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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business and Organization


Citizens Financial Services, Inc. (individually and collectively, the “Company”) is headquartered in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, and provides a full range of banking and related services through its wholly owned subsidiary, CZFS Acquisition Company, LLC (CZFS), and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Citizens Community Bank (the “Bank”), and its wholly owned subsidiaries, First Citizens Insurance Agency, Inc. (“First Citizens Insurance”) and 1st Realty of PA, LLC (“Realty”). CZFS was formed in March 2020 as part of the merger with Midcoast Community Bancorp. Inc. (“MidCoast”). Realty was formed in March of 2019 to manage and sell properties acquired by the Bank in the settlement of a bankruptcy filing with a commercial customer.  On December 11, 2015, the Company completed its acquisition of The First National Bank of Fredericksburg (FNB).  On December 8, 2017, the Bank completed its acquisition of the S&T Bank branch in State College (State College). On April 17, 2020, the Company completed its acquisition of MidCoast. On June 16, 2023, the Company completed the HVBC acquisition. In December 2023, the Bank opened a full-service branch in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. As of December 31, 2023, the Bank operates thirty-nine full-service banking branches in Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Clinton, Lebanon, Lancaster, Berks, Schuylkill, Centre, Chester, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, Pennsylvania, Allegany County, New York, the cities of Wilmington and Dover, Delaware, Burlington County, New Jersey, a limited branch office in Union county, Pennsylvania and four mortgage centers in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, Pennsylvania. The Bank also provides trust services, including the administration of trusts and estates, retirement plans, and other employee benefit plans, along with a brokerage division that provides a comprehensive menu of investment services. The Bank serves individual and corporate customers and is subject to competition from other financial institutions and intermediaries with respect to these services.  The Company and Bank are supervised by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, while the Bank is subject to additional regulation and supervision by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking.



A summary of significant accounting and reporting policies applied in the presentation of the accompanying financial statements follows:

Basis of Presentation


The financial statements are consolidated to include the accounts of the Company, and its subsidiary CZFS, and its subsidiary, First Citizens Community Bank, and its subsidiaries, First Citizens Insurance Agency, Inc. and 1st Realty of PA, LLC. These statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates


In preparing the financial statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to determination of the allowance for credit losses, goodwill, derivatives, pension plans and deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Operating Segments


An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities that generates revenue and incurs expense, and the operating results of which are reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in the determination of resource allocation and performance.  While the Company’s chief decision makers monitor the revenue streams of the various Company’s products, services and regions, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Company-wide basis.  Consistent with our internal reporting, the Company’s business activities are reported as one segment, which is community banking.

Cash and Cash Equivalents


Cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits in banks and interest-earning deposits.  Interest-earning deposits with original maturities of 90 days or less are considered cash equivalents.


Interest bearing time deposits with other banks are not included with cash and cash equivalents as the original maturities were greater than 90 days.

Investment Securities


Investment securities at the time of purchase are classified as one of the three following types:


Held-to-Maturity Securities - Includes securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are reported at amortized cost. The Company had no held-to-maturity securities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.


Trading Securities - Includes debt and equity securities bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term. Such securities are reported at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings. The Company had no trading securities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.


Available-for-Sale SecuritiesThis category included debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity or trading securities that will be held for indefinite periods of time. These securities may be sold in response to changes in market interest or prepayment rates, needs for liquidity and changes in the availability of and yield of alternative investments. Such securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of the estimated income tax effect.


The amortized cost of investment in debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, computed by a method that results in a level yield. Gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are computed on the basis of specific identification of the adjusted cost of each security.


The fair value of investments, except certain state and municipal securities, is based on bid prices published in financial newspapers or bid quotations received from securities dealers. The fair value of certain state and municipal securities is not readily available through market sources other than dealer quotations, so fair value is based on quoted market prices of similar instruments, adjusted for differences between the quoted instruments and the instruments being valued.



Allowance for Credit Losses (Debt Securities Available-for Sale)



For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For debt securities available-for-sale that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income.



Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance when management confirms that an available-for-sale security is uncollectable or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. As of December 31, 2023, the Company determined that the unrealized loss positions in available-for-sale debt securities were not the result of credit losses, and therefore, an allowance for credit losses was not recorded. See Note 5, “Investment Securities,” and Note 21, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” for more information about available-for-sale debt securities.



Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale debt securities totaled $2,202,000 at December 31, 2023 and is included within accrued interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheet. This amount is excluded from the estimate of expected credit losses. Available-for-sale debt securities are typically classified as nonaccrual when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or management has serious doubts about the further collectability of principal or interest. When available-for-sale debt securities are placed on nonaccrual status, unpaid interest credited to income is reversed.


Equity SecuritiesThis category includes common stocks of public companies. Such securities are reported at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings. Dividends are recognized as income when earned.


Restricted Stock - Common stock of the Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLB) and correspondent banks represent ownership in institutions which are wholly owned by other financial institutions. These restricted equity securities are accounted for at cost and are classified as other assets.

Loans Held for Sale


Certain newly originated fixed-rate residential mortgage loans are classified as held for sale, because it is management’s intent to sell these residential mortgage loans. The residential mortgage loans held for sale are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value.

Loans


Interest on all loans is recognized on the accrual basis based upon the principal amount outstanding. The accrual of interest income on loans is discontinued when, in the opinion of management, doubt exists as to the ability to collect such interest. Payments received on non-accrual loans are applied to the outstanding principal balance or recorded as interest income, depending upon our assessment of our ultimate ability to collect principal and interest.  Loans are returned to the accrual status when factors indicating doubtful collectability cease to exist.


The Company recognizes nonrefundable loan origination fees, SBA fees and certain direct loan origination costs over the life of the related loan as an adjustment of loan yield using the interest method.

Purchased Credit Deteriorated (“PCD”) Loans


The Company has purchased loans, some of which have experienced more than insignificant credit deterioration since origination. PCD loans are recorded at the amount paid. An allowance for credit losses is determined using the same methodology as other loans held for investment. The initial allowance for credit losses determined on a collective basis is allocated to individual loans. The sum of the loan’s purchase price and allowance for credit losses becomes its initial amortized cost basis. The difference between the initial amortized cost basis and the par value of the loan is a noncredit discount or premium, which is amortized into interest income over the life of the loan. Subsequent changes to the allowance for credit losses are recorded through provision expense.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans


The allowance for credit losses on loans represents management’s estimate of expected credit losses over the estimated life of our existing portfolio of loans. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the loan’s amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. The expense for credit loss recorded through earnings is the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses on loans at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loan portfolio. Loans are recorded as charge-offs against the allowance when management confirms a loan balance is uncollectable. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, changes in environmental conditions, delinquency level, segment growth rates and changes in duration within new markets, or other relevant factors. For further information on the allowance for credit losses on loans, see Note 6, “Loans,” for additional detail.



The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. The Company has segregated its portfolio segments based on federal call report codes which classify loans based on the primary collateral supporting the loan. The following are the Company’s segmented portfolios:



Residential Real Estate: The Bank originates residential mortgage and home equity loans primarily in its various market areas in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. These loans are secured by first and junior liens on a primary residence or investment property. The primary risk characteristics associated with residential loans typically involve major changes to the borrower, including unemployment or other loss of income; unexpected significant expenses, such as major medical expenses, catastrophic events, divorce or death. Residential loans that have adjustable rates could expose the borrower to higher payments in a rising interest rate environment. Real estate values could decrease and cause the value of the underlying property to fall below the loan amount, creating additional potential loss exposure for the Bank.



