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

FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
 ☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
            For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
OR
☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
            For the transition period from ____ to ____

Commission File Number: 000-16772
pebo-20211231_g1.jpg
PEOPLES BANCORP INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio 31-0987416
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
138 Putnam Street, P.O. Box 738,
 Marietta,Ohio 45750-0738
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (740)373-3155
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common shares, without par valuePEBOThe Nasdaq Stock Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.          Yes    x    No    o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).                      Yes    x    No    o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 o
Accelerated filer
 x
Non-accelerated filer
 o
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report . ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ☐        No x



State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter:

As of June 30, 2021 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter), the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common shares (the only common equity of the registrant) held by non-affiliates was $553,261,000 based upon the closing price as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market®.  For this purpose, executive officers and directors of the registrant are considered affiliates.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date: 28,442,702 common shares, without par value, at March 11, 2022.

Document Incorporated by Reference:
Portions of Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 28, 2022 (the "2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders"), are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





3


As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Form 10-K"), "Peoples" refers to Peoples Bancorp Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries collectively, except where the context indicates the reference relates solely to the registrant, Peoples Bancorp Inc. Unless otherwise indicated, all note references contained in this Form 10-K refer to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included immediately following "ITEM 9C DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS" of this Form 10-K.
PART I
ITEM 1 BUSINESS
The disclosures set forth in this Item are qualified by "ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS" and the section captioned "Forward-Looking Statements" in "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K and other cautionary statements set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
Corporate Overview
Peoples Bancorp Inc. is a financial holding company, which was organized in 1980. Peoples operates principally through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank, an Ohio state-chartered bank that was first chartered in 1902. Peoples' other wholly-owned subsidiaries are Peoples Investment Company ("PIC"), Peoples Risk Management, Inc., a captive insurance subsidiary and Vantage Financial ("Vantage"). Peoples also holds all of the common securities of NB&T Statutory Trust III and FNB Capital Trust One. Peoples Bank's operating subsidiaries include Peoples Insurance Agency, LLC ("Peoples Insurance"), and an asset management company, Peoples Tax Credit Equity, LLC.
Business Overview
Peoples makes available a complete line of commercial and consumer banking, trust and investment, insurance, premium financing solutions, equipment leases and equipment financing agreements through its financial subsidiaries – Peoples Bank and Peoples Insurance. These products and services include the following:
◦various demand deposit accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and certificates of deposit;
◦commercial loans, residential real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, consumer loans and Overdraft Privilege;
◦debit and automated teller machine ("ATM") cards;
◦credit cards for individuals and businesses;
◦merchant credit card transaction processing services;
◦person-to-person payment processing via Zelle®;
◦mobile banking features including check deposit, withdrawals with cardless cash, alert notifications, Apple Pay® and Samsung Pay®;
◦safe deposit rental facilities;
◦money orders and cashier's checks;
◦a full range of life, health, and property and casualty insurance products;
◦third-party insurance administration services;
◦insurance premium financing;
◦commercial equipment leasing;
◦technology equipment leasing;
◦brokerage services;
◦custom-tailored fiduciary and trust services;
◦asset management and administration services;
◦employee benefit, retirement, and health care plan administration services: and
◦underwriting, origination and servicing of equipment leases and equipment financing agreements.
Peoples' financial products and services are primarily offered through its financial service locations and ATMs in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, as well as through online resources that are web-based and mobile-based. Peoples' premium financing and equipment leasing services are offered nationwide. Brokerage services are offered exclusively through an unaffiliated registered broker-dealer located at Peoples Bank's offices. Indirect consumer lending activities are provided through approved dealerships. Peoples Bank's credit card and merchant processing services are provided through joint marketing arrangements with third parties.
Peoples' business activities are currently limited to one reporting unit and reportable operating segment, which is community banking. For a discussion of Peoples' financial performance for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, see Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Peoples has a history of expanding its business, including its customer base and primary market area, through a combination of internal growth and targeted acquisitions. The internal growth may include opening de novo banking and loan production offices located in or near Peoples' existing market area. Acquisitions have consisted of traditional banking offices and loan production offices, both individually and as part of entire financial institutions, insurance agencies, financial advisory books of business,

4


insurance premium financing and equipment leasing services. The primary objectives of Peoples' expansion efforts include: (1) providing opportunities to integrate non-traditional products and services, such as insurance, and investment administration and management, insurance premium financing and commercial leasing options, along with the traditional banking products offered to Peoples' clients; (2) increasing market share in existing markets; (3) expanding Peoples' core financial service businesses of banking, insurance, investment and investment management, insurance premium financing and equipment leasing services; and (4) improving operating efficiency by directing resources toward offices and markets with the greatest earnings opportunities.
Recent Corporate Developments
On March 7, 2022, Peoples wholly-owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank, closed on its acquisition of Vantage Financial, LLC ("Vantage"), a nationwide provider of equipment financing headquartered in Excelsior, Minnesota. Under the terms of the agreement, Peoples Bank purchased 100% of the equity of Vantage for total cash consideration of $54.0 million. Peoples Bank repaid approximately $28.9 million in recourse debt on behalf of Vantage. Vantage offers mid-ticket equipment leases, primarily for business essential information technology equipment across a wide array of industries. Upon completion of the transaction, Vantage became a subsidiary of Peoples Bank. As a subsidiary, Vantage will continue to operate under the name Vantage Financial, which will leverage Vantage's strong brand recognition within the equipment finance industry.
On September 17, 2021, Peoples' completed its merger with Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. ("Premier"), in which Peoples acquired, in an all-stock merger, Premier, a bank holding company headquartered in Huntington, West Virginia, and the parent company of Premier Bank, Inc. ("Premier Bank") and Citizens Deposit Bank and Trust, Inc. ("Citizens"). Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 26, 2021, Premier merged with and into Peoples (the "Merger"), and Premier Bank and Citizens subsequently merged with and into Peoples' wholly-owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank, in a transaction valued at $261.9 million. At the close of business on September 17, 2021, the financial services offices of Premier Bank and Citizens became branches of Peoples Bank. Peoples acquired $1.1 billion in loans and $1.8 billion in deposits. Peoples preliminarily recorded $68.2 million in goodwill and $4.2 million in other intangible assets in connection with the Merger. Refer to "Note 20 Acquisitions" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
On May 4, 2021, Peoples Insurance Agency, LLC ("Peoples Insurance") acquired substantially all of the assets and rights of an insurance agency located in Pikeville, Kentucky and certain rights to related customer accounts, which were previously developed and maintained by Justice & Stamper Insurance Agency, Inc., pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement between Peoples Insurance and Justice & Stamper Insurance Agency, Inc. Total consideration for this transaction was $325,000, with $162,500 paid at closing and the second installment in the amount of $162,500 to be paid on the first anniversary of the closing date, less any adjustments pursuant to adverse claims incurred or sustained by or imposed by Peoples Insurance. Peoples recorded customer relationship intangible assets of $230,000 and goodwill of $46,000, related to this transaction. Refer to "Note 20 Acquisitions" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
On March 31, 2021, Peoples completed its acquisition of NS Leasing, LLC ("NSL") pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, dated March 24, 2021. Peoples Bank acquired the equipment finance and leasing business of NSL. The transaction closed after the end of business on March 31, 2021 and Peoples Bank began operating the acquired business as North Star Leasing, a division of Peoples Bank on April 1, 2021. Peoples Bank acquired assets comprising NSL's equipment finance business, including $83.3 million in leases and satisfied, on behalf of NSL, certain third-party debt of $69.1 million. Peoples Bank paid total consideration of $116.6 million, plus a potential earn-out payment to NSL of up to $3.1 million. Based in Burlington, Vermont, the North Star Leasing division underwrites, originates and services equipment leases and equipment financing agreements to businesses throughout the United States. Peoples recorded preliminary goodwill in the amount of $24.7 million and preliminary other intangibles of $14.0 million, which included a customer relationship intangible, trade name intangible and non-compete agreements related to this transaction. Peoples recorded an additional $0.6 million in non-interest expense during the last six months of 2021 related to an update to the estimated earn-out provision of $3.0 million. As of December 31, 2021, equipment leases had grown to $122.5 million. Refer to "Note 20 Acquisitions" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
On January 28, 2021, Peoples' Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $30 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares, replacing the share repurchase program which had authorized Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $40 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares. There were no common share repurchases during 2021, under the existing share repurchase program. On February 27, 2020, Peoples' Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $40.0 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares. This program had replaced the share repurchase program authorizing Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $20.0 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares, which Peoples' Board of Directors had approved on November 3, 2015 and which was terminated on February 27, 2020. During 2020, Peoples repurchased 1,299,577 of Peoples' common shares through Peoples' then-effective common share repurchase program for a total of $29.3 million.
Primary Market Area and Customers
Peoples considers its primary market area to be those counties with a physical branch presence and their contiguous counties. This includes Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Peoples currently operates 66 offices in

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Ohio, 34 offices in West Virginia, 26 offices in Kentucky, three offices in Virginia, three offices in Washington D.C., one office in Maryland, an insurance premium finance lending office in Missouri, an equipment leasing office in Vermont and a technology equipment leasing office in Minnesota. Peoples' market area consists of rural, small urban and metropolitan markets in which Peoples serves a diverse group of industries and employers. Principal industries served in Peoples' primary market area include manufacturing, distribution, commercial real estate, health care, education, municipal, agricultural, automotive, wholesale and retail trade, franchise, and service-related industries. This broad-based economic area provides diversity, which helps prevent Peoples' revenue and earnings from being largely dependent upon any single industry segment.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created disruptions throughout Peoples' primary market area. Governments, businesses, and the public have taken unprecedented actions to contain the spread of COVID-19, or variants thereof, and mitigate its effects. These steps have included vaccines, quarantines, travel bans, shelter-in-place orders, closures of businesses and schools, government fiscal stimulus, payment programs, and legislation designed to deliver monetary aid as well as other actions taken by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board") with respect to monetary policy. These actions had a negative impact on the customers of Peoples, including businesses and individuals. The availability, effectiveness and acceptance of vaccines for COVID-19, or variants thereof, to the general public could continue to impact Peoples' market area and customers.
Lending Activities
Peoples Bank originates various types of loans, including commercial loans (comprised of commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans, and construction loans), premium finance loans, residential real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, consumer loans (comprised of both indirect and direct loans) and Overdraft Privilege.  Peoples Bank's lending activities are focused principally on lending opportunities within its primary market areas, except for its premium finance lending and equipment leasing businesses. However, Peoples Bank may occasionally originate loans outside its primary market area.  In general, Peoples Bank retains the majority of loans and leases it originates; however, certain longer-term fixed-rate mortgage loan originations, primarily one-to-four family residential mortgages, and portions of select commercial real estate loans and commercial and industrial loans are sold into the secondary market or to other financial institutions.
Peoples Bank's loans consist of credit extensions to borrowers spread over a broad range of industrial classifications. At December 31, 2021, Peoples Bank had no concentration of loans to borrowers engaged in the same or similar industries that exceeded 10% of total loans (also referred to as "loans, net of deferred fees and costs"), nor did Peoples Bank have any loans outstanding to non-United States ("U.S.") entities.
Commercial Lending
Commercial loans include commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans, and construction loans. Commercial loans represented the largest portion of Peoples Bank's total loan portfolio, comprising approximately 59.3% and 59.0% of total loans at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Commercial lending inherently carries a significant risk of loss since commercial loan relationships generally involve larger loan balances than other loan classes.
Commercial loan terms include amortization schedules and interest rates commensurate with the purpose of each loan, the identified source of repayment, and the risk involved. The majority of Peoples Bank's commercial loans carry variable interest rates equal to an underlying index rate plus a margin. However, Peoples Bank also originates commercial loans with fixed interest rates for periods generally ranging from three to ten years. At December 31, 2021, the commercial loan portfolio consisted of 72.6% in variable interest rate loans and 27.4% in fixed interest rate loans. In determining whether to grant a commercial loan, Peoples Bank primarily reviews a schedule of cash flows to evaluate whether the borrower's anticipated future cash flows will be adequate to service both interest and principal due.
Peoples Bank also originates variable rate loans with interest rate swaps, where the customer enters into an interest rate swap with Peoples Bank on terms that match the terms of the loan. By entering into the interest rate swap with the customer, Peoples Bank effectively provides the customer with a fixed-rate loan while creating a variable rate asset for Peoples Bank. In addition, Peoples Bank offsets its exposure in each swap by entering into an offsetting interest rate swap with an unaffiliated financial institution. These interest rate swaps do not qualify as designated hedges; therefore, each swap is accounted for as a standalone derivative instrument.
Peoples Bank evaluates all commercial loan relationships whose aggregate credit exposure is greater than $1.0 million on an annual basis for possible credit deterioration. This loan review process provides Peoples Bank with opportunities to identify potential problem loans and take proactive actions to assure repayment of the loan or minimize Peoples Bank's risk of loss, such as reviewing the relationship more frequently based upon the loan quality rating and aggregate outstanding exposure. Upon detection of the reduced ability of a borrower to meet cash flow obligations, the loan is reviewed for possible downgrade in the loan quality rating or placement on nonaccrual status. Peoples Bank also completes evaluation procedures for a selection of larger loan relationships on a quarterly basis. Loan relationships whose aggregate credit exposure to Peoples Bank is equal to or less than $1.0 million are reviewed on an event-driven basis. Triggers for review include a borrower's request to renew a maturing loan or line of credit, actual knowledge of adverse events affecting the borrower's business, receipt of financial statements indicating deteriorating credit quality, or other similar events.

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020, as amended (the "CARES Act"), was signed into law on March 27, 2020, to provide national emergency economic relief measures. The CARES Act amended the loan program of the Small Business Administration (the "SBA"), in which Peoples Bank participates, to create a guaranteed, unsecured loan program, the Paycheck Protection Program (the "PPP"), to fund operational costs of eligible businesses, organizations and self-employed persons during COVID-19. These economic relief measures were extended through the enactment in December 2020 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The PPP loan program ended on May 31, 2021, meaning no new PPP loans have been originated since this date.
Commercial and Industrial Loans
Commercial and industrial loans are loans to operating companies for purposes of financing working capital needs, fixed asset acquisitions, acquisitions of other businesses, and other business activities. Typically, these loans are secured with business assets and, in some cases, owner-occupied real estate and are personally guaranteed by the owners of the operating companies. The primary source of repayment of this type of loan is generally cash flows generated from operations of the business, which can be susceptible to adverse changes in economic conditions of the general economy as a whole or within a specific industry. Also included in commercial and industrial loan balances are the PPP loans. At December 31, 2021, commercial and industrial loans comprised 19.9% of Peoples Bank's total loan portfolio compared to 28.6% at December 31, 2020.
Commercial Real Estate Loans
Peoples Bank's portfolio of commercial real estate loans comprised 34.7% of total loans at December 31, 2021, and 27.3% at December 31, 2020. Peoples Bank originates commercial real estate loans for both owner-occupied commercial real estate and non-owner-occupied investment commercial real estate. Generally, the real estate securing these loans is stabilized and typically the loans are personally guaranteed by the owners of the borrowing entities. Normally, owner-occupied commercial real estate loans are secured by office buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and other commercial and industrial properties occupied by operating companies. The source of repayment for this type of loan is typically cash flow from the operating company occupying the real estate. Investment commercial real estate generally includes office buildings and complexes, retail facilities, multifamily complexes, land under development, and industrial properties, as well as other commercial or industrial real estate. Typically, the primary source of repayment of this type of loan is rental income generated from leasing activities.
Construction Loans
Peoples Bank originates construction loans to provide temporary financing during the construction phase for commercial and residential properties. Peoples Bank's construction lending is focused primarily on commercial and residential projects of select real estate developers. These projects include the construction of apartment, office, retail, industrial complexes, and other commercial and residential projects. The underwriting criteria for construction loans are generally the same as for non-construction loans. Construction loans comprised 4.7% of Peoples Bank's total loan portfolio at both December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Construction financing is generally considered to involve higher credit risk since Peoples Bank is dependent largely upon the accuracy of the initial estimate of the property's value at the completion of construction and the estimated cost (including interest) of construction. If the estimated construction cost proves to be inaccurate, Peoples Bank may be required to advance funds beyond the amount originally committed to enable completion of the project. If the estimate of property's value upon completion proves inaccurate, Peoples Bank may be confronted, at or prior to the maturity of the loan, with a property having a value insufficient to ensure full repayment, should the borrower default. In the event a default on a construction loan occurs and foreclosure follows, Peoples Bank must take control of the project and attempt to either arrange for completion of construction or sell the collateral of the unfinished project. In certain cases, such as real estate development projects, repayment of construction loans occurs as a result of subsequent sale of the developed real estate. Additional risk exists in these cases as the developer may lack funds to repay the loan if the property is not sold upon completion.
To mitigate the risk of construction lending, Peoples Bank requires periodic site inspections, typically completed by an independent third party, to ensure appropriate completion of the project prior to any disbursements. Construction loans are structured to provide sufficient time to complete construction, giving consideration to weather or other variables that influence completion time. Peoples Bank typically requires the term of its construction loans to be less than three years.
Insurance Premium Finance Loans
Peoples Bank's portfolio of insurance premium finance loans comprised 3.0% of total loans at December 31, 2021, with the portfolio having been acquired during 2020. The insurance premium finance loans are originated through independent insurance agency partners nationwide and provide funding for the purchase by borrowers of property and casualty insurance policies from the insurance agency partners. The loans are secured by the refundable, unearned premiums with respect to the underlying insurance policies. These loans require a 10%-20% down payment followed by no less than nine consecutive, equal monthly payments of principal plus interest. This type of lending is relatively low risk, as the loan amount is generally less than the refundable, unearned premiums of the underlying insurance policy. If the loan becomes delinquent, the underlying insurance policy is cancelled, and the unearned premiums are refunded directly to Peoples Bank.

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Commercial Equipment Leases and Equipment Financing Agreements
Peoples Bank's portfolio of leases comprised 2.7% of total loans at December 31, 2021, with the portfolio having been acquired during 2021. Based in Burlington, Vermont, the North Star Leasing division underwrites, originates and services equipment leases and equipment financing agreements to businesses throughout the United States. These leases transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks of equipment ownership to the lessee. The present value of future lease payments and the estimated residual value are recorded as leases on Peoples' Consolidated Balance Sheet. Revenue is recognized as a constant percentage return on the lease's carrying value. Lease origination costs are deferred and amortized as an adjustment of the related lease's yield.
Residential Real Estate Loans
Peoples Bank's portfolio of residential real estate loans comprised 17.2% of total loans at December 31, 2021, and 16.9% at December 31, 2020. The residential real estate loans originated by Peoples Bank may either be retained in its loan portfolio, or sold into the secondary market with servicing either retained by Peoples Bank or sold with the loan. Peoples Bank also had $3.8 million of residential real estate loans held for sale and was servicing $430.6 million of loans, consisting primarily of one-to-four family residential mortgages, which had previously been sold into the secondary market, in each case, as of December 31, 2021. Peoples Bank also originates and retains jumbo residential mortgage loans for primary and secondary residences, which are nonconforming loans that have higher loan amounts than those acceptable for sale to the government-sponsored enterprises to which Peoples Bank typically sells residential mortgage loans.
Peoples Bank originates both fixed rate and variable rate residential real estate loans. From time to time, Peoples Bank sells its longer-term fixed rate real estate loans into the secondary market; however, Peoples Bank may retain certain fixed rate real estate loans.
Peoples Bank typically requires residential real estate loan amounts to be no more than 80% of the purchase price or the appraised value of the real estate securing the loan, whichever is lower, unless private mortgage insurance is obtained by the borrower for the percentage exceeding 80%. In limited circumstances, Peoples Bank may lend up to 100% of the appraised value of the real estate, although such lending currently is limited to loans that qualify under established federally-backed rural housing programs or through a designated low-to-moderate income loan program. Numerous risk factors attributable to real estate lending are considered during underwriting for the purposes of establishing an interest rate commensurate with the inherent risks of the loan.
Residential real estate loans are typically secured by first mortgages with evidence of title in favor of Peoples Bank in the form of an attorney's opinion of the title or a title insurance policy. Peoples Bank requires insurance, with Peoples Bank named as the mortgagee and loss payee. Peoples Bank requires evidence of insurance at the time of the loan closing. Additionally, Peoples Bank has a blanket insurance policy to cover loans secured by real estate with outstanding balances of less than $1 million that do not include an insurance escrow account. For loans secured by real estate with outstanding balances over $1 million or those that include an insurance escrow account, Peoples Bank force-places an insurance policy to cover the residential real estate loan when the borrower fails to maintain adequate insurance. Licensed appraisals are required for all residential real estate loans, and are completed by an independent third party. A compliance officer assigned to the line of business is responsible for working with the management team to identify, implement and test regulatory compliance controls.
Home Equity Lines of Credit
Peoples Bank originates home equity lines of credit that provide consumers with greater flexibility in financing personal expenditures. At December 31, 2021, outstanding home equity lines of credit comprised 3.7% of Peoples Bank's total loans, compared to 3.6% at December 31, 2020. Peoples Bank currently offers home equity lines of credit with a prime-based variable rate for the entire 10-year term of the loan and fixed rate installment loans with five-year to 20-year terms. At December 31, 2021, Peoples Bank's home equity loan portfolio consisted of 98.5% in variable interest rate loans and 1.5% in fixed interest rate loans. Peoples Bank also offers a home equity line of credit product whose terms include a fixed rate for the first five years, which converts to a variable interest rate for the remaining five years. At December 31, 2021, 17.6% of the total home equity loan portfolio was represented by convertible rate home equity lines of credit, with total outstanding principal balances and available credit amounts of $25.8 million and $49.9 million, respectively, and a weighted-average remaining maturity of 4.8 years. The average original loan amount under these convertible rate home equity lines of credit was $86,000 at December 31, 2021.
Home equity lines of credit are generally made as second mortgages by Peoples Bank. The maximum amount of a home equity line of credit is generally limited to 80% of the appraised value of the property less the balance of the first mortgage. Peoples Bank may lend up to 90% of the appraised value of the property (less the balance of the first mortgage) at higher interest rates that are commensurate with the additional risk being assumed in these situations. The home equity lines of credit are written with 10-year terms and are subject to a new underwriting review upon request for renewal.
Consumer Lending
Peoples Bank's consumer lending activities include consumer indirect loans and consumer direct loans, which primarily involve loans secured by automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and other personal property, as well as unsecured loans

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and personal lines of credit. Consumer loans generally involve more risk as to collectability than real estate mortgage loans because of the type and nature of the collateral or, in certain instances, the absence of collateral. As a result, consumer lending collections are dependent upon the borrower's continued financial stability, and are at more risk from adverse changes in personal circumstances. In addition, application of various state and federal laws, including bankruptcy and insolvency laws, could limit the amount that may be recovered under these loans. Credit approval for consumer loans typically requires demonstration of sufficiency of income to repay principal and interest due, stability of employment, an established credit record and sufficient collateral for secured loans. It is the policy of Peoples Bank to review its consumer loan portfolio monthly and to charge-off loans that do not meet its ongoing standards, while strictly adhering to all laws and regulations governing consumer lending. A compliance officer assigned to the line of business is responsible for working with the management team to identify, implement and test regulatory compliance controls.
Consumer Indirect Loans
Peoples Bank originates consumer indirect loans through select dealerships, which generally include loans secured by automobiles, motorcycles and recreational vehicles. At December 31, 2021, consumer indirect loans comprised 11.8% of Peoples Bank's total loan portfolio, compared to 14.8% at December 31, 2020.
Consumer indirect loans are originated at the point of sale, or dealership, and are subject to the same pricing structure and underwriting process as consumer loans originated through the retail branch channel. Consumer indirect lending offers Peoples Bank the opportunity to access additional customers outside of its primary office locations. Peoples Bank offers consumer indirect lending for new and pre-owned vehicles through approved franchise or independent dealerships. These dealerships undergo an approval process whereby Peoples Bank reviews the dealership licensing and industry experience, evaluates customer experience with the dealership and completes an inspection of the inventory, showroom, and general facilities. On an ongoing basis, the dealerships are monitored based on production volume, application approval rates, portfolio default rates, and adherence to loan pricing guidelines.
Consumer Direct Loans
Peoples Bank originates consumer direct loans primarily through its office locations. Consumer direct loans generally include loans secured by automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and other personal property; unsecured loans; and personal lines of credit. Consumer direct loans differ from consumer indirect loans as they include expanded products, such as unsecured loans, or loans secured by stock or deposits. Consumer direct loans comprised 2.3% of Peoples Bank's total loan portfolio at each of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Overdraft Privilege
Peoples Bank grants Overdraft Privilege to qualified customers. Overdraft Privilege is a service that provides overdraft protection to deposit customers, both individual and business, by establishing an Overdraft Privilege amount. After a 60-day waiting period to verify account activity, each new checking account usually receives an Overdraft Privilege amount of $400, $700 or $1,000 based on the type of account and other parameters, such as previous charge-off history or credit loss. Customers also have the ability to opt out of Overdraft Privilege offered by Peoples. Once established, customers are permitted to overdraw their checking account at Peoples Bank's discretion, up to their Overdraft Privilege limit, with each item being charged Peoples Bank's regular overdraft fee, with a maximum of seven charges per day when the customer's account is overdrawn more than $5. Customers repay the overdraft with their next deposit. Overdraft Privilege is designed to allow Peoples Bank to fill the void between traditional overdraft protection, such as a line of credit, and "check cashing stores." Under federal banking regulations, Peoples Bank is required to obtain the consent of its customers in order to apply Overdraft Privilege to ATM and one-time debit card transactions. While Overdraft Privilege generates fee income, these fees may be offset by additions to the provision for credit losses necessary to ensure the maintenance of an appropriate allowance for credit losses against overdrafts deemed uncollectable. This allowance, along with net charge-offs, was included in determining Peoples Bank's allowance for credit losses. At December 31, 2021, the unfunded commitment related to Overdraft Privilege was $74.0 million.
Investment Activities
At December 31, 2021, investment securities comprised 23.8% of Peoples' total assets, compared to 18.0% at December 31, 2020. The majority of Peoples' investment activities are conducted through Peoples Bank, although Peoples and its non-banking subsidiary, PIC, also may engage in investment activities from time to time. Investment activity by Peoples Bank is subject to certain regulatory guidelines and limitations on the types of securities eligible for purchase. As a result, the investment securities owned by Peoples Bank at December 31, 2021 included agencies and corporations of the U.S. government, including mortgage-backed securities, bank eligible obligations of any state or political subdivision in the U.S. and bank eligible corporate obligations, including private-label mortgage-backed securities. Peoples Bank also invests in tax credit funds. The investments owned by PIC consist of tax credit funds, municipal obligations, privately issued mortgage-backed securities, and subordinated debt issued by a non-related banking entity.
Peoples Bank's investment activities are governed internally by a policy approved by the Board of Directors of Peoples Bank, which is administered by Peoples Bank's Asset-Liability Management Committee ("ALCO"). The primary purpose of Peoples Bank's investment portfolio is to: (1) employ excess funds not needed to support loan demand; (2) provide a source of liquid

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assets to accommodate unanticipated deposit and loan fluctuations, and overall liquidity needs; (3) provide eligible securities to secure public and trust funds; and (4) earn the maximum overall return commensurate with Peoples Bank's risk appetite and liquidity needs. Investment strategies to achieve these objectives are reviewed and approved by the ALCO. In its evaluation of investment strategies, the ALCO considers various factors, including the interest rate environment, balance sheet mix, actual and anticipated loan demand, funding opportunities and Peoples Bank's overall interest rate sensitivity. The ALCO also has much broader responsibilities, which are discussed in the "Interest Rate Sensitivity and Liquidity" section of "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K.
Funding Sources
Peoples' primary sources of funds for lending and investing activities are interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing deposits. Cash flows from both the loan and investment portfolios, which include scheduled payments, as well as prepayments, calls and maturities, also provide a relatively stable source of funds. Peoples also utilizes a variety of short-term and long-term borrowings to fund asset growth and satisfy liquidity needs. Peoples' funding sources are managed through Peoples' asset-liability management process and monitored by the ALCO, which is discussed further in the "Interest Rate Sensitivity and Liquidity" section of "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K.
The following is a brief description of the various sources of funds utilized by Peoples:
Deposits
Peoples Bank obtains deposits principally from individuals and businesses within its primary market area by offering a broad selection of deposit products to clients. Deposit products for individuals have account terms that vary with respect to the minimum balance required, the time the funds must remain on deposit, and service charge schedules. Interest rates paid on specific deposit types are determined based on (1) the interest rates offered by competitors, (2) the anticipated amount and timing of funding needs, (3) the availability and cost of alternative sources of funding, and (4) the anticipated future economic conditions and interest rates. Business deposits, which include deposits from traditional commercial businesses as well as governmental entities, are obtained through an offering of multiple deposit account types as well as cash management solutions. Depending on the need of the entity, these deposits could be either interest-bearing or non-interest-bearing. The ability of Peoples Bank to offer competitive cash management solutions to its customers, enables it to obtain valuable operating account funds as well as non-operating account funds. Retail and business deposits are attractive sources of funding because of their stability and cost, relative to wholesale funding alternatives, in addition to providing opportunities for Peoples to build long-term client relationships through the cross-selling of its other products and services.
Peoples Bank also offers its customers the ability to receive multi-million dollar federal deposit insurance coverage for certificates of deposit ("CDs") through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service ("CDARS") program and money market deposit accounts through the Insured Cash Sweep Services ("ICS") network.  Under these programs, funds from large customer deposits are placed into accounts issued by other members of the CDARS program or ICS network in increments below the federal deposit insurance limits to ensure both principal and interest remain eligible for insurance. Peoples Bank also purchases certain "one-way buy" CDARS deposits, and overnight ICS network deposits which are utilized as a wholesale funding source, and these deposits are classified as brokered CDs in "Note 8 Deposits" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Peoples Bank occasionally obtains deposits from clients outside its primary market area, generally in the form of CDs, and has the ability, if determined to be appropriate, to obtain deposits from deposit brokers. These deposits are used to supplement Peoples Bank's deposits to fund loans originated to customers located outside its primary market area, as well as provide diversity in funding sources. While these deposits may carry slightly higher interest costs than other wholesale funds, they do not require Peoples Bank to secure the funds with collateral, unlike most other borrowed funds. Additionally, in recent years, Peoples has issued brokered CDs to fund fixed-rate interest rate swaps.
Additional information regarding the amounts and composition of Peoples Bank's deposits can be found in the "Deposits" section of "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K and in "Note 8 Deposits" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Borrowed Funds
Peoples obtains funds through a variety of short-term and long-term borrowings, which typically include advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (the "FHLB") and repurchase agreements. Peoples also has the ability to obtain funds, if determined to be appropriate, through federal funds purchased and advances from the Federal Reserve Discount Window. In addition, Peoples has the ability to obtain funds from unrelated financial institutions in the form of term loans or revolving lines of credit. Short-term borrowings are used generally to manage Peoples' daily liquidity needs since they typically may be repaid, in whole or part, at any time without a penalty. In recent years, Peoples has utilized interest rate swaps to obtain short-term borrowings at long-term fixed rates, effectively replacing maturing long-term borrowings. Long-term borrowings provide cost-

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effective options for funding asset growth and satisfying capital needs, due to the variety of pricing and maturity options available.
Additional information regarding the amounts and composition of Peoples' borrowed funds can be found in the "Borrowed Funds" section of "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K and in "Note 9 Short-Term Borrowings" and "Note 10 Long-Term Borrowings" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Competition
Peoples experiences intense competition within its primary market area due to the presence of several national, regional and local financial institutions and other service providers, including finance companies, financial technology companies, insurance agencies and mutual fund providers. Competition within the financial services and insurance industries continues to increase as a result of mergers between, and expansion of, financial services and insurance providers within and outside of Peoples' primary market areas. In addition, the deregulation of the financial services industry (see the discussion of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 in the section of this item captioned "Supervision and Regulation – Bank Holding Company Regulation") has allowed securities firms and insurance companies that have elected to become financial holding companies to acquire commercial banks and other financial institutions, which can create additional competitive pressure. In addition, financial technology companies, or "fintechs" are also providing nontraditional, but increasingly strong, competition for our borrowers, depositors, and other customers.
Peoples primarily competes based on client service, convenience and responsiveness to customer needs, product characteristics, interest rates on loans, insurance premium financing, leases and deposits, and the availability and pricing of fiduciary, employee benefit plan, brokerage and insurance services. However, some competitors may have greater resources, including additional technology offerings and higher lending limits than Peoples, which may adversely affect Peoples' ability to compete. Peoples' business strategy includes the use of a "needs-based" sales and service approach to serve customers and is intended to promote customers' continued use of multiple financial products and services. Peoples continues to emphasize the integration of traditional commercial banking products with non-traditional financial products, such as insurance and investment products. In addition, Peoples continuously works to improve its online and mobile capabilities to ensure customers are able to use its products and services utilizing many channels.
Historically, Peoples has focused on providing its full range of products and services in smaller metropolitan markets and certain major metropolitan areas. Management believes Peoples has developed a level of expertise in serving the financial service needs of all communities. Peoples' primary market area has expanded into larger metropolitan areas, such as central, southwestern and northeastern Ohio along with eastern Virginia, southern Maryland, Minnesota and Washington, D.C. Peoples also competes nationally when providing insurance premium financing and commercial equipment leases and equipment financing arrangements. These larger areas typically contain entrenched service providers with existing customer bases much larger than Peoples' current position. As a result, Peoples may be forced to compete more aggressively in order to grow its market share in these areas, which could reduce current and future profit potential derived from such markets.
Human Capital Resources
At December 31, 2021, Peoples had 1,188 full-time equivalent employees, compared to 894 at December 31, 2020. Peoples makes it a priority to provide a first class workplace for its employees, focusing on providing quality benefits, recognizing and rewarding performance, cultivating diversity, promoting a culture of learning and coaching in every direction. Peoples offers paid time off, medical, dental and vision insurance, along with wellness programs, a 401(k) program, an employee stock purchase program, programs to assist with education-related costs, reward and recognition programs, as well as other various programs and benefits. Peoples has also implemented a $15 minimum wage throughout the organization and is moving to have all associates at or above this threshold by January 2023.
Peoples strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace, free of harassment, and encourages employees to voice their opinions. Peoples works to attract and retain top quality talent, and in doing so, promotes a learning environment where positive constructive feedback can be given at any level of the organization. Employees are encouraged to communicate their thoughts, whether it is with a co-worker, management or the Human Resources Department. Peoples also provides many reward programs for employees and management to recognize contributions by individuals and teams within the organization. Peoples provides internal training throughout the organization, as well as opportunities to attend external and online training events. Managers complete quarterly performance reviews with employees, and semi-annual employee satisfaction pulse surveys are completed. Peoples tracks and monitors employee turnover and executes exit interviews to better understand why employees choose to leave the organization.
Peoples maintains a high level of commitment to its communities, which is shown both through employees volunteering and with donations made to many organizations within the Peoples footprint.
The safety of Peoples' employees is of utmost priority, and during 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic caused several changes. A portion of Peoples' workforce continued working remotely, to facilitate a smaller number of employees in the same location if not necessary. Peoples has also expanded the cleaning and sanitization of office locations, along with providing employees with appropriate protection equipment. Peoples has supported its employees during the pandemic, and provided time off with pay for those

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who were fully vaccinated and have either tested positive, or those caring for a family member who has tested positive, without requiring the employee to use paid time off that has been accrued. In addition, Peoples is conducting scheduled calls to speak to employees about the changes and ask for feedback about plans regarding COVID-19, and encouraging employees who are sick to stay home.
Intellectual Property and Proprietary Rights
Peoples has registered the service marks "Peoples Bank (with logo)," "Peoples Bancorp," "Peoples Bank," Peoples in motion logo consisting of three arched ribbons, "Working Together. Building Success.", "Peoples Insurance (with logo)", "Peoples Investment Services", “Peoples Premium Finance”, “North Star Leasing” and "peoplesbancorp.com" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the "USPTO"). These service marks currently have expiration dates ranging from 2022 to 2031.
Peoples may renew the registrations of service marks with the USPTO generally for additional five-year to 10-year periods indefinitely, provided it continues to use the service marks and files appropriate maintenance and renewal documentation with the USPTO at the times required by the federal trademark laws and regulations. Peoples intends to continue to use its registered service marks and to timely renew the registration of each of them.
Peoples has proprietary interests in the Internet domain names "peoplespf.com," "pebo.com" and "peoplesbancorp.com." Internet domain names in the U.S. and in foreign countries are regulated, but the laws and regulations governing the Internet are continually evolving.
Supervision and Regulation
Peoples and its subsidiaries are subject to extensive supervision and regulation by federal and state agencies. The regulation of financial holding companies and their subsidiaries is intended primarily for the protection of consumers, depositors, borrowers, the Deposit Insurance Fund and the banking system as a whole, and not for the protection of shareholders. Applicable laws and regulations restrict permissible activities and investments, and require actions to protect loan, deposit, brokerage, fiduciary and other customers, as well as the Deposit Insurance Fund. Such laws and regulations may also restrict Peoples' ability to repurchase its common shares or to receive dividends from Peoples Bank, and impose capital adequacy and liquidity requirements. The following is a summary of the regulatory agencies, statutes and related regulations that have, or could have, a material impact on Peoples' business. This discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to such regulations and statutes.
Financial Holding Company
Peoples is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. As a financial holding company, Peoples is subject to regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"), and to inspection, examination and supervision by the Federal Reserve Board.
The Federal Reserve Board has extensive enforcement authority over financial holding companies. In general, the Federal Reserve Board may initiate enforcement actions for violations of laws and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices. The Federal Reserve Board may assess civil money penalties, issue cease and desist or removal orders, and require that a financial holding company divest subsidiaries, including subsidiary banks. Peoples is routinely required to file reports and other information with the Federal Reserve Board regarding Peoples' business operations and those of its subsidiaries.
Subsidiary Bank
Peoples Bank is subject to regulation and examination primarily by the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions ("ODFI") and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland ("FRB"). Peoples Bank must also follow the regulations promulgated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the "CFPB"), which regulates consumer financial products and services and certain financial services providers.
Various requirements and restrictions under the laws of the U.S, and the states of Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Minnesota affect the operations of Peoples Bank, including requirements to maintain reserves against deposits, restrictions on the nature and amount of loans that may be made and the interest that may be charged thereon, restrictions relating to investments and other activities, limitations on credit exposure to correspondent banks, limitations on activities based on capital and surplus, limitations on transactions between Peoples Bank and Peoples, limitations on the payment of dividends, and limitations on branching. Consumer laws and regulations that are designed to prevent unfair, deceptive and abusive acts and practices and that ensure that consumers have access to fair, transparent and competitive markets for consumer financial products and services also affect the services provided by Peoples Bank.
Non-Banking Subsidiaries
Peoples' non-banking subsidiaries are also subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board and other applicable federal and state agencies. Peoples Insurance, as a licensed insurance agency, is subject to regulation by the Ohio Department of Insurance and the state insurance regulatory agencies of those states where it conducts business. Peoples Risk Management, Inc., a Nevada-chartered captive insurance company, is subject to the laws and regulations of the State of Nevada and undergoes periodic examinations by the Nevada Division of Insurance.

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Other Regulatory Agencies
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the Nasdaq Global Select Market® ("Nasdaq")
Peoples is also under the jurisdiction of the SEC and certain state securities commissions for matters relating to the offering and sale of its securities. Peoples is subject to the registration, disclosure, reporting and regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the regulations promulgated under each of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as administered by the SEC. Peoples' common shares are listed with Nasdaq under the symbol "PEBO" and Peoples is subject to the rules for Nasdaq listed companies.
Federal Home Loan Bank
Peoples Bank is a member of the FHLB, which provides credit to its members in the form of advances. As a member of the FHLB, Peoples Bank must maintain an investment in the capital stock of the FHLB in a specified amount. Upon the origination or renewal of an advance, the FHLB is required by law to obtain and maintain a security interest in certain types of collateral. The FHLB is required to establish standards of community investment or service that its members must maintain for continued access to long-term advances from the FHLB. The standards take into account a member's performance under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended (the "CRA"), and the member's record of lending to first-time homebuyers.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC")
The FDIC is an independent federal agency which insures the deposits, up to prescribed statutory limits, of federally-insured banks and savings associations, and safeguards the safety and soundness of the financial institution industry. Peoples Bank's deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund of the FDIC and Peoples Bank is subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund. The general insurance limit is $250,000 per separately insured depositor. This insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
As insurer, the FDIC is authorized to conduct examinations of and to require routine reporting by insured institutions, including Peoples Bank, to prohibit any insured institution from engaging in any activity the FDIC determines by regulation or order to pose a threat to the Deposit Insurance Fund, and to take enforcement actions against insured institutions. The FDIC may terminate insurance of deposits of any insured institution if the FDIC finds that the insured institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC or any other regulatory agency.
Insured depository institutions are required to remit quarterly deposit insurance premiums to the FDIC, which are used to fund the Deposit Insurance Fund. Insurance premiums for each insured depository institution are determined based upon the institution's capital level and supervisory rating provided to the FDIC by the institution's primary federal regulator and other information the FDIC determines to be relevant to the risk posed to the Deposit Insurance Fund by the insured depository institution. The assessment rate determined by considering such information is then applied to the amount of the insured depository institution's average assets minus average tangible equity to determine the insured depository institution's insurance premium. An increase in the assessment rate could have a material adverse effect on the earnings of the affected insured depository institution, depending on the amount of the increase.
The FDIC assesses a quarterly deposit insurance premium on each insured depository institution based on risk characteristics of the institution and may also impose special assessments in emergency situations. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as amended (the "Dodd-Frank Act"), the FDIC has established 2.0% as the designated reserve ratio ("DRR"), which is the amount in the Deposit Insurance Fund as a percentage of all Deposit Insurance Fund insured deposits. In March 2016, the FDIC adopted final rules designed to meet the statutory minimum DRR of 1.35% by September 30, 2020, the deadline imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act. At September 30, 2018, the DRR met the statutory minimum of 1.35%. As a result, the previous surcharge imposed on banks with assets of $10 billion or more was lifted. In addition, preliminary assessment credits were determined by the FDIC for banks with assets of less than $10 billion, which had previously contributed to the increase of the DRR to 1.35%. On June 30, 2019, the DRR reached 1.40%, and the FDIC applied credits for banks with assets of less than $10 billion. On June 30, 2020, the DRR fell below the statutory minimum to 1.30%. This resulted in the FDIC adopting a restoration plan designed to restore the DRR to 1.35% within eight years, by September 30, 2028. As part of this restoration plan, all scheduled assessment rates for all insured institutions were maintained. On September 30, 2021, the DRR was 1.27%
Bank Holding Company Regulation
In general, the BHC Act limits the business of bank holding companies to banking, managing or controlling banks, and other activities that the Federal Reserve Board determines to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. As a result of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 – also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 – which amended the BHC Act, bank holding companies that are financial holding companies may engage in any activity, or acquire and retain the shares of a company engaged in any activity, that is either (1) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity (as determined by the Federal Reserve Board in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury), or (2) complementary to a financial activity, and that does not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial

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system generally. Activities that are financial in nature include securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting and making merchant banking investments. In 2002, Peoples elected, and received approval from the Federal Reserve Board, to become a financial holding company.
In order for a financial holding company to commence any new activity permitted by the BHC Act, or to acquire a company engaged in any new activity permitted by the BHC Act, the financial holding company must be "well managed" and "well capitalized," and each insured depository institution subsidiary of the financial holding company must be well capitalized under the prompt corrective action provisions, be well managed and have received a rating of at least "satisfactory" in its most recent examination under the CRA. The CRA is more fully discussed in the section captioned "Community Reinvestment Act" included later in this Item. In addition, financial holding companies, such as Peoples, are permitted to acquire companies engaged in activities that are financial in nature and in activities that are incidental and complementary to financial activities without prior Federal Reserve Board approval.
The BHC Act and other federal and state statutes regulate acquisitions of commercial banks. The BHC Act requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board for the direct or indirect acquisition of more than 5% of the voting shares of a commercial bank or its parent holding company. Under the federal Bank Merger Act, as amended, the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board is required for a state-chartered, Federal Reserve Bank member bank to merge with another bank or purchase the assets or assume the deposits of another bank. In reviewing an application seeking approval of a merger or acquisition transaction, the bank regulatory authorities consider, among other factors, the competitive effect and public benefits of the transaction, the capital position of the combined organization, the applicant's performance record under the CRA and fair housing laws, and the effectiveness of the subject organizations in combating money laundering activities.
A financial holding company is required by law and Federal Reserve Board policy to act as a source of financial strength to each subsidiary bank and to commit resources to support each subsidiary bank. The Federal Reserve Board may require a financial holding company to contribute additional capital to an undercapitalized subsidiary bank and may disapprove of the payment of dividends to shareholders if the Federal Reserve Board believes the payment of such dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice.
Transactions with Affiliates, Directors, Executive Officers and Shareholders
Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and Federal Reserve Board Regulation W generally:
•limit the extent to which a bank or its subsidiaries may engage in "covered transactions" with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10.0% of the bank's capital stock and surplus;
•limit the extent to which a bank or its subsidiaries may engage in "covered transactions" with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20.0% of the bank's capital stock and surplus; and
•require that all such transactions be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the bank or subsidiary, as those provided to a non-affiliate.
An affiliate of a bank is any company or entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the bank. The term "covered transaction" includes the making of loans to the affiliate, the purchase of assets from the affiliate, the issuance of a guarantee on behalf of the affiliate, the purchase of securities issued by the affiliate and other similar types of transactions.
A bank's authority to extend credit to executive officers, directors and greater than 10.0% shareholders, as well as entities such persons control, is subject to Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O promulgated under the Federal Reserve Act by the Federal Reserve Board. Among other things, these loans must be made on terms (including interest rates charged and collateral required) substantially similar to those offered to unaffiliated individuals, or be made as part of a benefit or compensation program and on terms widely available to employees, and must not involve a greater than normal risk of repayment. In addition, the amount of loans a bank may make to these persons is based, in part, on the bank's capital position, and specified approval procedures must be followed in making loans which exceed specified amounts.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 and Initiatives Related to COVID-19
In response to the novel COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”), the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020, to provide national emergency economic relief measures. Many of the CARES Act’s programs are dependent upon the direct involvement of U.S. financial institutions, such as Peoples and Peoples Bank, and have been implemented through rules and guidance adopted by federal departments and agencies, including the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Federal Reserve Board and other federal banking agencies, including those with direct supervisory jurisdiction over Peoples and Peoples Bank. Furthermore, as COVID-19 is ongoing and continues to evolve, federal regulatory authorities continue to issue additional guidance with respect to the implementation, lifecycle, and eligibility requirements for the various CARES Act programs as well as industry-specific recovery procedures for COVID-19. In addition, it is possible that the U.S. Congress will enact supplementary COVID-19 response legislation, including amendments to the CARES Act or new bills comparable in scope to the CARES Act.
Section 1102 of the CARES Act amended the loan program of the SBA, in which Peoples Bank participates, to create a guaranteed, unsecured loan program, the PPP, to fund operational costs of eligible businesses, organizations and self-employed

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persons during COVID-19. These loans are eligible to be forgiven if certain conditions are satisfied and are fully guaranteed by the SBA. In June 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was enacted, which, among other things, gave borrowers additional time and flexibility to use PPP loan proceeds. After previously being extended by Congress, the application deadline for PPP loans expired on May 31, 2021. No collateral or personal guarantees were required for PPP loans. In addition, neither the government nor lenders have been permitted to charge the recipients of PPP loans any fees. On December 27, 2020, the President signed into law omnibus federal spending and economic stimulus legislation titled the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021" that included the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (the "HHSB Act"). Among other things, the HHSB Act renewed the PPP, allocating $284.5 billion for both new first-time PPP loans under the existing PPP and the expansion of existing PPP loans for certain qualified, existing PPP borrowers. The PPP program ended May 31, 2021 and no new loans can be originated under that program.
On September 29, 2020, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule that neutralizes the regulatory capital and liquidity coverage ratio effects of participating in certain COVID-19 liquidity facilities due to the fact there is no credit or market risk in association with exposures pledged to such facilities. As a result, the final rule supports the flow of credit to households and businesses affected by COVID-19.
On December 2, 2020, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued an interim final rule that provides temporary relief for specified community banking organizations related to certain regulations and reporting requirements as a result, in large part, of their growth in size from the response to COVID-19. Community banking organizations are subject to different rules and requirements based on their risk profile and asset size. Due to their involvement in federal COVID-19 response programs (such as the PPP) and other lending that supported the U.S. economy, many community banking organizations experienced rapid and unexpected increases in their sizes, which were generally expected to be temporary. The temporary increase in size could have subjected community banking organizations to new regulations or reporting requirements. However community banking organizations with assets approaching the $10.0 billion threshold and that would otherwise have become subject to additional regulatory requirements upon crossing such threshold, including requirements related to capital adequacy standards, debit card interchange fees and routing, and management official interlocks, had until January 1, 2022 to either reduce their size or to prepare for new regulatory and reporting standards.
Capital Adequacy and Prompt Corrective Action
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, as amended ("FDICIA"), identifies five capital categories for insured depository institutions and requires the applicable regulatory agencies to implement systems for "prompt corrective action" for insured depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements within such categories. The regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC, the ODFI, and the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC"), have adopted substantially similar regulatory capital guidelines and regulations consistent with the requirements of FDICIA, and have established a system of prompt corrective action to resolve certain problems of undercapitalized institutions. This system is based on five capital level categories for insured depository institutions: "well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized," and "critically undercapitalized."
The regulatory agencies may (or in some cases must) take certain supervisory actions depending upon a bank's capital level. For example, the banking agencies must appoint a receiver or conservator for a bank within 90 days after the bank becomes "critically undercapitalized" unless the bank's primary regulator determines, with the concurrence of the FDIC, that other action would better achieve regulatory purposes. Banking operations otherwise may be significantly affected depending on a bank's capital category. For example, a bank that is not "well capitalized" generally is prohibited from accepting brokered deposits and offering interest rates on deposits higher than the prevailing rate in its market, and the holding company of any undercapitalized bank must guarantee, in part, specific aspects of the bank's capital plan for the plan to be acceptable.
The Federal Reserve Board has adopted risk-based capital guidelines for financial holding companies and other bank holding companies, as well as state member banks. The guidelines provide a systematic analytical framework which makes regulatory capital requirements sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banking organizations, takes off-balance sheet exposures expressly into account in evaluating capital adequacy, and minimizes disincentives to holding liquid, low-risk assets. Capital levels, as measured by these standards, are also used to categorize financial institutions for purposes of certain prompt corrective action regulatory provisions.
In July 2013, the U.S. banking regulators issued capital rules (the "Basel III Capital Rules") applicable to smaller banking organizations which also implement certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. Community banking organizations, including Peoples and Peoples Bank, began transitioning to the rules on January 1, 2015. The minimum capital requirements became effective on January 1, 2015; whereas, the capital conservation buffer and deductions from common equity capital phased in from January 1, 2016 through January 1, 2019, and most deductions from common equity tier 1 capital phased in from January 1, 2015 through January 1, 2019. As of January 1, 2019, Peoples had fully phased in the Basel III Capital Rules.
The Basel III Capital Rules include: (a) a minimum common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5%; (b) a minimum tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0%; (c) a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%; and (d) a minimum tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0%.

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Common equity for the common equity tier 1 capital ratio generally consists of common stock (plus related surplus), retained earnings, accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") (unless an institution elects to exclude such income from regulatory capital), and limited amounts of minority interests in the form of common stock, subject to applicable regulatory adjustments and deductions.
Tier 1 capital generally consists of common equity as defined for the common equity tier 1 capital ratio, plus certain non-cumulative preferred stock and related surplus, cumulative preferred stock and related surplus, trust preferred securities that have been grandfathered (but which are not otherwise permitted), and limited amounts of minority interests in the form of additional tier 1 capital instruments, less certain deductions.
Tier 2 capital, which can be included in the total capital ratio, generally consists of other preferred stock and subordinated debt meeting certain conditions plus limited amounts of the allowance for credit losses, subject to specified eligibility criteria, less applicable deductions.
The deductions from common equity tier 1 capital include goodwill and other intangibles, certain deferred tax assets, mortgage-servicing assets above certain levels, gains on sale in connection with a securitization, investments in a banking organization’s own capital instruments and investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions (above certain levels).
Under the guidelines, capital is compared to the relative risk included in the balance sheet. To derive the risk included in the balance sheet, one of several risk weights is applied to different balance sheet and off-balance sheet assets, primarily based on the relative credit risk of the counterparty. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
The Basel III Capital Rules also place restrictions on the payment of capital distributions, including dividends and share repurchases, and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers if the banking organization does not hold a capital conservation buffer of greater than 2.5% composed of common equity tier 1 capital above its minimum risk-based capital requirements, or if its eligible retained income is negative in that quarter and its capital conservation buffer ratio was less than 2.5% at the beginning of the quarter.
In September 2019, the Federal Reserve Board, along with the other federal banking regulatory agencies, issued a final rule, effective January 1, 2020, that gave community banks, including Peoples Bank, the option to calculate a simple leverage ratio to measure capital adequacy if the community banks met certain requirements. Under the rule, a community bank was eligible to elect the Community Bank Leverage Ratio ("CBLR") framework if the community bank had less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, limited amounts of certain trading assets and liabilities and of off-balance sheet exposures, and a leverage ratio greater than 9.0%. Qualifying institutions that elected to use the CBLR framework and that maintained a leverage ratio of greater than 9.0% were be considered to have satisfied the risk-based and leverage capital requirements in the regulatory agencies' generally applicable capital rules and to have met the well-capitalized ratio requirements. Peoples has opted out of the simplified framework and continues to follow existing capital rules.
In October 2021, effective in November 2021, the FDIC issued a final rule to incorporate the CBLR rule into the Real Estate Lending Standards. This rule calculates the ratio of loans in excess of the supervisory loan-to-value limits ("LTV Limits") using Tier 1 capital plus the appropriate allowance for credit losses in the denominator. This rule was adopted to allow a consistent approach for calculating the ratio of loans in excess of the supervisory LTV Limits at all FDIC supervised institutions, and to avoid any regulatory burden that could arise if an FDIC supervised institution subsequently decides to switch between different capital frameworks.
In December 2018, the federal banking agencies issued a final rule to address regulatory capital treatment of credit loss allowances under the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model (accounting standard). The rule revises the federal banking agencies’ regulatory capital rules to identify which credit loss allowances under the CECL model are eligible for inclusion in regulatory capital and to provide banking organizations the option to phase in over three years the day-one adverse effects on regulatory capital that may result from the adoption of the CECL model. During 2020, regulatory agencies issued guidance allowing additional phase-in periods for the impact of the CECL model for regulatory capital purposes. This additional phase-in period includes a 25% deferment of the impact on regulatory capital of the estimated increase in the allowance for credit losses related to the CECL model, which is applied during the first two years of application. For the first two years of the phase-in period, 100% of the transition adjustment due to the implementation of the CECL model is excluded for regulatory capital purposes, along with 25% of the increase in the allowance for credit losses compared to the January 1, 2020 allowance for credit losses. In year three of the phase-in, 75% of the transition adjustment, and the cumulative 25% increase in the allowance for credit losses compared to January 1, 2020, are excluded from regulatory capital, while 50% and 25% of these amounts are excluded in years four and five, respectively, under this phase-in period. Additional information on the impact of Peoples' adoption of the CECL methodology can be found under the "FINANCIAL CONDITION - Allowance for Credit Losses" section of "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K.
In order to be "well capitalized," a bank must have a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6.5%, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.0%, a total risk-based capital of at least 10.0%, and a tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5.0%, and the bank

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must not be subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive or prompt corrective action directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measures. Peoples' management believes that Peoples Bank meets the ratio requirements to be deemed "well capitalized" according to the guidelines described above. Additional information regarding Peoples' regulatory matters can be found in "Note 17 Regulatory Matters" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Safety and Soundness Regulations
In accordance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the "FDIA"), the federal bank regulatory agencies adopted safety and soundness guidelines establishing general standards relating to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify, monitor, and manage the risks and exposures specified in the guidelines. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder. In addition, regulations adopted by the federal bank regulatory agencies authorize the agencies to require that an institution that has been given notice that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so notified, the institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an accepted compliance plan, the agency must issue an order directing corrective actions and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution is subject under the "prompt corrective action" provisions of FDIA. If the institution fails to comply with such an order, the agency may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.
Community Reinvestment Act
The CRA requires depository institutions to assist in meeting the credit needs of their market areas consistent with safe and sound banking practice. Under the CRA, each depository institution is required to help meet the credit needs of its market areas by, among other things, providing credit or other financial assistance to low-income and moderate-income individuals and communities. Depository institutions are periodically examined for compliance with the CRA and are assigned ratings. The most recent performance evaluation by the Federal Reserve Board (which was Peoples Bank's primary federal banking regulator at the time of the examination) of Peoples Bank was conducted in 2020 and resulted in an overall rating of "Outstanding."
Dividend Restrictions
Current banking regulations impose restrictions on Peoples Bank's ability to pay dividends to Peoples. These restrictions include a limit on the amount of dividends that may be paid in a given year without prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board and a prohibition on paying dividends that would cause Peoples Bank's total capital to be less than the required minimum levels under the capital requirements imposed by the Federal Reserve Board and the amount of the capital conservation buffer. Ohio law also limits the amount of dividends that may be paid in any given year without prior approval of the Ohio Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Peoples Bank may not declare or pay a dividend if the total of all dividends declared during the calendar year, including the proposed dividend, exceeds the sum of Peoples Bank's net income during the current calendar year and the retained net income of the prior two calendar years, unless the dividend has been approved by the ODFI and the Federal Reserve Board. Peoples Bank's regulators may prohibit the payment of dividends at any time if the regulators determine the dividends represent unsafe and/or unsound banking practices, or reduce Peoples Bank's total capital below adequate levels. For further discussion regarding regulatory restrictions on dividends, refer to "Note 17 Regulatory Matters" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Peoples' ability to pay dividends to its shareholders may also be restricted. Current Federal Reserve Board policy requires a financial holding company to act as a source of financial strength to each of its banking subsidiaries. Under this policy, the Federal Reserve Board may require Peoples to commit resources or contribute additional capital to Peoples Bank, which could restrict the amount of cash available for dividends.
The Federal Reserve Board has also issued a policy statement with regard to the payment of cash dividends by financial holding companies and other bank holding companies. The policy statement provides that, as a matter of prudent banking, a financial holding company or bank holding company should not maintain a rate of cash dividends unless its net income available to common shareholders over the current year has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends, and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears to be consistent with the financial holding company's or bank holding company's capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. Accordingly, a financial holding company or bank holding company should not pay cash dividends that exceed its net income or that can only be funded in ways that weaken the financial holding company's or bank holding company's financial health, such as by borrowing.
Peoples also has entered into certain agreements that place restrictions on dividends. Specifically, Peoples Bank is prohibited from paying dividends in an amount greater than permitted by law without requiring prior Federal Reserve Board or other regulatory approval. In addition, if Peoples were to elect to defer payments of interest on the junior subordinated debt securities held by the NB&T Statutory Trust III or FNB Capital Trust One, or an event of default were to occur under the indenture governing those junior subordinated debt securities, Peoples will be prohibited from declaring or paying any dividends on Peoples' common shares. Even where the declaration or payment of a dividend would not otherwise be restricted under applicable laws, Peoples or Peoples Bank may decide to limit the payment of dividends in order to retain earnings for corporate use.

