013: $23,110)
1,973,536

 
1,727,762

Restricted investments in bank stock
15,223

 
20,564

Premises and equipment, net
75,182

 
75,783

Other assets
32,771

 
36,051

Total assets
$
2,997,572

 
$
2,781,118

 
 

 
 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 

 
 

Deposits:
 

 
 

Noninterest-bearing
$
478,724

 
$
443,287

Interest-bearing
1,901,948

 
1,796,334

      Total deposits
2,380,672

 
2,239,621

Short-term borrowings
333,475

 
277,750

Long-term debt

 
15,800

Other liabilities
17,902

 
17,764

Total liabilities
2,732,049

 
2,550,935

Stockholders' Equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock - Series A noncumulative; $10.00 par value; $1,000 liquidation preference;
 
 
 
      (1,000,000 shares authorized; 40,000 shares issued and outstanding)
400

 
400

Common stock - $1.00 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized;
 
 
 
      (issued shares 2014: 14,232,844;  2013: 14,157,219;
outstanding shares 2014: 14,220,544; 2013: 14,157,219)
14,233

 
14,157

Surplus
160,588

 
158,650

Retained earnings
94,496

 
73,491

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(3,875
)
 
(16,515
)
Treasury stock, at cost (common shares 2014: 12,300)
(319
)
 

Total stockholders' equity
265,523

 
230,183

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
2,997,572

 
$
2,781,118

 
See accompanying notes.


43




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Interest Income
 
 
 
 
 
Loans receivable, including fees:
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable
$
81,278

 
$
74,404

 
$
71,760

Tax-exempt
3,281

 
3,630

 
3,628

Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable
20,373

 
20,552

 
21,468

Tax-exempt
850

 
740

 
451

Federal funds sold

 

 
1

Total interest income
105,782

 
99,326

 
97,308

Interest Expense
 

 
 

 
 

Deposits
5,904

 
6,204

 
7,701

Short-term borrowings
1,136

 
712

 
203

Long-term debt
939

 
1,280

 
2,206

Total interest expense
7,979

 
8,196

 
10,110

Net interest income
97,803

 
91,130

 
87,198

Provision for loan losses
6,750

 
6,875

 
10,100

 Net interest income after provision for loan losses
91,053

 
84,255

 
77,098

Noninterest Income
 

 
 

 
 

Card income
15,448

 
14,681

 
14,090

Service charges on deposit accounts
8,927

 
9,263

 
9,976

Other fee income
4,394

 
4,627

 
4,306

Net gains on sales of loans
1,034

 
955

 
1,220

Net gains (losses) on sales/calls of securities
(82
)
 
664

 
1,051

Debt prepayment charge

 

 
(140
)
Other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses

 

 
(649
)
Portion recognized in other comprehensive income (before taxes)

 

 

Net impairment loss on investment securities

 

 
(649
)
Total noninterest income
29,721

 
30,190

 
29,854

Noninterest Expenses
 

 
 

 
 

Salaries and employee benefits
44,381

 
42,806

 
41,241

Occupancy
8,663

 
8,710

 
8,439

Furniture and equipment
3,707

 
4,540

 
4,842

Advertising and marketing
1,737

 
1,685

 
1,533

Data processing
13,538

 
12,838

 
13,590

Regulatory assessments and related fees
2,205

 
2,227

 
4,063

Telephone
3,440

 
3,643

 
3,480

Loan expense
1,406

 
2,024

 
1,384

Foreclosed real estate
402

 
422

 
1,335

Consulting fees
959

 
807

 
1,104

Pennsylvania shares tax
1,934

 
2,176

 
1,789

Other
8,176

 
7,991

 
8,344

Total noninterest expenses
90,548

 
89,869

 
91,144

Income before taxes
30,226

 
24,576

 
15,808

Provision for federal income taxes
9,141

 
7,316

 
4,914

Net income
$
21,085

 
$
17,260

 
$
10,894

Net Income per Common Share
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
$
1.48

 
$
1.21

 
$
0.77

Diluted
1.46

 
1.20

 
0.77

Average Common and Common Equivalent Shares Outstanding
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
14,191

 
14,142

 
14,128

Diluted
14,414

 
14,290

 
14,128

See accompanying notes.

44




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Net income
$
21,085

$
17,260

$
10,894

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
(tax effects 2014: $6,774; 2013: ($12,750); 2012: $1,758)
12,579

(23,988
)
3,413

Reclassification adjustment for net realized (gains) losses on securities
recorded in income
[1]
(tax effects 2014: $33; 2013: $125; 2012: ($220))
61

233

(409
)
Reclassification for OTTI credit losses recorded in income
(tax effects 2012: $227)


422

   Other comprehensive income (loss)
12,640

(23,755
)
3,426

Total comprehensive income (loss)
$
33,725

$
(6,495
)
$
14,320


[1] Amounts are included in net gains on sales/calls of securities on the Consolidated Statements of Income in total noninterest income.
See accompanying notes.


45




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
(in thousands, except share amounts)
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Surplus
Retained Earnings
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Treasury Stock
Total
            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
January 1, 2012
$
400

$
14,125

$
156,184

$
45,497

$
3,814

$

$
220,020

Net income



10,894



10,894

Other comprehensive income




3,426


3,426

Dividends declared on preferred stock



(80
)


(80
)
Common stock of 40 shares issued under
employee stock purchase plan


1




1

Proceeds from issuance of 5,877 shares of
common stock in connection with dividend
reinvestment and stock purchase plan

6

38




44

Common stock share-based awards


1,082




1,082

December 31, 2012
400

14,131

157,305

56,311

7,240


235,387

Net income



17,260



17,260

Other comprehensive loss




(23,755
)

(23,755
)
Dividends declared on preferred stock



(80
)


(80
)
Common stock of 23,645 shares issued under
stock option plans, including tax benefit of $51

24

331




355

Common stock of 40 shares issued under
employee stock purchase plan


1




1

Proceeds from issuance of 2,271 shares of
common stock in connection with dividend
reinvestment and stock purchase plan

2

65




67

Common stock share-based awards


948




948

December 31, 2013
400

14,157

158,650

73,491

(16,515
)

230,183

Net income



21,085



21,085

Other comprehensive income




12,640


12,640

Dividends declared on preferred stock



(80
)


(80
)
Common stock of 72,151 shares issued under
stock option plans, including tax benefit of $191

72

1,051




1,123

Common stock of 150 shares issued under
employee stock purchase plan


3




3

Proceeds from issuance of 3,324 shares of
common stock in connection with dividend
reinvestment and stock purchase plan

4

73




77

Common stock share-based awards


811




811

Purchase of 12,300 shares of treasury stock





(319
)
(319
)
December 31, 2014
$
400

$
14,233

$
160,588

$
94,496

$
(3,875
)
$
(319
)
$
265,523

 
See accompanying notes.


46




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                                              
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
21,085

$
17,260

$
10,894

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 

 

Provision for loan losses
6,750

6,875

10,100

Provision for depreciation and amortization
4,524

5,157

5,824

Deferred income tax (benefit) expense
(249
)
137

118

Amortization of securities premiums and accretion of discounts (net)
204

803

1,635

(Gains) losses on sales of available for sales securities (net)
94

358

(629
)
Gains on sales/calls of held to maturity securities
(11
)
(1,022
)
(422
)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investment securities


649

Proceeds from sales and transfers of SBA loans originated for sale
2,260



Proceeds/payments from sales of other loans originated for sale
35,865

63,573

76,277

Loans originated for sale
(36,200
)
(53,604
)
(80,881
)
Gains on sales of loans (net)
(1,034
)
(955
)
(1,220
)
Losses on write-down on foreclosed real estate

89

257

(Gains) losses on sales of foreclosed real estate (net)
(53
)
54

649

Losses on disposal of premises and equipment (net)
104

217

79

Stock-based compensation
811

948

1,082

Amortization of deferred loan origination fees and costs (net)
3,784

2,688

2,647

Debt prepayment charge


140

(Increase) decrease in other assets
(361
)
(985
)
5,782

Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
138

2,947

(1,253
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
37,711

44,540

31,728

Investing Activities
 

 

 

Securities available for sale:
 

 

 

   Proceeds from principal repayments, calls and maturities
69,409

134,199

161,013

   Proceeds from sales
30,268

76,262

299,338

   Purchases
(22,749
)
(158,826
)
(518,375
)
Securities held to maturity:
 

 

 

   Proceeds from principal repayments, calls and maturities
16,032

66,199

146,503

   Proceeds from sales
614

22,259

6,101

   Purchases
(57,709
)
(101,455
)
(225,420
)
Proceeds from sales of loans not originated for sale
9,631

4,952


Proceeds from sales of foreclosed real estate
2,027

1,552

6,472

Increase in loans receivable (net)
(270,489
)
(241,982
)
(103,992
)
(Purchase) redemption of restricted investments in bank stock (net)
5,341

(5,114
)
1,352

Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment

316

931

Purchases of premises and equipment
(4,027
)
(2,685
)
(3,508
)
Net cash used by investing activities
(221,652
)
(204,323
)
(229,585
)
Financing Activities
 

 

 

Increase in demand, interest checking, money market, and savings deposits (net)
107,468

13,098

190,834

Increase (decrease) in time and other noncore deposits (net)
33,583

(4,768
)
(31,117
)
Increase in short-term borrowings (net)
55,725

164,525

48,225

Repayment of long-term borrowings
(15,800
)
(25,000
)
(8,540
)
Proceeds from common stock options exercised
932

304


Proceeds from dividend reinvestment and common stock purchase plan
77

67

44

Tax benefit on exercise of stock options
191

51


Cash dividends on preferred stock
(80
)
(80
)
(80
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(319
)


Net cash provided by financing activities
181,777

148,197

199,366

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(2,164
)
(11,586
)
1,509

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
44,996

56,582

55,073

Cash and cash equivalents at year-end
$
42,832

$
44,996

$
56,582

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest on deposits and borrowings
$
7,839

$
8,283

$
10,261

Cash paid for income taxes
8,350

7,325

3,250

Supplemental schedule of noncash activities:
 

 

 

Transfer of loans to foreclosed assets
4,890

3,722

2,778

See accompanying notes.

47




Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
NOTE 1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation
 
Metro Bancorp, Inc. (Metro or the Company) is a Pennsylvania business corporation, which is registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. The Company was incorporated on April 23, 1999 and became an active bank holding company on July 1, 1999. The Company is a one-bank holding company headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and provides full banking services through its subsidiary, Metro Bank (the Bank). The Company is subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB). Metro Bank is the Company's operating entity and is headquartered in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. The Bank became a state-chartered bank on November 7, 2008, following approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking of the Bank's application to convert from a national bank charter to a state bank charter. As a Pennsylvania state-chartered bank, Metro Bank is supervised jointly by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Bank is a financial services retailer with stores in the counties of Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York, Pennsylvania. The Bank had a total of 33 stores at December 31, 2014 and opened one additional store in January 2015 in Lancaster County.

The consolidated financial statements presented include the accounts of Metro Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Metro Bank. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Events occurring subsequent to the date of the balance sheet have been evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates
 
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).  Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and require disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for fair presentation have been included and are of a normal, recurring nature. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses (allowance or ALL), impaired loans, the valuation of foreclosed assets, the valuation of securities available for sale, the valuation of deferred tax assets, the determination of other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) on the Company's investment securities portfolio and other fair value measurements.

Other Comprehensive Income

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available for sale (AFS) securities, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet, such items, along with net income are components of comprehensive income. In addition to net income, the Company's total comprehensive income includes net unrealized gains (losses) on AFS securities and noncredit-related other-than-temporary impairment charges on debt securities. These items are presented net of tax in the Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Significant Group Concentrations of Credit Risk
 
Most of the Company's activities are with customers located within South Central Pennsylvania. Notes 4 and 6 discuss the types of lending that the Company engages in as well as loan concentrations. The Company does not have any significant concentrations to any one borrower or related borrowers. The types of securities the Company invests in is discussed in Note 3.
 
