Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

The consolidated financial statements are comprised of the accounts of Northfield Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Northfield Investment, Inc. and Northfield Bank (the “Bank”), and the Bank’s wholly-owned significant subsidiaries, NSB Services Corp. and NSB Realty Trust. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheets and revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ significantly from those estimates and assumptions. A material estimate that is particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term is the allowance for loan losses. In connection with the determination of this allowance, management generally obtains independent appraisals for significant properties. In addition, judgments related to the amount and timing of expected cash flows from purchased credit-impaired (“PCI”) loans, goodwill, securities valuation and impairment, and deferred income taxes, involve a higher degree of complexity and subjectivity and require estimates and assumptions about uncertain matters. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Business

The Company, through its principal subsidiary, the Bank, provides a full range of banking services primarily to individuals and corporate customers in Richmond and Kings counties in New York, and Hunterdon, Mercer, Union and Middlesex counties in New Jersey. The Company is subject to competition from other financial institutions and to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies, and undergoes periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, due from banks, and interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions with an original term of three months or less.

Securities

Securities are classified at the time of purchase, based on management’s intention, as debt securities held-to-maturity, debt securities available-for-sale, trading account securities or equity securities. Debt securities held-to-maturity are those that management has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity. Debt securities held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts using the level-yield method over the contractual term of the securities, adjusted for actual prepayments. Debt securities available-for-sale represents all securities not classified as either held-to-maturity, trading, or equity. Debt securities available-for-sale are carried at estimated fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses (net of related tax effects) on such securities excluded from earnings, but included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, titled “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).” The cost of securities sold is determined using the specific-identification method. Security transactions are recorded on a trade-date basis.

Trading securities are securities that are bought and may be held for the purpose of selling them in the near term. Trading securities are reported at estimated fair value, using quoted prices in active markets, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported as a component of gain (loss) on securities, net in non-interest income.

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are stated at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of gain (loss) on securities, net in non-interest income. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values are recorded at net asset value less any impairment, if any. Beginning January 1, 2018, upon adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, the Company reclassified its equity securities out of available-for-sale securities to equity securities on the consolidated balance sheets for all periods presented.

Our evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment considers our assessments of the reason for the decline in value, the duration and severity of the impairment, our intent and ability to hold the securities (as well as the likelihood of a near-term recovery), and our intent to sell the securities and whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis. If a determination is made that a debt security is other-than-temporarily impaired, the Company will estimate the amount of the unrealized loss that is attributable to credit and all other non-credit related factors. If we intend to hold securities in an unrealized loss position until the loss is recovered, which may be at maturity, the credit related component will be recognized as an other-than-temporary impairment charge in non-interest income. The non-credit related component will be recorded as an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. The estimated fair value of debt securities, including mortgage-backed securities and corporate debt obligations is furnished by an independent third-party pricing service. The third-party pricing service primarily utilizes pricing models and methodologies that incorporate observable market inputs, including among other things, benchmark yields, reported trades, and projected prepayment and default rates. Management reviews the data and assumptions used in pricing the securities by its third-party provider for reasonableness.

Loans

The accounting and reporting for PCI loans and loans classified as held-for-sale differs substantially from those loans originated and classified by the Company as held-for-investment. For purposes of reporting, discussion and analysis, management has classified its loan portfolio into four categories: (1) loans originated by the Company and held-for-sale, which are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value, less costs to sell, and therefore have no associated allowance for loan losses, (2) PCI loans, which are held-for-investment, and initially valued at estimated fair value on the date of acquisition, with no initial related allowance for loan losses, (3) originated loans held-for-investment, which are carried at amortized cost, less net charge-offs and the allowance for loan losses, and (4) acquired loans with no evidence of credit deterioration, which are held-for-investment, and initially valued at an estimated fair value on the date of acquisition, with no initial related allowance for loan losses.

Originated and acquired net loans held-for-investment are stated at unpaid principal balance, adjusted by unamortized premiums and unearned discounts, deferred origination fees and certain direct origination costs, and the allowance for loan losses. Interest income on loans is accrued and credited to income as earned. Net loan origination fees/costs are deferred and accreted/amortized to interest income over the loan’s contractual life using the level-yield method, adjusted for actual prepayments. Generally, loans held-for-sale are designated at time of origination and generally consist of newly originated fixed rate residential loans and are recorded at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value in the aggregate. Transfers of loans from held-for-investment to held-for-sale are infrequent and occur at fair value less costs to sell, with any charge-off to allowance for loan losses. Gains are recognized on a settlement-date basis and are determined by the difference between the net sales proceeds and the carrying value of the loans, including any net deferred fees or costs.

