10-K 1 washform10k2017q4.htm 10-K 12-31-17 Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
x
Annual report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended DECEMBER 31, 2017 or
o
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:  001-32991
WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC. 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
RHODE ISLAND
05-0404671
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
23 BROAD STREET, WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND
02891
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:     401-348-1200
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
COMMON STOCK, $.0625 PAR VALUE PER SHARE
THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET LLC
(Title of each class)
(Name of each exchange on which registered)
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. oYes  xNo
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  oYes  xNo
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.  xYes  oNo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). xYes  oNo
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer  x
Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company  o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Emerging growth company  o
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 accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). oYes  xNo
The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at June 30, 2017 was $765,680,957 based on a closing sales price of $51.55 per share as reported on the NASDAQ Market, which includes $22,467,009 held by The Washington Trust Company, of Westerly under trust agreements and other instruments.
The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock, $.0625 par value per share, outstanding as of January 31, 2018 was 17,232,468.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement dated March 13, 2018 for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 24, 2018 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.


FORM 10-K
WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Description
 
 
Page
Number
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains statements that are “forward-looking statements.”  We may also make forward-looking statements in other documents we file with the SEC, in our annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by our officers, directors or employees.  You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “assume,” “outlook,” “will,” “should,” and other expressions that predict or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate to historical matters.  You should not rely on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.  These risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different than the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Some of the factors that might cause these differences include the following: weakness in national, regional or international economic conditions or conditions affecting the banking or financial services industries or financial capital markets; volatility in national and international financial markets; reductions in net interest income resulting from interest rate volatility as well as changes in the balance and mix of loans and deposits; reductions in the market value of wealth management assets under administration; changes in the value of securities and other assets; reductions in loan demand; changes in loan collectibility, default and charge-off rates; changes in the size and nature of our competition; changes in legislation or regulation and accounting principles, policies and guidelines; occurrences of cyberattacks, hacking and identity theft; natural disasters; and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements.  In addition, the factors described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K may result in these differences.  You should carefully review all of these factors and you should be aware that there may be other factors that could cause these differences.  These forward-looking statements were based on information, plans and estimates at the date of this report, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes.

PART I

ITEM 1.  Business.

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (the “Bancorp”), a publicly-owned registered bank holding company that has elected to be a financial holding company, was organized in 1984 under the laws of the state of Rhode Island.  The Bancorp’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Market under the symbol WASH. The Bancorp owns all of the outstanding common stock of The Washington Trust Company, of Westerly (the “Bank”), a Rhode Island chartered commercial bank founded in 1800.  The Bancorp was formed in 1984 under a plan of reorganization in which outstanding common shares of the Bank were exchanged for common shares of the Bancorp.  See additional information under the caption “Subsidiaries.”

References in this report to “Washington Trust” or the “Corporation” refer to the Bancorp and its subsidiaries. Washington Trust offers a comprehensive product line of banking and financial services to individuals and businesses, including commercial, residential and consumer lending, retail and commercial deposit products, and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut; its automated teller machine (“ATM”) networks; and its internet website at www.washtrust.com.

The accounting and reporting policies of Washington Trust conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and to general practices of the banking industry.  At December 31, 2017, Washington Trust had total assets of $4.5 billion, total deposits of $3.2 billion and total shareholders’ equity of $413.3 million.

Business Segments
Washington Trust manages its operations through two business segments, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services.  Activity not related to the segments, including activity related to the investment securities portfolio, wholesale matters and administrative units are considered Corporate.  See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosure related to business segments.



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Commercial Banking
Lending Activities
Washington Trust’s total loan portfolio amounted to $3.4 billion, or 74% of total assets, at December 31, 2017. The Corporation’s lending activities are conducted primarily in southern New England and, to a lesser extent, other states.  Washington Trust offers a variety of commercial and retail lending products. Interest rates charged on loans may be fixed or variable and vary with the degree of risk, loan term, underwriting and servicing costs, loan amount, and the extent of other banking relationships maintained with customers. Rates are further subject to competitive pressures, the current interest rate environment, availability of funds, and government regulations.

Management evaluates the appropriateness of underwriting standards in response to changes in national and regional economic conditions, including such matters as market interest rates, energy prices, trends in real estate values, and employment levels.  Based on management’s assessment of these matters, underwriting standards and credit monitoring activities are enhanced from time to time in response to changes in these conditions.  These assessments may result in clarification of debt service ratio calculations, changes in geographic and loan type concentrations, modifications to loan to value standards for real estate collateral, changes in credit monitoring criteria, and enhancements to monitoring of construction loans.

Commercial Loans
The commercial loan portfolio represented 54% of total loans at December 31, 2017. In making commercial loans, Washington Trust may occasionally solicit the participation of other banks. Washington Trust also participates from time to time in commercial loans originated by other banks. In such cases, these loans are individually underwritten by us using standards similar to those employed for our self-originated loans. Our participation in commercial loans originated by other banks also includes shared national credits, which as of December 31, 2017 are defined as participations in loans or loan commitments of at least $20.0 million that are shared by three or more banks. Commercial loans fall into two major categories: commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans.

Commercial real estate loans consist of commercial mortgages secured by real property where the primary source of repayment is derived from rental income associated with the property or the proceeds of the sale, refinancing or permanent financing of the property. Commercial real estate loans also include construction loans made to businesses for land development or the on-site construction of industrial, commercial, or residential buildings. Commercial real estate loans frequently involve larger loan balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. The Bank’s commercial real estate loans are secured by a variety of property types, such as office buildings, retail facilities, multi-family dwellings, lodging, commercial mixed use, industrial and warehouse properties and healthcare facilities. At December 31, 2017, commercial real estate loans represented 66% and 36%, respectively, of the commercial loan and total loan portfolios.

Commercial and industrial loans primarily provide working capital, equipment financing and financing for other business-related purposes. Commercial and industrial loans are frequently collateralized by equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, and/or general business assets.  A significant portion of the Bank’s commercial and industrial loan portfolio is also collateralized by real estate.  Commercial and industrial loans also include tax exempt loans made to states and political subdivisions, as well as industrial development or revenue bonds issued through quasi-public corporations for the benefit of a private or non-profit entity where that entity rather than the governmental entity is obligated to pay the debt service. The Bank’s commercial and industrial loan portfolio includes loans to business sectors such as health care/social assistance, owner occupied and other real estate, manufacturing, retail trade, educational services, professional, scientific and technical, transportation and warehousing, entertainment and recreation, finance and insurance, other services, construction businesses and public administration. At December 31, 2017, commercial and industrial loans represented 34% and 18%, respectively, of the commercial loan and total loan portfolios.

Residential Real Estate Loans
Washington Trust originates residential real estate mortgages through our residential mortgage lending offices in eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut. Our mortgage origination business reaches beyond our bank branch network, which is primarily located in Rhode Island.

The residential real estate loan portfolio consists of mortgage and homeowner construction loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties and represented 36% of total loans at December 31, 2017.  Residential real estate loans are primarily originated by commissioned mortgage originator employees. Residential real estate loans are originated both


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for sale in the secondary market as well as for retention in the Bank’s loan portfolio.  Loan sales to the secondary market provide funds for additional lending and other banking activities.  Loans originated for sale in the secondary market are sold to investors such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and other institutional investors. Washington Trust sells loans with servicing retained or released.  Residential real estate loans are also originated for various investors in a broker capacity, including conventional mortgages and reverse mortgages. In 2017, residential mortgage loan originations for retention in portfolio amounted to $318.7 million, while loans originated for sale in the secondary market, including loans originated in a broker capacity, totaled $533.9 million.

Also included in the residential real estate mortgage portfolio are purchased mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties in southern New England and other states. These loans were purchased from other financial institutions and were individually evaluated to Washington Trust’s underwriting standards. The purchased residential mortgage loan portfolio as of December 31, 2017 was largely secured by properties located in Massachusetts. At December 31, 2017, purchased residential mortgages represented 11% and 4%, respectively, of the total residential real estate mortgage and total loan portfolios.

Consumer Loans
The consumer loan portfolio represented 10% of total loans as of December 31, 2017.  Consumer loans include home equity loans and lines of credit and personal installment loans.  Home equity lines and home equity loans represent 90% of the total consumer portfolio at December 31, 2017.  All home equity lines and home equity loans were originated by Washington Trust in its general market area.  The Bank estimates that approximately 65% of the combined home equity line and home equity loan balances are first lien positions or subordinate to other Washington Trust mortgages.

Washington Trust also purchases loans to individuals secured by general aviation aircraft. These loans are individually underwritten by us at the time of purchase using standards similar to those employed for self-originated consumer loans. At December 31, 2017, these purchased loans represented 7% and 1%, respectively, of the total consumer loan and total loan portfolios.

Credit Risk Management and Asset Quality
Washington Trust utilizes the following general practices to manage credit risk:
•
Limiting the amount of credit that individual lenders may extend;
•
Establishment of formal, documented processes for credit approval accountability;
•
Prudent initial underwriting and analysis of borrower, transaction, market and collateral risks;
•
Ongoing servicing of the majority of individual loans and lending relationships;
•
Continuous monitoring of the portfolio, market dynamics and the economy; and
•
Periodic reevaluation of our strategy and overall exposure as economic, market and other relevant conditions change.

The credit risk management function is conducted independently of the lending groups. Credit risk management is responsible for oversight of the commercial loan rating system, conducting analyses to determine loss exposure and for preparing monthly and quarterly reports regarding the credit quality of the loan portfolio to ensure compliance with credit policy.  In addition, it is responsible for managing nonperforming and classified assets.  The criticized loan portfolio, which generally consists of commercial loans that are risk-rated special mention or worse, and other selected loans are monitored by credit risk management, focusing on the current status and strategies to improve the credit.  An annual loan review program is conducted by a third party to provide an independent evaluation of the creditworthiness of the commercial loan portfolio, the quality of the underwriting and credit risk management practices and the appropriateness of the risk rating classifications.  This review is supplemented with selected targeted internal reviews of the commercial loan portfolio.  Various techniques are utilized to monitor indicators of credit deterioration in the portfolios of residential real estate mortgages and home equity lines and loans, along with selected targeted reviews within these portfolios.  Among these techniques is the periodic tracking of loans with an updated FICO score and an estimated loan to value (“LTV”) ratio.  LTV is determined via statistical modeling analyses.  The indicated LTV levels are estimated based on such factors as the location, the original LTV, and the date of origination of the loan and do not reflect actual appraisal amounts.



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The Board of Directors of the Bank monitors credit risk management through two committees, the Finance Committee and the Audit Committee.  The Finance Committee has primary oversight responsibility for the credit granting function, including approval authority for credit granting policies, review of management’s credit granting activities and approval of large exposure credit requests.  The Audit Committee oversees various systems and procedures performed by management for monitoring the credit quality of the loan portfolio, conducting a loan review program, maintaining the integrity of the loan rating system and determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. The Audit Committee also approves the policy and methodology for establishing the allowance for loan losses. These committees report the results of their respective oversight functions to the Bank’s Board of Directors.  In addition, the Bank’s Board of Directors receives information concerning asset quality measurements and trends on a regular basis.

Deposit Activities
At December 31, 2017, total deposits amounted to $3.2 billion. Deposits represent Washington Trust’s primary source of funds and are gathered primarily from the areas surrounding our branch network.  The Bank offers a wide variety of deposit products with a range of interest rates and terms to consumer, commercial, non-profit and municipal deposit customers.  Washington Trust’s deposit accounts consist of interest-bearing demand deposits, noninterest-bearing demand deposits, NOW accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and time deposits.  A variety of retirement deposit accounts are offered to customers.  Additional deposit services provided to customers include debit cards, ATMs, telephone banking, internet banking, mobile banking, remote deposit capture and other cash management services. From time to time, brokered time deposits from out-of-market institutional sources are utilized as part of our overall funding strategy.

Washington Trust is a participant in the Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) program, the Demand Deposit Marketplace (“DDM”) program and the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) program. Washington Trust uses these deposit sweep services to place customer funds into interest-bearing demand accounts, money market accounts, and/or certificates of deposits issued by other participating banks. Customer funds are placed at one or more participating banks to ensure that each deposit customer is eligible for the full amount of FDIC insurance. As a program participant, we receive reciprocal amounts of deposits from other participating banks. ICS, DDM and CDARS deposits are considered to be brokered deposits for bank regulatory purposes. We consider these reciprocal deposit balances to be in-market deposits as distinguished from traditional out-of-market brokered deposits.

Wealth Management Services
Washington Trust provides a broad range of wealth management services to personal and institutional clients.  These services include investment management; financial planning; personal trust and estate services, including services as trustee, personal representative, custodian and guardian; and settlement of decedents’ estates.  Institutional trust services are also provided, including custody and fiduciary services.  Wealth management services are primarily provided through the Bank and its registered investment adviser subsidiaries.  See additional information under the caption “Subsidiaries.”

At December 31, 2017, wealth management assets under administration totaled $6.7 billion. These assets are not included in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Washington Trust’s wealth management revenues represented 21% of total revenues in 2017.  A substantial portion of wealth management revenues is largely dependent on the value of wealth management assets under administration and is closely tied to the performance of the financial markets. This portion of wealth management revenues is referred to as “asset-based” and includes trust and investment management fees and mutual fund fees. Wealth management revenues also include “transaction-based” revenues, such as financial planning, commissions and other service fees that are not primarily derived from the value of assets.

Investment Securities Portfolio
Washington Trust’s investment securities portfolio amounted to $793.5 million, or 18% of total assets, at December 31, 2017 and is managed to generate interest income, to implement interest rate risk management strategies and to provide a readily available source of liquidity for balance sheet management.  See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Washington Trust may acquire, hold and transact in various types of investment securities in accordance with applicable federal regulations, state statutes and guidelines specified in Washington Trust’s internal investment policy.  At December 31, 2017, the investment securities portfolio consisted of obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, including mortgage-backed securities; municipal securities; individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities; and corporate debt securities.


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Investment activity is monitored by an Investment Committee, the members of which also sit on the Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”).  Asset and liability management objectives are the primary influence on the Corporation’s investment activities.  However, the Corporation also recognizes that there are certain specific risks inherent in investment portfolio activity.  The securities portfolio is managed in accordance with regulatory guidelines and established internal corporate investment policies that provide limitations on specific risk factors such as market risk, credit risk and concentration, liquidity risk and operational risk to help monitor risks associated with investing in securities.  Reports on the activities conducted by Investment Committee and the ALCO are presented to the Board of Directors on a regular basis.

Wholesale Funding Activities
The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLB”). The Bank utilizes advances from the FHLB to meet short-term liquidity needs, and also to fund additions to the securities portfolio and loan growth.  As a member of the FHLB, the Bank must own a minimum amount of FHLB stock, calculated periodically based primarily on its level of borrowings from the FHLB.  At December 31, 2017, the Bank had advances payable to the FHLB of $791.4 million. In addition, the Bank had borrowing capacity remaining of $449.9 million, as well as a $40.0 million unused line of credit with the FHLB at December 31, 2017.  The Bank pledges certain qualified investment securities and loans as collateral to the FHLB. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Additional funding sources are available through the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and in other forms of borrowing, such as securities sold under repurchase agreements. As noted above under the heading “Deposit Activities,” the Corporation also utilizes out-of-market brokered time deposits as part of its overall funding program.

Subsidiaries
The Bancorp’s subsidiaries include the Bank and Weston Securities Corporation (“WSC”).  In addition, the Bancorp also owns all of the outstanding common stock of WT Capital Trust I and WT Capital Trust II, special purpose finance entities formed with the sole purpose of issuing trust preferred debt securities and investing the proceeds in junior subordinated debentures of the Bancorp.  See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

The following is a description of Bancorp’s primary operating subsidiaries:

The Washington Trust Company, of Westerly
The Bank was originally chartered in 1800 as the Washington Bank and is the oldest banking institution headquartered in its market area and is among the oldest banks in the United States.  Its current charter dates to 1902.

The Bank provides a broad range of financial services, including lending, deposit and cash management services and wealth management services.  The deposits of the Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), subject to regulatory limits.

The Bank has two registered investment adviser subsidiaries, Weston Financial Group, Inc. (“Weston Financial”) and Halsey Associates, Inc. (“Halsey”). Weston Financial and its broker-dealer and insurance agency subsidiaries were acquired by the Bancorp in August 2005 and are located in Wellesley, Massachusetts.  Halsey was acquired by the Bancorp in August 2015 and is located in New Haven, Connecticut. The acquisitions of Weston Financial and Halsey expanded the geographic reach of Washington Trust’s wealth management business.

The Bank also has a mortgage banking subsidiary, Washington Trust Mortgage Company LLC (“WTMC”) that is licensed to do business in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. See “-Supervision and Regulation-Consumer Protection Regulation-Mortgage Reform” for a discussion of certain regulations that apply to WTMC. Washington Trust’s residential mortgage origination business conducted in our residential mortgage lending offices located outside of Rhode Island is performed by this Bank subsidiary.

The Bank has other subsidiaries whose primary functions are to provide servicing on passive investments, such as loans acquired from the Bank and investment securities.  In addition, the Bank has a subsidiary that was formed for the purpose of holding, monitoring and disposing of certain foreclosed properties. The Bank also has a limited liability company


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subsidiary that serves as a special limited partner responsible for certain administrative functions associated with the Bank’s investment in two real estate limited partnerships.

Weston Securities Corporation
WSC is a licensed introducing broker-dealer that offers variable annuities and 529 College Savings Plans, primarily to Weston Financial clients. Prior to September 30, 2017, WSC also offered mutual funds to Weston Financial clients and acted as the principal distributor to a group of mutual funds for which Weston Financial was the investment adviser. In the third quarter of 2017, the mutual funds were dissolved and liquidated pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Dissolution and Liquidation approved by the shareholders of the mutual funds in August 2017.

Market Area
Washington Trust’s headquarters and main office is located in Westerly in Washington County, Rhode Island.  Washington Trust’s primary deposit gathering area consists of the communities that are served by its branch network.  As of December 31, 2017, the Bank had 10 branch offices located in southern Rhode Island (Washington County), 11 branch offices located in the greater Providence area in Rhode Island and 1 branch office located in southeastern Connecticut.  We continue our expansion efforts into the greater Providence area as both the population and number of businesses in that area far exceed those in southern Rhode Island. In 2017, Washington Trust opened a full-service branch in Coventry, Rhode Island.

As noted above, Washington Trust’s lending activities are conducted primarily in southern New England and, to a lesser extent, other states.  In addition to branch offices, the Bank has a commercial lending office at its main office and in the financial district of Providence, Rhode Island. Washington Trust also has residential mortgage lending offices located in eastern Massachusetts (Sharon, Burlington, Braintree and Wellesley); in Connecticut (Glastonbury and Darien); and in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Washington Trust provides wealth management services from its offices located in Westerly, Narragansett and Providence, Rhode Island; Wellesley, Massachusetts; and New Haven, Connecticut.

Competition
Washington Trust faces considerable competition in its market area for all aspects of banking and related financial service activities.  Competition from both bank and non-bank organizations is expected to continue.

Washington Trust contends with strong competition both in generating loans and attracting deposits.  The primary factors in competing are interest rates, financing terms, fees charged, products offered, personalized customer service, online access to accounts and convenience of branch locations, ATMs and branch hours.  Competition comes from commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions and internet banks, as well as other non-bank institutions.  Washington Trust faces strong competition from larger institutions with greater resources, broader product lines and larger delivery systems than the Bank. Competition could intensify in the future as a result of industry consolidation, the increasing availability of products and services from non-bank institutions, greater technological developments in the industry and continued bank regulatory changes.

Washington Trust operates in a highly competitive wealth management services marketplace.  Key competitive factors include investment performance, quality and level of service, and personal relationships.  Principal competitors in the wealth management services business are commercial banks and trust companies, investment advisory firms, mutual fund companies, stock brokerage firms, and other financial companies. Many of these companies have greater resources than Washington Trust.

Employees
At December 31, 2017, Washington Trust had 600 employees consisting of 574 full-time and 26 part-time and other employees.  Management considers relations with its employees to be good.  Washington Trust maintains a comprehensive employee benefit program providing, among other benefits, group medical and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and a 401(k) plan. The Corporation maintains a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of certain eligible employees who were hired prior to October 1, 2007. The Corporation also has non-qualified retirement plans to provide supplemental retirement benefits to certain employees, as described in these plans. Defined benefit pension plans were previously amended to freeze benefit accruals after a ten-year transition period ending in December


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2023. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on certain employee benefit programs.

Statistical Disclosures
The information required by Securities Act Guide 3 “Statistical Disclosure by Bank Holding Companies” is located on the pages noted below.
Description
 
Page

I.
Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholder Equity; Interest Rates and Interest Differentials
38-41

II.
Investment Portfolio
 
49-52

III.
Loan Portfolio
 
53-56, 95

IV.
Summary of Loan Loss Experience
 
57-64, 104

V.
Deposits
 
38, 109

VI.
Return on Equity and Assets
 
30

VII.
Short-Term Borrowings
 
67, 110


Supervision and Regulation
The following discussion addresses elements of the regulatory framework applicable to Washington Trust.  Federal and state banking laws have as their principal objective the maintenance of the safety and soundness of financial institutions and the federal deposit insurance system or the protection of consumers or depositors, rather than the protection of shareholders of a bank holding company, such as the Bancorp.

The following discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the statutes, regulations, policies and guidelines described below.

Regulation of the Bancorp
As a bank holding company, the Bancorp is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”) under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Division of Banking (the “RI Division of Banking”).

The Federal Reserve has the authority to issue orders to bank holding companies to cease and desist from unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of laws, regulations, or conditions imposed by, agreements with, or commitments to, the Federal Reserve.  The Federal Reserve is also empowered to assess civil money penalties against companies or individuals who violate the BHCA or orders or regulations thereunder, to order termination of non-banking activities of non-banking subsidiaries of bank holding companies, and to order termination of ownership and control of a non-banking subsidiary by a bank holding company.

Source of Strength.  Under the BHCA, as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), the Bancorp is required to serve as a source of financial strength for the Bank.  This support may be required at times when the Bancorp may not have the resources to provide support to the Bank.  In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a bank subsidiary will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.

Acquisitions and Activities.  The BHCA prohibits a bank holding company, without prior approval of the Federal Reserve, from acquiring all or substantially all the assets of a bank, acquiring control of a bank, merging or consolidating with another bank holding company, or acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting shares of another bank or bank holding company if, after such acquisition, the acquiring bank holding company would control more than 5% of any class of the voting shares of such other bank or bank holding company.

The BHCA generally prohibits a bank holding company from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to its subsidiary banks.  However, bank holding companies are permitted to engage directly or indirectly in, and acquire control of companies engaged in, activities that the Federal Reserve had determined as of November 11, 1999 to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident


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thereto, subject to certain prior notification procedures and other requirements. In 2005, the Bancorp elected financial holding company status pursuant to the provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (“GLBA”).  As a financial holding company, the Bancorp is authorized to engage in certain financial activities in which a bank holding company that has not elected to be a financial holding company may not engage.  “Financial activities” is broadly defined to include not only banking, insurance and securities activities, but also merchant banking and additional activities that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines to be financial in nature, incidental to such financial activities, or complementary activities that do not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally.  Currently, as a financial holding company, the Bancorp engages, through its subsidiary WSC, in broker-dealer activities pursuant to this authority.

If a financial holding company or any depository institution subsidiary of a financial holding company fails to remain well capitalized and well managed, the Federal Reserve may impose such limitations on the conduct or activities of the financial holding company as the Federal Reserve determines to be appropriate, and the company and its affiliates may not commence any new activity or acquire control of shares of any company engaged in any activity that is authorized particularly for financial holding companies without first obtaining the approval of the Federal Reserve.  The company must also enter into an agreement with the Federal Reserve to comply with all applicable requirements to qualify as a financial holding company. If a financial holding company remains out of compliance for 180 days or such longer period as the Federal Reserve permits, the Federal Reserve may require the financial holding company to divest either its insured depository institution or all of its non-banking subsidiaries engaged in activities not permissible for a bank holding company.  If an insured depository institution subsidiary of a financial holding company fails to maintain a “satisfactory” or better record of performance under the Community Reinvestment Act (the “CRA”), the financial holding company will be prohibited, until the rating is raised to satisfactory or better, from engaging in new activities authorized particularly for financial holding companies or acquiring companies engaged in such activities.

Limitations on Acquisitions of Bancorp Common Stock.  The Change in Bank Control Act prohibits a person or group of persons acting in concert from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company unless the Federal Reserve has been notified and has not objected to the transaction.  Under a rebuttable presumption established by the Federal Reserve, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting securities of a bank holding company, such as the Bancorp, with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, would, under the circumstances set forth in the presumption, constitute the acquisition of control of a bank holding company.  In addition, the BHCA prohibits any company from acquiring control of a bank or bank holding company without first having obtained the approval of the Federal Reserve.  Among other circumstances, under the BHCA, a company has control of a bank or bank holding company if the company owns, controls or holds with power to vote 25% or more of a class of voting securities of the bank or bank holding company, controls in any manner the election of a majority of directors or trustees of the bank or bank holding company, or the Federal Reserve has determined, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that the company has the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of the bank or bank holding company.

Regulation of the Bank
The Bank is subject to the regulation, supervision and examination by the FDIC, the RI Division of Banking and the Connecticut Department of Banking.  The Bank is also subject to various Rhode Island and Connecticut business and banking regulations and the regulations issued by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (the “CFPB”) (as enforced by the FDIC).  Additionally, under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Federal Reserve may directly examine the subsidiaries of the Bancorp, including the Bank.

The FDIC, the RI Division of Banking and the Connecticut Department of Banking have the authority to issue orders to banks under their supervision to cease and desist from unsafe or unsound banking practices and violations of laws, regulations, or conditions imposed by, agreements with, or commitments to, the FDIC, the RI Division of Banking or the Connecticut Department of Banking.  The FDIC, the RI Division of Banking or the Connecticut Department of Banking is also empowered to assess civil money penalties against companies or individuals who violate banking laws, orders or regulations.

Deposit Insurance.  The deposit obligations of the Bank are insured by the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) up to $250,000 per depositor.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the “FDIA”), as amended by the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, requires the FDIC to take steps as may be necessary to cause the ratio of deposit insurance reserves to estimated insured deposits, the designated reserve ratio, to reach 1.35% by September 30, 2020,


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and it mandates that the reserve ratio designated by the FDIC for any year may not be less than 1.35%.  Further, the Dodd-Frank Act required that, in setting assessments, the FDIC offset with credits the effect of the increase in the minimum reserve ratio from 1.15% to 1.35% on banks with less than $10 billion in assets.

To satisfy these requirements, on March 15, 2016, the FDIC’s Board of Directors approved a final rule to increase the DIF’s reserve ratio to the statutorily required minimum ratio of 1.35% of estimated insured deposits. The final rule imposes on large banks a surcharge of 4.5 basis points of their assessment base, after making certain adjustments. Large banks, which are generally banks with $10 billion or more in assets, will pay quarterly surcharges in addition to their regular risk-based assessments. Overall regular risk-based assessment rates will decline once the reserve ratio reaches 1.15%. Small banks, such as the Bank, will receive credits to offset the portion of their assessments that help to raise the reserve ratio from 1.15% to 1.35%. After the reserve ratio reaches 1.38%, the FDIC will automatically apply a small bank’s credits to reduce its regular assessment up to the entire amount of the assessment. The revised deposit insurance assessment pricing became effective on July 1, 2016.

Deposit premiums are based on assets.  To determine its deposit insurance premium, the Bank computes the base amount of its average consolidated assets less its average tangible equity (defined as the amount of Tier 1 capital) and the applicable assessment rate. On April 26, 2016, the FDIC’s Board of Directors adopted a final rule that changed the manner in which deposit insurance assessment rates are calculated for established small banks, generally those banks with less than $10 billion of assets that have been insured for at least five years. The rule utilizes the CAMELS rating system, which is a supervisory rating system designed to take into account and reflect all financial and operational risks that a bank may face, including capital adequacy, asset quality, management capability, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to market risk. To determine a bank’s assessment rate, each of seven financial ratios and a weighted average of CAMELS component ratings are multiplied by a corresponding pricing multiplier. The sum of these products is added to a uniform amount, with the resulting sum being an institution’s initial base assessment rate (subject to minimum or maximum assessment rates based on a bank’s CAMELS composite rating). This method takes into account various measures, including an institution’s leverage ratio, brokered deposit ratio, one year asset growth, the ratio of net income before taxes to total assets and considerations related to asset quality. Assessments for established small banks with a CAMELS rating of 1 or 2 range from 1.5 to 16 basis points, after adjustments, while assessment rates for established small banks with a CAMELS composite rating of 4 or 5 range from 11 to 30 basis points, after adjustments. Assessments for established small banks with a CAMELS rating of 3 range from 3 to 30 basis points.

The FDIC has the power to adjust deposit insurance assessment rates at any time.  In addition, under the FDIA, the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.  The Bank’s FDIC insurance expense in 2017 was $1.6 million.

Acquisitions and Branching.  Prior approval from the RI Division of Banking and the FDIC is required in order for the Bank to acquire another bank or establish a new branch office.  Well capitalized and well managed banks may acquire other banks in any state, subject to certain deposit concentration limits and other conditions, pursuant to the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994, as amended by the Dodd-Frank Act.  In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act authorizes a state-chartered bank, such as the Bank, to establish new branches on an interstate basis to the same extent a bank chartered by the host state may establish branches.

Activities and Investments of Insured State-Chartered Banks.  Section 24 of the FDIA generally limits the types of equity investments an FDIC-insured state-chartered bank, such as the Bank, may make and the kinds of activities in which such a bank may engage, as a principal, to those that are permissible for national banks.  Further, the GLBA permits national banks and state banks, to the extent permitted under state law, to engage via financial subsidiaries in certain activities that are permissible for subsidiaries of a financial holding company.  In order to form a financial subsidiary, a state-chartered bank must be “well capitalized,” and such banks must comply with certain capital deduction, risk management and affiliate transaction rules, among other requirements.

Brokered Deposits.  Section 29 of the FDIA and FDIC regulations generally limit the ability of an insured depository institution to accept, renew or roll over any brokered deposit unless the institution’s capital category is “well capitalized” or, with the FDIC’s approval, “adequately capitalized.”  Depository institutions, other than those in the lowest risk category, that have brokered deposits in excess of 10% of total deposits will be subject to increased FDIC deposit insurance premium


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assessments. However, for institutions that are “well capitalized” and have a CAMELS composite rating of 1 or 2, reciprocal deposits are deducted from brokered deposits. Additionally, depository institutions considered “adequately capitalized” that need regulatory approval to accept, renew or roll over any brokered deposits are subject to additional restrictions on the interest rate they may pay on deposits. At December 31, 2017, the Bank had brokered deposits in excess of 10% of total deposits.

Community Reinvestment Act.  The CRA requires the FDIC to evaluate the Bank’s performance in helping to meet the credit needs of the entire community it serves, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with its safe and sound banking operations, and to take this record into consideration when evaluating certain applications.  The FDIC’s CRA regulations are generally based upon objective criteria of the performance of institutions under three key assessment tests: (i) a lending test, to evaluate the institution’s record of making loans in its service areas; (ii) an investment test, to evaluate the institution’s record of investing in community development projects, affordable housing, and programs benefiting low or moderate income individuals and businesses; and (iii) a service test, to evaluate the institution’s delivery of services through its branches, ATMs, and other offices.  Failure of an institution to receive at least a “Satisfactory” rating could inhibit the Bank or the Bancorp from undertaking certain activities, including engaging in activities newly permitted as a financial holding company under GLBA and acquisitions of other financial institutions.  The Bank has achieved a rating of “Satisfactory” on its most recent examination dated February 8, 2016.  Rhode Island and Connecticut also have enacted substantially similar community reinvestment requirements.

Lending Restrictions.  Federal law limits a bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10% or more shareholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons.  Among other things, extensions of credit to insiders are required to be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons.  Also, the terms of such extensions of credit may not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features and may not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate, which limits are based, in part, on the amount of the bank’s capital. The Dodd-Frank Act explicitly provides that an extension of credit to an insider includes credit exposure arising from a derivatives transaction, repurchase agreement, reverse repurchase agreement, securities lending transaction or securities borrowing transaction.  Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act requires that asset sale transactions with insiders must be on market terms, and if the transaction represents more than 10% of the capital and surplus of the Bank, be approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Bank.

Capital Adequacy and Safety and Soundness
Regulatory Capital Requirements.  The Federal Reserve and the FDIC have issued substantially similar risk-based and leverage capital rules applicable to U.S. banking organizations such as the Bancorp and the Bank.  These rules are intended to reflect the relationship between a banking organization’s capital and the degree of risk associated with its operations based on transactions recorded on-balance sheet as well as off-balance sheet items.  The Federal Reserve and the FDIC may from time to time require that a banking organization maintain capital above the minimum levels discussed below, due to the banking organization’s financial condition or actual or anticipated growth.

The capital adequacy rules define qualifying capital instruments and specify minimum amounts of capital as a percentage of assets that banking organizations are required to maintain.  Common equity Tier 1 generally includes common stock and related surplus, retained earnings and, in certain cases and subject to certain limitations, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, less goodwill, other non-qualifying intangible assets and certain other deductions. Tier 1 capital generally consists of the sum of common equity Tier 1 elements, non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, and related surplus and, in certain cases and subject to limitations, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries that do not qualify as common equity Tier 1 capital, less certain deductions.  Tier 2 capital generally consists of hybrid capital instruments, perpetual debt and mandatory convertible debt securities, cumulative perpetual preferred stock, term subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock, and, subject to limitations, allowances for loan losses.  The sum of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital less certain required deductions represents qualifying total risk-based capital.  Prior to the effectiveness of certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, bank holding companies were permitted to include trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock in Tier 1 capital, subject to limitations.  However, the Federal Reserve’s capital rule applicable to bank holding companies permanently grandfathers non-qualifying capital instruments, including trust preferred securities, issued before May 19, 2010 by depository institution holding companies with less than $15 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2009, subject to a limit of 25% of Tier 1 capital.  The Bancorp’s currently outstanding


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trust preferred securities were grandfathered under this rule. In addition, under rules that became effective January 1, 2015, accumulated other comprehensive income (positive or negative) must be reflected in Tier 1 capital; however, the Bancorp was permitted to make a one-time, permanent election to continue to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income from capital. The Bancorp made this election.

Under the capital rules, risk-based capital ratios are calculated by dividing common equity Tier 1, Tier 1 and total risk-based capital, respectively, by risk-weighted assets.  Assets and off-balance sheet credit equivalents are assigned one of several categories of risk weights based primarily on relative risk.  Under the Federal Reserve’s rules applicable to the Bancorp and the FDIC’s capital rules applicable to the Bank, the Bancorp and the Bank are each required to maintain a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.5%, a minimum Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 6%, a minimum total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 8% and a minimum leverage ratio requirement of 4%. Additionally, subject to a transition schedule, these rules require an institution to establish a capital conservation buffer of common equity Tier 1 capital in an amount above the minimum risk-based capital requirements for “adequately capitalized” institutions equal to 2.5% of total risk weighted assets, or face restrictions on the ability to pay dividends, pay discretionary bonuses, and to engage in share repurchases.

Under the FDIC’s prompt corrective action rules, an FDIC supervised institution is considered “well capitalized” if it (i) has a total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 10.0% or greater; (ii) a Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 8.0% or greater; (iii) a common Tier 1 equity ratio of 6.5% or greater, (iv) a leverage capital ratio of 5.0% or greater; and (v) is not subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive, or prompt corrective action directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. The Bank is considered “well capitalized” under this definition.

Generally, a bank, upon receiving notice that it is not adequately capitalized (i.e., that it is “undercapitalized”), becomes subject to the prompt corrective action provisions of Section 38 of FDIA that, for example, (i) restrict payment of capital distributions and management fees, (ii) require that its federal bank regulator monitor the condition of the institution and its efforts to restore its capital, (iii) require submission of a capital restoration plan, (iv) restrict the growth of the institution’s assets and (v) require prior regulatory approval of certain expansion proposals. A bank that is required to submit a capital restoration plan must concurrently submit a performance guarantee by each company that controls the bank. A bank that is “critically undercapitalized” (i.e., has a ratio of tangible equity to total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0%) will be subject to further restrictions, and generally will be placed in conservatorship or receivership within 90 days.

Current capital rules do not establish standards for determining whether a bank holding company is well capitalized. However, for purposes of processing regulatory applications and notices, the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation Y provides that a bank holding company is considered “well capitalized” if (i) on a consolidated basis, the bank holding company maintains a total risk-based capital ratio of 10% or greater; (ii) on a consolidated basis, the bank holding company maintains a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6% or greater; and (iii) the bank holding company is not subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive, or prompt corrective action directive issued by the Board to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. The Bancorp is considered “well capitalized” under this definition.

Safety and Soundness Standard.  The FDIA requires the federal bank regulatory agencies to prescribe standards, by regulations or guidelines, relating to internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, stock valuation and compensation, fees and benefits, and such other operational and managerial standards as the agencies deem appropriate.  Guidelines adopted by the federal bank regulatory agencies establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, and compensation and benefits. In general, these guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk 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, the federal banking agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan.  If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an acceptable compliance plan, the agency must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order restricting asset growth, requiring an institution to increase its ratio of tangible equity to assets or directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution is subject


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under the “prompt corrective action” provisions of the FDIA. See “-Regulatory Capital Requirements” above.  If an 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.

Dividend Restrictions
The Bancorp is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank and its other subsidiaries.  Revenues of the Bancorp are derived primarily from dividends paid to it by the Bank.  The right of the Bancorp, and consequently the right of shareholders of the Bancorp, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of the Bank, through the payment of such dividends or otherwise, is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of the Bank (including depositors), except to the extent that certain claims of the Bancorp in a creditor capacity may be recognized.

Restrictions on Bank Holding Company Dividends.  The Federal Reserve has the authority to prohibit bank holding companies from paying dividends if such payment is deemed to be an unsafe or unsound practice.  The Federal Reserve has indicated generally that it may be an unsafe or unsound practice for bank holding companies to pay dividends unless the bank holding company’s net income over the preceding year is sufficient to fund the dividends and the expected rate of earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. Further, under the Federal Reserve’s capital rule, the Bancorp’s ability to pay dividends is restricted if it does not maintain the required capital buffer.  See “-Capital Adequacy and Safety and Soundness-Regulatory Capital Requirements” above.

Restrictions on Bank Dividends.  The FDIC has the authority to use its enforcement powers to prohibit a bank from paying dividends if, in its opinion, the payment of dividends would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.  Federal law also prohibits the payment of dividends by a bank that will result in the bank failing to meet its applicable capital requirements on a pro forma basis.  Payment of dividends by a bank is also restricted pursuant to various state regulatory limitations. Reference is made to Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of the Bancorp and the Bank’s ability to pay dividends.

Certain Transactions by Bank Holding Companies with their Affiliates
There are various statutory restrictions on the extent to which bank holding companies and their non-bank subsidiaries may borrow, obtain credit from or otherwise engage in “covered transactions” with their insured depository institution subsidiaries.  The Dodd-Frank Act amended the definition of affiliate to include an investment fund for which the depository institution or one of its affiliates is an investment adviser.  An insured depository institution (and its subsidiaries) may not lend money to, or engage in covered transactions with, its non-depository institution affiliates if the aggregate amount of “covered transactions” outstanding involving the bank, plus the proposed transaction exceeds the following limits: (i) in the case of any one such affiliate, the aggregate amount of “covered transactions” of the insured depository institution and its subsidiaries cannot exceed 10% of the capital stock and surplus of the insured depository institution; and (ii) in the case of all affiliates, the aggregate amount of covered transactions of the insured depository institution and its subsidiaries cannot exceed 20% of the capital stock and surplus of the insured depository institution. For this purpose, “covered transactions” are defined by statute to include a loan or extension of credit to an affiliate, a purchase of or investment in securities issued by an affiliate, a purchase of assets from an affiliate unless exempted by the Federal Reserve, the acceptance of securities issued by an affiliate as collateral for a loan or extension of credit to any person or company, the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of an affiliate, securities borrowing or lending transactions with an affiliate that creates a credit exposure to such affiliate, or a derivatives transaction with an affiliate that creates a credit exposure to such affiliate.  “Covered transactions” are also subject to certain collateral security requirements. “Covered transactions” as well as other types of transactions between a bank and a bank holding company must be on market terms and not otherwise unduly favorable to the holding company or an affiliate of the holding company. Moreover, Section 106 of the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970 provides that, to further competition, a bank holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tying arrangements in connection with any extension of credit, lease or sale of property of any kind, or furnishing of any service.

Consumer Protection Regulation
The Bancorp and the Bank are subject to federal and state laws designed to protect consumers and prohibit unfair or deceptive business practices including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Housing Act, Home Ownership Protection Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (“FACT Act”), the GLBA, the Truth in Lending Act, the CRA, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, National Flood Insurance Act and various state law counterparts.  These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure


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requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must interact with customers when taking deposits, making loans, collecting loans and providing other services.  Further, the Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB, which has the responsibility for making rules and regulations under the federal consumer protection laws relating to financial products and services.  The CFPB also has a broad mandate to prohibit unfair, deceptive or abusive acts and practices and is specifically empowered to require certain disclosures to consumers and draft model disclosure forms.  Failure to comply with consumer protection laws and regulations can subject financial institutions to enforcement actions, fines and other penalties.  The FDIC examines the Bank for compliance with CFPB rules and enforces CFPB rules with respect to the Bank.

Mortgage Reform. The Dodd-Frank Act prescribes certain standards that mortgage lenders must consider before making a residential mortgage loan, including verifying a borrower’s ability to repay such mortgage loan and allows borrowers to assert violations of certain provisions of the Truth in Lending Act as a defense to foreclosure proceedings. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, prepayment penalties are prohibited for certain mortgage transactions and creditors are prohibited from financing insurance policies in connection with a residential mortgage loan or home equity line of credit. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act prohibits mortgage originators from receiving compensation based on the terms of residential mortgage loans and generally limits the ability of a mortgage originator to be compensated by others if compensation is received from a consumer. The Dodd-Frank Act requires mortgage lenders to make additional disclosures prior to the extension of credit, in each billing statement and for negative amortization loans and hybrid adjustable rate mortgages. Additionally, CFPB’s qualified mortgage rule (the “QM Rule”), requires creditors, such as Washington Trust, to make a reasonable good faith determination of a consumer's ability to repay any consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling.