Securities
 
Securities classified as held to maturity are those debt securities that the Company has both the intent and ability to hold to maturity regardless of changes in market conditions, liquidity needs or general economic conditions. These securities are carried at cost adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, computed by the interest method over the estimated average life of amortizing securities and to either the maturity or expected call date of nonamortizing securities.
 
Securities classified as available for sale are those debt securities that the Company intends to hold for an indefinite period of time, but not necessarily to maturity. Any decision to sell a security classified as available for sale would be based on various factors, including significant movements in interest rates, changes in the maturity mix of the Company's assets and liabilities, liquidity needs, regulatory capital considerations and other similar factors. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains or losses are reported

48




in other comprehensive income, net of the related deferred tax effect. Realized gains or losses, determined on the basis of the cost of the specific securities sold, are included in earnings. Premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the estimated average life of amortizing securities and to either the maturity or expected call date of nonamortizing securities. Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase.
 
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment

Beginning in 2013, the Company performed its own independent credit review of all nongovernment and nongovernmental agency securities when determining whether a debt security is other-than-temporarily impaired. This includes a quarterly review of all existing debt securities as well as a pre-purchase analysis for new securities purchased. This review/analysis considers, but does not rely upon, ratings by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization. Management also assesses whether we have the intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security prior to its anticipated recovery.
 
Prior to 2013, the Company followed the fair value measurement guidance which clarified the interaction of the factors that should be considered when determining whether a debt security was other-than-temporarily impaired. For debt securities, management assessed whether we had the intent to sell the security or it was more likely than not that we would be required to sell the security prior to its anticipated recovery. The Company forecasted recovery of the value of the security through either cash flows or market price.

In instances when a determination is made that an OTTI exists but we do not intend to sell the debt security and it is not likely that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to its anticipated recovery, the OTTI is separated into (a) the amount of the total OTTI related to a decrease in cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security (the credit loss) and (b) the amount related to all other factors. The amount of the OTTI related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings and the amount of the OTTI related to all other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income. 

Loans Held for Sale
 
Loans held for sale are comprised of student loans, selected residential mortgage loans and the guaranteed portion of certain small business administration (SBA) loans the Company originates with the intention of selling in the future. Held for sale loans are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, calculated in the aggregate. At the present time, the majority of the Company's residential loans are originated with the intent to sell to the secondary market unless a loan is nonconforming to the secondary market standards or if we agree not to sell the loan due to a customer's request. The residential mortgage loans that are designated as held for sale are sold to other financial institutions in correspondent relationships. The sale of these loans takes place typically within 30 days of funding. The Company does not retain the servicing on its residential mortgage loans or its student loans. The Company retains servicing on SBA loans sold, which is not material at December 31, 2014.

The Company holds other SBA loans in the loan receivable portfolio unless or until the Company's management determines a sale of those certain loans is appropriate. At the time such a decision is made, those SBA loans are moved from the loans receivable portfolio to the loans held for sale portfolio and recorded at the lower of cost or fair value. During 2014, SBA loans with a carrying amount of $9.3 million previously classified as loans receivable were transferred to the loans held for sale portfolio and subsequently sold at a total gain of $310,000. During 2014, the Company began originating certain types of SBA loans with the intent to sell the guaranteed portion of each of these loans. The Company received proceeds of $2.3 million on sales of such loans in 2014 and recognized a gain of $134,000 on those sales. There were no SBA loan sales in 2013 or 2012.

Total loans held for sale were $5.0 million and $6.2 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, loans held for sale were comprised of $2.6 million of residential mortgages and $2.4 million of student loans as compared to $3.1 million of student loans and $3.1 million of residential mortgages at December 31, 2013. There were no SBA loans held for sale at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 
Loans Receivable
 
Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future, or until maturity or payoff, are stated at their outstanding unpaid principal balances, net of an ALL and any deferred fees and costs. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees and costs are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the yield (interest income) of the related loans. The Company is generally amortizing these amounts over the contractual life of the loan.
 
A loan is considered past due or delinquent if payment is not received on or before the due date. The accrual of interest is generally discontinued when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or management has serious doubts about further collectibility of principal or interest, even though the loan may be currently performing. A loan may remain on accrual status if

49




it is in the process of collection and is either guaranteed or well secured. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, unpaid interest credited to income in the current year is reversed and unpaid interest accrued in prior years is charged against the ALL. Interest received on nonaccrual loans generally is either applied against principal or reported as interest income, according to management's judgment as to the collectibility of principal. If a loan is substandard and accruing, interest is recognized as accrued. Generally, loans are restored to accrual status when the obligation is brought current, has performed in accordance with the contractual terms for a reasonable period of time and the ultimate collectibility of the total contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt.

Allowance for Loan Losses
 
The ALL is established through provisions for incurred loan losses charged against income. Loans, or portions thereof, deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the ALL and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. The evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates that can change significantly as more information becomes available. Loans are evaluated for impairment once the loan has been internally risk rated substandard or lower or has been classified as a troubled debt restructuring (TDR).
 
The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are classified as impaired. For such loans, an allowance is based on an analysis of the discounted cash flows, net collateral value or observable market price of the impaired loan, relative to the carrying value of the loan. The general component covers nonclassified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors and includes an unallocated component. These qualitative factors represent a portion of the allowance established for losses inherent in the loan portfolio, which have not been identified by the quantitative processes. This determination inherently involves a higher degree of subjectivity and considers risk factors that may not have yet manifested themselves in historical loss experience. These factors include:

Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards;
Changes in levels and trends of collection, charge-off and recovery practices;
Changes in the volume and severity of past due loans, the volume of nonaccrual loans and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans;
Material changes in the mix, volume or duration of the portfolio;
Changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans;
Changes in the quality of our loan review system;
Changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff;
The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the level of such concentrations; and
Changes in international, national, regional and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectibility of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments and the effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in our existing portfolio.

The ALL is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for losses that can be reasonably anticipated. Management's periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on the Company's past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower's ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions and other relevant factors.

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include the borrower's ability to pay, payment status, borrower's financial condition, market conditions for the borrowers' type of industry and other relevant factors. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay and the borrower's prior payment record. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis for commercial loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, the loan's obtainable market price or the fair value of the collateral, net of expected selling costs, if the loan is collateral dependent.
 
All nonaccrual loans are deemed impaired and evaluated individually to determine whether a charge-off is necessary.


50




Restricted Investments in Bank Stock
 
Restricted investments in bank stock (restricted stock) consists of stock of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Pittsburgh and the Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (ACBB). Federal law requires a member institution of the FHLB system to hold stock of its district FHLB according to a predetermined formula. At December 31, 2014, the Company held $15.2 million of FHLB stock. Of this amount, $1.5 million was required for membership and $13.7 million was required to cover the Company's borrowing level at the FHLB. During 2013 the FHLB lifted the repurchase suspension that had been in place since December of 2008. The Company also owned $65,000 of ACBB stock at December 31, 2014. The investments are carried at cost and periodically evaluated by management for impairment based on an assessment of the ultimate recoverability of the cost rather than by recognizing temporary declines in value. Regarding FHLB restricted stock, the determination of whether a decline in value affects the ultimate recoverability of the cost is influenced by criteria such as (1) the significance of the decline in net assets of the FHLB as compared to the capital stock amount for the FHLB and the length of time this situation has persisted, (2) commitments by the FHLB to make payments required by law or regulation and the level of such payments in relation to the operating performance of the FHLB, (3) the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on institutions and, accordingly, on the customer base of the FHLB and (4) the liquidity position of the FHLB. Management believes no impairment charge was necessary related to its investments in restricted stock as of December 31, 2014.
 
Premises and Equipment
 
Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is charged to operations over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the terms of the respective leases or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Depreciation and amortization are determined on the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods for income tax purposes.

Foreclosed Assets
 
Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosures are held for sale and are initially recorded at fair value less estimated costs to sell the assets at the date of foreclosure, which becomes the "cost" basis of the asset. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value, less estimated costs to sell the asset. Revenue and expenses from operations, changes in the valuation allowance and gains/losses on sales of foreclosed real estate are included in, or netted against, foreclosed real estate expense. Foreclosed assets are included in other assets on the Company's balance sheet and totaled $7.7 million as of December 31, 2014 as compared to $4.5 million as of December 31, 2013.

Net expenses associated with foreclosed assets are detailed below: 
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Operating expenses, net of rental income
$
455

 
$
279

 
$
429

Losses on write-down on foreclosed real estate

 
89

 
257

Net loss (gain) on sales of real estate
(53
)
 
54

 
649

Total
$
402

 
$
422

 
$
1,335

 
Income Taxes
 
Deferred income taxes are provided using the liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. The Company analyzes each tax position taken in its tax returns and determines the likelihood that the position will be realized. Only tax positions that are "more likely than not" to be realized can be recognized in the Company's financial statements. For tax positions that do not meet this recognition threshold, the Company will record an unrecognized tax benefit for the difference between the position taken on the tax return and the amount recognized in the financial statements. The Company did not have any material unrecognized tax benefits or accrued interest or penalties at December 31, 2014 or 2013 or during the years then ended. No unrecognized tax benefits are expected to arise within the next twelve months. The Company's policy is to account for interest as a component of interest expense and penalties, if any, as a component of other expenses.

51




Transfers of Financial Assets
 
Transfers of financial assets, including sales of loans and loan participations, are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Treasury Stock
 
Common stock shares repurchased are recorded as treasury stock at cost.

Per Share Data
 
Basic net income per common share represents income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share reflects additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued as well as any adjustments to income that would result from the assumed issuance. Potential common shares that may be issued by the Company relate solely to outstanding common stock options and are determined using the treasury stock method or stock purchased through the Company's dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan.

Treasury shares are not deemed outstanding for earnings per share calculations.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments
 
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into off-balance sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit, including commercial letters of credit and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded on the balance sheet when they become payable by the borrower to the Company.
 
Cash Flow Information
 
For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers cash and due from banks, interest-bearing deposits and federal funds sold as cash and cash equivalents.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company recognizes compensation costs related to share-based payment transactions in the income statement based on the grant-date fair value of the stock-based compensation issued. Compensation costs are recognized over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award.
 
The cash flows resulting from the tax benefits due to deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for options (excess tax benefits) are classified as financing cash flows.
 
Advertising Costs
 
The Company follows the policy of charging the costs of advertising to expense as incurred.

Recent Accounting Standards

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. ASU 2013-11 provides that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carry forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward, except as follows: to the extent a net operating loss carry forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. This guidance was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, that began after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

52





In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables-Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40), Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure. The guidance clarifies when a creditor should be considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan such that the loan should be derecognized and the real estate property recognized. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which specifies how and when to recognize revenue and includes additional disclosures. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period, and allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective application. Early application is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 310-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. ASU 2014-15 requires an entity’s management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. This guidance is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. Because ASU 2014-15 only impacts the timing and content of footnote disclosures, the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 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 Equity. ASU 2014-16 clarifies how existing guidance should be interpreted in evaluating the economic characteristics and risks of a host contract in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share. ASU 2014-16 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015 and should be applied on a modified retrospective basis. We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting
 
The Bank acts as an independent community financial services provider and offers traditional banking and related financial services to individual consumer, business and government customers. Through its stores, the Bank offers a full array of commercial and retail financial services.
 
Management does not separately allocate expenses, including the cost of funding loan demand, between the commercial and retail operations of the Company. As such, discrete financial information is not available and segment reporting would not be meaningful.