Commercial Real Estate: The Bank originates mortgage loans to operating companies primarily in its various market areas in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. The property maybe owner-occupied or non-owner-occupied real estate properties and include retail buildings/shopping centers, hotels, office/medical buildings and industrial/warehouse space.  Owner-occupied loans are typically repaid first by the cash flows generated by the borrower’s business operations. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the underlying business and its ability to generate sustainable profitability and positive cash flow. Factors that may influence a borrower’s ability to repay their loan include demand for the business’ products or services, the quality and depth of management, the degree of competition, regulatory changes, and general economic conditions. Increases in vacancy rates, interest rates or other changes in general economic conditions can have an impact on the borrower and its ability to repay the loan. Commercial real estate loans are generally considered to have a higher degree of credit risk as they may be dependent on the ongoing success and operating viability of a fewer number of tenants who are occupying the property and who may have a greater degree of exposure to economic conditions.



Agricultural Real Estate: The Bank originates loans secured by farmland and improvements thereon, secured by mortgages primarily in its various market areas in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. Farmland includes all land known to be used or usable for agricultural purposes, such as crop and livestock production. Farmland also includes grazing or pasture land, whether tillable or not and whether wooded or not. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the uncertainty on production, market, financial, environmental and human resources.



Construction: The Bank originates construction loans to finance land development preparatory to erecting new structures or the on-site construction of residential, industrial, commercial, or multi-family buildings, primarily in its various market areas in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. Construction loans include not only construction of new structures, but also additions or alterations to existing structures and the demolition of existing structures to make way for new structures. Construction loans are generally secured by real estate. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the uncertainty on whether the construction will be completed according to the specifications and schedules. Factors that may influence the completion of construction may be customer specific, such as the quality and depth of property management, or related to changes in general economic conditions.



Consumer: The Bank originates loans to individuals for household, family, and other personal expenditures, which may include automobile loans and loans for college. Consumer loans generally have higher interest rates and shorter terms than residential loans but tend to have higher credit risk due to the type of collateral securing the loan or in some cases the absence of collateral. The primary risk characteristics associated with other consumer loans typically involve major changes to the borrower, including unemployment or other loss of income, unexpected significant expenses, such as for major medical expenses, catastrophic events, divorce or death.



Other Commercial Loans: The Bank originates lines of credit and term loans to operating companies for business purposes. The loans are generally secured by business assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, business vehicles and equipment as well as other assets of the business, or guarantors. Other commercial loans are typically repaid first by the cash flows generated by the borrower’s business operations. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the underlying business and its ability to generate sustainable profitability and positive cash flow. Factors that may influence a borrower’s ability to repay their loan include demand for the business’ products or services, the quality and depth of management, the degree of competition, regulatory changes, and general economic conditions. The ability of the Bank to foreclose and realize sufficient value from business assets securing these loans is often uncertain. To mitigate the risk characteristics of commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate may be included as a secondary source of collateral. The Bank will often require more frequent reporting requirements from the borrower in order to better monitor its business performance.



Other Agricultural Loans: The Bank originates loans secured or unsecured to farm owners and operators (including tenants) or to nonfarmers for the purpose of financing agricultural production, including the growing and storing of crops, the marketing or carrying of agricultural products by the growers thereof, and the breeding, raising, fattening, or marketing of livestock, and for purchases of farm machinery, equipment, and implements. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the uncertainty on production, market, financial, environmental and human resources.



State and Political Subdivision Loans: The Bank originates various types of loans made directly to municipalities. These loans are repaid through general cash flows or through specific revenue streams, such as water and sewer fees. The primary risk characteristics associated with municipal loans are the municipality’s ability to manage cash flow, balance the fiscal budget, fixed asset and infrastructure requirements. Additional risks include changes in demographics, as well as social and political conditions.



Methods utilized by management to estimate expected credit losses include a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model that discounts instrument-level contractual cash flows, adjusted for prepayments and curtailments, incorporating loss expectations. Management estimates the allowance for credit losses on loans using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. After the end of the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the loss rates revert to the mean loss rate over a period of eight quarters.



Historical credit loss experience, including examination of loss experience at representative peer institutions when the Company’s loss history does not result in estimations that are meaningful to users of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, changes in environmental conditions, delinquency level, segment growth rates and changes in duration within new markets, or other relevant factors.



