XML 27 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.1.1.u2
Investment Securities
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Investment Securities  
INVESTMENT SECURITIES

6.    Investment Securities

Securities are classified at the time of purchase as investment securities held to maturity if it is management’s intent and the Company has the ability to hold the securities until maturity. These held to maturity securities are carried on the Company’s books at cost, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount which is computed using the level yield method which approximates the effective interest method. Alternatively, securities are classified as available for sale if it is management’s intent at the time of purchase to hold the securities for an indefinite period of time and/or to use the securities as part of the Company’s asset/liability management strategy. Securities classified as available for sale include securities which may be sold to effectively manage interest rate risk exposure, prepayment risk, and other factors (such as liquidity requirements). These available for sale securities are reported at fair value with unrealized aggregate appreciation/depreciation excluded from income and credited/charged to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders’ equity on a net of tax basis. Realized gains or losses on securities sold are computed upon the adjusted cost of the specific securities sold. Additionally, the Company holds equity securities which are comprised of mutual funds held within a rabbi trust for the executive deferred compensation plan. Such securities are reported at fair value within other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unrealized holding gains and losses on equity securities are included in earnings.

Allowance for Credit Losses – Held to Maturity Securities

The Company measures expected credit losses on held to maturity debt securities, which are comprised of U.S. government agency and mortgage-backed securities as well as taxable municipal, corporate, and other bonds. The Company’s agency and mortgage-backed securities are issued by U.S. government entities and agencies and are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major rating agencies, and have a long history of no credit losses. As such, no allowance for credit losses has been established for these securities. The allowance for credit losses on the taxable municipal, corporate, and other bonds within the held to maturity securities portfolio is calculated using the probability of default/loss given default (PD/LGD) method. The calculation is completed on a quarterly basis using the default studies provided by an industry leading source. Additionally, based on management judgment, certain qualitative adjustments, such as the Company’s historical loss experience and/or the issuer’s credit quality, may be applied. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the allowance for credit losses on the held to maturity securities portfolio totaled $90,000 and $37,000, respectively.

The allowance for credit losses on held to maturity debt securities is included within investment securities held to maturity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded within provision (recovery) for credit losses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Accrued interest receivable on held to maturity debt securities totaled $439,000 and $388,000 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and is included within accrued interest income receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This amount is excluded from the estimate of expected credit losses. Held to maturity debt securities are typically classified as non-accrual when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or management has serious doubts about the further collectability of principal or interest. When held to maturity debt securities are placed on non-accrual status, unpaid interest credited to income is reversed. The Company had no held to maturity debt securities in non-accrual status or past due 90 days still accruing interest at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The underlying issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments on the securities.

Allowance for Credit Losses – Available for Sale Securities

The Company measures expected credit losses on available for sale debt securities when the Company does not intend to sell, or when it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For available for sale debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this evaluation indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, equal to the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the allowance for credit losses on the available for sale securities portfolio totaled $116,000 and $926,000, respectively.

The allowance for credit losses on available for sale debt securities is included within investment securities available for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded within provision (recovery) for credit losses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Losses are charged against the allowance when the Company believes the collectability of an available for sale security is in jeopardy or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.

Accrued interest receivable on available for sale debt securities totaled $1.2 million and $988,000 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and is included within accrued interest income receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This amount is excluded from the estimate of expected credit losses. Available for sale debt securities are typically classified as non-accrual when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or management has serious doubts about the further collectability of principal or interest. When available for sale debt securities are placed on non-accrual status, unpaid interest credited to income is reversed. It should be noted that the

Company had no available for sale debt securities in non-accrual status at March 31, 2024. This is compared to one available for sale debt security in non-accrual status at December 31, 2023 totaling $926,000 with an associated allowance for credit losses of $926,000.

The cost basis and fair values of investment securities are summarized as follows:

Investment securities available for sale (AFS):

March 31, 2024

GROSS

GROSS

ALLOWANCE

UNREALIZED

UNREALIZED

FOR CREDIT

FAIR

    

COST BASIS

    

GAINS

    

LOSSES

LOSSES

    

VALUE

(IN THOUSANDS)

U.S. Agency

$

6,001

$

$

(735)

$

$

5,266

U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities

 

105,820

 

101

 

(12,827)

 

93,094

Municipal

 

10,840

 

1

 

(813)

 

10,028

Corporate bonds

 

60,593

 

57

 

(3,470)

(116)

 

57,064

Total

$

183,254

$

159

$

(17,845)

$

(116)

$

165,452

Investment securities held to maturity (HTM):

March 31, 2024

GROSS

GROSS

ALLOWANCE

UNREALIZED

UNREALIZED

FAIR

FOR CREDIT

    

COST BASIS

    

GAINS

    

LOSSES

VALUE

    