Reclassifications
 
Certain amounts in the 2013 and 2012 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation format. Such reclassifications had no impact on the Company's net operations and stockholders' equity.
 
NOTE 2.
Restrictions on Cash and Due from Bank Accounts
 
The Bank is required to maintain average reserves, in the form of cash and balances with the FRB, against its deposit liabilities. The average amount of these reserve balances maintained during 2014 and 2013 was approximately $5.0 million and $4.7 million, respectively.  The Company has no due from balances with institutions in excess of FDIC insurance limitations.


53




NOTE 3.
Securities

The amortized cost and fair value of securities are summarized in the following tables:
 
December 31, 2014
(in thousands)
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
33,995

 
$

 
$
(1,207
)
 
$
32,788

Residential mortgage-backed securities
60,196

 
442

 
(489
)
 
60,149

Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
409,823

 
2,250

 
(7,064
)
 
405,009

Municipal securities
29,985

 
225

 
(118
)
 
30,092

Total
$
533,999

 
$
2,917

 
$
(8,878
)
 
$
528,038

Held to Maturity:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government agency securities
$
149,112

 
$

 
$
(4,658
)
 
$
144,454

Residential mortgage-backed securities
14,226

 
480

 

 
14,706

Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
146,952

 
649

 
(1,711
)
 
145,890

Corporate debt securities
5,000

 
63

 

 
5,063

Municipal securities
9,704

 
107

 
(1
)
 
9,810

Total
$
324,994

 
$
1,299

 
$
(6,370
)
 
$
319,923

 
 
December 31, 2013
(in thousands)
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
33,995

 
$

 
$
(4,069
)
 
$
29,926

Residential mortgage-backed securities
65,795

 

 
(3,295
)
 
62,500

Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
483,591

 
1,141

 
(17,668
)
 
467,064

Municipal securities
27,950

 

 
(1,517
)
 
26,433

Total
$
611,331

 
$
1,141

 
$
(26,549
)
 
$
585,923

Held to Maturity:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government agency securities
$
149,096

 
$

 
$
(16,082
)
 
$
133,014

Residential mortgage-backed securities
7,849

 
197

 

 
8,046

Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
118,893

 
251

 
(4,465
)
 
114,679

Corporate debt securities
5,000

 
149

 

 
5,149

Municipal securities
2,976

 

 
(167
)
 
2,809

Total
$
283,814

 
$
597

 
$
(20,714
)
 
$
263,697



54




The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity at December 31, 2014 are shown in the table that follows. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.
 
Available for Sale
 
Held to Maturity
(in thousands)
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
Due in one year or less
$

 
$

 
$
5,000

 
$
5,063

Due after one year through five years
4,797

 
4,812

 

 

Due after five years through ten years
49,660

 
48,586

 
100,773

 
97,199

Due after ten years
9,523

 
9,482

 
58,043

 
57,065

 
63,980

 
62,880

 
163,816

 
159,327

Residential mortgage-backed securities
60,196

 
60,149

 
14,226

 
14,706

Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
409,823

 
405,009

 
146,952

 
145,890

Total
$
533,999

 
$
528,038

 
$
324,994

 
$
319,923

 
During 2014, the Company sold five agency collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) with a total fair market value of $30.9 million and realized total net losses of $82,000. One security with a fair market value of $614,000 was sold from the held to maturity (HTM) portfolio, however, it was an amortizing security that had already returned more than 85% of its principal and could be sold without tainting the Company's intent with respect to the remaining HTM portfolio. The Company had no securities that were called by their respective issuers.

During 2013, the Company sold a total of 28 securities with a combined fair market value of $98.5 million. The Company realized net pretax gains of $512,000. Of the total, 16 securities with a combined fair market value of $76.3 million had been classified as available for sale. Securities sold from available for sale included 14 CMOs and two mortgage-backed securities (MBSs). Ten agency MBSs and one agency CMO with a combined fair market value of $12.2 million had been classified as held to maturity, however, in each case the current par value had paid down to less than 15% of its purchased par value so they could be sold without tainting the Company's intent with respect to the remaining HTM portfolio. In addition, one corporate bond with a fair market value of $10.0 million had been classified as held to maturity but was sold within three months of its final maturity. In addition to its sales, the Company had two agency debentures called during 2013. The combined par value was $50.0 million with a net pretax gain of $152,000.

In 2012, the Company sold a total of 48 securities with a combined fair market value of $305.4 million. The Company realized net pretax gains of $1.1 million, with a related tax expense of $368,000. Of the total, 41 securities with a combined fair market value of $299.3 million had been classified as available for sale. Seven agency MBSs with a fair market value of $6.1 million had been classified as held to maturity, however, in each case the current par value had paid down to less than 15% of its purchased par value so they could be sold without tainting the Company's intent with respect to the remaining HTM portfolio. Securities sold from available for sale included eight private-label CMOs with a combined fair market value of $20.1 million. The Company no longer owns any private-label CMOs. In addition to its sales, the Company had a total of 11 agency debentures and one corporate debenture called during 2012. The combined par value was $160.3 million and the Company realized no gain or loss on the calls.

The Company does not maintain a trading portfolio and there were no transfers of securities between the AFS and HTM portfolios. The Company uses the specific identification method to record security sales.
 
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, securities with a carrying value of $698.8 million and $691.3 million, respectively, were pledged to secure public deposits and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.
 
The following table summarizes the Company's gains and losses on the sales or calls of debt securities and credit losses (if any) recognized for the OTTI of investments:
(in thousands)
Gross Realized Gains
 
Gross Realized Losses
 
OTTI Credit Losses
 
Net Gains (Losses)
Years Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
$
388

 
$
(470
)
 
$

 
$
(82
)
December 31, 2013
1,826

 
(1,162
)
 

 
664

December 31, 2012
2,889

 
(1,838
)
 
(649
)
 
402


55




In determining fair market values for its portfolio holdings, the Company receives information from a third party provider which management evaluates and corroborates using amounts from one of its securities brokers. Under the current guidance, these values are considered Level 2 inputs, based upon mathematically derived matrix pricing and observed data from similar assets. They are not Level 1 direct quotes, nor do they reflect Level 3 inputs that would be derived from internal analysis or judgment. As the Company does not manage a trading portfolio and typically only sells from its AFS portfolio in order to manage interest rate risk or credit exposure, direct quotes, or street bids, are warranted on an as-needed basis only.

The following tables show the fair value and gross unrealized losses associated with the Company's investment portfolio, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position: 
 
December 31, 2014
 
Less than 12 months
12 months or more
Total
 (in thousands)
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$

$

$
32,788

$
(1,207
)
$
32,788

$
(1,207
)
Residential mortgage-backed securities


24,636

(489
)
24,636

(489
)
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
21,687

(77
)
212,908

(6,987
)
234,595

(7,064
)
Municipal securities


5,021

(118
)
5,021

(118
)
Total
$
21,687

$
(77
)
$
275,353

$
(8,801
)
$
297,040

$
(8,878
)
Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$

$

$
144,454

$
(4,658
)
$
144,454

$
(4,658
)
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
31,289

(255
)
27,282

(1,456
)
58,571

(1,711
)
Municipal securities
1,013

(1
)


1,013

(1
)
Total
$
32,302

$
(256
)
$
171,736

$
(6,114
)
$
204,038

$
(6,370
)

 
December 31, 2013
 
Less than 12 months
12 months or more
Total
 (in thousands)
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
8,077

$
(918
)
$
21,849

$
(3,151
)
$
29,926

$
(4,069
)
Residential mortgage-backed securities
62,500

(3,295
)


62,500

(3,295
)
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
363,993

(16,182
)
15,574

(1,486
)
379,567

(17,668
)
Municipal securities
26,433

(1,517
)


26,433

(1,517
)
Total
$
461,003

$
(21,912
)
$
37,423

$
(4,637
)
$
498,426

$
(26,549
)
Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
110,435

$
(13,661
)
$
22,579

$
(2,421
)
$
133,014

$
(16,082
)
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
98,082

(4,465
)


98,082

(4,465
)
Municipal securities
2,809

(167
)


2,809

(167
)
Total
$
211,326

$
(18,293
)
$
22,579

$
(2,421
)
$
233,905

$
(20,714
)

The Company's investment securities portfolio consists primarily of U.S. Government agency debentures, U.S. Government sponsored agency MBSs, agency CMOs, corporate bonds and municipal bonds. The Company considers securities of the U.S. Government sponsored agencies and the U.S. Government MBSs/CMOs to have little credit risk because their principal and interest payments are backed by an agency of the U.S. Government.
 
The unrealized losses in the Company's investment portfolio at December 31, 2014 were associated with two distinct types of securities. The first type, those backed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies, included 11 debentures, 28 CMOs and four MBSs. Management believes that the unrealized losses on these investments were primarily caused by the movement of interest rates from the date of purchase and notes the contractual cash flows of those investments are guaranteed by an agency of the U.S. Government. Accordingly, it is expected

56




that the securities would not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of the Company's investment. The Company also owns five municipal bonds that were in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2014. In all cases, the bonds are general obligations of either a Pennsylvania municipality or school district and are backed by the ad valorem taxing power of the entity. In all cases, the bonds carry an investment grade rating of no lower than single-A by either Moody's or Standard and Poors. The Company, however, conducts its own periodic, independent review and believes the unrealized losses in its municipal bond portfolio are the result of movements in long-term interest rates and are not reflective of any credit deterioration. The Company does not intend to sell these debt securities prior to recovery and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell these debt securities prior to recovery.

The Company did not hold private-label CMOs as of December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013. The table below rolls forward the cumulative life to date credit losses which have been recognized in earnings for the private-label CMOs for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 
Private-label CMOs
 
 
 (in thousands)
Available for Sale
 
Held to Maturity
 
Total
Cumulative OTTI credit losses at January 1, 2012
$
2,949

 
$

 
$
2,949

Additional increases for OTTI previously recognized when there is
   no intent to sell and no requirement to sell before recovery of
   amortized cost basis
649

 

 
649

Reduction due to credit impaired security sold
(3,598
)
 

 
(3,598
)
Cumulative OTTI credit losses recognized for securities still held
   at December 31, 2012
$

 
$

 
$


NOTE 4.
Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses
 
Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future, or until maturity or payoff, are stated at their outstanding unpaid principal balances, net of an allowance for loan losses (allowance or ALL) and any deferred fees and costs. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees and costs are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the yield (interest income) of the related loans. The Company is generally amortizing these amounts over the contractual life of the loan or to the first review date if the loan is on demand. Certain qualifying loans of the Bank totaling $554.3 million at December 31, 2014, collateralize a letter of credit and a line of credit commitment the Bank has with the FHLB. 

A summary of the Bank's loans receivable is as follows: 
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Commercial and industrial
$
525,127

 
$
447,144

Commercial tax-exempt
71,151

 
81,734

Owner occupied real estate
332,070

 
302,417

Commercial construction and land development
138,064

 
133,176

Commercial real estate
594,276

 
473,188

Residential
110,951

 
97,766

Consumer
226,895

 
215,447

 
1,998,534

 
1,750,872

Less: allowance for loan losses
24,998

 
23,110

Net loans receivable
$
1,973,536

 
$
1,727,762

 
Certain directors and executive officers of the Company, including their associates and companies, have loans with the Bank. Such loans were made in the ordinary course of business at the Bank's normal credit terms including interest rates and collateralization, similar to those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with persons not related to the Bank and do not represent more than a normal risk of collection. Total loans to these persons and companies amounted to approximately $7.1 million and $6.9 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. New advances of $2.0 million were made and repayments totaled $1.8 million during 2014.