The DCF model uses inputs of current and forecasted macroeconomic indicators to predict future loss rates. The current macroeconomic indicators utilized by the Company are federal unemployment rates, national gross domestic production and national housing price index. In building the CECL methodology utilized in the DCF model, a correlation between this indicator and historic loss levels was developed, enabling a prediction of future loss rates related to future Federal unemployment rates and national gross domestic production and national housing price index.


Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. Loans evaluated individually are not also included in the collective evaluation and typically represent collateral dependent loans but may also include other nonperforming loans. The Company uses the practical expedient to measure individually evaluated loans as collateral dependent and/or when repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. Expected credit losses are based on the fair value at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. For collateral dependent loans, credit loss is measured as the difference between the amortized cost basis in the loan and the fair value of the underlying collateral. The fair value of the collateral is adjusted for the estimated cost to sell if repayment or satisfaction of a loan is dependent on the sale (rather than only on the operation) of the collateral.



Accrued interest receivable on loans held for investment totaled $8,512,000 at December 31, 2023 and is included within Accrued interest receivable. This amount is excluded from the estimate of expected credit losses.


Allowance for Credit Losses on Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures



Management estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the Company is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. Management estimates the amount of expected losses by calculating a commitment usage factor over the contractual period for exposures that are not unconditionally cancellable by the Bank and applying the loss factors used in the allowance for credit losses on loans methodology to the results of the usage calculation to estimate the liability for credit losses related to unfunded commitments for each loan segment. The estimate of credit losses on OBS credit exposures is $1,265,000 and $165,000 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and was reported in accrued interest payable and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Loan Charge-off Policies


Consumer loans are generally fully or partially charged down to the fair value of collateral securing the asset when the loan is 180 days past due for open-end loans or 120 days past due for closed-end loans unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. All other loans are generally charged down to the net realizable value when the loan is 90 days past due.


Collateral-Dependent Loans

 

A financial asset is considered collateral-dependent when the debtor is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the sale or operation of the collateral.  For all classes of loans and leases deemed collateral-dependent, the Company elected the practical expedient to estimate expected credit losses based on the collateral’s fair value less cost to sell. In most cases, the Company records a partial charge-off to reduce the loan’s carrying value to the collateral’s fair value less cost to sell. Substantially all of the collateral consists of various types of real estate including residential properties; commercial properties such as retail centers, office buildings, and lodging; agriculture land; and vacant land.

Loans to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty


A loan is classified as a modified loan to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty when a contractual loan modification in the form of principal forgiveness, an interest rate reduction, an other-than-significant payment delay or a term extension (or a combination thereof) has been granted to an existing borrower experiencing financial difficulties. The goal when modifying a credit is to establish a reasonable period of time to provide cash flow relief to customers experiencing cash flow difficulties. Accruing modified loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are primarily comprised of loans on which interest is being accrued under the modified terms, and the loans are current or less than 90 days past due.

Foreclosed Assets Held For Sale


Foreclosed assets acquired in settlement of loans are carried at fair value, less estimated costs to sell. Prior to foreclosure, as the value of the underlying loan is written down to fair market value of the real estate or other assets to be acquired by a charge to the allowance for credit losses, if necessary. Any subsequent write-downs are charged against operating expenses. Operating expenses of such properties, net of related income and losses on disposition, are included in other expenses and gains and losses are included in other non-interest income or other non-interest expense.

Premises and Equipment


Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is computed on straight line and accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 15 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment and 5 to 40 years for building premises. Repair and maintenance expenditures which extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized and other repair expenditures are expensed as incurred.


When premises or equipment are retired or sold, the remaining cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is credited to income or charged to expense, respectively.


The Company has operating leases for several branch locations. Generally, the underlying lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. The Company may also lease certain office equipment under operating leases. Many of our leases include both lease (e.g., minimum rent payments) and non-lease components (e.g., common-area or other maintenance costs). The Company accounts for each component separately based on the standalone price of each component. In addition, there are several operating leases with lease terms of less than one year and therefore, we have elected the practical expedient to exclude these short-term leases from our right of use (ROU) assets and lease liabilities.


