XML 44 R31.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.4
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations [Policy Text Block]

Nature of Operations

 

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (the “Parent Corporation”) is incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey and is a registered bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). The Parent Corporation’s business currently consists of the operation of its wholly-owned subsidiary, ConnectOne Bank (the “Bank” and, collectively with the Parent Corporation and the Parent Corporation’s subsidiaries, the “Company”). The Bank’s subsidiaries include Union Investment Co. (a New Jersey investment company), Twin Bridge Investment Co. (a Delaware investment company), ConnectOne Preferred Funding Corp. (a New Jersey real estate investment trust), Center Financial Group, LLC (a New Jersey financial services company), Center Advertising, Inc. (a New Jersey advertising company), Morris Property Company, LLC, (a New Jersey limited liability company), Volosin Holdings, LLC, (a New Jersey limited liability company), NJCB Spec-1, LLC (a New Jersey limited liability company), Port Jervis Holdings, LLC (a New Jersey limited liability company), BONJ Special Properties, LLC (a New Jersey limited liability company) and BoeFly, Inc. (a New Jersey financial technology company).

 

The Bank is a community-based, full-service New Jersey-chartered commercial bank that was founded in 2005. The Bank operates from its headquarters located at 301 Sylvan Avenue in the Borough of Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County, New Jersey and through its twenty-four other banking offices. Substantially all loans are secured with various types of collateral, including business assets, consumer assets and commercial/residential real estate. Each borrower’s ability to repay its loans is dependent on the conversion of assets, cash flows generated from the borrowers’ business, real estate rental and consumer wages.

 

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation and Principals of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The consolidated financial statements of the Parent Corporation are prepared on an accrual basis and include the accounts of the Parent Corporation and the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated from the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segments

 

FASB ASC 28, “Segment Reporting,” requires companies to report certain information about operating segments. The Company is managed as one segment: a community bank. All decisions including but not limited to loan growth, deposit funding, interest rate risk, credit risk and pricing are determined after assessing the effect on the totality of the organization. For example, loan growth is dependent on the ability of the organization to fund this growth through deposits or other borrowings. As a result, the Company is managed as one operating segment.

 

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

 

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the dates of the consolidated statements of condition and that affect the results of operations for the periods presented. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

Risks and Uncertainties [Policy Text Block]

Risks and Uncertainties

 

As previously disclosed, on March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, which continues to impact the United States and the world. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was enacted to, among other things, provide emergency assistance for individuals, families and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected, and continues to adversely affect economic activity globally, nationally and locally. Although economic activity  accelerated during 2022 the COVID pandemic and changes to peoples’ patterns of work and spending may  have an adverse impact on the economies and financial markets of many countries and parts of the United States, including the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area in which the Company primarily operates. COVID-19 could impact the Company’s operations in the future. Although state and local governments have lifted restrictions on conducting business, it is possible that restrictions could be reimposed.

 

 

On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), announced that it will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR to the LIBOR administrator after 2021. The announcement also indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. Consequently, although banks have continued to submit certain rates for the calculation of LIBOR in 2022, at this time, it is not possible to predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the LIBOR administrator . Similarly, banking regulators in the United States have required insured depository institutions in the United States to cease originating loans using LIBOR as a rate index as of December 31, 2021, and in March 2022 Congress adopted legislation providing for the replacement of LIBOR indexes in contracts without fall back language with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), and for the Federal Reserve to adopt regulation by September of 2022 implementing this change. Although the Bank ceased using LIBOR as an index for loans it originates, it is unclear at this time what effect these changes may have on the values of loans and liabilities held or owed by the Bank whose interest rates are or were tied to LIBOR. Uncertainty surrounding the phase out  of LIBOR may adversely affect the value of, and the return on our loans, and our investment securities.

 

The United States economy is currently experiencing a level of price inflation not experienced since the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. It is therefore difficult to predict the response of consumers and businesses to this level of inflation, and its impact on the economy. In addition, in order to attempt to control and reduce the level of inflation, the Federal Reserve has embarked on a series of interest rate increases along with quantitative tightening to further constrict economic conditions. It is unclear whether the Federal Reserve’s efforts will be successful, and what impact they may have on the United States’ economy. It is possible that the combined effects of inflation and increases in market interest rates could cause the economy of the United States to enter a recession, which could negatively affect the businesses of our borrowers and their ability to repay their loans or need credit, which could negatively affect our results of operations.   

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash, deposits with other financial institutions with maturities of less than 90 days, and federal funds sold. Net cash flows are reported for client loan and deposit transactions, interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions, and federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements.