Privacy and Customer Information Security.  The GLBA requires financial institutions to implement policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of nonpublic personal information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties. In general, the Bank must provide its customers with an initial and annual disclosure that explains its policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of such nonpublic personal information, and, except as otherwise required or permitted by law, the Bank is prohibited from disclosing such information except as provided in such policies and procedures.  However, an annual disclosure is not required to be provided by a financial institution if the financial institution only discloses information under exceptions from GLBA that do not require an opt out to be provided and if there has been no change in its privacy policies and practices since its most recent disclosure provided to consumers. The GLBA also requires that the Bank develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information (as defined under GLBA), to protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information; and to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.  The Bank is also required to send a notice to customers whose sensitive information has been compromised if unauthorized use of the information is reasonably possible.  Most states, including the states where the Bank operates, have enacted legislation concerning breaches of data security and the duties of the Bank in response to a data breach.  Congress continues to consider federal legislation that would require consumer notice of data security breaches.  In addition, Massachusetts has promulgated data security regulations with respect to personal information of Massachusetts residents.  Pursuant to the FACT Act, the Bank had to develop and implement a written identity theft prevention program to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft in connection with the opening of certain accounts or certain existing accounts.  Additionally, the FACT Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to generally prohibit a person from using information received from an affiliate to make a solicitation for marketing purposes to a consumer, unless the consumer is given notice and a reasonable opportunity and a reasonable and simple method to opt out of the making of such solicitations.

Anti-Money Laundering
The Bank Secrecy Act.  Under the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”), a financial institution is required to have systems in place to detect certain transactions, based on the size and nature of the transaction.  Financial institutions are generally required to report to the U.S. Treasury any cash transactions involving more than $10,000.  In addition, financial institutions are required to file suspicious activity reports for any transaction or series of transactions that involve more than $5,000 and which the financial institution knows, suspects or has reason to suspect involves illegal funds, is designed to evade the requirements of the BSA or has no lawful purpose.  The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), which amended the BSA, together with the implementing regulations of various federal regulatory agencies, has caused financial institutions, such as the Bank, to adopt and implement additional policies or amend existing policies and procedures with respect to, among other things, anti-money laundering compliance, suspicious activity, currency transaction reporting, customer identity


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verification and customer risk analysis.  In evaluating an application under Section 3 of the BHCA to acquire a bank or an application under the Bank Merger Act to merge banks or effect a purchase of assets and assumption of deposits and other liabilities, the applicable federal banking regulator must consider the anti-money laundering compliance record of both the applicant and the target.  In addition, under the USA PATRIOT Act financial institutions are required to take steps to monitor their correspondent banking and private banking relationships as well as, if applicable, their relationships with “shell banks.”

OFAC.  The U.S. has imposed economic sanctions that affect transactions with designated foreign countries, nationals and others.  These sanctions, which are administered by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), take many different forms.  Generally, however, they contain one or more of the following elements: (i) restrictions on trade with or investment in a sanctioned country, including prohibitions against direct or indirect imports from and exports to a sanctioned country and prohibitions on “U.S. persons” engaging in financial or other transactions relating to a sanctioned country or with certain designated persons and entities; (ii) a blocking of assets in which the government or specially designated nationals of the sanctioned country have an interest, by prohibiting transfers of property subject to U.S. jurisdiction (including property in the possession or control of U.S. persons); and (iii) restrictions on transactions with or involving certain persons or entities.  Blocked assets (for example, property and bank deposits) cannot be paid out, withdrawn, set off or transferred in any manner without a license from OFAC.  Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the Corporation.

Regulation of Other Activities
Registered Investment Adviser and Broker-Dealer. WSC is a registered broker-dealer and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).  WSC is subject to extensive regulation, supervision, and examination by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), FINRA and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. WSC is a licensed introducing broker-dealer that offers variable annuities and 529 College Savings Plans, primarily to Weston Financial clients. Prior to September 30, 2017, WSC acted as the underwriter and principal distributor to a group of open-end mutual funds offering four diversified series of shares, for which Weston Financial was the investment adviser.

Weston Financial is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Advisers Act”), and is subject to extensive regulation, supervision, and examination by the SEC and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including those related to sales methods, trading practices, the use and safekeeping of customers’ funds and securities, capital structure, record keeping and the conduct of directors, officers and employees. Each of the mutual funds for which Weston Financial acted an investment adviser was registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and was subject to requirements thereunder.  Shares of each mutual fund were registered with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and were qualified for sale (or exempt from such qualification) under the laws of each state, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the extent such shares were sold in any of those jurisdictions. In the third quarter of 2017, the mutual funds were dissolved and liquidated pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Dissolution and Liquidation approved by the shareholders of the mutual funds in August 2017.

Halsey is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act, and is subject to extensive regulation, supervision, and examination by the SEC and the State of Connecticut, including those related to sales methods, trading practices, the use and safekeeping of customers’ funds and securities, capital structure, record keeping and the conduct of directors, officers and employees.

As investment advisers, Weston Financial and Halsey are subject to the Investment Advisers Act and any regulations promulgated thereunder, including fiduciary, recordkeeping, operational and disclosure obligations.  In addition, an adviser or subadvisor to a registered investment company generally has obligations with respect to the qualification of the registered investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

The foregoing laws and regulations generally grant supervisory agencies and bodies broad administrative powers, including the power to limit or restrict Weston Financial and Halsey from conducting business in the event it fails to comply with such laws and regulations.  Possible sanctions that may be imposed in the event of such noncompliance include the suspension of individual employees, limitations on business activities for specified periods of time, revocation of registration as an investment adviser, commodity trading adviser and/or other registrations, and other censures and fines.


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Mortgage Lending. WTMC, formed in 2012, is a mortgage banking subsidiary of the Bank and licensed to do business in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. WTMC is subject to the regulation, supervision and examination by the banking divisions in each of these states. See “-Consumer Protection Regulation” and “-Consumer Protection Regulation-Mortgage Reform” above for a description of certain regulations that apply to WTMC.

Volcker Rule Restrictions on Proprietary Trading and Sponsorship of Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds.  The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits banking organizations, such as the Bancorp, from engaging in proprietary trading and from sponsoring and investing in hedge funds and private equity funds, except as permitted under certain limited circumstances, in a provision commonly referred to as the “Volcker Rule.”  Under the Dodd-Frank Act, proprietary trading generally means trading by a banking entity or its affiliate for its trading account. Hedge funds and private equity funds are described by the Dodd-Frank Act as funds that would be registered under the Investment Company Act but for certain enumerated exemptions.  The Volcker Rule restrictions apply to the Bancorp, the Bank and all of their subsidiaries and affiliates.

ERISA.  The Bank, Weston Financial and Halsey are each also subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and related regulations, to the extent it is a “fiduciary” under ERISA with respect to some of its clients.  ERISA and related provisions of the Code impose duties on persons who are fiduciaries under ERISA, and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of each ERISA plan that is a client of the Bank, Weston Financial or Halsey, as applicable, as well as certain transactions by the fiduciaries (and several other related parties) to such plans.

Securities and Exchange Commission Availability of Filings
Under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, periodic and current reports must be filed or furnished with the SEC.  You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information filed by Washington Trust with the SEC at its public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.  Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms.  Washington Trust’s filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at https://www.sec.gov.  In addition, Washington Trust makes available free of charge on the Investor Relations section of its website (www.washtrustbancorp.com) its annual report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and exhibits and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. Information on the Washington Trust website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10‑K.



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ITEM 1A.  Risk Factors.
Before making any investment decision with respect to our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks described below, in addition to the other information contained in this report and in our other filings with the SEC. The risks and uncertainties described below and in our other filings are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business. If any of these known or unknown risks or uncertainties actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be impaired. In that event, the market price for our common stock could decline and you may lose your investment. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.

Risks Related to Our Banking Business
Changes in the business and economic conditions, particularly those of southern New England, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
A deterioration in the economy or increased levels of unemployment, among other factors, could lead to erosion of customer confidence, a reduction in general business activity and increased market volatility. The resulting economic pressure on consumers and businesses and the lack of confidence in the financial markets could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and stock price. We primarily serve individuals and businesses located in southern New England and a substantial portion of our loans are secured by properties in southern New England. As a result, a significant portion of our earnings are closely tied to the economy of this region. The weakening or deterioration in the economy of southern New England, including as a result of, among other things, real or threatened acts of war, natural disasters and adverse weather, could result in the following consequences:
•
    loan delinquencies may increase;
•
    problem assets and foreclosures may increase;
•
    demand for our products and services may decline;
•
    collateral for our loans may decline in value, in turn reducing a customer's borrowing power and reducing the value of collateral securing a loan; and
•
    the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to us.

In addition, revenues from mortgage banking activities are largely dependent on mortgage origination and sales volume. Changes in interest rates and the condition of housing markets, particularly those in southern New England, which are beyond our control, could adversely impact the volume of residential mortgage originations, sales and related mortgage banking revenues.

Fluctuations in interest rates may reduce our profitability.
Our consolidated results of operations depend, to a large extent, on net interest income, which is the difference between interest income from interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings.  The narrowing of interest rate spreads could adversely affect our earnings and financial condition. These rates are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions, both domestic and foreign, and the monetary and fiscal policies of various governmental and regulatory authorities. We have adopted asset and liability management policies to mitigate the potential adverse effects of changes in interest rates on net interest income, primarily by altering the mix and maturity of loans, investments funding sources, and derivatives. However, even with these policies in place, a change in interest rates can impact our results of operations or financial condition.

The market values of most of our financial assets are sensitive to fluctuations in market interest rates.  Fixed-rate investments, mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans typically decline in value as interest rates rise.  Changes in interest rates can also affect the rate of prepayments on mortgage-backed securities, thereby adversely affecting the value of such securities and the interest income generated by them.

Changes in interest rates can also affect the amount of loans that we originate, as well as the value of loans and other interest-earning assets and our ability to realize gains on the sale of such assets and liabilities.  Prevailing interest rates also affect the extent to which our borrowers prepay their loans.  When interest rates increase, borrowers are less likely to prepay their loans, and when interest rates decrease, borrowers are more likely to prepay loans.  Funds generated by


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prepayments might be reinvested at a less favorable interest rate.  Prepayments may adversely affect the value of mortgage loans, the levels of such assets that are retained in our portfolio, net interest income, loan servicing income and capitalized servicing rights.

Increases in interest rates might cause depositors to shift funds from accounts that have a comparatively lower cost, such as regular savings accounts, to accounts with a higher cost, such as certificates of deposit. If the cost of interest-bearing deposits increases at a rate greater than the yields on interest-earning assets increase, our net interest income will be negatively affected.  Changes in the asset and liability mix may also affect our net interest income.

While we actively manage against these risks through hedging and other risk management strategies, if our assumptions regarding borrower behavior are wrong or overall economic conditions are significantly different than anticipated, our risk management mitigation techniques may be insufficient.

For additional discussion on interest rate risk, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Asset/Liability Management and Interest Rate Risk.”

Our loan portfolio includes commercial loans, which are generally riskier than other types of loans.
At December 31, 2017, commercial loans represented 54% of our loan portfolio. Commercial loans generally carry larger loan balances and involve a higher risk of nonpayment or late payment than residential mortgage loans. These loans may lack standardized terms and may include a balloon payment feature. The ability of a borrower to make or refinance a balloon payment may be affected by a number of factors, including the financial condition of the borrower, prevailing economic conditions and prevailing interest rates. Repayment of these loans is generally more dependent on the economy and the successful operation of a business. Because of the risks associated with commercial loans, we may experience higher rates of default than if the portfolio were more heavily weighted toward residential mortgage loans. Higher rates of default could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our allowance for loan losses may not be adequate to cover actual loan losses.
We are exposed to the risk that our borrowers may default on their obligations. A borrower’s default on its obligations under one or more loans may result in lost principal and interest income and increased operating expenses as a result of the allocation of management time and resources to the collection and work-out of the loan. In certain situations, where collection efforts are unsuccessful or acceptable work-out arrangements cannot be reached, we may have to write off the loan in whole or in part. In such situations, we may acquire real estate or other assets, if any, that secure the loan through foreclosure or other similar available remedies, and often the amount owed under the defaulted loan exceeds the value of the assets acquired.

We periodically make a determination of an allowance for loan losses based on available information, including, but not limited to, the quality of the loan portfolio, certain economic conditions, the value of the underlying collateral and the level of nonaccrual and criticized loans. We rely on our loan quality reviews, our experience and our evaluation of economic conditions, among other factors, in determining the amount of provision required for the allowance for loan losses. Provisions to this allowance result in an expense for the period. If, as a result of general economic conditions, changes to previous assumptions, or an increase in defaulted loans, we determine that additional increases in the allowance for loan losses are necessary, we will incur additional expense.

Determining the allowance for loan losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires us to make significant estimates of current credit risks and future trends, all of which may undergo material changes. At any time, there are likely to be loans in our portfolio that will result in losses but that have not been identified as nonperforming or potential problem credits. We cannot be sure that we will be able to identify deteriorating credits before they become nonperforming assets or that we will be able to limit losses on those loans that are identified. We may be required to increase our allowance for loan losses for any of several reasons. Federal and state regulators, in reviewing our loan portfolio as part of a regulatory examination, may request that we increase our allowance for loan losses. Changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding existing loans, identification of additional problem loans and other factors, both within and outside of our control, may require an increase in our allowance for loan losses. In addition, if losses and/or charge-offs in future periods exceed our allowance for loan losses, we will need additional increases in our allowance for loan losses. Any increases in our allowance for loan losses will result in a decrease in our net income and, possibly, our capital, and could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.


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For a more detailed discussion on the allowance for loan losses, see additional information disclosed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.”

Environmental liability associated with our lending activities could result in losses.
In the course of business, we may acquire, through foreclosure, properties securing loans we have originated that are in default. While we believe that our credit granting process incorporates appropriate procedures for the assessment of environmental contamination risk, there is a risk that material environmental violations could be discovered on these properties, particularly with respect to commercial loans secured by real estate. In this event, we might be required to remedy these violations at the affected properties at our sole cost and expense. The cost of this remedial action could substantially exceed the value of affected properties. We may not have adequate remedies against the prior owner or other responsible parties and could find it difficult or impossible to sell the affected properties. These events could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We have credit and market risk inherent in our securities portfolio.
We maintain a securities portfolio, which includes obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, including mortgage-backed securities; municipal securities; individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities; and corporate debt securities.  We seek to limit credit losses in our securities portfolios by generally purchasing only highly-rated securities.  The valuation and liquidity of our securities could be adversely impacted by reduced market liquidity, increased normal bid-asked spreads and increased uncertainty of market participants, which could reduce the market value of our securities, even those with no apparent credit exposure.  The valuation of our securities requires judgment and as market conditions change security values may also change.

Potential downgrades of U.S. government agency and government-sponsored enterprise securities by one or more of the credit ratings agencies could have a material adverse effect on our operations, earnings and financial condition.
A possible future downgrade of the sovereign credit ratings of the U.S. government and a decline in the perceived creditworthiness of U.S. government-related obligations could impact our ability to obtain funding that is collateralized by affected instruments, as well as affect the pricing of that funding when it is available. A downgrade may also adversely affect the market value of such instruments. We cannot predict if, when or how any changes to the credit ratings or perceived creditworthiness of these organizations will affect economic conditions. Such ratings actions could result in a significant adverse impact on us. Among other things, a further downgrade in the U.S. government’s credit rating could adversely impact the value of our securities portfolio and may trigger requirements that the Company post additional collateral for trades relative to these securities. A downgrade of the sovereign credit ratings of the U.S. government or the credit ratings of related institutions, agencies or instruments would significantly exacerbate the other risks to which we are subject and any related adverse effects on the business, financial condition and results of operations.

We operate in a highly regulated industry, and laws and regulations, or changes in them, could limit or restrict our activities and could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We are subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve, and the Bank and its various subsidiaries are subject to regulation and supervision by the FDIC, and the banking divisions or departments of states in which we are licensed to do business Federal and state laws and regulations govern numerous matters affecting us, including changes in the ownership or control of banks and bank holding companies; maintenance of adequate capital and the financial condition of a financial institution; permissible types, amounts and terms of extensions of credit and investments; the manner in which we conduct mortgage banking activities; permissible non-banking activities; the level of reserves against deposits; and restrictions on dividend payments. The FDIC and the banking divisions or departments of states in which we are licensed to do business have the power to issue consent orders to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law by banks subject to their regulation, and the Federal Reserve possesses similar powers with respect to bank holding companies. These and other restrictions limit the manner in which we may conduct business and obtain financing.

The laws, rules, regulations, and supervisory guidance and policies applicable to us are subject to regular modification and change. These changes could adversely and materially impact us. Failure to comply with laws, regulations, policies, or supervisory guidance could result in enforcement and other legal actions by federal and state authorities, including criminal and civil penalties, the loss of FDIC insurance, revocation of a banking charter, other sanctions by regulatory


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agencies, civil money penalties, and/or reputational damage, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. See “Business-Supervision and Regulation.”

We are subject to capital and liquidity standards that require banks and bank holding companies to maintain more and higher quality capital and greater liquidity than has historically been the case.
We became subject to new capital requirements in 2015. These new standards, which now apply and will be fully phased-in over the next several years, force bank holding companies and their bank subsidiaries to maintain substantially higher levels of capital as a percentage of their assets, with a greater emphasis on common equity as opposed to other components of capital. The need to maintain more and higher quality capital, as well as greater liquidity, and generally increased regulatory scrutiny with respect to capital levels, may at some point limit our business activities, including lending, and our ability to expand. It could also result in our being required to take steps to increase our regulatory capital and may dilute shareholder value or limit our ability to pay dividends or otherwise return capital to our investors through stock repurchases. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, we were permitted to make a one-time, permanent election to continue to exclude accumulated other comprehensive income from capital. We made this election.

We are subject to numerous laws designed to protect consumers, including the Community Reinvestment Act and fair lending laws, and failure to comply with these laws could lead to a wide variety of sanctions.
The Community Reinvestment Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and other fair lending laws and regulations impose community investment and nondiscriminatory lending requirements on financial institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice and other federal agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A successful regulatory challenge to an institution’s performance under the Community Reinvestment Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act or other fair lending laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, restrictions on mergers and acquisitions, restrictions on expansion and restrictions on entering new business lines. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. Such actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The soundness of other financial institutions could adversely affect us.
Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions.  Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty and other relationships.  We have exposure to a number of different counterparties, and we routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial industry, including brokers and dealers, other commercial banks, investment banks, and other financial institutions.  As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial services institutions, or the financial services industry generally, could lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by us or by other institutions and organizations.  Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of default of our counterparty or customer.  In addition, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by us cannot be liquidated or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the financial instrument exposure due to us.  There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

Loss of deposits or a change in deposit mix could increase our cost of funding.
Deposits are a low cost and stable source of funding. We compete with banks and other financial institutions for deposits. Funding costs may increase if we are forced to replace deposits with more expensive sources of funding, if clients shift their deposits into higher cost products or if we need to raise interest rates to avoid losing deposits. Higher funding costs reduce our net interest margin, net interest income and net income.

Market changes may adversely affect demand for our services and impact results of operations.
Channels for servicing our customers are evolving rapidly, with less reliance on traditional branch facilities, more use of online and mobile banking, and increased demand for universal bankers and other relationship managers who can service multiple product lines. We compete with larger providers who are rapidly evolving their service channels and escalating the costs of evolving the service process. We have a process for evaluating the profitability of our branch system and other office and operational facilities. The identification of unprofitable operations and facilities can lead to restructuring charges and introduce the risk of disruptions to revenues and customer relationships.



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Risks Related to Our Wealth Management Business
Our wealth management business is highly regulated, and the regulators have the ability to limit or restrict our activities and impose fines or suspensions on the conduct of our business.
We offer wealth management services through the Bank, Weston Financial and Halsey. Weston Financial and Halsey are registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act. The Investment Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on registered investment advisers, including fiduciary, record keeping, operational and disclosure obligations. We are also subject to the provisions and regulations of ERISA to the extent that we act as a “fiduciary” under ERISA with respect to certain of our clients. ERISA and the applicable provisions of the federal tax laws impose a number of duties on persons who are fiduciaries under ERISA and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of each ERISA plan which is a client, as well as certain transactions by the fiduciaries (and certain other related parties) to such plans. In addition, applicable law provides that all investment contracts with mutual fund clients may be terminated by the clients, without penalty, upon no more than 60 days’ notice. Investment contracts with institutional and other clients are typically terminable by the client, also without penalty, upon 30 to 60 days’ notice. Changes in these laws or regulations could have a material adverse impact on our profitability and mode of operations.

The market value of wealth management assets under administration may be negatively affected by changes in economic and market conditions.
Revenues from wealth management services represented 21% of our total revenues for 2017.  A substantial portion of these fees are dependent on the market value of wealth management assets under administration, which are primarily marketable securities.  Changes in domestic and foreign economic conditions, volatility in financial markets, and general trends in business and finance, all of which are beyond our control, could adversely impact the market value of these assets and the fee revenues derived from the management of these assets.

We may not be able to attract and retain wealth management clients.
Due to strong competition, our wealth management business may not be able to attract and retain clients.  Competition is strong because there are numerous well-established and successful investment management and wealth advisory firms including commercial banks and trust companies, investment advisory firms, mutual fund companies, stock brokerage firms, and other financial companies.  Many of our competitors have greater resources than we have.

Our ability to successfully attract and retain wealth management clients is dependent upon our ability to compete with competitors’ investment products, level of investment performance, client services and marketing and distribution capabilities.  If we are not successful, our results of operations and financial condition may be negatively impacted.

Wealth management revenues are primarily derived from investment management, trustee and personal representative fees and financial planning services.  Most of our investment management clients may withdraw funds from accounts under management generally at their sole discretion.  Financial planning contracts must typically be renewed on an annual basis and are terminable upon relatively short notice.  The financial performance of our wealth management business is a significant factor in our overall results of operations and financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Operations
We face continuing and growing security risks to our information base, including the information we maintain relating to our customers.
In the ordinary course of business, we rely on electronic communications and information systems to conduct our business and to store sensitive data, including financial information regarding customers. Our electronic communications and information systems infrastructure could be susceptible to cyberattacks, hacking, identity theft or terrorist activity. We have implemented and regularly review and update extensive systems of internal controls and procedures as well as corporate governance policies and procedures intended to protect our business operations, including the security and privacy of all confidential customer information. In addition, we rely on the services of a variety of vendors to meet our data processing and communication needs. No matter how well designed or implemented our controls are, we cannot provide an absolute guarantee to protect our business operations from every type of problem in every situation. A failure or circumvention of these controls could have a material adverse effect on our business operations and financial condition.
We regularly assess and test our security systems and disaster preparedness, including back-up systems, but the risks are substantially escalating. As a result, cybersecurity and the continued enhancement of our controls and processes to protect our systems, data and networks from attacks, unauthorized access or significant damage remain a priority. Accordingly,


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we may be required to expend additional resources to enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities or exposures. Any breach of our system security could result in disruption of our operations, unauthorized access to confidential customer information, significant regulatory costs, litigation exposure and other possible damages, loss or liability. Such costs or losses could exceed the amount of available insurance coverage, if any, and would adversely affect our earnings. Also, any failure to prevent a security breach or to quickly and effectively deal with such a breach could negatively impact customer confidence, damaging our reputation and undermining our ability to attract and keep customers.

We rely on other companies to provide key components of our business infrastructure.
Third party vendors provide key components of our business infrastructure such as internet connections, network access and core application processing. While we have selected these third party vendors carefully, we do not control their actions. Any problems caused by these third parties, including as a result of their not providing us their services for any reason or their performing their services poorly, could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to our customers or otherwise conduct our business efficiently and effectively. Replacing these third party vendors could also entail significant delay and expense.

We may not be able to compete effectively against larger financial institutions in our increasingly competitive industry.
We compete with larger bank and non-bank financial institutions for loans and deposits in the communities we serve, and we may face even greater competition in the future due to legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation.  Many of our competitors have significantly greater resources and lending limits than we have.  Banks and other financial services firms can merge under the umbrella of a financial holding company, which can offer virtually any type of financial service.  In addition, technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as automated transfer and automatic payment systems.  Many competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and may have lower cost structures than we do.  Additionally, due to their size, many competitors may be able to achieve economies of scale and, as a result, may offer a broader range of products and services as well as better pricing for those products and services than we can.  Our long-term success depends on the ability of Washington Trust to compete successfully with other financial institutions in Washington Trust’s service areas.

We may be unable to attract and retain key personnel.
Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and retain key personnel.  Competition for qualified personnel in the financial services industry can be intense and we may not be able to hire or retain the key personnel that we depend upon for success. Certain key personnel that have regular direct contact with customers and clients often build strong relationships that are important to our business. The unexpected loss of services of one or more of our key personnel could have a material adverse impact on our business because of their skills, knowledge of the markets in which we operate, years of industry experience and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel. Also, the loss of key personnel could jeopardize our relationships with customers and clients and could lead to the loss of accounts. Losses of such accounts could have a material adverse impact on our business.

We may not be able to successfully implement future information technology system enhancements, which could adversely affect our business operations and profitability.
We invest significant resources in information technology system enhancements in order to provide functionality and security at an appropriate level. We may not be able to successfully implement and integrate future system enhancements, which could adversely impact the ability to provide timely and accurate financial information in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, which could result in sanctions from regulatory authorities. Such sanctions could include fines and suspension of trading in our stock, among others. In addition, future system enhancements could have higher than expected costs and/or result in operating inefficiencies, which could increase the costs associated with the implementation as well as ongoing operations.

Failure to properly utilize system enhancements that are implemented in the future could result in impairment charges that adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations and could result in significant costs to remediate or replace the defective components. In addition, we may incur significant training, licensing, maintenance, consulting and amortization expenses during and after systems implementations, and any such costs may continue for an extended period of time.



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Damage to our reputation could significantly harm our business, including our competitive position and business prospects.
We are dependent on our reputation within our market area, as a trusted and responsible financial company, for all aspects of our business with customers, employees, vendors, third-party service providers, and others, with whom we conduct business or potential future businesses. Our ability to attract and retain customers and employees could be adversely affected if our reputation is damaged. Our actual or perceived failure to address various issues could give rise to reputational risk that could cause harm to us and our business prospects. These issues also include, but are not limited to, legal and regulatory requirements; properly maintaining customer and employee personal information; record keeping; money-laundering; sales and trading practices; ethical issues; appropriately addressing potential conflicts of interest; and the proper identification of the legal, reputational, credit, liquidity and market risks inherent in our products. Failure to appropriately address any of these issues could also give rise to additional regulatory restrictions and legal risks, which could, among other consequences, increase the size and number of litigation claims and damages asserted or subject us to enforcement actions, fines and penalties and cause us to incur related costs and expenses. Furthermore, any damage to our reputation could affect our ability to retain and develop the business relationships necessary to conduct business, which in turn could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations, and the market price of our common stock.

We face significant legal risks, both from regulatory investigations and proceedings and from private actions brought against us.
From time to time we are named as a defendant or are otherwise involved in various legal proceedings, including class actions and other litigation or disputes with third parties. There is no assurance that litigation with private parties will not increase in the future. Actions currently pending against us may result in judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other results adverse to us, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, or cause serious reputational harm to us. As a participant in the financial services industry, it is likely that we will continue to experience litigation related to our businesses and operations.

Our businesses and operations are also subject to increasing regulatory oversight and scrutiny, which may lead to additional regulatory investigations or enforcement actions. These and other initiatives from federal and state officials may subject us to further judgments, settlements, fines or penalties, or cause us to be required to restructure our operations and activities, all of which could lead to reputational issues, or higher operational costs, thereby reducing our profitability.

We may incur fines, penalties and other negative consequences from regulatory violations, possibly even inadvertent or unintentional violations.
The financial services industry is subject to intense scrutiny from bank supervisors in the examination process and aggressive enforcement of federal and state regulations, particularly with respect to mortgage-related practices and other consumer compliance matters, and compliance with anti-money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act and Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations, and economic sanctions against certain foreign countries and nationals. Enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of laws and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices. We maintain systems and procedures designed to ensure that we comply with applicable laws and regulations; however, some legal/regulatory frameworks provide for the imposition of fines or penalties for noncompliance even though the noncompliance was inadvertent or unintentional and even though there were systems and procedures designed to ensure compliance in place at the time. Failure to comply with these and other regulations, and supervisory expectations related thereto, may result in fines, penalties, lawsuits, regulatory sanctions, reputation damage, or restrictions on our business.

Natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other external events could harm our business.
Natural disasters can disrupt our operations, result in damage to our properties, reduce or destroy the value of the collateral for our loans and negatively affect the economies in which we operate, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. A significant natural disaster, such as a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, fire or flood, could have a material adverse impact on our ability to conduct business, and our insurance coverage may be insufficient to compensate for losses that may occur. Acts of terrorism, war, civil unrest, violence or human error could cause disruptions to our business or the economy as a whole. While we have established and regularly test disaster recovery procedures, the occurrence of any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.



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Risks Related to Liquidity
We are subject to liquidity risk.
Liquidity is the ability to meet cash flow needs on a timely basis at a reasonable cost. Our liquidity is used principally to originate or purchase loans, to repay deposit liabilities and other liabilities when they come due, and to fund operating costs. Customer demand for non-maturity deposits can be difficult to predict. Changes in market interest rates, increased competition within our markets, and other factors may make deposit gathering more difficult. Disruptions in the capital markets or interest rate changes may make the terms of wholesale funding sources, which include FHLB advances, brokered time certificates of deposit, federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements, less favorable and may make it difficult to sell securities when needed to provide additional liquidity. As a result, there is a risk that the cost of funding will increase or that we will not have sufficient funds to meet our obligations when they come due.

We are a holding company and depend on the Bank for dividends, distributions and other payments.
The Bancorp is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. Revenues of the Bancorp are derived primarily from dividends paid to it by the Bank. The right of the Bancorp, and consequently the right of shareholders of the Bancorp, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of the Bank, through the payment of such dividends or otherwise, is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of the Bank (including depositors), except to the extent that certain claims of the Bancorp in a creditor capacity may be recognized.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends only when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors. Although we have historically declared cash dividends on our common stock, we are not required to do so and our Board of Directors may reduce or eliminate our common stock dividend in the future. The Federal Reserve has authority to prohibit bank holding companies from paying dividends if such payment is deemed to be an unsafe or unsound practice. Additionally, the FDIC has the authority to use its enforcement powers to prohibit a bank from paying dividends if, in its opinion, the payment of dividends would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. Further, our ability to pay dividends would be restricted if we do not maintain a capital conservation buffer. A reduction or elimination of dividends could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. See Item, “Business-Supervision and Regulation-Dividend Restrictions” and “Business-Supervision and Regulation-Capital Adequacy and Safety and Soundness-Regulatory Capital Requirements.”

Risks Related to Valuation Matters and Changes in Accounting Standards
If we are required to write-down goodwill or other intangible assets recorded in connection with our acquisitions, our profitability would be negatively impacted.
Applicable accounting standards require us to use the purchase method of accounting for all business combinations.  Under purchase accounting, if the purchase price of an acquired company exceeds the fair value of the company’s net assets, the excess is carried on the acquirer’s balance sheet as goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill must be evaluated for impairment at least annually.  Long-lived intangible assets are amortized and are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset or asset group may not be recoverable. A significant and sustained decline in our stock price and market capitalization, a significant decline in our expected future cash flows, a significant adverse change in the business climate, slower growth rates or other factors could result in impairment of goodwill. Write-downs of the amount of any impairment, if necessary, would be charged to the results of operations in the period in which the impairment occurs.  There can be no assurance that future evaluations of goodwill or intangible assets will not result in findings of impairment and related write-downs, which would have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The performance of our securities portfolio in difficult market conditions could have adverse effects on our results of operations.
Under applicable accounting standards, we are required to review our securities portfolio periodically for the presence of other-than-temporary impairment, taking into consideration current market conditions, the extent and nature of changes in fair value, issuer rating changes and trends, volatility of earnings, current analysts’ evaluations, our ability and intent to hold securities until a recovery of fair value, as well as other factors. Adverse developments with respect to one or more of the foregoing factors may require us to deem particular securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired, with the credit related portion of the reduction in the value recognized as a charge to the results of operations in the period in which the impairment occurs. Market volatility may make it difficult to value certain securities. Subsequent valuations, in light of factors prevailing at that time, may result in significant changes in the values of these securities in future periods.


-25-

Any of these factors could require us to recognize further impairments in the value of our securities portfolio, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations in future periods.

Changes in accounting standards are difficult to predict and can materially impact our financial statements.
Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or regulatory authorities change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. Such changes are expected to continue and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in our restating prior period financial statements. Additionally, significant changes to GAAP may require costly technology changes, additional training and personnel, and other expense that will negatively impact our results of operations.

Changes in tax laws and regulations and differences in interpretation of tax laws and regulations may adversely impact our financial statements.
From time to time, local, state or federal tax authorities change tax laws and regulations, which may result in a decrease or increase to our net deferred tax assets. Additionally, our net deferred tax assets are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“the Tax Act”) was enacted by Congress. The enactment of the Tax Act required us to revalue and reassess our net deferred tax assets reflecting the new federal income tax rate. As a result, in December 2017 we recognized a write-down of $6.2 million in our net deferred tax assets, with a corresponding increase to income tax expense. The majority of the provisions of the Tax Act will take effect on January 1, 2018. The provisions that impact Washington Trust include the reduction of the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, changes to the deductibility of certain meals and entertainment expenses, and changes to the deductibility of executive compensation. The Tax Act also accelerates expensing of certain depreciable property for assets placed in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2023.

Local, state or federal tax authorities may interpret tax laws and regulations differently than we do and challenge tax positions that we have taken on tax returns. This may result in differences in the treatment of revenues, deductions, credits and/or differences in the timing of these items. The differences in treatment may result in payment of additional taxes, interest, penalties, or litigation costs that could have a material adverse effect on our results.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock
Our common stock is not insured by any governmental entity.
Our common stock is not a deposit account or other obligation of any bank and is not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental entity.

The market price and trading volume of our stock can be volatile.
The price of our common stock can fluctuate widely in response to a variety of factors. In addition, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. We cannot assure you that the market price of our common stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly. Some of the factors that could cause fluctuations or declines in the price of our common stock include, but are not limited to, actual or anticipated variations in reported operating results, recommendations by securities analysts, the level of trading activity in our common stock, new services or delivery systems offered by competitors, business combinations involving our competitors, operating and stock price performance of companies that investors deem to be comparable to Washington Trust, news reports relating to trends or developments in the credit, mortgage and housing markets as well as the financial services industry, and changes in government regulations.

We may need to raise additional capital in the future and such capital may not be available when needed.
As a bank holding company, we are required by regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. We may need to raise additional capital in the future to provide us with sufficient capital resources and liquidity to meet our commitments and business needs.  Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on, among other things, conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of our control, and our financial performance.  We cannot assure you that such capital will be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.  Our inability to raise sufficient additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could subject us to certain activity restrictions or to a variety of enforcement remedies available to the regulatory authorities, including limitations on our ability to pay


-26-

dividends or pursue acquisitions, the issuance by regulatory authorities of a capital directive to increase capital and the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC.

Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation may have an anti-takeover effect.
Provisions of our articles of incorporation and regulations and federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to our shareholders. The combination of these provisions may inhibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

ITEM 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

ITEM 2.  Properties.
Washington Trust’s headquarters and main office is located at 23 Broad Street, in Westerly, in Washington County, Rhode Island. As of December 31, 2017, the Bank has 10 branch offices located in southern Rhode Island (Washington County), 11 branch offices located in the greater Providence area in Rhode Island and one branch office located in southeastern Connecticut.

As of December 31, 2017, the Bank has commercial lending offices at its main office and in the financial district of Providence, Rhode Island. Washington Trust also has seven residential mortgage lending offices that are located in eastern Massachusetts (Sharon, Burlington, Braintree and Wellesley); in Connecticut (Glastonbury and Darien); and in Warwick, Rhode Island. Washington Trust provides wealth management services from its offices located in Westerly, Narragansett and Providence, Rhode Island; Wellesley, Massachusetts; and New Haven, Connecticut. Washington Trust has two operations facilities and a corporate office located in Westerly, Rhode Island, as well as an additional corporate office located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

At December 31, 2017, nine of the Corporation’s facilities were owned, 26 were leased and one branch office was owned on leased land.  Lease expiration dates range from 7 months to 23 years with additional renewal options on certain leases ranging from 9 months to 5 years.  All of the Corporation’s properties are considered to be in good condition and adequate for the purpose for which they are used.

In addition to the locations mentioned above, the Bank has one owned offsite-ATM in a leased space. The term for this leased space expires in two years with no renewal option.

The Bank also operates ATMs located in retail stores and other locations primarily in Rhode Island and to a lesser extent in southeastern Connecticut. These ATMs are branded with the Bank’s logo and are operated under contracts with a third party vendor.

See Notes 7 and 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding premises and equipment and leases.

ITEM 3.  Legal Proceedings.
The Corporation is involved in various claims and legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of business.  Management is of the opinion, based on its review with counsel of the development of such matters to date, that the ultimate disposition of such other matters will not materially affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Corporation.

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.
The Bancorp’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Market under the symbol WASH.

The following table summarizes quarterly high and low stock price ranges, the end of quarter closing price and dividends paid per share for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:
 
Quarters
2017
1
 
2
 
3
 
4
Stock Prices:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$58.30
 
$53.80
 
$57.55
 
$59.10
Low
48.30
 
47.00
 
48.85
 
52.05
Close
49.30
 
51.55
 
57.25
 
53.25
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividend declared per share
$0.38
 
$0.38
 
$0.39
 
$0.39

 
Quarters
2016
1
 
2
 
3
 
4
Stock Prices:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$39.66
 
$39.60
 
$43.85
 
$57.90
Low
34.76
 
34.59
 
36.42
 
38.92
Close
37.32
 
37.92
 
40.22
 
56.05
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividend declared per share
$0.36
 
$0.36
 
$0.37
 
$0.37

At January 31, 2018, there were 1,671 holders of record of the Bancorp’s common stock.

The Bancorp will continue to review future common stock dividends based on profitability, financial resources and economic conditions.  The Bancorp (including the Bank prior to 1984) has recorded consecutive quarterly dividends for over 100 years.

The Bancorp’s primary source of funds for dividends paid to shareholders is the receipt of dividends from the Bank.  A discussion of the restrictions on the advance of funds or payment of dividends by the Bank to the Bancorp is included in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

See additional disclosures on Equity Compensation Plan Information in Part III, Item 12 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.” The Bancorp did not repurchase any shares during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Stock Performance Graph
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder return on the Corporation’s common stock against the cumulative total return of the NASDAQ Bank Stocks index and the NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S.) from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2017. The results presented assume that the value of the Corporation’s common stock and each index was $100.00 on December 31, 2012.  The total return assumes reinvestment of dividends.

The stock price performance shown on the stock performance graph and associated table below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance. Information used in the graph and table was obtained from a third party provider, a source believed to be reliable, but the Corporation is not responsible for any errors or omissions in such information.


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washform10k_chart-57994a02.jpg
For the period ending December 31,
2012

 
2013

 
2014

 
2015

 
2016

 
2017

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.

$100.00

 

$146.28

 

$163.22

 

$166.25

 

$244.13

 

$238.74

NASDAQ Bank Stocks
100.00

 
136.62

 
152.78

 
156.15

 
197.60

 
233.94

NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S.)
100.00

 
140.12

 
160.78

 
171.97

 
187.22

 
242.71



-29-

ITEM 6.  Selected Financial Data.
The selected consolidated financial data set forth below does not purport to be complete and should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the more detailed information including the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes, and the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Selected Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
At or for the years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Financial Results:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and dividend income

$149,586

 

$133,470

 

$125,750

 

$121,117

 

$116,348

Interest expense
30,055

 
22,992

 
21,768

 
21,612

 
24,563

Net interest income
119,531

 
110,478

 
103,982

 
99,505

 
91,785

Provision for loan losses
2,600

 
5,650

 
1,050

 
1,850

 
2,400

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
116,931

 
104,828

 
102,932

 
97,655

 
89,385

Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net other-than-temporary impairment losses on securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,489
)
Other noninterest income
64,809

 
65,129

 
58,340

 
59,015

 
65,569

Total noninterest income
64,809

 
65,129

 
58,340

 
59,015

 
62,080

Noninterest expense
104,100

 
101,103

 
96,929

 
96,847

 
98,785

Income before income taxes
77,640

 
68,854

 
64,343

 
59,823

 
52,680

Income tax expense
31,715

 
22,373

 
20,878

 
18,999

 
16,527

Net income

$45,925

 

$46,481

 

$43,465

 

$40,824

 

$36,153

Per Share Information ($):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
2.66

 
2.72

 
2.57

 
2.44

 
2.18

Diluted
2.64

 
2.70

 
2.54

 
2.41

 
2.16

Cash dividends declared  (1)
1.54

 
1.46

 
1.36

 
1.22

 
1.03

Book value
23.99

 
22.76

 
22.06

 
20.68

 
19.84

Market value - closing stock price
53.25

 
56.05

 
39.52

 
40.18

 
37.22

Performance Ratios (%):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average assets
1.04

 
1.16

 
1.19

 
1.23

 
1.17

Return on average equity
11.26

 
11.96

 
12.00

 
11.87

 
11.65

Equity to assets
9.12

 
8.92

 
9.95

 
9.65

 
10.34

Dividend payout ratio  (2)
58.33

 
54.07

 
53.54

 
50.62

 
47.69

Asset Quality Ratios (%):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total past due loans to total loans
0.59

 
0.76

 
0.58

 
0.63

 
0.89

Nonaccrual loans to total loans
0.45

 
0.68

 
0.70

 
0.56

 
0.74

Nonperforming assets to total assets
0.34

 
0.53

 
0.58

 
0.48

 
0.62

Allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans
174.14

 
117.89

 
128.61

 
175.75

 
152.37

Allowance for loan losses to total loans
0.79

 
0.80

 
0.90

 
0.98

 
1.13

Net charge-offs to average loans
0.06

 
0.21

 
0.07

 
0.07

 
0.23

Capital Ratios (%):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total risk-based capital ratio
12.45

 
12.26

 
12.58

 
12.56

 
13.29

Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
11.65

 
11.44

 
11.64

 
11.52

 
12.12

Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio (3)
10.99

 
10.75

 
10.89

 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 leverage capital ratio
8.79

 
8.67

 
9.37

 
9.14

 
9.41

(1)
Represents historical per share dividends declared by the Bancorp.
(2)
Represents the ratio of historical per share dividends declared by the Bancorp to diluted earnings per share.
(3)
Capital ratio effective January 1, 2015 under the Basel III capital requirements.