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Customer Privacy and Other Consumer Protections
Peoples Bank is subject to regulations limiting the ability of financial institutions to disclose non-public information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties. These limitations require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to a nonaffiliated party. Peoples Bank is also subject to numerous federal and state laws aimed at protecting consumers, including the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the authority granted to banking regulators under the Federal Trade Commission Act with respect to unfair or deceptive acts or practices ("UDAP").
The CFPB issued its final small dollar loan rule related to payday, vehicle title and certain high cost installment loans (the “Final Small Dollar Rule”) on July 22, 2020, which became fully effective on October 20, 2020. The Final Small Dollar Rule rescinds the Mandatory Underwriting Provisions of the 2017 Payday Rule after re-evaluating the legal and evidentiary bases for these provisions and finding them to be insufficient. The Final Small Dollar Rule does not rescind or alter the Payments Provisions of the 2017 Payday Rule. Specifically, in the Final Small Dollar Rule, the CFPB revoked provisions that: (i) provide that it is an unfair and abusive practice for a lender to make a covered short-term or longer term balloon-payment loan, including payday and vehicle title loans, without reasonably determining that consumers have the ability to repay those loans according to their terms; (ii) prescribe mandatory underwriting requirements for making the ability-to-repay determination; (iii) exempt certain loans from the mandatory underwriting requirements; and (iv) establish related definitions, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. In August 2021, the court overseeing the litigation challenging the Final Small Dollar Rule found in the CFPB's favor, and ordered the compliance date to be 286 days after the final judgment. Lenders are required to comply by June 13, 2022.
The federal bank regulatory agencies also issued interagency guidance on May 20, 2020, to encourage banks, savings associations, and credit unions to offer responsible small-dollar loans to customers for consumer and small business purposes.
Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries and regimes, under authority of various laws, including designated foreign countries, nationals and others. OFAC publishes lists of specially designated targets and countries. Peoples is responsible for, among other things, blocking accounts of, and transactions with, such targets and countries, prohibiting unlicensed trade and financial transactions with them and reporting blocked transactions after their occurrence. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious financial, legal and reputational consequences, including causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required. Regulatory authorities have imposed cease and desist orders and civil money penalties against institutions found to be violating these obligations.
Anti-Money Laundering Act
The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (the "AMLA"), which amends the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 (the "BSA"), was enacted in January 2021. The AMLA is intended to be a comprehensive reform and modernization to U.S. bank secrecy and anti-money laundering laws. Among other things, it codifies a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering compliance for financial institutions; requires the development of standards for evaluating technology and internal processes for BSA compliance; and expands enforcement-related and investigation-related authority, including increasing available sanctions for certain BSA violations and instituting BSA whistleblower initiatives and protections.
USA Patriot Act
The Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended (the "USA Patriot Act"), and related regulations, among other things, require financial institutions to establish programs specifying procedures for obtaining identifying information from customers seeking to establish new accounts and establishing enhanced due diligence policies, procedures and controls designed to detect and report suspicious activity. Peoples Bank has established policies and procedures that Peoples believes comply with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.
Monetary Policy
The Federal Reserve Board regulates money, credit conditions and interest rates in order to influence general economic conditions primarily through open market operations in U.S. government securities, changes in the discount rate on bank borrowings, and changes in the reserve requirements against deposits of depository institutions. These policies and regulations significantly affect the overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits, as well as interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits.
The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board have had a significant effect on the operating results of financial institutions in the past and are expected to continue to have significant effects in the future. In light of the changing conditions in the U.S. economy, including changes brought about by COVID-19, the money markets and the activities of monetary and fiscal authorities, Peoples can make no definitive predictions as to future changes in interest rates, credit availability or deposit levels.

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Executive and Incentive Compensation
The Dodd-Frank Act requires that the federal banking agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board, issue a rule related to incentive-based compensation. No final rule implementing this provision of the Dodd-Frank Act has, as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, been adopted, but a proposed rule was published in 2016 that expanded upon a prior proposed rule published in 2011. The proposed rule is intended to: (i) prohibit incentive-based payment arrangements that the banking agencies determine could encourage certain financial institutions to take inappropriate risks by providing excessive compensation or that could lead to material financial loss; (ii) require the board of directors of those financial institutions to take certain oversight actions related to incentive-based compensation; and (iii) require those financial institutions to disclose information concerning incentive-based compensation arrangements to the appropriate federal regulator. Although a final rule has not been issued, Peoples and Peoples Bank have undertaken efforts to ensure that their incentive compensation plans do not encourage inappropriate risks, consistent with the principles identified above.
In June 2010, the Federal Reserve Board, the OCC and the FDIC issued comprehensive final guidance on incentive compensation policies intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations do not undermine the safety and soundness of such organizations by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The guidance, which covers all employees that have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of an organization, either individually, or as a part of a group, is based upon the key principles that a banking organization's incentive compensation arrangements should (i) provide incentives that do not encourage risk-taking beyond the organization's ability to effectively identify and manage risks, (ii) be compatible with effective internal controls and risk management and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the organization's board of directors. These three principles are incorporated into the proposed joint compensation regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act, described above.
The Federal Reserve Board reviews, as part of its regular, risk-focused examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of banking organizations, such as Peoples Bank, that are not "large, complex banking organizations." These reviews are tailored to each organization based on the scope and complexity of the organization's activities and the prevalence of incentive compensation arrangements. Deficiencies will be incorporated into the organization's supervisory ratings, which can affect the organization's ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. Enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk-management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization's safety and soundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies.
Public company compensation committee members must meet heightened independence requirements and consider the independence of compensation consultants, legal counsel and other advisors to the compensation committee. A compensation committee must have the authority to hire advisors, and the public company must fund the reasonable compensation of such advisors.
SEC regulations require public companies such as Peoples to provide various disclosures about executive compensation in annual reports and proxy statements, and to present to their shareholders a non-binding vote on the approval of executive compensation.
Public companies will be required, once stock exchanges adopt additional listing requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act, to implement "clawback" procedures for incentive compensation payments and to disclose the details of the procedures which allow recovery of incentive compensation that was paid on the basis of erroneous financial information necessitating an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements. This clawback policy is intended to apply to compensation paid within a three-year look-back window of the restatement and would cover all executives (including former executives) who received incentive awards. Peoples has implemented a clawback policy and it is posted under the "Corporate Overview – Governance Documents" tab of the "Investor Relations" page of Peoples' Internet website.
Cybersecurity
In March 2015, federal regulators issued two related statements regarding cybersecurity. One statement indicates that financial institutions should design multiple layers of security controls to establish several lines of defense and to ensure that their risk management processes also address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, including security measures to reliably authenticate customers accessing Internet-based services of the financial institution. The other statement indicates that a financial institution’s management is expected to maintain sufficient business continuity planning processes to ensure the rapid recovery, resumption and maintenance of the financial institution’s operations after a cybersecurity attack involving destructive malware. A financial institution is also expected to develop appropriate processes to enable recovery of data and business operations and address rebuilding network capabilities and restoring data if the financial institution or its critical service providers fall victim to this type of cybersecurity attack. If Peoples Bank fails to observe the regulatory guidance, it could be subject to various regulatory sanctions, including financial penalties.
In February 2018, the SEC published interpretive guidance to assist public companies in preparing disclosures about cybersecurity risks and incidents. These SEC guidelines, and any other regulatory guidance, are in addition to notification and disclosure requirements under state and federal banking law and regulations.

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In November 2021, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule requiring banking organizations that experience a computer-security incident to notify certain entities. A computer-security incident occurs when actual or potential harm to the confidentiality, integrity or availability of information or the information system occurs, or there is a violation or imminent threat of a violation to banking security policies and procedures. The affected bank must notify its respective federal regulator of the computer-security incident has occurred. These notifications are intended to promote early awareness of threats to banking organizations and will help banks react to those threats before they manifest into bigger incidents. This rule also requires bank service providers to notify their customers of a computer-security incident.
State regulators have also been increasingly active in implementing privacy and cybersecurity standards and regulations. Recently, several states have adopted regulations requiring certain financial institutions to implement cybersecurity programs and providing detailed requirements with respect to these programs, including data encryption requirements. Many states have also recently implemented or modified their data breach notification and data privacy requirements. Peoples expects this trend of state-level activity in those areas to continue, and continues to monitor developments in the states in which Peoples' customers are located.
In the ordinary course of business, Peoples relies on electronic communications and information systems to conduct its operations and to store sensitive data. Peoples employs an in-depth, layered, defensive approach that leverages people, processes, and encryption and multi-factor authentication technology to manage and maintain cybersecurity controls. Peoples employs a variety of preventative and detective tools to monitor, block, and provide alerts regarding suspicious activity, as well as to report on any suspected advanced persistent threats. Notwithstanding the strength of Peoples’ defensive measures, the threat from cybersecurity attacks is severe, attacks are sophisticated and increasing in volume, and attackers respond rapidly to changes in defensive measures. While to date, Peoples has not detected a significant compromise, significant data loss or any material financial losses related to cybersecurity attacks, Peoples’ systems and those of its customers and third-party service providers are under constant threat and it is possible that Peoples could experience a significant event in the future. Risks and exposures related to cybersecurity attacks are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the rapidly evolving nature and sophistication of these threats, as well as due to the expanding use of Internet banking, mobile banking and other technology-based products and services by Peoples and Peoples' customers. See “ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS” for a further discussion of risks related to cybersecurity.
Volcker Rule
In December 2013, five federal agencies adopted a final regulation implementing the Volcker Rule provision of the Dodd-Frank Act (the "Volcker Rule"). The Volcker Rule placed limits on the trading activity of insured depository institutions and entities affiliated with depository institutions, subject to certain exceptions. Such trading activity included the purchase or sale as principal of a security, derivative, commodity future, option or similar instrument in order to benefit from short-term price movements or to realize short-term profits. The Volcker Rule exempts trading in specified U.S. government, agency, state and/or municipal obligations. The Volcker Rule also excepted (i) trading conducted in certain capacities; (ii) trading to satisfy a debt previously contracted; (iii) trading under certain repurchase and securities lending agreements; and (iv) trading in connection with risk-mitigating hedging activities.
In addition, the Volcker Rule prohibited a banking entity from having an ownership interest in, or substantial relationships with, a hedge fund or private equity fund, also known as "covered funds", subject to a number of exceptions.
In July 2019, the federal agencies that adopted the Volcker Rule adopted a final rule to exempt certain community banks, including Peoples Bank, from the Volcker Rule, consistent with the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. Under the final rule, community banks with $10 billion or less in total consolidated assets and total trading assets and liabilities of 5.0% or less of total consolidated assets are excluded from the restrictions of the Volcker Rule. On June 25, 2020, the federal bank regulatory agencies also finalized a rule modifying the Volcker Rule's prohibition on banking entities investing in or sponsoring covered funds. Such rule permits certain banking entities to offer financial services and engage in other activities that do not raise concerns that the Volcker Rule was originally intended to address.
To the extent that Peoples Bank engages in any of the trading activities or has any ownership interest in or relationship with any of the types of funds regulated by the Volcker Rule, Peoples Bank believes that its activities and relationships comply with such rule, as amended.
Effect of Environmental Regulation
Compliance with federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, has not had a material effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of Peoples and its subsidiaries. Peoples believes the nature of the operations of its subsidiaries has little, if any, environmental impact. As a result, Peoples anticipates no material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities for its current fiscal year or for the foreseeable future.
Peoples believes its primary exposure to environmental risk is through the lending activities of Peoples Bank. Peoples limits its exposure to environmental risk by lending to a diverse range of consumer and commercial customers. In cases where management believes environmental risk potentially exists, Peoples Bank mitigates its environmental risk exposure by requiring

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environmental site assessments at the time of loan origination to confirm collateral quality as to commercial real estate parcels posing higher than normal potential for environmental impact, as determined by reference to present and past uses of the subject property and adjacent sites. In addition, environmental assessments are typically required prior to any foreclosure activity involving non-residential real estate collateral.
Future Legislation
Various and significant legislation affecting financial institutions and the financial industry is from time to time introduced by the U.S. Congress. The CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ("CAA") were enacted during 2020. These Acts provided significant funding for PPP loans for businesses and fiscal stimulus funding for individuals, as well as updates related to reporting for troubled debt restructurings and other various changes. The PPP loan program expired on May 31, 2021 and no originations have been permitted after this date. Additionally, in September 2021, guidance issued for the reporting of troubled debt restructurings expired and no COVID-19-related deferments remained as of September 30, 2021. There were sweeping reforms in the Dodd-Frank Act adopted in 2010, and the rollback of the Dodd-Frank Act that began in 2018. Many of the regulations mentioned above were adopted or amended pursuant to the guidance issued. Such legislation may continue to change banking statutes and regulations, and the operating environment of Peoples and its subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways, and such legislation could significantly increase or decrease costs of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities, and/or affect the competitive balance among financial institutions. The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, the subsequent rollback and the continuing implementation of final rules and regulations thereunder, and continuing political change and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic makes the nature and extent of future legislative and regulatory changes affecting financial institutions unpredictable.
Website Access to Peoples' SEC Filings
Peoples maintains an Internet website at www.peoplesbancorp.com (this uniform resource locator, or URL, is an inactive textual reference only and is not intended to incorporate Peoples' Internet website into this Form 10-K). Peoples makes available free of charge on or through its website, its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as Peoples' definitive proxy statement filed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after Peoples electronically files each such report, amendment or proxy statement with, or furnishes it to, the SEC.
ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS
The following are certain risks that management believes are specific to Peoples' business.  This should not be viewed as an all-inclusive list of risks or presenting the risk factors listed in any particular order. Additional risks that are not presently known or that Peoples presently deems to be immaterial could also have a material adverse impact on Peoples' business, financial condition or results of operations.
Economic, Political, Environmental and Market Risks
•The economic impact of COVID-19 or any other pandemic could adversely affect Peoples' business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations.
COVID-19 has negatively impacted global, national and local economies, disrupted global and national supply chains, lowered equity market valuations, and created significant volatility and disruption in financial markets. In addition, the pandemic resulted in temporary closures of many businesses and the institution of social distancing and sheltering in place requirements in many states and communities and may result in the same or similar restrictions in the future. As a result, the demand for Peoples’ products and services has been and may continue to be significantly impacted, which could adversely affect our revenue and results of operations. Furthermore, the pandemic could continue to result in the recognition of credit losses in our loan portfolios and increases in our allowance for credit losses, particularly if businesses remain required to operate at diminished capacities or are required to close again, the impact on the global, national and local economies worsen, or more customers draw on their lines of credit or seek additional loans to help finance their businesses. Peoples’ business operations may also be disrupted if significant portions of our workforce are unable to work effectively, including because of illness, quarantines, government actions, or other restrictions in connection with COVID-19. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts Peoples’ business, results of operations, and financial condition, as well as our regulatory capital and liquidity ratios, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic.

As of December 31, 2021, Peoples held and serviced PPP loans. These PPP loans are subject to the provisions of the CARES Act and to complex and evolving rules and guidance issued by the SBA and other government agencies. While a large number of PPP borrowers have applied for and received full or partial forgiveness of their loan obligations, Peoples still has credit risk on the remaining PPP loans in the event the SBA determines that there is a deficiency in the manner in which Peoples originated, funded or serviced such loans, including any issue with the eligibility of a borrower to receive funding. Peoples could face additional risks in our administrative capabilities to service PPP loans and to properly determine loan forgiveness. In the event of a loss resulting from a default on a PPP loan and a determination by the SBA that there was a deficiency in the manner in which Peoples

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originated, funded or serviced the PPP loan, the SBA may deny its liability under the guaranty, reduce the amount of the guaranty, or, if the SBA has already paid under the guaranty, seek recovery of any loss related to the deficiency.

The spread of COVID-19, including new variants thereof, has also caused Peoples to modify business practices, including employee travel, employee work locations, and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events and conferences. Further, technology in employees’ homes may not be as robust as in Peoples' offices and could cause the networks, information systems, applications and other tools available to such employees to be more limited or less reliable. The continuation of these work-from-home measures also introduces additional operational risk, including increased cybersecurity risk from phishing, malware and other cybersecurity attacks, all of which could expose Peoples to risks of data or financial loss, and could seriously disrupt Peoples' operations and the operations of any impacted customers.
COVID-19, including the rise of new variants thereof, or a new pandemic, could subject Peoples to any of the following risks, any of which could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on Peoples' business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations:
•demand for Peoples' products and services may decline, making it difficult to grow assets and income;
•if the economy continues to be unable to fully re-open, loan delinquencies, problem assets, and foreclosures may increase, resulting in increased charges and reduced income;
•collateral for loans, especially real estate, may decline in value, which could cause credit losses to increase;
•Peoples' allowance for credit losses may have to be increased if borrowers experience financial difficulties beyond forbearance periods, which will adversely affect Peoples' net income;
•the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to Peoples;
•a prolonged weakness in economic conditions resulting in a reduction of future projected earnings could result in Peoples recording a valuation allowance against current outstanding deferred tax assets;
•Peoples relies on third-party vendors for certain services and the unavailability of a critical service due to COVID-19 could have an adverse effect on Peoples; and
•continued adverse economic conditions could result in protracted volatility in the price of Peoples' common shares.

Moreover, Peoples' future success and profitability substantially depend on the management skills of the executive officers and directors, many of whom have held officer and director positions with Peoples for many years. The unanticipated loss or unavailability of key employees due to COVID-19, including new variants thereof, or any similar pandemic, could harm Peoples' ability to operate our business or execute our business strategy. Peoples may not be successful in finding and integrating suitable successors in the event of key employee loss or unavailability.
Even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, the U.S. economy will likely require time to recover, the length of which is unknown and during which the U.S. may experience a recession or market correction. Peoples’ business could be materially and adversely affected by any such recession or market correction.
Peoples continues to closely monitor COVID-19 and related risks as they evolve. To the extent the effects of COVID-19 adversely impact Peoples’ business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this Item.
•Changes in economic and political conditions could adversely affect Peoples' earnings and capital through declines in deposits, quality of investment securities, loan demand, the ability of Peoples' borrowers to repay loans and the value of the collateral securing Peoples' loans.
Peoples’ success depends, in part, on local and national economic and political conditions, as well as governmental fiscal and monetary policies. Conditions such as inflation, recession, unemployment, changes in interest rates, fiscal and monetary policy, an increasing federal government budget deficit, slowing gross domestic product, tariffs, a U.S. withdrawal from or significant renegotiation of trade agreements, trade wars, and other factors beyond Peoples’ control may adversely affect Peoples Bank’s deposit levels and composition, the quality of investment securities available for purchase, the demand for loans, the ability of Peoples Bank’s borrowers to repay their loans, and the value of the collateral securing the loans Peoples Bank makes. Disruptions in U.S. and global financial markets and changes in oil production in the Middle East also affect the economy and stock prices in the U.S., which can affect Peoples’ earnings and capital, as well as the ability of Peoples Bank’s customers to repay loans.
The local economies of the majority of Peoples' market areas historically have been less robust than the economy of the nation as a whole and typically are not subject to the same extent of fluctuations as the national economy. In general, a favorable business environment and economic conditions are characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, low unemployment, high business and investor confidence, and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by declines in economic growth, business activity, or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest

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rates; high unemployment; volatility in pricing and availability of natural resources; natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.
The continued impact on economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could have an adverse effect on Peoples' asset quality, deposit levels and loan demand, and, therefore, Peoples' financial condition and results of operations. Because a significant amount of Peoples Bank's loans are secured by either commercial or residential real estate, decreases in real estate values could adversely affect the value of property used as collateral and Peoples Bank's ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure.
•Changes in interest rates may adversely affect Peoples' profitability.
Peoples' earnings and cash flows are dependent to a significant degree on net interest income, which is the amount by which interest income exceeds interest expense. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond Peoples' control, including general economic conditions and the policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Federal Reserve Board. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, not only could influence the interest Peoples receives on loans and securities, and the amount of interest Peoples pays on deposits and borrowings, but such changes could also affect (1) Peoples' ability to originate loans and obtain deposits, (2) the fair value of Peoples' financial assets and liabilities, and (3) the average duration of Peoples' mortgage-backed securities portfolio. If the interest rates paid on deposits and borrowings increase at a faster rate than the interest rates received on loans and other investments, Peoples' net interest income and, therefore, earnings, could be adversely affected. Earnings could also be adversely affected if the interest rates received on loans and other investments fall more quickly than the interest rates paid on deposits and borrowings.
Changes in interest rates may also negatively affect the ability of Peoples' borrowers to repay their loans, particularly as interest rates rise and adjustable-rate loans become more expensive.
Peoples' management uses various measures to monitor interest rate risk and believes it has implemented effective asset and liability management strategies to reduce the potential effects of changes in interest rates on Peoples' results of operations. Peoples' management also periodically adjusts the mix of assets and liabilities to manage interest rate risk. However, any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' financial condition and results of operations.
Peoples’ net interest income, lending activities, deposits and profitability could be negatively affected by volatility in interest rates caused by uncertainties stemming from COVID-19. A prolonged period of extremely volatile and unstable market conditions would likely increase Peoples’ funding costs and negatively affect market risk mitigation strategies. Higher revenue volatility from changes in interest rates and spreads to benchmark indices could cause a loss of future net interest income and a decrease in the fair market values of Peoples’ assets. Fluctuations in interest rates will impact both the level of income and expense recorded on most of Peoples’ assets and liabilities and the market value of all interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on Peoples’ net income, results of operations and financial condition. Peoples cannot predict the nature or timing of future changes in monetary policies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak or the precise effects that they may have on Peoples activities and financial results.
See the sections captioned “Interest Income and Expense” and “Interest Rate Sensitivity and Liquidity” in “ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” of this Form 10-K for further discussion related to Peoples’ interest rate risk.
•A transition away from the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") as a reference rate for financial instruments could negatively impact Peoples' income and expenses, and the value of various financial instruments.
LIBOR is used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a benchmark for various commercial and financial contracts, including adjustable rate mortgages, corporate debt, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. LIBOR is set based on interest rate information reported by certain banks, which may stop reporting such information after 2021. On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. On November 30, 2020, to facilitate an orderly LIBOR transition, the OCC, the FDIC, and the Federal Reserve Board jointly announced that entering into new contracts using LIBOR as a reference rate after December 31, 2021, would create a safety and soundness risk. On March 5, 2021, the FCA announced that all LIBOR settings will either cease to be provided by any administrator or no longer be representative immediately after December 31, 2021, in the case of 1-week and 2-month LIBOR, and immediately after June 30, 2023, in the case of the remaining LIBOR settings. In the U.S., efforts to identify a set of alternative U.S. dollar reference interest rates are ongoing, and the Alternative Reference Rate Committee (“ARRC”) has recommended the use of a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”). SOFR is different from LIBOR in that it is a backward-looking secured rate rather than a forward-looking unsecured rate.
These differences could lead to a greater disconnect between Peoples’ costs to raise funds for SOFR as compared to LIBOR. For cash products and loans, ARRC has also recommended Term SOFR, which is a forward looking SOFR based on SOFR futures and may in part reduce differences between SOFR and LIBOR. There are operational issues which may create a delay in the transition to SOFR or other substitute indices, leading to uncertainty across the industry. These consequences cannot be

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entirely predicted and could have an adverse impact on the market value for or value of LIBOR-linked securities, loans, and other financial obligations or extensions of credit.
Peoples has a significant number of loans, derivative contracts, borrowings and other financial instruments with attributes that are either directly or indirectly dependent on LIBOR. The transition from LIBOR could create considerable costs and additional risk. Since proposed alternative rates are calculated differently, payments under financial instruments referencing new rates will differ from those referencing LIBOR. The transition will change Peoples’ market risk profiles, requiring changes to risk and pricing models, valuation tools, product design and hedging strategies. Furthermore, failure to adequately manage this transition process with Peoples’ customers could adversely impact our reputation. Although Peoples is currently unable to assess what the ultimate impact of the transition from LIBOR will be, failure to adequately manage the transition could have a material adverse effect on Peoples’ business, financial condition and results of operations.
In 2019, Peoples Bank formed a LIBOR Change Committee. The goal of the LIBOR Change Committee was to monitor Peoples Bank’s efforts to ensure an orderly transition away from LIBOR by the end of 2021, if necessary. The LIBOR Change Committee has taken actions to ensure that documentation in the loan portfolios provides for a substitution of an index if the original index is either no longer available or is replaced by a new index. Documentation on interest rate swaps has been amended in the International Swaps and Derivative Association agreements. While Peoples Bank’s securities portfolio is not heavily invested in variable rate securities, there is LIBOR exposure in the agency collateralized mortgage obligation sector. Peoples Bank will be monitoring the transition of these securities to the new index over the next several months.
•Changes in market rates and economic conditions could cause the interest rate swaps Peoples Bank has entered into to become ineffective.
The accounting treatment of the interest rate swaps entered into by Peoples as part of its interest rate management strategy may change if the hedging relationship is not as effective as currently anticipated. These interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges and involve the receipt of variable rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for fixed payments from Peoples. As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had thirteen effective interest rate swaps, with an aggregate notional value of $125.0 million, of which $85.0 million were funded by brokered demand and savings deposits and $40.0 million were funded with FHLB advances. Brokered CDs and deposits are expected to be extended every 90 days through the maturity dates of the swaps.
Although Peoples expects that the hedging relationships described above will be highly effective, such relationships could prove ineffective. As of December 31, 2021, the termination value of derivative financial instruments in a net liability position was $12.1 million, which included accrued interest but excluded any adjustment for nonperformance risk. As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had $28.1 million collateral posted with certain of our derivative counterparties. However, the counterparties had no collateral posted against their obligations under these agreements. If Peoples had breached any of the provisions of the agreements at December 31, 2021, Peoples could have been required to settle our obligations under the agreements at the termination value.
Business Operations Risks
•Peoples is exposed to operational risk.
Similar to any large organization, Peoples is exposed to many types of operational risk, including those discussed in more detail elsewhere in this Item, such as reputational risk, cyber, legal and compliance risk, the risk of fraud or theft by employees or outsiders, unauthorized transactions by employees or operational errors, including clerical or record-keeping errors or those resulting from faulty or disabled computer or telecommunications systems. These risks are heightened in light of COVID-19.
Peoples may be subject to disruptions of our operating systems arising from events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, which may include, for example, computer viruses, cyber-attacks, spikes in transaction volume and/or customer activity, electrical or telecommunications outages, or natural disasters. Peoples could be adversely affected by operating systems disruptions if new or upgraded business management systems are defective, not installed properly or not properly integrated into existing operating systems. Although Peoples has programs in place related to business continuity, disaster recovery and information security to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our operating systems, business applications and customer information, such disruptions may give rise to interruptions in service to customers, loss of data privacy and loss or liability to Peoples.
Any failure or interruption in Peoples' operating or information systems, or any security or data breach, could cause reputational damage, jeopardize the confidentiality of customer information, result in a loss of customer business, subject Peoples to regulatory intervention or expose Peoples to civil litigation and financial loss or liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Peoples.
Negative public opinion can result from Peoples’ actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities, including lending practices, corporate governance and acquisitions, social media and other marketing activities, the implementation of environmental, social, and governance practices, and from actions taken by governmental regulators and community organizations

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in response to any of the foregoing. Negative public opinion could adversely affect Peoples’ ability to attract and keep customers, could expose Peoples to potential litigation or regulatory action, and could have a material adverse effect on the price of Peoples’ common shares or result in heightened volatility.
Given the volume of transactions Peoples processes, certain errors may be repeated or compounded before they are discovered and successfully rectified. Peoples’ necessary dependence upon automated systems to record and process our transaction volume may further increase the risk that technical system flaws or employee tampering or manipulation of those systems will result in losses that are difficult to detect, which may give rise to disruption of service to customers and to financial loss or liability. Peoples is further exposed to the risk that our external vendors may be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations (or will be subject to the same risk of fraud or operational errors by their respective employees as Peoples) or that Peoples' (or our vendors’) consumer compliance business continuity, and data security systems will prove to be inadequate.
Current and future restrictions on the access of Peoples' workforce to our facilities could limit Peoples' ability to meet customer service expectations and have a material adverse effect on operations. Peoples relies on business processes and branch activity that largely depends on people and technology, including access to information technology systems as well as information, applications, payment systems and other services provided by third parties.
Moreover, Peoples relies on many third parties in business operations, including appraisers of real property collateral, vendors that supply essential services such as loan servicers, providers of financial information, systems and analytical tools, and providers of electronic payment and settlement systems, and local and federal government agencies, offices, and courthouses. In light of the developing measures responding to the pandemic, many of these entities may limit the availability and access of their services. For example, loan origination could be delayed due to the limited availability of real estate appraisers for the underlying collateral. Loan closings could be delayed due to reductions in available staff in recording offices or the closing of courthouses in certain counties, which slows the process for title work, and mortgage and UCC filings in those counties. If the third-party service providers continue to have limited capacities for a prolonged period, or if additional limitations or potential disruptions in these services materialize, it may negatively affect Peoples' operations.
•Peoples’ policies concerning COVID-19 vaccination of employees could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Peoples requires any new employees to be fully-vaccinated, with few exceptions. Peoples cannot predict with any amount of certainty the impact that this policy will have on our workforce. Additional vaccine mandates may be announced in jurisdictions in which Peoples’ businesses operate. Peoples’ implementation of these requirements may result in attrition, including attrition of critically skilled labor, and difficulty securing future labor needs, which could have a material adverse effect on Peoples’ business, financial condition, and results of operations.
•Failures or material breaches in security of Peoples' systems and telecommunications networks, or those of a third-party service provider, may have a material adverse effect on Peoples' results of operations and financial condition and the price of Peoples' common shares.
Peoples collects, processes, and stores sensitive consumer data by utilizing computer systems and telecommunications networks operated by both Peoples and third-party service providers. Peoples’ dependence upon automated systems to record and process Peoples’ transactions poses the risk that technical system flaws, employee errors, tampering or manipulation of those systems, or attacks by third parties will result in losses and may be difficult to detect. Peoples has security and backup and recovery systems in place, as well as a business continuity plan, designed to ensure the computer systems will not become inoperable, to the extent possible. Peoples also routinely reviews documentation of such controls and backups related to third-party service providers. Peoples’ inability to use or access these information systems at critical points in time could unfavorably impact the timeliness and efficiency of Peoples’ business operations. In recent years, several banks have experienced denial of service attacks in which individuals or organizations flood the bank’s website with extraordinarily high volumes of traffic, with the goal and effect of disrupting the ability of the bank to process transactions. Other businesses have been victims of ransomware attacks in which the business becomes unable to access its own information and is presented with a demand to pay a ransom in order to once again have access to its information. Peoples could be adversely affected if one of our employees or a third-party service provider causes a significant operational break-down or failure, either as a result of human error or where the individual purposefully sabotages or fraudulently manipulates Peoples’ operations or systems. Peoples may not be able to prevent employee or third-party errors or misconduct, and the precautions Peoples takes to detect this type of activity might prove ineffective. Peoples is further exposed to the risk that the third-party service providers may be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations (or will be subject to the same risks as Peoples). These disruptions may interfere with service to Peoples’ customers, cause additional regulatory scrutiny and result in a financial loss or liability.
Peoples is also at risk of the impact of natural disasters, terrorism and international hostilities on Peoples’ systems or from the effects of outages or other failures involving power or communications systems operated by others.
In addition, there have been instances where financial institutions have been victims of fraudulent activity in which criminals pose as customers to initiate wire and automated clearinghouse transactions out of customer accounts. Although Peoples has

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policies and procedures in place to verify the authenticity of our customers, Peoples cannot ensure that such policies and procedures will prevent all fraudulent transfers.
Peoples has implemented security controls to prevent unauthorized access to our computer systems, and Peoples requires that our third-party service providers maintain similar controls. However, Peoples’ management cannot be certain that these measures will be successful. A security breach of the computer systems and loss of confidential information, such as customer account numbers and related information, could result in a loss of customers’ confidence and, thus, loss of business. Peoples could also lose revenue if competitors gain access to confidential information about Peoples’ business operations and use it to compete with Peoples. While Peoples maintains specific “cyber” insurance coverage, which would apply in the event of various breach scenarios, the amount of coverage may not be adequate in any particular case. Furthermore, because cyber threat scenarios are inherently difficult to predict and can take many forms, some breaches may not be covered under Peoples’ cyber insurance coverage.
Further, Peoples may be affected by data breaches at retailers and other third parties who participate in data interchanges with Peoples and our customers that involve the theft of customer credit and debit card data, which may include the theft of Peoples’ consumer and business debit card PIN numbers and commercial card information used to make purchases at such retailers and other third parties. Such data breaches could result in Peoples incurring significant expenses to reissue debit cards and cover losses, which could result in a material adverse effect on Peoples’ operations.
All of the types of cyber incidents discussed above could result in damage to Peoples’ reputation, loss of customer business, increased costs of incentives to customers or business partners in order to maintain their relationships, litigation, increased regulatory scrutiny and potential enforcement actions, repairs of system damage, increased investments in cybersecurity (such as obtaining additional technology, making organizational changes, deploying additional personnel, training personnel and engaging consultants), increased insurance premiums, and loss of investor confidence and a reduction in the price of Peoples’ common shares, all of which could result in financial loss and material adverse effects on Peoples’ results of operations and financial condition.
•Noncompliance with the BSA and other anti-money laundering statutes and regulations could cause Peoples a material financial loss.
The BSA and the USA Patriot Act contain anti-money laundering and financial transparency provisions intended to detect and prevent the use of the U.S. financial system for money laundering and terrorist financing activities. The BSA, as amended by the USA Patriot Act and the AMLA, requires depository institutions and their holding companies to undertake activities including maintaining an anti-money laundering program, verifying the identity of clients, monitoring for and reporting suspicious transactions, reporting on cash transactions exceeding specified thresholds, and responding to requests for information by regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (also known as FinCEN), a unit of the U.S. Treasury Department that administers the BSA, is authorized to impose significant civil money penalties for violations of those requirements and has recently engaged in coordinated enforcement efforts with the federal bank regulatory agencies, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Internal Revenue Service. The AMLA is intended to be a comprehensive reform and modernization to U.S. bank secrecy and anti-money laundering laws, which includes a codified risk-based approach to anti-money laundering compliance for financial institutions; requires the development of standards for evaluating technology and internal processes for BSA compliance; expands enforcement-related and investigation-related authority, including increasing available sanctions for certain BSA violations and instituting BSA whistleblower incentives and protections.
There is also increased scrutiny of compliance with the rules enforced by OFAC. If Peoples' policies, procedures, and systems are deemed deficient, or if the policies, procedures, and systems of the financial institutions that Peoples has already acquired or may acquire in the future are deficient, Peoples may be subject to liability, including fines and regulatory actions such as restrictions on Peoples' ability to pay dividends and the necessity to obtain regulatory approvals to proceed with certain planned business activities, including acquisition plans, which could negatively impact Peoples' business, financial condition, and results of operations. Failure to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing could also have serious reputational consequences for Peoples.
For a more complete discussion of the BSA, the USA Patriot Act and the AMLA, see the section captioned "Supervision and Regulation" in "ITEM 1 BUSINESS" of this Form 10-K.
•Peoples' business could be adversely affected through events impacting third parties who perform significant operational services on behalf of Peoples.
The third parties performing operational services for Peoples are subject to risks similar to those faced by Peoples relating to cybersecurity, breakdowns or failures of their own systems, or misconduct of their employees. Like many other community banks, Peoples relies, in significant part, on a single vendor for the systems which allow Peoples to provide banking services to Peoples’ customers, with the systems being maintained on Peoples' behalf by this single vendor.

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One or more of the third parties utilized by Peoples may experience a cybersecurity event or operational disruption and, if any such event or disruption does occur, it may not be adequately addressed, either operationally or financially, by such third party. Certain of these third parties may have limited indemnification obligations to Peoples in the event of a cybersecurity event or operational disruption, or may not have the financial capacity to satisfy their indemnification obligations.
Financial or operational difficulties of a third-party provider could also impair Peoples' operations if those difficulties interfere with such third party’s ability to serve Peoples. If a critical third-party provider is unable to meet the needs of Peoples in a timely manner, or if the services or products provided by such third party are terminated or otherwise delayed, and if Peoples is not able to develop alternative sources for these services and products quickly and in a cost-effective manner, Peoples’ business could be materially adversely affected.
Additionally, regulatory guidance adopted by federal bank regulators addressing how banks select, engage and manage their third-party relationships, could affect the circumstances and conditions under which Peoples works with third parties and the cost of managing such relationships.
•Peoples' failure to be in compliance with any material provision or covenant of its debt instruments could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' liquidity and operations.
On April 2, 2020, Peoples entered into a Loan Agreement (the “U.S. Bank Loan Agreement”) with U.S. Bank National Association. The U.S. Bank Loan Agreement had an original one-year term, which has been extended by a second one-year term, and provides Peoples with a revolving line of credit in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million. The U.S. Bank Loan Agreement imposes operating and financial covenants on Peoples. These restrictions may affect Peoples' operations and may limit the ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities as they arise. Peoples' ability to comply with the covenants contained in the U.S. Bank Loan Agreement may be affected by events beyond Peoples' control, including deteriorating economic conditions, and these events could require Peoples to seek waivers or amendments of such covenants, or alternative sources of financing. Peoples' ability to obtain such waivers, amendments or alternative financing, may be on terms unfavorable to Peoples.
A breach of any of the covenants or restrictions contained in any of the existing or future financing agreements, including financial covenants, could result in an event of default under the agreements. Such a default could allow the lenders under the financing agreements, if the agreements so provide, to discontinue lending, to accelerate the related debt, and/or to declare all borrowings outstanding thereunder to be due and payable. In addition, the lenders could terminate any commitments they have to provide Peoples with further funds. If any of these events occur, Peoples may not have sufficient funds available to pay in full the total amount of obligations that become due as a result of any such acceleration, or Peoples may not be able to find additional or alternative financing to refinance any such accelerated obligations. Even if additional or alternative financing is obtained, it may be on terms that are unfavorable to Peoples. The U.S. Bank Loan Agreement matures on March 31, 2022. Peoples is in the process of renewing this facility and expects that it will be renewed prior to such expiration.
•Peoples' exposure to credit risk could adversely affect Peoples' earnings and financial condition.
There are certain risks inherent in making loans. These risks include interest rate changes over the time period in which loans are to be repaid, risks resulting from changes in the economy, risks that Peoples will have inaccurate or incomplete information about borrowers, risks that borrowers will become unable to repay loans, and, in the case of loans secured by collateral, risks resulting from uncertainties about the future value of the collateral.
Commercial loans comprise a significant portion of Peoples' loan portfolio. Commercial loans generally are viewed as having a higher degree of credit risk than residential real estate or consumer loans because commercial loans usually involve larger loan balances to a single borrower and are more susceptible to a risk of default during an economic downturn. Since Peoples' loan portfolio contains a significant number of commercial loans, the deterioration of one or a few of these loans could cause a significant increase in nonperforming loans, and ultimately could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' earnings and financial condition. Peoples may also have credit exposures concentrated in a particular industry, resulting in a risk of a material adverse effect on earnings or financial condition, if there is an event adversely affecting such industry.
Peoples' risks of timely loan repayment and the value of collateral supporting the loans are affected by the strength of the business of Peoples' commercial borrowers and the financial circumstances of Peoples' consumer borrowers. COVID-19 has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, business shutdowns and slowdowns, limitations on commercial activity and financial transactions, labor shortages, supply chain interruptions, increased unemployment and commercial property vacancy rates, reduced profitability and ability for property owners to make mortgage, auto and other consumer loan payments, and overall economic and financial market instability, which may affect individuals, households and business differently, and decreased consumer confidence generally, all of which may cause Peoples' customers to be unable to make scheduled loan payments.
Additional information regarding Peoples' credit exposure concentration as of December 31, 2021 can be found in the section captioned "Loan Concentration" in "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K.

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•Peoples' allowance for credit losses may be insufficient to absorb the expected, lifetime losses in our loan portfolio.
Peoples maintains an allowance for credit losses that is believed to be a reasonable estimate of the expected losses within the CECL model, based on management's quarterly analysis of our loan portfolio. The determination of the allowance for credit losses requires management to make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of Peoples' loans, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of loans. Additional information regarding Peoples' allowance for credit losses methodology and the sensitivity of the estimates can be found in the discussion of "Critical Accounting Policies" included in "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K.
Peoples' estimation of future credit losses is susceptible to changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in regulations and interest rates, which may be beyond Peoples' control, and the losses may exceed current estimates. Peoples cannot be assured of the amount or timing of losses, nor whether the allowance for credit losses will be adequate in the future.
If Peoples' assumptions prove to be incorrect, Peoples' allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to cover the expected losses from our loan portfolio, resulting in the need for additions to the allowance for credit losses which could have a material adverse impact on Peoples' financial condition and results of operations. In addition, bank regulators periodically review Peoples' allowance for credit losses as part of their examination process and may require management to increase the allowance or recognize further loan charge-offs based on judgments different than those of management.
On June 16, 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2016-13 "Financial Instruments – Credit Losses", which replaced the incurred loss model with the CECL model, an expected loss model. The new accounting guidance became effective for Peoples beginning January 1, 2020, and included most debt instruments under the new framework. The new accounting guidance under the CECL model requires banks to record, at the time of origination, credit losses expected throughout the life of financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities and reinsurance receivables, and off-balance sheet credit exposures not accounted for as insurance (loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees and other similar instruments) and net investments in leases recognized by a lessor. Under the CECL model, Peoples is required to use historical information, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts to estimate the expected credit losses. If the methodologies and assumptions used by Peoples in the CECL model prove to be incorrect, or inadequate, the allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient, resulting in the need for additional allowance for credit losses to be established, which could have a material adverse impact on Peoples' financial condition and results of operations.
The adoption of CECL by Peoples resulted in a reduction to the retained earnings balance of $3.7 million, net of income tax, and a pre-tax increase to the allowance for credit losses of $5.8 million. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Peoples’ financial results were negatively impacted as deteriorating economic conditions forecasted increased Peoples’ expectations for credit losses, resulting in higher provision for credit losses during 2020. Improvement in the economic forecasts used in the CECL model during 2021 resulted in a lower provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2021. As a result of the implementation of the CECL model, the time horizon over which Peoples is required to estimate future credit losses expanded, which could result in increased volatility in future provisions for credit losses. Peoples may also experience a higher or more volatile provision for credit losses due to higher levels of nonperforming loans and net charge-offs if commercial and consumer customers are unable to make scheduled loan payments.

•Peoples' accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on analytical and forecasting models.
The processes Peoples uses to estimate our expected credit losses and to measure the fair value of financial instruments, as well as the processes used to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and other market measures on Peoples' financial condition and results of operations, depend upon the use of analytical and, in some cases, forecasting models. These models reflect assumptions that may not be accurate, particularly in times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances. Even if these assumptions are accurate, the model may prove to be inadequate or inaccurate because of other flaws in their design or their implementation. If the model Peoples uses for interest rate risk and asset-liability management are inadequate, Peoples may incur increased or unexpected losses upon changes in market interest rates or other market measures. If the model used by Peoples for determining our expected credit losses is inadequate, the allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to support future charge-offs. If the model used by Peoples to measure the fair value of financial instruments are inadequate, the fair value of such financial instruments may fluctuate unexpectedly or may not accurately reflect what Peoples could realize upon sale or settlement of such financial instruments. Any such failure in Peoples' analytical or forecasting models could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' business, financial condition and results of operations.


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•Peoples and Peoples Bank may elect or be compelled to seek additional capital in the future, but such capital may not be available when needed.
Peoples and Peoples Bank are required by federal and state regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support their operations. Federal bank regulators have adopted extensive changes to their capital requirements, including raising required amounts and eliminating the inclusion of certain instruments from the calculation of capital. If Peoples Bank experiences significant losses, additional capital may be needed. In addition, Peoples and Peoples Bank may elect to raise additional capital to support the businesses or to finance acquisitions, if any, or for other unanticipated reasons. The ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on financial performance, conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, many of which are outside of Peoples' control. Therefore, there can be no assurance that additional capital will be available or that capital will be available on acceptable terms. The inability to raise capital may have a material adverse effect on Peoples' financial condition, results of operations or potential acquisitions.
•Peoples and Peoples Bank operate in a highly regulated industry, and the laws and regulations that govern Peoples’ operations, corporate governance, executive compensation and financial accounting, or financial reporting, including changes in, or failure to comply with, such laws and regulations may adversely affect Peoples.
The banking industry is highly regulated. Peoples is subject to supervision, regulation and examination by various federal and state regulators, including the Federal Reserve Board, the SEC, the CFPB, the FDIC, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (also known as FINRA), and various state regulatory agencies. The statutory and regulatory framework that governs Peoples is generally designed to protect depositors and customers, the Deposit Insurance Fund, the U.S. banking and financial system, and financial markets as a whole and not to protect Peoples' shareholders. These laws and regulations, among other matters, prescribe minimum capital requirements, restrict the ability of Peoples Bank to guarantee Peoples' debt, and impose limitations on Peoples’ business activities (including foreclosure and collection practices), limit the dividends or distributions that Peoples can pay, and impose certain specific accounting requirements that may be more restrictive and may result in greater or earlier charges to earnings or reductions in capital than would otherwise be required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"). Compliance with laws and regulations can be difficult and costly, and changes to laws and regulations often impose additional compliance costs. Both the scope of the laws and regulations, and the intensity of the supervision to which Peoples is subject, have increased in recent years in response to the perceived state of the financial services industry, as well as other factors such as technological and market changes. Such regulation and supervision may increase Peoples’ costs and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities. Further, Peoples’ failure to comply with these laws and regulations, even if the failure was inadvertent or reflects a difference in interpretation, could subject Peoples to restrictions on business activities, fines, and other penalties, any of which could adversely affect the results of operations, the capital base, and the price of Peoples’ common shares. Further, any new laws, rules, or regulations could make compliance more difficult or expensive or otherwise adversely affect Peoples’ business and financial condition.
•Peoples may not be able to adapt to technological change.
The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers while reducing costs. Peoples’ future success depends, in part, upon our ability to address customer needs by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. This could include the development, implementation, and adaptation of digital or cryptocurrency, blockchain, and other “fintech” technology. Peoples may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to its customers. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological changes affecting the financial services industry could negatively affect Peoples’ growth, revenue and net income.
•Peoples may not be able to attract and retain key employees.
Peoples' success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract, retain, motivate and develop key employees. Competition for key employees is ongoing and Peoples may not be able to attract, retain or hire the key employees who are wanted or needed, which may also negatively impact Peoples' ability to execute identified business strategies. Many of Peoples’ offices are located in rural areas, resulting in the possible need for Peoples to offer higher compensation equal to or greater than what is offered in metropolitan areas to attract or retain key employees, which may adversely affect salaries and employee benefit costs.
Various restrictions on the compensation which may be paid to certain executive officers were imposed under the Dodd-Frank Act and other legislation and regulations. In addition, Peoples' incentive compensation structure is subject to review by regulators, who may identify deficiencies in the structure or issue additional guidance on Peoples' compensation practices, causing Peoples to make changes that may affect our ability to offer competitive compensation to these individuals or that place Peoples at a disadvantage to non-financial service competitors. Peoples' ability to attract and retain talented employees may be affected by these restrictions, or any new executive compensation limits or regulations.

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•Peoples' ability to pay dividends is limited, and Peoples may not be in the position to pay dividends in the future.
Although Peoples has paid dividends on our common shares in the past, Peoples may, at the discretion of Peoples' Board of Directors, reduce or eliminate dividends in the future, for any reason, including a determination to use funds for other purposes, or due to regulatory constraints. Peoples is a separate and distinct legal entity from Peoples' subsidiaries. Peoples receives nearly all of our liquidity from dividends from Peoples Bank, which are limited by federal and state banking laws and regulations. These dividends also serve as the primary source of funds to pay dividends on Peoples' common shares. The inability of Peoples Bank to pay sufficient dividends to Peoples could have a material, adverse effect on our business. Further discussion of Peoples' ability to pay dividends can be found under the caption "Supervision and Regulation – Dividend Restrictions" in "ITEM 1 BUSINESS" of this Form 10-K and "Note 17 Regulatory Matters" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
•Peoples depends upon the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with customers and counterparties, Peoples may rely on information provided by customers and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. Peoples may also rely on representations of customers and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and, with respect to financial statements, on reports of independent auditors. For example, in deciding whether to extend credit to a business, Peoples Bank may assume that the customer’s audited financial statements conform with US GAAP and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the customer. Peoples Bank may also rely on the audit report covering those financial statements. Peoples’ financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be negatively impacted to the extent that Peoples Bank relies on financial statements that do not comply with US GAAP or on financial statements and other financial information that are materially misleading.
•Peoples Bank may be required to repurchase loans it has sold or to indemnify loan purchasers under the terms of the sale agreements, which could adversely affect Peoples’ liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
When Peoples Bank sells a mortgage loan, it may agree to repurchase or substitute a mortgage loan if Peoples Bank is later found to have breached any representation or warranty Peoples Bank made about the loan or if the borrower is later found to have committed fraud in connection with the origination of the loan. While Peoples Bank has underwriting policies and procedures designed to avoid breaches of representations and warranties and borrower fraud, there can be no assurance that a breach or fraud will not occur. Required repurchases, substitutions or indemnifications could have an adverse effect on Peoples’ liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
•Peoples and our subsidiaries are subject to examinations and challenges by tax authorities.
In the normal course of business, Peoples and our subsidiaries are routinely subject to examinations and challenges from federal and state tax authorities regarding positions taken regarding their respective tax returns. State tax authorities have become increasingly aggressive in challenging tax positions taken by financial institutions, especially those positions relating to tax compliance and calculation of taxes subject to apportionment. Any challenge or examination by a tax authority may result in adjustments to the timing or amount of taxable net worth or taxable income, or deductions or the allocation of income among tax jurisdictions.
Management believes it has taken appropriate positions with respect to all tax returns and does not anticipate that any examination would have a material impact on Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements. However, the outcome of any such examination and the ultimate resolution of any resulting assessments are inherently difficult to predict. Thus, no assurance can be given that Peoples' tax liability for any tax year open to examination will be as reflected in Peoples' current and historical Consolidated Financial Statements.
•Peoples has identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting. If Peoples fails to remediate the material weaknesses, or if Peoples fails to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, its ability to accurately and timely report financial results could be adversely affected.
The effectiveness of any controls or procedures is subject to certain inherent limitations, and as a result, there can be no assurance that our controls and procedures will prevent or detect misstatements. Even an effective system of internal control over financial reporting will provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Also, projections of any evaluations of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
With the participation of the Chief Executive Officer of Peoples and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Peoples, management evaluated the effectiveness of Peoples’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 using criteria established in the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on management’s assessment of Peoples’ internal control over financial reporting, under the criteria described in the preceding sentence, management has identified a control deficiency during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, that constituted a material weakness as described within “ITEM 9A. CONTROLS & PROCEDURES.”

