10-Q 1 a2015q210q.htm METRO BANCORP, INC. - FORM 10-Q 2015 Q2 10Q



UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

[ X ]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
 
June 30, 2015
[     ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
 
 
to
 
Commission File Number:
 
000-50961
 
 
 

 
METRO BANCORP, INC.
 
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Pennsylvania
25-1834776
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
3801 Paxton Street,  Harrisburg, PA
 
17111
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
888-937-0004
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
Yes
X
 
No
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
Yes
X
 
No
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Large accelerated filer
 
 
Accelerated filer
X
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
 
Smaller Reporting Company
 
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
Yes
 
 
No
X
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:
14,027,516
Common shares outstanding at
July 31, 2015


1




METRO BANCORP, INC.

INDEX
 
 
Page
 
 
 
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
 
 
June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
 
 
Three months and six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
 
 
Three months and six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity  (Unaudited)
 
 
Six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 
 
Six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
 
 
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
 
 
and Results of Operations
 
 
 
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
 
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
 
 
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
 
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
 
 
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
 
 
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
 
 
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
 
 
 
Item 5.
Other Information
 
 
 
Item 6.
Exhibits
 
 
 
 
 


2




Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements
 
Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
June 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
57,678


$
42,832

Securities, available for sale at fair value
414,746


528,038

Securities, held to maturity at cost (fair value 2015: $345,775; 2014: $319,923)
350,486


324,994

Loans, held for sale
5,610


4,996

Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses
(allowance 2015: $25,871; 2014: $24,998)
2,044,570


1,973,536

Restricted investments in bank stock
17,793


15,223

Premises and equipment, net
73,318


75,182

Other assets
37,156


32,771

Total assets
$
3,001,357


$
2,997,572

 
 

 
 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 

 
 

Deposits:
 

 
 

Noninterest-bearing
$
569,663


$
478,724

Interest-bearing
1,799,025


1,901,948

      Total deposits
2,368,688


2,380,672

Short-term borrowings
322,675


333,475

Long-term debt
25,000



Other liabilities
18,013


17,902

Total liabilities
2,734,376


2,732,049

Stockholders' Equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock - Series A noncumulative; $10.00 par value; $1,000 aggregate 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 2015: 14,310,602;  2014: 14,232,844;
outstanding shares 2015: 14,009,402; 2014: 14,220,544)
14,311


14,233

Surplus
163,248


160,588

Retained earnings
102,369


94,496

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(5,616
)
 
(3,875
)
Treasury stock, at cost (common shares 2015: 301,200; 2014: 12,300)
(7,731
)
 
(319
)
Total stockholders' equity
266,981


265,523

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
3,001,357


$
2,997,572

See accompanying notes.



3




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans receivable, including fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable
$
22,124

 
$
19,938

 
$
43,727

 
$
39,148

Tax-exempt
680

 
834

 
1,409

 
1,695

Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable
4,362

 
5,018

 
9,707

 
10,064

Tax-exempt
241

 
191

 
481

 
381

Total interest income
27,407

 
25,981

 
55,324

 
51,288

Interest Expense
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Deposits
1,560

 
1,401

 
3,107

 
2,835

Short-term borrowings
195

 
278

 
434

 
509

Long-term debt
83

 
307

 
153

 
614

Total interest expense
1,838

 
1,986

 
3,694

 
3,958

Net interest income
25,569

 
23,995

 
51,630

 
47,330

Provision for loan losses
2,600

 
1,100

 
4,100

 
2,000

 Net interest income after provision for loan losses
22,969

 
22,895

 
47,530

 
45,330

Noninterest Income
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Card income
4,115

 
3,990

 
8,000

 
7,815

Service charges on deposit accounts
2,156

 
2,233

 
4,193

 
4,269

Other noninterest income
1,245

 
1,134

 
2,445

 
2,204

Net gains on sales of loans
474

 
138

 
945

 
274

Net gains on sales of securities
444

 

 
416

 
11

Total noninterest income
8,434

 
7,495

 
15,999

 
14,573

Noninterest Expenses
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Salaries and employee benefits
12,084

 
11,055

 
22,963

 
22,482

Occupancy
2,619

 
2,104

 
5,141

 
4,579

Furniture and equipment
751

 
994

 
1,454

 
2,024

Advertising and marketing
398

 
376

 
762

 
769

Data processing
3,692

 
3,320

 
7,230

 
6,570

Regulatory assessments and related costs
556

 
584

 
1,123

 
1,153

Telephone
811

 
902

 
1,651

 
1,826

Loan expense
206

 
881

 
1,608

 
1,016

Foreclosed real estate, net
425

 
178

 
515

 
194

Professional services
591

 
301

 
1,459

 
602

State shares tax
536

 
546

 
1,098

 
1,086

Other
2,285

 
1,780

 
3,827

 
3,502

Total noninterest expenses
24,954

 
23,021

 
48,831

 
45,803

Income before taxes
6,449

 
7,369

 
14,698

 
14,100

Provision for federal income taxes
2,272

 
2,288

 
4,799

 
4,075

Net income
$
4,177

 
$
5,081

 
$
9,899

 
$
10,025

Net Income per Common Share
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Basic
$
0.29

 
$
0.36

 
$
0.70

 
$
0.70

Diluted
0.29

 
0.35

 
0.68

 
0.70

Cash Dividends per Common Share
0.07

 

 
0.14

 

Average Common and Common Equivalent Shares Outstanding
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Basic
14,112

 
14,184

 
14,140

 
14,172

Diluted
14,373

 
14,387

 
14,412

 
14,366

See accompanying notes.


4




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
Six months ended
 
June 30,
June 30,
(in thousands)
2015
2014
2015
2014
Net income
$
4,177

$
5,081

$
9,899

$
10,025

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
(tax effects for the three months 2015: ($2,241); 2014: $1,207,
tax effects for the six months 2015: ($840); 2014: $4,167)
(4,161
)
2,244

(1,560
)
7,739

Reclassification adjustment for net realized (gains) losses on securities recorded in income [1]
(tax effects for the three months 2015: ($155),
tax effects for the six months 2015: ($97))

(289
)

(181
)

   Other comprehensive income (loss)
(4,450
)
2,244

(1,741
)
7,739

Total comprehensive income (loss)
$
(273
)
$
7,325

$
8,158

$
17,764


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



5




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share amounts)
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Surplus
Retained Earnings
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Treasury Stock
Total
January 1, 2014
$
400

$
14,157

$
158,650

$
73,491

$
(16,515
)
$

$
230,183

Net income



10,025



10,025

Other comprehensive income




7,739


7,739

Dividends declared on preferred stock



(40
)


(40
)
Common stock of 34,846 shares issued under
stock option plans, including tax benefit of $68

35

485




520

Common stock of 30 shares issued under
employee stock purchase plan







Proceeds from issuance of 1,418 shares of
common stock in connection with dividend
reinvestment and stock purchase plan

2

28




30

Common stock share-based awards


313




313

June 30, 2014
$
400

$
14,194

$
159,476

$
83,476

$
(8,776
)
$

$
248,770


(in thousands, except share amounts)
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Surplus
Retained Earnings
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Treasury Stock
 Total
January 1, 2015
$
400

$
14,233

$
160,588

$
94,496

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

Net income



9,899



9,899

Other comprehensive loss




(1,741
)

(1,741
)
Dividends declared on preferred stock



(40
)


(40
)
Dividends declared on common stock



(1,986
)


(1,986
)
Common stock of 75,994 shares issued under
stock option plans, including tax benefit of $328

76

961




1,037

Common stock of 90 shares issued under
employee stock purchase plan


2




2

Proceeds from issuance of 1,674 shares of
common stock in connection with dividend
reinvestment and stock purchase plan

2

43




45

Common stock share-based awards


1,654




1,654

Purchase of 288,900 shares of treasury stock





(7,412
)
(7,412
)
June 30, 2015
$
400

$
14,311

$
163,248

$
102,369

$
(5,616
)
$
(7,731
)
$
266,981


See accompanying notes.


6




Metro Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 
Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)
 
2015
 
2014
Operating Activities
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
9,899

 
$
10,025

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

 
 

Provision for loan losses
 
4,100

 
2,000

Depreciation, amortization and accretion
 
1,959

 
1,858

Deferred income tax expense
 
(962
)
 
(228
)
Gain on sales of available for sales securities (net)
 
(278
)
 

Gain on sales of held to maturity securities
 
(138
)
 
(11
)
Proceeds/payments from sales of loans originated for sale
 
28,900


15,677

Loans originated for sale
 
(28,947
)

(15,059
)
Gains on sales of loans (net)
 
(945
)

(274
)
Losses on write-down on foreclosed assets
 
80

 

(Gains) losses on sales of foreclosed assets (net)
 
11

 
(61
)
Losses on disposal of premises and equipment (net)
 
540

 
35

Stock-based compensation
 
1,654


313

Increase in other assets
 
(3,956
)

(1,687
)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
 
111


(2,061
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
12,028


10,527

Investing Activities
 
 

 
 

Securities available for sale:
 
 

 
 

 Proceeds from principal repayments and maturities
 
39,096

 
30,819

 Proceeds from sales
 
71,666

 

Securities held to maturity:
 
 

 
 
 Proceeds from principal repayments and maturities
 
25,395

 
6,249

 Proceeds from sales
 
1,448

 
614

 Purchases
 
(52,105
)
 
(1,018
)
Proceeds from sales of loans not originated for sale
 
1,012

 
489

Proceeds from sales of foreclosed assets
 
2,501

 
1,241

Increase in loans receivable (net)
 
(76,050
)
 
(102,022
)
Purchase of restricted investment in bank stock (net)
 
(2,570
)
 
(3,391
)
Purchases of premises and equipment
 
(1,435
)
 
(1,095
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 
8,958

 
(68,114
)
Financing Activities
 
 

 
 

Decrease in demand, interest checking, money market, and savings deposits (net)
 
(20,639
)
 
(47,368
)
Increase (decrease) in time and other noncore deposits (net)
 
8,655

 
(5,273
)
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings (net)
 
(10,800
)
 
123,925

Proceeds from long-term borrowings
 
25,000

 

Proceeds from common stock options exercised
 
709

 
452

Proceeds from dividend reinvestment and common stock purchase plan
 
45

 
30

Tax benefit on exercise of stock options
 
328

 
68

Cash dividends on preferred stock
 
(40
)
 
(40
)
Cash dividends on common stock
 
(1,986
)
 

Purchase of treasury stock
 
(7,412
)
 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
(6,140
)
 
71,794

Increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
14,846

 
14,207

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
42,832

 
44,996

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
57,678

 
$
59,203

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 

 
 

Cash paid for interest on deposits and borrowings
 
$
3,685

 
$
4,016

Cash paid for income taxes
 
5,750

 
3,850

Supplemental schedule of noncash activities:
 
 
 
 
Transfer of loans to foreclosed assets
 
784

 
505

See accompanying notes.


7




METRO BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2015
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
 
The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2014 has been derived from audited consolidated financial statements and the consolidated interim financial statements included herein have been prepared without audit pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial statements and with instructions for Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X Section 210.10-01. Further information on Metro Bancorp, Inc.'s (Metro or the Company) accounting policies are available in Note 1 (Significant Accounting Policies) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to reflect a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature.
 
These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date through the date of issuance have been evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements. The results for the six months ended June 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015.
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries including Metro Bank (the Bank). All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with 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.

Recent Accounting Standards

In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-04, Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure, which 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. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2015 using a prospective transition method; it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. The guidance requires disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure. The Company has included these disclosures in Note 5 Foreclosed Assets.

On April 7, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability instead of presented as a deferred charge. For public business entities, the standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been


8




previously issued. The new guidance will be applied on a retrospective basis.  We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

On April 15, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license that should be accounted for as internal-use software.  Additionally, ASU 2015-05 supersedes the requirement in ASC 350-04 to determine the accounting for a software license by analogy to the lease classification test.  The ASU 2015-05 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015.  Early adoption is permitted. Entities may adopt the guidance either (1) prospectively to arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date or (2) retrospectively.  We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2015-05 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications
 
Certain amounts in the 2014 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2015 presentation format. Such reclassifications had no impact on the Company's net operations and stockholders' equity.

NOTE 2.
Stock-based Compensation
 
The following table presents the number of options granted to purchase shares of the Company’s stock and the respective ranges of exercise prices per share and the weighted-average fair value of those granted options:
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2015
2014
Options granted
133,279

116,990

Range of exercise prices, per share
$25.43 to $26.97

$19.55 to $21.57

Weighted-average fair value, per option
$
8.19

$
7.72


The fair value of each option grant was established at the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, with the following assumptions:
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2015
2014
Weighted-average risk-free interest rate
1.8
%
2.0
%
Expected dividend yield
1.1
%
%
Weighted-average volatility of Company's common stock
32.2
%
34.0
%
Weighted-average assumed forfeiture rate
9.0
%
10.3
%
Weighted-average expected term of options, in years
7.5

7.2

Options vesting annually
25.0
%
25.0
%
 
The following table details the Company's stock-based compensation expense and related tax benefit associated with this expense:
 
Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)
2015
2014
Stock-based compensation expense
$
1,654

$
313

Tax benefit associated with compensation expense
308

87


During the first three months of 2015 and 2014 the Company reversed $253,000 and $238,000, respectively, of previously recognized stock-based compensation expense due to differences between actual and estimated forfeiture rates of stock options granted during the first quarters of 2011 and 2010, respectively, primarily related to incentive stock options (ISOs), for which the Company generally does not receive a tax deduction on employee exercise of options. Due to a material change in the number of members on the Company's board of directors over the previous twelve months, on June 19, 2015, a change in control was deemed to have occurred under a provision in the Company's 2006 Employee Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, whereby all outstanding employee stock options immediately became fully vested and exercisable.  As a consequence, the Company recorded accelerated stock-based compensation expense totaling $1.4 million during the second quarter of 2015, $823,000 of which was related to ISOs and, therefore, not deductible for federal income tax purposes. The Company will not recognize any further


9




compensation expense related to these vested options. The change in the number of members of the board of directors did not have an impact on the 2011 Directors Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the 2011 Plan) and the outstanding options under this plan continue to vest over a four-year period.  As of June 30, 2015, there was $799,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock option awards issued under the 2011 Plan.