-30-

Selected Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands)
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents

$82,923

 

$107,797

 

$97,631

 

$80,350

 

$85,317

Mortgage loans held for sale
26,943

 
29,434

 
38,554

 
45,693

 
11,636

Total securities
793,495

 
755,545

 
395,067

 
382,884

 
422,808

FHLB stock
40,517

 
43,129

 
24,316

 
37,730

 
37,730

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages
1,072,487

 
1,074,186

 
931,953

 
843,978

 
796,249

Commercial construction & development
138,008

 
121,371

 
122,297

 
79,592

 
36,289

Commercial & industrial
612,334

 
576,109

 
600,297

 
611,918

 
530,797

Residential real estate
1,227,248

 
1,122,748

 
1,013,555

 
985,415

 
772,674

Consumer
323,994

 
339,957

 
345,025

 
338,373

 
326,875

Total loans
3,374,071

 
3,234,371

 
3,013,127

 
2,859,276

 
2,462,884

Less allowance for loan losses
26,488

 
26,004

 
27,069

 
28,023

 
27,886

Net loans
3,347,583

 
3,208,367

 
2,986,058

 
2,831,253

 
2,434,998

Investment in bank-owned life insurance
73,267

 
71,105

 
65,501

 
63,519

 
56,673

Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets
73,049

 
74,234

 
75,519

 
62,963

 
63,607

Other assets
92,073

 
91,504

 
88,958

 
82,482

 
76,098

Total assets

$4,529,850

 

$4,381,115

 

$3,771,604

 

$3,586,874

 

$3,188,867

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Demand deposits

$661,138

 

$585,960

 

$537,298

 

$459,852

 

$440,785

NOW accounts
466,605

 
427,707

 
412,602

 
326,375

 
309,771

Money market accounts
731,345

 
730,075

 
823,490

 
802,764

 
666,646

Savings accounts
368,524

 
358,397

 
326,967

 
291,725

 
297,357

Time deposits
1,015,095

 
961,613

 
833,898

 
874,102

 
790,762

Total deposits
3,242,707

 
3,063,752

 
2,934,255

 
2,754,818

 
2,505,321

FHLB advances
791,356

 
848,930

 
378,973

 
406,297

 
288,082

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
22,681

 
22,681

 
22,681

 
22,681

Other liabilities
59,822

 
54,948

 
60,307

 
56,799

 
43,137

Total shareholders’ equity
413,284

 
390,804

 
375,388

 
346,279

 
329,646

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$4,529,850

 

$4,381,115

 

$3,771,604

 

$3,586,874

 

$3,188,867

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset Quality:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Nonaccrual loans

$15,211

 

$22,058

 

$21,047

 

$15,945

 

$18,302

Nonaccrual investment securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
547

Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
131

 
1,075

 
716

 
1,176

 
932

Total nonperforming assets

$15,342

 

$23,133

 

$21,763

 

$17,121

 

$19,781

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wealth Management Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Market value of assets under administration

$6,714,637

 

$6,063,293

 

$5,844,636

 

$5,069,966

 

$4,781,958




-31-

ITEM 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following analysis is intended to provide the reader with a further understanding of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation for the periods shown.  For a full understanding of this analysis, it should be read in conjunction with other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including Part I, “Item 1. Business”, Part II, “Item 6. Selected Financial Data” and Part II, “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Accounting policies involving significant judgments, estimates and assumptions by management, which have, or could have, a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements are considered critical accounting policies. Management considers the following to be its critical accounting policies: the determination of allowance for loan losses, the valuation of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, the assessment of investment securities for impairment and accounting for defined benefit pension plans.

Allowance for Loan Losses
Establishing an appropriate level of allowance for loan losses necessarily involves a high degree of judgment.  The level of the allowance is based on management’s ongoing review of the growth and composition of the loan portfolio, historical loss experience, estimated loss emergence period (the period from the event that triggers the eventual default until the actual loss is recognized with a charge-off), current economic conditions, analysis of asset quality and credit quality levels and trends, the performance of individual loans in relation to contract terms and other pertinent factors. A methodology is used to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the loan portfolio for purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses.  The methodology is described below.

Loss allocations are identified for individual loans deemed to be impaired in accordance with GAAP.  Impaired loans are loans for which it is probable that the Bank will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreements and all loans restructured in a troubled debt restructuring.

Loss allocations for loans deemed to be impaired are measured on a discounted cash flow method based upon the loan’s contractual effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price, or, if the loan is collateral dependent, at the fair value of the collateral. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the sale of the collateral, management adjusts the fair value for estimated costs to sell. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the operation of the collateral, such as accruing troubled debt restructured loans, estimated costs to sell are not incorporated into the measurement. Management may also adjust appraised values to reflect estimated market value declines or apply other discounts to appraised values for unobservable factors resulting from its knowledge of circumstances associated with the property.

For loans that are collectively evaluated, loss allocation factors are derived by analyzing historical loss experience by loan segment over an established look-back period deemed to be relevant to the inherent risk of loss in the portfolios. Loans are segmented by loan type, collateral type, delinquency status and loan risk rating, where applicable. These loss allocation factors are adjusted to reflect the loss emergence period. These amounts are supplemented by certain qualitative risk factors reflecting management’s view of how losses may vary from those represented by historical loss rates. These qualitative risk factors include: 1) changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses; 2) changes in international, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments; 3) changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and in the terms of loans; 4) changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; 5) changes in the volume and severity of past due loans, the volume of nonaccrual loans, and the volume and severity of adversely classified or rated loans; 6) changes in the quality of the institution’s loan review system; 7) changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans; 8) the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations; and 9) the effect of other external factors such as legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the institution’s existing portfolio.

Because the methodology is based upon historical experience and trends, current economic data, as well as management’s judgment, factors may arise that result in different estimations. Adversely different conditions or assumptions could lead to increases in the allowance. In addition, various regulatory agencies periodically review the allowance for loan losses.


-32-

Such agencies may require additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

As of December 31, 2017, management believes that the allowance is adequate and consistent with asset quality and delinquency indicators.

Valuation of Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
The Corporation allocated the cost of an acquired entity to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Other intangible assets identified in acquisitions consist of wealth management advisory contracts. The value attributed to other intangible assets was based on the time period over which they are expected to generate economic benefits.

The excess of the purchase price for acquisitions over the fair value of the net assets acquired, including other intangible assets, is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, defined as the segment level, at least annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently whenever events or circumstances occur that indicate that it is more-likely-than-not that an impairment loss has occurred. In assessing impairment, the Corporation has the option to perform a qualitative analysis to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of such events or circumstances, we determine it is not more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then we would not be required to perform an impairment test.

Effective April 1, 2017, the Corporation early adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-04 “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” which eliminated Step 2 of the annual two-step goodwill impairment test. Step 2 was a more detailed analysis, which involved measuring the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit, as determined in Step 1, over the aggregate fair value of the individual assets, liabilities, and identifiable intangibles as if the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination. As Step 2 was eliminated, goodwill is tested for impairment using the quantitative impairment analysis described below.

The quantitative impairment analysis requires a comparison of each reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying value to identify potential impairment. Goodwill impairment exists when a reporting unit’s carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. Significant judgment is applied when goodwill is assessed for impairment. This judgment includes, but may not be limited to, the selection of appropriate discount rates, the identification of relevant market comparables and the development of cash flow projections. The selection and weighting of the various fair value techniques may result in a higher or lower fair value. Judgment is applied in determining the weightings that are most representative of fair value.

As a result of a decision made in the second quarter of 2017 to reduce the business activities of WSC, a broker-dealer subsidiary that conducts transactions primarily for Weston Financial clients, the carrying value of WSC’s goodwill was assessed for impairment. Management concluded that it was more-likely-than-not that the carrying value of goodwill associated with WSC exceeded its fair value and was impaired. An impairment charge of $150 thousand was recognized in the second quarter of 2017 and classified in other expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

The annual quantitative assessment of goodwill for the two reporting units (Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services) was performed utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis (“income approach”) and estimates of selected market information (“market approach”).  The income approach measures the fair value of an interest in a business by discounting expected future cash flows to a present value.  The market approach takes into consideration fair values of comparable companies operating in similar lines of business that are potentially subject to similar economic and environmental factors and could be considered reasonable investment alternatives.  The results of the income approach and the market approach were weighted equally.   The results of the 2017 annual quantitative impairment analysis indicated that the remaining fair value significantly exceeded the carrying value for both reporting units.

Other intangible assets with definite lives are tested for impairment whenever events or circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If applicable, the Corporation tests each of the intangibles by comparing the carrying value of the intangible asset to the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If


-33-

the carrying amount of the asset exceeded its undiscounted cash flows, then an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its fair value.

The fair value of other intangible assets was estimated using valuation techniques, based on a discounted cash flow analysis. These intangible assets are being amortized over the period the assets are expected to contribute to the cash flows of the Corporation, which reflects the expected pattern of benefit. Impairment would be recognized if the carrying value exceeded the sum of the undiscounted expected future cash flows from the intangible assets. Impairment would result in a write-down to the estimated fair value based on the anticipated discounted future cash flows. The remaining useful life of the intangible assets that are being amortized is also evaluated to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization.

The Corporation makes certain estimates and assumptions that affect the determination of the expected future cash flows from the intangible assets. For intangible assets such as wealth management advisory contracts, these estimates and assumptions include account attrition, market appreciation for wealth management assets under administration and anticipated fee rates, estimated revenue growth, projected costs and other factors. Significant changes in these estimates and assumptions could cause a different valuation for these intangible assets. Changes in the original assumptions could change the amount of the intangible assets recognized and the resulting amortization. Subsequent changes in assumptions could result in recognition of impairment of these intangible assets.

In 2017, there were no events or circumstances that occurred that would indicate that the carrying amount of the Corporation’s intangible assets may not be recoverable.

These assumptions used in the impairment tests of goodwill and intangible assets are susceptible to change based on changes in economic conditions and other factors. Any change in the estimates which the Corporation uses to determine the carrying value of the Corporation’s goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, or which otherwise adversely affects their value or estimated lives could adversely affect the Corporation’s results of operations. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Assessment of Investment Securities for Impairment
Securities that the Corporation has the ability and intent to hold until maturity are classified as held to maturity and are accounted for using historical cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in shareholders’ equity.  The fair values of securities may be based on either quoted market prices or third party pricing services. When the fair value of an investment security is less than its amortized cost basis, the Corporation assesses whether the decline in value is other-than-temporary.  The Corporation considers whether evidence indicating the cost of the investment is recoverable outweighs evidence to the contrary.  Evidence considered in this assessment includes the reasons for impairment, the severity and duration of the impairment, changes in the value subsequent to the reporting date, forecasted performance of the issuer, changes in the dividend or interest payment practices of the issuer, changes in the credit rating of the issuer or the specific security, and the general market condition in the geographic area or industry in which the issuer operates.

Future adverse changes in market conditions, continued poor operating results of the issuer, projected adverse changes in cash flows, which might impact the collection of all principal and interest related to the security, or other factors could result in further losses that may not be reflected in an investment’s current carrying value, possibly requiring an additional impairment charge in the future.

In determining whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred for debt securities, the Corporation compares the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security with the amortized cost of the security.  If the present value of expected cash flows is less than the amortized cost of the security, then the entire amortized cost of the security will not be recovered; that is, a credit loss exists, and an other-than-temporary impairment shall be considered to have occurred.

When an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings for a debt security depends on whether the Corporation intends to sell the security or if it is more-likely-than-not that the Corporation will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost less any current period


-34-

credit loss.  If the Corporation intends to sell the security or it is more-likely-than-not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, the other-than-temporary impairment shall be recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the amortized cost and fair value of the security.  If the Corporation does not intend to sell or it is more-likely-than-not that it will not be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment related to credit loss shall be recognized in earnings and the noncredit-related portion of the other-than-temporary impairment shall be recognized in other comprehensive income.

There were no other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The determination of the defined benefit obligation and net periodic benefit cost related to our defined benefit pension plans requires estimates and assumptions such as discount rates, mortality, rates of return on plan assets and compensation increases. Washington Trust evaluates the assumptions annually and uses an actuarial firm to assist in making these estimates. Changes in assumptions due to market conditions, governing laws and regulations, or circumstances specific to the Corporation could result in material changes to defined benefit pension obligation and net periodic benefit cost. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Overview
Washington Trust offers a comprehensive product line of banking and financial services to individuals and businesses, including commercial, residential and consumer lending, retail and commercial deposit products, and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut; its ATM networks; and its internet website at www.washtrust.com.

Our largest source of operating income is net interest income, the difference between interest earned on loans and securities and interest paid on deposits and borrowings.  In addition, we generate noninterest income from a number of sources, including wealth management services, mortgage banking activities and deposit services.  Our principal noninterest expenses include salaries and employee benefits, occupancy and facility-related costs, technology and other administrative expenses.

Our financial results are affected by interest rate fluctuations, changes in economic and market conditions, competitive conditions within our market area and changes in legislation, regulation and/or accounting principles.  Adverse changes in economic growth, consumer confidence, credit availability and corporate earnings could negatively impact our financial results.

We continue to leverage our strong statewide brand to build market share and remain steadfast in our commitment to provide superior service. In 2017, Washington Trust opened a full-service branch in Coventry, Rhode Island.

Opportunities and Risks
A significant portion of the Corporation’s commercial banking and wealth management business is conducted in Rhode Island and the greater southern New England area.  Management recognizes that substantial competition exists in this marketplace and views this as a key business risk.  While these competitive forces will continue to present risk, we have been successful in growing our commercial banking base and wealth management business. Management believes that the breadth of our product line, our size and quality and level of service provide opportunities to compete effectively in our marketplace.

Significant challenges also exist with respect to credit risk, interest rate risk, market risk, liquidity risk and operational risk.

Credit risk is the risk of loss due to the inability of borrower customers to repay loans or lines of credit.  Credit risk on loans is reviewed below under the heading “Asset Quality.”  Credit risk also exists with respect to debt instrument investment securities, which is reviewed below under the heading “Investment Securities.”



-35-

Interest rate risk exists because the repricing frequency and magnitude of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities are not identical.  This risk is reviewed in more detail under the heading “Asset/Liability Management and Interest Rate Risk.”

Market risk refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates and other relevant market rates and prices, such as equity prices. Wealth management revenues, which represented approximately 21% of total revenues in 2017, are largely dependent on the market value of wealth management assets under administration.  These values may be negatively affected by changes in economic conditions and volatility in the financial markets. In addition, the valuation of our securities portfolio could be adversely affected by changes in market conditions, including market liquidity, interest rates and other factors. Furthermore, mortgage banking revenues are dependent on mortgage origination volume and are sensitive to interest rates and the condition of housing market.

Liquidity refers to the ability to meet maturing liability obligations and customer loan demand. Liquidity risk is reviewed below under the heading “Liquidity Management” under the heading Liquidity and Capital Resources.

Operational risk includes the risk of loss resulting from electronic fraudulent activity due to cyber criminals targeting bank accounts and other customer information, data processing system failures and errors, inadequate or failed internal processes, customer or employee fraud and catastrophic failures resulting from terrorist acts or natural disasters.  Operational risk is discussed above under Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”

For additional factors that could adversely impact Washington Trust’s future results of operations and financial condition, see the section labeled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



-36-

Results of Operations
The following table presents a summarized consolidated statement of operations:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Change
 
Change
Years Ended December 31,
2017

2016

2015

 
$
%
 
$
%
Net interest income

$119,531


$110,478


$103,982

 

$9,053

8
%
 

$6,496

6
%
Noninterest income
64,809

65,129

58,340

 
(320
)
—

 
6,789

12

Total revenues
184,340

175,607

162,322

 
8,733

5

 
13,285

8

Provision for loan losses
2,600

5,650

1,050

 
(3,050
)
(54
)
 
4,600

438

Noninterest expense
104,100

101,103

96,929

 
2,997

3

 
4,174

4

Income before income taxes
77,640

68,854

64,343

 
8,786

13

 
4,511

7

Income tax expense
31,715

22,373

20,878

 
9,342

42

 
1,495

7

Net income

$45,925


$46,481


$43,465

 

($556
)
(1
%)
 

$3,016

7
%

The following table presents a summary of performance metrics and ratios:
Years Ended December 31,
2017

2016

2015

Diluted earnings per common share

$2.64


$2.70


$2.54

Return on average assets
1.04
%
1.16
%
1.19
%
Return on average equity
11.26
%
11.96
%
12.00
%
Net interest income as a % of total revenues
65
%
63
%
64
%
Noninterest income as a % of total revenues
35
%
37
%
36
%

Comparison of 2017 with 2016
Net income totaled $45.9 million in 2017, compared to $46.5 million in 2016. Income before income taxes for 2017 increased by $8.8 million, or 13%, compared to 2016, due to growth in net interest income and a reduction in the loan loss provision, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense. Income tax expense for 2017 increased by $9.3 million, or 42%, over 2016. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law, permanently lowering the corporate federal income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018. The enactment of the Tax Act in 2017 required companies to revalue and reassess deferred tax assets and liabilities reflecting the new federal income tax rate. As a result, in December 2017, Washington Trust's net deferred tax assets were written down by a non-cash charge of $6.2 million, with a corresponding increase to income tax expense. This write-down adjustment reduced 2017 earnings per diluted share by $0.36. Excluding the impact of the Tax Act, the increase in income tax expense over 2016 reflected a higher level of pre-tax income and a higher proportion of taxable income to pre-tax book income. See further discussion in the “Income Taxes” section.

Comparison of 2016 with 2015
Net income totaled $46.5 million in 2016, up by 7% from the $43.5 million reported for 2015. Income before taxes for 2016 was up by $4.5 million, or 7%, compared to 2015, due to growth in net interest income and noninterest income revenue sources, partially offset by a higher loan loss provision and an increase in noninterest expense. Income tax expense for 2016 increased by $1.5 million, or 7%, over 2015, largely due to higher levels of pre-tax income.



-37-

Average Balances/Net Interest Margin - Fully Taxable Equivalent (FTE) Basis
The following table presents average balance and interest rate information.  Tax-exempt income is converted to a fully taxable equivalent basis using the statutory federal income tax rate adjusted for applicable state income taxes net of the related federal tax benefit. Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities and fair value adjustments on mortgage loans held for sale are excluded from the average balance and yield calculations. Nonaccrual and renegotiated loans, as well as interest recognized on these loans are included in amounts presented for loans.
Years ended December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2015
(Dollars in thousands)
Average Balance
 
Interest
 
Yield/ Rate
 
Average Balance
 
Interest
 
Yield/ Rate
 
Average Balance
 
Interest
 
Yield/ Rate
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages

$1,055,127

 

$39,529

 
3.75
 

$1,030,289

 

$36,089

 
3.50
 

$870,241

 

$31,281

 
3.59
Construction & development
132,504

 
5,137

 
3.88
 
110,770

 
3,732

 
3.37
 
109,198

 
3,340

 
3.06
Commercial & industrial
584,647

 
26,347

 
4.51
 
584,307

 
27,398

 
4.69
 
593,799

 
27,507

 
4.63
Commercial loans
1,772,278

 
71,013

 
4.01
 
1,725,366

 
67,219

 
3.90
 
1,573,238

 
62,128

 
3.95
Residential real estate, including mortgage loans held for sale
1,188,369

 
45,224

 
3.81
 
1,069,402

 
41,173

 
3.85
 
1,038,836

 
41,083

 
3.95
Consumer loans
330,783

 
13,947

 
4.22
 
342,431

 
13,328

 
3.89
 
340,889

 
12,885

 
3.78
Total loans
3,291,430

 
130,184

 
3.96
 
3,137,199

 
121,720

 
3.88
 
2,952,963

 
116,096

 
3.93
Cash, federal funds sold and short-term investments
60,033

 
674

 
1.12
 
75,997

 
322

 
0.42
 
69,169

 
138

 
0.20
FHLB stock
43,256

 
1,774

 
4.10
 
33,643

 
1,091

 
3.24
 
34,349

 
953

 
2.77
Taxable debt securities
759,304

 
18,927

 
2.49
 
472,892

 
11,584

 
2.45
 
325,166

 
8,875

 
2.73
Nontaxable debt securities
6,347

 
384

 
6.05
 
24,939

 
1,520

 
6.09
 
39,751

 
2,408

 
6.06
Total securities
765,651

 
19,311

 
2.52
 
497,831

 
13,104

 
2.63
 
364,917

 
11,283

 
3.09
Total interest-earning assets
4,160,370

 
151,943

 
3.65
 
3,744,670

 
136,237

 
3.64
 
3,421,398

 
128,470

 
3.75
Noninterest-earning assets
238,636

 
 
 
 
 
249,808

 
 
 
 
 
226,623

 
 
 
 
Total assets

$4,399,006

 
 
 
 
 

$3,994,478

 
 
 
 
 

$3,648,021

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing demand deposits

$55,534

 

$62

 
0.11
 

$45,038

 

$49

 
0.11
 

$37,168

 

$27

 
0.07
NOW accounts
437,277

 
218

 
0.05
 
400,209

 
212

 
0.05
 
356,713

 
209

 
0.06
Money market accounts
722,590

 
2,688

 
0.37
 
741,925

 
2,035

 
0.27
 
824,625

 
3,482

 
0.42
Savings accounts
364,255

 
221

 
0.06
 
343,943

 
200

 
0.06
 
301,652

 
196

 
0.06
Time deposits (in-market)
571,733

 
6,208

 
1.09
 
546,460

 
5,486

 
1.00
 
549,039

 
5,531

 
1.01
Wholesale brokered time deposits
392,894

 
5,667

 
1.44
 
323,390

 
4,522

 
1.40
 
284,448

 
3,697

 
1.30
FHLB advances
817,784

 
14,377

 
1.76
 
616,404

 
9,992

 
1.62
 
398,866

 
7,746

 
1.94
Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
613

 
2.70
 
22,681

 
491

 
2.16
 
22,681

 
871

 
3.84
Other
10

 
1

 
10.00
 
60

 
5

 
8.33
 
110

 
9

 
8.18
Total interest-bearing liabilities
3,384,758

 
30,055

 
0.89
 
3,040,110

 
22,992

 
0.76
 
2,775,302

 
21,768

 
0.78
Non-interest bearing demand deposits
555,548

 
 
 
 
 
503,806

 
 
 
 
 
458,369

 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
50,684

 
 
 
 
 
62,021

 
 
 
 
 
52,152

 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity
408,016

 
 
 
 
 
388,541

 
 
 
 
 
362,198

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$4,399,006

 
 
 
 
 

$3,994,478

 
 
 
 
 

$3,648,021

 
 
 
 
Net interest income
 
 

$121,888

 
 
 
 
 

$113,245

 
 
 
 
 

$106,702

 
 
Interest rate spread
 
 
 
 
2.76
 
 
 
 
 
2.88
 
 
 
 
 
2.97
Net interest margin
 
 
 
 
2.93
 
 
 
 
 
3.02
 
 
 
 
 
3.12



-38-

Interest income amounts presented in the preceding table include the following adjustments for taxable equivalency for the years indicated:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Commercial loans

$2,222

 

$2,229

 

$1,867

Nontaxable debt securities
135

 
538

 
853

Total

$2,357

 

$2,767

 

$2,720


Net Interest Income
Net interest income continues to be the primary source of our operating income.  Net interest income for 2017, 2016 and 2015 totaled $119.5 million, $110.5 million and $104.0 million, respectively. Net interest income is affected by the level of and changes in interest rates, and changes in the amount and composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  Included in interest income are loan prepayment fees and certain other fees, such as late charges.

The following discussion presents net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent (“FTE”) basis by adjusting income and yields on tax-exempt loans and securities to be comparable to taxable loans and securities.

Comparison of 2017 with 2016
The analysis of net interest income, net interest margin and the yield on loans is impacted by the level of loan prepayment and other fee income recognized in each period. For 2017 loan prepayment fee income and other fee income amounted to $1.3 million, compared to $2.6 million in 2016.

FTE net interest income in 2017 amounted to $121.9 million, up by $8.6 million, or 8%, from 2016. The net interest margin was 2.93% in 2017, compared to 3.02% in 2016. Excluding the impact of loan prepayment and other fee income from each period, net interest income for 2017 increased by $9.9 million, or 9%, from 2016. The growth in net interest income largely reflected the impact of purchases of investment securities and residential real estate loans for portfolio that were made in the second half of 2016. Excluding the impact of loan prepayment and other fee income from each period, the net interest margin was 2.90% for 2017, compared to 2.96% for 2016, down by 6 basis points. While the net interest margin benefited from the rise in short-term interest-rates on variable rate loans in 2017, it was also impacted by the purchases of investment securities and residential real estate loans for portfolio that were made in 2016 with relatively lower yields than the average yields of the existing portfolios, as well as a higher associated cost of funds.

In future periods, yields on loans and securities will be affected by the amount and composition of loan growth and additions to the securities portfolio, the runoff of existing portfolio balances and the level of market interest rates.

Total average loans increased by $154.2 million, or 5%, from the average balance for 2016, primarily due to purchases of $111.0 million of residential real estate loans added to portfolio in the second half of 2016 as well as growth in the average balance of commercial loans. The yield on total loans for 2017 was 3.96%, compared to 3.88% for 2016, up by 8 basis points. Excluding the impact of loan prepayment and other fee income from each period, the yield on total loans was 3.92% for 2017, compared to 3.80% for 2016, up by 12 basis points. While yields on short-term LIBOR-based and prime-based loans benefited from the increases in short-term market rates of interest, the comparison to the prior year was also impacted by the purchases of residential real estate loans for portfolio that were made in the second half of 2016 with relatively lower yields.

Total average securities for 2017 increased by $267.8 million, or 54%, from the average balance for 2016. The FTE rate of return on securities was 2.52% for 2017, down by 11 basis points, primarily due to purchases of relatively lower yielding securities and runoff of higher yielding securities.

The average balance of FHLB advances for 2017 increased by $201.4 million, or 33%, compared to the average balance for 2016. The average rate paid on such advances in 2017 was 1.76%, up by 14 basis points due to higher rates on short-term advances.



-39-

Total average interest-bearing deposits for 2017 increased by $143.3 million, or 6%, from the average balance for 2016. Included in total average interest-bearing deposits were out-of-market brokered time deposits, which increased by $69.5 million from 2016. Excluding wholesale brokered time deposits, average in-market interest-bearing deposits increased by $73.8 million from the average balance in 2016. The average rate paid on in-market interest-bearing deposits for 2017 increased by 6 basis points compared to 2016, which was largely attributable to an increase in the rate paid on money market accounts and promotional time deposits.

The average balance of noninterest-bearing demand deposits for 2017 increased by $51.7 million, or 10%, from the average balance for 2016.

Comparison of 2016 with 2015
The analysis of net interest income, net interest margin and the yield on loans is impacted by the level of loan prepayment and other fee income recognized in each period. For 2016 loan prepayment fee income and other fee income amounted to $2.6 million, compared to $1.3 million in 2015.

FTE net interest income for 2016 amounted to $113.2 million, up by $6.5 million, or 6%, from 2015. The net interest margin was 3.02% in 2016, compared to 3.12% in 2015.

Excluding the impact of loan prepayment and other fee income from each period, net interest income for 2016 increased by $5.3 million, or 5%, from 2015. Excluding the impact of loan prepayment and other fee income from each period, the net interest margin was 2.96% in 2016, compared to 3.08% in 2015.

Total average loans increased by $184.2 million, or 6%, from the average balance for 2015, due to increases in both average commercial and average residential real estate mortgage loan balances. The yield on total loans for 2016 was 3.88%, down by 5 basis points from 2015. Excluding the impact of loan prepayment fee income and other fee income from each period, the yield on total loans was 3.80% and 3.89%, respectively, down by 9 basis points from 2015. During 2016, yields on new loan originations were generally below the average yield of the existing loan portfolio.

Total average securities for 2016 increased by $132.9 million, or 36%, from the average balance for 2015. The FTE rate of return on securities for 2016 was 2.63%, down by 46 basis points from 2015. The increase in the average balances and decrease in the yield on securities reflects purchases of relatively lower yielding securities combined with maturities, calls and pay-downs of higher yielding securities.

The average balance of FHLB advances for 2016 increased by $217.5 million, or 55%, compared to the average balance for 2015. The average rate paid on such advances in 2016 was 1.62%, down by 32 basis points, reflecting lower rates on longer-term advances.

Total average interest-bearing deposits for 2016 increased by $47.3 million, or 2%, from the average balance for 2015. Included in total average interest-bearing deposits were out-of-market wholesale brokered time deposits, which increased by $38.9 million from 2015. Excluding wholesale brokered time deposits, average in-market interest-bearing time deposits increased by $8.4 million from the average balance for 2015. The average rate paid on in-market interest-bearing deposits for 2016 decreased by 8 basis points compared to 2015, largely due to lower rates on money market deposits.

The average balance of noninterest-bearing demand deposits for 2016 increased by $45.4 million, or 10%, from the average balance for 2015.



-40-

Volume/Rate Analysis - Interest Income and Expense (FTE Basis)
The following table presents certain information on a FTE basis regarding changes in our interest income and interest expense for the periods indicated.  The net change attributable to both volume and rate has been allocated proportionately.
(Dollars in thousands)
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net Change
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net Change
Interest on interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages

$868

 

$2,572

 

$3,440

 

$5,610

 

($802
)
 

$4,808

Construction & development
793

 
612

 
1,405

 
49

 
343

 
392

Commercial & industrial
16

 
(1,067
)
 
(1,051
)
 
(454
)
 
345

 
(109
)
Commercial loans
1,677

 
2,117

 
3,794

 
5,205

 
(114
)
 
5,091

Residential real estate, including mortgage loans held for sale
4,487

 
(436
)
 
4,051

 
1,165

 
(1,075
)
 
90

Consumer loans
(470
)
 
1,089

 
619

 
60

 
383

 
443

Cash, federal funds sold and short-term investments
(80
)
 
432

 
352

 
15

 
169

 
184

FHLB stock
354

 
329

 
683

 
(20
)
 
158

 
138

Taxable debt securities
7,150

 
193

 
7,343

 
3,696

 
(987
)
 
2,709

Nontaxable debt securities
(1,126
)
 
(10
)
 
(1,136
)
 
(900
)
 
12

 
(888
)
Total interest income
11,992

 
3,714

 
15,706

 
9,221

 
(1,454
)
 
7,767

Interest on interest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing demand deposits
13

 
—

 
13

 
6

 
16

 
22

NOW accounts
6

 
—

 
6

 
31

 
(28
)
 
3

Money market accounts
(55
)
 
708

 
653

 
(317
)
 
(1,130
)
 
(1,447
)
Savings accounts
21

 
—

 
21

 
4

 
—

 
4

Time deposits (in-market)
245

 
477

 
722

 
(14
)
 
(31
)
 
(45
)
Wholesale brokered time deposits
1,011

 
134

 
1,145

 
528

 
297

 
825

FHLB advances
3,468

 
917

 
4,385

 
3,684

 
(1,438
)
 
2,246

Junior subordinated debentures
—

 
122

 
122

 
—

 
(380
)
 
(380
)
Other
(5
)
 
1

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
—

 
(4
)
Total interest expense
4,704

 
2,359

 
7,063

 
3,918

 
(2,694
)
 
1,224

Net interest income

$7,288

 

$1,355

 

$8,643

 

$5,303

 

$1,240

 

$6,543




-41-

Noninterest Income
Noninterest income is an important source of revenue for Washington Trust.  The principal categories of noninterest income are shown in the following table:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
Change
 
Change
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
$
%
 
$
%
Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wealth management revenues

$39,346

 

$37,569

 

$35,416

 

$1,777

5
 %
 

$2,153

6
 %
Mortgage banking revenues
11,392

 
13,183

 
9,901

 
(1,791
)
(14
)
 
3,282

33

Service charges on deposit accounts
3,672

 
3,702

 
3,865

 
(30
)
(1
)
 
(163
)
(4
)
Card interchange fees
3,502

 
3,385

 
3,199

 
117

3

 
186

6

Loan related derivative income
3,214

 
3,243

 
2,441

 
(29
)
(1
)
 
802

33

Income from bank-owned life insurance
2,161

 
2,659

 
1,982

 
(498
)
(19
)
 
677

34

Other income
1,522

 
1,388

 
1,536

 
134

10

 
(148
)
(10
)
Total noninterest income

$64,809

 

$65,129

 

$58,340

 

($320
)
—
 %
 

$6,789

12
 %

Comparison of 2017 with 2016
Revenue from wealth management services is our largest source of noninterest income. A substantial portion of wealth management revenues is largely dependent on the value of wealth management assets under administration and is closely tied to the performance of the financial markets. This portion of wealth management revenues is referred to as “asset-based” and includes trust and investment management fees and mutual fund fees. Wealth management revenues also include “transaction-based” revenues, such as financial planning, commissions and other service fees that are not primarily derived from the value of assets.

The categories of wealth management revenues are shown in the following table:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
Change
 
Change
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
$
%
 
$
%
Wealth management revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trust and investment management fees

$36,110

 

$32,901

 

$30,149

 

$3,209

10
 %
 

$2,752

9
 %
Mutual fund fees
2,015

 
3,238

 
4,009

 
(1,223
)
(38
)
 
(771
)
(19
)
Asset-based revenues
38,125

 
36,139

 
34,158

 
1,986

5

 
1,981

6

Transaction-based revenues
1,221

 
1,430

 
1,258

 
(209
)
(15
)
 
172

14

Total wealth management revenues

$39,346

 

$37,569

 

$35,416

 

$1,777

5
 %
 

$2,153

6
 %

The decline in mutual fund fees noted in the above table was attributable to a change in the business activities of our Weston Financial and WSC subsidiaries. Prior to September 30, 2017, Weston Financial, a registered investment adviser subsidiary of the Bank, served as the investment adviser to a group of mutual funds. WSC, a broker-dealer subsidiary of the Bancorp, acted as the underwriter and principal distributor to these mutual funds. In 2017, Weston Financial concluded that the continued operation of the mutual funds was not in the best interest of its shareholders and recommended the dissolution of the mutual funds to its board of trustees. In the third quarter of 2017, the mutual funds were dissolved and liquidated pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Dissolution and Liquidation approved by the shareholders of the mutual funds in August 2017. The dissolution of the mutual funds did not significantly impact the amount of Weston Financial’s assets under management.



-42-

The following table presents the changes in wealth management assets under administration:
(Dollars in thousands)
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Balance at the beginning of year

$6,063,293

 

$5,844,636

 

$5,069,966

Acquisition of Halsey Associates, Inc. (Aug. 1, 2015)
—

 
—

 
839,994

Net investment appreciation (depreciation) & income
817,577

 
277,848

 
(95,228
)
Net client asset flows
(166,233
)
 
(59,191
)
 
29,904

Balance at the end of year

$6,714,637

 

$6,063,293

 

$5,844,636


Wealth management revenues for 2017 were $39.3 million, up by $1.8 million, or 5%, from 2016, due to an increase in asset-based revenues. Wealth Management assets under administration amounted to $6.7 billion at December 31, 2017, up by $651.3 million, or 11%, from the end of 2016, reflecting financial market appreciation in 2017. The decrease in transaction-based revenues in 2017 reflected lower tax preparation and financial planning fees.

Mortgage banking revenues are dependent on mortgage origination volume and are sensitive to interest rates and the condition of housing markets.

The composition of mortgage banking revenues and the volume of loans sold to the secondary market are shown in the following table:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
Change
 
Change
Periods ended December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
$
%
 
$
%
Mortgage banking revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains and commissions on loan sales (1)

$10,991

 

$13,137

 

$9,825

 

($2,146
)
(16
)%
 

$3,312

34
 %
Loan servicing fee income, net (2)
401

 
46

 
76

 
355

772

 
(30
)
(39
)
Total mortgage banking revenues

$11,392

 

$13,183

 

$9,901

 

($1,791
)
(14
)
 

$3,282

33
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans sold to the secondary market

$536,872

 

$609,238

 

$530,900

 

($72,366
)
(12
)%
 

$78,338

15
 %
(1)
Includes gains on loan sales and commissions on loans originated for others, servicing right gains and fair value adjustments on loans held for sale and forward loan commitments.
(2)
Represents loan servicing fee income, net of servicing right amortization and valuation adjustments.

Mortgage banking revenues totaled $11.4 million in 2017, down by $1.8 million, or 14%, from 2016. The decrease in mortgage banking revenues reflected decreased volume of residential mortgage loans sold and, to a lesser extent, a general decline in sales prices in the secondary market.

Income from BOLI for 2017 totaled $2.2 million, down by $498 thousand, or 19%, from 2016. Included in 2016 was a $589 thousand gain resulting from the receipt of tax-exempt life insurance proceeds.

Comparison of 2016 with 2015
Wealth management revenues for 2016 were $37.6 million, up by $2.2 million, or 6%, from 2015, due to an increase in asset-based revenues. The growth in asset-based revenues was due to the acquisition of Halsey on August 1, 2015. Included in 2016 and 2015 were asset-based revenues of $4.0 million and $1.6 million, respectively, generated by Halsey since the acquisition date. Wealth management assets under administration amounted to $6.1 billion at December 31, 2016, up by $218.7 million, or 4%, from the end of 2015. The growth in wealth management assets reflected financial market improvements in 2016. The increase in transaction-based revenues in 2016 reflected higher levels of estate settlement fees.

Mortgage banking revenues totaled $13.2 million in 2016, up by $3.3 million, or 33%, from 2015. The increase in mortgage banking revenues reflected increased volume of residential mortgage loans sold and a general increase in sales prices in the secondary market.


-43-


Loan related derivative income totaled $3.2 million in 2016, up by $802 thousand, or 33%, from 2015, largely due to a higher level of commercial loan borrower demand for interest rate swap transactions.

Income from BOLI for 2016 totaled $2.7 million, up by $677 thousand, or 34%, from 2015, due to the gain resulting from the receipt of tax-exempt life insurance proceeds in 2016.

Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses is based on management’s periodic assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses which, in turn, is based on such interrelated factors as the composition of the loan portfolio and its inherent risk characteristics; the level of nonperforming loans and net charge-offs, both current and historic; local economic and credit conditions; the direction of real estate values; and regulatory guidelines.  The provision for loan losses is charged against earnings in order to maintain an allowance for loan losses that reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date.

Loan loss provisions charged to earnings in 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $2.6 million, $5.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively. Net charge-offs totaled $2.1 million, or 0.06% of average loans, in 2017. This compared to net charge-offs of $6.7 million, or 0.21% of average loans, in 2016 and $2.0 million, or 0.07% of average loans, in 2015. The increases in both the loan loss provision and net charge-offs in 2016 were largely due to additional loss exposure allocated to and charge-offs taken on one commercial mortgage borrower relationship.

The allowance for loan losses was $26.5 million, or 0.79% of total loans, at December 31, 2017, compared to $26.0 million, or 0.80% of total loans, at December 31, 2016. See additional discussion under the caption “Asset Quality” for further information on the Allowance for Loan Losses.

Noninterest Expense
The following table presents noninterest expense comparisons:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
Change
 
Change
 
2017
2016
2015
 
$
%
 
$
%
Noninterest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits

$68,487


$67,221


$63,024

 

$1,266

2
 %
 

$4,197

7
 %
Net occupancy
7,521

7,151

7,000

 
370

5

 
151

2

Outsourced services
6,920

5,222

5,111

 
1,698

33

 
111

2

Equipment
5,358

6,208

5,533

 
(850
)
(14
)
 
675

12

Legal, audit and professional fees
2,294

2,579

2,741

 
(285
)
(11
)
 
(162
)
(6
)
FDIC deposit insurance costs
1,647

1,878

1,846

 
(231
)
(12
)
 
32

2

Advertising and promotion
1,481

1,458

1,526

 
23

2

 
(68
)
(4
)
Amortization of intangibles
1,035

1,284

904

 
(249
)
(19
)
 
380

42

Debt prepayment penalties
—

431

—

 
(431
)
(100
)
 
431

100

Acquisition related expenses
—

—

989

 
—

—

 
(989
)
(100
)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
(643
)
(898
)
41

 
255

28

 
(939
)
(2,290
)
Other
10,000

8,569

8,214

 
1,431

17

 
355

4

Total noninterest expense

$104,100


$101,103


$96,929

 

$2,997

3
 %
 

$4,174

4
 %

Comparison of 2017 with 2016
Outsourced services for 2017 increased by $1.7 million, or 33%, from 2016. Equipment expense for 2017 decreased by $850 thousand, or 14%, from 2016. Both the increase in outsourced services and the decline in equipment expense reflects the expansion of services provided by third party vendors.



-44-

There were no prepayments of advances in 2017. See debt prepayment penalty expense discussion under the section “Noninterest Expense - Comparison of 2016 with 2015” below.

In 2017, the Corporation recorded a net reduction to noninterest expenses of $643 thousand reflecting the change in fair value of a contingent consideration liability. See additional disclosure regarding the contingent consideration liability below under the section “Noninterest Expense - Comparison, of 2016 with 2015.” One of the two earn-out periods associated with this contingent consideration liability ended December 31, 2017. As such, the applicable portion of the liability was reduced to the payout amount based on the actual revenue growth results achieved during the first earn-out period. The Corporation paid the first earn-out period liability totaling $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2018.

Other expenses amounted to $10.0 million in 2017, up by $1.4 million, or 17%, from 2016. This increase was primarily due to the recognition of $670 thousand in software system implementation expenses as well as an increase of $492 thousand in foreclosed property costs in 2017. The comparison of other expenses was also impacted by the following two items.

During the third quarter of 2017, a charge to other expenses of approximately $570 thousand was recognized in connection with a claim against another bank related to a matter involving one of the Bank’s customers. Earlier in 2017, a customer of the Bank reported that two checks that were mailed by the customer to a vendor were altered to change the payee on the checks and increase the amount of one of the checks. The checks were diverted and deposited by an unknown party at another bank. The altered checks then passed through the banking system in a routine manner and were charged against the customer’s account at the Bank. The Bank reimbursed its customer for the amount inappropriately charged against the customer’s account. Despite demand by Washington Trust, the other bank refused to return funds and the Bank pursued legal action against the other bank to recover the lost funds of approximately $570 thousand. In the fourth quarter of 2017, Washington Trust received a settlement totaling $325 thousand from the other bank associated with this incident. The settlement was recognized in the fourth quarter as a reduction in other expenses.

Also included in other expense for 2017 was a goodwill impairment charge of $150 thousand recognized on WSC, a limited purpose broker-dealer subsidiary. See additional disclosure above related to the change in business activities of WSC in the section “Noninterest Income - Comparison of 2017 with 2016.”

Comparison of 2016 with 2015
For 2016, salaries and employee benefit expense totaled $67.2 million, up by $4.2 million, or 7%, from 2015. Excluding costs attributable to Halsey, which was acquired on August 1, 2015, and employee severance costs of $523 thousand incurred in 2016, total salaries and benefits costs were up by $2.5 million, or 4%. The overall increase in salaries and employee benefit costs largely reflected increases in our mortgage banking business line, partially offset by a decrease in defined benefit pension plan costs.