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However, as disclosed in the "Report of Management's Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting", Peoples' management is in the process of implementing certain changes to Peoples' internal controls to remediate the material weakness disclosed in the "Report of Management's Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting."
If Peoples fails to remediate the material weakness, or are otherwise unable to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, management could be required to expend significant resources and we could fail to meet our public reporting requirements on a timely basis, and be subject to fines, penalties, investigations or judgments, all of which could negatively affect investor confidence and adversely impact our stock price.
Legislative, Regulatory and Tax Change Risks
•Legislative or regulatory changes or actions could adversely impact Peoples or the businesses in which it is engaged.
The financial services industry is heavily regulated under both federal and state law. Peoples is subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve Board, and Peoples Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the ODFI, the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC and the CFPB. These regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund, not Peoples' shareholders. Peoples' non-bank subsidiaries are also subject to the supervision of the Federal Reserve Board, in addition to other regulatory and self-regulatory agencies, including the SEC, and state securities and insurance regulators.
Regulations affecting banks and financial services businesses are undergoing continuous change, especially in light of COVID-19 and the stimulus programs implemented in connection therewith, and Peoples' management cannot predict the effect of those changes. While such changes are generally intended to lessen the regulatory burden on financial institutions, the impact of any changes to laws and regulations or other actions by regulatory agencies could adversely affect Peoples' business. Regulatory authorities have extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities, including the imposition of restrictions on the operation of an institution, the classification of assets held by an institution, the appropriateness of an institution's allowance for credit losses and the ability to complete acquisitions. Additionally, actions by regulatory agencies or significant litigation against Peoples could cause Peoples to devote significant time and resources to defending our business and may lead to penalties that materially affect Peoples and our shareholders. Even the reduction of regulatory restrictions could have an adverse effect on Peoples and our shareholders if such lessening of restrictions increases competition within the financial services industry or Peoples' market area.
Further information about government regulation of Peoples' business can be found under the caption "Supervision and Regulation" in "ITEM 1 BUSINESS" of this Form 10-K.
•Changes in accounting standards, policies, estimates or procedures may impact Peoples' reported financial condition or results of operations.
The entities responsible for setting accounting standards, including the FASB, the SEC and other regulatory bodies, periodically change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements. The pace of change continues to accelerate and changes in accounting standards can be difficult to predict and can materially impact how Peoples records and reports our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, Peoples could be required to apply a new or revised guidance retroactively, resulting in the restatement of prior period financial statements.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make significant estimates that affect the financial statements. Due to the inherent nature of these estimates, actual results may vary materially from management's estimates. Additional information regarding Peoples' critical accounting policies and the sensitivity of estimates can be found in the section captioned "Critical Accounting Policies" in "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K.
•Increases in FDIC insurance premiums may have a material adverse effect on Peoples' earnings.
Peoples Bank has limited ability to control the amount of premiums it is required to pay for FDIC insurance. The Deposit Insurance Fund is funded by fees assessed on insured depository institutions, such as Peoples Bank. If the costs of future bank failures increase, deposit insurance premiums may also increase. Increases in FDIC insurance premiums may have a material adverse effect on Peoples' results of operations and ability to continue to pay dividends on our common shares at the current rate or at all.
The FDIC has adopted rules revising its assessments in a manner benefiting banks with assets totaling less than $10 billion in assets. There can be no assurance, however, that assessments may not be changed in the future. Federal deposit insurance is described in more detail in the section captioned "Supervision and Regulation" in "ITEM 1 BUSINESS" of this Form 10-K.

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Strategic Risks
•Peoples' ability to complete acquisitions and integrate completed acquisitions may be unsuccessful or more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, which could have an adverse effect on Peoples' business, earnings and financial condition.
Peoples actively evaluates opportunities to acquire other businesses. However, Peoples may not have the opportunity to make suitable acquisitions on favorable terms in the future, which could negatively impact the growth of our business. Peoples expects that other banking and financial companies, many of which have significantly greater resources, will compete to acquire compatible businesses. This competition could increase prices for acquisitions that Peoples would likely pursue, and our competitors may have greater resources to pay such acquisition prices. In addition, acquisitions of regulated businesses, such as banks, are subject to various regulatory approvals. If Peoples fails to receive the appropriate approvals, we will not be able to consummate an acquisition that we believe is in our best interest.
Peoples may not be able to integrate new acquisitions without encountering difficulties, including the loss of key employees and customers, the disruption of ongoing businesses or possible inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies. Peoples may not be able to fully achieve the strategic objectives and operating efficiencies anticipated in the acquisitions we complete. Future acquisitions may also result in other unforeseen difficulties, including in the integration of the combined companies. Further, benefits such as enhanced earnings anticipated from the acquisitions may not develop and future results of the combined companies may be materially below those estimated. In addition, Peoples may issue equity securities in connection with acquisitions, which could dilute the economic and voting interests of Peoples' shareholders. Recent changes in the stock price of financial institutions could impact the valuation of potential target companies and, therefore, Peoples' ability to compete for acquisitions.
•Changes in retail distribution strategies and consumer behavior may adversely impact Peoples’ investments in our financial service office premises and equipment and other assets, and may lead to increased expenditures to change our retail distribution channel.
Peoples has significant investments in financial service office premises and equipment for our financial service office network, including 13 financial service offices as well as our retail work force and other financial service office banking assets. Advances in technology such as e-commerce, telephone, internet and mobile banking, and in-branch self-service technologies including automatic teller machines and other equipment, as well as changing customer preferences for these other methods of accessing Peoples’ products and services, could affect the value of Peoples’ financial service office network or other retail distribution assets and may cause Peoples to change our retail distribution strategy, close and/or sell certain financial service offices and restructure or reduce our remaining financial service offices and work force. Further advances in technology and/or changes in customer preferences including those related to social media, digital or cryptocurrency, blockchain and other "fintech" technologies could result in additional changes in Peoples’ retail distribution strategy and/or financial service office network. These actions could lead to losses on these assets or could adversely impact the carrying value of other long-lived assets and may lead to increased expenditures to renovate and reconfigure remaining financial service offices or to otherwise reform Peoples’ retail distribution channel.
•Anti-takeover provisions may delay or prevent an acquisition or change in control by a third party.
Provisions in the Ohio General Corporation Law, Peoples' Amended Articles of Incorporation and Peoples' Code of Regulations, including a supermajority vote requirement for significant corporate changes, could discourage potential takeover attempts and make attempts by shareholders to remove Peoples' Board of Directors and management more difficult. These provisions may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a transaction or change in control that might be in the best interests of Peoples' shareholders.
General Risks
•Adverse changes in the financial markets may adversely impact Peoples' results of operations.
While Peoples generally invests in securities issued by U.S. government agencies and sponsored entities and domestic state and local governments with limited credit risk, certain investment securities held by Peoples possess higher credit risk since they represent beneficial interests in structured investments collateralized by residential mortgages, debt obligations and other similar asset-backed assets. Even securities issued by governmental agencies and sponsored entities may entail risk depending on political and economic changes. Regardless of the level of credit risk, all investment securities are subject to changes in market value due to changing interest rates, implied credit spreads and credit ratings.
•Peoples is subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities.
A significant portion of Peoples’ loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, Peoples forecloses on and takes title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, Peoples may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws and evolving regulation may require Peoples to incur

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substantial expenses and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit Peoples’ ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws and regulations or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws or regulations may increase Peoples’ exposure to environmental liability. Environmental reviews of real property before initiating foreclosure actions may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on Peoples’ business, financial condition and results of operations.
•The value of Peoples’ goodwill and other intangible assets may decline in the future.
As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had $291.0 million of goodwill and other intangible assets. A significant decline in expected future cash flows, a significant adverse change in the business climate, slower growth rates or a significant and sustained decline in the price of Peoples’ common shares may necessitate taking charges in the future related to the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. If Peoples were to conclude that a future write-down of goodwill and other intangible assets is necessary, the appropriate charge will be recorded, which could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' business, financial condition and results of operations.
•Peoples is at risk of increased losses from fraud.
Criminals are committing fraud at an increasing rate and are using more sophisticated techniques. In some cases, these individuals are part of larger criminal rings, which allow them to be more effective. Such fraudulent activity has taken many forms, ranging from wire fraud, debit card fraud, check fraud, mechanical devices attached to ATM machines, social engineering and phishing attacks to obtain personal information, or impersonation of clients through the use of falsified or stolen credentials. Additionally, an individual or business entity may properly identify itself, yet seek to establish a business relationship for the purpose of perpetrating fraud. An emerging type of fraud even involves the creation of synthetic identification in which fraudsters "create" individuals for the purpose of perpetrating fraud. In addition to fraud committed directly against Peoples, Peoples may suffer losses as a result of fraudulent activity committed against third parties. Increased deployment of technologies, such as chip card technology, defray and reduce certain aspects of fraud; however, criminals are turning to other sources to steal personally identifiable information, such as unaffiliated healthcare providers and government entities, in order to impersonate consumers and thereby commit fraud.
•Peoples may not be able to remain competitive.
Peoples experiences significant competition in originating loans, obtaining deposits, and maintaining and growing insurance and trust customers, principally from other commercial banks, savings associations, credit unions, trust and brokerage companies, insurance agencies, fintechs and online service providers. Several of Peoples' competitors have greater resources, larger branch systems and wider arrays of banking and non-banking services. This competition could reduce Peoples' net income by decreasing the number and size of loans that Peoples originates and the interest rates we can charge on these loans. Moreover, technology and other changes are allowing businesses and individuals to utilize alternative methods to complete financial transactions that historically have involved banks. For example, consumers can now maintain funds that have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts, mutual funds, or high yield savings accounts with online banks. Consumers can also complete transactions such as paying bills and/or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. Digital or cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and other “fintech” technologies are designed to enhance transactional security and have the potential to disrupt the financial industry, change the way banks do business, and reduce the need for banks as financial deposit-keepers and intermediaries. The process of eliminating the use of banks to complete financial transactions could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and lower cost deposits as a source of funding could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' financial condition and results of operations.  If Peoples is unable to compete effectively, Peoples will lose market share, which could reduce income generated from deposits, loans and other products. For a more complete discussion of Peoples' competitive environment, see the section captioned "Competition" in "ITEM 1 BUSINESS" of this Form 10-K.
•Climate change, severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, the emergence of a pandemic and other adverse external events could significantly impact Peoples' business.
Natural disasters, including severe weather events of increasing strength and frequency due to climate change, acts of war or terrorism, pandemics or concern about a possible pandemic, and other adverse external events could have a significant impact on Peoples' ability to conduct business or upon third parties who perform operational services for Peoples or our customers. Such events could affect the stability of Peoples' deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, disrupt the infrastructure that supports Peoples' business and the communities Peoples is located in, negatively impact financial markets and interest rates, result in lost revenue or cause Peoples to incur additional expenses.

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•Peoples or one of our subsidiaries may be a defendant from time to time in a variety of litigation and other actions, which could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Peoples and our subsidiaries may be involved from time to time in a variety of litigation arising out of their respective businesses. The risk of litigation increases in times of increased troubled loan collection activity. Peoples' insurance may not cover all claims that may be asserted against Peoples and our subsidiaries, and any claims asserted against them, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, may harm their respective reputations. Should the ultimate judgments or settlements in any litigation exceed the applicable insurance coverage, they could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, Peoples or one of our subsidiaries may not be able to obtain appropriate types or levels of insurance in the future or to obtain adequate replacement policies with acceptable terms.
•Defaults by larger financial institutions could adversely affect Peoples' business, earnings and financial condition.
Many financial institutions and their related operations are closely intertwined, and the soundness of such financial institutions may, to some degree, be interdependent. As a result, concerns about, or a default or threatened default by, one financial institution could lead to significant market-wide liquidity and credit problems and/or losses or defaults by other financial institutions. This "systemic risk" may adversely affect Peoples' business.
Additionally, Peoples' investment portfolio continues to include a limited amount of investments in individual bank-issued trust preferred securities. Under current market conditions, the fair value of these security types is based predominately on the present value of cash flows expected to be received in the future. Significant defaults by other financial institutions could adversely affect conditions within the financial services industry, thereby causing investors to require higher rates of return for these investments. These factors could cause Peoples to recognize impairment losses on our investment in bank-issued trust preferred securities in future periods.
•Changes in tax laws could adversely affect Peoples' performance.
Peoples is subject to extensive federal, state and local taxes, including income, excise, sales/use, payroll, franchise, withholding and ad valorem taxes. Changes to tax laws could have a material adverse effect on Peoples' results of operations, fair values of net deferred tax assets and obligations of states and political subdivisions held in Peoples' investment securities portfolio. In addition, Peoples' customers are subject to a wide variety of federal, state and local taxes. Changes in taxes paid by Peoples' customers may adversely affect their ability to purchase homes or consumer products, which could adversely affect their demand for loans and deposit products. In addition, such negative effects on Peoples' customers could result in defaults on the loans made by Peoples Bank and decrease the value of mortgage-backed securities in which Peoples has invested.

ITEM 1B UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2 PROPERTIES
Peoples' sole banking subsidiary, Peoples Bank, generally owns its offices, related facilities and unimproved real property. At December 31, 2021, Peoples Bank operated 66 offices in Ohio, 34 locations in West Virginia, 26 offices in Kentucky, three offices in Virginia, three offices in Washington D.C., one location in Maryland, an insurance premium finance lending office in Missouri and an equipment leasing office in Vermont. Of these 135 offices, 33 are leased and the rest are owned by Peoples Bank.
Peoples Insurance rents office space in various Peoples Bank offices, and also leases office space from third parties in Sciotoville, Ohio and in Pikeville, Kentucky.

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Rent expense on the leased properties totaled $2.0 million in 2021 and $1.6 million in 2020, which excludes intercompany rent expense. The following properties have a lease term expiring on or before June 2023:
LocationAddress
Lease Expiration Date
DuPont Circle1604 17th Street
Washingtion, DC		March 2022 (a)
Cincinnati West Loan Production Office6701 Ruwes Oak Drive, Suite 4
Cincinnati, Ohio		April 2022 (b)
Charleston Commercial Office10 Hale Street
Charleston, West Virginia		May 2022 (c)
Lancaster Fair Avenue Office2211 West Fair Avenue
Lancaster, Ohio		March 2023 (a)
Premium Finance600 SW Jefferson, Suite 204
Lee's Summit, Missouri		August 2022 (a)
Spencer303 Main Street
Spencer, West Virginia		November 2022 (d)
West Hamlin40 Lincoln Plaza
Branchland, West Virginia		December 2022 (a)
K Street1501 K Street, NW
Washington, DC		December 2022 (a)
Sciotoville Insurance6606 Gallia Street
Sciotoville, Ohio		December 2022 (e)
Vanceburg AA Highway67 Commercial Drive, Suite 3
Vanceburg, Kentucky		February 2023 (a)
Proctorville7604 County Road 107
Proctorville, Ohio		February 2023 (a)
North Star Leasing747 Pine Street
Burlington, Vermont		March 2023 (f)
Akron Business Production Office354 South Main Street, Suite 200
Akron, Ohio		June 2023 (a)
North Canton Loan Production Office125 South Main Street
North Canton, Ohio		June 2023 (g)
(a) Current lease agreement has no remaining extensions available.
(b) Current lease agreement is in final extension.
(c) Current lease agreement has one three-year extension remaining.
(d) Current lease agreement will change to a month-to-month lease upon expiration.
(e) Current lease has one one-year extension remaining.
(f) Current lease has two three-year extensions remaining.
(g) Current lease agreement has one two-year extension remaining.

Peoples considers its offices and related facilities to be suitable and adequate for the present needs of Peoples and its subsidiaries. Peoples evaluates on a continuing basis the suitability and adequacy of its offices and related facilities, and has opened, relocated, remodeled or closed them as appropriate to maintain efficient and attractive premises.
Additional information concerning the property and equipment owned or leased by Peoples and its subsidiaries is incorporated herein by reference from "Note 5 Bank Premises and Equipment" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In the ordinary course of their respective businesses or operations, Peoples or one of its subsidiaries may be named as a plaintiff, a defendant, or a party to a legal proceeding or any of their respective properties may be subject to various pending and threatened legal proceedings and various actual and potential claims.  In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of such matters, Peoples cannot state what the eventual outcome of any such matters will be; however, based on current knowledge and after consultation with legal counsel, Peoples' management believes the pending legal proceedings are ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business of Peoples and its subsidiaries and that they will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of Peoples.
ITEM 4 MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.

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PART II
ITEM 5 MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Peoples' common shares are traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market® under the symbol PEBO. At December 31, 2021, Peoples had 3,944 shareholders of record.
Peoples plans to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends comparable to those paid historically, subject to certain regulatory restrictions described in "Note 17 Regulatory Matters" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as in the section captioned "Supervision and Regulation – Dividend Restrictions" of "ITEM 1 BUSINESS" of this Form 10-K.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table details repurchases by Peoples and purchases by "affiliated purchasers" as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of Peoples' common shares during the three months ended December 31, 2021:
Period
(a)
Total Number of Common Shares Purchased
 
(b)
Average Price Paid per Common Share
 
 (c)
Total Number of Common Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1)
(d)
Maximum
Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Common Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
October 1 – 31, 2021425 (2)$32.94 (2)— $30,000,000 
November 1 – 30, 2021— 

$— 

— $30,000,000 
December 1 – 31, 20216,297 
(2)(3)(4)
$31.00 
(2)(3)(4)
— $30,000,000 
Total6,722  $31.12  — $30,000,000 
(1)On January 29, 2021, Peoples announced that on January 28, 2021, Peoples' Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program authorizing Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $30.0 million of its outstanding common shares, replacing the February 27, 2020 share repurchase program which terminated on January 28, 2021. There were no common shares repurchased under the share repurchase program during the three months ended December 31, 2021.
(2)Information includes 425 common shares and 700 common shares purchased in open market transactions during October and December by Peoples Bank under the Rabbi Trust Agreement. The Rabbi Trust Agreement establishes a rabbi trust that holds assets to provide funds for the payment of the benefits under the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries.
(3) Information reported includes an aggregate of 350 common shares withheld to satisfy income taxes associated with restricted common shares which were granted under the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan and vested during December 2021.
(4) Information reported includes an aggregate of 5,247 common shares withheld to satisfy income taxes associated with unrestricted common shares which were granted during December 2021 and were not subject to vesting requirements.

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Performance Graph
The following Performance Graph and related information shall not be deemed "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the SEC, nor shall such information be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that Peoples specifically incorporates the Performance Graph by reference into such filing.
The following line graph compares the five-year cumulative total shareholder return of Peoples' common shares, based on an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2016, and assuming reinvestment of dividends, against two indices. The first is the Russell 2000 Index, which is a leading benchmark for small cap domestic stocks and is comprised of the stocks ranked 1,001 to 3,000 in order of descending market capitalization in the Russell 3000 Index. The second is the Russell 2000 Financial Services Index, which is comprised of the financial services companies within the Russell 2000 Index.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN AMONG
PEOPLES BANCORP INC., RUSSELL 2000 INDEX,
AND RUSSELL 2000 FINANCIAL SERVICES INDEX
pebo-20211231_g2.jpg

 At December 31,
 201620172018201920202021
Peoples Bancorp Inc.$100.00 $103.10 $98.18 $117.76 $97.42 $119.67 
Russell 2000 Index$100.00 $114.63 $101.99 $127.98 $153.49 $176.18 
Russell 2000 Financial Services Index$100.00 $105.73 $94.17 $116.86 $114.48 $148.56 



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ITEM 6 [RESERVED]
 
 

ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this Form 10-K, which are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "may," "feel," "expect," "believe," "plan," "will," "will likely," "would," "should," "could," "project," "goal," "target," "potential," "seek," "intend," and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.  Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially.  Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to:
(1)the ever-changing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic - the duration, extent and severity of which are impossible to predict, including the possibility of further resurgence in the spread of COVID-19 or variants thereof - on economies (local, national and international), supply chains and markets, on the labor market, including the potential for a sustained reduction in labor force participation and on our customers, counterparties, employees and third-party service providers, as well as the effects of various responses of governmental and nongovernmental authorities to the COVID-19 pandemic, including public health actions directed toward the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic (such as quarantines, shut downs and other restrictions on travel and commercial, social and other activities), the availability, effectiveness and acceptance of vaccines, and the implementation of fiscal stimulus packages, which could adversely impact sales volumes, add volatility to the global stock markets, and increase loan delinquencies and defaults;
(2)changes in the interest rate environment due to economic conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors and/or the fiscal and monetary policy measures undertaken by the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve Board in response to such economic conditions, which may adversely impact interest rates, the interest rate yield curve, interest margins, loan demand and interest rate sensitivity;
(3)the success, impact, and timing of the implementation of Peoples' business strategies and Peoples' ability to manage strategic initiatives, including the completion and successful integration of planned acquisitions, including the recently-completed merger with Premier and recently-completed acquisitions of NSL and Vantage, and the expansion of commercial and consumer lending activities, in light of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on customers' operations and financial condition;
(4)competitive pressures among financial institutions, or from non-financial institutions, which may increase significantly, including product and pricing pressures, which can in turn impact Peoples' credit spreads, changes to third-party relationships and revenues, changes in the manner of providing services, customer acquisition and retention pressures, and Peoples' ability to attract, develop and retain qualified professionals;
(5)uncertainty regarding the nature, timing, cost, and effect of legislative or regulatory changes or actions, or deposit insurance premium levels, promulgated and to be promulgated by governmental and regulatory agencies in the State of Ohio, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which may subject Peoples, its subsidiaries, or one or more acquired companies to a variety of new and more stringent legal and regulatory requirements which adversely affect their respective businesses, including in particular the rules and regulations promulgated and to be promulgated under the CARES Act, and the follow-up legislation enacted as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, and the Basel III regulatory capital reform;
(6)the effects of easing restrictions on participants in the financial services industry;
(7)local, regional, national and international economic conditions (including the impact of potential or imposed tariffs, a U.S. withdrawal from or significant renegotiation of trade agreements, trade wars and other changes in trade regulations, closing of border crossings and changes in the relationship of the U.S. and its global trading partners) and the impact these conditions may have on Peoples, its customers and its counterparties, and Peoples' assessment of the impact, which may be different than anticipated;
(8)Peoples may issue equity securities in connection with future acquisitions, which could cause ownership and economic dilution to Peoples' current shareholders;
(9)changes in prepayment speeds, loan originations, levels of nonperforming assets, delinquent loans, charge-offs, and customer and other counterparties' performance and creditworthiness generally, which may be less favorable than expected in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and adversely impact the amount of interest income generated;

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(10)Peoples may have more credit risk and higher credit losses to the extent there are loan concentrations by location or industry of borrowers or collateral;
(11)future credit quality and performance, including expectations regarding future credit losses and the allowance for credit losses;
(12)changes in accounting standards, policies, estimates or procedures may adversely affect Peoples' reported financial condition or results of operations;
(13)the impact of assumptions, estimates and inputs used within models, which may vary materially from actual outcomes, including under the CECL model;
(14)the discontinuation of LIBOR and other reference rates which may result in increased expenses and litigation, and adversely impact the effectiveness of hedging strategies;
(15)adverse changes in the conditions and trends in the financial markets, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related responses by governmental and nongovernmental authorities to the pandemic, which may adversely affect the fair value of securities within Peoples' investment portfolio, the interest rate sensitivity of Peoples' consolidated balance sheet, and the income generated by Peoples' trust and investment activities;
(16)the volatility from quarter to quarter of mortgage banking income, whether due to interest rates, demand, the fair value of mortgage loans, or other factors;
(17)the effect of the current interest rate environment or changes in interest rates or in the level or composition of our assets or liabilities on our net interest income and our loan originations;
(18)Peoples' ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries;
(19)Peoples' ability to maintain required capital levels and adequate sources of funding and liquidity;
(20)the impact of larger or similar-sized financial institutions encountering problems, which may adversely affect the banking industry and/or Peoples' business generation and retention, funding and liquidity;
(21)Peoples' ability to secure confidential information and deliver products and services through the use of computer systems and telecommunications networks, including those of Peoples' third-party vendors and other service providers, which may prove inadequate, and could adversely affect customer confidence in Peoples and/or result in Peoples incurring a financial loss;
(22)Peoples' ability to anticipate and respond to technological changes, and Peoples' reliance on, and the potential failure of, a number of third-party vendors to perform as expected, including Peoples' primary core banking system provider, which can impact Peoples' ability to respond to customer needs and meet competitive demands;
(23)operational issues stemming from and/or capital spending necessitated by the potential need to adapt to industry changes in information technology systems on which Peoples and its subsidiaries are highly dependent;
(24)changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits, whether due to changes in retail distribution strategies, consumer preferences and behavior, changes in business and economic conditions (including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic), legislative or regulatory initiatives (including those in response to the COVID-19 pandemic), or other factors, which may be different than anticipated;
(25)the adequacy of Peoples' internal controls and risk management program in the event of changes in strategic, reputational, market, economic, operational, cybersecurity, compliance, legal, asset/liability repricing, liquidity, credit and interest rate risks associated with Peoples' business;
(26)the impact on Peoples' businesses, personnel, facilities, or systems, of losses related to acts of fraud, theft, misappropriation or violence;
(27)the impact on Peoples' businesses, as well as on the risks described above, of various domestic or international widespread natural or other disasters, pandemics (including COVID-19), cybersecurity attacks, system failures, civil unrest, military or terrorist activities or international conflicts;
(28)the impact on Peoples' businesses and operating results of any costs associated with obtaining rights in intellectual property claimed by others and adequately protecting Peoples' intellectual property;
(29)risks and uncertainties associated with Peoples' entry into new geographic markets and risks resulting from Peoples' inexperience in these new geographic markets;
(30)changes in law or requirements imposed by Peoples' regulators impacting Peoples' capital actions, including dividend payments and share repurchases;
(31)the effect of a fall in stock market prices on the asset and wealth management business;
(32)Peoples' continued ability to grow deposits;
(33)the impact of future governmental and regulatory actions upon Peoples' participation in and execution of government programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
(34)uncertainty regarding the impact of the current U.S. presidential administration and Congress on the regulatory landscape, capital markets, elevated government debt, potential changes in tax legislation that may increase tax rates and the response to and management of the COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure spending and social programs; and,
(35)other risk factors relating to the banking industry or Peoples as detailed from time to time in Peoples' reports filed with the SEC, including those risk factors included in the disclosures under the heading "ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS" of this Form 10-K.

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All forward-looking statements speak only as of the filing date of this Form 10-K and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements.  Although management believes the expectations in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of management’s knowledge of Peoples’ business and operations, it is possible that actual results may differ materially from these projections.  Additionally, Peoples undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the filing date of this Form 10-K or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as may be required by applicable legal requirements.  Copies of documents filed with the SEC are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and/or through Peoples' website – www.peoplesbancorp.com under the "Investor Relations" section.
The following discussion and analysis of Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements is presented to provide insight into management's assessment of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, as well as the ratios and statistics, contained elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
Summary of Significant Transactions and Events
The following is a summary of transactions or events that have impacted or are expected by management to impact Peoples’ results of operations or financial condition: 
◦On March 7, 2022, Peoples wholly-owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank, closed on its acquisition of Vantage, a nationwide provider of equipment financing headquartered in Excelsior, Minnesota. Under the terms of the agreement, Peoples Bank purchased 100% of the equity of Vantage for total cash consideration of $54.0 million. Peoples Bank repaid approximately $28.9 million in recourse debt on behalf of Vantage. Vantage offers mid-ticket equipment leases, primarily for business essential information technology equipment across a wide array of industries. Upon completion of the transaction, Vantage became a subsidiary of Peoples Bank. As a subsidiary, Vantage will continue to operate under the name Vantage Financial, which will leverage Vantage's strong brand recognition within the equipment finance industry.
◦On September 17, 2021, Peoples completed its merger with Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. (“Premier”), in which Peoples acquired, in an all-stock merger, Premier, a bank holding company headquartered in Huntington, West Virginia, and the parent company of Premier Bank, Inc. (“Premier Bank”) and Citizens Deposit Bank and Trust, Inc. (“Citizens”). Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 26, 2021, Premier merged with and into Peoples (the “Merger”), and Premier Bank and Citizens subsequently merged with and into Peoples’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank, in a transaction valued at $261.9 million. At the close of business on September 17, 2021, the financial services offices of each of Premier Bank and Citizens became branches of Peoples Bank. Peoples acquired $1.1 billion in loans and $1.8 billion in deposits. Peoples preliminarily recorded $68.2 million in goodwill and $4.2 million in other intangible assets in connection with the Merger.
◦On May 4, 2021, Peoples Insurance Agency, LLC ("Peoples Insurance") acquired substantially all of the assets and rights of an insurance agency located in Pikeville, Kentucky and certain rights to related customer accounts, which were previously developed and maintained by Justice & Stamper Insurance Agency, Inc., pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement between Peoples Insurance and Justice & Stamper Insurance Agency, Inc. Total consideration for this transaction was $325,000, with $162,500 paid at closing and the second installment in the amount of $162,500 to be paid on the first anniversary of the closing date, less any adjustments pursuant to adverse claims incurred or sustained by or imposed by Peoples Insurance. Peoples recorded customer relationship intangible assets of $230,000 and goodwill of $46,000, related to this transaction.
◦On March 31, 2021, Peoples completed its acquisition of NS Leasing, LLC ("NSL") pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, dated March 24, 2021, in which Peoples Bank acquired the equipment finance and leasing business of NSL. The transaction closed after the end of business on March 31, 2021 and Peoples Bank began operating the acquired business as North Star Leasing, a division of Peoples Bank on April 1, 2021. Peoples Bank acquired assets comprising NSL's equipment finance business, including $83.3 million in leases and satisfied, on behalf of NSL, certain third-party debt in the amount of $69.1 million. Peoples Bank paid total consideration of $116.6 million, plus a potential earn-out payment to NSL of up to $3.1 million. Based in Burlington, Vermont, the North Star Leasing division underwrites, originates and services equipment leases and equipment financing agreements to businesses throughout the United States. Peoples recorded preliminary goodwill in the amount of $24.7 million and preliminary other intangibles of $14.0 million, which included a customer relationship intangible, trade name intangible and non-compete agreements related to this transaction. Peoples recorded an additional $0.6 million in non-interest expense during the last six months of 2021 related to an update to the estimated earn-out provision of $3.0 million. As of December 31, 2021, equipment leases had grown to $122.5 million.
◦Peoples began originating loans during the second quarter of 2020 and continued to originate loans during the first five months of 2021 under the loan guarantee program created under the CARES Act, called the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). These loans were targeted to provide small businesses with financial support to cover payroll and certain other specified types of expenses for a specified period of time. Loans made under the PPP are fully guaranteed by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"). Additional information can be found later in this discussion under the caption “FINANCIAL CONDITION - COVID-19 Loan Impacts." As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had $87.1 million aggregate

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principal amount in PPP loans outstanding (including $23.4 million acquired in the Merger with Premier), which were included in commercial and industrial loan balances, compared to $366.9 million at December 31, 2020. Peoples recognized interest income of $13.0 million for deferred loan fees/cost accretion and $2.3 million of interest income on PPP loans during 2021 compared to $7.5 million for deferred loan fees/cost accretion and $3.2 million of interest income during 2020.
◦On January 28, 2021, Peoples' Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $30 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares, replacing the share repurchase program which had authorized Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $40 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares. During 2021, Peoples did not repurchase any common shares under the share repurchase program authorized on January 28, 2021. On February 27, 2020, Peoples' Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $40.0 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares, replacing the share repurchase program which had authorized Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $20.0 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares. During 2020, Peoples repurchased 1,299,577 of Peoples' common shares through Peoples' then-effective common share repurchase program for a total of $29.3 million.
◦During 2021, Peoples recorded a provision for credit losses of $0.7 million, compared to $26.3 million for 2020 and $2.5 million for 2019. The lower provision for credit losses recognized in 2021 was the result of improvement in loss drivers and Moody's economic outlook published in December 2021.

◦During 2021, Peoples recorded $1.2 million of expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to $1.3 million for 2020. During the fourth quarter of 2021, Peoples awarded common shares to all associates who were at the Assistant Vice President level or below. The remainder of the COVID-19-related expenses were primarily related to providing Peoples' employees meals in support of local businesses, assisting employees with childcare and elder care needs, incentivizing employees to be vaccinated and taking extra precautions in cleaning facilities.
◦During 2021, Peoples incurred $21.4 million of acquisition-related expenses, compared to $0.5 million for 2020 and $7.3 million for 2019. The acquisition-related expenses in 2021 were primarily related to the NSL acquisition and the Premier acquisition, while the expenses during 2020 and 2019 were due to the Triumph Premium Finance and First Prestonsburg acquisitions, respectively.
◦Peoples incurred $0.1 million in pension settlement charges in 2021 compared to $1.1 million in 2020, due to the aggregate amount of lump-sum distributions to participants in Peoples' defined benefit pension plan exceeding the threshold for recognizing settlement charges during the period. There were no such settlement charges during 2019.
◦On April 2, 2020, Peoples entered into a First Amendment to the Loan Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association (the “U.S. Bank Loan Agreement”), entered into on April 3, 2019, to extend the maturity. A Second Amendment to the U.S. Bank Loan Agreement entered into on April 1, 2021 extends the maturity from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. The U.S. Bank Loan Agreement provides Peoples with a revolving line of credit in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million that may be used: (i) for working capital purposes; (ii) to finance dividends or other distributions (other than stock dividends and stock splits) on or in respect of Peoples’ capital stock and redemptions, repurchases or other acquisitions of any of Peoples’ capital stock permitted under the U.S. Bank Loan Agreement; and (iii) to finance acquisitions permitted under the U.S. Bank Loan Agreement.
◦During 2020, Peoples sold restricted Class B Visa stock for a gain of $680,000, which was recorded in other non-interest income. Peoples also sold restricted Class B Visa stock during 2019, resulting in a gain of $787,000.
◦Effective July 1, 2020, Peoples completed the business combination under which Peoples Bank acquired the operations and assets of Triumph Premium Finance (referred to as the "premium finance acquisition"), a division of TBK Bank, SSB. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the division operating as Peoples Premium Finance will continue to provide insurance premium financing loans for commercial customers to purchase property and casualty insurance products through its growing network of independent insurance agency partners nationwide. Peoples Bank acquired $84.7 million in loans, at acquisition date, after fair value adjustments. Peoples also recorded $4.3 million of other intangible assets and $5.5 million of goodwill. Total consideration paid for this acquisition was $94.5 million. As of December 31, 2020, Peoples Premium Finance loans had grown to $114.8 million.
◦During 2020, Peoples recognized credits to its FDIC insurance expense as the FDIC issued credits to member banks to offset against the quarterly assessment as a result of the deposit insurance fund reaching its target threshold for smaller banks. These credits were used by Peoples beginning in 2019 and were fully exhausted during the second quarter of 2020.
◦During 2020, Peoples recognized $109,000 in bank owned life insurance ("BOLI") income related to tax-free death benefits, compared to $482,000 in 2019. Peoples recognized no BOLI income related to death benefits in 2021.
◦In an effort to stimulate an economy that was being adversely impacted by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve Board first lowered the benchmark Federal Funds Target Rate by 50 basis points on March 3, 2020 and then lowered the target rate another 100 basis points at the next FOMC meeting on March 15, 2020. The Federal Funds Target

41


Rate range was 0% - 0.25% as of March 31, 2020 and maintained this rate as of December 31, 2021. According to the Chair of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Funds Target Rate is not likely to drop below this range. However, the Federal Reserve Board does have other tools available that it can employ and has expressed an intention to do so in order to maintain a targeted level of liquidity.
◦On January 1, 2020, Peoples Insurance acquired a property and casualty-focused independent insurance agency for a purchase price amount equal to $866,000, and recorded $735,000 of customer relationship intangibles, and $27,000 of other assets, resulting in $104,000 of goodwill.
◦On August 22, 2019, Peoples Risk Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoples, was formed. Peoples Risk Management, Inc. is a Nevada-chartered captive insurance company which insures against certain risks unique to the operations of Peoples and for which insurance may not be currently available or economically feasible. Peoples Risk Management, Inc. pools resources with several other similar insurance company subsidiaries of financial institutions to help minimize the risk allocable to each participating insurer.
The impact of these transactions, where material, is discussed in the applicable sections of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Critical Accounting Policies
The accounting and reporting policies of Peoples conform to US GAAP and to general practices within the financial services industry. A summary of significant accounting policies is contained in "Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. While all of these policies are important to understanding the Consolidated Financial Statements, certain accounting policies require management to exercise judgment and make estimates or assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes. These estimates and assumptions are based on information available as of the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the Consolidated Financial Statements could reflect different estimates or assumptions.
Management has identified four accounting policies as those that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in the policies, are critical to an understanding of Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. The four accounting policies identified were the allowance for credit losses, business combinations, goodwill, and income taxes. These four accounting policies are described in further detail below.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Peoples adopted ASU 2016-13 "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" on January 1, 2020, and began using the CECL model to estimate its allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is estimated by management using relevant available information, from both internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The allowance for credit losses is measured on a pool basis, with loans collectively evaluated when similar risk characteristics exist. Peoples evaluated risk characteristics, including but not limited to: internal or third-party credit scores or credit ratings, risk ratings or classifications, financial asset type, collateral type, size, effective interest rate, term, geographical location, industry of the borrower, vintage, historical or credit loss patterns, and reasonable and supportable forecast periods. Peoples identified 18 segments for which it believes there are similar risk characteristics and utilized a discounted cash flow methodology in determining an allowance for credit losses for each segment.
In estimating credit losses, Peoples uses a loss driver method, which analyzes one or more economic variables to the change in default rate using a regression analysis. Variables that had a strong correlation were selected as economic factors, or variables, for the model. If a single variable was not found to be strongly correlated, additional variables were included. Peoples utilizes U.S. unemployment, Ohio unemployment and Ohio Gross Domestic Product as economic factors in modeling.
In general, Peoples completes a quarterly evaluation based on several qualitative factors to determine if there should be adjustments made to the allowance for credit losses. These factors include economic conditions, collateral, concentrations, troubled assets, Peoples' loss trends, peer loss trends, delinquency trends, portfolio composition and loan growth, underwriting, and certain other risks.
The allowance for credit losses related to specific loans was based on management's estimate of potential losses on impaired loans as determined by (1) the present value of expected future cash flows, (2) the fair value of collateral if the loan is determined to be collateral dependent, or (3) the loan's observable market price.
Peoples also completes a quarterly evaluation for unfunded commitments for loans that are not unconditionally cancellable, which includes construction loans, floor plan lines of credit, home equity lines of credit, other credit lines and letters of credit. Peoples performed a study to determine the historical funding rates of unadvanced portions of loans, and applied these funding rates to the unfunded commitments at period end. The loss rates, including qualitative factors, in

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determining the allowance for credit losses were applied at the segment level to the unfunded commitment amounts to determine the allowance for credit loss liability for unfunded commitments.
There can be no assurance that the allowance for credit losses will be adequate to cover all losses, but management believes the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2021 was adequate to provide for expected losses from existing loans based on information available at that time. While management uses available information to estimate losses, the ultimate collectability of a substantial portion of the loan portfolio, and the need for future additions to the allowance, will be based on changes in economic conditions and other relevant factors. As such, adverse changes in economic conditions could reduce currently estimated cash flows for both commercial and consumer borrowers, which would likely cause Peoples to experience increases in problem assets, delinquencies and losses on loans in the future.
To demonstrate the sensitivity to key economic parameters used in the measurement of the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2021, management calculated the difference between the modeled allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2021, compared to one based on an adverse scenario. The adverse scenario reflected increases of 100 basis points in both U.S. and Ohio unemployment, and a decline in Ohio Gross Domestic Product of 100 basis points. Excluding consideration of general reserve adjustments, this sensitivity analysis would result in a hypothetical increase in the allowance for credit losses of approximately $3.4 million at December 31, 2021.
Prior to January 1, 2020, Peoples utilized the incurred loss model for estimating its allowance for loan losses.
Business Combinations
Peoples utilizes the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. As of the acquisition date, Peoples records the acquired company's net assets at fair value. The determination of fair value as of the acquisition date requires management to consider various factors that involve judgment and estimation, including the application of discount rates, prepayment rates, attrition rates, future estimates of interest rates, as well as many other assumptions. These assumptions can have a material impact on the estimated fair value, and as a result, the goodwill recorded in a business combination.
Based on recent acquisitions, loans and leases acquired through business combinations have comprised the majority of purchase accounting adjustments in arriving at the fair values of acquired assets and liabilities, with the most significant adjustments relating to the creditworthiness of the acquired portfolios. The assumptions and inputs impacting the allowance for credit losses are discussed in the above paragraphs of this section of Management's Discussion and Analysis. Those same judgments drive the measurement of the credit adjustments of acquired loan and lease portfolios when arriving at fair value. For further information regarding business combination accounting, please refer to “Note 20 Acquisitions” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Goodwill
Peoples records goodwill as a result of acquisitions accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, Peoples is required to allocate the consideration paid for an acquired company to the assets acquired, including identified intangible assets, and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill represents the excess cost over the fair value of net assets acquired and is not amortized but is tested for impairment when indicators of impairment exist, and, in any case, at least annually. For further information regarding the fair values of assets and liabilities recently acquired in business combinations, please refer to “Note 20 Acquisitions” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The value of recorded goodwill is supported by revenue that is driven by the volume of business transacted and Peoples' ability to provide quality, cost-effective services in a competitive market place. A decline in earnings as a result of a lack of growth or the inability to deliver cost-effective services over sustained periods can lead to impairment of goodwill that could adversely impact earnings in future periods. Goodwill impairment exists when the carrying value of the reporting unit (as defined by US GAAP) exceeds its fair value and an impairment loss is recognized in earnings in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.
The process of evaluating goodwill for impairment involves highly subjective and complex judgments, estimates and assumptions regarding the fair value of Peoples' reporting unit and, in some cases, goodwill itself. As a result, changes to these judgments, estimates and assumptions in future periods could result in materially different results.
Peoples currently maintains a single reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing. While quoted market prices exist for Peoples' common shares since they are publicly traded, these market prices do not necessarily reflect the value associated with gaining control of an entity. Thus, management takes into account all appropriate fair value measurements in determining the estimated fair value of the reporting unit.
Peoples performs its required annual impairment test as of October 1st each year. Peoples first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. In this evaluation, Peoples assesses relevant events and circumstances, which may include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance, events specific to Peoples, significant changes in the reporting unit, or a sustained decrease in stock price. If Peoples determines that it is more-

43


likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, then performing the quantitative impairment test is unnecessary.
At October 1, 2021, management completed a qualitative assessment of goodwill. This test resulted in management concluding it was more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value.
Peoples is required to perform interim tests for goodwill impairment in subsequent quarters if events occur or circumstances change that indicate potential goodwill impairment exists, such as adverse changes to Peoples' business or a significant decline in Peoples' market capitalization. For further information regarding goodwill, refer to "Note 7 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value Measurements
As a financial services company, the carrying value of certain financial assets and liabilities is impacted by the application of fair value measurements, either directly or indirectly. In certain cases, an asset or liability is measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis, such as available-for-sale investment securities. In other cases, management must rely on estimates or judgments to determine if an asset or liability not measured at fair value warrants an impairment write-down or whether a valuation reserve should be established. Given the inherent volatility, the use of fair value measurements may have a significant impact on the carrying value of assets or liabilities, or result in material changes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, from period to period.
Detailed information regarding fair value measurements can be found in "Note 2 Fair Value of Financial Instruments" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $47.6 million, compared to $34.8 million for 2020 and $53.7 million for 2019, representing earnings per diluted common share of $2.15, $1.73 and $2.63, respectively. The increase in earnings compared to 2020 was driven by a lower provision for credit losses, which was a result of improved economic factors and updated loss drivers and their impact on assumptions used in the CECL model throughout 2021. Non-core items, and the related tax effect of each, in net income included acquisition-related expenses, contract negotiation expenses, COVID-19-related expenses, a contribution to Peoples Bank Foundation, Inc., pension settlement charges, severance expenses, losses on investment securities, and gains and losses on asset disposals and other transactions. Non-core items negatively impacted earnings per diluted common share by $0.85 for 2021 compared to $0.22 for 2020 and $0.30 for 2019.
Net interest income increased 24% to $172.6 million for 2021, compared to $138.9 million for 2020, and totaled $140.8 million for 2019. Net interest margin was 3.40% in 2021, compared to 3.24% in 2020 and 3.69% in 2019. The increase in net interest income and net interest margin compared to 2020 was largely due to the impact of PPP loan forgiveness and lower funding costs due to customers' maintaining higher cash balances, as well as a higher volume of loans due to the Premier and Premium Finance acquisitions coupled with higher-yielding leases acquired from NSL and organic loan growth. Net interest margin compressed during 2020 as loan yields declined due to the low interest rate environment and investment securities yields decreased as premium amortization increased due to higher refinancing activity. Included in net interest income during 2021 and 2020 was the impact of the PPP loans. Peoples recognized interest income on deferred loan fees/costs of $13.0 million and $7.5 million during the 2021 and 2020, respectively, along with $2.3 million and $3.2 million of interest earned on PPP loans during 2021 and 2020, respectively. Funding costs were controlled during 2021, and declined 20 basis points compared to 2020. Net interest income in 2019 was largely driven by loan growth, which was positively impacted by the First Prestonsburg and ASB acquisitions, and higher loan yields. Accretion income, net of amortization expense, from acquisitions totaled $3.2 million for 2021, $2.8 million for 2020, and $4.9 million for 2019, adding 7 basis points, 7 basis points, and 12 basis points, respectively, to the net interest margin.
The provision for credit losses for 2021 was $0.7 million for 2021, compared to $26.3 million for 2020 and $2.5 million for 2019. Net charge-offs for 2021 were $4.7 million compared to $1.8 million for 2020 and $1.1 million for 2019. Net charge-offs as a percent of average total loans were 0.13% for 2021, 0.05% for 2020 and 0.04% for 2019. The lower provision for credit losses recognized in 2021 was the result of improvement in loss drivers and Moody's economic outlook published in December 2021. The provision for credit losses recognized in 2020 was due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the economic forecasts and qualitative factors used in the CECL model. The provision for credit losses recognized in 2019 was a result of lower net charge-offs in 2019, which included a $1.8 million recovery on a previously charged-off loan.
Total non-interest income increased 8% compared to 2020. All non-interest income categories were impacted by the Premier acquisition, with the exception of mortgage banking income and commercial loan swap fees. Mortgage banking income decreased due to the volume of refinance activity experienced in 2020 when interest rates declined, which was not repeated in 2021. Swap fee income also decreased as a result of lower customer demand caused by the sustained lower rate environment in 2021. Total non-interest income for 2020 was largely impacted by deposit account service charges, which was driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the higher balances being maintained by customers throughout 2020. The decline in deposit account service charges during 2020, compared to 2019, was partially offset by higher mortgage banking income, as a result of higher refinancing activity in 2020 due to the low interest rate environment. Increases in trust and investment income and electronic banking income in 2020, compared to 2019,

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were more than offset by decreases in insurance income, commercial loan swap fee income and bank owned life insurance income. Total non-interest income was positively impacted during 2019 due to the additional deposit accounts and cardholders associated with the acquisitions of First Prestonsburg and ASB.
Total non-interest expense was $183.7 million for 2021, an increase of $50.0 million compared to 2020. The acquisitions of Premier and NSL increased acquisition-related expenses included in other expenses, professional fees, salaries and employee benefit costs, as well as net occupancy and equipment expenses, and amortization of intangible assets. Total non-interest expense for 2020 decreased $3.6 million, or 3%, from 2019 and was driven by a reduction in acquisition-related expenses. Declines in salaries and employee benefit costs, which were mostly due to increased deferred personnel costs associated with the origination of PPP loans, were partially offset by higher data processing and software expense that was largely a result of implementation of new software, coupled with higher core processing costs. Peoples also recorded higher FDIC insurance expense during 2020 compared to 2019, as credits had been received and recognized during 2019, and were fully utilized during the second quarter of 2020. Included in total non-interest expense during 2021 were certain non-core expenses which included acquisition-related expenses of $21.4 million, COVID-19-related expenses of $1.2 million, contract negotiation expenses of $1.2 million and a Peoples Bank Foundation, Inc. contribution of $0.5 million. Non-core expenses for 2020 included COVID-19-related expenses of $1.3 million, severance expenses and pension settlement charges that totaled $1.1 million each, and acquisition-related expenses of $0.5 million. During 2019, non-core expenses included $7.3 million of acquisition-related expenses. Total non-interest expense for 2019 was mostly impacted by increases in salaries and employee benefit costs, net occupancy and equipment expense, electronic banking expense and data processing and software expense, largely attributable to the acquisitions in 2019, which were partially offset by lower FDIC insurance expense and professional fees.
Peoples' efficiency ratio, which is calculated as total non-interest expense less amortization of other intangible assets divided by fully tax-equivalent ("FTE") net interest income, plus total non-interest income, excluding all gains and losses, was 73.6% for 2021, compared to 63.9% for 2020 and 64.7% for 2019. The increase in the efficiency ratio during 2021 was caused by increased non-core expenses discussed above. The improvement in the efficiency ratio during 2020 was mostly due to a reduction in total non-interest expense, which more than offset declines in revenue. The efficiency ratio during 2019 was impacted by higher total revenue, which outpaced increases in total non-interest expense. The efficiency ratio, when adjusted for non-core items, was 63.5% for 2021, 61.9% for 2020 and 61.1% for 2019.
Income tax expense totaled $9.4 million for 2021, compared to $7.9 million for 2020 and $11.7 million for 2019. The effective tax rate for 2021 was 16.5%, 18.5% for 2020 and 17.8% for 2019. The variance in income tax expense for 2021 compared to 2020, was the result of higher pre-tax income in 2021 that resulted from the acquisitions of Premier and NSL.
Total assets increased 48% to $7.06 billion at December 31, 2021, compared to $4.76 billion at year-end 2020. The key contributor to the increase was the assets acquired from the Premier and NSL acquisitions. The allowance for credit losses increased to $64.0 million or 1.43% of total loans, net of deferred fees and costs, compared to $50.4 million and 1.48%, respectively, at December 31, 2020. The increase in the allowance for credit losses compared to December 31, 2020 was due to a $16.9 million increase in the allowance for credit losses related to the purchased credit deteriorated loans acquired from Premier, the establishment of an allowance for credit losses for non-purchased credit deteriorated loans of $11.7 million, and a liability for unfunded commitments of $0.4 million. For the NSL acquisition, Peoples recorded $3.3 million in provision for credit losses during 2021 in order to establish the allowance for credit losses for the acquired leases and $493,000 to establish the allowance for credit losses on purchased credit deteriorated leases.
Total liabilities were $6.22 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $2.0 billion since December 31, 2020. Total deposits increased $2.0 billion, to $5.86 billion at December 31, 2021. The significant increase in deposits compared to December 31, 2020 was largely due to deposits acquired from Premier. Total demand deposits comprised 48% of total deposits at December 31, 2021 and were 43% of total deposits at December 31, 2020.
Total stockholders' equity was $845.0 million at December 31, 2021, an increase of 47% from December 31, 2020. The increase compared to 2020 was due to common shares issued for the Premier acquisition and net income for 2021 of $47.6 million, offset partially by dividends paid of $31.2 million and $13.0 million in accumulated other comprehensive losses.
Peoples continued to exceed the capital required by the Federal Reserve Board to be deemed "well capitalized." Peoples' tier 1 capital ratio was 12.81% at December 31, 2021, versus 13.25% at December 31, 2020, while the total capital ratio was 14.06% at December 31, 2021, versus 14.50% at December 31, 2020. The common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 12.52% at December 31, 2021 compared to 13.01% at December 31, 2020. Compared to December 31, 2020, the change in the capital ratios was due to a lower provision for credit losses recognized during 2021, partially offset by increased acquisition-related expenses and dividends paid to shareholders. Peoples' book value and tangible book value per share were $29.86 and $19.58, respectively, at December 31, 2021, compared to $29.43 and $19.99, respectively, at December 31, 2020. Additional information regarding capital requirements can be found in "Note 17 Regulatory Matters" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.



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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Interest Income
Peoples earns interest income on investments, loans and leases, and incurs interest expense on interest-bearing deposits and borrowed funds. Net interest income, the amount by which interest income exceeds interest expense, remains Peoples' largest source of revenue and was 71% of total revenue during 2021. The amount of net interest income earned by Peoples is affected by various factors, including changes in market interest rates due to the Federal Reserve Board's monetary policy, the level and degree of pricing competition for both loans and deposits in Peoples' markets, and the amount and composition of Peoples' earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.
Peoples monitors net interest income performance and manages its balance sheet composition through regular ALCO meetings. The asset-liability management process employed by the ALCO is intended to mitigate the impact of future interest rate changes on Peoples' net interest income and earnings. However, the frequency and/or magnitude of changes in market interest rates are difficult to predict, and may have a greater impact on net interest income than adjustments management is able to make.
As part of the analysis of net interest income, management converts tax-exempt income earned on obligations of states and political subdivisions to the pre-tax equivalent of taxable income using a blended federal and state corporate income tax rate of 22.3% for 2021, and a statutory federal corporate income tax rate of 21% for 2020 and 2019. Management believes the resulting FTE net interest income allows for a more meaningful comparison of tax-exempt income and yields to their taxable equivalents. Net interest margin, which is calculated by dividing FTE net interest income by average interest-earning assets, serves as an important measurement of the net revenue stream generated by the volume, mix and pricing of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.
The following table details the calculation of FTE net interest income for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Net interest income$172,553 $138,923 $140,838 
Taxable equivalent adjustments1,349 1,054 1,068 
FTE net interest income$173,902 $139,977 $141,906 


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The following table details Peoples’ average balance sheets, with corresponding income/expense and yield/cost, for the years ended December 31:
 202120202019
(Dollars in thousands)
Average BalanceIncome/ ExpenseYield/CostAverage BalanceIncome/ExpenseYield/CostAverage BalanceIncome/ ExpenseYield/Cost
Short-term investments $219,849 $313 0.14 %$103,767 $343 0.33 %$43,157 $919 2.13 %
Investment securities (a)(b)(c):   
Taxable1,042,419 15,219 1.46 %868,930 14,370 1.65 %870,921 23,420 2.69 %
Nontaxable163,095 4,326 2.65 %101,965 3,146 3.09 %106,437 3,331 3.13 %
Total investment securities1,205,514 19,545 1.62 %970,895 17,516 1.80 %977,358 26,751 2.74 %
Loans (b)(c)(d):  
Construction131,834 5,130 3.84 %107,862 4,883 4.45 %111,734 6,008 5.30 %
Commercial real estate, other1,061,323 42,308 3.93 %854,749 36,499 4.20 %829,581 44,574 5.30 %
Commercial and industrial870,682 37,321 4.23 %925,060 34,458 3.66 %601,900 31,611 5.18 %
Premium finance118,242 5,872 4.90 %50,687 2,855 5.54 %— — — %
Leases74,442 13,572 17.98 %— — — %— — — %
Residential real estate (e)700,691 29,686 4.24 %660,025 31,155 4.72 %641,053 30,671 4.78 %
Home equity lines of credit133,340 5,410 4.06 %127,454 5,799 4.55 %132,235 7,715 5.83 %
Consumer, indirect529,994 21,480 4.05 %453,379 19,364 4.27 %416,768 17,350 4.16 %
Consumer, direct
88,611 5,501 6.21 %79,138 5,286 6.68 %78,838 5,564 7.06 %
Total loans3,709,159 166,280 4.44 %3,258,354 140,299 4.26 %2,812,109 143,493 5.06 %
Allowance for credit losses
(56,038)(47,692)(21,239)
Net loans3,653,121 166,280 4.51 %3,210,662 140,299 4.33 %2,790,870 143,493 5.10 %
Total earning assets5,078,484 186,138 3.64 %4,285,324 158,158 3.66 %3,811,385 171,163 4.46 %
Goodwill and other intangible assets234,667  181,526 173,529 
Other assets359,443  272,439 237,568 
    Total assets
$5,672,594  $4,739,289 $4,222,482 
Interest-bearing deposits:   
Savings accounts$772,726 $112 0.01 %$571,676 $175 0.03 %$511,112 $437 0.09 %
Government deposit accounts
529,955 2,035 0.38 %375,305 2,226 0.59 %323,768 3,220 0.99 %
Interest-bearing demand accounts
848,526 303 0.04 %658,214 455 0.07 %605,637 1,111 0.18 %
Money market accounts575,237 390 0.07 %549,276 1,416 0.26 %425,207 2,745 0.65 %
Retail certificates of deposit 497,181 3,952 0.79 %473,244 6,748 1.43 %465,381 8,002 1.72 %
Brokered deposits (f)150,716 3,130 2.08 %223,940 2,480 1.11 %272,553 6,695 2.46 %
Total interest-bearing deposits
3,374,341 9,922 0.29 %2,851,655 13,500 0.47 %2,603,658 22,210 0.85 %
Borrowed funds:   
Short-term FHLB advances (f)30,289 475 1.57 %129,928 2,489 1.92 %197,987 4,455 2.25 %
Repurchase agreements and other70,674 66 0.09 %46,706 82 0.18 %46,812 257 0.55 %
Total short-term borrowings100,963 541 0.54 %176,634 2,571 1.46 %244,799 4,712 1.92 %
Long-term FHLB advances94,050 1,413 1.50 %107,935 1,740 1.61 %87,472 1,814 2.07 %
Other borrowings9,364 360 3.79 %8,757 370 4.23 %7,368 521 7.07 %
Total long-term borrowings103,414 1,773 1.71 %116,692 2,110 1.81 %94,840 2,335 2.46 %
Total borrowed funds204,377 2,314 1.13 %293,326 4,681 1.59 %339,639 7,047 2.07 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities
3,578,718 12,236 0.34 %3,144,981 18,181 0.58 %2,943,297 29,257 0.99 %
Non-interest-bearing deposits1,347,702   924,799 653,082 
Other liabilities89,541   94,123 59,980 
Total liabilities5,015,961   4,163,903 3,656,359 
Stockholders’ equity656,633   575,386 566,123 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$5,672,594   $4,739,289 $4,222,482 
Interest rate spread (b) $173,902 3.30 %$139,977 3.08 %$141,906 3.47 %
Net interest margin (b)3.40 %3.24 %3.69 %
(a) Average balances are based on carrying value.
(b) Interest income and yields are presented on a fully tax-equivalent basis, using a blended federal and state corporate income tax rate of 22.3% for 2021, and a statutory federal corporate income tax rate of 21% for 2020 and 2019.
(c) On January 1, 2020, Peoples adopted ASU 2016-13 and adopted the CECL model, recording an adjustment in cost basis of purchased credit deteriorated assets to reflect the addition of $2.6 million to establish the allowance for credit losses; an increase to the allowance for credit losses (which was the "allowance for loan

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losses" prior to January 1, 2020) of $5.8 million; the addition of $1.5 million unfunded commitment liability included in accrued expenses and other liabilities; and a cumulative-effect adjustment to reduce retained earnings of $3.7 million, net of statutory corporate federal income tax.
(d) Average balances include nonaccrual, impaired loans, and loans held for sale. Interest income includes interest earned and received on nonaccrual loans prior to the loans being placed on nonaccrual status. Loan fees included in interest income were immaterial for all periods presented.
(e) Loans held for sale are included in the average loan balances listed. Related interest income on loans originated for sale prior to the loan being sold is included in loan interest income.
(f) Interest related to interest rate swap transactions is included, as appropriate to the transaction, in interest expense on short-term FHLB advances and interest expense on brokered deposits for the periods presented in which FHLB advances and brokered deposits were being utilized.
On September 17, 2021, Peoples acquired Premier, which included $1.1 billion in loans and $1.8 billion in deposits. Additionally, Peoples acquired North Star Leasing on April 1, 2021 and an insurance premium finance division on July 1, 2020. During 2021, Peoples had excess cash which increased short-term investments, due to PPP forgiveness and increased deposit balances.
The following table provides an analysis of the changes in FTE net interest income:
(Dollars in thousands)Changes from 2020 to 2021Changes from 2019 to 2020
Increase (decrease) in:RateVolume
Total (a)
RateVolume
Total (a)
INTEREST INCOME:
Short-term investments$(258)$228 $(30)$(1,163)$587 $(576)
Investment Securities (b):
Taxable(4,274)5,123 849 (8,997)(53)(9,050)
Nontaxable(1,431)2,611 1,180 (46)(139)(185)
Total investment income(5,705)7,734 2,029 (9,043)(192)(9,235)
Loans (b):
 
Construction(723)970 247 (925)(200)(1,125)
Commercial real estate, other(2,414)8,223 5,809 (9,372)1,297 (8,075)
Commercial and industrial4,955 (2,092)2,863 (10,807)13,654 2,847 
Premium finance(358)3,375 3,017 — 2,855 2,855 
Leases— 13,572 13,572 — — — 
Residential real estate(3,315)1,846 (1,469)(416)900 484 
Home equity lines of credit(648)259 (389)(1,646)(270)(1,916)
Consumer, indirect(1,028)3,144 2,116 459 1,555 2,014 
Consumer, direct(391)606 215 (298)20 (278)
Total loan income(3,922)29,903 25,981 (23,005)19,811 (3,194)
Total interest income(9,885)37,865 27,980 (33,211)20,206 (13,005)
INTEREST EXPENSE: 
Deposits: 
Savings accounts(112)49 (63)(309)47 (262)
Government deposit accounts(934)743 (191)(1,448)454 (994)
Interest-bearing demand accounts(260)108 (152)(745)89 (656)
Money market accounts(1,090)64 (1,026)(1,973)644 (1,329)
Retail certificates of deposit(3,122)326 (2,796)(1,387)133 (1,254)
Brokered deposit1,654 (1,004)650 (3,182)(1,033)(4,215)
Total deposit cost(3,864)286 (3,578)(9,044)334 (8,710)
Borrowed funds: 
Short-term borrowings(433)(1,597)(2,030)(1,605)(536)(2,141)
Long-term borrowings(177)(160)(337)(687)462 (225)
Total borrowed funds cost(610)(1,757)(2,367)(2,292)(74)(2,366)
Total interest expense(4,474)(1,471)(5,945)(11,336)260 (11,076)
Net interest income$(5,411)$39,336 $33,925 $(21,875)$19,946 $(1,929)
(a)The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated to rate and volume changes in proportion to the relationship of the dollar amounts of the changes in each.
(b)Interest income and yields are presented on a fully tax-equivalent basis, using a blended federal and state corporate income tax rate of 22.3% for 2021 and a statutory federal corporate income tax rate of 21% for 2020 and 2019.