 

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Investment Securities

 

Effective January 1, 2021, the Company accounts for its investment securities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 320-10-05. Investments are classified into the following categories: (1) held-to-maturity securities, for which the Company has both the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity, which are reported at amortized cost; (2) trading securities, which are purchased and held principally for the purpose of selling in the near term and are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings; and (3) available-for-sale securities, which do not meet the criteria of the other two categories and which management believes may be sold prior to maturity due to changes in interest rates, prepayment risk, liquidity or other factors, and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable income taxes, reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, which is included in stockholders’ equity and excluded from earnings.

 

Investment securities are adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts as adjustments to interest income, which are recognized on a level yield method without anticipating prepayments, except for mortgage backed securities where prepayments are anticipated. Investment securities gains or losses are determined using the specific identification method.

 

Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in comprehensive income, net of tax. Interest income includes amortization of purchase premiums or discounts. Premiums and discounts on securities are generally amortized using the level-yield method without estimating prepayments, except for mortgage-backed securities, where prepayment rates are estimated. Premiums on callable investment securities are amortized to their earliest call date. Gains and losses on sales of securities are recorded on the trade date and determined using the specific identification method.

 

 

For available-for-sale investment securities which are in an unrealized loss position, the Company will first assess whether we intend to sell, or it is more likely than not, that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of the amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria is met, the amortized cost basis of the security is written down to fair value through income. For available-for-sale investment securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from an actual or estimated credit loss event or other factors. In making this assessment, we consider the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, changes to the rating of the security, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss is likely, 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 the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the estimated credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit loss is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax. The Company elected the practical expedient of zero loss estimates for securities issued by U.S. government entities and agencies. These securities are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major agencies and have a long history of no credit losses.

 

Prior to January 1, 2021, securities were evaluated on at least a quarterly basis, and more frequently when market conditions warrant such an evaluation, to determine whether a decline in their value is other-than-temporary. FASB ASC 320-10-65 clarifies the interaction of the factors that were considered when determining whether a debt security is other-than-temporarily impaired. For debt securities, management assessed whether (a) it has the intent to sell the security and (b) it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security prior to its anticipated recovery. These steps were done before assessing whether the entity will recover the cost basis of the investment. In instances when a determination is made that an other-than-temporary impairment exists but the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the debt security prior to its anticipated recovery, FASB ASC 320-10-65 changed the presentation and amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The other-than-temporary impairment was separated into (a) the amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to a decrease in cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security (the credit loss) and (b) the amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors. The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss was recognized through earnings. The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors was recognized through other comprehensive income. 

 

Stockholders' Equity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Equity Securities

 

The Company’s investments in equity securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings.

 

Financing Receivable, Held-for-sale [Policy Text Block]

Loans Held-for-Sale

 

Residential mortgage loans, originated and intended for sale in the secondary market, are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value as determined by outstanding commitments from investors. For these loans originated and intended for sale, gains and losses on loan sales (sale proceeds minus carrying value) are recorded in other income and direct loan origination costs and fees are deferred at origination of the loan and are recognized in other income upon sale of the loan.

 

Other loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value. Fair value on these loans is determined based on the terms of the loan, such as interest rate, maturity date, and reset term, as well as sales of similar assets.

 

Policy Loans Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Loans

 

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of deferred loan fees and costs, purchase premium and discounts and an allowance for credit losses. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments.

 

Loan segments are defined as a group of loans, which share similar initial measurement attributes, risk characteristics, and methods for monitoring and assessing credit risk. Management has determined that the Company has five segments of loans: commercial, commercial real estate, commercial construction, residential real estate (including home equity) and consumer.

 

 

Loans that are 90 days past due are placed on nonaccrual and previously accrued interest is reversed and charged against interest income unless the loans are both well-secured and in the process of collection. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan. In certain cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual or charged-off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. Nonaccrual loans include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for credit losses and loans individually evaluated for credit losses.

 

All interest accrued but not received for loans placed on nonaccrual is reversed against interest income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

 

The policy of the Company is to generally grant commercial, residential and consumer loans to residents and businesses within the market-areas served by its offices in New Jersey, New York and Florida. The borrowers’ abilities to repay their obligations are dependent upon various factors including the borrowers’ income and net worth, cash flows generated by the borrowers’ underlying collateral, value of the underlying collateral, and priority of the lender’s lien on the property. Such factors are dependent upon various economic conditions and individual circumstances beyond the control of the Company. The Company is therefore subject to risk of loss. The Company believes its lending policies and procedures adequately minimize the potential exposure to such risks and that adequate provisions for credit losses are provided for all known and inherent risks. Collateral and/or personal guarantees are required for a large majority of the Company’s loans.