LOSSES

(IN THOUSANDS)

U.S. Agency

$

2,500

$

$

(391)

$

2,109

$

U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities

25,273

24

(2,355)

22,942

Municipal

 

32,779

 

 

(2,909)

 

29,870

 

(2)

Corporate bonds and other securities

 

4,415

 

 

(156)

 

4,259

 

(88)

Total

$

64,967

$

24

$

(5,811)

$

59,180

$

(90)

Investment securities available for sale (AFS):

December 31, 2023

GROSS

GROSS

ALLOWANCE

UNREALIZED

UNREALIZED

FOR CREDIT

FAIR

    

COST BASIS

    

GAINS

    

LOSSES

LOSSES

    

VALUE

(IN THOUSANDS)

U.S. Agency

$

6,035

$

$

(696)

$

$

5,339

U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities

 

104,820

 

179

 

(11,924)

 

93,075

Municipal

 

11,159

 

1

 

(800)

 

10,360

Corporate bonds

 

62,004

 

46

 

(4,187)

(926)

 

56,937

Total

$

184,018

$

226

$

(17,607)

$

(926)

$

165,711

Investment securities held to maturity (HTM):

December 31, 2023

GROSS

GROSS

ALLOWANCE

UNREALIZED

UNREALIZED

FAIR

FOR CREDIT

COST BASIS

    

GAINS

    

LOSSES

VALUE

    

LOSSES

(IN THOUSANDS)

U.S. Agency

    

$

2,500

$

$

(379)

$

2,121

$

U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities

    

24,222

49

(2,058)

22,213

Municipal

 

32,787

 

 

(2,797)

 

29,990

 

(2)

Corporate bonds and other securities

 

4,470

 

 

(173)

 

4,297

 

(35)

Total

$

63,979

$

49

$

(5,407)

$

58,621

$

(37)

Proceeds from the sale of an AFS security totaled $435,000 during the first quarter of 2024. The Company had established an allowance for credit losses on this AFS security during the first quarter of 2023. In accordance with ASC 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, once the Company decided to sell the security (i.e. intent to sell), the security was charged down, against the allowance, to fair value therefore resulting in the recognition of no gross investment security gains or losses. The Company sold no AFS securities during the first quarter of 2023.

The carrying value of securities, both available for sale and held to maturity, pledged to secure public and trust deposits was $134,516,000 at March 31, 2024 and $135,624,000 at December 31, 2023.

The interest rate environment and market yields can have a significant impact on the yield earned on mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Prepayment speed assumptions are an important factor to consider when evaluating the returns on an MBS. Generally, as interest rates decline, borrowers have more incentive to refinance into a lower rate, so prepayments will rise. Conversely, as interest rates increase, prepayments will decline. When an MBS is purchased at a premium, the yield will decrease as prepayments increase and the yield will increase as prepayments decrease. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had low premium risk as the book value of our mortgage-backed securities purchased at a premium was only 100.8% of the par value.

Contractual maturities of securities at March 31, 2024 are shown below (in thousands). Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties. The weighted average duration of the total investment securities portfolio at March 31, 2024 was 49.6 months and is relatively consistent with the duration at December 31, 2023 which was 49.4 months. The duration remains within our internally established guideline to not exceed 60 months which we believe is appropriate to maintain proper levels of liquidity, interest rate risk, market valuation sensitivity and profitability.

Total investment securities:

March 31, 2024

Available for sale

Held to maturity

    

Cost Basis

    

Fair Value

    

Cost Basis

    

Fair Value

Within 1 year

$

6,872

$

6,794

$

2,211

$

2,176

After 1 year but within 5 years

 

36,195

 

34,905

 

15,619

 

14,909

After 5 years but within 10 years

 

39,703

 

35,932

 

20,918

 

18,379

Over 10 years

 

100,484

 

87,821

 

26,219

 

23,716

Total

$

183,254

$

165,452

$

64,967

$

59,180

The following table summarizes the available for sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded as of March 31, 2024, aggregated by security type and length of time in a continuous loss position (in thousands):

March 31, 2024

LESS THAN 12 MONTHS

12 MONTHS OR LONGER

TOTAL

FAIR

UNREALIZED

FAIR

UNREALIZED

FAIR

UNREALIZED

    

VALUE

    

LOSSES

    

VALUE

    

LOSSES

    

VALUE

    

LOSSES

U.S. Agency

$

$

$

5,266

$

(735)

$

5,266

$

(735)

U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities

12,296

(123)

71,010

(12,704)

83,306

(12,827)

Municipal

 

9,778

(813)

9,778

(813)

Corporate bonds

 

491

(9)

45,784

(3,461)

46,275

(3,470)

Total

$

12,787

$

(132)

$

131,838

$

(17,713)

$

144,625

$

(17,845)

At March 31, 2024, within the available for sale debt securities portfolio, the Company had eight U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities and one corporate bond that have been in a gross unrealized loss position for less than 12 months with depreciation of 1.0% from its amortized cost basis. Additionally, at March 31, 2024, within the available for sale debt securities portfolio, the Company had seven U.S. Agency, 138 U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities, 31 municipal, and 85 corporate bonds that have been in a gross unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months with depreciation of 11.8% from its amortized cost basis.