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During 2021, net interest income grew 24%, and the increase was primarily driven by the acquired Premier and leasing divisions, coupled with growth in Peoples' core business. Net interest margin improved 16 basis points compared to 2020, as loan yields improved and offset declining investment yields, while controlled funding costs benefited net interest margin. Peoples recorded $15.3 million in PPP income during 2021, which was mostly due to the forgiveness of loans, resulting in accretion of net deferred loan fees and costs, and positively impacted net interest margin by 16 basis points. Accretion income, net of amortization expense, from acquisitions, added $3.2 million to net interest income and 7 basis points to net interest margin.
For 2020, net interest income decreased $1.9 million, or 1% compared to 2019, and net interest margin declined to 3.24%, compared to 3.69% for 2019. Net interest income and net interest margin were negatively impacted by the low interest rate environment during 2020, which also led to a $5.0 million increase in premium amortization on Peoples' investment securities portfolio during 2020, compared to 2019. Peoples recorded $10.7 million in interest income on PPP loans during 2020, which included the impact of accretion of net deferred loan fees and costs, which added 2 basis points to net interest margin. Premium finance loans added $2.9 million of interest income during 2020, and 2 basis points to net interest margin. Funding costs declined to 58 basis points compared to 99 basis points for 2019, which was driven by reductions in interest rates on deposits, coupled with controlled borrowing costs. During 2020, Peoples recognized accretion income, net of amortization expense, from acquisitions of $2.8 million, which added 7 basis points to net interest margin, compared to $4.9 million and 12 basis points in 2019.
Additional interest income in 2021 from prepayment fees and interest recovered on nonaccrual loans was $825,000, compared to $738,000 in 2020 and $564,000 in 2019.
Detailed information regarding changes in the Consolidated Balance Sheets can be found under appropriate captions of the "FINANCIAL CONDITION" section of this discussion. Additional information regarding Peoples' interest rate risk and the potential impact of interest rate changes on Peoples' results of operations and financial condition can be found later in this discussion under the caption "Interest Rate Sensitivity and Liquidity."
Provision for Credit Losses
On January 1, 2020, Peoples adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-13 "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments", commonly referred to as the CECL model. Prior to the adoption of the CECL methodology, the provision for credit losses was the "provision for loan losses." The following table details Peoples’ provision for credit losses recognized for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Provision for other credit losses$339 $25,798 $1,845 
Provision for checking account overdrafts392 456 659 
Provision for credit losses$731 $26,254 $2,504 
As a percent of average total loans0.02 %0.81 %0.09 %
The provision for credit losses represents the amount needed to maintain the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses based on management’s formal quarterly analysis of the loan portfolio and procedural methodology that estimates the amount of probable credit losses.  The CECL methodology utilized by Peoples relies on economic forecasts, as well as other key assumptions including prepayments, probability of default and loss given default. Under the incurred loss model (the accounting methodology prior to 2020), the process for estimating allowance for loan losses considered various factors that affect losses, such as changes in Peoples’ loan quality and historical loss experience. Given the relatively low recent loss history, the incurred loss model was highly dependent on qualitative factors to arrive at an appropriate allowance for loan losses in periods prior to 2020. These qualitative factors included current economic conditions, and other environmental factors such as changes in real estate market conditions and unemployment.
During 2021, Peoples recorded a lower provision for credit losses compared to a sizable provision for credit losses during 2020. 2020 was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove a higher provision for credit losses. During 2021 economic factors and loss drivers improved and resulted in a reduction in the allowance for credit losses, resulting in a lower provision for credit losses. The improvement in economic factors and loss drivers for 2021 were partially offset by the provision for credit losses required to establish the allowance for credit losses for acquired non-purchased credit deteriorated loans and leases during 2021.
During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the economic outlook and assumptions used in the CECL model to be unfavorable, and as a result, caused the need for additional provision for credit losses to be recorded resulting in a higher allowance for credit losses at the end of the year, compared to 2019.
Additional information regarding changes in the allowance for credit losses and loan credit quality can be found later in this discussion under the caption "Allowance for Credit Losses."


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Net Gains (Losses) Included in Total Non-Interest Income
Net gains (losses) include gains and losses on investment securities, asset disposals and other transactions, which are recognized in total non-interest income.
The following table details the net gains (losses) for the years ended December 31 recognized by Peoples:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Net (loss) gain on investment securities$(862)$(368)$164 
Net gain (loss) on asset disposals and other transactions:
Net loss on other assets$(460)$(367)$(692)
Net gain (loss) on OREO56 (120)(98)
Net gain on other transactions897 197 8 
Net gain (loss) on asset disposals and other transactions$493 $(290)$(782)
During 2021, net gains on other transactions were driven by the sale of $59.8 million of predominantly purchased credit deteriorated loans acquired in the Premier Merger ($52.9 million of which were criticized or classified) primarily in the hospitality industry. Peoples recognized a gain of $897,000 related to the discount recorded on those loans when they were acquired from Premier.
The net loss on other assets during 2020 was primarily due to the loss of $145,000 on the sale of a closed branch from the ASB acquisition, and market value write-down of $108,000 related to closed offices that were held for sale. The net gain on other transactions during 2020 was due to receiving $197,000 in funds from a limited partnership investment.
The net loss on other assets during 2019 was driven by net losses on repossessed assets of $320,000, the write-offs of fixed assets acquired from First Prestonsburg of $243,000 and market value write-downs related to closed offices that were held for sale.
Total Non-Interest Income Excluding Net Gains and Losses
Peoples generates total non-interest income excluding net gains and losses from four primary sources: electronic banking income ("e-banking"); trust and investment income; insurance income; and deposit account service charges. Peoples continues to focus on revenue growth from non-interest income sources in order to maintain a diversified revenue stream through greater reliance on total non-interest income excluding net gains and losses. As a result, total non-interest income excluding net gains and losses accounted for 28.6% of Peoples' total revenues (defined as net interest income plus total non-interest income excluding net gains and losses) in 2021, compared to 31.7% in 2020 and 31.5% in 2019.
The decline in Peoples' total non-interest income excluding net gains and losses, as a percent of total revenue during 2021 compared to 2020, was largely due to the Premier Merger and the North Star Leasing acquisition, which caused improved net interest income, resulting in a smaller portion of total revenue being provided by other revenue sources.
E-banking income comprised the largest portion of Peoples' total non-interest income excluding net gains and losses, for 2021. The following table shows Peoples' e-banking income for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
E-banking income$18,010 $14,246 $13,680 
Peoples' e-banking services include ATM and debit cards, direct deposit services, Internet and mobile banking, and remote deposit capture, and serve as alternative delivery channels to traditional sales offices for providing services to clients. Revenue is derived largely from ATM and debit cards, as other services are mainly provided at no charge to the customers. The amount of e-banking income is largely dependent on the timing and volume of customer activity. During 2021, e-banking income increased $3.8 million, or 26%, and was driven by the combination of the addition of the Premier acquired accounts, along with increased usage of debit cards. The growth in e-banking income in 2020 of $566,000, or 4%, compared to 2019, was largely due to increased usage of debit cards, coupled with the full year impact of the addition of the First Prestonsburg acquired accounts. In 2021, Peoples' customers used their debit cards to complete $1.4 billion of transactions, versus $1.0 billion in 2020 and $913.7 million in 2019.

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Peoples' fiduciary and brokerage revenues continue to be based primarily upon the value of assets under administration and management. The following table details Peoples’ trust and investment income for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Fiduciary$7,930 $6,906 $6,761 
Brokerage5,966 4,560 4,198 
Employee benefit plan fees2,560 2,196 2,200 
Trust and investment income$16,456 $13,662 $13,159 
For 2021, trust and investment income grew 20%, as Peoples added new accounts and the underlying market values of assets under administration and management grew, compared to 2020. Peoples also increased its employee benefit plans business during 2021, compared to 2020. During 2020, trust and investment income increased $503,000, or 4%, compared to 2019, while employee benefit plan fees for 2020 were relatively flat compared to 2019.
The following table details Peoples’ assets under administration and management at year-end December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Trust$2,009,871 $1,885,324 $1,572,933 
Brokerage1,183,927 1,009,521 944,002 
Total$3,193,798 $2,894,845 $2,516,935 
Annual average$3,053,807 $2,510,596 $2,382,017 
During 2021, Peoples grew assets under administration and management by over 10%, which was partially due to new accounts as well as improved market values, resulting in increased fiduciary and brokerage income compared to 2020. For 2020, Peoples grew assets under management by 15% compared to 2019, as a result of new accounts and higher market values, driving the increase in both fiduciary and brokerage income compared to the prior year. Peoples has had success in recent years in increasing client accounts within its fiduciary and brokerage business, while the market values of existing assets under administration and management have also increased.
The following table details Peoples’ insurance income for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Property and casualty insurance commissions
$11,192 $10,240 $10,605 
Performance-based commissions2,044 1,457 1,530 
Life and health insurance commissions
1,627 1,897 2,065 
Other fees and charges389 448 602 
 Insurance income$15,252 $14,042 $14,802 
Insurance income grew 9% for 2021, compared to 2020. This increase was driven by higher property and casualty insurance commissions, as Peoples added new accounts, and higher performance-based commissions. Insurance income declined 5% during 2020, compared to 2019, and decreased across each category of insurance income. This decline was mostly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of performance-based commissions typically is recorded annually in the first quarter and is based on a combination of factors, such as loss experience of insurance policies sold, production volumes and overall financial performance of the individual insurance carriers.
Deposit account service charges are based on the costs associated with services provided by Peoples.  The following table details deposit account service charges for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees$5,528 $5,073 $7,069 
Account maintenance fees3,808 3,573 3,832 
Other fees and charges807 772 799 
Deposit account service charges$10,143 $9,418 $11,700 
The amount of deposit account service charges, particularly fees for overdrafts and non-sufficient funds, is largely dependent on the timing and volume of customer activity.  Management periodically evaluates these fees to ensure they are reasonable based on operational costs and similar to fees charged in Peoples' markets by competitors. Deposit account service charges were positively impacted during 2021 by the Premier Merger and associated additional accounts, while growth was also experienced within fees on existing accounts, which had previously declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. During 2020, deposit account service charges declined 20% as customer habits changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with customers maintaining higher

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balances, coupled with fiscal stimulus funds provided by the government to individuals and proceeds from PPP loans to businesses compared to 2019.
The following table details the other items included within Peoples' total non-interest income for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Mortgage banking income$3,439 $6,499 $4,328 
Bank owned life insurance income1,767 1,977 2,430 
Commercial loan swap fees543 1,741 2,228 
Other non-interest income $3,644 $2,745 $2,565 
Mortgage banking income is comprised mostly of net gains from the origination and sale of long-term, fixed-rate real estate loans in the secondary market, as well as servicing income for sold loans. As a result, the amount of income recognized by Peoples is largely dependent on customer demand and long-term interest rates for residential real estate loans offered in the secondary market. During 2021, mortgage banking declined by 47% and was driven by lower customer demand due to the low rate environment that had been in place since the beginning of 2020. During 2020, mortgage banking income increased by 50% compared to 2019, as the low interest rate environment during the year resulted in heavy refinance activity. In 2021, Peoples sold approximately $57.6 million of loans to the secondary market with servicing retained and sold approximately $37.4 million in loans with servicing released, compared to approximately $111.9 million and $150.9 million, respectively, in 2020. Peoples sold $98.2 million of loans to the secondary market with servicing retained and $55.4 million of loans with servicing released during 2019. The volume of sales has a direct impact on the amount of mortgage banking income.
BOLI income declined 11% during 2021, compared to 2020, and was mostly due to the 2020 recognition of a $109,000 tax-free death benefit that exceeded the cash surrender value of the insurance policies. BOLI income declined $453,000 during 2020, compared to 2019, with the reduction largely driven by the recognition of $482,000 of tax-free death benefits that exceeded the cash surrender value of the insurance policies during 2019. Peoples purchased no additional BOLI policies during 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Commercial loan swap fees are largely dependent on the timing and volume of customer activity. For 2021, commercial loan swap fees declined 69%, as customer demand decreased due to the continued low interest rate environment. The low interest rate environment also resulted in lower commercial loan swap fees during 2020, which were down $487,000 compared to 2019.
Other non-interest income grew during 2021, and was positively impacted by the non-interest income recognized by the leasing division, which contributed $1.3 million of income. Other non-interest income during 2020 and 2019 included additional income related to gains recorded on the sale of restricted Class B Visa stock of $680,000 and $787,000, respectively. There were no similar gains recorded during 2021.
Total Non-Interest Expense
Salaries and employee benefit costs remain Peoples’ largest non-interest expense, accounting for over half of total non-interest expense.  The following table details Peoples’ salaries and employee benefit costs for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Base salaries and wages$60,622 $52,016 $51,835 
Sales-based and incentive compensation16,668 12,200 11,850 
Employee benefit costs11,091 8,510 8,497 
Stock-based compensation3,515 3,607 3,655 
Deferred personnel costs(3,695)(4,342)(2,768)
Payroll taxes and other employment costs6,411 4,370 4,791 
Salaries and employee benefit costs$94,612 $76,361 $77,860 
Full-time equivalent employees:
Actual at end of the period1,188 894 900 
Average during the period1,003 894 900 
Base salaries and wages increased in 2021 by $8.6 million, or 17%, compared to 2020, and were impacted by the acquisitions of Premier and North Star Leasing. During 2021, Peoples incurred $3.8 million of one-time expenses associated with acquisitions, whereas Peoples incurred $1.1 million in severance expenses in 2020, due primarily to a management restructuring that occurred in the latter half of 2020. Base salaries and wages in 2020 were relatively flat compared to 2019. Base salaries and wages were impacted by merit increases, as well as continued movement towards a $15 per hour minimum wage throughout Peoples' organization. The $15 per hour minimum is being phased in and will largely be implemented by January 1, 2023. Base salaries and wages were also impacted by the addition of employees, primarily as a result of the First Prestonsburg acquisition in 2019.

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Sales-based and incentive compensation increased in 2021 compared to 2020, largely due to higher incentive compensation related to the overall company performance measures combined with trust and investment income growth. During 2020, sales-based and incentive compensation increased compared to 2019 due to mortgage banking income growth from an increase in real estate loans sold in the secondary market. Peoples' sales-based and incentive compensation plans are designed to grow core earnings while managing risk, and do not encourage unnecessary and excessive risk-taking that could threaten the value of Peoples. The sales-based and incentive compensation plans reward employees for appropriate behaviors and include provisions addressing inappropriate practices with respect to Peoples and its customers, including clawbacks for executives.
Employee benefit costs increased $2.6 million compared to 2020, and were impacted by the Premier and North Star Leasing acquisitions creating an increase in the number of participants in the insurance plan. During 2020, employee benefit costs were relatively flat compared to 2019.
Stock-based compensation is generally recognized over the vesting period, which generally ranges from immediate vesting to vesting at the end of three years, and an adjustment is made at the vesting date to reverse expense for non-vested awards. The majority of Peoples' stock-based compensation is attributable to annual equity-based incentive awards to employees, which are awarded in the first quarter and based upon Peoples achieving certain performance goals during the prior year.  During the years presented in the table above, Peoples granted restricted common shares to officers and key employees with performance-based vesting periods and time-based vesting periods, generally with a three-year cliff vesting. Stock-based compensation was relatively flat for 2021, compared to 2020 and 2019.
Deferred personnel costs represent the portion of current period salaries and employee benefit costs considered to be direct loan origination costs.  These costs are capitalized and recognized over the life of the loan as a yield adjustment in interest income.  As a result, the amount of deferred personnel costs for each period corresponds directly with the volume of loan originations, coupled with the average deferred costs per loan that are updated annually at the beginning of each year. Deferred personnel costs decreased in 2021 compared to 2020. Materially impacting the comparison was the recognition of $921,000 in deferred personnel costs during 2020 related to the origination of PPP loans. Increased production in residential real estate and indirect consumer loans, coupled with PPP loan originations, resulted in higher deferred personnel costs in 2020 compared to 2019. Additional information regarding Peoples' loan activity can be found later in this discussion under the caption "Loans" within "FINANCIAL CONDITION."
Payroll taxes and other employee costs increased during 2021 as a result of the higher base salaries, sales-based and incentive compensation, and employee benefits. During 2020, $454,000 in dividends were received from Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation in an effort to ease the impact of COVID-19 on the state's business community and workforce.
Peoples’ net occupancy and equipment expense for the years ended December 31 was comprised of the following:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Depreciation expense$6,143 $5,955 $5,702 
Repairs and maintenance costs3,972 2,988 3,016 
Net rent expense1,723 1,293 1,022 
Property taxes, utilities and other costs3,080 2,572 2,691 
Net occupancy and equipment expense$14,918 $12,808 $12,431 
Net occupancy and equipment expense grew 16% during 2021, compared to 2020, driven by the recent acquisitions and ongoing costs related to the larger footprint. During 2020, net occupancy and equipment expense increased primarily due to increased depreciation expense and net rent expense. The increase in depreciation expense was due to a full year of depreciation related to the First Prestonsburg acquisition in 2019, while net rent expense increased due to the addition of new leases for the recent insurance acquisition and insurance premium finance acquisition, as well as a full year of rent expense for the First Prestonsburg branches.
The following table details the other items included within Peoples' total non-interest expense for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Professional fees$15,783 $6,912 $7,095 
Data processing and software expense10,542 7,441 6,332 
E-banking expense8,885 7,777 7,186 
Amortization of other intangible assets4,775 3,223 3,359 
Marketing expense3,658 2,101 2,291 
Franchise tax expense3,357 3,506 3,071 
Other loan expenses2,001 1,584 1,956 
FDIC insurance expense1,976 1,302 602 
Communication expense1,657 1,134 1,181 
Other non-interest expense$21,573 $9,546 $13,886 

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Total non-interest expense during 2021 increased considerably due to acquisition-related expenses, which totaled $21.4 million, and impacted several lines. Additionally, Peoples had increased ongoing expenses associated with the Premier and North Star Leasing acquisition during 2021, and the full year impact of the Premium Finance acquisition completed during 2020.
Data processing and software expense includes software support, maintenance and depreciation expense. During 2021, data processing and software expense grew due to systems and software upgrades, annual contractual increases and overall growth, which included: the implementation of enhanced functionalities for Peoples' core banking system, including making certain mobile banking tools available to customers; software upgrades; and additional network capacity and security features in the latter part of 2020 and first quarter of 2021. The higher expense during 2021 also reflected increases related to the Premier acquisition. The increase in data processing and software expense for 2020 was driven by systems and software upgrades, annual contractual increases and overall growth, which included: the implementation of enhanced functionalities for Peoples' core banking system, including making certain mobile banking tools available to customers; software upgrades; and additional network capacity and security features.
Peoples' e-banking expense is comprised of costs associated with debit and ATM cards, as well as Internet and mobile banking costs. E-banking expense increased during 2021, as customer usage increased, coupled with the additional accounts acquired from Premier. E-banking expense was up for 2020, compared to 2019, due to an increased usage by customers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which in turn increased the volume of transactions involving debit cards and Peoples' internet and mobile banking service.
Peoples' amortization of other intangible assets is driven by acquisition-related activity. During 2021, amortization of other intangible assets increased as a result of the recent acquisitions of Premier and North Star Leasing and the full year impact of premium finance. Amortization of other intangible assets declined in 2020 due to the reduced amortization from previous acquisitions.
Marketing expense, which includes advertising, donations, marketing campaigns, and other public relations costs, was higher for 2021, compared to 2020, and was mostly due to additional advertising campaigns relating to the addition of the Premier locations. Additionally, Peoples' donations increased during 2021, which included a $500,000 special contribution to the Peoples Bank Foundation, Inc., and donations to each of Marietta College and the Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery. Marketing expense decreased slightly in 2020, compared to 2019, due to declines in electronic and print media, ad agency fees and other public relations expenses.
Peoples is subject to state franchise taxes, which are based largely on Peoples' equity at year-end, in the states where Peoples has a physical presence. Franchise tax expense declined slightly for 2021, and was driven by a change in the calculation for Kentucky, which become income-based instead of an equity-based calculation, and reduced the related tax expense for 2021, compared to 2020. During 2020, franchise tax expense increased compared to 2019, due to higher equity as of December 31, 2019, coupled with additional taxes in Kentucky as a result of the First Prestonsburg acquisition in 2019. Franchise tax expense also includes the Ohio Financial Institution Tax ("FIT"), which is a business privilege tax that is imposed on financial institutions organized for profit and doing business in Ohio. The Ohio FIT is based on the total equity capital in proportion to the taxpayer's gross receipts in Ohio.
During 2021, other loan expenses increased mostly due to the higher volume of indirect consumer loan originations during 2020 and related recognition of deferred costs, which lowered expense during 2020, and was not duplicated during 2021. Other loan expenses declined during 2020, primarily due to the higher deferral of costs associated with an increase in the origination volume of consumer indirect loans.
FDIC insurance expense increased during 2021, and was partially due to credits used by Peoples during the first two quarters of 2020 to offset its FDIC insurance premium, coupled with a lower leverage ratio during early 2020, which negatively impacted insurance expense for 2021. Peoples recorded higher FDIC insurance expense during 2020 compared to the prior year, as credits were received and recognized during 2019, and were fully utilized during the second quarter of 2020. The FDIC quarterly assessment rate is applied to average total assets less average tangible equity, and is based on the leverage ratio, net income before taxes, nonperforming loans as a percent of total assets, OREO, loan mix and asset growth. Additional information regarding Peoples' FDIC insurance assessments may be found in "ITEM 1 BUSINESS" of this Form 10-K in the section captioned "Supervision and Regulation."
Communication expense increased 46% during 2021, compared to 2020, and grew as a result of the upgrading of the network to certain branches (including new branches acquired from Premier coupled with the addition of the NSL location and the full year impact of the location of Premium Finance that was acquired) and increased costs compared to the prior periods among certain vendors that provide communication services. Communication expense was relatively flat for 2020 compared to 2019.
Other non-interest expense increased $12.0 million in 2021 compared to 2020, and decreased $4.3 million in 2020 compared to 2019. Other non-interest expense increased considerably during 2021, and was primarily related to acquisition-related expenses recognized.
Income Tax Expense
A key driver for the amount of income tax expense or benefit recognized by Peoples each year is the amount of pre-tax income. In addition to the expense recognized, Peoples receives tax benefits from tax-exempt investments and loans, BOLI, stock awards that settled or vested during the year, and investments in tax credit funds, which reduce Peoples' effective tax rate. A reconciliation of

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Peoples' recorded income tax expense/benefit and effective tax rate to the statutory tax rate can be found in "Note 13 Income Taxes" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
For the full year of 2021, income tax expense totaled $9.4 million, compared to $7.9 million in 2020, and $11.7 million in 2019, and the effective tax rate for 2021 was 16.5%, compared to 18.5% for 2020, and 17.8% for 2019. Income tax expense increased during 2021, and was due to higher pre-tax income, which benefited from the recent acquisitions and reduced provision for credit losses. The decrease in income tax expense in 2020 compared to 2019 was the result of lower pre-tax income in 2020 related to the increase in the provision for credit losses recorded during 2020.
For 2021, the effective tax rate was down 2% compared to 2020. Income tax expense for 2021 was impacted by an income tax benefit related to an adjustment from the prior period of $1.1 million. During 2020, income tax expense and the effective tax rate were positively impacted by tax-exempt interest income, non-taxable BOLI income and the full-year impact of the investment in Peoples Risk Management, Inc., which reduced income tax expense by $412,000. Income tax expense for 2020 was also impacted by additional income tax expense related to an adjustment from the prior year of $863,000.
Peoples also recorded a tax expense of $74,000 in 2021, and tax benefits of $5,000 in 2020, and $195,000 in 2019 related to stock awards that settled or vested during the year, with the substantial majority recorded in the first quarter of each year.
Pre-Provision Net Revenue (non-US GAAP)
Pre-provision net revenue ("PPNR") has become a key financial measure used by state and federal bank regulatory agencies when assessing the capital adequacy of financial institutions. PPNR is defined as net interest income plus total non-interest income, excluding all gains and losses, minus total non-interest expense. PPNR excludes income tax expense. As a result, PPNR represents the earnings capacity that can be either retained in order to build capital or used to absorb unexpected losses and preserve existing capital. This ratio represents a non-US GAAP financial measure since it excludes the provision for credit losses and all gains and losses included in earnings.
The following table provides a reconciliation of this non-US GAAP financial measure to the amounts of income before income taxes reported in Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods presented:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Income before income taxes$56,970 $42,646 $65,358 
Add: provision for credit losses (a)731 26,254 2,504 
Add: net loss on OREO— 120 98 
Add: net loss on investment securities862 368 — 
Add: net loss on other assets252 170 692 
Less: net gain on OREO56 — — 
Less: net gain on investment securities— — 164 
Less: net gain on other assets— — 8 
Less: net gain on other transactions897 — — 
   Pre-provision net revenue$57,862 $69,558 $68,480 
Total average assets$5,672,594 $4,739,289 $4,222,482 
Pre-provision net revenue to total average assets1.02 %1.47 %1.62 %
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted21,959,88319,843,80620,273,725
Pre-provision net revenue per common share - diluted$2.63 $3.49 $3.37 
(a)On January 1, 2020, Peoples adopted ASU 2016-13 and implemented the CECL model. Prior to the adoption of CECL, the provision for credit losses was the "provision for loan losses." The provision for credit losses includes changes related to the allowance for credit losses on loans, which includes held-to-maturity investment securities and the unfunded commitment liability.
During 2021, PPNR declined, and was heavily impacted by the $21.4 million in acquisition-related expenses, which more than offset the positive impact of higher total revenue compared to 2020. PPNR increased in 2020 mostly due to the reduction in acquisition-related expenses incurred during 2020, compared to 2019, offset by a decrease in net interest income due to the low interest rate environment.
Core Non-Interest Expense (non-US GAAP)
Core non-interest expense is a financial measure used to evaluate Peoples' recurring expense stream. This measure is non-US GAAP financial measure since it excludes the impact of all acquisition-related expenses, contract negotiation expenses, pension settlement charges, severance expenses, COVID-19-related expenses and a Peoples Bank Foundation, Inc. contribution.

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The following tables provide reconciliations of these non-US GAAP financial measures to the amounts of total non-interest expense reported in Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods presented:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Core non-interest expense:
Total non-interest expense$183,737 $133,695 $137,250 
Less: COVID-19-related expenses1,248 1,332 — 
Less: severance expenses79 1,055 270 
Less: pension settlement charges143 1,054 — 
Less: acquisition-related expenses21,423 489 7,287 
Less: Peoples Bank Foundation, Inc. contribution500 — — 
Less: contract negotiation expenses1,248 — — 
Core non-interest expense$159,096 $129,765 $129,693 
The increase in core non-interest expense for 2021, compared to 2020, was driven by higher ongoing costs associated with recent acquisitions. This includes the impact of the Premier acquisition since September 17, 2021, North Star Leasing since April 1, 2021, and the full year impact of the Premium Finance acquisition that was completed on July 1, 2020.
Efficiency Ratio (non-US GAAP)
The efficiency ratio is a key financial measure used to monitor performance. The efficiency ratio is calculated as total non-interest expense (less amortization of other intangible assets) as a percentage of FTE net interest income plus total non-interest income excluding net gains and losses. This financial measure is non-US GAAP since it excludes amortization of other intangible assets and all gains and/or losses included in earnings, and uses FTE net interest income.
The following table provides a reconciliation of this non-US GAAP financial measure to the amounts of total non-interest income and total non-interest expense reported in Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods presented:

(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Efficiency ratio:
Total non-interest expense$183,737 $133,695 $137,250 
Less: amortization of other intangible assets4,775 3,223 3,359 
Adjusted total non-interest expense178,962 130,472 133,891 
Total non-interest income68,885 63,672 64,274 
Less: net (loss) gain on investment securities(862)(368)164 
Less: net gain (loss) on asset disposals and other transactions493 (290)(782)
Total non-interest income excluding net gains and losses69,254 64,330 64,892 
Net interest income172,553 138,923 140,838 
Add: fully-tax-equivalent adjustment (a)1,349 1,054 1,068 
Net interest income on a fully-tax equivalent basis173,902 139,977 141,906 
Adjusted revenue$243,156 $204,307 $206,798 
Efficiency ratio73.60 %63.86 %64.74 %
Efficiency ratio adjusted for non-core items:
Core non-interest expense$159,096 $129,765 $129,693 
Less: amortization of other intangible assets4,775 3,223 3,359 
Adjusted core non-interest expense154,321 126,542 126,334 
Core non-interest income excluding net gains and losses69,254 64,330 64,892 
Net interest income on a fully-tax-equivalent basis173,902 139,977 141,906 
Adjusted core revenue$243,156 $204,307 $206,798 
Efficiency ratio adjusted for non-core items63.47 %61.94 %61.09 %
(a)Based on 21% statutory federal corporate income tax rate for 2021, 2020 and 2019.


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The efficiency ratio increased during 2021, and was largely due to the acquisition-related expenses. The efficiency ratio, when adjusted for non-core items, increased compared to 2020, and was driven by the higher non-interest expense, coupled with the continued low interest rate environment and related impact to net interest income. The efficiency ratio for 2020 improved due to a decrease in non-interest expense. The higher efficiency ratio adjusted for non-core items for 2020, compared to 2019, was driven by lower revenue, while adjusted core non-interest expense was relatively flat.
Managing expenses has been a major focus over recent years; however, during this time Peoples has continued to make meaningful investments in its infrastructure and systems. Peoples was also negatively impacted during 2021 and 2020 by the low interest rate environment and the related reduction to net interest income.
Return on Average Assets Adjusted for Non-Core Items (non-US GAAP)
In addition to return on average assets, management uses return on average assets adjusted for non-core items to monitor performance. The return on average assets ratio adjusted for non-core items represents a non-US GAAP financial measure since it excludes the after-tax impact of all gains and losses, acquisition-related expenses, pension settlement charges, severance expenses, COVID-19-related expenses, Peoples Bank Foundation, Inc. and contract negotiation non-recurring expenses in earnings.
The following table provides a reconciliation of this non-US GAAP financial measure to the amount of net income reported in Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods presented:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Net income adjusted for non-core items:
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Add: net loss on investment securities
862 368 — 
Less: tax effect of net loss on investment securities (a)
181 77 — 
Less: net gain on investment securities
— — 164 
Add: tax effect of net gain on investment securities (a)
— — 34 
Add: net loss on asset disposals and other transactions
— 290 782 
Less: tax effect of net loss on asset disposals and other transactions (a)
— 61 164 
Less: net gain on asset disposals and other transactions (a)493 — — 
Add: tax effect of net loss on asset disposals and other transactions (a)104 — — 
Add: acquisition-related expenses
21,423 1,459 7,530 
Less: tax effect of acquisition-related expenses (a)
4,499 306 1,581 
Add: severance expenses79 1,055 270 
Less: tax effect of severance expenses (a)17 222 57 
Add: pension settlement charges
143 1,054 — 
Less: tax effect of pension settlement charges (a)
30 221 — 
Add: COVID-19-related expenses1,248 1,332 — 
Less: tax effect of COVID-19-related expenses (a)262 280 — 
Add: Peoples Bank Foundation, Inc. contribution500 — — 
Less: tax effect of Peoples Bank Foundation, Inc. contribution105 — — 
Add: contract negotiation expenses1,248 — — 
Less: tax effect of contract negotiation expenses262 — — 
Net income adjusted for non-core items (after tax)$67,313 $39,158 $60,345 
Return on average assets:
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Total average assets5,672,594 4,739,289 4,222,482 
Return on average assets0.84 %0.73 %1.27 %
Return on average assets adjusted for non-core items:
Net income adjusted for non-core items
$67,313 $39,158 $60,345 
Total average assets
5,672,594 4,739,289 4,222,482 
Return on average assets adjusted for non-core items
1.19 %0.83 %1.43 %
(a) Based on a 21% statutory federal corporate income tax rate for 2021, 2020 and 2019.

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The return on average assets and return on average assets adjusted for non-core items, both increased compared to 2020, as Peoples recorded a lower provision for credit losses during 2021 compared to 2020, while net income improved due to recent acquisitions and core growth. The decreases in return on average assets and return on average assets, adjusted for non-core items for 2020 compared to 2019, were driven by a reduction in income due to the implementation of CECL, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Return on Average Tangible Equity (non-US GAAP)
The return on average tangible equity ratio is a key financial measure used to monitor performance. The return on tangible equity is calculated as net income (less after-tax impact of amortization of other intangible assets) divided by tangible equity. This measure is non-US GAAP since it excludes amortization of other intangible assets from earnings and the impact of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired through acquisitions on total stockholders' equity.
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Net income excluding amortization of other intangible assets:
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Add: amortization of other intangible assets4,775 3,223 3,359 
Less: tax effect of amortization of other intangible assets (a)1,003 677 705 
Net income excluding amortization of other intangible assets51,327 37,313 56,349 
Average tangible equity:
Total average stockholders' equity$656,633 $575,386 $566,123 
Less: average goodwill and other intangible assets234,667 181,526 173,529 
Average tangible equity$421,966 $393,860 $392,594 
Return on average stockholders' equity ratio:
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Average stockholders' equity$656,633 $575,386 $566,123 
Return on average stockholders' equity7.24 %6.04 %9.48 %
Return on average tangible equity ratio:
Net income excluding amortization of other intangible assets$51,327 $37,313 $56,349 
Average tangible equity$421,966 $393,860 $392,594 
Return on average tangible equity12.16 %9.47 %14.35 %
(a) Based on a 21% statutory federal corporate income tax rate for 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Return on average stockholders' equity and return on average tangible equity both improved compared to 2020, and were driven by the recent acquisitions, core growth and reduced provision for credit losses. The decrease in return on average tangible equity for 2020, compared to 2019, was driven by a reduction in net income due to the implementation of CECL, which was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Peoples considers cash and cash equivalents to consist of federal funds sold, cash and balances due from banks, interest-bearing balances in other institutions and other short-term investments that are readily liquid.  The amount of cash and cash equivalents fluctuates on a daily basis due to customer activity and Peoples' liquidity needs.  At December 31, 2021, excess cash reserves at the FRB of Cleveland were $318.1 million, compared to $25.1 million at December 31, 2020. Peoples also acquired $248.4 million in cash and cash equivalents from Premier. The amount of excess cash reserves maintained is dependent upon Peoples' daily liquidity position, which is driven primarily by changes in deposit and loan balances, coupled with increased liquidity needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Peoples' total cash and cash equivalents increased $263.6 million, as cash provided by operating activities and financing activities of $156.4 million and $181.6 million, respectively, were partially offset by cash used in investing activities of $74.4 million. Peoples' investing activities reflected a net decrease of $113.5 million in loans and $852.5 million in purchases of available-for-sale investment securities, which were primarily offset by $849.1 million in net proceeds from sales, principal payments, calls and prepayments on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities. Financing activities included a $200.8 million net increase in deposits and increase of $14.4 million in short-term borrowings, as well as $31.0 million of cash dividends paid.
In 2020, Peoples' total cash and cash equivalents increased $36.9 million, as cash provided by operating activities and financing activities of $85.5 million and $345.3 million, respectively, were partially offset by cash used in investing activities of $393.9 million.

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Peoples' investing activities reflected a net increase of $444.1 million in loans and $261.4 million in purchases of available-for-sale investment securities, which were partially offset by $444.6 million in net proceeds from sales, principal payments, calls and prepayments on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities. Financing activities included a $618.9 million net increase in deposits and $50.0 million of proceeds from long-term borrowings, offset partially by a decrease of $263.7 million in short-term borrowings, as well as the purchase of $29.3 million of treasury stock under the share repurchase program and $27.1 million of cash dividends paid.
Further information regarding the management of Peoples' liquidity position can be found later in this discussion under "Interest Rate Sensitivity and Liquidity."
Investment Securities
The following table provides information regarding Peoples’ investment portfolio at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)Weighted average yield202120202019
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:   
Obligations of:   
U.S. Treasury and government agencies1.05 %$35,604 $— $— 
U.S. government sponsored agencies0.07 %81,739 5,363 8,209 
States and political subdivisions2.23 %259,319 114,919 114,104 
Residential mortgage-backed securities1.58 %828,517 623,218 791,009 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities1.37 %63,519 4,783 18,088 
Bank-issued trust preferred securities3.00 %6,795 4,730 4,691 
Total fair value$1,275,493 $753,013 $936,101 
Total amortized cost$1,283,146 $734,544 $929,395 
Net unrealized (loss) gain$(7,653)$18,469 $6,706 
Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost:
Obligations of:
U.S. government sponsored agencies2.03 %$36,431 $— $— 
States and political subdivisions (a)2.23 %$151,402 $35,139 $4,346 
Residential mortgage-backed securities1.90 %110,708 25,890 21,494 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities1.80 %75,588 5,429 5,907 
Total amortized cost$374,129 $66,458 $31,747 
Other investment securities$33,987 $37,560 $42,730 
Total investment securities:
Amortized cost$1,691,262 $838,562 $1,003,872 
Carrying value$1,683,609 $857,031 $1,010,578 
(a)Amortized cost is presented net of the allowance for credit losses of $286 at December 31, 2021 and $60 at December 31, 2020.

At December 31, 2021, Peoples' investment securities represented approximately 23.8% of total assets, compared to 18.0% at December 31, 2020. During 2021, Peoples acquired, in the Premier acquisition, investment securities totaling $552.0 million and subsequently sold $395.2 million of available-for-sale securities. The increase in investment securities compared to 2020 also reflected Peoples' continued reinvestment of proceeds from available-for-sale investment securities and the investment of excess cash in higher-yielding investment securities. During 2021, Peoples acquired from Premier, and made investments into, tax-exempt securities, which are included in obligations of state and political subdivisions. The investments into these securities were made in an effort to reduce exposure to amortizing investment securities, while also maintaining an appropriate level of risk-adjusted yield.
During 2020, Peoples sold $82.6 million of available-for-sale securities and reinvested the majority of the proceeds in held-to-maturity investment securities to minimize the volatility in the securities portfolio, should interest rates begin to rise.
Peoples designates certain securities as "held-to-maturity" at the time of their purchase if management determines Peoples would have the intent and ability to hold the purchased securities until maturity. The unrealized gain or loss related to held-to-maturity investment securities does not directly impact total stockholders' equity, in contrast to the impact from the available-for-sale investment securities portfolio.
Additional information regarding Peoples' investment portfolio can be found in "Note 3 Investment Securities" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Loans
The following table provides information regarding outstanding loan balances at or for the year ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Originated loans:   
Construction$137,437 $103,169 $83,283 
Commercial real estate, other861,610 780,324 671,576 
Commercial real estate999,047 883,493 754,859 
Commercial and industrial779,064 943,024 622,175 
Premium finance136,121 100,571 — 
Leases69,169 — — 
Residential real estate350,595 281,623 314,935 
Home equity lines of credit104,176 93,296 93,013 
Consumer, indirect530,532 503,526 417,127 
Consumer, direct81,330 75,591 70,852 
Consumer611,862 579,117 487,979 
Deposit account overdrafts756 351 878 
Total originated loans$3,050,790 $2,881,475 $2,273,839 
Acquired loans:
Construction$72,795 $3,623 $5,235 
Commercial real estate, other688,471 149,529 161,662 
Commercial real estate761,266 153,152 166,897 
Commercial and industrial112,328 30,621 40,818 
Premium finance15 14,187 — 
Leases53,339 — — 
Residential real estate421,123 292,384 346,541 
Home equity lines of credit59,417 27,617 39,691 
Consumer, indirect— 1 58 
Consumer, direct23,322 3,503 5,681 
Consumer23,322 3,504 5,739 
Total acquired loans (a)$1,430,810 $521,465 $599,686 
Total loans$4,481,600 $3,402,940 $2,873,525 
Average total loans3,709,159 3,258,354 2,812,109 
Average allowance for credit losses(56,038)(47,692)(21,239)
Average loans, net of average allowance for credit losses$3,653,121 $3,210,662 $2,790,870 

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(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Percent of loans to total loans: 
Construction4.7 %3.1 %3.1 %
Commercial real estate, other34.7 %27.3 %29.0 %
Commercial real estate39.4 %30.4 %32.1 %
Commercial and industrial19.9 %28.6 %23.1 %
Premium finance3.0 %3.4 %— %
Leases2.7 %— %— %
Residential real estate17.2 %16.9 %23.0 %
Home equity lines of credit3.7 %3.6 %4.6 %
Consumer, indirect11.8 %14.8 %14.5 %
Consumer, direct2.3 %2.3 %2.7 %
Consumer14.1 %17.1 %17.2 %
Deposit account overdrafts (b)NMNMNM
Total percentage100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
Residential real estate loans being serviced for others$430,597 $485,972 $496,802 
(a)Includes all loans acquired, and related loan discount recorded as part of acquisition accounting, in 2012 and thereafter. Loans that were acquired and subsequently re-underwritten are reported as originated upon execution of such credit actions (for example, renewals, and increase in lines of credit).
(b)NM=not meaningful.
As of December 31, 2021, total loans increased 32%, compared to December 31, 2020, which was driven by the Premier and North Star Leasing acquisitions, coupled with core growth. The Premier acquisition added $1.1 billion in loans at December 31, 2021, which were comprised of $96.1 million in construction; $534.9 million in commercial real estate, other; $132.1 million in commercial and industrial; $331.1 million in residential real estate; $45.9 million in home equity lines of credit; and $21.6 million of consumer, direct loan balances. During 2021, the outstanding balance of SBA PPP loans declined $279.8 million, from $366.9 million at December 31, 2020, to $87.1 million at December 31, 2021, which was mainly due to forgiveness proceeds received from the SBA.
During 2020, total loans grew 18%, or $529.4 million. The growth compared to December 31, 2019 was mostly driven by PPP loans added during 2020, which are included in commercial and industrial loan balances, and the new loans being originated through the acquired premium finance sector. At December 31, 2020, PPP loan balances totaled $366.9 million, while the premium finance loans totaled $114.8 million. Consumer indirect loans also contributed to the growth during 2020, and were up $86.3 million, or 21%.




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The following table details the maturities of Peoples' loan portfolio at December 31, 2021:
(Dollars in thousands)Due in One Year or LessDue in One to Five YearsDue in Five to Fifteen YearsDue After Fifteen YearsTotal% of Total
Construction:
Fixed$6,503 $15,680 $9,839 $13 $32,035 15.2 %
Variable36,976 90,558 31,254 19,409 178,197 84.8 %
Total43,479 106,238 41,093 19,422 210,232 100.0 %
Commercial real estate, other:    
Fixed42,107 151,471 215,692 9,183 418,453 27.0 %
Variable91,549 238,760 485,195 316,124 1,131,628 73.0 %
Total133,656 390,231 700,887 325,307 1,550,081 100.0 %
Commercial and industrial:    
Fixed104,468 160,955 44,023 214 309,660 34.7 %
Variable167,851 132,487 266,573 14,821 581,732 65.3 %
Total272,319 293,442 310,596 15,035 891,392 100.0 %
Premium finance:
Fixed136,136 — — — 136,136 100.0 %
Leases:
Fixed122,508 — — — 122,508 100.0 %
Residential real estate:
Fixed72,874 14,169 174,673 217,831 479,547 62.1 %
Variable11,655 7,158 93,301 180,057 292,171 37.9 %
Total84,529 21,327 267,974 397,888 771,718 100.0 %
Home equity lines of credit:
Fixed5 458 1,019 872 2,354 1.4 %
Variable1,493 34,292 103,086 22,368 161,239 98.6 %
Total1,498 34,750 104,105 23,240 163,593 100.0 %
Consumer, indirect:
Fixed4,070 239,873 286,589 — 530,532 100.0 %
Consumer, direct:
Fixed3,671 59,469 34,948 291 98,379 94.0 %
Variable555 2,246 2,945 527 6,273 6.0 %
Total4,226 61,715 37,893 818 104,652 100.0 %
Loan Concentration
Peoples categorizes its commercial loans according to standard industry classifications and monitors for concentrations in a single industry or multiple industries that could be impacted by changes in economic conditions in a similar manner. Peoples' commercial lending activities continue to be spread over a diverse range of businesses from all sectors of the economy, with no single industry comprising over 10% of Peoples' total loan portfolio.
Loans secured by commercial real estate, including commercial construction loans, continue to comprise the largest portion of Peoples' loan portfolio.


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The following table provides information regarding the largest concentrations of commercial real estate loans within the loan portfolio at December 31, 2021:
(Dollars in thousands)Outstanding BalanceAvailable Loan CommitmentsTotal Exposure% of Total
Construction:    
Apartment complexes$69,717 $121,583 $191,300 44.1 %
Mixed-use facilities29,419 34,168 63,587 14.7 %
Assisted living facilities and nursing homes19,183 25,960 45,143 10.4 %
Office buildings and complexes7,161 14,438 21,599 5.0 %
Residential property8,545 11,658 20,203 4.7 %
Lodging and lodging related12,447 1,635 14,082 3.2 %
Retail9,132 2,747 11,879 2.7 %
Other (a)54,628 11,554 65,943 15.2 %
Construction$210,232 $223,743 $433,736 100.0 %
Commercial real estate, other:
Retail facilities:
Owner occupied55,513 1,965 57,478 3.6 %
Non-owner occupied134,230 1,736 135,966 8.5 %
Total retail189,743 3,701 193,444 12.1 %
Office buildings and complexes:
Owner occupied77,603 3,492 81,095 5.1 %
Non-owner occupied94,634 4,822 99,456 6.2 %
Total office buildings and complexes172,237 8,314 180,551 11.3 %
Light industrial facilities:
Owner occupied91,329 1,891 93,220 5.8 %
Non-owner occupied38,666 633 39,299 2.5 %
Total light industrial facilities129,995 2,524 132,519 8.3 %
Mixed commercial use facilities:
Owner occupied53,673 424 54,097 3.4 %
Non-owner occupied58,716 4,000 62,716 3.9 %
Total mixed commercial use facilities112,389 4,424 116,813 7.3 %
Lodging and lodging related:
Owner occupied13,941 — 13,941 0.9 %
Non-owner occupied85,713 150 85,863 5.4 %
Total lodging and lodging related99,654 150 99,804 6.3 %
Apartment complexes93,246 3,508 96,754 6.1 %
Warehouse facilities:
Owner occupied40,271 2,790 43,061 2.7 %
Non-owner occupied40,176 74 40,250 2.5 %
Total warehouse facilities80,447 2,864 83,311 5.2 %

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(Dollars in thousands)Outstanding BalanceAvailable Loan CommitmentsTotal Exposure% of Total
Assisted living facilities and nursing homes$81,349 $750 $82,099 5.1 %
Education services:
Owner occupied16,896 98 16,994 1.1 %
Non-owner occupied22,508 4,000 26,508 1.7 %
Total education services39,404 4,098 43,502 2.8 %
Restaurant/bar facilities:
Owner occupied24,482 50 24,532 1.5 %
Non-owner occupied12,908 253 13,161 0.8 %
Total restaurant/bar facilities37,390 303 37,693 2.3 %
Healthcare:
Owner occupied26,085 422 26,507 1.7 %
Non-owner occupied11,482 — 11,482 0.7 %
Total healthcare facilities37,567 422 37,989 2.4 %
Agriculture30,792 1,536 32,328 2.0 %
Other (a)445,868 15,446 461,314 28.8 %
Commercial real estate, other$1,550,081 $48,040 $1,598,121 100.0 %
(a)All other outstanding balances are less than 2% of the total loan portfolio.
Peoples' commercial lending activities continue to focus on lending opportunities inside its primary and secondary market areas within Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland. In all other states, the aggregate outstanding balances of commercial loans in each state were less than 4% of total loans at either December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.
Additional information regarding Peoples' loan portfolio can be found in "Note 4 Loans and Leases" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
COVID-19 Loan Impacts
Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program
In March 2020, the CARES Act created a new loan guarantee program called the PPP targeted to provide small businesses with support to cover payroll and certain other expenses. Loans made under the PPP are fully guaranteed by the SBA. The PPP loans also afford borrowers forgiveness up to the principal amount of the PPP covered loan, plus accrued interest, if the loan proceeds are used to retain workers and maintain payroll and/or to make certain mortgage interest, lease and utility payments, and certain other criteria are satisfied. The SBA will reimburse PPP lenders for any amount of a PPP covered loan that is forgiven, and PPP lenders are not be held liable for any representations made by PPP borrowers in connection with their requests for loan forgiveness. The PPP expired on May 31, 2021 and no new originations will be made under the program; however, forgiveness proceeds will continue to be received until the loans are paid in full.
Peoples is a PPP participating lender, and the PPP loans originated (including $23.4 million acquired in the merger with Premier) are included in commercial and industrial loans. Peoples also recorded deferred loan origination fees related to the PPP loans, net of deferred loan origination costs, which will be amortized over the life of the respective loans, or until forgiven by the SBA, and will be recognized in net interest income. The following tables detail Peoples' PPP loans and related income at December 31:
(Dollars in millions)20212020
PPP aggregate outstanding principal balances$89.3 $374.8 
PPP net deferred loan origination fees2.2 7.9 
Amortization of net deferred loan origination fees13.0 7.5 

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Allowance for Credit Losses
On January 1, 2020, Peoples adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-13 "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments", commonly referred to as the CECL model. Prior to the adoption of the CECL model, the allowance for credit losses was the "allowance for loan losses." The amount of the allowance for credit losses at the end of each period represents management's estimate of expected credit losses from existing loans based upon its formal quarterly analysis of the loan portfolio described in the "Critical Accounting Policies" section of this discussion. While this process involves allocations being made to specific loans and pools of loans, the entire allowance is available for all losses incurred within the loan portfolio.
The following details management's allocation of the allowance for credit losses at December 31:

(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Commercial real estate$32,146 $19,423 $7,333 
Commercial and industrial11,063 12,763 8,432 
     Total commercial43,209 32,186 15,765 
Premium finance379 1,095 — 
Leases4,797 — — 
Residential real estate7,233 6,044 1,191 
Home equity lines of credit2,005 1,860 546 
Consumer, indirect5,326 8,030 2,937 
Consumer, direct961 1,081 294 
     Consumer6,287 9,111 3,231 
Deposit account overdrafts57 63 94 
Originated allowance for credit losses63,967 50,359 20,827 
Acquired allowance for credit losses (a)— — 729 
Allowance for credit losses (b)$63,967 $50,359 $21,556 
As a percent of total loans1.43 %1.48 %0.75 %
(a)Beginning on January 1, 2020, the amounts previously included in "acquired allowance for credit losses" were included in the "originated allowance for credit losses" under the CECL model.
(b)Beginning on January 1, 2020, Peoples calculated the allowance for credit losses using the CECL model, while 2019 used the incurred loss model.
During 2021, the allowance for credit losses grew 27%, which was largely due to the Premier and North Star Leasing acquisitions, and the related need to establish an allowance for credit losses on those portfolios, coupled with organic growth in loan balances during 2021. The North Star Leasing acquisition added $3.3 million to the allowance for credit losses at the acquisition date, of which $493,000 was established for purchased credit deteriorated loans as part of the acquisition accounting, and the remainder was established through the recording of a provision for credit losses. The Premier acquisition added $28.6 million to the allowance for credit losses during the third quarter of 2021, of which $16.9 million was established for purchased credit deteriorated loans as part of the acquisition accounting, and the remainder was established using provision for credit losses. Also during 2021, economic factors and loss drivers improved compared to 2020, and had a positive impact on the CECL model. The allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans increased slightly during 2021, compared to 2020.
The allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans was relatively stable at December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020, and was mostly due to the composition of Peoples' loan and lease portfolio. The increase in the allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans grew at December 31, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019, as a result of the implementation of the CECL model, along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic forecasts.
Peoples implemented ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, which resulted in an increase of $5.8 million in the allowance for credit losses. The remaining significant increase in the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019 was mostly due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting impact on economic forecasts utilized in the CECL model. Peoples calculates its allowance for credit losses using a discounted cash flow model, and incorporates economic forecasts.
Additional information regarding Peoples' allowance for credit losses can be found in "Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and "Note 4 Loans and Leases" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the changes in the allowance for credit losses for the years ended December 31:

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(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Allowance for credit losses, January 1$50,359 $25,868 $20,195 
Gross charge-offs:
Commercial real estate (a)387 528 156 
Commercial and industrial1,057 1,565 1,062 
Premium finance45 3 — 
Leases1,434 — — 
Residential real estate 385 353 312 
Home equity lines of credit197 103 55 
Consumer, indirect1,756 1,923 1,829 
Consumer, direct152 187 211 
     Consumer1,908 2,110 2,040 
Deposit account overdrafts575 673 851 
Total gross charge-offs5,988 5,335 4,476 
Recoveries: 
Commercial real estate204 200 151 
Commercial and industrial26 2,521 2,415 
Premium finance— — — 
Leases339 — — 
Residential real estate143 302 229 
Home equity lines of credit41 12 11 
Consumer, indirect253 302 270 
Consumer, direct112 49 52 
     Consumer365 351 322 
Deposit account overdrafts177 186 205 
Total recoveries1,295 3,572 3,333 
Net charge-offs (recoveries): 
Commercial real estate183 328 5 
Commercial and industrial1,031 (956)(1,353)
Premium finance45 3 — 
Leases1,095 — — 
Residential real estate242 51 83 
Home equity lines of credit156 91 44 
Consumer, indirect1,503 1,621 1,559 
Consumer, direct40 138 159 
     Consumer1,543 1,759 1,718 
Deposit account overdrafts398 487 646 
Total net charge-offs$4,693 $1,763 $1,143 
Provision for credit losses, December 31 (b)(c)(d)731 26,254 2,504 
Initial allowance for purchased credit deteriorated assets$17,570 $— $— 
Allowance for credit losses, December 31 (e)$63,967 $50,359 $21,556 
Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percent of average total loans:
Commercial real estate— %0.01 %— %
Commercial and industrial0.03 %(0.03)%(0.05)%
Premium finance— %— %— %
Leases0.03 %— %— %
Residential real estate0.01 %— %— %
Home equity lines of credit— %— %— %
Consumer, indirect0.05 %0.05 %0.06 %
Consumer, direct— %— %0.01 %
     Consumer0.05 %0.05 %0.07 %
Deposit account overdrafts0.01 %0.02 %0.02 %
Total0.13 %0.05 %0.04 %
(a)Includes nonimpaired loan charge-offs of $2 in 2019.
(b)Includes purchased credit impaired loan provision for credit losses of $19 in 2019.
(c)Includes nonimpaired loan provision for credit losses of $215 in 2019.

