SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The National Security Group, Inc. (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: National Security Insurance Company (NSIC), National Security Fire and Casualty Company (NSFC) and NATSCO, Inc. (NATSCO). NSFC includes a wholly-owned subsidiary - Omega One Insurance Company (Omega). In the opinion of Management, the unaudited financial statements presented herein include all accruals necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position at March 31, 2013, and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the interim periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company presented herein have not been audited by independent auditors, except for the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2012. Financial statements and notes to condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2012 Form 10-K report, as certain notes and other pertinent information have been abbreviated or omitted in this report. Financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Description of Business

NSIC is licensed in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas and was organized in 1947 to provide life and burial insurance policies to the home service market. Business is now produced by both company and independent agents. Primary products include ordinary life, accident and health, supplemental hospital, and cancer insurance products.

NSFC is licensed in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. In addition, NSFC operates on a surplus lines basis in Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas. NSFC operates in various property and casualty lines, the most significant of which are: dwelling property fire and extended coverage, homeowners, mobile homeowners and ocean marine.

Omega is licensed in the states of Alabama and Louisiana. Omega operates in the property and casualty homeowners line of business.

The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol NSEC. Pursuant to the regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Company is considered a “Smaller Reporting Company” as defined by SEC Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. The Company has elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and only two years of financial statements are included herein.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Among the more significant estimates included in these consolidated financial statements are reserves for future policy benefits, liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses, reinsurance recoverable asset on associated loss and loss adjustment expense liabilities, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, assessments of other-than-temporary impairments on investments and accruals for contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investments

The Company's securities are classified as follows:


•	Securities Held-to-Maturity. Bonds, notes and redeemable preferred stock for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are reported at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts which are recognized in interest income using methods which approximate level yields over the period to maturity.


•	Securities Available-for-Sale. Bonds, notes, common stock and non-redeemable preferred stock, not classified as either held-to-maturity or trading, are reported at fair value and adjusted for other-than-temporary declines in fair value.


•	Trading Securities. Trading securities are classified as such on the balance sheet and reported at fair value.

Unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of tax, on securities available-for-sale are reflected directly in shareholders' equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), and accordingly, have no effect on operating results until realized.

Changes in fair value of trading securities are recognized in net income.

Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments available-for-sale are determined using the specific-identification method and include write downs on available-for-sale investments considered to have other-than-temporary declines in market value.

When a fixed maturity security has a decline in value, where fair value is below amortized cost, an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) is triggered in circumstances where:


•	the Company has the intent to sell the security


•	it is more likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis


•	the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.

If the Company intends to sell the security or if it is more-likely-than-not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery, an OTTI is recognized as a realized loss in the income statement equal to the difference between the security's amortized cost and its fair value. If the Company does not intend to sell the security or it is not more-likely-than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery, the OTTI is separated into an amount representing the credit loss, which is recognized as a realized loss in the statement of operations, and the amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income.

When an equity security has a decline in value, where fair value is below cost, that is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the Company reduces the book value of the security to its current fair value, recognizing the decline as a realized loss in the statement of operations. Any future increases in the market value of investments written down are reflected as changes in unrealized gains as part of accumulated other comprehensive income within shareholders' equity.

Interest on fixed income securities is credited to income as it accrues on the principal amounts outstanding adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts computed utilizing the effective interest rate method. Premiums and discounts on mortgage backed securities are amortized or accreted using anticipated prepayments with changes in anticipated prepayments accounted for prospectively. The model used to determine anticipated prepayment assumptions for mortgage backed securities uses separate home sale, refinancing, curtailment and pay-off assumptions derived from a variety of industry sources. Mortgage backed security valuations are subject to prospective adjustments in yield due to changes in prepayment assumptions. The utilization of the prospective method will result

in a recalculated effective yield that will equate the carrying amount of the investment to the present value of the projected future cash flows. The recalculated yield is used to accrue income on investments for subsequent periods.

Mortgage loans and policy loans are stated at the unpaid principal balance of such loans, net of any related allowance for uncollectible amounts.

