Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations Chemical Financial Corporation (Corporation) operates in a single operating segment — commercial banking. The Corporation is a financial holding company, headquartered in Midland, Michigan, that operates through one commercial bank, Chemical Bank. The Bank of Holland and The Bank of Northern Michigan were acquired in the acquisition of Lake Michigan Financial Corporation (Lake Michigan) on May 31, 2015 and were consolidated with and into Chemical Bank during the fourth quarter of 2015. Monarch Community Bank was acquired in the acquisition of Monarch Community Bancorp, Inc. (Monarch) on April 1, 2015 and was consolidated with and into Chemical Bank during the second quarter of 2015. Chemical Bank operates within the State of Michigan as a state-chartered commercial bank. Chemical Bank operates through an internal organizational structure of four regional banking units and offers a full range of traditional banking and fiduciary products and services to the residents and business customers in the bank's geographical market areas. The products and services offered by the regional banking units, through branch banking offices, are generally consistent throughout the Corporation, as is the pricing of those products and services. The marketing of products and services throughout the Corporation's regional banking units is generally uniform, as many of the markets served by the regional banking units overlap. The distribution of products and services is uniform throughout the Corporation's regional banking units and is achieved primarily through retail branch banking offices, automated teller machines and electronically accessed banking products. The Corporation's primary sources of revenue are from its loan products and investment securities, service charges and fees from customer deposit accounts and wealth management revenue.
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation	Accounting Standards Codification The Financial Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) became effective on July 1, 2009. At that date, the ASC became FASB's officially recognized source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) applicable to all public and non-public non-governmental entities, superseding existing FASB, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) and related literature. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. All other accounting literature is considered non-authoritative. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation and its subsidiaries conform to GAAP, SEC rules and interpretive releases and prevailing practices within the banking industry. The consolidated financial statements of the Corporation include the accounts of the Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant income and expenses are recorded on the accrual basis. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates Management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the determination of the allowance for loan losses, expected cash flows from acquired loans, fair value amounts related to business combinations, pension expense, income taxes, goodwill impairment and those assets that require fair value measurement. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Business Combinations	Business Combinations Pursuant to the guidance of ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (ASC 805), the Corporation recognizes assets acquired, including identified intangible assets, and the liabilities assumed in acquisitions at their fair values as of the acquisition date, with the acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs expensed in the period incurred. On May 31, 2015, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding stock of Lake Michigan for total consideration of $187.4 million, which included stock consideration of $132.9 million and cash consideration of $54.5 million. The Corporation recorded $102 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition, which represented the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Additionally, the Corporation recorded $8.6 million of core deposit and other intangible assets in conjunction with the acquisition. On April 1, 2015, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding stock of Monarch in an all-stock transaction valued at $27.2 million. The Corporation recorded $5.3 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition, which represented the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Additionally, the Corporation recorded $1.9 million of core deposit intangible assets in conjunction with the acquisition. On October 31, 2014, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding stock of Northwestern Bancorp, Inc. (Northwestern) for total cash consideration of $121.0 million. The Corporation recorded $60.3 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition, which represented the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Additionally, the Corporation recorded $12.9 million of core deposit intangible assets in conjunction with the acquisition. On December 7, 2012, Chemical Bank acquired 21 branches from Independent Bank, a subsidiary of Independent Bank Corporation (branch acquisition transaction). In connection with the branch acquisition transaction, the Corporation recorded $6.8 million of goodwill, which represented the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired, and $5.6 million of core deposit intangible assets. On April 30, 2010, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding stock of O.A.K. Financial Corporation (OAK) for total consideration of $83.7 million. The Corporation recorded $43.5 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition, which represented the purchase price over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. Additionally, the Corporation recorded $9.8 million of other intangible assets as a result of the OAK acquisition attributable to core deposits, mortgage servicing rights and non-compete agreements acquired. See Note 2 for further information regarding the Corporation's mergers and acquisitions, including its pending merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc. (Talmer). ASC 805 affords a measurement period beyond the acquisition date that allows the Corporation the opportunity to finalize the acquisition accounting in the event that new information is identified that existed as of the acquisition date but was not known by the Corporation at that time. The Corporation anticipates that measurement period adjustments may arise from adjustments to the fair values of assets and liabilities recognized at the acquisition date for Lake Michigan and Monarch as additional information is obtained, such as appraisals of collateral securing loans and other borrower information. In the event that a measurement period adjustment is identified, the Corporation will recognize the adjustment as part of its acquisition accounting, which may result in an adjustment to goodwill being recorded in the period the adjustment was identified.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and interest-bearing deposits held at the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB).
Investment Securities	Investment Securities Investment securities include investments in debt, trust preferred and preferred stock securities. Investment securities are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 320, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities (ASC 320), which requires investments to be classified within one of three categories (trading, held-to-maturity or available-for-sale). The Corporation held no trading investment securities at December 31, 2015 or 2014. Designation as an investment security held-to-maturity is based on the Corporation's intent and ability to hold the security to maturity. Investment securities held-to-maturity are stated at cost, adjusted for purchase price premiums and discounts. Investment securities that are not held-to-maturity are accounted for as securities available-for-sale, and are stated at estimated fair value, with the aggregate unrealized gains and losses, not deemed other-than-temporary, classified as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investment securities and other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) charges are determined using the specific identification method and are included within noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income. Premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized over the estimated lives of the related investment securities based on the effective interest yield method and are included in interest income in the consolidated statements of income. The Corporation assesses equity and debt securities that have fair values below amortized cost basis to determine whether declines (impairment) are other-than-temporary. If the Corporation intends to sell an impaired security or it is more-likely-than-not that the Corporation will be required to sell an impaired security prior to the recovery of its amortized cost, an OTTI write-down is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the security's amortized cost basis and its fair value. If the Corporation does not intend to sell an impaired security and it is not more-likely-than-not that the Corporation would be required to sell an impaired security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis, then the recognition of the impairment is bifurcated if a credit loss is deemed to have occurred. For a security where the impairment is bifurcated, the impairment is separated into an amount representing the credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and an amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. In assessing whether OTTI exists, management considers, among other things, (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (iii) the potential for impairments in an entire industry or sub-sector and (iv) the potential for impairments in certain economically depressed geographical locations.
Nonmarketable Equity Securities	Nonmarketable Equity Securities The Corporation is required to hold non-marketable equity securities, comprised of Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLB) and FRB stock, as a condition of membership. These securities are accounted for at cost, which equals par or redemption value. These securities do not have a readily determinable fair value as their ownership is restricted and there is no market for these securities. These securities can only be redeemed or sold at their par value and only to the respective issuing government supported institution or to another member institution. FHLB stock can only be redeemed upon giving five-years written notice and FRB stock can only be redeemed upon giving six months written notice, with no more than 25% eligible for redemption in any calendar year. The Corporation records these non-marketable equity securities as a component of other assets and they are periodically evaluated for impairment. Management considers these non-marketable equity securities to be long-term investments. Accordingly, when evaluating these securities for impairment, management considers the ultimate recoverability of the par value rather than recognizing temporary declines in value, if applicable. The Corporation's ownership of FHLB stock totaled $23.9 million at December 31, 2015 and $19.0 million at December 31, 2014. The Corporation's ownership of FRB stock totaled $13.0 million at December 31, 2015 and $8.4 million at December 31, 2014.
Originated Loans	Originated Loans Originated loans include all of the Corporation's portfolio loans, excluding loans acquired on May 31, 2015 in the acquisition of Lake Michigan, on April 1, 2015 in the acquisition of Monarch, on October 31, 2014 in the acquisition of Northwestern and on April 30, 2010 in the acquisition of OAK. Originated loans also include loans acquired as part of the branch acquisition transaction on December 7, 2012, as these loans were performing and were considered high-quality loans in accordance with the Corporation's credit underwriting standards at that date. Originated loans are held for investment purposes and are stated at their principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income, charge-offs and unamortized deferred fees and costs. Loan interest income is recognized on the accrual basis. Deferred loan fees and costs are amortized over the loan term based on the level-yield method. Net loan commitment fees are deferred and amortized into fee income on a straight-line basis over the commitment period. The past due status of a loan is based on the loan's contractual terms. A loan is placed in nonaccrual status (accrual of interest is discontinued) when principal or interest is past due 90 days or more (except for a loan that is secured by residential real estate, which is transferred to nonaccrual status at 120 days past due), unless the loan is both well-secured and in the process of collection, or earlier when, in the opinion of management, there is sufficient reason to doubt the collectibility of principal or interest. Interest previously accrued, but not collected, is reversed and charged against interest income at the time the loan is placed in nonaccrual status. Subsequent receipts of interest while a loan is in nonaccrual status are recorded as a reduction of principal. Loans are returned to accrual status when principal and interest payments are brought current, payments have been received consistently for a period of time (generally six months) and collectibility is no longer in doubt.
Loans Acquired in a Business Combination	Loans Acquired in a Business Combination Loans acquired in a business combination (acquired loans) consist of loans acquired on May 31, 2015 in the acquisition of Lake Michigan, on April 1, 2015 in the acquisition of Monarch, on October 31, 2014 in the acquisition of Northwestern and on April 30, 2010 in the acquisition of OAK. Acquired loans were recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition, without a carryover of the associated allowance for loan losses related to these loans, through a fair value discount that was, in part, attributable to deterioration in credit quality. The estimate of expected credit losses was determined based on due diligence performed by executive and senior officers of the Corporation, with assistance from third-party consultants. The fair value discount was recorded as a reduction of the acquired loans' outstanding principal balances in the consolidated statement of financial position at the acquisition date. The Corporation accounts for acquired loans, which are recorded at fair value at acquisition, in accordance with ASC Topic 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality (ASC 310-30). Under the provisions of ASC 310-30, the Corporation aggregated acquired loans with an outstanding principal balance at the acquisition date of $63 million for the Lake Michigan transaction, $9 million for the Monarch transaction, $46 million for the Northwestern transaction and $105 million for the OAK transaction that were determined to be loans with deteriorated credit quality and, therefore, met the scope criteria set forth in ASC 310-30. Further, the Corporation understands, as outlined in the AICPA's open letter to the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC dated December 18, 2009 and pending further standard setting, that for acquired loans that do not meet the scope criteria of ASC 310-30, a company may elect to account for such acquired loans pursuant to the provisions of either ASC Topic 310-20, Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs, or ASC 310-30. The Corporation elected to apply ASC 310-30, by analogy, to acquired loans that were determined not to have deteriorated credit quality with an outstanding principal balance at the acquisition date of $947 million for the Lake Michigan transaction, $120 million for the Monarch transaction, $461 million for the Northwestern transaction and $578 million for the OAK transaction and thus follows the accounting and disclosure guidance of ASC 310-30 for these loans. Accordingly, the Corporation applied ASC 310-30 to the entire loan portfolio acquired with a total outstanding principal balance at the acquisition date of $1.01 billion for the Lake Michigan transaction, $129 million for the Monarch transaction, $507 million for the Northwestern transaction and $683 million for the OAK transaction. None of the acquired loans were classified as debt securities. ASC 310-30 allows investors to aggregate acquired loans into loan pools that have common risk characteristics and thereby use a composite interest rate and expectation of cash flows expected to be collected for the loan pools. Under the provisions of ASC 310-30, the Corporation aggregated acquired