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(d)Amount does not include the provision for unfunded commitment liability.
(e)Beginning on January 1, 2020, the amounts previously included in "acquired allowance for credit losses" were included in the "originated allowance for credit losses" under the CECL model.
During 2021, net charge-offs as a percent of average total loans increased to 0.13%, compared to 0.05% for 2020. This increase was driven by the additional net charge-offs related to lease balances, coupled with the impact of a recovery of $2.5 million on a single commercial loan relationship during 2020, which lowered the ratio for that period. Prior to the acquisition, North Star Leasing was experiencing net charge-off rates of around 3% of average lease balances, and Peoples anticipates that net charge-off levels will increase in future periods as the net charge-offs for the leasing division return to this historical rate.
Net charge-offs for 2020 were $1.8 million, or 0.05% of average total loans, an increase of $0.6 million compared to $1.1 million, or 0.04% of average total loans, for 2019. Net charge-offs in 2020 included a recovery of $2.5 million on a single commercial loan relationship that was previously charged-off; while in 2019, a $2.4 million recovery occurred on the same relationship. The increase in commercial real estate net charge-offs in 2020 compared to 2019 was due to an increase in charge-off activity in 2020. This activity consisted of two larger commercial real estate loans with a total of $200,000 in charge-offs coupled with other smaller commercial real estate charge-offs.
The following table details Peoples’ nonperforming assets at December 31:
 
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Loans 90+ days past due and accruing (a):   
Construction$90 $— $— 
Commercial real estate, other689 — 907 
Commercial and industrial1,139 50 155 
Premium finance865 589 — 
Leases— — — 
Residential real estate805 1,975 2,677 
Home equity lines of credit50 82 108 
Consumer, indirect— 39 — 
Consumer, direct85 17 85 
Consumer85 56 85 
Total loans 90+ days past due and accruing3,723 2,752 3,932 
Nonaccrual loans (a): 
Construction6 4 411 
Commercial real estate, other16,849 8,744 6,699 
Commercial real estate16,855 8,748 7,110 
Commercial and industrial2,505 4,017 1,824 
Leases1,581 — — 
Residential real estate8,016 6,080 4,471 
Home equity lines of credit687 708 955 
Consumer, indirect1,302 883 629 
Consumer, direct273 160 48 
Consumer1,575 1,043 677 
Total nonaccrual loans31,219 20,596 15,037 

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(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings (TDRs):
Commercial real estate, other$218 $367 $102 
Commercial and industrial1,067 2,175 331 
Leases— — — 
Residential real estate1,631 2,295 1,890 
Home equity lines of credit352 159 210 
Consumer, indirect272 190 211 
Consumer, direct6 11 — 
Total nonaccrual TDRs3,546 5,197 2,744 
Total nonperforming loans (NPLs)38,488 28,545 21,713 
OREO:   
Commercial9,105 — 145 
Residential391 134 82 
Total OREO9,496 134 227 
Total nonperforming assets (NPAs)$47,984 $28,679 $21,940 
Criticized loans (b)$194,016 $126,619 $96,830 
Classified loans (c)106,547 72,518 66,154 
Asset Quality Ratios:
Nonaccrual loans as a percent of total loans (d)0.78 %0.76 %0.62 %
NPLs as a percent of total loans (d)(e)0.86 %0.82 %0.75 %
NPAs as a percent of total assets (d)(e)0.68 %0.59 %0.50 %
NPAs as a percent of total loans and OREO (d)(e)1.07 %0.84 %0.76 %
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of nonaccrual loans (d)184.00 %195.24 %121.23 %
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of NPLs (d)(e)166.20 %180.14 %99.28 %
Criticized loans as a percent of total loans (b)(d)4.33 %3.72 %3.37 %
Classified loans as a percent of total loans (c)(d)2.38 %2.13 %2.30 %
(a)On January 1, 2020, Peoples adopted ASU 2016-13 and implemented the CECL model. The accounting for purchased credit deteriorated loans under CECL resulted in the movement of $3.9 million of loans from the 90+ days past due and accruing category to the nonaccrual category as of January 1, 2020. As of December 31, 2019, these loans were presented as 90+ days past due and accruing. Although they were not accruing contractual interest income, they were accreting income from the discount that was recognized due to acquisition accounting.
(b)Includes loans categorized as special mention, substandard or doubtful.
(c)Includes loans categorized as substandard or doubtful.
(d)Data presented as of the end of the year indicated.
(e)Nonperforming loans include loans 90+ days past due and accruing, troubled debt restructured loans and nonaccrual loans. Nonperforming assets include nonperforming loans and OREO.
Nonperforming assets grew 67% during 2021 compared to 2020. These increases were primarily driven by the Premier acquisition. At the same time, criticized loans, which are those categorized as special mention, substandard or doubtful, grew $67.4 million, or 53%, while classified loans, which are those categorized as substandard or doubtful, increased $34.0 million, or 47%, compared to December 31, 2020. These increases were also due to the Premier acquisition.
Nonperforming loans increased in 2020 due to two commercial relationships aggregating $3.2 million and several smaller commercial relationships being placed on nonaccrual. Criticized loans increased $29.8 million, or 31%, at December 31, 2020, compared to December 31, 2019, while classified loans grew $6.4 million, or 10%, at December 31, 2020, compared to December 31, 2019. During 2020, Peoples downgraded several relationships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-related downgrades contributed $29.8 million of additional criticized loans and $9.4 million of additional classified loans compared to balances at December 31, 2019.
Based on the provisions provided by the CARES Act, on March 22, 2020, federal and state government banking regulators issued a joint statement, with which the FASB concurred as to the approach, regarding accounting for loan modifications for borrowers affected by COVID-19. In this guidance, short-term modifications, made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19, to borrowers who were current prior to any relief, are not considered TDRs. This includes short-term modifications such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or other delays in payment which are insignificant. Under the guidance, borrowers that are considered current are those that are less than 30 days past due on their contractual payments at the time a modification program is implemented. In addition, modification or deferral programs mandated by the U.S. federal government or any state government related to COVID-19 are not in the scope of ASC 310-40.

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On August 3, 2020, federal and state banking regulators issued a joint statement, encouraging financial institutions to consider prudent accommodation options to mitigate losses for the borrower and financial institution beyond the initial accommodation period. In this guidance, institutions should also provide consumers with available options for repaying missed payments at the end of their accommodation to avoid delinquencies, as well as options for changes to terms to support sustainable and affordable payments for the long term. These considerations should also include prudent risk management practices at the financial institution based on the credit risk of the borrower. Peoples is actively working with its customers to address any further accommodation needs while carefully evaluating the associated credit risk of the borrowers.
The majority of Peoples' nonaccrual commercial real estate loans consists primarily of owner occupied commercial properties. In general, management believes repayment of these loans is dependent on the sale of the underlying collateral. As such, the carrying values of these loans are ultimately supported by management's estimate of the net proceeds Peoples would receive upon the sale of the collateral. These estimates are based in part on market values provided by independent, licensed or certified appraisers periodically, but no less frequently than annually. Given the volatility in commercial real estate values, management continues to monitor changes in real estate values from quarter-to-quarter and updates its estimates as needed based on observable changes in market prices and/or updated appraisals for similar properties.
Peoples discontinues the accrual of interest on a loan when conditions cause management to believe collection of all or any portion of the loan's contractual interest is doubtful. Such conditions may include the borrower being 90 days or more past due on any contractual payments or the availability of updated information regarding the borrower's financial condition and repayment ability. All unpaid accrued interest deemed uncollectable is reversed, which would reduce Peoples' net interest income. Interest received on nonaccrual loans is included in income only if principal recovery is reasonably assured. Interest income on loans classified as nonaccrual and renegotiated at each year-end that would have been recorded under the original terms of the loans was $1.3 million for 2021, $1.6 million for 2020 and $1.4 million for 2019. No portion of these amounts were recorded during 2021, 2020 or 2019.
Overall, management believes the allowance for credit losses was appropriate at December 31, 2021, based on all significant information currently available.  Still, there can be no assurance that the allowance for credit losses will be adequate to cover future losses in Peoples’ loan portfolio.
Additional information regarding Peoples' allowance for credit losses can be found in "Note 4 Loans and Leases" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Deposits
The following table details Peoples’ deposit balances at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Non-interest-bearing deposits (a)$1,641,422 $997,323 $671,208 
Interest-bearing deposits: 
Interest-bearing demand accounts (a)1,167,460 692,113 635,720 
Savings accounts1,036,738 628,190 521,914 
Retail CDs643,759 445,930 490,830 
Money market deposit accounts651,169 591,373 469,893 
Governmental deposit accounts617,259 385,384 293,908 
Brokered deposits104,745 170,146 207,939 
Total interest-bearing deposits4,221,130 2,913,136 2,620,204 
Total deposits$5,862,552 $3,910,459 $3,291,412 
(a) The sum of amounts presented are considered total demand deposits.
The significant increase in deposits compared to December 31, 2020 was largely due to deposits acquired from Premier. Total demand deposits comprised 48% of total deposits at December 31, 2021 and were 43% of total deposits at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2021, the period-end deposit increase of $2.0 billion, or 50%, compared to December 31, 2020, was primarily due to deposits acquired from Premier. Also, throughout 2021 and 2020, customers maintained higher balances due to changes in customer habits in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as fiscal stimulus funds and PPP loan proceeds. During 2020, Peoples had reduced its reliance on higher-rate brokered deposits, which included one-way buy Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Services. This was partially offset by the issuance of 90-day brokered demand and savings deposits to fund interest rate swaps. As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had thirteen effective interest rate swaps, with an aggregate notional value of $125.0 million, which were funded by $40.0 million in 90-day FHLB advances and $100.0 million in overnight brokered deposits, which are expected to be extended every 90 days through the maturity dates of the swaps.
The increase in total deposits between December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was largely due to an increase of $326.1 million in non-interest bearing deposits. The growth in non-interest-bearing deposits was related to customers maintaining higher balances due to changes in customer habits in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as fiscal stimulus funds and PPP loan proceeds. During 2020, Peoples had reduced its reliance on higher-rate brokered deposits, which included one-way buy Certificate of

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Deposit Account Registry Services. This was partially offset by the issuance of 90-day brokered demand and savings deposits to fund interest rate swaps.
Peoples' governmental deposit accounts represent savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts from state and local governmental entities. These funds are subject to periodic fluctuations based on the timing of tax collections and subsequent expenditures or disbursements.  Peoples normally experiences an increase in balances annually during the first and third quarter, corresponding with tax collections, with declines normally in the second and fourth quarter of each year, corresponding with expenditures by the governmental entities. Peoples continues to emphasize growth of low-cost deposits that do not require Peoples to pledge assets as collateral, which is required in the case of governmental deposit accounts.
The maturities of retail CDs with total balances of $100,000 or more at December 31 were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
3 months or less$71,374 $55,402 $36,623 
Over 3 to 6 months74,529 56,516 48,581 
Over 6 to 12 months83,094 36,448 49,796 
Over 12 months90,864 70,452 104,914 
Total$319,861 $218,818 $239,914 
Additional information regarding Peoples' deposits can be found in "Note 8 Deposits" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Borrowed Funds
The following table details Peoples’ short-term and long-term borrowings at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Short-term borrowings:   
Overnight borrowings$— $— $141,000 
FHLB 90-day advances40,000 — 110,000 
Current portion of long-term FHLB advances15,000 20,000 23,009 
Repurchase agreements111,482 53,261 42,968 
Total short-term borrowings166,482 73,261 316,977 
Long-term borrowings: 
FHLB advances85,825 102,957 75,672 
Junior subordinated debt securities13,650 7,611 7,451 
Total long-term borrowings99,475 110,568 83,123 
Total borrowed funds$265,957 $183,829 $400,100 
Total borrowed funds, which include overnight borrowings, are mainly a function of loan growth and changes in total deposit balances. Peoples continually evaluates the overall balance sheet position given the interest rate environment. During 2021, Peoples' repurchase agreements grew mostly due to accounts associated with the Premier acquisition. Peoples also acquired additional junior subordinated debt securities in the Premier acquisition, leading to the increase in long-term borrowings compared to 2020.
During 2020, long-term FHLB advances increased due to borrowing under a $50.0 million long-term FHLB putable, non-amortizing fixed rate advance and the reclassification of $20.0 million to short-term borrowings as the time to maturity of these advances had become less than one year.
In 2019, Peoples' short-term FHLB advances generally consisted of overnight borrowings maintained in connection with the management of Peoples' daily liquidity position.
During 2019, Peoples had seventeen effective interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $160.0 million, of which $110.0 million were funded by FHLB 90-day advances. The remaining $50.0 million were funded by 90-day brokered CDs. Long-term FHLB advances declined by $26.7 million due to the reclassification to short-term borrowings as the time to maturity of these advances had become less than one year.
On April 3, 2019, Peoples entered into a Loan Agreement (the “U.S. Bank Loan Agreement”) with U.S. Bank National Association, the term of which has been extended to March 31, 2022 through an amendment in April 2021. The U.S. Bank Loan Agreement provides Peoples with a revolving line of credit in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million.

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Additional information regarding Peoples' borrowed funds can be found in "Note 9 Short-Term Borrowings" and "Note 10 Long-Term Borrowings" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Capital/Stockholders’ Equity
During 2021, Peoples' total stockholders' equity grew 47%, mostly due to the issuance of $261.9 million in common shares related to the Premier acquisition. Peoples also recorded net income of $47.6 million, which exceeded dividends paid of $31.2 million.
At December 31, 2021, capital levels for both Peoples and Peoples Bank remained substantially higher than the minimum amounts needed to be considered "well capitalized" under banking regulations. These higher capital levels reflect Peoples' desire to maintain a strong capital position.
During 2020, total stockholders' equity declined mainly due to the repurchase of common shares in the amount of $29.3 million and dividends paid to shareholders of $27.5 million, partially offset by net income of $34.8 million. Also contributing to the decline was the implementation of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, in which Peoples recorded a one-time transition adjustment to reduce retained earnings by $3.7 million. This adjustment reflected the increase in the allowance for credit losses for loans (excluding the gross up of loan balances related to the establishment of an allowance for credit losses for purchased credit deteriorated loans), the allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity investment securities and the addition of an unfunded commitment liability, net of statutory federal corporate income taxes. Based on current accounting guidance, Peoples is electing to utilize the five-year phase-in period for the transition adjustment due to the implementation of ASU 2016-13. This phase-in period also includes a 25% deferment of the impact on regulatory capital of the estimated increase in the allowance for credit losses related to the CECL model, which is applied during the first two years of application. For the first two years of the phase-in period, 100% of the transition adjustment due to ASU 2016-13 is excluded for regulatory capital purposes, along with 25% of the increase in the allowance for credit losses compared to the January 1, 2020 allowance for credit losses. In year three of the phase-in, 75% of the transition adjustment, and the cumulative 25% increase in the allowance for credit losses compared to January 1, 2020, are excluded from regulatory capital, while 50% and 25% of these amounts are excluded in years four and five, respectively, under this phase-in period.
Under the risk-based capital rules, in order to avoid limitations on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation, Peoples must exceed the three minimum required ratios by at least the capital conservation buffer. These three minimum required ratios are the common equity tier 1 capital ratio, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and total risk-based capital ratio. Peoples had a capital conservation buffer of 6.06% at December 31, 2021, 6.50% at December 31, 2020 and 7.58% at December 31, 2019. As such, Peoples exceeded the minimum ratios, including the capital conservation buffer, at December 31, 2021.
The following table details Peoples' actual risk-based capital levels and corresponding ratios at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Capital Amounts:   
Common equity tier 1$577,565 $409,400 $427,415 
Tier 1591,215 417,011 434,866 
Total (tier 1 and tier 2)648,948 456,384 456,422 
Net risk-weighted assets$4,614,259 $3,146,767 $2,930,355 
Capital Ratios:
Common equity tier 112.52 %13.01 %14.59 %
Tier 112.81 %13.25 %14.84 %
Total (tier 1 and tier 2)14.06 %14.50 %15.58 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio8.67 %8.97 %10.41 %
In addition to traditional capital measurements, management uses tangible capital measures to evaluate the adequacy of Peoples' total stockholders' equity. Such financial measures represent non-US GAAP financial information since they exclude the impact of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired through acquisitions on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Peoples' management believes this information is useful to investors since it facilitates the comparison of Peoples' operating performance, financial condition and trends to peers, especially those without a level of intangible assets similar to that of Peoples. Further, intangible assets generally are difficult to convert into cash, especially during a financial crisis, and could decrease substantially in value should there be deterioration in the overall franchise value. As a result, tangible equity represents a conservative measure of the capacity for Peoples to incur losses but remain solvent.

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The following table reconciles the calculation of these non-US GAAP financial measures to amounts reported in Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Tangible equity:   
Total stockholders' equity$845,025 $575,673 $594,393 
Less: goodwill and other intangible assets291,009 184,597 177,503 
Tangible equity$554,016 $391,076 $416,890 
Tangible assets: 
Total assets$7,063,521 $4,760,764 $4,354,165 
Less: goodwill and other intangible assets291,009 184,597 177,503 
Tangible assets$6,772,512 $4,576,167 $4,176,662 
Tangible book value per common share:
Tangible equity$554,016 $391,076 $416,890 
Common shares outstanding28,297,771 19,563,979 20,698,941 
Tangible book value per common share$19.58 $19.99 $20.14 
Tangible equity to tangible assets ratio:
Tangible equity$554,016 $391,076 $416,890 
Tangible assets$6,772,512 $4,576,167 $4,176,662 
Tangible equity to tangible assets8.18 %8.55 %9.98 %
The tangible equity to tangible assets ratio declined during 2021, compared to 2020. This reduction was mainly due to the acquisition of North Star Leasing, for which no stockholders' equity was issued and additional goodwill and intangibles were recorded. The decline in tangible equity to tangible assets at December 31, 2020, compared to 2019, was partially due to the origination of PPP loans during 2020, coupled with the repurchase of common shares completed during the year and dividends paid to shareholders, which exceeded net income for the year.
Future Outlook
During 2021, Peoples successfully closed the largest acquisition in its history, along with the acquisition of a specialty financing leasing business that has significant growth potential. During 2022, Peoples will look to expand on the progress made with recent acquisitions, both strengthening the pipeline of referrals between lines of businesses for new clients, as well as growing the specialty finance lending and leasing portfolios.
Net interest income is expected to improve considerably over 2021, as the full year impact of Premier and the acquired leasing business are recognized for 2022. People also anticipates core growth that will contribute to overall higher net interest income than for 2021, while it anticipates that net interest margin will be between 3.50% and 3.60%, excluding any potential increase to the Federal Funds Target Rate. Net interest margin for 2022 will be positively impacted by the full year recognition of the accretion income, net of amortization expense, associated with the Premier acquisition. However, the impact of this improvement will be muted by the lower accretion of net deferred loan fees and costs from the PPP loan forgiveness, which will be much smaller during 2022 than it was during 2021. During 2021, Peoples has significantly improved its deposit costs, which declined 18 basis points to 29 basis points, but will have less opportunity to further decrease deposit costs during 2022. Peoples has also had a negative impact to net interest margin during 2021 as a result of excess liquidity, and anticipates that to continue through portions of 2022.
Total non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, will benefit from both the acquisitions during 2021, as the Premier acquisition will positively impact electronic banking income and deposit account service charges, while the leasing division will continue to provide a boost from its fee-based income. For 2022, Peoples anticipates growth of 14% to 16% compared to 2021, in total non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses. This increase includes expected growth within trust and investment income, and insurance income, which increased 20% and 9%, respectively, for 2021, compared to 2020.
Excluding acquisition-related expenses, total non-interest expense is anticipated to grow for 2022, which will be mostly due to the additional ongoing costs associated with the recent acquisitions. During 2021, Peoples worked to reduce future data processing and software costs associated with its core processor, and will begin to recognize those savings during 2022. The efficiency ratio for 2022 is expected to improve as Peoples fully recognizes the cost savings associated with the acquisitions, and anticipates an efficiency ratio in the high 50% range.

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The balance sheet mix of Peoples will be continually evaluated in an effort to mitigate exposure risk, as interest rates are anticipated to increase during 2022. Peoples will work to effectively deploy its excess liquidity into higher yielding opportunities, as they arise.
Peoples will continue to place importance on loan growth. It anticipates that the annual loan growth for 2022, compared to 2021, will be between 6% and 8%. This growth excludes any PPP loan payoffs, and incorporates the expected increases in specialty finance loan and lease balances. At the same time, Peoples will focus on maintaining a high credit quality standard when underwriting new business. While Peoples will focus on asset quality, Peoples anticipates an annual gross charge-off rate, as a percent of average total loans, of between 25 to 40 basis points. This rate includes the expectation of returning to historical charge-off rates for loans, as well as the addition of the leasing portfolio charge-offs, which are traditionally higher than loan charge-off rates.
Peoples does not anticipate a significant amount of deposit growth for 2022, as deposit balances have remained inflated in recent periods. The influx of deposits during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was the result of fiscal stimulus, PPP proceeds and changed consumer spending habits, is not expected to continue into 2022. While Peoples does not anticipate significant runoff of deposits, it does not believe there will be large growth during 2022.
Capital is a key priority for Peoples, and continues to be a source of strength. Peoples' regulatory capital ratios at December 31, 2021 exceeded the minimums needed to be considered well capitalized. Peoples intends to make meaningful investments with capital as opportunities arise, such as acquisitions, and return shareholder value in the form of dividends.
For more information regarding risks and uncertainties that could impact the projections described, please refer to "ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS" of this Form 10-K.
Interest Rate Sensitivity and Liquidity
While Peoples is exposed to various business risks, the risks relating to interest rate sensitivity and liquidity are major risks that can materially impact future results of operations and financial condition due to their complexity and dynamic nature. The objective of Peoples' asset-liability management function is to measure and manage these risks in order to optimize net interest income within the constraints of prudent capital adequacy, liquidity and safety. This objective requires Peoples to focus on interest rate risk exposure and adequate liquidity through its management of the mix of assets and liabilities, their related cash flows and the rates earned and paid on those assets and liabilities. Ultimately, the asset-liability management function is intended to guide management in the acquisition and disposition of earning assets and selection of appropriate funding sources.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk ("IRR") is one of the most significant risks arising in the normal course of business of financial services companies like Peoples. IRR is the potential for economic loss due to future interest rate changes that can impact the earnings stream, as well as market values, of financial assets and financial liabilities. Peoples' exposure to IRR is due primarily to differences in the maturity or repricing of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. In addition, other factors, such as prepayments of loans and investment securities, or early withdrawal of deposits, can affect Peoples' exposure to IRR and increase interest costs or reduce revenue streams.
Peoples has assigned overall management of IRR to the ALCO, which has established an IRR management policy that sets minimum requirements and guidelines for monitoring and managing the level of IRR. The objective of Peoples' IRR management policy is to assist the ALCO in its evaluation of the impact of changing interest rate conditions on earnings and the economic value of equity, as well as assist with the implementation of strategies intended to reduce Peoples' IRR. The management of IRR involves either maintaining or changing the level of risk exposure by changing the repricing and maturity characteristics of the cash flows for specific assets or liabilities. Additional oversight of Peoples' IRR is provided by the Board of Directors of Peoples Bank, which reviews and approves Peoples' IRR management policy at least annually.
The ALCO uses various methods to assess and monitor the current level of Peoples' IRR and the impact of potential strategies or other changes. However, the ALCO predominantly relies on simulation modeling in its overall management of IRR since it is a dynamic measure. Simulation modeling also estimates the impact of potential changes in interest rates and balance sheet structures on future earnings and projected economic value of equity. The methods used by ALCO to assess IRR remain largely unchanged from those disclosed at December 31, 2020.
The modeling process starts with a base case simulation using the current balance sheet and current interest rates held constant for the next twenty-four months. Alternate scenarios are prepared which simulate the impact of increasing and decreasing market interest rates, assuming parallel yield curve shifts. Comparisons produced from the simulation data, showing the changes in net interest income from the base interest rate scenario, illustrate the risks associated with the current balance sheet structure. Additional simulations, when deemed appropriate or necessary, are prepared using different interest rate scenarios from those used with the base case simulation and/or possible changes in balance sheet composition. The additional simulations include non-parallel shifts in interest rates whereby the direction and/or magnitude of changes in short-term interest rates is different from the changes applied to longer-term interest rates. Comparisons showing the net interest income and economic value of equity variances from the base case are provided to the ALCO for review and discussion.

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The ALCO has established limits on changes in the twelve-month net interest income forecast and the economic value of equity from the base case. The ALCO may establish risk tolerances for other parallel and non-parallel rate movements, as deemed necessary. The following table details the current policy limits used to manage the level of Peoples' IRR:
Immediate and Sustained Shift in Interest RatesNet Interest IncomeEconomic Value of Equity
 + / - 100 basis points-5%-10%
 + / - 200 basis points-10%-15%
 + / - 300 basis points-15%-20%
The following table shows the estimated changes in net interest income and the economic value of equity based upon a standard, parallel shock analysis with balances held constant (dollars in thousands):
Increase (Decrease) in Interest RatesEstimated Increase (Decrease) in
Net Interest Income		Estimated (Decrease) Increase in Economic Value of Equity
(in Basis Points)December 31, 2021December 31, 2020December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
300$24,903 11.7 %$22,034 17.3 %$(24,232)(2.0)%$117,235 15.7 %
20016,312 7.7 %15,899 12.5 %(16,541)(1.3)%95,189 12.7 %
1007,899 3.7 %8,981 7.1 %(5,308)(0.4)%60,384 8.1 %
(100)(8,615)(4.1)%(7,030)(5.5)%(91,568)(7.4)%(116,205)(15.5)%
This table uses a standard, parallel shock analysis for assessing the IRR to net interest income and the economic value of equity. A parallel shock means all points on the yield curve (one year, two year, three year, etc.) are directionally changed the same amount of basis points. Management regularly assesses the impact of both increasing and decreasing interest rates. The table above shows the impact of upward parallel shocks and a downward parallel shock of 100 basis points. Downward parallel shocks of 300 and 200 basis points are excluded from the table as they are not probable given the current interest rate environment.
Estimated changes in net interest income and economic value of equity are partially driven by assumptions regarding the rate at which non-maturity deposits will reprice given a move in short-term interest rates. These assumptions are monitored closely by Peoples and are reviewed at least semi-annually. As of December 31, 2021, the actual deposit betas experienced by Peoples in the repricing of non-maturity deposits were lower than those used in Peoples’ interest rate risk modeling.
While parallel interest rate shock scenarios are useful in assessing the level of IRR inherent in the balance sheet, interest rates typically move in a nonparallel manner with differences in the timing, direction and magnitude of changes in short-term and long-term interest rates. Thus, any benefit that might occur as a result of the Federal Reserve Board increasing short-term interest rates in the future could be offset by an inverse movement in long-term rates, and vice versa. For this reason, Peoples considers other interest rate scenarios in addition to analyzing the impact of parallel yield curve shifts. These include various flattening and steepening scenarios in which short-term and long-term rates move in different directions with varying magnitude. Peoples believes these scenarios to be more reflective of how interest rates change versus the severe parallel rate shocks described above. Given the shape of market yield curves at December 31, 2021, consideration of the bear steepener and bear flattener scenarios provide insights which were not captured by parallel shifts.
The bear steepener scenario highlights the risk to net interest income and the economic value of equity when short-term rates remain constant while long-term rates rise. In such a scenario, Peoples' variable rate asset yields along with deposit and short-term borrowing costs, which are correlated with short-term rates, remain constant, while long-term asset yields and long-term borrowing costs, which are more correlated with long-term rates, rise. Increased asset yields would not be offset by increases in deposit or funding costs, resulting in an increased amount of net interest income and higher net interest margin. At December 31, 2021, the bear steepener scenario resulted in an increase in both net interest income and the economic value of equity of 0.6% and 4.5%, respectively.
The bear flattener scenario highlights the risk to net interest income and the economic value of equity when short-term rates rise while long-term rates remain constant. In such a scenario, Peoples' variable rate asset yields along with deposit and short-term borrowing costs, which are correlated with short-term rates, increase, while long-term asset yields and long-term borrowing costs, which are more correlated with long-term rates, remain constant. Increased deposit and funding costs would be more than offset by increased variable rate asset yields; resulting in an increased amount of net interest income and higher net interest margin. At December 31, 2021, the bear flattener scenario resulted in an increase in net interest income of 1.0% and a decline in the economic value of equity of 3.7%.

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During 2021, Peoples' Consolidated Balance Sheet was positioned to benefit from rising interest rates in terms of the potential impact on net interest income. The table illustrates this point as net interest income increases in the rising rate scenarios.
Peoples has entered into interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. These interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges and involve the receipt of variable rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for Peoples making fixed payments. As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had thirteen interest rate swap contracts, with an aggregate notional value of $125.0 million. Additional information regarding Peoples' interest rate swaps can be found in "Note 15 Derivative Financial Instruments" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
An asset/liability model used to produce the analysis above requires assumptions to be made such as prepayment rates on interest-earning assets and repricing impact on non-maturity deposits. These business assumptions are based on business plans, economic and market trends, and available industry data. Management believes that its methodology for developing such assumptions is reasonable; however, there can be no assurance that modeled results will be achieved. The asset/liability model along with key modeling assumptions are subjected to a third-party review annually for effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
Liquidity
In addition to IRR management, another major objective of the ALCO is to ensure sufficient levels of liquidity are maintained. The ALCO defines liquidity as the ability to meet anticipated and unanticipated operating cash needs, loan demand and deposit withdrawals without incurring a sustained negative impact on profitability.
A primary source of liquidity for Peoples is deposits. Liquidity is also provided by cash generated from earning assets such as loans and investment securities. Peoples also uses various wholesale funding sources to supplement funding from customer deposits. These external sources provide Peoples with the ability to obtain large quantities of funds in a relatively short time period in the event of sudden unanticipated cash needs. However, an over-utilization of external funding sources can expose Peoples to greater liquidity risk, as these external sources may not be accessible during times of market stress. Additionally, Peoples may be exposed to the risk associated with providing excess collateral to external funding providers, commonly referred to as counterparty risk. As a result, the ALCO's liquidity management policy sets limits on the net liquidity position and the concentration of non-core funding sources, which includes wholesale funding and brokered deposits. 
In addition to external sources of funding, Peoples considers certain types of deposits to be less stable or "volatile funding." These deposits include special money market products, large CDs and public funds. Peoples has established volatility factors for these various deposit products, and the liquidity management policy establishes a limit on the total level of volatile funding. Additionally, Peoples measures the maturities of external sources of funding for periods of one month, three months, six months and twelve months, and has established policy limits for the amounts maturing in each of these periods. The purpose of these limits is to minimize exposure to what is commonly termed rollover risk.
An additional strategy used by Peoples in the management of liquidity risk is maintaining a targeted level of liquid assets. Management defines liquid assets as unencumbered cash (including cash on deposit at the FRB of Cleveland), and the market value of unpledged U.S. government and agency securities. Excluded from this definition are pledged securities, non-government securities, non-agency securities, municipal securities and loans. Management has established a minimum level of liquid assets in the liquidity management policy, which is expressed as a percentage of total loans and unfunded loan commitments. At December 31, 2021, Peoples maintained liquid assets of $723.4 million, representing 9.2% of total assets plus unfunded loan commitments. Peoples has also established a policy limit around the level of liquefiable assets expressed as a percentage of total loans and unfunded loan commitments. Liquefiable assets are defined as liquid assets plus the market value of unpledged securities not included in the liquid asset measurement. At December 31, 2021, Peoples maintained liquefiable assets of $991.6 million, representing 12.6% of total assets plus unfunded loan commitments.
An essential element in the management of liquidity risk is a forecast of the sources and uses of anticipated cash flows. On a monthly basis, Peoples forecasts sources and uses of cash for the next twelve months. To assist in the management of liquidity, management has established a liquidity coverage ratio, which is defined as the total sources of cash divided by the total uses of cash. A ratio of greater than 1.0 times indicates that forecasted sources of cash are adequate to fund forecasted uses of cash. The liquidity management policy establishes a minimum limit of 1.0 times. As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had a ratio of 7.53 times, which was within policy limits. Peoples also forecasts secondary or contingent sources of cash, and this includes external sources of funding and liquid assets. These sources of cash would be required if and when the forecasted liquidity coverage ratio dropped below the policy limit of 1.0 times. An additional liquidity measurement used by management includes the total forecasted sources of cash and the contingent sources of cash divided by the forecasted uses of cash. Management has established a minimum ratio of 3.0 times for this liquidity management policy limit. As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had a ratio of 8.28 times, which was within policy limits.
Peoples maintains multiple contingent sources of liquidity including secured wholesale funding lines and unsecured brokered deposit networks. Peoples' primary sources of secured wholesale funding are the FHLB of Cincinnati and the FRB of Cleveland. As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had unused collateral-based borrowing capacities of $427.5 million and $174.4 million, respectively, available with the FHLB of Cincinnati and the FRB of Cleveland. Together, these unused borrowing capacities

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represent 7.6% of total assets and unfunded loan commitments. Additionally, Peoples had $241.8 million of unpledged loan collateral eligible to secure additional borrowing capacity with the FRB of Cleveland.
Disruptions in the sources and uses of cash can occur which can drastically alter the actual cash flows and negatively impact Peoples' ability to access internal and external sources of cash. Such disruptions might occur due to increased withdrawals of deposits, increases in the funding required for loan commitments, a decrease in the ability to access external funding sources and other factors that would increase the need for funding and limit Peoples' ability to access needed funds. As a result, Peoples maintains a liquidity contingency funding plan ("LCFP") that considers various degrees of disruptions and develops action plans around these scenarios.
Peoples' LCFP identifies scenarios where funding disruptions might occur and creates scenarios of varying degrees of severity. The disruptions considered include an increase in funding of unfunded loan commitments, unanticipated withdrawals of deposits, decreases in the renewal of maturing CDs and reductions in cash earnings. Additionally, the LCFP creates stress scenarios where access to external funding sources, or contingency funding, is suddenly limited, which includes a significant increase in the margin requirements where securities or loans are pledged, limited access to funding from other banks and limited access to funding from the FHLB of Cincinnati and the FRB of Cleveland. Peoples' LCFP scenarios include a base scenario, a mild stress scenario, a moderate stress scenario and a severe stress scenario. Each of these is defined as to the related severity and action plans are developed around each.
Liquidity management also requires the monitoring of risk indicators that may alert the ALCO to a developing liquidity situation or crisis. Early detection of stress scenarios allows Peoples to take actions to help mitigate the impact to Peoples Bank's business operations. The LCFP contains various indicators, termed key risk indicators ("KRIs") that are monitored on a monthly basis, at a minimum. The KRIs include both internal and external indicators and include loan delinquency levels, criticized and classified loan levels, the ratios of non-performing loans to loans and to total assets, the total loan to total deposit ratio, the level of net non-core funding dependence, the level of contingency funding sources, the liquidity coverage ratio, changes in regulatory capital levels, forecasted operating loss and negative media concerning Peoples, irrational competitor pricing that persists, and an increase in rates for external funding sources. The LCFP establishes levels that define each of these KRIs under base, mild, moderate and severe scenarios.
The LCFP is reviewed and updated at least on an annual basis by the ALCO and Peoples Bank's Board of Directors. Additionally, testing of the LCFP is required on an annual basis. Various stress scenarios and the related actions are simulated according to the LCFP. The results are reviewed and discussed and changes or revisions are made to the LCFP accordingly. Additionally, the LCFP is subjected to a third-party review annually for effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
Since March 31, 2020, there has been an increase in deposit balances due to the influx of funds from fiscal stimulus, the PPP and other government actions. Peoples anticipates that these deposit balances will decline over time as the funds are used for intended business purposes; however, this deposit outflow should be partially offset as the associated PPP loans are forgiven and loan reimbursement funds are received. At the same time, we have experienced a decrease in the utilization rate for commercial lines of credit. This decrease is related to the receipt of PPP loan proceeds and other increased cash flows for certain companies. Peoples expects the commercial line of credit utilization percentage to revert back to more historical averages as time progresses.
Overall, management believes the current balance of cash and cash equivalents, anticipated investment portfolio cash flows and the availability of other funding sources will allow Peoples to meet anticipated cash obligations, as well as special needs and off-balance sheet commitments.
Off-Balance Sheet Activities and Contractual Obligations
Peoples routinely engages in activities that involve, to varying degrees, elements of risk that are not reflected in whole or in part in the Consolidated Financial Statements. These activities are part of Peoples' normal course of business and include traditional off-balance sheet credit-related financial instruments, interest rate contracts and commitments to make additional capital contributions in low-income housing tax credit investments.
The following is a summary of Peoples’ significant off-balance sheet activities and contractual obligations.  Detailed information regarding these activities and obligations can be found in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as follows:
Activity or ObligationNote
Off-balance sheet credit-related financial instruments16
Operating lease obligations6
Long-term borrowing obligations10
Traditional off-balance sheet credit-related financial instruments are primarily commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit.  These activities are necessary to meet the financing needs of customers and could require Peoples to make cash payments to third parties in the event certain specified future events occur.  The contractual amounts represent the extent of Peoples’ exposure in

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these off-balance sheet activities.  However, since certain off-balance sheet commitments, particularly standby letters of credit, are expected to expire or be only partially used, the total amount of commitments does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
Peoples continues to lease certain facilities and equipment under noncancellable operating leases with terms providing for fixed monthly payments over periods generally ranging from two to thirty years.  Several of Peoples’ leased facilities are inside retail shopping centers or office buildings and, as a result, are not available for purchase.  Management believes these leased facilities increase Peoples’ visibility within its markets and afford sales associates additional access to current and potential clients.
For certain acquisitions, often those involving insurance businesses and wealth management books of business, a portion of the consideration is contingent upon revenue metrics being achieved. US GAAP requires that the amounts be recorded upon acquisition based on the best estimate of the future amounts to be paid at the time of acquisition. Any subsequent adjustment to the estimate is recorded in earnings. Based on the acquisitions completed to date, management does not expect contingent consideration to have a material impact on Peoples' future performance.
Management does not anticipate that Peoples’ current off-balance sheet activities will have a material impact on its future results of operations and financial condition based on historical experience and recent trends.
Effects of Inflation on Financial Statements
Substantially all of Peoples’ assets relate to banking and are monetary in nature.  As a result, inflation does not impact Peoples to the same degree as companies in capital-intensive industries in a replacement cost environment.  During a period of rising prices, a net monetary asset position results in a loss in purchasing power and conversely a net monetary liability position results in an increase in purchasing power.  The opposite would be true during a period of decreasing prices.  In the banking industry, monetary assets typically exceed monetary liabilities.  
ITEM 7A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Refer to the section captioned "Interest Rate Sensitivity and Liquidity" under "ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" of this Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes, and the report of independent registered public accounting firm, are set forth immediately following "ITEM 9C DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS" of this Form 10-K.
ITEM 9 CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
No response required.
ITEM 9A CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Peoples’ management, with the participation and supervision of Peoples’ President and Chief Executive Officer and Peoples’ Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, has evaluated the effectiveness of Peoples’ disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2021. Based upon that evaluation, Peoples’ President and Chief Executive Officer and Peoples’ Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2021 because of a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting described in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting below.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The "Report of Management's Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” required by Item 308(a) of SEC Regulation S-K is included on page 80 of this Form 10-K.
Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” required by Item 308(b) of SEC Regulation S-K is included on page 81 of this Form 10-K.
Ernst & Young LLP (U.S. PCAOB Auditor Firm I.D.: 42), the independent registered public accounting firm that audited Peoples' consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. The report, which expresses the opinion that management has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, is included in the "Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm"

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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Except for the material weakness identified, there were no changes in Peoples’ internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2021, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Peoples’ internal control over financial reporting. However, as disclosed in the “Report of Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting”, Peoples’ management is in the process of implementing certain changes to Peoples’ internal controls to remediate the material weakness disclosed in the “Report of Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.”

ITEM 9B OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 9C DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not Applicable.

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Report of Management's Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Peoples' management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Peoples' internal control over financial reporting has been designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation, integrity, and fair presentation of Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements for external purposes in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
With the supervision and participation of Peoples' President and Chief Executive Officer and its Peoples' Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Peoples' management evaluated the effectiveness of Peoples' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, using the Internal Control-Integrated Framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework).
No matter how well designed, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Projection of the evaluation of effectiveness to future periods is subject to risks, including but not limited to (a) controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions; (b) a deterioration may occur in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures; and (c) the possibility of control circumvention or override occurring, any of which may lead to misstatements due to undetected error or fraud. Effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only a reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and financial reporting.
Control deficiencies were identified by Peoples’ management related to the accounting for loans acquired in the September 17, 2021 merger with Premier, specifically the designation of those acquired loans as either purchased credit deteriorated ("PCD") or non-PCD, the designation of PCD loans as either pooled or individually assessed, and the estimation and calculation of expected credit losses on individually assessed loans. Based upon an internal review by Peoples’ management, with the participation of Peoples’ President and Chief Executive Officer and Peoples’ Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, it was determined that the deficiencies in the design of controls supporting acquired purchased credit deteriorated loan accounting and the related allowance for credit losses aggregated to a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of Peoples’ annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. To address the financial disclosure impact by the identified control deficiencies, Peoples recorded a reduction in "Goodwill" of $6.1 million, a decrease in "Other Assets" of $1.7 million, a decrease in the “Allowance for credit losses” of $3.7 million, an increase in “Loans and leases, net of deferred fees and costs” of $2.2 million, and a decrease in “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” of $0.4 million as of December 31, 2021, with an offsetting reduction in net income for the 2021 fiscal year of approximately $1.5 million. The impact of the material weakness (and related control deficiencies) on Peoples’ consolidated financial statements for the interim periods ended September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2021 are not considered material. Materiality was evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively in accordance with the guidance provided by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99 – Materiality. As such, the material weakness (and related control deficiencies) did not result in a material misstatement in Peoples’ previously filed condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods ended September 30, 2021, and such financial statements can still be relied upon. To remediate the material weakness, Peoples’ management is in the process of implementing certain changes to Peoples’ internal controls, and will implement additional internal controls during 2022 in order to remediate the control deficiencies that led to the material weakness. Specifically, Peoples’ management plans to enhance documentation and review of the criteria used to support the aforementioned designations relating to PCD accounting, and engage independent third-party advisors to assess the reasonableness of the allowance for credit losses assigned to individually assessed PCD loans. Peoples’ management believes these remediation measures will strengthen Peoples’ internal control over financial reporting and remediate the material weakness (and related control deficiencies) identified.
Peoples' management assessed the effectiveness of Peoples' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, and, based on this assessment, has concluded Peoples' internal control over financial reporting was not effective at a reasonable assurance level as of that date due to the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting noted above.
Peoples' independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP has audited the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and has issued an audit report on Peoples' internal control over financial reporting.
By: /s/CHARLES W. SULERZYSKI By: /s/KATIE BAILEY
 Charles W. Sulerzyski  Katie Bailey
 President and Chief Executive Officer  Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
March 15, 2022

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Peoples Bancorp Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weakness described below on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, Peoples Bancorp Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on the COSO criteria.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management’s assessment. Management has identified a material weakness in controls related to the Company’s accounting for purchased credit deteriorated loans.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes. This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2021 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated March 15, 2022, which expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Report of Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Charleston, West Virginia
March 15, 2022

80




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 15, 2022 expressed an adverse opinion thereon.
Adoption of New Accounting Standard
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method for accounting for the allowance for credit losses in 2020, due to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (ASU 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Statements.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


81







Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Accounting for the Allowance for Credit Losses
Description of the Matter
As discussed in Note 1 and Note 4 of the financial statements, management estimates the allowance for credit losses (ACL) based on information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The ACL is made up of both a quantitative modeled component as well as a qualitative component. The methodology for determining the quantitative component includes (1) a pooled component for loans that exhibit similar risk characteristics and (2) a specific component for those loans that do not exhibit similar risk characteristics. For loans exhibiting similar risk characteristics, the Company uses a loss driver method, which analyzes one or more economic variables to the change in default rate using a regression analysis, and a discounted cash flow methodology in determining an ACL for each segment. Management applies judgment in determining the extent of qualitative factors used in the qualitative component to adjust the loss rates for loan segments to reflect the impact these factors may have on expected losses in the loan portfolio. These include economic conditions, collateral, concentrations, troubled assets, Peoples' loss trends, peer loss trends, delinquency trends, portfolio composition and loan growth, underwriting, and certain other risks. The Company’s loan and lease portfolio totaled $4.48 billion as of December 31, 2021, and the associated ACL was $64.0 million.
Auditing management’s estimate of the ACL involves a high degree of subjectivity due to the judgment and estimates required in evaluating management’s determination of the qualitative factors applied to the ACL. Management’s identification and measurement of qualitative factors specific to economic conditions and collateral is highly judgmental and could have a significant effect on the ACL.

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
We obtained an understanding of the Company’s processes for establishing the ACL through the year ended December 31, 2021, including the qualitative factor adjustments made to the loss rates for each segment. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s ACL processes, which included, among others, management’s review and approval controls designed to assess the need and level of qualitative factors and the completeness and accuracy of the data utilized to support management’s assessment.
To test the qualitative factors, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, the evaluation of the appropriateness of management’s methodology and assessment of whether all relevant risks were reflected in the ACL and the basis for the qualitative factors. Regarding the measurement of the qualitative factors, we evaluated the completeness, accuracy and relevance of the underlying internal and external market data utilized in management’s estimate and considered the existence of new or contrary information. We evaluated the data by independently obtaining and comparing it to other third party macro-economic data. We also compared the total ACL, inclusive of the qualitative factors, to the Company’s historical losses considering changes in the current economic environment to evaluate whether the ACL appropriately reflects losses expected in the portfolio. Additionally, we evaluated whether the overall ACL, inclusive of the qualitative factors, appropriately reflected losses expected in the loan portfolio by comparing to peer bank data.

82


Accounting for Business Combinations
Description of the Matter
As discussed in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company acquired Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. (Premier) on September 17, 2021 (Day 1) for total consideration of $261.9 million, consisting of 8.6 million common shares of Peoples Bancorp Inc. The Company acquired $1.16 billion of loans, net of fair value adjustments, a portion of which were classified as purchased credit deteriorated (PCD) loans. Management concluded that a portion of the PCD loans do not share similar risk characteristics with other PCD loans and identified these for individual analysis. The Day 1 ACL for the individually analyzed PCD loans involved significant management judgment.
Auditing the Company's accounting for its acquisition of Premier was complex due to the estimation uncertainty in determining the Day 1 ACL for individually analyzed PCD loans, primarily due to the sensitivity of the ACL measurement to the significant underlying assumptions.

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
To test the Day 1 ACL for the individually analyzed PCD loans, our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating the Company's selection of the valuation methodology, evaluating the significant assumptions used by the Company, and evaluating the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data supporting the analysis and significant assumptions. We involved our specialists to assist with our evaluation of the methodology used by the Company and certain significant assumptions used in the Day 1 ACL.
 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1995.
Charleston, West Virginia
March 15, 2022

83


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Assets  
Cash and cash equivalents:  
Cash and due from banks$74,354 $60,902 
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks341,373 91,198 
Total cash and cash equivalents415,727 152,100 
Available-for-sale investment securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $1,283,146 at December 31, 2021 and $734,544 at December 31, 2020) (a)
1,275,493 753,013 
Held-to-maturity investment securities, at amortized cost (fair value of $369,955 at December 31, 2021 and $68,082 at December 31, 2020) (a)
374,129 66,458 
Other investment securities33,987 37,560 
Total investment securities (a)1,683,609 857,031 
Loans and leases, net of deferred fees and costs (b)4,481,600 3,402,940 
Allowance for credit losses (63,967)(50,359)
Net loans4,417,633 3,352,581 
Loans held for sale3,791 4,659 
Bank premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation89,260 60,094 
Bank owned life insurance73,358 71,591 
Goodwill264,193 171,260 
Other intangible assets26,816 13,337 
Other assets89,134 78,111 
Total assets$7,063,521 $4,760,764 
Liabilities  
Deposits:  
Non-interest-bearing$1,641,422 $997,323 
Interest-bearing4,221,130 2,913,136 
Total deposits5,862,552 3,910,459 
Short-term borrowings166,482 73,261 
Long-term borrowings99,475 110,568 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities89,987 90,803 
Total liabilities6,218,496 4,185,091 
Stockholders’ Equity  
Preferred stock, no par value, 50,000 shares authorized and no shares issued at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
— — 
Common stock, no par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 29,814,401 shares issued at December 31, 2021 and 21,193,402 shares issued at December 31, 2020, including shares held in treasury
686,282 422,536 
Retained earnings 207,076 190,691 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of deferred income taxes(11,619)1,336 
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,577,359 shares at December 31, 2021 and 1,686,046 shares at December 31, 2020
(36,714)(38,890)
Total stockholders’ equity845,025 575,673 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$7,063,521 $4,760,764 

(a)Available-for-sale investment securities and held-to-maturity investment securities are presented net of allowance for credit losses of $0 and $286, respectively, as of December 31, 2021 and $0 and $60, respectively, at December 31, 2020.
(b)Also referred to throughout this Form 10-K as "total loans" and "loans held for investment."

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

84


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)202120202019
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans$166,081 $140,090 $143,340 
Interest and dividends on taxable investment securities15,033 14,188 23,205 
Interest on tax-exempt investment securities3,362 2,484 2,631 
Other interest income313 342 919 
Total interest income184,789 157,104 170,095 
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits9,922 13,500 22,210 
Interest on short-term borrowings541 2,571 4,712 
Interest on long-term borrowings1,773 2,110 2,335 
Total interest expense12,236 18,181 29,257 
Net interest income172,553 138,923 140,838 
Provision for credit losses (a)731 26,254 2,504 
Net interest income after provision for credit losses171,822 112,669 138,334 
Non-interest income:
Electronic banking income18,010 14,246 13,680 
Trust and investment income16,456 13,662 13,159 
Insurance income15,252 14,042 14,802 
Deposit account service charges10,143 9,418 11,700 
Mortgage banking income3,439 6,499 4,328 
Bank owned life insurance income1,767 1,977 2,430 
Net gain (loss) on asset disposals and other transactions493 (290)(782)
Commercial loan swap fees543 1,741 2,228 
Net (loss) gain on investment securities(862)(368)164 
Other non-interest income (b)3,644 2,745 2,565 
Total non-interest income68,885 63,672 64,274 
Non-interest expense:
Salaries and employee benefit costs94,612 76,361 77,860 
Net occupancy and equipment expense14,918 12,808 12,431 
Professional fees15,783 6,912 7,095 
Data processing and software expense10,542 7,441 6,332 
Electronic banking expense8,885 7,777 7,186 
Amortization of other intangible assets4,775 3,223 3,359 
Marketing expense3,658 2,101 2,291 
Franchise tax expense3,357 3,506 3,071 
Other loan expenses2,001 1,584 1,956 
FDIC insurance expense1,976 1,302 602 
Communication expense1,657 1,134 1,181 
Other non-interest expense21,573 9,546 13,886 
Total non-interest expense183,737 133,695 137,250 
Income before income taxes56,970 42,646 65,358 
Income tax expense9,415 7,879 11,663 
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Earnings per common share – basic
$2.17 $1.74 $2.65 
Earnings per common share – diluted
$2.15 $1.73 $2.63 
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding – basic
21,816,511 19,721,772 20,120,119 
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding – diluted
21,959,883 19,843,806 20,273,725 
(a) On January 1, 2020, Peoples adopted ASU 2016-13 and adopted the CECL model. Prior to the adoption of the CECL model, the provision for credit losses was the
"provision for loan losses." The provision for credit losses includes changes related to the allowance for credit losses on loans, held-to-maturity investment securities, and the unfunded commitment liability.
(b) Includes realized and unrealized gains on equity investment securities recorded in other non-interest income of $111, $660, and $831 for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 , and December 31, 2019, respectively.


