SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Nature of Operations Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. ("Sandy Spring" or, together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), a Maryland corporation, is the bank holding company for Sandy Spring Bank (the “Bank”), which conducts a full-service commercial banking, mortgage banking and trust business. Services to individuals and businesses include accepting deposits, extending credit to buy real estate or equipment, consumer and commercial loans and lines of credit, general insurance, personal trust, and investment and wealth management services. The Company operates in central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the greater Washington D.C. market. The Company offers investment and wealth management services through the Bank’s subsidiaries, West Financial Services ("West Financial") and Rembert Pendleton Jackson ("RPJ"). Insurance products are available to clients through Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation ("Sandy Spring Insurance"), and Neff & Associates, which are agencies of Sandy Spring Insurance. Basis of Presentation The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and prevailing practices within the financial services industry for financial information. The following summary of significant accounting policies of the Company is presented to assist the reader in understanding the financial and other data presented in this report. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of the issuance of its financial statements. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sandy Spring Bank and its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance, West Financial and RPJ. Consolidation has resulted in the elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions. See Note 25 for more information on the Company's segments and consolidation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, in addition to affecting the reported amounts of revenues earned and expenses incurred during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates that could change significantly relate to the provision for credit losses and the related allowance, potential impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, valuation of investment securities and the determination of whether available-for-sale debt securities with fair values less than amortized costs are impaired and require an allowance for credit losses, valuation of other real estate owned, valuation of share based compensation, the assessment that a liability should be recognized with respect to any matters under litigation, the calculation of current and deferred income taxes, and the actuarial projections related to pension expense and the related liability. Assets Under Management Assets held for others under fiduciary and agency relationships are not assets of the Company or its subsidiaries and are not included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Condition. Trust department income and investment management fees are presented on an accrual basis. Cash Flows For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits with banks (items with an original maturity of three months or less). Revenue from Contracts with Customers The Company’s revenue includes net interest income on financial instruments and non-interest income. Specific categories of revenue are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Most of the Company’s revenue is not within the scope of Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 606 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers. For revenue within the scope of ASC 606, the Company provides services to customers and has related performance obligations. The revenue from such services is recognized upon satisfaction of all contractual performance obligations. The following discusses key revenue streams within the scope of revenue recognition guidance. Wealth Management Income West Financial and RPJ provide comprehensive investment management and financial planning services. Wealth management income is comprised of income for providing trust, estate and investment management services. Trust services include acting as a trustee for corporate or personal trusts. Investment management services include investment management, record-keeping and reporting of security portfolios. Fees for these services are recognized based on a contractually-agreed fixed percentage applied to net assets under management at the end of each reporting period. The Company does not charge/recognize any performance-based fees. Insurance Agency Commissions Sandy Spring Insurance, a subsidiary of the Bank, performs the function of an insurance intermediary by introducing the policyholder and insurer and is compensated by a commission fee for placement of an insurance policy. Sandy Spring Insurance does not provide any captive management services or any claim handling services. Commission fees are set as a percentage of the premium for the insurance policy for which Sandy Spring Insurance is a producer. Sandy Spring Insurance recognizes revenue when the insurance policy has been contractually agreed to by the insurer and policyholder (at transaction date). Service Charges on Deposit Accounts Service charges on deposit accounts are earned on depository accounts for consumer and commercial account holders and include fees for account and overdraft services. Account services include fees for event-driven services and periodic account maintenance activities. An obligation for event-driven services is satisfied at the time of the event when service is delivered and revenue recognized as earned. Obligation for maintenance activities is satisfied over the course of each month and revenue is recognized at month end. The overdraft services obligation is satisfied at the time of the overdraft and revenue is recognized as earned. Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale The Company engages in sales of residential mortgage loans originated by the Bank. Loans held for sale are carried at fair value. Fair value is derived from secondary market quotations for similar instruments. The Company measures residential mortgage loans at fair value when the Company first recognizes the loan (i.e., the fair value option). Changes in fair value of these loans are recorded in earnings as a component of mortgage banking activities in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company's current practice is to sell the majority of such loans on a servicing released basis. Any retained servicing assets are amortized in proportion to their net servicing fee income over the life of the respective loans. Servicing assets are evaluated for impairment on a periodic basis. Investments Available-for-Sale Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity or trading are classified as securities available-for-sale. Securities available-for-sale are acquired as part of the Company's asset/liability management strategy and may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, loan demand, changes in prepayment risk or other factors. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses based on the difference between amortized cost and fair value, reported net of deferred tax, as accumulated other comprehensive income/ (loss), a separate component of stockholders' equity. The carrying values of securities available-for-sale are adjusted for premium amortization and discount accretion. Premium is amortized to the earliest call date and discount accreted to the maturity date using the effective interest method. Realized gains and losses on security sales or maturities, using the specific identification method, are included as a separate component of non-interest income. Related interest and dividends are included in interest income. Declines in the fair value of individual available-for-sale securities below their amortized cost due to credit-related factors are recognized as an allowance for credit losses. Credit-related factors affecting the determination of whether impairment has occurred include a downgrading of the security below investment grade by a rating agency or due to potential default, a significant deterioration in the financial condition of the issuer, increase in entity-specific credit spreads. Additionally, on any available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses, the Company evaluates its intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. Equity Securities Equity securities include Federal Reserve Bank stock, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta ("FHLB") stock and other equities that are considered restricted as to marketability and recorded at cost. As these securities do not have readily available market values, they are carried at cost and adjusted for any necessary impairments each reporting period. Loan Financing Receivables The Company’s financing receivables consist primarily of loans that are stated at their principal balance outstanding, net of any unearned income, acquisition fair value marks and deferred loan origination fees and costs. Interest income on loans is accrued at the contractual rate based on the principal balance outstanding. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method. Loans are considered past due or delinquent when the principal or interest due in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement or any portion thereof remains unpaid after the due date of the scheduled payment. Immaterial shortfalls in payment amounts do not necessarily result in a loan being considered delinquent or past due. If any payments are past due and subsequent payments are resumed without payment of the delinquent amount, the loan shall continue to be considered past due. Whenever any loan is reported delinquent on a principal or interest payment or portion thereof, the amount reported as delinquent is the outstanding principal balance of the loan. Loans, except for consumer installment loans, are placed into non-accrual status when any portion of the loan principal or interest becomes 90 days past due. Management may determine that certain circumstances warrant earlier discontinuance of interest accruals on specific loans if an evaluation of other relevant factors (such as bankruptcy, interruption of cash flows, etc.) indicates collection of amounts contractually due is unlikely. These loans are considered, collectively, to be non-performing loans. Consumer installment loans that are not secured by real estate are not placed on non-accrual, but are charged down to their net realizable value when they are four months past due. Loans designated as non-accrual have all previously accrued but unpaid interest reversed. Interest income is not recognized on non-accrual loans. All payments received on non-accrual loans are applied using a cost-recovery method to reduce the outstanding principal balance until the loan returns to accrual status. Loans may be returned to accrual status when all principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured. Loans considered to be TDRs are loans that have their terms restructured (e.g., interest rates, loan maturity date, payment and amortization period, etc.) in circumstances that provide payment relief to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty. All restructured collateral-dependent loans are individually assessed for allowance for credit losses and may either be in accruing or non-accruing status. Non-accruing restructured loans may return to accruing status provided doubt has been removed concerning the collectability of principal and interest as evidenced by a sufficient period of payment performance in accordance with the restructured terms. Loans may be removed from the restructured category if the borrower is no longer experiencing financial difficulty, a re-underwriting event took place, and the revised loan terms of the subsequent restructuring agreement are considered to be consistent with terms that can be obtained in the market for loans with comparable credit risk. Allowance for Credit Losses On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2016-13, Current Expected Credit Losses. The allowance for credit losses (“allowance” or “ACL”) represents an amount which, in management's judgment, reflects the lifetime expected losses that may be sustained on outstanding loans at the balance sheet date based on the evaluation of the size and current risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, past events, current conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions and prepayment experience. The allowance is measured and recorded upon the initial recognition of a financial asset. The allowance is reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries of previous losses, and is increased or decreased by a provision or credit for credit losses, which is recorded as a current period expense. Determination of the appropriateness of the allowance is inherently complex and requires the use of significant and highly subjective estimates. The reasonableness of the allowance is reviewed periodically by the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors and formally approved quarterly by that same committee of the Board. The Company’s methodology for estimating the allowance includes: (1) a collective quantified reserve that reflects the Company’s historical default and loss experience adjusted for expected economic conditions throughout a reasonable and supportable period and the Company’s prepayment and curtailment rates; (2) collective qualitative factors that consider the expected impact of certain factors not fully captured in the collective quantified reserve, including concentrations of the loan portfolio, expected changes to the economic forecasts, large relationships, early delinquencies, and factors related to credit administration, including, among others, loan-to-value ratios, borrowers’ risk rating and credit score migrations; and (3) individual allowances on collateral-dependent loans where borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty or when the Company determines that the foreclosure is probable. The Company excludes accrued interest from the measurement of the allowance as the Company has a non-accrual policy to reverse any accrued, uncollected interest income as loans are moved to non-accrual status. Loans are pooled into segments based on the similar risk characteristics of the underlying borrowers, in addition to consideration of collateral type, industry and business purpose of the loans. Portfolio segments used to estimate the allowance are the same as portfolio segments used for general credit risk management purposes. Refer to Note 5 for more details on the Company’s portfolio segments. The Company applies two calculation methodologies to estimate the collective quantified component of the allowance: discounted cash flows method and weighted average remaining life method. Allowance estimates on commercial acquisition, development and construction (“AD&C”) and residential construction segments are based on the weighted average remaining life method. Allowance estimates on all other portfolio segments are based on the discounted cash flows method. Segments utilizing the discounted cash flows method are further sub-segmented into risk level pools, determined either by risk rating for commercial loans or Beacon Scores ranges for residential and consumer loans. To better manage risk and reasonably determine the sufficiency of reserves, this segregation allows the Company to monitor the allowance component applicable to higher risk loans separate from the remainder of the portfolio. Collective calculation methodologies utilize the Company’s historical default and loss experience adjusted for future economic forecasts. The reasonable and supportable forecast period represents a two-year economic outlook for the applicable economic variables. Following the end of the reasonable and supportable forecast period expected losses revert back to the historical mean over the next two years on a straight-line basis. Economic variables that have the most significant impact on the allowance include: unemployment rate, house price index and business bankruptcies. Contractual loan level cash flows within the discounted cash flows methodology are adjusted for the Company’s historical prepayment and curtailment rate experience. The individual reserve assessment is applied to collateral dependent loans where borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty or when the Company determines that a foreclosure is probable. The determination of the fair value of the collateral depends on whether a repayment of the loan is expected to be from the sale or the operation of the collateral. When a repayment is expected from the operation of the collateral, the Company uses the present value of expected cash flows from the operation of the collateral as the fair value. When the repayment of the loan is expected from the sale of the collateral the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price or the collateral’s appraised value, less estimated costs to sell. Third party appraisals used in the individual reserve assessment are conducted at least annually with underlying assumptions that are reviewed by management. Third party appraisals may be obtained on a more frequent basis if deemed necessary. Internal evaluations of collateral value are conducted quarterly to ensure any further deterioration of the collateral value is recognized on a timely basis. During the individual reserve assessment, management also considers the potential future changes in the value of the collateral over the remainder of the loan’s remaining life. The Company may receive updated appraisals which contradict the preliminary determination of fair value used to establish an individual allowance on a loan. In these instances the individual allowance is adjusted to reflect the Company’s evaluation of the updated appraised fair value. In the event a loss was previously confirmed and the loan was charged down to the estimated fair value based on a previous appraisal, the balance of partially charged-off loans are not subsequently increased, but could be further decreased depending on the direction of the change in fair value. Payments on fully or partially charged-off loans are accounted for under the cost-recovery method. Under this method, all payments received are applied on a cash basis to reduce the entire outstanding principal balance, then to recognize a recovery of all previously charged-off amounts before any interest income may be recognized. Based on the individual reserve assessment, if the Company determines that the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the loan, an individual allowance will be established measured as the difference between the fair value of the collateral (less costs to sell) and the amortized cost basis of the loan. Once a loss has been confirmed, the loan is charged-down to its estimated fair value. Large groups of smaller non-accrual homogeneous loans are not individually evaluated for allowance and include residential permanent and construction mortgages and consumer installment loans. These portfolios are reserved for on a collective basis using historical loss rates of similar loans over the weighted average life of each pool. The Company reviews its unfunded commitments to determine if they are unconditionally cancellable by the Company. If the unfunded commitment is determined to not be