Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The Company’s accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and prevailing practices in the banking industry. The consolidated financial statements include all accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and eliminate all intercompany balances and transactions. The Company operates in one business segment, Community Banking, which consists of all operations, including commercial and consumer banking, lending activities, and wealth management. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for other interim periods or for the full year. In management’s opinion, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all necessary adjustments, including normal recurring accruals, and disclosures for a fair presentation.

These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 Form 10-K”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 2, 2021. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements.

Reclassification, Comparability Adjustment [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

Certain amounts reported in prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position, or net cash flow.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

Preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that require the most subjective or complex judgments relate to fair value measurements, investment securities, the allowance for loan losses, goodwill and other intangible assets, and income taxes. A discussion of the Company’s application of critical accounting estimates is included in “Critical Accounting Estimates” in Item 2 of this report.

Credit Loss, Financial Instrument [Policy Text Block]

ACL – Investment Securities

The Company uses a systematic methodology to determine its ACL for investment securities held-to-maturity.  The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the held-to-maturity portfolio.  The Company considers the effects of past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts on the collectability of the loan portfolio.  The Company’s estimate of its ACL involves a high degree of judgement; therefore the the process for determining expected credit losses may result in a range of expected credit losses.  The Company  monitors the held-to-maturity portfolio to determine if a valuation account is necessary.  The Company currently has no held-to-maturity investment securities.

The Company excludes the accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis in measuring expected credit losses on the investment securities.  Nor does the Company record an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable.  As of March 31, 2021, the accrued interest receivable for investment securities available for sale was $406 thousand.

The Company’s estimate of expected credit losses includes a measure of the expected risk of credit loss even if that risk is remote.  The Company does not measure expected credit losses on an investment security in which historical credit loss information adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecast results in an expectation that nonpayment of the amortized cost basis is zero.  Nonpayment of the amortized cost basis is not expected to be zero solely on the basis of the current value of collateral securing the security but, also considers the nature of the collateral, potential future changes in collateral values, default rates, delinquency rates, third-party guarantees, credit ratings, interest rate change since purchase, volatility of the security’s fair value and historical loss information for financial assets securitized with similar collateral. The Company performed an analysis that determined that the following securities have a zero expected credit loss:  U.S. Treasury Securities, Agency-Backed Securities including Ginnie Mae Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), Federal Farm Credit Banks (“FFCB”) and Small Business Administration (“SBA”).  All of the U.S. Treasury and Agency-Backed Securities have the full faith and credit backing of the United States Government or one of its agencies.  These securities are included in Government-Sponsored Entities Debt and Mortgage-Backed Securities line items in the Investment Securities footnote.  Municipal securities and all other securities that do not have a zero expected credit loss will be evaluated quarterly to determine whether there is a credit loss associated with a decline in fair value.

The Company no longer evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”), as ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” changes the accounting for recognizing impairment on available-for-sale debt securities.  Each quarter, the Company evaluates impairment where there has been a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis of a security to determine whether there is a credit loss associated with the decline in fair value.  The nature of the collateral is considered along with potential future changes in collateral values, default rates, delinquency rates, third-party guarantees, credit ratings, interest rate changes since purchase, volatility of the security’s fair value and historical loss information for financial assets secured with similar collateral among other factors.  Credit losses are calculated individually, rather than collectively, using a discounted cash flow method, whereby management compares the present value of expected cash flows with the amortized cost basis of the security.  The credit loss component would be recognized through the provision for credit losses in the Statement of Income and establish an allowance for credit losses on the Balance Sheet.

ACL – Loans

The ACL is an estimate of losses that will result from the inability of borrowers to make required loan payments.  The Company established the incremental increase in the ACL at the adoption through retained earnings and subsequent adjustments will be made through a provision for credit losses charged to earnings.  Loans charged off are recorded against the ACL and subsequent recoveries increase the ACL when they are recognized.