loans into 2 pools in the acquisition of Lake Michigan, 2 pools in the acquisition of Monarch, 4 pools in the acquisition of Northwestern and 14 pools in the acquisition of OAK based upon common risk characteristics, including types of loans, commercial type loans with similar risk grades and whether loans were performing or nonperforming. A pool is considered a single unit of accounting for the purposes of applying the guidance prescribed in ASC 310-30. A loan will be removed from a pool of acquired loans only if the loan is sold, foreclosed, paid off or written off, and will be removed from the pool at the carrying value. If an individual loan is removed from a pool of loans, the difference between its relative carrying amount and the cash, fair value of the collateral, or other assets received would not affect the effective yield used to recognize the accretable difference on the remaining pool. The Corporation estimated the cash flows expected to be collected over the life of the pools of loans at acquisition and estimates expected cash flows quarterly thereafter, based on a set of assumptions including expectations as to default rates, prepayment rates and loss severities. The Corporation must make numerous assumptions, interpretations and judgments using internal and third-party credit quality information to determine whether it is probable that the Corporation will be able to collect all contractually required payments. This is a point in time assessment and inherently subjective due to the nature of the available information and judgment involved. The calculation of the fair value of the acquired loan pools entails estimating the amount and timing of cash flows attributable to both principal and interest expected to be collected on such loan pools and then discounting those cash flows at market interest rates. The excess of a loan pool's expected cash flows at the acquisition date over its estimated fair value is referred to as the "accretable yield," which is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loan on a level-yield basis. The difference between a loan pool's contractually required principal and interest payments at the acquisition date and the cash flows expected to be collected at the acquisition date is referred to as the "nonaccretable difference," which includes an estimate of future credit losses expected to be incurred over the estimated life of the loan pool and interest payments that are not expected to be collected. Decreases to the expected cash flows in each loan pool in subsequent periods will require the Corporation to record a provision for loan losses. Improvements in expected cash flows in each loan pool in subsequent periods will result in reversing a portion of the nonaccretable difference, which is then classified as part of the accretable yield and subsequently recognized into interest income over the estimated remaining life of the loan pool.
Loans Modified Under Troubled Debt Restructurings	Loans Modified Under Troubled Debt Restructurings Loans modified under troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) involve granting a concession to a borrower who is experiencing financial difficulty. Concessions generally include modifications to original loan terms, including changes to a loan's payment schedule or interest rate, which generally would not otherwise be considered. The Corporation's TDRs include performing and nonperforming TDRs, which consist of originated loans that continue to accrue interest at the loan's original interest rate as the Corporation expects to collect the remaining principal and interest on the loan, and nonaccrual TDRs, which include originated loans that are in a nonaccrual status and are no longer accruing interest, as the Corporation does not expect to collect the full amount of principal and interest owed from the borrower on these loans. At the time of modification (except for loans on nonaccrual status), a TDR is classified as a nonperforming TDR until a six-month payment history of principal and interest payments, in accordance with the terms of the loan modification, is sustained, at which time the Corporation moves the loan to a performing status (performing TDR). If the Corporation does not expect to collect all principal and interest on the loan, the modified loan is classified as a nonaccrual TDR. All TDRs are accounted for as impaired loans and are included in the Corporation's analysis of the allowance for loan losses. A TDR that has been renewed for a borrower who is no longer experiencing financial difficulty and which yields a market rate of interest at the time of a renewal is no longer considered to be a TDR. Loans in the Corporation's commercial loan portfolio (comprised of commercial, commercial real estate, real estate construction and land development loans) that meet the definition of a TDR generally consist of loans where the Corporation has allowed borrowers to defer scheduled principal payments and make interest-only payments for a specified period of time at the stated interest rate of the original loan agreement or reduced payments due to a moderate extension of the loan's contractual term. If the Corporation does not expect to collect all principal and interest on the loan, the modified loan is classified as a nonaccrual TDR. If the Corporation does not expect to incur a loss on the loan based on its assessment of the borrowers' expected cash flows, as the pre- and post-modification effective yields are approximately the same, the loan is classified as a nonperforming TDR until a six-month payment history is sustained, at which time the loan is classified as a performing TDR. Since no loss is expected to be incurred on these loans, no additional provision for loan losses has been recognized related to these loans, and these loans accrue interest at their contractual interest rate. These loans are individually evaluated for impairment and transferred to nonaccrual status if they become 90 days past due as to principal or interest payments or if it is probable that any remaining principal and interest payments due on the loan will not be collected in accordance with the modified terms of the loan. Loans in the Corporation's consumer loan portfolio (comprised of residential mortgage, consumer installment and home equity loans) that meet the definition of a performing or nonperforming TDR generally consist of residential mortgage loans that include a concession that reduces a borrower's monthly payments by decreasing the interest rate charged on the loan for a specified period of time (generally 24 months) under a formal modification agreement. The Corporation recognizes an additional provision for loan losses related to impairment on these loans on an individual basis based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate. These loans continue to accrue interest at their effective interest rate, which consists of contractual interest under the terms of the modification agreement in addition to an adjustment for the accretion of computed impairment. These loans are moved to nonaccrual status if they become 90 days past due as to principal or interest payments, or sooner if conditions warrant.
Impaired Loans	Impaired Loans A loan is defined to be impaired when it is probable that payment of principal and interest will not be paid in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans include nonaccrual loans (including nonaccrual TDRs), performing and nonperforming TDRs and acquired loans that were not performing in accordance with original contractual terms. Impaired loans are accounted for at the lower of the present value of expected cash flows discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate or the estimated fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral dependent. When the present value of expected cash flows or the fair value of collateral of an impaired loan in the originated loan portfolio is less than the amount of unpaid principal outstanding on the loan, the principal balance of the loan is reduced to its carrying value through either an allocation of the allowance for loan losses or a partial charge-off of the loan balance.
Nonperforming Loans	Nonperforming Loans Nonperforming loans are comprised of loans for which the accrual of interest has been discontinued (nonaccrual loans, including nonaccrual TDRs), accruing originated loans contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest or principal payments and nonperforming TDRs. Acquired loans that were classified as nonperforming loans prior to being acquired and acquired loans that are not performing in accordance with contractual terms subsequent to acquisition are not classified as nonperforming loans subsequent to acquisition because the loans are recorded in pools at net realizable value based on the principal and interest the Corporation expects to collect on such loans.
Allowance for Loan Losses	Allowance for Loan Losses The allowance for loan losses (allowance) is presented as a reserve against loans. The allowance represents management's assessment of probable loan losses inherent in the Corporation's loan portfolio. Management's evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on a continuing review of the loan portfolio, actual loan loss experience, the underlying value of the collateral, risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, the level and composition of nonperforming loans, the financial condition of the borrowers, the balance of the loan portfolio, loan growth, economic conditions, employment levels in the Corporation's local markets and special factors affecting specific business sectors. The Corporation maintains formal policies and procedures to monitor and control credit risk. Management evaluates the allowance on a quarterly basis in an effort to ensure the level is appropriate to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The allowance provides for probable losses that have been identified with specific customer relationships and for probable losses believed to be incurred in the remainder of the originated loan portfolio, but that have not been specifically identified. The Corporation utilizes its own loss experience to estimate inherent losses on loans. Internal risk ratings are assigned to each loan in the commercial loan portfolio (commercial, commercial real estate, real estate construction and land development loans) at the time of origination and are subject to subsequent periodic reviews by senior management. The Corporation performs a detailed credit quality review quarterly on all loans greater than $0.25 million that have deteriorated below certain levels of credit risk, and may allocate a specific portion of the allowance to such loans based upon this review. A portion of the allowance is allocated to the remaining loans by applying projected loss ratios, based on numerous factors. Projected loss ratios incorporate factors such as recent charge-off experience, trends with respect to adversely risk-rated loans in the commercial loan portfolio, trends with respect to past due and nonaccrual loans, changes in economic conditions and trends, changes in the value of underlying collateral and other credit risk factors. This evaluation involves a high degree of uncertainty. In determining the allowance and the related provision for loan losses, the Corporation considers four principal elements: (i) valuation allowances based upon probable losses identified during the review of impaired loans in the commercial loan portfolio, (ii) reserves established for adversely-rated loans in the commercial loan portfolio and nonaccrual residential mortgage, consumer installment and home equity loans based on loan loss experience of other adversely-rated loans, (iii) reserves, by loan classes, on all other loans based principally on a five-year historical loan loss experience, loan loss trends and giving consideration to estimated loss emergence periods and (iv) a reserve for qualitative factors that take into consideration risks inherent in the originated loan portfolio that differ from historical loan loss experience. The first element reflects the Corporation's estimate of probable losses based upon the systematic review of individually impaired loans in the originated commercial loan portfolio. These estimates are based upon a number of objective factors, such as payment history, financial condition of the borrower and discounted collateral exposure. The Corporation measures the investment in an impaired loan based on one of three methods: the loan's observable market price; the fair value of the collateral; or the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. Loans in the commercial loan portfolio that were in nonaccrual status (including nonaccrual TDRs) were valued based on the fair value of the collateral securing the loan, while performing and nonperforming TDRs in the commercial loan portfolio were valued based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. It is the Corporation's general policy to obtain new appraisals at least annually on nonaccrual loans in the commercial loan portfolio and at least every other year on nonperforming TDRs in the commercial loan portfolio that are primarily secured by real estate and have a loan balance of greater than $0.25 million. When the Corporation determines that the fair value of the collateral is less than the carrying value of an impaired loan on nonaccrual status and a portion is deemed not collectible, the portion of the impairment that is deemed not collectible is charged off (confirmed loss) and deducted from the allowance. The remaining carrying value of the impaired loan is classified as a nonperforming loan. When the Corporation determines that the fair value of the collateral is less than the carrying value of an impaired loan but believes it is probable it will recover this impairment, the Corporation establishes a valuation allowance for such impairment. The second element reflects the application of the Corporation's loan grade risk rating system. This risk rating system is similar to those employed by state and federal banking regulators. Loans in the commercial loan portfolio that are risk rated below a certain predetermined risk grade and nonaccrual residential mortgage, consumer installment and home equity loans are assigned a loss allocation factor that is based upon a historical analysis of actual loan losses incurred and a valuation of the type of collateral securing the loans. The third element is determined by assigning allocations based principally upon a weighted five-year average of loss experience for each class of loan with higher weighting placed on the most recent years. Average losses may be adjusted based on current loan loss experience, delinquency trends, estimated loss emergence periods and other environmental factors. This component considers the lagging impact of historical charge-off ratios in periods where future loan charge-offs are expected to increase or decrease, trends in delinquencies and nonaccrual loans, the changing portfolio mix in terms of collateral, average loan balance, loan growth and the degree of seasoning in the various loan portfolios. Loan loss analyses are performed quarterly and certain inputs and parameters are updated as necessary to reflect the current credit environment. The fourth element is based on qualitative factors that cannot be associated with a specific credit or loan class and reflects an attempt to ensure that the overall allowance appropriately reflects additional losses that are inherent in the Corporation's loan portfolio. Determination of the probable losses inherent in the portfolio, which are not necessarily captured by the allocation methodology discussed above, involves the exercise of judgment. This qualitative portion of the allowance is judgmentally determined and generally serves to compensate for the uncertainty in estimating inherent losses, particularly in times of changing economic conditions, and also considers the inherent judgment associated with risk rating commercial loans. The qualitative portion of the allowance also takes into consideration, among other things, economic conditions within the State of Michigan and nationwide, including unemployment levels, industry-wide and Corporation specific loan delinquency rates, changes in composition of and growth in the Corporation's loan portfolio, changing commercial and residential real estate values and inventory levels of residential lots, condominiums and single family houses held for sale. Although the Corporation allocates portions of the allowance to specific loans and loan types, the entire allowance attributable to originated loans is available for any loan losses that occur in the originated portfolio. Loans that are deemed not collectible are charged off and reduce the allowance. The provision for loan losses and recoveries on loans previously charged off increase the allowance. Collection efforts may continue and recoveries may occur after a loan is charged off. Acquired loans are aggregated into pools based upon common risk characteristics. An allowance may be recorded related to an acquired loan pool if it experiences a decrease in expected cash flows, as compared to those projected at the acquisition date. On a quarterly basis, the expected future cash flow of each pool is estimated based on various factors, including changes in property values of collateral dependent loans, default rates, loss severities and prepayment speeds. Decreases in estimates of expected cash flows within a pool generally result in a charge to the provision for loan losses and a corresponding increase in the allowance allocated to acquired loans for the particular pool. Increases in estimates of expected cash flows within a pool generally result in a reduction in the allowance allocated to acquired loans for the particular pool, if applicable, and then an adjustment to the accretable yield for the pool, which will increase amounts recognized in interest income in subsequent periods. Various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination processes, periodically review the allowance. Such agencies may require additions to the allowance, based on their judgment, reflecting information available to them at the time of their examinations.