unconditionally cancellable by the Company, a reserve for unfunded commitments is established. The reserve for unfunded commitments considers both the likelihood that the funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses over the life of the commitment. Management believes it uses relevant information available to make determinations about the allowance and that it has established the existing allowance in accordance with GAAP. However, the determination of the allowance requires significant judgment, and estimates of expected lifetime losses in the loan portfolio can vary significantly from the amounts actually observed. While management uses available information to recognize expected losses, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in the loans comprising the portfolio, changes in the current and forecasted economic conditions, changes to the interest rate environment which may directly impact prepayment and curtailment rate assumptions, and changes in the financial condition of borrowers. Acquired Loans Loans acquired in connection with acquisitions are recorded at their acquisition-date fair value. The allowance for credit losses related to the acquired loan portfolio is not carried over. Acquired loans are classified into two categories based on the credit risk characteristics of the underlying borrowers as either purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans, or loans with no evidence of credit deterioration (“non-PCD”). PCD loans are defined as a loan or pool of loans that have experienced more-than-insignificant credit deterioration since the origination date. The Company uses a combination of individual and pooled review approaches to determine if acquired loans are PCD. At acquisition, the Company considers a number of factors to determine if an acquired loan or pool of loans has experienced more-than-insignificant credit deterioration. These factors include: •loans classified as non-accrual, •loans with risk rating of special mention or worse (using the Company's risk rating scale), •loans with multiple risk rating downgrades since origination, •loans with evidence of being 60 days or more past due, •loans previously modified in a troubled debt restructuring, •loans that received an interest only or payment deferral modification, and •loans in industries that show evidence of additional risk due to economic conditions. The initial allowance related to PCD loans that share similar risk characteristics is established using a pooled approach. The Company uses either a discounted cash flow or weighted average remaining life method to determine the required level of the allowance. PCD loans that were classified as non-accrual as of the acquisition date and are collateral dependent are assessed for allowance on an individual basis. For PCD loans, an initial allowance is established on the acquisition date and added to the fair value of the loan to arrive at acquisition date amortized cost. Accordingly, no provision for credit losses is recognized on PCD loans at the acquisition date. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the initial allowance on PCD loans will increase or decrease based on future evaluations, with changes recognized in the provision for credit losses. Non-PCD loans are pooled into segments together with originated loans that share similar risk characteristics and have an allowance established on the acquisition date, which is recognized in the current period provision for credit losses. Determining the fair value of the acquired loans involves estimating the principal and interest payment cash flows expected to be collected on the loans and discounting those cash flows at a market rate of interest. Management considers a number of factors in evaluating the acquisition-date fair value including the remaining life, interest rate profile, market interest rate environment, payment schedules, risk ratings, probability of default and loss given default, and estimated prepayment rates. For PCD loans, the non-credit discount or premium is allocated to individual loans as determined by the difference between the loan’s unpaid principal balance and amortized cost basis. The non-credit premium or discount is recognized into interest income on a level yield basis over the remaining expected life of the loan. For non-PCD loans, the fair value discount or premium is allocated to individual loans and recognized into interest income on a level yield basis over the remaining expected life of the loan. Premises and Equipment Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization, computed using the straight-line method. Premises and equipment are depreciated over the useful lives of the assets, which generally range from 3 to 10 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment, 3 to 5 years for computer software and hardware, and 10 to 40 years for buildings and building improvements. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. The costs of major renewals and betterments are capitalized, while the costs of ordinary maintenance and repairs are included in non-interest expense. Leases The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. All of the Company’s leases are currently classified as operating leases and are included in other assets and other liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition. Periodic operating lease costs are recorded in occupancy expenses of premises on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease arrangements. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the expected future lease payments over the remaining lease term. In determining the present value of future lease payments, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. The operating ROU assets are adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, initial direct costs, any lease incentives received and, for acquired leases, any favorable or unfavorable fair value adjustments. The present value of the lease liability may include the impact of options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options provided in the lease terms. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. Lease agreements that include lease and non-lease components, such as common area maintenance charges, are accounted for separately. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Impairment testing requires that the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units be compared to the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets, including goodwill. The Company’s reporting units were identified based upon an analysis of each of its individual operating segments. If the fair values of the reporting units exceed their book values, no write-down of recorded goodwill is required. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than book value, an expense may be required to write-down the related goodwill to the proper carrying value. Any impairment would be realized through a reduction of goodwill or the intangible and an offsetting charge to non-interest expense. Annually, the Company performs an impairment test of goodwill as of October 1 of each year. During the year, any triggering event that occurs may affect goodwill and could require an impairment assessment. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit requires the Company to use a degree of subjectivity. The Company's annual impairment test of goodwill and other intangible assets did not identify any impairment. Additionally, the Company determined that there were no triggering events and as a result no evidence of impairment between the annual impairment test and December 31, 2021. Accounting guidance provides the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Company assesses qualitative factors on a quarterly basis. Based on the assessment of these qualitative factors, if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is not less than the carrying value, then performing the impairment process is not necessary. However, if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the carrying value exceeds the fair value a quantified analysis is required to determine whether an impairment exists. Other intangible assets represent purchased assets that lack physical substance but can be distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights or because the asset is capable of being sold or exchanged either on its own or in combination with a related contract, asset, or liability. Other intangible assets have finite lives and are reviewed for impairment annually. These assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives either on a straight-line or sum-of-the-years basis over varying periods that initially did not exceed 15 years. Other Real Estate Owned OREO is comprised of properties acquired in partial or total satisfaction of problem loans. The properties are recorded at fair value less estimated costs of disposal, on the date acquired or on the date that the Company acquires effective control over the property. Gains or losses arising at the time of acquisition of such properties are charged against the allowance for credit losses. During the holding period OREO continues to be measured at lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs of disposal, and any subsequent declines in value are expensed as incurred. Gains and losses realized from the sale of OREO, as well as valuation adjustments and expenses of operation are included in non-interest expense. Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative Loan Commitments Mortgage loan commitments are derivative loan commitments if the loan that will result from exercise of the commitment will be held for sale upon funding. Derivative loan commitments are recognized at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Condition in other assets or other liabilities with changes in their fair values recorded as a component of mortgage banking activities in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Mortgage loan commitments are issued to borrowers. Subsequent to commitment date, changes in the fair value of the loan commitment are recognized based on changes in the fair value of the underlying mortgage loan due to interest rate changes, changes in the probability the derivative loan commitment will be exercised, and the passage of time. In estimating fair value, a probability is assigned to a loan commitment based on an expectation that it will be exercised and the loan will be funded. Forward Loan Sale Commitments Loan sales agreements are evaluated to determine whether they meet the definition of a derivative as facts and circumstances may differ significantly. If agreements qualify, to protect against the price risk inherent in derivative loan commitments, the Company utilizes both “mandatory delivery” and “best efforts” forward loan sale commitments to mitigate the risk of potential decreases in the values of loans that would result from the exercise of the derivative loan commitments. Mandatory delivery contracts are accounted for as derivative instruments. Generally, best efforts contracts also meet the definition of derivative instruments after the loan to the borrower has closed. Accordingly, forward loan sale commitments that economically hedge the closed loan inventory are recognized at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Condition in other assets or other liabilities with changes in their fair values recorded as a component of mortgage banking activities in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company estimates the fair value of its forward loan sales commitments using a methodology similar to that used for derivative loan commitments. Interest Rate Swap Agreements The Company enters into interest rate swaps (“swaps”) with commercial loan customers to provide a facility to mitigate the fluctuations in the variable rate on the respective loans. These swaps are matched in exact offsetting terms to swaps that the Company enters into with an outside third party. The swaps are reported at fair value in other assets or other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. The Company's swaps qualify as derivatives, but are not designated as hedging instruments, thus any net gain or loss resulting from changes in the fair value is recognized in other non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Further discussion of the Company's financial derivatives is set forth in Note 19. Off-Balance Sheet Credit Risk The Company issues financial or standby letters of credit that represent conditional commitments to fund transactions by the Company, typically to guarantee performance of a customer to a third-party related to borrowing arrangements. The credit risk associated with issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as occurs when extending loan facilities to borrowers. The Company monitors the exposure to the letters of credit as part of its credit review process. Extensions of letters of credit, if any, would become part of the loan balance outstanding and would be evaluated in accordance with the Company’s credit policies. Potential exposure to loss for unfunded letters of credit if deemed necessary would be recorded in other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. In the ordinary course of business the Company originates and sells whole loans to a variety of investors. Mortgage loans sold are subject to representations and warranties made to the third-party purchasers regarding certain attributes. Subsequent to the sale, if a material underwriting deficiency or documentation defect is determined, the Company may be obligated to repurchase the mortgage loan or reimburse the investor for losses incurred if the deficiency or defect cannot be rectified within a specific period subsequent to discovery. The Company monitors the activity regarding the requirement to repurchase loans and the associated losses incurred. This information is applied to determine an estimated recourse reserve that is recorded in other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. Valuation of Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews long-lived assets, including leases, and certain identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the cost or the fair value, less costs to sell. Transfers of Financial Assets Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right or from providing more than a trivial benefit to the transferor) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through any agreement to repurchase or redeem them before their maturity or likely cause a holder to return those assets whether through unilateral ability or a price so favorable to the transferee that it is probable that the transferee will require the transferor to repurchase them. A participating interest must be in an entire financial asset and cannot represent an interest in a group of financial assets. Except for compensation paid for services performed, all cash flows from the asset are allocated to the participating interest holders in proportion to their share of ownership. Financial assets obtained or liabilities incurred in a sale are recognized and initially measured at fair value. Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included as marketing expense in non-interest expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Net Income per Common Share The Company calculates earnings per common share under the two class method, which provides that unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the dual class method. The Company has determined that its outstanding non-vested restricted stock awards are participating securities. Under the two class method, basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the applicable period, which excludes outstanding participating securities. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares determined for the basic earnings per common share computation plus the dilutive effect of incremental stock options and restricted stock. Income Taxes Income tax expense is based on the results of operations, adjusted for permanent differences between items of income or expense reported in the financial statements and those reported for tax purposes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability method. Under the liability method, deferred income taxes are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the income tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured at the enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences reverse. The effects of the enactment of the new tax law are accounted for under the existing authoritative guidance. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties on income taxes in other non-interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In December 2019, FASB released ASU 2019-12 - Income Taxes (Topic 740), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing multiple exceptions to the general principals in Topic 740. The standard was effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this standard during the current year and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Pending Accounting Pronouncements In March 2020, FASB released Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04 - Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), which provides optional guidance to ease the accounting burden in accounting for, or recognizing the effects from, reference rate reform on financial reporting. The new standard is a result of LIBOR likely being discontinued as an available benchmark rate. The standard is elective and provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, or other transactions that reference LIBOR, or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. The amendments in the update are effective for all entities between March 12, 2020 and December 31, 2022, and can be adopted at any time during this period. The Company has not yet fully adopted this standard. A cross-functional working group has been established to guide the Company’s transition from LIBOR to alternative reference rates. The Company has identified its products that are either directly or indirectly influenced by LIBOR and has implemented enhanced fallback language to facilitate the transition to alternative reference rates. The Company is evaluating existing platforms and systems and preparing to offer new rates. The Company stopped originating any new loans referencing LIBOR during 2021. Currently, the Company does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. ("Sandy Spring" or, together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), a Maryland corporation, is the bank holding company for Sandy Spring Bank (the “Bank”), which conducts a full-service commercial banking, mortgage banking and trust business. Services to individuals and businesses include accepting deposits, extending credit to buy real estate or equipment, consumer and commercial loans and lines of credit, general insurance, personal trust, and investment and wealth management services. The Company operates in central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the greater Washington D.C. market. The Company offers investment and wealth management services through the Bank’s subsidiaries, West Financial Services ("West Financial") and Rembert Pendleton Jackson ("RPJ"). Insurance products are available to clients through Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation ("Sandy Spring Insurance"), and Neff & Associates, which are agencies of Sandy Spring Insurance.