A systematic methodology is used to determine ACL for loans held for investment and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures.  The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loan portfolio.  Management considers the effects of past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts on the collectability of the loan portfolio.  The Company’s estimate of its ACL involves a high degree of judgement and reflects management’s best estimate within the range of expected credit losses.  The Company recognizes in net income the amount needed to adjust the ACL for management’s current estimate of expected credit losses.  The Company’s ACL is calculated using collectively evaluated and individually evaluated loans.

The Company collectively evaluates loans that share similar risk characteristics.  In general, loans are segmented by loan purpose.  The Company collectively evaluates loans within the following consumer and commercial segments:  Loans secured by 1-4 Family Properties, Home Equity Lines of Credit (“HELOC”), Owner Occupied Construction Loans, Consumer Loans, Commercial and Industrial, Multi-family, Non-farm/Non-residential Property, Commercial Construction/A&D/other Land Loans, Agricultural Loans, Credit Card Loans, Loans Secured by Farmland, and Other Consumer Loans (Overdrafts).

For collectively evaluated loans, the Company uses a combination of discounted cash flow and remaining life to estimate expected credit losses.

In addition to its own loss experience, management also includes peer bank historical loss experience in its assessment of expected credit losses to determine the ACL.  The Company utilized call report data to measure its and its peers' historical credit losses experience with similar risk characteristics within the segments over an economic cycle.  Management reviewed the historical loss information to appropriately adjust for differences in current asset specific risk characteristics.  Also considered were further adjustments to historical loss information for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that differ from the conditions that existed for the period over which historical information was evaluated.  For the majority of the segments of collectively evaluated loans, the Company incorporated at least one macroeconomic driver either using a statistical regression modeling methodology.

Management considers forward-looking information in estimated expected credit losses.  The Company subscribes to a third-party service which provides summary detail of dozens of economic forecasts.  Using that information and other publicly available economic forecasts, management determines the economic variables to use for the one-year reasonable and supportable forecast period.  Management has determined that the forecast period is consistent with how the Company has historically forecasted for its profitability planning and capital management.  Management has evaluated the appropriateness of the reasonable and supportable forecast for the current period along with the inputs used in the estimation of expected credit losses.  For the contractual term that extends beyond the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the Company reverts to historical loss information over eight quarters using a straight-line approach.  Management may apply different reversion techniques depending on the economic environment for the financial asset portfolio and as of the current period has utilized a linear reversion technique. 

Included in its systematic methodology to determine its ACL for loans held for investment and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures, Management considers the need to qualitatively adjust expected credit losses for information not already captured in the loss estimation process.  These qualitative adjustments either increase or decrease the quantitative model estimation.  Each period the Company considers qualitative factors that are relevant within the qualitative framework that includes the following:  1) changes in lending polices and procedures, 2) changes in economic conditions, 3) changes in portfolio nature and volume, 4) changes in management, 5) changes in past due loans, 6) changes in the quality of the Company’s credit review system, 7) changes in the value of underlying collateral, 8) the effect of concentrations of credit, and 9) the effect of other external factors.

When a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with its segment, the asset is assessed to determine whether it should be included in another pool or should be individually evaluated. The Company currently maintains a net book balance threshold of $500,000 for individually-evaluated loans . Generally, individually-evaluated loans other than Troubled Debt Restructurings, otherwise referred to herein as “TDRs,” are on nonaccrual status. Based on the threshold above, consumer loans will generally remain in pools unless they meet the dollar threshold and foreclosure is probable. The expected credit losses on individually-evaluated loans will be estimated based on discounted cash flow analysis unless the loan meets the criteria for use of the fair value of collateral, either by virtue of an expected foreclosure or through meeting the definition of collateral-dependent. Financial assets that have been individually evaluated can be returned to a pool for purposes of estimating the expected credit loss insofar as their credit profile improves and that the repayment terms were not considered to be unique to the asset.