 

Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance for Loan Losses Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Credit Losses

 

The allowance for credit losses is an estimate of current expected credit losses considering available information relevant to assessing collectability of cash flows over the contractual term of the financial assets necessary to cover lifetime expected credit losses inherent in financial assets at the balance sheet date. The measurement of expected credit losses is applicable to loans receivable and investment securities measured at amortized cost. It also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures such as loan commitments and unused lines of credit. Loan losses are charged against the allowance for credit losses when the Company believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance for credit losses. The allowance is established through a provision for credit losses that is charged against income. The methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses is considered a critical accounting policy by management because of the high degree of judgment involved, the subjectivity of the assumptions used, and the potential for changes in the forecasted economic environment that could result in changes to the amount of the recorded allowance for credit losses. The expected credit loss for unfunded loan commitments is reported on the consolidated statement of financial condition in other liabilities.

 

For financial assets, the allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from, or added to, the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected on the financial assets. The Company 's methodology to estimate the allowance for credit losses has two components: (i) a collective reserve component for estimated lifetime expected credit losses for pools of loans that share common risk characteristics and (ii) an individual reserve component for loans that do not share common risk characteristics. The Company maintains an allowance for unfunded credit commitments mainly consisting of undisbursed non-cancellable lines of credit, new loan commitments and commercial letters of credit.

 

Information relevant to establishing an estimate of current expected credit losses includes historical credit loss experience on financial assets with similar risk characteristics, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the remaining cash flows over the contractual term of the financial assets. The Company reports in net income (as a credit loss expense) the amount necessary to adjust the allowance for credit losses and liabilities for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures for the current estimate of expected credit losses.

 

 

Expected credit losses of financial assets are measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristic(s) exist. If the Company determines that a financial asset does not share risk characteristics with other financial assets, the Company will evaluate the financial asset for expected credit losses on an individual basis. Financial assets are assessed once, either through collective assessments or individual assessments. Standard expected losses are evaluated on a collective, or pool, basis when financial assets share similar risk characteristics. For pooled loan segments, utilizing a quantitative analysis, the Company calculates estimated credit losses using a probability of default and loss given default methodology, the results of which are applied to the aggregated discounted cash flow of each individual loan within the segment. In the absence of relevant and reliable internal data, probability of default and loss given default rates are determined using peer data. The point in time probability of default and loss given default are then conditioned by macroeconomic scenarios to incorporate reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Financial assets may be segmented based on one characteristic, or a combination of characteristics. Examples of risk characteristics relevant to the Company’s evaluation included, but were not limited to: (1) Internal or external credit scores or credit ratings, (2) Risk ratings or classifications, (3) Financial asset type, (4) Collateral type, (5) Size, (6) Effective interest rate, (7) Term, (8) Geographical location, (9) Industry of the borrower and (10) Vintage.

 

The Company’s quantitative analysis also considers relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events and current conditions, as well as the incorporation of reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company evaluates a variety of factors including third party economic forecasts, industry trends and other available published economic information in arriving at its forecasts. After the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the Company reverts, on a straight-line basis, to average historical losses. Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate.

 

Included in the allowance for credit losses are qualitative reserves to cover losses that are expected but, in the Company’s assessment, may not be adequately represented in the quantitative analysis or the forecasts described above. Each qualitative loss factor, for each loan segment within the portfolio, incorporates consideration for a minimum to maximum range for loss factors derived from either the Company’s historical loss experience, or peer group historical charge-off experience. These qualitative factor adjustments may increase or decrease the Company’s estimate of expected credit losses and are applied to each loan segment.

 

The Bank evaluates individual instruments for expected credit losses when those instruments do not share similar risk characteristics with instruments evaluated using a collective (pooled) basis. The Company evaluates the pooling methodology at least annually. Loans transition from defined segments for individual analysis when credit characteristics, or risk traits, change in a material manner. A loan is considered for individual analysis when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by the Company in determining individual analysis include payment status and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments, when due.

 

Loans for which the terms have been modified as a concession to the borrower due to the borrower experiencing financial difficulties are troubled debt restructurings (“TDR”) and are individually analyzed if carrying value is $250,000 or higher. Additionally, nonaccrual loans that are $250,000 or higher are also individually analyzed. All PCD loans are individually analyzed. For loans designated as TDR or nonaccrual with balances less than $250,000, these loans are collectively evaluated, and, accordingly, are not separately identified for analysis or disclosures. Instruments will not be included in both collective and individual analysis. Individual analysis will establish a specific reserve for instruments in scope.

