SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company and its subsidiaries conform to generally accepted accounting principles and to accepted practice within the banking industry.

The following is a summary of the more significant policies:

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of   Farmers and Merchants Bank, TEB Life Insurance Company, Farmers & Merchants Financial Services, Inc. and VBS Mortgage, LLC, (net of minority interest). Significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in those statements; actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.  Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the near term are the determination of the allowance for loan losses, which is sensitive to changes in local and national economic conditions, and the other than temporary impairment of investments in the investment portfolio.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits at other financial institutions whose initial maturity is ninety days or less and Federal funds sold.

Investment Securities

Management reviews the securities portfolio and classifies all securities as either held to maturity or available for sale at the date of acquisition.  Securities that the Company has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity (at time of purchase) are classified as held to maturity securities.  All other securities are classified as available for sale.  Securities held to maturity are carried at historical cost and adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, using the effective interest method.  Securities available for sale are carried at fair value with any valuation adjustments reported, net of deferred taxes, as a part of other accumulated comprehensive income.

Interest, amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on securities are reported as interest income using the effective interest method.  Gains (losses) realized on sales and calls of securities are determined on the specific identification method.

Accounting for Historic Rehabilitation and Low Income Housing Partnerships

The Company periodically invests in low income housing partnerships whose primary benefit is the distribution of federal income tax credits to partners.  The Company recognizes these benefits and the cost of the investments over the life of the partnership (usually 15 years).  In addition, state and federal historic rehabilitation credits are generated from some of the partnerships.  Amortization of these investments is prorated based on the amount of benefits received in each year to the total estimated benefits over the life of the projects.  All benefits have been shown as investment income since income tax benefits are the only anticipated benefits of ownership.

Loans Held for Investment

Loans are carried on the balance sheet net of any unearned interest and the allowance for loan losses.  Interest income on loans is determined using the effective interest method on the daily amount of principal outstanding except where serious doubt exists as to collectability of the loan, in which case the accrual of income is discontinued.

Loans Held for Sale

Consists of fixed rate loans made through its subsidiary, VBS Mortgage and loans purchased from Gateway Savings Bank, Oakland, CA.  Both the VBS and Gateway loans remain on our books for an average of two to three weeks prior to being sold to the ultimate secondary market investor.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses charged to operations is an amount sufficient to bring the allowance for loan losses to an estimated balance that management considers adequate to absorb potential losses in the portfolio.  Loans are charged against the allowance when management believes the collectability of the principal is unlikely.  Recoveries of amounts previously charged-off are credited to the allowance. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the allowance is based on an evaluation of the composition of the loan portfolio, the value and adequacy of collateral, current economic conditions, historical loan loss experience, and other risk factors.  Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate.  While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions, particularly those affecting real estate values.  In addition, regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses.  Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination.

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due.  Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired.  Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.  Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis for commercial and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

Other Real Estate Owned (OREO)

As of December 31, 2012, the Bank  had $2.88 million classified as OREO on the balance sheet, compared to $3.07 million as of December 31, 2011. The table in Note 9 reflects the OREO activity in 2012.  The Company’s policy is to carry OREO on its balance sheet at the lower of cost or market.  Values are reviewed periodically and additional losses are recognized if warranted based on market conditions.

Nonaccrual Loans

Loans are placed on nonaccrual status when they become ninety days or more past due, unless there is an expectation that the loan will either be brought current or paid in full in a reasonable period of time.

Bank Premises and Equipment

Bank premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is charged to income over the estimated useful lives of the assets on a combination of the straight-line and accelerated methods.  The ranges of the useful lives of the premises and equipment are as follows:

Buildings and Improvements	10 - 40 years
Furniture and Fixtures	5 - 20 years

Maintenance, repairs, and minor improvements are charged to operations as incurred. Gains and losses on dispositions are reflected in other income or expense.

Intangible Assets

The Company adopted ASC 350 on January 1, 2002 and determined that the core deposit intangible would continue to be amortized over the estimated useful life.  Core deposit intangibles were amortized on a straight-line basis over ten years which ended in 2011.