Basis of Presentation

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and prevailing practices within the financial services industry for financial information. The following summary of significant accounting policies of the Company is presented to assist the reader in understanding the financial and other data presented in this report. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of the issuance of its financial statements.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sandy Spring Bank and its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance, West Financial and RPJ. Consolidation has resulted in the elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions. See Note 25 for more information on the Company's segments and consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, in addition to affecting the reported amounts of revenues earned and expenses incurred during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates that could change significantly relate to the provision for credit losses and the related allowance, potential impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, valuation of investment securities and the determination of whether available-for-sale debt securities with fair values less than amortized costs are impaired and require an allowance for credit losses, valuation of other real estate owned, valuation of share based compensation, the assessment that a liability should be recognized with respect to any matters under litigation, the calculation of current and deferred income taxes, and the actuarial projections related to pension expense and the related liability.

Assets Under Management

Assets held for others under fiduciary and agency relationships are not assets of the Company or its subsidiaries and are not included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Condition. Trust department income and investment management fees are presented on an accrual basis.

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits with banks (items with an original maturity of three months or less).

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company’s revenue includes net interest income on financial instruments and non-interest income. Specific categories of revenue are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Most of the Company’s revenue is not within the scope of Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 606 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers. For revenue within the scope of ASC 606, the Company provides services to customers and has related performance obligations. The revenue from such services is recognized upon satisfaction of all contractual performance obligations. The following discusses key revenue streams within the scope of revenue recognition guidance.

Wealth Management Income

West Financial and RPJ provide comprehensive investment management and financial planning services. Wealth management income is comprised of income for providing trust, estate and investment management services. Trust services include acting as a trustee for corporate or personal trusts. Investment management services include investment management, record-keeping and reporting of security portfolios. Fees for these services are recognized based on a contractually-agreed fixed percentage applied to net assets under management at the end of each reporting period. The Company does not charge/recognize any performance-based fees.

Insurance Agency Commissions

Sandy Spring Insurance, a subsidiary of the Bank, performs the function of an insurance intermediary by introducing the policyholder and insurer and is compensated by a commission fee for placement of an insurance policy. Sandy Spring Insurance does not provide any captive management services or any claim handling services. Commission fees are set as a percentage of the premium for the insurance policy for which Sandy Spring Insurance is a producer. Sandy Spring Insurance recognizes revenue when the insurance policy has been contractually agreed to by the insurer and policyholder (at transaction date).

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts

Service charges on deposit accounts are earned on depository accounts for consumer and commercial account holders and include fees for account and overdraft services. Account services include fees for event-driven services and periodic account maintenance activities. An obligation for event-driven services is satisfied at the time of the event when service is delivered and revenue recognized as earned. Obligation for maintenance activities is satisfied over the course of each month and revenue is recognized at month end. The overdraft services obligation is satisfied at the time of the overdraft and revenue is recognized as earned.

Residential Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

The Company engages in sales of residential mortgage loans originated by the Bank. Loans held for sale are carried at fair value. Fair value is derived from secondary market quotations for similar instruments. The Company measures residential mortgage loans at fair value when the Company first recognizes the loan (i.e., the fair value option). Changes in fair value of these loans are recorded in earnings as a component of mortgage banking activities in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company's current practice is to sell the majority of such loans on a servicing released basis. Any retained servicing assets are amortized in proportion to their net servicing fee income over the life of the respective loans. Servicing assets are evaluated for impairment on a periodic basis.

Investments Available-for-Sale

Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity or trading are classified as securities available-for-sale. Securities available-for-sale are acquired as part of the Company's asset/liability management strategy and may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, loan demand, changes in prepayment risk or other factors. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses based on the difference between amortized cost and fair value, reported net of deferred tax, as accumulated other comprehensive income/ (loss), a separate component of stockholders' equity. The carrying values of securities available-for-sale are adjusted for premium amortization and discount accretion. Premium is amortized to the earliest call date and discount accreted to the maturity date using the effective interest method. Realized gains and losses on security sales or maturities, using the specific identification method, are included as a separate component of non-interest income. Related interest and dividends are included in interest income. Declines in the fair value of individual available-for-sale securities below their amortized cost due to credit-related factors are recognized as an allowance for credit losses. Credit-related factors affecting the determination of whether impairment has occurred include a downgrading of the security below investment grade by a rating agency or due to potential default, a significant deterioration in the financial condition of the issuer, increase in entity-specific credit spreads. Additionally, on any available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses, the Company evaluates its intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

Equity securities include Federal Reserve Bank stock, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta ("FHLB") stock and other equities that are considered restricted as to marketability and recorded at cost. As these securities do not have readily available market values, they are carried at cost and adjusted for any necessary impairments each reporting period.

Loan Financing Receivables

The Company’s financing receivables consist primarily of loans that are stated at their principal balance outstanding, net of any unearned income, acquisition fair value marks and deferred loan origination fees and costs. Interest income on loans is accrued at the contractual rate based on the principal balance outstanding. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method.

