EX-13 2 b68142mbexv13.htm EX-13 2006 ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS exv13
 

Exhibit 13
Financial Highlights
Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
                                         
   
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
 
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Total assets
  $ 801,799     $ 843,522     $ 898,679     $ 976,168     $ 1,010,733  
Mortgage loans
    181,945       199,253       215,904       226,197       241,886  
Other loans
    9,622       9,674       9,826       10,001       11,120  
Allowance for loan losses
    1,369       1,382       1,253       1,307       1,554  
Allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures
    345       345       517       588       626  
Investments(1)
    585,352       590,196       637,151       704,186       721,654  
Deposits
    682,561       723,332       784,728       849,465       882,508  
Stockholders’ equity
    108,961       106,885       105,264       110,015       110,927  
                                         
   
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
 
Operating Data:
                                       
Interest and dividend income
  $ 39,782     $ 39,939     $ 36,801     $ 33,581     $ 38,137  
Interest expense
    21,013       18,951       15,141       12,729       15,854  
 
Net interest income
    18,769       20,988       21,660       20,852       22,283  
Provision (credit) for loan losses
    (10 )     123       (53 )     (242 )     (502 )
Gains on securities, net
    4,381       797       679       1,229       639  
Other non-interest income
    1,517       1,408       1,238       1,307       1,335  
Non-interest expense
    12,792       12,360       12,514       12,352       12,667  
 
Income before income taxes
    11,885       10,710       11,116       11,278       12,092  
Income tax expense
    4,154       3,683       3,793       3,898       4,229  
 
Net income
  $ 7,731     $ 7,027     $ 7,323     $ 7,380     $ 7,863  
 
                                         
   
Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
 
Other Data:
                                       
Yield on average interest-earning assets
    5.04 %     4.80 %     4.07 %     3.52 %     3.87 %
Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities
    2.99       2.53       1.85       1.48       1.78  
 
                             
Interest rate spread
    2.05       2.27       2.22       2.04       2.09  
Net interest margin
    2.38       2.53       2.40       2.19       2.26  
Non-interest expense to average assets
    1.57       1.44       1.35       1.26       1.26  
Efficiency ratio(2)
    51.7       53.7       52.7       51.6       50.0  
Return on assets (net income/average assets)
    0.95       0.82       0.79       0.75       0.78  
Return on equity (net income/average stockholders’ equity)
    7.23       6.74       6.84       6.71       7.08  
Percent non-performing loans to total loans
    0.10       0.07       0.11       0.03       0.09  
Percent non-performing assets to total assets
    0.02       0.02       0.03       0.01       0.02  
Stockholders’ equity to total assets, at year-end
    13.59       12.67       11.71       11.27       10.97  
Book value per share, at year-end
  $ 25.69     $ 24.76     $ 24.32     $ 25.11     $ 25.17  
Market price — close, at year-end
    36.42       32.89       33.00       37.45       43.01  
Earnings per share:
                                       
Basic
    1.80       1.62       1.68       1.67       1.77  
Diluted
    1.78       1.61       1.66       1.64       1.73  
Cash dividends paid per share
    1.13       1.09       1.05       1.00       0.92  
Dividend payout ratio
    63 %     67 %     63 %     60 %     52 %
 
 
(1)   Consist of securities held to maturity and available for sale, trading securities, short-term investments, term Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits in banks.
 
(2)   Determined by dividing non-interest expense (including the provision (credit) for loan losses) by fully taxable equivalent net interest income plus non-interest income.
 3

 


 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
General
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report. Certain amounts reported for prior years have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation.
          The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions, in the application of certain of its accounting policies, about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Different amounts could be reported under different conditions, or if different assumptions were used in the application of these accounting policies. The accounting policies considered significant in this respect are the determination of the allowance for loan losses and allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures, and the determination of investment securities considered other than temporarily impaired. These significant accounting policies are discussed in the Provisions (Credit) for Loan Losses and Investment Securities Other Than Temporarily Impaired sections of this discussion and analysis and in Note 1 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
          The financial condition and results of operations of Massbank Corp. (the “Company”) essentially reflect the operations of its subsidiary, Massbank (the “Bank”).
          The Bank’s principal business has historically consisted of offering savings and other deposits to the general public and using the funds from these deposits to primarily make loans secured by real estate and consumer loans, and to make investments in debt and equity securities. Most mortgage loans granted by the Bank are for terms of 10 to 30 years and are generally low credit risk loans. The Bank’s debt securities portfolio consists primarily of U.S. Treasury and Government agency securities and Government agency mortgage-backed securities.
          The Company’s consolidated net income depends largely upon net interest income, which is the difference between interest and dividend income from loans and investments (“interest-earning assets”), and interest expense on deposits (“interest-bearing liabilities”). Net interest income is significantly affected by loan and investment activity and volumes, including prepayment activity on loans and mortgage-backed securities and calls of callable government agency securities. Net interest income is also affected by general economic conditions, particularly changes in interest rates, competition, government legislation and policies affecting fiscal affairs, monetary policies of the Federal Reserve System, and the actions of the bank regulatory authorities. Earnings results are also affected by the Company’s provision (credit) for loan losses and changes in non-interest income, such as fee-based revenues and securities gains or losses; non-interest expense and income taxes.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclosure
          Massbank Corp. may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in this annual report, in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in its reports to stockholders and in other Massbank Corp. communications. These statements relate to future, not past events.
          These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to Massbank Corp.’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business of the Company. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of the words “may”, “could”, “should”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “assume”, “will”, “would”, “plan”, “projects”, “outlook” or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties including but not limited to the following: (1) changing economic conditions; (2) movements in interest rates; (3) the credit environment; (4) levels of activity in the capital markets, including the stock and bond market; (5) changes in the level of non-performing assets; (6) changes in the competitive pricing pressures within the Company’s market which may result in an increase in the Company’s cost of funds, changes in loan originations, a change in deposits and assets; (7) adverse legislative and regulatory developments; (8)a significant decline in residential real estate values in the Company’s market area; (9) adverse impacts resulting from the continuing war on terrorism; (10) a significant increase in employee benefit costs; (11) the impact of changes in accounting principles; (12) the impact of inflation or deflation; and (13) Massbank Corp.’s success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.
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Critical Accounting Policies
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. As such, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting periods. Actual amounts could differ from such estimates.
          The Company believes that the following accounting policies are among the most critical because they involve significant judgments and uncertainties and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions.
Provisions (Credit) for Loan losses
The provision (credit) for loan losses represents a charge or credit against current earnings and an addition to or deduction from the allowance for loan losses. In determining the amount to provide for loan losses, the key factor is the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses (“loan allowance”). Management uses a methodology to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the portfolio for purposes of establishing a sufficient loan allowance. The methodology includes three elements: an analysis of individual loans deemed to be impaired, general loss allocations for various types of loans based on loss experience factors and an unallocated allowance. The unallocated allowance is maintained based on management’s assessment of many factors including the risk characteristics of the portfolio, concentrations of credit, current and anticipated economic conditions that may affect the borrowers’ ability to pay, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs.
          The provision (credit) for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures represents a charge or credit against current earnings (reported in other non-interest expense) and an addition to or deduction from the allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures (“off-balance sheet exposures”). In determining the amount to provide for off-balance sheet exposures, the key factor is the adequacy of the balance. The balance of the off-balance sheet exposures is maintained based on expected drawdowns of committed loans, their loss experience factors, management’s assessment of various other factors including current and anticipated economic conditions that may affect the borrowers’ ability to pay and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs.
          Any significant changes in assumptions and/or conditions could result in higher than estimated losses that could adversely affect the Company’s earnings results. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowances. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additional allowances based on judgements different from those of management, which could also adversely affect the Company’s earnings results.
Investment Securities other than Temporarily Impaired
Management judgment is involved in the evaluation of declines in value (“impairment”)of individual investment securities held by the Company. Declines in value that are deemed other than temporary are recognized in the income statement through write-downs in the recorded value of the affected securities. Management considers many factors in its analysis of other than temporarily impaired securities, including industry analyst reports, sector credit ratings, volatility in market price and other relevant information, such as the financial condition, earnings capacity and near term prospects of the company and the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost.
          Whenever a debt or equity security is deemed to be “other than temporarily impaired” due to a fundamental deterioration in its financial condition as determined by management’s analysis, it is written down to its current fair value. U.S. Treasury Securities and other securities backed by the U.S. Government are never considered impaired due to a fundamental deterioration in financial condition.
          If “due to general market conditions” an investment security declines in price from its cost basis by 25% or more for more than a year, between 30% and 40% for more than nine months, between 40% and 50% for more than six months or over 50% for more than ninety days, and in each case the value of the investment security has been below its cost basis for the entire period in question, then the security is considered “other than temporarily impaired” and it is written down to its current fair value and the loss is recognized in earnings. U.S. Treasury and Government Agency securities fluctuate in value based on changes in market interest rates and other factors; however, they can be redeemed at par value if held to maturity and therefore, if their maturity date is less than one year into the future regardless of their fair value they are considered only temporarily impaired. Any unfavorable change in general market conditions could cause an increase in the Company’s impairment write downs of investment securities. This would have an adverse effect on the Company’s earnings results. There were no other than temporary impairment write downs of investment securities available for sale in 2007, 2006 or 2005.
          Available for sale securities deemed temporarily impaired are carried at fair value in the asset section of the Company’s balance sheet. Any change in value, net of income taxes, is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in the stockholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet.
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Financial Overview
Comparison of the years 2007 and 2006
          Massbank Corp. provides a broad range of banking services through its subsidiary, Massbank (“the Bank”). The Bank offers a full range of retail and commercial deposit products through its fifteen banking offices located in Eastern Massachusetts. The Bank’s lending business includes residential and commercial real estate mortgages, construction loans, commercial loans and a variety of consumer loans. The Bank’s loan portfolio is concentrated among borrowers from the municipalities in which it operates banking offices and all of the contiguous cities and towns. The Bank also invests a significant portion of its funds in U.S. Treasury and Government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, Federal funds sold and other authorized investments. The Bank’s earnings depend largely upon net interest income. Securities gains are also an important source of revenue for the Bank.
          The Bank faces strong competition from banks and other financial services providers in its market area. The principal methods of competition are through interest rates, financing terms and other customer conveniences. Among the external factors affecting Massbank’s operating results are market interest rates, the shape of the U.S. Treasury securities yield curve, the condition of the financial markets and both regional and national economic conditions.
          The Company produced strong financial results in 2007 in the face of a very challenging banking environment. The following discussion and analysis is designed to provide a better understanding of the significant factors related to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Such discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes attached thereto included in this annual report.
          In 2007, the Company reported net income of $7.7 million, an increase of $704 thousand or 10.0% from the $7.0 million earned in 2006. Diluted earnings per share in 2007 increased 10.6%to$1.78 from $1.61 per share in 2006. The return on average assets and return on average equity showed marked improvement in 2007, increasing to 0.95% and 7.23%, respectively, from 0.82% and 6.74% in the prior year.
          The major factors affecting the comparison of earnings and diluted earnings per share between 2007 and 2006 were:
  The decrease in net interest income of $2.219 million due primarily to a decrease in net interest margin and average earning assets.
 
  The credit for loan losses of $10 thousand versus a provision for loan losses of $123 thousand the prior year.
 
  The increase in net securities gains of $3.584 million.
 
  The increase in other non-interest income of $109 thousand.
 
  The increase in non-interest expense of $432 thousand.
 
  The increase in income tax expense of $471 thousand due to higher income before taxes and an increase in the Company’s effective income tax rate.
                         
Years ended December 31, 2007 compared to 2006:  
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     change  
 
Income Statement Data
                       
Interest and dividend income:
                       
Mortgage and other loans
  $ 11,081     $ 12,070     $ (989 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    7,210       7,592       (382 )
Federal funds sold
    8,494       7,731       763  
Other securities and investments
    12,997       12,546       451  
 
Total interest and dividend income
    39,782       39,939       (157 )
Total interest expense
    21,013       18,951       (2,062 )
 
Net interest income
    18,769       20,988       (2,219 )
Provision (credit) for loan losses
    (10 )     123       133  
Gains on securities, net
    4,381       797       3,584  
Other non-interest income
    1,517       1,408       109  
Non-interest expense
    12,792       12,360       (432 )
Income tax expense
    4,154       3,683       (471 )
 
Net income
  $ 7,731     $ 7,027     $ 704  
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars):
  $ 1.78     $ 1.61     $ 0.17  
 
                         
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     change  
 
Average Balance Sheet Data
                       
 
Total average earning assets
  $ 790,904     $ 833,842     $ (42,938 )
Total average deposits
  $ 703,023     $ 750,437     $ (47,414 )
 
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Financial Condition
The Company’s total assets decreased $41.7 million, or 4.9% to $801.8 million at December 31, 2007 from $843.5 million at December 31, 2006. The reduction in total assets reflects a decrease in investments of $4.8 million, a decrease in total loans of $17.4 million and a decrease in other assets of $19.5 million.
     Deposits decreased $40.7 million, or 5.6% to $682.6 million at year-end 2007 from $723.3 million at year-end 2006. This was due to increased competition for relatively expensive short term deposits, more attractive returns on other investment opportunities and various other market factors.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                         
 
(In thousands) at December 31,   2007     2006     CHANGE  
 
Short-term investments
  $ 150,978     $ 139,240     $ 11,738  
Term Federal funds sold
    91,000       41,000       50,000  
Securities available for sale, at fair value
    128,710       402,629       (273,919 )
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
    8,098       5,396       2,702  
Trading securities, at fair value
    206,566       1,931       204,635  
 
Total investments
    585,352       590,196       (4,844 )
Total loans
    191,567       208,927       (17,360 )
Allowance for loan losses
    (1,369 )     (1,382 )     13  
 
Net loans
    190,198       207,545       (17,347 )
Other assets
    26,249       45,781       (19,532 )
 
Total assets
  $ 801,799     $ 843,522     $ (41,723 )
 
 
                       
Total deposits
  $ 682,561     $ 723,332     $ (40,771 )
Escrow deposits of borrowers
    968       1,006       (38 )
Other liabilities
    9,309       12,299       (2,990 )
 
Total liabilities
    692,838       736,637       (43,799 )
Total stockholders’ equity
    108,961       106,885       2,076  
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 801,799     $ 843,522     $ (41,723 )
 
Investments
At December 31, 2007 the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of short-term investments, term Federal funds sold, and securities available for sale, held to maturity and trading totaling $585.4 million representing 73.0% of total assets. This reflects a decrease of $4.8 million compared to $590.2 million or 70.0% of total assets at December 31, 2006. Massbank’s investment portfolio is concentrated in U.S. Treasury and Government agency securities and 15-year contractual life mortgage-backed securities issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and other agency issuers. U.S. Treasury and Government agency securities totaled $203.2 million at year-end 2007, reflecting a decrease of $58.1 million compared to $261.3 million at December 31, 2006. The Company’s U.S. Treasury and Government agency securities portfolio included $126.1 million in callable agency securities at year-end 2007. The mortgage-backed securities portfolio totaled $132.6 million at December 31, 2007 reflecting a decrease of $7.3 million compared to the prior year. The Company also holds $7.6 million in equity securities at year-end 2007, down from $8.8 million the prior year. Short-term investments and term Federal funds sold totaled $242.0 million at December 31, 2007, representing 30.2% of total assets compared to $180.2 million representing 21.4% of total assets at December 31, 2006. The Company has had a long-standing strategy of maintaining high levels of liquidity. This has helped to mitigate the interest rate risk of a flat or inverted yield curve. If the Treasury yield curve becomes more normalized in 2008, the Company will likely add longer-term investments to its portfolio and reduce its short-term investments and term Federal funds sold. In such event, we believe that this would likely improve the Company’s net interest margin.

12


 

Loans
Massbank’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2007 totaled $191.6 million representing 23.9% of total assets compared to $208.9 million representing 24.8% of total assets at December 31, 2006. The loan portfolio consists predominantly of residential mortgages. Residential mortgage loans amounted to $176.5 million at year-end 2007, representing approximately 92.1% of the total loan portfolio as compared to $194.3 million representing 93.0% of the total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2006. Commercial real estate loans increased from $5.0 million at December 31, 2006 to $5.5 million at year-end 2007.
Non-Performing Assets
Non-accrual loans, generally those loans that are 90 days or more delinquent, were near historical lows totaling $199 thousand at December 31, 2007, representing 0.10% of total loans. This compares to $137 thousand representing 0.07% of total loans at December 31, 2006. The Bank generally places all loans on non-accrual status when 90 days delinquent. The Bank had no real estate acquired through foreclosure at year-end 2007 and no sub-prime loan issues in its loan portfolio.
Deposits
Deposits have traditionally been the Bank’s primary source of funds for lending and investment activities. Massbank attracts deposits within its primary market area by offering a variety of deposit instruments including demand and NOW accounts, money market accounts, different types of savings accounts, certificates of deposit and retirement savings plans. Deposit flows vary significantly and are influenced by prevailing interest rates, market conditions, economic conditions and competition. The Bank’s management attempts to manage its deposits through selective pricing and marketing.
          Total deposits at December 31, 2007 were $682.6 million, compared to $723.3 million at December 31, 2006. Increased competition for deposits and more attractive returns on other investment opportunities were the principal reasons for the deposit outflows.
          In 2007, savings deposits decreased $37.5 million or 10.9% year-over-year, to $307.3 million from $344.8 million at year-end 2006. Conversely, certificates of deposit increased but only by $3.9 million or 1.3% to $303.6 million at year-end 2007 as customers continued to seek a higher rate of return on their deposits. Demand and NOW deposits totaled $71.7 million at December 31, 2007 compared to $78.9 million at December 31, 2006. The net deposit outflows were due in part to continued intense competition for relatively expensive short-term deposits. Because of its high liquidity position, the Company can tolerate outflows when the cost of retaining deposits cannot be justified by the availability of appropriately priced assets, as measured on a risk-adjusted basis. For information concerning deposit balances at year-end 2007 and 2006, the average cost and the maturity distribution of the deposits and related rate structure of the Bank’s time certificates of deposit, see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Stockholders’ Equity
Total stockholders’ equity increased $2.1 million or 1.9% to $109.0 million at December 31, 2007, from $106.9 million at year-end 2006. Book value per share increased $0.93 or 3.8% to a new high of $25.69 per share at December 31, 2007, from $24.76 per share at December 31, 2006.
          The increase in total stockholders’ equity was due principally to the 2007 net income of $7.7 million, the increase in other comprehensive income of $2.1 million due in part to the increase in fair value of the Bank’s available for sale security portfolio, the payments and related tax benefits received from the exercise of stock options by the Company’s officers and directors of $0.8 million, and an increase of $0.1 million due to the share-based compensation expense recorded in 2007. This was partially offset by the payment of dividends to stockholders of $4.9 million and the Company’s repurchase of 106,200 shares of treasury stock at a cost of $3.7 million.

13


 

Results of Operations
Comparison of the years 2007 and 2006
Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the primary source of Massbank’s operating income. Net interest income is affected by the volume and mix of average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, market interest rates, the shape of the U.S. Treasury securities (interest rate) yield curve and other factors. In 2007, short-term interest rates were near or greater than intermediate and long rates for most of the year. This flat-to-inverted yield curve environment (an environment where interest rates offered on assets with longer maturities are lower or differ little from rates offered on assets with shorter maturities) significantly limits the ability to benefit from investing assets at long term rates. Because of this situation we maintained a significant position of short term investments in 2007. Massbank would expect to benefit from a steeper interest rate yield curve.
          Net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis totaled $18.8 million in 2007 compared to $21.1 million in 2006, reflecting a decrease of 10.6%. The decrease in net interest income in 2007 is primarily attributable to lower levels of interest-earning assets and a decrease in net interest margin. The Company’s average earning assets in 2007 declined $42.9 million or 5.1% to $790.9 million, from $833.8 million in 2006. Average deposits declined $47.4 million to $703.0 million in 2007, from $750.4 million in 2006.
          The decrease in deposits is due in part to intense competition for relatively expensive short term deposits. Financial institutions were aggressive in pricing their short term deposit products in order to retain deposits. Massbank chose not to match these competitors’ rates in order to protect its net interest margin.
          The Company’s net interest margin (net interest income on a FTE basis divided by average interest earning assets) for the year ended December 31, 2007 declined 15 basis points to 2.38% from 2.53% in the prior year. The Company operated in a challenging interest rate environment in 2007 with continued pressure on the net interest margin. A flat and sometimes inverted U.S. Treasury yield curve in 2007 made it difficult for the Company to improve its yield on earning assets. In addition, the unfavorable mix changes in our deposits coupled with a competitive market for deposits contributed to our increased funding costs.
          The tables on pages 25 and 26 set forth, among other things, the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the average balances of interest earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected interest income and expense during the years indicated. Information is provided for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, on changes due to (1) changes in volume and (2) changes in interest rates.
          Interest and dividend income on investment securities available for sale (AFS) on a fully taxable equivalent basis was $0.3 million in 2007 compared to $12.1 million in 2006. The average balance of investment securities AFS was $6.9 million with an average tax equivalent yield of 3.74% for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to an average balance of $308.7 million with an average yield of 3.93% for the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease in interest and dividend income on investment securities available for sale results primarily from a decrease in volume. This is due to the Company having elected to early adopt Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 159 and 157 effective January 1, 2007. Upon early adoption of SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” the Company selected the fair value option for all its U.S. Treasury and Government Agency securities available for sale and transferred the securities to its trading account. The change in fair value of the Company’s trading securities is recognized in earnings on a recurring basis.
          Interest on trading securities was $10.3 million in 2007, up from $0.2 million in the prior year. The average balance of trading securities was $238.0 million in 2007 compared to $5.7 million in 2006 due primarily to the transfer of the Company’s U.S. Treasury and Government Agency securities from the available for sale to trading account as noted above. The average yield on trading securities improved to 4.34% in the recent year, from 3.55% in 2006 due primarily to a change in mix of securities.
          Interest on mortgage-backed securities AFS and held to maturity was $7.2 million in 2007 compared to $7.6 million in 2006. This decrease in interest income is due primarily to a drop in volume. The average balance of mortgage-backed securities was $134.5 million with an average yield of 5.36% in 2007 compared to an average balance of $141.0 million with an average yield of 5.39% in 2006. The decrease in both volume and yield is due primarily to the principal repayments (including prepayments) in 2007. Principal repayments (including prepayments) on the mortgage-backed securities portfolio in 2007 totaled $25.5 million compared to $26.7 million in the prior year. Due to the flat-to-inverted yield curve environment in 2007, the Company only purchased $16.3 million in mortgage-backed securities during the year, which was not sufficient to offset the principal repayments received in 2007.
          Interest income on Federal funds sold and short-term investments was $11.0 million in 2007, up 36.7% from $8.0 million in the prior year. The average balance of these investments was $212.9 million with an average yield of 5.15% in 2007 compared to an average balance of $161.2 million with an average yield of 4.97% in 2006. The improvement in interest income on Federal funds sold and short-term investments was driven mostly by the higher average investment balances the Company maintained in 2007 due to the existence of a flat-to-inverted yield curve.

14


 

          Interest on loans fell to $11.1 million in 2007, from $12.1 million in 2006. The average balance for mortgage and other loans in 2007 was $198.7 million with an average yield of 5.58%. This compares to an average balance for mortgage and other loans of $217.3 million in 2006 with an average yield of 5.56%. The decline in average balances is due to principal payments, pay downs and prepayments on mortgages and lower loan origination volume in 2007 compared to 2006. Loan originations totaled $19.5 million in 2007 compared to $21.7 million in 2006. This is primarily attributable to a decline in mortgage refinancing activity due to the rise in market interest rates and a decline in new and existing home sales in the Bank’s market area. While new and existing home sales are expected to remain soft into 2008, lower mortgage rates could spark a new waive of refinancing activity in 2008 which would benefit the Bank.
          Interest on total deposits was $21.0 million in 2007 compared to $19.0 million in 2006. The average balance of total deposits was $703.0 million with an average cost of 2.99% in 2007 compared to an average balance of $750.4 million with an average cost of 2.53% in 2006. The decrease in average balance was due primarily to increased competition for deposits and more attractive returns on other investment opportunities. The year-over-year increase in the average cost of funds is due primarily to a change in mix of deposits and an increase in rate on the Bank’s savings deposits.
Provisions for Loan Losses
In 2007, the Bank recorded a credit provision for loan losses of $10 thousand compared to a provision for loan losses of $123 thousand in 2006. The reduction in provision reflects a decrease in the size of the loan portfolio and a relatively low level of loan delinquencies and charge-offs.
          The Bank’s loan portfolio decreased approximately $17.3 million or 8.3% from $208.9 million at December 31, 2006 to $191.6 million at December 31, 2007. In determining the amount to provide for loan losses, the key factor is the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Management uses a methodology to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the portfolio for the purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses. The methodology includes three elements: an analysis of individual loans deemed to be impaired, general loss allocations for various loan types based on loss experience factors, and an unallocated allowance which is maintained based on management’s assessment of many factors including the risk characteristics of the portfolio, concentrations of credit, current and anticipated economic conditions that may effect the borrowers’ ability to pay, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs. At December 31, 2007, the allowance for loan losses was $1.4 million representing 0.71% of total loans, almost seven times the balance of non-accrual loans. This compares to $1.4 million representing 0.66% of total loans and ten times the balance of non-accrual loans at December 31, 2006. Non-accrual loans were near historical lows totaling $199 thousand at December 31, 2007, up from $137 thousand a year earlier. The Bank had net loan charge-offs of $3 thousand in 2007 compared to net recoveries of loans previously charged-off of $6 thousand in 2006.
          The Bank’s allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures (shown separately on the balance sheet) totaled $345 thousand at December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Non-Interest Income
Non-interest income consists of gains or losses on securities, deposit account service fees and other non-interest income. Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2007 increased $3.7 million or 167.5% to $5.9 million, from $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The growth in non-interest income is due primarily to an increase in net gains on securities available for sale and trading of $3.6 million, from $797 thousand in 2006 to $4.4 million in 2007 and an increase in option fees of $225 thousand. The increase in net securities gains in 2007 resulted primarily from an increase of over $4.0 million in net gains on trading securities partially offset by a decrease of $464 thousand in net gains on securities available for sale. The strong performance of the Company’s trading securities portfolio in 2007 reflects an increase in the fair value of the trading securities of $3.9 million when compared to 2006 and an increase in net gains on sales of trading securities of $150 thousand.
          Option fees were $375 thousand in 2007, up from $150 thousand in the prior year. A subsidiary of the Company has granted a local developer an option to purchase a parcel of land that the Company owns and is not using for operational purposes. As consideration for this option, the developer has paid periodic option fees of $75 thousand every 90 days through August 2007. These option payments are non refundable and are not applied to the purchase price. Under the option agreement, the developer may extend the option period on no more than four occasions for 60 days each. For each such 60-day extension, a $75 thousand option extension fee shall likewise be paid. The developer has paid the additional option fees and has extended the option to the end of February 2008. Option extension payments received are applied towards the purchase price but are not refundable. If the developer does not exercise his option to purchase by the end of April 2008, then his option right expires. As of February 15, 2008, the developer has not obtained requisite local permits and approvals and may seek an extension of the Option Period.
          Deposit account service fees, deferred compensation plan income and other non-interest income combined declined $116 thousand to $1.1 million in 2007 compared to the prior year. The decrease is due primarily to a drop in deferred compensation plan income, including the change in fair value of plan assets, in 2007 compared to 2006.

15


 

Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense totaled $12.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 compared to $12.4 million for the prior year, an increase of $432 thousand or 3.5%. Salaries and employee benefits, the largest component of non-interest expense increased $361 thousand or 4.9% to $7.7 million in 2007 from $7.3 million in 2006.
          The increase in salaries and employee benefits is due principally to a profit sharing and incentive compensation bonus payment to bank officers and employees of $257 thousand in 2007 compared to a holiday distribution of $38 thousand to non-officer employees the prior year. In 2006, there were no profit sharing or incentive compensation bonus distributions because the criteria for making such distributions were not met. Also contributing to the higher expense in 2007 is the increased cost of employee benefits, including the bank contribution to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
          The Company’s other expenses consisting of deferred compensation plan expense, occupancy and equipment, data processing, professional services, advertising and marketing, deposit insurance and other expenses totaled $5.1 million in 2007 reflecting an increase of $71 thousand or 1.4% from the prior year.
Income Tax Expense
For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, income tax expense amounted to $4.2 million and $3.7 million, respectively. The increase in income tax expense is primarily due to higher income before taxes and an increase in the Company’s effective income tax rate. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2007 was 34.95%, up from 34.39% for the year ended December 31, 2006. For additional information with respect to Massbank’s income taxes, see Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Financial Overview
Comparison of the years 2006 and 2005
Massbank Corp. provides a broad range of banking services through its subsidiary, Massbank (“the Bank”). The Bank offers a full range of retail and commercial deposit products through its fifteen banking offices located in Eastern Massachusetts. The Bank’s lending business includes residential and commercial real estate mortgages, construction loans, commercial loans and a variety of consumer loans. The Bank’s loan portfolio is concentrated among borrowers from the municipalities in which it operates banking offices and all of the contiguous cities and towns. The Bank also invests a significant portion of its funds in U.S. Treasury and Government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, Federal funds sold and other authorized investments. The Bank’s earnings depend largely upon net interest income. Securities gains are also an important source of revenue for the Bank.
          The Bank faces strong competition from banks and other financial services providers in its market area. The principal methods of competition are through interest rates, financing terms and other customer conveniences. Among the external factors affecting Massbank’s operating results are market interest rates, the shape of the U.S. Treasury securities yield curve, the condition of the financial markets and both regional and national economic conditions.
          Fiscal 2006 was a challenging year for the Company. The flat-to-inverted yield curve environment in 2006 made it difficult for the Company to profitably grow deposits. Additionally, rising short-term interest rates influenced by the rate setting actions of the Federal Reserve Bank resulted in increased competition for shorter-term deposits. In this environment, the Company decided to more aggressively price its medium term certificates of deposit (CDs) contributing to a shifting of deposits from savings to these CD maturities.
          In 2006, the Company generated net income of $7.0 million, or $1.61 per diluted share, compared with $7.3 million or $1.66 per diluted share in 2005. Return on average assets in 2006 improved to 0.82% from 0.79% in the prior year. Return on average equity was 6.74% in 2006 compared to 6.84% in 2005.
          The major factors affecting the comparison of earnings and diluted earnings per share between 2006 and 2005 were:
  The decrease in net interest income of $672 thousand due primarily to a decrease in average earning assets.
 
  The provision for loan losses of $123 thousand versus a credit for loan losses of $53 thousand the prior year.
 
  The increase in net securities gains of $118 thousand.
 
  The increase in other non-interest income of $170 thousand.
 
  The decrease in non-interest expense of $154 thousand.
 
  The decrease in income tax expense of $110 thousand due to lower income before taxes partially offset by an increase in the Company’s effective income tax rate.

16


 

                         
Years ended December 31, 2006 compared to 2005:                  
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2006     2005     change  
 
Income Statement Data
                       
Interest and dividend income:
                       
Mortgage and other loans
  $ 12,070     $ 12,792     $ (722 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    7,592       7,217       375  
Federal funds sold
    7,731       6,116       1,615  
Other securities and investments
    12,546       10,676       1,870  
 
Total interest and dividend income
    39,939       36,801       3,138  
Total interest expense
    18,951       15,141       (3,810 )
 
Net interest income
    20,988       21,660       (672 )
Provision (credit) for loan losses
    123       (53 )     (176 )
Gains on securities, net
    797       679       118  
Other non-interest income
    1,408       1,238       170  
Non-interest expense
    12,360       12,514       154  
Income tax expense
    3,683       3,793       110  
 
Net income
  $ 7,027     $ 7,323     $ (296 )
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars):
  $ 1.61     $ 1.66     $ (0.05 )
 
                         
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2006     2005     change  
 
Average Balance Sheet Data
                       
 
Total average earning assets
  $ 833,842     $ 904,646     $ (70,804 )
Total average deposits
  $ 750,437     $ 816,577     $ (66,140 )
 
Financial Condition
The Company’s total assets decreased $55.2 million, or 6.1% to $843.5 million at December 31, 2006 from $898.7 million at December 31, 2005. The reduction in total assets reflects a decrease in investments of $47.0 million and a decrease in total loans of $16.8 million.
          Deposits decreased $61.4 million, or 7.8% to $723.3 million at year-end 2006 from $784.7 million at year-end 2005. This was due to increased competition for deposits, more attractive returns on other investment opportunities and various other market factors.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                         
 
(In thousands) at December 31,   2006     2005     change  
 
Short-term investments
  $ 139,240     $ 167,787     $ (28,547 )
Interest-bearing deposits in banks
          898       (898 )
Term Federal funds sold
    41,000             41,000  
Securities available for sale, at fair value
    402,629       453,047       (50,418 )
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
    5,396       6,137       (741 )
Trading securities, at fair value
    1,931       9,282       (7,351 )
 
Total investments
    590,196       637,151       (46,955 )
Total loans
    208,927       225,730       (16,803 )
Allowance for loan losses
    (1,382 )     (1,253 )     (129 )
 
Net loans
    207,545       224,477       (16,932 )
Other assets
    45,781       37,051       8,730  
 
Total assets
  $ 843,522     $ 898,679     $ (55,157 )
 
 
Total deposits
  $ 723,332     $ 784,728     $ (61,396 )
Escrow deposits of borrowers
    1,006       1,059       (53 )
Other liabilities
    12,299       7,628       4,671  
 
Total liabilities
    736,637       793,415       (56,778 )
Total stockholders’ equity
    106,885       105,264       1,621  
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 843,522     $ 898,679     $ (55,157 )
 

17


 

Investments
At December 31, 2006 the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of short-term investments, term Federal funds sold, and securities available for sale, held to maturity and trading totaling $590.2 million representing 70.0% of total assets. This reflects a decrease of $47.0 million compared to $637.2 million or 70.9% of total assets at December 31, 2005. Massbank’s investment portfolio is concentrated in U.S. Treasury and Government agency securities and 15-year contractual life mortgage-backed securities issued by Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and other agency issuers. U.S. Treasury and Government agency securities totaled $261.3 million at year-end 2006. This included $161.3 million in callable agency securities. The mortgage-backed securities portfolio totaled $139.9 million at December 31, 2006, essentially unchanged from the prior year. The Company also holds $8.8 million in equity securities available for sale and trading at year-end 2006. Massbank’s strategy is to purchase liquid investments with short to intermediate maturities in the current interest rate environment. If the currently inverted Treasury yield curve becomes more normalized in 2007, the Company will likely add to its mortgage-backed securities portfolio and reduce its short-term investments and term Federal funds sold which totaled $180.2 million at December 31, 2006. In such event, we believe that this would likely improve the Company’s net interest margin.
Loans
Massbank’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2006 totaled $208.9 million representing 24.8% of total assets compared to $225.7 million representing 25.1% of total assets at December 31, 2005. The loan portfolio consists predominantly of residential mortgages. Residential mortgage loans amounted to $194.3 million at year-end 2006, representing approximately 93.0% of the total loan portfolio as compared to $213.6 million representing 94.6% of the total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2005. Commercial real estate loans increased from $2.3 million at December 31, 2005 to $5.0 million at year-end 2006, as the bank has focused more on this type of lending this past year.
Non-Performing Assets
Non-accrual loans, generally those loans that are 90 days or more delinquent, were near historical lows totaling $137 thousand at December 31, 2006, representing 0.07% of total loans. This compares to $257 thousand representing 0.11% of total loans at December 31, 2005. The Bank generally places all loans on non-accrual status when 90 days delinquent. The Bank had no real estate acquired through foreclosure at year-end 2006.
Deposits
Deposits have traditionally been the Bank’s primary source of funds for lending and investment activities. Massbank attracts deposits within its primary market area by offering a variety of deposit instruments including demand and NOW accounts, money market accounts, different types of savings accounts, certificates of deposit and retirement savings plans. Deposit flows vary significantly and are influenced by prevailing interest rates, market conditions, economic conditions and competition. The Bank’s management attempts to manage its deposits through selective pricing and marketing.
          Total deposits at December 31, 2006 were $723.3 million, compared to $784.7 million at December 31, 2005. Increased competition for deposits and more attractive returns on other investment opportunities were the principal reasons for the deposit outflows.
          In 2006, savings deposits decreased $96.7 million or 21.9% year-over-year, to $344.8 million from $441.5 million at year-end 2005. Conversely, certificates of deposit increased by $38.7 million or 14.8% to $299.7 million at year-end 2006 as customers continued to shift deposits from savings accounts to certificates of deposit seeking a higher rate of return on their deposits. Demand and NOW deposits totaled $78.9 million at December 31, 2006 compared to $82.3 million at December 31, 2005. For information concerning deposit balances at year-end 2006 and 2005, the average cost and the maturity distribution of the deposits and related rate structure of the Bank’s time certificates of deposit, see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Stockholders’ Equity
Total stockholders’ equity increased $1.6 million or 1.5% to $106.9 million at December 31, 2006, from $105.3 million at year-end 2005. Book value per share increased $0.44 or 1.8% to $24.76 per share at December 31, 2006, from $24.32 per share at December 31, 2005.
          The increase in total stockholders’ equity was due principally to the 2006 net income of $7.0 million and the payments and related tax benefits received from the exercise of stock options by the Company’s officers and directors of $0.9 million. This was partially offset by the payment of dividends to stockholders of $4.7 million and the Company’s repurchase of 49,500 shares of treasury stock at a cost of $1.6 million.
          As of December 31, 2006, the Company has recognized as a component of other comprehensive income, the under-funded status of its defined benefit pension plan, net of tax, in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” See Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.

18


 

Results of Operations
Comparison of the years 2006 and 2005
Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the primary source of Massbank’s operating income. Net interest income is affected by the volume and mix of average interest earning-assets and interest-bearing liabilities, market interest rates, the shape of the U.S. Treasury securities (interest rate) yield curve and other factors. In 2006, short-term interest rates rose at a greater rate than intermediate and long rates. This caused the yield curve to “invert.” An inverted curve significantly limits the ability to benefit from investing assets at long term rates. Because of this situation, we maintain a significant position of short term investments. Due to our current asset mix and other factors, we would expect to benefit from an increase in interest rates along with a steeper interest rate yield curve.
          Net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis totaled $21.1 million in 2006 compared to $21.7 million in 2005, reflecting a decrease of 3.1%. The decrease in net interest income in 2006 is primarily attributable to lower levels of interest earning assets partially offset by lower levels of interest bearing liabilities and an improvement in net interest margin. The Company’s average earning assets in 2006 declined $70.8 million or 7.8% to $833.8 million, from $904.6 million in 2005. Average deposits declined $66.1 million or 8.1% to $750.4 million in 2006, from $816.6 million in 2005. The market for deposits was very competitive in 2006. Financial institutions were aggressive in pricing their deposit products in order to retain deposits. Massbank chose not to match these competitors’ rates in order to protect its net interest margin.
          The Company’s net interest margin (net interest income on a FTE basis divided by average interest earning assets) for the year ended December 31, 2006 increased 13 basis points to 2.53% from 2.40% in the prior year. The increase in margin was driven by the increases to short term interest rates in 2006. This was partially offset by the unfavorable changes in the mix of our deposits and competitive market conditions which contributed to our increased funding costs.
          The tables on pages 25 and 26 set forth, among other things, the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the average balances of interest earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected interest income and expense during the years indicated. Information is provided for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, on changes due to (1) changes in volume and (2) changes in interest rates.
          Interest on investment securities available for sale (AFS) on a fully taxable equivalent basis was $12.1 million in 2006 compared to $9.9 million in 2005. The average balance of investment securities AFS was $308.7 million with an average yield of 3.93% for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to an average balance of $313.7 million with an average yield of 3.16% for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in yield is primarily due to the replacement yields on new securities purchased being higher because of a rise in market interest rates and to a lesser extent a change in mix of securities in the portfolio.
          Interest on mortgage-backed securities AFS and held to maturity was $7.6 million in 2006 compared to $7.2 million in 2005. The average balance of mortgage-backed securities was $141.0 million with an average yield of 5.39% in 2006 compared to an average balance of $134.8 million with an average yield of 5.35% in 2005. The increase in yield is due primarily to the higher replacement yields on the securities purchased in 2006. However, with the flat-to-inverted yield curve environment in 2006, the Company only purchased $25.9 million in mortgage-backed securities during the year as compared to $49.3 million in 2005. Principal repayments (including prepayments) on our mortgage-backed securities portfolio in 2006 declined to $26.7 million, from $31.5 million in the prior year.
          Interest on trading securities was $0.2 million in 2006, down from $0.8 million in the prior year. The average balance of trading securities was $5.7 million in 2006 compared to $32.2 million in 2005. The average yield on these securities improved to 3.55% in the recent year, from 2.40% in 2005 due primarily to rising market interest rates.
          Interest income on Federal funds sold and short-term investments was $8.0 million in 2006, up 30.0% from $6.2 million in the prior year. The average balance of these investments was $161.2 million with an average yield of 4.97% in 2006 compared to an average balance of $193.8 million with an average yield of 3.18% in 2005. The significant improvement in yield was driven by the Federal Reserve’s increases to the short-term interest rates. The Federal Reserve Bank Board’s Federal Open Market Committee raised the target interest rate for Federal Funds four times in 2006, increasing the rate from 4.25% to 5.25% by mid-year 2006.
          Interest on loans fell to $12.1 million in 2006, from $12.8 million in 2005. The average balance for mortgage and other loans in 2006 was $217.3 million with an average yield of 5.56%. This compares to an average balance for mortgage and other loans of $230.1 million in 2005 with an average yield of 5.56%. The decline in average balances is due to principal payments, pay downs and prepayments on mortgages and lower loan origination volume in 2006 compared to 2005. Loan originations totaled $21.7 million in 2006 compared to $48.9 million in 2005. This is primarily attributable to a decline in mortgage refinancing activity due to the rise in market interest rates and a decline in new and existing home sales in the Bank’s market area.
          Interest on total deposits was $19.0 million in 2006 compared to $15.1 million in 2005. The average balance of total deposits was $750.4 million with an average cost of 2.53% in 2006 compared to an average balance of $816.6 million with an average cost of 1.85% in 2005. The decrease in average balance was due primarily to increased competition for deposits and more attractive returns on other investment opportunities. The year-over-year increase in the average cost of funds is due primarily to the increases to short-term interest rates over the past year (which were partially passed on to our customers) as well as changes in the mix of deposits.

19


 

Provisions (Credit) for Loan Losses
In 2006, the Bank recorded a provision for loan losses of $123 thousand compared to a negative or credit provision for loan losses of $53 thousand in 2005. The provision was to increase the Bank’s allowance for possible losses on its outstanding loan balances due to certain recently funded loan commitments. At the same time, because of the funding of the loan commitments, the Bank reduced its allowance for possible losses on outstanding loan commitments by $172 thousand. This compares to a negative provision or reduction of $71 thousand in this allowance over the prior year. These credits are included in other non-interest expense. On a combined basis, the Bank reduced its overall allowance on loan balances and outstanding loan commitments by $49 thousand in 2006, as compared to a reduction of $124 thousand in 2005.
          The Bank’s loan portfolio decreased $16.8 million or 7.4% from $225.7 million at December 31, 2005 to $208.9 million at December 31, 2006. In determining the amount to provide for loan losses, the key factor is the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Management uses a methodology to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the portfolio for the purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses. The methodology includes three elements: an analysis of individual loans deemed to be impaired, general loss allocations for various loan types based on loss experience factors, and an unallocated allowance which is maintained based on management’s assessment of many factors including the risk characteristics of the portfolio, concentrations of credit, current and anticipated economic conditions that may effect the borrowers’ ability to pay, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs. At December 31, 2006, the allowance for loan losses was $1.4 million representing 0.66% of total loans and over ten times the balance of non-accrual loans. This compares to $1.3 million representing 0.56% of total loans and almost five times the balance of non-accrual loans at December 31, 2005. Non-accrual loans were near historical lows totaling $137 thousand at December 31, 2006, down from $257 thousand a year earlier. The Bank had net recoveries of loans previously charged-off of $6 thousand in 2006 compared to $1 thousand in net charge-offs in 2005.
          The Bank’s allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures (shown separately on the balance sheet) totaled $345 thousand and $517 thousand, respectively, at December 31, 2006 and 2005.
Non-Interest Income
Non-interest income consists of gains or losses on securities, deposit account service fees and other non-interest income. Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2006 increased $288 thousand or 15.0% to $2.2 million, from $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase is due primarily to an increase in net gains on securities available for sale and trading of $118 thousand, from $679 thousand in 2005 to $797 thousand in 2006 and option fess of $150 thousand generated in 2006. The Company has granted a local developer an option to purchase a parcel of land that the Company owns and is not being used for operations purposes. As consideration for this option, the developer will make quarterly option payments of $75,000 to the Company until the option is either exercised and the closing transaction for the purchase occurs or the option is allowed to lapse. The Closing is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2007. Option payments received are not applied towards the purchase price and are not refundable.
          Deposit account service fees, deferred compensation plan income and other non-interest income combined increased $20 thousand in 2006 compared to the prior year.
Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense totaled $12.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 compared to $12.5 million for the prior year, a decrease of $154 thousand or 1.2%. Salaries and employee benefits, the largest component of non-interest expense decreased $125 thousand or 1.7% to $7.3 million in 2006 from $7.5 million in 2005.
          The decrease in salaries and employee benefits is due principally to a reduction in the number of bank employees and a decrease in pension expense. These were partially offset by the share based compensation expense recorded by the Company with respect to stock option grants in 2006 and the increased costs of other employee benefits.
          Deferred compensation plan expense increased $91 thousand to$263 thousand in 2006 from $172 thousand in 2005. This increase was offset by the increased earnings on plan assets reflected in non-interest income of $94 thousand.
          The Company’s other expenses consisting of occupancy and equipment, data processing, professional services, advertising and marketing, deposit insurance and other expenses totaled $4.8 million in 2006 reflecting a decrease of $120 thousand or 2.5% from the prior year. The decrease essentially results from a higher negative provision for off-balance sheet credit exposures in 2006 than the prior year. In 2006, the Bank reduced its allowance for possible losses on outstanding commitments by $172 thousand versus a reduction of $71 thousand in 2005.
Income Tax Expense
For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, income tax expense amounted to $3.7 million and $3.8 million, respectively. The decrease in income tax expense is primarily due to lower income before taxes partially offset by an increase in the Company’s effective income tax rate. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2006 was 34.39%, up from 34.12% for the year ended December 31, 2005. For additional information with respect to MASS Bank’s income taxes, see Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

20


 

Contractual Obligations
The Company’s contractual cash obligations and commitments to extend credit as of December 31, 2007 are as follows:
                                         
 
    Payments Due or Commitments Expiring — by Period  
            Less than     One to     Four to More than  
(In thousands)   Total     one year     three years     five years     five years  
 
Contractual cash obligations:
                                       
Operating lease obligations
  $ 2,596     $ 319     $ 459     $ 376     $ 1,442  
Deposits with stated maturity dates
    303,552       219,254       76,063       7,572       663  
 
Total contractual cash obligations
  $ 306,148     $ 219,573     $ 76,522     $ 7,948     $ 2,105  
 
Other commitments:
                                       
Commitments to originate residential
                                       
mortgage loans
  $ 2,514     $ 2,514     $     $     $  
Unused lines of credit
    25,897       4,330       3,296       9,233       9,038  
Other loan commitments
    2,457       287       1,692       49       429  
 
Total other commitments(1)
  $ 30,868     $ 7,131     $ 4,988     $ 9,282     $ 9,467  
 
(1)   Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. These commitments generally have fixed expiration dates. The total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements since many of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Bank must maintain a sufficient level of cash and assets which can readily be converted into cash in order to meet cash outflows from normal depositor requirements and loan demands. The Bank’s primary sources of funds are deposits, loan and mortgage-backed securities amortization and prepayments, sales, calls or maturities of investment securities and income on earning assets. In addition to loan payments and maturing investment securities, which are relatively predictable sources of funds, the Bank maintains a high percentage of its assets invested in Federal funds sold (overnight) and money market funds, which can readily be converted into cash, and United States Treasury and Government agency securities, which can be sold or pledged to raise funds. At December 31, 2007, the Bank had $144.0 million or 18.0% of total assets and $203.2 million or 25.3% of total assets invested, respectively, in Federal funds sold and money market funds, and United States obligations.
          The Bank is a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured institution subject to the FDIC regulatory capital requirements. The FDIC regulations require all FDIC insured institutions to maintain minimum levels of Tier I capital. Highly rated banks (i.e., those with a composite rating of 1 under the CAMELS rating system) are required to maintain a minimum leverage ratio of Tier I capital to total average assets of at least 3.00%. An additional 100 to 200 basis points are required for all but these most highly rated institutions. The Bank is also required to maintain a minimum level of risk-based capital. Under the risk-based capital standards, FDIC insured institutions must maintain a Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.00% and are generally expected to meet a minimum total qualifying capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 8.00%. The risk-based capital guidelines take into consideration risk factors, as defined by the regulators, associated with various categories of assets, both on and off the balance sheet. Under the guidelines, capital strength is measured in two tiers which are used in conjunction with risk adjusted assets to determine the risk-based capital ratios. Tier II capital components include supplemental capital components such as qualifying allowance for loan losses, qualifying subordinated debt and up to 45 percent of the pretax net unrealized holding gains on certain available for sale equity securities. Tier I capital plus the Tier II capital components are referred to as total qualifying capital.
          The capital ratios of the Bank and the Company currently exceed the minimum regulatory requirements. At December 31, 2007, the Bank had a leverage Tier I capital to average assets ratio of 12.80%, a Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 32.89% and a total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 33.52%. The Company, on a consolidated basis, had ratios of leverage Tier I capital to average assets of 13.37%, Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets of 34.31% and total capital to risk-weighted assets of 34.94% at December 31, 2007.

21


 

Asset and Liability Management
The goal of asset/liability management is to ensure that liquidity, capital and market risk are prudently managed. Asset/liability management is governed by policies reviewed and approved annually by the Bank’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Board establishes policy limits for long-term interest rate risk assumptions and delegates responsibility for monitoring and measuring the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk to the Risk Management and Asset/Liability Committee (the “Committee”). The Committee which is comprised of members of the Company’s Board of Directors, members of senior management and the Bank’s controller, generally meets four times a year to review the economic environment and the volume, mix and maturity of the Company’s assets and liabilities.
Interest Rate Risk
The primary goal of interest-rate risk management is to control the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk both within limits approved by the Board and within narrower guidelines approved by the Risk Management and Asset/Liability Committee. These limits and guidelines reflect the Company’s tolerance for interest rate risk over both short-term and long-term time horizons. The Company monitors its interest rate exposures using a variety of financial tools, including income simulation models. These models, produced quarterly, estimate the effect that instantaneous and permanent “market interest rate shocks” of +/-100, 200 and 300 basis points would have on the Company’s net interest income, with no effect given to any steps that management might take to counter the effect of these interest rate movements. These results are compared to an existing interest rate scenario and a consensus forecast that represents the most likely future course of interest rates.
          Interest rate risk materializes in two forms, market value risk and reinvestment risk.
          Financial instruments calling for future cash flows show increases or decreases in fair value when rates change. Management monitors the potential change in fair value of the Company’s debt securities assuming an immediate (parallel) shift in interest rates of up to 200 basis points up or down. Results are calculated using industry standard analytics and securities data from Bloomberg. The Company uses the results to review the potential changes in fair value resulting from immediate rate shifts and to manage the effect of fair value changes on the Company’s net income and capital position.
          Reinvestment risk occurs when an asset and the liability funding the asset do not reprice and/or mature at the same time. The difference or mismatch with respect to repricing frequency and/or maturity is a risk to net interest income.
          Complicating management’s efforts to control the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is the fundamental uncertainty of the maturity, repricing and/or runoff characteristics of a significant portion of the Company’s assets and liabilities. This uncertainty often reflects optional features embedded in these financial instruments. The most important optional features are embedded in the Company’s deposits, loans, mortgage-backed securities and callable U.S. Government agency securities.
          For example, many of the Company’s interest-bearing deposit products (e.g., savings, money market deposit accounts and NOW accounts) have no contractual maturity. Customers have the right to withdraw funds from these deposit accounts freely. Deposit balances may therefore run off unexpectedly due to changes in competitive or market conditions. In addition, when market interest rates rise, customers with time certificates of deposit (“CDs”) often pay a penalty to redeem their CDs and reinvest at higher rates. Given the uncertainties surrounding deposit runoff and repricing, the interest rate sensitivity of the Company’s liabilities cannot be determined precisely.
          Similarly, customers may have the right to prepay loans, particularly residential mortgage loans, at times without penalty. Additionally, the Company’s mortgage based assets (i.e., mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities) are subject to prepayment risk and can prepay without penalty. This risk tends to increase when interest rates fall due to the benefits of refinancing. Since the future prepayment behavior of the Company’s customers is uncertain, the interest rate sensitivity of mortgage based assets cannot be determined exactly. Additionally, some of the Company’s callable U.S. Government agency securities may be called prior to maturity. As a result, the interest rate sensitivity of these investment securities cannot be determined precisely.
          Management monitors and adjusts the difference between the Company’s interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities repricing within various time frames (“GAP position”).
          GAP analysis provides a static view of the maturity and repricing characteristics of the Company’s balance sheet positions. The interest rate GAP is prepared by scheduling all interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities according to scheduled or anticipated repricing or maturity. The GAP analysis identifies the difference between an institution’s assets and liabilities that will react to a change in market rates. GAP analysis theory postulates that if the GAP is positive and rates increase, the institution’s net interest spread will increase as more assets than liabilities react to the rate change. If the GAP is negative, more liabilities than assets will react to a change in market rates. If rates rise, the institution’s net interest spread will fall as more liabilities react to market rates than assets. If rates fall and the GAP is positive, the institution’s net interest spread will decrease as more assets than liabilities react to the rate change. If the GAP is negative and rates fall, the institution’s net interest spread will improve as more liabilities react to market rates than assets.

22


 

Interest Rate Risk (continued)
The Company, despite having a one-year negative GAP position as of year-end 2007, expects its net interest income and net interest spread in 2008 to move in the same direction as the change in market rates rather than in the opposite direction as GAP theory postulates. (Net interest income, however, may be adversely affected by the shape of the yield curve). One of the more significant reasons for this is the fact that a GAP presentation does not reflect the degrees to which interest-earning assets and deposit costs respond to changes in market interest rates. The rates on all financial instruments do not always move by the same amount as the general change in market rates. Since the Company has elected to change its deposit rates by less than the market movement on some savings and transaction-oriented accounts in response to a change in market rates, these deposits are included in the three months or less category. As a result, the Company’s one-year cumulative GAP position was liability sensitive as of year-end 2007 and 2006.
          The Company has historically managed its interest rate GAP primarily by lengthening or shortening the maturity structure of its securities portfolio, by continually modifying the composition of its securities portfolio and by selectively pricing and marketing its various deposit products. In the flat-to-inverted yield curve environment of 2007, the Company’s strategy was to purchase liquid investments with short to intermediate maturities and not to pay above market rates on short-term deposits.
          The following table presents the amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities at December 31, 2007 that are assumed to mature or reprice during the periods indicated. The table also summarizes the Company’s GAP position at December 31, 2007. As of this date, the Company’s one-year cumulative GAP position was negative $110.6 million, representing approximately 13.8% of total assets compared to a negative GAP of $296.0 million or 35.1% of total assets at December 31, 2006. The cumulative GAP-asset ratio measures the direction and extent of imbalance between an institution’s assets and liabilities repricing through the end of a particular period.
                                                 
 
    Interest Sensitivity Periods        
    3 Months     3 to 6     6 Months     1 to 5     Over        
(In thousands)   or Less     Months     to 1 Year     Years     5 Years     Total  
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                               
Loans(3)
  $ 13,507     $ 5,721     $ 11,258     $ 95,920     $ 65,161     $ 191,567  
Short-term investments:
                                               
Federal funds sold
    74,455                               74,455  
Money market investment fund
    69,520                               69,520  
Interest-bearing bank money market accounts
    3                               3  
Term Federal funds sold
    88,000       10,000                         98,000  
Securities available for sale(3) (5)
    11,205       8,153       15,670       78,478       13,699       127,205  
Securities held to maturity
    30       31       61       486       7,490       8,098  
Trading securities
    206,566                               206,566  
 
Total interest-earning assets
  $ 463,286     $ 23,905     $ 26,989     $ 174,884     $ 86,350     $ 775,414  
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Deposits(1) (2) (4)
  $ 507,661     $ 64,409     $ 52,686     $ 34,022     $ 664     $ 659,442  
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
  $ 507,661     $ 64,409     $ 52,686     $ 34,022     $ 664     $ 659,442  
 
GAP for period
  $ (44,375 )   $ (40,504 )   $ (25,697 )   $ 140,862     $ 85,686     $ 115,972  
Cumulative GAP—December 31, 2007
  $ (44,375 )   $ (84,879 )   $ (110,576 )   $ 30,286     $ 115,972          
Cumulative GAP as a percent of total assets
    (5.5 )%     (10.6 )%     (13.8 )%     3.8 %     14.5 %        
 
Cumulative GAP—December 31, 2006
  $ (275,365 )   $ (292,591 )   $ (296,046 )   $ (25,173 )   $ 106,764          
 
(1)   Excludes non-interest bearing demand accounts of $24.087 million.
 
(2)   Includes escrow deposits of borrowers of $968 thousand.
 
(3)   Loans and mortgage-backed securities reflect regular amortization of principal and prepayment estimates.
 
(4)   It is assumed that the Bank’s Savings and NOW account rates will be changed within 3 months or less.
 
(5)   Excludes net unrealized gains on securities available for sale of $1.505 million.

23


 

Interest Rate Risk (continued)
The following table shows the Company’s financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates, categorized by expected call date or maturity, and the instruments’ fair values as of December 31, 2007.
                                                                 
Expected Maturity Date  
At December 31, 2007  
                                                    Fair Value  
(In thousands)   2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     Thereafter     Total     at 12/31/07  
 
Interest sensitive assets:
                                                               
Fixed rate securities(4)
  $ 31,469     $ 27,272     $ 21,387     $ 17,387     $ 12,919     $ 21,248     $ 131,682     $ 132,650  
Average interest rate(1)
    5.34 %     5.36 %     5.38 %     5.50 %     5.51 %     5.06 %     5.34 %        
Equity securities(4)
    3,621                                     3,621       4,180  
Average interest rate(1)
    3.51 %                                   3.51 %        
Trading securities(5)
    206,566                                     206,566       206,566  
Average interest rate
    4.31 %                                   4.31 %        
Fixed rate loans
    529       827       1,008       2,851       5,787       142,255       153,257       149,255  
Average interest rate
    6.23 %     6.58 %     6.05 %     5.87 %     5.74 %     5.01 %     5.07 %        
Variable rate loans
    10,646       4,873       3,172       2,919       1,616       15,084       38,310       37,982  
Average interest rate
    6.67 %     5.83 %     8.48 %     7.00 %     6.34 %     5.72 %     6.20 %        
Other fixed rate assets(3)
    98,000                                     98,000       98,000  
Average interest rate
    4.76 %                                   4.76 %        
Other variable rate assets(2)
    143,978                                     143,978       143,978  
Average interest rate
    4.07 %                                   4.07 %        
 
Total interest sensitive assets
  $ 494,809     $ 32,972     $ 25,567     $ 23,157     $ 20,322     $ 178,587     $ 775,414     $ 772,611  
 
Interest sensitive liabilities:
                                                               
Savings and money market deposit accounts
  $ 307,322     $     $     $     $     $     $ 307,322     $ 307,322  
Average interest rate
    2.11 %                                   2.11 %        
Fixed rate certificates of deposit
    198,176       27,723       5,070       1,026       204       663       232,862       233,789  
Average interest rate
    4.57 %     4.50 %     4.43 %     4.32 %     4.48 %     4.74 %     4.56 %        
Variable rate certificates of deposit
    21,077       29,852       13,418       6,343                   70,690       70,690  
Average interest rate
    3.81 %     3.89 %     4.09 %     4.09 %                 3.92 %        
NOW accounts
    47,600                                     47,600       47,600  
Average interest rate
    0.55 %                                   0.55 %        
Escrow deposits of borrowers
    968                                     968       968  
Average interest rate
    0.75 %                                   0.75 %        
 
Total interest sensitive liabilities
  $ 575,143     $ 57,575     $ 18,488     $ 7,369     $ 204     $ 663     $ 659,442     $ 660,369  
 
(1)   Securities rates presented are on a tax equivalent basis.
 
(2)   Consist of Federal funds sold (overnight), money market investment funds and interest-bearing bank money market accounts.
 
(3)   Consist of term Federal funds sold.
 
(4)   Securities presented are at amortized cost.
 
(5)   Securities presented are at fair value.
          The Company uses certain assumptions to estimate fair values and expected maturities. For interest-sensitive assets expected maturities are based upon contractual maturity and projected repayments and prepayments of principal. For interest-sensitive deposit liabilities, maturities are based on contractual maturity. The actual maturity of the Company’s financial instruments could vary significantly from what has been presented in the above table if actual experience differs from the assumptions used.
Other Market Risks
Market risk refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates and other relevant market rates and prices. The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings. At December 31, 2007 the Company’s trading securities portfolio totaled $206.6 million consisting of both debt and equity securities. Fluctuations in interest rates and movements in equity prices may, respectively, result in changes in the fair value of the debt and equity securities in the portfolio. Since the changes in fair value of the trading securities are included in earnings on a recurring basis, this could have an adverse impact on the Company’s earnings. Also, the fair value of the debt securities in the Company’s trading account as of year-end 2007 exceeds par value by $169 thousand and if the securities are held to maturity, the amount in excess of par value will reverse and negatively impact Company earnings.

24


 

Average Balance Sheets
                                                                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
            Interest     Average             Interest     Average             Interest     Average  
    Average     Income/     Yield/     Average     Income/     Yield/     Average     Income/     Yield/  
    Balance     Expense(1)     Rate     Balance     Expense(1)     Rate     Balance     Expense(1)     Rate  
 
Assets:
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Earning assets:
                                                                       
Federal funds sold
  $ 163,224     $ 8,494       5.20 %   $ 155,556     $ 7,731       4.97 %   $ 192,154     $ 6,116       3.18 %
Short-term investments(4)
    49,660       2,467       4.97       5,691       289       5.08       1,653       53       3.21  
Securities available for sale:
                                                                       
Investment securities(2)
    6,891       258       3.74       308,716       12,124       3.93       313,708       9,923       3.16  
Mortgage-backed securities(2)
    127,920       6,856       5.36       135,267       7,293       5.39       129,850       6,961       5.36  
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity
    6,547       353       5.39       5,695       299       5.25       4,989       256       5.13  
Trading securities
    237,990       10,336       4.34       5,657       201       3.55       32,222       772       2.40  
Mortgage loans(3)
    188,933       10,313       5.46       207,650       11,305       5.44       220,020       12,111       5.50  
Other loans(3)
    9,739       768       7.89       9,610       765       7.96       10,050       681       6.78  
                                 
Total earning assets
    790,904       39,845       5.04 %     833,842       40,007       4.80 %     904,646       36,873       4.07 %
 
Allowance for loan losses
    (1,376 )                     (1,299 )                     (1,266 )                
 
Total earning assets less allowance for loan losses
    789,528                       832,543                       903,380                  
Other assets
    25,568                       26,655                       25,174                  
 
Total assets
  $ 815,096                     $ 859,198                     $ 928,554                  
 
Liabilities:
                                                                       
 
                                                                       
Deposits:
                                                                       
Demand and NOW
  $ 73,917     $ 262       0.35 %   $ 80,188     $ 228       0.28 %   $ 85,326       $187       0.22 %
Savings
    323,132       6,395       1.98       389,260       7,043       1.81       499,772       7,949       1.59  
Time certificates of deposit
    305,974       14,352       4.69       280,989       11,680       4.16       231,479       7,005       3.03  
                                 
Total deposits
    703,023       21,009       2.99       750,437       18,951       2.53       816,577       15,141       1.85  
 
Borrowed Funds
    82       4       5.25                                      
 
Total deposits and borrowed funds
    703,105       21,013       2.99%        750,437       18,951       2.53 %     816,577       15,141       1.85 %
Other liabilities
    5,057                       4,434                        4,984                  
 
Total liabilities
    708,162                       754,871                        821,561                
 
Stockholders’ Equity
    106,934                       104,327                       106,993                  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 815,096                     859,198                     $ 928,554                  
 
Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis)
            18,832                       21,056                       21,732          
Less adjustment of tax-exempt interest income
            63                       68                       72          
 
Net interest income
          $ 18,769                     $ 20,988                     $ 21,660          
 
Interest rate spread(5)
                    2.05 %                     2.27 %                     2.22 %
 
Net interest margin(6)
                    2.38 %                     2.53 %                     2.40 %
 
(1)   Income on equity securities is included on a tax equivalent basis.
 
(2)   Averages balances include net unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale.
 
(3)   Loans on non-accrual status are included in average balances.
 
(4)   Short-term investments consist of interest-bearing deposits in banks and investments in money market funds.
 
(5)   Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on earning assets and the cost of the Company’s deposits.
 
(6)   Net interest margin represents net interest income (tax equivalent basis) divided by average interest-earning assets.

25


 

Rate/Volume Analysis
The following table presents, for the years indicated, the changes in interest and dividend income and the changes in interest expense attributable to changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. A change attributable to both volume and rate has been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.
                                                 
    2007 Compared to 2006     2006 Compared to 2005  
(In thousands)   Increase (Decrease)     Increase (Decrease)  
Years ended December 31,   Due to     Due to  
    Volume     Rate     Total     Volume     Rate     Total  
 
Interest and dividend income:
                                               
Federal funds sold
  $ 390     $ 373     $ 763     $ (1,331 )   $ 2,946     $ 1,615  
Short-term investments
    2,184       (6 )     2,178       191       45       236  
Investment securities
    (10,468 )     (1,387 )     (11,855 )     (159 )     2,358       2,199  
Mortgage-backed securities
    (349 )     (33 )     (382 )     330       45       375  
Trading securities
    10,109       19       10,128       (812 )     247       (565 )
Mortgage loans
    (1,022 )     30       (992 )     (675 )     (131 )     (806 )
Other loans
    10       (7 )     3       (31 )     115       84  
 
Total interest and dividend income
    854       (1,011 )     (157 )     (2,487 )     5,625       3,138  
 
Interest expense:
                                               
Deposits:
                                               
Demand and NOW
    (19 )     53       34       (12 )     53       41  
Savings
    (1,269 )     621       (648 )     (1,907 )     1,001       (906 )
Time certificates of deposit
    1,093       1,579       2,672       1,702       2,973       4,675  
Borrowed funds
    4             4                    
 
Total interest expense
    (191 )     2,253       2,062       (217 )     4,027       3,810  
 
Net interest income
  $ 1,045     $ (3,264 )   $ (2,219 )   $ (2,270 )   $ 1,598     $ (672 )
 
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
Massbank Corp.’s financial statements presented herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars, without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time, due to the fact that substantially all of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services.

26


 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of SFAS No. 109
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.
          FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In addition, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The provisions of FIN 48 are to be applied to all tax positions upon initial adoption of this standard. Only tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date may be recognized or continue to be recognized upon adoption of FIN 48. The adoption of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
sfas no. 157, Fair Value Measurements
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“FAS 157”), Fair Value Measurements, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities based on a three-level hierarchy, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The FASB’s three-level fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1)and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
          FAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and, with certain exceptions, is to be applied prospectively. Earlier adoption of FAS 157 is permitted as of the beginning of an earlier fiscal year, provided the company has not yet issued a financial statement for any period of that fiscal year. Thus, a company with a calendar year fiscal year may voluntarily adopt FAS 157 as of January 1, 2007. For those financial instruments identified in FAS 157 to which the standard must be applied retrospectively upon initial application, the effect of initially applying FAS 157 to these instruments should be recognized as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.
          The Company adopted FAS 157 as of January 1, 2007. The early adoption of FAS 157 did not have a material effect on Massbank Corp.’s financial condition.
sfas No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (“FAS 159”), The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which gives companies the option to measure eligible financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value on an instrument by instrument basis with the changes in fair value included in earnings. In general, a company may elect the fair value option for an eligible financial asset or liability when it first recognizes the instrument on its balance sheet or enters into an eligible firm commitment. A company may also elect the fair value option for eligible items that exist on the effective date of FAS 159. A company’s decision to elect the fair value option for an eligible item is irrevocable. A company that elects the fair value option is expected to apply sound risk management and control practices to the assets and liabilities that will be accounted for at fair value under the option.
          FAS 159 is effective as of the beginning of a company’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007, and should not be applied retrospectively to prior fiscal years, except as permitted in the standard’s early adoption provisions. A company may adopt FAS 159 and elect the fair value option for existing eligible items as of the beginning of a fiscal year that begins on or before November 15, 2007, subject to the conditions set forth in the standard, one of which is a requirement to adopt all of the requirements of FAS 157 at the early adoption date of FAS 159 or earlier. Under the early adoption provisions of FAS 159, a company with a calendar year fiscal year may adopt this standard as of January 1, 2007, provided it adopts FAS 157 as of that date or earlier. If a company elects the fair value option for eligible items that exist on the effective date of its adoption of FAS 159, the Company must report the effect of the first re-measurement of these items to fair value as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.
          The Company adopted FAS 159 as of January 1, 2007. The early adoption of FAS 159 did not have a material effect on Massbank Corp.’s financial condition. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

27


 

Massbank Corp.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Massbank Corp.’s management is responsible for the preparation, content and integrity of the financial statements and other statistical data and analyses compiled for this annual report. The financial statements and related notes have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and reflect management’s best estimates and judgments. Management believes that the financial statements and notes present fairly Massbank Corp.’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows in all material respects.
     Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control that is intended to protect Massbank Corp.’s assets and the integrity of its financial reporting. This corporate-wide system of controls includes self-monitoring mechanisms, written policies and procedures, proper delegation of authority and organizational division of responsibility, and the selection and training of qualified personnel.
     An annual code of ethics certification process is conducted, and compliance with the code of ethics is required of all Company employees. Although any system of internal control can be compromised by human error or intentional circumvention of required procedures, management believes the Company’s system provides reasonable assurances that financial transactions are recorded and reported properly, providing an adequate basis for reliable financial statements.
     The Board of Directors discharges its responsibility for Massbank Corp.’s financial statements through its Audit Committee. This committee, which draws its members exclusively from the independent directors, also hires the independent registered public accounting firm.
Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for Massbank Corp. Management has assessed the effectiveness of Massbank Corp.’s internal control and procedures over financial reporting using criteria described in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that assessment, management believes that the Company maintained an effective system of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. Massbank Corp.’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report, dated March 6, 2008, on management’s assessment of Massbank Corp’s internal control over financial reporting, which is included in this annual report.
Gerard H. Brandi
Chairman, President and CEO
Reginald E. Cormier
Senior Vice President, Treasurer and CFO

28


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
(PMN LOGO)
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Massbank Corp.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2007. We also have audited Massbank Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Massbank Corp.’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
          We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
          A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
          Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedure may deteriorate.
          In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2007 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, Massbank Corp. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
          As described in Notes 1 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 159, “Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” In accordance with the provisions of this Statement, the 2007 financial statements include the cumulative effect of adopting this new pronouncement.
-s-
Certified Public Accountants, Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts
March 6, 2008

29


 

Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
                 
   
(In thousands except share data) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Assets:
               
Cash and due from banks
  $ 6,126     $ 8,650  
Short-term investments (Note 2)
    150,978       139,240  
 
Total cash and cash equivalents
    157,104       147,890  
 
Term Federal funds sold
    91,000       41,000  
Trading securities, at fair value (Note 3)
    206,566       1,931  
Securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $127,205 in 2007 and $407,154 in 2006) (Note 4)
    128,710       402,629  
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (market value of $8,120 in 2007 and $5,276 in 2006) (Note 4)
    8,098       5,396  
Loans (Notes 6 and 8):
               
Mortgage loans
    181,945       199,253  
Other loans
    9,622       9,674  
 
Total loans
    191,567       208,927  
Allowance for loan losses (Note 7)
    (1,369 )     (1,382 )
 
Net loans
    190,198       207,545  
 
Real estate held for resale
    425       425  
Accrued interest and income receivable
    4,061       5,083  
Income tax receivable, net
    1       88  
Deferred income tax asset, net (Note 13)
    661       3,347  
Premises and equipment (Note 10)
    8,163       7,085  
Goodwill
    1,090       1,090  
Other assets
    5,722       20,013  
 
Total assets
  $ 801,799     $ 843,522  
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Deposits (Note 11):
               
Demand and NOW
  $ 71,687     $ 78,860  
Savings
    307,322       344,808  
Time certificates of deposit
    303,552       299,664  
 
Total deposits
    682,561       723,332  
Escrow deposits of borrowers
    968       1,006  
Allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures
    345       345  
Other liabilities
    8,964       11,954  
 
Total liabilities
    692,838       736,637  
 
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Notes 9 and 10) Stockholders’ equity (Notes 13, 15, 16 and 17):
               
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued
           
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 7,880,642 and 7,850,317 shares issued in 2007 and 2006, respectively
    7,881       7,850  
Additional paid-in capital
    58,773       57,953  
Retained earnings
    107,674       107,055  
 
 
    174,328       172,858  
Treasury stock, at cost, 3,638,863 and 3,532,663 shares in 2007 and 2006, respectively
    (66,597 )     (62,902 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    1,230       (3,071 )
Shares held in rabbi trust at cost, 20,194 and 17,944 shares in 2007 and 2006, respectively
    (503 )     (426 )
Deferred compensation obligations
    503       426  
 
Total stockholders’ equity
    108,961       106,885  
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 801,799     $ 843,522  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

30


 

Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
                         
   
(In thousands except share data) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Interest and dividend income:
                       
Mortgage loans
  $ 10,313     $ 11,305     $ 12,111  
Other loans
    768       765       681  
Securities available for sale:
                       
Mortgage-backed securities
    6,857       7,293       6,961  
Other securities
    207       12,062       9,863  
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity
    353       299       256  
Trading securities
    10,323       195       760  
Federal funds sold
    8,494       7,731       6,116  
Other investments
    2,467       289       53  
 
Total interest and dividend income
    39,782       39,939       36,801  
 
Interest expense:
                       
Deposits:
                       
NOW
    262       228       187  
Savings
    6,395       7,043       7,949  
Time certificates of deposit
    14,352       11,680       7,005  
Borrowed funds
    4              
 
Total interest expense
    21,013       18,951       15,141  
 
Net interest income
    18,769       20,988       21,660  
Provision (credit) for loan losses (Note 7)
    (10 )     123       (53 )
 
Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses
    18,779       20,865       21,713  
 
Non-interest income:
                       
Deposit account service fees
    325       343       393  
Gains on securities available for sale, net
    272       736       515  
Gains on trading securities, net
    4,109       61       164  
Option fees
    375       150        
Deferred compensation plan income
    58       178       84  
Other
    759       737       761  
 
Total non-interest income
    5,898       2,205       1,917  
 
Non-interest expense:
                       
Salaries and employee benefits
    7,699       7,338       7,463  
Deferred compensation plan expense
    264       263       172  
Occupancy and equipment
    2,094       2,176       2,212  
Data processing
    588       583       540  
Professional services
    612       553       485  
Advertising and marketing
    166       139       155  
Deposit insurance
    109       126       145  
Other
    1,260       1,182       1,342  
 
Total non-interest expense
    12,792       12,360       12,514  
 
Income before income tax expense
    11,885       10,710       11,116  
Income tax expense (Note 13)
    4,154       3,683       3,793  
 
Net income
  $ 7,731     $ 7,027     $ 7,323  
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                       
Basic
    4,305,894       4,325,879       4,365,932  
Diluted
    4,333,789       4,360,688       4,422,529  
Earnings per share (in dollars):
                       
Basic
  $ 1.80     $ 1.62     $ 1.68  
Diluted
    1.78       1.61       1.66  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

31


 

Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                       
Net income
  $ 7,731     $ 7,027     $ 7,323  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    535       669       642  
Share-based payment compensation
    89       60        
Loan interest capitalized
    (6 )     (11 )     (9 )
(Increase) decrease in accrued interest and income receivable
    1,022       (1,185 )     (482 )
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
    (3,000 )     554       (22 )
(Increase) decrease in income tax receivable, net
    87       (88 )     164  
Amortization of premiums (accretion of discounts) on securities, net
    (37 )     (79 )     (48 )
Net trading securities activity:
                       
Proceeds from sales of debt securities
    13,984       6,940       18,926  
Proceeds from sales of equity securities
    29,229       14,251       5,508  
Proceeds from maturities and calls of debt securities
    171,755       2,000       50,002  
Purchases of debt securities
    (124,003 )     (984 )     (18,795 )
Purchases of equity securities
    (30,280 )     (14,768 )     (5,693 )
Principal repayments of securities
    35              
Amortization of premiums (accretion of discounts) on securities, net
    10       (27 )     (53 )
Gains on securities available for sale, net
    (272 )     (736 )     (515 )
Appreciation on donated equity securities
          5        
Gains on trading securities, net
    (4,109 )     (61 )     (164 )
Decrease in deferred mortgage loan origination fees, net of amortization
    (17 )     (27 )     (113 )
(Decrease) increase in accrued income taxes, net
          (35 )     35  
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
    2,263       (56 )     250  
(Increase) decrease in other assets
    14,296       (3,301 )     (5,088 )
Provision (credit) for loan losses
    (10 )     123       (53 )
Provision (credit) for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures
          (172 )     (71 )
Gains on sales of premises and equipment
          (3 )      
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    79,302       10,096       51,744  
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Purchases of term Federal funds
    (335,000 )     (41,000 )     (15,000 )
Proceeds from maturities of term Federal funds
    285,000             15,000  
Net decrease in interest-bearing bank deposits
          898       1,820  
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale
    6,636       20,405       28,252  
Proceeds from maturities and redemption of investment securities held to maturity and available for sale
          122,250       103,961  
Purchases of investment securities available for sale
    (3,070 )     (91,205 )     (132,546 )
Purchases of mortgage-backed securities available for sale
    (13,301 )     (25,943 )     (47,696 )
Purchases of mortgage-backed securities held to maturity
    (2,966 )           (1,581 )
Principal repayments of mortgage-backed securities
    25,465       26,730       31,450  
Principal repayments of securities available for sale
          2        
Donated equity securities
          5        
Loans originated
    (19,532 )     (21,736 )     (48,874 )
Loan principal payments received
    36,912       38,583       59,460  
Purchases of premises and equipment
    (1,613 )     (1,654 )     (700 )
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment
          3          
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    (21,469 )     27,338       (6,454 )
 
(Continued)

32


 

Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Continued)
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Net decrease in deposits
    (40,771 )     (61,396 )     (64,737 )
Decrease in escrow deposits of borrowers
    (38 )     (53 )     (15 )
Proceeds from borrowed funds
    10,000              
Repayments of borrowings
    (10,000 )            
Payments to acquire treasury stock
    (3,695 )     (1,621 )     (4,487 )
Purchase of company stock for deferred compensation plan, net of distributions
    (77 )     (75 )     (30 )
Increase in deferred compensation obligation
    77       75       30  
Options exercised, including tax benefit
    762       864       1,830  
Cash dividends paid on common stock
    (4,877 )     (4,715 )     (4,583 )
 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (48,619 )     (66,921 )     (71,992 )
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    9,214       (29,487 )     (26,702 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    147,890       177,377       204,079  
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 157,104     $ 147,890     $ 177,377  
 
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
                       
Cash transactions:
                       
Cash paid during the year for interest
  $ 21,132     $ 18,950     $ 15,203  
Cash paid during the year for taxes, net of refunds
    2,660       3,745       3,002  
 
Non-cash transactions:
                       
Transfer of securities from available for sale to trading upon early adoption of SFAS No. 159
  $ 261,256     $     $  
Transfer of property from premises and equipment to real estate held for resale
          425        
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

33


 

Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
                                                                 
 
(In thousands except share data) Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005                                  
 
                                    Accumulated     Shares              
            Additional                     other     held in     Deferred        
    Common     paid-in     Retained     Treasury     comprehensive     Rabbi     compensation        
    stock     capital     earnings     stock     income (loss)     Trust     obligations     Total  
 
Balance at December 31, 2004
  $ 7,736     $ 55,313     $ 102,003     $ (56,794 )   $ 1,757     $ (553 )   $ 553     $ 110,015  
Net Income
                7,323                               7,323  
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
                                                               
Unrealized losses on securities, net of reclassification adjustment (Note 1)
                            (4,834 )                 (4,834 )
 
                                                             
Comprehensive income
                                              2,489  
Cash dividends paid ($1.05 per share)
                (4,583 )                             (4,583 )
Purchase of treasury stock
                      (4,487 )                       (4,487 )
Purchase of company stock for deferred compensation plan
                                  (30 )     30        
Distribution of company stock from deferred compensation plan
                                  232       (232 )      
Exercise of stock options
    76       1,412                                     1,488  
Tax benefit on stock options exercised
          342                                     342  
 
Balance at December 31, 2005
    7,812       57,067       104,743       (61,281 )     (3,077 )     (351 )     351       105,264  
Net Income
                7,027                               7,027  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                                               
Unrealized gains on securities, net of reclassification adjustment (Note 1)
                            202                   202  
Pension liability adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158, net of tax
                            (196 )                 (196 )
 
                                                             
Comprehensive income
                                              7,033  
Share-based payment compensation
          60                                     60  
Cash dividends paid ($1.09 per share)
                (4,715 )                             (4,715 )
Purchase of treasury stock
                      (1,621 )                       (1,621 )
Purchase of company stock for deferred compensation plan
                                  (75 )     75        
Exercise of stock options
    38       712                                     750  
Tax benefit on stock options exercised
          114                                     114  
 
                                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2006
    7,850       57,953       107,055       (62,902 )     (3,071 )     (426 )     426       106,885  
Cumulative effect of adoption of the fair value option, net of tax
                (2,235 )           2,235                    
Net Income
                7,731                               7,731  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                                               
Unrealized gains on securities, net of reclassification adjustment (Note 1)
                            1,539                   1,539  
Unamortized gains, transition obligation and past service costs under employee pension plan, net of tax
                            527                   527  
 
                                                             
Comprehensive income
                                              9,797  
Share-based payment compensation
          89                                     89  
Cash dividends paid ($1.13 per share)
                (4,877 )                             (4,877 )
Purchase of treasury stock
                      (3,695 )                       (3,695 )
Purchase of company stock for deferred compensation plan
                                  (77 )     77        
Exercise of stock options
    31       670                                     701  
Tax benefit on stock options exercised
          61                                     61  
 
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 7,881     $ 58,773     $ 107,674     $ (66,597 )   $ 1,230     $ (503 )   $ 503     $ 108,961  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

34


 

Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
    Massbank Corp. (the “Company”) is a Delaware chartered holding company whose principal subsidiary is Massbank (the “Bank”). The Bank operates fifteen full service banking offices in Reading, Melrose, Stoneham, Wilmington, Medford, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Westford, Dracut, Lowell and Everett, Massachusetts providing a variety of deposit, lending and trust services. As a Massachusetts chartered savings bank whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (“DIF”), the activities of the Bank are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by federal and state regulatory authorities, including, but not limited to the FDIC, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks and the DIF. In addition, as a bank holding company, the Company is subject to supervision, examination and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
 
    Basis of Presentation
 
    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Knabssam LLC and Massbank and its subsidiaries: Readibank Properties, Inc., Readibank Investment Corporation and Melbank Investment Corporation.
          The Company has one reportable operating segment. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and to general practices within the banking industry. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and income and expenses for the period. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures and other than temporary declines in value of investment securities requiring impairment write downs due to general market conditions or other factors.
          Certain amounts in the prior years’ consolidated financial statements were reclassified to facilitate comparison with the current fiscal year.
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities
    Under its investment policy, management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase. Those debt securities that the Company has the intent and the ability to hold to maturity are classified as securities held to maturity and are carried at amortized historical cost.
          Those securities held for indefinite periods of time and not intended to be held to maturity are classified as available for sale. Securities held for indefinite periods of time include securities that management intends to use as part of its asset/liability management strategy and that may be sold in response to changes in market conditions, interest rates, prepayment risk, the need to increase regulatory capital and other factors. The Company reports investment securities available for sale at estimated fair value with the net unrealized gains and losses reported, net of tax effect, as a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized. As of December 31, 2007, stockholders’ equity included approximately $1.2 million of accumulated other comprehensive income, which included approximately $0.9 million representing the net unrealized gains on securities available for sale, less applicable income tax benefits.
          Securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of sale in the near term are classified as trading securities. Trading generally reflects active and frequent buying and selling, and trading securities are generally used with the objective of generating profits on short-term differences in price caused by market volatility. Investments classified as trading securities are reported at estimated fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 159, the Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — including an amendment of FASB No. 115, and designated $261.3 million in securities as trading securities which were previously designated as available for sale. In accordance with SFAS No. 159, the Company recorded a cumulative effect of accounting change reduction to retained earnings related to these securities in the amount of $2.235 million (net of deferred tax impact) as of January 1, 2007. Offsetting this adjustment was an increase to other comprehensive income in the amount of $2.235 million (net of deferred tax impact).
          Income on debt and equity securities is accrued and included in interest and dividend income. The specific identification method is used to determine realized gains or losses on sales of securities available for sale which are also reported in non-interest income under the caption “gains on securities available for sale, net.” When a security available for sale suffers a loss in value which is considered other than temporary, such loss is recognized by a charge to earnings.

35


 

1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
    Loans
 
    Loans are reported at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned fees. Loan origination fees and related direct incremental loan origination costs are offset and the resulting net amount is deferred and amortized over the life of the loan using the level-yield method.
          The Bank generally does not accrue interest on loans which are 90 days or more past due. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, all interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed from income and all amortization of deferred loan fees is discontinued. Interest received on nonaccrual loans is either applied against principal or reported as income according to management’s judgment as to the collectibility of principal. Interest accruals are resumed on such loans only when they are brought current with respect to interest and principal and when, in the judgment of management, the loans are estimated to be fully collectible as to both principal and interest.
          Impairment on loans for which it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement are measured on a discounted cash flow method, or at the loan’s observable market price, or at the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. However, impairment must be measured based on the fair value of the collateral if it is determined that foreclosure is probable. Impaired loans consist of all nonaccrual commercial loans.
Allowance for Loan Losses and Allowance for Loan Losses on Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures
    The Company maintains an allowance for possible losses that are inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is increased by provisions charged to operations based on the estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the portfolio. Management uses a methodology to systematically measure the amount of estimated loan loss exposure inherent in the portfolio for purposes of establishing a sufficient allowance for loan losses. The methodology includes three elements: an analysis of individual loans deemed to be impaired, general loss allocations for various loan types based on historical loss experience factors and an unallocated allowance which is maintained based on management’s assessment of many factors including the risk characteristics of the portfolio, concentrations of credit, current and anticipated economic conditions that may affect borrowers’ ability to pay, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs. Realized losses, net of recoveries, are charged directly to the allowance. While management uses the information available in establishing the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if economic conditions differ from the assumptions used in making the evaluation. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance based on judgments different from those of management.
          The Company also maintains an allowance for possible losses on its outstanding loan commitments. The allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures (shown separately on the balance sheet) is maintained based on expected drawdowns of committed loans and their loss experience factors and management’s assessment of various other factors including current and anticipated economic conditions that may effect the borrowers’ ability to pay, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs.
    Premises and Equipment
 
    Land is carried at cost. Premises, equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization computed primarily by use of the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets or terms of the related leases.
 
    Real Estate Held for Resale
 
    Real estate held for resale consists of a parcel of land owned by the Company’s subsidiary, Knabssam LLC that is not used for operational purposes. The land is carried at cost. The Company, through its subsidiary, has granted a local developer an option to purchase the land. As consideration for this option, the developer will make quarterly option payments to Knabssam LLC until the option is either exercised and the closing transaction for the purchase occurs or the option is allowed to lapse. If the developer does not exercise his option to purchase by the end of April 2008, then his option right expires. As of February 15, 2008, the developer had not obtained requisite local permits and approvals and may seek an extension of the Option Period.

36


 

    Impairment of the Long-lived Assets — Except Goodwill
 
    The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the remaining useful life may warrant revision or that the carrying amount of the long-lived asset may not be fully recoverable. The Company performs undiscounted cash flow analyses to determine if impairment exists. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on the fair value. Impairment losses on assets to be disposed of, if any, are based on the estimated proceeds to be received, less any cost of disposal.
    Share-based Payment
 
    Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS 123R) which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees and directors, including stock option grants, based on estimated fair values. SFAS 123(R) supersedes previous accounting under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB 25) for periods beginning in fiscal year 2006.
          SFAS 123(R) requires companies to estimate the fair value of stock-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company adopted SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective transition method that requires the application of the accounting standard starting the first day of the fiscal year, January 1, 2006 for the Company. Under this method, compensation expense is also recognized for stock based awards that are modified after December 31, 2005. The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, as of and for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, reflect the impact of SFAS 123(R). Stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 totaled $89 thousand and $60 thousand, respectively. The stock-based compensation expense is related to the 34,500 and 34,250 stock options granted to employees and directors in 2007 and 2006, respectively, net of any forfeitures, accounted for under SFAS 123(R) and to the modification of 11,250 stock options in 2006, due to the retirement of a Company director. Typically, when a director ceases to be a director by reason of the director’s retirement after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 72, the Board has voted to extend the date that the director’s outstanding options shall become fully exercisable from a period of three months from the date of termination to a period of five years from the date of retirement or until the expiration date, if earlier. As required by SFAS 123(R), the change in fair value resulting from this modification has been included in expense. The stock options that were granted in 2007 and 2006 were granted at an exercise price equal to the Company’s closing stock price at the date of grant. The stock options issued vest at 20% per year over 5 years and have a contractual term of ten years.
          Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company accounted for stock-based awards to employees and directors using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB 25, as allowed under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123). Under the intrinsic value based method, no stock-based compensation expense for employee stock options was recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, because the exercise price of the stock options granted to the Company’s employees and directors equaled the fair market value of the underlying stock at the date of grant. In accordance with the modified prospective transition method the Company used in adopting SFAS 123(R), the Company’s earnings results prior to fiscal year 2006 have not been restated to reflect, and do not include, the possible impact of SFAS 123(R). Prior to 2006, the stock options issued by the Company had a contractual term of ten years and vested immediately at the time of issuance.
          Upon adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company selected the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as the most appropriate method for determining the estimated fair value for stock-based awards.

37


 

1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
    The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 in 2005.
         
 
(In thousands except per share data) Years Ended December 31,   2005  
 
Net income, as reported
  $ 7,323  
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects(1)
    (161 )
 
Pro forma net income
  $ 7,162  
 
Earnings per share:
       
Basic — as reported
  $ 1.68  
Basic — pro forma
    1.64  
 
Diluted — as reported
  $ 1.66  
Diluted — pro forma
    1.62  
 
Weighted average fair value per share
  $ 8.11  
Expected term (years)
  7.3 years
Risk-free interest rate
    3.97 %
Volatility
    21.2 %
Dividend yield
    2.8 %
 
 
(1)   A Black-Scholes option pricing model was used to determine the fair values of the options granted.
    Goodwill Impairment
 
    The Company adopted SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangibles, effective January 1, 2002. The Statement addresses the method of identifying and measuring goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in a business combination, eliminates further amortization of goodwill, and requires periodic impairment evaluations of goodwill. Impairment evaluations are required to be performed annually and may be required more frequently if certain conditions indicating potential impairment exists. In the event that the Company were to determine that its goodwill were impaired, the recognition of an impairment charge would have an adverse impact on its results of operations in the period that the impairment occurred and on its financial position.
 
    Pension Plan
 
    The Bank accounts for pension benefits on the net periodic pension cost method for financial reporting purposes. This method recognizes the compensation cost of an employee’s pension benefit over that employee’s approximate service period. Pension costs are funded in the year of accrual using the aggregate cost method.
 
    Earnings Per Common Share
 
    Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS reflects the effect on the weighted average shares outstanding of the number of additional shares outstanding if dilutive stock options were converted into common stock using the treasury stock method.
          The treasury shares acquired in connection with the Company’s directors deferred compensation plan are considered outstanding in the computation of earnings per share and book value per share.
          A reconciliation of the weighted average shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 follows:
                         
 
(In thousands) Years Ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Basic shares
    4,306       4,326       4,366  
Dilutive impact of stock options
    28       35       57  
 
Diluted shares
    4,334       4,361       4,423  
 

38


 

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities and pension liability adjustments, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income.
               The components of other comprehensive income (loss) and related tax effects at December 31 are as follows:
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available for sale securities and when issued securities contracts arising during period
  $ 2,771     $ 1,028     $ (7,221 )
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains realized in income
    272       736       515  
 
Net unrealized gains (losses)
    2,499       292       (7,736 )
Tax (expense) or benefit
    (960 )     (90 )     2,902  
 
Net unrealized gains (losses), net of tax
    1,539       202       (4,834 )
 
Pension liability adjustment to apply SFAS No. 158
    906       (337 )      
Tax (expense) or benefit
    (379 )     141        
 
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax
    527       (196 )      
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 2,066     $ 6     $ (4,834 )
 
     Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and due from banks, and short-term investments with original maturities of less than 90 days.
          As a regulated financial institution, the Bank is required to maintain certain reserve requirements of vault cash and/or deposits with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The amount of this reserve requirement, included in “Cash and Due from Banks,” was $3.2 million and $4.6 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
     Income Taxes
The Bank recognizes income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the accounting basis and the tax basis of the Bank’s assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the amounts related to such temporary differences are realized or settled. The Bank’s deferred tax asset is reviewed and adjustments to such asset are recognized as deferred income tax expense or benefit based upon management’s judgment relating to the realizability of such asset. Based on the Bank’s historical and current pretax earnings, management believes it is more likely than not that the Bank will realize its existing gross deferred tax asset.
2. Short-Term Investments
     Short-term investments consist of the following:
                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Federal funds sold (overnight) 
  $ 74,455     $ 117,104  
Term Federal funds sold
    7,000        
Money market investment funds  
    69,520       22,133  
Interest-bearing bank money market accounts 
    3       3  
 
Total short-term investments
  $ 150,978     $ 139,240  
 
The investments above are stated at cost which approximates market value.

39


 

3. Trading Securities
The carrying amount and fair value of trading securities are as follows:
                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
    Fair     Fair  
    Value     Value  
 
U.S. Treasury obligations
  $ 1,997     $  
U.S Government agency obligations
    201,172        
Marketable equity securities
    3,393       1,926  
Investments in mutual funds 
    4       5  
 
Total trading securities
  $ 206,566     $ 1,931  
 
During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company realized gains and losses on sales of trading securities as follows:
                                                 
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
    Realized     Realized     Realized  
    Gains     Losses     Gains     Losses     Gains     Losses  
 
U.S. Treasury obligations
  $ 5     $ (37 )   $     $ (29 )   $ 1     $ (119 )
U.S Government agency obligations
    13                                
Marketable equity securities
    486       (122 )     224             99       (3 )
 
Total realized gains (losses)
  $ 504     $ (159 )   $ 224     $ (29 )   $ 100     $ (122 )
 
Proceeds from sales of trading securities during 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $43.2 million, $21.2 million, and $24.4 million, respectively. The change in fair values included in income in 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $3.764 million, $(134) thousand and $186 thousand, respectively.

40


 

4. Investment Securities
The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities follows:
                                 
 
            Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
(In thousands) At December 31, 2007   Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
 
Securities held to maturity:
                               
Mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Federal National Mortgage Association
  $ 8,098     $ 83     $ (61 )   $ 8,120  
 
Total
  $ 8,098     $ 83     $ (61 )   $ 8,120  
 
Securities available for sale:
                               
Debt securities:
                               
Mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Government National Mortgage Association
  $ 591     $ 9     $     $ 600  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
    121,087       1,204       (279 )     122,012  
Federal National Mortgage Association
    1,847       12             1,859  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    59                   59  
 
Total mortgage-backed securities
    123,584       1,225       (279 )     124,530  
 
Total debt securities
    123,584       1,225       (279 )     124,530  
 
Equity securities
    3,621       690       (131 )     4,180  
 
Total securities available for sale
    127,205     $ 1,915     $ (410 )   $ 128,710  
 
Net unrealized gains on securities available for sale
    1,505                          
 
Total securities available for sale, net
    128,710                          
 
Total investment securities, net
  $ 136,808                          
 
The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities follows:
                                 
 
            Gross     Gross        
    Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair  
(In thousands) At December 31, 2006   Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
 
Securities held to maturity:
                               
Mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Federal National Mortgage Association
  $ 5,396     $     $ (120 )   $ 5,276  
 
Total
  $ 5,396     $     $ (120 )   $ 5,276  
 
Securities available for sale:
                               
Debt securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury obligations
  $ 22,018     $     $ (309 )   $ 21,709  
U.S. Government agency obligations
    242,775       10       (3,238 )     239,547  
 
Total
    264,793       10       (3,547 )     261,256  
 
Mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Government National Mortgage Association
    1,554       19             1,573  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
    131,399       602       (1,555 )     130,446  
Federal National Mortgage Association
    2,418             (40 )     2,378  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    74                   74  
 
Total mortgage-backed securities
    135,445       621       (1,595 )     134,471  
 
Total debt securities
    400,238       631       (5,142 )     395,727  
 
Equity securities
    6,916       589       (603 )     6,902  
 
Total securities available for sale
    407,154     $ 1,220     $ (5,745 )   $ 402,629  
 
Net unrealized losses on securities available for sale
    (4,525 )                        
 
Total securities available for sale, net
    402,629                          
 
Total investment securities, net
  $ 408,025                          
 

41


 

4. Investment Securities (continued)
During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company realized gains and losses on sales of securities available for sale as follows:
                                                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007   2006   2005
 
    Realized   Realized   Realized
    Gains     Losses     Gains     Losses     Gains     Losses  
 
Sales:
                                               
U.S. Treasury obligations
  $     $     $     $ (104 )   $ 29     $ (55 )
Marketable equity securities
    781       (509 )     1,083       (248 )     761       (220 )
Securities donated to Massbank
                                               
Charitable Foundation:
                                               
Marketable equity securities
                5                    
 
Total realized gains (losses)
  $ 781     $ (509 )   $ 1,088     $ (352 )   $ 790     $ (275 )
 
          There were no sales of debt securities available for sale in 2007. Proceeds from sales of debt securities available for sale during 2006 and 2005 were $9.9 million and $22.0 million, respectively. Proceeds from sales of equity securities available for sale during 2007, 2006 and 2005, were $6.6 million, $10.5 million and $6.3 million, respectively.
          There were no sales of investment securities held to maturity during 2007, 2006 or 2005.
The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities available for sale and held to maturity by contractual maturity are as follows:
                                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
    Amortized     Fair     Amortized     Fair  
    Cost     Value     Cost     Value  
 
Investment securities held to maturity:
                               
Mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Maturing after 15 years
  $ 8,098     $ 8,120     $ 5,396     $ 5,276  
 
Total debt securities held to maturity
  $ 8,098     $ 8,120     $ 5,396     $ 5,276  
 
Investment securities available for sale:
                               
U.S. Treasury obligations:
                               
Maturing within 1 year
  $     $     $ 14,019     $ 13,911  
Maturing after 1 year but within 5 years
                7,999       7,798  
 
Total
                22,018       21,709  
 
U.S. Government agency obligations:
                               
Maturing within 1 year
                75,000       74,594  
Maturing after 1 year but within 5 years
                150,745       148,246  
Maturing after 5 years but within 10 years
                15,995       15,706  
Maturing after 10 years but within 15 years
                1,035       1,001  
 
Total
                242,775       239,547  
 
Mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Maturing within 1 year
    156       156       100       101  
Maturing after 1 year but within 5 years
    5,662       5,831       7,508       7,666  
Maturing after 5 years but within 10 years
    19,936       20,264       17,155       17,473  
Maturing after 10 years but within 15 years
    97,830       98,279       110,608       109,157  
Maturing after 15 years
                74       74  
 
Total
    123,584       124,530       135,445       134,471  
 
Total debt securities available for sale
    123,584       124,530       400,238       395,727  
 
Net unrealized gains (losses) on debt securities available for sale
    946             (4,511 )      
 
Total debt securities available for sale, net carrying value
  $ 124,530     $ 124,530     $ 395,727     $ 395,727  
 
Maturities of mortgage-backed securities are shown at final contractual maturity and do not reflect any principal amortization or prepayments.
          Included in U.S. Government agency obligations are investments that can be called prior to final maturity with an amortized cost of $163.7 million and a fair value of $161.3 million at December 31, 2006.

42


 

4. Investment Securities (continued)
The fair value and unrealized losses of temporarily impaired investments aggregated by category of investments is as follows:
                                                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31, 2007   Less than 12 months     12 months or longer     Total  
 
            Unrealized             Unrealized             Unrealized  
Description of Securities   Fair value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses  
 
Debt securities available for sale and held to maturity:
                                               
Mortgage-backed securities
  $     $     $ 34,711     $ (340 )   $ 34,711     $ (340 )
 
Total debt securities
                34,711       (340 )     34,711       (340 )
Equity securities
    949       (131 )                 949       (131 )
 
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 949     $ (131 )   $ 34,711     $ (340 )   $ 35,660     $ (471 )
 
As of December 31, 2007, management concluded that the unrealized losses above are temporary in nature since they are not related to the underlying credit quality of the issuers, and the Company has the intent and ability to hold these investments for a time necessary to recover its cost. The losses above (with the exception of the equity securities) are on securities that have contractual maturity dates and are primarily related to market interest rates.
The fair value and unrealized losses of temporarily impaired investments aggregated by category of investments is as follows:
                                                 
 
(In Thousands) At December 31, 2006   Less than 12 months     12 months or longer     Total  
 
            Unrealized             Unrealized             Unrealized  
Description of Securities   Fair value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses  
 
Debt securities available for sale and held to maturity:
                                               
U.S. Treasury obligations
  $     $     $ 21,709     $ (309 )   $ 21,709     $ (309 )
U.S. Government agency obligations
    48,670       (79 )     178,832       (3,159 )     227,502       (3,238 )
Mortgage-backed securities
    38,135       (203 )     68,953       (1,512 )     107,088       (1,715 )
 
Total debt securities
    86,805       (282 )     269,494       (4,980 )     356,299       (5,262 )
Equity securities
    3,292       (603 )                 3,292       (603 )
 
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 90,097     $ (885 )   $ 269,494     $ (4,980 )   $ 359,591     $ (5,865 )
 
As of December 31, 2006, management concluded that the unrealized losses above are temporary in nature since they are not related to the underlying credit quality of the issuers, and the Company has the intent and ability to hold these investments for a time necessary to recover its cost. The losses above (with the exception of the equity securities) are on securities that have contractual maturity dates and are primarily related to market interest rates.

43


 

5. Fair Value Measurements
Effective January 1, 2007, the Company elected early adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“FAS”) 159 and 157. FAS 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” was issued in February 2007 and permits the measurement of selected eligible financial instruments at fair value at specified election dates. The Company elected the fair value option to better manage its U.S. Treasury and Government Agency securities portfolio and to use the fair value measurement for these securities on a recurring basis.
          The interest and dividend income from trading securities is included in the Consolidated Statements of Income as “trading securities” and the interest and dividend income from securities available for sale is included in the Consolidated Statements of Income as securities available for sale: “Mortgage-backed securities” and “Other securities.”
          The following table sets forth the assets of the Company as of December 31 2007 that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
                                                 
 
                                    Changes in Fair Values  
                                    for 12-Month Period  
                                    Ended December 31, 2007  
                                    For Items Measured at  
            Fair Value Measurements at             Fair Value Pursuant to  
            December 31, 2007 Using             Election of Fair Value Option  
 
                    Significant                    
    Assets     Quoted Prices in     Other     Significant     Other     Total Changes  
    Measured at     Active Markets     Observable     Unobservable     Gains     in Fair Values  
    Fair Value     for Identical Assets     Inputs     Inputs     and     Included in  
(In thousands)   at 12/31/07     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)     (Losses)     Period Earnings  
 
Trading securities
  $ 206,566     $ 206,566     $     $     $ 345     $ 3,764  
Securities available for sale
    128,710       4,180       124,530             272        
 
Upon adoption of FAS 159, the Company selected the fair value option (FVO) for all of its U.S. Treasury and Government Agency securities available for sale, a portfolio totaling $261.3 million as of January 1, 2007. The initial fair value measurement of these securities resulted in a $2.2 million cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, recorded as a reduction in retained earnings as of January 1, 2007 as shown in the table below:
                         
 
    Balance Sheet 01/01/07     Balance Sheet     Balance Sheet 01/01/07  
(In thousands)   prior to Adoption     Adjustment Pretax     after Adoption of FVO  
 
Securities available for sale, at amortized cost
  $ 407,154     $ (264,793 )   $ 142,361  
Net unrealized losses on securities available for sale
    (4,525 )     3,537       (988 )
 
Securities available for sale, at fair value
    402,629       (261,256 )     141,373  
Trading securities at fair value
    1,931       261,256       263,187  
 
 
  $ 404,560     $     $ 404,560  
 
Pretax cumulative effect of adoption of fair value option
          $ (3,537 )        
Deferred tax asset
            1,302          
 
Cumulative effect of adoption of fair value option, net of tax (charge to retained earnings)
          $ (2,235 )        
 
The charge to retained earnings has no overall impact on total stockholders’ equity because the fair value adjustment had previously been included as an element of stockholders’ equity in the accumulated other comprehensive loss account as shown in the table below:
                         
 
    Balance Sheet 01/01/07     Adjustment of FVO     Balance Sheet 01/01/07  
(In thousands) Stockholders’ Equity   prior to Adoption     (net of tax)     after Adoption of FVO  
 
Common stock
  $ 7,850     $     $ 7,850  
Additional paid-in-capital
    57,953               57,953  
Retained earnings
    107,055       (2,235 )     104,820  
Treasury stock
    (62,902 )             (62,902 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (3,071 )     2,235       (836 )
Shares held in rabbi trust
    (426 )             (426 )
Deferred compensation obligation
    426               426  
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 106,885     $     $ 106,885  
 

44


 

6. Loans
The Bank’s lending activities are conducted principally in the local communities in which it operates banking offices, and to a lesser extent, in selected areas of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
          The Bank offers single family and multi-family residential mortgage loans and a variety of consumer loans. The Bank also offers mortgage loans secured by commercial or investment property such as apartment buildings and commercial or corporate facilities; loans for the construction of residential homes, multi-family properties and for land development; and business loans for other commercial purposes. Most loans granted by the Bank are either collateralized by real estate or guaranteed by federal or local governmental authorities. The ability of single family residential and consumer borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is generally dependent on the level of overall economic activity within the borrowers’ geographic areas. The ability of commercial real estate and commercial loan borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is generally dependent on the economic health of the real estate sector in the borrowers’ geographic areas and the overall economy. The composition of the Bank’s loan portfolio is summarized as follows:
                 
   
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Mortgage loans:
               
Residential:
               
Conventional:
               
Fixed rate
  $ 150,481     $ 169,036  
Variable rate
    24,789       23,941  
FHA and VA
    5       13  
Construction
    1,114       1,217  
Commercial:
               
Fixed rate
    342       367  
Variable rate
    4,450       4,076  
Construction
    708       563  
 
Total mortgage loans
    181,889       199,213  
Premium on loans
    1       2  
Deferred mortgage loan origination costs, net
    55       38  
 
Mortgage loans, net
    181,945       199,253  
 
Other loans:
               
Consumer:
               
Second mortgage loans
    1,231       751  
Installment
    287       211  
Guaranteed education
    427       635  
Other secured
    374       408  
Home equity lines of credit
    7,052       7,460  
Unsecured
    125       128  
 
Total consumer loans
    9,496       9,593  
Commercial
    126       81  
 
Total other loans
    9,622       9,674  
 
Total loans
  $ 191,567     $ 208,927  
 
In the ordinary course of business, the Bank makes loans to its directors, officers and their associates and affiliated companies (“related parties”) at substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time of origination for comparable transactions with unrelated borrowers. An analysis of total related party loans for the year ended December 31, 2007 follows:
         
 
(In thousands)        
 
Balance at December 31, 2006
  $ 1,403  
Additions
    358  
Repayments
    (533 )
 
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 1,228  
 

45


 

7. Allowance for Loan Losses
An analysis of the activity in the allowance for loan losses is as follows:
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Balance at beginning of year
  $ 1,382     $ 1,253     $ 1,307  
Provision (credit) for loan losses
    (10 )     123       (53 )
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
          19        
 
Total
    1,372       1,395       1,254  
 
Charge-offs:
                       
Mortgage loans
                 
Other loans
    (3 )     (13 )     (1 )
 
Balance at end of year
  $ 1,369     $ 1,382     $ 1,253  
 
The following table shows the allocation of the allowance for loan losses by category of loans at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
                                                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
            Percentage             Percentage             Percentage  
            of Loans             of Loans             of Loans  
    Amount     to Total     Amount     to Total     Amount     to Total  
 
Mortgage loans:
                                               
Residential
  $ 756       92 %   $ 795       93 %   $ 770       95 %
Commercial
    369       3       324       2       111       1  
Consumer loans
    87       5       98       5       139       4  
Commercial loans
    63             40             46        
Unallocated
    94             125             187        
 
Total
  $ 1,369       100 %   $ 1,382       100 %   $ 1,253       100 %
 
An integral component of the Company’s risk management process is to ensure the proper allocation of the allowance for loan losses based upon an analysis of risk characteristics, demonstrated losses and other factors. The unallocated component of the allowance for loan losses represents management’s view that there are possible losses that have been incurred within the portfolio but have not yet been specifically identified. The unallocated portion of the allowance for loan losses is based on management’s assessment of many factors including the risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, concentrations of credit, current and anticipated economic conditions that may affect borrowers’ ability to pay, and trends in loan delinquencies and charge-offs. The unallocated portion of the allowance for loan losses may change periodically after evaluating factors impacting assumptions utilized in the calculation of the allocated portion of the allowance for loan losses. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance based on judgments different from those of management.
8. Non-performing Assets
The following schedule summarizes non-performing assets at the dates shown:
                         
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Total nonaccrual loans
  $ 199     $ 137     $ 257  
 
Total non-performing assets
  $ 199     $ 137     $ 257  
 
Percent of non-performing loans to total loans
    0.10 %     0.07 %     0.11 %
Percent of non-performing assets to total assets
    0.02 %     0.02 %     0.03 %

46


 

8. Non-performing Assets (continued)
The reduction in interest income associated with nonaccrual loans is as follows:
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Interest income that would have been recorded under original terms
  $ 14     $ 8     $ 16  
Interest income actually recorded
    3       5       9  
 
Reduction in interest income
  $ 11     $ 3     $ 7  
 
     During 2007, 2006 and 2005 the Company had no impaired loans.
9. Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk
The Bank is party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheet. The contract or notional amounts reflect the extent of involvement the Bank has in particular classes of these instruments. The Bank’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument is represented by the contractual or notional amount of those instruments. The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.
                 
   
    Contract or Notional Amount  
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:
               
Commitments to originate residential mortgage loans
  $ 2,514     $ 1,206  
Unadvanced portions of construction loans
    261       217  
Unused credit lines, including unused portions of equity lines of credit
    25,897       28,779  
Other loan commitments
    2,196       2,337  
 
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee by the customer. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Bank evaluates each customer’s credit-worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if any, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower.
10. Premises and Equipment
A summary of premises and equipment and their estimated useful lives used for depreciation purposes is as follows:
                         
 
                    Estimated  
                    Useful Life  
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006     (In Years)  
 
Premises:
                       
Land
  $ 1,967     $ 1,967        
Buildings
    8,751       7,438       25-45  
Building and leasehold improvements
    2,906       2,862       2-30  
Equipment
    5,847       5,591       1-15  
 
 
    19,471       17,858          
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
    11,308       10,773          
 
Total premises and equipment, net
  $ 8,163     $ 7,085          
 
The Bank is obligated under a number of noncancelable operating leases for various banking offices. These operating leases expire at various dates through 2032 with options for renewal. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 amounted to $324 thousand, $312 thousand and $298 thousand, respectively.

47


 

10.   Premises and Equipment (continued)
 
    The minimum rental commitments, with initial or remaining terms of one year or more exclusive of operating costs and real estate taxes to be paid by the Bank under these leases, as of December 31, 2007, are as follows:
         
 
(In thousands) Years ending December 31,   Payments  
 
2008
  $ 319  
2009
    242  
2010
    217  
2011
    217  
2012
    159  
Later years
    1,442  
 
Total
  $ 2,596  
 
11.   Deposits
 
    Deposits are summarized as follows:
                                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,    2007     2006  
 
            Average             Average  
  Amount     Interest Rate     Amount     Interest Rate  
 
Demand and NOW:
                               
NOW accounts
  $ 47,600       0.55 %   $ 51,856       0.53 %
Demand accounts
    24,087             27,004        
 
Total demand and NOW
    71,687       0.37       78,860       0.35  
 
Savings:
                               
Savings accounts
    298,409       2.11       335,142       1.96  
Money market accounts
    8,913       2.12       9,666       1.99  
 
Total savings
    307,322       2.11       344,808       1.96  
 
Time certificates of deposit:
                               
Fixed rate certificates
    232,862       4.56       230,710       4.38  
Variable rate certificates
    70,690       3.92       68,954       5.57  
 
Total time certificates of deposit
    303,552       4.41       299,664       4.65  
 
Total deposits
  $ 682,561       2.95 %   $ 723,332       2.90 %
 
The maturity distribution and related rate structure of the Bank’s time certificates of deposit at December 31, 2007 follows:
                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007  
 
            Average  
    Amount     Interest Rate  
 
Due within 3 months
  $ 82,742       4.63 %
Due within 3—6 months
    66,600       4.41  
Due within 6—12 months
    69,912       4.41  
Due within 1—2 years
    57,575       4.18  
Due within 2—3 years
    18,488       4.18  
Due within 3—5 years
    7,572       4.13  
Thereafter
    663       4.74  
 
Total
  $ 303,552       4.41 %
 
48

 


 

11.   Deposits (continued)
 
    At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Bank had individual time certificates of deposit of $100 thousand or more maturing as follows:
                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Due within 3 months
  $ 37,049     $ 33,060  
Due within 3—6 months
    25,307       21,323  
Due within 6—12 months
    24,397       26,980  
Due within 1—2 years
    22,277       22,322  
Due within 2—3 years
    6,249       10,050  
Due within 3—5 years
    4,015       5,021  
Thereafter
    346       155  
 
Total
  $ 119,640     $ 118,911  
 
12.   Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
    The Bank is required to disclose estimated fair values for its financial instruments. Fair value estimates, methods, and assumptions are set forth below for the Bank’s financial instruments.
 
    Cash and Due from Banks, Short-Term Investments and Accrued Interest and Income Receivable
 
    The carrying amounts for these financial instruments approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments.
 
    Term Federal Funds Sold
 
    The carrying amounts of the term Federal funds sold reported in the balance sheet at December 31, 2007 and 2006 approximate fair value.
 
    Securities
 
    The fair value of investment securities is based principally on quoted market prices and dealer quotes.
          SFAS No. 107 specifies that fair values should be calculated based on the value of one unit without regard to any premium or discount that may result from concentrations of ownership of a financial instrument, possible tax ramifications, or estimated transaction costs.
          The carrying amount and estimated fair values of the Company’s investment securities are as follows:
                                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
    Carrying     Calculated     Carrying     Calculated  
    Amount     Fair Value     Amount     Fair Value  
 
Securities available for sale
  $ 128,710     $ 128,710     $ 402,629     $ 402,629  
Securities held to maturity
    8,098       8,120       5,396       5,276  
Trading securities
    206,566       206,566       1,931       1,931  
 
Total securities
  $ 343,374     $ 343,396     $ 409,956     $ 409,836  
 
 49

 


 

12.   Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)
 
    Loans
 
    Fair values are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics. Loans are segregated by type such as residential mortgage, commercial real estate, consumer and commercial.
          The fair values of residential and commercial real estate, and certain consumer loans are calculated by discounting scheduled cash flows through the estimated maturity using estimated market discount rates that reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loan. The estimate of maturity is based on the Bank’s historical experience with repayments for each loan classification, modified, as required, by an estimate of the effect of current economic and lending conditions. For variable rate commercial loans and certain variable rate consumer loans, including home equity lines of credit, carrying value approximates fair value. Assumptions regarding credit risk, cash flows, and discount rates are judgmentally determined using available market information.
The following table presents information for loans:
                                         
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
    Carrying             Calculated     Carrying     Calculated  
    Amount             Fair Value     Amount     Fair Value  
 
Real estate:
                                       
Residential:
                                       
Variable
  $ 25,913             $ 25,591     $ 25,168     $ 24,171  
Fixed
    150,566               146,583       169,112       163,378  
Commercial:
                                       
Fixed
    343               320       367       347  
Variable
    5,123               5,087       4,606       4,445  
Consumer
    9,496               9,543       9,593       9,569  
Commercial
    126               113       81       68  
 
Total loans
    191,567               187,237       208,927       201,978  
Allowance for loan losses
    (1,369 )                   (1,382 )      
 
Net loans
  $ 190,198             $ 187,237     $ 207,545     $ 201,978  
 
Deposits
The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as demand deposits, NOW accounts, savings accounts, and money market accounts for purposes of this disclosure, is equal to the amount payable on demand as of December 31, 2007 and 2006. The fair value of certificates of deposit is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.
 50

 


 

12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)
                                 
 
(In thousands) At December 31,   2007     2006  
    Carrying     Estimated     Carrying     Estimated  
    Amount     Fair Value     Amount     Fair Value  
 
Demand accounts
  $ 24,087     $ 24,087     $ 27,004     $ 27,004  
NOW accounts
    47,600       47,600       51,856       51,856  
Savings accounts
    298,409       298,409       335,142       335,142  
Money market accounts
    8,913       8,913       9,666       9,666  
Time certificates of deposit
    303,552       304,479       299,664       299,302  
 
Total deposits
    682,561       683,488       723,332       722,970  
Escrow deposits of borrowers
    968       968       1,006       1,006  
 
Total
  $ 683,529     $ 684,456     $ 724,338     $ 723,976  
 
The fair value estimates and the carrying amounts above do not include the benefit that results from the low-cost funding provided by the deposit liabilities compared to the cost of borrowing funds in the market.
Commitments to Extend Credit
The fair value of commitments to extend credit is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties. For fixed rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates.
          The Bank estimates the fair value of the cost to terminate commitments to advance funds on construction loans and for residential mortgage loans in the pipeline at December 31, 2007 and 2006 to be immaterial. Unused credit lines, including unused portions of equity lines of credit, are at floating interest rates and therefore there is no fair value adjustment. The Bank’s other loan commitments approximate fair value.
Limitations
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Bank’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no active market exists for a portion of the Bank’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.
          Fair value estimates are determined without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. For example, the Bank has a Trust Department that contributes fee income annually. The Trust Department is not considered a financial instrument, and its value has not been incorporated into the fair value estimates. Other significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial assets or liabilities include deferred income tax asset, premises and equipment and goodwill. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in any of the estimates.
13. Income Taxes
Income tax expense consists of the following:
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Current income tax expense:
                       
Federal
  $ 2,620     $ 3,507     $ 3,430  
State
    188       232       113  
 
Total current tax expense
    2,808       3,739       3,543  
 
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense:
                       
Federal
    1,237       (44 )     186  
State
    109       (12 )     64  
 
Total deferred tax (benefit) expense:
    1,346       (56 )     250  
 
Total income tax expense
  $ 4,154     $ 3,683     $ 3,793  
 

51


 

13. Income Taxes (continued)
Income tax expense attributable to income from operations for the years ended December 31, differed from the amounts computed by applying the federal income tax rate of 35 percent as a result of the following:
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Computed “expected” income tax expense at statutory rate
  $ 4,160     $ 3,749     $ 3,891  
Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:
                       
Reduction in federal income tax rate
    (75 )     (100 )     (91 )
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit
    193       143       115  
Dividends received deduction
    (37 )     (40 )     (42 )
Dividends paid to ESOP deduction
    (74 )     (70 )     (72 )
Other
    (13 )     1       (8 )
 
Income tax expense
  $ 4,154     $ 3,683     $ 3,793  
 
Effective income tax rate
    34.95 %     34.39 %     34.12 %
 
At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Bank had gross deferred tax assets and gross deferred tax liabilities as follows:
                 
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Deferred tax assets:
               
Unrealized losses on securities available for sale
  $     $ 1,656  
Loan losses
    717       722  
Deferred compensation and pension cost
    600       889  
Depreciation
    129       166  
Purchase accounting
          11  
Deferred loan fees, net
    4       3  
Other
    28       19  
 
Gross deferred tax asset
    1,478       3,466  
 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Unrealized gains on securities available for sale
    607        
Other unrealized securities gains
    203       111  
Other
    7       8  
 
Gross deferred tax liability
    817       119  
 
Net deferred tax asset
  $ 661     $ 3,347  
 
          Based on the Company’s historical and current pretax earnings, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the gross deferred tax asset existing at December 31, 2007. The primary sources of recovery of the gross federal deferred tax asset are federal income taxes paid in 2007, 2006 and 2005 that are available for carryback and the expectation that the existing net deductible temporary differences will reverse during periods in which the Company generates net taxable income. Since there is no carryback provision for state income tax purposes, management believes the existing net deductible temporary differences which give rise to the gross deferred state income tax asset will reverse during periods in which the Company generates net taxable income. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will generate any earnings or any specific level of continuing earnings.
          As a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1996, the special tax bad debt provisions were amended to eliminate the reserve method. However, the tax effect of the pre-1988 bad debt reserve amount of approximately $7.3 million remains subject to recapture in the event that the Bank pays dividends in excess of its reserves and profits.
14. Earnings per Share
The following is a calculation of earnings per share for the years indicated:
                                                 
 
Years Ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
(In thousands except share data)   Basic     Diluted     Basic     Diluted     Basic     Diluted  
 
Net income
  $ 7,731     $ 7,731     $ 7,027     $ 7,027     $ 7,323     $ 7,323  
Average shares outstanding
    4,305,894       4,305,894       4,325,879       4,325,879       4,365,932       4,365,932  
Dilutive stock options
          27,895             34,809             56,597  
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
    4,305,894       4,333,789       4,325,879       4,360,688       4,365,932       4,422,529  
Earnings per share (in dollars)
  $ 1.80     $ 1.78     $ 1.62     $ 1.61     $ 1.68     $ 1.66  
 

52


 

15. Stockholders’ Equity
The Company may not declare or pay cash dividends on its shares of common stock if the effect thereof would cause its stockholders’ equity to be reduced below or to otherwise violate legal or regulatory requirements. Substantially all of the Company’s retained earnings are unrestricted at December 31, 2007.
          The Bank is a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured institution subject to the FDIC regulatory capital requirements. The FDIC regulations require all FDIC insured institutions to maintain minimum levels of Tier I capital. Highly rated banks (i.e., those with a composite rating of 1 under the CAMELS rating system) are required to maintain a minimum leverage ratio of Tier I capital to total average assets of at least 3.00%. An additional 100 to 200 basis points are required for all but these most highly rated institutions. The Bank is also required to maintain a minimum level of risk-based capital. Under the risk-based capital standards, FDIC insured institutions must maintain a Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.00% and are generally expected to meet a minimum total qualifying capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 8.00%. The risk-based capital guidelines take into consideration risk factors, as defined by the regulators, associated with various categories of assets, both on and off the balance sheet. Under the guidelines, capital strength is measured in two tiers which are used in conjunction with risk adjusted assets to determine the risk-based capital ratios. Tier II capital components include supplemental capital components such as qualifying allowance for loan losses, qualifying subordinated debt and up to 45 percent of the pretax net unrealized holding gains on certain available for sale equity securities. Tier I capital plus the Tier II capital components are referred to as total qualifying capital.
          The capital ratios of the Company and its principal subsidiary “Massbank” set forth below currently exceed the minimum ratios for “well capitalized” banks as defined by federal regulators.
          As of December 31, 2007, the most recent notification from the FDIC categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier I risk-based, and Tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the following table. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes would cause a change in the Bank’s categorization.
                                                 
 
                    For Capital     To Be Well  
(In thousands) At December 31, 2007   Actual     Adequacy Purposes     Capitalized(1)  
    Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
 
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
                                               
Massbank Corp. (consolidated)
  $ 106,641       13.37 %   $ 23,921       3.00 %     N/A        
Massbank (the “Bank”)
    102,042       12.80       23,908       3.00     $ 39,846       5.00 %
 
                                               
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
                                               
Massbank Corp. (consolidated)
    106,641       34.31       12,432       4.00       N/A        
Massbank (the “Bank”)
    102,042       32.89       12,410       4.00       18,615       6.00 %
 
                                               
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
                                               
Massbank Corp. (consolidated)
    108,607       34.94       24,864       8.00       N/A        
Massbank (the “Bank”)
    104,008       33.52       24,820       8.00       31,025       10.00 %
 
                                                 
 
(In thousands)                   For Capital     To Be Well  
At December 31, 2006   Actual     Adequacy Purposes     Capitalized(1)  
    Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio  
 
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
                                               
Massbank Corp. (consolidated)
  $ 108,852       12.78 %   $ 25,547       3.00 %     N/A        
Massbank (the “Bank”)
    103,245       12.39       24,992       3.00     $ 41,653       5.00 %
 
                                               
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
                                               
Massbank Corp. (consolidated)
    108,852       36.58       11,901       4.00       N/A        
Massbank (the “Bank”)
    103,245       34.77       11,876       4.00       17,815       6.00  
 
                                               
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
                                               
Massbank Corp. (consolidated)
    110,579       37.17       23,803       8.00       N/A        
Massbank (the “Bank”)
    104,972       35.35       23,753       8.00       29,691       10.00  
 
1)   This column presents the minimum amounts and ratios that a financial institution must have to be categorized as well capitalized.

53


 

16.   Employee Benefits
    Pension Plan
 
    The Bank sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that covers all employees who meet specified age and length of service requirements, which is administered by the Savings Banks Employees Retirement Association (“SBERA”). The Plan provides for benefits to be paid to eligible employees at retirement based primarily upon their years of service with the Bank and compensation levels near retirement. Contributions to the Plan reflect benefits attributed to employees’ service to date, as well as service expected to be earned in the future. Pension plan assets consist principally of equity securities; mutual funds — bonds, mutual funds — equities, and all assets mutual funds; and money market funds and cash.
          The following table sets forth the Plan’s funded status and amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, which are based on the Plan’s latest valuation dates of October 31, 2007 and 2006:
                 
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Accumulated benefit obligation
  $ 9,185     $ 8,837  
Change in benefit obligation:
               
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 10,662     $ 9,994  
Service cost
    472       413  
Interest cost
    613       575  
Actuarial loss (gain)
    (534 )     326  
Benefits paid
    (398 )     (646 )
 
Benefit obligation at end of year
  $ 10,815     $ 10,662  
 
Change in plan assets:
               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
  $ 9,181     $ 8,443  
Actual return on plan assets
    1,091       1,242  
Employer contribution
    347       141  
Benefits paid
    (398 )     (646 )
Other
    6       1  
 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
  $ 10,227     $ 9,181  
 
Funded status
  $ (588 )   $ (1,481 )
 
On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158 which requires an employer to recognize in its balance sheet as an asset or liability the over-funded or under-funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan, measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation. For a pension plan, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation. SFAS No. 158 requires that gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period, but are not included as components of net periodic benefit expense pursuant to SFAS No. 87 or SFAS No. 106, be recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).
Amounts related to the Company’s defined benefit pension plan recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:
                 
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Net actuarial gain (loss)
  $ 920     $ (260 )
Prior service cost
    7       (98 )
Transition assets
    (21 )     21  
 
 
    906       (337 )
Deferred tax (expense) benefit
    (379 )     141  
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
  $ 527     $ (196 )
 

54


 

16.   Employee Benefits (continued)
    Amounts recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of year-end 2007 that have not been recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan are presented in the following table. The Company expects to recognize approximately $16 thousand of the actuarial gains (net of prior service cost) reported in the following table as of December 31, 2007 as a component of net periodic pension cost during 2008.
                 
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Net actuarial gain (loss)
  $ 660     $ (260 )
Prior service cost
    (91 )     (98 )
Transition assets
          21  
 
 
    569       (337 )
Deferred tax (expense) benefit
    (238 )     141  
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
  $ 331     $ (196 )
 
Assumptions used in determining the actuarial present value of the Company’s benefit obligation were as follows:
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Discount rate
    6.00 %     5.75 %     5.75 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4.00 %     4.00 %     4.00 %
Assumptions used to develop the net periodic benefit cost data were:
                       
Discount rate
    5.75 %     5.75 %     5.75 %
Expected return on plan assets
    7.75 %     7.75 %     7.75 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4.00 %     4.00 %     4.00 %
Components of net periodic pension expense:
                       
Service cost
  $ 472     $ 413     $ 459  
Interest cost
    613       575       546  
Expected return on plan assets
    (712 )     (654 )     (607 )
Amortization of transition obligation
    (21 )     (21 )     (21 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    8       7          
Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss
          6       48  
 
Net periodic pension expense
  $ 360     $ 326     $ 432  
 
The approximate composition of pension plan assets as of the end of the plan years ended October 31, 2007 and 2006 is as follows:
                 
 
Years ended October 31,   2007     2006  
 
Asset Category:
               
Fixed Income Securities (including money market funds)
    39.2 %     36.5 %
Domestic Equity Securities
    44.8       48.5  
International Equity Securities
    16.0       15.0  
 
 
    100.0 %     100.0 %
 
The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on prevailing yields on high quality fixed income investments increased by a premium of 3% — 5% for equity investments.
          The Bank expects to contribute $165 thousand to its pension plan in 2008.
          The investment policies and strategies for the Bank’s pension plan are as follows: Massbank (the “Bank”) is a member of the Savings Banks Employees Retirement Association (“SBERA”) within which the Bank maintains a Defined Benefit pension plan. SBERA offers a common and collective trust as the underlying investment structure for pension plans participating in the Association. The target allocation mix for the common and collective trust portfolio calls for an equity-based investment deployment range from 55% to 75% of total portfolio assets. The remainder of the portfolio is allocated to fixed income. The approximate investment allocation of the portfolio is shown in the table above. The Trustees of SBERA, through the Association’s Investment Committee, select investment managers for the common and collective trust portfolio. A professional investment advisory firm is retained by the Investment Committee to provide allocation analysis, performance measurement and to assist with manager searches. The overall investment objective is to diversify equity investments across a spectrum of investment types (e.g., small cap, large cap, international, etc.) and styles (e.g., growth, value, etc.).

55


 

16.   Employee Benefits (continued)
    The Bank expects to make benefit payments for the plan years ending October 31, as follows:
                     
(In thousands) Years ending October 31,   Payments         Payments  
 
2008
  $ 1,659     2014     2,333  
2009
    563     2015     817  
2010
    604     2016     711  
2011
    1,739     2017     1,336  
2012
    700     2018     706  
2013
    1,357              
 
Profit Sharing and Incentive Compensation Bonus Plans
The Bank’s Profit Sharing and Incentive Compensation Bonus Plans provide for payments to employees under certain circumstances based upon a year-end measurement of the Company’s net income and attainment of individual goals and objectives by certain key officers. Payments of $257 thousand were awarded under the plans in 2007. There were no profit sharing or incentive compensation bonus distributions in 2006 and 2005 because the criteria for making such distributions were not met.
          The Board of Directors approved a holiday distribution to all non-officer employees in 2006 in the amount of $38 thousand. In 2005, approval was given for a holiday distribution to all officers, excluding the CEO, and non-officer employees in the amount of $76 thousand. There was no holiday distribution in 2007.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
The Bank has an Employees’ Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) for the benefit of each employee who has completed at least 1,000 hours of service with the Company in the previous twelve months.
          In 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Bank contributed $163 thousand, $154 thousand and $160 thousand, respectively, to the ESOP to invest in the Company’s common stock. These shares were allocated to plan participants, on a pro rata basis, based on compensation.
          At December 31, 2007, the ESOP held 187,320 shares of the Company’s common stock which have been allocated to plan participants and no unallocated shares. The shares are considered outstanding in the computation of earnings per share and book value per share.
          Dividends on allocated shares held by the ESOP are allocated to plan participants proportionately based on the number of shares in the participant’s allocated accounts.
          The Company’s total expense applicable to the ESOP amounted to $203 thousand, $121 thousand and $133 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Employee Agreements
The Bank has entered into employment agreements with certain executive officers which provide that the officer will receive a minimum amount of annual compensation from the Bank for a specified period. The agreements also provide for the continued payment of compensation to the officer for a specified period after termination under certain circumstances, including if the officer’s termination follows a “change of control,” generally defined to mean a person or group attaining ownership of 25% or more of the shares of the Company.
Executive Supplemental Retirement Agreements
The Bank maintains executive supplemental retirement agreements for certain executive officers. These agreements provide retirement benefits designed to supplement benefits available through the Bank’s retirement plan for employees. The Company made contributions of $79 thousand, $67 thousand and $55 thousand to a rabbi trust for the benefits payable under the agreements in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

56


 

16.   Employee Benefits (continued)
    Directors Deferred Compensation Plan
 
    In 1988, the Company established a deferred compensation plan for its directors. The plan allows the Company’s directors to defer receipt of all or a portion of their compensation until: (1) their attaining the age of 72, or (2) their termination as a director of the Company. In 2000, the plan was amended to allow the directors’ compensation to be invested in Company stock held in an irrevocable trust. At December 31, 2007, the trust held 20,194 shares of Massbank Corp. common stock. The shares are considered outstanding in the computation of earnings per share and book value per share.
 
    Stock Option Plan
 
    Effective April 20, 2004, the Board of Directors adopted and the shareholders approved the Corporation’s 2004 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”). This new plan replaced the Corporation’s 1994 Stock Incentive Plan, which expired in January 2004. The 2004 Plan provides for awards of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, a limited number of restricted stock awards and cash replacement awards. The total number of shares of common stock that can be issued under this plan is 400,000 shares, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and similar events. Of this amount, no more than 100,000 shares of common stock may be issued as awards of restricted stock under the 2004 Plan. Under the 2004 Plan, the Corporation may not grant stock options with an exercise price less than 100% of the fair market value of the Corporation’s common stock on the date of grant. The maximum option term is ten years.
          Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective transition method to account for share-based payments to officers and directors of the Company. The only type of share-based payment utilized by the Company to-date is stock options. Stock options are awards which allow the officer or director to purchase shares of the Company’s stock at a fixed price. Stock options are granted at an exercise price equal to the Company closing stock price at the date of grant. Prior to 2006, the stock options issued by the Company had a contractual term of ten years and vested immediately at the time of issuance. The stock options issued in 2007 and 2006 vest at 20% per year over five years and have a contractual term of ten years.
          As of December 31, 2007, there were 94,316 non-qualified stock options and 153,059 incentive stock options outstanding to purchase shares under the 1994 and 2004 plans.
          A summary of the status of the Company’s fixed stock option plan as of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and changes during the years ended on those dates is presented below. All share information presented has been adjusted for stock splits.
                                                 
 
Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
            Weighted             Weighted             Weighted  
    Shares     Average     Shares     Average     Shares     Average  
    Under     Exercise     Under     Exercise     Under     Exercise  
Fixed Options   Option     Price     Option     Price     Option     Price  
 
Outstanding at beginning of year
    244,850     $ 28.83       251,637     $ 26.95       300,087     $ 24.35  
Granted
    35,000       32.62       35,500       32.79       32,850       37.15  
Exercised
    (30,325 )     23.11       (38,637 )     19.41       (75,250 )     19.76  
Forfeited
    (2,150 )     36.95       (3,650 )     37.47       (6,050 )     42.42  
 
Outstanding at end of year
    247,375     $ 30.00       244,850     $ 28.83       251,637     $ 26.95  
 
Options exercisable at year-end
    185,875               210,600               251,637          
 
The following table summarizes information about fixed stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2007:
                                         
 
At December 31, 2007   Options Oustanding     Options Exercisable  
            Weighted Avg.     Weighted Avg.             Weighted Avg.  
Range of   Number     Remaining     Exercise     Number     Exercise  
Exercise Prices   Outstanding     Contractual Life     Price     Exercisable     Price  
 
$19.00 to $20.67
    45,375     2.3 years   $ 19.62       45,375     $ 19.62  
25.00 to $27.63
    47,250     2.1 years     26.09       47,250       26.09  
28.44 to $29.60
    33,500     2.1 years     29.04       33,500       29.04  
32.50 to $32.92
    68,250     8.5 years     32.70       6,750       32.79  
36.70 to $42.90
    53,000     5.9 years     39.50       53,000       39.50  
 
$19.00 to $42.90
    247,375     4.7 years   $ 30.00       185,875     $ 29.11  
 

57


 

16.   Employee Benefits (continued)
    The Company estimates the fair value of stock option grants using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Expected volatilities are based on a combination of implied and historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock; the expected life represents the weighted average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding giving consideration to vesting schedules and the Company’s historical exercise patterns; and the risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the option. The following table presents the key input assumptions for the Black-Scholes valuation model:
                 
 
Years ended December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Weighted average fair value per share
  $ 6.67     $ 6.58  
Expected term (years)
  7.3 years     7.3 years  
Risk free interest rate
    4.73 %     4.31 %
Dividend Yield
    3.47 %     3.29 %
Volatility
    21.3 %     21.5 %
 
The total intrinsic value (amount by which the fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of an option on exercise date) of options exercised in 2007 and 2006 was $322 thousand and $511 thousand, respectively. The total cash received from officers and directors of the Company as a result of stock option exercises in 2007 and 2006 was $701 thousand and $750 thousand, respectively. The tax benefit realized as a result of the stock option exercises was $61 thousand in 2007 compared to $114 thousand in 2006.
          In 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized compensation cost amounting to $89 thousand and $42 thousand, respectively, which has been charged against income for those options granted in 2007 and 2006 that will vest after one year. As of December 31, 2007 there was $325 thousand of unrecognized compensation related to non-vested options granted in 2007 and 2006. The Company expects to recognize the expense over a weighted-average period of 3.6 years.
          In 2006, the Company extended this contractural life of 11,250 fully vested options to a retiring Director of the Company. As a result of this modification, the Company recognized additional compensation expense of $18 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2006.
17.   Shareholder Rights Plan
    The Company has in effect a Shareholder Rights Plan, pursuant to which the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of one preferred stock purchase right for each share of common stock of the Company outstanding. Under the Plan, the Rights automatically become part of and trade with the Company’s shares of common stock. Although the Rights are not exercisable initially, they become exercisable if a person becomes an “acquiring person” by acquiring 11% or more of the Company’s common stock or if a person commences a tender offer that could result in that person owning 11% or more of the common stock of Massbank Corp. In the event that a person becomes an “acquiring person,” each holder of a Right (other than the acquiring person) would be entitled to acquire such number of shares of preferred stock which are equivalent to Massbank Corp. common stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the Right. The exercise price of a Right initially shall be $136.00 per one one-thousandth of a share of the Company’s preferred stock. If Massbank Corp. is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction after any such event, each holder of a Right would be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, shares of the acquiring company’s common stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the Right. The Rights will expire on January 19, 2010, but may be redeemed at the option of the Board of Directors for $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the time at which any person becomes an acquiring person or until the expiration date of the Shareholder Rights Plan.

58


 

18.   Parent Company Financial Statements
    The following are the condensed financial statements for Massbank Corp. (the “Parent Company”) only:
Balance Sheets
                 
 
(In thousands except share data) At December 31,   2007     2006  
 
Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,800     $ 5,087  
Investment in subsidiaries
    105,094       101,789  
Income tax receivable, net
    43       155  
Deferred income tax asset, net
    45       32  
Other assets
    1       1  
 
Total assets
  $ 108,983     $ 107,064  
 
Liabilities:
               
Other liabilities
  $ 22     $ 179  
 
Total liabilities
    22       179  
 
Stockholders’ Equity (Notes 13, 15, 16 and 17):
               
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued
           
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 7,880,642 and 7,850,317 shares issued in 2007 and 2006, respectively
    7,881       7,850  
Additional paid-in capital
    58,773       57,953  
Retained earnings
    107,674       107,055  
 
 
    174,328       172,858  
Treasury stock at cost, 3,638,863 and 3,532,663 shares in 2007 and 2006, respectively
    (66,597 )     (62,902 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    1,230       (3,071 )
Shares held in rabbi trust at cost 3,604 and 3,004 shares in 2007 and 2006, respectively
    (104 )     (84 )
Deferred compensation obligations
    104       84  
 
Total stockholders’ equity
    108,961       106,885  
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 108,983     $ 107,064  
 
Statements of Income
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Income:
                       
Dividends received from subsidiaries
  $ 6,700     $ 7,055     $ 7,000  
Interest and dividend income
          14       31  
 
Total interest and dividend income
    6,700       7,069       7,031  
Non-interest expense
    242       186       170  
 
Income before income taxes
    6,458       6,883       6,861  
Income tax benefit
    144       110       99  
 
Income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
    6,602       6,993       6,960  
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
    1,129       34       363  
 
Net income
  $ 7,731     $ 7,027     $ 7,323  
 
The Parent Company only Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity are identical to the consolidated statements and therefore are not presented here.

59


 

18. Parent Company Financial Statements (continued)
Statements of Cash Flows
                         
 
(In thousands) Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                       
Net income
  $ 7,731     $ 7,027     $ 7,323  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
    (1,129 )     (34 )     (363 )
Dividend from subsidiary in the form of land
          (480 )      
Increase in current income tax receivable, net
    112       55       (23 )
Increase in deferred income tax asset, net
    (13 )     (7 )     (4 )
Decrease (increase) in other assets
          (1 )     29  
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
    (157 )     167       (1 )
Decrease (increase) in amount due from subsidiaries
                196  
Share-based payment compensation
    12       5        
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    6,556       6,732       7,157  
 
Cash flow from financing activities:
                       
Payments to acquire treasury stock
    (3,695 )     (1,621 )     (4,487 )
Purchase of company stock for deferred compensation plan, net of distributions
    (20 )     (17 )     (8 )
Increase in deferred compensation obligation
    20       17       8  
Options exercised, including tax benefits
    729       785       1,572  
Dividends paid on common stock
    (4,877 )     (4,715 )     (4,583 )
 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (7,843 )     (5,551 )     (7,498 )
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (1,287 )     1,181       (341 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    5,087       3,906       4,247  
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 3,800     $ 5,087     $ 3,906  
 
During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company made cash payments for income taxes of $19 thousand, $18 thousand and $30 thousand, respectively, and no payments for interest.
     In addition, the Company made cash payments to the state of Delaware for franchise taxes in the amount of $41 thousand, $39 thousand and $42 thousand during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
19. Ten-Year Statistical Summary (Unaudited)
                                                                                 
   
(In thousands except per share data)                                                            
Years ended December 31,   2007     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002     2001     2000     1999     1998  
 
Net income
  $ 7,731     $ 7,027     $ 7,323     $ 7,380     $ 7,863     $ 9,814     $ 10,759     $ 11,111     $ 11,311     $ 10,914  
Diluted earnings per share
    1.78       1.61       1.66       1.64       1.73       2.04       2.24       2.25       2.17       1.98  
Cash dividends paid per share
    1.13       1.09       1.05       1.00       0.92       0.88       0.84       0.79       0.74       0.68  
Book value per share, at year-end
    25.69       24.76       24.32       25.11       25.17       25.45       24.34       22.83       20.43       21.05  
Return on average assets
    0.95 %     0.82 %     0.79 %     0.75 %     0.78 %     0.99 %     1.13 %     1.20 %     1.20 %     1.17 %
Return on average equity
    7.23 %     6.74 %     6.84 %     6.71 %     7.08 %     8.39 %     9.53 %     10.93 %     10.66 %     10.05 %
 

60


 

20. Quarterly Data (Unaudited)
                                                                 
 
Years ended December 31,   2007     2006  
(In thousands except   4th     3rd     2nd     1st     4th     3rd     2nd     1st  
per share data)   Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
 
Interest and dividend income
  $ 9,734     $ 10,013     $ 10,056     $ 9,979     $ 10,085     $ 10,052     $ 10,001     $ 9,801  
Interest expense
    5,165       5,368       5,292       5,188       5,106       4,872       4,613       4,360  
 
Net interest income
    4,569       4,645       4,764       4,791       4,979       5,180       5,388       5,441  
Provision (credit) for loan losses
                (10 )           (9 )     82       50        
 
Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses
    4,569       4,645       4,774       4,791       4,988       5,098       5,338       5,441  
Gains (losses) on securities, net
    1,148       2,105       (6 )     1,134       259       168       119       251  
Other non-interest income
    369       331       461       356       477       292       279       360  
Non-interest expense
    2,841       3,760       3,091       3,100       3,053       2,942       3,058       3,307  
 
Income before income taxes
    3,245       3,321       2,138       3,181       2,671       2,616       2,678       2,745  
Income tax expense
    1,143       1,195       716       1,100       940       885       923       935  
 
Net income
  $ 2,102     $ 2,126     $ 1,422     $ 2,081     $ 1,731     $ 1,731     $ 1,755     $ 1,810  
 
Earnings per share (in dollars):(1)
                                                               
Basic
  $ 0.49     $ 0.49     $ 0.33     $ 0.48     $ 0.40     $ 0.40     $ 0.41     $ 0.42  
Diluted
    0.49       0.49       0.33       0.48       0.40       0.40       0.40       0.41  
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:(1)
                                                               
Basic
    4,257       4,300       4,332       4,336       4,320       4,315       4,329       4,340  
Diluted
    4,289       4,328       4,357       4,361       4,353       4,349       4,364       4,377  
 
 
(1)   Computation of earnings per share is further described in Note 1.
Massbank Corp. and Subsidiaries Stockholder Data
Years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
Massbank Corp.’s common stock is currently traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MASB.” At December 31, 2007 there were 4,241,779 shares outstanding and 674 shareholders of record. Shareholders of record do not reflect the number of persons or entities who hold their stock in nominee or “street” name.
          The following table includes the quarterly ranges of high and low closing sales prices for the common stock, as reported by NASDAQ, and dividends declared per share for the periods indicated.
                         
 
                    Cash  
    Price per Share     Dividends  
    High     Low     Declared  
 
Year ended December 31,   2007
       
 
Fourth Quarter
  $ 37.26     $ 36.00     $ 0.29  
Third Quarter
    37.44       32.95       0.28  
Second Quarter
    33.40       32.66       0.28  
First Quarter
    33.25       32.60       0.28  
 
Year ended December 31,   2006
       
 
Fourth Quarter
  $ 33.63     $ 32.33     $ 0.28  
Third Quarter
    33.94       32.44       0.27  
Second Quarter
    33.29       32.32       0.27  
First Quarter
    34.692       31.77       0.27  
 

61


 

Five-Year Stock Performance Graph
The following chart compares the performance of the Common Stock of the Company (assuming reinvestment of dividends) to the total returns on the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ Bank Index over a five-year period. The S&P 500 Index is a wellknown, unmanaged index of the prices of 500 large-company common stocks selected by Standard & Poor’s. The NASDAQ Bank Index is a broad-based capitalization weighted index of domestic and foreign common stocks of banks that are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System as well as the SmallCap market. The chart assumes a $100 investment was made on December 31, 2002 in the Common Stock of Massbank Corp., the stocks included in the S&P 500 Index and the stocks included in the NASDAQ Bank Index. The Company obtained the data for the chart from Bloomberg. The information about the indices that the Company obtained from Bloomberg is believed to be reliable, but neither the accuracy nor the completeness of such information is guaranteed by the Company.
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
                                                 
Comparative 5 Year Cumulative Total Return (Years ended December 31,)
 
    2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007  
 
Massbank Corp.
  $ 100.00     $ 156.30     $ 139.85     $ 127.13     $ 130.94     $ 149.88  
NASDAQ Bank Index
  $ 100.00     $ 133.03     $ 151.18     $ 148.26     $ 168.72     $ 135.16  
S&P 500 Index
  $ 100.00     $ 128.67     $ 142.65     $ 149.65     $ 173.26     $ 182.78  
 
Comparative Massbank Corp. Stock Performance Data Refer to page 7 of this report for performance graphs.
Comparative Cumulative Return Totals (Years ended December 31,)
Comparative 1 Year Cumulative Total Return
                                         
 
    2006     3/31/07     6/30/07     9/30/07     2007  
 
Massbank Corp.
  $ 100.00     $ 100.58     $ 103.30     $ 115.36     $ 114.46  
NASDAQ Bank Index
  $ 100.00     $ 96.09     $ 93.37     $ 90.10     $ 80.10  
 
Comparative 3 Year Cumulative Total Return
                                 
 
    2004     2005     2006     2007  
 
Massbank Corp.
  $ 100.00     $ 90.90     $ 93.63     $ 107.17  
NASDAQ Bank Index
  $ 100.00     $ 98.07     $ 111.61     $ 89.40  
 
Comparative 5 Year Cumulative Total Return
                                                 
 
    2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007  
 
Massbank Corp.
  $ 100.00     $ 156.30     $ 139.85     $ 127.13     $ 130.94     $ 149.88  
NASDAQ Bank Index
  $ 100.00     $ 133.03     $ 151.18     $ 148.26     $ 168.72     $ 135.16  
 
Comparative 7 Year Cumulative Total Return
                                                                 
 
    2000     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007  
 
Massbank Corp.
  $ 100.00     $ 126.95     $ 155.06     $ 242.35     $ 216.85     $ 197.12     $ 203.04     $ 232.41  
NASDAQ Bank Index
  $ 100.00     $ 112.68     $ 120.50     $ 160.29     $ 182.16     $ 178.65     $ 203.31     $ 162.86  
 
21 Year Cumulative Total Return Refer to front cover for performance graph.
                                                                                         
   
    1986     1987     1988     1989     1990     1991     1992     1993     1994     1995     1996  
 
Massbank Corp.
  $ 100.00     $ 97.77     $ 135.83     $ 125.83     $ 96.07     $ 124.94     $ 244.95     $ 265.98     $ 265.39     $ 378.67     $ 467.50  
 
                                                                                         
    1997     1998     1999     2000     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007  
 
Massbank Corp.
  $ 798.01     $ 670.98     $ 521.65     $ 539.01     $ 684.25     $ 835.76     $ 1,306.26     $ 1,168.83     $ 1,062.52     $ 1,094.39     $ 1,252.68  
 

62


 

Officers and Directors
Massbank Corp.
Officers
Gerard H. Brandi
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Reginald E. Cormier
Senior Vice President, Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
Robert S. Cummings
Secretary
Donna H. West
Assistant Secretary
Board of Directors
*   Gerard H. Brandi
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer,
Massbank Corp.
*   Allan S. Bufferd
Treasurer Emeritus,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
 
    Kathleen M. Camilli
President,
Camilli Economics, LLC
*   Stephen W. Carr
Retired Partner and Attorney,
Goodwin Procter LLP
  Alexander S. Costello
Teacher, Brooks School
O. Bradley Latham
Attorney and Principal,
Latham, Latham & Lamond, P.C.
*   Stephen E. Marshall
Retired, C.H. Cleaves Insurance
Agency, Inc.
  * Paul J. McCarthy
Executive Vice President,
Jobs for Massachusetts, Inc.
  Nalin M. Mistry
Consulting Engineer and
General Contractor, Mistry Associates, Inc.,
NM Construction Corporation
and MAI Associates, Inc.
*   Nancy L. Pettinelli
Executive Director,
Visiting Nurse Association
of Greater Lowell, Inc.
  William F. Rucci, Jr.
Certified Public Accountant and Partner,
Rucci, Bardaro & Barrett, PC


 
*   Member, Executive Committee
 
  Member, Audit Committee
Officers and Directors
Massbank
Officers
Gerard H. Brandi
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
James L. Milinazzo
Senior Vice President, Lending
Donna H.West
Senior Vice President,
Community Banking and
Chief Operating Officer
Reginald E. Cormier
Senior Vice President, Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
William F. Rivers
Vice President, Operations
Richard J. Flannigan
Vice President and
Senior Trust Officer
Thomas J. Queeney
Vice President and
Senior Trust Officer
Joseph P. Orefice
Vice President and Director,
Information Technology
Carol A. Axelrod
Loan Origination Officer
Kenneth R. Berard
Assistant Treasurer
David M. Bianco
Assistant Treasurer
Ernest G. Campbell, Jr.
Collections Officer
Marianne J. Carpenter
Director, Human Resources
Serey Chea
Assistant Treasurer
Jean M. Cull
Assistant Treasurer
John R. Curtis
Security/Assistant BSA Officer
Lisa A. DiCicco
Trust Operations Officer and
Executive Administrator
Tricia L. Fantasia
Assistant Treasurer
Jessica L. Federico
Assistant Treasurer
Karen L. Flammia
Assistant Vice President
Scott M. Forbes
Mortgage Origination Officer
Rachael E. Garneau
Assistant Vice President
Martin J. Heneghan
Assistant Controller
Brian W. Hurley
Assistant Vice President,
Loan Operations
Theresa R. Madigan
Assistant Treasurer
Brian P. Mahoney
Director of Audit
Kenneth A. Masson
Assistant Vice President,
Marketing
Laura M. O’Connor
Assistant Treasurer
Kinnaly B. Phanrisvong
Assistant Treasurer
Seda Sam-Mao
Assistant Treasurer
Linda Seng
Assistant Treasurer
John J. Spinello
Controller
Chea Touch
Assistant Treasurer
Shaun Tulley
Information Technology Officer
Margaret E. White
Assistant Treasurer
Patricia A. Witts
Assistant Treasurer
Michael J. Woods
Assistant Vice President,
Operations

Board of Directors
    Mathias B. Bedell
* Gerard H. Brandi, Chairman
* Allan S. Bufferd
* Robert S. CUmmings, Clerk
* Stephen E. Marshall
* Stephen E. Marshall
    William F. Rucci, Jr.
* Donna H. West


 
*     Member, Executive Committee

63


 

Corporate Information
Massbank Corp.
123 Haven Street
Reading, MA 01867
(781) 662-0100
(978) 446-9200
FAX (781) 942-1022
Savings and Mortgage
24-Hour-Rate Lines
(781) 662-0154
(978) 446-9285
Trademark
Massbank and its logo are
registered trademarks of
the Company
Form 10-K
Shareholders may obtain without
charge a copy of the Company’s
2007 Form 10-K. Written requests
should be addressed to:
Shareholder Services
Massbank Corp.
159 Haven Street
Reading, MA 01867
Dividend Reinvestment and
Stock Purchase Plan
Shareholders may obtain a
brochure containing a detailed
description of the plan by writing
to:
Shareholder Services
Massbank Corp.
159 Haven Street
Reading, MA 01867
Transfer Agent
American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company
59 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
(800) 937-5449
(877) 777-0800
Website address:
www.amstock.com
Independent Registered
Publice Accounting Firm
Parent, McLaughlin & Nangle
160 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110-1713
Legal Counsel
Goodwin Procter LLP
Exchange Place
Boston, MA 02109


Massbank Branch Offices d/b/a
Massbank of Reading*
123 Haven Street
Reading, MA 01867
(781) 942-8188
(978) 446-9200
*Main Office
Massbank of Chelmsford
291 Chelmsford Street
Chelmsford, MA 01824
(978) 256-3751
17 North Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
(978) 256-3733
Massbank of Dracut
45 Broadway Road
Dracut, MA 01826
(978) 441-0040
Massbank of Everett
738 Broadway
Everett, MA 02149
(617) 387-5115
Massbank of Lowell
50 Central Street
Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 446-9200
755 Lakeview Avenue
Lowell, MA 01850
(978) 446-9216
Massbank of Medford
53 Locust Street
Medford, MA 02155
(781) 395-4899
Massbank of Melrose
476 Main Street
Melrose, MA 02176
(781) 662-0100

27 Melrose Street
Towers Plaza
Melrose, MA 02176
(781) 662-0165
Massbank of Stoneham
240 Main Street
Stoneham, MA 02180
(781) 662-0177
Massbank of Tewksbury
1800 Main Street
Tewksbury, MA 01876
(978) 851-0300
Massbank of Westford
203 Littleton Road
Westford, MA 01886
(978) 692-3467
Massbank of Wilmington
370 Main Street
Wilmington, MA 01887
(978) 658-4000
219 Lowell Street
Lucci’s Plaza
Wilmington, MA 01887
(978) 658-5775


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