NOTE 3.    Securities

The amortized cost and fair value of securities are summarized in the following tables:
 
June 30, 2015
(in thousands)
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
33,996

 
$

 
$
(1,050
)
 
$
32,946

Residential mortgage-backed securities
56,603

 
25

 
(809
)
 
55,819

Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
302,796

 
1,385

 
(8,078
)
 
296,103

Municipal securities
29,991

 
146

 
(259
)
 
29,878

Total
$
423,386

 
$
1,556

 
$
(10,196
)
 
$
414,746

Held to Maturity:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Government agency securities
$
149,122

 
$

 
$
(4,366
)
 
$
144,756

Residential mortgage-backed securities
11,741

 
175

 
(7
)
 
11,909

Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
174,921

 
1,492

 
(2,046
)
 
174,367

Corporate debt securities
5,000

 
17

 

 
5,017

Municipal securities
9,702

 
56

 
(32
)
 
9,726

Total
$
350,486

 
$
1,740

 
$
(6,451
)
 
$
345,775


 
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


The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity are shown in the following table. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.



10




 
 
June 30, 2015
 
Available for Sale
 
Held to Maturity
(in thousands)
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
Due in one year or less
$


$


$
5,000


$
5,017

Due after one year through five years
6,742


6,770





Due after five years through ten years
51,825


50,852


111,383


107,596

Due after ten years
5,420


5,202


47,441


46,886

 
63,987


62,824


163,824


159,499

Residential mortgage-backed securities
56,603


55,819


11,741


11,909

Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
302,796


296,103


174,921


174,367

Total
$
423,386


$
414,746


$
350,486


$
345,775

 
During the second quarter of 2015, the Company sold five securities from the available for sale (AFS) portfolio with a total fair market value of $43.9 million and realized a gain of $444,000. No securities were sold by the Company from the held to maturity (HTM) portfolio this quarter. The Company had no securities that were called by their respective issuers.

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company did not sell any securities and had no securities that were called by their respective issuers.

During the first six months of 2015, the Company sold nine securities from the AFS portfolio with a total fair market value of $71.7 million and realized net gains of $278,000. One security with a fair market value of $1.4 million was sold by the Company from the HTM portfolio with a realized gain of $138,000, however, it was an amortizing security that had returned more than 85% of its principal and could be sold without tainting the remaining HTM portfolio. The Company had no securities that were called by their respective issuers.

During the first six months of 2014, the Company sold one security with a fair market value of $614,000 and realized a gain of $11,000. The security was from the HTM portfolio, however, it was an amortizing security that had returned more than 85% of its principal and could be sold without tainting the remaining HTM portfolio. No securities were sold by the Company from the AFS portfolio. The Company had no securities that were called by their respective issuers.
 
The following table summarizes the Company's gross realized gains and losses on the sales or calls of AFS debt securities:
(in thousands)
Gross Realized Gains
 
Gross Realized Losses
 
Net Gains
Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2015
$
444

 
$

 
$
444

June 30, 2014

 

 

Six months ended:
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2015
$
451

 
$
(173
)
 
$
278

June 30, 2014

 

 


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.

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.


11




The following table shows 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: 
 
June 30, 2015
 
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
$
24,173

$
(827
)
$
8,773

$
(223
)
$
32,946

$
(1,050
)
Residential mortgage-backed securities
39,250

(525
)
8,470

(284
)
47,720

(809
)
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
50,738

(1,809
)
125,559

(6,269
)
176,297

(8,078
)
Municipal securities
3,154

(108
)
2,218

(151
)
5,372

(259
)
Total
$
117,315

$
(3,269
)
$
145,020

$
(6,927
)
$
262,335

$
(10,196
)
Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
45,644

$
(532
)
$
99,112

$
(3,834
)
$
144,756

$
(4,366
)
Residential mortgage-backed securities
1,889

(7
)


1,889

(7
)
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations
41,412

(900
)
15,735

(1,146
)
57,147

(2,046
)
Municipal securities
2,854

(32
)


2,854

(32
)
Total
$
91,799

$
(1,471
)
$
114,847

$
(4,980
)
$
206,646

$
(6,451
)

 
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
)
 
The Company's investment securities portfolio consists of U.S. Government agency debentures, U.S. Government-sponsored agency mortgage-backed securities (MBSs), agency collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), corporate bonds and municipal bonds. The Company considers securities of the U.S. Government sponsored agencies and the U.S. Government MBS/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 June 30, 2015 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, 23 CMOs and 9 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. The full and timely payment of all principal and interest is expected. The second type, municipal bonds, included nine securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2015. 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. The municipal bonds carry an investment grade rating of no lower than single-A by either Moody's or Standard & Poor's. 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.


12





The Company did not recognize any credit losses related to the OTTI of investments during either the first three or six months ended June 30, 2015 or 2014.

At June 30, 2015, securities with a carrying value of $576.7 million were pledged to secure public deposits and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

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 $574.9 million at June 30, 2015, collateralize a letter of credit, a line of credit commitment and borrowings the Bank has with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB).

A summary of the Bank's loans receivable is as follows:
(in thousands)
June 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Commercial and industrial
$
591,860

 
$
525,127

Commercial tax-exempt
58,319

 
71,151

Owner occupied real estate
313,377

 
332,070

Commercial construction and land development
136,354

 
138,064

Commercial real estate
625,344

 
594,276

Residential
122,838

 
110,951

Consumer
222,349

 
226,895

Gross loans receivable
2,070,441

 
1,998,534

Less: allowance for loan losses
25,871

 
24,998

Net loans receivable
$
2,044,570

 
$
1,973,536


The following table summarizes nonaccrual loans by loan type:
(in thousands)
June 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
$
11,985

 
$
11,634

   Commercial tax-exempt

 

   Owner occupied real estate
7,720

 
7,416

   Commercial construction and land development
3,226

 
3,228

   Commercial real estate
6,384

 
5,824

   Residential
5,336

 
4,987

   Consumer
1,177

 
1,877

Total nonaccrual loans
$
35,828

 
$
34,966


Generally, the Bank's policy is to move a loan to nonaccrual status when it becomes 90 days past due or when the Bank 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


13




by 90 days or more. The total nonaccrual loan balance of $35.8 million exceeds the $22.6 million balance of total loans that are 90 days past due at June 30, 2015, 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 present an aging analysis of 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
June 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
582,420

$
919

$
685

$
7,836

$
9,440

$
591,860

$

Commercial tax-exempt
58,319





58,319


Owner occupied real estate
303,563

1,734

1,913

6,167

9,814

313,377


Commercial construction and
land development
135,927

200

197

30

427

136,354


Commercial real estate
618,125

883

1,572

4,764

7,219

625,344


Residential
117,689

468

1,583

3,098

5,149

122,838


Consumer
218,915

2,510

240

684

3,434

222,349


Total
$
2,034,958

$
6,714

$
6,190

$
22,579

$
35,483

$
2,070,441

$


 
 
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



14




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. construction and land development
Comm. real estate
Residen-tial
Con-
sumer
Unallo-cated
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Individually evaluated
for impairment
$
3,521

$

$
1,315

$

$

$

$

$

$
4,836

Collectively evaluated
for impairment
8,517

45

619

4,476

5,178

855

959

386

21,035

Total ALL
$
12,038

$
45

$
1,934

$
4,476

$
5,178

$
855

$
959

$
386

$
25,871

Loans receivable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans evaluated
  individually
$
16,609

$

$
7,759

$
3,829

$
10,529

$
6,642

$
1,827

$

$
47,195

Loans evaluated
  collectively
575,251

58,319

305,618

132,525

614,815

116,196

220,522


2,023,246

Total loans receivable
$
591,860

$
58,319

$
313,377

$
136,354

$
625,344

$
122,838

$
222,349

$

$
2,070,441


(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. construction and land development
Comm. real estate
Residen-tial
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


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 are generally of comparatively lower risk because the repayment of these loans relies primarily on the cash flow from a business which is typically 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


15




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.

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
Residen-
tial
Consumer
Unallo-cated
Total
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at April 1
$
12,019

$
52

$
1,944

$
4,529

$
4,945

$
803

$
870

$
593

$
25,755

Provision charged to operating expenses
1,612

(7
)
52

(53
)
461

120

622

(207
)
2,600

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
53


3


10

1

15


82

Loans charged-off
(1,646
)

(65
)

(238
)
(69
)
(548
)

(2,566
)
Balance at June 30
$
12,038

$
45

$
1,934

$
4,476

$
5,178

$
855

$
959

$
386

$
25,871

(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. construction and land development
Comm. real estate
Residen-tial
Consumer
Unallo-cated
Total
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1
$
11,714

$
55

$
1,931

$
4,242

$
4,707

$
796

$
931

$
622

$
24,998

Provision charged to operating expenses
2,142

(10
)
118

232

1,149

140

565

(236
)
4,100

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
107


3

2

17

2

27


158

Loans charged-off
(1,925
)

(118
)

(695
)
(83
)
(564
)

(3,385
)
Balance at June 30
$
12,038

$
45

$
1,934

$
4,476

$
5,178

$
855

$
959

$
386

$
25,871



16




(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. construction and land development
Comm. real estate
Residen-tial
Consumer
Unallo-cated
Total
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at April 1
$
7,914

$
68

$
2,236

$
5,842

$
4,640

$
1,023

$
1,329

$
882

$
23,934

Provision charged to operating expenses
(557
)
(1
)
125

1,270

99

37

68

59

1,100

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
244


43

111

101

20

16


535

Loans charged-off
(501
)

(171
)
(527
)

(19
)
(80
)

(1,298
)
Balance at June 30
$
7,100

$
67

$
2,233

$
6,696

$
4,840

$
1,061

$
1,333

$
941

$
24,271

(in thousands)
Comm. and industrial
Comm. tax-exempt
Owner occupied real estate
Comm. construction and land development
Comm. real estate
Residential
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
(1,472
)
(5
)
(37
)
1,465

1,221

383

201

244

2,000

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
1,249


286

211

174

20

39


1,979

Loans charged-off
(855
)

(196
)
(539
)
(716
)
(302
)
(210
)

(2,818
)
Balance at June 30
$
7,100

$
67

$
2,233

$
6,696

$
4,840

$
1,061

$
1,333

$
941

$
24,271




17




The following table presents information regarding the Company's impaired loans. The recorded investment represents the contractual obligation less any charged off principal.
 
June 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
(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
$
8,359

$
10,575

$

 
$
8,766

$
9,437

$

   Commercial tax-exempt



 



   Owner occupied real estate
5,042

5,533


 
6,155

6,636


   Commercial construction and land
     development
3,829

3,829


 
3,810

3,810


   Commercial real estate
10,529

10,638


 
9,976

10,097


   Residential
6,642

7,917


 
5,657

7,011


   Consumer
1,827

2,021


 
2,433

2,686


Total impaired loans with no related
  allowance
36,228

40,513


 
36,797

39,677


Impaired loans with an allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
8,250

8,250

3,521

 
8,216

8,216

4,401

   Owner occupied real estate
2,717

2,717

1,315

 
1,309

1,309

1,242

Total impaired loans with an
  allowance recorded
10,967

10,967

4,836

 
9,525

9,525

5,643

Total impaired loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
16,609

18,825

3,521

 
16,982

17,653

4,401

   Commercial tax-exempt



 



   Owner occupied real estate
7,759

8,250

1,315

 
7,464

7,945

1,242

   Commercial construction and land
     development
3,829

3,829


 
3,810

3,810


   Commercial real estate
10,529

10,638


 
9,976

10,097


   Residential
6,642

7,917


 
5,657

7,011


   Consumer
1,827

2,021


 
2,433

2,686


Total impaired loans
$
47,195

$
51,480

$
4,836

 
$
46,322

$
49,202

$
5,643




18




The following table presents additional information regarding the Company's impaired loans:
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2015
2015
 
2014
2014
 
2015
2015
 
2014
2014
(in thousands)
Average Recorded Investment
Interest Income Recognized
 
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
$
8,129

$
58

 
$
8,079

$
36

 
$
8,489

$
128

 
$
7,985

$
76

   Commercial tax-exempt


 


 


 


   Owner occupied real estate
5,108


 
3,896


 
5,284


 
4,341

10

   Commercial construction
    and land development
3,776

7

 
4,133

14

 
3,727

13

 
6,187

31

   Commercial real estate
10,736

39

 
10,035

40

 
10,699

78

 
10,403

88

   Residential
5,915

12

 
4,218

14

 
5,792

20

 
4,353

27

   Consumer
1,992

8

 
2,796

10

 
2,165

15

 
2,715

17

Total impaired loans with no related allowance
35,656

124

 
33,157

114

 
36,156

254

 
35,984

249

Impaired loans with an allowance recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
8,338