 See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

85


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Available-for-sale investment securities:
Gross unrealized holding (loss) gain arising in the period(26,985)11,394 19,635 
Related benefit (expense)5,777 (2,393)(4,123)
Reclassification adjustment for net loss (gain) included in net income862 368 (164)
Related tax (benefit) expense(192)(77)34 
Net effect on other comprehensive (loss) income(20,538)9,292 15,382 
Defined benefit plans:
Net gain (loss) arising during the period2,318 (1,072)(385)
  Related tax (expense) benefit(518)225 81 
Amortization of unrecognized gain on service benefit plans103 127 72 
Related tax expense(23)(27)(15)
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss ("AOCI")143 1,054 — 
Related tax expense(32)(221)— 
Net effect on other comprehensive income (loss)1,991 86 (247)
Cash flow hedges:
Net income (loss) arising during the period6,999 (8,376)(4,591)
Related tax (expense) benefit(1,407)1,759 964 
Net effect on other comprehensive income (loss)5,592 (6,617)(3,627)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax(12,955)2,761 11,508 
Total comprehensive income$34,600 $37,528 $65,203 
















See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements


86


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common StockRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) IncomeTreasury StockTotal Stockholders' Equity
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2018$386,814 $160,346 $(12,933)$(14,087)$520,140 
Net income— 53,695 — — 53,695 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
— — 11,508 — 11,508 
Cash dividends declared
— (26,892)— — (26,892)
Reissuance of treasury stock for common share awards
(2,931)— — 2,931 — 
Reissuance of treasury stock for deferred compensation plan for Boards of Directors
— — — 53 53 
Repurchase of treasury stock in connection with employee incentive plan and under compensation plan for Boards of Directors
— — — (845)(845)
Common shares repurchased under share repurchase program
— — — (805)(805)
Common shares issued under dividend reinvestment plan
904 — — — 904 
Common shares issued under compensation plan for Boards of Directors
78 — — 235 313 
Stock-based compensation
3,462 — — — 3,462 
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan
112 — — 311 423 
Issuance of common shares related to merger with First Prestonsburg Bancshares Inc. ("First Prestonsburg")
32,437 — — — 32,437 
Balance, December 31, 2019$420,876 $187,149 $(1,425)$(12,207)$594,393 
Net income— 34,767 — — 34,767 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
— — 2,761 — 2,761 
Cash dividends declared
— (27,516)— — (27,516)
Reissuance of treasury stock for common share awards
(2,729)— — 2,729 — 
Reissuance of treasury stock for deferred compensation plan for Boards of Directors
— — — 59 59 
Repurchase of treasury stock in connection with employee incentive plan and under compensation plan for Boards of Directors
— — — (1,128)(1,128)
Common shares repurchased under share repurchase program
— — — (29,281)(29,281)
Common shares issued under dividend reinvestment plan
799 — — — 799 
Common shares issued under compensation plan for Boards of Directors
17 — — 360 377 
Common shares issued under performance unit awards, net of tax
41 — — 138 179 
Stock-based compensation3,556 — — — 3,556 
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan
(24)— — 440 416 
Impact of adoption of new accounting standard, net of taxes (a)— (3,709)— — (3,709)
Balance, December 31, 2020$422,536 $190,691 $1,336 $(38,890)$575,673 

87


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONTINUED)
Common StockRetained EarningsAccumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) IncomeTreasury StockTotal Stockholders' Equity
(Dollars in thousands)
Net income$— $47,555 $— $— $47,555 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
— — (12,955)— (12,955)
Cash dividends declared
— (31,170)— — (31,170)
Reissuance of treasury stock for common share awards
(2,740)— — 2,740 — 
Reissuance of treasury stock for deferred compensation plan for Boards of Directors
— — — 74 74 
Repurchase of treasury stock in connection with employee incentive plan and under compensation plan for Boards of Directors
— — — (1,306)(1,306)
Common shares issued under dividend reinvestment plan
910 — — — 910 
Common shares issued under compensation plan for Boards of Directors
98 — — 276 374 
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan
143 — — 392 535 
Stock-based compensation3,436 — — — 3,436 
Issuance of common shares related to merger with Premier261,899 — — — 261,899 
Balance, December 31, 2021$686,282 $207,076 $(11,619)$(36,714)$845,025 
(a)On January 1, 2020, Peoples adopted ASU 2016-13, which resulted in a reduction to retained earnings of $3.7 million, net of statutory federal corporate income tax.

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

88


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Operating activities:
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net24,643 25,639 17,861 
Provision for credit losses731 26,254 2,504 
Bank owned life insurance income(1,767)(1,977)(2,430)
Net loss (gain) on investment securities862 368 (164)
Fair value adjustment on equity investment securities(111)(660)(831)
Loans originated for sale(94,154)(260,974)(156,058)
Proceeds from sales of loans157,349 268,363 157,752 
Net gains on sales of loans(2,994)(6,446)(3,667)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)2,874 (8,101)109 
Increase in accrued expenses2,433 799 366 
 Decrease (increase) in interest receivable1,435 (865)613 
Increase (decrease) in other assets2,874 1,006 (1,227)
Non cash lease expense48 47 55 
Other, net14,642 7,263 (1,421)
Net cash provided by operating activities156,420 85,483 67,157 
Investing activities:
Available-for-sale investment securities:
Purchases(852,542)(261,395)(271,924)
Proceeds from sales544,096 82,610 72,706 
Proceeds from principal payments, calls and prepayments297,693 356,854 199,870 
Held-to-maturity investment securities:
Purchases(316,346)(40,112)— 
Proceeds from principal payments7,333 5,123 4,945 
Other investment securities:
Purchases(1,415)(6,261)(3,114)
Proceeds from sales9,299 12,180 7,340 
Proceeds from insurance claim— — 26 
Net increase (decrease) in loans held for investment113,467 (444,128)(10,661)
Net expenditures for premises and equipment(6,685)(4,299)(2,809)
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned2,073 269 239 
Proceeds from bank owned life insurance— 108 1,642 
Business acquisitions, net of cash received132,719 (94,856)7,814 
Investment in limited partnership and tax credit funds(4,125)(12)(5,021)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities(74,433)(393,919)1,053 
Financing activities:  
Net increase in non-interest-bearing deposits150,986 326,115 4,832 
Net increase in interest-bearing deposits49,774 292,822 72,841 
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings14,414 (263,716)(76,809)
Proceeds from long-term borrowings— 50,000 — 
Payments on long-term borrowings(2,132)(2,715)(3,501)
Cash dividends paid(31,002)(27,052)(25,942)
Repurchase of treasury stock under share repurchase program— (29,281)(805)
Purchase of treasury stock in connection with employee incentive program and compensation plan for Boards of Directors to be held as treasury stock(1,306)(1,128)(845)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares906 594 6 
Contingent consideration payments made after a business acquisition— (296)(406)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities181,640 345,343 (30,629)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash263,627 36,907 37,581 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period152,100 115,193 77,612 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period$415,727 $152,100 $115,193 
 

89


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid$13,391 $18,939 $28,887 
Income taxes paid6,693 12,500 11,450 
Supplemental noncash disclosures:
Transfers from loans to other real estate owned$298 $296 $153 
Lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lessee operating lease liabilities75 — 4 



























See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

90


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS TO THE NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


91


PEOPLES BANCORP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Peoples Bancorp Inc. is a financial holding company that offers a full range of financial services and products primarily offered through its 135 financial service offices and ATMs including 119 full-service branches in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, as well as through online resources that are web-based and mobile-based. Peoples' insurance premium financing and equipment leasing services are offered nationwide. Brokerage services are offered exclusively through an unaffiliated registered broker-dealer located at Peoples Bank's offices. Indirect consumer lending activities are provided through approved dealerships. Peoples Bank's credit card and merchant processing services are provided through joint marketing arrangements with third parties.
Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 
The accounting and reporting policies of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and subsidiaries ("Peoples" refers to Peoples Bancorp Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries collectively, except where the context indicates the reference relates solely to Peoples Bancorp Inc.) conform to US GAAP and to general practices within the banking industry. The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of the financial statements:
Business Combinations: Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under this accounting method, the acquired company's net assets are recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition, and the results of operations of the acquired company are combined with those of Peoples from the acquisition date forward. Costs related to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. The purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired, including intangible assets with finite lives, is recorded as goodwill.
Consolidation: Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements include subsidiaries in which Peoples has a controlling financial interest, principally defined as owning a voting interest of greater than 50%.
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Peoples and its consolidated subsidiaries, Peoples Bank (along with its wholly-owned subsidiaries), Peoples Investment Company, Peoples Risk Management, Inc., NB&T Statutory Trust III, and FNB Capital Trust One, for which Peoples holds all of the common securities. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Fair Value Measurements: The measurement of fair value under US GAAP uses a hierarchy intended to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  This hierarchy uses three levels of inputs to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities as follows:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active exchange markets for identical assets or liabilities; also includes certain U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government and agency securities actively traded in over-the-counter markets.
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in less active markets, or other observable inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data; also includes derivative financial instruments whose value is determined using a pricing model with observable market inputs or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.  This category generally includes certain U.S. government and agency securities, corporate debt securities, derivative instruments, and residential mortgage loans held for sale.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity for financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as financial instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation; also includes observable inputs for single dealer nonbinding quotes not corroborated by observable market data. This category generally includes certain private equity investments, retained interests from securitizations, and certain collateralized debt obligations.
Operating Segments: Peoples' business activities are currently confined to one reportable operating segment, which is community banking. As a community banking entity, Peoples offers its customers a full range of products including a complete line of banking, insurance, investment and trust solutions.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, balances due from other banks, interest-bearing deposits in other banks, federal funds sold and other short-term investments with original maturities of ninety days or less. Peoples had no restricted funds at December 31, 2021, and $41.0 million of restricted funds at December 31, 2020, held in interest-bearing deposits in other banks, which were being used as collateral and not available for withdrawal. During 2021, Peoples began collateralizing with investment securities in lieu of cash and cash equivalents held in other banks.

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Investment Securities: Investment securities are recorded initially at cost, which includes premiums and discounts if purchased at other than par or face value. Peoples amortizes premiums and accretes discounts as an adjustment to interest income on a level yield basis. The cost of investment securities sold, excluding equity investment securities, and any resulting gain or loss, is based on the specific identification method and recognized as of the trade date. The cost of equity investment securities is based on the weighted-average method.
Peoples determines the appropriate classification of investment securities at the time of purchase. Held-to-maturity securities are those securities that Peoples has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity and are recorded at amortized cost. Available-for-sale securities are those securities that would be available to be sold in the future in response to Peoples' liquidity needs, changes in market interest rates, and asset-liability management strategies, among other considerations. Available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in total stockholders' equity as a separate component of AOCI, net of applicable deferred income taxes.
Certain restricted equity investment securities that do not have readily determinable fair values and for which Peoples does not exercise significant influence, are carried at cost. These cost method securities are reported in "Other investment securities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and consist primarily of shares of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (the "FHLB") and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (the "FRB").
Peoples evaluates available-for-sale investment securities on a quarterly basis to determine how much, if any, allowance for credit losses is required. Peoples reviews available-for-sale investment securities at an unrealized loss position, with potential exposure to a credit event (which excludes U.S. government and U.S. government sponsored agency securities) to determine if the unrealized loss was credit-related. An allowance for credit losses is recorded to the extent that the unrealized losses are credit-related and likely to be permanent.
Peoples evaluates held-to-maturity investment securities on a quarterly basis in determining an allowance for credit losses. Peoples has determined that the loss given default for U.S. government sponsored enterprise investment securities is zero, due to the fact that it is unlikely the ultimate guarantor (the U.S. government) would not perform on its implicit guarantee in the event of default. The remaining securities are included in the calculation of the allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity investment securities.
Loans and leases: Loans originated that Peoples has the positive intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or to maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of deferred loan fees and costs, purchase premiums and discounts, charge-offs and an allowance for credit losses. Leases originated by Peoples are reported at the net investment of the lease, net of initial direct costs, charge-offs and an allowance for credit losses. The foreseeable future is based upon current market conditions and business strategies, as well as balance sheet management and liquidity. As the conditions change, so may management's view of the foreseeable future.
Peoples considers loans and leases past due if any required principal and interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were required to be made under the terms of the loan or lease agreement. Upon detection of the reduced ability of a borrower or lessee to meet cash flow obligations, consumer and residential real estate loans and leases are typically charged down to the net realizable value, with the residual balance placed on nonaccrual status. Loans and leases deemed to be uncollectable are charged against the allowance for credit losses, while recoveries of previously charged off amounts are credited to the allowance for credit losses.
Loans and leases acquired in a business combination that have evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration, which includes loans and leases that Peoples believes it is probable that Peoples will be unable to collect all contractually required payments, are considered "purchased credit deteriorated" loans or leases. These loans are recorded at the purchase price, and an allowance for credit losses is determined using the same methodology as for other loans or leases. The initial allowance for credit losses determined on a collective basis is allocated to individual loans or leases. The total of the purchase price and allowance for credit losses is the net amount expected to be collected for purchased credit deteriorated loans or leases. The variance between the initial amortized cost basis and the par value of the loan is considered an interest premium or discount, which is amortized or accreted into interest income on a level yield method over the life of the loan. The variance between the initial amortized cost basis and the fair value of a lease is considered an interest premium or discount, which is amortized or accreted into interest income on a level yield method over the life of the lease.
Loans and leases acquired in a business combination that are not considered purchased credit deteriorated are recorded at fair value and the difference between the acquisition date fair value and the contractual amounts due at the acquisition date represents the discount or premium to each loan's or lease's cost basis and is accreted or amortized to interest income over the loan's or lease's remaining life using the level yield method. At acquisition date, Peoples records provision for credit losses to establish the allowance for credit losses for these acquired loans.
Loans Held for Sale: Loans originated and intended to be sold in the secondary market, generally one-to-four family residential loans, are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value determined on an aggregate basis. Gains and losses on sales of loans held for sale are included in mortgage banking income.

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Loans originated with the intent to be held in the portfolio are subsequently transferred to held for sale when a decision is made to sell these loans. At the time of a loan's transfer to the held for sale classification, the loan is recorded at the lower of cost or its fair value. Any reduction in the loan's fair value is reflected as a write-down of the recorded investment resulting in a new cost basis, with a corresponding charge against the allowance for credit losses. If the fair value of a loan classified as held for sale in subsequent periods is less than its cost basis, the carrying value of the loan is adjusted accordingly, with the corresponding loss recognized in income.
Allowance for Credit Losses: The allowance for credit losses includes both the allowance for credit losses for loans and the allowance for credit losses on lending-related commitments. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation reserve established through the provision for credit losses charged against income. The allowance for credit losses is estimated by management using relevant available information, from both internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.
The allowance for credit losses is measured on a pool basis, with loans collectively evaluated when similar risk characteristics exist. Peoples evaluated risk characteristics, including but not limited to: internal or third-party credit scores or credit ratings, risk ratings or classifications, financial asset type, collateral type, size, effective interest rate, term, geographical location, industry of the borrower, vintage, historical or credit loss patterns and reasonable and supportable forecast periods. Peoples identified 18 segments for which it believes there are similar risk characteristics and utilized a discounted cash flow methodology in determining an allowance for credit losses for each segment.
In estimating credit losses, Peoples uses a loss driver method, which analyzes one or more economic variables to the change in default rate using a regression analysis. Variables that had a strong correlation were selected as economic factors, or variables, for the model. If a single variable was not found to be strongly correlated, additional variables were included. Peoples utilizes the U.S. unemployment, Ohio unemployment, and Ohio Gross Domestic Product as economic factors in modeling.
Probabilities of default are used in the loss driver model, and are analyzed on a quarterly basis to assess reasonableness. Peoples measured loss given default at the segment level due to statistical considerations using historical information. Peoples also utilized peer data due to somewhat volatile loss history in certain segments to normalize default curves, which provided more meaningful results.
Peoples modeled amortizing loans with a prepayment rate annualized to one year. The prepayment rates were calculated using Peoples' historical data, at the segment level. Peoples models extensions of contractual terms in the following situations: when a loan is 60 days or more past due, when a partial charge-off has occurred, if the loan is in nonaccrual status, if a troubled debt restructuring ("TDR") has occurred, or if the loan is grade 5 or higher. When any of these criteria are met and the loan matures within the next 12 months, the loan will be modeled to extend for an additional 12 months.
In general, Peoples completes a quarterly evaluation based on several qualitative factors to determine if there should be adjustments made to the allowance for credit losses. These factors include economic conditions, collateral, concentrations, troubled assets, Peoples' loss trends, peer loss trends, delinquency trends, portfolio composition and loan growth, underwriting, and certain other risks.
The allowance for credit losses related to specific loans was based on management's estimate of potential losses on impaired loans as determined by (1) the present value of expected future cash flows, (2) the fair value of collateral if the loan is determined to be collateral dependent, or (3) the loan's observable market price.
Peoples categorized loans involving commercial borrowers into risk categories based upon an established grading matrix. This system was used to manage the risk within Peoples' commercial lending activities, evaluate changes in the overall credit quality of the loan portfolio and evaluate the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses. Loan grades are assigned at the time a new loan or lending commitment is extended by Peoples and may be changed at any time when circumstances warrant. Loans to borrowers with an aggregate unpaid principal balance in excess of $1 million are reviewed at least on an annual basis for possible credit deterioration. Loan relationships whose aggregate credit exposure to Peoples is equal to or less than $1 million are reviewed at least on an event driven basis. Triggers for review include knowledge of adverse events affecting the borrower's business, receipt of financial statements indicating deteriorating credit quality or other similar events. Adversely classified loans are reviewed on a quarterly basis.
The primary factors considered when assigning a risk grade to a loan include (1) reliability and sustainability of the primary source of repayment, (2) past, present and projected financial condition of the borrower, and (3) current economic and industry conditions. Other factors that could influence the risk grade assigned include the type and quality of collateral and the strength of any guarantors. The primary source of repayment for commercial real estate loans and commercial and industrial loans is normally the operating cash flow of the business available to repay debt. Management's analysis of operating cash flow for commercial real estate loans secured by non-owner occupied properties takes into account factors such as rent rolls and vacancy statistics. Management's analysis of operating cash flow for commercial real estate loans secured by owner occupied properties and all commercial and industrial loans considers the profitability, liquidity and leverage of the business. The evaluation of construction loans includes consideration of the borrower's ability to complete construction within the established budget.

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The primary factors considered when classifying residential real estate loans, home equity lines of credit and consumer loans include the loan's past due status and any declaration of bankruptcy by the borrower(s). The classification of residential real estate loans and home equity lines of credit also takes into consideration the current value of the underlying collateral.
Peoples has elected the practical expedient not to measure allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivables.
Unfunded Commitments: Peoples also completes a quarterly evaluation for unfunded commitments for loans that are not unconditionally cancellable, which includes construction loans, floor plan lines of credit, home equity lines of credit, other credit lines and letters of credit. Peoples performed a study to determine the historical funding rates of unadvanced portions of loans, and applied these funding rates to the unfunded commitments at period end. The loss rates, including qualitative factors, in determining the allowance for credit losses were applied at the segment level to the unfunded commitment amount to determine the allowance for credit loss liability for unfunded commitments.
Troubled Debt Restructuring ("TDR"): The restructuring of a loan is considered a TDR if both (1) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and (2) the creditor has granted a concession. Loans acquired that are restructured after acquisition are not considered TDRs if the loans evidenced credit deterioration as of the acquisition date and are accounted for in pools of purchased credit deteriorated loans.
In assessing whether or not a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, Peoples considers information currently available regarding the financial condition of the borrower. This information includes, but is not limited to, whether (1) the borrower is currently in payment default on any of the borrower's debt; (2) a payment default is probable in the foreseeable future without the modification; (3) the borrower has declared or is in the process of declaring bankruptcy; and (4) the borrower's projected cash flow is insufficient to satisfy contractual payments due under the original terms of the loan without a modification.
Peoples considers all aspects of the modification to loan terms to determine whether or not a concession has been granted to the borrower. Key factors considered by Peoples include the borrower's ability to access funds at a market rate for loans with similar risk characteristics, the significance of the modification relative to the unpaid principal loan balance or collateral value underlying the loan, and the significance of a delay in the timing of payments relative to the original contractual terms of the loan. The most common concessions granted by Peoples generally include one or more modifications to the terms of the loan, such as (1) a reduction in the interest rate for the remaining life of the loan, (2) an extension of the maturity date at an interest rate lower than the current market rate for a new loan with similar risk, (3) a temporary period of interest-only payments, and (4) a reduction in the contractual payment amount for either a short period or the remaining term of the loan. All TDRs are evaluated individually to determine if a write-down is required and if they should be on accrual or nonaccrual status.
On March 22, 2020, federal and state banking regulators issued a joint statement, with which the FASB concurred as to the approach, regarding accounting for loan modifications for borrowers affected by COVID-19, based on provisions included in the CARES Act. In this guidance, short-term modifications, made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19, to borrowers who were current prior to any relief, are not considered TDRs. This includes short-term modifications such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or other delays in payment which are insignificant. Under the guidance, borrowers that are considered current are those that are less than 30 days past due on their contractual payments at the time a modification program is implemented. In addition, modification or deferral programs mandated by the U.S. federal government or any state government related to COVID-19 are not in the scope of accounting for TDRs defined in ASC 310-40. Based on this guidance, Peoples does not classify COVID-19 loan modifications as TDRs.
On August 3, 2020, federal and state banking regulators issued a joint statement, encouraging financial institutions to consider prudent accommodation options to mitigate losses for the borrower and financial institution beyond the initial accommodation period. In this guidance, institutions should also provide consumers with available options for repaying missed payments at the end of their accommodation to avoid delinquencies, as well as options for changes to terms to support sustainable and affordable payments for the long term. These considerations should also include prudent risk management practices at the financial institution based on the credit risk of the borrower. Peoples is actively working with its affected customers to address any further accommodation needs while carefully evaluating the associated credit risk of the borrowers.
Nonaccrual Loans: Peoples discontinues the accrual of interest on a loan when conditions cause management to believe collection of all or any portion of the loan's contractual interest is doubtful. Such conditions may include the borrower being 90 days or more past due on any contractual payments, or current information regarding the borrower's financial condition and repayment ability. All unpaid accrued interest deemed uncollectable is reversed, which reduces Peoples' net interest income. Interest received on nonaccrual loans is included in income only if principal recovery is reasonably assured.
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ("CARES") Act, which was subsequently extended under legislation enacted in December 2020, borrowers who were making payments as required and were not considered past due prior to becoming affected by COVID-19 and then received payment accommodations as a result of the effects of COVID-19 generally would not be reported as past due. If Peoples agrees to a payment deferral for a borrower under the CARES Act, this may result in no contractual payments being past due, and the loans are not considered past due during the period of the deferral. Under the

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guidance, during the time that Peoples maintains these short-term arrangements with borrowers, it should not report the loans as nonaccrual.
Bank Premises and Equipment: Bank premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets owned. Major improvements to leased facilities are capitalized and included in bank premises at cost less accumulated depreciation, which is calculated on the straight-line method over the lesser of the remaining term for the leased facility or the estimated economic life of the improvement.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition or business combination over the fair value of the net assets acquired in the business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment when indicators of impairment exist, or at least annually on October 1.
Peoples' other intangible assets include customer relationship intangible assets, core deposit intangible assets, indefinite-lived trade name and servicing rights representing the net present value of future economic benefits to be earned from acquired customer relationships with definite useful lives. These intangible assets are amortized on an accelerated basis over their estimated lives ranging from 7 to 10 years.
Servicing Rights: Servicing rights represent the right to service loans sold to third-party investors. Loans that are sold are primarily mortgage loans, but also include small business and agricultural loans. Servicing rights are recognized separately as a servicing asset whenever Peoples undertakes an obligation to service financial assets. Servicing rights are reported in other intangible assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Serviced loans that have been completely sold are not included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Loan servicing income included in mortgage banking income includes servicing fees received from the third-party investors and certain charges collected from the borrowers.
Peoples initially records servicing rights at fair value at the time of the sale of the loans to the third-party investor. Peoples follows the amortization method for the subsequent measurement of each class of separately recognized servicing assets and liabilities. Under the amortization method, Peoples amortizes the value of servicing assets or liabilities utilizing a straight-line basis approach over the period of estimated net servicing income or net servicing loss, and assesses servicing assets or liabilities for impairment or increased obligation based on the fair value at each reporting date. The fair value of the servicing rights is determined by using a discounted cash flow model, which estimates the present value of the future net cash flows of the servicing portfolio based on various factors, such as servicing costs, expected prepayment speeds and discount rates.
Derivatives: Peoples enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known or expected cash amounts, the value of which is determined by interest rates. Peoples’ derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing and duration of Peoples' known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to certain variable rate borrowings. Peoples also has interest rate derivative financial instruments that result from a service provided to certain qualifying customers and, therefore, are not used to manage interest rate risk in Peoples' assets or liabilities. Peoples manages a matched book with respect to customer-related derivative financial instruments in order to minimize its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions. Amounts reported in AOCI related to derivatives are reclassified to interest income or expense as interest payments are made or received on Peoples' variable-rate assets or liabilities. For derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of each derivative financial instrument is reported in AOCI (outside of earnings), net of tax, and subsequently reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings, and the ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative financial instrument is recognized directly in earnings. Peoples assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing the changes in cash flows of the derivative hedging instrument with the changes in cash flows of the designated hedged transaction.
Interest Rate Lock Commitments: Peoples enters into interest rate lock commitments with borrowers and best efforts commitments with investors on mortgage loans originated for sale into the secondary markets to manage the inherent interest rate and pricing risk associated with selling loans. An interest rate lock commitment generally terminates once the loan is funded, the lock period expires or the borrower decides not to contract for the loan. A best efforts commitment generally terminates once the loan is sold, the commitment period expires or the borrower decides not to contract for the loan. These commitments are considered derivatives, which are generally accounted for by recognizing their estimated fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in either "Other assets" or "Accrued expenses and other liabilities". The valuation of such commitments considers the servicing release premium, but does not consider other expected cash flows related to the servicing of the future loan. Management determined these derivatives did not have a material effect on Peoples' financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Investments in Affordable Housing Limited Partnerships: Investments in affordable housing consist of investments in limited partnerships that operate qualified affordable housing projects or that invest in other limited partnerships formed to operate affordable housing projects. These investments are considered variable interest entities for which Peoples is not the primary beneficiary. Peoples generally utilizes the effective yield method to account for these investments with the tax credits, net of the amortization of the investment, reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income as a reduction in income tax expense. The

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unamortized amount of the investments is recorded in other assets and totaled $16.6 million and $13.0 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Other Real Estate Owned ("OREO"): OREO, included in "Other assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is comprised primarily of commercial and residential real estate properties acquired by Peoples in satisfaction of a loan. OREO obtained in satisfaction of a loan is recorded at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, less estimated costs to sell the property. Peoples had OREO totaling $9.5 million at December 31, 2021 and $134,000 at December 31, 2020.
Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase ("Repurchase Agreements"): Peoples enters into Repurchase Agreements with customers and other financial services companies, which are considered financings. As such, these obligations are recorded as a liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and disclosed in "Note 9 Short-Term Borrowings" and "Note 10 Long-Term Borrowings," as appropriate. Securities pledged as collateral under Repurchase Agreements are included in investment securities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are disclosed in "Note 3 Investment Securities." The fair value of the collateral pledged to a third party is continually monitored and additional collateral is pledged or returned, as deemed appropriate.
Interest Income Recognition: Interest income on loans and investment securities is recognized by methods that result in level rates of return on principal amounts outstanding. This includes yield adjustments resulting from the amortization of premiums on investment securities, loan costs and premiums, and accretion of discounts on investment securities, loan fees and discounts. Loans that have been placed on nonaccrual, and are subsequently returned to accruing status, recognize interest income similar to other accruing loans once they return to accruing status. Prior accrued interest that was reversed when the loan was placed on nonaccrual is recognized when received, after all of the principal of the loan outstanding has been paid. Since mortgage-backed securities comprise a sizable portion of Peoples' investment portfolio, a significant increase in principal payments on those securities can impact interest income due to the corresponding acceleration of premium amortization or discount accretion.
Under the CARES Act, Peoples has made certain modifications that include the short-term deferral of interest for certain borrowers. In these cases, Peoples recognizes interest income as earned. The deferred interest will be repaid by the borrower in a future period.
Revenue Recognition: Peoples recognizes revenues as they are earned based on contractual terms, or as services are provided and collectability is reasonably assured. Peoples’ principal source of revenue is interest income, which is recognized on an accrual basis primarily according to the terms in written contracts, such as loan agreements or securities contracts.
Estimates of variable consideration are included in revenue to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue will not occur, once the uncertainty is resolved. Peoples' contracts with customers are short-term in nature, and were recognized under the following revenue streams:
Electronic Banking Income: Electronic banking income consists of two revenue streams related to interchange income, and promotional and usage income.
Peoples recognizes interchange income over time, on a monthly basis, which is based on the transactional volume of debit card activity completed by its customers during the month in which income is recognized. Peoples is obligated, based on its contracts with third parties, to meet certain volumes of debit card activities, which are performed by Peoples' customers, over a certain period of time. Interchange income is variable as it is based on the transaction volume of debit card activity completed by Peoples' customers. Peoples estimates the variable consideration based upon the most likely amount method, and does not expect or anticipate a significant reversal of revenue in future periods. Payment is due for all PIN transactions from the vendor within one month of the completed customer debit card activity, while all other interchange transaction fees are earned and recorded on a daily basis. Peoples has elected to apply a practical expedient of right to invoice when recognizing interchange income, as Peoples has fulfilled the required performance obligations, the vendor has consumed the service, and Peoples has a right to the related income.
Peoples also recognizes promotional and usage income over time, on a monthly basis, which is related to branding of debit cards and promotion or use of certain services provided by third-party vendors. Peoples is obligated to brand its debit cards in a certain manner, and promote and use services provided by third-party vendors. Promotional and usage income is variable as it is based on certain metrics achieved for promotion and usage of services provided by the third-party vendors. Peoples estimates the variable consideration based upon the most likely amount method, and does not expect or anticipate a significant reversal of revenue in future periods. Payment is due from the third-party vendors within 45 days of the monthly fulfillment of Peoples' performance obligation. Peoples has elected to apply a practical expedient of right to invoice when recognizing promotional and usage income, as Peoples has fulfilled the required performance obligations, the vendor has consumed the service, and Peoples has a right to the related income.
Trust and Investment Income: Trust and investment income consists of revenue from fiduciary and brokerage activities, which includes fees for services such as asset management, record keeping, retirement services and estate management, and investment commissions and fees related to the sale of investments. Trust and investment income is recognized over time, which reflects the duration of the contract period for which services have been provided. Trust and investment income is variable as it is based on the value of assets under administration and management, and specific transactions. Peoples estimates the variable consideration

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based upon the most likely amount method, and does not expect or anticipate a significant reversal of revenue in future periods. Payment is due from the customer when billed, which is typically a monthly or quarterly billing for services rendered in the most recent period, for which the performance obligation has been satisfied. Peoples has elected to apply a practical expedient of right to invoice when recognizing trust and investment income, as Peoples has fulfilled the performance obligation, the customer has consumed the service, and Peoples has a right to the related income. Peoples has also elected to apply a practical expedient related to capitalizable costs, which are the commissions paid to financial advisors, and will expense these commissions paid to financial advisors as incurred, as these costs are related to the trust and investment income and would have been amortized within one year or less if they had been capitalized, the same period over which the income was earned.
Insurance Income: Insurance income generally consists of commissions and fees from the sale of insurance policies, fees related to third-party administration services and performance-based commissions from insurance companies.
Peoples recognizes commission income from the sale of insurance policies when it acts as an agent between the insurance carrier and policyholder, arranging for the insurance carrier to provide policies to policyholders, and acts on behalf of the insurance carrier by providing customer service to the policyholders during the respective policy periods. Commission income is recognized over time, using the output method of time elapsed, which corresponds with the underlying insurance policy period, during which Peoples is obligated to perform under contract with the insurance carrier. Commission income is variable, as it is comprised of a certain percentage of the underlying policy premium. Peoples estimates the variable consideration based upon the "most likely amount" method, and does not expect or anticipate a significant reversal of revenue in future periods, based upon historical experience. Payment is due from the insurance carrier for commission income once the insurance policy has been sold. Peoples has elected to apply a practical expedient related to capitalizable costs, which are the commissions paid to insurance producers, and will expense these commissions paid to insurance producers as incurred, as these costs are related to the commission income and would have been amortized within one year or less if they had been capitalized, the same period over which the commission income was earned.
Fees related to third-party administration services performed are recognized over time, during the period in which services have been provided, and are recognized monthly in the month the services were performed.
Performance-based commissions from insurance companies are recognized at a point in time, when received, and no contingencies remain.
Deposit Account Service Charges: Deposit account service charges consist of two revenue streams related to ongoing maintenance fees for deposit accounts and transactional-based fees.
Ongoing maintenance fees are recognized on a monthly basis, generally with the monthly period beginning on the day of the month on which the account was opened. Ongoing maintenance fee income is variable as these fees can be reduced if a customer meets certain qualifying metrics. Peoples estimates the variable consideration based upon the most likely amount method, and does not expect or anticipate a significant reversal of revenue in future periods. For accounts that are assessed maintenance fees through the account analysis process, payment is due from the customer within one month after the monthly period in which the account activity occurred. For all other accounts, monthly maintenance fees are assessed to the account on the last day of the monthly period. Peoples has elected to apply a practical expedient of right to invoice when recognizing ongoing maintenance fees for deposit accounts, as Peoples has fulfilled the required performance obligations, the customer has consumed the service, and Peoples has a right to the related income.
Transactional-based fees are recognized at a point in time, which is at the completion of the relevant transaction. Peoples is obligated to perform certain transactions as requested by its consumer and business deposit account customers, which are outside of the normal maintenance requirements. Transactional-based fee income is variable as these fees are directly related to a service request from the customer. Peoples estimates the variable consideration based upon the most likely amount method, and does not expect or anticipate a significant reversal of revenue in future periods. Payment is due from the customer at the time of completion of the requested transaction.
Commercial Loan Swap Fees: Commercial loan swap fees consist of income related to transactions in which Peoples Bank originates variable rate loans with interest rate swaps, where the customer enters into an interest rate swap with Peoples Bank on terms that match the terms of the loan. By entering into the interest rate swap with the customer, Peoples Bank effectively provides the customer with a fixed rate loan while creating a variable rate asset for Peoples Bank. Peoples Bank offsets its exposure in the swap by entering into an offsetting interest rate swap with an unaffiliated institution. Commercial loan swap fees are recognized at a point in time, when the transaction has been completed, and there is no recourse or further performance obligation required of Peoples. Commercial loan swap fees are variable as these fees are a certain percentage of the total swap fee collected on a completed transaction. Peoples estimates the variable consideration based upon the most likely amount method, and does not expect or anticipate a significant reversal of revenue in future periods. Payment is due from the customer at the time of completion of the requested transaction.
Other Non-Interest Income: Other non-interest income includes certain revenues that are transactional-based, such as wire transfer fees, money order fees and other ancillary fees or services. These transactional-based fees are recognized as income at a

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point in time, at the completion of the relevant transaction. Transactional-based fee income is variable as these fees are directly related to a service request from the customer. Peoples estimates the variable consideration based upon the most likely amount method, and does not expect or anticipate a significant reversal of revenue in future periods. Payment is due from the customer at the time of completion of the requested transaction.
Stock-Based Compensation: Stock-based compensation for restricted stock awards is measured at the fair value of these awards on their grant date. Stock-based compensation is recognized over the restriction period for restricted stock awards. Only the expense for the portion of the awards expected to vest is recognized. For service-based awards, stock-based compensation for awards granted to employees who are eligible for retirement is recognized on the date the employee is first eligible to retire.
Advertising Costs: Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes: Peoples and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are provided as temporary differences between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the Consolidated Financial Statements at the statutory federal corporate income tax rate. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the expected amount most likely to be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of a sufficient level of future taxable income and recoverable taxes paid in prior years.
A tax position is initially recognized in the financial statements when it is more-likely-than-not the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions are initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority assuming full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. Penalties and interest incurred under the applicable tax law are classified as income tax expense. The amount of Peoples' uncertain income tax positions and unrecognized benefits are disclosed in "Note 13 Income Taxes."
Earnings per Share ("EPS"): Basic and diluted EPS are calculated using the two-class method since Peoples has issued share-based payment awards considered participating securities because they entitle holders the rights to dividends during the vesting term. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines net income per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding adjusted to include the effect of potentially dilutive common shares.  Potentially dilutive common shares include non-vested restricted common shares using the treasury stock method.
New Accounting Pronouncements: From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies that are adopted by Peoples as of the required effective dates. Unless otherwise discussed, management believes the impact of any recently issued standards, including those issued but not yet effective, will not have a material impact on Peoples' financial statements taken as a whole.
Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2020-10 - Codification Improvements. This guidance provides clarification of the Codification or correct unintended application of guidance that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create significant administrative cost to most entities. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020 (effective January 1, 2021 for Peoples). Peoples has reviewed and applied the improvements as applicable.
ASU 2020-04 - Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying US GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. This guidance was further updated by ASU 2021-01. This update is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. This ASU was early adopted as of September 30, 2021, and did not have a significant impact on Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements, but is expected to reduce the accounting burden of assessing contracts impacted by reference rate reform.
ASU 2019-12 - Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments improve consistent application of and simplify US GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. Peoples adopted this guidance as of December 31, 2021, and it did not have a material impact on Peoples' Consolidated Financial Statements.
ASU 2016-13 - Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This accounting guidance replaced the "incurred loss" model for recognizing credit losses with an "expected loss" model, referred to as the Current Expected Credit Loss ("CECL") methodology. Under the CECL methodology, Peoples is required to present certain financial assets carried at amortized cost, such as loans held-for-investment and held-to-maturity investment securities, at the net amount expected to be collected. ASU 2018-19 clarified that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 326-20, and should be accounted for according to ASC 842.

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The measurement of expected credit losses is based on information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The measurement takes place at the time the financial asset is first added to the balance sheet and periodically thereafter. This differs significantly from the "incurred loss" model under previous US GAAP accounting guidance, which delayed recognition until it was probable a loss had been incurred.
Peoples adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective method for all financial assets measured at amortized cost on January 1, 2020. Reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2019 are presented as required by ASU 2016-13, while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable US GAAP requirements. Peoples used the prospective transition approach for financial assets purchased with credit deterioration that were previously classified as purchased credit impaired assets and accounted for under ASC 310-30.
As of January 1, 2020, Peoples recorded a one-time cumulative-effect adjustment to reduce retained earnings by $3.7 million, net of statutory corporate federal income taxes, an increase in allowance for credit losses of $5.8 million and an increase in unfunded commitment liability of $1.5 million. On January 1, 2020, the amortized cost basis of the purchased credit deteriorated assets was adjusted to reflect the addition of $2.6 million to establish the allowance for credit losses. The remaining interest-related discount is being accreted into interest income at the effective interest rate beginning on January 1, 2020. As of January 1, 2020, Peoples did not record an allowance for credit losses for available-for-sale investment securities, as all unrealized losses on these securities were deemed to be non-credit in nature, with no credit deterioration upon review by Peoples. Peoples recorded an allowance for credit losses for held-to-maturity securities of $7,000 as of January 1, 2020.
The following table illustrates the impact on the allowance for credit losses from the adoption of ASU 2016-13:
(Dollars in thousands)As Reported Under ASC 326 January 1, 2020Pre-ASC 326 Adoption December 31, 2019Impact of ASC 326 Adoption
Assets:



Loans, at amortized cost$2,876,147 $2,873,525 $2,622 
Allowance for credit losses on loans:
  Construction651 1,188 (537)
  Commercial real estate, other8,549 6,560 1,989 
  Commercial and industrial5,820 8,568 (2,748)
  Residential real estate4,360 1,296 3,064 
  Home equity lines of credit1,572 612 960 
  Consumer, indirect5,389 2,942 2,447 
  Consumer, direct890 296 594 
  Deposit account overdrafts94 94 — 
Allowance for credit losses on loans27,325 21,556 5,769 
Liabilities:



Allowance for credit losses for unfunded commitments$1,495 $— $1,495 

Note 2 Fair Value of Financial Instruments 
Fair value represents the amount expected to be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in its principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In accordance with fair value accounting guidance, Peoples measures, records and reports various types of assets and liabilities at fair value on either a recurring or a non-recurring basis in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Those assets and liabilities are presented below in the sections entitled "Assets and Liabilities Required to be Measured and Reported at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis" and "Assets and Liabilities Required to be Measured and Reported at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis."
Depending on the nature of the asset or liability, Peoples uses various valuation methodologies and assumptions to estimate fair value. The measurement of fair value under US GAAP uses a hierarchy, which is described in "Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."
Assets and liabilities are assigned to a level within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of significant input used to measure fair value. Assets and liabilities may change levels within the fair value hierarchy due to market conditions or other circumstances. Those transfers are recognized on the date of the event that prompted the transfer. There were no transfers of assets or

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liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the periods presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Assets and Liabilities Required to be Measured and Reported at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table provides the fair value for assets and liabilities required to be measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets by level in the fair value hierarchy. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis that were considered Level 3 measurements.
 Recurring Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)Level 1Level 2Level 1Level 2
Assets:
Available-for-sale investment securities:
Obligations of:  
U.S. Treasury and government agencies
$35,604 $— $— $— 
U.S. government sponsored agencies— 81,739 — 5,363 
States and political subdivisions
— 259,319 — 114,919 
Residential mortgage-backed securities— 828,517 — 623,218 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities— 63,519 — 4,783 
Bank-issued trust preferred securities— 6,795 — 4,730 
Total available-for-sale securities35,604 1,239,889 — 753,013 
Equity investment securities (a)160 184 107 192 
Derivative assets (b)— 12,163 — 27,332 
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities (c)$— $17,183 $— $39,395 
(a) Included in "Other investment securities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For additional information, see "Note 3 Investment Securities."
(b) Included in "Other assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For additional information, see "Note 15 Derivative Financial Instruments."
(c) Included in "Accrued expenses and other liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For additional information, see "Note 15 Derivative Financial Instruments."
Available-for-Sale Investment Securities: The fair values used by Peoples are obtained from an independent pricing service and represent either quoted market prices for the identical securities (Level 1) or fair values determined by pricing models using a market approach that considers observable market data, such as interest rate volatility, LIBOR yield curves, credit spreads and prices from market makers and live trading systems (Level 2). Management reviews the valuation methodology and quality controls utilized by the pricing services in management's overall assessment of the reasonableness of the fair values provided, and challenges prices when management believes a material discrepancy in pricing exists.
Equity Investment Securities: The fair values of Peoples' equity investment securities are obtained from quoted prices in active exchange markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) or quoted prices in less active markets (Level 2).
Derivative Assets and Liabilities: Derivative assets and liabilities are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value within other assets, and accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively. The fair value for derivative financial instruments is determined based on market prices, broker-dealer quotations on similar products, or other related input parameters (Level 2).
Assets and Liabilities Required to be Measured and Reported at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
The following table provides the fair value for each class of assets and liabilities required to be measured and reported at fair value on a non-recurring basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets by level in the fair value hierarchy. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis that were considered Level 1 measurements.
 Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)Level 2Level 3Level 2Level 3
Loans held for sale$3,813 $— $4,733 $— 
OREO— 9,496 — 134 
Servicing rights (a)(b)— 2,609 — 2,591 
(a) Included in "Other intangible assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Servicing rights are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value.
(b) Peoples established a valuation allowance on servicing rights of $12 at December 31, 2021 and $161 at December 31, 2020, as the fair value of the servicing rights was less than the carrying value.

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Loans Held for Sale: Loans originated and intended to be sold in the secondary market, generally 1-4 family residential loans, are carried, in aggregate, at the lower of cost or estimated fair value. Peoples uses a valuation model using quoted market prices of similar instruments in arriving at the fair value (Level 2).
Other Real Estate Owned: OREO, included in "Other assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is comprised primarily of commercial and residential real estate properties acquired by Peoples in satisfaction of a loan. OREO obtained in satisfaction of a loan is recorded at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, less estimated costs to sell the property. The carrying value of OREO is not re-measured to fair value on a recurring basis, but is based on recent real estate appraisals and is updated at least annually. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including the comparable sales approach and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the independent appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available (Level 3).
Servicing Rights: Servicing rights are included in "Other intangible assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of servicing rights is determined by using a discounted cash flow model, which estimates the present value of the future net cash flows of the servicing portfolio based on various factors, such as servicing costs, expected prepayment speeds and discount rates (Level 3). The carrying value of servicing rights is not re-measured to fair value on a recurring basis. Peoples assesses the carrying value of servicing rights quarterly for impairment.
Financial Instruments Not Required to be Measured and Reported at Fair Value
The following table provides the carrying amount for each class of assets and liabilities, and the fair value for certain financial instruments that are not required to be measured or reported at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 
Fair Value Measurements of Other Financial Instruments
(Dollars in thousands)Fair Value Hierarchy LevelDecember 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Carrying AmountFair ValueCarrying AmountFair Value
Assets:    
   Cash and cash equivalents1$415,727 $415,727 $152,100 $152,100 
Held-to-maturity investment securities:
   Obligations of:
U.S. government sponsored agencies236,431 35,513 — — 
      States and political subdivisions (a)2151,688 150,138 35,199 35,484 
   Residential mortgage-backed securities2110,708 110,159 25,890 26,742 
   Commercial mortgage-backed securities275,588 74,145 5,429 5,856 
        Total held-to-maturity securities374,415 369,955 66,518 68,082 
Other investment securities:
Other investment securities at cost:
Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") stockN/A17,308 17,308 21,718 21,718 
Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") stockN/A13,311 13,311 13,311 13,311 
Total other investment securities at cost30,619 30,619 35,029 35,029 
Other investment securities at fair value:
Nonqualified deferred compensation (b)12,240 2,240 1,867 1,867 
Other investment securities (c)2784 784 365 365 
Total other investment securities at fair value33,643 33,643 37,261 37,261 
Loans and leases, net of deferred fees and cost (d)34,481,600 4,510,605 3,402,940 3,408,373 
    Bank owned life insurance273,358 73,358 71,591 71,591 
Financial liabilities:    
   Deposits2$5,862,552 $5,546,552 $3,910,459 $3,773,602 
   Short-term borrowings2166,482 164,990 73,261 74,170 
   Long-term borrowings299,475 101,664 110,568 117,364 
(a) Held-to-maturity investment securities are presented gross of allowance for credit losses of $286 and $60, as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
(b) Nonqualified deferred compensation includes mutual funds as part of the investment.
(c) "Other investment securities", as reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, also included equity investment securities at December 31, 2021
and at December 31, 2020, which are reported in the Assets and Liabilities Required to be Measured and Reported at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
table above and not included in this table.
(d) Loans and leases, net of deferred fees and cost are presented gross of allowance for credit losses of $64.0 million and $50.4 million, as of December 31,2021 and December 31,2020, respectively.


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For certain financial assets and liabilities, carrying value approximates fair value due to the nature of the financial instrument.  These financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, demand and other non-fixed-maturity deposits, and overnight borrowings.  Peoples used the following methods and assumptions in estimating the fair value of the following financial instruments:
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, balances due from other banks, interest-bearing deposits in other banks, federal funds sold and other short-term investments with original maturities of ninety days or less. The carrying amount for cash on hand and balances due from banks is a reasonable estimate of fair value (Level 1).
Held-to-Maturity Investment Securities: The fair values used by Peoples are obtained from an independent pricing service and represent fair values determined by pricing models using a market approach that considers observable market data, such as interest rate volatility, relevant yield curves, credit spreads and prices from market makers and live trading systems (Level 2). Management reviews the valuation methodology and quality controls utilized by the pricing services in management's overall assessment of the reasonableness of the fair values provided, and challenges prices when management believes a material discrepancy in pricing exists.
Other Investment Securities: Other investment securities at cost are not recorded at fair value as they are not marketable securities. Other investment securities at fair value are valued using quoted prices in an active market (Level 1) or quoted prices in less active markets (Level 2).
Loans and Leases, Net of Deferred Fees and Costs: The fair value of portfolio loans and leases assumes sale of the underlying notes to a third-party financial investor. Accordingly, this value is not necessarily the value to Peoples if the notes were held-to-maturity.  Peoples considered interest rate, credit and market factors in estimating the fair value of loans (Level 3). Fair values for loans are estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology. The discount rates take into account interest rates currently being offered to customers for loans with similar terms, the credit risk associated with the loans and other market factors, including liquidity.
Bank Owned Life Insurance: Peoples' bank owned life insurance policies are recorded at their cash surrender value (Level 3). Peoples recognizes tax-exempt income from the periodic increases in the cash surrender value of these policies and from death benefits.
Deposits: The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit ("CDs") is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation based on current rates offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities (Level 2).
Short-term Borrowings: The fair value of short-term borrowings is estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis based on rates currently available to Peoples for borrowings with similar terms (Level 2). 
Long-term Borrowings: The fair value of long-term borrowings is estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis based on rates currently available to Peoples for borrowings with similar terms (Level 2). 
Certain financial assets and financial liabilities that are not required to be measured or reported at fair value can be subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment).  These financial assets and liabilities include the following: customer relationships, the deposit base, and other information required to compute Peoples’ aggregate fair value, which are not included in the above information.  Accordingly, the above fair values are not intended to represent the aggregate fair value of Peoples.

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Note 3 Investment Securities 
Available-for-sale
The following table summarizes Peoples’ available-for-sale investment securities at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)Amortized CostGross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesFair Value
2021    
Obligations of:    
U.S. Treasury and government agencies$35,609 $12 $(17)$35,604 
U.S. government sponsored agencies83,019 58 (1,338)81,739 
States and political subdivisions259,508 3,187 (3,376)259,319 
Residential mortgage-backed securities833,328 6,565 (11,376)828,517 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities64,971 42 (1,494)63,519 
Bank-issued trust preferred securities6,711 215 (131)6,795 
Total available-for-sale securities$1,283,146 $10,079 $(17,732)$1,275,493 
2020    
Obligations of:    
U.S. government sponsored agencies$4,960 $403 $— $5,363 
States and political subdivisions110,401 4,642 (124)114,919 
Residential mortgage-backed securities609,865 15,377 (2,024)623,218 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities4,622 161 — 4,783 
Bank-issued trust preferred securities4,696 192 (158)4,730 
Total available-for-sale securities$734,544 $20,775 $(2,306)$753,013 
The unrealized losses related to residential mortgage-backed securities at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were attributable to changes in market interest rates and spreads since the securities were purchased.
The gross gains and gross losses realized by Peoples from sales of available-for-sale securities for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Gross gains realized$1,184 $655 $252 
Gross losses realized2,046 1,023 88 
Net (loss) gain realized$(862)$(368)$164 
The cost of investment securities sold, and any resulting gain or loss, were based on the specific identification method and recognized as of the trade date.

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The following table presents a summary of available-for-sale investment securities that had an unrealized loss at December 31:
 Less than 12 Months12 Months or MoreTotal
(Dollars in thousands)
Fair
Value
Unrealized LossNo. of Securities
Fair
Value
Unrealized LossNo. of Securities
Fair
Value
Unrealized Loss
2021        
Obligations of:
U.S. Treasury and government agencies
$16,914 $17 6 $— $— — $16,914 $17 
U.S. government sponsored agencies
72,406 1,192 13 4,854 146 1 77,260 1,338 
States and political subdivisions101,397 2,075 71 30,853 1,301 11 132,250 3,376 
Residential mortgage-backed securities
573,139 9,051 113 51,103 2,325 14 624,242 11,376 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
60,134 1,494 21 — — — 60,134 1,494 
Bank-issued trust preferred securities
2,991 9 1 878 122 1 3,869 131 
Total$826,981 $13,838 225 $87,688 $3,894 27 $914,669 $17,732 
2020        
Obligations of:
States and political subdivisions$17,651 $124 5 $— $— — $17,651 $124 
Residential mortgage-backed securities
156,659 1,795 45 9,892 229 13 166,551 2,024 
Bank-issued trust preferred securities
494 6 1 1,848 152 2 2,342 158 
Total$174,804 $1,925 51 $11,740 $381 15 $186,544 $2,306 
Management systematically evaluates available-for-sale investment securities for an allowance of credit losses on a quarterly basis. At December 31, 2021, management concluded no individual securities at an unrealized loss position required an allowance for credit losses. At December 31, 2021, Peoples did not have the intent to sell, nor was it more-likely-than-not that Peoples would be required to sell, any of the securities with an unrealized loss prior to recovery. Further, the unrealized losses at both December 31, 2021 and 2020 were largely attributable to changes in market interest rates and spreads since the securities were purchased. Accrued interest receivable is not included in investment securities balances, and is presented in the "Other assets" line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with no recorded allowance for credit losses. Interest receivable on investment securities was $5.5 million at December 31, 2021 and $2.7 million at December 31, 2020.
At December 31, 2021, approximately 99% of the fair value of mortgage-backed securities that had been at an unrealized loss position for twelve months or more were issued by U.S. government sponsored agencies. The remaining 1%, or two positions, consisted of privately issued mortgage-backed securities with all of the underlying mortgages originated prior to 2004. Neither of the two positions had a fair value of less than 90% of its book value. Management analyzed the underlying credit quality of these mortgage-backed securities and concluded the unrealized losses were primarily attributable to the floating rate nature of these investments and the low number of loans underlying these securities.
The unrealized losses with respect to the one bank-issued trust preferred securities that had been in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or more at December 31, 2021 were primarily attributable to the subordinated nature of the debt.

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The table below presents the amortized cost, fair value and total weighted-average yield of available-for-sale securities by contractual maturity at December 31, 2021.  The weighted-average yields are based on the amortized cost and are computed on a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory federal corporate income tax rate of 21%.  In some cases, the issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations without call or prepayment penalties prior to the contractual maturity date.
  
(Dollars in thousands)Within 1 Year1 to 5 Years5 to 10 YearsOver 10 YearsTotal
Amortized cost     
Obligations of:     
U.S. Treasury and government agencies$— $35,609 $— $— $35,609
U.S. government sponsored agencies2,000 3,423 69,274 8,322 83,019
States and political subdivisions6,228 36,763 72,742 143,775 259,508
Residential mortgage-backed securities3 5,371 58,364 769,590 833,328
Commercial mortgage-backed securities1,480 923 35,174 27,394 64,971
Bank-issued trust preferred securities— — 6,711 — 6,711
Total available-for-sale securities$9,711 $82,089 $242,265 $949,081 $1,283,146
Fair value     
Obligations of:     
U.S. Treasury and government agencies$— $35,604 $— $— $35,604
U.S. government sponsored agencies2,020 3,461 68,176 8,082 81,739
States and political subdivisions6,275 37,660 73,096 142,288 259,319
Residential mortgage-backed securities3 5,384 58,058 765,072 828,517
Commercial mortgage-backed securities1,488 926 34,396 26,709 63,519
Bank-issued trust preferred securities— — 6,795 — 6,795
Total available-for-sale securities$9,786 $83,035 $240,521 $942,151 $1,275,493
Total weighted-average yield1.71 %1.18 %1.11 %1.72 %1.57%
Held-to-Maturity
The following table summarizes Peoples’ held-to-maturity investment securities at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)Amortized CostAllowance for Credit LossesGross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesFair Value
2021    
Obligations of:    
U.S. government sponsored agencies$36,431 $— $86 $(1,004)$35,513 
States and political subdivisions151,688 $(286)1,006 (2,270)150,138 
Residential mortgage-backed securities110,708 — 370 (919)110,159 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities75,588 — 182 (1,625)74,145 
Total held-to-maturity securities$374,415 $(286)$1,644 $(5,818)$369,955 
2020    
Obligations of:    
States and political subdivisions$35,199 $(60)$510 $(165)$35,484 
Residential mortgage-backed securities25,890 — 852 — 26,742 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities5,429 — 427 — 5,856 
Total held-to-maturity securities$66,518 $(60)$1,789 $(165)$68,082 
There were no sales of held-to-maturity securities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Management evaluates held-to-maturity investment securities for an allowance for credit losses on a quarterly basis. The majority of Peoples' held-to-maturity investment securities are issued by U.S. government sponsored agencies. The remaining securities are obligations of state and political subdivisions. Peoples analyzed these securities using cumulative default rate averages for investment grade municipal securities.

