SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, fair value, and pension accounting.

At the time of purchase, debt securities are classified into the following categories: held to maturity, available for sale or trading. Debt securities that the Company has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity. Held to maturity securities are stated at amortized cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on purchase using a method that approximates the effective interest method. Investments classified as trading or available for sale are stated at fair value. Changes in fair value of trading investments are included in current earnings while changes in fair value of available for sale investments are excluded from current earnings and reported, net of taxes, as a separate component of other comprehensive income. Presently, the Company does not maintain a portfolio of trading securities.

The fair value of investment securities available for sale is estimated based on quoted prices for similar assets determined by bid quotations received from independent pricing services. Declines in the fair value of securities below their amortized cost that are other than temporary are reflected in earnings or other comprehensive income, as appropriate. For those debt securities whose fair value is less than their amortized cost basis, we consider our intent to sell the security, whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery and if we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. In analyzing an issuer’s financial condition, we may consider whether the securities are issued by the federal government or its agencies, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies have occurred and the results of reviews of the issuer’s financial condition.

Interest income is recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses for securities classified as available-for-sale are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.

For held-to-maturity debt securities, the amount of other-than-temporary impairment recorded in other comprehensive income for the noncredit portion of a previous other-than-temporary impairment is amortized prospectively over the remaining life of the security on the basis of the timing of future estimated cash flows of the security.

For available-for-sale securities, when the Company has decided to sell an impaired available-for-sale security and the Company does not expect the fair value of the security to fully recover before the expected time of sale, the security is deemed other-than-temporarily impaired in the period in which the decision to sell is made. The Company recognizes an impairment loss when the impairment is deemed other than temporary even if a decision to sell has not been made. The Company had no other than temporary impairment in 2021 or 2020.

Income Taxes

Income tax accounting guidance results in two components of income tax expense: current and deferred. Current income tax expense reflects taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period by applying the provisions of the enacted tax law to the taxable income or excess of deductions over revenues. The Company determines deferred income taxes using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is based on the tax effects of the differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and enacted changes in tax rates and laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. Deferred tax assets are recognized if it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the tax position will be realized or sustained upon examination. The term more likely than not means a likelihood of more than 50 percent; the terms examined and upon examination also include resolution of the related appeals or litigation processes, if any. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The determination of whether or not a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold considers the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date and is subject to management’s judgment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of evidence available, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, on income taxes as a component of income tax expense.

Loans Held for Sale

These loans consist of fixed rate loans made through the Company’s subsidiary, F&M Mortgage, and loans held for sale participations with Northpointe Bank, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

F&M Mortgage originates conforming mortgage loans for sale in the secondary market. These loans consist primarily of fixed-rate, single-family residential mortgage loans which meet the underwriting characteristics of the investors. F&M Mortgage enters into mortgage loan commitments whereby the interest rate on the loan is determined prior to funding (rate lock commitments).

The period of time between issuance of a loan commitment and sale of the loan generally ranges from two to three weeks. F&M Mortgage protects itself from changes in interest rates through the use of best efforts forward delivery contracts, by committing to sell a loan at the time the borrower commits to an interest rate with the intent that the buyer has assumed the interest rate risk on the loan. As a result, the Company is not generally exposed to significant losses nor will it realize significant gains related to its rate lock commitments due to changes in interest rates. The correlation between the rate lock commitments and the best efforts contracts is very high due to their similarity. F&M Mortgage determines the fair value of rate lock commitments and best efforts contracts by measuring the change in the estimated value of the underlying assets while taking into consideration the probability that the loan will be funded. These loans are pre-sold with servicing released and no interest is retained after the loans are sold. The Company uses fair value accounting for its portfolio of loans held for sale (LHFS) originated by F&M Mortgage in accordance with ASC 820 – Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures. Fair value is based on observable market prices for the identical instruments traded in the secondary mortgage loan markets in which the Company conducts business total $4,887 as of December 31, 2021 of which $4,920 is related to unpaid principal. The Company’s portfolio of LHFS is classified as Level 2.

The Bank participates in a Mortgage Purchase Program with Northpointe Bank (Northpointe), a Michigan banking corporation. Pursuant to the terms of a participation agreement, the Bank purchases participation interests in loans made by Northpointe related to fully underwritten and pre-sold mortgage loans originated by various prescreened mortgage loan originators located throughout the United States. A takeout commitment is in place at the time the loans are purchased. The Bank has participated in similar arrangements since 2003 as a higher yielding alternative to federal funds sold or investment securities. These loans are short-term, residential real estate loans that have an average life in our portfolio of approximately two weeks. The Bank holds these loans during the period of time between loan closing and when the loan is paid off by the ultimate secondary market purchaser. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, there were $0 and $44,372 of these loans included in loans held for sale on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

Allowance for Loan and Losses

The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of probable losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio. A provision for estimated losses is charged to earnings to establish and maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level reflective of the estimated credit risk. When management determines that a loan balance or portion of a loan balance is not collectible, the loss is charged against the allowance. Subsequent recoveries, if any, 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 evaluates the allowance each quarter through a methodology that estimates losses on individual impaired loans and evaluates the effect of numerous factors on the credit risk of each segment of loans.

The Company’s allowance for loan losses has two basic components: the general allowance and the specific allowance. Each of these components is determined based upon estimates and judgments. The general allowance uses historical loss experience as an indicator of future losses, along with various qualitative factors, including levels and trends in delinquencies, nonaccrual loans, charge-offs and recoveries, trends in volume and terms of loans, effects of changes in underwriting standards, experience of lending staff, economic conditions, and portfolio concentrations.

Except for credit cards and dealer finance, all loans are assigned an internal risk rating based on certain credit quality indicators. The period-end balances for each loan segment are multiplied by the adjusted loss factor. Specific allowances are established for individually evaluated impaired loans based on the differences between the value of collateral, present value of future cash flows or values that are observable in the secondary market and the loan balance.

On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act allowed banks to elect to suspend requirements under GAAP for loan modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic that would otherwise be categorized as a TDR. During the pandemic, the bank executed modifications of principal and interest deferrals in connection with COVID-19 relief to our customers. Of those modifications, one loan with a balance of $2,486 was in deferral as of December 31, 2021 and returned to active status on January 18, 2022.

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.

Other Real Estate Owned (OREO)

OREO is held for sale and represents real estate acquired through or in lieu of foreclosure. OREO is initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. Physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan occurs when legal title is obtained upon completion of foreclosure or when the borrower conveys all interest in the property to satisfy the loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. The Company’s policy is to carry OREO on its balance sheet at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through expense. Operating costs after acquisition are expensed.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for goodwill and intangible assets under ASC 805, “Business Combinations” and ASC 350, “Intangibles”, respectively. Goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment by applying a fair value-based test. Additionally, acquired intangible assets are separately recognized if the benefit of the assets can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, and amortized over their useful lives. The Company recorded goodwill and intangible assets in 2021 related to the Waynesboro branch acquisition; see Note 29. The Company records as goodwill the excess of purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Impairment testing is performed annually, as well as when an event triggering impairment may have occurred. The Company performs its annual analysis as of December 31 each fiscal year. Accounting guidance states an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The Company performed an internal evaluation of goodwill for December 31, 2021. Based on the results of this review, no impairment was deemed necessary.

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 2021 and 2020 were $748 and $604, respectively.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company – put presumptively beyond reach of the transferor and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity or the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets.

Fair Value Measurements

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

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made in prior years’ financial statements to conform to classifications used in the current year. These reclassifications had no impact on net income or earnings per share.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The amendments in this ASU, among other things, require 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. Financial institutions and other organizations will now use forward-looking information to better inform their credit loss estimates. Many of the loss estimation techniques applied today will still be permitted, although the inputs to those techniques will change to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. The FASB has issued multiple updates to ASU 2016-13 as codified in Topic 326, including ASU’s 2019-04, 2019-05, 2019-10, 2019-11, 2020-02, and 2020-03. These ASU’s have provided for various minor technical corrections and improvements to the codification as well as other transition matters. Smaller reporting companies who file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), such as the Company, and all other entities who do not file with the SEC are required to apply the guidance for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently assessing the impact that ASU 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements and is implementing a CECL model to begin running parallel in the first quarter 2022. Data has been archived under the current model.