Originated and acquired net loans held-for-investment are deemed impaired when it is probable, based on current information, that the Company will not collect all amounts due in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company has defined the population of originated and acquired impaired loans to be all originated and acquired non-accrual loans held-for-investment with an outstanding balance of $500,000 or greater and all loans restructured in troubled debt restructurings (TDRs). Originated and acquired impaired loans held-for-investment are individually assessed to determine that the loan’s carrying value is not in excess of the expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate, or the fair value of the underlying collateral (less estimated costs to sell) if the loan is collateral dependent. Impairments, if any, are recognized through a charge to the allowance for loan losses for the amount that the loan’s carrying value exceeds the discounted cash flow analysis or estimated fair value of collateral (less estimated costs to sell) if the loan is collateral dependent. Such amounts are charged-off when considered appropriate.

The allowance for loan losses is increased by the provision for loan losses charged against income and is decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries. Loan losses are charged-off in the period the loans, or portion thereof, are deemed uncollectible. Generally, the Company will record a loan charge-off (including a partial charge-off) to reduce a loan to the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, less cost to sell, if it is determined that it is probable that recovery will come primarily from the sale or operation of such collateral. Specific reserves on impaired loans that are not considered collateral dependent are charged-off when such amounts are not considered to be collectible. The provision for loan losses is based on management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance that considers, among other things, impaired loans held-for-investment, deterioration in PCI loans subsequent to acquisition, past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, and existing adverse situations that may affect borrowers’ ability to repay. Additionally, management evaluates changes, if any, in underwriting standards, collection, charge-off and recovery practices, the nature or volume of the portfolio, lending staff, concentration of loans, as well as current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. Management believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate to provide for probable and reasonably estimable incurred losses at the date of the consolidated balance sheets. The Company also maintains an allowance for estimated losses on off-balance sheet credit risks related to loan commitments and standby letters of credit. Management utilizes a methodology similar to its allowance for loan loss adequacy methodology to estimate losses on these commitments. The allowance for estimated credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments is included in other liabilities and any changes to the allowance are recorded as a component of other non-interest expense.

While management uses available information to estimate probable and reasonably estimable incurred losses on loans, future additions may be necessary based on changes in conditions, including changes in economic conditions, particularly in Richmond and Kings counties in New York, and Hunterdon, Mercer, Union and Middlesex counties in New Jersey and to a lesser extent eastern Pennsylvania. Accordingly, as with most financial institutions in the market area, the ultimate collectability of a substantial portion of the Company’s loan portfolio is susceptible to changes in conditions in the Company’s marketplace. In addition, future changes in laws and regulations could make it more difficult for the Company to collect all contractual amounts due on its loans and mortgage-backed securities.

In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

TDRs are loans where terms have been modified because of deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower. Modifications could include extension of the repayment terms of the loan, reduced interest rates, or forgiveness of accrued interest and/or principal. Once an obligation has been restructured because of such credit problems, it continues to be considered restructured until paid in full or, if the obligation yields a market rate (a rate equal to the rate the Company was willing to accept at the time of the restructuring for a new loan with comparable risk), until the year subsequent to the year in which the restructuring takes place, provided the borrower has performed under the modified terms for a six-month period. The Company records an impairment charge equal to the difference between the present value of estimated future cash flows under the restructured terms discounted at the original loan’s effective interest rate, or the underlying collateral value less costs to sell, if the loan is collateral dependent. Changes in present values attributable to the passage of time are recorded as a component of the provision for loan losses.

A loan is considered past due when it is not paid in accordance with its contractual terms. The accrual of income on loans, including impaired loans held-for-investment, and other loans in the process of foreclosure, is generally discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days or more delinquent, or sooner when certain factors indicate that the ultimate collection of principal and interest is in doubt. Loans on which the accrual of income has been discontinued are designated as non-accrual loans. All previously accrued interest is reversed against interest income, and income is recognized subsequently only in the period that cash is received, provided no principal payments are due and the remaining principal balance outstanding is deemed collectible. A non-accrual loan is not returned to accrual status until both principal and interest payments are brought current and factors indicating doubtful collection no longer exist, including performance by the borrower under the loan terms for a consecutive six-month period.