Mortgage Banking Operations	Mortgage Banking Operations The origination of residential mortgage loans is an integral component of the business of the Corporation. The Corporation generally sells conforming long-term fixed interest rate mortgage loans it originates in the secondary market. Gains on the sales of these loans are determined using the specific identification method. The Corporation sells residential mortgage loans in the secondary market on either a servicing retained or released basis. The Corporation elected the fair value measurement option, as prescribed by ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), for all residential mortgage loans held-for-sale originated on or after July 1, 2012. This election allows for a more effective offset of the changes in fair value of residential mortgage loans held-for-sale and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Residential mortgage loans held-for-sale are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings. The value of mortgage loans held-for-sale and other residential mortgage loan commitments to customers are hedged by utilizing best efforts forward commitments to sell loans to investors in the secondary market. Such forward commitments are generally entered into at the time customer applications are accepted to protect the value of the mortgage loans from increases in market interest rates during the period held and are generally settled with the investor in the secondary market within 90 days after entering into the forward commitment. Forward loan commitments are accounted for as derivatives and recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings. The Corporation recognizes revenue associated with the expected future cash flows of servicing loans for loans held-for-sale at the time a forward loan commitment is made to originate a held-for-sale loan, as required under SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 109, Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings. The Corporation accounts for mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) by separately recognizing servicing assets at the date of sale. An asset is recognized for the rights to service mortgage loans that are created by the origination of mortgage loans that are sold with the servicing retained by the Corporation. The Corporation's MSRs are included in other intangible assets in the statement of financial condition. The Corporation measures its MSRs at the lower of amortized cost or fair value and amortizes MSRs in proportion to and over the period of net servicing income. Unexpected prepayments of mortgage loans result in increased amortization of MSRs, as the remaining book value of the MSRs is expensed at the time of prepayment. The Corporation assesses MSRs for impairment on a quarterly basis based on fair value measurements. For purposes of measuring impairment, MSRs are stratified into relatively homogeneous pools based on characteristics such as period of origination, maturity date and interest rates. MSRs are also stratified between servicing assets originated by the Corporation and those acquired in acquisitions of other institutions. Any temporary impairment of MSRs is recognized as a valuation allowance, resulting in a reduction of mortgage banking revenue. The valuation allowance is recovered when impairment that is believed to be temporary no longer exists. Other-than-temporary impairments are recognized if the recoverability of the carrying value is determined to be remote. When this occurs, the unrecoverable portion of the valuation allowance is recorded as a direct write-down to the carrying value of MSRs. This direct write-down permanently reduces the carrying value of the MSRs, precluding recognition of subsequent recoveries, and results in a reduction of mortgage banking revenue. For purposes of measuring the fair value of MSRs, the Corporation utilizes a third-party modeling software program which is periodically validated by using valuations received from third-party valuation specialists. Servicing income is recognized when earned and is offset by the amortization of MSRs.
Premises and Equipment	Premises and Equipment Land is recorded at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Premises and equipment are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives are generally 25 to 40 years for buildings and three to ten years for all other depreciable assets. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
Other Real Estate	Other Real Estate Other real estate (ORE) is primarily comprised of commercial and residential real estate properties, including vacant land and development properties, obtained in partial or total satisfaction of loan obligations. ORE also includes closed branch offices that are held for sale. ORE is recorded at the lower of cost or the estimated fair value of the property, less anticipated selling costs, based upon the property's appraised value at the date of transfer to ORE and management's estimate of the fair value of the collateral, with any difference between the net realizable value of the property and the carrying value of the loan charged to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent changes in the fair value of ORE are recognized as adjustments to the carrying amount, not to exceed the initial carrying value of the assets at the time of transfer. Changes in the fair value of ORE, subsequent to the initial transfer to ORE, and costs incurred to maintain ORE are recorded in other operating expenses on the consolidated statements of income. Gains or losses resulting from the sale of ORE are also recognized in other operating expenses on the date of sale. ORE totaling $12.7 million and $14.8 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, was included in the consolidated statements of financial position in interest receivable and other assets. ORE at December 31, 2015 and 2014 included $3.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively, related to closed branch offices.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is subject to impairment tests annually, or more frequently if triggering events occur and indicate potential impairment. The Corporation's annual goodwill impairment assessment was performed as of October 31, 2015. The Corporation elected to utilize the qualitative assessment of goodwill impairment allowed under ASC Topic 350-20, Goodwill (ASC 350-20) that became acceptable as a result of FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment. In accordance with ASC 350-20, the Corporation assessed qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting units were less than their carrying amounts. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Corporation assesses relevant events and circumstances, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance, changes in the composition or carrying amount of assets and liabilities, the market price of the Corporation's common stock, and other relevant factors. Based on the qualitative assessment performed, the Corporation determined that no goodwill impairment was evident as of the October 31, 2015 assessment date. The Corporation also determined that no triggering events occurred that indicated impairment from the most recent assessment date through December 31, 2015 and that the Corporation's goodwill was not impaired at December 31, 2015. Other Intangible Assets Intangible assets consist of core deposit intangible assets, non-compete intangible assets and MSRs. Core deposit intangible assets arose as the result of business combinations or other acquisitions and are amortized over periods ranging from 10 to 15 years, primarily on an accelerated basis, as applicable.
Share-Based Compensation	Share-based Compensation The Corporation grants stock options, stock awards, restricted stock performance units and restricted stock service-based units to certain executive and senior management employees. The Corporation accounts for share-based compensation expense using the modified-prospective transition method. Under that method, compensation expense is recognized for stock options based on the estimated grant date fair value as computed using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the probability of issuance. The Corporation accounts for stock awards based on the closing stock price of the Corporation's common stock on the date of the award. The fair values of both stock options and stock awards are recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Compensation expense is adjusted to reflect actual forfeitures at the time they occur. The Corporation accounts for restricted stock performance units based on the closing stock price of the Corporation's common stock on the date of grant, discounted by the present value of estimated future dividends to be declared over the requisite performance or service period. The fair value of restricted stock performance units is recognized as compensation expense over the expected requisite performance period, or requisite service period for awards with multiple performance and service conditions. The Corporation accounts for restricted stock service-based units based on the closing stock price of the Corporation's common stock on the date of grant, as these awards accrue dividend equivalents equal to the amount of any cash dividends that would have been payable to a shareholder owning the number of shares of the Corporation's common stock represented by the restricted stock service-based units. The fair value of the restricted stock service-based units is recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period. Cash flows realized from the tax benefits of exercised stock option awards that result from actual tax deductions that are in excess of the recorded tax benefits related to the compensation expense recognized for those options (excess tax benefits) are classified as financing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Life Insurance, Corporate or Bank Owned	Bank-Owned Life Insurance The Corporation has life insurance policies on certain key officers of its bank subsidiaries. The majority of the bank-owned life insurance policies of the Corporation were obtained through its acquisition of Lake Michigan. Bank-owned life insurance is recorded at the cash surrender value, net of surrender charges, and is included within other assets on the consolidated statements of financial position and changes in the cash surrender values are recorded as other noninterest income on the consolidated statements of income.
Short-term Borrowings	Short-term Borrowings Short-term borrowings are comprised of securities sold under agreements to repurchase with customers, federal funds purchased and short-term FHLB advances with original scheduled maturities of one year or less. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase with customers are collateralized financing transactions and the obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position. The dollar amount of the securities underlying the agreements remain in the Corporation's investment securities portfolio. The Corporation's securities sold under agreements to repurchase with customers are considered a stable source of liquidity, much like its core deposit base, and are generally only provided to customers that have an established banking relationship with Chemical Bank.
Other Borrowings	Other Borrowings Other borrowings are comprised of securities sold under agreements with an unaffiliated third-party financial institution, a secured non-revolving line-of-credit with an unaffiliated third-party financial institution, subordinated debentures and long-term FHLB advances. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are collateralized financing transactions and the obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position. The dollar amount of the securities underlying the agreements remain in the Corporation's investment securities portfolio. FHLB advances, both short-term and long-term, are borrowings from the FHLB to fund short-term liquidity needs as well as a portion of the loan and investment securities portfolios. These advances are secured, under a blanket security agreement, by first lien residential mortgage loans with an aggregate book value equal to at least 140% of the FHLB advances and the FHLB stock owned by the Corporation. FHLB advances with an original maturity of one year or less are classified as short-term and FHLB advances with an original maturity of more than one year are classified as long-term.
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements Fair value for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis refers to the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts such sales or transfers based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. Assumptions are developed based on prioritizing information within a fair value hierarchy that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data, such as the reporting entity's own data. The Corporation may choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value measurement option has been elected are reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option (i) may be applied instrument by instrument, with certain exceptions, allowing the Corporation to record identical financial assets and liabilities at fair value or by another measurement basis permitted under GAAP, (ii) is irrevocable (unless a new election date occurs) and (iii) is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Corporation had elected the fair value option on all of its residential mortgage loans held-for-sale. The Corporation has not elected the fair value option for any other financial assets or liabilities.
Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plan Actuarial Assumptions	Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plan Actuarial Assumptions The Corporation's defined benefit pension, supplemental pension and postretirement benefit obligations and related costs are calculated using actuarial concepts and measurements. Two critical assumptions, the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, are important elements of expense and/or benefit obligation measurements. Other assumptions involve employee demographic factors such as retirement patterns, mortality, turnover and the rate of future compensation increases, as well as future health care costs. The Corporation evaluates all assumptions annually. Mortality assumptions at December 31, 2015 were based on the RP-2014 mortality tables, as prescribed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, using the MP-2015 mortality improvement scale. Mortality assumptions at December 31, 2014 were based on the RP-2014 mortality tables using the MP-2014 mortality improvement scale. The discount rate enables the Corporation to state expected future benefit payments as a present value on the measurement date. The Corporation determined the discount rate at December 31, 2015 and 2014 by utilizing the results from a discount rate model that involves selecting a portfolio of bonds to settle the projected benefit payments of each plan. The selected bond portfolios are derived from a universe of corporate bonds rated at Aa quality. After a bond portfolio is selected, a single rate is determined that equates the market value of the bonds purchased to the discounted value of the plan's benefit payments which represents the discount rate. A lower discount rate increases the present value of benefit obligations and increases pension, supplemental pension and postretirement benefit expenses. To determine the expected long-term rate of return on defined benefit pension plan assets, the Corporation considers the current asset allocation of the defined benefit pension plan, as well as historical and expected returns on each asset class. A lower expected rate of return on defined benefit pension plan assets will increase pension expense. The Corporation recognizes the over- or under-funded status of a plan as an other asset or other liability in the consolidated statements of financial position as measured by the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the projected benefit obligation. Unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Corporation measures defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of December 31.