57




The following table summarizes nonaccrual loans by loan type:
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
$
11,634

 
$
10,217

   Commercial tax-exempt

 

   Owner occupied real estate
7,416

 
4,838

   Commercial construction and land development
3,228

 
8,587

   Commercial real estate
5,824

 
6,705

   Residential
4,987

 
7,039

   Consumer
1,877

 
2,577

Total nonaccrual loans
$
34,966

 
$
39,963


Generally, the Bank's policy is to move a loan to nonaccrual status when it becomes 90 days past due or when the Company does not believe it will collect all of the contractual principal and interest payments. In addition, when a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, unpaid interest credited to income in the current year is reversed and unpaid interest accrued in prior years is charged against the ALL. Interest received on nonaccrual loans generally is either applied against principal or reported as interest income, according to management's judgment as to the collectibility of principal. If a loan is substandard and accruing, accrued interest is recognized as income. Once a loan is on nonaccrual status, it is not returned to accrual status unless loan payments have been current for at least six consecutive months and the borrower and/or any guarantors demonstrate the ability to repay the loan in accordance with its contractual terms. Under certain circumstances such as bankruptcy, if a loan is under collateralized, or if the borrower and/or guarantors do not show evidence of the ability to pay, the loan may be placed on nonaccrual status even though it is not past due by 90 days or more. Therefore, the total nonaccrual loan balance of $35.0 million exceeds the balance of total loans that are 90 days past due of $16.9 million at December 31, 2014, as presented in the aging analysis tables that follow.

No additional funds were committed on nonaccrual loans including restructured loans that were nonaccruing. Typically, commitments are canceled and no additional advances are made when a loan is placed on nonaccrual.

The following tables detail the age analysis of past due loans receivable:
 
 
Past Due Loans
 
 
Recorded Investment in Loans 90 Days and Greater and Still Accruing
(in thousands)
Current
30-59 Days Past Due
60-89 Days Past Due
90 Days Past Due and Greater
Total Past Due
Total Loans Receivable
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
514,428

$
1,574

$
3,398

$
5,727

$
10,699

$
525,127

$

Commercial tax-exempt
71,151





71,151


Owner occupied real estate
325,681

606

44

5,739

6,389

332,070

445

Commercial construction and
land development
137,263

611

190


801

138,064


Commercial real estate
591,383

1,104

175

1,614

2,893

594,276


Residential
101,233

5,067

1,900

2,751

9,718

110,951


Consumer
222,767

2,650

437

1,041

4,128

226,895


Total
$
1,963,906

$
11,612

$
6,144

$
16,872

$
34,628

$
1,998,534

$
445



58




 
 
Past Due Loans
 
 
Recorded Investment in Loans 90 Days and Greater and Still Accruing
(in thousands)
Current
30-59 Days Past Due
60-89 Days Past Due
90 Days Past Due and Greater
Total Past Due
Total Loans Receivable
December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
438,522

$
1,830

$
1,041

$
5,751

$
8,622

$
447,144

$
17

Commercial tax-exempt
81,734





81,734


Owner occupied real estate
295,278

2,618

1,674

2,847

7,139

302,417


Commercial construction and
land development
124,240

3,355

342

5,239

8,936

133,176


Commercial real estate
465,765

2,142

444

4,837

7,423

473,188

235

Residential
85,352

4,194

6,304

1,916

12,414

97,766

117

Consumer
210,906

2,095

1,335

1,111

4,541

215,447


Total
$
1,701,797

$
16,234

$
11,140

$
21,701

$
49,075

$
1,750,872

$
369


A summary of the ALL and balance of loans receivable by loan class and by impairment method is presented in the tables that follow.

(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. constr.
and land devel-opment
Comm. real estate
Resi-dential
Con-sumer
Unallo-cated
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated
for impairment
$
4,401

$

$
1,242

$

$

$

$

$

$
5,643

Collectively evaluated
for impairment
7,313

55

689

4,242

4,707

796

931

622

19,355

Total ALL
$
11,714

$
55

$
1,931

$
4,242

$
4,707

$
796

$
931

$
622

$
24,998

Loans receivable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans evaluated
  individually
$
16,982

$

$
7,464

$
3,810

$
9,976

$
5,657

$
2,433

$

$
46,322

Loans evaluated
  collectively
508,145

71,151

324,606

134,254

584,300

105,294

224,462


1,952,212

Total loans receivable
$
525,127

$
71,151

$
332,070

$
138,064

$
594,276

$
110,951

$
226,895

$

$
1,998,534



59




(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. constr. and land devel-opment
Comm. real estate
Resi-dential
Con-sumer
Unallo-cated
Total
December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated
for impairment
$
1,559

$

$
1,366

$
1,660

$

$
524

$
476

$

$
5,585

Collectively evaluated
for impairment
6,619

72

814

3,899

4,161

436

827

697

17,525

Total ALL
$
8,178

$
72

$
2,180

$
5,559

$
4,161

$
960

$
1,303

$
697

$
23,110

Loans receivable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans evaluated
  individually
$
13,055

$

$
5,822

$
11,669

$
10,953

$
7,979

$
3,121

$

$
52,599

Loans evaluated
  collectively
434,089

81,734

296,595

121,507

462,235

89,787

212,326


1,698,273

Total loans receivable
$
447,144

$
81,734

$
302,417

$
133,176

$
473,188

$
97,766

$
215,447

$

$
1,750,872


The Bank may create a specific allowance for all of or a part of a particular loan in lieu of a charge-off or charge-down as a result of management's evaluation of impaired loans. In these instances, the Bank has determined that a loss is not imminent based upon available information surrounding the credit at the time of the analysis including, but not limited to, unresolved legal matters; however, management believes an allowance is appropriate to acknowledge the probable risk of loss.

Typically, commercial construction and land development and commercial real estate loans present a greater risk of nonpayment by a borrower than other types of loans. The market value of and cash flow from real estate, particularly real estate held for investment, can fluctuate significantly in a relatively short period of time. Commercial and industrial, tax exempt and owner occupied real estate loans generally carry a lower risk factor comparatively within the commercial portfolio because the repayment of these loans relies primarily on the cash flow from a business which is more stable and predictable.

Consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower's continued financial stability and thus are more likely to be affected by adverse personal circumstances. Consumer and residential loans are also impacted by the market value of real estate. Furthermore, the application of various federal and state laws, including bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount that can be recovered on these loans. The risk of nonpayment is affected by changes in economic conditions, the credit risks of a particular borrower, the term of the loan and, in the case of a collateralized loan, the value of the collateral and other factors.

Management bases its quantitative analysis of probable future loan losses (when determining the ALL) on those loans collectively reviewed for impairment on a two-year period of actual historical losses. Management continuously assesses the quality of the Company's loan portfolio in conjunction with the current state of the economy and its impact on our borrowers repayment ability and on loan collateral values in order to determine the appropriate historical loss period to use in our quantitative analysis. Management may increase or decrease the historical loss period at some point in the future based on the state of the local, regional and national economies and other factors.

The qualitative factors such as changes in levels and trends of charge-offs and delinquencies; material changes in the mix, volume or duration of the loan portfolio; changes in lending policies and procedures including underwriting standards; changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit; changes in the overall values of collateral; changes in the quality of the loan review program and changes in national and local economic trends and conditions among other things, are factors which have not been identified by the quantitative analysis. The determination of qualitative factors inherently involves a higher degree of subjectivity and considers risk factors that may not have yet manifested themselves in historical loss experience.

60




The following tables summarize the transactions in the ALL: 
(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. construction and land development
Comm. real estate
Resi-dential
Consumer
Unallo-cated
Total
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1
$
8,178

$
72

$
2,180

$
5,559

$
4,161

$
960

$
1,303

$
697

$
23,110

Provision charged to operating expenses
3,822

(17
)
201

(570
)
1,448

1,282

659

(75
)
6,750

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
1,468


325

546

203

20

248


2,810

Loans charged-off
(1,754
)

(775
)
(1,293
)
(1,105
)
(1,466
)
(1,279
)

(7,672
)
Balance at December 31
$
11,714

$
55

$
1,931

$
4,242

$
4,707

$
796

$
931

$
622

$
24,998


(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. construction and land development
Comm. real estate
Resi-dential
Consumer
Unallo-cated
Total
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1
$
9,959

$
83

$
2,129

$
7,222

$
3,983

$
324

$
793

$
789

$
25,282

Provision charged to operating expenses
524

(11
)
343

691

2,951

958

1,511

(92
)
6,875

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
1,122


3

490


10

76


1,701

Loans charged-off
(3,427
)

(295
)
(2,844
)
(2,773
)
(332
)
(1,077
)

(10,748
)
Balance at December 31
$
8,178

$
72

$
2,180

$
5,559

$
4,161

$
960

$
1,303

$
697

$
23,110


(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. construction and land development
Comm. real estate
Resi-dential
Consumer
Unallo-cated
Total
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1
$
8,400

$
79

$
729

$
7,840

$
3,241

$
435

$
831

$
65

$
21,620

Provision charged to operating expenses
3,634

4

2,165

243

2,498

193

639

724

10,100

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
227


7

517

97

4

67


919

Loans charged-off
(2,302
)

(772
)
(1,378
)
(1,853
)
(308
)
(744
)

(7,357
)
Balance at December 31
$
9,959

$
83

$
2,129

$
7,222

$
3,983

$
324

$
793

$
789

$
25,282



61




The following table presents information regarding the Company's impaired loans. The recorded investment represents the contractual obligation less any charged off principal.

 
December 31, 2014
December 31, 2013
(in thousands)
Recorded Investment
Unpaid Principal Balance
Related Allowance
Recorded Investment
Unpaid Principal Balance
Related Allowance
Impaired loans with no related allowance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
$
8,766

$
9,437

$

$
9,838

$
12,587

$

   Commercial tax-exempt






   Owner occupied real estate
6,155

6,636


4,456

4,664


   Commercial construction and land
development
3,810

3,810


8,514

9,047


   Commercial real estate
9,976

10,097


10,953

12,795


   Residential
5,657

7,011


4,901

5,366


   Consumer
2,433

2,686


2,645

2,868


Total impaired loans with no related
allowance
36,797

39,677


41,307

47,327


Impaired loans with an allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
8,216

8,216

4,401

3,217

3,217

1,559

   Owner occupied real estate
1,309

1,309

1,242

1,366

1,366

1,366

   Commercial construction and land
development



3,155

3,155

1,660

   Commercial real estate






   Residential



3,078

3,078

524

   Consumer



476

476

476

Total impaired loans with an
allowance recorded
9,525

9,525

5,643

11,292

11,292

5,585

Total impaired loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
16,982

17,653

4,401

13,055

15,804

1,559

   Commercial tax-exempt






   Owner occupied real estate
7,464

7,945

1,242

5,822

6,030

1,366

   Commercial construction and land
development
3,810

3,810


11,669

12,202

1,660

   Commercial real estate
9,976

10,097


10,953

12,795


   Residential
5,657

7,011


7,979

8,444

524

   Consumer
2,433

2,686


3,121

3,344

476

Total impaired loans
$
46,322

$
49,202

$
5,643

$
52,599

$
58,619

$
5,585


















62




The following table presents additional information regarding the Company's impaired loans for the twelve months ended:
 
December 31, 2014
December 31, 2013
December 31, 2012
(in thousands)
Average Recorded Investment
Interest Income Recognized
Average Recorded Investment
Interest Income Recognized
Average Recorded Investment
Interest Income Recognized
Impaired loans with no related allowance:
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
$
8,377

$
277

$
9,461

$
164

$
11,567

$
171

   Commercial tax-exempt






   Owner occupied real estate
4,798

10

3,087

3

3,846

150

   Commercial construction and
     land development
4,890

48

7,122

172

10,319

510

   Commercial real estate
10,061

168

15,267

366

12,434

319

   Residential
4,280

45

5,020

64

3,994

43

   Consumer
2,613

29

3,024

30

2,539

18

Total impaired loans with no
  related allowance
35,019

577

42,981

799

44,699

1,211

Impaired loans with an allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
3,449