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The following table presents a summary of held-to-maturity investment securities that had an unrealized loss at December 31:
 Less than 12 Months12 Months or MoreTotal
(Dollars in thousands)
Fair
Value
Unrealized LossNo. of Securities
Fair
Value
Unrealized LossNo. of Securities
Fair
Value
Unrealized Loss
2021        
Obligations of:
U.S. government sponsored agencies$17,328 $504 6 $14,635 $500 2 $31,963 $1,004 
States and political subdivisions
61,954 1,041 34 27,328 1,229 6 $89,282 $2,270 
Residential mortgage-backed securities
88,937 919 17 — — — $88,937 $919 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
67,338 1,625 21 — — — $67,338 $1,625 
Total$235,557 $4,089 78 $41,963 $1,729 8 $277,520 $5,818 
2020        
Obligations of:
States and political subdivisions
$18,662 $165 5 $— $— — $18,662 $165 
Total$18,662 $165 5 $— $— — $18,662 $165 
The table below presents the amortized cost, fair value and total weighted-average yield of held-to-maturity securities by contractual maturity at December 31, 2021.  The weighted-average yields are based on the amortized cost and are computed on a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a statutory federal corporate income tax rate of 21%.  In some cases, the issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations without call or prepayment penalties prior to the contractual maturity date.
(Dollars in thousands)Within 1 Year1 to 5 Years5 to 10 YearsOver 10 YearsTotal
Amortized cost     
Obligations of:     
U.S. government sponsored agencies$— $6,546 $— $29,885 $36,431 
States and political subdivisions— 3,202 6,766 141,720 151,688 
Residential mortgage-backed securities— 1,730 — 108,978 110,708 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities349 2,000 16,073 57,166 75,588 
Total held-to-maturity securities$349 $13,478 $22,839 $337,749 $374,415 
Fair value     
Obligations of:     
U.S. government sponsored agencies$— $6,524 $— $28,989 $35,513 
States and political subdivisions— 3,384 7,013 139,741 150,138 
Residential mortgage-backed securities— 1,784 — 108,375 110,159 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities350 1,987 16,062 55,746 74,145 
Total held-to-maturity securities$350 $13,679 $23,075 $332,851 $369,955 
Total weighted-average yield2.22 %2.08 %1.96 %2.03 %2.03 %
Other Investment Securities
Peoples' other investment securities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist largely of shares of FHLB and FRB stock, and other equity investment securities.

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The following table summarizes the carrying value of Peoples' other investment securities at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
FHLB stock$17,308 $21,718 
FRB stock13,311 13,311 
Nonqualified deferred compensation2,240 1,867 
Equity investment securities344 299 
Other investment securities784 365 
Total other investment securities$33,987 $37,560 
Peoples redeemed $8.2 million and $10.5 million of FHLB stock in 2021 and 2020, respectively, in order to be in compliance with the requirements of the FHLB. Peoples purchased $3.8 million and $5.0 million of additional FHLB stock during 2021 and 2020, respectively, as a result of the FHLB's capital requirements on FHLB advances during the year.
During 2021, Peoples recorded the change in the fair value of equity investment securities held at December 31, 2021 in other non-interest income, resulting in a realized net gain of $111,000. During 2020, Peoples recorded the change in the fair value of equity investment securities held at December 31, 2020 in "Other non-interest income", resulting in unrealized gain of $19,000. Net realized gains on sales of equity investment securities included in other non-interest income during 2020 consisted of a realized gain of $680,000 related to the sale of restricted Class B Visa stock, which had been held at a carrying cost and fair value of zero due to the litigation liability associated with the stock.
At December 31, 2021, Peoples' investment in equity investment securities was comprised largely of common stocks issued by various unrelated bank holding companies. There were no equity investment securities of a single issuer that exceeded 10% of Peoples' stockholders' equity.
Pledged Securities
At December 31, 2021 and 2020, Peoples had pledged available-for-sale investment securities and held-to-maturity investment securities to secure public and trust department deposits, and Repurchase Agreements in accordance with federal and state requirements.  Peoples also pledged available-for-sale investment securities and held-to-maturity securities as collateral for cash flow hedge swaps and to secure additional borrowing capacity at the FHLB and the FRB.
The following table summarizes the carrying value of Peoples' pledged investment securities as of December 31:
Carrying Amount
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Securing public and trust department deposits, and Repurchase Agreements:
Available-for-sale$795,496 $547,734 
Held-to-maturity160,643 16,971 
Securing collateral for cash flow hedge swaps:
Available-for-sale18,208 — 
Held-to-maturity9,936 — 
Securing additional borrowing capacity at the FHLB and the FRB:
Available-for-sale6,504 1,685 
Held-to-maturity549 11,316 


    











Note 4 Loans and Leases
Peoples' loan portfolio consists of various types of loans and leases originated primarily as a result of lending opportunities within Peoples' footprint. Peoples also originates insurance premium finance loans and leases nationwide through its Peoples Premium Finance and North Star Leasing divisions, respectively. Loans and leases throughout this Form 10-K are referred to as "total loans" and "loans held for investment".
The major classifications of loan balances (in each case, net of deferred fees and costs) excluding loans held for sale, were as follows at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Construction$210,232 $106,792 
Commercial real estate, other1,550,081 929,853 
Commercial and industrial891,392 973,645 
Premium finance136,136 114,758 
Leases122,508 — 
Residential real estate771,718 574,007 
Home equity lines of credit163,593 120,913 
Consumer, indirect530,532 503,527 
Consumer, direct104,652 79,094 
Deposit account overdrafts756 351 
Total loans, at amortized cost$4,481,600 $3,402,940 
Net deferred loan origination costs were $13.5 million and $5.1 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
On September 17, 2021, Peoples completed the merger with Premier effective after the close of the business day. Peoples acquired $1.1 billion in net loans, of which $176.2 million were considered purchased credit deteriorated loans. Effective after the close of business on March 31, 2021, Peoples acquired $83.3 million in leases from NS Leasing, LLC ("NSL"), of which $5.2 million were considered purchased credit deteriorated leases. Refer to "Note 20 Acquisitions" for more detail on the loans acquired from Premier and of leases acquired from NSL.
Peoples began participating as a Small Business Administration ("SBA") Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") lender during the second quarter of 2020, and originated $488.9 million of PPP loans during 2020 and $159.1 million during 2021. At December 31, 2021, the PPP loans had an amortized cost of $87.1 million, and were included in commercial and industrial loan balances. Peoples recorded deferred loan origination fees related to the PPP loans, net of deferred loan origination costs, which totaled $2.2 million at December 31, 2021. During 2021 and 2020, Peoples recorded accretion of net deferred loan origination fees of $13.0 million and $7.5 million, respectively, on PPP loans. The remaining net deferred loan origination fees will be accreted over the life of the respective loans, or until forgiven by the SBA, and will be recognized in net interest income. The PPP expired on May 31, 2021 and no new originations were made under the program; however, forgiveness proceeds will continue to be received until the loans are paid in full.
Accrued interest receivable is not included within the loan balances, but is presented in the “Other assets” line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with no recorded allowance for credit losses as Peoples elected the practical expedient not to measure allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivables. Interest receivable on loans was $12.0 million at December 31, 2021 and $10.9 million at December 31, 2020.
Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans
A loan is considered past due if any required principal and interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were required to be made under the terms of the loan agreement. A loan may be placed on nonaccrual status regardless of whether or not such loan is considered past due.
The amortized cost of loans on nonaccrual status and loans delinquent for 90 days or more and accruing were as follows at December 31:
20212020
(Dollars in thousands)
Nonaccrual (a)
Accruing Loans 90+ Days Past Due
Nonaccrual (a)
Accruing Loans 90+ Days Past Due
Construction$6 $90 $4 $— 
Commercial real estate, other17,067 689 9,111 — 
Commercial and industrial3,572 1,139 6,192 50 
Premium finance— 865 — 589 
Leases1,581 — — — 
Residential real estate9,647 805 8,375 1,975 
Home equity lines of credit1,039 50 867 82 
Consumer, indirect1,574 — 1,073 39 
Consumer, direct279 85 171 17 
Total loans, at amortized cost$34,765 $3,723 $25,793 $2,752 
(a)There were $2.6 million of nonaccrual loans for which there was no allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2021 and $1.3 million of such loans at December 31, 2020.
As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had made short-term modifications, such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or other delays in payment for current borrowers, in amounts which were insignificant. Under the CARES Act, borrowers that are considered current are those that are less than 30 days past due on their contractual payments at the time a modification program is implemented. As such, these modifications made in accordance with the CARES Act were not included in Peoples' nonaccrual or accruing loans 90+ days past due as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The amount of interest income recognized on loans past due 90 days or more during 2021 and 2020 was $1.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively .
The following tables present the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans at December 31:
Loans Past DueCurrentTotal
(Dollars in thousands)
30 – 59 days
60 – 89 days
90 + DaysTotal
2021
Construction$658 $— $90 $748 $209,484 $210,232 
Commercial real estate, other2,891 1,600 12,561 17,052 1,533,029 1,550,081 
Commercial and industrial1,132 1,278 3,595 6,005 885,387 891,392 
Premium finance751 266 865 1,882 134,254 136,136 
Leases426 247 1,581 2,254 120,254 122,508 
Residential real estate8,276 2,241 5,188 15,705 756,013 771,718 
Home equity lines of credit1,137 619 625 2,381 161,212 163,593 
Consumer, indirect4,220 895 615 5,730 524,802 530,532 
Consumer, direct457 135 200 792 103,860 104,652 
Deposit account overdrafts— — — — 756 756 
Total loans, at amortized cost$19,948 $7,281 $25,320 $52,549 $4,429,051 $4,481,600 
2020
Construction$— $344 $4 $348 $106,444 $106,792 
Commercial real estate, other1,943 283 8,643 10,869 918,984 929,853 
Commercial and industrial567 552 4,535 5,654 967,991 973,645 
Premium finance928 1,073 204 2,205 112,553 114,758 
Residential real estate6,739 2,688 5,512 14,939 559,068 574,007 
Home equity lines of credit309 58 780 1,147 119,766 120,913 
Consumer, indirect4,362 733 348 5,443 498,084 503,527 
Consumer, direct424 43 123 590 78,504 79,094 
Deposit account overdrafts— — — — 351 351 
Total loans, at amortized cost$15,272 $5,774 $20,149 $41,195 $3,361,745 $3,402,940 
Delinquency trends remained stable as 98.8% of Peoples' portfolio was considered "current" at December 31, 2021, compared to 98.8% at December 31, 2020.
Pledged Loans
Peoples has pledged certain loans secured by one-to-four family and multifamily residential mortgages, commercial real estate and home equity lines of credit under a blanket collateral agreement to secure borrowings from the FHLB. Peoples also has pledged commercial loans to secure borrowings with the FRB. Loans pledged are summarized as follows at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Loans pledged to FHLB$769,863 $740,584 
Loans pledged to FRB294,728 107,340 
During 2021, Peoples pledged additional collateral to the FHLB and FRB to secure potential funding needs in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to fund the PPP loan originations that occurred during 2021 and 2020.
Related Party Loans
In the normal course of its business, Peoples Bank has granted loans to certain directors and officers of Peoples, including their affiliates, families and entities in which they are principal owners. At December 31, 2021, no related party loan was past due 90 or more days, a TDR or on nonaccrual status. Activity in related party loans is presented in the table below. Other changes primarily consist of changes in related party status, and the addition and exit of directors during the year, as applicable.
(Dollars in thousands) 
Balance, December 31, 2020$13,131 
Acquired loans14,868 
New loans and disbursements2,763 
Repayments(4,899)
Balance, December 31, 2021$25,863 
Credit Quality Indicators
As discussed in "Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," Peoples categorizes the majority of its loans into risk categories based upon an established risk grading matrix using a scale of 1 to 8. Loan grades are assigned at the time a new loan or lending commitment is extended by Peoples and may be changed at any time when circumstances warrant. Loans to borrowers with an aggregate unpaid principal balance in excess of $1.0 million are reviewed at least on an annual basis for possible credit deterioration. Loan relationships whose aggregate credit exposure to Peoples is equal to or less than $1.0 million are reviewed on an event driven basis. Triggers for review include knowledge of adverse events affecting the borrower's business, receipt of financial statements indicating deteriorating credit quality or other similar events. Adversely classified loans are reviewed on a quarterly basis. A description of the general characteristics of the risk grades used by Peoples is as follows:
"Pass" (grades 1 through 4): Loans in this risk category are to borrowers of acceptable-to-strong credit quality and risk who have the apparent ability to satisfy their loan obligations. Loans in this risk category would possess sufficient mitigating factors, such as adequate collateral or strong guarantors possessing the capacity to repay the loans if required, for any weakness that may exist.
"Special Mention" (grade 5): Loans in this risk category are the equivalent of the regulatory "Other Assets Especially Mentioned" classification. Loans in this risk category possess some credit deficiency or potential weakness, which requires a high level of management attention. Potential weaknesses include declining trends in operating earnings and cash flows and/or reliance on the secondary source of repayment. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in noticeable deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loans or in Peoples' credit position.
"Substandard" (grade 6): Loans in this risk category are inadequately protected by the borrower's current financial condition and payment capability, or by the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have one or more well-defined weaknesses that jeopardize the orderly repayment of the loans. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that Peoples will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
"Doubtful" (grade 7): Loans in this risk category have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or orderly repayment in full, on the basis of current existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable. Possibility of loss is extremely high, but because of certain important and reasonably specific factors that may work to the advantage and strengthening of the exposure, classification of these loans as an estimated loss is deferred until their more exact status may be determined.
"Loss" (grade 8): Loans in this risk category are considered to be non-collectible and of such little value that their continuance as bankable assets is not warranted. This does not mean each such loan has absolutely no recovery value, but rather it is neither practical nor desirable to defer writing off the loan, even though partial recovery may be obtained in the future. Charge-offs against the allowance for credit losses are taken in the period in which the loan becomes uncollectable. Consequently, Peoples typically does not maintain a recorded investment in loans within this risk category.
Consumer loans and other smaller-balance loans are evaluated and categorized as "substandard," "doubtful" or "loss" based upon the regulatory definition of these classes and consistent with regulatory requirements. All other loans not evaluated individually, nor meeting the regulatory conditions to be categorized as described above, would be considered as being "not rated."

The following tables summarize the risk category of Peoples' loan portfolio based upon the most recent analysis performed at December 31, 2021:
Term Loans at Amortized Cost by Origination Year
(Dollars in thousands)20212020201920182017PriorRevolving LoansRevolving Loans Converted to Term
Total
Loans
Construction

  Pass$85,276 $78,026 $29,514 $3,498 $1,233 $2,982 $2,411 $6,948 $202,940 
  Special mention290 — — 735 3,850 137 — — 5,012 
  Substandard— — 947 77 153 1,103 — — 2,280 
     Total85,566 78,026 30,461 4,310 5,236 4,222 2,411 6,948 210,232 
Commercial real estate, other

  Pass253,259 259,113 217,938 143,094 143,975 392,212 21,320 11,940 1,430,911 
  Special mention157 2,716 7,875 3,839 6,292 31,626 — 49 52,505 
  Substandard— 1,675 824 691 3,124 59,415 371 37 66,100 
  Doubtful— — — — — 542 — — 542 
  Loss— — — — — 23 — — 23 
     Total253,416 263,504 226,637 147,624 153,391 483,818 21,691 12,026 1,550,081 
Commercial and industrial
  Pass299,117 105,646 84,144 56,361 22,182 100,030 174,848 15,888 842,328 
  Special mention82 11,745 2,559 2,179 132 5,445 7,563 9 29,705 
  Substandard465 2,059 2,691 812 4,995 3,342 3,085 367 17,449 
  Doubtful— — — — — 1,648 262 100 1,910 
     Total299,664 119,450 89,394 59,352 27,309 110,465 185,758 16,364 891,392 
Premium finance
  Pass135,896 240 — — — — — — 136,136 
Total135,896 240 — — — — — — 136,136 
Leases
Pass78,048 25,954 13,368 2,972 337 — — 120,679 
Special mention34 29 22 159 4 — 248 
Substandard196 438 462 479 6 — 1,581 
Total78,278 26,421 13,852 3,610 347 — — — 122,508 
Residential real estate
  Pass141,845 74,169 53,434 33,690 44,377 407,541 — — 755,056 
  Substandard— — — — — 16,302 — — 16,302 
   Loss— — — — — 360 — — 360 
     Total141,845 74,169 53,434 33,690 44,377 424,203 — — 771,718 
Home equity lines of credit
  Pass35,898 23,276 18,035 16,124 14,991 53,302 1,967 3,287 163,593 
     Total35,898 23,276 18,035 16,124 14,991 53,302 1,967 3,287 163,593 
Consumer, indirect
  Pass226,287 163,830 63,353 45,672 21,754 9,636 — — 530,532 
     Total226,287 163,830 63,353 45,672 21,754 9,636 — — 530,532 
Consumer, direct
  Pass47,308 26,792 13,293 8,411 3,218 5,630 — — 104,652 
     Total47,308 26,792 13,293 8,411 3,218 5,630 — — 104,652 
Deposit account overdrafts756 — — — — — — — 756 
Total loans, at amortized cost$1,304,914 $775,708 $508,459 $318,793 $270,623 $1,091,276 $211,827 $38,625 $4,481,600 
The following tables summarize the risk category of Peoples' loan portfolio based upon the most recent analysis performed at December 31, 2020:
Term Loans at Amortized Cost by Origination Year
(Dollars in thousands)20202019201820172016PriorRevolving LoansRevolving Loans Converted to Term
Total
Loans
Construction

  Pass$27,670 $56,361 $554 $15,089 $824 $1,194 $3,199 $2,003 $104,891 
  Special mention— — 496 — — 143 — — 639 
  Substandard— — — 186 — 1,076 — — 1,262 
     Total27,670 56,361 1,050 15,275 824 2,413 3,199 2,003 106,792 
Commercial real estate, other

  Pass116,441 125,373 99,522 94,465 99,668 215,385 109,160 9,748 860,014 
  Special mention297 5,806 999 5,296 5,125 12,932 3,967 60 34,422 
  Substandard— 1,191 677 1,709 1,663 27,066 3,033 110 35,339 
  Doubtful— — — — — 78 — — 78 
     Total116,738 132,370 101,198 101,470 106,456 255,461 116,160 9,918 929,853 
Commercial and industrial
  Pass409,237 97,362 67,284 38,450 45,026 77,009 199,597 30,680 933,965 
  Special mention1,034 366 2,018 287 1,453 1,452 12,429 526 19,039 
  Substandard2,226 3,569 2,873 2,167 318 4,163 3,436 1,083 18,752 
  Doubtful— — — — 1,698 191 — 187 1,889 
     Total412,497 101,297 72,175 40,904 48,495 82,815 215,462 32,476 973,645 
Premium finance
  Pass114,758 — — — — — — — 114,758 
Total114,758 — — — — — — — 114,758 
Residential real estate
  Pass47,147 40,223 24,235 29,142 43,105 309,795 65,168 305 558,815 
  Substandard— — — — — 15,048 — — 15,048 
   Loss— — — — — 144 — — 144 
     Total47,147 40,223 24,235 29,142 43,105 324,987 65,168 305 574,007 
Home equity lines of credit
  Pass16,469 13,513 12,548 12,382 11,869 40,626 13,506 4,091 120,913 
     Total16,469 13,513 12,548 12,382 11,869 40,626 13,506 4,091 120,913 
Consumer, indirect
  Pass210,014 92,696 71,807 39,608 17,156 11,563 60,683 — 503,527 
     Total210,014 92,696 71,807 39,608 17,156 11,563 60,683 — 503,527 
Consumer, direct
  Pass31,689 15,923 11,085 4,531 2,529 4,193 9,144 — 79,094 
     Total31,689 15,923 11,085 4,531 2,529 4,193 9,144 — 79,094 
Deposit account overdrafts351 — — — — — — — 351 
Total loans, at amortized cost$977,333 $452,383 $294,098 $243,312 $230,434 $722,058 $483,322 $48,793 $3,402,940 



Collateral Dependent Loans
Peoples has certain loans for which repayment is dependent upon the operation or sale of collateral, as the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. The underlying collateral can vary based upon the type of loan. The following provides more detail about the types of collateral that secure collateral dependent loans:
• Construction loans are typically secured by owner occupied commercial real estate or non-owner occupied investment real estate. Typically, owner occupied construction loans are secured by office buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and other commercial and industrial properties that are in process of construction. Non-owner occupied commercial construction loans are generally secured by office buildings and complexes, multi-family complexes, land under development, and other commercial and industrial real estate in process of construction.
•Commercial real estate loans can be secured by either owner occupied commercial real estate or non-owner occupied investment commercial real estate. Typically, owner occupied commercial real estate loans are secured by office buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities and other commercial and industrial properties occupied by operating companies. Non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans are generally secured by office buildings and complexes, retail facilities, multifamily complexes, land under development, industrial properties, as well as other commercial or industrial real estate.
•Commercial and industrial loans are general secured by equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, and other commercial property.
•Residential real estate loans are typically secured by first mortgages, and in some cases could be secured by a second mortgage.
•Home equity lines of credit are generally secured by second mortgages on residential real estate property.
•Consumer loans are generally secured by automobiles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and other personal property. Some consumer loans are unsecured and have no underlying collateral.
•Leases are secured by commercial equipment and other essential business assets.
•Premium finance loans are secured by the unearned portion of the insurance premium being financed.
The following table details Peoples' amortized cost of collateral dependent loans at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Construction$1,291 $— 
Commercial real estate, other37,220 8,467 
Commercial and industrial8,340 6,333 
Residential real estate2,877 1,670 
Home equity lines of credit391 403 
Total collateral dependent loans$50,119 $16,873 
The increase in collateral dependent loans at December 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020, was primarily due to $37.1 million in collateral dependent loans acquired from Premier.
The following table summarizes the loans that were modified as TDRs during the years ended 2021 and 2020.

Recorded Investment (a)
(Dollars in thousands)Number of ContractsPre-ModificationPost-ModificationRemaining Recorded Investment
2021
Construction1 $344 $344 $344 
Commercial real estate, other7 218 218 217 
Commercial and industrial1 187 188 100 
Residential real estate55 2,513 2,574 2,464 
Home equity lines of credit14 500 500 489 
Consumer, indirect16 207 207 184 
Consumer, direct11 59 60 53 
Consumer27 266 267 237 
Total105 $4,028 $4,091 $3,851 
2020
Commercial real estate, other5 $2,294 $2,294 $2,217 
Commercial and industrial6 3,820 3,820 3,736 
Residential real estate16 1,388 1,423 1,406 
Home equity lines of credit7 123 123 116 
Consumer, indirect27 349 349 313 
Consumer, direct7 99 99 89 
   Consumer34 448 448 402 
Total68 $8,073 $8,108 $7,877 
(a) The amounts shown are inclusive of all partial paydowns and charge-offs. Loans modified in a TDR that were fully paid down, charged-off or foreclosed upon by period end are not reported.

The following table presents those loans modified into a TDR during year that subsequently defaulted (i.e., 90 days or more past due following a modification during the year).
20212020
(Dollars in thousands)Number of Contracts
Recorded Investment (a)
Impact on the Allowance for Credit LossesNumber of ContractsRecorded Investment (a)Impact on the Allowance for Credit Losses
Commercial real estate, other— $— $— 1 $54 $— 
Residential real estate3 156 — — — — 
Consumer, indirect1 26 — 1 15 — 
Total4 $182 $— 2 $69 $— 
(a) The amounts shown are inclusive of all partial paydowns and charge-offs. Loans modified in a TDR that were fully paid down, charged-off or foreclosed upon by period end are not reported.
Peoples had no commitments to lend additional funds to the related borrowers whose loan terms have been modified in a TDR.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Changes in the allowance for credit losses for 2021 are summarized below:
(Dollars in thousands)Beginning Balance,
December 31, 2020		Initial Allowance for Acquired Purchased Credit Deteriorated AssetsProvision for (Recovery of) Credit Losses (a)Charge-offsRecoveries
Ending Balance, December 31, 2021
Construction$1,887 $2,006 $(894)$— $— $2,999 
Commercial real estate, other17,536 9,636 2,158 (387)204 29,147 
Commercial and industrial12,763 4,048 (4,717)(1,057)26 11,063 
Premium finance1,095 — (671)(45)— 379 
Leases— 4935,399 (1,434)339 4,797 
Residential real estate6,044 1,206 225 (385)143 7,233 
Home equity lines of credit1,860 66 235 (197)41 2,005 
Consumer, indirect8,030 — (1,201)(1,756)253 5,326 
Consumer, direct1,081 115 (195)(152)112 961 
Deposit account overdrafts63 — 392 (575)177 57 
Total$50,359 $17,570 $731 $(5,988)$1,295 $63,967 
(a) Amount does not include the provision for unfunded commitment liability.
Changes in the allowance for credit losses for 2020 are summarized below:
(Dollars in thousands)Beginning Balance,
January 1, 2020		Impact of CECL Implementation for Purchased Credit Deteriorated AssetsProvision for Credit Losses (a)Charge-offsRecoveriesEnding Balance, December 31, 2020
Construction$600 $51 $1,236 $— $— $1,887 
Commercial real estate, other7,193 1,356 9,315 (528)200 17,536 
Commercial and industrial4,960 860 5,987 (1,565)2,521 12,763 
Premium finance— — 1,098 (3)— 1,095 
Residential real estate3,977 383 1,735 (353)302 6,044 
Home equity lines of credit1,570 2 379 (103)12 1,860 
Consumer, indirect5,389 — 4,262 (1,923)302 8,030 
Consumer, direct856 34 329 (187)49 1,081 
Deposit account overdrafts94 — 456 (673)186 63 
Total$24,639 $2,686 $24,797 $(5,335)$3,572 $50,359 
(a)Amount does not include the provision for unfunded commitment liability.
During 2021, the increase in allowance for credit loss was largely due to the Premier and North Star Leasing acquisitions, and the related need to establish an allowance for credit losses on those portfolios, coupled with organic growth in loan balances. The North Star Leasing acquisition added $3.3 million in allowance for credit losses at the acquisition date, of which $0.5 million was established for purchased credit deteriorated loans as part of the acquisition accounting, and the remainder was established using provision for credit losses. The Premier acquisition added $28.6 million to the allowance for credit losses during the third quarter of 2021, of which $16.9 million was established for purchased credit deteriorated loans as part of the acquisition accounting, and the remainder was established using provision for credit losses. Also during 2021, economic factors and loss drivers improved compared to 2020, and had a positive impact on the CECL model. The allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans decreased slightly during 2021, compared to 2020. There were no purchased credit deteriorated loans acquired in the acquisition of Premium Finance.
As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had recorded an unfunded commitment liability of $2.5 million, a decrease compared to the $2.9 million that was recorded as of December 31, 2020. The allowance for unfunded commitments (also referred to as "unfunded commitment liability") is presented in the “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During 2021, Peoples recorded a recovery of credit losses on unfunded commitments of $360,000, compared to a provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments of $1.4 million for 2020. The change in the allowance for unfunded commitments is reflected in the "Provision for credit losses" line of the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Note 5 Bank Premises and Equipment
The major categories of bank premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, at December 31 are summarized as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Land$19,921 $15,035 
Building and premises101,234 74,807 
Furniture, fixtures and equipment36,319 32,482 
Total bank premises and equipment157,474 122,324 
Accumulated depreciation(68,214)(62,230)
Net book value$89,260 $60,094 
Peoples depreciates its building and premises, and furniture, fixtures and equipment over estimated useful lives generally ranging from five to forty to years and two to ten years, respectively.  Depreciation expense was $6.1 million in 2021 and $6.0 million in 2020.

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Note 6 Leases
Lessor Arrangements
Leases originated by Peoples, that Peoples has the positive intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or to maturity or payoff, are reported at the net investment of the lease, net of initial direct costs, charge-offs and an allowance for credit losses. Peoples considers leases past due if any required principal or interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were required to be made under the terms of the lease agreement. Upon detection of the reduced ability of a lessee to meet cash flow obligations, leases are typically charged down to the net realizable value, with the residual balance placed on nonaccrual status. Leases deemed to be uncollectable are charged against the allowance for credit losses, while recoveries of previously charged-off amounts are credited to the allowance for credit losses.
Peoples began originating leases with the acquisition of leases from NSL. The leases acquired were determined to be sales-type leases, as the premise for the leases is dollar buy-out, whereby the lessee pays one dollar at maturity of the lease to purchase the equipment. Originated leases continue to be classified as sales-type leases. As a lessor, Peoples originates commercial equipment leases either directly to the customer or indirectly through vendor programs. Equipment leases consist of automotive, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, office, restaurant, and other equipment. These sales-type leases do not typically contain residual value guarantees; however, if a lease contains a residual value guarantee, Peoples reduces its residual asset risk by obtaining a security deposit from the lessee. Other non-interest income noted in the table below includes gain on the early termination of leases, syndicated leases, and other fees. Additional information regarding Peoples' sales-type leases can be found in "Note 4 Loans and Leases".
The table below details Peoples' lease income at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)2021
Interest and fees on leases (a)$13,572 
Other non-interest income1,293 
Total lease income$14,865 
(a)Included in "Interest and fees on loans" on the Consolidated Statements of Income. For additional
information, see "Note 4 Loans and Leases" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the net investments in sales-type leases, which are included in "Loans and leases, net of deferred costs" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)2021
Lease payments receivable, at amortized cost$152,202 
Estimated residual values129 
Initial direct costs1,427 
Deferred revenue(31,250)
Total leases, at amortized cost122,508 
Allowance for credit losses - leases(4,797)
Net investment in sales-type leases$117,711 
The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of leases:
(Dollars in thousands)Balance
2022$54,090 
202342,991 
202429,620 
202517,861 
20266,759 
Thereafter881 
Lease payments receivable, at amortized cost$152,202 
Lessee Arrangements
Peoples leases certain banking facilities and equipment under various agreements with original terms providing for fixed monthly payments over periods generally ranging from two to thirty years.  Certain leases may include options to extend or terminate the lease. Only those renewal and termination options which Peoples is reasonably certain of exercising are included in the calculation of the

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lease liability. Certain leases contain rent escalation clauses calling for rent increases over the term of the lease, which are included in the calculation of the lease liability.  Short-term leases of certain facilities and equipment, with lease terms of 12 months or less, are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. At December 31, 2021, Peoples did not have any finance leases or any significant lessor agreements. Right of Use ("ROU") assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement or remeasurement date of a lease based on the present value of lease payments over the remaining lease term. Operating lease ROU assets include lease payments made at or before the commencement date and initial indirect costs. Operating lease ROU assets exclude lease incentives and nonlease components.
The table below details Peoples' lease expense, which is included in "Net occupancy and equipment expense" in the Consolidated Statements of Income at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Operating lease expense$1,632 $1,308 
Short-term lease expense411 322 
Total lease expense$2,043 $1,630 
Peoples utilizes an incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of lease payments for each lease, as the lease agreements do not provide an implicit rate. The estimated incremental borrowing rate reflects a secured rate and is based on the term of the lease and the interest rate environment at the lease commencement or remeasurement date.
The following table details the ROU asset, the lease liability and other information related to Peoples' operating leases on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Right-of-use asset:
Other assets$7,911 $6,522 
Lease liability:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities$8,674 $6,776 
Other information:
Weighted-average remaining lease term9.5 years12.4 years
Weighted-average discount rate2.36 %3.14 %
Cash paid during the year for operating leases$1,585 $1,260 
Additions for right-of-use assets obtained during the year ended$2,482 $62 
The following table summarizes the future lease payments of operating leases:
(Dollars in thousands)Payments
 2022
$2,287 
 2023
1,766 
 2024
956 
2025
766 
2026
589 
Thereafter3,806 
Total undiscounted lease payments$10,170 
Imputed interest(1,496)
Total lease liability$8,674 

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Note 7 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill
The following table details changes in the recorded amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Goodwill, beginning of year$171,260 $165,701 
Goodwill recorded from acquisitions92,933 5,559 
Goodwill, end of year$264,193 $171,260 
Peoples performed a qualitative assessment of goodwill as of October 1, 2021, and concluded it was not more likely than not that the fair value of Peoples' reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.
On April 1, 2021, Peoples preliminarily recorded $24.7 million of goodwill related to the acquisition of NSL. On May 4, 2021, Peoples Insurance recorded $46,000 of goodwill from the acquisition of an insurance agency. On September 17, 2021, Peoples completed the merger with Premier, for which Peoples preliminarily recorded $68.2 million of goodwill.
On January 1, 2020, Peoples Insurance acquired a property and casualty-focused independent insurance agency, for which Peoples recorded $0.1 million of goodwill. On July 1, 2020, Peoples completed its acquisition of Triumph Premium Finance, for which Peoples recorded $5.5 million of goodwill. For additional information on these acquisitions, refer to "Note 20 Acquisitions."
Other intangible assets
Other intangible assets were comprised of the following at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)Core DepositsCustomer RelationshipsTotal
2021
Gross intangibles$22,233 $12,495 $34,728 
Intangibles recorded from acquisitions (a)4,233 13,014 17,247 
Accumulated amortization(19,048)(9,603)(28,651)
Total acquisition-related intangibles$7,418 $15,906 $23,324 
Servicing rights2,218 
Indefinite-lived trade name intangible1,274 
Total other intangibles$26,816 
2020
Gross intangibles$22,233 $7,480 $29,713 
Intangibles recorded from acquisitions— 5,015 5,015 
Accumulated amortization(17,298)(6,579)(23,877)
Total acquisition-related intangibles$4,935 $5,916 $10,851 
Servicing rights2,486 
Total other intangibles$13,337 
(a)Peoples included in customer relationship intangibles an intangible asset related to a non-compete agreement in the
amount of $0.3 million
Peoples performed other intangible assets impairment testing as of October 1, 2021 and concluded there was no impairment in the recorded value of other intangible assets as of October 1, 2021. During the annual impairment test, Peoples assessed qualitative factors, including relevant events and circumstances, to determine that it was more-likely-than-not that the fair value of other intangible assets exceeded the carrying value.
Other intangible assets recorded from the above mentioned acquisitions in 2021 were $12.7 million of customer relationship intangible assets and $4.2 million of core deposit intangible assets. Refer to "Note 20 Acquisitions" for additional information. Other intangible assets recorded in 2020 included $5.0 million of customer relationship intangible assets from the Premium Finance and Peoples Insurance acquisitions.

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The following table details estimated aggregate future amortization of other intangible assets at December 31, 2021:
(Dollars in thousands)Core DepositsCustomer RelationshipsTotal
2022$1,620 $4,014 $5,634 
20231,257 3,712 4,969 
20241,058 2,733 3,791 
2025891 1,941 2,832 
2026731 1,369 2,100 
Thereafter1,861 2,137 3,998 
Total$7,418 $15,906 $23,324 
The weighted average amortization period of other intangibles is 9.6 years.
The following is an analysis of activity of servicing rights for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Balance, beginning of year$2,486 $2,742 $2,655 
Amortization(775)(1,121)(871)
Servicing rights originated519 1,026 958 
Servicing rights acquired— — — 
Valuation allowance(12)(161)— 
Balance, end of year$2,218 $2,486 $2,742 
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, Peoples recorded a valuation allowance of $12,000 and $161,000 related to the decrease in the fair value of servicing rights.
The following is the breakdown of the discount rates and prepayment speeds of servicing rights for the years ended December 31:
20212020
Minimum MaximumMinimumMaximum
Discount rates8.3 %10.8 %8.3 %10.8 %
Prepayment speeds8.9 %27.1 %12.8 %21.1 %
The fair value of servicing rights was $2.6 million at both December 31, 2021 and 2020.

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Note 8 Deposits
Peoples’ deposit balances were comprised of the following at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Retail CDs:  
$100 or more$320,574 $220,532 
Less than $100323,185 225,398 
Total retail CDs643,759 445,930 
Interest-bearing deposit accounts1,167,460 692,113 
Savings accounts1,036,738 628,190 
Money market deposit accounts651,169 591,373 
Governmental deposit accounts617,259 385,384 
Brokered deposit accounts104,745 170,146 
Total interest-bearing deposits4,221,130 2,913,136 
Non-interest-bearing deposits1,641,422 997,323 
Total deposits$5,862,552 $3,910,459 
Time deposits that met or exceeded the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") limit of $250,000, or otherwise uninsured, were $121.3 million and $89.0 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and are broken out below by time remaining until maturity.
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
3 months or less$23,779 $27,857 
Over 3 to 6 months26,964 20,441 
Over 6 to 12 months34,434 8,229 
Over 12 months36,115 32,424 
Total$121,292 $88,951 
The contractual maturities of CDs and brokered demand and savings deposits for each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)RetailBrokeredTotal
2022 (a)$453,610 $104,252 $557,862 
202377,311 493 77,804 
202464,471 — 64,471 
202521,676 — 21,676 
202626,553 — 26,553 
Thereafter138 — 138 
Total CDs$643,759 $104,745 $748,504 
(a) Brokered includes $100.0 million of brokered demand and savings deposits.
Deposits from related parties were $12.6 million and $11.5 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had thirteen effective interest rate swaps, with an aggregate notional value of $125.0 million, of which $85.0 million were funded by brokered demand deposits. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Peoples terminated three interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional value of $25.0 million, of which $15 million were brokered deposits that were not immediately terminated, but instead allowed to mature. Brokered deposits used to fund interest rate swaps are expected to be extended every 90 days through the maturity dates of the swaps. Additional information regarding Peoples' interest rate swaps can be found in "Note 15 Derivative Financial Instruments."

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Note 9 Short-Term Borrowings
Peoples utilizes various short-term borrowings as sources of funds, which are summarized as follows at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)Retail Repurchase Agreements
FHLB
Advances
OtherTotal
2021
Ending balance$111,482 $55,000 $— $166,482 
Average balance70,674 30,289 — 100,963 
Highest month-end balance119,693 65,017 — 184,693 
Interest expense$66 $475 $— $541 
Weighted-average interest rate:  
End of year0.09 %0.74 %— %0.31 %
During the year0.09 %1.57 %— %0.54 %
2020
Ending balance$53,261 $20,000 $— $73,261 
Average balance44,902 129,928 1,803 176,633 
Highest month-end balance53,261 235,989 64,000 279,773 
Interest expense$77 $2,489 $5 $2,571 
Weighted-average interest rate:  
End of year0.06 %1.78 %— %0.53 %
During the year0.17 %1.92 %0.25 %1.46 %
2019
Ending balance$42,968 $274,009 $— $316,977 
Average balance46,686 197,987 126 244,799 
Highest month-end balance49,081 274,009 2,200 316,977 
Interest expense$257 $4,455 $— $4,712 
Weighted-average interest rate:  
End of year0.37 %1.74 %— %1.55 %
During the year0.57 %2.25 %— %1.92 %
Peoples’ retail Repurchase Agreements consist of overnight agreements with Peoples’ commercial customers and serve as a cash management tool.
The FHLB advances consist of overnight borrowings, 90-day advances used to fund interest rate swaps, other advances with an original maturity of one year or less, and the current portion of long-term advances due in less than one year. These advances, along with the long-term advances disclosed in "Note 10 Long-Term Borrowings," are collateralized by residential mortgage loans and investment securities. Peoples’ borrowing capacity with the FHLB is based on the amount of collateral pledged and the amount of FHLB common stock owned. Peoples reclassified $15.0 million and $20.0 million of FHLB advances from long-term borrowings to short-term borrowings in 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to maturity dates of less than one year. Peoples' FHLB advances of $70.0 million and $163.0 million matured in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Other short-term borrowings consisted primarily of federal funds purchased and advances from the Federal Reserve Discount Window. Federal funds purchased are short-term borrowings from correspondent banks that typically mature within one to ninety days. Interest on federal funds purchased is set daily by the correspondent bank based on prevailing market rates. The Federal Reserve Discount Window provides credit facilities to financial institutions, which are designed to ensure adequate liquidity by providing a source of short-term funds. Federal Reserve Discount Window advances are typically overnight and must be secured by collateral acceptable to the FRB.  At December 31, 2021, Peoples had available Federal Reserve Discount Window credit of $174.4 million.
As of April 3, 2019, Peoples entered into a Loan Agreement (the “U.S. Bank Loan Agreement”) with U.S. Bank National Association. The U.S. Bank Loan Agreement has a one-year term, which was renewed as of April 1, 2021, and provides Peoples with a revolving line of credit in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million that may be used: (i) for working capital purposes; (ii) to finance dividends or other distributions (other than stock dividends and stock splits) on or in respect of Peoples’ capital stock and redemptions, repurchases or other acquisitions of any of Peoples’ capital stock permitted under the U.S. Bank Loan Agreement and (iii) to finance acquisitions permitted under the U.S. Bank Loan Agreement.

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The U.S. Bank Loan Agreement is unsecured, and contains certain negative and financial covenants. The financial covenants are applicable to Peoples and its subsidiaries, and are usual and customary for comparable transactions.
As of December 31, 2021, Peoples was in compliance with the applicable covenants imposed by the U.S. Bank Loan Agreement. The U.S. Bank Loan Agreement matures on March 31, 2022. Peoples is in the process of renewing this facility and expects that it will be renewed prior to its expiration.
Note 10 Long-Term Borrowings
Long-term borrowings consisted of the following at December 31:
 20212020
(Dollars in thousands)Balance
Weighted-
Average
Rate
Balance
Weighted-
Average
Rate
FHLB putable, non-amortizing, fixed rate advances$80,000 1.42 %$95,000 1.52 %
FHLB amortizing, fixed rate advances5,825 1.77 %7,957 1.75 %
Junior subordinated debt securities13,650 3.37 %7,611 4.25 %
Long-term borrowings$99,475 1.71 %$110,568 1.72 %
Peoples continually evaluates its overall balance sheet position given the interest rate environment. During 2021, Peoples did not borrow any additional long-term advances from the FHLB. At December 31, 2021, outstanding long-term FHLB non-amortizing advances, which have interest rates ranging from 0.77% to 3.20%, mature between 2026 and 2030. Outstanding long-term FHLB amortizing, fixed rate advances, which have interest rates ranging from 1.25% to 3.83%, mature between 2026 and 2031. Peoples also reclassified one long-term FHLB non-amortizing advance during 2021 totaling $15.0 million to short-term borrowings as the time to maturity became less than one year.
The FHLB putable, non-amortizing, fixed rate advances have maturities ranging from five to nine years that may be repaid prior to maturity, subject to the payment of termination fees. The FHLB has the option, at its sole discretion, to terminate each advance after the initial fixed rate period of three months, requiring full repayment of the advance by Peoples, prior to the stated maturity. If an advance is terminated prior to maturity, the FHLB will offer Peoples replacement funding at the then-prevailing rate on an advance product then offered by the FHLB, subject to normal FHLB credit and collateral requirements. These advances require monthly interest payments, with no repayment of principal until the earlier of either an option to terminate being exercised by the FHLB or the stated maturity.
The FHLB amortizing, fixed rate advances have a fixed rate for the term of each advance, with maturities ranging from five to ten years. These advances require monthly principal and interest payments, with some having a constant prepayment rate requiring an additional principal payment annually. These advances are not eligible for optional prepayment prior to maturity. Long-term FHLB advances are collateralized by assets owned by Peoples.
The “Junior subordinated debt securities” are comprised of two trust preferred securities assumed from two prior acquisitions. On March 6, 2015, Peoples completed its acquisition of NB&T Financial Group, Inc. (“NB&T”), which included a trust preferred security due in 2037 with a $9 million par value and a $6.6 million fair value at acquisition. As of December 31, 2021, this trust preferred security had a carrying value of $7.8 million with a yield of 3.52%, inclusive of the impact of fair value adjustments. On September 17, 2021, Peoples completed its acquisition of Premier, which included a trust preferred security due in 2034 with a $6.2 million par value and a $6.1 million fair value at acquisition. As of December 31, 2021, this trust preferred security had a carrying value of $5.9 million and a yield of 3.18%, inclusive of the impact of fair value adjustments. These trust preferred securities are considered tier 1 capital (with certain limitations applicable) under current regulatory guidelines.










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At December 31, 2021, the aggregate minimum annual retirements of long-term borrowings in future periods were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)BalanceWeighted-Average Rate (a)
2022$1,528 1.53 %
20231,150 1.49 %
2024856 1.46 %
2025627 1.42 %
202620,362 2.16 %
Thereafter74,952 1.47 %
Total long-term borrowings$99,475 1.61 %
(a)    The weighted-average rate includes the impact of accreting the current book value of the junior subordinated debt securities to face value over the period. The weighted-average rates for the FHLB advances are 1.72% in 2022, 1.73% in 2023, 1.74% in 2024, 1.76% in 2025, 2.16% in 2026, and 1.18% thereafter.

















Note 11 Stockholders’ Equity 

The following table details the activity in Peoples’ common stock and treasury stock during the years ended December 31: 
 Common StockTreasury
Stock
Shares at December 31, 201820,124,378601,289
Changes related to stock-based compensation awards:  
Grant of restricted common shares—(133,926)
Release of restricted common shares—19,174
Cancellation of restricted common shares—11,113
Grant of common shares—(5,130)
Changes related to deferred compensation plan for Boards of Directors:
Purchase of treasury stock—7,227
Disbursed out of treasury stock —(2,187)
Common shares purchased under repurchase program—26,427
Common shares issued under dividend reinvestment plan26,287—
Common shares issued under compensation plan for Boards of Directors—(6,755)
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan—(13,050)
Issuance of common shares related to acquisition of First Prestonsburg1,005,478—
Shares at December 31, 201921,156,143504,182
Changes related to stock-based compensation awards:  
Grant of restricted common shares—(128,402)
Release of restricted common shares—27,391
Cancellation of restricted common shares—33,689
Grant of common shares—(23,482)
Changes related to deferred compensation plan for Boards of Directors:
Purchase of treasury stock—12,005
Disbursed out of treasury stock —(2,362)
Common shares repurchased under repurchase program—1,299,577
Common shares issued under dividend reinvestment plan37,259—
Common shares issued under compensation plan for Boards of Directors—(11,553)
Common shares issued under performance unit awards—(6,127)
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan—(18,872)
Shares at December 31, 202021,193,4021,686,046
Changes related to stock-based compensation awards:  
Grant of restricted common shares—(109,385)
Release of restricted common shares—34,732
Cancellation of restricted common shares—8,129
Grant of common shares(21,587)
Changes related to deferred compensation plan for Boards of Directors:
Purchase of treasury stock—7,089
Disbursed out of treasury stock —(2,983)
Common shares issued under dividend reinvestment plan31,314—
Common shares issued under compensation plan for Boards of Directors—(7,589)
Common shares issued under performance unit awards——
Common shares issued under employee stock purchase plan—(17,093)
Issuance of common shares related to acquisition of Premier8,589,685—
Shares at December 31, 202129,814,4011,577,359
On January 28, 2021, Peoples' Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $30.0 million of Peoples' outstanding common shares, replacing the February 27, 2020 share repurchase program which
had authorized Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $40.0 million of its outstanding common shares. During 2021, Peoples did not repurchase any common shares under the share repurchase program authorized on January 28, 2021.
On February 27, 2020, Peoples' Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program authorizing Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $40.0 million of its outstanding common shares, replacing the previous share repurchase program which had authorized Peoples to purchase up to an aggregate of $20 million of its outstanding common shares. An aggregate of $6.3 million of Peoples' common shares were purchased under the previous share repurchase program from inception through its termination date, which was February 27, 2020. During 2020, Peoples purchased an aggregate of $29.3 million of its outstanding common shares, $843,000 of which were purchased under the previous share repurchase program and $28.5 million of which were purchased under the share repurchase program authorized on February 27, 2020 and later terminated on January 28, 2021.
During 2019, Peoples purchased an aggregate of 26,427 of its common shares through the then-authorized share repurchase program.
Under its Amended Articles of Incorporation, Peoples is authorized to issue up to 50,000 preferred shares, in one or more series, having such voting powers, designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as determined by Peoples' Board of Directors. At December 31, 2021, Peoples had no preferred shares issued or outstanding.
The following table details the cash dividends declared per common share for the year ended December 31:
20212020
First Quarter$0.35 $0.34 
Second Quarter0.36 0.34 
Third Quarter0.36 0.34 
Fourth Quarter0.36 0.35 
Total dividends declared$1.43 $1.37 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
The following details the change in the components of Peoples’ accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)Unrealized (Loss) Gain on SecuritiesUnrecognized Net Pension and Postretirement CostsUnrealized Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow HedgeAccumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Balance, December 31, 2018$(10,082)$(3,711)$860 $(12,933)
Reclassification adjustments to net income:
  Realized loss on sale of securities, net of tax(130)— — (130)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of reclassifications and tax15,512 (247)(3,627)11,638 
Balance, December 31, 2019$5,300 $(3,958)$(2,767)$(1,425)
Reclassification adjustments to net income:
  Realized gain on sale of securities, net of tax291 — — 291 
  Realized loss due to settlement and curtailment, net of tax— 833 — 833 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of reclassifications and tax9,001 (747)(6,617)1,637 
Balance, December 31, 2020$14,592 $(3,872)$(9,384)$1,336 
Reclassification adjustments to net income:
  Realized gain on sale of securities, net of tax670 — — 670 
  Realized loss due to settlement and curtailment, net of tax— 111 — 111 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of reclassifications and tax(21,208)1,880 5,592 (13,736)
Balance, December 31, 2021$(5,946)$(1,881)$(3,792)$(11,619)


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Note 12 Employee Benefit Plans 
Peoples sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that covers substantially all employees hired before January 1, 2010.  The plan provides retirement benefits based on an employee’s years of service and compensation.  For employees hired before January 1, 2003, the amount of postretirement benefit is based on the employee’s average monthly compensation over the highest five consecutive years out of the employee’s last ten years with Peoples while an eligible employee.  For employees hired on or after January 1, 2003, the amount of postretirement benefit is based on 2% of the employee’s annual compensation during the years 2003 through 2009 plus accrued interest.  Effective January 1, 2010, the pension plan was closed to new entrants.  Effective March 1, 2011, the accrual of pension plan benefits for all participants was frozen. Peoples recognized this freeze as a curtailment as of December 31, 2010 and March 1, 2011, under the terms of the pension plan. Effective July 1, 2013, a participant in the pension plan who is employed by Peoples may elect to receive or to commence receiving such person's retirement benefits as of the later of such person's normal retirement date or the first day of the month first following the date such person makes an election to receive his or her retirement benefits.
Peoples also provides post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to former employees and directors. Only those individuals who retired before January 27, 2012 were eligible for life insurance benefits. As of January 1, 2011, all retirees who desire to participate in the Peoples Bank medical plan do so by electing COBRA, which provides up to 18 months of coverage; retirees over the age of 65 also have the option to pay to participate in a group Medicare supplemental plan. Peoples only pays 100% of the cost for those individuals who retired before January 1, 1993. For all others, the retiree is responsible for most, if not all, of the cost of the health benefits.  Peoples’ policy is to fund the cost of the benefits as they arise.
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the benefit obligations and fair value of assets of the plans for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and a statement of the funded status as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:
 Pension BenefitsPost-retirement Benefits
(Dollars in thousands)2021202020212020
Change in benefit obligation:    
Obligation at January 1$12,310 $12,668 $71 $75 
Interest cost259 326 2 2 
Plan participants’ contributions— — 51 59 
Actuarial (gain) loss(1,367)1,708 1 6 
Benefit payments(220)(238)(63)(71)
Settlements(519)(2,154)— — 
Accumulated benefit obligation at December 31$10,463 $12,310 $62 $71 
Change in plan assets: 
Fair value of plan assets at January 1$10,852 $11,866 $— $— 
Actual return on plan assets1,605 1,378 — — 
Employer contributions— — 12 12 
Plan participants’ contributions— — 51 59 
Benefit payments(220)(238)(63)(71)
Settlements(519)(2,154)— — 
Fair value of plan assets at December 31$11,718 $10,852 $— $— 
Funded status at December 31$1,255 $(1,458)$(62)$(71)
Amounts recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Prepaid benefit costs$1,255 $— $— $— 
Accrued benefit liability$— $(1,458)$(62)$(71)
Net amount recognized$1,255 $(1,458)$(62)$(71)
Amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss:
Unrecognized prior service cost$— $— $— $— 
Unrecognized net loss (gain)1,861 3,918 (37)(39)
Total$1,861 $3,918 $(37)$(39)
Weighted-average assumptions at year-end:
Discount rate2.71 %2.38 %2.71 %2.38 %

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The estimated costs relating to Peoples’ pension benefits that will be amortized from AOCI into net periodic cost over the next fiscal year are $83,000.
Net Periodic (Benefit) Cost
The following table details the components of the net periodic (benefit) cost for the plans at December 31:
Pension BenefitsPost-retirement Benefits
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019202120202019
Interest cost$259 $326 $438 $2 $2 $3 
Expected return on plan assets(658)(747)(782)— — — 
Amortization of prior service credit— — — — — (1)
Amortization of net loss (gain)107 132 78 (4)(5)(5)
Settlement of benefit obligation143 1,054 — — — — 
Net periodic (benefit) cost$(149)$765 $(266)$(2)$(3)$(3)
Weighted-average assumptions:
Discount rate2.44 %2.53 %4.20 %2.38 %3.12 %4.20 %
Expected return on plan assets7.00 %7.50 %7.50 %n/an/an/a
Rate of compensation increasen/an/an/an/an/an/a
For measurement purposes, a 5.0% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care cost trend rate) was assumed for 2021 and grade down to an ultimate rate of 4.0% in 2070. The health care trend rate assumption does not have a significant effect on the contributory defined benefit postretirement plan; therefore, a one percentage point increase or decrease in the trend rate is not material in the determination of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation or the ongoing expense.
Under US GAAP, Peoples is required to recognize a settlement gain or loss when the aggregate amount of lump-sum distributions to participants equals or exceeds the sum of the service and interest cost components of the net periodic pension cost. The amount of settlement gain or loss recognized is the pro rata amount of the unrealized gain or loss existing immediately prior to the settlement. In general, both the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets are required to be remeasured in order to determine the settlement gain or loss.
There were $143,000 in settlement charges recorded in 2021, compared to $1.1 million recorded in 2020, and none recorded in 2019.
Determination of Expected Long-term Rate of Return
The expected long-term rate of return on the pension plan's total assets is based on a weighted average of the expected return of each category of the pension plan's assets. Peoples' investment strategy for the pension plan's assets continues to allocate 60%-75% to equity securities.
Plan Assets
Peoples' investment strategy, as established by Peoples' Retirement Plan Committee, is to invest assets of the pension plan based upon established target allocations, which include a target range of 60-75% allocation in equity securities, 20-40% in debt securities and 0-15% of other investments. The assets are reallocated periodically to meet the target allocations. The investment policy is reviewed periodically, under the advisement of a certified investment advisor, to determine if the policy should be changed.


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The following table provides the fair values of investments held in Peoples' pension plan at December 31, by major asset category:

(Dollars in thousands)Fair Value
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
2021  
Equity securities:
Mutual funds – equity
$8,516 $8,516 
Debt securities:
Mutual funds – taxable income
2,912 2,912 
Total fair value of pension assets$11,428 $11,428 
2020  
Equity securities:
Mutual funds – equity
$7,794 $7,794 
Debt securities:
Mutual funds – taxable income
2,898 2,898 
Total fair value of pension assets$10,692 $10,692 
Pension plan assets also included cash and cash equivalents of $284,000 and accrued income of $1,000 at December 31, 2021. Cash and cash equivalents were $152,000 and accrued income was $8,000 at December 31, 2020. For further information regarding levels of input used to measure fair value, refer to "Note 2 Fair Value of Financial Instruments."
Equity securities held as investments in Peoples' pension plan did not include any securities of Peoples or related parties in 2021 or 2020.
Cash Flows
Peoples expects to make between $10,000 to $15,000 of contributions to its pension plan in 2022; however, actual contributions are made at the discretion of the Retirement Plan Committee and Peoples' Board of Directors.
Estimated future benefit payments, which reflect benefits attributable to estimated future service, for the years ending December 31 are as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)Pension BenefitsPost-retirement Benefits
2022$1,429 $10 
2023858 9 
2024903 8 
2025652 7 
2026914 6 
2027 to 20313,199 19 
Total$7,955 $59 
Retirement Savings Plan
Peoples also maintains a retirement savings plan, or 401(k) plan, which covers substantially all employees. The plan provides participants with the opportunity to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis. From January 1, 2011, until December 31, 2019, matching contributions equaled 100% of participants' contributions that did not exceed 3% of the participants' compensation, plus 50% of participants' contributions between 3% and 5% of the participants' compensation. Matching contributions made by Peoples totaled $3.5 million in 2021, $2.5 million in 2020 and $2.0 million in 2019. Beginning January 1, 2020, Peoples began matching 100% of participants' contributions that did not exceed 4% of the participants' compensation, plus 50% of participants' contributions between 4% and 6% of the participants' compensation. As of January 1, 2021, Peoples began matching 100% of participants' contributions up to 6% of the participants' compensation.

