FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Earnings-Per-Share

Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares and unvested restricted shares outstanding for each period. The Company’s unvested restricted shares are considered participating securities as they contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends and thus they are included in the basic earnings per share computation. Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock options. In the event a net loss is reported, restricted shares and stock options are excluded from earnings per share computations.

The reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 follows.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014		2013		2014		2013
Weighted average common shares outstanding		11,586,564		11,573,014		11,578,350		11,569,961
Weighted average unvested restricted shares		74,980		-		33,440		-
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share		11,661,544		11,573,014		11,611,790		11,569,961
Additional diluted shares:
Stock options		54,742		33,688		56,201		13,083
Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share		11,716,286		11,606,702		11,667,991		11,583,044

Loans and Loan Interest Income Recognition

Loans and Loan Interest Income Recognition - Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of unearned discounts, deferred loan fees and costs. Unearned discounts on installment loans are credited to income using methods that result in a level yield. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income over the respective term of the loan without anticipating prepayments.

Interest income is accrued on the unpaid loan principal balance. Recognition of interest income is discontinued when reasonable doubt exists as to whether principal or interest due can be collected. Loans of all classes will generally no longer accrue interest when over 90 days past due unless the loan is well-secured and in process of collection. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, all interest previously accrued, but not collected, is reversed against current-year interest income. Interest received on such loans is applied against principal or interest, according to management’s judgment as to the collectability of the principal, until qualifying for return to accrual status. Loans may start accruing interest again when they become current as to principal and interest for at least six months, and when, after a well-documented analysis by management, it has been determined that the loans can be collected in full.  For all classes of loans, an impaired loan is defined as a loan for which it is probable that the lender will not collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Loans for which the terms have been modified resulting in a concession, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties are considered troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) and are classified as impaired. Generally, TDRs are initially classified as non-accrual until sufficient time has passed to assess whether the restructured loan will continue to perform. For impaired, accruing loans, interest income is recognized on an accrual basis with cash offsetting the recorded accruals upon receipt.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Allowance for Loan Losses - The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred losses, increased by the provision for loan losses and recoveries, and decreased by loan charge-offs. For all classes of loans, when a loan, in full or in part, is deemed uncollectible, it is charged against the allowance for loan losses. This happens when the loan is past due and the borrower has not shown the ability or intent to make the loan current, or the borrower does not have sufficient assets to pay the debt, or the value of the collateral is less than the balance of the loan and is not considered likely to improve soon. The allowance for loan losses is determined by a quarterly analysis of the loan portfolio. Such analysis includes changes in the size and composition of the portfolio, the Company’s own historical loan losses, industry-wide losses, current and anticipated economic trends, and details about individual loans. It also includes estimates of the actual value of collateral, other possible sources of repayment and estimates that are susceptible to significant changes due to changes in appraisal values of collateral, national and regional economic conditions and other relevant factors. All non-accrual loans over $250 thousand in the commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and real estate construction loan classes and all TDRs are evaluated individually for impairment. All other loans are generally evaluated as homogeneous pools with similar risk characteristics. In assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, management reviews the loan portfolio by separate classes that have similar risk and collateral characteristics. These classes are commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, multifamily, mixed use commercial, real estate construction, residential mortgages, home equity and consumer loans.

The allowance for loan losses consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are individually classified as impaired. Specific reserves are established based on an analysis of the most probable sources of repayment or liquidation of collateral. Impaired loans that are collateral dependent are reviewed based on the fair market value of collateral and the estimated time required to recover the Company’s investment in the loans, as well as the cost of doing so, and the estimate of the recovery. Non-collateral dependent impaired loans are reviewed based on the present value of estimated future cash flows, including balloon payments, if any, using the loan’s effective interest rate. While every impaired loan is evaluated individually, not every loan requires a specific reserve. Specific reserves fluctuate based on changes in the underlying loans, anticipated sources of repayment, and charge-offs. The general component covers non-impaired loans and is based on historical loss experience for each loan class from a rolling twelve quarter period and modifying those percentages, if necessary, after adjusting for current qualitative and environmental factors that reflect changes in the estimated collectability of the loan class not captured by historical loss data.  These factors augment actual loss experience and help estimate the probability of loss within the loan portfolio based on emerging or inherent risk trends. These qualitative factors are applied as an adjustment to historical loss rates and require judgments that cannot be subjected to exact mathematical calculation. These adjustments reflect management’s overall estimate of the extent to which current losses on a pool of loans will differ from historical loss experience. These adjustments are subjective estimates and management reviews them on a quarterly basis. TDRs are also considered impaired with impairment generally measured at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s effective interest rate at inception or using the fair value of collateral, less estimated costs to sell, if repayment is expected solely from the collateral.

Loans Held-For-Sale

Loans Held For Sale – Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or fair value, based on observable inputs in the secondary market. Changes in fair value of loans held for sale are recognized in earnings.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”) - BOLI is recorded at the lower of the cash surrender value or the amount that can be realized under the insurance policy and is included as an asset in the consolidated statements of condition. Changes in the cash surrender value and insurance benefit payments are recorded in non-interest income in the consolidated statements of operations.

Derivatives

Derivatives- Derivatives are contracts between counterparties that specify conditions under which settlements are to be made. The only derivatives held by the Company are swap contracts with the purchaser of its Visa Class B shares. The Company records its derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The Company’s derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting. As a result, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings in the period in which they occur. (See also Note 3. Investment Securities contained herein.)

Recent Accounting Guidance

Recent Accounting Guidance – In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of the ASU is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. The ASU defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting the ASU recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). The Company has not yet determined the method by which it will adopt ASU 2014-09 in 2017 and does not believe that the adoption will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Topic 310), “Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure,” to clarify when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, that is, when a creditor should be considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan such that the loan receivable should be derecognized and the real estate property recognized. The ASU requires interim and annual disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. Management intends to adopt ASU 2014-04 on January 1, 2015 and does not believe that the adoption will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740), “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists,” to clarify the balance sheet presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The ASU requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company’s adoption of ASU 2013-11 on January 1, 2014 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications — Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period information in order to conform to the current period’s presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.