Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana, a Louisiana chartered corporation (the “Company” or “Home Federal Bancorp”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Home Federal Bank, a federally chartered stock savings bank (the “Bank”), along with its wholly owned subsidiary, Metro Financial Services, Inc.

The Bank is a federally chartered, stock savings and loan association and is subject to federal regulation by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the OCC).  The Bank provides financial services to individuals, corporate entities, and other organizations through the origination of loans and the acceptance of deposits in the form of passbook savings, certificates of deposit, and demand deposit accounts.  Services are provided by ten branch offices, six of which are located in Shreveport, Louisiana, two in Bossier City, one in Minden, Louisiana and one in Benton, Louisiana. The Bank’s home office is located in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Bank 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.

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Home Federal Bank.  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

In preparing consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated balance sheets and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the allowance for credit losses, deferred taxes, and those related to acquisition accounting.

Significant Group Concentrations of Credit Risk

Most of the Company’s activities are provided to customers of the Bank by ten branch offices, six of which are located in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana, two in Bossier City, Louisiana, one in Minden, Louisiana and one in Benton, Louisiana. The area served by the Bank is primarily the Shreveport-Bossier City-Minden combined statistical area; however, loan and deposit customers are found dispersed in a wider geographical area covering much of northwest Louisiana.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, balances due from banks, and federal funds sold, all of which have an original maturity date of ninety days or less.

At June 30, 2024 and 2023, cash and cash equivalents consisted of the following:

	2024		2023
	(In Thousands)
Cash on Hand	$	1,920	$	1,825
Demand Deposits at Other Institutions		13,328		17,965
Federal Funds Sold		19,700		4,975
Total	$	34,948	$	24,765

Securities

The discussion that follows describes the methodology for determining the allowance for credit loss (“ACL”) for investments under the ASU 2016-13 model that was adopted effective July 1, 2023. The allowance methodology for prior periods is disclosed in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Securities are being accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC 320’s, Investments, which requires the classification of securities into one of three categories: Trading, Available-for-Sale, or Held-to-Maturity.  Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates this classification periodically.

Investments in debt securities, in which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, are classified as held-to-maturity and carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of the related premiums and accretion of discounts, using the interest method.  Investments in debt securities that are not classified as held-to-maturity and marketable equity securities that have readily determinable fair values are classified as either trading or available-for-sale securities.

Securities that are acquired and held principally for the purpose of selling in the near term are classified as trading securities.  Investments in securities not classified as trading or held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale.  Trading account and available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value.  Unrealized holding gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings, while net unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities are excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income.

The Company held no trading securities as of June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the term of the securities. Securities are periodically reviewed for impairment. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company evaluates  the securities to determine whether the decline in the fair value below amortized cost basis (impairment) is due to credit or non-credit related factors.  Any impairment of available for sale investments that is not credit related is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes.  For available for sale investments, credit related impairment is recognized as an ACL on the balance sheet, limited to the amount by which the amortized cost basis exceeds to the fair value, with a corresponding adjustment to earnings. For held to maturity investments, credit related impairment is recognized as an ACL on the balance sheet, for the entire amount of credit loss, with a corresponding adjustment to earnings.   Both the ACL and the adjustment to net income may be reversed if conditions change.  However, if the Company intends to sell an impaired available for sale security, or more likely than not will be required to sell such security before recovering the amortized cost basis, the entire impairment amount must be recognized in earnings with a corresponding adjustment to the security’s amortized cost basis.  Because the security’s amortized cost basis is adjusted to fair value, there is no ACL in such situation.  Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

In evaluating securities in unrealized loss positions for impairment, and the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell such securities, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, whether the securities are issued by federal governments or its agencies, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies have occurred, and the results of reviews of the issuer’s financial conditions, among other factors.

The Bank has invested in Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock, and other similar correspondent banks, which are reflected as other securities at cost in these consolidated financial statements. As a member of the FHLB System, the Bank is required to purchase and maintain stock in an amount determined by the FHLB. The FHLB stock is redeemable at par value at the discretion of the FHLB. These securities are periodically evaluated for impairment based on the ultimate recoverability of par value.