4,563


5,258


   Owner occupied real estate
1,778


1,407


1,571


   Commercial construction and
     land development
3,192


7,926


11,375


   Commercial real estate




655


   Residential
2,816


1,805




   Consumer
429


280




Total impaired loans with an
  allowance recorded
11,664


15,981


18,859


Total impaired loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
11,826

277

14,024

164

16,825

171

   Commercial tax-exempt






   Owner occupied real estate
6,576

10

4,494

3

5,417

150

   Commercial construction and
     land development
8,082

48

15,048

172

21,694

510

   Commercial real estate
10,061

168

15,267

366

13,089

319

   Residential
7,096

45

6,825

64

3,994

43

   Consumer
3,042

29

3,304

30

2,539

18

Total impaired loans
$
46,683

$
577

$
58,962

$
799

$
63,558

$
1,211


Impaired loans averaged approximately $46.7 million, $59.0 million and $63.6 million during 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. All nonaccrual loans are considered impaired and interest income is handled as discussed earlier in the nonaccrual section of this Note 4. Interest income continued to accrue on impaired loans that were still accruing and totaled $577,000, $799,000 and $1.2 million during 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
 
The Bank assigns the following loan risk ratings to commercial loans as credit quality indicators of its loan portfolio: pass, special mention, substandard accrual, substandard nonaccrual and doubtful. Monthly, management tracks loans that are no longer pass rated. We review the cash flow, operating results and financial condition of the borrower and any guarantors, as well as the collateral position against established policy guidelines as a means of providing a targeted list of loans and loan relationships that require additional attention. Special mention loans are those loans that are currently adequately protected, but potentially weak. The potential weaknesses may, if not corrected, weaken the loan's credit quality or inadvertently jeopardize the Bank's credit position in the future. Substandard accrual and substandard nonaccrual assets are characterized by well-defined weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt and by the possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the weaknesses are not corrected. Substandard accrual loans would move from accrual to nonaccrual when the Bank does not believe it will collect all of its contractual principal and interest payments. Some identifiers used to assess collectibility are as follows: when the loan is 90 days past due in principal or interest, there are triggering events in the borrower's or any guarantor's financial statements that show continuing deterioration, the borrower's or any guarantor's source of repayment is depleting or if bankruptcy or other legal matters are present, regardless if the loan is 90 days past due or not. Doubtful loans have all of the weaknesses

63




inherent in those classified as substandard accrual and substandard nonaccrual with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently known facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable. Pass rated loans are reviewed throughout the year through the recurring review process of an independent loan review function and through the application of other credit metrics.
Credit quality indicators for commercial loans broken out by loan type at year end are presented in the following tables. There were no loans classified as doubtful for the years ended December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

 
December 31, 2014
(in thousands)
Pass
Special Mention
Substandard Accrual
Substandard Nonaccrual
Doubtful
Total
Commercial credit exposure:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
$
473,984

$
20,785

$
18,724

$
11,634

$

$
525,127

   Commercial tax-exempt
71,151





71,151

   Owner occupied real estate
311,668

4,268

8,718

7,416


332,070

   Commercial construction and land development
133,033

190

1,613

3,228


138,064

   Commercial real estate
584,239

1,584

2,629

5,824


594,276

     Total
$
1,574,075

$
26,827

$
31,684

$
28,102

$

$
1,660,688

 
 
December 31, 2013
(in thousands)
Pass
Special Mention
Substandard Accrual
Substandard Nonaccrual
Doubtful
Total
Commercial credit exposure:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
$
410,530

$
8,064

$
18,333

$
10,217

$

$
447,144

   Commercial tax-exempt
81,734





81,734

   Owner occupied real estate
285,416

3,624

8,539

4,838


302,417

   Commercial construction and land development
120,687


3,902

8,587


133,176

   Commercial real estate
464,408

318

1,757

6,705


473,188

     Total
$
1,362,775

$
12,006

$
32,531

$
30,347

$

$
1,437,659


Consumer credit exposures are rated as performing or nonperforming as detailed below at December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
December 31, 2014
(in thousands)
Performing
Nonperforming
Total
Consumer credit exposure:
 
 
 
   Residential
$
105,964

$
4,987

$
110,951

   Consumer
225,018

1,877

226,895

     Total
$
330,982

$
6,864

$
337,846


 
December 31, 2013
(in thousands)
Performing
Nonperforming
Total
Consumer credit exposure:
 
 
 
   Residential
$
90,727

$
7,039

$
97,766

   Consumer
212,870

2,577

215,447

     Total
$
303,597

$
9,616

$
313,213


A troubled debt restructuring (TDR) is a loan in which the contractual terms have been modified, resulting in the Bank granting a concession to a borrower which is experiencing financial difficulties, in order for the Bank to have a greater chance of collecting the indebtedness

64




from the borrower. An additional benefit to the Bank in granting a concession is to possibly avoid foreclosure or repossession of loan collateral at a time when collateral values are low.

The following table presents the recorded investment at the time of restructure of new TDRs and their concession, modified during the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. The recorded investment at the time of restructure was the same pre-modification and post-modification, therefore there was no financial effect of the modification on the recorded investment. The loans included are considered TDRs as a result of the Bank implementing one or more of the following concessions: granting a material extension of time, entering into a forbearance agreement, adjusting the interest rate, accepting interest only payments for an extended period of time, a change in the amortization period or a combination of any of these concessions.
New TDRs with Concession Type:
Twelve Months Ended
 
December 31, 2014
December 31, 2013
December 31, 2012
(dollars in thousands)
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment at Time of Restructure
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment at Time of Restructure
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment at Time of Restructure
Commercial and industrial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Material extension of time

$


$

1

$
1,262

   Forbearance agreement
5

1,758





   Interest rate adjustment




1

3,404

   Change in amortization period
3

261

7

1,079



   Combination of concessions
1

30

3

749

2

3,231

Owner occupied real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Material extension of time


2

738



   Forbearance agreement
1

330

1

193



   Accepting interest only for a period of time
3

1,601





   Change in amortization period
1

128





   Combination of concessions




1

1,451

Commercial construction and land development:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Material extension of time
2

276

4

2,738

5

3,396

   Forbearance agreement
3

2,185





   Change in amortization period
1

214





   Combination of concessions
1

3,284



1

3,546

Commercial real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Material extension of time




1

68

   Forbearance agreement
1

2,292





   Change in amortization period
14

1,893





   Combination of concessions
1

3,275

4

6,220

1

3,275

Residential:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Material extension of time


2

570

2

329

   Forbearance agreement


1

3,096



   Interest rate adjustment
1

143





   Change in amortization period


1

346



   Combination of concessions


1

134

1

195

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Material extension of time


1

35

4

426

   Forbearance agreement
1

182

1

480



   Combination of concessions




2

182

Total
39

$
17,852

28

$
16,378

22

$
20,765


Included in the 39 contracts in the table above for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2014, are ten contracts totaling $9.7 million that had been restructured prior to December 31, 2013 and which had additional concessions granted during 2014.

65




One commercial and industrial loan identified as an accruing TDR had an unused commitment totaling $14,000 at December 31, 2014 as compared to one commercial construction and land development loan identified as an accruing TDR which had an additional unused commitment totaling $43,000 at December 31, 2013.

The following table represents loans receivable modified as TDRs within the 12 months previous to December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and that subsequently defaulted during the 12 month periods ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Bank's policy is to consider a loan past due and in default if payment is not received on or before the due date.

TDRs That Subsequently Payment Defaulted:
Twelve Months Ended
 
December 31, 2014
December 31, 2013
December 31, 2012
(dollars in thousands)
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment
   Commercial and industrial
7

$
1,288

8

$
1,372

3

$
3,901

   Owner occupied real estate
4

1,792

3

926



   Commercial construction
     and land development
4

2,376

2

2,288

6

6,169

   Commercial real estate
3

521

1

3,275

1

66

   Residential
4

3,811

2

3,338

2

258

   Consumer
1

476

2

553

4

308

Total
23

$
10,264

18

$
11,752

16

$
10,702


Of the 23 contracts that subsequently payment defaulted during the year ended December 31, 2014, seven contracts totaling $2.4 million were still in payment default at December 31, 2014.

All TDRs are considered impaired and, therefore, are individually evaluated for impairment in the calculation of the ALL. Prior to their classification as TDRs, certain of these loans had been collectively evaluated for impairment in the calculation of the ALL. 

NOTE 5.
Loan Commitments and Standby Letters of Credit
 
Loan commitments are made to accommodate the financial needs of the Bank's customers. Standby letters of credit commit the Bank to make payments on behalf of customers when certain specified future events occur. They primarily are issued to facilitate a customers' normal course of business transactions. Standby performance letters of credit are written conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Almost all of the Company's standby letters of credit have expired unfunded.
 
The credit risk associated with letters of credit is essentially the same as that of traditional loan facilities and are subject to the Bank's normal underwriting and credit policies. Since the majority of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amount does not necessarily represent future funding requirements. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses. Management believes that the proceeds obtained through a liquidation of collateral, the enforcement of guarantees and normal collection activities against the borrower would be sufficient to cover the potential amount of future payment required under the corresponding letters of credit.

The Bank does not issue any guarantees that would require liability recognition or disclosure, other than standby letters of credit. There was no liability for guarantees under standby letters of credit as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

In addition to standby letters of credit, in the normal course of business there are unadvanced loan commitments. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $637.1 million in total unused commitments, including the standby letters of credit. Management does not anticipate any material losses as a result of these transactions.

66




The Company's maximum exposure to credit loss for loan commitments (unfunded loans and unused lines of credit, including home equity lines of credit) and standby letters of credit outstanding were as follows: 
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
Unfunded commitments of existing commercial loans
$
471,372

$
385,674

Unfunded commitments of existing consumer/residential loans
112,145

106,024

Standby letters of credit
34,559

37,217

Commitments to grant loans
19,064

32,077

Total
$
637,140

$
560,992


NOTE 6.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
 
The Company's loan portfolio is geographically concentrated principally to borrowers throughout Cumberland, Dauphin, York, Lebanon, Lancaster and Berks counties of Pennsylvania where it has full-service stores.

The Company’s loan portfolio also has a significant concentration of loans related to the commercial real estate industry, in which the primary source of repayment is the sale or refinancing of commercial real estate or collection of rental payments. Commercial real estate loans present a greater risk of nonpayment by a borrower than other types of loans. Commercial real estate loans are collateralized by the related project (principally multi-family residential, office building, lodging, land development and other properties) and typically require owner guarantees. Maximum terms and maximum advance rates are established according to our underwriting guidelines based on our assessment of the industry and overall risk of the project being financed. Loans and loan commitments for commercial real estate and commercial construction and land development aggregated to $823.6 million at December 31, 2014.

NOTE 7.
Premises, Equipment and Leases
 
Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense for 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $4.5 million, $5.2 million and $5.8 million, respectively, and is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter, as listed in the table below. The estimated life for leasehold improvements is based on the shorter of the useful life or the lease term.
 
 
Years
Buildings and leasehold improvements
1 - 40
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
2 - 10
 
A summary of premises and equipment is as follows:
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
Land
$
16,736

$
16,736

Buildings
67,586

67,394

Construction in process
2,892

990

Leasehold improvements
2,731

2,679

Furniture, fixtures and equipment
35,545

34,586

 
125,490

122,385

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
50,308

46,602

Total
$
75,182

$
75,783


Included within construction in process as of December 31, 2014, is $2.0 million related to one new store that opened in January 2015 in Lancaster County. 