Equipment expense for 2016 increased by $675 thousand, or 12%, from 2015, reflecting additional investments in technology and costs associated with a de novo branch that opened in 2016.

Amortization of intangibles amounted to $1.3 million in 2016, up by $380 thousand, or 42%, from 2015, due to amortization of intangible assets associated with the acquisition of Halsey in 2015. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on intangible assets, including those pertaining to the Halsey acquisition.

As a result of the acquisition of Halsey in August 2015, acquisition related expenses of $989 thousand were recognized in 2015. There were no such expenses in 2016.

Prepayment of FHLB advances in March 2016 resulted in the recognition of $431 thousand of debt prepayment penalty expense in the first quarter of 2016. There were no prepayments of advances in 2015.

In 2016, the Corporation recorded a net reduction to noninterest expenses of $898 thousand reflecting the change in fair value of a contingent consideration liability. As part of the consideration to acquire Halsey, a contingent consideration liability was initially recorded at fair value in August 2015 representing the estimated present value of future earn-outs to be paid based on the future revenue growth of Halsey during the 5-year period following the acquisition. This contingent consideration liability is remeasured at each reporting period taking into consideration changes in probability estimates


-45-

regarding the likelihood of Halsey achieving revenue growth targets during the earn-out periods. Downturns in the equity markets during the post-acquisition period caused the estimated revenue growth to fall below the assumed levels at the time of the initial estimate and, as a result, the Corporation reduced the estimated liability with a corresponding reduction in noninterest expenses.

Income Taxes
The following table presents the Corporation’s income tax expense and effective tax rate for the periods indicated:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Income tax expense

$31,715

 

$22,373

 

$20,878

Effective income tax rate
40.8
%
 
32.5
%
 
32.4
%

Income tax expense in 2017 included a $6.2 million write-down associated with the revaluation of the Corporation’s net deferred tax assets due to the enactment of the Tax Act on December 22, 2017.

Effective January 1, 2017, Washington Trust adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." Under this accounting standard, excess tax benefits on the settlement of share-based awards are recognized as a reduction to income tax expense in the period that they occur. In 2017, income tax expense was reduced by the recognition of $508 thousand in excess tax benefits on the settlement of share-based awards. Prior to 2017, such excess tax benefits were recognized as additional paid in capital in shareholders' equity and did not impact income tax expense.

Excluding the write-down adjustment of the net deferred tax assets and the excess tax benefits on the settlement of share-based awards, the effective tax rate for 2017 would have been 33.6%, up from 32.5% in 2016 and 32.4% in 2015, reflecting a higher proportion of taxable income to pre-tax book income.

The Corporation’s net deferred tax assets amounted to $10.7 million at December 31, 2017, compared to $16.8 million at December 31, 2016. The Corporation has determined that a valuation allowance is not required for any of the deferred tax assets since it is more-likely-than-not that these assets will be realized primarily through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences or by offsetting projected future taxable income.

The majority of the provisions of the Tax Act will take effect on January 1, 2018. The provisions that impact Washington Trust include the reduction of the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, changes to the deductibility of certain meals and entertainment expenses, and changes to the deductibility of executive compensation. The Tax Act also accelerates expensing of certain depreciable property for assets placed in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2023. Based on current federal and applicable state income tax statutes, the Corporation currently expects its 2018 effective tax rate to be approximately 21.5%.

See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding income taxes.

Segment Reporting
Washington Trust manages its operations through two business segments, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services.  Activity not related to the segments, including activity related to the investment securities portfolio, wholesale funding matters and administrative units are considered Corporate.  The Corporate unit also includes income from BOLI and the residual impact of methodology allocations such as funds transfer pricing offsets. Methodologies used to allocate income and expenses to business lines are periodically reviewed and revised. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosure related to business segments.



-46-

Commercial Banking
The following table presents a summarized statement of operations for the Commercial Banking business segment:
(Dollars in thousands)
Years ended December 31,
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
2017
2016
2015
 
$
%
 
$
%
Net interest income

$98,736


$91,221


$84,757

 

$7,515

8
%
 

$6,464

8
%
Provision for loan losses
2,600

5,650

1,050

 
(3,050
)
(54
)
 
4,600

438

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
96,136

85,571

83,707

 
10,565

12

 
1,864

2

Noninterest income
23,244

24,783

20,618

 
(1,539
)
(6
)
 
4,165

20

Noninterest expense
63,432

61,223

57,787

 
2,209

4

 
3,436

6

Income before income taxes
55,948

49,131

46,538

 
6,817

14

 
2,593

6

Income tax expense
23,876

16,790

15,330

 
7,086

42

 
1,460

10

Net income

$32,072


$32,341


$31,208

 

($269
)
(1
%)
 

$1,133

4
%

Comparison of 2017 with 2016
Net interest income for the Commercial Banking segment increased by $7.5 million, or 8%, from 2016, largely reflecting a favorable shift in the mix of deposits to lower cost categories and growth in loans. The increase in net interest income was also impacted by favorable net funds transfer pricing allocations with the Corporate unit and a lower level of commercial prepayment fee income in 2017. The loan loss provision decreased by $3.1 million from 2016, based on management’s assessment of loss exposure, as well as loan loss allocations commensurate with changes in the loan portfolio. Noninterest income derived from the Commercial Banking segment decreased by $1.5 million, or 6%, from 2016, reflecting a decline in mortgage banking revenues. Commercial Banking noninterest expenses for 2017, increased by $2.2 million, or 4%, from 2016, reflecting increases in outsourced services, software system implementation expenses and foreclosed property costs. Income tax expense for the Commercial Banking segment was up by $7.1 million from 2016, largely due to the net deferred tax asset write-down adjustment resulting from enactment of the Tax Act.

Comparison of 2016 with 2015
Net interest income for the Commercial Banking segment increased by $6.5 million, or 8%, from 2015, reflecting growth in loans, a higher level of commercial prepayment fee income and a favorable shift in the mix of deposits to lower cost categories. The loan loss provision increased by $4.6 million from 2015, largely reflecting additional loss exposure allocated to one nonaccrual commercial mortgage relationship. Noninterest income derived from the Commercial Banking segment was up by $4.2 million, or 20%, from 2015, reflecting increased mortgage banking revenues and loan related derivative income. Commercial Banking noninterest expenses for 2016, increased by $3.4 million, or 6%, from 2015, largely due to increases in salaries and employee benefit costs.

Wealth Management Services
The following table presents a summarized statement of operations for the Wealth Management Services business segment:
(Dollars in thousands)
Years ended December 31,
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
2017
2016
2015
 
$
%
 
$
%
Net interest expense

($167
)

($66
)

($47
)
 

($101
)
153
%
 

($19
)
40
%
Noninterest income
39,346

37,569

35,416

 
1,777

5

 
2,153

6

Noninterest expense
28,407

27,179

27,120

 
1,228

5

 
59

—

Income before income taxes
10,772

10,324

8,249

 
448

4

 
2,075

25

Income tax expense
3,795

3,692

3,475

 
103

3

 
217

6

Net income

$6,977


$6,632


$4,774

 

$345

5
%
 

$1,858

39
%



-47-

Comparison of 2017 with 2016
Noninterest income for the Wealth Management Services segment was up by $1.8 million, or 5%, compared to 2016, reflecting an increase in asset-based revenues resulting from growth in wealth management assets under administration. Noninterest expenses for the Wealth Management Services segment increased by $1.2 million, or 5%, compared to 2016. The noninterest expense comparison for this segment was impacted by the change in fair value adjustments on a contingent consideration liability, which increased noninterest expenses by $255 thousand in 2017, and a goodwill impairment charge of $150 thousand recognized in 2017. See additional discussion under the caption “Noninterest Expense” above. Excluding the impact of these items, total noninterest expenses for the Wealth Management Services segment increased by $823 thousand, or 3%, compared to 2016, largely due to software system implementation expenses incurred in 2017.

Comparison of 2016 with 2015
Noninterest income for the Wealth Management Services segment increased by $2.2 million, or 6%, compared to 2015, reflecting an increase in asset-based revenues. This increase was largely due to the acquisition of Halsey on August 1, 2015. Noninterest expenses for the Wealth Management Services segment were up modestly compared to 2015. The noninterest expense comparison for this segment was impacted by a $898 thousand benefit resulting from the reduction of a contingent consideration liability in 2016 and the recognition of $989 thousand of acquisition related expense in 2015. See additional discussion under the caption “Noninterest Expense” above for further information on these items. Excluding the impact of these items in both periods, noninterest expense increased by $1.9 million, or 7%, in 2016, largely due to increases in salaries and benefits costs and amortization of intangibles, including costs attributable to Halsey since the acquisition date.

Corporate
The following table presents a summarized statement of operations for the Corporate unit:
(Dollars in thousands)
Years ended December 31,
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
2016 vs. 2015
 
2017
2016
2015
 
$
%
 
$
%
Net interest income

$20,962


$19,323


$19,272

 

$1,639

8
%
 

$51

—
%
Noninterest income
2,219

2,777

2,306

 
(558
)
(20
)
 
471

20

Noninterest expense
12,261

12,701

12,022

 
(440
)
(3
)
 
679

6

Income before income taxes
10,920

9,399

9,556

 
1,521

16

 
(157
)
(2
)
Income tax expense
4,044

1,891

2,073

 
2,153

114

 
(182
)
(9
)
Net income

$6,876


$7,508


$7,483

 

($632
)
(8
%)
 

$25

—
%

Comparison of 2017 with 2016
Net interest income for the Corporate unit was up by $1.6 million, or 8%, compared to 2016, reflecting the impact of additions to the investment securities portfolio in the latter half of 2016, partially offset by increased FHLB borrowing costs and unfavorable net funds transfer pricing allocations with the Commercial Banking segment. Noninterest income for the Corporate unit decreased by $558 thousand, compared to 2016, primarily due to the nontaxable gain of $589 thousand recognized in 2016 upon the receipt of BOLI proceeds. Noninterest expense for the Corporate unit decreased by $440 thousand from 2016, largely due to debt prepayment penalty expense of $431 thousand incurred in 2016. There was no such expense incurred in 2017. Income tax expense for the Corporate unit was up by $2.2 million from 2016, largely due to the net deferred tax asset write-down adjustment resulting from enactment of the Tax Act.

Comparison of 2016 with 2015
Noninterest income for the Corporate unit for 2016 increased by $471 thousand, compared to 2015, largely due to the nontaxable gain recognized in 2016 upon the receipt of BOLI proceeds. The Corporate unit’s noninterest expense for 2016 increased by $679 thousand from 2015, largely due to debt prepayment penalty expense incurred in 2016. There was no such expense incurred in 2015.



-48-

Financial Condition
Summary
The following table presents selected financial condition data:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Change
December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
$
%
Cash and due from banks

$79,853

 

$106,185

 

($26,332
)
(25
%)
Total securities
793,495

 
755,545

 
37,950

5

Total loans
3,374,071

 
3,234,371

 
139,700

4

Allowance for loan losses
26,488

 
26,004

 
484

2

Total assets
4,529,850

 
4,381,115

 
148,735

3

Total deposits
3,242,707

 
3,063,752

 
178,955

6

FHLB advances
791,356

 
848,930

 
(57,574
)
(7
)
Total shareholders’ equity
413,284

 
390,804

 
22,480

6


Total assets amounted to $4.5 billion at December 31, 2017, up by $148.7 million, or 3%, from the end of 2016, reflecting loan growth and additions to the securities portfolio, partially offset by a decline in cash and due from banks balances.

In 2017, total deposits increased by $179.0 million, or 6%, with growth in all deposit categories. FHLB advances decreased by $57.6 million, or 7%, from December 31, 2016, due to growth in deposits.

Shareholders’ equity amounted to $413.3 million at December 31, 2017, up by $22.5 million from the balance at the end of 2016.  As of December 31, 2017, the Bancorp and the Bank exceeded the regulatory minimum levels to be considered “well capitalized.” See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion on regulatory capital requirements.

Securities
Washington Trust’s securities portfolio is managed to generate interest income, to implement interest rate risk management strategies, and to provide a readily available source of liquidity for balance sheet management. Securities are designated as either available for sale, held to maturity or trading at the time of purchase. The Corporation does not currently maintain a portfolio of trading securities. Securities available for sale may be sold in response to changes in market conditions, prepayment risk, rate fluctuations, liquidity, or capital requirements. Securities available for sale are reported at fair value, with any unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of tax, until realized. Securities held to maturity are reported at amortized cost.

Determination of Fair Value
The Corporation uses an independent pricing service to obtain quoted prices. The prices provided by the independent pricing service are generally based on observable market data in active markets. The determination of whether markets are active or inactive is based upon the level of trading activity for a particular security class. The Corporation reviews the independent pricing service’s documentation to gain an understanding of the appropriateness of the pricing methodologies. The Corporation also reviews the prices provided by the independent pricing service for reasonableness based upon current trading levels for similar securities. If the prices appear unusual, they are re-examined and the value is either confirmed or revised. In addition, the Corporation periodically performs independent price tests of securities to ensure proper valuation and to verify our understanding of how securities are priced. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Corporation did not make any adjustments to the prices provided by the pricing service.

Our fair value measurements generally utilize Level 2 inputs, representing quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, and model-derived valuations in which all significant input assumptions are observable in active markets.

See Notes 4 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the determination of fair value of investment securities.


-49-


Securities Portfolio
The carrying amounts of securities held are as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount
 
%
 
Amount
 
%
 
Amount
 
%

Securities Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$157,604

 
20
%
 

$108,440

 
15
%
 

$77,015

 
21
%
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
590,882

 
76

 
588,085

 
79

 
234,856

 
61

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
2,359

 
—

 
14,485

 
2

 
36,080

 
10

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
16,984

 
2

 
26,736

 
4

 
25,138

 
7

Corporate bonds
13,125

 
2

 
2,166

 
—

 
1,955

 
1

Total securities available for sale

$780,954

 
100
%
 

$739,912

 
100
%
 

$375,044

 
100
%
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount

 
%
 
Amount

 
%
 
Amount

 
%

Securities Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$12,541

 
100
%
 

$15,633

 
100
%
 

$20,023

 
100
%
Total securities held to maturity

$12,541

 
100
%
 

$15,633

 
100
%
 

$20,023

 
100
%

To generate additional interest income and to provide additional balance sheet liquidity, debt obligations of U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, including mortgage-backed securities, totaling $149.1 million and $553.3 million, respectively, were purchased in 2017 and 2016. The 2017 purchases had a weighted average yield of 2.61%, while the 2016 purchases had a weighted average yield of 2.45%. These purchases were partially offset by routine principal pay-downs on mortgage-backed securities as well as calls and maturities of debt securities.

The securities portfolio stood at $793.5 million as of December 31, 2017, or 18% of total assets, compared to $755.5 million as of December 31, 2016, or 17% or total assets. The largest component of the securities portfolio is mortgage-backed securities, all of which are issued by U.S. government agencies or U.S. government-sponsored enterprises.

As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the net unrealized loss position on securities available for sale and held to maturity amounted to $9.7 million and $10.5 million, respectively, and included gross unrealized losses of $13.5 million and $15.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, the gross unrealized losses were concentrated in obligations of U.S government-sponsored enterprises, including mortgaged-backed securities, and were primarily attributable to relative changes in interest rates since the time of purchase. Management evaluated the impairment status of these debt securities and does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.



-50-

The schedule of maturities of debt securities available for sale and held to maturity is presented below. Mortgage-backed securities are included based on weighted average maturities, adjusted for anticipated prepayments.  All other debt securities are included based on contractual maturities.  Actual maturities may differ from amounts presented because certain issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.  Yields on tax exempt obligations are not computed on a tax equivalent basis.  

(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
Within 1 Year
 
1-5 Years
 
5-10 Years
 
After 10 Years
 
Totals
Securities Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost

$—

 

$51,493

 

$109,986

 

$—

 

$161,479

Weighted average yield
—
%
 
1.69
%
 
2.24
%
 
—
%
 
2.06
%
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
61,605

 
191,585

 
160,415

 
181,339

 
594,944

Weighted average yield
2.98

 
2.83

 
2.64

 
2.19

 
2.60

Obligations of states and political subdivisions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
515

 
1,840

 
—

 
—

 
2,355

Weighted average yield
3.75

 
3.99

 
—

 
—

 
3.94

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
—

 
—

 
15,142

 
2,964

 
18,106

Weighted average yield
—

 
—

 
2.43

 
2.37

 
2.42

Corporate bonds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost
—

 
2,136

 
—

 
11,781

 
13,917

Weighted average yield
—

 
2.40

 
—

 
2.67

 
2.63

Total debt securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost

$62,120

 

$247,054

 

$285,543

 

$196,084

 

$790,801

Weighted average yield
2.99
%
 
2.60
%
 
2.47
%
 
2.22
%
 
2.49
%
Fair value

$61,700

 

$244,392

 

$280,870

 

$193,992

 

$780,954

Securities Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost

$1,719

 

$5,374

 

$4,019

 

$1,429

 

$12,541

Weighted average yield
2.99
%
 
2.95
%
 
2.97
%
 
3.05
%
 
2.97
%
Fair value

$1,743

 

$5,451

 

$4,077

 

$1,450

 

$12,721


As of December 31, 2017, Washington Trust owns trust preferred security holdings of five individual name issuers in the financial services industry.  The following table presents information concerning these holdings, including credit ratings.  The Corporation’s Investment Policy contains rating standards that specifically reference ratings issued by Moody’s and S&P.



-51-

Individual Name Issuer Trust Preferred Debt Securities
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
Credit Ratings
 
 
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized Loss
 
December 31, 2017
 
Form 10-K Filing Date
Name of Issuer
(parent holding company)
(i)

 
 
 
 
Moody’s
S&P
 
Moody’s
S&P
Bank of America Corporation
2

 
4,816

 
4,583

 
(233
)
 
 Baa3
 BBB-
 
 Baa3
 BBB-
Wells Fargo & Company
2

 
5,170

 
4,909

 
(261
)
 
 A1/Baa1
 BBB+/BBB
 
 A1/Baa1
 BBB/BBB-
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
1

 
4,180

 
3,843

 
(337
)
 
 Baa2
 BB+ (ii)
 
 Baa2
 BB+ (ii)
Northern Trust Corporation
1

 
1,989

 
1,870

 
(119
)
 
 A3
 BBB+
 
 A3
 BBB+
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
1

 
1,951

 
1,779

 
(172
)
 
 Baa2
 BB (ii)
 
 Baa2
 BB (ii)
Totals
7

 

$18,106

 

$16,984

 

($1,122
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(i)
Number of separate issuances, including issuances of acquired institutions.
(ii)
Rating is below investment grade.

The Corporation’s evaluation of the impairment status of individual name trust preferred securities includes various considerations in addition to the degree of impairment and the duration of impairment.  We review the reported regulatory capital ratios of the issuer and, in all cases, the regulatory capital ratios were deemed to be in excess of the regulatory minimums.  Credit ratings were also taken into consideration, including ratings in effect as of the reporting period date as well as credit rating changes between the reporting period date and the filing date of this report.  We noted no downgrades to below investment grade between December 31, 2017 and the filing date of this report.  Where available, credit ratings from multiple rating agencies are obtained and rating downgrades are specifically analyzed.  Our review process for these credit-sensitive holdings also includes a periodic review of relevant financial information for each issuer, such as quarterly financial reports, press releases and analyst reports.  This information is used to evaluate the current and prospective financial condition of the issuer in order to assess the issuer’s ability to meet its debt obligations.  Through the filing date of this report, each of the individual name issuer securities was current with respect to interest payments.  Based on our evaluation of the facts and circumstances relating to each issuer, management concluded that all principal and interest payments for these individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities would be collected according to their contractual terms and it expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.  Furthermore, Washington Trust does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more-likely-than-not that Washington Trust will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis, which may be at maturity.  Therefore, management does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017.

Further deterioration in credit quality of the underlying issuers of the securities, further deterioration in the condition of the financial services industry, worsening of the current economic environment, or additional declines in real estate values, among other things, may further affect the fair value of these securities and increase the potential that certain unrealized losses may be designated as other-than-temporary in future periods, and the Corporation may incur write-downs.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock
The Bank is a member of the FHLB, which is a cooperative that provides services to its member banking institutions. The primary reason for the Bank’s membership is to gain access to a reliable source of wholesale funding in order to manage interest rate risk. The purchase of FHLB stock is a requirement for a member to gain access to funding. The Bank purchases FHLB stock in proportion to the volume of funding received and views the purchases as a necessary long-term investment for the purposes of balance sheet liquidity and not for investment return.

The Bank’s investment in FHLB stock, which is recorded at cost, totaled $40.5 million at December 31, 2017, compared to $43.1 million at December 31, 2016. No market exists for shares of FHLB stock and therefore, they are carried at par value.  FHLB stock may be redeemed at par value five years following termination of FHLB membership, subject to limitations which may be imposed by the FHLB or its regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Board, to maintain capital adequacy of the FHLB.  While the Corporation currently has no intentions to terminate its FHLB membership, the ability to redeem its investment in FHLB stock would be subject to the conditions imposed by the FHLB.  The Corporation monitors its investment to determine if impairment exists. Based on the capital adequacy and the liquidity position of the FHLB, management believes there is no impairment related to the carrying amount of the Corporation’s FHLB stock as of December 31, 2017.


-52-


Loans
Total loans amounted to $3.4 billion at December 31, 2017, up by $139.7 million, or 4%, from the end of 2016, largely due to growth in the residential real estate loan portfolio.

The following table sets forth the composition of the Corporation’s loan portfolio for each of the past five years:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amount
 
%

 
Amount
 
%

 
Amount
 
%

 
Amount
 
%

 
Amount
 
%

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages  (1)

$1,072,487

 
32
%
 

$1,074,186

 
33
%
 

$931,953

 
31
%
 

$843,978

 
30
%
 

$796,249

 
32
%
Construction & development (2)
138,008

 
4

 
121,371

 
4

 
122,297

 
4

 
79,592

 
3

 
36,289

 
1

Commercial & industrial  (3)
612,334

 
18

 
576,109

 
18

 
600,297

 
20

 
611,918

 
21

 
530,797

 
22

Total commercial
1,822,829

 
54

 
1,771,666

 
55

 
1,654,547

 
55

 
1,535,488

 
54

 
1,363,335

 
55

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
1,206,458

 
35

 
1,094,824

 
34

 
984,437

 
33

 
948,731

 
33

 
749,163

 
30

Homeowner construction
20,790

 
1

 
27,924

 
1

 
29,118

 
1

 
36,684

 
1

 
23,511

 
1

Total residential real estate
1,227,248

 
36

 
1,122,748

 
35

 
1,013,555

 
34

 
985,415

 
34

 
772,674

 
31

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
258,114

 
8

 
264,200

 
8

 
255,565

 
8

 
242,480

 
8

 
231,362

 
9

Home equity loans
34,353

 
1

 
37,272

 
1

 
46,649

 
2

 
46,967

 
2

 
40,212

 
2

Other  (4)
31,527

 
1

 
38,485

 
1

 
42,811

 
1

 
48,926

 
2

 
55,301

 
3

Total consumer loans
323,994

 
10

 
339,957

 
10

 
345,025

 
11

 
338,373

 
12

 
326,875

 
14

Total loans

$3,374,071

 
100
%
 

$3,234,371

 
100
%
 

$3,013,127

 
100
%
 

$2,859,276

 
100
%
 

$2,462,884

 
100
%
(1)
Loans primarily secured by income producing property.
(2)
Loans for construction of commercial properties, loans to developers for construction of residential properties and loans for land development.
(3)
Loans to businesses and individuals, a substantial portion of which are fully or partially collateralized by real estate.
(4)
Loans to individuals secured by general aviation aircraft and other personal installment loans.

An analysis of the maturity and interest rate sensitivity of the Corporation’s loan portfolio as of December 31, 2017 follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
 
Residential Real Estate
 
 
 
Mortgages
Construction (1)
Commercial &
Industrial
 
Mortgages
Homeowner Construction (2)
Consumer
Total
Amounts due in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One year or less

$145,141


$2,331


$124,009

 

$33,857


$581


$8,132


$314,051

After one year to five years
530,058

70,949

293,781

 
144,151

3,619

24,744

1,067,302

After five years
397,288

64,728

194,544

 
1,028,450

16,590

291,118

1,992,718

Total

$1,072,487


$138,008


$612,334

 

$1,206,458


$20,790


$323,994


$3,374,071

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate terms on amounts due after one year:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Predetermined rates

$152,805


$8,981


$174,522

 

$302,739


$20,209


$44,035


$703,291

Variable or adjustable rates
774,541

126,696

313,803

 
869,862

—

271,827

2,356,729

(1)
Includes certain construction loans that will convert to repayment terms following the construction period and be reclassified to the commercial mortgage or commercial and industrial category.
(2)
Maturities of homeowner construction loans are included based on their contractual conventional mortgage repayment terms following the completion of construction.



-53-

Generally, the actual maturity of loans is substantially shorter than their contractual maturity due to prepayments and, in the case of loans secured by real estate, due to payoff of loans upon the sale of the property by the borrower. The average life of loans secured by real estate tends to increase when current loan rates are higher than rates on existing portfolio loans and, conversely, tends to decrease when rates on existing portfolio loans are higher than current loan rates. Under the latter scenario, the average yield on portfolio loans tends to decrease as higher yielding loans are repaid or refinanced at lower rates. Due to the fact that the Bank may, consistent with industry practice, renew a significant portion of commercial loans at or immediately prior to their maturity by renewing the loans on substantially similar or revised terms, the principal repayments actually received by the Bank are anticipated to be significantly less than the amounts contractually due in any particular period. In other circumstances, a loan, or a portion of a loan, may not be repaid due to the borrower’s inability to satisfy the contractual terms of the loan.

Commercial Loans
The commercial loan portfolio represented 54% of total loans at December 31, 2017.

In making commercial loans, we may occasionally solicit the participation of other banks. Washington Trust also participates in commercial loans originated by other banks. In such cases, these loans are individually underwritten by us using standards similar to those employed for our self-originated loans. Our participation in commercial loans originated by other banks amounted to $364.0 million and $391.0 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Our participation in commercial loans originated by other banks also includes shared national credits, which as of December 31, 2017 are defined as participations in loans or loan commitments of at least $20.0 million that are shared by three or more banks.

Commercial loans fall into two major categories, commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans. Commercial real estate loans consist of commercial mortgages secured by real property where the primary source of repayment is derived from rental income associated with the property or the proceeds of the sale, refinancing or permanent financing of the property. Commercial real estate loans also include construction loans made to businesses for land development or the on-site construction of industrial, commercial, or residential buildings. Commercial and industrial loans primarily provide working capital, equipment financing and financing for other business-related purposes. Commercial and industrial loans are frequently collateralized by equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, and/or general business assets.  A significant portion of the Bank’s commercial and industrial loans is also collateralized by real estate.  Commercial and industrial loans also include tax exempt loans made to states and political subdivisions, as well as industrial development or revenue bonds issued through quasi-public corporations for the benefit of a private or non-profit entity where that entity rather than the governmental entity is obligated to pay the debt service.

Commercial Real Estate Loans
Commercial real estate loans totaled $1.2 billion at December 31, 2017, up by $14.9 million, or 1%, from the balance at December 31, 2016. Included in commercial real estate loans were construction and development loans of $138.0 million and $121.4 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

At December 31, 2017, shared national credit balances outstanding included in the commercial real estate loan portfolio totaled $34.8 million. All of these loans were included in the pass-rated category of commercial loan credit quality, all payments were current and the loans were performing in accordance with their contractual terms.

Commercial real estate loans are secured by a variety of property types, with 92% of the total at December 31, 2017 composed of office buildings, retail facilities, multi-family dwellings, lodging, commercial mixed use, industrial and warehouse properties and healthcare facilities. The average loan balance outstanding in this portfolio was $2.4 million and the largest individual commercial real estate loan outstanding was $26.4 million as of December 31, 2017.



-54-

The following table presents a geographic summary of commercial real estate loans, including commercial construction, by property location.
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Amount
 
% of Total
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts

$1,131,077

 
94
%
 

$1,105,539

 
93
%
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
66,857

 
5

 
77,038

 
6

New Hampshire
12,561

 
1

 
12,980

 
1

Total

$1,210,495

 
100
%
 

$1,195,557

 
100
%

Commercial and Industrial Loans
Commercial and industrial loans amounted to $612.3 million at December 31, 2017, up by $36.2 million, or 6%, from the balance at December 31, 2016.

At December 31, 2017, shared national credit balances outstanding included in the commercial and industrial loan portfolio totaled $61.7 million. All of these loans were included in the pass-rated category of commercial loan credit quality, all payments were current and the loans were performing in accordance with their contractual terms.

This portfolio includes loans to a variety of business types.  Approximately 90% of the total portfolio at December 31, 2017 included loans to business sectors such as health care/social assistance, owner occupied and other real estate, manufacturing, retail trade, educational services, professional, scientific and technical, transportation and warehousing, entertainment and recreation, finance and insurance, other services, construction businesses and public administration. The average loan balance outstanding in this portfolio was $555 thousand and the largest individual commercial and industrial loan outstanding was $20.1 million as of December 31, 2017.

Residential Real Estate Loans
The residential real estate loan portfolio represented 36% of total loans at December 31, 2017.

Residential real estate loans are originated both for sale to the secondary market as well as for retention in the Bank’s loan portfolio. We also originate residential real estate loans for various investors in a broker capacity, including conventional mortgages and reverse mortgages.

The table below presents residential real estate loan origination activity:
(Dollars in thousands)
Years ended December 31,
 
2017
2016
2015
Originations for retention in portfolio

$318,674


$264,466


$234,853

Originations for sale to the secondary market (1)
533,878

600,800

523,833

Total

$852,552


$865,266


$758,686

(1)
Includes loans originated in a broker capacity.

Loans are sold with servicing retained or released.  The table below presents residential real estate loan sales activity:
(Dollars in thousands)
Years ended December 31,
 
2017
2016
2015
Loans sold with servicing rights retained

$129,358


$165,414


$162,225

Loans sold with servicing rights released (1)
407,514

443,824

368,675

Total

$536,872


$609,238


$530,900

(1)
Includes loans originated in a broker capacity.



-55-

Loans sold with the retention of servicing result in the capitalization of servicing rights. Loan servicing rights are included in other assets and are subsequently amortized as an offset to mortgage banking revenues over the estimated period of servicing. The net balance of capitalized servicing rights amounted to $3.6 million and $3.5 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The balance of residential mortgage loans serviced for others, which are not included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, amounted to $568.3 million and $522.8 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Residential real estate loans held in portfolio amounted to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2017, up by $104.5 million, or 9%, from the balance at December 31, 2016. During 2017, the Corporation purchased $18.9 million of residential mortgage loans from another financial institution. These loans were individually evaluated to Washington Trust’s underwriting standards and are predominantly secured by properties located in Massachusetts.

The following is a geographic summary of residential real estate loans by property location.
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Amount
 
% of Total
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts

$1,210,895

 
98.6
%
 

$1,106,366

 
98.6
%
New Hampshire, Vermont
12,061

 
1.0

 
11,445

 
1.0

New York, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania
2,168

 
0.2

 
2,648

 
0.2

Ohio
862

 
0.1

 
997

 
0.1

Other
1,262

 
0.1

 
1,292

 
0.1

Total (1)

$1,227,248

 
100.0
%
 

$1,122,748

 
100.0
%
(1)
Includes residential mortgage loans purchased from other financial institutions totaling $129.5 million and $128.9 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Consumer Loans
Consumer loans include home equity loans and lines of credit and personal installment loans. Washington Trust also purchases loans to individuals secured by general aviation aircraft.

The consumer loan portfolio totaled $324.0 million at December 31, 2017, down by $16.0 million, or 5%, from December 31, 2016.  Home equity lines and home equity loans represented 90% of the total consumer portfolio at December 31, 2017.  The Bank estimates that approximately 65% of the combined home equity line and home equity loan balances are first lien positions or subordinate to other Washington Trust mortgages. Purchased consumer loans amounted to $21.7 million and $27.7 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Investment in Bank-Owned Life Insurance
BOLI amounted to $73.3 million and $71.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. BOLI provides a means to mitigate increasing employee benefit costs.  The Corporation expects to benefit from the BOLI contracts as a result of the tax-free growth in cash surrender value and death benefits that are expected to be generated over time.  The purchase of the life insurance policy results in an income-earning asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheet that provides monthly tax-free income to the Corporation.  The largest risk to the BOLI program is credit risk of the insurance carriers.  To mitigate this risk, annual financial condition reviews are completed on all carriers.  BOLI is invested in the “general account” of quality insurance companies.  All such general account carriers were rated “A” or better by A.M. Best and “A2” or better by Moody’s at December 31, 2017.  BOLI is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at its cash surrender value.  Increases in BOLI’s cash surrender value are reported as a component of noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.



-56-

Asset Quality
The Board of Directors of the Bank monitors credit risk management through two committees, the Finance Committee and the Audit Committee.  The Finance Committee has primary oversight responsibility for the credit granting function including approval authority for credit granting policies, review of management’s credit granting activities and approval of large exposure credit requests.  The Audit Committee oversees management’s systems and procedures for monitoring the credit quality of the loan portfolio, conducting a loan review program, maintaining the integrity of the loan rating system and determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. The Audit Committee also approves the policy and methodology for establishing the allowance for loan losses. These committees report the results of their respective oversight functions to the Bank’s Board of Directors.  In addition, the Board reviews information concerning asset quality measurements and trends on a regular basis.

Nonperforming Assets
Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, nonaccrual investment securities and property acquired through foreclosure or repossession. During 2017, the Corporation made no significant changes in its practices or policies concerning the placement of loans or investment securities into nonaccrual status. The following table presents nonperforming assets and additional asset quality data for the dates indicated:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages

$4,954

 

$7,811

 

$5,711

 

$5,315

 

$7,492

Commercial construction and development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
283

 
1,337

 
3,018

 
1,969

 
1,291

Residential real estate
9,414

 
11,736

 
10,666

 
7,124

 
8,315

Consumer
560

 
1,174

 
1,652

 
1,537

 
1,204

Total nonaccrual loans
15,211

 
22,058

 
21,047

 
15,945

 
18,302

Nonaccrual investment securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
547

Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession, net
131

 
1,075

 
716

 
1,176

 
932

Total nonperforming assets

$15,342

 

$23,133

 

$21,763

 

$17,121

 

$19,781

Nonperforming assets to total assets
0.34
%
 
0.53
%
 
0.58
%
 
0.48
%
 
0.62
%
Nonaccrual loans to total loans
0.45
%
 
0.68
%
 
0.70
%
 
0.56
%
 
0.74
%
Total past due loans to total loans
0.59
%
 
0.76
%
 
0.58
%
 
0.63
%
 
0.89
%
Accruing loans 90 days or more past due

$—

 

$—

 

$—

 

$—

 

$—


Nonaccrual Loans
Loans, with the exception of certain well-secured loans that are in the process of collection, are placed on nonaccrual status and interest recognition is suspended when such loans are 90 days or more past due with respect to principal and/or interest or sooner if considered appropriate by management.  Well-secured loans are permitted to remain on accrual status provided that full collection of principal and interest is assured and the loan is in the process of collection.  Loans are also placed on nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of management, full collection of principal and interest is doubtful.  When loans are placed on nonaccrual status, interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current period income.  Subsequent interest payments received on nonaccrual loans are applied to the outstanding principal balance of the loan or recognized as interest income, depending on management’s assessment of the ultimate collectability of the loan.  Loans are removed from nonaccrual status when they have been current as to principal and interest for a period of time, the borrower has demonstrated an ability to comply with repayment terms, and when, in management’s opinion, the loans are considered to be fully collectible. There were no significant commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were on nonaccrual status at December 31, 2017.



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Interest income that would have been recognized if loans on nonaccrual status had been current in accordance with their original terms was approximately $1.3 million, $1.6 million and $1.5 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Interest income attributable to these loans included in the Consolidated Statements of Income amounted to approximately $335 thousand, $640 thousand and $522 thousand in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The following table presents the activity in nonaccrual loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

Balance at beginning of period

$22,058

 

$21,047

Additions to nonaccrual status
6,515

 
15,278

Loans returned to accruing status
(4,052
)
 
(1,516
)
Loans charged-off
(2,462
)
 
(7,012
)
Loans transferred to other real estate owned
(576
)
 
(1,075
)
Payments, payoffs and other changes
(6,272
)
 
(4,664
)
Balance at end of period

$15,211

 

$22,058


The following table presents additional detail on nonaccrual loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Days Past Due
 
 
 
Days Past Due
 
 
 
Over 90
Under 90
Total
% (1)
 
Over 90
Under 90
Total
% (1)
Commercial mortgages

$4,954


$—


$4,954

0.46
%
 

$7,807


$4


$7,811

0.73
%
Commercial construction & development
—

—

—

—

 
—

—

—

—

Commercial & industrial
281

2

283

0.05

 
745

592

1,337

0.23

Residential real estate mortgages
3,903

5,511

9,414

0.77

 
6,193

5,543

11,736

1.05

Consumer
282

278

560

0.17

 
768

406

1,174

0.35

Total nonaccrual loans

$9,420


$5,791


$15,211

0.45
%
 

$15,513


$6,545


$22,058

0.68
%
(1)
Percentage of nonaccrual loans to the total loans outstanding within the respective category.

As of December 31, 2017, the composition of nonaccrual loans was 66% residential and consumer and 34% commercial, compared to 59% and 41%, respectively, as of December 31, 2016.

Nonaccrual loans declined by $6.8 million in 2017, with the largest decline in nonaccrual commercial mortgage loans. As of December 31, 2017, nonaccrual commercial mortgage loans were composed of two borrower relationships totaling $5.0 million, down by $2.9 million from the balance at December 31, 2016.

The largest nonaccrual commercial mortgage relationship as of December 31, 2017 consisted of one loan with a carrying value of $2.8 million, net of charge-offs. Prior to 2017, charge-offs totaling $984 thousand were recognized on this loan. As a result of the continued deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower and changes in the value of the underlying collateral, the Corporation recognized charge-offs on this loan totaling $1.1 million in 2017. This loan was previously modified in a troubled debt restructuring and has been on nonaccrual status since the third quarter of 2014. This loan is secured by commercial mixed use property in Connecticut and is collateral dependent. Based on the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, a $330 thousand loss allocation was deemed necessary at December 31, 2017. In the first quarter of 2018, foreclosure actions commenced on this property.



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The second largest nonaccrual commercial mortgage relationship as of December 31, 2017 consisted of one loan with a carrying value of $2.1 million, net of charge-offs. Prior to 2017, charge-offs totaling $5.5 million were recognized on this relationship. During 2017 charge-offs totaling $794 thousand were recognized on this relationship. Additionally, in the second quarter of 2017, one of the loans in this relationship with a carrying value of $986 thousand was sold at a nominal gain. This relationship was previously modified in a troubled debt restructuring and has been on nonaccrual status since the third quarter of 2016. This relationship is secured by mixed use properties in Connecticut and is collateral dependent. Based on the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, a loss allocation of $688 thousand was deemed necessary at December 31, 2017.

Nonaccrual residential real estate mortgage loans totaled $9.4 million at the end 2017, down by $2.3 million from the balance at the end of 2016. As of December 31, 2017, the balance of nonaccrual residential mortgage loans was predominantly secured by properties located in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts.  Included in total nonaccrual residential real estate loans at December 31, 2017 were five loans purchased for portfolio and serviced by others amounting to $1.5 million.  Management monitors the collection efforts of its third party servicers as part of its assessment of the collectability of nonperforming loans.

Past Due Loans
The following table presents past due loans by category:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
Amount

 
% (1)
 
Amount

 
% (1)
Commercial mortgages

$4,960

 
0.46
%
 

$8,708

 
0.81
%
Construction & development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
4,076

 
0.67

 
1,154

 
0.20

Residential real estate
7,855

 
0.64

 
12,226

 
1.09

Consumer
3,184

 
0.98

 
2,334

 
0.69

Total past due loans

$20,075

 
0.59
%
 

$24,422

 
0.76
%
(1)
Percentage of past due loans to the total loans outstanding within the respective category.

As of December 31, 2017, the composition of past due loans was 55% residential and consumer and 45% commercial, compared to 60% and 40%, respectively, at December 31, 2016.

Total past due loans declined by $4.3 million in 2017. See additional disclosure under the caption “Potential Problem Loans” regarding a well-secured accruing commercial and industrial loan that became past due in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Total past due loans as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 included nonaccrual loans of $11.8 million and $18.6 million, respectively.  All loans 90 days or more past due at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were classified as nonaccrual.

Troubled Debt Restructurings
Loans are considered restructured in a troubled debt restructuring when the Corporation has granted concessions, that it otherwise would not have considered, to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties.  These concessions include modifications of the terms of the debt such as reduction of the stated interest rate other than normal market rate adjustments, extension of maturity dates, or reduction of principal balance or accrued interest.  The decision to restructure a loan, versus aggressively enforcing the collection of the loan, may benefit the Corporation by increasing the ultimate probability of collection.

Restructured loans are classified as accruing or non-accruing based on management’s assessment of the collectability of the loan.  Loans that are already on nonaccrual status at the time of the restructuring generally remain on nonaccrual status for approximately six months before management considers such loans for return to accruing status.  Accruing


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restructured loans are placed into nonaccrual status if and when the borrower fails to comply with the restructured terms and management deems it unlikely that the borrower will return to a status of compliance in the near term.

Troubled debt restructurings are reported as such for at least one year from the date of the restructuring.  In years after the restructuring, troubled debt restructured loans are removed from this classification if the restructuring did not involve a below-market rate concession and the loan is not deemed to be impaired based on the terms specified in the restructuring agreement. As of December 31, 2017, there were no significant commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans had been restructured.

The following table sets forth information on troubled debt restructured loans as of the dates indicated. The amounts below consist of unpaid principal balance, net of charge-offs and unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs. Accrued interest is not included in the carrying amounts set forth below. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Accruing troubled debt restructured loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages

$—

 

$1,965

 

$9,430

 

$9,676

 

$22,800

Commercial & industrial
4,875

 
5,761

 
853

 
954

 
1,265

Residential real estate
369

 
3,925

 
669

 
1,252

 
1,442

Consumer
143

 
106

 
228

 
135

 
236

Accruing troubled debt restructured loans
5,387

 
11,757

 
11,180

 
12,017

 
25,743

Nonaccrual troubled debt restructured loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages
4,954

 
7,807

 
5,296

 
4,898

 
—

Commercial & industrial
281

 
1,177

 
1,371

 
1,193

 
542

Residential real estate
529

 
1,384

 
596

 
248

 
—

Consumer
—

 
110

 
—

 
—

 
38

Nonaccrual troubled debt restructured loans
5,764

 
10,478

 
7,263

 
6,339

 
580

Total troubled debt restructured loans

$11,151

 

$22,235

 

$18,443

 

$18,356

 

$26,323


The allowance for loan losses included specific reserves for troubled debt restructurings of $1.1 million and $567 thousand, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Approximately 87% of the balance of accruing troubled debt restructured loans at December 31, 2017 was concentrated in one commercial and industrial loan with a carrying value of $4.7 million. This loan was restructured in 2016 and included a below-market rate concession and interest only payments for a temporary period. This loan is current with respect to payment terms at December 31, 2017.