 
2,341


 
8,455


 
2,793


   Owner occupied real estate
2,734


 
2,325


 
2,260


 
2,006


   Commercial construction
    and land development


 
6,148


 


 
4,813


   Residential


 
3,069


 


 
3,074


   Consumer


 
465


 


 
471


Total impaired loans with an allowance recorded
11,072


 
14,348


 
10,715


 
13,157


Total impaired loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
16,467

58

 
10,420

36

 
16,944

128

 
10,778

76

   Commercial tax-exempt


 


 


 


   Owner occupied real estate
7,842


 
6,221


 
7,544


 
6,347

10

   Commercial construction
    and land development
3,776

7

 
10,281

14

 
3,727

13

 
11,000

31

   Commercial real estate
10,736

39

 
10,035

40

 
10,699

78

 
10,403

88

   Residential
5,915

12

 
7,287

14

 
5,792

20

 
7,427

27

   Consumer
1,992

8

 
3,261

10

 
2,165

15

 
3,186

17

Total impaired loans
$
46,728

$
124

 
$
47,505

$
114

 
$
46,871

$
254

 
$
49,141

$
249


Impaired loans averaged approximately $46.9 million and $49.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, 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 totaling $254,000 and $249,000 continued to accrue on certain impaired loans for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, 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


19




if the loan is 90 days past due or not. Doubtful loans have all of the weaknesses 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 period end are presented in the following tables. There were no loans classified as doubtful for the periods ended June 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

 
June 30, 2015
(in thousands)
Pass
Special Mention
Substandard Accrual
Substandard Nonaccrual
Total
Commercial credit exposure:






   Commercial and industrial
$
552,444

$
13,920

$
13,511

$
11,985

$
591,860

   Commercial tax-exempt
58,319




58,319

   Owner occupied real estate
292,344

4,394

8,919

7,720

313,377

   Commercial construction and land development
132,826


302

3,226

136,354

   Commercial real estate
616,263

2,176

521

6,384

625,344

     Total
$
1,652,196

$
20,490

$
23,253

$
29,315

$
1,725,254


 
December 31, 2014
(in thousands)
Pass
Special Mention
Substandard Accrual
Substandard Nonaccrual
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

 
Consumer loan credit exposures are rated either performing or nonperforming as detailed below:
 
June 30, 2015
(in thousands)
Performing
Nonperforming
Total
Consumer credit exposure:
 
 
 
   Residential
$
117,502

$
5,336

$
122,838

   Consumer
221,172

1,177

222,349

     Total
$
338,674

$
6,513

$
345,187


 
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


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 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.



20




The following table presents the recorded investment at the time of restructure of new TDRs and their concession, modified during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014. 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:
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2015
2015
 
2014
2014
 
2015
2015
 
2014
2014
(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
 
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment at Time of Restructure
Commercial and industrial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Forbearance agreement

$

 
1

$
229

 
1

$
3,307

 
1

$
229

   Accepting interest only for
a period of time
1

43

 


 
1

43

 


   Change in amortization
period


 


 


 
3

261

   Combination of concessions


 


 


 
1

30

Owner occupied real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Accepting interest only for
a period of time
1

407

 
3

1,601

 
1

407

 
3

1,601

   Change in amortization
period


 


 


 
1

128

Commercial construction
and land development:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Material extension of time
1

186

 


 
1

186

 
1

242

   Forbearance agreement


 
3

2,185

 


 
3

2,185

   Change in amortization
period


 


 


 
1

214

Commercial real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Change in amortization
period


 


 


 
14

1,893

Residential:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Interest rate adjustment


 


 


 
1

143

   Combination of concessions
1

592

 


 
1

592

 


Total
4

$
1,228

 
7

$
4,015

 
5

$
4,535

 
29

$
6,926




21




The following table represents loans receivable modified as TDRs within the 12 months previous to June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and that subsequently defaulted during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, 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:
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2015
2015
 
2014
2014
 
2015
2015
 
2014
2014
(dollars in thousands)
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment
 
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment
 
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment
 
Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment
   Commercial and industrial
3

$
524

 

$

 
3

$
524

 
7

$
1,288

   Owner occupied real estate
1

326

 
1

871

 
3

1,057

 
4

1,792

   Commercial construction
     and land development


 


 
1

236

 
2

1,930

   Commercial real estate


 


 
3

2,667

 


   Residential


 
1

258

 


 
3

3,470

   Consumer


 


 


 
1

476

Total
4

$
850

 
2

$
1,129

 
10

$
4,484

 
17

$
8,956


Of the ten contracts that subsequently payment defaulted during the six month period ended June 30, 2015, five were still in payment default at June 30, 2015.

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.
Foreclosed Assets

Foreclosed assets are included in other assets on the Company's balance sheet and totaled $6.0 million as of June 30, 2015 and $7.7 million as of December 31, 2014. The carrying value of foreclosed residential real estate included within foreclosed assets totaled $686,000 as of June 30, 2015 and $295,000 as of December 31, 2014.

Included within loans receivable as of June 30, 2015 was a recorded investment of $2.6 million of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction.

NOTE 6.
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.
 
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 standard underwriting and in accordance with its credit policy. Letters of credit generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses. Management generally 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. Historically, almost all of the Company's standby letters of credit have expired unfunded. 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.

The Company had $35.5 million and $34.6 million of standby letters of credit at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Bank does not issue any guarantees that would require liability recognition or disclosure, other than standby letters of credit. At June 30, 2015, there was $800,000 within other liabilities on the Company's balance sheet for guarantees under standby letters of credit. This liability relates to the possibility that the Company may be further required to perform under one specific unsecured standby letter of credit. On March 27, 2015, the Company was notified of a planned intention to draw on this $1.0 million standby letter of credit unless an alternative financing was arranged. The Company determined the alternative financing to be undesirable compared to performing under the standby letter of credit and reserved for this contingency. In June 2015, a partial draft of $200,000


22




was made on the letter of credit. The corresponding $1.0 million expense is included in loan expense in the Company's Statement of Income for the six months ended June 30, 2015. At December 31, 2014, there was no liability recorded for guarantees under standby letters of credit.

In addition to standby letters of credit, in the normal course of business there are unadvanced loan commitments. The Company had $720.1 million and $637.1 million in total unused commitments, including the standby letters of credit, at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Management does not anticipate any additional material losses as a result of these transactions.
 
NOTE 7.
Commitments and Contingencies
 
The Company is 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.

Future Facilities
 
The Company owns land at 105 N. George Street, York City, York County, Pennsylvania. The Company has had plans to construct a full-service store on this property to be opened in the future. Given the Company's announcement on August 4, 2015 to merge with and into F.N.B. Corporation (FNB), the future use of this site can not be determined at this time with certainty. For further discussion regarding the announcement to merge with and into FNB, please refer to Note 12 of these Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

NOTE 8.
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 period-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 period-end.

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).














23





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)
June 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government agency securities
$
32,946

 
$

 
$
32,946

 
$

Residential MBSs
55,819

 

 
55,819

 

Agency CMOs
296,103

 

 
296,103

 

Municipal securities
29,878

 

 
29,878

 

Securities available for sale
$
414,746

 
$

 
$
414,746

 
$


 
 
 
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

 
$

 
As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, 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 20% to 25% at June 30, 2015 as compared to 10% to 35% at December 31, 2014; the weighted-average rate was 21% as of June 30, 2015 as compared to 20% at December 31, 2014. Inventory is generally discounted at 50%, equipment is generally discounted by 30% to 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 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 June 30, 2015, the cumulative fair value of 13 impaired collateral-dependent loans with individual allowance allocations totaled $6.1 million, net of valuation allowances of $4.8 million, and the fair value of impaired loans that were partially charged off during the first six months of 2015 totaled $1.8 million at June 30, 2015, net of charge-offs of $1.9 million. At December 31, 2014, the cumulative fair value of nine impaired loans with individual allowance allocations totaled $3.9 million, net of valuation allowances of $5.6 million, and the fair value of impaired collateral dependent loans that were partially charged off during 2014 totaled $5.3 million at December 31, 2014, net of charge-offs of $2.4 million. The Company's impaired loans are more fully discussed in Note 4.





24





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 June 30, 2015, the carrying value of foreclosed assets with valuation allowances recorded subsequent to initial foreclosure was $170,000, which was net of a valuation allowance of $80,000. At December 31, 2014, there were no foreclosed assets with a valuation allowance recorded subsequent to initial foreclosure.

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)
June 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
Impaired collateral dependent loans with specific allocations
$
6,131

$

$

$
6,131

Impaired collateral dependent loans net of partial charge-offs
1,816



1,816

Foreclosed assets
170



170

Total
$
8,117

$

$

$
8,117

 
 
 
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

 
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 six months ended June 30, 2015.

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 June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
  
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


25




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. Loans held for sale at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 did not have any write-downs to fair value and were carried at cost.

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 Investments 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 Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (ACBB) stock at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

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)
 
The fair value of 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. 
 
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments (Disclosed at Cost)
 
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.








26






The estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments were as follows:
Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2015
 
 
 
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
$
57,678

$
57,678

$
57,678

$

$

     Securities
765,232

760,521


760,521


     Loans, held for sale
5,610

5,662



5,662

     Loans receivable, net
2,044,570

2,050,938



2,050,938

     Restricted investments in bank stock
17,793

17,793



17,793

     Accrued interest receivable
7,148

7,148

7,148



Financial liabilities:
 

 

 
 
 
     Deposits
$
2,368,688

$
2,371,438

$

$

$
2,371,438

     Short-term borrowings
322,675

322,675

322,675



     Long-term debt
25,000

24,747



24,747

     Accrued interest payable
334

334

334



Off-balance sheet instruments:
 

 

 
 
 
     Standby letters of credit
$

$

$

$

$

     Commitments to extend credit






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






NOTE 9.
Income Taxes

The tax provision for federal income taxes was $2.3 million for both the second quarter of 2015 and for the second quarter of 2014. The effective tax rate was 35% for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 compared to 31% for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.


27




The effective tax rate increased in the second quarter of 2015 primarily due to the accelerated full vesting of all outstanding employee stock options in June 2015, which resulted in $1.4 million of stock-based compensation expense, $823,000 of which is not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

The tax provision for federal income taxes was $4.8 million for the first six months of 2015, compared to $4.1 million for the same period in 2014. The effective tax rates were 33% and 29% for the first six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively. The effective tax rate increased in the first six months of 2015 primarily due to the immediate vesting of options during the second quarter of 2015 mentioned above.

NOTE 10.
Long-term Debt

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company borrowed a total of $25.0 million from FHLB long-term fixed-rate advances, composed of three separate advances that are presented in the table that follows.

Amount
Interest Rate
Maturity Date
$
10,000,000

1.11%
January 12, 2018
$
10,000,000

1.39%
January 15, 2019
$
5,000,000

1.62%
January 15, 2020

Interest is payable quarterly on all long-term advances.

NOTE 11.
Stockholders' Equity

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 originally had an expiration date of February 17, 2016.  On May 15, 2015, the Company announced the Rights Agreement had been amended to change the expiration date to May 15, 2015, at which time the Rights expired and the Rights Agreement terminated.

NOTE 12.
Subsequent Events

On August 4, 2015, Metro entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) with FNB. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Metro will merge with and into FNB (the Merger), with FNB surviving the Merger, and, at the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Metro (other than certain shares held by Metro, FNB or their subsidiaries) will be converted into the right to receive 2.373 shares, par value $0.01 per share, of FNB common stock, with cash payable in lieu of fractional shares.

Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain terms and conditions, including, but not limited to, receipt of various regulatory approvals and approval by both Metro's and FNB's shareholders. The merger is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2016.




28




Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
The following is Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Management's Discussion and Analysis) which analyzes the major elements of Metro Bancorp Inc.'s (Metro or the Company) balance sheet as of June 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014 and in some instances June 30, 2014 and statements of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the same periods in 2014. This section should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
This Form 10-Q 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. 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 Form 10-Q, in the Company's Form 10-K and incorporated by reference in this Form 10-Q, could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, including:  
the inability to complete the Merger, including obtaining regulatory approvals, in a timely manner or at all;
 
 
the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed Merger will not be realized;
 
 
the effect of the announcement of the Merger on Metro’s, FNB’s or the combined company’s respective business relationships, operating results and business generally;
 
 
diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities;
 
 
difficulties and delays in integrating Metro's businesses with those of FNB;
 
 
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 Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (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;
 
 


29




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 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (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;
 
 
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-


30




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.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, Metro continued to strengthen its balance sheet with solid year over year loan and deposit growth. While the Company's net income for the quarter was impacted by the acceleration of certain one-time expenses, our revenue growth continued to increase and we continued to focus on core noninterest expense management.

As part of our basic commitment to enhancing shareholder returns, Metro's board of directors declared a third quarter cash dividend of $0.07 per common share on July 24, 2015, payable on August 26, 2015 to shareholders of record on August 7, 2015.

Subsequent to the end of the second quarter, on August 4, 2015, Metro entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) with F.N.B. Corporation (FNB). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Metro will merge with and into FNB (the Merger), with FNB surviving the Merger, and, at the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Metro (other than certain shares held by Metro, FNB or their subsidiaries) will be converted into the right to receive 2.373 shares, par value $0.01 per share, of FNB common stock, with cash payable in lieu of fractional shares.