The Company accounts for the PCI loans based on expected cash flows. In accordance with current accounting guidance, the Company will maintain the integrity of a pool of multiple loans accounted for as a single asset and evaluate the pools for impairment, and accrual status, based on variances from the expected cash flows.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

The Bank, as a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of New York, is required to hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB as a condition to both becoming a member and engaging in certain transactions with the FHLB. The minimum investment requirement is determined by a “membership” investment component and an “activity-based” investment component. The membership investment component is the greater of 0.125% of the Bank’s mortgage-related assets, as defined by the FHLB, or $1,000. The activity-based investment component is equal to 4.5% of the Bank’s outstanding advances with the FHLB. The activity-based investment component also considers other transactions, including assets originated for or sold to the FHLB, and delivery commitments issued by the FHLB. The Company currently does not enter into these other types of transactions with the FHLB.

On a quarterly basis, we perform our other-than-temporary impairment analysis of FHLB stock, we evaluate, among other things, (i) its earnings performance, including the significance of any decline in net assets of the FHLB as compared to the regulatory capital amount of the FHLB, (ii) the commitment by the FHLB to continue dividend payments, and (iii) the liquidity position of the FHLB. We did not consider our investment in FHLB stock to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Premises and Equipment, Net

Premises and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment, including capital leases, are computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives of significant classes of assets are generally as follows: buildings - forty years; furniture and equipment - five to seven years; and purchased computer software - three years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the related lease or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. Major improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance costs are charged to operations as incurred. Upon retirement or sale, any gain or loss is credited or charged to operations.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company has purchased bank owned life insurance contracts to help fund its obligations for certain employee benefit costs. The Company’s investment in such insurance contracts has been reported in the consolidated balance sheets at their cash surrender values. Changes in cash surrender values and death benefit proceeds received in excess of the related cash surrender values are recorded as non-interest income.

Goodwill

Intangible assets resulting from acquisitions under the purchase method of accounting consist of goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill is not amortized and is subject to an annual assessment for impairment. The goodwill impairment analysis is generally a two-step test. However, under current accounting guidance, first we may assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. Under current accounting guidance, we are not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit if, based on a qualitative assessment, we determine that it was more likely than not that the unit’s fair value was not less than its carrying amount. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we elected to perform step one of the two-step goodwill impairment test for our reporting unit.

Goodwill is allocated to Northfield’s reporting unit at the date goodwill is actually recorded. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, a second step in the analysis is performed to determine the amount of impairment, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, an impairment charge is recorded equal to the excess amount in the current period earnings.

As of December 31, 2018, the carrying value of goodwill totaled $38.4 million. The Company performed its annual goodwill impairment test, as of December 31, 2018, and determined that the fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit to be in excess of its carrying value. The Company will test goodwill for impairment between annual test dates if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the fair value of the reporting unit is below its carrying amount. No events have occurred and no circumstances have changed since the annual impairment test date that would indicate the fair value of the reporting unit is below its carrying amount.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to temporary 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 enacted tax rates expected to apply in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. When applicable, deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance for any portions determined not likely to be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Income tax benefits are recognized and measured based upon a two-step model: 1) a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits in order to be recognized, and 2) the benefit is measured as the largest dollar amount of that position that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon settlement. The difference between the benefit recognized and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit. The Company records income tax-related interest and penalties, if applicable, within income tax expense.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted (and without interest) net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase and Other Borrowings

The Company enters into sales of securities under agreements to repurchase (Repurchase Agreements) and collateral pledge agreements (Pledge Agreements) with selected dealers and banks. Such agreements are accounted for as secured financing transactions since the Company maintains effective control over the transferred or pledged securities and the transfer meets the other accounting and recognition criteria as required by the transfer and servicing topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards. Obligations under these agreements are reflected as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. Securities underlying the agreements are maintained at selected dealers and banks as collateral for each transaction executed and may be sold or pledged by the counterparty. Collateral underlying Repurchase Agreements that permit the counterparty to sell or pledge the underlying collateral is disclosed on the consolidated balance sheets as “encumbered.” The Company retains the right under all Repurchase Agreements and Pledge Agreements to substitute acceptable collateral throughout the terms of the agreement.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and the change in unrealized holding gains and losses on debt securities available-for-sale, change in actuarial gains and losses on other post-retirement benefits, and change in service cost on other postretirement benefits, net of taxes. Comprehensive income (loss) and its components is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Benefits

The Company sponsors a defined postretirement benefit plan that provides for medical and life insurance coverage to a limited number of retirees, as well as life insurance to all qualifying employees of the Company. The estimated cost of postretirement benefits earned is accrued during an individual’s estimated service period to the Company. The Company recognizes in its balance sheet the over-funded or under-funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation at the end of our calendar year. The actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits that arise during the period are recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax.