Approximately 86% of the balance of nonaccrual troubled debt restructured loans at December 31, 2017 consisted of two commercial mortgage borrower relationships. Both of these relationships were restructured in 2013 and included modifications of certain payment terms and a below-market rate concession for a temporary period. See additional disclosure regarding these two nonaccrual commercial mortgage relationships above under the caption “Nonaccrual Loans.”

Potential Problem Loans
The Corporation classifies certain loans as “substandard,” “doubtful,” or “loss” based on criteria consistent with guidelines provided by banking regulators.  Potential problem loans consist of classified accruing commercial loans that were less than 90 days past due at December 31, 2017 and other loans for which known information about possible credit problems of the related borrowers causes management to have doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the present loan repayment terms and which may result in disclosure of such loans as nonperforming at some time in the future.  These


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loans are not included in the amounts of nonaccrual or restructured loans presented above.  Management cannot predict the extent to which economic conditions or other factors may impact borrowers and the potential problem loans.  Accordingly, there can be no assurance that other loans will not become 90 days or more past due, be placed on nonaccrual, become restructured, or require increased allowance coverage and provision for loan losses.

The Corporation has identified approximately $9.7 million in potential problem loans at December 31, 2017, compared to $6.8 million at December 31, 2016. The balance of potential problem loans at December 31, 2017 was primarily composed of two commercial and industrial relationships totaling $8.2 million. Management considers both of these relationships to be well-secured. As of December 31, 2017, the largest of these two relationships had a carrying value of $4.3 million and was current with respect to payment terms. The other relationship had a carrying value of $3.9 million and consisted of two loans that were 41 and 33 days past due at December 31, 2017. Potential problem loans are assessed for loss exposure using the methods described in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the caption “Credit Quality Indicators.”

Allowance for Loan Losses
Establishing an appropriate level of allowance for loan losses necessarily involves a high degree of judgment.  The Corporation uses a methodology to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the loan portfolio for purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses.  See additional discussion regarding the allowance for loan losses under the caption “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” and in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Bank’s general practice is to identify problem credits early and recognize full or partial charge-offs as promptly as practicable when it is determined that the collection of loan principal is unlikely. The Bank recognizes full or partial charge-offs on collateral dependent impaired loans when the collateral is deemed to be insufficient to support the carrying value of the loan. The Bank does not recognize a recovery when an updated appraisal indicates a subsequent increase in value.

Appraisals are generally obtained with values determined on an “as is” basis from independent appraisal firms for real estate collateral dependent commercial loans in the process of collection or when warranted by other deterioration in the borrower’s credit status.  Updates to appraisals are generally obtained for troubled or nonaccrual loans or when management believes it is warranted.  The Corporation has continued to maintain appropriate professional standards regarding the professional qualifications of appraisers and has an internal review process to monitor the quality of appraisals.

For residential mortgages and real estate collateral dependent consumer loans that are in the process of collection, valuations are obtained from independent appraisal firms with values determined on an “as is” basis.

The estimation of loan loss exposure inherent in the loan portfolio includes, among other procedures, the identification of loss allocations for individual loans deemed to be impaired; and the application of loss allocation factors for non-impaired loans based on historical loss experience and estimated loss emergence period, with adjustments for various exposures that management believes are not adequately represented by historical loss experience. See additional disclosure under the caption “Critical Accounting Policies.”

The following is a summary of impaired loans by measurement type:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

Collateral dependent impaired loans  (1)

$13,880

 

$24,238

Impaired loans measured on discounted cash flow method (2)
6,718

 
9,577

Total impaired loans

$20,598

 

$33,815

(1)
Net of partial charge-offs of $5.1 million and $5.6 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
(2)
Net of partial charge-offs of $84 thousand and $21 thousand, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016.



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Various loan loss allowance coverage ratios are affected by the timing and extent of charge-offs, particularly with respect to impaired collateral dependent loans.  For such loans, the Bank generally recognizes a partial charge-off equal to the identified loss exposure; therefore, the remaining allocation of loss is minimal.

The following table presents additional detail on the Corporation’s loan portfolio and associated allowance for loan losses:
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Loans
Related Allowance
Allowance / Loans
 
Loans
Related Allowance
Allowance / Loans
Impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment

$20,598


$1,129

5.48
%
 

$33,815


$606

1.79
%
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
3,353,473

25,359

0.76

 
3,200,556

25,398

0.79

Total

$3,374,071


$26,488

0.79
%
 

$3,234,371


$26,004

0.80
%

A loan loss provision totaling $2.6 million was charged to earnings for 2017, compared to $5.7 million in 2016. These provisions were based on management’s assessment of loss exposure, as well as loan loss allocations commensurate with changes in the loan portfolio.

Net charge-offs were $2.1 million, or 0.06% of average loans in 2017, compared to $6.7 million, or 0.21%, of average loans in 2016. A significant portion of the charge-offs recognized in both 2016 and 2017 were recognized on two nonaccrual commercial mortgage relationships discussed above under the caption “Nonaccrual Loans.”

As of December 31, 2017, the allowance for loan losses was $26.5 million, or 0.79% of total loans, compared to $26.0 million, or 0.80% of total loans, at December 31, 2016.



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The following table reflects the activity in the allowance for loan losses during the years presented:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Balance at beginning of period

$26,004

 

$27,069

 

$28,023

 

$27,886

 

$30,873

Charge-offs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
1,867

 
5,816

 
809

 
977

 
5,213

Construction and development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
336

 
759

 
671

 
558

 
358

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
74

 
200

 
207

 
132

 
128

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Consumer
185

 
237

 
618

 
282

 
323

Total charge-offs
2,462

 
7,012

 
2,305

 
1,949

 
6,022

Recoveries:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
82

 
56

 
92

 
24

 
380

Construction and development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
169

 
156

 
87

 
86

 
153

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
39

 
11

 
28

 
51

 
3

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Consumer
56

 
74

 
94

 
75

 
99

Total recoveries
346

 
297

 
301

 
236

 
635

Net charge-offs
2,116

 
6,715

 
2,004

 
1,713

 
5,387

Provision charged to earnings
2,600

 
5,650

 
1,050

 
1,850

 
2,400

Balance at end of period

$26,488

 

$26,004

 

$27,069

 

$28,023

 

$27,886

Net charge-offs to average loans
0.06
%
 
0.21
%
 
0.07
%
 
0.07
%
 
0.23
%



-63-

The following table presents the allocation of the allowance for loan losses. The allocation below is neither indicative of the specific amounts or the loan categories in which future charge-offs may occur, nor is it an indicator of any future loss trends. Prior to December 31, 2015, the unallocated allowance was maintained for measurement imprecision associated with impaired and nonaccrual loans. As a result of further enhancement and refinement of the allowance methodology to provide a more precise quantification of probable losses in the loan portfolio, management concluded that the potential risks anticipated by the unallocated allowance had been incorporated into the allocated component of the methodology, eliminating the need for the unallocated allowance in the fourth quarter of 2015.
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
Amount
% (1)
 
Amount
% (1)
 
Amount
% (1)
 
Amount
% (1)
 
Amount
% (1)
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$11,646

32
%
 

$9,971

33
%
 

$9,140

31
%
 

$8,202

30
%
 

$8,022

32
%
Construction & development
1,083

4

 
1,195

4

 
1,758

4

 
1,300

3

 
383

1

Commercial & industrial
5,580

18

 
6,992

18

 
8,202

20

 
7,987

21

 
7,835

22

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
5,358

35

 
5,077

34

 
5,265

33

 
5,228

33

 
6,321

30

Homeowner construction
69

1

 
175

1

 
195

1

 
202

1

 
129

1

Consumer
2,752

10

 
2,594

10

 
2,509

11

 
2,713

12

 
2,511

14

Unallocated
—

 
 
—

 
 
—

 
 
2,391

 
 
2,685

 
Balance at end of period

$26,488

100
%
 

$26,004

100
%
 

$27,069

100
%
 

$28,023

100
%
 

$27,886

100
%
(1)
Percentage of allocated allowance for loan losses to the total loans outstanding within the respective category.

Sources of Funds and Other Liabilities
Our sources of funds include deposits, brokered time deposits, FHLB advances, other borrowings and proceeds from the sales, maturities and payments of loans and investment securities.  Washington Trust uses funds to originate and purchase loans, purchase investment securities, conduct operations, expand the branch network and pay dividends to shareholders.

Deposits
Washington Trust offers a wide variety of deposit products to consumer and business customers.  Deposits provide an important source of funding for the Bank as well as an ongoing stream of fee revenue.

Washington Trust is a participant in the Demand Deposit Marketplace (“DDM”) program, Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) program and the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) program. Washington Trust uses these deposit sweep services to place customer funds into interest-bearing demand accounts, money market accounts, and/or time deposits issued by other participating banks. Customer funds are placed at one or more participating banks to ensure that each deposit customer is eligible for the full amount of FDIC insurance. As a program participant, we receive reciprocal amounts of deposits from other participating banks. DDM, ICS and CDARS deposits are considered to be brokered deposits for bank regulatory purposes. We consider these reciprocal deposit balances to be in-market deposits as distinguished from traditional out-of-market wholesale brokered deposits.



-64-

The following table presents a summary of deposits:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Change
December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
$
%
Demand deposits

$661,138

 

$585,960

 

$75,178

13
%
NOW accounts
466,605

 
427,707

 
38,898

9

Money market accounts
731,345

 
730,075

 
1,270

—

Savings accounts
368,524

 
358,397

 
10,127

3

Time deposits (in-market)
617,368

 
549,376

 
67,992

12

Wholesale brokered time deposits
397,727

 
412,237

 
(14,510
)
(4
)
Total deposits
$
3,242,707

 
$
3,063,752

 
$
178,955

6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total in-market deposits
$
2,844,980

 
$
2,651,515

 
$
193,465

7
 %

Total deposits amounted to $3.2 billion at December 31, 2017, up by $179.0 million, or 6% , in 2017. This included a $14.5 million decrease in out-of-market wholesale brokered time deposits. Excluding out-of-market wholesale brokered time deposits, in-market deposits increased by $193.5 million, or 7%, with growth across deposit categories.

The increases in demand deposits and NOW account balances reflected growth in both new and existing depositor relationships. The increase in in-market time deposits reflected growth in promotional time deposits.

FHLB Advances
FHLB advances are used to meet short-term liquidity needs and also to fund loan growth and additions to the securities portfolio. FHLB advances amounted to $791.4 million at December 31, 2017, down by $57.6 million from the balance at the end of 2016 due to growth in deposits.

Defined Benefit Pension Plan Obligations
The Corporation maintains a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of certain eligible employees who were hired prior to October 1, 2007. The Corporation also has non-qualified retirement plans to provide supplemental retirement benefits to certain employees, as defined in the plans. The defined benefit pension plans were previously amended to freeze benefit accruals after a 10-year transition period ending in December 2023.

Pension benefit costs and benefit obligations incorporate various actuarial and other assumptions, including discount rates, mortality, rates of return on plan assets and compensation increases. Washington Trust evaluates these assumptions annually. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosure regarding the Corporation’s defined benefit pension plans.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the funded status of the qualified defined benefit pension plan amounted to $6.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively, and was included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The increase in the funded status of the qualified defined benefit pension plan largely reflected a higher level of plan assets partially offset by a decrease in the discount rate used to determine the present value of pension obligations at December 31, 2017.

Non-qualified defined benefit retirement plan obligations were $15.2 million and $13.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and were included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The increase in the unfunded status of the non-qualified defined benefit plans reflected a decrease in the discount rate used to determine the present value of pension obligations at December 31, 2017. In accordance with the terms of these non-qualified plans, securities available for sale and other short-term investments with a carrying value of $13.3 million and $11.7 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 have been designated in rabbi trusts to be used for future benefit payments associated with these plans.



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Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations
The Corporation maintains a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that provides supplemental retirement and tax benefits to directors and certain officers.  The plan is funded primarily through pre-tax contributions made by the participants.  Both the assets and liabilities of the deferred compensation plan are recorded at fair value in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The accrued liability related to this plan amounted to $14.2 million and $10.8 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and is included in other liabilities.  The corresponding invested assets related to this plan amounted to $14.2 million and $10.8 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and are reported in other assets.  The increases in the accrued liability and the invested assets reflect contributions made by the participants as well as market appreciation of the assets.  The participants in the plan bear the risk of market fluctuations of the underlying assets.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity Management
Liquidity is the ability of a financial institution to meet maturing liability obligations and customer loan demand.  Washington Trust’s primary source of liquidity is deposits, which funded approximately 62% of total average assets in 2017.  While the generally preferred funding strategy is to attract and retain low-cost deposits, the ability to do so is affected by competitive interest rates and terms in the marketplace.  Other sources of funding include discretionary use of purchased liabilities (e.g., FHLB term advances and brokered time deposits), cash flows from the Corporation’s securities portfolios and loan repayments.  Securities designated as available for sale may also be sold in response to short-term or long-term liquidity needs although management has no intention to do so at this time.

Washington Trust has a detailed liquidity funding policy and a contingency funding plan that provide for the prompt and comprehensive response to unexpected demands for liquidity.  Management employs stress testing methodology to estimate needs for contingent funding that could result from unexpected outflows of funds in excess of “business as usual” cash flows.  In management’s estimation, risks are concentrated in two major categories: (1) runoff of in-market deposit balances; and (2) unexpected drawdown of loan commitments.  Of the two categories, potential runoff of deposit balances would have the most significant impact on contingent liquidity.  Our stress test scenarios, therefore, emphasize attempts to quantify deposits at risk over selected time horizons.  In addition to these unexpected outflow risks, several other “business as usual” factors enter into the calculation of the adequacy of contingent liquidity including (1) payment proceeds from loans and investment securities; (2) maturing debt obligations; and (3) maturing time deposits.  Washington Trust has established collateralized borrowing capacity with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and also maintains additional collateralized borrowing capacity with the FHLB in excess of levels used in the ordinary course of business.

The ALCO establishes and monitors internal liquidity measures to manage liquidity exposure.  Liquidity remained within target ranges established by the ALCO during 2017.  Based on its assessment of the liquidity considerations described above, management believes the Corporation’s sources of funding meets anticipated funding needs.

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $59.4 million in 2017, which was generated by net income of $45.9 million and adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities. The most significant of these adjustments pertained to mortgage banking activities. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $179.7 million in 2017, largely reflecting outflows to fund loan growth. For 2017, net cash provided by financing activities amounted to $95.4 million, due to deposits inflows, which were partially offset by net outflows associated with FHLB advances and the payment of dividends to shareholders. See the Corporation’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for further information about sources and uses of cash.

Capital Resources
Total shareholders’ equity amounted to $413.3 million at December 31, 2017, up by $22.5 million from December 31, 2016, including net income of $45.9 million, partially offset by $26.8 million for dividend declarations.

The ratio of total equity to total assets amounted to 9.12% at December 31, 2017, compared to a ratio of 8.92% at December 31, 2016.  Book value per share at December 31, 2017 and 2016 amounted to $23.99 and $22.76, respectively.

The Bancorp and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements.  Capital levels continue to exceed the the regulatory minimum levels to be considered “well capitalized,” with a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.45% at


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December 31, 2017, compared to 12.26% at December 31, 2016. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of regulatory capital requirements.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The Corporation has entered into numerous contractual obligations and commitments.  The following tables summarize our contractual cash obligations and other commitments at December 31, 2017:
(Dollars in thousands)
Payments Due by Period
 
Total
 
Less Than 
1 Year (1)
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
After
5 Years
Contractual Obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLB advances (2)

$791,356

 

$465,634

 

$204,291

 

$106,668

 

$14,763

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22,681

Operating lease obligations
39,263

 
3,518

 
6,405

 
4,688

 
24,652

Software licensing arrangements
9,923

 
2,303

 
2,898

 
1,963

 
2,759

Other borrowings
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total contractual obligations

$863,223

 

$471,455

 

$213,594

 

$113,319

 

$64,855

(1)
Maturities or contractual obligations are considered by management in the administration of liquidity and are routinely refinanced in the ordinary course of business.
(2)
All FHLB advances are shown in the period corresponding to their scheduled maturity. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

(Dollars in thousands)
Amount of Commitment Expiration – Per Period
 
Total
 
Less Than
1 Year
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
After
5 Years
Other Commitments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans

$537,310

 

$194,848

 

$169,825

 

$71,289

 

$101,348

Home equity lines
254,855

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
254,855

Other loans
48,819

 
48,819

 
—

 
—

 
—

Standby letters of credit
6,666

 
6,413

 
—

 
253

 
—

Forward loan commitments to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Originate loans
45,139

 
45,139

 
—

 
—

 
—

Sell loans
71,539

 
71,539

 
—

 
—

 
—

Loan related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
545,049

 
6,274

 
87,336

 
86,119

 
365,320

Mirror swaps with counterparties
545,049

 
6,274

 
87,336

 
86,119

 
365,320

Risk participation-in agreements
34,052

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
34,052

Foreign exchange contracts
3,005

 
3,005

 
—

 
—

 
—

Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
60,000

 
—

 
—

 
40,000

 
20,000

Total commitments

$2,151,483

 

$382,311

 

$344,497

 

$283,780

 

$1,140,895


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In the normal course of business, Washington Trust engages in a variety of financial transactions that, in accordance with GAAP, are not recorded in the financial statements, or are recorded in amounts that differ from the notional amounts.  Such transactions are used to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage the exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.  These financial transactions include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, forward loan


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commitments, loan related derivative contracts and interest rate risk management contracts.  These transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate and liquidity risk.  The Corporation’s credit policies with respect to interest rate swap agreements with commercial borrowers, commitments to extend credit, and standby letters of credit are similar to those used for loans.  Interest rate risk management contracts with other counterparties are generally subject to bilateral collateralization terms.

For additional information on derivative financial instruments and financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk see Notes 13 and 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details of recently issued accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

Asset/Liability Management and Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the primary market risk category associated with the Corporation’s operations.  Interest rate risk is the risk of loss to future earnings due to changes in interest rates.  The ALCO is responsible for establishing policy guidelines on liquidity and acceptable exposure to interest rate risk.  Periodically, the ALCO reports on the status of liquidity and interest rate risk matters to the Bank’s Board of Directors. The objective of the ALCO is to manage assets and funding sources to produce results that are consistent with Washington Trust’s liquidity, capital adequacy, growth, risk and profitability goals.

The Corporation utilizes the size and duration of the investment securities portfolio, the size and duration of the wholesale funding portfolio, off-balance sheet interest rate contracts and the pricing and structure of loans and deposits for managing interest rate risk. The off-balance sheet interest rate contracts may include interest rate swaps, caps and floors.  These interest rate contracts involve, to varying degrees, credit risk and interest rate risk.  Credit risk is the possibility that a loss may occur if a counterparty to a transaction fails to perform according to terms of the contract.  The notional amount of the interest rate contracts is the amount upon which interest and other payments are based.  The notional amount is not exchanged, and therefore, should not be taken as a measure of credit risk. See Notes 13 and 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

The ALCO uses income simulation to measure interest rate risk inherent in the Corporation’s on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet financial instruments at a given point in time by showing the effect of interest rate shifts on net interest income over a 12-month horizon, a 13- to 24-month horizon and a 60-month horizon.  The simulations assume that the size and general composition of the Corporation’s balance sheet remain static over the simulation horizons, with the exception of certain deposit mix shifts from low-cost core savings to higher-cost time deposits in selected interest rate scenarios.  Additionally, the simulations take into account the specific repricing, maturity, call options, and prepayment characteristics of differing financial instruments that may vary under different interest rate scenarios.  The characteristics of financial instrument classes are reviewed periodically by the ALCO to ensure their accuracy and consistency.

The ALCO reviews simulation results to determine whether the Corporation’s exposure to a decline in net interest income remains within established tolerance levels over the simulation horizons and to develop appropriate strategies to manage this exposure.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, net interest income simulations indicated that exposure to changing interest rates over the simulation horizons remained within tolerance levels established by the Corporation.  The Corporation defines maximum unfavorable net interest income exposure to be a change of no more than 5% in net interest income over the first 12 months, no more than 10% over the second 12 months, and no more than 10% over the full 60-month simulation horizon.  All changes are measured in comparison to the projected net interest income that would result from an “unchanged” rate scenario where both interest rates and the composition of the Corporation’s balance sheet remain stable for a 60-month period.  In addition to measuring the change in net interest income as compared to an unchanged interest rate scenario, the ALCO also measures the trend of both net interest income and net interest margin over a 60-month horizon to ensure the stability and adequacy of this source of earnings in different interest rate scenarios.

The ALCO regularly reviews a wide variety of interest rate shift scenario results to evaluate interest risk exposure, including scenarios showing the effect of steepening or flattening changes in the yield curve of up to 500 basis points as well as parallel changes in interest rates of up to 400 basis points.  Because income simulations assume that the


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Corporation’s balance sheet will remain static over the simulation horizon, the results do not reflect adjustments in strategy that the ALCO could implement in response to rate shifts.

The following table sets forth the estimated change in net interest income from an unchanged interest rate scenario over the periods indicated for parallel changes in market interest rates using the Corporation’s on- and off-balance sheet financial instruments as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.  Interest rates are assumed to shift by a parallel 100, 200 or 300 basis points upward or 100 basis points downward over a 12-month period, except for core savings deposits, which are assumed to shift by lesser amounts due to their relative historical insensitivity to market interest rate movements.  Further, deposits are assumed to have certain minimum rate levels below which they will not fall.  It should be noted that the rate scenarios shown do not necessarily reflect the ALCO’s view of the “most likely” change in interest rates over the periods indicated.
 
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Months 1 - 12
 
Months 13 - 24
 
Months 1 - 12
 
Months 13 - 24
100 basis point rate decrease
(3.88)%
 
(7.94)%
 
(2.93)%
 
(6.54)%
100 basis point rate increase
3.02
 
2.52
 
2.21
 
1.74
200 basis point rate increase
7.31
 
7.64
 
5.13
 
4.99
300 basis point rate increase
11.65
 
12.77
 
8.08
 
8.35

The ALCO estimates that the negative exposure of net interest income to falling rates as compared to an unchanged rate scenario results from a more rapid decline in earning asset yields compared to rates paid on deposits.  If market interest rates were to fall from their already low levels and remain lower for a sustained period, certain core savings and time deposit rates could decline more slowly and by a lesser amount than other market rates.  Asset yields would likely decline more rapidly than deposit costs as current asset holdings mature or reprice, since cash flow from mortgage-related prepayments and redemption of callable securities would increase as market rates fall.

The positive exposure of net interest income to rising rates as compared to an unchanged rate scenario results from a more rapid projected relative rate of increase in asset yields than funding costs over the near term.  For simulation purposes, deposit rate changes are anticipated to lag behind other market rates in both timing and magnitude.  The ALCO’s estimate of interest rate risk exposure to rising rate environments, including those involving changes to the shape of the yield curve, incorporates certain assumptions regarding the shift in deposit balances from low-cost core savings categories to higher-cost deposit categories, which has characterized a shift in funding mix during the past rising interest rate cycles.

The relative changes in interest rate sensitivity from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017 as shown in the above table were attributable to several factors, including a higher absolute level of market interest rates and an increase in rate sensitivity primarily attributable to an increase in the proportion of variable rate commercial loans within the portfolio. Variable rate assets reprice more quickly and by a greater amount than repricing of deposit costs.

While the ALCO reviews and updates simulation assumptions and also periodically back-tests the simulation results to ensure that the assumptions are reasonable and current, income simulation may not always prove to be an accurate indicator of interest rate risk or future net interest margin.  Over time, the repricing, maturity and prepayment characteristics of financial instruments and the composition of the Corporation’s balance sheet may change to a different degree than estimated.  Simulation modeling assumes a static balance sheet, with the exception of certain modeled deposit mix shifts from low-cost core savings deposits to higher-cost time deposits in rising rate scenarios as noted above.

Due to the low level of market interest rates, the banking industry has attracted and retained low-cost core savings deposits over the past several years.  The ALCO recognizes that a portion of these increased levels of low-cost balances could shift into higher yielding alternatives in the future, particularly if interest rates rise and as confidence in financial markets strengthens, and has modeled increased amounts of deposit shifts out of these low-cost categories into higher-cost alternatives in the rising rate simulation scenarios presented above.  Deposit balances may also be subject to possible outflow to non-bank alternatives in a rising rate environment, which may cause interest rate sensitivity to differ from the results as presented. Another significant simulation assumption is the sensitivity of core savings deposits to fluctuations in interest rates. Income simulation results assume that changes in both core savings deposit rates and balances are related


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to changes in short-term interest rates. The relationship between short-term interest rate changes and core deposit rate and balance changes may differ from the ALCO’s estimates used in income simulation.

It should also be noted that the static balance sheet assumption does not necessarily reflect the Corporation’s expectation for future balance sheet growth, which is a function of the business environment and customer behavior.

Mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans involve a level of risk that unforeseen changes in prepayment speeds may cause related cash flows to vary significantly in differing rate environments.  Such changes could affect the level of reinvestment risk associated with cash flow from these instruments, as well as their market value.  Changes in prepayment speeds could also increase or decrease the amortization of premium or accretion of discounts related to such instruments, thereby affecting interest income.

The Corporation also monitors the potential change in market value of its available for sale debt securities in changing interest rate environments.  The purpose is to determine market value exposure that may not be captured by income simulation, but which might result in changes to the Corporation’s capital position.  Results are calculated using industry-standard analytical techniques and securities data.  

The following table summarizes the potential change in market value of the Corporation’s available for sale debt securities of December 31, 2017 and 2016 resulting from immediate parallel rate shifts:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Security Type
Down 100 Basis Points
 
Up 200 Basis Points
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprise securities (callable)

$3,828

 

($11,824
)
Obligations of states and political subdivisions
1

 
(7
)
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
13,548

 
(57,733
)
Trust preferred debt and other corporate debt securities
(69
)
 
111

Total change in market value as of December 31, 2017

$17,308

 

($69,453
)
Total change in market value as of December 31, 2016

$14,906

 

($79,508
)

ITEM 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Information regarding quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk appears under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” under the caption “Asset/Liability Management and Interest Rate Risk.”



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ITEM 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The financial statements and supplementary data are contained herein.


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Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting


The management of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Corporation”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Corporation’s Consolidated Financial Statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all 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.

As of December 31, 2017, management assessed the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 was effective.

The Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which follows. This report expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017.




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Joseph J. MarcAurele
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ronald S. Ohsberg
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc:
Opinion of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ (the Corporation) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
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 Corporation as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 27, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Corporation’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 Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Corporation’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 Corporation 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 of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included 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.
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Providence, Rhode Island
February 27, 2018


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Corporation) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Corporation as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, 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 Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 27, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated 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 Corporation 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
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We have served as the Corporation’s auditor since 1973.

Providence, Rhode Island
February 27, 2018



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Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except par value)


December 31,
2017

 
2016

Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks

$79,853

 

$106,185

Short-term investments
3,070

 
1,612

Mortgage loans held for sale, at fair value
26,943

 
29,434

Securities:
 
 
 
Available for sale, at fair value
780,954

 
739,912

Held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $12,721 in 2017 and $15,920 in 2016)
12,541

 
15,633

Total securities
793,495

 
755,545

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost
40,517

 
43,129

Loans:
 
 
 
Commercial mortgages
1,072,487

 
1,074,186

Commercial construction & development
138,008

 
121,371

Commercial & industrial
612,334

 
576,109

Residential real estate
1,227,248

 
1,122,748

Consumer
323,994

 
339,957

Total loans
3,374,071

 
3,234,371

Less allowance for loan losses
26,488

 
26,004

Net loans
3,347,583

 
3,208,367

Premises and equipment, net
28,333

 
29,020

Investment in bank-owned life insurance
73,267

 
71,105

Goodwill
63,909

 
64,059

Identifiable intangible assets, net
9,140

 
10,175

Other assets
63,740

 
62,484

Total assets

$4,529,850

 

$4,381,115

Liabilities:
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
Demand deposits

$661,138

 

$585,960

NOW accounts
466,605

 
427,707

Money market accounts
731,345

 
730,075

Savings accounts
368,524

 
358,397

Time deposits
1,015,095

 
961,613

Total deposits
3,242,707

 
3,063,752

Federal Home Loan Bank advances
791,356

 
848,930

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
22,681

Other liabilities
59,822

 
54,948

Total liabilities
4,116,566

 
3,990,311

Commitments and contingencies


 


Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
Common stock of $.0625 par value; authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 17,226,508 shares in 2017 and 17,170,820 shares in 2016
1,077

 
1,073

Paid-in capital
117,961

 
115,123

Retained earnings
317,756

 
294,365

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(23,510
)
 
(19,757
)
Total shareholders’ equity
413,284

 
390,804

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$4,529,850

 

$4,381,115




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)


Years ended December 31,
2017

2016

2015

Interest income:
 
 
 
Interest and fees on loans

$127,962


$119,491


$114,229

Taxable interest on securities
18,927

11,584

8,875

Nontaxable interest on securities
249

982

1,555

Dividends on corporate stock and Federal Home Loan Bank stock
1,774

1,091

953

Other interest income
674

322

138

Total interest and dividend income
149,586

133,470

125,750

Interest expense:
 
 
 

Deposits
15,064

12,504

13,142

Federal Home Loan Bank advances
14,377

9,992

7,746

Junior subordinated debentures
613

491

871

Other interest expense
1

5

9

Total interest expense
30,055

22,992

21,768

Net interest income
119,531

110,478

103,982

Provision for loan losses
2,600

5,650

1,050

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
116,931

104,828

102,932

Noninterest income:
 
 
 
Wealth management revenues
39,346

37,569

35,416

Mortgage banking revenues
11,392

13,183

9,901

Service charges on deposit accounts
3,672

3,702

3,865

Card interchange fees
3,502

3,385

3,199

Loan related derivative income
3,214

3,243

2,441

Income from bank-owned life insurance
2,161

2,659

1,982

Other income
1,522

1,388

1,536

Total noninterest income
64,809

65,129

58,340

Noninterest expense:
 

 

 
Salaries and employee benefits
68,487

67,221

63,024

Net occupancy
7,521

7,151

7,000

Outsourced services
6,920

5,222

5,111

Equipment
5,358

6,208

5,533

Legal, audit and professional fees
2,294

2,579

2,741

FDIC deposit insurance costs
1,647

1,878

1,846

Advertising and promotion
1,481

1,458

1,526

Amortization of intangibles
1,035

1,284

904

Debt prepayment penalties
—

431

—

Acquisition related expenses
—

—

989

Change in fair value of contingent consideration
(643
)
(898
)
41

Other expenses
10,000

8,569

8,214

Total noninterest expense
104,100

101,103

96,929

Income before income taxes
77,640

68,854

64,343

Income tax expense
31,715

22,373

20,878

Net income

$45,925


$46,481


$43,465

 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
17,207

17,081

16,879

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
17,338

17,208

17,067

Per share information:
Basic earnings per common share

$2.66


$2.72


$2.57

 
Diluted earnings per common share

$2.64


$2.70


$2.54

 
Cash dividends declared per share

$1.54


$1.46


$1.36


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in thousands)


 
 
 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Net income

$45,925

 

$46,481

 

$43,465

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in fair value of securities available for sale
621

 
(7,876
)
 
(3,171
)
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges
(52
)
 
(257
)
 
244

Net change in defined benefit plan obligation adjustment
(97
)
 
(1,925
)
 
2,037

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
472

 
(10,058
)
 
(890
)
Total comprehensive income

$46,397

 

$36,423

 

$42,575




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
-77-



Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

(Dollars and shares in thousands)


 
Common
Shares
Outstanding
 
Common
Stock
 
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2015
16,746

 

$1,047

 

$101,204

 

$252,837

 

($8,809
)
 

$346,279

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
43,465

 
 
 
43,465

Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(890
)
 
(890
)
Cash dividends declared
 
 
 
 
 
 
(23,228
)
 
 
 
(23,228
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
 
 
2,074

 
 
 
 
 
2,074

Common stock issued for acquisition
137

 
8

 
5,422

 
 
 
 
 
5,430

Exercise of stock options, issuance of other compensation-related equity instruments and related tax benefit
137

 
9

 
2,249

 
 
 
 
 
2,258

Balance at December 31, 2015
17,020

 

$1,064

 

$110,949

 

$273,074

 

($9,699
)
 

$375,388

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
46,481

 
 
 
46,481

Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(10,058
)
 
(10,058
)
Cash dividends declared
 
 
 
 
 
 
(25,190
)
 
 
 
(25,190
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
 
 
2,190

 
 
 
 
 
2,190

Exercise of stock options, issuance of other compensation-related equity instruments and related tax benefit
151

 
9

 
1,984

 
 
 
 
 
1,993

Balance at December 31, 2016
17,171

 

$1,073

 

$115,123

 

$294,365

 

($19,757
)
 

$390,804

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
45,925

 
 
 
45,925

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
472

 
472

Cash dividends declared
 
 
 
 
 
 
(26,759
)
 
 
 
(26,759
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
 
 
2,577

 
 
 
 
 
2,577

Exercise of stock options, issuance of other compensation-related equity awards
56

 
4

 
261

 
 
 
 
 
265

Reclassification of income tax effects due to the adoption of ASU 2018-02
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,225

 
(4,225
)
 
—

Balance at December 31, 2017
17,227

 

$1,077

 

$117,961

 

$317,756

 

($23,510
)
 

$413,284




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
-78-



Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)

Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

$45,925

 

$46,481

 

$43,465

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for loan losses
2,600

 
5,650

 
1,050

Depreciation of premises and equipment
3,454

 
3,651

 
3,381

Net amortization of premium and discount
3,426

 
2,779

 
1,568

Amortization of intangibles
1,035

 
1,284

 
904

Goodwill impairment
150

 
—

 
—

Share–based compensation
2,577

 
2,190

 
2,074

Tax benefit from stock option exercises and other equity awards
508

 
1,016

 
694

Deferred income tax expense
5,687

 
868

 
1,820

Income from bank-owned life insurance
(2,161
)
 
(2,659
)
 
(1,982
)
Net gains on loan sales and commissions on loans originated for others
(10,991
)
 
(13,137
)
 
(9,826
)
Net gain on sale of portfolio loans
—

 
(135
)
 
—

Proceeds from sales of loans
472,556

 
551,788

 
477,616

Loans originated for sale
(461,262
)
 
(532,950
)
 
(462,663
)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability
(643
)
 
(898
)
 
41

(Increase) decrease in other assets
(8,794
)
 
984

 
(4,165
)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
5,318

 
(7,163
)
 
(1,717
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
59,385

 
59,749

 
52,260

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases of:
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale
(89,194
)
 
(431,662
)
 
(44,682
)
 
Other investment securities available for sale
(59,940
)
 
(121,679
)
 
(88,784
)
Maturities and principal payments of:
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale
84,381

 
65,673

 
50,083

 
Other investment securities available for sale
22,071

 
108,256

 
60,085

 
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity
2,950

 
4,193

 
4,960

Remittance (purchases) of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
2,612

 
(18,813
)
 
13,414

Net increase in loans
(120,582
)
 
(112,966
)
 
(152,306
)
Proceeds from sale of portfolio loans
—

 
510

 
—

Purchases of loans
(20,278
)
 
(113,562
)
 
(3,085
)
Proceeds from the sale of property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
1,053

 
731

 
1,580

Purchases of premises and equipment
(2,779
)
 
(3,112
)
 
(5,479
)
Purchases of bank-owned life insurance
—

 
(5,000
)
 
—

Proceeds from bank-owned life insurance
—

 
2,054

 
—

Cash used in business combination, net of cash acquired
—

 
—

 
(1,671
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(179,706
)
 
(625,377
)
 
(165,885
)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
-79-



Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows – (continued)
(Dollars in thousands)

Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase in deposits
178,955

 
129,497

 
179,437

Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances
1,352,501

 
1,428,750

 
495,500

Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank advances
(1,410,075
)
 
(958,793
)
 
(522,824
)
Proceeds from stock option exercises and issuance of other equity instruments
366

 
977

 
1,563

Cash dividends paid
(26,300
)
 
(24,637
)
 
(22,770
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
95,447

 
575,794

 
130,906

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(24,874
)
 
10,166

 
17,281

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
107,797

 
97,631

 
80,350

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$82,923

 

$107,797

 

$97,631

 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Loans charged off

$2,462

 

$7,012

 

$2,305

Loans transferred to property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
576

 
1,075

 
1,206

In conjunction with a purchase acquisition, assets were acquired and liabilities were assumed as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued for acquisition
—

 
—

 
5,430

Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash acquired
—

 
—

 
14,315

Fair value of liabilities assumed
—

 
—

 
7,214

Supplemental Disclosures:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest payments

$29,687

 

$22,267

 

$21,947

Income tax payments
25,988

 
19,822

 
20,213



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
-80-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (the “Bancorp”) is a publicly-owned registered bank holding company that has elected to be a financial holding company.  The Bancorp owns all of the outstanding common stock of The Washington Trust Company, of Westerly (the “Bank”), a Rhode Island chartered commercial bank founded in 1800.  Through its subsidiaries, the Bancorp offers a complete product line of financial services including commercial, residential and consumer lending, retail and commercial deposit products, and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Bancorp and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Corporation” or “Washington Trust”).  All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year’s presentation.

The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation conform to GAAP and to general practices of the banking industry.  In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change are the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, the assessment of investment securities for impairment and the accounting for defined benefit pension plans.

Short-term Investments
Short-term investments consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less when purchased and are considered to be cash equivalents.  The Corporation’s short-term investments may be comprised of overnight federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements, money market mutual funds and U.S. Treasury bills.

Securities
Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase. Investments in debt securities that management has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost. Investments not classified as held to maturity are classified as available for sale.  Securities available for sale consist of debt securities that are available for sale to respond to changes in market interest rates, liquidity needs, changes in funding sources and other similar factors.  These assets are specifically identified and are carried at fair value.  Changes in fair value of available for sale securities, net of applicable income taxes, are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.  Washington Trust does not have a trading portfolio.

Premiums and discounts are amortized and accreted over the term of the securities on a method that approximates the level yield method.  The amortization and accretion is included in interest income on securities.  Interest income is recognized when earned.  Realized gains or losses from sales of securities are determined using the specific identification method.

The fair values of securities may be based on either quoted market prices or third party pricing services. When the fair value of an investment security is less than its amortized cost basis, the Corporation assesses whether the decline in value is other-than-temporary.  The Corporation considers whether evidence indicating the cost of the investment is recoverable outweighs evidence to the contrary.  Evidence considered in this assessment includes the reasons for impairment, the severity and duration of the impairment, changes in the value subsequent to the reporting date, forecasted performance of the issuer, changes in the dividend or interest payment practices of the issuer, changes in the credit rating of the issuer or the specific security, and the general market condition in the geographic area or industry in which the issuer operates.

In determining whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred for debt securities, the Corporation compares the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security with the amortized cost of the security. If the present value of expected cash flows is less than the amortized cost of the security, then the entire amortized cost of the security will not be recovered; that is, a credit loss exists, and an other-than-temporary impairment shall be considered to have occurred. The credit loss component of an other-than-temporary impairment write-down for debt securities is recorded in earnings while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized, net of tax, in other comprehensive


-81-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

income provided that the Corporation does not intend to sell the underlying debt security and it is more-likely-than-not that the Corporation would not have to sell the debt security prior to recovery of the unrealized loss, which may be to maturity. If the Corporation intended to sell any securities with an unrealized loss or it is more-likely-than-not that the Corporation would be required to sell the investment securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis, then the entire unrealized loss would be recorded in earnings.

See Note 4 for further discussion on the Corporation’s investment securities portfolio.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock
The Bank is a member of the FHLB.  The FHLB is a cooperative that provides services, including funding in the form of advances, to its member banking institutions.  As a requirement of membership, the Bank must own a minimum amount of FHLB stock, calculated periodically based primarily on its level of borrowings from the FHLB.  No market exists for shares of FHLB stock and therefore, they are carried at par value.  FHLB stock may be redeemed at par value five years following termination of FHLB membership, subject to limitations which may be imposed by the FHLB or its regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Board, to maintain capital adequacy of the FHLB.  While the Corporation currently has no intentions to terminate its FHLB membership, the ability to redeem its investment in FHLB stock would be subject to the conditions imposed by the FHLB.  The Corporation monitors its investment to determine if impairment exists. Based on the capital adequacy and the liquidity position of the FHLB, management believes there is no impairment related to the carrying amount of the Corporation’s FHLB stock as of December 31, 2017.

Mortgage Banking Activities
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
Residential mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are classified as held for sale. The Corporation has elected the fair value option pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 825, “Financial Instruments” for closed loans intended for sale. ASC 825 allows for the irrevocable option to elect fair value accounting for the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis that may otherwise not be required to be measured at fair value under other accounting standards. Washington Trust elected the fair value option for residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale pursuant to forward sale commitments in order to better match changes in fair values of the loans with changes in the fair value of the derivative forward loan sale contracts used to economically hedge them. Changes in the fair value of loans held for sale are recorded in earnings and are offset by changes in fair value relating to forward sale commitments and interest rate lock commitments. For residential mortgage loans intended for sale that are not accounted for under the fair value option, lower of cost or market (“LOCOM”) accounting is applied. Such loans are carried at lower of aggregate cost, net of unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs, or fair value. Gains and losses on residential loan sales are recognized at the time of sale and included in mortgage banking revenues.

Commissions received on mortgage loans brokered to various investors are recognized when received and included in mortgage banking revenues.

Loan Servicing Rights
Rights to service mortgage loans for others are recognized as an asset, including rights acquired through both purchases and originations.  Upon the sale of mortgage loans, a mortgage servicing asset is established, which represents the current estimated fair value based on the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The valuation model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income, such as the cost to service, the discount rate, ancillary income, prepayment speeds, and default rates and losses. Capitalized loan servicing rights are included in other assets. Mortgage servicing rights are amortized as an offset to mortgage banking revenues over the period of estimated net servicing income.  They are periodically evaluated for impairment based on their fair value.  Impairment is measured on an aggregated basis by stratifying the rights based on homogeneous characteristics such as note rate and loan type. The fair value is estimated based on the present value of expected cash flows, incorporating assumptions for discount rate, prepayment speed and servicing cost.  Any impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance and as a reduction to mortgage banking revenues.