Advertising Costs	Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
Income and Other Taxes	Income and Other Taxes The Corporation is subject to the income and other tax laws of the United States, the State of Michigan and other states where nexus has been created. These laws are complex and are subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the various taxing authorities. In determining the provision for income and other taxes, management must make judgments and estimates about the application of these inherently complex laws, related regulations and case law. In the process of preparing the Corporation's tax returns, management attempts to make reasonable interpretations of enacted tax laws. These interpretations are subject to challenge by the tax authorities upon audit or to reinterpretation based on management's ongoing assessment of facts and evolving case law. The Corporation and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. The provision for federal income taxes is based on income and expenses, as reported in the consolidated financial statements, rather than amounts reported on the Corporation's federal income tax return. The difference between the federal statutory income tax rate and the Corporation's effective federal income tax rate is primarily a function of the proportion of the Corporation's interest income exempt from federal taxation, nondeductible interest expense and other nondeductible expenses relative to pretax income and tax credits. When income and expenses are recognized in different periods for tax purposes than for book purposes, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Differences in the tax and book carrying amounts of assets and liabilities can also be generated when the Corporation acquires other banks or bank branches. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date of the change. On a quarterly basis, management assesses the reasonableness of its effective federal tax rate based upon its estimate of taxable income and the applicable taxes expected for the full year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reassessed on a quarterly basis, including the need for a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Uncertain income tax positions are evaluated to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the tax position. If a tax position is more-likely-than-not to be sustained, a tax benefit is recognized for the amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized. Reserves for contingent income tax liabilities attributable to unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions are reviewed quarterly for adequacy based upon developments in tax law and the status of audits or examinations. The Corporation had no contingent income tax liabilities recorded at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Investments in Tax Credit Projects	Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects, Federal Historic Projects and New Market Tax Credits The Corporation invests in qualified affordable housing projects, federal historic projects, and new market projects for the purpose of community reinvestment and obtaining tax credits. Return on the Corporation's investment in these projects comes in the form of the tax credits and tax losses that pass through to the Corporation. The carrying value of the investments are reflected in other assets on the consolidated statements of financial position. The Corporation utilizes the proportional amortization method to account for investments in qualified affordable housing projects and the equity method to account for investments in other tax credit projects. Under the proportional amortization method, the Corporation amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits allocated. The Corporation recognized additional income tax expense attributable to the amortization of investments in qualified affordable housing projects of $1.3 million and $0.4 million during 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Corporation's remaining investment in qualified affordable housing projects accounted for under the proportional amortization method totaled $21.7 million at December 31, 2015 and $4.9 million at December 31, 2014. The increase in qualified affordable housing project investments at December 31, 2015, compared to December 31, 2014, was attributable to investments acquired as part of the Lake Michigan transaction. Under the equity method, the Corporation's share of the earnings or losses are included in other operating expenses on the consolidated statements of income. The Corporation's investment in new market projects accounted for under the equity method totaled $1.7 million at December 31, 2015. There were no investments in such projects accounted for under the equity method as of December 31, 2014. The Corporation's unfunded equity contributions relating to investments in qualified affordable housing projects, federal historic tax projects and new market projects is recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial position. The Corporation's remaining unfunded equity contributions totaled $8.0 million at December 31, 2015. Management analyzes these investments for potential impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more-likely-than-not that the carrying amount of the investment will not be realized. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of an investment exceeds its fair value. There were no impairment losses recognized as of December 31, 2015 or 2014. The Corporation consolidates variable interest entities (VIEs) in which it is the primary beneficiary. In general, a VIE is an entity that either (i) has an insufficient amount of equity to carry out its principal activities without additional subordinated financial support, (ii) has a group of equity owners that are unable to make significant decisions about its activities or (iii) has a group of equity owners that do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns as generated by its operations. If any of these characteristics are present, the entity is subject to a variable interests consolidation model, and consolidation is based on variable interests, not on ownership of the entity's outstanding voting stock. Variable interests are defined as contractual, ownership, or other monetary interests in an entity that change with fluctuations in the entity's net asset value. The primary beneficiary consolidates the VIE. The primary beneficiary is defined as the enterprise that has the power to direct the activities and absorb losses or the right to receive benefits. The Corporation is a significant limited partner in the qualified affordable housing, federal historic and new market projects it has invested in. These projects meet the definition of VIEs. However, the Corporation is not the primary beneficiary of any of the VIEs in which it holds a limited partnership interest; therefore, the VIEs are not consolidated in the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.
Comprehensive Income	Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income of the Corporation includes net income and adjustments to shareholders' equity for changes in unrealized gains and losses on investment securities available-for-sale and changes in the net actuarial gain/loss for the Corporation's defined benefit pension and postretirement plans, net of income taxes. The Corporation presents comprehensive income as a component in the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity and the components of other comprehensive income separately in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications Certain amounts appearing in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the current presentation. The reclassification had no effect on net income or shareholders’ equity as previously reported.
Adopted and Pending Accounting Pronouncements	Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Business Combinations In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (ASU 2015-16). ASU 2015-16 amends current guidance by requiring companies that make an acquisition to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period by calculating the adjustments as if they were known at the acquisition date, but recognizing the adjustments in the reporting period in which they occur, rather than retroactively accounting for provisional adjustments by revising prior-period information as GAAP currently requires. ASU 2015-16 also requires a company to report, either on its income statement or in a footnote disclosure, the portion of the amount that is recorded in its earnings for the current period, by line item, that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods had the adjustment to the provisional amounts been recognized as of the acquisition date. ASU 2015-16 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Corporation elected to adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-16 as of and for its quarter ended September 30, 2015. The Corporation's adoption of ASU 2015-16 in the third quarter of 2015 did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. During the third quarter of 2015, the Corporation made adjustments to provisional amounts previously recorded related to the acquisitions of Lake Michigan, Monarch and Northwestern. Additional information regarding these adjustments is included in Note 2, Mergers and Acquisitions, to these consolidated financial statements. In-Substance Foreclosures In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2014-04). ASU 2014-04 clarifies that an in-substance foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (i) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (ii) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy the loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or similar legal agreement. ASU 2014-04 also requires disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure. ASU 2014-04 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. Once adopted, an entity can elect either (i) a modified retrospective transition method or (ii) a prospective transition method. The modified retrospective transition method is applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to residential mortgage loans and foreclosed residential real estate properties existing as of the beginning of the period for which the amendments of ASU 2014-04 are effective, with real estate reclassified to loans measured at the carrying value of the real estate at the date of adoption and loans reclassified to real estate measured at the lower of net carrying value of the loan or the fair value of the real estate less costs to sell at the date of adoption. The prospective transition method is applied by means of applying the amendments of ASU 2014-04 to all instances of receiving physical possession of residential real estate properties that occur after the date of adoption. The Corporation's adoption of ASU 2014-04 on January 1, 2015 did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Share-Based Compensation In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2014-12). ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting of share-based payment awards and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The requisite service period ends when the employee can cease rendering service and still be eligible to vest in the award if the performance target is achieved. ASU 2014-12 is effective for all entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in ASU 2014-12 either (i) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (ii) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Corporation's early adoption of ASU 2014-12 on January 1, 2015 did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-14, Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Classification of Certain Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2014-14). ASU 2014-14 provides clarifying guidance related to how creditors classify government-guaranteed loans upon foreclosure. Upon foreclosure of a government-guaranteed mortgage loan, the loan should be derecognized and a separate other receivable should be recognized if the following conditions are met: (i) the loan has a government guarantee that is not separable from the loan before foreclosure; (ii) at the time of foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to convey the real estate property to the guarantor and make a claim on the guarantee, and the creditor has the ability to recover under that claim; and (iii) at the time of foreclosure, any amount of the claim that is determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed. The separate other receivable should be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor at the time of foreclosure. ASU 2014-14 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. An entity should adopt ASU 2014-14 using either the modified retrospective method or the prospective transition method. An entity must apply the same method elected under ASU 2014-04. Early adoption is permitted if the entity has already adopted ASU 2014-04. The Corporation's adoption of ASU 2014-14 on January 1, 2015 did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Pending Accounting Pronouncements Recognition and Measurement In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU 2016-01). ASU 2016-01 amends current guidance by requiring companies to recognize changes in fair value for equity investments that have a readily determinable fair value through net income rather than through other comprehensive income. Under ASU 2016-01, equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value will either be accounted for the same as equity investments that have a readily determinable fair value, with changes in fair value recognized through net income, or carried at cost, adjusted for changes in observable prices based on orderly transactions for identical or similar investments issued by the same issuer and further adjusted for impairment, if applicable. ASU 2016-01 also requires a qualitative assessment of impairment indicators each reporting period. If this assessment indicates that impairment exists, companies must adjust the investment to fair value and recognize an impairment loss in net income, even if the impairment is determined to be temporary. ASU 2016-01 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Corporation's adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Chemical Financial Corporation (Corporation) operates in a single operating segment — commercial banking. The Corporation is a financial holding company, headquartered in Midland, Michigan, that operates through one commercial bank, Chemical Bank. The Bank of Holland and The Bank of Northern Michigan were acquired in the acquisition of Lake Michigan Financial Corporation (Lake Michigan) on May 31, 2015 and were consolidated with and into Chemical Bank during the fourth quarter of 2015. Monarch Community Bank was acquired in the acquisition of Monarch Community Bancorp, Inc. (Monarch) on April 1, 2015 and was consolidated with and into Chemical Bank during the second quarter of 2015. Chemical Bank operates within the State of Michigan as a state-chartered commercial bank. Chemical Bank operates through an internal organizational structure of four regional banking units and offers a full range of traditional banking and fiduciary products and services to the residents and business customers in the bank's geographical market areas. The products and services offered by the regional banking units, through branch banking offices, are generally consistent throughout the Corporation, as is the pricing of those products and services. The marketing of products and services throughout the Corporation's regional banking units is generally uniform, as many of the markets served by the regional banking units overlap. The distribution of products and services is uniform throughout the Corporation's regional banking units and is achieved primarily through retail branch banking offices, automated teller machines and electronically accessed banking products.