Income statement and balance sheet highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 are detailed below.

Income Statement Highlights:

The Company recorded net income of $4.2 million, or $0.29 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2015 compared to net income of $5.1 million, or $0.35 per diluted common share, for the same period one year ago; a $904,000, or 18%, decrease. Exclusive of net gains on the sale of securities and certain nonrecurring expenses, adjusted net income was $5.7 million*, or $0.40 per diluted common share*, for the second quarter of 2015 compared to $5.1 million, or $0.35 per diluted common share, for the same period one year ago. Net income for the first six months of 2015 totaled $9.9 million, or $0.68 per diluted common share; down $126,000, or 1%, from $10.0 million, or $0.70 per diluted common share recorded for the first half of 2014. Adjusted net income for the first six months of 2015 totaled $11.7 million*, or $0.80 per diluted common share*, compared to $10.0 million, or $0.70 per diluted common share, recorded for the first half of 2014.

Net income for the second quarter of 2015 was negatively impacted by several nonrecurring noncash expenses, including (1) $1.4 million of stock-based compensation expense due to the immediate vesting of all outstanding employee stock options triggered by a provision in the Company's Employee Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, (2) a $499,000 write-off of pre-construction costs related to a terminated land lease agreement for a planned future store, and (3) $462,000 of accelerated depreciation expense due to closing two stores. These expenses were partially offset by $444,000 net gains on sales of securities during the second quarter of 2015.

Total revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) for the second quarter of 2015 were $34.0 million, up $2.5 million, or 8%, over total revenues of $31.5 million for the same quarter one year ago. Total revenues for the first half of 2015 increased $5.7 million, or 9%, over the first half of 2014.

Return on average stockholders' equity (ROE) was 6.21% for the second quarter of 2015, compared to 8.30% for the same period last year. Exclusive of net gains on sales of securities and certain nonrecurring expenses, adjusted ROE was 8.52%* for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 8.30% for the same period last year. ROE for the first six months of 2015 was 7.41%, compared to 8.36% for the first half of 2014. Adjusted ROE for the first half of 2015 was 8.73%* compared to 8.35% for the first six months of 2014.

The Company's net interest margin on a fully-taxable basis for the second quarter of 2015 was 3.66%, compared to 3.59% for the second quarter of 2014. The Company's deposit cost of funds for the second quarter of 2015 was 0.26%, the same as the second quarter one year ago.



* Non-GAAP financial measure; please refer to the Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures included in this document for an explanation of the Company's use of non-GAAP financial measures and their reconciliation to GAAP measures.


31





The provision for loan losses totaled $2.6 million for the second quarter of 2015, compared to $1.1 million for the second quarter one year ago. The provision for loan losses for the first half of 2015 increased $2.1 million, or 105%, over the first half of 2014.

Noninterest expenses for the second quarter of 2015 were $25.0 million, up $1.9 million, or 8%, over the same quarter last year. Total noninterest expenses for the first six months of 2015 were up $3.0 million, or 7%, compared to the first six months of 2014. The increase for both the second quarter and the first half of 2015 are primarily related to the three nonrecurring events previously mentioned in addition to the Company reserving $1.0 million of loan expense in the first quarter of 2015 related to the possibility that the Company may be required to fully perform under one specific unsecured standby letter of credit.

The efficiency ratio was 73.4% for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 73.1% for the second quarter one year ago. Exclusive of net gains on sales of securities and certain nonrecurring expenses, the adjusted efficiency ratio was 67.3%* for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 73.1% for the same period last year. The efficiency ratio for the first six months of 2015 was 72.2% compared to 74.0% for the first half of 2014. The adjusted efficiency ratio for the first half of 2015 was 68.7%* compared to 74.0% for the first six months of 2014.

Balance Sheet Highlights:

Loan growth continues to be strong as net loans grew to $2.04 billion and were up $217.0 million, or 12%, over the second quarter 2014.

Nonperforming assets were 1.39% of total assets at June 30, 2015, compared to 1.42% of total assets one year ago.

Total deposits at June 30, 2015 were $2.37 billion, up $181.7 million, or 8%, compared to same time last year. Total core deposits grew $152.1 million, or 7%, over the past twelve months and totaled $2.19 billion at June 30, 2015.

Metro's capital levels remain strong with a Tier 1 Leverage ratio of 9.20%, a common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio of 11.82% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.02%.

Stockholders' equity totaled $267.0 million, or 9% of total assets, at the end of the second quarter 2015, up $18.2 million, or 7%, over the past twelve months. At June 30, 2015, the Company's book value per share was $18.98, up $1.53, or 9%, per common share over June 30, 2014. The market price of Metro's common stock increased by 13% from $23.12 per common share at June 30, 2014 to $26.14 per common share at June 30, 2015.
Financial highlights are summarized below: 
TABLE 1
 
At or for the three months ended June 30,
 
For the six months ended June 30,
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
2015
2014
% Change
 
2015
2014
% Change
Total assets
$
3,001,357

$
2,868,928

5
 %
 
 
 
 
Total loans (net)
2,044,570

1,827,544

12

 
 
 
 
Total deposits
2,368,688

2,186,980

8

 
 
 
 
Total stockholders' equity
266,981

248,770

7

 
 
 
 
Total revenues
$
34,003

$
31,490

8
 %
 
$
67,629

$
61,903

9
 %
Provision for loan losses
2,600

1,100

136

 
4,100

2,000

105

Total noninterest expenses
24,954

23,021

8

 
48,831

45,803

7

Net income
4,177

5,081

(18
)
 
9,899

10,025

(1
)
Adjusted net income*
5,726

5,081

13

 
11,658

10,018

16

Diluted net income per common share
$
0.29

$
0.35

(17
)
 
$
0.68

$
0.70

(3
)
Adjusted diluted net income per common share*
0.40

0.35

14

 
0.80

0.70

14

* Non-GAAP financial measure; please refer to the Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures included in this document for an explanation of the Company's use of non-GAAP financial measures and their reconciliation to GAAP measures.


32




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 included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with 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 has identified the accounting policies that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to understanding Metro’s Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis at June 30, 2015, which were unchanged from the policies disclosed in Metro’s 2014 Form 10-K. 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 allowance for loan losses (allowance or 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 and circumstances change.
 
While management uses available information to determine the appropriate level of the allowance, future adjustments to the allowance and to the provision for loan losses may be necessary if economic conditions or loan credit quality differ materially from the estimates and assumptions used in determining the allowance. 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. The Bank reviews 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 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, management bases 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 exercises judgment at many levels in making these evaluations.
 
An integral aspect of our risk management process is allocating the allowance 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.
 
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). 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


33




the fair value of impaired loans or the value of collateral securing foreclosed assets requires the use of significant unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). 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, 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 June 30, 2015, 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

Total revenues were $34.0 million for the second quarter of 2015, up $2.5 million, or 8%, over total revenues of $31.5 million for the second quarter in 2014.

For the first six months of 2015, total revenues were $67.6 million, a $5.7 million, or 9% increase over the first half of 2014.

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.






34




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.

Table 2 below sets forth balance sheet items on a daily average basis and presents the daily average interest rates earned on assets and the daily average interest rates paid on liabilities. 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
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
(dollars in thousands)
Average Balance
Interest
Avg. Rate
 
Average Balance
Interest
Avg. Rate
 
Average Balance
Interest
Avg. Rate
 
Average Balance
Interest
Avg. Rate
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable
$
738,552

$
4,362

2.36
%
 
$
858,174

$
5,018

2.34
%
 
$
775,909

$
9,707

2.50
%
 
$
867,161

$
10,064

2.32
%
Tax-exempt
39,692

370

3.73

 
30,941

293

3.79

 
39,691

740

3.73

 
30,934

586

3.79

Total securities
778,244

4,732

2.43

 
889,115

5,311

2.39

 
815,600

10,447

2.56

 
898,095

10,650

2.37

Total loans
2,048,652

23,171

4.49

 
1,830,846

21,222

4.60

 
2,035,009

45,895

4.50

 
1,803,564

41,756

4.62

Total interest-earning assets
2,826,896

$
27,903

3.92
%
 
2,719,961

$
26,533

3.88
%
 
2,850,609

$
56,342

3.94
%
 
2,701,659

$
52,406

3.87
%
Allowance for loan losses
(25,920
)
 
 
 
(24,533
)
 
 
 
(25,665
)
 
 
 
(24,154
)
 
 
Other noninterest-earning assets
158,235

 
 
 
138,188

 
 
 
156,662

 
 
 
137,138

 
 
Total assets
$
2,959,211

 
 
 
$
2,833,616

 
 
 
$
2,981,606

 
 
 
$
2,814,643

 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Regular savings
$
543,196

$
372

0.27
%
 
$
464,780

$
319

0.28
%
 
$
538,308

$
736

0.28
%
 
$
462,564

$
654

0.29
%
Interest checking and money market
1,019,471

667

0.26

 
950,215

642

0.27

 
1,024,753

1,344

0.26

 
967,239

1,300

0.27

Time deposits
132,235

365

1.11

 
124,209

318

1.03

 
130,463

720

1.11

 
125,325

647

1.04

Public time and other noncore deposits
178,360

156

0.35

 
152,421

122

0.32

 
177,374

307

0.35

 
151,382

234

0.31

Total interest-bearing deposits
1,873,262

1,560

0.33

 
1,691,625

1,401

0.33

 
1,870,898

3,107

0.33

 
1,706,510

2,835

0.34

Short-term borrowings
238,083

195

0.32

 
387,611

278

0.28

 
276,783

434

0.31

 
372,168

509

0.27

Long-term debt
25,000

83

1.32

 
15,800

307

7.77

 
23,066

153

1.32

 
15,800

614

7.77

Total interest-bearing liabilities
2,136,345

$
1,838

0.34
%
 
2,095,036

$
1,986

0.38
%
 
2,170,747

$
3,694

0.34
%
 
2,094,478

$
3,958

0.38
%
Demand deposits (noninterest-bearing)
532,252

 
 
 
476,605

 
 
 
520,760

 
 
 
461,452

 
 
Other liabilities
20,903

 
 
 
16,325

 
 
 
20,670

 
 
 
16,786

 
 
Total liabilities
2,689,500

 
 
 
2,587,966

 
 
 
2,712,177

 
 
 
2,572,716

 
 
Stockholders' equity
269,711

 
 
 
245,650

 
 
 
269,429

 
 
 
241,927

 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
2,959,211

 
 
 
$
2,833,616

 
 
 
$
2,981,606

 
 
 
$
2,814,643

 
 
Net interest income and margin on a tax-equivalent basis
 
$
26,065

3.66
%
 
 
$
24,547

3.59
%
 
 
$
52,648

3.68
%
 
 
$
48,448

3.58
%
Tax-exempt adjustment
 
496

 
 
 
552

 
 
 
1,018

 
 
 
1,118

 
Net interest income and margin
 
$
25,569

3.59
%
 
 
$
23,995

3.50
%
 
 
$
51,630

3.61
%
 
 
$
47,330

3.49
%


35




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
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
(dollars in thousands)
2015
2014
$ Change
% Change
 
2015
2014
$ Change
% Change
Interest income on tax-equivalent basis
$
27,903

$
26,533

$
1,370

5
 %
 
$
56,342

$
52,406

$
3,936

8
 %
Interest expense
1,838

1,986

(148
)
(7
)%
 
3,694

3,958

(264
)
(7
)%
Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis
$
26,065

$
24,547

$
1,518

6
 %
 
$
52,648

$
48,448

$
4,200

9
 %
Net interest margin fully tax-equivalent
3.66
%
3.59
%
 
 
 
3.68
%
3.58
%
 
 
Net interest rate spread
3.58
%
3.50
%
 
 
 
3.60
%
3.49
%
 
 

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
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
Increase (Decrease)
 
Increase (Decrease)
June 30, 2015 versus 2014
Due to Changes in (1)
 
Due to Changes in (1)
(in thousands)
Volume
 
Rate
 
Total
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Total
Interest on securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable
$
(665
)
 
$
9

 
$
(656
)
 
$
(982
)
 
$
625

 
$
(357
)
Tax-exempt
80

 
(3
)
 
77

 
159

 
(5
)
 
154

Interest on loans
2,468

 
(519
)
 
1,949

 
5,199

 
(1,060
)
 
4,139

Total interest income
1,883

 
(513
)
 
1,370

 
4,376

 
(440
)
 
3,936

Interest on deposits:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Regular savings
51

 
2

 
53

 
105

 
(23
)
 
82

Interest checking and money market
26

 
(1
)
 
25

 
44

 

 
44

Time deposits
72

 
(25
)
 
47

 
128

 
(55
)
 
73

Public funds time and other noncore deposits
26

 
8

 
34

 
51

 
22

 
73

Short-term borrowings
(107
)
 
24

 
(83
)
 
(130
)
 
55

 
(75
)
Long-term debt
(112
)
 
(112
)
 
(224
)
 
(231
)
 
(230
)
 
(461
)
Total interest expense
(44
)
 
(104
)
 
(148
)
 
(33
)
 
(231
)
 
(264
)
Net increase
$
1,927

 
$
(409
)
 
$
1,518

 
$
4,409

 
$
(209
)
 
$
4,200

(1) 
Changes due to both volume and rate have been allocated on a pro rata basis to either rate or volume.  