-82-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Loans
Portfolio Loans
Loans held in the portfolio are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs.  Interest income is accrued on a level yield basis based on principal amounts outstanding.  Deferred loan origination fees and costs are amortized as an adjustment to yield over the life of the related loans.

Nonaccrual Loans
Loans, with the exception of certain well-secured loans that are in the process of collection, are placed on nonaccrual status and interest recognition is suspended when such loans are 90 days or more overdue with respect to principal and/or interest or sooner if considered appropriate by management. Well-secured loans are permitted to remain on accrual status provided that full collection of principal and interest is assured and the loan is in the process of collection. Loans are also placed on nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of management, full collection of principal and interest is doubtful. When loans are placed on nonaccrual status, interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current period income.  Subsequent interest payments received on nonaccrual loans are applied to the outstanding principal balance of the loan or recognized as interest income depending on management’s assessment of the ultimate collectability of the loan. Loans are removed from nonaccrual status when they have been current as to principal and interest for a period of time, the borrower has demonstrated an ability to comply with repayment terms, and when, in management’s opinion, the loans are considered to be fully collectible.

Impaired Loans
Impaired loans are loans for which it is probable that the Corporation will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreements and loans restructured in a troubled debt restructuring.

Impairment is measured on a discounted cash flow method based upon the loan’s contractual effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price, or if the loan is collateral dependent, at the fair value. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the sale of the collateral, management adjusts the fair value for estimated costs to sell. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the operation of the collateral, such as accruing troubled debt restructured loans, estimated costs to sell are not incorporated into the measurement.

Interest income on nonaccrual impaired loans is recognized as described above under the caption “Nonaccrual Loans.”  Accruing impaired loans consist of those troubled debt restructurings for which management has concluded that the collectability of the loan is not in doubt.

Troubled Debt Restructured Loans
Loans are considered to be troubled debt restructurings when the Corporation has granted concessions to a borrower due to the borrower’s financial condition that it otherwise would not have considered. These concessions may include modifications of the terms of the debt such as deferral of payments, extension of maturity, reduction of principal balance, reduction of the stated interest rate other than normal market rate adjustments, or a combination of these concessions. Debt may be bifurcated with separate terms for each tranche of the restructured debt. Restructuring of a loan in lieu of aggressively enforcing the collection of the loan may benefit the Corporation by increasing the ultimate probability of collection.

Restructured loans are classified as accruing or non-accruing based on management’s assessment of the collectability of the loan.  Loans which are already on nonaccrual status at the time of the restructuring generally remain on nonaccrual status for approximately six months before management considers such loans for return to accruing status.  Accruing restructured loans are placed into nonaccrual status if and when the borrower fails to comply with the restructured terms and management deems it unlikely that the borrower will return to a status of compliance in the near term.  

Troubled debt restructurings are reported as such for at least one year from the date of the restructuring.  In years after the restructuring, troubled debt restructured loans are removed from this classification if the restructuring did not involve a below-market rate concession and the loan is not deemed to be impaired based on the terms specified in the restructuring agreement.



-83-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses is management’s best estimate of the risk of loss inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date.  The allowance is increased by provisions charged to earnings and by recoveries of amounts previously charged off, and is reduced by charge-offs on loans.  Loan charge-offs are recognized when management believes the collectability of the principal balance outstanding is unlikely.  Full or partial charge-offs on collateral dependent impaired loans are generally recognized when the collateral is deemed to be insufficient to support the carrying value of the loan.

The level of the allowance is based on management’s ongoing review of the growth and composition of the loan portfolio, historical loss experience, estimated loss emergence period (the period from the event that triggers the eventual default until the actual loss is recognized with a charge-off), current economic conditions, analysis of asset quality and credit quality levels and trends, the performance of individual loans in relation to contract terms and other pertinent factors.

A methodology is used to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the loan portfolio for the purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses.  The methodology includes: (1) the identification of loss allocations for individual loans deemed to be impaired and (2) the application of loss allocation factors for non-impaired loans based on historical loss experience and estimated loss emergence period, with adjustments for various exposures that management believes are not adequately represented by historical loss experience.

Loss allocations for loans deemed to be impaired are measured on a discounted cash flow method based upon the loan’s contractual effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price, or, if the loan is collateral dependent, at the fair value of the collateral. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the sale of the collateral, management adjusts the fair value for estimated costs to sell. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the operation of the collateral, such as accruing troubled debt restructured loans, estimated costs to sell are not incorporated into the measurement. Management may also adjust appraised values to reflect estimated market value declines or apply other discounts to appraised values for unobservable factors resulting from its knowledge of circumstances associated with the property.

For loans that are collectively evaluated, loss allocation factors are derived by analyzing historical loss experience by loan segment over an established look-back period deemed to be relevant to the inherent risk of loss in the portfolios. Loans are segmented by loan type, collateral type, delinquency status and loan risk rating, where applicable. These loss allocation factors are adjusted to reflect the loss emergence period. These amounts are supplemented by certain qualitative risk factors reflecting management’s view of how losses may vary from those represented by historical loss rates. These qualitative risk factors include: 1) changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses; 2) changes in international, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments; 3) changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and in the terms of loans; 4) changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; 5) changes in the volume and severity of past due loans, the volume of nonaccrual loans, and the volume and severity of adversely classified or rated loans; 6) changes in the quality of the institution’s loan review system; 7) changes in the value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans; 8) the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations; and 9) the effect of other external factors such as legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the institution’s existing portfolio.

Because the methodology is based upon historical experience and trends, current economic data, as well as management’s judgment, factors may arise that result in different estimations. Adversely different conditions or assumptions could lead to increases in the allowance. In addition, various regulatory agencies periodically review the allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

The allowance is an estimate, and ultimate losses may vary from management’s estimate.  Changes in the estimate are recorded in the results of operations in the period in which they become known, along with provisions for estimated losses incurred during that period.



-84-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation for financial reporting purposes is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of assets.  Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the lease terms or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. Expected terms include lease renewal options to the extent that the exercise of such renewals is reasonably assured. Expenditures for major additions and improvements are capitalized while the costs of current maintenance and repairs are charged to operating expenses.  The estimated useful lives of premises and improvements range from 5 to 40 years. For furniture, fixtures and equipment, the estimated useful lives range from 3 to 20 years.

Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets
The Corporation allocated the cost of acquired entities to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Other intangible assets identified in acquisitions consist of wealth management advisory contracts. The value attributed to other intangible assets was based on the time period over which they are expected to generate economic benefits.

The excess of the purchase price for acquisitions over the fair value of the net assets acquired, including other intangible assets, is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, defined as the segment level, at least annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently whenever events or circumstances occur that indicate that it is more-likely-than-not that an impairment loss has occurred. In assessing impairment, the Corporation has the option to perform a qualitative analysis to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of such events or circumstances, we determine it is not more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then we would not be required to perform an impairment test.

Effective April 1, 2017, the Corporation early adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-04 “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”, which eliminated Step 2 of the annual two-step goodwill impairment test. Step 2 was a more detailed analysis, which involved measuring the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit, as determined in Step 1, over the aggregate fair value of the individual assets, liabilities, and identifiable intangibles as if the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination. As Step 2 was eliminated, goodwill is tested for impairment using the quantitative impairment analysis described below.

The quantitative impairment analysis requires a comparison of each reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying value to identify potential impairment. Goodwill impairment exists when a reporting unit’s carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. Significant judgment is applied when goodwill is assessed for impairment. This judgment includes, but may not be limited to, the selection of appropriate discount rates, the identification of relevant market comparables and the development of cash flow projections. The selection and weighting of the various fair value techniques may result in a higher or lower fair value. Judgment is applied in determining the weightings that are most representative of fair value.

Other intangible assets with definite lives are tested for impairment whenever events or circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  If applicable, the Corporation tests each of the intangibles by comparing the carrying value of the intangible asset to the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset.  If the carrying amount of the asset exceeded its undiscounted cash flows, then an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its fair value.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Other than Goodwill
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable.  If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value.  Impairment losses on assets to be disposed of, if any, are based on the estimated proceeds to be received, less costs of disposal.

Property Acquired through Foreclosure or Repossession
Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession is carried at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell.  Fair value of such assets is determined based on independent appraisals and other relevant factors.  Any write-down to fair value at the time of foreclosure or repossession is charged to the allowance for loan losses.  A valuation allowance


-85-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

is maintained for declines in market value and for estimated selling expenses.  Increases to the valuation allowance, expenses associated with ownership of these properties, and gains and losses from their sale are included in foreclosed property costs.

Loans that are substantively repossessed include only those loans for which the Corporation has obtained control of the collateral, but has not completed legal foreclosure proceedings.

Bank-Owned Life Insurance
The investment in BOLI represents the cash surrender value of life insurance policies on the lives of certain employees who have provided positive consent allowing the Bank to be the beneficiary of such policies.  Increases in the cash value of the policies, as well as insurance proceeds received, are recorded in noninterest income and are not subject to income taxes.  The financial strength of the insurance carrier is reviewed prior to the purchase of BOLI and annually thereafter.

Investment in Real Estate Limited Partnership
Washington Trust has a 99.9% ownership interest in two real estate limited partnerships that renovate, own and operate two low-income housing complexes.  Washington Trust neither actively participates nor has a controlling interest in these limited partnerships and accounts for its investments under the equity method of accounting.  The carrying value of the investments is recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  Net losses generated by the partnership are recorded as a reduction to Washington Trust’s investment and as a reduction of other noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  Tax credits generated by the partnership are recorded as a reduction in the income tax provision in the year they are allowed for tax reporting purposes.

The results of operations of the real estate limited partnerships are periodically reviewed to determine if the partnership generates sufficient operating cash flow to fund its current obligations.  In addition, the current value of the underlying properties is compared to the outstanding debt obligations.  If it is determined that the investment is permanently impaired, the carrying value will be written down to the estimated realizable value.

Transfers and Servicing of Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities
The accounting for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities is based on consistent application of a financial components approach that focuses on control.  This approach distinguishes transfers of financial assets that are sales from transfers that are secured borrowings.  After a transfer of financial assets, the Corporation recognizes all financial and servicing assets it controls and liabilities it has incurred and derecognizes financial assets it no longer controls and liabilities that have been extinguished.  This financial components approach focuses on the assets and liabilities that exist after the transfer.  Many of these assets and liabilities are components of financial assets that existed prior to the transfer.  If a transfer does not meet the criteria for a sale, the transfer is accounted for as a secured borrowing with a pledge of collateral.

Wealth Management Assets Under Administration
Assets under administration represent assets held in a fiduciary or agency capacity for wealth management clients and are not included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, as these are not assets of the Corporation. Wealth management revenue derived from the administration, management and custody of assets under administration are referred to as asset-based revenues.

Fee Revenue
Wealth management revenues include asset-based revenues that are primarily accrued as earned based upon a percentage of asset values under administration.  Also included in wealth management revenues are transaction-based revenues, which include financial planning fees, tax preparation fees, commissions and other service fees, which are recognized as revenue to the extent that services have been completed.  Fee revenue from deposit service charges is generally recognized when earned.

Pension Costs
Pension benefits are accounted for using the net periodic benefit cost method, which recognizes the compensation cost of an employee’s pension benefit over that employee’s approximate service period.  Pension benefit costs and benefit obligations incorporate various actuarial and other assumptions, including discount rates, mortality, rates of return on plan assets and compensation increases.  Washington Trust evaluates these assumptions on an annual basis and makes


-86-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is appropriate to so do.  The effect of modifications to those assumptions is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized to net periodic cost over future periods.  Washington Trust believes that the assumptions utilized in recording its obligations under its plans are reasonable based on its experience and market conditions.

The funded status of defined benefit pension plans, measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation, is recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  The changes in the funded status of the defined benefit plans, including actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits, are recognized in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur.

Share-Based Compensation
Share-based compensation plans provide for awards of stock options and other equity incentives, including nonvested share units and nonvested performance share units.

Compensation expense for awards is recognized over the service period based on the fair value at the date of grant. The Corporation estimates grant date fair value for stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Awards of nonvested share units and nonvested performance share units are valued at the fair market value of the Bancorp’s common stock as of the award date. Nonvested performance share unit compensation expense is based on the most recent performance assumption available and is adjusted as assumptions change. If the goals are not met, no compensation cost will be recognized and any recognized compensation costs will be reversed.

Effective January 1, 2017, excess tax benefits (expenses) related to stock option exercises, settlement of other equity awards and dividends paid on nonvested share awards are recorded as a decrease (increase) to income tax expense. Prior to 2017, such excess tax benefits were recognized as additional paid in capital in shareholders' equity and did not impact income tax expense. Excess tax benefits (expenses) on the settlement of share-based awards are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as an operating activity.

Income Taxes
Income tax expense is determined based on the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The Corporation recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained.  Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized.  Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.

The Corporation records interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.  Penalties, if incurred, would be recognized as a component of income tax expense.

Segment Reporting
Washington Trust segregates financial information in assessing its results among its Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services operating segments.  The amounts in the Corporate unit include activity not related to the segments. The methodologies and organizational hierarchies that define the business segments are periodically reviewed and revised.  Results may be restated, when necessary, to reflect changes in organizational structure or allocation methodology. Any changes in estimates and allocations that may affect the reported results of any business segment will not affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of Washington Trust as a whole.

Management uses certain methodologies to allocate income and expenses to the business lines.  A funds transfer pricing (“FTP”) methodology is used to assign interest income and interest expense to each interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability on a matched maturity funding basis.  The matched maturity funding concept considers the origination date and the earlier of the maturity date or the repricing date of a financial instrument to assign an FTP rate for loans and deposits originated. Loans are assigned a FTP rate for funds used and deposits are assigned a FTP rate for funds provided. Certain indirect expenses are allocated to segments.  These include support unit expenses such as technology, operations and other support functions.


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)


Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)
The Corporation utilizes the two-class method earnings allocation formula to determine earnings per share of each class of stock according to dividends and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Share based payments that entitle holders to receive non-forfeitable dividends before vesting are considered participating securities and included in earnings allocation for computing basic earnings per share under this method.  Undistributed income is allocated to common shareholders and participating securities under the two-class method based upon the proportion of each to the total weighted average shares available. Under the two-class method, basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net earnings allocated to common stock by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares determined for the basic earnings per common share computation plus the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents.

Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is defined as all changes in equity, except for those resulting from transactions with shareholders.  Net income is a component of comprehensive income. All other components are referred to in the aggregate as other comprehensive income (loss).

Cash Flows
For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, and other short-term investments.

Guarantees
Standby letters of credit are considered a guarantee of the Corporation.  Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party.  The credit risk involved in issuing standby letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.  Under the standby letters of credit, the Corporation is required to make payments to the beneficiary of the letters of credit upon request by the beneficiary contingent upon the customer’s failure to perform under the terms of the underlying contract with the beneficiary. 

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and are measured at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and resulting designation.

For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and subsequently reclassified to earnings when gains or losses are realized.  The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value is recognized directly in earnings as interest income or interest expense based on the item being hedged.

For derivatives not designated as hedges, changes in fair value of the derivative instruments are recognized in earnings, in noninterest income.

The accrued net settlements on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in interest income or interest expense based on the item being hedged.  Changes in fair value of derivatives including accrued net settlements that do not qualify for hedge accounting are reported in noninterest income.

When a cash flow hedge is discontinued, but the hedged cash flows or forecasted transaction is still expected to occur, changes in value that were accumulated in other comprehensive income (loss) are amortized or accreted into earnings over the same periods which the hedged transactions will affect earnings.

By using certain derivative financial instruments, the Corporation exposes itself to credit risk.  Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract.  When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes the Corporation, which creates credit risk for the Corporation.  When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, the Corporation owes the counterparty and, therefore, it does not possess credit risk.  The credit risk in derivative instruments is minimized by entering into transactions with highly rated counterparties that management believes to be creditworthy.


-88-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)


Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  The required disclosures about fair value measurements have been included in Note 15.

(2) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Topic 606
Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), was issued in May 2014 and provides a revenue recognition framework for any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other accounting standards. As originally issued, ASU 2014-09 was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period with early adoption not permitted. In August 2015, Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-14, “Deferral of the Effective Date” (“ASU 2015-14”) was issued and delayed the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. In 2016, Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-08, “Principal versus Agent Considerations” (“ASU 2016-08”), Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10, “Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing” (“ASU 2016-10”) and Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-12, “Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients” (“ASU 2016-12”) were issued. These ASUs do not change the core principle for revenue recognition in Topic 606; instead, the amendments provide more detailed guidance in a few areas and additional implementation guidance and examples, which were expected to reduce the degree of judgment necessary to comply with Topic 606. The effective date and transition requirements for ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10 and ASU 2016-12 are the same as those provided by ASU 2015-14. Management assembled a project team to address the changes pursuant to Topic 606. The project team completed a scope assessment and contract review for in-scope revenue streams. Washington Trust's largest source of revenue is net interest income on financial assets and liabilities, which is explicitly excluded from the scope of this ASU. Revenue streams that are within the scope of Topic 606 include wealth management revenues, service charges on deposit accounts and card interchange fees. Management does not anticipate material changes in the timing or measurement of in-scope revenues or contract acquisition costs. Management has also completed its evaluation of the expanded disclosure requirements. The Corporation plans to adopt ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments - Overall - Topic 825
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”), was issued in January 2016 and provides revised guidance related to the accounting for and reporting of financial instruments. Some of the main provisions include: requiring most equity securities to be reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in the income statement; requiring separate presentation of financial assets and liabilities by measurement category and form (i.e. securities or loans); clarifying that entities must assess valuation allowances on a deferred tax asset related to available for sale debt securities in combination with their other deferred tax assets; and eliminating the requirement to disclose the method and significant assumptions used to estimate fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-01 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Leases - Topic 842
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”), was issued in February 2016 and provides revised guidance related to the accounting and reporting of leases. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet. The recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. ASU 2016-02 requires a modified retrospective transition, with a number of practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. Washington Trust expects to adopt the provisions of ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019. Management has assembled a project team that meets regularly to evaluate the provisions of this ASU, identify additional data requirements necessary


-89-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

and determine an approach for implementation. The Corporation rents premises used in business operations under non-cancelable operating leases, which currently are not reflected in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. As disclosed in Note 21, the Corporation was committed to $39.3 million of minimum lease payments under these operating leases. The Corporation has not yet determined the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Compensation - Stock Compensation - Topic 718
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”), was issued in March 2016. ASU 2016-09 includes multiple provisions intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences and the classification of certain tax-related transactions on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. Management adopted the provisions of this ASU on January 1, 2017 using the appropriate transition method as required by ASU 2016-09. For Washington Trust, the most significant provision of this ASU pertained to the accounting for excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies on share based award exercises and vestings. ASU 2016-09 requires that excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies be recognized as income tax benefit or expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period that they occur. Management adopted this specific provision of the ASU on a prospective basis. The ASU also requires that the excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies be reported as an operating activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and, in accordance with the ASU, management elected the retrospective transition method in adopting this specific provision. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses - Topic 326
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses” (“ASU 2016-13”), was issued in June 2016. ASU 2016-13 requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts and requires enhanced disclosures related to the significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. In addition, ASU 2016-13 amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. ASU 2016-13 provides for a modified retrospective transition, resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the period in which the guidance is effective, except for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment has previously been recognized. For these debt securities, a prospective transition approach will be adopted in order to maintain the same amortized cost prior to and subsequent to the effective date of ASU 2016-13. This ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. Washington Trust is evaluating the effect that this ASU will have on consolidated financial statements and disclosures. Management has assembled a project team that meets regularly to evaluate the provisions of this ASU, identify additional data requirements necessary and determine an approach for implementation. The Corporation has not yet determined if it will early adopt ASU 2016-13 or the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows - Topic 230
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” (“ASU 2016-15”), was issued in August 2016. ASU 2016-15 provides classification guidance on certain cash receipts and cash payments, including, but not limited to, debt prepayment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of bank-owned life insurance policies and distributions received from equity method investees. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 requires a retrospective transition method applied to each period presented. This ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Restricted Cash” (“ASU 2016-18”), was issued in November 2016. ASU 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash. Restricted cash should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 requires a retrospective transition method applied to each period presented. This ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s


-90-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

consolidated financial statements.

Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Topic 350
Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”), was issued in January 2017 and eliminates Step 2 of the annual goodwill impairment test.  Step 2 is a more detailed analysis, which involves measuring the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit, as determined in Step 1, over the aggregate fair value of the individual assets, liabilities, and identifiable intangibles as if the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination. Under ASU 2017-04, an impairment charge would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeded the reporting unit’s fair value under Step 1.  ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2019 and the provisions should be applied on a prospective basis.  Effective April 1, 2017, management early adopted the provisions of this ASU, as permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-04 did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Topic 715
Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07, “Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost” (“ASU 2017-07”), was issued in March 2017. ASU 2017-07 requires that employers include the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost in the same line item as other employee compensation costs and all other components of net periodic benefit cost in a separate line item(s) in the statement of income. In addition, the line item in which the components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost are included shall be identified as such on the statement of income or in the notes to the financial statements. ASU 2017-07 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2017-07 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs - Topic 310
Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-08, “Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities” (“ASU 2017-08”), was issued in March 2017. ASU 2017-08 shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities purchased at a premium by requiring that the premium be amortized to the earliest call date. Effective January 1, 2017, management early adopted the provisions of this ASU, as permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-08 did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Compensation - Stock Compensation - Topic 718
Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-09, “Scope of Modification Accounting” (“ASU 2017-09”), was issued in May 2017 to provide clarity when applying the guidance in Topic 718 to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017 and the provisions should be applied on a prospective basis.  Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

Derivatives and Hedging - Topic 815
Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12, “Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities” (“ASU 2017-12”), was issued in August 2017 to better align financial reporting for hedging activities with the economic objectives of those activities. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption, including adoption in an interim period, permitted. The provisions of ASU 2017-12 should be applied on a modified retrospective transition method in which the Corporation will recognize the cumulative effect of the change in the opening balance of retained earnings as of the adoption date. The Corporation has not yet determined the impact ASU 2017-12 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Comprehensive Income - Topic 220
Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income: Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” (“ASU 2018-02”), was issued in February 2018 to address accounting and regulatory capital reporting issues pertaining to income tax effects “stranded” in accumulated other comprehensive income as a result of the enactment of the Tax Act. ASU 2018-02 provided companies with the option to reclassify amounts specifically related to the Tax Act “stranded” in accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The Corporation elected to reclassify such amounts and early adopted ASU 2018-02, as permitted. The provisions of ASU 2018-02 were applied retrospectively to December 2017, the period in which the effects of the enactment of the Tax Act were recognized. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2018-02 and as reflected in the Consolidated


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, the Corporation reclassified $4.2 million from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. See Note 19 for further details.

(3) Cash and Due from Banks
The Bank maintains certain average reserve balances to meet the requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”).  Some or all of these reserve requirements may be satisfied with vault cash. Reserve balances amounted to $14.1 million and $11.5 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and were included in cash and due from banks in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, cash and due from banks includes interest-bearing deposits in other banks of $31.9 million and $60.3 million, respectively.

(4) Securities
The following tables present the amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses and fair value of securities by major security type and class of security:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
Amortized Cost
 
Unrealized Gains
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
Securities Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$161,479

 

$—

 

($3,875
)
 

$157,604

Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
594,944

 
3,671

 
(7,733
)
 
590,882

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
2,355

 
4

 
—

 
2,359

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
18,106

 
—

 
(1,122
)
 
16,984

Corporate bonds
13,917

 
13

 
(805
)
 
13,125

Total securities available for sale

$790,801

 

$3,688

 

($13,535
)
 

$780,954

Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$12,541

 

$180

 

$—

 

$12,721

Total securities held to maturity
12,541

 
180

 
—

 
12,721

Total securities

$803,342

 

$3,868

 

($13,535
)
 

$793,675




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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
Amortized Cost
 
Unrealized Gains
 
Unrealized Losses
 
Fair Value
Securities Available for Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$111,483

 

$7

 

($3,050
)
 

$108,440

Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
592,833

 
4,923

 
(9,671
)
 
588,085

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
14,423

 
62

 
—

 
14,485

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
29,851

 
—

 
(3,115
)
 
26,736

Corporate bonds
2,155

 
16

 
(5
)
 
2,166

Total securities available for sale

$750,745

 

$5,008

 

($15,841
)
 

$739,912

Held to Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$15,633

 

$287

 

$—

 

$15,920

Total securities held to maturity
15,633

 
287

 
—

 
15,920

Total securities

$766,378

 

$5,295

 

($15,841
)
 

$755,832


At December 31, 2017 and 2016, securities with a fair value of $357.8 million and $736.2 million, respectively, were pledged as collateral for Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”) borrowings, potential borrowings with the FRB, certain public deposits and for other purposes.  See Note 11 for additional discussion of FHLB borrowings.

The schedule of maturities of debt securities available for sale and held to maturity is presented below. Mortgage-backed securities are included based on weighted average maturities, adjusted for anticipated prepayments.  All other debt securities are included based on contractual maturities.  Actual maturities may differ from amounts presented because certain issuers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
(Dollars in thousands)
Available for Sale
 
Held to Maturity
December 31, 2017
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
Due in one year or less

$62,120

 

$61,700

 

$1,719

 

$1,743

Due after one year to five years
247,054

 
244,392

 
5,374

 
5,451

Due after five years to ten years
285,543

 
280,870

 
4,019

 
4,077

Due after ten years
196,084

 
193,992

 
1,429

 
1,450

Total securities

$790,801

 

$780,954

 

$12,541

 

$12,721


Included in the above table were debt securities with an amortized cost balance of $195.4 million and a fair value of $189.7 million at December 31, 2017 that are callable at the discretion of the issuers.  Final maturities of the callable securities range from 5 months to 19 years, with call features ranging from 1 month to 4 years.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment Assessment
Washington Trust assesses whether the decline in fair value of investment securities is other-than-temporary on a regular basis. Unrealized losses on debt securities may occur from current market conditions, increases in interest rates since the time of purchase, a structural change in an investment, volatility of earnings of a specific issuer, or deterioration in credit quality of the issuer.  Management evaluates impairments in value both qualitatively and quantitatively to assess whether they are other-than-temporary.



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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following tables summarize temporarily impaired securities, segregated by length of time the securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:
(Dollars in thousands)
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
December 31, 2017
#

Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
 
#

Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
 
#

Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
8


$69,681


($798
)
 
8


$87,923


($3,077
)
 
16


$157,604


($3,875
)
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
20

128,965

(613
)
 
22

279,693

(7,120
)
 
42

408,658

(7,733
)
Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
—

—

—

 
7

16,984

(1,122
)
 
7

16,984

(1,122
)
Corporate bonds
3

921

(5
)
 
3

10,980

(800
)
 
6

11,901

(805
)
Total temporarily impaired securities
31


$199,567


($1,416
)
 
40


$395,580


($12,119
)
 
71


$595,147


($13,535
)

(Dollars in thousands)
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
December 31, 2016
#

Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
 
#

Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
 
#

Fair
Value
Unrealized
Losses
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
10


$98,433


($3,050
)
 
—


$—


$—

 
10


$98,433


($3,050
)
Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
35

407,073

(9,671
)
 
—

—

—

 
35

407,073

(9,671
)
Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
—

—

—

 
10

26,736

(3,115
)
 
10

26,736

(3,115
)
Corporate bonds
2

400

(5
)
 
—

—

—

 
2

400

(5
)
Total temporarily impaired securities
47


$505,906


($12,726
)
 
10


$26,736


($3,115
)
 
57


$532,642


($15,841
)

Further deterioration in credit quality of the underlying issuers of the securities, further deterioration in the condition of the financial services industry, worsening of the current economic environment, or additional declines in real estate values, among other things, may further affect the fair value of these securities and increase the potential that certain unrealized losses be designated as other-than-temporary in future periods, and the Corporation may incur write-downs.

U.S. Government Agency and U.S. Government-Sponsored Enterprise Securities, including Mortgage-Backed Securities
The gross unrealized losses on U.S. government agency and U.S government-sponsored debt securities, including mortgage-backed securities, were primarily attributable to relative changes in interest rates since the time of purchase. The contractual cash flows for these securities are guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises. Based on the assessment of these factors, management believes that the unrealized losses on these debt security holdings are a function of changes in investment spreads and interest rate movements and not changes in credit quality. Management expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities. Furthermore, Washington Trust does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more-likely-than-not that Washington Trust will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis, which may be maturity. Therefore, management does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017.

Trust Preferred Debt Securities of Individual Name Issuers
Included in debt securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2017 were seven trust preferred security holdings issued by five individual companies in the banking sector. Management believes the unrealized loss position in these holdings was attributable to the general widening of spreads for this category of debt securities issued by financial services companies since the time these securities were purchased. Based on the information available through the filing date of this report, all individual name trust preferred debt securities held in our portfolio continue to accrue and make payments as expected with no payment deferrals or defaults on the part of the issuers.  As of December 31, 2017, individual name issuers trust preferred debt securities with an amortized cost of $6.1 million and unrealized losses of $509 thousand were rated below investment grade by Standard & Poors, Inc. (“S&P”).  Management reviewed the collectability of these


-94-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

securities taking into consideration such factors as the financial condition of the issuers, reported regulatory capital ratios of the issuers, credit ratings, including ratings in effect as of the reporting period date as well as credit rating changes between the reporting period date and the filing date of this report, and other information.  We noted no downgrades to below investment grade between December 31, 2017 and the filing date of this report.  Based on these analyses, management concluded that it expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.  Furthermore, Washington Trust does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more-likely-than-not that Washington Trust will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis, which may be maturity.  Therefore, management does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017.

Corporate Bonds
At December 31, 2017, Washington Trust had six corporate bond holdings with unrealized losses totaling $805 thousand. These investment grade corporate bonds were issued by large corporations. Management believes the unrealized losses on these bonds are a function of the changes in the investment spreads and interest rate movements and not changes in the credit quality of the issuers of the debt securities. Management expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities. Furthermore, Washington Trust does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more-likely-than-not that Washington Trust will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis, which may be maturity.  Therefore, management does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(5) Loans
The following is a summary of loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Amount

 
%

 
Amount

 
%

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages (1)

$1,072,487

 
32
%
 

$1,074,186

 
33
%
Construction & development (2)
138,008

 
4

 
121,371

 
4

Commercial & industrial (3)
612,334

 
18

 
576,109

 
18

Total commercial
1,822,829

 
54

 
1,771,666

 
55

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
1,206,458

 
35

 
1,094,824

 
34

Homeowner construction
20,790

 
1

 
27,924

 
1

Total residential real estate
1,227,248

 
36

 
1,122,748

 
35

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
258,114

 
8

 
264,200

 
8

Home equity loans
34,353

 
1

 
37,272

 
1

Other (4)
31,527

 
1

 
38,485

 
1

Total consumer
323,994

 
10

 
339,957

 
10

Total loans (5)

$3,374,071

 
100
%
 

$3,234,371

 
100
%
(1)
Loans primarily secured by income producing property.
(2)
Loans for construction of commercial properties, loans to developers for construction of residential properties and loans for land development.
(3)
Loans to businesses and individuals, a substantial portion of which are fully or partially collateralized by real estate.
(4)
Loans to individuals secured by general aviation aircraft and other personal installment loans.
(5)
Includes net unamortized loan origination costs of $3.8 million and $3.0 million, respectively, and net unamortized premiums on purchased loans of $878 thousand and $783 thousand, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were $1.6 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively, of loans pledged as collateral to the FHLB under a blanket pledge agreement and to the FRB for the discount window. See Note 11 for additional disclosure regarding borrowings.


-95-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)


Concentrations of Credit Risk
A significant portion of our loan portfolio is concentrated among borrowers in southern New England and a substantial portion of the portfolio is collateralized by real estate in this area.  The ability of single family residential and consumer borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is generally dependent on the level of overall economic activity within the market area and real estate values.  The ability of commercial borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is dependent on the general economy as well as the health of the real estate economic sector in the Corporation’s market area.

Nonaccrual Loans
The following is a summary of nonaccrual loans, segregated by class of loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

Commercial:
 
 
 
Mortgages

$4,954

 

$7,811

Construction & development
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
283

 
1,337

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
Mortgages
9,414

 
11,736

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

Consumer:
 
 
 
Home equity lines
81

 
—

Home equity loans
463

 
1,058

Other
16

 
116

Total nonaccrual loans

$15,211

 

$22,058

Accruing loans 90 days or more past due

$—

 

$—


As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, loans secured by one- to four-family residential property amounting to $4.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively, were in process of foreclosure.

Nonaccrual loans of $3.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively, were current as to the payment of principal and interest as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

There were no significant commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were on nonaccrual status at December 31, 2017.

Interest income that would have been recognized had nonaccrual loans been current in accordance with their original terms was approximately $1.3 million, $1.6 million and $1.5 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Interest income included in the Consolidated Statements of Income on nonaccrual loans amounted to approximately $335 thousand, $640 thousand and $522 thousand, respectively, in 2017, 2016 and 2015.



-96-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Past Due Loans
Past due status is based on the contractual payment terms of the loan. The following tables present an aging analysis of past due loans, segregated by class of loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
Days Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
30-59
 
60-89
 
Over 90
 
Total Past Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$6

 

$—

 

$4,954

 

$4,960

 

$1,067,527

 

$1,072,487

Construction & development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
138,008

 
138,008

Commercial & industrial
3,793

 
2

 
281

 
4,076

 
608,258

 
612,334

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Mortgages
1,678

 
2,274

 
3,903

 
7,855

 
1,198,603

 
1,206,458

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
20,790

 
20,790

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Home equity lines
1,340

 
—

 
—

 
1,340

 
256,774

 
258,114

Home equity loans
1,458

 
75

 
268

 
1,801

 
32,552

 
34,353

Other
29

 
—

 
14

 
43

 
31,484

 
31,527

Total loans

$8,304

 

$2,351

 

$9,420

 

$20,075

 

$3,353,996

 

$3,374,071



(Dollars in thousands)
Days Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
30-59
 
60-89
 
Over 90
 
Total Past Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$901

 

$—

 

$7,807

 

$8,708

 

$1,065,478

 

$1,074,186

Construction & development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
121,371

 
121,371

Commercial & industrial
409

 
—

 
745

 
1,154

 
574,955

 
576,109

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Mortgages
5,381

 
652

 
6,193

 
12,226

 
1,082,598

 
1,094,824

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
27,924

 
27,924

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
655

 
26

 
—

 
681

 
263,519

 
264,200

Home equity loans
776

 
76

 
658

 
1,510

 
35,762

 
37,272

Other
32

 
1

 
110

 
143

 
38,342

 
38,485

Total loans

$8,154

 

$755

 

$15,513

 

$24,422

 

$3,209,949

 

$3,234,371


Included in past due loans as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, were nonaccrual loans of $11.8 million and $18.6 million, respectively. All loans 90 days or more past due at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were classified as nonaccrual.

Impaired Loans
Impaired loans are loans for which it is probable that the Corporation will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreements and loans restructured in a troubled debt restructuring.



-97-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following is a summary of impaired loans:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recorded Investment (1)
 
Unpaid Principal
 
Related Allowance
December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
No Related Allowance Recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$—

 

$4,676

 

$—

 

$9,019

 

$—

 

$—

Construction & development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
4,986

 
6,458

 
5,081

 
6,550

 
—

 
—

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
9,069

 
14,385

 
9,256

 
14,569

 
—

 
—

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
81

 
—

 
81

 
—

 
—

 
—

Home equity loans
476

 
1,137

 
476

 
1,177

 
—

 
—

Other
14

 
116

 
14

 
116

 
—

 
—

Subtotal
14,626

 
26,772

 
14,908

 
31,431

 
—

 
—

With Related Allowance Recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
4,954

 
5,104

 
9,910

 
6,087

 
1,018

 
448

Construction & development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
191

 
662

 
212

 
699

 
1

 
3

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
715

 
1,285

 
741

 
1,310

 
104

 
151

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Home equity loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other
133

 
28

 
132

 
29

 
6

 
4

Subtotal
5,993

 
7,079

 
10,995

 
8,125

 
1,129

 
606

Total impaired loans

$20,619

 

$33,851

 

$25,903

 

$39,556

 

$1,129

 

$606

Total:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial

$10,131

 

$16,900

 

$15,203

 

$22,355

 

$1,019

 

$451

Residential real estate
9,784

 
15,670

 
9,997

 
15,879

 
104

 
151

Consumer
704

 
1,281

 
703

 
1,322

 
6

 
4

Total impaired loans

$20,619

 

$33,851

 

$25,903

 

$39,556

 

$1,129

 

$606

(1)
The recorded investment in impaired loans consists of unpaid principal balance, net of charge-offs, interest payments received applied to principal and unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs.  For accruing impaired loans (troubled debt restructurings for which management has concluded that the collectability of the loan is not in doubt), the recorded investment also includes accrued interest.



-98-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the average recorded investment balance of impaired loans and interest income recognized on impaired loans segregated by loan class:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average Recorded Investment
 
Interest Income Recognized
Years ended December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$8,425

 

$13,201

 

$14,847

 

$79

 

$239

 

$327

Construction & development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
6,445

 
3,540

 
3,415

 
281

 
99

 
130

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
14,571

 
12,848

 
5,423

 
444

 
322

 
147

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
79

 
354

 
228

 
7

 
10

 
1

Home equity loans
606

 
1,233

 
487

 
24

 
38

 
11

Other
143

 
147

 
210

 
10

 
11

 
10

Totals

$30,269

 

$31,323

 

$24,610

 

$845

 

$719

 

$626


Troubled Debt Restructurings
Troubled debt restructurings are classified as impaired loans. The Corporation identifies loss allocations for impaired loans on an individual loan basis. The recorded investment in troubled debt restructurings was $11.2 million and $22.3 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016. These amounts included insignificant balances of accrued interest. The allowance for loan losses included specific reserves for these troubled debt restructurings of $1.1 million and $567 thousand, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

As of December 31, 2017, there were no significant commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were restructured.



-99-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents loans modified as a troubled debt restructuring:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Outstanding Recorded Investment (1)
 
# of Loans
 
Pre-Modifications
 
Post-Modifications
Years ended December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
—

 
1

 

$—

 

$776

 

$—

 

$776

Construction & development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
—

 
9

 
—

 
6,229

 
—

 
6,229

Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
—

 
3

 
—

 
4,386

 
—

 
4,386

Homeowner construction
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Home equity loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Totals
—

 
13

 

$—

 

$11,391

 

$—

 

$11,391

(1)
The recorded investment in troubled debt restructurings consists of unpaid principal balance, net of charge-offs and unamortized deferred loan origination fees and costs, at the time of the restructuring. For accruing troubled debt restructured loans, the recorded investment also includes accrued interest.

The following table provides information on how loans were modified as a troubled debt restructuring:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

Below-market interest rate concession

$—

 

$—

Payment deferral
—

 
1,111

Maturity / amortization concession
—

 
683

Interest only payments
—

 
4,326

Combination (1)
—

 
5,271

Total

$—

 

$11,391

(1)
Loans included in this classification were modified with a combination of any two of the concessions listed in this table.

In 2017, there were no payment defaults on troubled debt restructured loans modified within the previous 12 months. In 2016, payment defaults on troubled debt restructured loans modified within the previous 12 months occurred on seven loans totaling $1.6 million.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Quality Indicators
Commercial
The Corporation utilizes an internal rating system to assign a risk to each of its commercial loans. Loans are rated on a scale of 1 to 10. This scale can be assigned to three broad categories including “pass” for ratings 1 through 6, “special mention” for 7-rated loans, and “classified” for loans rated 8, 9 or 10. The loan rating system takes into consideration parameters including the borrower’s financial condition, the borrower’s performance with respect to loan terms, the adequacy of collateral, the adequacy of guarantees and other credit quality characteristics. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the weighted average risk rating of the Corporation’s commercial loan portfolio was 4.70 and 4.68, respectively. For non-impaired loans, the Corporation takes the risk rating into consideration along with other credit attributes in the establishment of an appropriate allowance for loan losses. See Note 6 for additional information.



-100-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

A description of the commercial loan categories is as follows:

Pass - Loans with acceptable credit quality, defined as ranging from superior or very strong to a status of lesser stature. Superior or very strong credit quality is characterized by a high degree of cash collateralization or strong balance sheet liquidity. Lesser stature loans have an acceptable level of credit quality but exhibit some weakness in various credit metrics such as collateral adequacy, cash flow, secondary sources of repayment, or performance inconsistency or may be in an industry or of a loan type known to have a higher degree of risk.

Special Mention - Loans with potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the Bank’s position as creditor at some future date. Special Mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose the Bank to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification. Examples of these conditions include but are not limited to outdated or poor quality financial data, strains on liquidity and leverage, losses or negative trends in operating results, marginal cash flow, weaknesses in occupancy rates or trends in the case of commercial real estate and frequent delinquencies.

Classified - Loans identified as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss” based on criteria consistent with guidelines provided by banking regulators. A “substandard” loan has defined weaknesses which make payment default or principal exposure likely, but not yet certain. Such loans are apt to be dependent upon collateral liquidation, a secondary source of repayment or an event outside of the normal course of business. The loans are closely watched and are either already on nonaccrual status or may be placed on nonaccrual status when management determines there is uncertainty of collectibility. A “doubtful” loan is placed on nonaccrual status and has a high probability of loss, but the extent of the loss is difficult to quantify due to dependency upon collateral having a value that is difficult to determine or upon some near-term event which lacks certainty. A loan in the “loss” category is considered generally uncollectible or the timing or amount of payments cannot be determined. “Loss” is not intended to imply that the loan has no recovery value but rather it is not practical or desirable to continue to carry the asset.

The Corporation’s procedures call for loan ratings and classifications to be revised whenever information becomes available that indicates a change is warranted. The criticized loan portfolio, which generally consists of commercial loans that are risk-rated special mention or worse, and other selected loans are reviewed by management on a quarterly basis, focusing on the current status and strategies to improve the credit. An annual loan review program is conducted by a third party to provide an independent evaluation of the creditworthiness of the commercial loan portfolio, the quality of the underwriting and credit risk management practices and the appropriateness of the risk rating classifications. This review is supplemented with selected targeted internal reviews of the commercial loan portfolio.

The following table presents the commercial loan portfolio, segregated by category of credit quality indicator:
(Dollars in thousands)
Pass
 
Special Mention
 
Classified
December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Mortgages

$1,067,373

 

$1,065,358

 

$—

 

$776

 

$5,114

 

$8,052

Construction & development
138,008

 
121,371

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
592,749

 
559,416

 
9,804

 
8,938

 
9,781

 
7,755

Total commercial loans

$1,798,130

 

$1,746,145

 

$9,804

 

$9,714

 

$14,895

 

$15,807


Residential and Consumer
The residential and consumer portfolios are monitored on an ongoing basis by the Corporation using delinquency information and loan type as credit quality indicators. These credit quality indicators are assessed on an aggregate basis in these relatively homogeneous portfolios. For non-impaired loans, the Corporation assigns loss allocation factors to each respective loan type. See Note 6 for additional information.