Most leases include one or more options to renew. The exercise of lease renewal options is typically at the sole discretion of management and is based on whether the extension options are reasonably certain to be exercised after considering all facts and circumstances of the lease. If management determines that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the extension option(s), the additional term is included in the calculation of the lease liability.


As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use the fully collateralized FHLB borrowing rate, commensurate with the lease terms based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of the lease payments.

Intangible Assets


Intangible assets, other than goodwill, include core deposit intangibles and mortgage servicing rights (MSRs). Core deposit intangibles are a measure of the value of consumer demand and savings deposits acquired in business combinations accounted for as purchases. The core deposit intangibles are being amortized over 10 years using the sum-of-the-years digits method of amortization.


The Company recognizes mortgage servicing rights as assets when mortgage loans are sold and the rights to service those loans are retained. Mortgage servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value by using discounted cash flows to calculate the present value of estimated future net servicing income.

 

The Company accounts for the mortgage servicing rights under the amortization method. The mortgage servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value and amortized in proportion to the estimated expected future net servicing income generated from servicing the loan. The mortgage servicing rights are evaluated for impairment by estimating the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights and comparing that value to the carrying amount. The Company obtains a third-party valuation to assist with estimating of the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights. A valuation allowance would be established if the carrying amount of these mortgage servicing rights exceeds fair value.


Goodwill


The Company utilizes a two-step process for testing the impairment of goodwill on at least an annual basis.  This approach could cause more volatility in the Company’s reported net income because impairment losses, if any, could occur irregularly and in varying amounts.  The Company may also perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Based on the fair value of the reporting unit, no impairment of goodwill was recognized in 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Bank Owned Life Insurance


The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain employees. Any death benefits received from a policy while the insured person is an active employee of the Bank will be split with the beneficiary of the policy.  Under these agreements, the Bank receives the cash surrender value of the policy plus 50% of the benefit in excess of the cash surrender value and the remaining amount of the payout will be given to the beneficiary named by the insured person in the policy. The Company is the sole beneficiary of any death benefits received from non-active insured persons. Additionally, as a result of the MidCoast acquisition, the Company acquired life insurance policies on former MidCoast employees. The Company is owner and sole beneficiary of these policies. Additionally, as part of the HVBC acquisition, the Company acquired life insurance policies on former HVBC employees. Under these agreements, the Bank receives the cash surrender value of the policy plus the benefit in excess of the cash surrender value less $50,000 to $100,000 that be given to the beneficiary named by the insured person in the policy if the insured person passes while employed by the Company. The Company is the sole beneficiary of any death benefits received from non-active insured persons. The Company acquired life insurance policies on former FNB employees and directors, as part of the acquisition of FNB. The policies obtained as part of the acquisition provide a fixed dollar benefit to the former employee or director beneficiaries, whether or not the insured person is affiliated with the Company at the time of his or her death. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at its cash surrender value, or the amount that can be realized. Increases in the cash surrender value are recognized as other non-interest income. The obligation of $610,000 and $660,000 under split-dollar benefit agreements to former employees and directors or their beneficiaries have been recognized as liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2023 and 2022. The (benefit)/expenses associated with the split dollar benefit were ($50,000), ($36,000) and $9,000 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Income Taxes


The Company and the Bank file a consolidated federal income tax return.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial statement basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted marginal tax rates.  Deferred income tax expenses or benefits are based on the changes in the net deferred tax asset or liability from period to period.

Derivatives


Derivative financial instruments are recognized as assets or liabilities at fair value. The Company has interest rate swap agreements which are used as part of its asset liability management to help manage interest rate risk.  The Company also has derivatives as a result of its residential lending platform. The Company does not use derivatives for trading purposes.