The Corporation's primary sources of revenue are from its loan products and investment securities, service charges and fees from customer deposit accounts and wealth management revenue.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Accounting Standards Codification

The Financial Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) became effective on July 1, 2009. At that date, the ASC became FASB's officially recognized source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) applicable to all public and non-public non-governmental entities, superseding existing FASB, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) and related literature. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. All other accounting literature is considered non-authoritative.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation and its subsidiaries conform to GAAP, SEC rules and interpretive releases and prevailing practices within the banking industry. The consolidated financial statements of the Corporation include the accounts of the Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant income and expenses are recorded on the accrual basis. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

Management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the determination of the allowance for loan losses, expected cash flows from acquired loans, fair value amounts related to business combinations, pension expense, income taxes, goodwill impairment and those assets that require fair value measurement. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Business Combinations

Pursuant to the guidance of ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (ASC 805), the Corporation recognizes assets acquired, including identified intangible assets, and the liabilities assumed in acquisitions at their fair values as of the acquisition date, with the acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs expensed in the period incurred.

On May 31, 2015, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding stock of Lake Michigan for total consideration of $187.4 million, which included stock consideration of $132.9 million and cash consideration of $54.5 million. The Corporation recorded $102 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition, which represented the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Additionally, the Corporation recorded $8.6 million of core deposit and other intangible assets in conjunction with the acquisition.

On April 1, 2015, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding stock of Monarch in an all-stock transaction valued at $27.2 million. The Corporation recorded $5.3 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition, which represented the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Additionally, the Corporation recorded $1.9 million of core deposit intangible assets in conjunction with the acquisition.

On October 31, 2014, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding stock of Northwestern Bancorp, Inc. (Northwestern) for total cash consideration of $121.0 million. The Corporation recorded $60.3 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition, which represented the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Additionally, the Corporation recorded $12.9 million of core deposit intangible assets in conjunction with the acquisition.

On December 7, 2012, Chemical Bank acquired 21 branches from Independent Bank, a subsidiary of Independent Bank Corporation (branch acquisition transaction). In connection with the branch acquisition transaction, the Corporation recorded $6.8 million of goodwill, which represented the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired, and $5.6 million of core deposit intangible assets.

On April 30, 2010, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding stock of O.A.K. Financial Corporation (OAK) for total consideration of $83.7 million. The Corporation recorded $43.5 million of goodwill in conjunction with the acquisition, which represented the purchase price over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. Additionally, the Corporation recorded $9.8 million of other intangible assets as a result of the OAK acquisition attributable to core deposits, mortgage servicing rights and non-compete agreements acquired.

See Note 2 for further information regarding the Corporation's mergers and acquisitions, including its pending merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc. (Talmer).

ASC 805 affords a measurement period beyond the acquisition date that allows the Corporation the opportunity to finalize the acquisition accounting in the event that new information is identified that existed as of the acquisition date but was not known by the Corporation at that time. The Corporation anticipates that measurement period adjustments may arise from adjustments to the fair values of assets and liabilities recognized at the acquisition date for Lake Michigan and Monarch as additional information is obtained, such as appraisals of collateral securing loans and other borrower information. In the event that a measurement period adjustment is identified, the Corporation will recognize the adjustment as part of its acquisition accounting, which may result in an adjustment to goodwill being recorded in the period the adjustment was identified.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and interest-bearing deposits held at the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB).

Investment Securities

Investment securities include investments in debt, trust preferred and preferred stock securities. Investment securities are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 320, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities (ASC 320), which requires investments to be classified within one of three categories (trading, held-to-maturity or available-for-sale). The Corporation held no trading investment securities at December 31, 2015 or 2014.

Designation as an investment security held-to-maturity is based on the Corporation's intent and ability to hold the security to maturity. Investment securities held-to-maturity are stated at cost, adjusted for purchase price premiums and discounts. Investment securities that are not held-to-maturity are accounted for as securities available-for-sale, and are stated at estimated fair value, with the aggregate unrealized gains and losses, not deemed other-than-temporary, classified as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investment securities and other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) charges are determined using the specific identification method and are included within noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income. Premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized over the estimated lives of the related investment securities based on the effective interest yield method and are included in interest income in the consolidated statements of income.

The Corporation assesses equity and debt securities that have fair values below amortized cost basis to determine whether declines (impairment) are other-than-temporary. If the Corporation intends to sell an impaired security or it is more-likely-than-not that the Corporation will be required to sell an impaired security prior to the recovery of its amortized cost, an OTTI write-down is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the security's amortized cost basis and its fair value. If the Corporation does not intend to sell an impaired security and it is not more-likely-than-not that the Corporation would be required to sell an impaired security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis, then the recognition of the impairment is bifurcated if a credit loss is deemed to have occurred. For a security where the impairment is bifurcated, the impairment is separated into an amount representing the credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and an amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. In assessing whether OTTI exists, management considers, among other things, (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (iii) the potential for impairments in an entire industry or sub-sector and (iv) the potential for impairments in certain economically depressed geographical locations.

Nonmarketable Equity Securities

The Corporation is required to hold non-marketable equity securities, comprised of Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLB) and FRB stock, as a condition of membership. These securities are accounted for at cost, which equals par or redemption value. These securities do not have a readily determinable fair value as their ownership is restricted and there is no market for these securities. These securities can only be redeemed or sold at their par value and only to the respective issuing government supported institution or to another member institution. FHLB stock can only be redeemed upon giving five-years written notice and FRB stock can only be redeemed upon giving six months written notice, with no more than 25% eligible for redemption in any calendar year. The Corporation records these non-marketable equity securities as a component of other assets and they are periodically evaluated for impairment. Management considers these non-marketable equity securities to be long-term investments. Accordingly, when evaluating these securities for impairment, management considers the ultimate recoverability of the par value rather than recognizing temporary declines in value, if applicable. The Corporation's ownership of FHLB stock totaled $23.9 million at December 31, 2015 and $19.0 million at December 31, 2014. The Corporation's ownership of FRB stock totaled $13.0 million at December 31, 2015 and $8.4 million at December 31, 2014.

Originated Loans

Originated loans include all of the Corporation's portfolio loans, excluding loans acquired on May 31, 2015 in the acquisition of Lake Michigan, on April 1, 2015 in the acquisition of Monarch, on October 31, 2014 in the acquisition of Northwestern and on April 30, 2010 in the acquisition of OAK. Originated loans also include loans acquired as part of the branch acquisition transaction on December 7, 2012, as these loans were performing and were considered high-quality loans in accordance with the Corporation's credit underwriting standards at that date. Originated loans are held for investment purposes and are stated at their principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income, charge-offs and unamortized deferred fees and costs. Loan interest income is recognized on the accrual basis. Deferred loan fees and costs are amortized over the loan term based on the level-yield method. Net loan commitment fees are deferred and amortized into fee income on a straight-line basis over the commitment period.

The past due status of a loan is based on the loan's contractual terms. A loan is placed in nonaccrual status (accrual of interest is discontinued) when principal or interest is past due 90 days or more (except for a loan that is secured by residential real estate, which is transferred to nonaccrual status at 120 days past due), unless the loan is both well-secured and in the process of collection, or earlier when, in the opinion of management, there is sufficient reason to doubt the collectibility of principal or interest. Interest previously accrued, but not collected, is reversed and charged against interest income at the time the loan is placed in nonaccrual status. Subsequent receipts of interest while a loan is in nonaccrual status are recorded as a reduction of principal. Loans are returned to accrual status when principal and interest payments are brought current, payments have been received consistently for a period of time (generally six months) and collectibility is no longer in doubt.

Loans Acquired in a Business Combination

Loans acquired in a business combination (acquired loans) consist of loans acquired on May 31, 2015 in the acquisition of Lake Michigan, on April 1, 2015 in the acquisition of Monarch, on October 31, 2014 in the acquisition of Northwestern and on April 30, 2010 in the acquisition of OAK. Acquired loans were recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition, without a carryover of the associated allowance for loan losses related to these loans, through a fair value discount that was, in part, attributable to deterioration in credit quality. The estimate of expected credit losses was determined based on due diligence performed by executive and senior officers of the Corporation, with assistance from third-party consultants. The fair value discount was recorded as a reduction of the acquired loans' outstanding principal balances in the consolidated statement of financial position at the acquisition date.

The Corporation accounts for acquired loans, which are recorded at fair value at acquisition, in accordance with ASC Topic 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality (ASC 310-30). Under the provisions of ASC 310-30, the Corporation aggregated acquired loans with an outstanding principal balance at the acquisition date of $63 million for the Lake Michigan transaction, $9 million for the Monarch transaction, $46 million for the Northwestern transaction and $105 million for the OAK transaction that were determined to be loans with deteriorated credit quality and, therefore, met the scope criteria set forth in ASC 310-30. Further, the Corporation understands, as outlined in the AICPA's open letter to the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC dated December 18, 2009 and pending further standard setting, that for acquired loans that do not meet the scope criteria of ASC 310-30, a company may elect to account for such acquired loans pursuant to the provisions of either ASC Topic 310-20, Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs, or ASC 310-30. The Corporation elected to apply ASC 310-30, by analogy, to acquired loans that were determined not to have deteriorated credit quality with an outstanding principal balance at the acquisition date of $947 million for the Lake Michigan transaction, $120 million for the Monarch transaction, $461 million for the Northwestern transaction and $578 million for the OAK transaction and thus follows the accounting and disclosure guidance of ASC 310-30 for these loans. Accordingly, the Corporation applied ASC 310-30 to the entire loan portfolio acquired with a total outstanding principal balance at the acquisition date of $1.01 billion for the Lake Michigan transaction, $129 million for the Monarch transaction, $507 million for the Northwestern transaction and $683 million for the OAK transaction. None of the acquired loans were classified as debt securities.