Second Quarter 2015 compared to Second Quarter 2014

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 $1.5 million, or 6%, to $26.1 million for the second quarter of 2015 compared to $24.5 million for the second quarter 2014. 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 the second quarter of 2015 compared the same period of 2014. The slight decrease in the yield earned on loans receivable in the second quarter of 2015 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 make up a smaller portion of total loans receivable.

Interest income on a tax-equivalent basis for the second quarter 2015 totaled $27.9 million, an increase of $1.4 million, or 5%, over the same period in 2014. This increase was primarily related to the above-mentioned increase in the level of average loans receivable partially offset by lower yields earned on the overall loan portfolio.



36




During the second quarter of 2015, average interest-earning assets were $2.83 billion, an increase of $106.9 million, or 4%, over the second quarter of 2014. This was the result of an increase in the average balance of loans receivable (including loans held for sale) of $217.8 million, or 12%, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of investment securities of $110.9 million, or 12%. This investment balance decrease was a component of the Company’s strategic management of its interest rate risk position, as securities with embedded average life and duration extension risk were sold. The cash flows from these sales and periodic principal repayments of other fixed-rate investments were intentionally not fully reinvested to better align the portfolio for a rising interest rate environment and consequently realizing gains on the sale of securities.
 
The tax-equivalent yield on total interest-earning assets increased by 4 basis points (bps), from 3.88% in the second quarter of 2014 to 3.92% in 2015. This yield increase reflected a more favorable composition of earning assets; loans represented 72% of earning assets in the second quarter of 2015 versus 67% of earning assets in the second quarter of 2014. Floating rate loans represented approximately 48% of our total loans receivable portfolio at June 30, 2015 and 45% of total loans receivable at June 30, 2014. 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 the second quarter of 2015, we reinvested these cash flows in new loan originations at lower yields given the current continued low interest rate environment. This has reduced our loan yields and somewhat constrained our growth in interest income, even though our average earning assets grew 4% in the second quarter of 2015 over the second quarter of 2014. 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 further in 2015, due to lower replacement yields on new loans continuing to be lower than the interest rates of legacy loans originated in the higher interest rate environment of prior years. 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 the second quarter of 2015 decreased $148,000, or 7%, from $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2015. This decrease partially resulted from a reduction in interest expense related to long-term debt 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%, offset by $25.0 million of new Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) long-term borrowings. Interest expense was further reduced by a $149.5 million decrease in the average balance of short-term borrowings. Partially offsetting the effects of these reductions were growth in the average level of interest-bearing deposits of $181.6 million, or 11%, as well as an increase in the average rate paid on short-term borrowings to 0.32% in the second quarter of 2015 compared to 0.28% in the second quarter of 2014. The average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits in the second quarters of both 2015 and 2014 was 0.33%.

The $237.3 million increase in average total deposits was the primary source of funding for the $106.9 million growth in average interest-earning assets as well as the reduction in the level of short-term borrowings. The average balance of interest-bearing deposits increased $181.6 million over the past twelve months and the average balance of noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $55.6 million.  The average balance of long-term debt increased $9.2 million, while average short-term borrowings decreased $149.5 million.

Our average deposit cost of funds remained the same at 0.26% in both the second quarters of 2015 and 2014. At June 30, 2015, $520.5 million, or 22%, 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 decreased by $149.5 million, or 39%, from $387.6 million in the second quarter of 2014 compared to $238.1 million in the second quarter of 2015. This decrease was primarily the result of deposit growth exceeding the growth of interest-earning assets, thus enabling the repayment of short-term borrowings. The average cost of this nondeposit funding source increased to 0.32% in 2015 from 0.28% in the second quarter of 2014, due to higher average rates on short-term FHLB advances. The average outstanding balance of long-term debt increased from $15.8 million in the second quarter of 2014 to $25.0 million in the second quarter of 2015 as a result of the aforementioned $25.0 million of FHLB long-term advances which fixed a portion of borrowing costs in the face of potential future rising interest rates as part of the Company’s interest rate risk management strategy, offset by the previously mentioned retirement of $15.0 million of Trust Capital Securities. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2015 included herein for further discussion regarding long-term debt. The aggregate average cost of all interest-bearing funding sources for the Company was 0.34% in the second quarter of 2015, compared to 0.38% in the second quarter of 2014. 






37




Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2014

Net interest income on a fully tax-equivalent basis increased $4.2 million, or 9%, to $52.6 million for the first six months of 2015 over $48.4 million in the first half of 2014. 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 2015 compared to 2014. The impact of the lower overall loan yields on the Company’s net interest income in the first six months of 2015 was partially offset by continued efforts to manage down the Company’s cost of funds through the call and retirement of $15.0 million Trust Capital Securities at par with an interest rate of 7.75% in September 2014.

Interest income on a tax-equivalent basis for the first six months of 2015 totaled $56.3 million, an increase of $3.9 million, or 8%, over the first half of 2014. 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 2015.

During the first six months of 2015, average interest-earning assets were $2.85 billion, an increase of $149.0 million, or 6%, over the comparable period in 2014. This was the result of an increase in the average balance of loans receivable (including loans held for sale) of $231.4 million, or 13%, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of investment securities of $82.5 million, or 9%.
 
The tax-equivalent yield on total interest-earning assets increased by 7 bps, from 3.87% in the first half of 2014 to 3.94% in the first six months of 2015. This increase primarily resulted from a more favorable composition of interest-earning assets due to the previously mentioned loan balance increase and investment balance decrease. A $555,000 special FHLB dividend paid in February 2015 also contributed to the earning asset yield increase. It is important to note that the special dividend from FHLB is unlikely to occur in the future at such high levels.
 
Interest expense for the first six months of 2015 decreased $264,000, or 7%, from $4.0 million in the first six months of 2014 to $3.7 million in the first six months of 2015. The average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits in the first six months of 2015 was 0.33%, 1 basis point (bp) less than in the comparable period of 2014, while the average rate paid on short-term borrowings increased in the first six months of 2015 to 0.31% from 0.27% in the first half of 2014. Interest expense related to long-term debt decreased by $461,000 compared to the first half of 2014 as a result of 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%, partially offset by the purchase of $25.0 million of FHLB long-term debt in the first quarter of 2015 with an average rate of 1.32%.

The $223.7 million increase in average total deposits was the primary source of funding for the $149.0 million growth in average interest-earning assets as well as pay downs of short-term borrowings. The average balance of interest-bearing deposits increased $164.4 million, or 10%, over the past twelve months and the average balance of noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $59.3 million, or 13%

Our average deposit cost of funds remained the same rate at 0.26% in the first half of 2014 and for the first six months of 2015. Average short-term borrowings decreased by $95.4 million, or 26%, from $372.2 million in the first half of 2014 compared to $276.8 million in the first half of 2015. The average cost of this nondeposit funding source increased to 0.31% in 2015 from 0.27% in 2014, due to higher average rates on short-term FHLB advances. The average outstanding balance of long-term debt increased from $15.8 million in the first half of 2014 to $23.1 million in the first six months of 2015. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2015 included herein for further discussion regarding long-term debt. The aggregate average cost of all interest-bearing funding sources for the Company was 0.34% in the first six months of 2015, compared to 0.38% in the comparable period of 2014. 

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. As stated in this policy, the Company 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 in the second quarter of 2015 in determining the adequacy of the ALL. Management believes that the provision for loan losses for the six months ended June 30, 2015 adequately supports the allowance balance at June 30, 2015.



38




The following table presents the allowance for loan losses and nonperforming loan balances along with related ratios:
 
TABLE 5
 
As of
As of
As of
(dollars in thousands)
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
June 30, 2014
Allowance for loan losses
$
25,871

$
24,998

$
24,271

Allowance as a percentage of total period-end loans
1.25
%
1.25
%
1.31
%
Total nonperforming loans
$
35,828

$
35,411

$
36,668

Nonperforming loans to total loans
1.73
%
1.77
%
1.98
%

The following table presents information regarding the provision for loan losses and net loan charge-offs:
 
TABLE 6
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
Provision for loan losses
$
2,600

$
1,100

 
$
4,100

$
2,000

Net loan charge-offs
(2,484
)
(763
)
 
(3,227
)
(839
)

See the Loan and Asset Quality and the Allowance for Loan Losses sections presented later in this Management's Discussion and Analysis for further discussion regarding nonperforming loans and our methodology for determining the provision for loan losses.

Noninterest Income

TABLE 7
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
(dollars in thousands)
2015
2014
$ Change
% Change
 
2015
2014
$ Change
% Change
Card income
$
4,115

$
3,990

$
125

3
 %
 
$
8,000

$
7,815

$
185

2
 %
Service charges on deposit accounts
2,156

2,233

(77
)
(3
)
 
4,193

4,269

(76
)
(2
)
Other noninterest income
1,245

1,134

111

10

 
2,445

2,204

241

11

Net gains on sales of loans
474

138

336

243

 
945

274

671

245

Net gains on sales of securities
444


444


 
416

11

405

3,682

Total noninterest income
$
8,434

$
7,495

$
939

13
 %
 
$
15,999

$
14,573

$
1,426

10
 %

Total noninterest income for the second quarter of 2015 increased by $939,000, or 13%, over the same period in 2014. Total noninterest income for the first six months of 2015 increased by $1.4 million, or 10%, over the same period last year. The increase in both periods of 2015 was primarily related to net gains on the sale of investments securities as well as higher levels of gains recognized on the sale of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans on the secondary market during 2015. Noninterest income is composed of card income, service charges on deposit accounts, other miscellaneous noninterest income, net gains on sales of loans, and net gains or losses on sales of securities.



39




Noninterest Expenses

TABLE 8
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
(dollars in thousands)
2015
2014
$ Change
% Change
 
2015
2014
$ Change
% Change
Salaries and employee benefits
$
12,084

$
11,055

$
1,029

9
 %
 
$
22,963

$
22,482

$
481

2
 %
Occupancy
2,619

2,104

515

24

 
5,141

4,579

562

12

Furniture and equipment
751

994

(243
)
(24
)
 
1,454

2,024

(570
)
(28
)
Advertising and marketing
398

376

22

6

 
762

769

(7
)
(1
)
Data processing
3,692

3,320

372

11

 
7,230

6,570

660

10

Regulatory assessments and related fees
556

584

(28
)
(5
)
 
1,123

1,153

(30
)
(3
)
Telephone
811

902

(91
)
(10
)
 
1,651

1,826

(175
)
(10
)
Loan expense
206

881

(675
)
(77
)
 
1,608

1,016

592

58

Foreclosed real estate
425

178

247

139

 
515

194

321

165

Professional services
591

301

290

96

 
1,459

602

857

142

State shares tax
536

546

(10
)
(2
)
 
1,098

1,086

12

1

Other
2,285

1,780

505

28

 
3,827

3,502

325

9

Total noninterest expenses
$
24,954

$
23,021

$
1,933

8
 %
 
$
48,831

$
45,803

$
3,028

7
 %

Second Quarter 2015 compared to Second Quarter 2014

Noninterest expenses increased by $1.9 million, or 8%, for the second quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. A detailed comparison of noninterest expenses for certain categories for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014 is presented in the following paragraphs.

Salary and employee benefits expenses, which represent the largest component of noninterest expenses, increased by $1.0 million, or 9%, for the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014. This increase was primarily a result of the immediate vesting of all outstanding options under the 2006 Employee Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan which was triggered by a provision in the Plan associated with a change in the make up of the Company's board of directors during a specified period of time as delineated in the Plan. Metro recorded accelerated stock-based compensation expenses totaling $1.4 million during the second quarter of 2015. Partially offsetting this increase was a year-over-year decrease in the number of full-time equivalent employees due to improvements to the retail staffing model and a decrease in self-insured medical claims expense.

Occupancy expenses for the second quarter of 2015 increased $515,000, or 24%, compared to the second quarter of 2014. The increase was due to additional accelerated depreciation expense associated with the previously announced permanent closure of two of the Company's stores, both of which closed on June 30, 2015.

Furniture and equipment expenses totaled $751,000 for the second quarter of 2015, a decrease of $243,000, or 24%, from the second quarter of 2014. This decrease was due to certain furniture and equipment that became fully depreciated during 2014, resulting in less depreciation expense in the second quarter of 2015.

Data processing expenses for the second quarter of 2015 increased $372,000, or 11%, compared to the second quarter of 2014, primarily due to higher processing costs from third party service providers during the second quarter of 2015.

Loan expense totaled $206,000 for the second quarter of 2015, a decrease of $675,000, or 77%, from the second quarter of 2014. During the second quarter of 2014, the Company incurred $671,000 of loan expense related to one specific problem loan.

Foreclosed real estate expenses for the second quarter of 2015 increased $247,000, or 139%, compared to the second quarter of 2014. The increase was primarily due to higher taxes paid on foreclosed real estate properties during the second quarter of 2015.

Professional services totaled $591,000 for the second quarter of 2015, up $290,000, or 96%, over the second quarter of 2014, primarily due to higher levels of legal and advisory fees.

Total other noninterest expense increased $505,000, or 28%, for the second quarter of 2015, compared to the second quarter of 2014. The Company had previously entered into a land lease for the premises located at the corner of Airport Rd & Rt. 501 (Lititz


40




Pike), Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where the Company had planned to construct a full-service store. During the second quarter of 2015, the lease was terminated without penalty.  As a result, the Company wrote off $499,000 of accumulated costs associated with pre-construction activities. 

The remaining noninterest expense categories shown on the Consolidated Statements of Income incurred minor fluctuations for the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014.
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2014

For the first six months of 2015, noninterest expenses increased $3.0 million, or 7%, compared to the first six months of 2014. A detail of noninterest expenses for certain categories is presented in the following paragraphs.