67




Land, buildings and equipment are leased under noncancelable operating lease agreements that expire at various dates through 2032. Total rental expense for operating leases in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $3.0 million, $3.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively. At December 31, 2014 future minimum lease payments for noncancelable operating leases are payable as follows: 
(in thousands)
 
2015
$
2,444

2016
2,282

2017
2,059

2018
1,975

2019
1,934

Thereafter
13,153

Total minimum lease payments
$
23,847


NOTE 8.
Deposits
 
The composition of the Company's deposits is as follows:
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
478,724

$
443,287

Interest checking and money market
1,131,637

1,110,568

Savings
546,045

496,495

Time certificates of $100,000 or more
142,285

105,620

Other time certificates
81,981

83,651

Total
$
2,380,672

$
2,239,621

 
At December 31, 2014, the scheduled maturities of time deposits are as follows: 
(in thousands)
 
2015
$
153,097

2016
10,855

2017
16,420

2018
27,042

2019
16,852

Total
$
224,266


NOTE 9.
Short-term Borrowings 

The Bank has a line of credit commitment from the FHLB for borrowings and letters of credit up to $799.0 million and certain qualifying assets of the Bank collateralize the line. There was $333.5 million outstanding with a weighted-average interest rate of 0.29% at December 31, 2014 and $277.8 million outstanding with a weighted-average interest rate of 0.24% at December 31, 2013 on this line of credit. In addition there was $50.1 million and $75.1 million of letters of credit outstanding at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, $554.3 million of loans collateralized the outstanding balance and the letters of credit. In addition, the Bank has available a $15.0 million federal funds line of credit with one correspondent bank and a $20.0 million federal funds line of credit with another correspondent bank. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the outstanding balance on both of these lines was $0.

NOTE 10.
Long-term Debt
 
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no long-term debt.

On September 28, 2001, the Company issued $8.0 million of 10% fixed rate Trust Capital Securities through Trust II, a Delaware business trust subsidiary. The Trust Capital Securities evidenced a preferred ownership interest in Trust II of which the Company owned 100% of

68




the common equity. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company repurchased and retired the $8.0 million of Trust Capital Securities and incurred a $140,000 early repayment charge.
 
On September 29, 2006, the Company issued $15.0 million of 7.75% fixed rate Trust Capital Securities through Commerce Harrisburg Capital Trust III (Trust III), a Delaware business trust subsidiary. The Trust Capital Securities evidenced a preferred ownership interest in Trust III of which the Company owned 100% of the common equity. In September 2014, the Company repurchased and retired the $15.0 million of Trust Capital Securities at 100% of the principal. The redemption activities also included repayment of $800,000 of long-term debt which represented the Company’s ownership interest in the subsidiary Trust.

The Company had a $25.0 million FHLB fixed borrowing at December 31, 2012 with an interest rate of 1.01% which matured March 18, 2013.

NOTE 11.
Income Taxes
 
A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes and the amount that would have been provided at statutory rates is as follows: 
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Provision at statutory rate on pretax income
$
10,579

$
8,601

$
5,533

Tax-exempt income on loans and investments
(1,417
)
(1,498
)
(1,390
)
Stock-based compensation
111

162

203

Civil money penalty


525

Other
(132
)
51

43

Total 
$
9,141

$
7,316

$
4,914

 
The statutory tax rate used to calculate the provision in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was 35%.
 
The components of income tax expense are as follows: 
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Current expense
$
9,390

$
7,179

$
4,796

Deferred expense (benefit)
(249
)
137

118

Total
$
9,141

$
7,316

$
4,914



69




The components of the net deferred tax assets were as follows: 
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
$
8,749

$
8,089

Unrealized losses on securities
2,086

8,893

Stock-based compensation
1,437

1,295

Nonaccrual interest
639

1,330

Other
795

902

Total deferred tax assets
13,706

20,509

Deferred tax liabilities:
 

 

Premises and equipment
(3,220
)
(3,599
)
Prepaid expenses
(344
)
(353
)
Deferred loan fees
(1,189
)
(1,046
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(4,753
)
(4,998
)
Net deferred tax asset
$
8,953

$
15,511

 
At December 31, 2014, the Company had a net deferred tax asset of $9.0 million. An analysis was conducted to determine if a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets was required. The Company used current forecasts of future expected income, possible tax planning strategies, current and future economic and business conditions (such as the possibility of a decrease in real estate value for properties the Bank holds as collateral on loans), the probability that taxable income will continue to be generated in future periods and the cumulative losses in previous years to make the assessment. Management concluded that a valuation allowance was not necessary at December 31, 2014.

In 2014, a tax benefit of $29,000 was recognized on net securities losses, compared to tax expense of $232,000 and $368,000 recognized on net securities gains during 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company received a tax benefit on its federal income tax return totaling $191,000 and $51,000 for 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to the exercise of nonqualified stock options and disqualified dispositions of employee stock from options exercised. No such tax benefit was received during 2012. The Company, or one of its subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction and various states. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal, state and local examinations by tax authorities for years before 2011.

NOTE 12.
Stockholders' Equity
 
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, 40,000 shares of the Company's Series A $10 par value noncumulative nonvoting preferred stock was issued and outstanding. The preferred stock is redeemable at the option of the Company at the price of $25 per share plus any unpaid dividends. Dividends on the preferred stock are payable quarterly at a rate of $2 per share per annum.
 
The Company has a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan (the Plan). Holders of the Company's common stock may participate in the Plan in which cash dividends can be reinvested in common shares and voluntary cash payments of not less than $100 per month and not more than $10,000 per month can purchase additional common shares. Officers are eligible to participate immediately and employees who have been continuously employed for at least one year are also eligible to participate in the Plan through authorized payroll deductions. The minimum investment is $25 per month for employees and $50 for officers with a maximum of $10,000 per month. A total of 3,474, 2,311 and 5,917 common shares were issued pursuant to this Plan in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At December 31, 2014, the Company had reserved approximately 510,000 common shares to be issued in connection with the Plan.

In conjunction with a planned 5% share buyback program announced in October 2014, the Company purchased 12,300 shares of its common stock for $319,000 during December 2014. The cost of this treasury stock is shown as a separate item within stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. Through March 10, 2015, an additional 117,000 shares were purchased for $3.0 million.

On January 23, 2015, the Company declared a $0.07 per share cash dividend on its common stock, which was paid on February 25, 2015, to all shareholders of record on February 4, 2015. The total amount of the dividend paid on all shares was $993,000.




70




Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement (Rights Agreement)

On February 17, 2015, the board of directors adopted a Rights Agreement and declared a dividend of one Right on each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock. The record date to determine shareholders entitled to receive the Rights was February 27, 2015. The Rights Agreement will expire on February 17, 2016.

Until the earlier of (i) the Company’s announcing that a person or group (an Acquiring Person) has acquired 15% or more of its common stock (the Flip-in Date) and (ii) the tenth business day after any person or group commences a tender offer that will result in such person or group owning 15% or more of the Company’s common stock, the Rights will be evidenced by the common stock certificates, will automatically trade with the common stock and will not be exercisable. Thereafter, separate Rights certificates will be distributed and each Right will entitle its holder to purchase fractions of participating preferred stock having economic and voting terms similar to those of one share of common stock for an exercise price of $100.00.

Upon the occurrence of the Flip-in Date, each Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or transferees thereof, which Rights become void) will be exchanged for one share of the Company’s common stock, unless the board of directors determines otherwise or any person owns more than 50% of the Company’s common stock. If the board of directors determines not to effect the exchange, each Right (other than the voided ones) will entitle its holder to purchase, for the exercise price, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock having a market value of twice the exercise price. Also, if after an Acquiring Person controls the board of directors or is the owner of 50% or more of the Company’s common stock, the Company is involved in a merger or sells more than 50% of its assets or earning power and, in the case of a merger, the Acquiring Person will receive different treatment than all other shareholders or the transaction is with the Acquiring Person, each Right will entitle its holder to purchase, for the exercise price, a number of shares of common stock of the Acquiring Person having a market value of twice the exercise price.

The Rights may generally be redeemed by the board of directors for $0.001 per Right prior to the Flip-in Date.

NOTE 13.
Earnings per Share
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
2013
2012
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Income
Weighted-average Shares
Per Share
Amount
Income
Weighted-average Shares
Per Share
Amount
Income
Weighted-average Shares
Per Share
Amount
Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
21,085

 
 
$
17,260

 
 
$
10,894

 
 
Preferred stock dividends
(80
)
 
 
(80
)
 
 
(80
)
 
 
Income available to
common stockholders
21,005

14,191

$
1.48

17,180

14,142

$
1.21

10,814

14,128

$
0.77

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Stock options
 
223

 
 
148

 
 

 

Diluted earnings per share:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available to
 common stockholders plus
assumed conversions
$
21,005

14,414

$
1.46

$
17,180

14,290

$
1.20

$
10,814

14,128

$
0.77

 The following table summarizes the Company's options that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because of their anti-dilutive impact:
 
Options Excluded
Years Ended:
 
December 31, 2014
495,702

December 31, 2013
603,813

December 31, 2012
1,273,731

 

71




NOTE 14.
Stock Option Plans

In 2005, the board of directors adopted and the Company's stockholders approved the adoption of the 2006 Employee Stock Option Plan (the Plan) for the officers and employees of the Company. The Plan commenced January 1, 2006 and replaced the 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan (the 1996 Plan), which expired December 31, 2005. Options previously granted under the 1996 Plan expire ten years after the date of grant. The Plan covers 1,000,000 authorized shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options granted or available for grant to employees and will expire on December 31, 2015. The Plan provides that the option price of qualified incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options will be fixed by the board of directors, but will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock at the date of grant. Options granted are exercisable one year after the grant date, will vest over a four-year period and expire ten years after the grant date.
 
In 2000, the board of directors adopted and the Company's stockholders approved the adoption of the 2001 Directors Stock Option Plan. The 2001 Directors Stock Option Plan commenced January 1, 2001 and replaced the 1990 Directors Stock Option Plan, which expired December 31, 2000. The 2001 Directors Stock Option Plan covered 343,100 authorized shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of options granted or available for grant to nonemployee directors and expired on December 31, 2010. In 2010, the Company's stockholders approved the adoption of the 2011 Directors Stock Option Plan (the Directors Plan). The Directors Plan commenced January 1, 2011 and replaced the 2001 Directors Stock Option Plan. The Directors Plan covers 200,000 authorized shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of options granted or available for grant to directors, directors emeritus, advisory directors, consultants and others with outstanding abilities to help the Company and will expire on December 31, 2020. Under the Company's Directors Plan, nonemployee directors of the Company, consultants and others who are not regularly employed on a salaried basis by the Company may be entitled to an option to acquire shares, as determined by the board of directors, of the Company's common stock during each year in which the director serves on the board. The Directors Plan provides that the option price will be fixed by the board of directors, but will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock on the date of the grant.

The fair value of each option grant was established at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company used the following assumptions:
 
Years Ended December 31, 
 
2014
2013
2012
Weighted-average risk-free interest rates
2.0
%
1.4
%
1.7
%
Expected dividend yields
%
%
%
Volatility factors of expected market price of Company's common stock
34
%
41
%
48
%
Assumed forfeiture rates
10.3
%
11.2
%
9.0
%
Weighted-average expected terms of options, in years
7.2

7.5

7.5

Options vesting annually
25.0
%
25.0
%
25.0
%
 
The following table details the Company's stock-based compensation expense and related tax benefit associated with this expense:
 
Years Ended December 31, 
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Stock-based compensation expense
$
811

$
948

$
1,082

Tax benefit associated with compensation expense
173

169

171



72




As of December 31, 2014, there was $1.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock option awards. The expense will be recognized through 2018, with a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.