ASC 310-30 allows investors to aggregate acquired loans into loan pools that have common risk characteristics and thereby use a composite interest rate and expectation of cash flows expected to be collected for the loan pools. Under the provisions of ASC 310-30, the Corporation aggregated acquired loans into 2 pools in the acquisition of Lake Michigan, 2 pools in the acquisition of Monarch, 4 pools in the acquisition of Northwestern and 14 pools in the acquisition of OAK based upon common risk characteristics, including types of loans, commercial type loans with similar risk grades and whether loans were performing or nonperforming. A pool is considered a single unit of accounting for the purposes of applying the guidance prescribed in ASC 310-30. A loan will be removed from a pool of acquired loans only if the loan is sold, foreclosed, paid off or written off, and will be removed from the pool at the carrying value. If an individual loan is removed from a pool of loans, the difference between its relative carrying amount and the cash, fair value of the collateral, or other assets received would not affect the effective yield used to recognize the accretable difference on the remaining pool. The Corporation estimated the cash flows expected to be collected over the life of the pools of loans at acquisition and estimates expected cash flows quarterly thereafter, based on a set of assumptions including expectations as to default rates, prepayment rates and loss severities. The Corporation must make numerous assumptions, interpretations and judgments using internal and third-party credit quality information to determine whether it is probable that the Corporation will be able to collect all contractually required payments. This is a point in time assessment and inherently subjective due to the nature of the available information and judgment involved.

The calculation of the fair value of the acquired loan pools entails estimating the amount and timing of cash flows attributable to both principal and interest expected to be collected on such loan pools and then discounting those cash flows at market interest rates. The excess of a loan pool's expected cash flows at the acquisition date over its estimated fair value is referred to as the "accretable yield," which is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loan on a level-yield basis. The difference between a loan pool's contractually required principal and interest payments at the acquisition date and the cash flows expected to be collected at the acquisition date is referred to as the "nonaccretable difference," which includes an estimate of future credit losses expected to be incurred over the estimated life of the loan pool and interest payments that are not expected to be collected. Decreases to the expected cash flows in each loan pool in subsequent periods will require the Corporation to record a provision for loan losses. Improvements in expected cash flows in each loan pool in subsequent periods will result in reversing a portion of the nonaccretable difference, which is then classified as part of the accretable yield and subsequently recognized into interest income over the estimated remaining life of the loan pool.

Loans Modified Under Troubled Debt Restructurings

Loans modified under troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) involve granting a concession to a borrower who is experiencing financial difficulty. Concessions generally include modifications to original loan terms, including changes to a loan's payment schedule or interest rate, which generally would not otherwise be considered. The Corporation's TDRs include performing and nonperforming TDRs, which consist of originated loans that continue to accrue interest at the loan's original interest rate as the Corporation expects to collect the remaining principal and interest on the loan, and nonaccrual TDRs, which include originated loans that are in a nonaccrual status and are no longer accruing interest, as the Corporation does not expect to collect the full amount of principal and interest owed from the borrower on these loans. At the time of modification (except for loans on nonaccrual status), a TDR is classified as a nonperforming TDR until a six-month payment history of principal and interest payments, in accordance with the terms of the loan modification, is sustained, at which time the Corporation moves the loan to a performing status (performing TDR). If the Corporation does not expect to collect all principal and interest on the loan, the modified loan is classified as a nonaccrual TDR. All TDRs are accounted for as impaired loans and are included in the Corporation's analysis of the allowance for loan losses. A TDR that has been renewed for a borrower who is no longer experiencing financial difficulty and which yields a market rate of interest at the time of a renewal is no longer considered to be a TDR.

Loans in the Corporation's commercial loan portfolio (comprised of commercial, commercial real estate, real estate construction and land development loans) that meet the definition of a TDR generally consist of loans where the Corporation has allowed borrowers to defer scheduled principal payments and make interest-only payments for a specified period of time at the stated interest rate of the original loan agreement or reduced payments due to a moderate extension of the loan's contractual term. If the Corporation does not expect to collect all principal and interest on the loan, the modified loan is classified as a nonaccrual TDR. If the Corporation does not expect to incur a loss on the loan based on its assessment of the borrowers' expected cash flows, as the pre- and post-modification effective yields are approximately the same, the loan is classified as a nonperforming TDR until a six-month payment history is sustained, at which time the loan is classified as a performing TDR. Since no loss is expected to be incurred on these loans, no additional provision for loan losses has been recognized related to these loans, and these loans accrue interest at their contractual interest rate. These loans are individually evaluated for impairment and transferred to nonaccrual status if they become 90 days past due as to principal or interest payments or if it is probable that any remaining principal and interest payments due on the loan will not be collected in accordance with the modified terms of the loan.

Loans in the Corporation's consumer loan portfolio (comprised of residential mortgage, consumer installment and home equity loans) that meet the definition of a performing or nonperforming TDR generally consist of residential mortgage loans that include a concession that reduces a borrower's monthly payments by decreasing the interest rate charged on the loan for a specified period of time (generally 24 months) under a formal modification agreement. The Corporation recognizes an additional provision for loan losses related to impairment on these loans on an individual basis based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate. These loans continue to accrue interest at their effective interest rate, which consists of contractual interest under the terms of the modification agreement in addition to an adjustment for the accretion of computed impairment. These loans are moved to nonaccrual status if they become 90 days past due as to principal or interest payments, or sooner if conditions warrant.

Impaired Loans

A loan is defined to be impaired when it is probable that payment of principal and interest will not be paid in accordance with the original contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans include nonaccrual loans (including nonaccrual TDRs), performing and nonperforming TDRs and acquired loans that were not performing in accordance with original contractual terms. Impaired loans are accounted for at the lower of the present value of expected cash flows discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate or the estimated fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral dependent. When the present value of expected cash flows or the fair value of collateral of an impaired loan in the originated loan portfolio is less than the amount of unpaid principal outstanding on the loan, the principal balance of the loan is reduced to its carrying value through either an allocation of the allowance for loan losses or a partial charge-off of the loan balance.

Nonperforming Loans

Nonperforming loans are comprised of loans for which the accrual of interest has been discontinued (nonaccrual loans, including nonaccrual TDRs), accruing originated loans contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest or principal payments and nonperforming TDRs.

Acquired loans that were classified as nonperforming loans prior to being acquired and acquired loans that are not performing in accordance with contractual terms subsequent to acquisition are not classified as nonperforming loans subsequent to acquisition because the loans are recorded in pools at net realizable value based on the principal and interest the Corporation expects to collect on such loans.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses (allowance) is presented as a reserve against loans. The allowance represents management's assessment of probable loan losses inherent in the Corporation's loan portfolio.

Management's evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on a continuing review of the loan portfolio, actual loan loss experience, the underlying value of the collateral, risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, the level and composition of nonperforming loans, the financial condition of the borrowers, the balance of the loan portfolio, loan growth, economic conditions, employment levels in the Corporation's local markets and special factors affecting specific business sectors. The Corporation maintains formal policies and procedures to monitor and control credit risk. Management evaluates the allowance on a quarterly basis in an effort to ensure the level is appropriate to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio.

The allowance provides for probable losses that have been identified with specific customer relationships and for probable losses believed to be incurred in the remainder of the originated loan portfolio, but that have not been specifically identified. The Corporation utilizes its own loss experience to estimate inherent losses on loans. Internal risk ratings are assigned to each loan in the commercial loan portfolio (commercial, commercial real estate, real estate construction and land development loans) at the time of origination and are subject to subsequent periodic reviews by senior management. The Corporation performs a detailed credit quality review quarterly on all loans greater than $0.25 million that have deteriorated below certain levels of credit risk, and may allocate a specific portion of the allowance to such loans based upon this review. A portion of the allowance is allocated to the remaining loans by applying projected loss ratios, based on numerous factors. Projected loss ratios incorporate factors such as recent charge-off experience, trends with respect to adversely risk-rated loans in the commercial loan portfolio, trends with respect to past due and nonaccrual loans, changes in economic conditions and trends, changes in the value of underlying collateral and other credit risk factors. This evaluation involves a high degree of uncertainty.

In determining the allowance and the related provision for loan losses, the Corporation considers four principal elements: (i) valuation allowances based upon probable losses identified during the review of impaired loans in the commercial loan portfolio, (ii) reserves established for adversely-rated loans in the commercial loan portfolio and nonaccrual residential mortgage, consumer installment and home equity loans based on loan loss experience of other adversely-rated loans, (iii) reserves, by loan classes, on all other loans based principally on a five-year historical loan loss experience, loan loss trends and giving consideration to estimated loss emergence periods and (iv) a reserve for qualitative factors that take into consideration risks inherent in the originated loan portfolio that differ from historical loan loss experience.

The first element reflects the Corporation's estimate of probable losses based upon the systematic review of individually impaired loans in the originated commercial loan portfolio. These estimates are based upon a number of objective factors, such as payment history, financial condition of the borrower and discounted collateral exposure. The Corporation measures the investment in an impaired loan based on one of three methods: the loan's observable market price; the fair value of the collateral; or the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. Loans in the commercial loan portfolio that were in nonaccrual status (including nonaccrual TDRs) were valued based on the fair value of the collateral securing the loan, while performing and nonperforming TDRs in the commercial loan portfolio were valued based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. It is the Corporation's general policy to obtain new appraisals at least annually on nonaccrual loans in the commercial loan portfolio and at least every other year on nonperforming TDRs in the commercial loan portfolio that are primarily secured by real estate and have a loan balance of greater than $0.25 million. When the Corporation determines that the fair value of the collateral is less than the carrying value of an impaired loan on nonaccrual status and a portion is deemed not collectible, the portion of the impairment that is deemed not collectible is charged off (confirmed loss) and deducted from the allowance. The remaining carrying value of the impaired loan is classified as a nonperforming loan. When the Corporation determines that the fair value of the collateral is less than the carrying value of an impaired loan but believes it is probable it will recover this impairment, the Corporation establishes a valuation allowance for such impairment.

The second element reflects the application of the Corporation's loan grade risk rating system. This risk rating system is similar to those employed by state and federal banking regulators. Loans in the commercial loan portfolio that are risk rated below a certain predetermined risk grade and nonaccrual residential mortgage, consumer installment and home equity loans are assigned a loss allocation factor that is based upon a historical analysis of actual loan losses incurred and a valuation of the type of collateral securing the loans.