Acquisition Accounting

Acquisitions are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The acquisition method of accounting requires the Company as the acquirer to recognize the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, as well as recognize goodwill. If the purchase price over the sum of the estimated fair values of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired less the estimated fair value of the liabilities assumed in an acquisition, goodwill is recognized. The Company records provisional amounts of fair value at the time of acquisition. The provisional fair values are subject to modification for up to one year after the acquisition.

Loans Held-for-Sale

Loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value in the aggregate.  Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income.

Loans Receivable

Loans receivable are stated at unpaid principal balances, less allowances for loan losses and unamortized deferred loan fees.  Net non-refundable fees (loan origination fees, commitment fees, discount points) and costs associated with lending activities are being deferred and subsequently amortized into income as an adjustment of yield on the related interest earning assets using the interest method.  Interest income on contractual loans receivable is recognized on the accrual method.  Unearned discounts are deferred and amortized on the interest method over the life of the loan.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The discussion that follows describes the methodology for determining the ACL under the new current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model that was implemented effective July 1, 2023 in accordance with ASU No. 2016-13 and subsequent ASUs issued to amend ASC Topic 326. The allowance methodology for prior periods is disclosed in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company has elected to exclude accrued interest receivable from the measurement of its ACL. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any outstanding accrued interest is reversed against interest income.

The ACL for loans is an estimate of the expected losses to be realized over the life of the loans in the portfolio. The ACL is determined for two distinct categories of loans: 1) loans evaluated collectively for expected credit losses and 2) loans evaluated individually for expected credit losses. The ACL also includes certain qualitative adjustments to the ASU 2016-13 model.

Loans Evaluated Collectively. Homogeneous loans are evaluated collectively for expected credit losses. The loan pools/segments with similar risk characteristics were determined by Call Report codes.

Loans Evaluated Individually. Loans evaluated individually for expected credit losses include loans on non-accrual status.

Management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information from internal and external sources relating to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Adjustments to historical loss information are made to incorporate our reasonable and supportable forecast of future losses at the portfolio segment level, as well as any necessary qualitative adjustments, including, but not limited to, changes in current and expected future economic conditions, changes in industry experience and industry loan concentrations, changes in the volume and severity of nonperforming assets, changes in lending policies and personnel and changes in the competitive and regulatory environment of the banking industry. Loans that do not share similar risk characteristics are individually evaluated and are excluded from the pooled loan analysis.

Loans evaluated individually may have specific allocations assigned if the measured value of the loan using one of the noted techniques is less than its current carrying value. For loans measured using the fair value of collateral, if the analysis determines that sufficient collateral value would be available for repayment of the debt, then no allocations would be assigned to those loans. Collateral could be in the form of real estate or business assets, such as accounts receivable or inventory, in the case of commercial and industrial loans. Commercial and industrial loans may also be secured by real estate.

Management regularly reviews loans in the portfolio to assess credit quality indicators and to determine appropriate loan classification. For all loans, an internal risk rating process is used. The Company believes that internal risk ratings are the most relevant credit quality indicator for these types of loans. Assigning risk ratings involves judgment. Risk ratings may be changed based on ongoing monitoring procedures, or if specific loan review assessments identify a deterioration or an improvement in the loan.

The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings:

Pass - Loans classified as pass are well protected by the current net worth or paying capacity of the obligor or by the fair value, less costs to acquire and sell the underlying collateral in a timely manner.

Pass Watch - Loans are considered marginal, meaning some weakness has been identified which could cause future impairment of repayment. However, these relationships are currently protected from any apparent loss by collateral and are still considered a pass

Special Mention - Loans identified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management’s close attention.  If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the Bank’s credit position at some future date.

Substandard - Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and payment capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any.  Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt.  They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Doubtful - Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

Loss - This classification includes those loans which are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as loans is not warranted.  Even though partial recovery may be possible in the future, it is not practical or desirable to defer writing off these basically worthless loans.  Accordingly, these loans are charged-off before period end.

The allocation of the ACL is reviewed to evaluate its appropriateness in relation to the overall risk profile of the loan portfolio. The Company considers risk factors such as: local and national economic conditions; trends in delinquencies and non-accrual loans; the diversity of borrower industry types; and the composition of the portfolio by loan type.