Loans are considered past due or delinquent when the principal or interest due in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement or any portion thereof remains unpaid after the due date of the scheduled payment. Immaterial shortfalls in payment amounts do not necessarily result in a loan being considered delinquent or past due. If any payments are past due and subsequent payments are resumed without payment of the delinquent amount, the loan shall continue to be considered past due. Whenever any loan is reported delinquent on a principal or interest payment or portion thereof, the amount reported as delinquent is the outstanding principal balance of the loan.

Loans, except for consumer installment loans, are placed into non-accrual status when any portion of the loan principal or interest becomes 90 days past due. Management may determine that certain circumstances warrant earlier discontinuance of interest accruals on specific loans if an evaluation of other relevant factors (such as bankruptcy, interruption of cash flows, etc.) indicates collection of amounts contractually due is unlikely. These loans are considered, collectively, to be non-performing loans. Consumer installment loans that are not secured by real estate are not placed on non-accrual, but are charged down to their net realizable value when they are four months past due. Loans designated as non-accrual have all previously accrued but unpaid interest reversed. Interest income is not recognized on non-accrual loans. All payments received on non-accrual loans are applied using a cost-recovery method to reduce the outstanding principal balance until the loan returns to accrual status. Loans may be returned to accrual status when all principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

Loans considered to be TDRs are loans that have their terms restructured (e.g., interest rates, loan maturity date, payment and amortization period, etc.) in circumstances that provide payment relief to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty. All restructured collateral-dependent loans are individually assessed for allowance for credit losses and may either be in accruing or non-accruing status. Non-accruing restructured loans may return to accruing status provided doubt has been removed concerning the collectability of principal and interest as evidenced by a sufficient period of payment performance in accordance with the restructured terms. Loans may be removed from the restructured category if the borrower is no longer experiencing financial difficulty, a re-underwriting event took place, and the revised loan terms of the subsequent restructuring agreement are considered to be consistent with terms that can be obtained in the market for loans with comparable credit risk.

Allowance for Credit Losses

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2016-13, Current Expected Credit Losses. The allowance for credit losses (“allowance” or “ACL”) represents an amount which, in management's judgment, reflects the lifetime expected losses that may be sustained on outstanding loans at the balance sheet date based on the evaluation of the size and current risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, past events, current conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions and prepayment experience. The allowance is measured and recorded upon the initial recognition of a financial asset. The allowance is reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries of previous losses, and is increased or decreased by a provision or credit for credit losses, which is recorded as a current period expense.

Determination of the appropriateness of the allowance is inherently complex and requires the use of significant and highly subjective estimates. The reasonableness of the allowance is reviewed periodically by the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors and formally approved quarterly by that same committee of the Board.

The Company’s methodology for estimating the allowance includes: (1) a collective quantified reserve that reflects the Company’s historical default and loss experience adjusted for expected economic conditions throughout a reasonable and supportable period and the Company’s prepayment and curtailment rates; (2) collective qualitative factors that consider the expected impact of certain factors not fully captured in the collective quantified reserve, including concentrations of the loan portfolio, expected changes to the economic forecasts, large relationships, early delinquencies, and factors related to credit administration, including, among others, loan-to-value ratios, borrowers’ risk rating and credit score migrations; and (3) individual allowances on collateral-dependent loans where borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty or when the Company determines that the foreclosure is probable. The Company excludes accrued interest from the measurement of the allowance as the Company has a non-accrual policy to reverse any accrued, uncollected interest income as loans are moved to non-accrual status.

Loans are pooled into segments based on the similar risk characteristics of the underlying borrowers, in addition to consideration of collateral type, industry and business purpose of the loans. Portfolio segments used to estimate the allowance are the same as portfolio segments used for general credit risk management purposes. Refer to Note 5 for more details on the Company’s portfolio segments.

The Company applies two calculation methodologies to estimate the collective quantified component of the allowance: discounted cash flows method and weighted average remaining life method. Allowance estimates on commercial acquisition, development and construction (“AD&C”) and residential construction segments are based on the weighted average remaining life method. Allowance estimates on all other portfolio segments are based on the discounted cash flows method. Segments utilizing the discounted cash flows method are further sub-segmented into risk level pools, determined either by risk rating for commercial loans or Beacon Scores ranges for residential and consumer loans. To better manage risk and reasonably determine the sufficiency of reserves, this segregation allows the Company to monitor the allowance component applicable to higher risk loans separate from the remainder of the portfolio. Collective calculation methodologies utilize the Company’s historical default and loss experience adjusted for future economic forecasts. The reasonable and supportable forecast period represents a two-year economic outlook for the applicable economic variables. Following the end of the reasonable and supportable forecast period expected losses revert back to the historical mean over the next two years on a straight-line basis. Economic variables that have the most significant impact on the allowance include: unemployment rate, house price index and business bankruptcies. Contractual loan level cash flows within the discounted cash flows methodology are adjusted for the Company’s historical prepayment and curtailment rate experience.

The individual reserve assessment is applied to collateral dependent loans where borrowers are experiencing financial difficulty or when the Company determines that a foreclosure is probable. The determination of the fair value of the collateral depends on whether a repayment of the loan is expected to be from the sale or the operation of the collateral. When a repayment is expected from the operation of the collateral, the Company uses the present value of expected cash flows from the operation of the collateral as the fair value. When the repayment of the loan is expected from the sale of the collateral the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price or the collateral’s appraised value, less estimated costs to sell. Third party appraisals used in the individual reserve assessment are conducted at least annually with underlying assumptions that are reviewed by management. Third party appraisals may be obtained on a more frequent basis if deemed necessary. Internal evaluations of collateral value are conducted quarterly to ensure any further deterioration of the collateral value is recognized on a timely basis. During the individual reserve assessment, management also considers the potential future changes in the value of the collateral over the remainder of the loan’s remaining life. The Company may receive updated appraisals which contradict the preliminary determination of fair value used to establish an individual allowance on a loan. In these instances the individual allowance is adjusted to reflect the Company’s evaluation of the updated appraised fair value. In the event a loss was previously confirmed and the loan was charged down to the estimated fair value based on a previous appraisal, the balance of partially charged-off loans are not subsequently increased, but could be further decreased depending on the direction of the change in fair value. Payments on fully or partially charged-off loans are accounted for under the cost-recovery method. Under this method, all payments received are applied on a cash basis to reduce the entire outstanding principal balance, then to recognize a recovery of all previously charged-off amounts before any interest income may be recognized. Based on the individual reserve assessment, if the Company determines that the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the loan, an individual allowance will be established measured as the difference between the fair value of the collateral

(less costs to sell) and the amortized cost basis of the loan. Once a loss has been confirmed, the loan is charged-down to its estimated fair value.

Large groups of smaller non-accrual homogeneous loans are not individually evaluated for allowance and include residential permanent and construction mortgages and consumer installment loans. These portfolios are reserved for on a collective basis using historical loss rates of similar loans over the weighted average life of each pool.

The Company reviews its unfunded commitments to determine if they are unconditionally cancellable by the Company. If the unfunded commitment is determined to not be unconditionally cancellable by the Company, a reserve for unfunded commitments is established. The reserve for unfunded commitments considers both the likelihood that the funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses over the life of the commitment.

Management believes it uses relevant information available to make determinations about the allowance and that it has established the existing allowance in accordance with GAAP. However, the determination of the allowance requires significant judgment, and estimates of expected lifetime losses in the loan portfolio can vary significantly from the amounts actually observed. While management uses available information to recognize expected losses, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on

changes in the loans comprising the portfolio, changes in the current and forecasted economic conditions, changes to the interest rate environment which may directly impact prepayment and curtailment rate assumptions, and changes in the financial condition of borrowers.

Loans acquired in connection with acquisitions are recorded at their acquisition-date fair value. The allowance for credit losses related to the acquired loan portfolio is not carried over. Acquired loans are classified into two categories based on the credit risk characteristics of the underlying borrowers as either purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) loans, or loans with no evidence of credit deterioration (“non-PCD”).

PCD loans are defined as a loan or pool of loans that have experienced more-than-insignificant credit deterioration since the origination date. The Company uses a combination of individual and pooled review approaches to determine if acquired loans are PCD. At acquisition, the Company considers a number of factors to determine if an acquired loan or pool of loans has experienced more-than-insignificant credit deterioration. These factors include:

•loans classified as non-accrual,

•loans with risk rating of special mention or worse (using the Company's risk rating scale),

•loans with multiple risk rating downgrades since origination,

•loans with evidence of being 60 days or more past due,

•loans previously modified in a troubled debt restructuring,

•loans that received an interest only or payment deferral modification, and

•loans in industries that show evidence of additional risk due to economic conditions.

The initial allowance related to PCD loans that share similar risk characteristics is established using a pooled approach. The Company uses either a discounted cash flow or weighted average remaining life method to determine the required level of the allowance. PCD loans that were classified as non-accrual as of the acquisition date and are collateral dependent are assessed for allowance on an individual basis.

For PCD loans, an initial allowance is established on the acquisition date and added to the fair value of the loan to arrive at acquisition date amortized cost. Accordingly, no provision for credit losses is recognized on PCD loans at the acquisition date. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the initial allowance on PCD loans will increase or decrease based on future evaluations, with changes recognized in the provision for credit losses.

Non-PCD loans are pooled into segments together with originated loans that share similar risk characteristics and have an allowance established on the acquisition date, which is recognized in the current period provision for credit losses.

Determining the fair value of the acquired loans involves estimating the principal and interest payment cash flows expected to be collected on the loans and discounting those cash flows at a market rate of interest. Management considers a number of factors in evaluating the acquisition-date fair value including the remaining life, interest rate profile, market interest rate environment, payment schedules, risk ratings, probability of default and loss given default, and estimated prepayment rates. For PCD loans, the non-credit discount or premium is allocated to individual loans as determined by the difference between the loan’s unpaid principal balance and amortized cost basis. The non-credit premium or discount is recognized into interest income on a level yield basis over the remaining expected life of the loan. For non-PCD loans, the fair value discount or premium is allocated to individual loans and recognized into interest income on a level yield basis over the remaining expected life of the loan.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization, computed using the straight-line method. Premises and equipment are depreciated over the useful lives of the assets, which generally range from 3 to 10 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment, 3 to 5 years for computer software and hardware, and 10 to 40 years for buildings and building improvements. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. The costs of major renewals and betterments are capitalized, while the costs of ordinary maintenance and repairs are included in non-interest expense.

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. All of the Company’s leases are currently classified as operating leases and are included in other assets and other liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Condition. Periodic operating lease costs are recorded in occupancy expenses of premises on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.

Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease arrangements. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the expected future lease payments over the remaining lease term. In determining the present value of future lease payments, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. The operating ROU assets are adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, initial direct costs, any lease incentives received and, for acquired leases, any favorable or unfavorable fair value adjustments. The present value of the lease liability may include the impact of options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options provided in the lease terms. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. Lease agreements that include lease and non-lease components, such as common area maintenance charges, are accounted for separately.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Impairment testing requires that the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units be compared to the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets, including goodwill. The Company’s reporting units were identified based upon an analysis of each of its individual operating segments. If the fair values of the reporting units exceed their book values, no write-down of recorded goodwill is required. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than book value, an expense may be required to write-down the related goodwill to the proper carrying value. Any impairment would be realized through a reduction of goodwill or the intangible and an offsetting charge to non-interest expense. Annually, the Company performs an impairment test of goodwill as of October 1 of each year. During the year, any triggering event that occurs may affect goodwill and could require an impairment assessment. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit requires the Company to use a degree of subjectivity. The Company's annual impairment test of goodwill and other intangible assets did not identify any impairment. Additionally, the Company determined that there were no triggering events and as a result no evidence of impairment between the annual impairment test and December 31, 2021.

Accounting guidance provides the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Company assesses qualitative factors on a quarterly basis. Based on the assessment of these qualitative factors, if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is not less than the carrying value, then performing the impairment process is not necessary. However, if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the carrying value exceeds the fair value a quantified analysis is required to determine whether an impairment exists.

Other intangible assets represent purchased assets that lack physical substance but can be distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights or because the asset is capable of being sold or exchanged either on its own or in combination with a related contract, asset, or liability. Other intangible assets have finite lives and are reviewed for impairment annually. These assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives either on a straight-line or sum-of-the-years basis over varying periods that initially did not exceed 15 years.

Other Real Estate Owned

OREO is comprised of properties acquired in partial or total satisfaction of problem loans. The properties are recorded at fair value less estimated costs of disposal, on the date acquired or on the date that the Company acquires effective control over the property. Gains or losses arising at the time of acquisition of such properties are charged against the allowance for credit losses. During the holding period OREO continues to be measured at lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs of disposal, and any subsequent declines in value are expensed as incurred. Gains and losses realized from the sale of OREO, as well as valuation adjustments and expenses of operation are included in non-interest expense.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Loan Commitments

Mortgage loan commitments are derivative loan commitments if the loan that will result from exercise of the commitment will be held for sale upon funding. Derivative loan commitments are recognized at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Condition in other assets or other liabilities with changes in their fair values recorded as a component of mortgage banking activities in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Mortgage loan commitments are issued to borrowers. Subsequent to commitment date, changes in the fair value of the loan commitment are recognized based on changes in the fair value of the underlying mortgage loan due to interest rate changes, changes in the probability the derivative loan commitment will be exercised, and the passage of time. In estimating fair value, a probability is assigned to a loan commitment based on an expectation that it will be exercised and the loan will be funded.

Forward Loan Sale Commitments

Loan sales agreements are evaluated to determine whether they meet the definition of a derivative as facts and circumstances may differ significantly. If agreements qualify, to protect against the price risk inherent in derivative loan commitments, the Company utilizes both “mandatory delivery” and “best efforts” forward loan sale commitments to mitigate the risk of potential decreases in the values of loans that would result from the exercise of the derivative loan commitments. Mandatory delivery contracts are accounted for as derivative instruments. Generally, best efforts contracts also meet the definition of derivative instruments after the loan to the borrower has closed. Accordingly, forward loan sale commitments that economically hedge the closed loan inventory are recognized at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Condition in other assets or other liabilities with changes in their fair values recorded as a component of mortgage banking activities in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company estimates the fair value of its forward loan sales commitments using a methodology similar to that used for derivative loan commitments.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

The Company enters into interest rate swaps (“swaps”) with commercial loan customers to provide a facility to mitigate the fluctuations in the variable rate on the respective loans. These swaps are matched in exact offsetting terms to swaps that the Company enters into with an outside third party. The swaps are reported at fair value in other assets or other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Condition. The Company's swaps qualify as derivatives, but are not designated as hedging instruments, thus any net gain or loss resulting from changes in the fair value is recognized in other non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Further discussion of the Company's financial derivatives is set forth in Note 19.

Off-Balance Sheet Credit Risk

The Company issues financial or standby letters of credit that represent conditional commitments to fund transactions by the Company, typically to guarantee performance of a customer to a third-party related to borrowing arrangements. The credit risk associated with issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as occurs when extending loan facilities to borrowers. The Company monitors the exposure to the letters of credit as part of its credit review process. Extensions of letters of credit, if any, would become part of the loan balance outstanding and would be evaluated in accordance with the Company’s credit policies. Potential exposure to loss for unfunded letters of credit if deemed necessary would be recorded in other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Condition.

In the ordinary course of business the Company originates and sells whole loans to a variety of investors. Mortgage loans sold are subject to representations and warranties made to the third-party purchasers regarding certain attributes. Subsequent to the sale, if a material underwriting deficiency or documentation defect is determined, the Company may be obligated to repurchase the mortgage loan or reimburse the investor for losses incurred if the deficiency or defect cannot be rectified within a specific period subsequent to discovery. The Company monitors the activity regarding the requirement to repurchase loans and the associated losses incurred. This information is applied to determine an estimated recourse reserve that is recorded in other liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Condition.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets, including leases, and certain identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets

exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the cost or the fair value, less costs to sell.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right or from providing more than a trivial benefit to the transferor) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through any agreement to repurchase or redeem them before their maturity or likely cause a holder to return those assets whether through unilateral ability or a price so favorable to the transferee that it is probable that the transferee will require the transferor to repurchase them. A participating interest must be in an entire financial asset and cannot represent an interest in a group of financial assets. Except for compensation paid for services performed, all cash flows from the asset are allocated to the participating interest holders in proportion to their share of ownership. Financial assets obtained or liabilities incurred in a sale are recognized and initially measured at fair value.

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included as marketing expense in non-interest expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Net Income per Common Share

The Company calculates earnings per common share under the two class method, which provides that unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the dual class method. The Company has determined that its outstanding non-vested restricted stock awards are participating securities.

Under the two class method, basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the applicable period, which excludes outstanding participating securities. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares determined for the basic earnings per common share computation plus the dilutive effect of incremental stock options and restricted stock.

Income tax expense is based on the results of operations, adjusted for permanent differences between items of income or expense reported in the financial statements and those reported for tax purposes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability method. Under the liability method, deferred income taxes are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the income tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured at the enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences reverse. The effects of the enactment of the new tax law are accounted for under the existing authoritative guidance.

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties on income taxes in other non-interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, FASB released ASU 2019-12 - Income Taxes (Topic 740), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing multiple exceptions to the general principals in Topic 740. The standard was effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this standard during the current year and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Pending Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, FASB released Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04 - Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), which provides optional guidance to ease the accounting burden in accounting for, or recognizing the effects from, reference rate reform on financial reporting. The new standard is a result of LIBOR likely being discontinued as an available benchmark rate. The standard is elective and provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, or other transactions that reference LIBOR, or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. The amendments in the update are effective for all entities between March 12, 2020 and December 31, 2022, and can be adopted at any time during this period. The Company has not yet fully