At the inception of a derivative contract, the Company designates the derivative as one of three types based on the purpose of the contract and belief as to its effectiveness as a hedge. These three types are (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (“fair value hedge”), (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”), or (3) an instrument with no hedging designation (“stand-alone derivative”). For a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item, are recognized in current earnings as fair values change. For a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is reported in other comprehensive income and is reclassified into earnings in the same periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. For both types of hedges, changes in the fair value of derivatives that are not highly effective in hedging the changes in fair value or expected cash flows of the hedged item are recognized immediately in current earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are reported currently in earnings, as non-interest income.


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


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


When hedge accounting is discontinued, subsequent changes in fair value of the derivative are recorded as non-interest income. When a fair value hedge is discontinued, the hedged asset or liability is no longer adjusted for changes in fair value and the existing basis adjustment is amortized or accreted over the remaining life of the asset or liability. When a cash flow hedge is discontinued but the hedged cash flows or forecasted transactions are still expected to occur, gains or losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive income are amortized into earnings over the same periods which the hedged transactions will affect earnings.

Employee Benefit Plans


The Company has noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering employees hired before January 1, 2007. It is the Company’s policy to fund pension costs on a current basis to the extent deductible under existing tax regulations. Such contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future.


The Company has a defined contribution, 401(k) plan covering eligible employees. The employee may also contribute to the plan on a voluntary basis, up to a maximum percentage allowable not to exceed the limits of Code Sections 401(k). Under the plan, the Company also makes contributions on behalf of eligible employees, which vest immediately. For employees hired after January 1, 2007, in lieu of the pension plan, an additional annual discretionary 401(k) plan contribution is made and is equal to a percentage of an employee’s base compensation.


The Company also has a profit-sharing plan for employees which provide tax-deferred salary savings to plan participants.  The Company has a deferred compensation plan for directors who have elected to defer all or portions of their fees until their retirement or termination from service.


The Company has a restricted stock plan which covers eligible employees and non-employee corporate directors.  Under the plan, awards are granted based upon performance related requirements and are subject to certain vesting criteria.  Compensation cost related to restricted stock is recognized based on the market price of the stock at the grant date over the vesting period.


The Company has an employee stock purchase plan that allows employees to withhold money from their paychecks, which is then utilized to purchase shares of the Company’s stock on either the open market or through treasury stock, if shares are unavailable on the open market.


The Company maintains a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) for certain executives to compensate those executive participants in the Company’s noncontributory defined benefit pension plan whose benefits are limited by compensation limitations under current tax law.  The SERP is considered an unfunded plan for tax and ERISA purposes and all obligations arising under the SERP are payable from the general assets of the Company.  Expenses under the SERP are recognized as earned over the expected years of service.


The Company maintains a non-tax qualified executive deferred compensation plan (“Deferred Compensation Plan”) for eligible employees designated by the board of directors.  Each of the named executive officers are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan is considered an unfunded plan for tax and ERISA purposes and all obligations arising under the Deferred Compensation Plan are payable from the general assets of the Company.  Expenses under the Deferred Compensation Plan are recognized as earned over the expected years of service.

Advertising Costs


Advertising and promotion costs are generally expensed as incurred and amounted to $952,000, $970,000 and $838,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)


The Company is required to present comprehensive income in a full set of general purpose financial statements for all periods presented. Other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of unrealized holding gains (losses) on the available-for-sale securities portfolio, unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps and unrecognized pension costs.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Adopted in 2023


In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” and subsequent related updates. This ASU replaces the incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses and requires businesses and other organizations to measure the current expected credit losses (CECL) on financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans and held-to-maturity securities, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures such as unfunded commitments, and other financial instruments. In addition, ASC 326 requires credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities to be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down when management does not intend to sell or believes that it is not more likely than not they will be required to sell. This guidance became effective on January 1, 2023 for the Company. The results reported for periods beginning after January 1, 2023 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable accounting standards.