Combined stock option transactions under both Plans were as follows: 
 
Years Ended December 31, 
 
2014
2013
2012
 
Options
Weighted Avg.
Exercise Price
Options
Weighted Avg.
Exercise Price
Options
Weighted Avg.
Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of year
1,266,338

$
19.17

1,273,731

$
19.21

1,076,067

$
20.86

Granted
116,990

19.57

126,571

16.55

241,575

11.50

Exercised
(76,321
)
13.50

(25,105
)
13.17



Forfeited/expired
(126,253
)
23.18

(108,859
)
18.05

(43,911
)
17.25

Outstanding at end of year
1,180,754

$
19.14

1,266,338

$
19.17

1,273,731

$
19.21

Exercisable at December 31
844,950

$
20.64

843,011

$
22.18

789,129

$
23.58

Options available for grant at December 31
147,275

 

226,899

 

327,184

 

Weighted-average fair value of options
  granted during the year
 
$
7.72

 
$
7.55

 

$
5.99

 
Cash received from the exercise of options for 2014 and 2013 was $932,000 and $304,000, respectively, and was $0 for 2012.

Options exercisable and outstanding at December 31, 2014 had an intrinsic value of $5.9 million. The intrinsic value of options exercised was $716,000 and $183,000 in 2014 and 2013, respectively. There were no options exercised in 2012.

The Company allows for option exercises to be paid for in cash or in whole or in part with Metro stock owned by the optionee. The value of the stock used to exercise the options is the fair market value on the date of exercise. Stock option exercises paid for with the Company's stock included 6,185 shares for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Exercise prices for options outstanding as of December 31, 2014 are presented in the following table: 
 
Options
Outstanding
Weighted
Avg. Exercise
 Price
Weighted Avg.
Remaining
Contractual
Life
Options
Exercisable
Weighted
Avg. Exercise
Price
Options with exercise prices ranging from
    $8.46 to $13.20
476,477

$
11.88

6.4 years
328,116

$
11.97

Options with exercise prices ranging from
    $13.21 to $25.21
323,822

17.48

7.2 years
136,379

16.42

Options with exercise prices ranging from
    $25.22 to $33.50
380,455

29.63

1.8 years
380,455

29.63

Total options outstanding with exercise
    prices ranging from $8.46 to $33.50
1,180,754

$
19.14

5.1 years
844,950

$
20.64

 
The remaining weighted-average contractual life for options exercisable at December 31, 2014 is 4.0 years.

The following table represents nonvested options: 
 
 
Number of
Shares
Weighted Avg.
Grant Date
Fair Value
Nonvested options,
December 31, 2013
423,327

$
6.59

Granted
 
116,990

7.72

Vested
 
(178,135
)
6.60

Forfeited
 
(26,378
)
6.56

Nonvested options,
December 31, 2014
335,804

$
6.98



73




NOTE 15.
Regulatory Matters
 
The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiary, the Bank. There are various legal and regulatory limitations on the extent to which the Bank can, among other things, finance, or otherwise supply funds to, the Company. Specifically, dividends from the Bank are the principal source of the Company's cash funds and there are certain legal restrictions under Pennsylvania law and Pennsylvania banking regulations on the payment of dividends by state-chartered banks. The relevant regulatory agencies also have authority to prohibit the Company and the Bank from engaging in what, in the opinion of such regulatory body, constitutes an unsafe or unsound banking practice. The payment of dividends from the Bank to the Company could, depending upon the financial condition of the Company and the Bank, be deemed to constitute such an unsafe or unsound practice.

The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
 
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company and the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth below) of total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets and of Tier 1 capital to average assets. Management believes, as of December 31, 2014, that the Company and the Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.
 
As of December 31, 2014, the Bank was categorized as well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well-capitalized the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table below. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Bank's category.
The following table presents the risk-based and leverage capital amounts and ratios for the Company and the Bank: 
 
Actual
 
For Capital 
Adequacy Purposes
 
To Be Well-Capitalized
Under Prompt Corrective
Action Provisions
(dollars in thousands)
Amount
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
Company as of December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk-based capital ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital
$
294,396

13.42
%
$
175,503

8.0
%
N/A

N/A

Tier 1 capital
269,397

12.28

87,752

4.0

N/A

N/A

Leverage ratio
269,397

9.00

119,668

4.0

N/A

N/A

Bank as of December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk-based capital ratios:
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total capital
$
276,358

12.60
%
$
175,502

8.0
%
$
219,377

10.0
%
Tier 1 capital
251,360

11.46

87,751

4.0

131,626

6.0

Leverage ratio
251,360

8.40

119,667

4.0

149,583

5.0

Company as of December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk-based capital ratios:
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total capital
$
284,808

14.59
%
$
156,168

8.0
%
N/A

N/A

Tier 1 capital
261,697

13.41

78,084

4.0

N/A

N/A

Leverage ratio
261,697

9.39

111,482

4.0

N/A

N/A

Bank as of December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk-based capital ratios:
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total capital
$
274,954

14.09
%
$
156,101

8.0
%
$
195,126

10.0
%
Tier 1 capital
251,844

12.91

78,050

4.0

117,076

6.0

Leverage ratio
251,844

9.04

111,448

4.0

139,310

5.0



74




On April 29, 2010, the Bank consented and agreed to the issuance of a Consent Order (Order) by the FDIC, the Bank's federal banking regulator and a substantially similar consent order by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking, which in 2012 was renamed the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (PaDOB). The Order required the Bank to take all necessary steps, consistent with the Order and sound banking practices, to correct and prevent certain unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of law or regulation alleged by the FDIC to have been committed by the Bank. Among other things, the Order required certain analyses and assessments, including an analysis and assessment of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) staffing needs and qualifications and an analysis and assessment of the independence and performance of the Company's directors and senior executive officers. It also required the development, adoption and implementation of a system of internal controls designed to ensure full compliance with BSA and OFAC provisions; training programs to ensure that all appropriate personnel are aware of and can comply with applicable requirements of BSA and OFAC provisions; periodic reviews by internal and external auditors of compliance with BSA and OFAC provisions; and a review by an independent third party of the Bank's compliance with the Order. Most of these Order remediation-related expenses were incurred prior to 2012. The Bank paid a nonrecurring $1.5 million civil money penalty assessed by the FDIC during the third quarter of 2012 associated with alleged deficiencies as noted in the Order. The expense impact of the civil money penalty is included in the regulatory assessments line on the consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2012. The FDIC terminated the Order effective October 16, 2012. Earlier that year, the PaDOB had terminated their substantially similar order effective April 12, 2012.

Regulatory Capital Changes
In July 2013, the federal banking agencies issued final rules to implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). The phase-in period for community banking organizations begins January 1, 2015, while larger institutions (generally those with assets of $250 billion or more) began compliance on January 1, 2014. The final rules call for the following capital requirements:
A minimum ratio of common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.5%.

A minimum ratio of tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 6%.

A minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of 8% (no change from the current rule).

A minimum leverage ratio of 4%.

In addition, the final rules establish a common equity tier 1 capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets applicable to all banking organizations. If a banking organization fails to hold capital above the minimum capital ratios and the capital conservation buffer, it will be subject to certain restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments. The phase-in period for the capital conservation and countercyclical capital buffers for all banking organizations will begin on January 1, 2016.
We have evaluated these new rules and believe the Company and the Bank will be able to comply with the targeted capital ratios upon implementation of the revised requirements, as finalized.

NOTE 16.
Employee Benefit Plan
 
The Company has established a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan for all of its employees who meet eligibility requirements. Employees can make voluntary contributions to the Plan. The Company currently provides a safe harbor matching contribution of 100% of the amount of the employee contribution up to 3% of the employee's salary and 50% of the amount of the employee contribution that exceeds 3% of the employee's salary, up to 5% of the employee's salary. Safe harbor matching contributions vest immediately. The amount charged to expense for safe harbor matching contributions and administrative fees was $937,000, $865,000 and $785,000 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

NOTE 17.
Fair Value Measurements
 
The Company uses its best judgment in estimating the fair value of its financial instruments and certain nonfinancial assets; however, there are inherent weaknesses in any estimation technique due to assumptions that are susceptible to significant change. Therefore, for substantially all financial instruments and certain nonfinancial assets, the fair value estimates herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized in a sale transaction on the dates indicated. The estimated fair value amounts have been measured as of their respective year-ends and have not been reevaluated or updated for purposes of these financial statements subsequent to those respective dates.  As such, the estimated fair values of these financial instruments and certain nonfinancial assets subsequent to the respective reporting dates may be different than the amounts reported at each year-end.
 

75




Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company uses the following fair value hierarchy in selecting inputs with the highest priority given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements): 
 
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability;

Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported with little or no market activity).

As required, financial and certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following table sets forth the Company's financial assets that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy: 
 
 
 Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(in thousands)
Total
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
32,788

$

$
32,788

$

Residential MBSs
60,149


60,149


Agency CMOs
405,009


405,009


Municipal securities
30,092


30,092


Securities available for sale
$
528,038

$

$
528,038

$

 
 
 
 
 Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description
 
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(in thousands)
Total
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
29,926

 
$

 
$
29,926

 
$

Residential MBSs
62,500

 

 
62,500

 

Agency CMOs
467,064

 

 
467,064

 

Municipal securities
26,433

 

 
26,433

 

Securities available for sale
$
585,923

 
$

 
$
585,923

 
$


As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Impaired Loans (Generally Carried at Fair Value)

Impaired loans that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include collateral dependent loans for which an impairment has been recorded by the Company based on the fair value of the loan's collateral, net of expected selling costs. Fair value is generally determined based upon independent third party appraisals or valuations of the collateral properties. The discount rates used on collateral dependent loans vary based on the type of collateral. The range of discount rates used for real estate collateral ranged from 10% to 35% and the weighted-average rate was 20% and 21% as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; inventory and equipment is generally discounted at 50% and accounts receivable are generally discounted by 20%. These assets are included as Level 3 fair values, based upon the lowest level of unobservable input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The fair value consists of the loan

76




balance less any valuation allowance. The valuation allowance amount is calculated as the difference between the recorded investment in a loan and the discounted collateral value.

At December 31, 2014, the cumulative fair value of nine impaired collateral dependent loans with individual allowance allocations totaled $3.9 million, net of valuation allowances of $5.6 million, and the current fair value of impaired collateral dependent loans that were partially charged off during 2014 totaled $5.3 million, net of charge-offs of $2.4 million. At December 31, 2013, the cumulative fair value of six impaired collateral dependent loans with individual allowance allocations totaled $5.7 million, net of valuation allowances of $5.6 million, and the current fair value of impaired collateral dependent loans that were partially charged off during 2013 totaled $10.4 million, net of charge-offs of $2.9 million. The Company's impaired loans are more fully discussed in Note 4.

 Foreclosed Assets (Carried at Lower of Cost or Fair Value)
 
The fair value of real estate acquired through foreclosure is based on independent third party appraisals of the properties, less estimated selling costs. A standard discount rate of 15%, to cover estimated costs to sell the property, is generally used on the most recent appraisal to determine the fair value of the real estate. These assets are included as Level 3 fair values, based upon the lowest level of unobservable input that is significant to the fair value measurements. At December 31, 2014, there were no foreclosed assets with a valuation allowance recorded subsequent to initial foreclosure. At December 31, 2013, the carrying value of foreclosed assets with valuation allowances recorded subsequent to initial foreclosure was $1.9 million, which was net of a valuation allowance of $62,000.

The determination of the fair value of assets measured on a nonrecurring basis is sensitive to changes in economic conditions and can fluctuate in a relatively short period of time. For assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, the fair value measurements by level within the fair value hierarchy used were as follows: 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(in thousands)
Total
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
Impaired collateral dependent loans with specific allocations
$
3,882

$

$

$
3,882

Impaired collateral dependent loans net of partial charge-offs
5,263



5,263

Total
$
9,145

$

$

$
9,145

 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(in thousands)
Total
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
Impaired collateral dependent loans with specific allocations
$
5,707

$

$

$
5,707

Impaired collateral dependent loans net of partial charge-offs
10,428



10,428

Foreclosed assets
1,938



1,938

Total
$
18,073

$

$

$
18,073


The Company's policy is to recognize transfers between levels as of the beginning of the period. There were no transfers between levels 1 and 2 or between levels 2 and 3 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014.