Management measures expected credit losses over the contractual term of the loans. When determining the contractual term, the Company considers expected prepayments but is precluded from considering expected extensions, renewals, or modifications, unless the Company reasonably expects it will execute a TDR with a borrower. In the event of a reasonably-expected TDR, the Company factors the reasonably-expected TDR into the current expected credit losses estimate. The effects of a TDR are recorded when an individual asset is specifically identified as a reasonably-expected TDR. For consumer loans, the point at which a TDR is reasonably expected is when the Company approves the borrower’s application for a modification (i.e. the borrower qualifies for the TDR) or when the Credit Administration department approves loan concessions on substandard loans. For commercial loans, the point at which a TDR is reasonably expected is when the Company approves the loan for modification or when the Credit Administration department approves loan concessions on substandard loans. The Company uses a discounted cash flow methodology to calculate the effect of the concession provided to the borrower in TDR within the ACL. 

Purchased credit-deteriorated, otherwise referred to herein as PCD, assets are defined as acquired individual financial assets (or acquired groups of financial assets with similar risk characteristics) that, as of the date of acquisition, have experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination, as determined by the Company’s assessment. The Company records acquired PCD loans by adding the expected credit losses (i.e. allowance for credit losses) to the purchase price of the financial assets rather than recording through the provision for credit losses in the income statement. The expected credit loss, as of the acquisition date, of a PCD loan is added to the allowance for credit losses. The non-credit discount or premium is the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis as of the acquisition date. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the change in the ACL on PCD loans is recognized through the provision for credit losses. The non-credit discount or premium is accreted or amortized, respectively, into interest income over the remaining life of the PCD loan on a level-yield basis. In accordance with the transition requirements within the standard, the Company’s acquired purchased credit impaired loans were treated as PCD loans.

The Company follows its nonaccrual policy by reversing contractual interest income in the income statement when the Company places a loan on nonaccrual status. Therefore, Management excludes the accrued interest receivable balance from the amortized cost basis in measuring expected credit losses on the portfolio and does not record an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable. As of March 31, 2021, the accrued interest receivable for loans was $8.31 million. 

The Company has a variety of assets that have a component that qualifies as an off-balance sheet exposure. These primarily include undrawn portions of revolving lines of credit and standby letters of credit. The expected losses associated with these exposures within the unfunded portion of the loans will be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet with an offsetting income statement expense. Management has determined that a majority of the Company’s off-balance-sheet credit exposures are not unconditionally cancellable. As of March 31, 2021, the liability recorded for expected credit losses on unfunded commitments in Other Liabilities was $465 thousand. The current adjustment to the ACL for unfunded commitments would be recognized through the provision for credit losses in the Statement of Income.

Risks and Uncertainties Policy [Policy Text Block]

Risks and Uncertainties

Recent COVID-19 Virus Developments –

During the year of 2020 and continuing into 2021, government reaction to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic significantly disrupted local, national, and global economies and adversely impacted a broad range of industries, including banking and other financial services.  As COVID-19 events unfolded during 2020 and 2021, the Company implemented various plans, strategies and protocols to protect its employees, maintain services for customers, assure the functional continuity of its operating systems, controls and processes, and mitigate financial risks posed by changing market conditions.

Potential Effects of COVID-19 – 

The adverse impact of COVID-19 to the economy has impaired some of the Company’s customers’ ability to fulfill their financial obligations to the Company, reducing interest income on loans or increasing loan losses. In keeping with Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus, the Company continues to work with COVID-19 affected borrowers to defer loan payments, interest, and fees.   As of March 31, 2021, total COVID-19 loan deferrals stood at $17.48 million, down significantly from our peak of $436.11 million at June 30, 2020.  Deferred interest and fees for these loans will continue to accrue to income under normal GAAP accounting.  However, should eventual credit losses on deferred payments occur, accrued interest income and fees would be reversed, which would negatively impact interest income in future periods. At this time, the Company is unable to project the materiality of any such impact.

The general economic slowdown caused by COVID-19 in local economies in communities served by the Company has affected loan demand and consumption of financial services, generally, reducing interest income, service fees, and the demand for other profitable financial services provided by the Company.