Effective November 25, 2019, the SEC adopted Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 119. SAB 119 updated portions of SEC interpretative guidance to align with FASB ASC 326, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses.” It covers topics including (1) measuring current expected credit losses; (2) development, governance, and documentation of a systematic methodology; (3) documenting the results of a systematic methodology; and (4) validating a systematic methodology.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” These amendments provide temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. It is intended to help stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period. The guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Subsequently, in January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope.” This ASU clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. The ASU also amends the expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 to capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and to tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. An entity may elect to apply ASU No. 2021-01 on contract modifications that change the interest rate used for margining, discounting, or contract price alignment retrospectively as of any date from the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020, or prospectively to new modifications from any date within the interim period that includes or is subsequent to January 7, 2021, up to the date that financial statements are available to be issued. An entity may elect to apply ASU No. 2021-01 to eligible hedging relationships existing as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020, and to new eligible hedging relationships entered into after the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020. The Company is preparing to have all loan agreements, other than SWAP loans, transitioned from LIBOR by the end of second quarter 2022. The SWAP loans have amended Rate Protection Agreements executed by the borrower in preparation of transition away from LIBOR by the swap holder.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06 “Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity.” The ASU simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current U.S. GAAP. Consequently, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument and more convertible preferred stock as a single equity instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. The ASU removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, which will permit more equity contracts to qualify for it.

The ASU also simplifies the diluted earnings per share (EPS) calculation in certain areas. In addition, the amendment updates the disclosure requirements for convertible instruments to increase the information transparency. For public business entities, excluding smaller reporting companies, the amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2020-06 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, “Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt - Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity – Classified Written Call Options (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force).” The ASU addresses how an issuer should account for modifications or an exchange of freestanding written call options classified as equity that is not within the scope of another Topic. For both public and private companies, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Transition is prospective. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2021-04 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-06, “‘Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205), Financial Services—Depository and Lending (Topic 942), and Financial Services—Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Final Rule Releases No. 33-10786, Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses, and No. 33-10835, Update of Statistical Disclosures for Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants. This ASU incorporates recent SEC rule changes into the FASB Codification, including SEC Final Rule Releases No. 33-10786, Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses, and No. 33-10835, Update of Statistical Disclosures for Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants”. The ASU is effective upon addition to the FASB Codification. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2018-14 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers”. The ASU requires entities to apply Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination. The amendments improve comparability after the business combination by providing consistent recognition and measurement guidance for revenue contracts with customers acquired in a business combination and revenue contracts with customers not acquired in a business combination. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. Entities should apply the amendments prospectively and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2021-08 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”). ASU 2017-04 simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment for all entities by requiring impairment charges to be based on the first step in the previous two-step impairment test. Under the new guidance, if a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, an entity will record an impairment charge based on that difference. The impairment charge will be limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The standard eliminates the prior requirement to calculate a goodwill impairment charge using Step 2, which requires an entity to calculate any impairment charge by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount. ASU 2017-04 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” The ASU is expected to reduce cost and complexity related to the accounting for income taxes by removing specific exceptions to general principles in Topic 740 (eliminating the need for an organization to analyze whether certain exceptions apply in a given period) and improving financial statement preparers’ application of certain income tax-related guidance. This ASU is part of the FASB’s simplification initiative to make narrow-scope simplifications and improvements to accounting standards through a series of short-term projects. ASU 2019-12 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, “Investments – Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) – Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815.” The ASU is based on a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force and is expected to increase comparability in accounting for these transactions. ASU 2020-01 made targeted improvements to accounting for financial instruments, including providing an entity the ability to measure certain equity securities without a readily determinable fair value at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. Among other topics, the amendments clarify that an entity should consider observable transactions that require it to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting. ASU 2020-01 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-01 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, “Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables – Nonrefundable fees and Other Costs.” This ASU clarifies that an entity should reevaluate whether a callable debt security is within the scope of ASC paragraph 310-20-35-33 for each reporting period. ASU 2020-08 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-08 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2020, the Consolidated Appropriates Act of 2021 (“CAA”) was passed. Under Section 541 of the CAA, Congress extended or modified many of the relief programs first created by the CARES Act, including the PPP loan program and treatment of certain loan modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 discussion following the Critical Accounting Policies at the beginning of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis and note 5 provide more details on what the Company is doing to prepare for the impact.