Salary expenses and employee benefits for the first six months of 2015 increased by $481,000, or 2%, compared to the first six months of 2014. This increase was primarily a result of the previously-discussed $1.4 million accelerated stock-based compensation expense recorded during the second quarter of 2015, as well as regular employee merit increases, which were partially offset by a decrease in full-time equivalent employees and a lower level of costs associated with employee health care plans.

Occupancy expense for the first half of 2015 was $5.1 million, an increase of $562,000, or 12%, compared to the first six months of 2014. As a result of announcing the closure of two stores effective June 30, 2015, the Company accelerated the remaining depreciation on certain assets at these locations during the first and second quarters of 2015.

Furniture and equipment expenses totaled $1.5 million for the first half of 2015, a decrease of $570,000, or 28%, from the first six months of 2014. This decrease was due to certain furniture and equipment that became fully depreciated during 2014, resulting in less depreciation expense in the first six months of 2015.

Data processing for the first six months of 2015 increased by $660,000, or 10%, compared to the first six months of 2014, primarily due to higher processing costs from third party service providers during the first half of 2015.

Loan expense totaled $1.6 million for the first six months of 2015, an increase of $592,000, or 58%, compared to the same period in 2014 due in large part to the Company reserving $1.0 million of loan expense during the first quarter of 2015 related to the possibility that the Company may be required to fully perform under one specific unsecured standby letter of credit. The increase was partially offset by a lower level of expense related to problem loans in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

Foreclosed real estate expenses for the first six months of 2015 increased $321,000, or 165%, compared to the first six months of 2014. The increase was due to net losses on the sales of foreclosed real estate properties, higher taxes paid on such properties, as well as a write down on one property during the second quarter of 2015.

Professional services totaled $1.5 million for the first half of 2015, up $857,000, or 142%, over the first six months of 2014, primarily due to higher levels of legal and advisory fees, primarily associated with shareholder relations matters.

Total other noninterest expense increased $325,000, or 9%, for the first half of 2015, compared to the first half of 2014, primarily due to the previously-mentioned $499,000 write-off of accumulated costs associated with a lease termination. This write-off was partially offset by reductions in certain other noninterest expense items for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to 2014.

Each of the remaining noninterest expense categories shown on the Consolidated Statements of Income incurred minor increases or decreases for the first six months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

TABLE 9
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
(in thousands)
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
Net noninterest expenses to average assets
2.24
%
2.20
%
 
2.22
%
2.24
%
Operating efficiency ratio
73.39
%
73.11
%
 
72.20
%
73.99
%
Adjusted operating efficiency ratio*
67.25
%
73.11
%
 
68.67
%
74.00
%
* Non-GAAP financial measure; please refer to the Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures included in this document for an explanation of the Company's use of non-GAAP financial measures and their reconciliation to GAAP measures.


41




One key measure that management utilizes to monitor progress in controlling overhead expenses is the ratio of annualized net noninterest expenses to average assets. For purposes of this calculation, net noninterest expenses equal noninterest expenses less noninterest income; the lower the ratio, the better. Another productivity measure utilized by management 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.

During the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2015, these ratios were negatively impacted by several large nonrecurring, noncash charges within other noninterest expenses, in spite of increases to net interest income and noninterest income compared to the same periods in 2014.

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
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
(dollars in thousands)
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
Provision for federal income taxes
$
2,272

$
2,288

 
$
4,799

$
4,075

Effective tax rate
35
%
31
%
 
33
%
29
%
Statutory tax rate
35
%
35
%
 
35
%
35
%

Compared to the same periods in 2014, the increases in the effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 were primarily due to the the accelerated full vesting of all outstanding employee stock options in June 2015, which resulted in $1.4 million of stock-based compensation expense, $823,000 of which is not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

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 is presented below:

TABLE 11
 
For the three months ended June 30,
 
For the six months ended June 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)
2015
2014
$ Change
% Change
 
2015
2014
$ Change
% Change
Net interest income
$
25,569

$
23,995

$
1,574

7
 %
 
$
51,630

$
47,330

$
4,300

9
 %
Provision for loan losses
2,600

1,100

1,500

136

 
4,100

2,000

2,100

105

Noninterest income
8,434

7,495

939

13

 
15,999

14,573

1,426

10

Noninterest expenses
24,954

23,021

1,933

8

 
48,831

45,803

3,028

7

Provision for income taxes
2,272

2,288

(16
)
(1
)
 
4,799

4,075

724

18

Net income
$
4,177

$
5,081

$
(904
)
(18
)%
 
$
9,899

$
10,025

$
(126
)
(1
)%
Net Income per Common Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Basic
$
0.29

$
0.36

$
(0.07
)
(19
)%
 
$
0.70

$
0.70

$

 %
   Diluted
0.29

0.35

(0.06
)
(17
)
 
0.68

0.70

(0.02
)
(3
)



42




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 annualized net income by average stockholders' equity. ROE for the second quarter and first six months of 2015 was negatively impacted by the previously discussed nonrecurring expenses recorded during the second quarter of 2015.The annualized ratios for ROA and ROE are presented in the following table:
 
TABLE 12
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
Return on average assets
0.57
%
0.72
%
 
0.67
%
0.72
%
Adjusted return on average assets*
0.78

0.72

 
0.79

0.72

Return on average stockholders' equity
6.21

8.30

 
7.41

8.36

Adjusted return on average stockholders' equity*
8.52

8.30

 
8.73

8.35

* Non-GAAP financial measure; please refer to the Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures included in this document for an explanation of the Company's use of non-GAAP financial measures and their reconciliation to GAAP measures.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Securities

An analysis of the Company's securities portfolio for the six months ended and as of June 30, 2015 is presented in the following table: 

TABLE 13
(dollars in thousands)
Available for Sale
 
Held to Maturity
 
Total
Securities portfolio as of December 31, 2014
$
528,038

 
$
324,994

 
$
853,032

   Purchases

 
52,105

 
52,105

   Sales
(71,388
)
 
(1,310
)
 
(72,698
)
   Principal repayments
(39,096
)
 
(25,395
)
 
(64,491
)
   Net discount accretion (premium amortization)
(130
)
 
92

 
(38
)
   Unrealized gains (losses)
(2,678
)
 

 
(2,678
)
Securities portfolio as of June 30, 2015
$
414,746

 
$
350,486

 
$
765,232

As of June 30, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
Duration (in years)
4.8

 
5.4

 
5.1

Average life (in years)
5.4

 
6.3

 
5.8

Quarterly average yield (annualized)
2.28
%
 
2.50
%
 
2.37
%

The Company maintains a securities portfolio in order to provide liquidity, to manage interest rate risk and to use as collateral on certain deposits and borrowings. Net of tax, the unrealized loss position on AFS securities included in stockholders' equity as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) increased by $1.7 million from an unrealized loss of $3.9 million at December 31, 2014 to an unrealized loss of $5.6 million at June 30, 2015 as the general level of market interest rates increased during the first six months of June 30, 2015, thus decreasing the overall fair market value of AFS portfolio. During the first six months of 2015, one security with a carrying value of $1.3 million was sold from the held to maturity (HTM) portfolio for $1.4 million; the security was an amortizing security that returned more than 85% of its principal and could be sold without tainting the remaining HTM portfolio.

See Note 3 of the Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2015, included herein, for further analysis regarding the Company's securities portfolio.



43




Loans Receivable
 
Commercial loans outstanding are composed 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.

During the first six months of 2015, total gross loans receivable increased by $71.9 million and net loans receivable increased $71.0 million.

The following table reflects the composition of the Company's loan portfolio:
 
TABLE 14
(dollars in thousands)
June 30, 2015
% of Total
December 31, 2014
% of Total
$
Change
%
Change
Commercial and industrial
$
591,860

28
%
$
525,127

26
%
$
66,733

13
 %
Commercial tax-exempt
58,319

3

71,151

4

(12,832
)
(18
)
Owner occupied real estate
313,377

15

332,070

17

(18,693
)
(6
)
Commercial construction and land
development
136,354

7

138,064

7

(1,710
)
(1
)
Commercial real estate
625,344

30

594,276

29

31,068

5

Residential
122,838

6

110,951

6

11,887

11

Consumer
222,349

11

226,895

11

(4,546
)
(2
)
Gross loans receivable
$
2,070,441

100
%
$
1,998,534

100
%
$
71,907

4
 %
Less: ALL
25,871

 

24,998

 

873

3

Net loans receivable
$
2,044,570

 

$
1,973,536

 

$
71,034

4
 %
Gross loans receivable as a percentage of total deposits
87
%
 
84
%
 
 
 
Gross loans receivable as a percentage of total assets
69
%
 
67
%
 
 
 

The Company had 155 new commercial and industrial loans outstanding at June 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014.  Of the $66.7 million increase in commercial and industrial loans outstanding, approximately $35.0 million came from middle market lending.  The new outstanding lines and loans range from $1,000 to approximately $15.0 million.

During the second quarter 2015, the Company elected to no longer originate residential mortgages due to the increasing complexity and heightened regulations within the residential mortgage industry.

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.



44




The table that follows presents information regarding nonperforming assets. Nonaccruing and accruing TDRs are broken out at the bottom portion of the table. Additionally, relevant asset quality ratios are presented.

TABLE 15
(dollars in thousands)
June 30, 2015
March 31, 2015
December 31, 2014
September 30, 2014
June 30, 2014
Nonperforming Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial and industrial
$
11,985

$
12,375

$
11,634

$
7,974

$
4,291

   Commercial tax-exempt





   Owner occupied real estate
7,720

6,210

7,416

6,954

6,401

   Commercial construction and land development
3,226

3,241

3,228

3,254

9,028

   Commercial real estate
6,384

6,362

5,824

6,407

5,793

   Residential
5,336

4,971

4,987

6,157

6,341

   Consumer
1,177

1,573

1,877

2,421

2,479

Total nonaccrual loans
35,828

34,732

34,966

33,167

34,333

Loans past due 90 days or more and still
  accruing


445

8

2,335

Total nonperforming loans
35,828

34,732

35,411

33,175

36,668

Foreclosed assets
5,981

7,937

7,681

7,162

4,020

Total nonperforming assets
$
41,809

$
42,669

$
43,092

$
40,337

$
40,688

Troubled Debt Restructurings
 
 
 
 
 
Nonaccruing TDRs (included in nonaccrual
  loans above)
$
15,667

$
16,272

$
15,030

$
12,495

$
17,748

Accruing TDRs
10,653

10,627

10,712

10,791

11,309

Total TDRs
$
26,320

$
26,899

$
25,742

$
23,286

$
29,057

Nonperforming loans to total loans
1.73
%
1.73
%
1.77
%
1.73
%
1.98
%
Nonperforming assets to total assets
1.39
%
1.43
%
1.44
%
1.36
%
1.42
%
Nonperforming loan coverage
72
%
74
%
71
%
74
%
66
%
Nonperforming assets / capital and ALL
14
%
14
%
15
%
15
%
15
%

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, 2014 and June 30, 2015 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. If 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, the loan may be transferred to accruing status.

Total nonaccrual loans increased by $862,000 in the first six months of 2015 to $35.8 million compared to $35.0 million at December 31, 2014.


45




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

TABLE 16
 
Three months ended
Six months ended
(in thousands)
June 30, 2015
Nonaccrual loans at beginning of period
$
34,732

$
34,966

Additions
6,481

11,990

Principal charge-offs
(2,564
)
(3,334
)
Pay downs
(2,322
)
(6,791
)
Transfers to accruing status
(209
)
(219
)
Transfers to foreclosed assets
(290
)
(784
)
Nonaccrual loans at end of period
$
35,828

$
35,828


During the second quarter of 2015, the additions to nonaccrual status of $6.5 million consisted of 19 commercial loans ranging from $3,000 to approximately $1.3 million and thirteen consumer loans averaging $124,000 each of unpaid principal balances. The additions were partially offset by pay downs of $2.3 million along with charge-offs of $2.6 million and transfers to foreclosed real estate of $290,000, which resulted in a slight overall increase of nonaccrual loans during the second quarter. At June 30, 2015, nonaccrual commercial loans, which comprise 82% of total nonaccrual loans, were not concentrated in any particular industry or business. As reflected above, the portfolio is frequently changing with new additions, pay downs, transfers to accruing status, transfers to foreclosed real estate, and charge-offs when necessary.

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

TABLE 17
 
Nonaccrual Loans
 
(dollars in thousands)
June 30, 2015
March 31, 2015
December 31, 2014
September 30, 2014
June 30, 2014
Commercial and Industrial:
 
 
 
 
 
Number of loans
38

28

33

34

28

Number of loans greater than $1 million
4

5

4

2

1

Average outstanding balance of those loans:
 

 
 
 
 
Greater than $1 million
$
1,816

$
1,738

$
1,811

$
2,193

$
1,079

Less than $1 million
$
147

$
173

$
162

$
121

$
130

Owner Occupied Real Estate:
 
 
 
 
 
Number of loans
17

16

19

19

19

Number of loans greater than $1 million
3

2

2

1

1

Average outstanding balance of those loans:
 

 
 
 
 
Greater than $1 million
$
1,266

$
1,276

$
1,289

$
1,142

$
1,317

Less than $1 million
$
283

$
264

$
287

$
325

$
297

Commercial Real Estate:
 
 
 
 
 
Number of loans
26

27

24

26

27

Number of loans greater than $1 million
1

1

1

1

1

Average outstanding balance of those loans:
 
 
 
 
 
Greater than $1 million
$
2,261

$
2,261

$
2,291

$
2,291

$
1,793

Less than $1 million
$
168

$
160

$
157

$
166

$
155

 





46




Foreclosed Assets
The following table details the change in the total of foreclosed asset balances:

TABLE 18
 
Six months ended
 
June 30, 2015
(dollars in thousands)
# of Loans
Carrying Value
Foreclosed assets at beginning of period
11

$
7,681

Transfers in
14

784

Sales
(12
)
(2,404
)
Write-downs
n/a

(80
)
Pay downs
n/a


Foreclosed assets at end of period
13

$
5,981


The sales of 12 properties resulted in a net gain of $11,000 for the first six months of 2015.

