XML 35 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.21.1
Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheet. The contract or notional amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of the Company’s involvement in these particular classes of financial instruments. The Company’s exposure to the maximum possible credit risk in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instruments for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual or notional amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require the payment of a fee. The Company evaluates each customer’s credit-worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation. Collateral held varies but may include accounts receivable; inventory; property, plant and equipment and income-producing commercial properties. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Commitments to fund fixed-rate loans were immaterial at December 31, 2020. Variable-rate commitments are generally issued for less than one year and carry market rates of interest. Such instruments are not likely to be affected by annual rate caps triggered by rising interest rates. Management believes that off-balance sheet risk is not material to the results of operations or financial condition. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, unused commitments to extend credit amounted to approximately $144.6 million and $205.1 million, respectively.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, standby letters of credit with customers were $1.7 million and $20.8 million, respectively.

The company also has entered into an employment contract with the President of the Company, which provides for continued payment of certain employment salary and benefits prior to the expiration date of the agreement and in the event of a change in control, as defined. The Company has also entered into Change-in-Control Severance Agreements with certain officers which provide for the payment of severance in certain circumstances following a change in control.

We provide banking services to customers that are licensed by various States to do business in the medical-use cannabis industry as growers, processors and dispensaries. Medical-use cannabis businesses are legal in these States, although it is not legal at the federal level. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) published guidelines in 2014 for financial institutions servicing state legal cannabis businesses. A financial institution that provides services to cannabis-related businesses can comply with Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) disclosure standards by following the FinCEN guidelines. We maintain stringent written policies and procedures related to the acceptance of such businesses and to the monitoring and maintenance of such business accounts. We conduct a significant due diligence review of the cannabis business before the business is accepted, including confirmation that the business is properly licensed by the applicable state. Throughout the relationship, we continue monitoring the business, including site visits, to ensure that the business continues to meet our stringent requirements, including maintenance of required licenses and periodic financial reviews of the business.
While we believe we are operating in compliance with the FinCEN guidelines, there can be no assurance that federal enforcement guidelines will not change. Federal prosecutors have significant discretion and there can be no assurance that the federal prosecutors will not choose to strictly enforce the federal laws governing cannabis. Any change in the Federal government’s enforcement position, could cause us to immediately cease providing banking services to the cannabis industry.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, deposit balances from medical-use cannabis customers were approximately $259.4 million and $129.2 million, or 16.3% and 9.6% of total deposits, respectively, with two customers accounting for 19.2% and 13.6% of the total at December 31, 2020 and 2019. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were cannabis-related loans in the amounts of $8.0 million and $5.5 million, respectively. We recorded approximately $465,000 and $183,000 of interest incomes in 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to these loans. The fee incomes for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 from the commercial deposit accounts of depositors who do business in the medical-use cannabis industry were $2.2 million and $1.6 million and are included in service fees on deposit accounts, in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
In the normal course of business, there are outstanding various contingent liabilities such as claims and legal action, which are not reflected in the financial statements. In the opinion of management, no material losses are anticipated as a result of these actions or claims.