Qualitative and Other Adjustments to Allowance for Credit Losses: In addition to the quantitative credit loss estimates for loans evaluated collectively, qualitative factors that may not be fully captured in the quantitative results are also evaluated. These include changes in lending policy, the nature and volume of the portfolio, overall business conditions in the economy, credit concentrations, competition, model imprecision, and legal and regulatory requirements. Qualitative adjustments are judgmental and are based on Management’s knowledge of the portfolio and the markets in which the Company operates. Qualitative adjustments are evaluated and approved on a quarterly basis. Additionally, the ACL includes other allowance categories that are not directly incorporated in the quantitative results. These include but are not limited to loans-in-process, trade acceptances and overdrafts.

Off Balance Sheet Credit Exposures. The ACL for off balance sheet credit exposures is recorded in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. This ACL represents management’s estimate of expected losses in its unfunded loan commitments and other off balance sheet credit exposures, such as letters of credit and credit recourse on sold residential mortgage loans. The allowance for credit losses specific to unfunded commitments is determined by estimating future draws and applying the expected loss rates on those draws. Future draws are based on historical averages of utilization rates (i.e., the likelihood of draws taken). The ACL for off balance sheet credit exposures is increased or decreased by charges or reductions to expense, through the provision for credit losses. In addition to the ACL on loans held for investment, CECL requires a balance sheet liability for unfunded commitments, which is recognized if both of the following conditions are met: (1) the Company has a present contractual obligation to extend credit; and (2) the obligation is not unconditionally cancellable by the Company. Based on the language within the standard loan documents prepared for each HFB commitment, all unfunded commitments are considered unconditionally cancellable and thus no CECL ACL is allocated for the quarter.

Off-Balance Sheet Credit Related Financial Instruments

In the ordinary course of business, the Bank has entered into commitments to extend credit.  Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Real Estate Owned

Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held-for-sale and are carried at the lower of cost or current fair value minus estimated cost to sell as of the date of foreclosure. Cost is defined as the lower of the fair value of the property or the recorded investment in the loan. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management, and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Premises and Equipment

Land is carried at cost.  Buildings and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.  Estimated useful lives are as follows:

Buildings and Improvements	10 - 40 Years
Furniture and Equipment	3 - 10 Years

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired. Goodwill has an indefinite useful life and is evaluated for impairment annually, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

Core Deposit Intangible

Core deposit intangibles represent the estimated value of long-term deposit relationships acquired in business combinations. The accumulated amortization of the Core deposit intangible is $508,000, and the carrying value as of June 30, 2024 was $1.2 million, to be expensed over 103 months. The Company’s policy is to amortize these intangibles on an accelerated basis over their estimated useful life, which the estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed for reasonableness. Core deposit intangibles are tested for impairment if events and circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable from future cash flows.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company has purchased life insurance contracts on the lives of certain key employees.  The Bank is the beneficiary of these policies.  These contracts are reported at their cash surrender value and changes in the cash surrender value are included in non-interest income.

Income Taxes

The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary file a consolidated federal income tax return on a fiscal year basis.  Each entity will pay its pro-rata share of income taxes in accordance with a written tax-sharing agreement.

The Company accounts for income taxes on the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the difference between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes, computed using enacted tax rates.  A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the expected amount most likely to be realized.  Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of a sufficient level of future taxable income and recoverable taxes paid in prior years.  Current taxes are measured by applying the provisions of enacted tax laws to taxable income to determine the amount of taxes receivable or payable.

The Company follows the provisions of the Income Taxes Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740.  ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and also provides guidance on various related matters such as derecognition, interest, penalties, and disclosures required.  The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

While the Bank is exempt from Louisiana income tax, it is subject to the Louisiana Ad Valorem Tax, commonly referred to as the Louisiana Shares Tax, which is based on stockholders’ equity and net income.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share are computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.

Non-Direct Response Advertising

The Company expenses all advertising costs, except for direct-response advertising, as incurred.  Non-direct response advertising costs were $360,000 and $340,000 for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

In the event the Company incurs expense for material direct-response advertising, it will be amortized over the estimated benefit period.  Direct-response advertising consists of advertising whose primary purpose is to elicit sales to customers who could be shown to have responded specifically to the advertising and results in probable future benefits.  For the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not incur any amount of direct-response advertising.

Stock-Based Compensation

GAAP requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and recognition and retention share awards, to be recognized as expense in the statement of operations based on their fair values.  The amount of compensation is measured at the fair value of the options or recognition and retention share awards when granted, and this cost is expensed over the required service period, which is normally the vesting period of the options or recognition and retention awards.  This guidance applies to awards granted or modified after January 1, 2006, or any unvested awards outstanding prior to that date.