The following information should not be interpreted as an estimate of the fair value of the entire Company since a fair value calculation is only provided for a limited portion of the Company's assets and liabilities. Due to a wide range of valuation techniques and the degree of subjectivity used in making the estimates, comparisons between the Company's disclosures and those of other companies may not be meaningful. The following valuation techniques were used to estimate the fair values of the Company's financial instruments at December 31, 2014 and 2013:
  



77




Cash and Cash Equivalents (Carried at Cost)
 
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and balances due from banks, all of which have original maturities of 90 days or less. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and short-term instruments approximate those assets' fair values.
 
Securities
 
The fair value of securities available for sale (carried at fair value) and held to maturity (carried at amortized cost) are determined by matrix pricing (Level 2), which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted market prices for the specific securities but rather by relying on the securities' relationship to other benchmark prices. In determining fair market values for its portfolio holdings, the Company receives information from a third party provider which management evaluates and corroborates. Under the current guidance, these values are considered Level 2 inputs, based upon mathematically derived matrix pricing and observed data from similar assets. They are not Level 1 direct quotes, nor do they reflect Level 3 inputs that would be derived from internal analysis or judgment. As the Company does not manage a trading portfolio and typically only sells from its AFS portfolio in order to manage interest rate risk or credit exposure, direct quotes, or street bids, are warranted on an as-needed basis only. 

Loans Held for Sale (Carried at Lower of Cost or Fair Value)
 
The fair value of loans held for sale is determined, when possible, using quoted secondary-market prices. If no such quoted prices exist, the fair value of a loan is determined using quoted prices for a similar loan or loans, adjusted for the specific attributes of that loan. The Company did not write down any loans held for sale during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Loans Receivable (Carried at Cost)
 
The fair value of loans receivable, excluding all nonaccrual loans and accruing loans deemed impaired loans with specific loan allowances, are estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis, using market rates at the balance sheet date that reflect the credit and interest rate-risk inherent in the respective loans. Projected future cash flows are calculated based upon contractual maturity, projected repayments and prepayments of principal. Generally, for variable rate loans that reprice frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying values.
 
Restricted Investment in Bank Stock (Carried at Cost)
 
The carrying amount of restricted investments in bank stock approximates fair value and considers the limited marketability of such securities. The restricted investments in bank stock consisted of FHLB and ACBB stock at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
 
Accrued Interest Receivable and Payable (Carried at Cost)
 
The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable approximates its fair value.
 
Deposit Liabilities (Carried at Cost)
 
The fair values disclosed for demand deposits (e.g., interest and noninterest-bearing checking) are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (i.e., their carrying amounts). The fair value of savings and money market accounts are reported based on the carrying amount. Fair values for fixed-rate certificates of deposits (CDs) are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered in the market on certificates to a schedule of aggregated expected monthly maturities on time deposits.
 
Short-Term Borrowings (Carried at Cost)
 
The carrying amounts of short-term borrowings approximate their fair values.
 
Long-Term Debt (Carried at Cost)
 
Long-term debt was estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis, based on quoted prices from a third party broker for new debt with similar characteristics, terms and remaining maturity. The price was obtained in an inactive market where these types of instruments are not traded regularly. 
 
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments (Disclosed at Cost)
 

78




Fair values for the Company's off-balance sheet financial instruments (lending commitments and letters of credit) are based on fees currently charged in the market to enter into similar agreements, taking into account, the remaining terms of the agreements and the counterparties' credit standing. 

79




The estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments were as follows:
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(in thousands)
Carrying
Amount
Fair 
Value
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
42,832

$
42,832

$
42,832

$

$

Securities
853,032

847,961


847,961


Loans, held for sale
4,996

5,037



5,037

Loans receivable, net
1,973,536

1,980,846



1,980,846

Restricted investments in bank stock
15,223

15,223



15,223

Accrued interest receivable
7,349

7,349

7,349



Financial liabilities:
 

 

 
 
 
Deposits
$
2,380,672

$
2,383,085

$

$

$
2,383,085

Short-term borrowings
333,475

333,475

333,475



Accrued interest payable
325

325

325



Off-balance sheet instruments:
 

 

 
 
 
Standby letters of credit
$

$

$

$

$

Commitments to extend credit





 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(in thousands)
Carrying
Amount
Fair 
Value
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
     Cash and cash equivalents
$
44,996

$
44,996

$
44,996

$

$

     Securities
869,737

849,620


849,620


     Loans, held for sale
6,225

6,371



6,371

     Loans receivable, net
1,727,762

1,734,609



1,734,609

     Restricted investments in bank stock
20,564

20,564



20,564

     Accrued interest receivable
7,059

7,059

7,059



Financial liabilities:
 

 

 
 
 
     Deposits
$
2,239,621

$
2,241,179

$

$

$
2,241,179

     Short-term borrowings
277,750

277,750

277,750



     Long-term debt
15,800

12,642



12,642

     Accrued interest payable
218

218

218



Off-balance sheet instruments:
 

 

 
 
 
     Standby letters of credit
$

$

$

$

$

     Commitments to extend credit






80




NOTE 18.    Commitments and Contingencies
 
In January 2005, the Company entered into an agreement for naming rights to Metro Bank Park located on Harrisburg City Island, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Metro Bank Park is home of the Harrisburg Senators, an AA team affiliated with Major League Baseball. The term of the naming rights agreement is 15 years with a total obligation of $3.5 million spread over the term. As of December 31, 2014, the remaining obligation was $933,000.

The Company has entered into a land lease for the premises located at the corner of Airport Rd & Rt. 501 (Lititz Pike), Manheim Township, Lancaster County, PA.  The Company plans to construct a full-service store on this property to be opened in the future. The 20-year lease term commences after all required regulatory approvals have been obtained.
 
The Company owns land at 105 N. George Street, York City, York County, Pennsylvania. The Company plans to construct a full-service store on this property to be opened in the future.

On November 10, 2008, Metro announced it had entered into a services agreement with Fiserv Solutions, Inc. (Fiserv). The agreement, effective November 7, 2008, is for a period of seven years, following the date Fiserv Services are first used in live production, subject to automatic renewal for additional terms of two years unless either party gives the other written notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to the expiration date of the term. The initial investment with Fiserv was $3.4 million. As of December 31, 2014, the remaining expected obligation for support, license fees and processing services was $11.1 million over the next 1.5 years. The various services include: core system hosting, item processing, deposit and loan processing, electronic banking, data warehousing and other banking functions.
 
In addition, the Company is also subject to certain routine legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. It is management's opinion that the ultimate resolution of these claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations.

NOTE 19.
Related Party Transactions
  
In prior years, the Company has engaged in certain transactions with entities which are considered related parties. Payments for goods and services to these related parties totaled $0, $0 and $128,000 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Management believes disbursements made to related parties were substantially equivalent to those that would have been paid to unaffiliated companies for similar goods and services.



81




NOTE 20.
Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
 
The following represents summarized unaudited quarterly financial data of the Company which, in the opinion of management, reflects adjustments (comprising only normal recurring accruals) necessary for fair presentation, note that certain balances may not cross foot due to rounding:
 
 
Three Months Ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
December 31
September 30
June 30
March 31
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
 
 
 
Interest income
$
27,493

$
27,001

$
25,981

$
25,307

Interest expense
1,875

2,146

1,986

1,972

Net interest income
25,618

24,855

23,995

23,335

Provision for loan losses
2,650

2,100

1,100

900

Noninterest income
7,519

7,629

7,495

7,078

Net gains (losses) on sales of securities
(119
)
26


11

Noninterest expense
22,369

22,376

23,021

22,782

Provision for federal income taxes
2,559

2,507

2,288

1,787

Net income
5,559

5,501

5,081

4,944

Net income per share:
 

 

 

 

Basic
$
0.39

$
0.39

$
0.36

$
0.35

Diluted
0.38

0.38

0.35

0.34

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

2013
 
 

 

 

Interest income
$
25,403

$
24,866

$
24,612

$
24,445

Interest expense
2,074

1,999

2,013

2,110

Net interest income
23,329

22,867

22,599

22,335

Provision for loan losses
1,575

1,200

1,800

2,300

Noninterest income
7,965

7,516

7,334

7,375

Net gains (losses) on sales/calls of securities
643


(9
)
30

Noninterest expense
22,737

22,443

22,360

22,329

Provision for federal income taxes
2,091

2,064

1,725

1,436

Net income
4,891

4,676

4,048

3,645

Net income per share:
 

 

 

 

Basic
$
0.34

$
0.33

$
0.28

$
0.26

Diluted
0.34

0.32

0.28

0.26

 
 
 
 
 


82




NOTE 21.
Condensed Financial Statements of Parent Company
 
Balance Sheets
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
Assets
 
 
Cash
$
18,976

$
10,308

Investment in subsidiaries:
 

 

Banking subsidiary
247,485

235,329

Nonbanking subsidiaries

800

Other assets
61

40

Total assets
$
266,522

$
246,477

Liabilities
 

 

Long-term debt
$

$
15,800

Other liabilities
999

494

Total liabilities
999

16,294

Stockholders' Equity
 

 

Total stockholders' equity
265,523

230,183

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
266,522

$
246,477

 
Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Income
 
 
 
Dividends from bank subsidiary
$
25,000

$

$

Interest income
46

62

95

Debt prepayment charge


(140
)
 
25,046

62

(45
)
Expenses
 

 

 

Interest expense
939

1,227

1,949

Other
1,287

556

1,441

 
2,226

1,783

3,390

Income (loss) before income tax benefit and equity in undistributed income (losses) of subsidiaries
22,820

(1,721
)
(3,435
)
Income tax benefit
763

595

1,168

 
23,583

(1,126
)
(2,267
)
Equity in undistributed income (losses) of bank subsidiary
(2,498
)
18,386

13,161

Net income
$
21,085

$
17,260

$
10,894

Comprehensive income
 
 
 
Net income
$
21,085

$
17,260

$
10,894

Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of bank subsidiary
12,640

(23,755
)
3,426

Total comprehensive income (loss)
$
33,725

$
(6,495
)
$
14,320

Supplemental disclosure:
 
 
 
Bank subsidiary net income
$
22,502

$
18,386

$
13,161

Bank subsidiary total comprehensive income (loss)
35,142

(5,369
)
16,587



83




Statements of Cash Flows
 
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2012
Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
21,085

$
17,260

$
10,894

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
 

 

 

Amortization of financing costs
34

2

29

Stock-based compensation
811

948

1,082

Debt prepayment charge


140

Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
505

(243
)
217

(Increase) decrease in other assets
745

(11
)
2,625

Equity in undistributed (income) losses of bank subsidiary
2,498

(18,386
)
(13,161
)
Net cash provided by (used by) operating activities
25,678

(430
)
1,826

Investing Activities
 

 

 

Investment in bank subsidiary
(2,011
)
(1,369
)
(1,126
)
Net cash used by investing activities
(2,011
)
(1,369
)
(1,126
)
Financing Activities
 

 

 

Proceeds from common stock options exercised
932

304


Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock purchase plan
77

67

44

Repayment of long-term debt
(15,800
)

(8,540
)
Tax benefit on exercise of stock options
191

51


Cash dividends on preferred stock
(80
)
(80
)
(80
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(319
)


Net cash provided by (used by) financing activities
(14,999
)
342

(8,576
)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
8,668

(1,457
)
(7,876
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
10,308

11,765

19,641

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
18,976

$
10,308

$
11,765

 

84