The third element is determined by assigning allocations based principally upon a weighted five-year average of loss experience for each class of loan with higher weighting placed on the most recent years. Average losses may be adjusted based on current loan loss experience, delinquency trends, estimated loss emergence periods and other environmental factors. This component considers the lagging impact of historical charge-off ratios in periods where future loan charge-offs are expected to increase or decrease, trends in delinquencies and nonaccrual loans, the changing portfolio mix in terms of collateral, average loan balance, loan growth and the degree of seasoning in the various loan portfolios. Loan loss analyses are performed quarterly and certain inputs and parameters are updated as necessary to reflect the current credit environment.

The fourth element is based on qualitative factors that cannot be associated with a specific credit or loan class and reflects an attempt to ensure that the overall allowance appropriately reflects additional losses that are inherent in the Corporation's loan portfolio. Determination of the probable losses inherent in the portfolio, which are not necessarily captured by the allocation methodology discussed above, involves the exercise of judgment. This qualitative portion of the allowance is judgmentally determined and generally serves to compensate for the uncertainty in estimating inherent losses, particularly in times of changing economic conditions, and also considers the inherent judgment associated with risk rating commercial loans. The qualitative portion of the allowance also takes into consideration, among other things, economic conditions within the State of Michigan and nationwide, including unemployment levels, industry-wide and Corporation specific loan delinquency rates, changes in composition of and growth in the Corporation's loan portfolio, changing commercial and residential real estate values and inventory levels of residential lots, condominiums and single family houses held for sale.

Although the Corporation allocates portions of the allowance to specific loans and loan types, the entire allowance attributable to originated loans is available for any loan losses that occur in the originated portfolio. Loans that are deemed not collectible are charged off and reduce the allowance. The provision for loan losses and recoveries on loans previously charged off increase the allowance. Collection efforts may continue and recoveries may occur after a loan is charged off.

Acquired loans are aggregated into pools based upon common risk characteristics. An allowance may be recorded related to an acquired loan pool if it experiences a decrease in expected cash flows, as compared to those projected at the acquisition date. On a quarterly basis, the expected future cash flow of each pool is estimated based on various factors, including changes in property values of collateral dependent loans, default rates, loss severities and prepayment speeds. Decreases in estimates of expected cash flows within a pool generally result in a charge to the provision for loan losses and a corresponding increase in the allowance allocated to acquired loans for the particular pool. Increases in estimates of expected cash flows within a pool generally result in a reduction in the allowance allocated to acquired loans for the particular pool, if applicable, and then an adjustment to the accretable yield for the pool, which will increase amounts recognized in interest income in subsequent periods.

Various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination processes, periodically review the allowance. Such agencies may require additions to the allowance, based on their judgment, reflecting information available to them at the time of their examinations.

Mortgage Banking Operations

The origination of residential mortgage loans is an integral component of the business of the Corporation. The Corporation generally sells conforming long-term fixed interest rate mortgage loans it originates in the secondary market. Gains on the sales of these loans are determined using the specific identification method. The Corporation sells residential mortgage loans in the secondary market on either a servicing retained or released basis.

The Corporation elected the fair value measurement option, as prescribed by ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), for all residential mortgage loans held-for-sale originated on or after July 1, 2012. This election allows for a more effective offset of the changes in fair value of residential mortgage loans held-for-sale and the derivative instruments used to economically hedge them without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Residential mortgage loans held-for-sale are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings. The value of mortgage loans held-for-sale and other residential mortgage loan commitments to customers are hedged by utilizing best efforts forward commitments to sell loans to investors in the secondary market. Such forward commitments are generally entered into at the time customer applications are accepted to protect the value of the mortgage loans from increases in market interest rates during the period held and are generally settled with the investor in the secondary market within 90 days after entering into the forward commitment.

Forward loan commitments are accounted for as derivatives and recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings. The Corporation recognizes revenue associated with the expected future cash flows of servicing loans for loans held-for-sale at the time a forward loan commitment is made to originate a held-for-sale loan, as required under SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 109, Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings.

The Corporation accounts for mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) by separately recognizing servicing assets at the date of sale. An asset is recognized for the rights to service mortgage loans that are created by the origination of mortgage loans that are sold with the servicing retained by the Corporation. The Corporation's MSRs are included in other intangible assets in the statement of financial condition. The Corporation measures its MSRs at the lower of amortized cost or fair value and amortizes MSRs in proportion to and over the period of net servicing income. Unexpected prepayments of mortgage loans result in increased amortization of MSRs, as the remaining book value of the MSRs is expensed at the time of prepayment. The Corporation assesses MSRs for impairment on a quarterly basis based on fair value measurements. For purposes of measuring impairment, MSRs are stratified into relatively homogeneous pools based on characteristics such as period of origination, maturity date and interest rates. MSRs are also stratified between servicing assets originated by the Corporation and those acquired in acquisitions of other institutions. Any temporary impairment of MSRs is recognized as a valuation allowance, resulting in a reduction of mortgage banking revenue. The valuation allowance is recovered when impairment that is believed to be temporary no longer exists. Other-than-temporary impairments are recognized if the recoverability of the carrying value is determined to be remote. When this occurs, the unrecoverable portion of the valuation allowance is recorded as a direct write-down to the carrying value of MSRs. This direct write-down permanently reduces the carrying value of the MSRs, precluding recognition of subsequent recoveries, and results in a reduction of mortgage banking revenue. For purposes of measuring the fair value of MSRs, the Corporation utilizes a third-party modeling software program which is periodically validated by using valuations received from third-party valuation specialists. Servicing income is recognized when earned and is offset by the amortization of MSRs.

Premises and Equipment

Land is recorded at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Premises and equipment are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives are generally 25 to 40 years for buildings and three to ten years for all other depreciable assets. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.

Other Real Estate

Other real estate (ORE) is primarily comprised of commercial and residential real estate properties, including vacant land and development properties, obtained in partial or total satisfaction of loan obligations. ORE also includes closed branch offices that are held for sale. ORE is recorded at the lower of cost or the estimated fair value of the property, less anticipated selling costs, based upon the property's appraised value at the date of transfer to ORE and management's estimate of the fair value of the collateral, with any difference between the net realizable value of the property and the carrying value of the loan charged to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent changes in the fair value of ORE are recognized as adjustments to the carrying amount, not to exceed the initial carrying value of the assets at the time of transfer. Changes in the fair value of ORE, subsequent to the initial transfer to ORE, and costs incurred to maintain ORE are recorded in other operating expenses on the consolidated statements of income. Gains or losses resulting from the sale of ORE are also recognized in other operating expenses on the date of sale. ORE totaling $12.7 million and $14.8 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, was included in the consolidated statements of financial position in interest receivable and other assets. ORE at December 31, 2015 and 2014 included $3.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively, related to closed branch offices.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is subject to impairment tests annually, or more frequently if triggering events occur and indicate potential impairment. The Corporation's annual goodwill impairment assessment was performed as of October 31, 2015. The Corporation elected to utilize the qualitative assessment of goodwill impairment allowed under ASC Topic 350-20, Goodwill (ASC 350-20) that became acceptable as a result of FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment. In accordance with ASC 350-20, the Corporation assessed qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting units were less than their carrying amounts.

In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Corporation assesses relevant events and circumstances, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance, changes in the composition or carrying amount of assets and liabilities, the market price of the Corporation's common stock, and other relevant factors. Based on the qualitative assessment performed, the Corporation determined that no goodwill impairment was evident as of the October 31, 2015 assessment date. The Corporation also determined that no triggering events occurred that indicated impairment from the most recent assessment date through December 31, 2015 and that the Corporation's goodwill was not impaired at December 31, 2015.

Other Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of core deposit intangible assets, non-compete intangible assets and MSRs. Core deposit intangible assets arose as the result of business combinations or other acquisitions and are amortized over periods ranging from 10 to 15 years, primarily on an accelerated basis, as applicable.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-based Compensation

The Corporation grants stock options, stock awards, restricted stock performance units and restricted stock service-based units to certain executive and senior management employees. The Corporation accounts for share-based compensation expense using the modified-prospective transition method. Under that method, compensation expense is recognized for stock options based on the estimated grant date fair value as computed using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the probability of issuance. The Corporation accounts for stock awards based on the closing stock price of the Corporation's common stock on the date of the award. The fair values of both stock options and stock awards are recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Compensation expense is adjusted to reflect actual forfeitures at the time they occur. The Corporation accounts for restricted stock performance units based on the closing stock price of the Corporation's common stock on the date of grant, discounted by the present value of estimated future dividends to be declared over the requisite performance or service period. The fair value of restricted stock performance units is recognized as compensation expense over the expected requisite performance period, or requisite service period for awards with multiple performance and service conditions. The Corporation accounts for restricted stock service-based units based on the closing stock price of the Corporation's common stock on the date of grant, as these awards accrue dividend equivalents equal to the amount of any cash dividends that would have been payable to a shareholder owning the number of shares of the Corporation's common stock represented by the restricted stock service-based units. The fair value of the restricted stock service-based units is recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period.

Cash flows realized from the tax benefits of exercised stock option awards that result from actual tax deductions that are in excess of the recorded tax benefits related to the compensation expense recognized for those options (excess tax benefits) are classified as financing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Life Insurance, Corporate or Bank Owned

Bank-Owned Life Insurance

The Corporation has life insurance policies on certain key officers of its bank subsidiaries. The majority of the bank-owned life insurance policies of the Corporation were obtained through its acquisition of Lake Michigan. Bank-owned life insurance is recorded at the cash surrender value, net of surrender charges, and is included within other assets on the consolidated statements of financial position and changes in the cash surrender values are recorded as other noninterest income on the consolidated statements of income.

Short-term Borrowings

Short-term borrowings are comprised of securities sold under agreements to repurchase with customers, federal funds purchased and short-term FHLB advances with original scheduled maturities of one year or less. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase with customers are collateralized financing transactions and the obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position. The dollar amount of the securities underlying the agreements remain in the Corporation's investment securities portfolio. The Corporation's securities sold under agreements to repurchase with customers are considered a stable source of liquidity, much like its core deposit base, and are generally only provided to customers that have an established banking relationship with Chemical Bank.

Other Borrowings

Other borrowings are comprised of securities sold under agreements with an unaffiliated third-party financial institution, a secured non-revolving line-of-credit with an unaffiliated third-party financial institution, subordinated debentures and long-term FHLB advances. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are collateralized financing transactions and the obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position. The dollar amount of the securities underlying the agreements remain in the Corporation's investment securities portfolio.

FHLB advances, both short-term and long-term, are borrowings from the FHLB to fund short-term liquidity needs as well as a portion of the loan and investment securities portfolios. These advances are secured, under a blanket security agreement, by first lien residential mortgage loans with an aggregate book value equal to at least 140% of the FHLB advances and the FHLB stock owned by the Corporation. FHLB advances with an original maturity of one year or less are classified as short-term and FHLB advances with an original maturity of more than one year are classified as long-term.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis refers to the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts such sales or transfers based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. Assumptions are developed based on prioritizing information within a fair value hierarchy that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data, such as the reporting entity's own data.