Various other techniques are utilized to monitor indicators of credit deterioration in the portfolios of residential real estate mortgages and home equity lines and loans. Among these techniques is the periodic tracking of loans with an updated FICO score and an estimated loan to value (“LTV”) ratio. LTV ratio is determined via statistical modeling analyses. The


-101-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

indicated LTV levels are estimated based on such factors as the location, the original LTV ratio, and the date of origination of the loan and do not reflect actual appraisal amounts. The results of these analyses and other loan review procedures are taken into consideration in the determination of loss allocation factors for residential mortgage and home equity consumer credits. See Note 6 for additional information.

The following table presents the residential and consumer loan portfolios, segregated by category of credit quality indicator:
(Dollars in thousands)
Current
 
Past Due
December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Residential real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Self-originated mortgages

$1,070,501

 

$954,867

 

$6,413

 

$11,017

Purchased mortgages
128,102

 
127,731

 
1,442

 
1,209

Homeowner construction
20,790

 
27,924

 
—

 
—

Total residential loans

$1,219,393

 

$1,110,522

 

$7,855

 

$12,226

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines

$256,774

 

$263,519

 

$1,340

 

$681

Home equity loans
32,552

 
35,762

 
1,801

 
1,510

Other
31,484

 
38,342

 
43

 
143

Total consumer loans

$320,810

 

$337,623

 

$3,184

 

$2,334


Loan Servicing Activities
Loans sold with servicing retained result in the capitalization of loan servicing rights. The following table presents an analysis of loan servicing rights:
(Dollars in thousands)
Loan Servicing
Rights
 
Valuation
Allowance
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2014

$2,989

 

($2
)
 

$2,987

Loan servicing rights capitalized
1,406

 
—

 
1,406

Amortization
(1,047
)
 
—

 
(1,047
)
Decrease in impairment reserve
—

 
1

 
1

Balance at December 31, 2015
3,348

 
(1
)
 
3,347

Loan servicing rights capitalized
1,412

 
—

 
1,412

Amortization
(1,267
)
 
—

 
(1,267
)
Decrease in impairment reserve
—

 
1

 
1

Balance at December 31, 2016
3,493

 
—

 
3,493

Loan servicing rights capitalized
1,104

 
—

 
1,104

Amortization
(984
)
 
—

 
(984
)
Decrease in impairment reserve
—

 
—

 
—

Balance at December 31, 2017

$3,613

 

$—

 

$3,613




-102-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents estimated aggregate amortization expense related to loan servicing assets:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Years ending December 31:
 
2018
 

$899

 
 
2019
 
675

 
 
2020
 
507

 
 
2021
 
381

 
 
2022
 
286

 
 
Thereafter
 
865

Total estimated amortization expense
 

$3,613


Loans sold to others are serviced on a fee basis under various agreements.  Loans serviced for others are not included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The following table presents the balance of loans serviced for others by type of loan:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

Residential mortgages

$568,311

 

$522,766

Commercial loans
108,539

 
101,317

Total

$676,850

 

$624,083




-103-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(6) Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses is management’s best estimate of inherent risk of loss in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The Corporation uses a methodology to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the loan portfolio for purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses. The methodology includes: (1) the identification of loss allocations for individual loans deemed to be impaired and (2) the application of loss allocation factors for non-impaired loans based on historical loss experience and estimated loss emergence period, with adjustments for various exposures that management believes are not adequately represented by historical loss experience.

Prior to December 31, 2015, an unallocated allowance was maintained for measurement imprecision associated with impaired and nonaccrual loans. As a result of further enhancement and refinement of the allowance methodology to provide a more precise quantification of probable losses in the loan portfolio, management concluded that the potential risks anticipated by the unallocated allowance had been incorporated into the allocated component of the methodology, eliminating the need for the unallocated allowance in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2017:
(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
Construction
C&I (1)
 
Total Commercial
 
Residential
 
Consumer
 
Total
Beginning Balance

$9,971


$1,195


$6,992

 

$18,158

 

$5,252

 

$2,594

 

$26,004

Charge-offs
(1,867
)
—

(336
)
 
(2,203
)
 
(74
)
 
(185
)
 
(2,462
)
Recoveries
82

—

169

 
251

 
39

 
56

 
346

Provision
3,460

(112
)
(1,245
)
 
2,103

 
210

 
287

 
2,600

Ending Balance

$11,646


$1,083


$5,580

 

$18,309

 

$5,427

 

$2,752

 

$26,488

(1)
Commercial & industrial loans.

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2016:
(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
Construction
C&I (1)
 
Total Commercial
 
Residential
 
Consumer
 
Total
Beginning Balance

$9,140


$1,758


$8,202

 

$19,100

 

$5,460

 

$2,509

 

$27,069

Charge-offs
(5,816
)
—

(759
)
 
(6,575
)
 
(200
)
 
(237
)
 
(7,012
)
Recoveries
56

—

156

 
212

 
11

 
74

 
297

Provision
6,591

(563
)
(607
)
 
5,421

 
(19
)
 
248

 
5,650

Ending Balance

$9,971


$1,195


$6,992

 

$18,158

 

$5,252

 

$2,594

 

$26,004

(1)
Commercial & industrial loans.

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2015:
(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
Construction
C&I (1)
Total Commercial
Residential
Consumer
Unallocated
Total
Beginning Balance

$8,202


$1,300


$7,987


$17,489


$5,430


$2,713


$2,391


$28,023

Charge-offs
(809
)
—

(671
)
(1,480
)
(207
)
(618
)
—

(2,305
)
Recoveries
92

—

87

179

28

94

—

301

Provision
1,655

458

799

2,912

209

320

(2,391
)
1,050

Ending Balance

$9,140


$1,758


$8,202


$19,100


$5,460


$2,509


$—


$27,069

(1)
Commercial & industrial loans.



-104-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the Corporation’s loan portfolio and associated allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment and by impairment methodology.
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
Related
Allowance
 
 
 
Related
Allowance
 
Loans
 
 
Loans
 
Loans Individually Evaluated For Impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages

$4,954

 

$1,018

 

$9,776

 

$448

Construction & development
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Commercial & industrial
5,157

 
1

 
7,098

 
3

Residential Real Estate
9,783

 
104

 
15,661

 
151

Consumer
704

 
6

 
1,280

 
4

Subtotal
20,598

 
1,129

 
33,815

 
606

Loans Collectively Evaluated For Impairment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages
1,067,533

 
10,628

 
1,064,410

 
9,523

Construction & development
138,008

 
1,083

 
121,371

 
1,195

Commercial & industrial
607,177

 
5,579

 
569,011

 
6,989

Residential Real Estate
1,217,465

 
5,323

 
1,107,087

 
5,101

Consumer
323,290

 
2,746

 
338,677

 
2,590

Subtotal
3,353,473

 
25,359

 
3,200,556

 
25,398

Total

$3,374,071

 

$26,488

 

$3,234,371

 

$26,004


(7) Premises and Equipment
The following presents a summary of premises and equipment:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

Land and improvements

$6,020

 

$6,020

Premises and improvements
38,793

 
37,913

Furniture, fixtures and equipment
26,240

 
28,383

Total premises and equipment
71,053

 
72,316

Less accumulated depreciation
42,720

 
43,296

Total premises and equipment, net

$28,333

 

$29,020


Depreciation of premises and equipment amounted to $3.5 million, $3.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015.



-105-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(8) Goodwill and Other Intangibles
The following table presents the carrying value of goodwill at the reporting unit (or business segment) level:
(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial Banking
 
Wealth Management Services
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016

$22,591

 

$41,468

 

$64,059

Impairment
—

 
(150
)
 
(150
)
Balance at December 31, 2017

$22,591

 

$41,318

 

$63,909


The balance of goodwill in the Commercial Banking segment arose from the acquisition of First Financial Corp. in 2002. The balance of goodwill in the Wealth Management Services segment arose from the 2005 acquisition of Weston Financial and its broker-dealer and insurance agency subsidiaries, as well as the 2015 acquisition of Halsey.

As the result of a decision that reduced the business activities of WSC, a broker-dealer subsidiary that largely conducted mutual fund transactions primarily for Weston Financial clients, the carrying value of WSC’s goodwill was assessed for impairment during the second quarter of 2017. As a result of management’s assessment, an impairment charge of $150 thousand was recognized in the second quarter of 2017 and classified in other expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Intangible assets consist of wealth management advisory contracts and non-compete agreements. The following table presents the components of intangible assets:
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Advisory Contracts
 
Non-compete Agreements
 
Advisory Contracts
 
Non-compete Agreements
Gross carrying amount

$20,803

 

$369

 

$20,803

 

$369

Accumulated amortization
11,663

 
369

 
10,648

 
349

Net amount

$9,140

 

$—

 

$10,155

 

$20


The balance of intangible assets at December 31, 2017 includes wealth management advisory contracts resulting from the Weston Financial acquisition in 2005, as well as wealth management advisory contracts resulting from the acquisition of Halsey in 2015.

The wealth management advisory contracts resulting from the Weston Financial acquisition are being amortized over a 20-year life using a declining balance method, based on expected attrition for the current customer base derived from historical runoff data.  The wealth management advisory contracts resulting from the acquisition of Halsey are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a 15-year life.

Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, amounted to $1.0 million, $1.3 million and $904 thousand, respectively.



-106-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets at December 31, 2017:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Years ending December 31,
2018

$979

 
2019
943

 
2020
914

 
2021
890

 
2022
860

 
2023 and thereafter
4,554


(9) Income Tax Expense
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law. The enactment of the Tax Act in 2017 required companies to revalue and reassess deferred tax assets and liabilities reflecting the new federal income tax rate. As a result, in December 2017, Washington Trust's net deferred tax assets were written down by $6.2 million, with a corresponding increase to income tax expense. The majority of the provisions of the Tax Act will take effect on January 1, 2018. The provisions that impact Washington Trust include the reduction of the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, changes to the deductibility of certain meals and entertainment expenses, and changes to the deductibility of executive compensation. The Tax Act also accelerates expensing of certain depreciable property for assets placed in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2023.

Effective January 1, 2017, Washington Trust adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." Under this accounting standard, excess tax benefits on the settlement of share-based awards are recognized as a reduction to income tax expense in the period that they occur. In 2017, income tax expense was reduced by the recognition of $508 thousand in excess tax benefits on the settlement of share-based awards. Prior to 2017, such excess tax benefits were recognized as additional paid in capital in shareholders' equity and did not impact income tax expense.

The following table presents the components of income tax expense:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Current tax expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal

$23,827

 

$19,444

 

$17,864

State
2,201

 
2,061

 
1,194

Total current tax expense
26,028

 
21,505

 
19,058

Deferred tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
5,717

 
796

 
2,003

State
(30
)
 
72

 
(183
)
Total deferred tax expense
5,687

 
868

 
1,820

Total income tax expense

$31,715

 

$22,373

 

$20,878





-107-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Total income tax expense varies from the amount determined by applying the Federal income tax rate to income before income taxes.  The following table presents the reasons for the differences:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Tax expense at Federal statutory rate

$27,174

 

$24,099

 

$22,520

(Decrease) increase in taxes resulting from:
 
 
 
 
 
Tax-exempt income
(1,313
)
 
(1,599
)
 
(1,604
)
Dividends received deduction
(55
)
 
(58
)
 
(57
)
BOLI
(757
)
 
(930
)
 
(694
)
Stock based compensation
(481
)
 
—

 
—

Federal tax credits
(364
)
 
(364
)
 
(364
)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
(225
)
 
(314
)
 
—

Acquisition related expenses
—

 
—

 
318

State income tax expense, net of federal income tax benefit
1,411

 
1,387

 
658

Adjustment to net deferred tax assets for enacted changes in federal tax law
6,170

 
—

 
—

Other
155

 
152

 
101

Total income tax expense

$31,715

 

$22,373

 

$20,878


The following table presents the approximate tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses

$6,225

 

$9,621

Defined benefit pension obligations
1,767

 
3,804

Deferred compensation
3,334

 
3,991

Deferred loan origination fees
1,325

 
1,999

Stock based compensation
1,240

 
1,519

Net unrealized losses on securities available for sale
2,314

 
4,008

Other
2,281

 
3,495

Deferred tax assets
18,486

 
28,437

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Amortization of intangibles
(2,148
)
 
(3,765
)
Deferred loan origination costs
(3,550
)
 
(5,156
)
Loan servicing rights
(849
)
 
(1,293
)
Other
(1,200
)
 
(1,419
)
Deferred tax liabilities
(7,747
)
 
(11,633
)
Net deferred tax asset

$10,739

 

$16,804


The Corporation’s net deferred tax asset is included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Management has determined that a valuation allowance is not required for any of the deferred tax assets since it is more-likely-than-not that these assets will be realized primarily through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences or by offsetting projected future taxable income.


-108-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)


The Corporation had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The Corporation files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions.  The Corporation is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2014.

(10) Time Certificates of Deposit
The following table presents scheduled maturities of time certificates of deposit:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Scheduled Maturity
 
Weighted Average Rate
Years ending December 31:
2018

$479,914

 
0.96
%
 
2019
323,597

 
1.51

 
2020
90,282

 
1.54

 
2021
59,263

 
1.77

 
2022
61,991

 
1.94

 
2023 and thereafter
48

 
1.30

Balance at December 31, 2017
 

$1,015,095

 
1.30
%

The following table presents the amount of time certificates of deposit in denominations of $100 thousand or more at December 31, 2017, maturing during the periods indicated:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018

$100,142

April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018
21,824

July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018
35,239

January 1, 2019 and beyond
172,083

Balance at December 31, 2017

$329,288


Time certificates of deposit in denominations of $250 thousand or more totaled $75.1 million and $53.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016.



-109-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(11) Borrowings
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances
Advances payable to FHLB amounted to $791.4 million and $848.9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The following table presents scheduled maturities and weighted average interest rates on FHLB advances outstanding as of December 31, 2017:
(Dollars in thousands)
Scheduled
Maturity
 
Weighted
Average Rate
2018

$465,634

 
1.51
%
2019
137,258

 
1.62

2020
67,033

 
1.95

2021
51,222

 
2.43

2022
55,447

 
3.58

2023 and thereafter
14,762

 
2.44

Total

$791,356

 
1.85
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Bank had access to a $40.0 million unused line of credit with the FHLB and also had remaining available borrowing capacity of $449.9 million and $594.5 million, respectively. The Bank pledges certain qualified investment securities and loans as collateral to the FHLB.

Advances payable to FHLB include short-term advances with original maturity due dates of one year or less. The following table presents certain information concerning short-term FHLB advances:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
As of and for the years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Average amount outstanding during the period

$351,692

 

$275,533

 

$155,874

Amount outstanding at end of period

$367,500

 

$352,500

 

$107,500

Highest month end balance during period

$417,500

 

$367,500

 

$229,500

Weighted-average interest rate at end of period
1.57
%
 
0.79
%
 
0.55
%
Weighted-average interest rate during the period
1.20
%
 
0.73
%
 
0.38
%

Junior Subordinated Debentures
Junior subordinated debentures amounted to $22.7 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The Bancorp sponsored the creation of WT Capital Trust I (“Trust I”) and WT Capital Trust II (“Trust II”), Delaware statutory trusts created for the sole purpose of issuing trust preferred securities and investing the proceeds in junior subordinated debentures of the Bancorp.  The Bancorp is the owner of all of the common securities of the trusts.  In accordance with GAAP, the trusts are treated as unconsolidated subsidiaries.  The common stock investment in the statutory trusts is included in “Other Assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

On August 29, 2005, Trust I issued $8.3 million of capital securities (“Trust I Capital Securities”) in a private placement of trust preferred securities.  The Trust I Capital Securities mature in September 2035, are redeemable at the Bancorp’s option and require quarterly distributions by Trust I to the holder of the Trust I Capital Securities equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.45%.  The Bancorp has guaranteed the Trust I Capital Securities and, to the extent not paid by Trust I, accrued and unpaid distributions on the Trust I Capital Securities, as well as the redemption price payable to the Trust I Capital Securities holders.  The proceeds of the Trust I Capital Securities, along with proceeds from the issuance of common securities by Trust I to the Bancorp, were used to purchase $8.3 million of the Bancorp’s junior subordinated deferrable interest notes (the “Trust I Debentures”) and constitute the primary asset of Trust I.  Like the Trust I Capital


-110-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Securities, the Trust I Debentures bear interest at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.45%.  The Trust I Debentures mature on September 15, 2035, but may be redeemed at par at the Bancorp’s option, subject to the approval of the applicable banking regulator to the extent required under applicable guidelines or policies.

On August 29, 2005, Trust II issued $14.4 million of capital securities (“Trust II Capital Securities”) in a private placement of trust preferred securities.  The Trust II Capital Securities mature in November 2035, are redeemable at the Bancorp’s option and require quarterly distributions by Trust II to the holder of the Trust II Capital Securities, at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.45%.  The Bancorp has guaranteed the Trust II Capital Securities and, to the extent not paid by Trust II, accrued and unpaid distributions on the Trust II Capital Securities, as well as the redemption price payable to the Trust II Capital Securities holders.  The proceeds of the Trust II Capital Securities, along with proceeds from the issuance of common securities by Trust II to the Bancorp, were used to purchase $14.4 million of the Bancorp’s junior subordinated deferrable interest notes (the “Trust II Debentures”) and constitute the primary asset of Trust II.  Like the Trust II Capital Securities, the Trust II Debentures bear interest at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 1.45%.  The Trust II Debentures mature on November 23, 2035, but may be redeemed at par at the Bancorp’s option, subject to the approval of the applicable banking regulator to the extent required under applicable guidelines or policies.

(12) Shareholders’ Equity
2006 Stock Repurchase Plan
In December 2006, the Bancorp’s Board of Directors approved the 2006 Stock Repurchase Plan authorizing the repurchase of up to 400,000 shares, or approximately 3%, of the Corporation’s common stock in open market transactions.  This authority may be exercised from time to time and in such amounts as market conditions warrant, and subject to regulatory considerations.  The repurchased shares would be held as treasury stock to be used for general corporate purposes.  As of December 31, 2017, a cumulative total of 185,400 shares have been repurchased, all of which were repurchased in 2007 at a total cost of $4.8 million.

Dividends
The primary source of liquidity for the Bancorp is dividends received from the Bank.  The Bancorp and the Bank are regulated enterprises and their abilities to pay dividends are subject to regulatory review and restriction.  Certain regulatory and statutory restrictions exist regarding dividends, loans, and advances from the Bank to the Bancorp.  Generally, the Bank has the ability to pay dividends to the Bancorp subject to minimum regulatory capital requirements.  The FDIC and the FRB have the authority to use their enforcement powers to prohibit a bank or bank holding company, respectively, from paying dividends if, in their opinion, the payment of dividends would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.  Under the most restrictive of these requirements, the Bank could have declared aggregate additional dividends of $209.8 million as of December 31, 2017.

Reserved Shares
As of December 31, 2017, a total of 1,989,991 common stock shares were reserved for issuance under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2013 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.

Regulatory Capital Requirements
The Bancorp and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the FRB and the FDIC, respectively.  Regulatory authorities can initiate certain mandatory actions if Bancorp or the Bank fail to meet minimum capital requirements, which could have a direct material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements. Capital adequacy guidelines and, additionally for banks, prompt corrective action regulations involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. These quantitative measures, to ensure capital adequacy, require minimum amounts and ratios.

Capital levels at December 31, 2017 exceeded the regulatory minimum levels to be considered “well capitalized.”



-111-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the Corporation’s and the Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios, as well as the corresponding minimum and well capitalized regulatory amounts and ratios that were in effect during the respective periods:
(Dollars in thousands)
Actual
 
For Capital Adequacy
Purposes
 
To Be “Well Capitalized” Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation

$416,038

 
12.45
%
 

$267,365

 
8.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
413,593

 
12.38

 
267,338

 
8.00

 
334,172

 
10.00
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
389,289

 
11.65

 
200,524

 
6.00

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
386,844

 
11.58

 
200,503

 
6.00

 
267,338

 
8.00
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
367,291

 
10.99

 
150,383

 
4.50

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
386,844

 
11.58

 
150,378

 
4.50

 
217,212

 
6.50
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets): (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
389,289

 
8.79

 
177,089

 
4.00

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
386,844

 
8.74

 
177,048

 
4.00

 
221,310

 
5.00
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
390,867

 
12.26

 
255,093

 
8.00

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
389,840

 
12.23

 
255,050

 
8.00

 
318,813

 
10.00
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
364,655

 
11.44

 
191,320

 
6.00

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
363,628

 
11.41

 
191,288

 
6.00

 
255,050

 
8.00
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
342,656

 
10.75

 
143,490

 
4.50

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
363,628

 
11.41

 
143,466

 
4.50

 
207,228

 
6.50
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets): (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporation
364,655

 
8.67

 
168,271

 
4.00

 
N/A

 
N/A
Bank
363,628

 
8.65

 
168,207

 
4.00

 
210,259

 
5.00
(1)
Leverage ratio.

In addition to the minimum regulatory capital required for capital adequacy purposes included in the table above, the Corporation is required to maintain a minimum Capital Conservation Buffer, in the form of common equity, in order to avoid restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonuses. The required amount of the Capital Conservation Buffer was 0.625% on January 1, 2016 and 1.25% on January 1, 2017. The Capital Conservation Buffer will increase by 0.625% each year until it reaches 2.5% on January 1, 2019.




-112-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(13) Derivative Financial Instruments
The Corporation’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of the Corporation’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally to manage the Corporation’s interest rate risk. Additionally, the Corporation enters into interest rate derivatives to accommodate the business requirements of its customers. All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and are measured at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and resulting designation.

Interest Rate Risk Management Agreements
Interest rate risk management agreements, such as swaps, caps and floors, are used from time to time as part of the Corporation’s interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which the Corporation and another party agree to exchange interest payments (e.g., fixed-rate for variable-rate payments) computed on a notional principal amount. Interest rate caps and floors represent options purchased by the Corporation to manage the interest rate paid throughout the term of the option contract. The credit risk associated with these transactions is the risk of default by the counterparty. To minimize this risk, the Corporation enters into interest rate agreements only with highly rated counterparties that management believes to be creditworthy. The notional amounts of these agreements do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of the potential loss exposure.

Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Bank had two interest rate swap contracts with a total notional amount of $60.0 million that were designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the interest rate risk associated with short-term variable rate FHLB advances. The interest rate swaps mature in 2021 and 2023.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Bancorp had two interest rate caps with a total notional amount of $22.7 million that were designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the interest rate risk associated with our variable rate junior subordinated debentures. For both interest rate caps, the Bancorp obtained the right to receive the difference between 3-month LIBOR and a 4.5% strike. The caps mature in 2020.

During 2017, the Bank executed three interest rate floor contracts with a total notional amount of $300.0 million that were designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the interest rate risk associated with a pool of variable rate commercial loans. The Bank obtained the right to receive the difference between 1-month LIBOR and a 1.0% strike for each of the interest rate floors. The floors mature in 2020.

The effective portion of the changes in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is recorded in other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified to earnings when gains or losses are realized.  The ineffective portion of changes in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, there was no ineffectiveness recorded in earnings.

Loan Related Derivative Contracts
Interest Rate Swap Contracts with Customers
The Corporation has entered into interest rate swap contracts to help commercial loan borrowers manage their interest rate risk.  The interest rate swap contracts with commercial loan borrowers allow them to convert variable-rate loan payments to fixed-rate loan payments.  When we enter into an interest rate swap contract with a commercial loan borrower, we simultaneously enter into a “mirror” swap contract with a third party.  The third party exchanges the client’s fixed-rate loan payments for variable-rate loan payments.  We retain the risk that is associated with the potential failure of counterparties and the risk inherent in originating loans.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, Washington Trust had interest rate swap contracts with commercial loan borrowers with notional amounts of $545.0 million and $428.7 million, respectively, and equal amounts of “mirror” swap contracts with third-party financial institutions.  These derivatives are not designated as hedges and therefore, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.

Risk Participation Agreements
The Corporation has entered into risk participation agreements with other banks participating in commercial loan arrangements. Participating banks guarantee the performance on borrower-related interest rate swap contracts. These derivatives are not designated as hedges and therefore, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.


-113-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)


Under a risk participation-out agreement, a derivative asset, the Corporation participates out a portion of the credit risk associated with the interest rate swap position executed with the commercial borrower for a fee paid to the participating bank. Under a risk participation-in agreement, a derivative liability, the Corporation assumes, or participates in, a portion of the credit risk associated with the interest rate swap position with the commercial borrower for a fee received from the other bank.

As of December 31, 2017, the notional amounts of the risk participation-out agreements and risk participation-in agreements were $52.4 million and $34.1 million, respectively, compared to $38.3 million and $28.5 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2016.

Foreign Exchange Contracts
Foreign exchange contracts represent a contractual commitment to buy or sell a foreign currency on a future date at a specified price. The Corporation uses these foreign exchange contracts on a limited basis to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates associated with a commercial loan that is denominated in a foreign currency. These derivatives are not designated as hedges and therefore changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. The changes in fair value on the foreign exchange contracts substantially offset the foreign currency translation gains and losses on the related commercial loan.

As of December 31, 2017, the notional amount of foreign exchange contracts was $3.0 million.

Loan Commitments
Interest rate lock commitments are extended to borrowers and relate to the origination of residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale.  To mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in these rate locks, as well as closed residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale, forward commitments are established to sell individual residential real estate mortgage loans.  Both interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgage loans are derivative financial instruments, but do not meet criteria for hedge accounting and, as such the changes in fair value of these commitments are reflected in earnings. The Corporation has elected to carry closed residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale at fair value, as changes in fair value in these loans held for sale generally offset changes in interest rate lock and forward sale commitments.



-114-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the fair values of derivative instruments in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:
(Dollars in thousands)
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
Fair Value
December 31,
Balance Sheet Location
 
2017
 
2016
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
2017
 
2016
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
Other assets
 

$213

 

$—

 
Other liabilities
 

$14

 

$378

Interest rate caps
Other assets
 
25

 
134

 
Other liabilities
 
—

 
—

Interest rate floors
Other assets
 
110

 
—

 
Other liabilities
 
—

 
—

Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward loan commitments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
Other assets
 
965

 
1,133

 
Other liabilities
 
20

 
88

Commitments to sell mortgage loans
Other assets
 
26

 
279

 
Other liabilities
 
1,424

 
1,349

Loan related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
Other assets
 
268

 
2,036

 
Other liabilities
 
1,295

 
—

Mirror swaps with counterparties
Other assets
 
1,152

 
—

 
Other liabilities
 
268

 
2,228

Risk participation agreements
Other assets
 
—

 
—

 
Other liabilities
 
—

 
—

Foreign exchange contracts
Other assets
 
—

 
—

 
Other liabilities
 
26

 
—

Total
 
 

$2,759

 

$3,582

 
 
 

$3,047

 

$4,043


The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments in the Corporation’s Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity and Consolidated Statements of Income:
(Dollars in thousands)
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax (Effective Portion)
Years ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps

$358


($224
)

$288

Interest rate caps
(64
)
(33
)
(44
)
Interest rate floors
(346
)
—

—

Total

($52
)

($257
)

$244




-115-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Years ended December 31,
Statement of Income Location
2017
2016
2015
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
Forward loan commitments:
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
Mortgage banking revenues

($100
)

($175
)

$28

Commitments to sell mortgage loans
Mortgage banking revenues
(328
)
942

3

Loan related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
Loan related derivative income
2,243

(598
)
7,569

Mirror swaps with counterparties
Loan related derivative income
1,198

3,854

(4,904
)
Risk participation agreements
Loan related derivative income
(233
)
(13
)
(224
)
Foreign exchange contracts
Loan related derivative income
6

—

—

Total
 

$2,786


$4,010


$2,472


(14) Balance Sheet Offsetting
For interest rate risk management contracts and loan related derivative contracts, the Corporation records derivative assets and derivative liabilities on a net basis. The interest rate risk management contracts and loan related derivative contracts with counterparties are subject to master netting agreements. The following tables present the Corporation’s derivative asset and derivative liability positions and the effect of netting arrangements on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
(Dollars in thousands)
Gross Derivative Positions
 
Offsetting Derivative Positions
 
Net Amounts Presented in Balance Sheet
 
Cash Collateral Pledged
 
Net Amount
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Derivative Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate caps

$25

 

$—

 

$25

 

$—

 

$25

Interest rate floors
110

 
—

 
110

 
—

 
110

Interest rate swaps
213

 
—

 
213

 
—

 
213

Loan related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
2,857

 
2,589

 
268

 
—

 
268

Mirror swaps with counterparties
3,801

 
2,649

 
1,152

 
—

 
1,152

Total

$7,006

 

$5,238

 

$1,768

 

$—

 

$1,768

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps

$14

 

$—

 

$14

 

$14

 

$—

Loan related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
3,884

 
2,589

 
1,295

 
1,025

 
270

Mirror swaps with counterparties
2,917

 
2,649

 
268

 
—

 
268

Foreign exchange contracts
26

 
—

 
26

 
—

 
26

Total

$6,841

 

$5,238

 

$1,603

 

$1,039

 

$564




-116-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands)
Gross Derivative Positions
 
Offsetting Derivative Positions
 
Net Amounts Presented in Balance Sheet
 
Cash Collateral Pledged
 
Net Amount
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Derivative Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate caps

$134

 

$—

 

$134

 

$—

 

$134

Loan related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
4,920

 
2,884

 
2,036

 
—

 
2,036

Mirror swaps with counterparties
2,758

 
2,758

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total

$7,812

 

$5,642

 

$2,170

 

$—

 

$2,170

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers

$2,884

 

$2,884

 

$—

 

$—

 

$—

Mirror swaps with counterparties
4,986

 
2,758

 
2,228

 
1,295

 
933

Total

$8,248

 

$5,642

 

$2,606

 

$1,428

 

$1,178


As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, Washington Trust pledged collateral to derivative counterparties in the form of cash totaling $1.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Washington Trust may need to post additional collateral in the future in proportion to potential increases in unrealized loss positions.

(15) Fair Value Measurements
The Corporation uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, securities available for sale, residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale, derivatives and the contingent consideration liability are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.  Additionally, from time to time, we may be required to record at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis, such as collateral dependent impaired loans, property acquired through foreclosure or repossession and mortgage servicing rights.  These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve the application of lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets.

Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement.  Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions the market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.  In addition, GAAP specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the types of valuation information (“inputs”) are observable or unobservable.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Corporation’s market assumptions.  These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy:

•
Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
•
Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.
•
Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable in the markets and which reflect the Corporation’s market assumptions.

Fair Value Option Election
GAAP allows for the irrevocable option to elect fair value accounting for the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis. The Corporation has elected the fair value option for residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale to better match changes in fair value of the loans with changes in the fair value of the derivative loan sale contracts used to economically hedge them.



-117-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The aggregate principal amount of the residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale recorded at fair value was $26.4 million and $29.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The aggregate fair value of these loans as of the same dates was $26.9 million and $29.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the aggregate fair value of residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale exceeded the aggregate principal amount by $543 thousand and $40 thousand, respectively.

There were no residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale 90 days or more past due as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The following table presents the changes in fair value related to mortgage loans held for sale, interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgage loans, for which the fair value option was elected. Changes in fair values are reported as a component of mortgage banking revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

2016

2015

Mortgage loans held for sale

$503


($691
)

($48
)
Interest rate lock commitments
(100
)
(175
)
28

Commitments to sell
(328
)
942

3

Total changes in fair value

$75


$76


($17
)

Valuation Techniques
Securities
Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.  When available, the Corporation uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of securities; such items are classified as Level 1. There were no Level 1 securities held at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Level 2 securities include debt securities with quoted prices, which are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments. The fair value of these securities is determined using matrix pricing with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.  This category includes obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, including mortgage-backed securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities and corporate bonds.

Securities not actively traded whose fair value is determined through the use of cash flows utilizing inputs that are unobservable are classified as Level 3. There were no Level 3 securities held at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is estimated based on current market prices for similar loans in the secondary market and therefore are classified as Level 2 assets.

Collateral Dependent Impaired Loans
The fair value of collateral dependent loans that are deemed to be impaired is determined based upon the fair value of the underlying collateral. Such collateral primarily consists of real estate and, to a lesser extent, other business assets. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the sale of the collateral, management adjusts the fair value for estimated costs to sell. For collateral dependent loans for which repayment is dependent on the operation of the collateral, such as accruing troubled debt restructured loans, estimated costs to sell are not incorporated into the measurement. Management may also adjust appraised values to reflect estimated market value declines or apply other discounts to appraised values resulting from its knowledge of the property. Internal valuations are utilized to determine the fair value of other business assets. Collateral dependent impaired loans are categorized as Level 3.

Property Acquired Through Foreclosure or Repossession
Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets is adjusted to fair value less costs to sell upon transfer out of loans through a charge to allowance for loan losses. Subsequently, it is carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. Such subsequent valuation charges are charged


-118-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

through earnings. Fair value is generally based upon appraised values of the collateral. Management may adjust appraised values to reflect estimated market value declines or apply other discounts to appraised values for unobservable factors resulting from its knowledge of the property, and such property is categorized as Level 3.

Derivatives
Interest rate swap, cap and floor contracts are traded in over-the-counter markets where quoted market prices are not readily available.  Fair value measurements are determined using independent pricing models that utilize primarily market observable inputs, such as swap rates of different maturities and LIBOR rates. The Corporation also evaluates the credit risk of its counterparties as well as that of the Corporation.  Accordingly, Washington Trust considers factors such as the likelihood of default by the Corporation and its counterparties, its net exposures and remaining contractual life, among other factors, in determining if any fair value adjustments related to credit risk are required.  Counterparty exposure is evaluated by netting positions that are subject to master netting agreements, as well as considering the amount of collateral securing the position. Although the Corporation has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate swap, cap and floor contracts fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with interest rate contracts and risk participation agreements utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Corporation and its counterparties. However, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Corporation has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. As a result, the Corporation has classified its derivative valuations in their entirety as Level 2.

Fair value measurements of forward loan commitments (interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgages) are estimated based on current market prices for similar assets in the secondary market and therefore are classified as Level 2 assets.

Contingent Consideration Liability
A contingent consideration liability was recognized upon the completion of the Halsey acquisition on August 1, 2015 representing the estimated present value of future earn-outs to be paid based on the future revenue growth of the acquired business during the five-year period following the acquisition.

The fair value measurement is based upon unobservable inputs, therefore, the contingent liability is classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The unobservable inputs include probability estimates regarding the likelihood of achieving revenue growth targets and the discount rates utilized the discounted cash flow calculations applied to the estimates earn-outs to be paid. The contingent consideration liability is remeasured to fair value at each reporting period taking into consideration changes in those unobservable inputs. Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability are included in noninterest expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

One of the two earn-out periods associated with this contingent consideration liability ended December 31, 2017. As such, the applicable portion of the liability was adjusted to the payout amount based on the actual revenue growth results achieved during the first earn-out period. The discount rate used for the remaining portion of the contingent consideration liability was 4%.

The fair value of the contingency represents the estimated price to transfer the liability between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions.



-119-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Items Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following tables present the balances of assets and liabilities reported at fair value on a recurring basis:
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$157,604

 

$—

 

$157,604

 

$—

Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
590,882

 
—

 
590,882

 
—

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
2,359

 
—

 
2,359

 
—

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
16,984

 
—

 
16,984

 
—

Corporate bonds
13,125

 
—

 
13,125

 
—

Mortgage loans held for sale
26,943

 
—

 
26,943

 
—

Derivative assets
2,759

 
—

 
2,759

 
—

Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis

$810,656

 

$—

 

$810,656

 

$—

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities

$3,047

 

$—

 

$3,047

 

$—

Contingent consideration liability
1,404

 
—

 
—

 
1,404

Total liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis

$4,451

 

$—

 

$3,047

 

$1,404



(Dollars in thousands)
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises

$108,440

 

$—

 

$108,440

 

$—

Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
588,085

 
—

 
588,085

 
—

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
14,485

 
—

 
14,485

 
—

Individual name issuer trust preferred debt securities
26,736

 
—

 
26,736

 
—

Corporate bonds
2,166

 
—

 
2,166

 
—

Mortgage loans held for sale
29,434

 
—

 
29,434

 
—

Derivative assets
3,582

 
—

 
3,582

 
—

Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis

$772,928

 

$—

 

$772,928

 

$—

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities

$4,043

 

$—

 

$4,043

 

$—

Contingent consideration liability
2,047

 
—

 
—

 
2,047

Total liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis

$6,090

 

$—

 

$4,043

 

$2,047


It is the Corporation’s policy to review and reflect transfers between Levels as of the financial statement reporting date.  There were no transfers in and/or out of Level 1, 2 or 3 during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.



-120-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The contingent consideration liability is a Level 3 liability remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis. The following table presents the change in the contingent consideration liability, which is included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

2016

Beginning Balance

$2,047


$2,945

Change in fair value
(643
)
(898
)
Payments
—

—

Ending Balance

$1,404


$2,047


Items Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
The following table presents the carrying value of assets held at December 31, 2017, which were written down to fair value during the year ended December 31, 2017:
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral dependent impaired loans

$1,425

 

$—

 

$—

 

$1,425

Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
131

 
—

 
—

 
131

Total assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis

$1,556

 

$—

 

$—

 

$1,556


The allowance for loan losses on the collateral dependent impaired loans included in the table above amounted to $690 thousand at December 31, 2017.

The following table summarizes the carrying value of assets held at December 31, 2016, which were written down to fair value during the year ended December 31, 2016:
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral dependent impaired loans

$3,828

 

$—

 

$—

 

$3,828

Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
605

 
—

 
—

 
605

Total assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis

$4,433

 

$—

 

$—

 

$4,433


The allowance for loan losses on the collateral dependent impaired loans included in the table above amounted to $469 thousand at December 31, 2016.



-121-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following tables present valuation techniques and unobservable inputs for assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for which the Corporation has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value:
(Dollars in thousands)
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
Range of Inputs Utilized (Weighted Average)
December 31, 2017
 
 
Collateral dependent impaired loans

$1,425

 
Appraisals of collateral
 
Discount for costs to sell
0% - 15% (15%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
131

 
Appraisals of collateral
 
Discount for costs to sell
10%
 
 
 
 
 
Appraisal adjustments (1)
12% - 17% (15%)
(1)
Management adjusts appraisal values to reflect market value declines or other discounts resulting from its knowledge of the property.

(Dollars in thousands)
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
Range of Inputs Utilized (Weighted Average)
December 31, 2016
 
 
Collateral dependent impaired loans

$3,828

 
Appraisals of collateral
 
Discount for costs to sell
10% - 20% (15%)
 
 
 
 
 
Appraisal adjustments (1)
0% - 10% (9%)
Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession
605

 
Appraisals of collateral
 
Discount for costs to sell
10% - 12% (11%)
 
 
 
 
 
Appraisal adjustments (1)
6% - 50% (24%)
(1)
Management adjusts appraisal values to reflect market value declines or other discounts resulting from its knowledge of the property.

Valuation of Other Financial Instruments
The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis are discussed above. The methodologies for other financial instruments are discussed below.

Loans
Fair values are estimated for categories of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type and are then further segmented into fixed-rate and adjustable-rate interest terms to determine their fair value. The fair value of fixed-rate commercial and consumer loans is calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity of the loan using interest rates offered at the measurement date that reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan. The estimate of maturity is based on the Corporation’s historical repayment experience. For residential mortgages, fair value is estimated by using market prices for sales of similar loans on the secondary market. The fair value of variable-rate commercial and consumer loans approximates carrying value. Fair value for impaired loans is estimated using a discounted cash flow method based upon the loan’s contractual effective interest rate, or at the loan’s observable market price, or if the loan is collateral dependent, at the fair value of the collateral. Loans are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Time Deposits
The discounted values of cash flows using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities were used to estimate the fair value of time deposits. Time deposits are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances
Rates currently available to the Corporation for advances with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate fair value of existing advances. FHLB advances are categorized as Level 2.

Junior Subordinated Debentures
The fair value of the junior subordinated debentures is estimated using rates currently available to the Corporation for debentures with similar terms and maturities. Junior subordinated debentures are categorized as Level 2.



-122-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following tables present the carrying amount, estimated fair value and placement in the fair value hierarchy of the Corporation’s financial instruments. The tables exclude financial instruments for which the carrying value approximates fair value such as cash and cash equivalents, FHLB stock, accrued interest receivable, bank-owned life insurance, non-maturity deposits and accrued interest payable.
(Dollars in thousands)
Carrying Amount
 
Total
 Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities held to maturity

$12,541

 

$12,721

 

$—

 

$12,721

 

$—

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
3,347,583

 
3,369,932

 
—

 
—

 
3,369,932

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time deposits

$1,015,095

 

$1,018,396

 

$—

 

$1,018,396

 

$—

FHLB advances
791,356

 
792,887

 
—

 
792,887

 
—

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
18,559

 
—

 
18,559

 
—


(Dollars in thousands)
Carrying Amount
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Financial Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities held to maturity

$15,633

 

$15,920

 

$—

 

$15,920

 

$—

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
3,208,367

 
3,218,651

 
—

 
—

 
3,218,651

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time deposits

$961,613

 

$962,374

 

$—

 

$962,374

 

$—

FHLB advances
848,930

 
852,888

 
—

 
852,888

 
—

Junior subordinated debentures
22,681

 
16,970

 
—

 
16,970

 
—




-123-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(16) Employee Benefits
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The Corporation maintains a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of certain eligible employees who were hired prior to October 1, 2007. The Corporation also has non-qualified retirement plans to provide supplemental retirement benefits to certain employees, as defined in the plans. The defined benefit pension plans were previously amended to freeze benefit accruals after a 10-year transition period ending in December 2023.

The defined benefit pension plan is funded on a current basis, in compliance with the requirements of ERISA.

The non-qualified retirement plans provide for the designation of assets in rabbi trusts.  Securities available for sale and other short-term investments designated for this purpose, with the carrying value of $13.3 million and $11.7 million are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Pension benefit costs and benefit obligations incorporate various actuarial and other assumptions, including discount rates, mortality, rates of return on plan assets and compensation increases. Washington Trust evaluates these assumptions annually.