Goodwill

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard ASC 805, Business Combinations and ASC 350, Intangibles. ASC 805 requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. Additionally, it further clarifies the criteria for the initial recognition and measurement of intangible assets separate from goodwill. ASC 350 became effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 and prescribes the accounting for goodwill and intangible assets subsequent to initial recognition. The provisions of ASC 350 discontinue the amortization of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives. Instead, these assets are subject to an impairment review on an annual basis and more frequently if certain impairment indicators are in evidence. ASC 350 also requires that reporting units be identified for the purpose of assessing potential future impairments of goodwill.

Goodwill totaled $2,669,517 at December 31, 2012 and 2011. The goodwill is no longer amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually. Based on the testing, there were no impairment charges for 2012, 2011 or 2010.

Pension Plans

The Bank has a qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plan which covers all full time employees hired prior to April 1, 2012.  The benefits are primarily based on years of service and earnings.  On December 31, 2006 the Company adopted ASC 325-960 “Defined Benefit Pension Plans” (formerly SFAS No. 158), which was issued in September of 2006 and amended SFAS 87 and SFAS 106 to require recognition of the over-funded or under-funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans on the balance sheet. Under ASC 325-960, gains and losses, prior service costs and credits, and any remaining transition amounts under SFAS 87 and SFAS 106 that have not yet been recognized through net periodic benefit cost will be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax effects, until they are amortized as a component of net periodic cost.

Advertising Costs

The Company follows the policy of charging the cost of advertising to expense as incurred. Total advertising costs included in other operating expenses for 2012, 2011, and 2010 were $251,258, $185,793, and $191,449, respectively.

Income Taxes

Amounts provided for income tax expense are based on income reported for financial statement purposes rather than amounts currently payable under income tax laws. Deferred taxes, which arise principally from temporary differences between the period in which certain income and expenses are recognized for financial accounting purposes and the period in which they affect taxable income, are included in the amounts provided for income taxes.

In 2006, the FASB issued ASC 740 (formerly Interpretation No. 48), “Income Taxes.” ASC 740 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in an enterprise’s tax return. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Accordingly, the Company adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

Comprehensive Income

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income.  Certain changes in assets and liabilities and changes in pension plan funding status, such as unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and gains or losses on certain derivative contracts, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet.  Such items, along with operating net income, are components of comprehensive income.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding.  The Company had no potentially dilutive instruments during the three-year period ended December 31, 2012.

Derivative Financial Instruments and Change in Accounting Principle

On January 1, 2001, the Company adopted ASC 815 “Derivative and Hedging Investments” (formerly SFAS No. 133).  This statement requires that all derivatives be recognized as assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and measured at fair value.

Under ASC 815, the gain or loss on a derivative designated and qualifying as a fair value hedging instrument, as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedging item attributable to the risk being hedged, is recognized currently in earnings in the same accounting period.  The effective portion of the gain or loss on a derivative designated and qualifying as a cash flow hedging instrument is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.  The ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument, if any, is recognized currently in earnings.

Interest rate derivative financial instruments receive hedge accounting treatment only if they are designated as a hedge and are expected to be, and are, effective in substantially reducing interest rate risk arising from the assets and liabilities identified as exposing the Company to risk. Those derivative financial instruments that do not meet the hedging criteria discussed below would be classified as trading activities and would be recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in income. Derivative hedge contracts must meet specific effectiveness tests (i.e., over time the change in their fair values due to the designated hedge risk must be within 80 to 125 percent of the opposite change in the fair value of the hedged assets or liabilities). Changes in fair value of the derivative financial instruments must be effective at offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedging items due to the designated hedge risk during the term of the hedge. Further, if the underlying financial instrument differs from the hedged asset or liability, there must be a clear economic relationship between the prices of the two financial instruments. If periodic assessment indicates derivatives no longer provide an effective hedge, the derivatives contracts would be closed out and settled or classified as a trading activity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

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

Subsequent Events

In preparing these financial statements, the Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued.