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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
1.          Summary of Significant Accounting Policies


The accounting and reporting policies of NBT Bancorp Inc. (“NBT Bancorp”) and its subsidiaries, NBT Bank, National Association (“NBT Bank” or the “Bank”), NBT Financial Services, Inc. and NBT Holdings, Inc., conform, in all material respects, with  generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and to general practices within the banking industry. Collectively, NBT Bancorp and its subsidiaries are referred to herein as (“the Company”).

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates and such differences could be material to the financial statements.

Estimates associated with the allowance for credit losses, pension accounting, provision for income taxes, fair values of financial instruments and status of contingencies are particularly susceptible to material change in the near term.

The following is a description of significant policies and practices:

Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NBT Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiaries mentioned above. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Amounts previously reported in the consolidated financial statements are reclassified whenever necessary to conform to the current year’s presentation. The Company combined ATM and debit card fees with card related income previously reported in Other noninterest income which is now disclosed as Card services income. The Company reclassified Data processing and communications expense into Technology and data services expense. The Company reclassified Equipment expense into Occupancy expense and Technology and data services expense. In the “Parent Company Financial Information,” the investment in subsidiaries is recorded using the equity method of accounting.

The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity under GAAP. Voting interest entities are entities in which the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance itself independently and provides the equity holders with the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities. The Company consolidates voting interest entities in which it has all, or at least a majority of, the voting interest. As defined in applicable accounting standards, variable interest entities (“VIEs”) are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A controlling financial interest in a VIE is present when the Company has both the power and ability to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries CNBF Capital Trust I, NBT Statutory Trust I, NBT Statutory Trust II, Alliance Financial Capital Trust I and Alliance Financial Capital Trust II are VIEs for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the accounts of these entities are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting

The Company’s operations are primarily in the community banking industry and include the provision of traditional banking services. The Company also provides other services through its subsidiaries such as insurance, retirement plan administration and trust administration. The Company operates in the geographical regions of central and upstate New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Hampshire, western Massachusetts, Vermont, southern Maine and central Connecticut. The Company has no reportable operating segments.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers amounts due from correspondent banks, cash items in process of collection and institutional money market mutual funds to be cash equivalents for purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Securities

The Company classifies its securities at date of purchase as either held to maturity (“HTM”), available for sale (“AFS”) or equity. HTM debt securities are those that the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. AFS debt securities are securities that are not classified as HTM. AFS securities are recorded at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, on AFS securities are excluded from earnings and are reported in the consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss (“AOCI”). HTM securities are recorded at amortized cost. Equity securities are recorded at fair value, with net unrealized gains and losses recognized in income. Transfers of securities between categories are recorded at fair value at the date of transfer. Non-marketable equity securities are carried at cost. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values are carried at cost. The Company performs a qualitative assessment on equity securities to determine whether the investments are impaired and downward or upward adjustments are recognized through the income statement.

Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related security as an adjustment to yield using the interest method. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.

Allowance for Credit Losses –HTM Debt Securities

With respect to its HTM debt securities, the Company is required to utilize the Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“CECL”) approach to estimate expected credit losses. Management measures expected credit losses on HTM debt securities on a collective basis by major security types that share similar risk characteristics, such as (as applicable): internal or external (third-party) credit score or credit ratings, risk ratings or classification, financial asset type, collateral type, size, effective interest rate, term, geographical location, industry of the borrower, vintage, historical or expected credit loss patterns, and reasonable and supportable forecast periods. Management classifies the HTM portfolio into the following major security types: U.S. government agency or U.S. government-sponsored mortgage-backed and collateralized mortgage obligations securities, and state and municipal debt securities.

The mortgage-backed and collateralized mortgage obligations HTM securities are issued by U.S. government entities and agencies. These securities are either explicitly and/or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government as to timely repayment of principal and interest, are highly rated by major rating agencies, and have a long history of zero credit losses. Therefore, the Company did not record an allowance for credit loss for these securities.

State and municipal bonds generally carry a Moody’s rating of A to AAA. In addition, the Company has a limited amount of New York state local municipal bonds that are not rated. The estimate of expected credit losses on the HTM portfolio is based on the expected cash flows of each individual bond over its contractual life and considers historical credit loss information, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Given the rarity of municipal defaults and losses, the Company utilized Moody’s Municipal Loss Forecast Model as the sole source of municipal default and loss rates which provides decades of data across all municipal sectors and geographies. As with the loan portfolio, cash flows are forecast over a 6-quarter period under various weighted economic conditions, with a reversion to long-term average economic conditions over a 4-quarter period on a straight-line basis. Management may exercise discretion to make adjustments based on environmental factors. The Company determined that the expected credit loss on its HTM municipal bond portfolio was immaterial and therefore no allowance for credit losses was recorded.

Allowance for Credit Losses –AFS Debt Securities

The impairment model for AFS debt securities differs from the CECL approach utilized for HTM debt securities because AFS debt securities are measured at fair value rather than amortized cost. For AFS debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Bank 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 AFS debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, 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, adverse conditions specifically related to the security, failure of the issuer of the debt security to make scheduled interest or principal payments, 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. The cash flows should be estimated using information relevant to the collectability of the security, including information about past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. 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.

Investments in Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock are required for membership in those organizations and are carried at cost since there is no market value available. The FHLB New York continues to pay dividends and repurchase stock. As such, the Company has not recognized any impairment on its holdings of Federal Reserve Bank and FHLB stock.

Loan Held for Sale and Loan Servicing

Loans held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value on an individual basis. Loan sales are recorded when the sales are funded. Gains and losses on sales of loans held for sale are included in other noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Mortgage loans held for sale are generally sold with servicing rights retained. Mortgage servicing rights are recorded at fair value upon sale of the loan, and are amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income.

Loans

Loans are recorded at their current unpaid principal balance, net of unearned income and unamortized loan fees and expenses, which are amortized under the effective interest method over the estimated lives of the loans. Interest income on loans is accrued based on the principal amount outstanding.

For all loan classes within the Company’s loan portfolio, loans are placed on nonaccrual status when timely collection of principal and/or interest in accordance with contractual terms is in doubt. Loans are transferred to nonaccrual status generally when principal or interest payments become over ninety days delinquent, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection or sooner when management concludes circumstances indicate that borrowers may be unable to meet contractual principal or interest payments. When a loan is transferred to a nonaccrual status, all interest previously accrued in the current period but not collected is reversed against interest income in that period. Interest accrued in a prior period and not collected is charged-off against the allowance for credit losses.

If ultimate repayment of a nonaccrual loan is expected, any payments received are applied in accordance with contractual terms. If ultimate repayment of principal is not expected, any payment received on a nonaccrual loan is applied to principal until ultimate repayment becomes expected. For all loan classes within the Company’s loan portfolio, nonaccrual loans are returned to accrual status when they become current as to principal and interest and demonstrate a period of performance under the contractual terms and, in the opinion of management, are fully collectible as to principal and interest. For loans in all portfolios, the principal amount is charged off in full or in part as soon as management determines, based on available facts, that the collection of principal in full or in part is improbable. For Commercial loans, management considers specific facts and circumstances relative to individual credits in making such a determination. For Consumer and Residential loan classes, management uses specific guidance and thresholds from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Uniform Retail Credit Classification and Account Management Policy.

A loan is considered to be a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) when the Company grants a concession to the borrower because of the borrower’s financial condition that the Company would not otherwise consider. Such concessions generally include one or a combination of the following: an extension of the maturity date at a stated rate of interest lower than the current market rate for new debt with similar risk; a temporary reduction in the interest rate; or a change in scheduled payment amount. TDR loans are nonaccrual loans; however, they can be returned to accrual status after a period of performance, generally evidenced by six months of compliance with their modified terms.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans

The CECL approach requires an estimate of the credit losses expected over the life of a loan (or pool of loans). The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from, or added to, the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net, lifetime amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loan losses are charged off against the allowance when management believes a loan balance is confirmed to be uncollectible. 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 information, from internal and external sources, related to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amounts. Historical loss experience is generally the starting point for estimating expected credit losses. The Company then considers whether the historical loss experience should be adjusted for asset-specific risk characteristics or current conditions at the reporting date that did not exist over the period from which historical experience is used. Adjustments to historical loss information is made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency level or term as well as changes in environmental conditions, such as changes in unemployment rates, production metrics, property values, or other relevant factors. Company historical loss experience is supplemented with peer information when there is insufficient loss data for the Company. Peer selection is based on a review of institutions with comparable loss experience as well as loan yield, bank size, portfolio concentration and geography. Finally, the Company considers forecasts about future economic conditions that are reasonable and supportable. Significant management judgment is required at various points in the measurement process.

Portfolio segment is defined as the level at which an entity develops and documents a systematic methodology to determine its allowance for credit losses. Management developed segments for estimating loss based on type of borrower and collateral which is generally based upon federal call report segmentation and have been combined or subsegmented as needed to ensure loans of similar risk profiles are appropriately pooled.

The following table illustrates the portfolio and class segments for the Company’s loan portfolio:

Portfolio Segment
Class
Commercial Loans
Commercial & Industrial
Paycheck Protection Program
Commercial Real Estate
Consumer Loans
Auto
Other Consumer
Residential Loans

Commercial Loans

The Company offers a variety of commercial loan products. The Company’s underwriting analysis for commercial loans typically includes credit verification, independent appraisals, a review of the borrower’s financial condition and a detailed analysis of the borrower’s underlying cash flows.

Commercial and Industrial (“C&I”) – The Company offers a variety of loan options to meet the specific needs of our C&I customers including term loans, time notes and lines of credit. Such loans are made available to businesses for working capital needs and are typically collateralized by business assets such as equipment, accounts receivable and perishable agricultural products, which are exposed to industry price volatility. To reduce these risks, management also attempts to obtain personal guarantees of the owners or to obtain government loan guarantees to provide further support.

Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) – Section 1102 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) created the Paycheck Protection Program, a program administered by the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) to provide loans to small businesses for payroll and other basic expenses during the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. The Company has been a participant in the PPP as a lender. Loans made under the PPP are fully guaranteed by the SBA, whose guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. PPP covered loans also afford borrowers forgiveness up to the principal amount of the PPP covered loan, plus accrued interest, if the loan proceeds are used to retain workers and maintain payroll or to make certain mortgage interest, lease and utility payments, and certain other criteria are satisfied. The SBA will reimburse PPP lenders for any amount of a PPP covered loan that is forgiven, and PPP lenders will not be held liable for any representations made by PPP borrowers in connection with their requests for loan forgiveness. Lenders receive pre-determined fees for processing and servicing PPP loans. In addition, PPP loans are risk-weighted at zero percent under the generally applicable Standardized Approach used to calculate risk-weighted assets for regulatory capital purposes. The Company processed approximately 6,100 loans totaling $835 million in relief. As of December 31, 2022 total forgiveness and paydown is equal to 99% of the original balance.

Commercial Real Estate (“CRE”) – The Company offers CRE loans to finance real estate purchases, refinancing’s, expansions and improvements to commercial and agricultural properties. CRE loans are loans that are secured by liens on real estate, which may include both owner-occupied and nonowner-occupied properties, such as apartments, commercial structures, health care facilities and other facilities. The Company’s underwriting analysis includes credit verification, independent appraisals, a review of the borrower’s financial condition and a detailed analysis of the borrower’s underlying cash flows. These loans are typically originated in amounts of no more than 80% of the appraised value of the property. Government loan guarantees may be obtained to provide further support for agricultural property.

Consumer Loans

The Company offers a variety of Consumer loan products including Auto and Other Consumer loans.

Auto – The Company provides both direct and indirect financing of automobiles (“Auto”). The Company maintains relationships with many dealers primarily in the communities that we serve. Through these relationships, the Company primarily finances the purchases of automobiles indirectly through dealer relationships. Most of these loans carry a fixed rate of interest with principal repayment terms typically ranging from three to six years, based upon the nature of the collateral and the size of the loan.

Other Consumer – The Other Consumer loan segment consists primarily of unsecured consumer loans, residential solar loans and direct consumer loans. The Company offers unsecured consumer loans across a national footprint originated through our relationships with national technology-driven consumer lending companies to finance such things as dental and medical procedures, K-12 tuition, solar energy installations and other consumer purpose loans. Advances of credit through this business line are subject to the Company’s underwriting standards including criteria such as FICO score and debt to income thresholds. In 2017, the Company partnered with Sungage Financial, Inc. to offer financing to consumers for solar ownership with the program tailored for delivery through solar installers. Advances of credit through this business line are to prime borrowers and are subject to the Company’s underwriting standards. Typically, the Company collects origination fees that are deferred and recognized into interest income over the estimated life of the loan. The Company offers a variety of direct consumer installment loans to finance various personal expenditures. In addition to installment loans, the Company also offers personal lines of credit, overdraft protection, debt consolidation, education and other uses. Direct consumer installment loans carry a fixed rate of interest with principal repayment terms typically ranging from one to fifteen years, based upon the nature of the collateral and the size of the loan. Consumer installment loans are often secured with collateral consisting of a perfected lien on the asset being purchased or a perfected lien on a consumer’s deposit account. Risk is reduced through underwriting criteria, which include credit verification, appraisals, a review of the borrower’s financial condition and personal cash flows. A security interest, with title insurance when necessary, is taken in the underlying real estate.

Residential

Residential loans consist primarily of loans secured by a first or second mortgage on primary residences, home equity loans and lines of credit in first and second lien positions and residential construction loans. We originate adjustable-rate and fixed rate, one-to-four-family residential loans for the construction or purchase of a residential property or the refinancing of a mortgage. These loans are collateralized by properties located in the Company’s market area. Loans on one-to-four-family residential are generally originated in amounts of no more than 85% of the purchase price or appraised value (whichever is lower) or have private mortgage insurance. Mortgage title insurance and hazard insurance are normally required. Construction loans have a unique risk because they are secured by an incomplete dwelling. This risk is reduced through periodic site inspections, including one at each loan draw period. For home equity loans, consumers are able to borrow up to 85% of the equity in their homes and are generally tied to Prime with a ten-year draw followed by a fifteen-year amortization. These loans carry a higher risk than first mortgage residential loans as they are often in a second position with respect to collateral.

Historical credit loss experience for both the Company and segment-specific peers provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses, where observed credit losses are converted to probability of default rate (“PD”) curves through the use of segment-specific loss given default (“LGD”) risk factors that convert default rates to loss severity based on industry-level, observed relationships between the two variables for each asset class, primarily due to the nature of the underlying collateral. These risk factors were assessed for reasonableness against the Company’s own loss experience and adjusted in certain cases when the relationship between the Company’s historical default and loss severity deviate from that of the wider industry. The historical PD curves, together with corresponding economic conditions, establish a quantitative relationship between economic conditions and loan performance through an economic cycle.

Using the historical relationship between economic conditions and loan performance, management’s expectation of future loan performance is incorporated using externally developed economic forecasts which are probabilistically weighted to reflect potential forecast inaccuracy and model limitations. These forecasts are applied over a period that management has determined to be reasonable and supportable. Beyond the period over which management can develop or source a reasonable and supportable forecast, the model will revert to long-term average economic conditions using a straight-line, time-based methodology.

The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective (pool) basis, with both a quantitative and qualitative analysis that is applied on a quarterly basis, when similar risk characteristics exist. The respective quantitative allowance for each segment is measured using an econometric, PD/LGD modeling methodology in which distinct, segment-specific multi-variate regression models are applied to multiple, probabilistically weighted external economic forecasts. Under the discounted cash flows methodology, expected credit losses are estimated over the effective life of the loans by measuring the difference between the net present value of modeled cash flows and amortized cost basis. Contractual cash flows over the contractual life of the loans are the basis for modeled cash flows, adjusted for modeled defaults and expected prepayments and discounted at the loan-level stated interest rate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless either of the following applies: management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a TDR will be executed with an individual borrower or the extension or renewal options are included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company.

After quantitative considerations, management applies additional qualitative adjustments so that the allowance for credit losses is reflective of the estimate of lifetime losses that exist in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. Qualitative considerations include limitations inherent in the quantitative model; trends experienced in nonperforming and delinquent loans; changes in value of underlying collateral; changes in lending policies and procedures; nature and composition of loans; portfolio concentrations that may affect loss experience across one or more components of the portfolio; the experience, ability and depth of lending management and staff; the Company’s credit review system; and the effect of external factors; such as competition, legal and regulatory requirements.

Loans that do not share risk characteristics and meet materiality criteria are evaluated on an individual basis and are excluded from the pooled evaluation. When management determines that foreclosure is probable, expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. If the loan is not collateral dependent, the allowance for credit losses related to individually assessed loans is based on discounted expected cash flows using the loan’s initial effective interest rate. Generally, individually assessed loans are collateral dependent.

A loan for which the terms have been modified resulting in a concession, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties is considered to be a TDR. The allowance for credit losses on a TDR is measured using the same method as all other loans held for investment, except that the original interest rate is used to discount the expected cash flows, not the rate specified within the restructuring. If the sole (remaining) source of repayment for the loan is the operation or liquidation of the collateral, then management uses the current fair value of the collateral, less selling costs. If management determines that the value of the modified loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, a write-down would be recorded.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures

The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the Company has exposure to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted as an expense in other noninterest expense. 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 their estimated lives. Estimating credit losses on unfunded commitments requires the Bank to consider the following categories of off-balance sheet credit exposure: unfunded commitments to extend credit, unfunded lines of credit, and standby letters of credit. Each of these unfunded commitments is then analyzed for a probability of funding to calculate a probable funding amount. The life of loan loss factor by related portfolio segment from the loan allowance for credit loss calculation is then applied to the probable funding amount to calculate a reserve on unfunded commitments.

Accrued Interest Receivable

Accrued interest receivable balances are presented separately within other assets balance sheet line item. The Company has excluded interest receivable that is included in amortized cost of financing receivables from related disclosures requirements and accrued interest receivable is written off by reversing interest income. For loans, write off typically occurs upon becoming over 90 to 120 days past due and therefore the amount of such write offs are immaterial. Historically, the Company has not experienced uncollectible accrued interest receivable on investment securities.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of premises and equipment is determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred.

Leases

The Company determines if a lease is present at the inception of an agreement. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement based on the present value of the remaining lease payments using a discount rate that represents the Company’s incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date. ROU assets and operating lease liabilities, are included in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. Leases with original terms of 12 months or less are recognized in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Operating lease ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset during the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets are further adjusted for lease incentives. Operating lease expense, which is comprised of amortization of the ROU asset and the implicit interest accreted on the operating lease liability, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and is recorded in occupancy expense in the consolidated statements of income.

The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For real estate leases, non-lease components and other non-components, such as common area maintenance charges, real estate taxes and insurance are not included in the measurement of the lease liability since they are generally able to be segregated. Our leases relate primarily to office space and bank branches, and some contain options to renew the lease. These options to renew are generally not considered reasonably certain to exercise, and are therefore not included in the lease term until such time that the option to renew is reasonably certain.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) consists of properties acquired through foreclosure or by acceptance of a deed in lieu of foreclosure. These assets are recorded at the lower of fair value of the asset acquired less estimated costs to sell or “cost” (defined as the fair value at initial foreclosure). At the time of foreclosure, or when foreclosure occurs in-substance, the excess, if any, of the loan over the fair market value of the assets received, less estimated selling costs, is charged to the allowance for loan losses and any subsequent valuation write-downs are charged to other expense. In connection with the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the valuation of OREO, management obtains appraisals for properties. Operating costs associated with the properties are charged to expense as incurred. Gains on the sale of OREO are included in income when title has passed and the sale has met the minimum down payment requirements prescribed by GAAP. The balance of OREO is recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the cost of acquired business in excess of the fair value of the related net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but tested at the reporting unit level for impairment on an annual basis and on an interim basis or when events or circumstances dictate. The Company has elected June 30 as the annual impairment testing date for the insurance and retirement services reporting units and December 31 for the Bank reporting unit.

The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors, by performing a qualitative analysis, to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the events or circumstances, the Company determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, the impairment test is not required. If the Company concludes otherwise, the Company is required to perform a quantitative impairment test. In the quantitative impairment test, the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount in order to determine if impairment is indicated. If the estimated fair value exceeds the carrying amount, the reporting unit is not deemed to be impaired. If the estimated fair value is below the carrying value of the reporting unit, the difference is the amount of impairment.

Intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested at least annually for impairment. Intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized over their useful lives. Core deposit intangibles and trust intangibles at the Company are amortized using the sum-of-the-years’-digits method. Covenants not to compete are amortized on a straight-line basis. Customer lists are amortized using an accelerated method. When facts and circumstances indicate potential impairment of amortizable intangible assets, the Company evaluates the recoverability of the asset carrying value, using estimates of undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining asset life. Any impairment loss is measured by the excess of carrying value over fair value.

Determining the fair value of a reporting unit under the goodwill impairment tests and determining the fair value of other intangible assets are judgmental and often involve the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Estimates of fair value are primarily determined using the discounted cash flows method, which uses significant estimates and assumptions including projected future cash flows, discount rates reflecting the market rate of return and projected growth rates. Future events may impact such estimates and assumptions and could cause the Company to conclude that our goodwill or intangible assets have become impaired, which would result in recording an impairment loss.

Bank-Owned Life Insurance

The Bank has purchased life insurance policies on certain employees, key executives and directors. Bank-owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock acquisitions are recorded at cost. Subsequent sales of treasury stock are recorded on an average cost basis. Gains on the sale of treasury stock are credited to additional paid-in-capital. Losses on the sale of treasury stock are charged to additional paid-in-capital to the extent of previous gains, otherwise charged to retained earnings.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

Tax positions are recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded.

Pension Costs

The Company has a qualified, noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all of its employees, as well as supplemental employee retirement plans to certain current and former executives and a defined benefit postretirement healthcare plan that covers certain employees. Costs associated with these plans, based on actuarial computations of current and future benefits for employees, are charged to current operating expenses.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company maintains various long-term incentive stock benefit plans under which restricted stock units are granted to certain directors and key employees. Compensation expense is recognized in the consolidated statements of income over the requisite service period, based on the grant-date fair value of the award. For restricted stock units, compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period for the fair value of the award, measured at the grant date.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity (such as the Company’s dilutive stock options and restricted stock units).

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

At the Company, comprehensive income (loss) represents net income plus OCI, which consists primarily of the net change in unrealized gains (losses) on AFS debt securities for the period, changes in the funded status of employee benefit plans and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives designated as hedging instruments. AOCI represents the net unrealized gains (losses) on AFS debt securities, the previously unrecognized portion of the funded status of employee benefit plans and the fair value of instruments designated as hedging instruments, net of income taxes, as of the consolidated balance sheet dates.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge. The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting.

For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item related to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, changes in fair value of the cash flow hedges are reported in OCI. When the cash flows associated with the hedged item are realized, the gain or loss included in OCI is recognized in the consolidated statements of income.

When the Company purchases or sells a portion of a commercial loan that has an existing interest rate swap, it may enter into a risk participation agreement to provide credit protection to the financial institution that originated the swap transaction should the borrower fail to perform on its obligation. The Company enters into both risk participation agreements in which it purchases credit protection from other financial institutions and those in which it provides credit protection to other financial institutions. Any fee paid to the Company under a risk participation agreement is in consideration of the credit risk of the counterparties and is recognized in the income statement. Credit risk on the risk participation agreements is determined after considering the risk rating, probability of default and loss given default of the counterparties.

Fair Value Measurements

GAAP states that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs. A fair value hierarchy exists within GAAP that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

Level 3 - Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The types of instruments valued based on quoted market prices in active markets include most U.S. government and agency securities, many other sovereign government obligations, liquid mortgage products, active listed equities and most money market securities. Such instruments are generally classified within Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company does not adjust the quoted price for such instruments.

The types of instruments valued based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, broker or dealer quotations or quote from alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency include most investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds, less liquid mortgage products, less liquid agency securities, less liquid listed equities, state, municipal and provincial obligations and certain physical commodities. Such instruments are generally classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Certain common equity securities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 inputs (exchange quoted prices). Other investment securities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 and Level 2 inputs. The prices for Level 2 instruments are obtained through an independent pricing service or dealer market participants with whom the Company has historically transacted both purchases and sales of investment securities. Prices obtained from these sources include prices derived from market quotations and matrix pricing. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and conditions, among other things. Management reviews the methodologies used in pricing the securities by its third-party providers in pricing the securities.

Level 3 is for positions that are not traded in active markets or are subject to transfer restrictions. Valuations are adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability and such adjustments are generally based on available market evidence. In the absence of such evidence, management’s best estimate will be used. Management’s best estimate consists of both internal and external support on certain Level 3 investments. Subsequent to inception, management only changes Level 3 inputs and assumptions when corroborated by evidence such as transactions in similar instruments, completed or pending third-party transactions in the underlying investment or comparable entities, subsequent rounds of financing, recapitalizations and other transactions across the capital structure, offerings in the equity or debt markets and changes in financial ratios or cash flows.

Other Financial Instruments

The Company is a party to certain instruments with off-balance-sheet risk such as commitments to extend credit, unused lines of credit, standby letter of credit and certain agricultural real estate loans sold to investors with recourse. The Company’s policy is to record such instruments when funded.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third-party. The risk involved in issuing standby letters of credit is essentially the same as the credit risk involved in extending loan facilities to customers. Under the standby letters of credit, the Company is required to make payments to the beneficiary of the letters of credit upon request by the beneficiary contingent upon the customer’s failure to perform under the terms of the underlying contract with the beneficiary. Standby letters of credit typically have one year expirations with an option to renew upon annual review. The Company typically receives a fee for these transactions. The fair value of standby letters of credit is recorded upon inception.

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase agreements are accounted for as secured financing transactions since the Company maintains effective control over the transferred securities and the transfer meets the other criteria for such accounting. Obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. The securities underlying the agreements are delivered to a custodial account for the benefit of the counterparties with whom each transaction is executed. The counterparties, who may sell, loan or otherwise dispose of such securities to other parties in the normal course of their operations, agree to resell to the Company the same securities at the maturities of the agreements.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606) (“ASC 606” and “ASU 2014-09”), and all subsequent ASUs that modified ASC 606. The implementation of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the measurement or recognition of revenue; as such, a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings was not deemed necessary. ASC 606 does not apply to revenue associated with financial instruments, including revenue from loans and securities and certain noninterest income streams such as fees associated with mortgage servicing rights, financial guarantees, derivatives and certain credit card fees are also not in scope. ASC 606 is applicable to noninterest revenue streams such as retirement plan administration fees, trust and asset management income, deposit related fees and annuity and insurance commissions; however, the recognition of these revenue streams did not change significantly upon adoption of ASC 606.

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts

Service charges on deposit accounts consist of overdraft fees, monthly service fees, check orders and other deposit account related fees. Overdraft, monthly service, check orders and other deposit account related fees are transactional based, and therefore, the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied, and related revenue recognized, at a point in time. Payment for service charges on deposit accounts is primarily received immediately or in the following month through a direct charge to customers’ accounts.

Card Services Income

ATM fees are primarily generated when a Company cardholder uses a non-Company ATM or a non-Company cardholder uses a Company ATM. Debit card income is primarily comprised of interchange fees earned whenever the Company’s debit cards are processed through card payment networks. The Company’s performance obligations for these revenue streams are satisfied, and related revenue recognized, when the services are rendered or upon completion. Payment is typically received immediately or in the following month.

Retirement Plan Administration Fees

Retirement plan administration fees are primarily generated for services related to the recordkeeping, administration and plan design solutions of defined benefit, defined contribution and revenue sharing plans. Revenue is recognized in arrears for services already provided in accordance with fees established in contracts with customers or based on rates agreed to with investment trade platforms based on ending investment balances held. The Company’s performance obligation is satisfied, and related revenue recognized based on services completed or ending investment balances, for which receivables are recorded at the time of revenue recognition.

Wealth Management

Wealth Management revenue primarily is comprised of trust and other financial services revenue. Trust and asset management income is primarily comprised of fees earned from the management and administration of trusts, pensions and other customer assets. The Company’s performance obligation is generally satisfied with the resulting fees recognized monthly, based upon services completed or the month-end market value of the assets under management and the applicable fee rate. Payment is generally received shortly after services are rendered or a few days after month end through a direct charge to customers’ accounts. The Company does not earn performance-based incentives. Financial services revenue primarily consists of commissions received on brokered investment product sales. For other financial services revenue, the Company’s performance obligation is generally satisfied upon the issuance of the annuity policy. Shortly after the policy is issued, the carrier remits the commission payment to the Company, and the Company recognizes the revenue. The Company does not earn a significant amount of trailing commission fees on brokered investment product sales. The majority of the trailing commission fees are calculated based on a percentage of market value of a period end and revenue is recognized when an investment product’s market value can be determined.

Insurance Revenue

Insurance and other financial services revenue primarily consists of commissions received on insurance. The Company acts as an intermediary between the Company’s customer and the insurance carrier. The Company’s performance obligation related to insurance sales for both property and casualty insurance and employee benefit plans is generally satisfied upon the later of the issuance or effective date of the policy. The Company earns performance based incentives, commonly known as contingency payments, which usually are based on certain criteria established by the insurance carrier such as premium volume, growth and insured loss ratios. Contingent payments are accrued for based upon management’s expectations for the year. Commission expense associated with sales of insurance products is expensed as incurred. The Company does not earn a significant amount of trailing commission fees on insurance product sales. The majority of the trailing commission fees are calculated based on a percentage of market value of a period end and revenue is recognized when an investment product’s market value can be determined.

Other

Other noninterest income consists of other recurring revenue streams such as account and loan fees, interest rate swap fees, safe deposit box rental fees and other miscellaneous revenue streams. These revenue streams are primarily transactional based and payment is received immediately or in the following month, and therefore, the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied, and the related revenue is recognized, at a point in time.

The following table presents noninterest income, segregated by revenue streams in-scope and out-of-scope of ASC 606:

 
Years Ended December 31,
 
(In thousands)
 
2022
   
2021
   
2020
 
Noninterest income
                 
In-Scope of ASC 606:
                 
Service charges on deposit accounts
 
$
14,630
   
$
13,348
   
$
13,201
 
Card services income
   
29,058
     
34,682
     
28,611
 
Retirement plan administration fees
   
48,112
     
42,188
     
35,851
 
Wealth management
   
33,311
     
33,718
     
29,247
 
Insurance services
   
14,696
     
14,083
     
14,757
 
Other
   
10,858
     
12,992
     
19,254
 
Total noninterest income in-scope of ASC 606
 
$
150,665
   
$
151,011
   
$
140,921
 
Total noninterest income out-of-scope of ASC 606
 
$
4,913
   
$
6,783
   
$
5,355
 
Total noninterest income
 
$
155,578
   
$
157,794
   
$
146,276
 

Contract Balances

A contract asset balance occurs when an entity performs a service for a customer before the customer pays consideration or before payment is due, which would result in contract receivables or assets, respectively. A contract liability balance is an entity’s obligation to transfer a service to a customer for which the entity has already received payment or for which payment is due from the customer. The Company’s noninterest revenue streams are largely based on transactional activity, or standard month-end revenue accruals such as asset management fees based on month-end market values. Consideration is often received immediately or shortly after the Company satisfies its performance obligation and revenue is recognized. The Company does not typically enter into long-term revenue contracts with customers, and therefore, does not experience significant contract balances.

Contract Acquisition Costs

ASC 606 requires the capitalization, and subsequently amortization into expense, of certain incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if these costs are expected to be recovered. The incremental costs of obtaining a contract are those costs that an entity incurs to obtain a contract with a customer that it would not have incurred if the contract had not been obtained. The Company elected the practical expedient, which allows immediate expensing of contract acquisition costs when the asset that would have resulted from capitalizing these costs would have been amortized in one year or less, and did not capitalize any contract acquisition costs upon adoption of ASC 606 as of or during the year ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Trust Operations

Assets held by the Company in a fiduciary or agency capacity for its customers are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, since such assets are not assets of the Company.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and/or disclosure and there were none identified.