The Company adopted this guidance, and subsequent related updates, using the modified retrospective approach for all financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, available-for-sale debt securities and unfunded commitments. On January 1, 2023, the Bank recorded a cumulative effect increase to retained earnings of $1.8 million, net of tax, of which $3.3 million related to loans and ($1.1) million related to unfunded commitments.


The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 326 related to financial assets purchased with credit deterioration (PCD) that were previously classified as purchased credit impaired (PCI) and accounted for under ASC 310-30 using the prospective transition approach. In accordance with the standard, management did not reassess whether PCI assets met the criteria of PCD assets as of the date of adoption.


The Company expanded the pooling utilized under the legacy incurred loss method to include additional segmentation based on risk. The impact of the change from the incurred loss model to the current expected credit loss model is detailed below (in thousands):


   
January 1, 2023
 
   
Pre-adoption
   
Adoption Impact
   
As Reported
 
Assets
                 
Allowance for credit losses - loans
                 
Real estate loans:
                 
     Residential
 
$
1,056
   
$
79
   
$
1,135
 
     Commercial
   
10,120
     
(3,070
)
   
7,050
 
     Agricultural
   
4,589
     
(1,145
)
   
3,444
 
     Construction
   
801
     
(103
)
   
698
 
Consumer
   
135
     
1,040
     
1,175
 
Other commercial loans
   
1,040
     
(328
)
   
712
 
Other agricultural loans
   
489
     
(219
)
   
270
 
State and political subdivision loans
   
322
     
(280
)
   
42
 
Unallocated
   
-
     
726
     
726
 
Total
 
$
18,552
   
$
(3,300
)
 
$
15,252
 
                         
Liabilities
                       
Allowance for Credit Losses - Off-Balance Sheet credit Exposure
 
$
165
   
$
1,064
   
$
1,229
 


The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 326 related to presenting other-than-temporary impairment on available-for-sale debt securities prior to January 1, 2023 using the prospective transition approach, though no such charges had been recorded on the securities held by the Company as of the date of adoption.


In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-02, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures.” The amendments eliminate the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings by creditors that have adopted CECL and enhance the disclosure requirements for modifications of receivables made with borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. In addition, the amendments require disclosure of current period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investment in leases in the existing vintage disclosures. This ASU became effective on January 1, 2023 for the Company. The adoption of this ASU resulted in updated disclosures within our financial statements but otherwise did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Not Yet Effective


In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, March 2020, to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the U.S. GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens of the expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. Entities can elect not to apply certain modification accounting requirements to contracts affected by what the guidance calls “reference rate reform” if certain criteria are met. An entity that makes this election would not have to remeasure the contracts at the modification date or reassess a previous accounting determination. Also, entities can elect various optional expedients that would allow them to continue applying hedge accounting for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met, and can make a one-time election to sell and/or reclassify held-to-maturity debt securities that reference an interest rate affected by reference rate reform. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities upon issuance through December 31, 2022. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848, which extends the sunset (or expiration) date of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 848 to December 31, 2024. This gives reporting entities two additional years to apply the accounting relief provided under ASC Topic 848 for matters related to reference rate reform. ASU 2022-06 is effective for all reporting entities immediately upon issuance and must be applied on a prospective basis.



In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which added to ASU 2020-04 optional expedients and exceptions to the U.S. GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens of the expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. Entities can elect not to apply certain modification accounting requirements to contracts affected by what the guidance calls “reference rate reform” if certain criteria are met. An entity that makes this election would not have to remeasure the contracts at the modification date or reassess a previous accounting determination. Also, entities can elect various optional expedients that would allow them to continue applying hedge accounting for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met, and can make a onetime election to sell and/or reclassify held-to-maturity debt securities that reference an interest rate affected by reference rate reform. ASU 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848 deferred the sunset date of Topic 848 from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities upon issuance through December 31, 2024. The Company has identified our loan receivables that have an interest rate indexed to LIBOR and is currently assessing the appropriate transition path. As such, the Company does not have an estimate of the financial impact of this update but does not expect the impact to be material to the financial statements of the Company.