Funds borrowed by the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”) from the Company to purchase the Company’s common stock are being repaid from the Bank’s contributions over a period of up to 30 years. The Company’s common stock not yet allocated to participants is recorded as a reduction of stockholders’ equity at cost. The Company records compensation expense related to the ESOP at an amount equal to the shares committed to be released by the ESOP multiplied by the average fair value of our common stock during the reporting period.

The Company recognizes the grant-date fair value of stock based awards issued to participants' as compensation cost in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The fair value of common stock awards is based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market on the grant date. The expense related to stock options is based on the estimated fair value of the options at the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The awards are fixed in nature and compensation cost related to stock based awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

The Bank has a 401(k) plan covering substantially all employees. Contributions to the plan are expensed as incurred.

Segment Reporting

As a community-focused financial institution, substantially all of the Company’s operations involve the delivery of loan and deposit products to customers. Management makes operating decisions and assesses performance based on an ongoing review of these community banking operations, which constitute the Company’s only operating segment for financial reporting purposes.

Net Income per Common Share

Net income per common share-basic is computed by dividing the net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding unallocated ESOP shares and unearned common stock award shares. The weighted average common shares outstanding includes the average number of shares of common stock outstanding, including shares allocated or committed to be released ESOP shares.

Net income per common share-diluted is computed using the same method as basic earnings per share, but reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options and unvested shares of restricted stock were exercised and converted into common stock. These potentially dilutive shares are included in the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period using the treasury stock method. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, a new standard that simplifies certain aspects of accounting for share-based payments. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-09 effective January 1, 2017. The update amended the diluted earnings per share calculation in that excess tax benefits are no longer included in assumed proceeds when determining average diluted shares outstanding under the treasury stock method. This guidance was applied prospectively upon adoption.

When applying the treasury stock method for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we added the assumed proceeds from option exercises and the average unamortized compensation costs related to unvested shares of restricted stock and stock options. We then divided this sum by our average stock price for the period to calculate assumed shares repurchased. The excess of the number of shares issuable over the number of shares assumed to be repurchased is added to basic weighted average common shares to calculate diluted earnings per share. For the year ended December 31, 2016, we added (1) the assumed proceeds from option exercises; (2) the tax benefit that would have been credited to additional paid-in capital assuming exercise of non-qualified stock options and vesting of shares of restricted stock; and (3) the average unamortized compensation costs related to unvested shares of restricted stock and stock options. We then divided this sum by our average stock price for the period to calculate assumed shares repurchased. The excess of the number of shares issuable over the number of shares assumed to be repurchased is added to basic weighted average common shares to calculate diluted earnings per share.

Other Real Estate Owned

Assets acquired through loan foreclosure, or deed-in-lieu of, are held for sale and are initially recorded at estimated fair value less estimated selling costs when acquired, thus establishing a new cost basis. Costs after acquisition are generally expensed. If the estimated fair value of the asset subsequently declines, a write-down is recorded through other non-interest expense.

Advertising costs

Advertising costs are expensed in the period they are incurred.

Recent Accounting Developments

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2018

ASU No. 2014-09. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies generally will be required to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. Subsequent to the issuance of ASU No. 2014-09, the FASB issued targeted updates to clarify specific implementation issues including ASU No. 2016-08, “Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net),” ASU No. 2016-10, “Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing,” ASU No. 2016-12, “Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients,” and ASU No. 2016-20 “Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” The new standard was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures as the Company’s primary sources of revenues are derived from interest income on financial assets that are not within the scope of the guidance. Management conducted an assessment of the revenue streams that were potentially affected by the guidance and reviewed contracts in scope to ensure compliance with the guidance. These contracts included those related to service charges on deposit accounts, ATM and card interchange fees, and investment services fees. The Company’s revenue recognition pattern for these revenue streams did not change from current practice. Additional disclosures required by the standard have been included in Note 19. “Revenue Recognition.”