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. Before properties are transferred to foreclosed real estate, 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. 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.
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 the Bank 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.

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.

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 $47.2 million at June 30, 2015 with an aggregate specific allowance allocation of $4.8 million compared to impaired loans totaling $46.3 million at December 31, 2014 with a $5.6 million aggregate specific allowance allocation. The total specific allowance allocation was composed of six loan relationships at June 30, 2015 compared to seven loan relationships at December 31, 2014.
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 period ended June 30, 2015, included herein, for an age analysis of loans receivable and tables that detail impaired loans and credit quality indicators.


47




The past due portfolio, which consists of loans that are past due by 30 days or more, is constantly in various stages of collection efforts which include: restructures when appropriate, foreclosures or charge-off. The following table details the changes to the past due portfolio:
TABLE 19
 
Six months ended
(in thousands)
June 30, 2015
Past due loans at beginning of period
$
34,628

Improved to current status
(12,921
)
Balances paid off
(4,017
)
Charged-off
(2,806
)
Transferred to foreclosed real estate
(784
)
Transfers from current to past due status
22,446

Partial payments and other
(1,063
)
Past due loans at end of period
$
35,483


Out of the $22.4 million of loans that became past due after December 31, 2014, $5.9 million were 30-59 days past due, $4.1 million were 60-89 days past due while the remainder, or $12.4 million, were 90 days past due or greater at June 30, 2015, with $14.4 million of past-due loans classified as nonaccrual.

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 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 June 30, 2015.
Each criticized or classified loan is reviewed to determine if impairment exists. Criticized or classified loans which were not deemed impaired are summarized in the following table; such loans are included in the general pool of loans to determine the adequacy of the ALL:

TABLE 20
(in thousands)
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
Special mention
$
20,490

$
26,137

Substandard accrual
23,070

27,484

Criticized or classified loans not deemed impaired
$
43,560

$
53,621


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.


48




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 majority of the Company’s charge-offs come from loans deemed impaired. Nonaccrual loans are all considered impaired.  Once a loan is impaired, an analysis is performed specifically on the loan and loan relationships 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. Of the $4.8 million of specific reserves at June 30, 2015, $4.2 million of specific reserves were previously included in the allowance as specific reserves at December 31, 2014

Table 21 summarizes the transactions in the ALL.

TABLE 21
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
Year ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
 
2014
Balance at beginning of period
$
25,755

$
23,934

 
$
24,998

$
23,110

 
23,110

Provisions charged to operating expenses
2,600

1,100

 
4,100

2,000

 
6,750

Total recoveries of loans previously charged off
82

535

 
158

1,979

 
2,810

Total charged-off loans
(2,566
)
(1,298
)
 
(3,385
)
(2,818
)
 
(7,672
)
Balance at end of period
$
25,871

$
24,271

 
$
25,871

$
24,271

 
$
24,998

Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding
0.49
%
0.17
%
 
0.32
%
0.09
%
 
0.26
%
ALL to period-end loans
 
 
 
1.25
%
1.31
%
 
1.25
%
ALL to period-end nonperforming loans
 
 
 
72
%
66
%
 
71
%

During the first six months of 2015, gross charge-offs were $3.4 million, of which $2.8 million, or 81%, were concentrated in seven loan relationships; recoveries totaled $158,000. During the six months ended June 30, 2014, gross charge-offs were $2.8 million, of which $2.1 million, or 75%, were concentrated in eight loan relationships; recoveries of amounts previously charged off totaled $2.0 million, of which $1.6 million, or 79%, were concentrated in four loan relationships.

See the Application of Critical Accounting Policies earlier in this Management's Discussion and Analysis for a detailed discussion of the calculation of the ALL.

Deposits
 
An analysis of the composition of the Company's deposits follows:

TABLE 22
(in thousands)
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
$ Change
% Change (non-annualized)
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
569,663

$
478,724

$
90,939

19
 %
Interest checking and money market
1,068,801

1,131,637

(62,836
)
(6
)%
Savings
497,442

546,045

(48,603
)
(9
)%
Time
232,782

224,266

8,516

4
 %
Total
$
2,368,688

$
2,380,672

$
(11,984
)
(1
)%








49




Deposits by type of customer was as follows:

TABLE 23
 
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
 
% Change (non-annualized)
(in thousands)
$ Change
Consumer
$
1,057,058

$
1,016,724

$
40,334

4
 %
Commercial
805,433

707,738

97,695

14

Government
325,890

484,449

(158,559
)
(33
)
Total core deposits
2,188,381

2,208,911

(20,530
)
(1
)
Noncore
180,307

171,761

8,546

5

Total deposits
$
2,368,688

$
2,380,672

$
(11,984
)
(1
)%

Short-Term Borrowings
 
Short-term borrowings consist of short-term and overnight advances from the FHLB. At June 30, 2015, short-term borrowings totaled $322.7 million as compared to $333.5 million at December 31, 2014. The $10.8 million net repayment of short-term borrowings was primarily the result of refinancing $25.0 million of short-term borrowings with long-term fixed-rate debt, combined with proceeds from net sales of investment securities, partially offset by loan growth exceeding the change in deposits.

Long-Term Debt
 
At June 30, 2015, the Company had $25.0 million of long-term debt in the form of three different FHLB fixed-rate advances. In January 2015, the Company extended $25.0 million of its borrowing position into three to five year maturity term advances to fix a portion of borrowing costs in the face of potential future rising interest rates as part of the Company’s interest rate risk management strategy. The Company did not have any long term debt at December 31, 2014. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2015 included herein for further discussion regarding long-term debt.

Stockholders' Equity
 
As of June 30, 2015, stockholders' equity increased $1.5 million, over December 31, 2014. During the first six months of 2015, the Company declared and paid cash dividends totaling $2.0 million as well as repurchased 288,900 shares of its common stock at a cost of $7.4 million as part of its previously announced stock buyback program which began late in the fourth quarter of 2014. Through June 30, 2015, a total of 301,200 shares were repurchased under this program at a cost of $7.7 million. As a result of Metro's announcement on August 4, 2015 to enter into an Agreement an Plan of Merger with F.N.B. Corporation, Metro has suspended its common stock share repurchase program. The issuance of 75,994 shares of common stock under stock option plans during the first six months of 2015 increased stockholders' equity by $1.0 million. A summary of the Company's stockholders' equity is presented in Table 24 and the Company's equity to asset ratios are presented in Table 25.

TABLE 24
(dollars in thousands)
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
$ Change
% Change
Preferred stock
$
400

$
400

$

%
Common stock
14,311

14,233

78

1

Surplus
163,248

160,588

2,660

2

Retained earnings
102,369

94,496

7,873

8

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(5,616
)
(3,875
)
(1,741
)
45

Treasury stock
(7,731
)
(319
)
(7,412
)
2,324

Total stockholders' equity
$
266,981

$
265,523

$
1,458

1
%






50




TABLE 25
 
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
Total stockholders' equity to assets
8.89
%
8.86
%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets*
8.86
%
8.83
%
* Non-GAAP financial measure; please refer to the Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures included in this document for an explanation of the Company's use of non-GAAP financial measures and their reconciliation to GAAP measures.

Capital Adequacy

Banks are evaluated for capital adequacy based on the ratio of capital to risk-weighted assets and total assets. For community banking organizations, the phase-in period of Basel III regulatory capital reforms began on January 1, 2015. The new risk-based capital standards require all banks to have common equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital of at least 4.5%, Tier 1 capital of at least 6% and total capital of at least 8% of risk-weighted assets. CET1 capital predominantly includes common stockholders' equity. Tier 1 capital includes CET1 capital and qualifying perpetual preferred stock. Total capital includes Tier 1 capital and qualifying debt instruments and the ALL. In the first quarter of 2015, the Company and Bank made a one-time irrevocable election to exclude most components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) from regulatory capital, consistent with previously existing regulatory capital rules. The capital standard based on average assets, also known as the "leverage ratio", requires all banks, other than those classified as a systemically important financial institution, to have Tier 1 capital of at least 4% of total average assets. At June 30, 2015, the Bank met the definition of a "well-capitalized" institution.

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 26
 
Company
 
Bank
Minimum Regulatory Requirements
Regulatory Guidelines for “Well Capitalized”
 
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
 
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
CET1 capital
11.82
%
n/a

 
11.48
%
n/a

4.50
%
6.50
%
Tier 1 capital
11.86

12.28
%
 
11.52

11.46
%
6.00

8.00

Total capital
13.02

13.42

 
12.68

12.60

8.00

10.00

Leverage (to total
 average assets)
9.20

9.00

 
8.94

8.40

4.00

5.00


The Company’s capital and leverage ratios at June 30, 2015 remain strong with minor fluctuations since December 31, 2014, while all of the Bank’s capital and leverage ratios had improvements over the same period. The difference in the rates of change between the ratios of the Company and the Bank is due to the effect of treasury stock purchases reducing capital at the Company. The Company purchased $7.4 million of treasury stock during the six months ended June 30, 2015.

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 established by ALCO.
 
Our management believes the simulation of net interest income in different interest rate environments provides a 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


51




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 evaluates up to a 500 bp increase and a 100 bp decrease during the next year, with rates remaining constant in the second year. The 100 bp decrease 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 increase 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 interest income for the subsequent twelve months and twenty-four months as of June 30, 2015 and 2014 of a plus 300, plus 200 and plus 100 bp change in interest rates, which the Company believes are the most plausible scenarios.

TABLE 27
 
 
June 30,
2015
 
June 30,
2014
 
 
12 Months
 
24 Months
 
12 Months
 
24 Months
Plus 300 bp
 
2.93
%
 
8.82
%
 
(1.58
)%
 
1.38
 %
Plus 200 bp
 
1.66

 
5.49

 
(1.35
)
 
0.53

Plus 100 bp
 
0.54

 
2.32

 
(0.95
)
 
(0.16
)
 
This quarter's net interest income changes as shown above, indicate positive impacts to net interest income in all scenarios. The Company’s improved interest rate risk profile reflect recent actions taken in anticipation of a possible rising interest rate environment. In January 2015, the Company extended $25.0 million of its borrowing position into three-to-five year maturity term advances to provide long-term protection from rising interest rates. Also, a select group of fixed rate investment securities with high levels of embedded interest rate risk were sold in the first half of 2015, with a majority of the proceeds utilized to pay down short-term borrowings. Lastly, the Company continues to aggressively attract reasonably-priced long-term certificate of deposit (CD) accounts to further insulate its future interest expense from any negative impacts of rising rates. The combination of these actions is projected to contribute to the improvement in both the 12 month and the 24 month impacts to net interest income in rising rate scenarios as shown 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 additional securities from the 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 Company's short-term borrowing position.
 
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


52




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 interest rate change scenario, while a loss of more than 40% is unacceptable in immediate interest rate change scenarios of 400 bps or more. At June 30, 2015 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 incorporates shortened truncation assumptions and calculates an average life of our core deposit transaction accounts of 6.8 years. The 6.8 year average life of deposits is shorter than previous estimates and is attributable to a calculation assumption change that shortened the truncation points of our various deposit categories. This assumption change, which was recommended by the Company's independent vendor in order to be consistent with their other Banking clients, was adopted by the Company despite back-testing analytics that have consistently supported longer truncation points, as management believes the resulting core deposit premiums produced by its market value of equity model at June 30, 2015 with these shortened points provide a conservative 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 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.
 
Our investment portfolio consists primarily of U.S. Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and mortgage-backed securities (MBSs). Cash flows from such investments are dependent upon the performance of the underlying mortgage loans and may be 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.

We also maintain secondary sources of liquidity which can be drawn upon if needed. These secondary sources of liquidity as of June 30, 2015 included a $15.0 million line of credit through a correspondent bank, a $20.0 million line of credit through another


53




correspondent bank and $854.4 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 28
(in thousands)
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
$ Increase
Potential liquidity
$
889,388

$
834,019

$
55,369

Available liquidity
491,487

450,395

41,092


The $55.4 million increase in potential liquidity in the first six months of 2015 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 $41.1 million increase in available liquidity occurred as a result of the aforementioned capacity increase, partially offset by higher borrowing levels at June 30, 2015.

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 during 2014; these dividends were used by the Parent to help cover the cash needed to redeem the $15 million of Trust Preferred Securities in the third quarter of 2014, implement a 5% common stock buy back program and initiate a $0.28 annual common stock cash dividend. The Bank is subject to regulatory restrictions on its ability to pay dividends to the Parent.

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.

Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This document contains supplemental financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The tables that follow present reconciliations of certain non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

The reconciliations in Table 29 exclude certain nonrecurring charges incurred during the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, which the Company believes do not reflect the operating performance of the Company during those periods. These nonrecurring charges include (1) stock-based compensation expense related to the immediate vesting of all outstanding employee stock options during the second quarter of 2015, (2) a write-off during the second quarter of 2015 of pre-construction costs related to a terminated land lease agreement for a planned future store, and (3) accelerated depreciation expense recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 due to closing two stores. There have not been similar nonrecurring charges within the prior two years and, based on current information, the Company believes these charges are not reasonably likely to recur within two years. Additionally, these reconciliations exclude net gains from the sales of securities for all periods presented. The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate the performance of the Company and believes this presentation also increases the comparability of period-to-period results.
Table 30 reconciles tangible common equity to tangible assets and total stockholders' equity to assets. Tangible common equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated using non-GAAP 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


54




did not have any intangible assets at either June 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014. Management believes that tangible common equity to tangible assets has been a focus for some investors and assists in analyzing the Company's capital position without regard to the effect of preferred stock.
The Company believes these non-GAAP measures, in addition to GAAP measures, provide useful information for investors to evaluate the Company’s results. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP measures, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP measures that may be presented by other companies.


55




TABLE 29
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
2015
2014
 
2015
2014
Adjusted net income reconciliation:
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income
$
4,177

$
5,081

 
$
9,899

$
10,025

    Nonrecurring charges, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
       Accelerated vesting of employee stock options(1)
1,214


 
1,214


       Accelerated depreciation expense for two store closures(1)
300


 
491


       Pre-construction costs of cancelled planned store(1)
324


 
324


    Total nonrecurring charges, net of tax
1,838


 
2,029


    Net gains on sales of securities, net of tax(1)
(289
)

 
(270
)
(7
)
Adjusted net income(2)
$
5,726

$
5,081

 
$
11,658

$
10,018

 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted diluted net income per common share reconciliation:
 
 
 
 
 
  Diluted net income per common share
$
0.29

$
0.35

 
$
0.68

$
0.70

    Nonrecurring charges, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
       Accelerated vesting of employee stock options(1)
0.09


 
0.09


       Accelerated depreciation expense for two store closures(1)
0.02


 
0.03


       Pre-construction costs of cancelled planned store(1)
0.02


 
0.02


    Total nonrecurring charges, net of tax
0.13


 
0.14


    Net gains on sales of securities, net of tax(1)
(0.02
)

 
(0.02
)

Adjusted diluted net income per common share(2)
$
0.40

$
0.35

 
$
0.80

$
0.70

 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted operating efficiency ratio reconciliation:
 
 
 
 
 
   Total revenues
$
34,003

$
31,490

 
$
67,629

$
61,903

   Net gains on sales of securities, pretax
(444
)

 
(416
)
(11
)
   Adjusted total revenues(2)
33,559

31,490

 
67,213

61,892

   Total noninterest expenses
24,954

23,021

 
48,831

45,803

     Nonrecurring charges, pretax:
 
 
 
 
 
       Accelerated vesting of employee stock options
(1,424
)

 
(1,424
)

       Accelerated depreciation expense for two store closures
(462
)

 
(755
)

       Pre-construction costs of cancelled planned store
(499
)

 
(499
)

     Total nonrecurring charges, pretax
(2,385
)

 
(2,678
)

   Adjusted total noninterest expenses(2)
22,569

23,021

 
46,153

45,803

   Adjusted operating efficiency ratio(2)
67.25
%
73.11
%
 
68.67
%
74.00
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted return on average assets reconciliation:
 
 
 
 
 
   Adjusted net income(2)
$
5,726

$
5,081

 
$
11,658

$
10,018

   Average assets
2,959,211

2,833,616

 
2,981,606

2,814,643

   Adjusted return on average assets(2)
0.78
%
0.72
%
 
0.79
%
0.72
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted return on average stockholders' equity reconciliation:
 
 
 
 
 
   Adjusted net income(2)
$
5,726

$
5,081

 
$
11,658

$
10,018

   Average stockholders' equity
269,711

245,650

 
269,429

241,927

   Adjusted return on average stockholders' equity(2)
8.52
%
8.30
%
 
8.73
%
8.35
%

(1) Assumes a 35% tax rate. The accelerated vesting of employee stock options resulted in a pretax expense of $1.4 million during the second quarter of 2015, $823,000 of which is not deductible for federal tax purposes.
(2) Non-GAAP measure.



56




TABLE 30
 
June 30, 2015
December 31, 2014
Total stockholders' equity to assets
8.89
%
8.86
%
Less: Effect of excluding preferred stock
0.03
%
0.03
%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets(2)
8.86
%
8.83
%
(2) Non-GAAP measure.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Our exposure to market risk principally includes interest rate risk, which was previously discussed. The information presented in the Interest Rate Sensitivity subsection of Part I, Item 2 of this Report, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Quarterly evaluation of the Company's Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls. As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (Disclosure Controls). This evaluation (Controls Evaluation) was done under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
 
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls. The Company's management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that their Disclosure Controls or their internal controls and procedures for financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. The Company's Disclosure Controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information provided in the reports we file under the Exchange Act, including this quarterly Form 10-Q report, is appropriately recorded, processed and summarized. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. The Company conducts periodic evaluations to enhance, where necessary, its procedures and controls.
 
Based upon the Controls Evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that, subject to the limitations noted above, there have not been any changes in the Company's controls and procedures for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Additionally, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Disclosure Controls are effective in reaching a reasonable level of assurance that management is timely alerted to material information relating to the Company during the period when its periodic reports are being prepared.


57




Part II  OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
 
The Company is subject to certain 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. In addition, no material proceedings are pending or are known to be threatened or contemplated against the Company or its subsidiaries by governmental authorities.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.
 
See Item 1A. - Risk Factors - in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a detailed discussion of risk factors affecting the Company. Below is a discussion of additional risk factors.

The Merger may not be completed, and the Merger Agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms.

On August 4, 2015, Metro entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) with F.N.B. Corporation (FNB). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Metro will merge with and into FNB (the Merger), with FNB surviving the Merger, and, at the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Metro (other than certain shares held by Metro, FNB or their subsidiaries) will be converted into the right to receive 2.373 shares, par value $0.01 per share, of FNB common stock (FNB common stock), with cash payable in lieu of fractional shares.

The Merger Agreement is subject to a number of conditions which must be fulfilled in order to complete the Merger. These conditions include, among others, (i) approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger by Metro’s shareholders and approval by FNB’s shareholders of the issuance of FNB common stock in connection with the Merger; (ii) receipt of all required regulatory approvals and expiration of all related statutory waiting periods; (iii) the accuracy of the representations and warranties under the Merger Agreement (subject to certain exceptions and qualifications); and (iv) the parties’ material compliance with their respective obligations under the Merger Agreement. These and the other conditions to the completion of the Merger may not be fulfilled in a timely manner or at all, and, accordingly, the Merger may be delayed or may not be completed.

In addition, if the Merger is not completed by June 30, 2016, either FNB or Metro may choose not to proceed with the Merger, and the parties can mutually decide to terminate the Merger Agreement at any time, before or after shareholder approval. In addition, FNB and Metro may elect to terminate the Merger Agreement in certain other circumstances. If the Merger Agreement is terminated under specified circumstances, Metro may be required to pay a termination fee of $17.5 million to FNB.

Metro will be subject to business uncertainties while the Merger is pending, which could adversely affect its business.

Uncertainty about the effect of the Merger on employees and customers may have an adverse effect on Metro, and, consequently, FNB following completion of the Merger. These uncertainties may impair Metro’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel until the Merger is completed and for a period of time thereafter, and could cause customers and others that deal with Metro to seek to change their existing business relationships with Metro. Employee retention at Metro may be particularly challenging during the pendency of the Merger, as employees may experience uncertainty about their roles with FNB following the Merger. In addition, the Merger Agreement restricts Metro from taking specified actions without the consent of FNB (which may not be unreasonably withheld), and generally requires Metro to continue its operations in the ordinary course, until the Merger closes. These restrictions may prevent Metro from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to the completion of the Merger.

Because the market price of FNB common stock may fluctuate, Metro shareholders cannot be certain of the precise value of the consideration they may receive in the Merger.

Upon completion of the Merger, each outstanding common share of Metro will be converted into the right to receive 2.373 shares of FNB common stock.

There will be a time lapse between each of the mailing of the joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Merger, the date on which Metro shareholders vote to approve the Merger Agreement at the special meeting and the date on which Metro shareholders entitled to receive shares of FNB common stock actually receive such shares. The market value of FNB common stock may fluctuate during these periods as a result of a variety of factors, including general market and economic conditions, changes in the banking industry, changes in FNB’s businesses, operations and prospects, and regulatory considerations. Many of these factors


58




are outside the control of Metro and FNB. Consequently, at the time Metro shareholders must decide whether to approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger, they will not know the actual market value of the shares of FNB common stock they will receive when the Merger is completed. The actual value of the shares of FNB common stock received by Metro shareholders will depend on the market value of shares of FNB common stock at that time.

The Merger Agreement limits Metro's ability to pursue alternatives to the merger with FNB.

The Merger Agreement contains terms and conditions that make it more difficult for Metro to engage in a business combination with a party other than FNB. Subject to limited exceptions, Metro is required to convene a special meeting of shareholders and Metro's board of directors is required to recommend approval of the Merger Agreement. If Metro's board of directors determines to accept a superior acquisition proposal from a competing third party, Metro will be obligated to pay a $17.5 million termination fee to FNB. A competing third party may be discouraged from considering or proposing an acquisition of Metro, including an acquisition on better terms than those offered by FNB, due to the termination fee and Metro's obligations under the Merger Agreement. Further, the termination fee might result in a potential competing third party acquirer proposing a lower per share price than it might otherwise have proposed to acquire Metro.

Failure to complete the Merger could negatively impact the stock price and future business and financial results of Metro.

If the Merger is not completed for any reason, including as a result of Metro shareholders declining to approve the Merger Agreement, the ongoing business of Metro may be adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Merger, Metro would be subject to a number of risks, including the following, which could materially and adversely affect Metro’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows:
Metro may experience negative reactions from the financial markets, including negative impacts to the price of its common shares;
Metro may experience negative reactions from its customers, vendors, employees, potential customers and the community;
Metro will have incurred substantial expenses and will be required pay certain costs relating to the Merger, whether or not the Merger is completed, which will not likely be recaptured;
The Merger Agreement includes restrictions on the conduct of Metro’s businesses prior to the completion of the Merger, generally requiring Metro to conduct its business in the ordinary course and subjecting Metro to a variety of specified limitations absent FNB’s prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld) as delineated in the Merger Agreement. These and other contractual restrictions in the Merger Agreement may delay or prevent Metro from responding, or limit Metro’s ability to respond, effectively to competitive pressures, industry developments and future business opportunities that may arise during the pendency of the Merger;
The pendency of the proposed Merger may divert management’s attention and Metro’s resources from ongoing business and operations; and
If the Merger Agreement is terminated under specified circumstances, Metro may be required to pay a termination fee of $17.5 million to FNB.

In addition to the above risks, if the Merger Agreement is terminated and Metro’s board of directors seeks another merger or business combination transaction, Metro shareholders cannot be certain that Metro will be able to find a party willing to offer equivalent or more attractive consideration that the consideration FNB has agreed to provide in the Merger.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
 
The following table presents the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of the Company or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of the Company’s common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2015.

Period
Total number of shares purchased
Average price paid per share
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs(1)
April 1 - April 30, 2015
9,300

$
25.97

9,300

May 1 - May 31, 2015
63,900

25.76

63,900

June 1 - June 30, 2015
98,700

25.78

98,700

Total
171,900

 
171,900



59





 1On October 14, 2014, the Company announced that its board of directors had approved a share repurchase program, pursuant to which up to 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock (equivalent to 710,009 shares) may be repurchased. As a result of Metro's announcement on August 4, 2015 to enter into an Agreement an Plan of Merger with F.N.B. Corporation, Metro has suspended its common stock share repurchase program.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
 
No items to report for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.
 
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
 
No items to report for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Item 5. Other Information.
 
No items to report for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Item 6. Exhibits.
 
See Exhibit Index for a list of the exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and filed as part of this report.



60




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

METRO BANCORP, INC.
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
8/10/2015
 
/s/ Gary L. Nalbandian
(Date)
 
Gary L. Nalbandian
 
 
President/CEO
 
 
 
 
 
 
8/10/2015
 
/s/ Mark A. Zody
(Date)
 
Mark A. Zody
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 


61




EXHIBIT INDEX
 
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger between F.N.B. Corporation and Metro Bancorp, Inc., dated August 4, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 7, 2015)
4.1
Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement, dated May 15, 2015, between the Company and the Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2015)
10.1
The Company's 2016 Employee Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company's 2015 Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on May 22, 2015)*
10.2
The Company's 2011 Directors Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company's 2015 Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on May 22, 2015)*
10.3
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement with Percival B. Moser, III, effective July 31, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2015)*
10.4
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Mark A. Zody, effective July 31, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 4, 2015)*
10.5
Nomination and Standstill Agreement, dated May 14, 2015, by and among PL Capital Group, the Company and the PL Capital Designee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2015)
11
 
Computation of Net Income Per Common Share
 
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) promulgated under Exchange Act
 
32
Certification of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 
101
Interactive data file containing the following financial statements formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014; (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014; and, (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
* Denotes a compensatory plan or arrangement