These unrealized losses are primarily a result of increases in market yields from the time of purchase. In general, as market yields rise, the value of securities will decrease; as market yields decrease, the fair value of securities will increase. Management generally views changes in fair value caused by changes in interest rates as temporary; therefore, no provision for credit losses has been recorded for these securities. Management has also concluded that based on current information we expect to continue to receive scheduled interest payments as well as the entire principal balance. Furthermore, management does not intend to sell these securities and does not believe it will be required to sell these securities before they recover in value or mature.

The following tables present the activity in the allowance for credit losses on available for sale debt securities by major security type for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands).

Three months ended March 31, 2024

Balance at December 31, 2023

Charge-Offs

Recoveries

Provision (Recovery)

Balance at March 31, 2024

Corporate bonds

$

926

$

(491)

$

$

(319)

$

116

Total

$

926

$

(491)

$

$

(319)

$

116

Three months ended March 31, 2023

Balance at December 31, 2022

Impact of Adopting ASC 326

Charge-Offs

Recoveries

Provision (Recovery)

Balance at March 31, 2023

Corporate bonds

$

$

$

$

$

926

$

926

Total

$

$

$

$

$

926

$

926

The Company recorded a provision for credit losses recovery on available for sale debt securities of $319,000 during the first quarter of 2024 while a $926,000 provision for credit losses expense on available for sale debt securities was recorded during the first quarter of 2023. During the first quarter of 2023, the recognition of the loss resulted from a subordinated debt investment issued by Signature Bank which was closed by banking regulators on March 12, 2023. The security was successfully sold during the first quarter of 2024 which resulted in a charge-off of $491,000 and recognition of a provision for credit losses recovery of $435,000. This recovery was partially offset by the establishment of a $116,000 allowance for credit losses on a corporate AFS security deemed to be credit impaired at March 31, 2024.

The following tables present the activity in the allowance for credit losses on held to maturity debt securities by major security type for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands).

Three months ended March 31, 2024

Balance at December 31, 2023

Charge-Offs

Recoveries

Provision (Recovery)

Balance at March 31, 2024

U.S. Agency

    

$

$

    

$

    

$

    

$

U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities

Municipal

2

2

Corporate bonds and other securities

35

53

88

Total

$

37

$

$

$

53

$

90

Three months ended March 31, 2023

Balance at December 31, 2022

Impact of Adopting ASC 326

Charge-Offs

Recoveries

Provision (Recovery)

Balance at March 31, 2023

U.S. Agency

    

$

$

$

    

$

    

$

    

$

U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities

Municipal

3

3

Corporate bonds and other securities

111

(31)

80

Total

$

$

114

$

$

$

(31)

$

83

As stated previously, the Company’s agency and mortgage-backed securities are issued by U.S. government entities and agencies and are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major rating agencies, and have a long history of no credit losses. As such, no allowance for credit losses has been established for these securities. The allowance for credit losses on the taxable municipal, corporate, and other bonds within the held to maturity securities portfolio is calculated using the PD/LGD method. The calculation is completed on a quarterly basis using the default studies provided by an industry leading source. Additionally, based on management judgment, certain qualitative adjustments, such as the Company’s historical loss experience and/or the issuer’s credit quality, may be applied.

Maintaining investment quality is a primary objective of the Company’s Investment Policy which, subject to certain limited exceptions, prohibits the purchase of any investment security below a Moody’s Investor’s Service or Standard & Poor’s rating of A. The Company monitors the credit ratings of its debt securities on a quarterly basis. At March 31, 2024, 56.6% of the total investment securities portfolio was rated AAA as compared to 55.9% at December 31, 2023. Approximately 14.3% of the total investment securities portfolio was either rated below A or unrated at March 31, 2024 as compared to 15.1% at December 31, 2023.

Specifically, the following table summarizes the amortized cost of held to maturity debt securities at March 31, 2024, aggregated by credit quality indicator (in thousands).

March 31, 2024

Credit Rating

AAA/AA/A

BBB/BB/B

Unrated

Total

U.S. Agency

    

$

2,500

$

    

$

    

$

2,500

U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities

25,273

25,273

Municipal

32,779

32,779

Corporate bonds and other securities

3,000

1,415

4,415

Total

$

63,552

$

$

1,415

$

64,967