ASU No. 2016-01. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The guidance primarily affects the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments including the following: 1) Requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; 2) Simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; 3) Requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; 4) Requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value and 5) Reduces diversity in current practice by clarifying that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available for sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. ASU No. 2016-01 is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-01 effective January 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements due to the Company's proportionately small portfolio of equity securities and no liabilities that are measured at fair value. The primary impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 was the reclassification of equity securities from available-for-sale to equity securities on the consolidated balance sheets and the use of an exit price notion for valuing loans at fair value. See Note 5 - “Equity Securities” and Note 15 - “Fair Value Measurements” for further details.

ASU No. 2016-15. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides guidance on how certain cash receipts and cash payments should be classified and presented in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 includes guidance on eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-15 effective January 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows.

ASU No. 2017-07. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires that companies disaggregate the service cost component from other components of net benefit cost. The guidance requires companies that offer postretirement benefits to present the service cost, which is the amount an employer has to set aside each quarter or fiscal year to cover the benefits, in the same line item with other current employee compensation costs. Other components of net benefit cost will be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside the subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. The Company adopted ASU No. 2017-07 effective January 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2018-02. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows an entity to elect a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The guidance states that if an entity elects to reclassify the income tax effects, the amount of that reclassification should include the effect of the change in the tax rate on the gross deferred tax amounts and related valuation allowances, in addition to other income tax effects on items remaining in AOCI. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted in a period for which financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company early adopted ASU 2018-02 retrospectively to December 31, 2017, which resulted in the reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings of $892,000, reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity.

ASU No. 2018-03. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10), which clarifies certain aspects of the guidance issued in ASU No. 2016-01 including: the ability to irrevocably elect to change the measurement approach for equity securities measured using the practical expedient (at cost plus or minus observable transactions less impairment) to a fair value method in accordance with Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement; clarification that if an observable transaction occurs for such securities, the adjustment is as of the observable transaction date; clarification that the prospective transition approach for equity securities without a readily determinable fair value is meant only for instances in which the practical expedient is elected; and various other clarifications. ASU No. 2018-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2018. The Company adopted ASU No. 2018-03 during the third quarter 2018, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

ASU 2018-15: In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15: Intangibles-Goodwill and Other- Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force), which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Specifically, where a cloud computing arrangement includes a license to internal-use software, the software license is accounted for by the customer in accordance with Subtopic 350-40. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The amendments in this update allow both retrospective and prospective application. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2018-15 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2018-14. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, “Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.” This ASU makes minor changes to the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and/or other postretirement benefit plans. ASU 2018-14 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020; early adoption is permitted. As ASU 2018-14 only revises disclosure requirements, it will not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2018-07. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which is intended to align the accounting for share-based payment awards issued to employees and nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company's share-based payment awards to nonemployees have historically consisted only of grants made to the Company's Directors as compensation solely related to the individual's role as a Director. As such, the ASU is not expected to have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements, as share-based payment awards to nonemployee Directors are accounted for in the same manner as share-based payment awards for employees.

ASU No. 2017-08. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The amendments in this update require the premium on callable debt securities to be amortized to the earliest call date rather than the maturity date; however, securities held at a discount continue to be amortized to maturity. The amendments apply only to debt securities purchased at a premium that are callable at fixed prices and on preset dates. The amendments more closely align interest income recorded on debt securities held at a premium or discount with the economics of the underlying instrument. ASU No. 2017-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted, and is to be applied using the modified retrospective method. ASU No. 2017-08 is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

ASU No 2017-04. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The ASU simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill impairment by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., the current Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. As amended, the goodwill impairment test will consist of one step comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. A goodwill impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The ASU is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim and annual goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have an effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2016-13. In June 2016, the FASB issued No. ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires credit losses on most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments to be measured using an expected credit loss model (referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. Under this model, entities will estimate credit losses over the entire contractual term of the instrument from the date of initial recognition of that instrument. Current US GAAP is based on an incurred loss model that delays recognition of credit losses until it is probable the loss has been incurred. Accordingly, it is anticipated that credit losses will be recognized earlier under the CECL model than under the incurred loss model. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019; early adoption is permitted for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company continues to evaluate the potential effect of adoption of this pronouncement on its consolidated financial statements by identifying key interpretive issues, assessing its processes, portfolio segmentation, model development, and identifying the data and system requirements against the guidance to determine what modifications may be required. As part of the evaluation process, the Company has established a CECL cross-function working group that includes individuals from various functional areas to assess processes and has contracted with a third-party vendor to implement enhanced modeling techniques that incorporate the loss measurement requirements in these amendments as part of adopting the ASU. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 may result in an increase in the allowance for loan losses as a result of changing from an incurred loss model, which encompasses allowances for current known and inherent losses within the portfolio, to an expected losses model, which encompasses allowances for losses expected to be incurred over the life of the portfolio. The extent of the effect is indeterminable at this time as it will depend upon the nature and characteristics of the Company's loan portfolio at the adoption date, as well as economic conditions and forecasts at that date.

