Loans and the Allowance for Loan Losses (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Loans and the Allowance for Loan Losses [Abstract]

Impaired Loans [Policy Text Block]

The Corporation accounts for impaired loans in accordance with FASB ASC 310-10-35. The value of impaired loans is based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, at the loan's observable market price or at the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

The Corporation has defined its population of impaired loans to include all non-accrual and troubled debt restructuring loans. As part of the evaluation of the value of impaired loans, the Corporation reviews for impairment all non-homogeneous loans (in each instance, above an established dollar threshold of $200,000) internally classified as substandard or below. Smaller impaired non-homogeneous loans and impaired homogeneous loans are not measured for specific reserves and are covered under the Corporation's general reserve.

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Corporation will not be able to collect all amounts due from the borrower in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan, including scheduled interest payments. Impaired loans include all classes of commercial and consumer non-accruing loans and all loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring ("TDR").

When a loan has been identified as being impaired, the amount of impairment is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, the loan's observable market price, or the estimated fair value of the collateral, less any selling costs, if the loan is collateral-dependent. If the measurement of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan (including accrued interest, net of deferred loan fees or costs and unamortized premiums or discounts), an impairment is recognized by creating or adjusting an existing allocation of the Allowance, or by recording a partial charge-off of the loan to its fair value. Interest payments made on impaired loans are typically applied to principal unless collectability of the principal amount is reasonably assured, in which case interest income may be accrued or recognized on a cash basis.