In addition to the general impact of COVID-19, certain provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, as well as other legislative and regulatory actions may materially impact the Company. The Company is participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), administered by the SBA, in an attempt to assist its customers. Per the terms of the program, PPP loans have a two-year term, earn interest at 1%, are fully guaranteed by the SBA, and are partially or totally forgivable if administered by the borrower according to guidance provided by the SBA. The Company believes the majority of these loans have the potential to be forgiven by the SBA if administered in accordance with the terms of the program. Through March 31, 2021 the Company processed1,165 loans with original principal balances totaling $85.21 million through both the first and second rounds of the PPP. As of March 31, 2021, $32.73 million or 39.21%, of the Company's Paycheck Protection Program loan balances have been forgiven by the SBA. As of March 31, 2021, 53.58% of the Company's first round Paycheck Protection Program loan balances had been forgiven.

To date, the Company has identified no material, unmitigated operational or internal control challenges or risks and anticipates no significant challenges to its ability to maintain systems and controls as a result of the actions taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the Company currently faces no material resource constraints arising due to implementation of the business continuity plan.

It is impossible to predict the full extent to which COVID-19 and the resulting measures to prevent its spread will affect the Company’s operations. Although there is a high degree of uncertainty around the magnitude and duration of the economic impact of COVID-19, the Company’s management believes its financial position, including high levels of capital and liquidity, will allow it to successfully endure the negative economic impacts of the crisis.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Standards

Standards Adopted in 2021

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This ASU purportedly requires earlier recording of credit losses on loans and other financial assets held by financial institutions and other organizations. This ASU also requires an organization to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.  It further requires enhanced disclosures related to the significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses in investments in debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration.  The Company adopted the new standard as of January 1, 2021.  The standard was applied using the modified retrospective method as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2021.  Under this method, comparative periods will not be required to be restated for financial statements related to Topic 326.  Comparative prior period disclosures will be presented using the guidance for the allowance for loan losses.  This adoption method is considered a change in accounting principle requiring additional disclosure of the nature of and the reasons for the change, which is solely a result of the adoption of the required standard.  This standard did not have a material impact on our investment securities portfolio at implementation.  Related to the implementation of the standard, the Company recorded an additional ACL for loans of $13.11 million, deferred tax assets of $1.81 million, and additional reserve for unfunded commitments of $509 thousand and an adjustment to retained earnings of $5.87 million.  See the table below for the impact of ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

	January 1, 2021
	As Reported			Pre-			Impact of
	Under			ASU 2016-13			ASU 2016-13
	ASU 2016-13			Adoption			Adoption
Assets:
Non-covered loans held for investment
Allowance for credit losses on debt securities
Investment securities - available for sale	$	83,358		$	83,358		$	-		A
Loans
Non-acquired loans and acquired performing loans		2,146,972			2,146,972			-
Acquired purchased deteriorated loans		45,535			39,660			5,875		B
Allowance for credit losses on loans		(39,289	)		(26,182	)		(13,107	)	C
Deferred tax asset		19,306			17,493			1,813		D
Accrued interest receivable - loans		9,109			9,052			57		B
Liabilities
Allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet
credit exposures		575			66			509		E
Equity:
Retained earnings		231,714			237,585			(5,871	)	F

A.	Per our analysis no ACL was necessary for investment securities available-for-sale.
B.	Accrued interest receivable from acquired credit impaired loans of $57 thousand was reclassed to other assets and was offset by the reclass of the grossed up credit discount on acquired credit impaired loans of $57 thousand that was moved to the ACL for the purchased credit deteriorated loans.
C.	Calculated adjustment to the ACL related to the adoption of ASU 2016-13.  Additional reserve related to purchased deteriorated loans of $5.88 million.
D.	Effect of deferred tax assets related to the adjustment to the ACL form the adoption of ASU 2016-13 using a 23.37% tax rate.
E.	Adjustment to the reserve for unfunded commitments related to the adoption of ASU 2016-13.
F.	Net adjustment to retained earnings related to the adoption of ASU 2016-13.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740), Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”. This ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition for deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The Company adopted this ASU as of January 1, 2021, and it did not have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

The Company does not expect other recent accounting standards issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.