ASU No. 2016-02. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which is intended to increase transparency and comparability of accounting for lease transactions. The ASU will require all leases to be recognized on the balance sheet as lease assets and lease liabilities and will require both quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding key information about leasing arrangements. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company's operating leases relate primarily to office space and bank branches, currently not recognized on the balance sheet. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 and elected to apply the guidance as of the beginning of the period of adoption (January 1, 2019) and not restate comparative periods. The Company also elected certain optional practical expedients, which allow the Company to forego a reassessment of (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) the initial direct costs for any existing leases. The adoption of the new standard resulted in the Company recording a right-of-use asset and an additional lease liability on its consolidated balance sheet of approximately $43.4 million and $47.2 million, respectively, based on the present value of the expected remaining lease payments. The Company also anticipates additional disclosures to be provided on its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Adoption of the standard did not result in material changes to the Company's consolidated results of operations.

Fair Value Measurement

The following table presents the assets reported on the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair value as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, by level within the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:


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

•

Level 2 Inputs – Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (for example, interest rates, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlations or other means.


•	Level 3 Inputs – Significant unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The FASB Accounting Standards Topic for Financial Instruments requires disclosure of the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities, including those financial assets and financial liabilities that are not measured and reported at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis. The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis are discussed above. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of other financial assets and financial liabilities not already discussed above:


(a)	Cash, Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are short-term in nature with original maturities of three months or less; the carrying amount approximates fair value.


(b)	Debt Securities (Held-to-Maturity)

The estimated fair values for substantially all of our securities are obtained from an independent nationally recognized pricing service. The independent pricing service utilizes market prices of same or similar securities whenever such prices are available. Prices involving distressed sellers are not utilized in determining fair value. Where necessary, the independent third-party pricing service estimates fair value using models employing techniques such as discounted cash flow analyses. The assumptions used in these models typically include assumptions for interest rates, credit losses, and prepayments, utilizing market observable data where available.


(c)	Investments in Equity Securities at Net Asset Value Per Share

The Company uses net asset value as a practical expedient to record its investment in a private SBA Loan Fund since the shares in the fund are not publicly traded, do not have a readily determinable fair value and the net asset value per share is calculated in a manner consistent with the measurement principles of an investment company.


(d)	Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Stock

The fair value for FHLB of New York stock is its carrying value, since this is the amount for which it could be redeemed and there is no active market for this stock.


(e)	Loans (Held-for-Investment)

Fair values are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type such as originated and purchased, and further segregated by residential mortgage, construction, land, multifamily, commercial and consumer. Each loan category is further segmented into amortizing and non-amortizing and fixed and adjustable rate interest terms and by performing and non-performing categories. The fair value of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using current prepayment assumptions and current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities. This method of estimating fair value does not incorporate the exit price concept of fair value prescribed by the FASB ASC Topic for Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which would also consider adjustments for other factors such as liquidity and credit quality. The fair value would be affected significantly by these other factors.


(f)	Loans (Held-for-Sale)

Held-for-sale loans are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value, less costs to sell, and therefore fair value is equal to carrying value.


(g)	Deposits

The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as non-interest-bearing demand deposits, savings, NOW and money market accounts, is equal to the amount payable on demand. The fair value of certificates of deposit is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.


(h)	Commitments to Extend Credit and Standby Letters of Credit

The fair value of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties. For fixed-rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates. The fair value of off-balance-sheet commitments is insignificant and therefore not included in the following table.


(i)	Borrowings

The fair value of borrowings is estimated by discounting future cash flows based on rates currently available for debt with similar terms and remaining maturity.


(j)	Advance Payments by Borrowers for Taxes and Insurance

Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance have no stated maturity; the fair value is equal to the amount currently payable.