 

 For collateral dependent loans, when it is determined that a foreclosure is probable, the allowance for credit losses is determined on a loan level basis using the fair value of the collateral as of the reporting date, less estimated disposition costs (“net fair value”), which will ensure that the credit loss is not delayed until the time at which the actual foreclosure takes place. In the event that this fair value is less than then amortized cost basis of these specific loans, the Company will recognize the difference between the net fair value at the reporting date and the amortized cost basis in the allowance for credit losses. If the fair value of the collateral has increased as of the evaluation date, the increase in the fair value of the collateral is reflected through a reduction in the allowance for credit losses. Adjustments for estimated disposition costs are not appropriate when the repayment of a collateral-dependent loan is expected from the operation of the collateral. If repayment is based upon future expected cash flows, the present value of the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate is compared to the carrying value of the loan, and any shortfall is recorded as the allowance for credit losses. The effective interest rate used to discount expected cash flows is adjusted to incorporate expected prepayments, if applicable.

 

 

Impaired Financing Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Purchased Credit-Deteriorated Loans

 

Loans acquired in a business combination that have experienced a more-than-significant deterioration in credit quality since origination are considered PCD loans. The Company evaluates acquired loans for deterioration in credit quality based on any of, but not limited to, the following: (1) non-accrual status; (2) troubled debt restructured designation; (3) risk ratings of special mention, substandard or doubtful; (4) watchlist credits; and (5) delinquency status, including loans that were current on acquisition date, but had been previously delinquent. At the acquisition date, an estimate of expected credit losses is made for groups of PCD loans with similar risk characteristics and individual PCD loans without similar risk characteristics. This initial allowance for credit losses is allocated to individual PCD loans and added to the purchase price or acquisition date fair values to establish the initial amortized cost basis of the PCD loans. As the initial allowance for credit losses is added to the purchase price, there is no credit loss expense recognized upon acquisition of a PCD loan. Any difference between the unpaid principal balance of PCD loans and the amortized cost basis is considered to relate to noncredit factors and results in a discount or premium, which is recognized through interest income on a level-yield basis over the lives of the related loans. All loans considered to be purchased credit-impaired (PCI) prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13 were converted to PCD upon adoption.

 

PCD loans that met the criteria for nonaccrual may be considered performing, regardless of whether the client is contractually delinquent, if management can reasonably estimate the timing and amount of the expected cash flows on such loans and if management expects to fully collect the new carrying value of the loans. As such, management may no longer consider the loans to be nonaccrual or nonperforming and may accrue interest on these loans, including the impact of any accretable discount.

 

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Derivatives

 

The Company’s quantitative analysis also considers relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events and current conditions, as well as the incorporation of reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company evaluates a variety of factors including third party economic forecasts, industry trends and other available published economic information in arriving at its forecasts. After the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the Company reverts, on a straight-line basis, to average historical economic driver conditions. Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate.

 

Net cash settlements on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in interest income or interest expense, based on the item being hedged. Net cash settlements on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are reported in noninterest income. Cash flows on hedges are classified in the cash flow statement the same as the cash flows of the items being hedged.

 

The Company formally documents the relationship between derivatives and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and the strategy for undertaking hedge transactions at the inception of the hedging relationship. This documentation includes linking cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative instruments that are used are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. The Company discontinues hedge accounting when it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item, the derivative is settled or terminates, a hedged forecasted transaction is no longer probable, a hedged firm commitment is no longer firm, or treatment of the derivative as a hedge is no longer appropriate or intended.

 

When hedge accounting is discontinued, subsequent changes in fair value of the derivative are recorded as noninterest income. When a cash flow hedge is discontinued but the hedged cash flows or forecasted transactions are still expected to occur, gains or losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive income are amortized into earnings over the same periods which the hedged transactions will affect earnings.

 

 

Restricted Stock [Policy Text Block]

Restricted Stock

 

The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of New York. Members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors and may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Cash dividends on the stock are reported as income.

 

Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets, Transfers of Financial Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Transfers of Financial Assets

 

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Premises and Equipment

 

Land is carried at cost and premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Buildings and related components are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 4 to 30 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over the terms of the respective leases, or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 3 to 10 years.

 

Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases

 

Leases are classified as operating or finance leases at the lease commencement date. Lease expense for operating leases and short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease team. The Company includes lease extension and termination options in the lease term if, after considering relevant economic factors, it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise the option.