In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-02, “Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force)”. The ASU allows entities to elect the proportional amortization method, on a tax-credit-program-by-tax-credit-program basis, for all equity investments in tax credit programs meeting the eligibility criteria in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 323-740-25-1. While the ASU does not significantly alter the existing eligibility criteria, it does provide clarifications to address existing interpretive issues. It also prescribes specific information reporting entities must disclose about tax credit investments each period. This ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, for public business entities, or January 1, 2024 for the Company. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (TOPIC 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses on an interim and annual basis. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. Public entities are required to adopt the changes retrospectively, recasting each prior-period disclosure for which a comparative income statement is presented in the period of adoption. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, requires the amount of net income taxes paid for federal, state, and foreign taxes, as well as the amount paid to any jurisdiction that net taxes exceed a 5% quantitative threshold. The amendments will require the disclosure of pre-tax income disaggregated between domestic and foreign, as well as income tax expense disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign. The amendment also eliminates certain disclosures related to unrecognized tax benefits and certain temporary differences. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024.  Early adoption is permitted in any annual period where financial statements have not yet been issued. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis but retrospective application is permitted. The Company does not expect adoption of the standard to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.



Other accounting standards that have been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not currently expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Treasury Stock


The purchase of the Company’s common stock is recorded at cost.  At the date of subsequent reissue, the treasury stock account is reduced by the cost of such stock on a last-in-first-out basis.

Cash Flows


The Company utilizes the net reporting of cash receipts and cash payments for deposit, short-term borrowing and lending activities.

Trust, Brokerage and Insurance Assets and Income


Assets held by the Company in a fiduciary or agency capacity for its customers are not included in the consolidated financial statements since such assets are not assets of the Company.  The majority of trust revenue is earned and collected monthly, with the amount determined based on a percentage of the fair value of the trust assets under management. Trust fees are contractually agreed with each customer, and fee levels vary based mainly on the size of assets under management. None of the contracts with trust customers provide for incentive-based fees. In addition, trust revenue includes fees for provision of services, including employee benefit plan administration, tax return preparation and estate planning and settlement. Fees for such services are billed based on contractual arrangements or established fee schedules and are typically billed upon completion of providing such services.  Brokerage and insurance commissions from the sales of investments and insurance products recognized on a trade date basis as the performance obligation is satisfied at the point in time in which the trade is processed. Additional fees are based on a percentage of the market value of customer accounts and billed on a monthly or quarterly basis. The Company’s performance obligation under the contracts with certain customers is generally satisfied through the passage of time as the Company monitors and manages the assets in the customer’s portfolio and is not dependent on certain return or performance level of the customer’s portfolio. Other performance obligations (such as the delivery of account statements to customers) are generally considered immaterial to the overall transaction price. 

Earnings Per Share


The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per share.  Earnings per share calculations give retroactive effect to stock dividends declared by the Company.


 
2023
   
2022
   
2021
 
Basic earnings per share computation:
                 
Net income applicable to common stock
 
$
17,811,000
   
$
29,060,000
   
$
29,118,000
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
   
4,382,573
     
4,008,931
     
4,023,294
 
Earnings per share - basic
 
$
4.06
   
$
7.25
   
$
7.24
 
                         
Diluted earnings per share computation:
                       
Net income applicable to common stock
 
$
17,811,000
   
$
29,060,000
   
$
29,118,000
 
                         
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per share
   
4,382,573
     
4,008,931
     
4,023,294
 
Add: Dilutive effects of restricted stock
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding for dilutive earnings per share
   
4,382,573
     
4,008,931
     
4,023,294
 
Earnings per share - dilutive
 
$
4.06
   
$
7.25
   
$
7.24
 



Nonvested shares of restricted stock totaling 4,623, 5,458 and 5,494 were outstanding during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because to do so would be anti-dilutive. These anti-dilutive shares had per share prices ranging from $56.81-$83.38, $44.93-$74.27 and $44.93-$63.19 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Reclassification


Certain of the prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no material effect on net income or stockholders’ equity.