Reclassification

Certain financial statement balances included in the prior year consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains, and losses be included in net income.  Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income (loss).

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), included in stockholders’ equity, are as follows:

	2024			2023
	(In Thousands)
Net Unrealized Loss on Debt Securities Available-for-Sale	$	(3,310	)	$	(3,359	)
Tax Effect		695			705
Net-of-Tax Amount	$	(2,615	)	$	(2,654	)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 which requires earlier measurement of credit losses and enhances disclosures. The main objective of ASU 2016-13 is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The Company formed a cross-functional working group, who have worked through an implementation plan which includes assessment, review and documentation of various aspects of the implementation plan. After significant evaluation of approved methodologies, the Company determined to utilize a third-party vendor model, in which a weighted average remaining maturity methodology was appropriate for the size and complexity of the Company.  ASU 2016-13 is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning on July 1, 2023. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The adoption of the ASU 2016-13 resulted in an increase in the allowance for credit 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 loss model, which encompasses allowances for losses expected to be incurred over the life of the portfolio. Upon adoption on July 1, 2023, the Company recorded an increase in the allowance for credit losses of $359,000 and decrease to retained earnings of $189,000. Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, acquired loans are segregated between those purchased with credit deterioration (“PCD”) and those that are not (“non-PCD”). Loans considered PCD include those individual loans (or groups of loans with similar risk characteristics) that as of the date of acquisition are assessed as having experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. The assessment of what is more-than-insignificant credit deterioration since origination considers information including, but not limited to, financial assets that are delinquent, on nonaccrual and/or otherwise adversely risk rated as of the acquisition date, those that have been downgraded since origination, and those for which, after origination, credit spreads have widened beyond the threshold specified in policy. The Company bifurcates the fair value discount between the credit and noncredit components and records an allowance for credit losses for PCD loans by adding the credit portion of the fair value discount to the initial amortized cost basis and increasing the allowance for credit losses at the date of acquisition. Any noncredit discount or premium resulting from acquiring loans with credit deterioration is allocated to each individual asset. All non-PCD loans acquired are recorded at the estimated fair value of the loan at acquisition, with the estimated allowance for credit loss recorded as a provision for credit losses through earnings in the period in which the acquisition has occurred. The noncredit discount or premium for PCD loans and full discount for non-PCD loans will be accreted to interest income using the interest method based on the effective interest rate at the acquisition date. Under the transition provisions of ASU 2016-13, the Company classified all purchased credit impaired loans (“PCI”) previously accounted for under Financial Accounting Standard Subtopic 310-30 to be classified as PCD, without reassessing whether the financial assets meet the criteria of PCD as of the date of adoption. The application of these provisions resulted in an adjustment to the amortized cost basis of the financial asset to reflect the addition of the allowance for credit losses at the date of adoption. The Company elected not to maintain pools of loans accounted for under Subtopic 310-30 at adoption. The Company was also not required to reassess whether modifications to individual acquired financial assets accounted for in pools were troubled debt restructurings as of the date of adoption. The noncredit discount, after the adjustment for the allowance for credit losses, is accreted to interest income using the interest method based on the effective interest rate determined at the adoption date.

Accounting Standards Update 2022-02 (“ASU 2022-02”), “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures.” In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-02 which eliminates the TDR recognition and measurement guidance and instead requires that an entity evaluate whether the modification represents a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan. ASU 2022-02 also enhances existing disclosure requirements and introduces new requirements related to certain modifications of receivables made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. For public business entities, these amendments require that an entity disclose current period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investment in leases within the scope of Subtopic 326-20. Gross write-off information must be included in the vintage disclosures required for public business entities in accordance with paragraph 326-20-50-6, which requires that an entity disclose the amortized cost basis of financing receivables by credit quality indicator and class of financing receivable by year of origination. ASU 2022-02 is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning on July 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2022-02 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements other than the required disclosures. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 using the weighted average maturity method (WARM) for all financial assets measured at amortized cost, net of investments in leases and off balance sheet credit exposures. Results for reporting periods beginning after July 1, 2023 are presented under ASU 2016-13, while prior period results are reported in accordance with the previously applicable incurred loss methodology.