 

Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate at lease commencement to calculate the present value of lease payments when the rate implicit in a lease is not known. The Company has elected not to recognize leases with original terms of 12 months or less on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Financing Receivable, Held-for-investment, Foreclosed Asset [Policy Text Block]

Other Real Estate Owned

 

Other real estate owned (“OREO”), representing property acquired through foreclosure and held-for-sale, is initially recorded at fair value less cost to sell at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. Subsequently, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Costs relating to holding the assets are charged to expenses.

 

Postemployment Benefit Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Employee Benefit Plans

 

The Company has a noncontributory pension plan that covered all eligible employees up until September 30, 2007, at which time the Company froze its defined benefit pension plan. As such, all future benefit accruals in this pension plan were discontinued and all retirement benefits that employees would have earned as of September 30, 2007 were preserved. The Company’s policy is to fund at least the minimum contribution required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The costs associated with the plan are accrued based on actuarial assumptions and included in salaries and employee benefits expense.

 

 

The Company accounts for its defined benefit pension plan in accordance with FASB ASC 715-30. FASB ASC 715-30 requires that the funded status of defined benefit postretirement plans be recognized on the Company’s statement of financial condition and changes in the funded status be reflected in other comprehensive income. FASB ASC 715-30 also requires companies to measure the funded status of the plan as of the date of its fiscal year-end.

 

The Company maintains a 401(k)-employee savings plan to provide for defined contributions which covers substantially all employees of the Company. Employee 401(k) and profit-sharing plan expense is the amount of matching contributions.

 

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

 

Stock compensation accounting guidance (FASB ASC 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation”) requires that the compensation cost related to share-based payment transactions be recognized in financial statements. That cost will be measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. The stock compensation accounting guidance covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including stock options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights and employee share purchase plans.

 

Stock compensation accounting guidance requires that compensation cost for all stock awards be calculated and recognized over the employees’ service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded-vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. See Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a further discussion.

 

Treasury Stock [Policy Text Block]

Treasury Stock

 

Subject to certain regulatory limitations applicable to the Parent Corporation, treasury stock purchases may be made from time to time as, in the opinion of management, market conditions warrant, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Shares repurchased are added to the corporate treasury and will be used for future stock dividends and other issuances. The repurchased shares are recorded as treasury stock, which results in a decrease in stockholders’ equity. Treasury stock is recorded using the cost method and accordingly is presented as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. During the year ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Parent Corporation repurchased 447,108 and 330,541 shares, respectively, under a board-approved share repurchase program.

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill

 

Goodwill arises from business combinations and is generally determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree, over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized but tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events and circumstances exist that indicate that a goodwill impairment test should be performed. The Company has selected December 31 as the date to perform the annual impairment test. No impairment charge was deemed necessary as of the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

 

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Other Intangible Assets

 

Other intangible assets consist of core deposit intangibles arising from business combinations that are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual value.

 

Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Comprehensive Income

 

Total comprehensive income includes all changes in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from nonowner sources. The Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of unrealized holding gains and losses on securities available-for-sale, unrecognized actuarial gains and losses of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges, net of taxes.

 

Restrictions on Cash [Policy Text Block]

Restrictions on Cash

 

Cash on hand or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank is required to meet regulatory reserve and clearing requirements.

 

Policyholders' Dividend [Policy Text Block]

Dividend Restriction

 

Banking regulations require maintaining certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the Bank to the Parent Corporation or by the Parent Corporation to the stockholders.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

 

Life Settlement Contracts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Bank Owned Life Insurance

 

The Company invests in Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”) to help offset the cost of employee benefits. The change in the cash surrender value of the BOLI is recorded as a component of noninterest income.

 

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

 

A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded.

 

Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Costs

 

The Company recognizes its marketing and advertising cost as incurred.

 

Reclassification, Comparability Adjustment [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made in the consolidated financial statements and footnotes for 2021 and 2020 to conform to the classifications presented in 2022. Such reclassifications had no impact on net income or stockholders’ equity.

 

 

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Adoption of New Accounting Standards in 2023

 

In March 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-02, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures” (“ASU 2022-02”). ASU 2022-02 eliminates the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) in ASC 310-40, “Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors” for entities that have adopted the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model introduced by ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2022-02 also requires that public business entities disclose current-period gross charge-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investments in leases within the scope of Subtopic 326-20, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses—Measured at Amortized Cost”. ASU 2022-02 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2022-02 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Newly Issued, But Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards

 

In June 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-03, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions” (“ASU 2022-03”). ASU 2022-03 clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value.  ASU 2022-03 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2022-03 will have on its consolidated financial statements.