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Note 13 Income Taxes
The reported income tax expense and effective tax rate in the Consolidated Statements of Income differ from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal corporate income tax rate as follows for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
AmountRateAmountRateAmountRate
Income tax computed at statutory federal corporate income tax rate$11,954 21.0 %$8,956 21.0 %$13,725 21.0 %
Differences in rate resulting from:
Nondeductible acquisition costs269 0.5 %— — %— — %
Stock awards74 0.1 %(5)— %(135)(0.2)%
Bank owned life insurance(371)(0.6)%(415)(1.0)%(510)(0.8)%
Investments in tax credit funds(381)(0.7)%(415)(1.0)%(530)(0.8)%
Captive insurance benefit(435)(0.8)%(412)(1.0)%— — %
Tax-exempt interest income(835)(1.5)%(668)(1.6)%(659)(1.0)%
Fixed asset depreciation(1,142)(2.0)%— — %— — %
Other, net 282 0.5 %838 2.1 %(228)(0.4)%
Income tax expense$9,415 16.5 %$7,879 18.5 %$11,663 17.8 %
Peoples' reported income tax expense consisted of the following for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Current income tax expense$6,541 $15,980 $11,554 
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)2,874 (8,101)109 
Income tax expense$9,415 $7,879 $11,663 
The significant components of Peoples' deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities consisted of the following at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Deferred tax assets:  
Allowance for credit losses$17,473 $13,819 
Accrued employee benefits2,161 2,706 
Lease obligation1,960 1,423 
Available-for-sale securities1,905 — 
Tax credit investments1,096 1,799 
Derivative instruments1,088 2,494 
Net operating loss carryforward223 — 
Other561 5 
Gross deferred tax assets$26,467 $22,246 
Valuation allowance$158 $— 
Total deferred tax assets$26,309 $22,246 
Deferred tax liabilities:  
Bank premises and equipment$3,838 $3,274 
Deferred loan income5,249 2,174 
Purchase accounting adjustments3,166 4,522 
Lease right-of-use assets1,788 1,370 
Available-for-sale securities— 3,886 
Other662 583 
Total deferred tax liabilities$14,703 $15,809 
Net deferred tax asset (liability)$11,606 $6,437 

As of December 31, 2021, Peoples acquired a net operating loss carryforward of approximately $0.3 million related to the Premier merger, net of a valuation allowance of $158,000, which will be available to offset future taxable income.

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The federal income tax benefit from sales of investment securities was $181,000 in 2021 and $77,000 in 2020. The federal income tax expense from sale of investment securities was $34,000 in 2019.
Income tax benefits are recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements for a tax position only if it is considered "more-likely-than-not" of being sustained in an audit, based solely on the technical merits of the income tax position. If the recognition criteria are met, the amount of income tax benefits to be recognized are measured based on the largest income tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized on ultimate resolution of the tax position. The following table provides a reconciliation of uncertain tax positions at December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Uncertain tax positions, beginning of year$149 $250 
Gross increase based on tax positions related to current year$— $12 
Gross decrease due to the statute of limitations$(43)$(113)
Uncertain tax positions, end of year$106 $149 
Peoples is subject to U.S. federal income tax, as well as to tax in various state income tax jurisdictions. Peoples' income tax returns are subject to review and examination by federal and state taxing authorities. Peoples is currently open to audit under the applicable statutes of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service for the years ended December 31, 2018 through 2020. The years open to examination by state taxing authorities vary by jurisdiction.

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Note 14 Earnings Per Common Share 
The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands, except per common share data)202120202019
Net income available to common shareholders$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Less: Dividends paid on unvested shares(295)(367)(348)
Add: Undistributed earnings (loss) allocated to unvested shares(26)(5)(47)
Net earnings allocated to common shareholders$47,234 $34,395 $53,300 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding21,816,511 19,721,772 20,120,119 
Effect of potentially dilutive common shares143,372 122,034 153,606 
Total weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding21,959,883 19,843,806 20,273,725 
Earnings per common share:
Basic$2.17 $1.74 $2.65 
Diluted$2.15 $1.73 $2.63 
Anti-dilutive common shares excluded from calculation:
Restricted shares275 64,145 — 

Note 15 Derivative Financial Instruments
Peoples utilizes interest rate swap agreements as part of its asset/liability management strategy to help manage its interest rate risk position. The notional amount of the interest rate swaps does not represent amounts exchanged by the parties. The amount exchanged is determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the individual interest rate swap agreements. The fair value of derivative financial instruments is included in "Other assets" and "Accrued expenses and other liabilities" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in the net other adjustments to reconcile net income to "Net cash provided by operating activities" in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities – Risk Management Objective of Using Derivative Financial Instruments
Peoples is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. Peoples principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. Peoples manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk, primarily by managing the amount, sources and duration of its assets and liabilities. Peoples also manages interest rate risk through the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, Peoples enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known or expected cash amounts, the values of which are determined by interest rates. Peoples’ derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing and duration of Peoples' known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to certain variable rate borrowings. Peoples also has interest rate derivative financial instruments that result from a service provided to certain qualifying customers and, therefore, are not used to manage interest rate risk in Peoples' assets or liabilities. Peoples manages a matched book with respect to customer-related derivative financial instruments in order to minimize its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.
Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
Peoples' objectives in using interest rate derivative financial instruments are to add stability to interest income and expense, and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish these objectives, Peoples has entered into interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. These interest rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges and involve the receipt of variable rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for Peoples making fixed payments. As of December 31, 2021, Peoples had entered into thirteen interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional value of $125.0 million. Peoples will pay a fixed rate of interest for up to ten years while receiving a floating rate component of interest equal to the three-month LIBOR rate. The interest received on the floating rate component is intended to offset the interest paid on rolling three-month brokered CDs and brokered demand deposits, which will continue to be rolled through the life of the swaps. At December 31, 2021, the interest rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges of $85.0 million in brokered demand deposits, which are expected to be extended every 90 days through the maturity dates of the swaps. The remaining $40.0 million of interest rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges of 90-day FHLB Advances. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Peoples terminated three interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional value of $25.0 million which were designated as cash flow hedges. The terminations resulted in a pre-tax loss of $0.2 million. The associated

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$10.0 million in FHLB advances and $15.0 million in brokered demand deposits were not immediately terminated but instead allowed to mature.
For derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the effective and ineffective portions of changes in the fair value of each derivative financial instrument is reported in AOCI (outside of earnings), net of tax, and are reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made or received on Peoples' variable-rate liabilities. Peoples assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing the changes in cash flows of the hedging derivative financial instrument with the changes in cash flows of the designated hedged transaction. The reset dates and the payment dates on the 90-day advances or brokered CDs are matched to the reset dates and payment dates on the receipt of the three-month LIBOR floating portion of the swaps to ensure effectiveness of the cash flow hedge. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Peoples had reclassifications of loss to earnings of $3.5 million and gains to interest expense of $2.0 million, respectively.
The following table summarizes information about the interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges at December 31:
 (Dollars in thousands)
20212020
Notional amount$125,000 $160,000 
Weighted average pay rates2.26 %2.18 %
Weighted average receive rates1.10 %0.38 %
Weighted average maturity3.6 years4.4 years
Pre-tax unrealized losses included in AOCI(4,879)(11,879)
The following table presents net losses or gains recorded in AOCI and in the Consolidated Statements of Income related to the cash flow hedges for the years ended December 31:
 (Dollars in thousands)
20212020
Amount of loss recognized in AOCI, pre-tax$6,999 $8,376 
The following table reflects the cash flow hedges, which are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value, at December 31:
20212020
 (Dollars in thousands)
Notional AmountFair ValueNotional AmountFair Value
Included in "Accrued expenses and other liabilities":
Interest rate swaps related to debt$125,000 $5,020 $160,000 $12,063 
Total included in "Accrued expenses and other liabilities"$125,000 $5,020 $160,000 $12,063 
Non-Designated Hedges
Peoples maintains an interest rate protection program for commercial loan customers, which was established in 2010. Under this program, Peoples originates variable rate loans with interest rate swaps, where the customer enters into an interest rate swap with Peoples on terms that match the terms of the loan. By entering into the interest rate swap with the customer, Peoples effectively provides the customer with a fixed rate loan while creating a variable rate asset for Peoples. Peoples offsets its exposure in the swap by entering into an offsetting interest rate swap with an unaffiliated institution. These interest rate swaps do not qualify as designated hedges; therefore, each swap is accounted for as a standalone derivative financial instrument. These interest rate swaps did not have a material impact on Peoples' results of operation or financial condition at the year ended December 31,2021 and 2020.

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The following table reflects the non-designated hedges, which are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value, at December 31:
20212020
 (Dollars in thousands)
Notional AmountFair ValueNotional AmountFair Value
Included in "Other assets":
Interest rate swaps related to commercial loans$419,733 $12,163 $415,044 $27,332 
Total included in "Other assets"419,733 12,163 415,044 27,332 
Included in "Accrued expenses and other liabilities":
Interest rate swaps related to commercial loans$419,733 $12,163 $415,044 $27,332 
Total included in "Accrued expenses and other liabilities"419,733 12,163 415,044 27,332 
Pledged Collateral
Peoples pledges or receives collateral for all interest swaps. When the fair value of Peoples' interest rate swaps are in a net liability position, Peoples must pledge collateral, and, when the fair value of Peoples' interest rate swaps are in a net asset position, the respective counterparties must pledge collateral. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Peoples had $28.1 million and zero, respectively, in investment securities pledged. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Peoples had zero and $41.0 million, respectively, of cash pledged. Cash pledged is included in "Interest-bearing deposits in other banks" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Investment securities pledged are included in "Available-for-sale investment securities" and "Held-to-maturity investment securities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note 16 Off-Balance Sheet Risk
Loan Commitments and Standby Letters of Credit
Loan commitments are made to accommodate the financial needs of Peoples' customers. Standby letters of credit are instruments issued by Peoples Bank guaranteeing the beneficiary payment by Peoples Bank in the event of default by Peoples Bank's customer in the nonperformance of an obligation or service. Historically, most loan commitments and standby letters of credit expire unused. Peoples' exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counter-party to the financial instrument for loan commitments and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. Peoples uses the same underwriting standards in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The amount of collateral obtained is based on management's credit evaluation of the customer. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable; inventory; property, plant, and equipment; and income-producing commercial properties.
The total amounts of loan commitments and standby letters of credit at December 31 were:
 (Dollars in thousands)
20212020
Home equity lines of credit$177,262 $117,792 
Unadvanced construction loans227,135 141,009 
Other loan commitments577,170 535,250 
Loan commitments981,567 794,051 
Standby letters of credit$12,805 $14,342 

Note 17 Regulatory Matters
The following is a summary of certain regulatory matters affecting Peoples and its subsidiaries:
Federal Reserve Board Requirements
Peoples Bank is required to maintain a minimum level of reserves, consisting of cash on hand and non-interest-bearing balances with the FRB of Cleveland, based on the amount of total deposits. Average required reserve balances were $0 and $3.7 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Limits on Dividends
The primary source of funds for the dividends paid by Peoples is dividends received from Peoples Bank. The payment of dividends by Peoples Bank is subject to various banking regulations. The most restrictive provision requires regulatory approval if dividends declared in any calendar year exceed the total net profits of that year plus the retained net profits of the preceding two years.

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At December 31, 2021, Peoples Bank had approximately $33.6 million of net profits available for distribution to Peoples as dividends without regulatory approval.
Capital Requirements
Peoples and Peoples Bank are subject to various regulatory capital guidelines administered by the banking regulatory agencies. Under capital adequacy requirements and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, Peoples and Peoples Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of each entity's assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Peoples' and Peoples Bank's capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. Failure to meet future minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by the regulators that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on Peoples' financial results.
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy, and in effect at December 31, 2021, required Peoples and Peoples Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of common equity tier 1 capital, tier 1 capital and total capital (each as defined in the applicable regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of tier I capital (as defined) to average assets (as defined). Peoples and Peoples Bank met all capital adequacy requirements at December 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2021, the most recent notification from the banking regulatory agencies categorized Peoples Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action applicable to Peoples Bank. Peoples maintained the capital required by the Federal Reserve Board to be deemed well capitalized and remain a financial holding company. To be categorized as well capitalized, Peoples and Peoples Bank must maintain minimum common equity tier 1, tier 1 risk-based, total risk-based and tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the table below. There are no conditions or events since this notification that management believes have changed Peoples' or Peoples Bank's category.
Peoples' and Peoples Bank's actual capital amounts and ratios as of December 31 are also presented in the following table:
 20212020
(Dollars in thousands)AmountRatioAmountRatio
PEOPLES    
Common Equity Tier 1 (a)
Actual$577,565 12.52 %$409,400 13.01 %
For capital adequacy207,642 4.50 %141,605 4.50 %
To be well capitalized299,927 6.50 %204,540 6.50 %
Tier 1 (b)
Actual$591,215 12.81 %$417,011 13.25 %
For capital adequacy276,856 6.00 %188,806 6.00 %
To be well capitalized369,141 8.00 %251,741 8.00 %
Total Capital (c)
    
Actual$648,948 14.06 %$456,384 14.50 %
For capital adequacy369,141 8.00 %251,741 8.00 %
To be well capitalized461,426 10.00 %314,677 10.00 %
Tier 1 Leverage (d)
Actual$591,215 8.67 %$417,011 8.97 %
For capital adequacy272,916 4.00 %186,049 4.00 %
To be well capitalized341,145 5.00 %232,561 5.00 %
Capital Conservation Buffer$279,807 6.06 %$204,643 6.50 %
Fully phased in115,356 2.50 %78,669 2.50 %
Net Risk-Weighted Assets$4,614,259 $3,146,767 

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 20212020
(Dollars in thousands)AmountRatioAmountRatio
PEOPLES BANK
Common Equity Tier 1 (a)
Actual$566,594 12.30 %$395,753 12.58 %
For capital adequacy207,318 4.50 %141,513 4.50 %
To be well capitalized299,460 6.50 %204,408 6.50 %
Tier 1 (b)
Actual$566,594 12.30 %$395,753 12.58 %
For capital adequacy276,424 6.00 %188,684 6.00 %
To be well capitalized368,566 8.00 %251,579 8.00 %
Total Capital (c)
Actual$624,238 13.55 %$435,101 13.84 %
For capital adequacy368,566 8.00 %251,579 8.00 %
To be well capitalized460,707 10.00 %314,473 10.00 %
Tier 1 Leverage (d)
Actual$566,594 8.32 %$395,753 12.58 %
For capital adequacy272,284 4.00 %185,845 4.00 %
To be well capitalized340,355 5.00 %232,306 5.00 %
Capital Conservation Buffer$255,672 5.55 %$183,522 5.84 %
Fully phased in 115,177 2.50 %78,618 2.50 %
Net Risk-Weighted Assets$4,607,072 $3,144,734 
(a) Ratio represents common equity tier 1 capital to net risk-weighted assets
(b) Ratio represents tier 1 capital to net risk-weighted assets
(c) Ratio represents total capital to net risk-weighted assets
(d) Ratio represents tier 1 capital to average assets

Note 18 Stock-Based Compensation 
Under the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan (the "2006 Equity Plan"), Peoples may grant, among other awards, nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted common share awards, stock appreciation rights, performance units and unrestricted common share awards to employees and non-employee directors. The total number of common shares available under the 2006 Equity Plan is 891,340.  The maximum number of common shares that can be issued for incentive stock options is 500,000 common shares. Since February 2009, Peoples has granted restricted common shares to employees, and periodically to non-employee directors, subject to the terms and conditions prescribed by the 2006 Equity Plan. Additionally, in 2017, Peoples granted performance units to certain officers. In general, common shares issued in connection with stock-based awards are issued from treasury shares to the extent available.  If no treasury shares are available, common shares are issued from authorized but unissued common shares.
Restricted Common Shares
 Under the 2006 Equity Plan, Peoples may award restricted common shares to officers, key employees and non-employee directors.  In general, the restrictions on the restricted common shares awarded to employees expire after periods ranging from one to five years. Since 2018, common shares awarded to non-employee directors have vested immediately upon grant with no restrictions. In 2021, Peoples granted an aggregate of 77,094 restricted common shares subject to performance-based vesting to officers and key employees with restrictions that will lapse three years after the grant date; provided that in order for the restricted common shares to vest in full, Peoples must have reported positive net income and maintained a well-capitalized status by regulatory standards for each of the three fiscal years preceding the vesting date. During 2021, Peoples granted, to certain key employees, an aggregate of 32,291 restricted common shares subject to time-based vesting, the majority of which will vest three years after the grant date.


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The following summarizes the changes to Peoples’ outstanding restricted common shares for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Time-Based VestingPerformance-Based Vesting
 Number of Common SharesWeighted-Average Grant Date Fair ValueNumber of Common SharesWeighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at January 167,758 $23.71 250,992 $33.36 
Awarded32,291 32.45 77,094 31.48 
Released(10,127)$35.54 (73,611)$35.43 
Forfeited(1,000)32.48 (7,129)32.42 
Outstanding at December 3188,922 $25.44 247,346 $32.19 
The total intrinsic value of restricted common shares released was $2.6 million, $2.0 million and $1.8 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
Peoples recognizes stock-based compensation, which is included as a component of Peoples’ salaries and employee benefit costs, for restricted common shares and performance unit awards, as well as purchases made by participants in the employee stock purchase plan. For restricted common shares, Peoples recognizes stock-based compensation based on the estimated fair value of the awards expected to vest on the grant date. The estimated fair value is then expensed over the vesting period, which is normally three years. For performance unit awards, Peoples recognizes stock-based compensation, over the performance period, based on the portion of the awards that is expected to vest based on the expected level of achievement of the established performance goals. Peoples also has an employee stock purchase plan whereby employees can purchase Peoples' common shares at a discount of up to 15%. The following summarizes the amount of stock-based compensation and related tax benefit recognized for the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Employee stock-based compensation expense:
  Restricted common share grant expense$3,436 $3,556 $3,462 
  Employee stock purchase plan expense79 63 63 
  Performance stock unit (benefit) expense— (12)130 
  Total employee stock-based compensation expense3,515 3,607 3,655 
Non-employee director stock-based compensation expense375 340 308 
  Total stock-based compensation expense3,890 3,947 3,963 
Recognized tax benefit(867)(818)(832)
Net expense recognized$3,023 $3,129 $3,131 
Restricted common shares were the primary form of stock-based compensation awards granted by Peoples in 2021, 2020 and 2019. The fair value of restricted common share awards on the grant date is the market price of Peoples' common shares. Total unrecognized stock-based compensation related to unvested restricted common share awards was $2.6 million at December 31, 2021, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years. In 2021, the Board of Directors granted 4,347 unrestricted common shares to non-employee directors, with related stock-based compensation of $135,000.








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Note 19 Revenue
The following table details Peoples' revenue from contracts with customers for the year ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Insurance income:
     Commission and fees from sale of insurance policies (a)$12,819 $12,137 
     Fees related to third-party administration services (a)389 448 
     Performance-based commissions (b)2,044 1,457 
Trust and investment income (a)16,456 13,662 
Electronic banking income:
     Interchange income (a)14,254 11,160 
     Promotional and usage income (a)3,756 3,086 
Deposit account service charges:
     Ongoing maintenance fees for deposit accounts (a)3,807 3,573 
     Transactional-based fees (b)6,336 5,845 
Commercial loan swap fees (b)543 1,741 
Other non-interest income transactional-based fees (b)968 820 
Total$61,372 $53,929 
Timing of revenue recognition:
Services transferred over time$51,481 $44,066 
Services transferred at a point in time9,891 9,863 
Total$61,372 $53,929 
(a) Services transferred over time.
(b) Services transferred at a point in time.

Peoples records contract assets for income that has been recognized over a period of time for the fulfillment of performance obligations, but has not yet been received, related to electronic banking income. This income typically relates to bonuses for which Peoples is eligible, but will not receive until a certain time in the future. Peoples records contract liabilities for payments received for commission income related to the sale of insurance policies, for which the performance obligations have not yet been fulfilled. The contract liabilities are recognized as income over time, during the period in which the performance obligations are fulfilled, which is over the insurance policy period. Peoples also records contract liabilities for bonuses received related to electronic banking income, for which income is recognized during the period in which the performance obligations are fulfilled. The following table details the changes in Peoples' contract assets and contract liabilities for the period ended December 31, 2021:
(Dollars in thousands)Contract AssetsContract Liabilities
Balance, January 1, 2021$1,247 $5,224 
     Additional income receivable197 — 
     Receipt of income previously receivable(701)— 
     Recognition of income previously deferred— (413)
Balance, December 31, 2021$743 $4,811 
For more information on Peoples' revenue recognition policies, see "Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."
Note 20 Acquisitions
Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc.
On September 17, 2021, Peoples completed its merger with Premier. Premier merged into Peoples, and Premier’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Premier Bank, Inc., and Citizens Deposit Bank and Trust, Inc., which combined operate 48 branches in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., merged into Peoples’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank. As consideration, Premier shareholders were paid 0.58 common shares of Peoples for each full share of Premier that was owned at the acquisition date, resulting in the issuance of 8,589,685 common shares by Peoples, or $261.9 million. Peoples accounted for this transaction as a business combination under the acquisition method. Peoples completed the merger in an effort to diversify and expand its franchise, and further enhance its size and scale. Peoples believes the growth potential, and attractive market areas will benefit its future financial performance.

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Peoples recorded acquisition-related expenses of $19.5 million related to the Premier merger, which included $9.7 million in other non-interest expense; $5.1 million in professional fees; $3.8 million in salaries and employee benefit costs; $0.4 million in net occupancy and equipment expense, $0.2 million in marketing expense; $66,000 in net occupancy and equipment expense; $62,000 in data processing and software expense; and $54,000 in communication expense.
The estimated fair values below were considered preliminary as of December 31, 2021, and are subject to adjustment for up to one year after September 17, 2021. Valuations subject to change include, but are not limited to, loans, including the designation of such as PCD, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and certain other assets and other liabilities.
The following table provides the preliminary purchase price calculation as of the date of the merger with Premier, and the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values.
(Dollars in thousands)Unpaid Principal BalanceFair Value
Premier common shares14,811,200 
Number of common shares of Peoples issued for each common share of Premier0.58 
Price per Peoples common share, based at closing date$30.49 
Common share consideration261,899 
Cash paid in lieu of fractional common shares25 
Total consideration$261,924 
Net assets at fair value
Assets
Cash and due from banks$248,360 
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks1,025 
Total cash and cash equivalents249,385 
Available-for-sale investment securities551,953 
Other investment securities4,159 
Total investment securities556,112 
Loans:
  Construction97,262 96,051 
  Commercial real estate, other544,950 534,910 
  Commercial and industrial132,293 132,097 
  Residential real estate332,269 331,110 
  Home equity lines of credit46,969 45,887 
  Consumer21,083 21,636 
Total loans1,174,826 1,161,691 
Allowance for Credit Losses (on PCD Loans)(16,944)
Net loans1,144,747
Bank premises and equipment30,098 
Other intangible assets4,233 
OREO11,081 

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(Dollars in thousands)Unpaid Principal BalanceFair Value
Other assets27,335 
    Total assets$2,022,991 
Liabilities
Deposits:
Non-interest-bearing$733,157 
Interest-bearing1,018,387 
Total deposits1,751,544 
Short-term borrowings63,807 
Long-term borrowings6,070 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities7,813 
Total liabilities1,829,234 
Net assets193,757 
Goodwill$68,167 
The estimated fair values presented in the above table reflect additional information that was obtained during the three months ended December 31, 2021, which resulted in changes to certain fair value estimates made as of the date of acquisition. Adjustments to acquisition date estimated fair values are recorded during the period in which they occur and, as a result, previously recorded results have changed. The below table reflects the changes in the estimated fair value as they impact goodwill at December 31, 2021:
(Dollars in thousands)Change in fair value
Net assets
Cash and cash equivalents$(3,403)
Total investment securities(11,341)
Net loans10,857 
Bank premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation(3,737)
OREO(20)
Other assets7,664 
Deposits4,579 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities(1,777)
Change in goodwill$2,822 
The recorded goodwill associated with the Premier merger is related to expected synergies and operational efficiencies to be gained from the combination of Premier with Peoples' operations. None of the goodwill associated with the Premier merger is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The geographic locations of Premier will allow Peoples to continue to grow the loan and deposit portfolios, while also increasing Peoples' ability to penetrate the new markets with wealth management and insurance services, which should benefit Peoples in future periods. Additional information regarding other intangibles recognized in the acquisition can be found in "Note 7 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."
The following is a description of the methods used to determine the fair values of significant assets and liabilities presented above.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, balances due from other banks, interest-bearing deposits in other banks, federal funds sold and other short-term investments with original maturities of ninety days or less. The carrying amount for cash and due from banks is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Investment Securities: Fair values for investment securities are based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value estimates are based on observable inputs including quoted market prices for similar instruments, quoted market prices that are not in an active market or other inputs that are observable in the market. In the absence of observable inputs, fair value is estimated based on pricing models and/or discounted cash flow methodologies.
Loans: Fair values for loans were based on a discounted cash flow methodology that considered factors including the type of loan, related collateral, classification status, fixed or variable interest rate, term, amortization status and current discount rates. Loans were grouped together according to similar characteristics when applying various valuation techniques. The discount rates used for loans are based on current market rates at the acquisition date for new originations for comparable loans and include adjustments for liquidity. The discount rate does not include a factor for credit losses as that has been

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included as a reduction to the estimated cash flows. Fair values for loans that were individually assessed were based on third-party valuations.
Bank Premises and Equipment: The fair values of premises were based on a market approach, with third-party appraisals and broker opinions of value obtained for land, office and branch space.
OREO: The fair values of OREO were based on a market approach, with third-party appraisals and broker opinions of value obtained for land and buildings.
Customer Deposit Intangible: The customer deposit intangible represents the low cost of funding acquired core deposits provide relative to a marginal cost of funds. The fair value was estimated based on a discounted cash flow methodology that gave consideration to expected customer attrition rates, the net maintenance cost of the deposit base, the alternative cost of funds, and the interest costs associated with customer deposits. The customer deposit intangible is being amortized over 10 years based upon the period over which estimated economic benefits are estimated to be received.
Deposits: The fair values used for the demand and savings deposits equal the amount payable on demand at the acquisition date. The fair values for time deposits were estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates being offered at the acquisition date to the contractual interest rates on such time deposits.
Borrowings: Short-term borrowings consist of overnight repurchase agreements, and given their short-term nature book value approximated fair value. The fair values of long-term borrowings, including trust preferred securities, are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on incremental borrowing rates at acquisition date for similar types of instruments.
Loans acquired by Peoples in a business combination that have evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration, which includes loans that Peoples believes it is probable that Peoples will be unable to collect all contractually required payments, are considered "purchased credit deteriorated" loans. Acquired purchased credit deteriorated loans are reported net of the unamortized fair value adjustment. These loans are recorded at the purchase price, and an allowance for credit losses is determined based upon discrete credit marks, along with discounted cash flow models based upon similar pools of loans, using a similar methodology as for other loans. The following table details the fair value adjustment for acquired purchased credit deteriorated loans as of the acquisition date:
(Dollars in thousands)Par ValueAllowance for Credit LossesNon-Credit (Discount) PremiumFair Value
Purchased credit deteriorated loans
Construction$20,231 $(2,006)$(198)$18,027 
Commercial real estate, other105,185 (9,503)(2,184)93,498 
Commercial and industrial15,205 (4,048)241 11,398 
Residential real estate31,973 (1,206)(669)30,098 
Home equity lines of credit2,014 (66)(103)1,845 
Consumer1,614 (115)60 1,559 
Fair value$176,222 $(16,944)$(2,853)$156,425 
Peoples' operating results for 2021 include the operating results of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of Premier subsequent to the acquisition on September 17, 2021. Due to the conversion of Premier systems during the third quarter of 2021, as well as other streamlining and integration of the operating activities into those of Peoples, historical reporting for the former Premier operations is impracticable and the disclosures of revenue from the assets acquired and income before income taxes is impracticable for the period subsequent to the acquisition. The following table presents unaudited pro forma information as if the acquisition of Premier had occurred on January 1, 2020. The pro forma adjustments include any changes in interest income due to the accretion of discounts, or amortization of premiums, associated with the fair value adjustments to acquired loans, interest-bearing deposits, long-term borrowings, trust preferred securities and customer deposit intangibles that would have resulted had the assets and liabilities been acquired as of January 1, 2020. The pro forma information excludes Peoples' acquisition-related expenses, which primarily included, but were not limited to, salaries and employee benefit costs, severance costs, professional fees, marketing expenses and deconversion costs. Those acquisition-related expenses totaled $19.0 million and $0.9 million for 2021 and 2020, respectively. The pro forma information also excludes a provision of credit losses of $12.1 million recorded to establish an allowance for credit losses for non-purchased credit deteriorated loans of $11.7 million, and a liability for unfunded commitments of $0.4 million, both relating to the acquired loans. The pro forma information does not necessarily reflect the results of operations that would have occurred had Peoples acquired Premier on January 1, 2020. Additionally, cost savings and other business synergies related to the acquisition are not reflected in the pro forma amounts.

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Unaudited Pro Forma For
Twelve Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)December 31,
2021		December 31,
2020
Net interest income$240,143 $209,065 
Non-interest income79,540 72,118 
Net income91,394 58,663 
Pikeville, Kentucky Insurance Agency
On May 4, 2021, Peoples Insurance acquired substantially all of the assets and rights of an insurance agency located in Pikeville, Kentucky and certain rights to related customer accounts, which were previously developed and maintained by Justice & Stamper Insurance Agency, Inc. Total consideration for this transaction was $325,000. Peoples accounted for this transaction as a business combination under the acquisition method.
NS Leasing, LLC
Peoples Bank entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement, dated March 24, 2021 with NS Leasing, LLC, which is headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, and does business as “North Star Leasing”. The transaction closed after the end of business on March 31, 2021 and Peoples Bank began operating the acquired business as a division of Peoples Bank on April 1, 2021. Peoples Bank acquired assets comprising NSL’s equipment finance business and assumed from NSL certain specified liabilities for total cash consideration of $116.5 million, plus a potential earnout payment to NSL of up to $3.1 million. Peoples Bank acquired $83.3 million in leases and satisfied, on behalf of NSL, certain third-party debt in the amount of $69.1 million. NSL underwrites, originates and services equipment leases and equipment financing agreements to businesses throughout the United States. Peoples recorded preliminary goodwill in the amount of $24.7 million and preliminary other intangibles of $14.0 million, which included a customer relationship intangible, trade name intangible and non-compete agreements related to this transaction. Peoples recorded an additional $0.7 million in non-interest expense during the third and fourth quarters of 2021 related to an update to the estimated earn-out provision of $3.0 million. The bonus earn-out provision recorded by Peoples related to the NSL acquisition was determined based on a weighting of probability of outcomes, at present value. Peoples predominately weighted the outcomes of the factors at approximately 100% payout expectation of the base earn-out, which is $2.5 million in total. Adjusting weighting into the bonus earn-out expectation in the third and fourth quarter resulted in an additional $0.7 million of potential payout. NSL met the minimums for the base earn-out payment and the targets set at acquisition for a 100% payout of the base earn-out. As of December 31, 2021, leases had grown to $122.5 million. Peoples accounted for this transaction as a business combination under the acquisition method.
The recorded goodwill associated with the NSL acquisition is related to expected synergies and operational efficiencies to be gained from the combination of NSL with Peoples' operations. The employees retained from the NSL acquisition should allow Peoples to continue to grow the lease portfolio, along with Peoples' resources, and should benefit Peoples in future periods. During Peoples' evaluation of intangible assets, it was determined that an assembled workforce intangible asset was not separately recognizable and was included in goodwill.
The following table provides the preliminary purchase price calculation as of the date of acquisition for NSL and the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values.

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(Dollars in thousands)
Total purchase price (a)$118,846 
Net assets at fair value
Assets
Cash and due from banks$216 
Net leases82,833 
Bank premises and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation470 
Other intangible assets14,009 
Other assets1,225 
    Total assets$98,753 
Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities$4,627 
Total liabilities$4,627 
Net assets$94,126 
Goodwill$24,720 
(a) Includes preliminary contingent consideration related to the bonus earn-out provision of $2.3 million. Peoples recorded an additional $0.7 million in non-interest expense related to an update to the estimated earn-out provision.
Leases acquired by Peoples in a business combination that have evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration, which includes leases that Peoples believes it is probable that Peoples will be unable to collect all contractually required payments, are considered "purchased credit deteriorated" leases. These leases are recorded at the purchase price, and an allowance for credit losses is determined using the same methodology as for other leases. Acquired purchased credit deteriorated leases are reported net of the unamortized fair value adjustment.
The following table details the fair value adjustment for acquired purchased credit deteriorated leases as of the acquisition date:
(Dollars in thousands)NSL
Purchased credit deteriorated leases
Par value$5,248 
Allowance for credit losses(493)
Non-credit premium85 
Fair value$4,840 
Peoples recorded acquisition-related expenses related to the NSL acquisition which included $2.1 million in professional fees; $0.2 million in other non-interest expense; $3,000 in salaries and employee benefit costs; $3,000 in data processing and software expense; $2,000 in net occupancy and equipment expense; and $2,000 in marketing expense.




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Note 21 Parent Company Only Financial Information
Condensed Balance SheetsDecember 31,
(Dollars in thousands)20212020
Assets:  
Cash and due from other banks$50 $50 
Interest-bearing deposits in subsidiary bank15,202 14,313 
Due from subsidiary bank547 659 
Other investment securities220 225 
Investments in subsidiaries:
Bank834,037 561,870 
Non-bank12,278 11,771 
Other assets5,248 3,546 
Total assets$867,582 $592,434 
Liabilities:  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities$5,660 $6,253 
Dividends payable767 602 
Mandatorily redeemable capital securities of subsidiary trusts16,130 9,906 
Total liabilities22,557 16,761 
Total stockholders' equity845,025 575,673 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$867,582 $592,434 
Condensed Statements of IncomeYear Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Income:   
Dividends from subsidiary bank$29,000 $49,000 $37,000 
Dividends from non-bank subsidiary1,750 — — 
Interest and other income73 16 81 
Total income30,823 49,016 37,081 
Expense: 
Trust preferred securities expense367 373 534 
Intercompany management fees1,303 1,369 1,607 
Other expense5,675 5,376 5,432 
Total expense7,345 7,118 7,573 
Income before federal income taxes and equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries23,478 41,898 29,508 
Applicable income tax expense(1,295)(1,128)(1,670)
Equity in (excess dividends from) undistributed earnings of subsidiaries22,782 (8,259)22,517 
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 

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Statements of Cash FlowsYear Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)202120202019
Operating activities   
Net income$47,555 $34,767 $53,695 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net6,224 161 168 
(Equity in) excess dividends from undistributed earnings of subsidiaries(22,782)8,259 (22,517)
  Gain on investment securities— (8)— 
Other, net3,930 8,492 3,801 
Net cash provided by operating activities34,927 51,671 35,147 
Investing activities 
Net proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities10 10 — 
Investment in subsidiaries(16,282)(35,238)(18,874)
Decrease in receivable from subsidiary16,344 34,719 18,869 
Business combinations, net of cash received(710)— (1,438)
Other, net(1,998)(76)226 
Net cash used in investing activities(2,636)(585)(1,217)
Financing activities 
Purchase of treasury stock(1,306)(30,409)(1,650)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares906 594 6 
Cash dividends paid(31,002)(27,052)(25,942)
Net cash used in financing activities(31,402)(56,867)(27,586)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents889 (5,781)6,344 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year14,363 20,144 13,800 
    Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year
$15,252 $14,363 $20,144 
Supplemental cash flow information: 
Interest paid$331 $385 $544 


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PART III
ITEM 10 DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information concerning (a) directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. ("Peoples"), (b) the procedures by which shareholders of Peoples may recommend nominees to Peoples' Board of Directors, (c) the Audit Committee of Peoples' Board of Directors and (d) the Board of Directors' determination that Peoples has an "audit committee financial expert" serving on its Audit Committee required by Items 401, 407(c)(3), 407(d)(4) and 407(d)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K will be included in the sections captioned "PROPOSAL NUMBER 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS," "THE BOARD AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD" and "NOMINATING PROCEDURES" of the definitive Proxy Statement of Peoples Bancorp Inc. relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 28, 2022 ("Peoples' Definitive Proxy Statement"), which sections are incorporated herein by reference. The procedures by which shareholders of Peoples may recommend nominees to Peoples' Board of Directors have not changed materially from those described in Peoples' definitive Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 22, 2021.
The information regarding Peoples' executive officers required by Item 401 of SEC Regulation S-K will be included in the section captioned "EXECUTIVE OFFICERS" of Peoples' Definitive Proxy Statement, which section is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding beneficial ownership reporting compliance under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is incorporated by reference from the text to be included under the caption "DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS" of Peoples' Definitive Proxy Statement, to the extent that disclosure of information is required.
The Board of Directors of Peoples has adopted charters for each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Executive Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Risk Committee.
In accordance with the requirements of Rule 5610 of the Nasdaq Stock Market Corporate Governance Requirements, the Board of Directors of Peoples has adopted a Code of Ethics covering the directors, officers and employees of Peoples and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the principal accounting officer and the controller of Peoples. Peoples intends to disclose the following events, if they occur, in a Current Report on Form 8-K and on the "Investor Relations" page of Peoples' Internet website at www.peoplesbancorp.com within four business days following their occurrence:
(A)the date and nature of any amendment to a provision of Peoples' Code of Ethics that
(a)applies to the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller of Peoples, or persons performing similar functions,
(b)relates to any element of the code of ethics definition set forth in Item 406(b) of SEC Regulation S-K, and
(c)is not a technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendment; and
(B)a description (including the nature of the waiver, the name of the person to whom the waiver was granted and the date of the waiver) of any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics granted to the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller of Peoples, or persons performing similar functions, that relates to one or more of the elements of the code of ethics definition set forth in Item 406(b) of SEC Regulation S-K.
In addition, Peoples will disclose any waivers from the provisions of the Code of Ethics granted to a director or an executive officer of Peoples in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days following their occurrence.
Each of the Code of Ethics, the Audit Committee Charter, the Compensation Committee Charter, the Executive Committee Charter, the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter and the Risk Committee Charter is posted under the "Corporate Overview – Governance Documents" tab of the "Investor Relations" page of Peoples' Internet website. Interested persons may also obtain copies of the Code of Ethics without charge by writing to Peoples Bancorp Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 138 Putnam Street, P.O. Box 738, Marietta, Ohio 45750-0738.
ITEM 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item 11 will be included in the sections captioned "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION," "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS," "SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR 2021," "GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS FOR 2021," "OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END 2021," "OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED FOR 2021," "PENSION BENEFITS FOR 2021," "NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR 2021," "OTHER POTENTIAL POST-EMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS," "DIRECTOR COMPENSATION" and "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT" of Peoples' Definitive Proxy Statement, which sections are incorporated herein by reference.


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ITEM 12 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item 12 regarding the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management will be included in the section captioned "SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT" of Peoples' Definitive Proxy Statement, which section is incorporated herein by reference.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The table below provides information as of December 31, 2021, with respect to compensation plans under which common shares of Peoples are authorized for issuance to directors, officers or employees in exchange for consideration in the form of goods or services. These compensation plans include:
(i)the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan (the "2006 Equity Plan");
(ii)the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan"); and
(iii)the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP").
All of these compensation plans were approved by the shareholders of Peoples.
Plan Category(a)
Number of common shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights		(b)
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights		(c)
Number of common shares remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding common shares reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders378,457 
(1)
$— 
(2)
754,416 
(3)
Total378,457 $— 754,416 
(1)Includes an aggregate of 336,268 restricted common shares subject to time-based or performance-based vesting restrictions granted under the 2006 Equity Plan, and 42,189 common shares allocated to participants' bookkeeping accounts under the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.
(2)The weighted-average exercise price does not take into account the common shares allocated to participants' time-based or performance-based restricted common share awards granted under the 2006 Equity Plan or bookkeeping accounts under the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.
(3)Includes 556,711 common shares remaining available for future grants under the 2006 Equity Plan at December 31, 2021, as well as 197,705 common shares remaining available for issuance and delivery under the ESPP. No amount is included for potential future allocations to participants' bookkeeping accounts under the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan since the terms of the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan do not provide for a specified limit on the number of common shares which may be allocated to participants' bookkeeping accounts.
Additional information regarding Peoples' stock-based compensation plans can be found in "Note 18 Stock-Based Compensation" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 13 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item 13 will be included in the sections captioned "TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS," "PROPOSAL NUMBER 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS," "THE BOARD AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD" and "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION" of Peoples' Definitive Proxy Statement, which sections are incorporated by reference.
ITEM 14 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item 14 will be included in the section captioned "INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM" of Peoples' Definitive Proxy Statement, which section is incorporated herein by reference.


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PART IV
ITEM 15 EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1)    Financial Statements:
The following reports of the independent registered public accounting firm and consolidated financial statements of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and subsidiaries are filed as required by "ITEM 8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA" and set forth immediately following "ITEM 9C DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS" of this Form 10-K:
 Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Ernst & Young LLP) on Effectiveness of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
84
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Ernst & Young LLP) on Consolidated Financial Statements
86
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020
88
Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021
89
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021
90
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021
91
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021
93
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
96
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Parent Company Only Financial Information is included in Note 21 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
142
(a)(2)    Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.
(a)(3)    Exhibits
The documents listed in the Index to Exhibits that immediately precedes the signature page of this Form 10-K, are filed/furnished with this Form 10-K as exhibits or incorporated into this Form 10-K by reference as noted. Each management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K is identified as such in the list below.
(b)     Exhibits
The documents listed in the Index to Exhibits that immediately precedes the signature page of this Form 10-K are filed/furnished with this Form 10-K as exhibits or incorporated into this Form 10-K by reference as noted.
(c)     Financial Statement Schedules
None
ITEM 16 FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable.

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number		 
 
Description
 
 
Exhibit Location
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 23, 2017, between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and ASB Financial Corp.+
Included as Annex A to the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form S-4/A filed on January 19, 2018 (Registration No. 333-222054)
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 29, 2018, as amended on December 18, 2018, between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and First Prestonsburg Bancshares Inc.+
Included as Annex A to the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form S-4/A filed on December 20, 2018 (Registration No. 333-228745)
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 26, 2021, between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc.++
Included as Annex A to the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form S-4/A filed on June 1, 2021 (Registration No. 333-256040)
3.1(a) 
Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on May 3, 1993) P
 Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Registration Statement of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form 8-B filed on July 20, 1993 (File No. 0-16772)
 Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 22, 1994) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1(b) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' September 30, 2017 Form 10-Q")
 Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 9, 1996) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1(c) to Peoples’ September 30, 2017 Form 10-Q
 Certificate of Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on April 23, 2003) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 0-16772) (“Peoples’ March 31, 2003 Form 10-Q”)
 Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on January 22, 2009) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form 8-K dated and filed on January 23, 2009 (File No. 0-16772)
 Certificate of Amendment by Directors to Articles filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on January 28, 2009, evidencing adoption of amendments by the Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. to Article FOURTH of the Amended Articles of Incorporation to establish express terms of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Shares, Series A, each without par value, of Peoples Bancorp Inc. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form 8-K dated and filed on February 2, 2009 (File No. 0-16772)
Certificate of Amendment by the Shareholders to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on July 28, 2021)Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1(g) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' June 30, 2021 Form 10-Q")
 +Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of SEC Regulation S-K, as in effect at the time of filing of the Agreement and Plan of Merger. A copy of any omitted schedules or exhibits will be furnished supplementally by Peoples Bancorp Inc. to the SEC on a confidential basis upon request.
 ++Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedules or exhibits will be furnished supplementally by Peoples Bancorp Inc. to the SEC on a confidential basis upon request.
PPeoples Bancorp Inc. filed this exhibit with the SEC in paper form originally and this exhibit has not been filed with the SEC in electronic format.

139


Exhibit
Number		 
 
Description
 
 
Exhibit Location
3.2(a) 
Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc.P
 Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Registration Statement of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form 8-B filed July 20, 1993 (File No. 0-16772)
 Certified Resolutions Regarding Adoption of Amendments to Sections 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.08, 1.10, 2.03(C), 2.07, 2.08, 2.10 and 6.02 of the Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. by shareholders on April 10, 2003 Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(c) to Peoples’ March 31, 2003 Form 10-Q
 Certificate regarding adoption of amendments to Sections 3.01, 3.03, 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.08 and 3.11 of the Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. by shareholders on April 8, 2004 Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004 (File No. 0-16772)
 Certificate regarding adoption of amendments to Sections 2.06, 2.07, 3.01 and 3.04 of Peoples Bancorp Inc.’s Code of Regulations by the shareholders on April 13, 2006 Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form 8-K dated and filed on April 14, 2006 (File No. 0-16772)
Certificate regarding adoption of an amendment to Section 2.01 of Peoples Bancorp Inc.'s Code of Regulations by the shareholders on April 22, 2010Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2(e) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A (Amendment No. 1) of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010 (File No. 0-16772)
Certificate regarding Adoption of Amendment to Division (D) of Section 2.02 of Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. by the Shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 26, 2018Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form 8-K dated and filed on June 28, 2018 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' June 28, 2018 Form 8-K")
 Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. (This document represents the Code of Regulations of Peoples Bancorp Inc. in compiled form incorporating all amendments.) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Peoples' June 28, 2018 Form 8-K
Agreement to furnish instruments and agreements defining rights of holders of long-term debtFiled herewith
Indenture, dated as of June 25, 2007, between NB&T Financial Group, Inc., as issuer, and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, relating to Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2037Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1(a) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2015 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' June 30, 2015 Form 10-Q")
First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 5, 2015, and made to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 6, 2015, between Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, and Peoples Bancorp Inc., as successor to NB&T Financial Group, Inc.Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1(b) to Peoples' June 30, 2015 Form 10-Q
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of NB&T Statutory Trust III, dated and effective as of June 25, 2007 NOTE: Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 5, 2015, and made to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 6, 2015, between Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, and Peoples Bancorp Inc., Peoples Bancorp Inc. succeeded to and was substituted for NB&T Financial Group, Inc. as "Sponsor"
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2(a) to Peoples' June 30, 2015 Form 10-Q
Notice of Removal of Administrators and Appointment of Replacements, dated June 5, 2015, delivered to Wilmington Trust Company by the Successor Administrators named therein and Peoples Bancorp Inc.Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2(b) to Peoples' June 30, 2015 Form 10-Q
Notice of Removal of Administrator and Appointment of Replacement, dated February 11, 2021, delivered to Wilmington Trust Company by the Continuing Administrators and the Successor Administrator named therein and Peoples Bancorp Inc.Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3(c) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (File No. 0-16772)
PPeoples Bancorp Inc. filed this exhibit with the SEC in paper form originally and this exhibit has not been filed with the SEC in electronic format.

140


Exhibit
Number		 
 
Description
 
 
Exhibit Location
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2007, between NB&T Financial Group, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, relating to the Capital Securities (as defined therein) NOTE: Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 5, 2015, and made to be effective as of 6:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 6, 2015, between Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, and Peoples Bancorp Inc., Peoples Bancorp Inc. succeeded to and was substituted for NB&T Financial Group, Inc. as "Guarantor"
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Peoples' June 30, 2015 Form 10-Q
Indenture, dated as of February 26, 2004, between First National Bankshares Corporation, as Issuer, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Due 2034Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1(a) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' September 30, 2021 Form 10-Q")
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2016, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc., as successor to First National Bankshares CorporationIncorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1(b) to Peoples' September 30, 2021 Form 10-Q
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 17, 2021, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Peoples Bancorp Inc., as successor to Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc.Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 (c) to Peoples' September 30, 2021 Form 10-Q
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of FNB Capital Trust One, dated as of February 26, 2004 NOTE: Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2016, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Premier Bancorp, Inc., Premier Bancorp, Inc., succeeded to and was substituted for First National Bankshares Corporation as "Sponsor" and pursuant to the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 17, 2021, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Peoples Bancorp Inc., Peoples Bancorp Inc., succeeded and was substituted for Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. as "Sponsor"
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Peoples' September 30, 2021 Form 10-Q
Notice of Removal of Administrators and Appointment of Replacements, dated September 17, 2021, delivered to Wilmington Trust Company by the Successor Administrators named therein and Peoples Bancorp Inc.Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Peoples' September 30, 2021 Form 10-Q
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2004, between First National Bankshares Corporation, as Guarantor, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, related to the Capital Securities (as defined therein) NOTE: Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2016, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc., Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. succeeded to and was substituted for First National Bankshares Corporation as "Guarantor" and pursuant to the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 17, 2021, between Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, and Peoples Bancorp Inc., Peoples Bancorp Inc. succeeded and was substituted for Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. as "Guarantor"
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Peoples' September 30, 2021 Form 10-Q
Description of Common Shares of Peoples Bancorp Inc.Filed herewith
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Subsidiaries (Amended and Restated Effective June 26, 2014)* Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1(a) the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (File No. 0-16772)
*Management Compensation Plan or Agreement

141


Exhibit
Number		 
 
Description
 
 
Exhibit Location
Rabbi Trust Agreement, made January 6, 1998, between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and The Peoples Banking and Trust Company (predecessor to Peoples Bank, National Association and now known as Peoples Bank following conversion to state-chartered bank) as Trustee* Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1(c) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (File No. 0-16772)
Summary of Peoples Bancorp Inc. Annual Incentive Program for Executive Officers and other employees of Peoples Bancorp Inc. [Effective beginning with the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2012 and ending with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019]*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2(c)
to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2011 (File No. 0-16772)
Summary of Peoples Bancorp Inc. Annual Incentive Program for Executive Officers and other employees of Peoples Bancorp Inc. [Effective for fiscal year ended December 31, 2020]*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' 2019 Form 10-K")
Summary of Peoples Bancorp Inc. Annual Incentive Program for Executive Officers and other employees of Peoples Bancorp Inc. [Effective beginning with the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2021]*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (File No. 0-16772)
Summary of Perquisites for Executive Officers of Peoples Bancorp Inc.* Filed herewith
Summary of Base Salaries for Executive Officers of Peoples Bancorp Inc.* Filed herewith
Summary of Compensation for Directors of Peoples Bancorp Inc.*Filed herewith
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan (approved by the shareholders of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on April 26, 2018; successor to the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan, the Peoples Bancorp Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan and the Peoples Bancorp Inc. 2006 Equity Plan)* Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99 to the Current Report of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form 8-K dated and filed on April 30, 2018 (File No. 0-16772)
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan Time-Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement (for Executives) used and to be used to evidence awards of time-based restricted stock granted to executives of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on and after July 31, 2018 *Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' September 30, 2018 Form 10-Q")
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement (for Executives) used and to be used to evidence awards of performance-based restricted stock granted to executives of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on and after July 31, 2018*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Peoples' September 30, 2018 Form 10-Q
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Amended and Restated Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (adopted effective July 11, 2019)*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019 (File No. 0-16772)
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Charles W. Sulerzyski (adopted April 4, 2011)*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011 (File No. 0-16772)
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on Form 8-K dated and filed on April 28, 2014 (File No. 0-16772)
Form of Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan Performance-Based Restricted Stock Agreement used to evidence awards of performance-based restricted stock granted to employees of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on and after January 29, 2015 and prior to July 31, 2018*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples' March 31, 2017 Form 10-Q")
*Management Compensation Plan or Agreement

142


Exhibit
Number		 
 
Description
 
 
Exhibit Location
Form of Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement used to evidence awards of performance-based restricted stock granted to executive officers of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on and after January 29, 2015 and prior to January 1, 2018*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015 (File No. 0-16772)
Form of Peoples Bancorp Inc. Change in Control Agreement to be adopted by Peoples Bancorp Inc. and individuals who are first elected as executive officers of Peoples Bancorp Inc. after March 24, 2016*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016 (File No. 0-16772)
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Change in Control Agreement between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Douglas Wyatt (adopted May 2, 2016)*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Peoples' March 31, 2017 Form 10-Q
Form of Peoples Bancorp Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Plan Performance Unit Award Agreement used and to be used to evidence grants of performance units to executive officers of Peoples Bancorp Inc. on and after July 26, 2017*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017 (File No. 0-16772)
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Change in Control Agreement between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Ryan Kirkham (adopted January 1, 2019)*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Peoples' 2019 Form 10-K
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Change in Control Agreement between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Jason M. Eakle (adopted April 1, 2020)*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020 (File No. 0-16772)
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Change in Control Agreement between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Kathryn M. Bailey (adopted October 1, 2020)*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form-10-Q of Peoples Bancorp Inc. for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020 (File No. 0-16772) ("Peoples September 30, 2020 Form 10-Q")
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Change in Control Agreement between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Mark J. Augenstein (adopted October 1, 2020)*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Peoples' September 30, 2020 Form 10-Q
Peoples Bancorp Inc. Change in Control Agreement between Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Tyler Wilcox (adopted October 1, 2020)*Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Peoples' September 30, 2020 Form 10-Q
Subsidiaries of Peoples Bancorp Inc.Filed herewith
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Ernst & Young LLP
Filed herewith
Powers of Attorney of Directors and Executive Officers of Peoples Bancorp Inc.Filed herewith
 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications [President and Chief Executive Officer] Filed herewith
 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications [Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer] Filed herewith
 Certifications Pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code [President and Chief Executive Officer; and Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer] Furnished herewith
101.INSInline XBRL Instance Document ##Submitted electronically herewith #
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema DocumentSubmitted electronically herewith #
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase DocumentSubmitted electronically herewith #
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase DocumentSubmitted electronically herewith #
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase DocumentSubmitted electronically herewith #
*Management Compensation Plan or Agreement

143


Exhibit
Number		 
 
Description
 
 
Exhibit Location
101.DEFInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase DocumentSubmitted electronically herewith #
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101)Submitted electronically herewith
# Attached as Exhibit 101 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 of Peoples Bancorp Inc. are the following documents formatted in Inline XBRL (eXtensive Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019; and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
## The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.


144


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
   PEOPLES BANCORP INC.
Date:March 15, 2022 By: /s/CHARLES W. SULERZYSKI
   Charles W. Sulerzyski
   President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
/s/ CHARLES W. SULERZYSKI President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)		 3/15/2022
Charles W. Sulerzyski  
/s/ KATIE BAILEY Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) 3/15/2022
Katie Bailey  
/s/ TARA M. ABRAHAM* Director 3/15/2022
Tara M. Abraham   
/s/ S. CRAIG BEAM* Director 3/15/2022
S. Craig Beam   
/s/ GEORGE W. BROUGHTON* Director 3/15/2022
George W. Broughton   
/s/ DAVID F. DIERKER* Director 3/15/2022
David F. Dierker   
/s/ JAMES S. HUGGINS* Director 3/15/2022
James S. Huggins   
/s/ BROOKE W. JAMES*Director3/15/2022
Brooke W. James
/s/ KEVIN R. REEVES*Director3/15/2022
Kevin R. Reeves
/s/ SUSAN D. RECTOR*Chairman of the Board and Director3/15/2022
Susan D. Rector
/s/ DOUGLAS V. REYNOLDS* Director 3/15/2022
Douglas V. Reynolds   
/s/ FRANCES A. SKINNER*Director3/15/2022
Frances A. Skinner
/s/ MICHAEL N. VITTORIO*Director3/15/2022
Michael N. Vittorio
*The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this Annual Report on Form 10-K on behalf of each of the directors of the Registrant identified above pursuant to Powers of Attorney executed by the directors of the Registrant identified above, which Powers of Attorney are filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K in Exhibit 24.
By:/s/ CHARLES W. SULERZYSKI
Charles W. Sulerzyski
President and Chief Executive Officer
Attorney-in-Fact


145