The following table presents the plans’ projected benefit obligations, fair value of plan assets and funded (unfunded) status:
(Dollars in thousands)
Qualified
Pension Plan
 
Non-Qualified
Retirement Plans
At December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Change in Benefit Obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of period

$72,951

 

$67,550

 

$13,154

 

$13,015

Service cost
2,149

 
2,148

 
129

 
122

Interest cost
2,673

 
2,576

 
428

 
432

Actuarial loss
7,017

 
3,888

 
2,275

 
374

Benefits paid
(3,936
)
 
(3,072
)
 
(783
)
 
(789
)
Administrative expenses
(131
)
 
(139
)
 
—

 
—

Benefit obligation at end of period
80,723

 
72,951

 
15,203

 
13,154

Change in Plan Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period
75,787

 
65,710

 
—

 
—

Actual return on plan assets
12,644

 
4,788

 
—

 
—

Employer contributions
3,000

 
8,500

 
783

 
789

Benefits paid
(3,936
)
 
(3,072
)
 
(783
)
 
(789
)
Administrative expenses
(131
)
 
(139
)
 
—

 
—

Fair value of plan assets at end of period
87,364

 
75,787

 
—

 
—

Funded (unfunded) status at end of period

$6,641

 

$2,836

 

($15,203
)
 

($13,154
)

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the funded status of the qualified defined benefit pension plan amounted to $6.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively, and was included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The unfunded status of the non-qualified defined benefit retirement plans was $15.2 million and $13.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and was included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.



-124-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents components of accumulated other comprehensive income related to the qualified pension plan and non-qualified retirement plans, on a pre-tax basis:
(Dollars in thousands)
Qualified
Pension Plan
 
Non-Qualified
Retirement Plans
 
 
At December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net actuarial loss

$13,795

 

$15,593

 

$6,448

 

$4,519

Prior service credit
(39
)
 
(62
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Total pre-tax amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income

$13,756

 

$15,531

 

$6,447

 

$4,518


The accumulated benefit obligation for the qualified pension plan was $72.9 million and $65.8 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  The accumulated benefit obligation for the non-qualified retirement plans amounted to $14.0 million and $12.0 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The following table presents components of net periodic benefit cost and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), on a pre-tax basis:
(Dollars in thousands)
Qualified
Pension Plan
 
Non-Qualified
Retirement Plans
Years ended December 31,
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost

$2,149

 

$2,148

 

$2,459

 

$129

 

$122

 

$78

Interest cost
2,673

 
2,576

 
2,928

 
428

 
432

 
490

Expected return on plan assets
(4,942
)
 
(4,633
)
 
(4,515
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Amortization of prior service credit
(23
)
 
(23
)
 
(23
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Recognized net actuarial loss
1,114

 
828

 
1,249

 
347

 
247

 
245

Net periodic benefit cost
971

 
896

 
2,098

 
903

 
800

 
812

Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (on a pre-tax basis):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (gain) loss
(1,798
)
 
2,904

 
(2,816
)
 
1,928

 
127

 
(156
)
Prior service cost
23

 
23

 
23

 
1

 
1

 
1

Recognized in other comprehensive (loss) income
(1,775
)
 
2,927

 
(2,793
)
 
1,929

 
128

 
(155
)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive (loss) income

($804
)
 

$3,823

 

($695
)
 

$2,832

 

$928

 

$657


For the qualified pension plan, an estimated prior service credit of $23 thousand and net losses of $1.5 million will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic benefit cost during the year 2018. For the non-qualified retirement plans, an estimated prior service credit of $1 thousand and net losses of $287 thousand will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic benefit cost during the year 2018.



-125-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Assumptions
The following table presents the measurement date and weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31, 2017 and 2016:
 
Qualified Pension Plan
 
Non-Qualified Retirement Plans
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Measurement date
Dec 31, 2017
 
Dec 31, 2016
 
Dec 31, 2017
 
Dec 31, 2016
Discount rate
3.69%
 
4.18%
 
3.60%
 
4.00%
Rate of compensation increase
3.75
 
3.75
 
3.75
 
3.75

The following table presents the measurement date and weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
 
Qualified Pension Plan
 
Non-Qualified Retirement Plans
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Measurement date
Dec 31, 2016
 
Dec 31, 2015
 
Dec 31, 2014
 
Dec 31, 2016
 
Dec 31, 2015
 
Dec 31, 2014
Discount rate
N/A
 
N/A
 
4.125%
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
3.90%
Equivalent single discount rate for benefit obligations
4.18%
 
4.48
 
N/A
 
4.00%
 
4.20
 
N/A
Equivalent single discount rate for service cost
4.29
 
4.63
 
N/A
 
4.25
 
4.59
 
N/A
Equivalent single discount rate for interest cost
3.73
 
3.88
 
N/A
 
3.40
 
3.44
 
N/A
Expected long-term return on plan assets
6.75
 
6.75
 
7.25
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
Rate of compensation increase
3.75
 
3.75
 
3.75
 
3.75
 
3.75
 
3.75

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on what the Corporation believes is realistically achievable based on the types of assets held by the plan and the plan’s investment practices.  The assumption is updated annually, taking into account the asset allocation, historical asset return trends on the types of assets held and the current and expected economic conditions. Future decreases in the long-term rate of return assumption on plan assets would increase pension costs and, in general, may increase the requirement to make funding contributions to the plans. Future increases in the long-term rate of return on plan assets would have the opposite effect.

The discount rate assumption for defined benefit pension plans is reset on the measurement date.  Discount rates are selected for each plan by matching expected future benefit payments stream to a yield curve based on a selection of high-
quality fixed-income debt securities. Future decreases in discount rates would increase the present value of pension obligations and increase our pension costs, while future increases in discount rates would have the opposite effect.

Prior to 2016, a single weighted-average discount rate was used to calculate interest and service cost components of net periodic benefit cost. For 2016 and periods thereafter, Washington Trust utilized a "spot rate approach" in the calculation of interest and service cost. The spot rate approach applies separate discount rates for each projected benefit payment in the calculation of interest and service cost. This approach provides a more precise measurement of service and interest cost by improving the correlation between projected benefit cash flows and their corresponding spot rates.



-126-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Plan Assets
The following tables present the fair values of the qualified pension plan’s assets:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
Assets at
Fair Value
December 31, 2017
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents

$3,760

 

$—

 

$—

 

$3,760

Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
—

 
5,926

 
—

 
5,926

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
—

 
2,971

 
—

 
2,971

Corporate bonds
—

 
13,112

 
—

 
13,112

Common stocks
38,508

 
—

 
—

 
38,508

Mutual funds
23,087

 
—

 
—

 
23,087

Total plan assets

$65,355

 

$22,009

 

$—

 

$87,364


(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
Assets at
Fair Value
December 31, 2016
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents

$2,880

 

$—

 

$—

 

$2,880

Obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
—

 
4,233

 
—

 
4,233

Obligations of states and political subdivisions
—

 
3,418

 
—

 
3,418

Corporate bonds
—

 
13,775

 
—

 
13,775

Common stocks
33,893

 
—

 
—

 
33,893

Mutual funds
17,588

 
—

 
—

 
17,588

Total plan assets

$54,361

 

$21,426

 

$—

 

$75,787


The qualified pension plan uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to the securities held in its investment portfolio.

When available, the qualified pension plan uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of securities; such items are classified as Level 1.  This category includes cash equivalents, common stocks and mutual funds which are exchange-traded.

Level 2 securities in the qualified pension plan include debt securities with quoted prices, which are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments, whose values are determined using matrix pricing with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.  This category includes obligations of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, obligations of states and political subdivisions and corporate bonds.

In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation, securities may be classified as Level 3.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the qualified pension plan did not have any securities in the Level 3 category.



-127-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table present the asset allocations of the qualified pension plan, by asset category:
December 31,
2017

 
2016

Asset Category:
 
 
 
Equity securities
65.7
%
 
63.8
%
Fixed income securities
30.0

 
32.4

Cash and cash equivalents
4.3

 
3.8

Total
100.0
%
 
100.0
%

The assets of the qualified defined benefit pension plan trust (the “Pension Trust”) are managed to balance the needs of cash flow requirements and long-term rate of return.  Cash inflow is typically comprised of investment income from portfolio holdings and Bank contributions, while cash outflow is for the purpose of paying plan benefits and certain plan expenses.  As early as possible each year, the trustee is advised of the projected schedule of employer contributions and estimations of benefit payments.  As a general rule, the trustee shall invest the funds to produce sufficient income to cover benefit payments and maintain a funded status that exceeds the regulatory requirements for tax-qualified defined benefit plans.

The investment philosophy used for the Pension Trust emphasizes consistency of results over an extended market cycle, while reducing the impact of the volatility of the security markets upon investment results.  The assets of the Pension Trust should be protected by substantial diversification of investments, providing exposure to a wide range of quality investment opportunities in various asset classes, with a high degree of liquidity.

The investment objective with respect to the Pension Trust assets is to provide capital appreciation with a current income component.  At any time, the portfolio will typically be invested in the following ranges:  50% to 70% in equities; 30% to 50% in fixed income; and 0% to 10% in cash and cash equivalents.  The trustee investment manager will have authorization to invest within these ranges, making decisions based upon market conditions.

Fixed income bond investments should be limited to those in the top four categories used by the major credit rating agencies.  High yield bond funds may be used to provide exposure to this asset class as a diversification tool provided they do not exceed 10% of the portfolio.  In order to reduce the volatility of the annual rate of return of the bond portfolio, attention will be given to the maturity structure of the portfolio in the light of money market conditions and interest rate forecasts.  The assets of the Pension Trust will typically have a laddered maturity structure, avoiding large concentrations in any single year.  Equity holdings provide opportunities for dividend and capital appreciation returns.  Holdings will be appropriately diversified by maintaining broad exposure to large-, mid- and small-cap stocks as well as international equities.  Concentration in small-cap, mid-cap and international equities is limited to no more than 20%, 20% and 30% of the equity portfolio, respectively.  Investment selection and mix of equity holdings should be influenced by forecasts of economic activity, corporate profits and allocation among different segments of the economy while ensuring efficient diversification.  The fair value of equity securities of any one issuer will not be permitted to exceed 10% of the total fair value of equity holdings of the Pension Trust.  Investments in publicly traded real estate investment trust securities and low-risk derivatives securities such as callable securities, variable-rate notes, mortgage-backed securities and treasury inflation protected securities, are permitted.

Cash Flows
Contributions
The Internal Revenue Code permits flexibility in plan contributions so that normally a range of contributions is possible.  The Corporation’s current funding policy has been generally to contribute the minimum required contribution and additional amounts up to the maximum deductible contribution.  The Corporation expects to contribute $3.0 million to the qualified pension plan in 2018.  In addition, the Corporation expects to contribute $897 thousand in benefit payments to the non-qualified retirement plans in 2018.



-128-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Estimated Future Benefit Payments
The following table presents the benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, expected to be paid:
(Dollars in thousands)
Qualified
Pension Plan
 
Non-Qualified
Retirement Plans
2018

$3,964

 

$897

2019
2,931

 
891

2020
3,387

 
879

2021
3,784

 
868

2022
4,378

 
891

Years 2023 - 2027
28,050

 
4,221


401(k) Plan
The Corporation’s 401(k) Plan provides a match up to a maximum of 3% of employee contributions for substantially all employees.  In addition, substantially all employees hired after September 30, 2007, who are ineligible for participation in the qualified defined benefit pension plan, receive a non-elective employer contribution of 4%.  Total employer matching contributions under this plan amounted to $2.3 million, $2.3 million and $1.8 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Other Incentive Plans
The Corporation maintains several non-qualified incentive compensation plans.  Substantially all employees participate in one of the incentive compensation plans.  Incentive plans provide for annual or more frequent payments based on individual, business line and/or corporate performance targets (measured in terms of the Corporation’s net income, earnings per share and return on equity.)  Total incentive based compensation in 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $16.9 million, $16.0 million and $14.3 million, respectively.  In general, the terms of incentive plans are subject to annual renewal and may be terminated at any time by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

Deferred Compensation Plan
The Amended and Restated Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan provides supplemental retirement and tax benefits to directors and certain officers.  The plan is funded primarily through pre-tax contributions made by the participants.  The assets and liabilities of the Deferred Compensation Plan are recorded at fair value in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The participants in the plan bear the risk of market fluctuations of the underlying assets.  The accrued liability related to this plan amounted to $14.2 million and $10.8 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and is included in other liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The corresponding invested assets are reported in other assets.

(17) Share-Based Compensation Arrangements
Washington Trust’s share-based compensation plans are described below.

The 2013 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) was approved by shareholders on April 23, 2013. Under the 2013 Plan, the maximum number of shares of the Bancorp’s common stock to be issued is 1,748,250. The 2013 Plan permits the granting of stock options and other equity incentives to officers, employees, directors and other key persons.

The 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2003 Plan”) was amended and restated and approved by shareholders in April 2009.  Under the 2003 Plan, as amended and restated, the maximum number of shares of Bancorp’s common stock to be issued is 1,200,000 shares and the number of shares that can be issued in the form of awards other than stock options or stock appreciation rights is 400,000.  The 2003 Plan permits the granting of stock options and other equity incentives to officers, employees, directors and other key persons.

The exercise price of each stock option may not be less than the fair market value of the Bancorp’s common stock on the date of grant, and options shall have a term of no more than ten years. Stock options are designated as either non-qualified or incentive stock options. In general, the stock option price is payable in cash, by the delivery of shares of common


-129-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

stock already owned by the grantee, or a combination thereof.  With respect only to non-qualified stock option grants issued under the 2013 Plan, the exercise may also be accomplished by withholding the exercise price from the number of shares that would otherwise be delivered upon a cash exercise of the option. The fair value of stock options on the date of grant is estimated using the Black-Scholes Option-Pricing Model.

Awards of nonvested share units and nonvested performance share units are valued at the fair market value of the Bancorp’s common stock as of the award date.  Performance share awards are granted in order to provide certain officers of the Corporation the opportunity to earn shares of common stock, the number of which is determined pursuant to, and subject to the attainment of, performance goals during a specified measurement period.  The number of shares earned will range from zero to 200% of the target number of shares dependent upon the Corporation’s core return on equity and core earnings per share growth ranking compared to an industry peer group.

Vesting of stock options and share awards may accelerate or may be subject to proportional vesting if there is a change in control, disability, retirement or death (as defined in the 2013 Plan and the 2003 Plan).

The following table presents share-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for stock options, nonvested share awards and nonvested performance shares:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Share-based compensation expense

$2,577

 

$2,190

 

$2,074

Related income tax benefit

$606

 

$810

 

$767


Compensation expense for awards is recognized over the service period based on the fair value at the date of grant.  Nonvested performance share unit compensation expense is based on the most recent performance assumption available and is adjusted as assumptions change.  If the goals are not met, no compensation cost will be recognized and any recognized compensation costs will be reversed.

Stock Options
Washington Trust uses historical data to estimate stock option exercise and employee departure behavior used in the option-pricing model. The expected term of options granted was derived from the output of the option valuation model and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding.  Expected volatility was based on historical volatility of Washington Trust shares.  The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the stock option was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant.

The following presents the assumptions used in determining the grant date fair value of the stock option awards granted to certain key employees:
 
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Options granted
47,725
 
53,400
 
48,600
Cliff vesting period (years)
3

 
3

 
3-5

Expected term (years)
7.0

 
7.5

 
7.5

Expected dividend yield
3.57
%
 
3.89
%
 
3.94
%
Weighted average expected volatility
27.10
%
 
29.99
%
 
40.76
%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate
1.70
%
 
1.66
%
 
1.95
%
Weighted average grant-date fair value
$10.60
 
$7.92
 
$11.15



-130-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents a summary of the status of Washington Trust’s stock options outstanding as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017:
 
Number of Stock Options
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (000’s)
Beginning of period
219,279

 

$32.70

 
 
 
 
Granted
47,725

 
58.05

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(39,076
)
 
28.30

 
 
 
 
Forfeited or expired
(4,075
)
 
43.06

 
 
 
 
End of period
223,853

 

$38.68

 
7.22
 

$3,487

At end of period:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options exercisable
80,003

 

$25.89

 
4.38
 

$2,189

Options expected to vest in future periods
143,850

 

$45.80

 
8.80
 

$1,298


The total intrinsic value is the amount by which the fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of an option on the exercise date.

The following table presents additional information concerning options outstanding and options exercisable at December 31, 2017:
 
Options Outstanding
 
Options Exercisable
Exercise Price Ranges
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted Average
Remaining Life (Years)
 
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
$15.01 to $20.00
11,700

 
1.87

 

$17.52

 
11,700

 

$17.52

$20.01 to $25.00
38,593

 
3.88

 
23.14

 
38,593

 
23.14

$25.01 to $30.00
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

$30.01 to $35.00
29,710

 
6.00

 
32.76

 
29,710

 
32.76

$35.01 to $40.00
46,000

 
7.76

 
39.39

 
—

 
—

$40.01 to $45.00
50,800

 
8.80

 
40.25

 
—

 
—

$45.01 to $50.00
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

$50.01 to $55.00
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

$55.01 to $60.00
47,050

 
9.80

 
58.05

 
—

 
—

 
223,853

 
7.22

 

$38.68

 
80,003

 

$25.89


The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $1.0 million, $3.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

Nonvested Shares
In 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Corporation granted to directors and certain key employees 15,900, 22,175 and 16,275 nonvested share units, respectively, with 3- to 5-year cliff vesting.



-131-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents a summary of the status of Washington Trust’s nonvested share units as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017:
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Beginning of period
49,675

 

$37.12

Granted
15,900

 
54.46

Vested
(11,325
)
 
32.79

Forfeited
(475
)
 
40.25

End of period
53,775

 

$43.13


Nonvested Performance Shares
The Corporation grants performance share units to certain executive officers providing the opportunity to earn shares of common stock over a 3-year performance period based on profitability results of the Corporation in comparison to a peer group. The number of shares earned can range from zero to 200% of the target number of shares depending upon the Corporation’s core return on equity and core earnings per share growth ranking among an industry peer group.

The following table presents a summary of the performance share awards as of December 31, 2017:
 
 
 
Grant Date Fair Value per Share
 
Current Performance Assumption
 
Expected Number of Shares
Performance shares awarded in:
2017
 
$51.85
 
140%
 
36,470

 
2016
 
36.11
 
133%
 
45,220

 
2015
 
38.02
 
135%
 
35,775

Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
117,465


The following table presents a summary of the status of Washington Trust’s performance share units as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017:
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Beginning of period
101,998

 

$36.58

Granted
36,470

 
51.85

Vested
(16,707
)
 
34.66

Forfeited
(4,296
)
 
36.93

End of period
117,465

 

$41.58


As of December 31, 2017, there was $4.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements, including stock options, nonvested share units and performance share units granted under the Plans.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.99 years.



-132-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(18) Business Segments
Washington Trust segregates financial information in assessing its results among its Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services operating segments.  The amounts in the Corporate unit include activity not related to the segments.

Commercial Banking
The Commercial Banking segment includes commercial, residential and consumer lending activities; mortgage banking activities; deposit generation; cash management activities; and direct banking activities, which include the operation of ATMs, telephone and internet banking services and customer support and sales.

Wealth Management Services
Wealth Management Services includes investment management; financial planning; personal trust and estate services, including services as trustee, personal representative, custodian and guardian; and settlement of decedents’ estates. Institutional trust services are also provided, including fiduciary services.

Corporate
Corporate includes the Treasury Unit, which is responsible for managing the wholesale investment portfolio and wholesale funding needs.  It also includes income from BOLI, as well as administrative and executive expenses not allocated to the operating segments and the residual impact of methodology allocations such as FTP offsets.

The following tables present the statement of operations and total assets for Washington Trust’s reportable segments:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2017
Commercial
Banking
Wealth
Management
Services
Corporate
Consolidated
Total
Net interest income (expense)

$98,736


($167
)

$20,962


$119,531

Provision for loan losses
2,600

—

—

2,600

Net interest income (expense) after provision for loan losses
96,136

(167
)
20,962

116,931

Noninterest income
23,244

39,346

2,219

64,809

Noninterest expenses:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
2,604

1,689

196

4,489

Other noninterest expenses
60,828

26,718

12,065

99,611

Total noninterest expenses
63,432

28,407

12,261

104,100

Income before income taxes
55,948

10,772

10,920

77,640

Income tax expense
23,876

3,795

4,044

31,715

Net income

$32,072


$6,977


$6,876


$45,925

 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at period end

$3,491,845


$66,083


$971,922


$4,529,850

Expenditures for long-lived assets
2,224

360

195

2,779




-133-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2016
Commercial
Banking
Wealth
Management
Services
Corporate
Consolidated
Total
Net interest income (expense)

$91,221


($66
)

$19,323


$110,478

Provision for loan losses
5,650

—

—

5,650

Net interest income (expense) after provision for loan losses
85,571

(66
)
19,323

104,828

Noninterest income
24,783

37,569

2,777

65,129

Noninterest expenses:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
2,771

1,940

224

4,935

Other noninterest expenses
58,452

25,239

12,477

96,168

Total noninterest expenses
61,223

27,179

12,701

101,103

Income before income taxes
49,131

10,324

9,399

68,854

Income tax expense
16,790

3,692

1,891

22,373

Net income

$32,341


$6,632


$7,508


$46,481

 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at period end

$3,354,633


$64,625


$961,857


$4,381,115

Expenditures for long-lived assets
2,267

464

381

3,112



(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2015
Commercial
Banking
Wealth
Management
Services
Corporate
Consolidated
Total
Net interest income

$84,757


($47
)

$19,272


$103,982

Provision for loan losses
1,050

—

—

1,050

Net interest income (expense) after provision for loan losses
83,707

(47
)
19,272

102,932

Noninterest income
20,618

35,416

2,306

58,340

Noninterest expenses:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
2,584

1,488

213

4,285

Other noninterest expenses
55,203

25,632

11,809

92,644

Total noninterest expenses
57,787

27,120

12,022

96,929

Income before income taxes
46,538

8,249

9,556

64,343

Income tax expense
15,330

3,475

2,073

20,878

Net income

$31,208


$4,774


$7,483


$43,465

 
 
 
 
 
Total assets at period end

$3,152,231


$63,801


$555,572


$3,771,604

Expenditures for long-lived assets
4,714

411

354

5,479






-134-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(19) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following tables present the activity in other comprehensive income (loss):
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2017
Pre-tax Amounts
 
Income Taxes
 
Net of Tax
Securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in fair value of securities available for sale

$986

 

$365

 

$621

Net (gains) losses on securities classified into noninterest income
—

 
—

 
—

Net change in fair value of securities available for sale

$986

 

$365

 

$621

Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges
(774
)
 
(223
)
 
(551
)
Net cash flow hedge losses reclassified into earnings (1)
792

 
293

 
499

Net change in the fair value of cash flow hedges
18

 
70

 
(52
)
Defined benefit plan obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit plan obligation adjustment
(1,591
)
 
(594
)
 
(997
)
Amortization of net actuarial losses (2)
1,461

 
546

 
915

Amortization of net prior service credits (2)
(24
)
 
(9
)
 
(15
)
Net change in defined benefit plan obligations
(154
)
 
(57
)
 
(97
)
Total other comprehensive income

$850

 

$378

 

$472

(1) The pre-tax amounts are included in interest expense on Federal Home Loan Bank advances, interest expense on junior subordinated debentures and interest income and fees on loans in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(2)
The pre-tax amounts are included in salaries and employee benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2016
Pre-tax Amounts
 
Income Taxes
 
Net of Tax
Securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in fair value of securities available for sale

($12,502
)
 

($4,626
)
 

($7,876
)
Net (gains) losses on securities classified into noninterest income
—

 
—

 
—

Net change in fair value of securities available for sale

($12,502
)
 

($4,626
)
 

($7,876
)
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges
(403
)
 
(146
)
 
(257
)
Net cash flow hedge losses reclassified into earnings
—

 
—

 
—

Net change in the fair value of cash flow hedges
(403
)
 
(146
)
 
(257
)
Defined benefit plan obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit plan obligation adjustment
(4,106
)
 
(1,518
)
 
(2,588
)
Amortization of net actuarial losses (1)
1,075

 
397

 
678

Amortization of net prior service credits (1)
(24
)
 
(9
)
 
(15
)
Net change in defined benefit plan obligations
(3,055
)
 
(1,130
)
 
(1,925
)
Total other comprehensive loss

($15,960
)
 

($5,902
)
 

($10,058
)
(1) The pre-tax amount is included in salaries and employee benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.




-135-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2015
Pre-tax Amounts
 
Income Taxes
 
Net of Tax
Securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in fair value of securities available for sale

($4,926
)
 

($1,755
)
 

($3,171
)
Net (gains) losses on securities classified into noninterest income
—

 
—

 
—

Net change in fair value of securities available for sale
(4,926
)
 
(1,755
)
 
(3,171
)
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges
(102
)
 
(49
)
 
(53
)
Net cash flow hedge losses reclassified into earnings (1)
469

 
172

 
297

Net change in the fair value of cash flow hedges
367

 
123

 
244

Defined benefit plan obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit plan obligation adjustment
1,478

 
376

 
1,102

Amortization of net actuarial losses (2)
1,494

 
542

 
952

Amortization of net prior service credits (2)
(24
)
 
(7
)
 
(17
)
Net change in defined benefit plan obligations
2,948

 
911

 
2,037

Total other comprehensive loss

($1,611
)
 

($721
)
 

($890
)
(1) The pre-tax amount is included in interest expense on junior subordinated debentures in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(2) The pre-tax amount is included in salaries and employee benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.



-136-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following tables present the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component, net of tax:
(Dollars in thousands)
Net Unrealized (Losses) Gains on Available For Sale Securities
 
Net Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges
 
Pension Benefit Adjustment
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016

($6,825
)
 

($300
)
 

($12,632
)
 

($19,757
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
621

 
(551
)
 
(741
)
 
(671
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
—

 
499

 
644

 
1,143

Net other comprehensive income (loss)
621

 
(52
)
 
(97
)
 
472

Reclassification of income tax effects due to the adoption of ASU 2018-02
(1,330
)
 
(76
)
 
(2,819
)
 
(4,225
)
Balance at December 31, 2017

($7,534
)
 

($428
)
 

($15,548
)
 

($23,510
)

(Dollars in thousands)
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available For Sale Securities
 
Net Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges
 
Pension Benefit Adjustment
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2015

$1,051

 

($43
)
 

($10,707
)
 

($9,699
)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
(7,876
)
 
(257
)
 
(2,588
)
 
(10,721
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
—

 
—

 
663

 
663

Net other comprehensive loss
(7,876
)
 
(257
)
 
(1,925
)
 
(10,058
)
Balance at December 31, 2016

($6,825
)
 

($300
)
 

($12,632
)
 

($19,757
)

(Dollars in thousands)
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available For Sale Securities
 
Net Unrealized Losses on Cash Flow Hedges
 
Pension Benefit Adjustment
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2014

$4,222

 

($287
)
 

($12,744
)
 

($8,809
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications
(3,171
)
 
(53
)
 
1,102

 
(2,122
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
—

 
297

 
935

 
1,232

Net other comprehensive (loss) income
(3,171
)
 
244

 
2,037

 
(890
)
Balance at December 31, 2015

$1,051

 

($43
)
 

($10,707
)
 

($9,699
)



-137-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(20) Earnings per Common Share
The following table presents the calculation of earnings per common share:
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Earnings per common share - basic:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

$45,925

 

$46,481

 

$43,465

Less dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities
(108
)
 
(97
)
 
(126
)
Net income applicable to common shareholders
45,817

 
46,384

 
43,339

Weighted average common shares
17,207

 
17,081

 
16,879

Earnings per common share - basic

$2.66

 

$2.72

 

$2.57

Earnings per common share - diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

$45,925

 

$46,481

 

$43,465

Less dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities
(108
)
 
(97
)
 
(126
)
Net income applicable to common shareholders
45,817

 
46,384

 
43,339

Weighted average common shares
17,207

 
17,081

 
16,879

Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents
131

 
127

 
188

Weighted average diluted common shares
17,338

 
17,208

 
17,067

Earnings per common share - diluted

$2.64

 

$2.70

 

$2.54


Weighted average common stock equivalents, not included in common stock equivalents above because they were anti-dilutive, totaled 11,572, 59,158 and 34,850 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

(21) Commitments and Contingencies
Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Risk
The Corporation is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage the Corporation’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.  These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, forward loan commitments, loan related derivative contracts and interest rate risk management contracts.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The contract or notional amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Corporation has in particular classes of financial instruments.  The Corporation’s credit policies with respect to interest rate swap agreements with commercial borrowers, commitments to extend credit and financial guarantees are similar to those used for loans.  The interest rate swaps with other counterparties are generally subject to bilateral collateralization terms.



-138-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

The following table presents the contractual and notional amounts of financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
December 31,
2017

 
2016

Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:
 
 
 
Commitments to extend credit:
 
 
 
Commercial loans

$537,310

 

$430,710

Home equity lines
254,855

 
232,375

Other loans
48,819

 
49,708

Standby letters of credit
6,666

 
6,250

Financial instruments whose notional amounts exceed the amount of credit risk:
 
 
 
Forward loan commitments:
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
45,139

 
49,502

Commitments to sell mortgage loans
71,539

 
78,896

Loan related derivative contracts:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps with customers
545,049

 
428,723

Mirror swaps with counterparties
545,049

 
428,723

Risk participation-in agreements
34,052

 
28,460

Foreign exchange contracts
3,005

 
—

Interest rate risk management contracts:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
60,000

 
60,000


See Note 13 for additional disclosure pertaining to derivative financial instruments.

Commitments to Extend Credit
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there are no violations of any condition established in the contract.  Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee.  Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  Each borrower’s creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  The amount of collateral obtained is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower.

Standby Letters of Credit
Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These standby letters of credit are primarily issued to support the financing needs of the Bank’s commercial customers. The credit risk involved in issuing standby letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. The collateral supporting those commitments is essentially the same as for other commitments. Most standby letters of credit extend for one year. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments, not reduced by amounts that may be recovered, totaled $6.7 million and $6.3 million, respectively.  At December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no liabilities to beneficiaries resulting from standby letters of credit.  Fee income on standby letters of credit was insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, a substantial portion of the standby letters of credit were supported by pledged collateral.  The collateral obtained is determined based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer.  Should the Corporation be required to make payments to the beneficiary, repayment from the customer to the Corporation is required.

Forward Loan Commitments
Interest rate lock commitments are extended to borrowers and relate to the origination of residential real estate mortgage loans held for sale. To mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in these rate locks, as well as closed residential real estate


-139-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

mortgage loans held for sale, forward commitments are established to sell individual residential real estate mortgage loans.  Both interest rate lock commitments and commitments to sell residential real estate mortgage loans are derivative financial instruments.

Leases
At December 31, 2017, the Corporation was committed to rent premises used in business operations under non-cancelable operating leases.  Rental expense under the operating leases amounted to $4.3 million, $4.0 million and $3.5 million for December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The following table presents the minimum annual lease payments under the terms of these leases, exclusive of renewal provisions:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Years ending December 31:
2018

$3,518

 
2019
3,542

 
2020
2,863

 
2021
2,530

 
2022
2,158

 
2023 and thereafter
24,652

Total minimum lease payments
 

$39,263


Lease expiration dates range from 7 months to 23 years, with additional renewal options on certain leases ranging from 9 months to 5 years.

Other Contingencies
Litigation
The Corporation is involved in various claims and legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of business.  Management is of the opinion, based on its review with counsel of the development of such matters to date, that the ultimate disposition of such matters will not materially affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Corporation.

Other
When selling a residential real estate mortgage loan or acting as originating agent on behalf of a third party, Washington Trust generally makes various representations and warranties. The specific representations and warranties depend on the nature of the transaction and the requirements of the buyer.  Contractual liability may arise when the representations and warranties are breached.  In the event of a breach of these representations and warranties, Washington Trust may be required to either repurchase the residential real estate mortgage loan (generally at unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest) with the identified defects or indemnify (“make-whole”) the investor for its losses.

In the case of a repurchase, the Corporation will bear any subsequent credit loss on the residential real estate mortgage loan. Washington Trust has experienced an insignificant number of repurchase demands over a period of many years.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the carrying value of loans repurchased due to representation and warranty claims was $1.3 million and $524 thousand, respectively. Washington Trust has recorded a reserve for its exposure to losses for premium recapture and the obligation to repurchase previously sold residential real estate mortgage loans.  The reserve balance amounted to $180 thousand at both December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and is included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Any change in the estimate is recorded in mortgage banking revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income.



-140-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(22) Parent Company Financial Statements
The following tables present parent company only financial statements of the Bancorp, reflecting the investment in the Bank on the equity basis of accounting.  The Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the parent company only are identical to the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity and are therefore not presented.
Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except par value)
 
December 31,
 
2017

 
2016

Assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash on deposit with bank subsidiary
 

$1,664

 

$1,743

Investment in subsidiaries at equity value
 
434,831

 
413,613

Dividends receivable from subsidiaries
 
7,770

 
6,518

Other assets
 
259

 
332

Total assets
 

$444,524

 

$422,206

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Junior subordinated debentures
 

$22,681

 

$22,681

Dividends payable
 
7,087

 
6,628

Contingent consideration liability
 
1,404

 
2,047

Other liabilities
 
68

 
46

Total liabilities
 
31,240

 
31,402

Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
 
Common stock of $.0625 par value; authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 17,226,508 shares in 2017 and 17,170,820 shares in 2016
 
1,077

 
1,073

Paid-in capital
 
117,961

 
115,123

Retained earnings
 
317,756

 
294,365

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(23,510
)
 
(19,757
)
Total shareholders’ equity
 
413,284

 
390,804

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 

$444,524

 

$422,206


Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Income:
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends from subsidiaries

$27,900

 

$24,542

 

$23,399

Other income
18

 
15

 
13

Total income
27,918

 
24,557

 
23,412

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on junior subordinated debentures
613

 
491

 
871

Legal and professional fees
169

 
98

 
134

Acquisition related expenses
—

 
—

 
308

Change in fair value of contingent consideration
(643
)
 
(898
)
 
41

Other
298

 
282

 
254

Total expenses
437

 
(27
)
 
1,608

Income before income taxes
27,481

 
24,584

 
21,804

Income tax benefit (expense)
340

 
(15
)
 
557

Income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
27,821

 
24,569

 
22,361

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
18,104

 
21,912

 
21,104

Net income

$45,925

 

$46,481

 

$43,465




-141-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Years ended December 31,
2017

 
2016

 
2015

Cash flow from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

$45,925

 

$46,481

 

$43,465

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiary
(18,104
)
 
(21,912
)
 
(21,104
)
(Increase) decrease in dividend receivable
(1,252
)
 
(1,436
)
 
19

Decrease (increase) in other assets
72

 
45

 
(67
)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities
22

 
(12
)
 
2,425

Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability
(643
)
 
(898
)
 
41

Tax benefit from stock option exercises and other equity instrument issuances
508

 
1,016

 
694

Other, net
(673
)
 
(1,051
)
 
(3,363
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
25,855

 
22,233

 
22,110

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash used in business combination, net of cash acquired
—

 
—

 
(1,671
)
Net cash used in investing activities
—

 
—

 
(1,671
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from stock option exercises and issuance of other equity instruments
366

 
978

 
1,563

Cash dividends paid
(26,300
)
 
(24,637
)
 
(22,770
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(25,934
)
 
(23,659
)
 
(21,207
)
Net decrease in cash
(79
)
 
(1,426
)
 
(768
)
Cash at beginning of year
1,743

 
3,169

 
3,937

Cash at end of year

$1,664

 

$1,743

 

$3,169




-142-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (continued)

(23) Selected Quarterly Consolidated Financial Data (Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
2017
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Interest and dividend income

$35,664


$37,153


$37,869


$38,900

Interest expense
6,985

7,249

7,810

8,011

Net interest income
28,679

29,904

30,059

30,889

Provision for loan losses
400

700

1,300

200

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
28,279

29,204

28,759

30,689

Noninterest income
14,510

16,806

17,283

16,210

Noninterest expense
25,286

26,306

26,754

25,754

Income before income taxes
17,503

19,704

19,288

21,145

Income tax expense
5,721

6,505

6,326

13,163

Net income

$11,782


$13,199


$12,962


$7,982

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
17,186

17,206

17,212

17,223

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
17,293

17,316

17,318

17,349

Per share information:
Basic earnings per common share

$0.68


$0.77


$0.75


$0.46

 
Diluted earnings per common share

$0.68


$0.76


$0.75


$0.46

 
Cash dividends declared per share

$0.38


$0.38


$0.39


$0.39


(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
2016
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Interest and dividend income

$32,969


$32,190


$33,256


$35,055

Interest expense
5,234

5,414

5,877

6,467

Net interest income
27,735

26,776

27,379

28,588

Provision for loan losses
500

450

1,800

2,900

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
27,235

26,326

25,579

25,688

Noninterest income
14,634

15,914

17,261

17,320

Noninterest expense
25,450

26,030

24,650

24,973

Income before income taxes
16,419

16,210

18,190

18,035

Income tax expense
5,484

5,153

5,863

5,873

Net income

$10,935


$11,057


$12,327


$12,162

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
17,023

17,067

17,090

17,142

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
17,157

17,194

17,203

17,245

Per share information:
Basic earnings per common share

$0.64


$0.65


$0.72


$0.71

 
Diluted earnings per common share

$0.64


$0.64


$0.72


$0.70

 
Cash dividends declared per share

$0.36


$0.36


$0.37


$0.37




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ITEM 9.  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

ITEM 9A.  Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Corporation carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation’s management, including the Corporation’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period ended December 31, 2017.  Based upon that evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective and designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Corporation's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  The Corporation will continue to review and document its disclosure controls and procedures and consider such changes in future evaluations of the effectiveness of such controls and procedures, as it deems appropriate.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Corporation's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Corporation's internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to its management and the Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. The Corporation's management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report using the criteria described in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In addition, the effectiveness of the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.

During the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Bank migrated its loan and deposit accounting system from an in-house environment to an externally hosted environment and internal controls over financial reporting were revised in connection with this change. The Corporation’s pre- and post-implementation internal controls over financial reporting were both evaluated by management and deemed to be operating effectively.

ITEM 9B.  Other Information.
None.
PART III

ITEM 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by this Item appears under the captions “Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” “Board of Directors – Committee Membership and Meetings – Audit Committee,” “Executive Officers,” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement dated March 13, 2018 prepared for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 24, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The Corporation maintains a code of ethics that applies to all of the Corporation’s directors, officers and employees, including the Corporation’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer.  This code of ethics is available on the Corporation’s website at www.washtrust.com, under the heading Investor Relations.



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ITEM 11.  Executive Compensation.
The information required by this Item appears under the captions “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Director Compensation,” “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report” in the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which are incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Required information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management appears under the caption “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” in the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2017 regarding shares of common stock of the Bancorp that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans, including the 2003 Plan and the 2013 Plan.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan category
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding
 options (1)
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plan (excluding securities referenced in column (a))
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (2)
580,860

(3)

$38.68

(4)
1,351,922

(5)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
—

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
Total
580,860

 

$38.68

 
1,351,922

 
(1)
Does not include any shares already reflected in the Bancorp’s outstanding shares.
(2)
Consists of the 2003 Plan and the 2013 Plan. Under the 2013 Plan, the grant of any full value award (an award other than an option or a stock appreciation award) shall be deemed, for the purposes determining the number of shares of stock available for issuance, as an award of 1.85 shares of stock for each such share subject to the award.
(3)
For performance share awards, amounts included represent the maximum amount of performance shares that could be issued under existing awards.  The actual shares issued may differ based on the attainment of performance goals.
(4)
Does not include the effect of the nonvested share units awarded under the 2003 Plan and the 2013 Plan because these units do not have an exercise price.
(5)
Includes up to 1,613 securities that may be issued in the form of nonvested shares under the 2003 Plan.

ITEM 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the captions “Indebtedness and Other Transactions,” “Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions” and “Corporate Governance – Director Independence” in the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

ITEM 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Bancorp’s Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.



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PART IV

ITEM 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
Documents filed as part of this report.
 
1.
Financial Statements.  The financial statements of the Corporation required in response to this Item are listed in response to Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
2.
Financial Statement Schedules.  All schedules normally required by Article 9 of Regulation S-X and all other schedules to the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation have been omitted because the required information is either not required, not applicable, or is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
 
3.
Exhibits.  The following exhibits are included as part of this Form 10-K.
(b)
See (a) 3. above for all exhibits filed herewith and the Exhibit Index.
(c)
Financial Statement Schedules.  None.


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Exhibit Index
Exhibit Number
 
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.11
10.12
10.13


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10.14
10.15
10.16
10.17
10.18
10.19
10.20
10.21
10.22
10.23
10.24
10.25
10.26
10.27
10.28


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10.29
10.30
10.31
10.32
10.33
10.34
10.35
10.36
10.37
10.38
10.39
10.40
10.41
10.42
10.43
10.44


-149-

10.45
10.46
10.47
10.48
10.49
10.50
10.51
10.52
10.53
10.54
10.55
10.56
10.57
10.58
10.59
10.60
10.61
10.62


-150-

10.63
10.64
10.65
10.66
10.67
10.68
10.69
10.70
10.71
14.1
21.1
23.1
31.1
31.2
32.1
101
The following materials from Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) related notes to these financial statements - Filed herewith.
(1)
Not filed herewith.  In accordance with Rule 12b-32 promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act, reference is made to the documents previously filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference herein.
(2)
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(3)
These certifications are not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

ITEM 16.  Form 10-K Summary.
None.


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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.

 
 
 
WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
By
/s/  Joseph J. MarcAurele
 
 
 
Joseph J. MarcAurele
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
By
/s/  Ronald S. Ohsberg
 
 
 
Ronald S. Ohsberg
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(principal financial officer)
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
By
/s/  Maria N. Janes
 
 
 
Maria N. Janes
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and Controller
(principal accounting officer)



-152-

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.

 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  John J. Bowen
 
 
 
John J. Bowen, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Steven J. Crandall
 
 
 
Steven J. Crandall, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Robert A. DiMuccio
 
 
 
Robert A. DiMuccio, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Edward O. Handy III
 
 
 
Edward O. Handy III, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Barry G. Hittner
 
 
 
Barry G. Hittner, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Katherine W. Hoxsie
 
 
 
Katherine W. Hoxsie, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Joseph J. MarcAurele
 
 
 
Joseph J. MarcAurele, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Kathleen E. McKeough
 
 
 
Kathleen E. McKeough, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Victor J. Orsinger II
 
 
 
Victor J. Orsinger II, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  H. Douglas Randall III
 
 
 
H. Douglas Randall III, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  Edwin J. Santos
 
 
 
Edwin J. Santos, Director
 
 
 
 
Date:
February 27, 2018
 
/s/  John F. Treanor
 
 
 
John F. Treanor, Director
 
 
 
 



-153-