The Corporation may choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value measurement option has been elected are reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option (i) may be applied instrument by instrument, with certain exceptions, allowing the Corporation to record identical financial assets and liabilities at fair value or by another measurement basis permitted under GAAP, (ii) is irrevocable (unless a new election date occurs) and (iii) is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Corporation had elected the fair value option on all of its residential mortgage loans held-for-sale. The Corporation has not elected the fair value option for any other financial assets or liabilities.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plan Actuarial Assumptions

The Corporation's defined benefit pension, supplemental pension and postretirement benefit obligations and related costs are calculated using actuarial concepts and measurements. Two critical assumptions, the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, are important elements of expense and/or benefit obligation measurements. Other assumptions involve employee demographic factors such as retirement patterns, mortality, turnover and the rate of future compensation increases, as well as future health care costs. The Corporation evaluates all assumptions annually. Mortality assumptions at December 31, 2015 were based on the RP-2014 mortality tables, as prescribed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, using the MP-2015 mortality improvement scale. Mortality assumptions at December 31, 2014 were based on the RP-2014 mortality tables using the MP-2014 mortality improvement scale.

The discount rate enables the Corporation to state expected future benefit payments as a present value on the measurement date. The Corporation determined the discount rate at December 31, 2015 and 2014 by utilizing the results from a discount rate model that involves selecting a portfolio of bonds to settle the projected benefit payments of each plan. The selected bond portfolios are derived from a universe of corporate bonds rated at Aa quality. After a bond portfolio is selected, a single rate is determined that equates the market value of the bonds purchased to the discounted value of the plan's benefit payments which represents the discount rate. A lower discount rate increases the present value of benefit obligations and increases pension, supplemental pension and postretirement benefit expenses.

To determine the expected long-term rate of return on defined benefit pension plan assets, the Corporation considers the current asset allocation of the defined benefit pension plan, as well as historical and expected returns on each asset class. A lower expected rate of return on defined benefit pension plan assets will increase pension expense.

The Corporation recognizes the over- or under-funded status of a plan as an other asset or other liability in the consolidated statements of financial position as measured by the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the projected benefit obligation. Unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Corporation measures defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of December 31.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Income and Other Taxes

The Corporation is subject to the income and other tax laws of the United States, the State of Michigan and other states where nexus has been created. These laws are complex and are subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the various taxing authorities. In determining the provision for income and other taxes, management must make judgments and estimates about the application of these inherently complex laws, related regulations and case law. In the process of preparing the Corporation's tax returns, management attempts to make reasonable interpretations of enacted tax laws. These interpretations are subject to challenge by the tax authorities upon audit or to reinterpretation based on management's ongoing assessment of facts and evolving case law.

The Corporation and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. The provision for federal income taxes is based on income and expenses, as reported in the consolidated financial statements, rather than amounts reported on the Corporation's federal income tax return. The difference between the federal statutory income tax rate and the Corporation's effective federal income tax rate is primarily a function of the proportion of the Corporation's interest income exempt from federal taxation, nondeductible interest expense and other nondeductible expenses relative to pretax income and tax credits. When income and expenses are recognized in different periods for tax purposes than for book purposes, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Differences in the tax and book carrying amounts of assets and liabilities can also be generated when the Corporation acquires other banks or bank branches. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date of the change.

On a quarterly basis, management assesses the reasonableness of its effective federal tax rate based upon its estimate of taxable income and the applicable taxes expected for the full year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reassessed on a quarterly basis, including the need for a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

Uncertain income tax positions are evaluated to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the tax position. If a tax position is more-likely-than-not to be sustained, a tax benefit is recognized for the amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized. Reserves for contingent income tax liabilities attributable to unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions are reviewed quarterly for adequacy based upon developments in tax law and the status of audits or examinations. The Corporation had no contingent income tax liabilities recorded at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Investments in Tax Credit Projects

Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects, Federal Historic Projects and New Market Tax Credits

The Corporation invests in qualified affordable housing projects, federal historic projects, and new market projects for the purpose of community reinvestment and obtaining tax credits. Return on the Corporation's investment in these projects comes in the form of the tax credits and tax losses that pass through to the Corporation. The carrying value of the investments are reflected in other assets on the consolidated statements of financial position. The Corporation utilizes the proportional amortization method to account for investments in qualified affordable housing projects and the equity method to account for investments in other tax credit projects.

Under the proportional amortization method, the Corporation amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits allocated. The Corporation recognized additional income tax expense attributable to the amortization of investments in qualified affordable housing projects of $1.3 million and $0.4 million during 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Corporation's remaining investment in qualified affordable housing projects accounted for under the proportional amortization method totaled $21.7 million at December 31, 2015 and $4.9 million at December 31, 2014. The increase in qualified affordable housing project investments at December 31, 2015, compared to December 31, 2014, was attributable to investments acquired as part of the Lake Michigan transaction.

Under the equity method, the Corporation's share of the earnings or losses are included in other operating expenses on the consolidated statements of income. The Corporation's investment in new market projects accounted for under the equity method totaled $1.7 million at December 31, 2015. There were no investments in such projects accounted for under the equity method as of December 31, 2014.

The Corporation's unfunded equity contributions relating to investments in qualified affordable housing projects, federal historic tax projects and new market projects is recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial position. The Corporation's remaining unfunded equity contributions totaled $8.0 million at December 31, 2015.

Management analyzes these investments for potential impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more-likely-than-not that the carrying amount of the investment will not be realized. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of an investment exceeds its fair value. There were no impairment losses recognized as of December 31, 2015 or 2014.

The Corporation consolidates variable interest entities (VIEs) in which it is the primary beneficiary. In general, a VIE is an entity that either (i) has an insufficient amount of equity to carry out its principal activities without additional subordinated financial support, (ii) has a group of equity owners that are unable to make significant decisions about its activities or (iii) has a group of equity owners that do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns as generated by its operations. If any of these characteristics are present, the entity is subject to a variable interests consolidation model, and consolidation is based on variable interests, not on ownership of the entity's outstanding voting stock. Variable interests are defined as contractual, ownership, or other monetary interests in an entity that change with fluctuations in the entity's net asset value. The primary beneficiary consolidates the VIE. The primary beneficiary is defined as the enterprise that has the power to direct the activities and absorb losses or the right to receive benefits. The Corporation is a significant limited partner in the qualified affordable housing, federal historic and new market projects it has invested in. These projects meet the definition of VIEs. However, the Corporation is not the primary beneficiary of any of the VIEs in which it holds a limited partnership interest; therefore, the VIEs are not consolidated in the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income of the Corporation includes net income and adjustments to shareholders' equity for changes in unrealized gains and losses on investment securities available-for-sale and changes in the net actuarial gain/loss for the Corporation's defined benefit pension and postretirement plans, net of income taxes. The Corporation presents comprehensive income as a component in the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity and the components of other comprehensive income separately in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts appearing in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the current presentation. The reclassification had no effect on net income or shareholders’ equity as previously reported.

Adopted and Pending Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Business Combinations

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (ASU 2015-16). ASU 2015-16 amends current guidance by requiring companies that make an acquisition to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period by calculating the adjustments as if they were known at the acquisition date, but recognizing the adjustments in the reporting period in which they occur, rather than retroactively accounting for provisional adjustments by revising prior-period information as GAAP currently requires. ASU 2015-16 also requires a company to report, either on its income statement or in a footnote disclosure, the portion of the amount that is recorded in its earnings for the current period, by line item, that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods had the adjustment to the provisional amounts been recognized as of the acquisition date. ASU 2015-16 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Corporation elected to adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-16 as of and for its quarter ended September 30, 2015. The Corporation's adoption of ASU 2015-16 in the third quarter of 2015 did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations. During the third quarter of 2015, the Corporation made adjustments to provisional amounts previously recorded related to the acquisitions of Lake Michigan, Monarch and Northwestern. Additional information regarding these adjustments is included in Note 2, Mergers and Acquisitions, to these consolidated financial statements.

In-Substance Foreclosures

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2014-04). ASU 2014-04 clarifies that an in-substance foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (i) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (ii) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy the loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or similar legal agreement. ASU 2014-04 also requires disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure. ASU 2014-04 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. Once adopted, an entity can elect either (i) a modified retrospective transition method or (ii) a prospective transition method. The modified retrospective transition method is applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to residential mortgage loans and foreclosed residential real estate properties existing as of the beginning of the period for which the amendments of ASU 2014-04 are effective, with real estate reclassified to loans measured at the carrying value of the real estate at the date of adoption and loans reclassified to real estate measured at the lower of net carrying value of the loan or the fair value of the real estate less costs to sell at the date of adoption. The prospective transition method is applied by means of applying the amendments of ASU 2014-04 to all instances of receiving physical possession of residential real estate properties that occur after the date of adoption. The Corporation's adoption of ASU 2014-04 on January 1, 2015 did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Share-Based Compensation

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2014-12). ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting of share-based payment awards and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The requisite service period ends when the employee can cease rendering service and still be eligible to vest in the award if the performance target is achieved. ASU 2014-12 is effective for all entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in ASU 2014-12 either (i) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (ii) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Corporation's early adoption of ASU 2014-12 on January 1, 2015 did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-14, Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Classification of Certain Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2014-14). ASU 2014-14 provides clarifying guidance related to how creditors classify government-guaranteed loans upon foreclosure. Upon foreclosure of a government-guaranteed mortgage loan, the loan should be derecognized and a separate other receivable should be recognized if the following conditions are met: (i) the loan has a government guarantee that is not separable from the loan before foreclosure; (ii) at the time of foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to convey the real estate property to the guarantor and make a claim on the guarantee, and the creditor has the ability to recover under that claim; and (iii) at the time of foreclosure, any amount of the claim that is determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed. The separate other receivable should be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor at the time of foreclosure. ASU 2014-14 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. An entity should adopt ASU 2014-14 using either the modified retrospective method or the prospective transition method. An entity must apply the same method elected under ASU 2014-04. Early adoption is permitted if the entity has already adopted ASU 2014-04. The Corporation's adoption of ASU 2014-14 on January 1, 2015 did not have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Pending Accounting Pronouncements

Recognition and Measurement

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU 2016-01). ASU 2016-01 amends current guidance by requiring companies to recognize changes in fair value for equity investments that have a readily determinable fair value through net income rather than through other comprehensive income. Under ASU 2016-01, equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value will either be accounted for the same as equity investments that have a readily determinable fair value, with changes in fair value recognized through net income, or carried at cost, adjusted for changes in observable prices based on orderly transactions for identical or similar investments issued by the same issuer and further adjusted for impairment, if applicable. ASU 2016-01 also requires a qualitative assessment of impairment indicators each reporting period. If this assessment indicates that impairment exists, companies must adjust the investment to fair value and recognize an impairment loss in net income, even if the impairment is determined to be temporary. ASU 2016-01 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Corporation's adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.