Investment real estate is reported at cost, less allowances for depreciation computed on the straight-line basis. Investment real estate consists primarily of timberland and undeveloped commercial real estate. Real estate is carried at cost.

Other investments consist primarily of investments in notes and equity investments in limited liability companies. The Company has no influence or control over the operating or financial policies of the investee limited liability companies, and consequently, these investments are accounted for using the cost method.

The Company owns life insurance (COLI) contracts on certain management and supervisory employees each having a face amount of approximately $2,000,000. The Company's original investment in company owned life insurance was $5,000,000. The primary purpose of the program is to offset future employee benefit expenses through earnings on the cash value of the policies. The Company is the owner and principal beneficiary of these policies. The life insurance contracts are carried at their current cash surrender value. Cash surrender value at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $5,981,000 and $5,931,000, respectively. Changes in cash surrender values are included in income in the current period. The change in surrender value included in earnings for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 was $50,000 and $117,000, respectively. Death proceeds from the contracts are recorded when the proceeds become payable under the terms of the policy. There were no proceeds received from the COLI during 2013 or 2012.

Cash and short-term investments are carried at cost, which approximates market value.

Investments with other-than-temporary impairment in value are written down to estimated realizable values and losses recognized in the determination of operating results. The fair value of the investment becomes its new cost basis.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The Company uses the following methods and assumptions to estimate fair values:

Investments


•	Fixed income security fair values are based on quoted market prices when available. If not available, fair values are based on values obtained from investment brokers and independent pricing services.


•	Equity security fair values are based on quoted market prices.


•	Multiple observable inputs are not available for some of our investments, primarily private placements and limited partnerships. Management values these investments either using non-binding broker quotes or pricing models that utilize market based assumptions that have limited observable inputs. These investments compose less than 1% of total assets.

Receivables and reinsurance recoverable - The carrying amounts reported approximate fair value.

Interest rate swaps - The estimated fair value of the interest rate swaps is based on valuations received from financial institution counterparties.

Trust preferred securities obligations and line of credit obligations - The carrying amounts reported for these instruments are equal to the principal balance outstanding and approximate their fair value.

Policy Receivables

Receivable balances are reported at unpaid balances, less a provision for credit losses.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are reported at net realizable value. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical losses and current economic conditions. On a continuing basis, management analyzes delinquent receivables, and once these receivables are determined to be uncollectible, they are written off through a charge against an existing allowance account or against earnings.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and includes expenditures that substantially increase the useful lives of existing property and equipment. Significant costs incurred for internally developed software are capitalized and amortized over estimated useful lives of 3 years. Maintenance, repairs, and minor renovations are charged to expense as incurred. Upon sale or retirement of property and equipment, the costs and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the respective account and the resulting gain or loss is included in the results of operations. The Company provides for depreciation of property and equipment using the straight-line method designed to amortize costs over estimated useful lives. Estimated useful lives range up to 40 years for buildings and from 3-10 years for electronic data processing equipment and furniture and fixtures. Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Statement of Cash Flows

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash includes cash-on-hand, demand deposits with banks and overnight investments.

Premium Revenue

Life insurance premiums are recognized as revenues when due. Property and casualty insurance premiums include direct writings plus reinsurance assumed less reinsurance ceded and are recognized on a pro rata basis over the terms of the policies. Unearned premiums represent that portion of direct premiums written that are applicable to the unexpired terms of policies in force and is reported as a liability. Prepaid reinsurance premiums represent the unexpired portion of premiums ceded to reinsurers and are reported as an asset.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

The costs of acquiring new insurance business are deferred and amortized over the lives of the policies. Deferred costs include commissions, premium taxes, other agency compensation and expenses, and other underwriting expenses directly related to the level of new business produced.

Acquisition costs relating to life contracts are amortized over the premium paying period of the contracts, or the first renewal period of term policies, if earlier. Assumptions utilized in amortization are consistent with those utilized in computing policy liabilities.

The method of computing the deferred policy acquisition costs for property and casualty policies limits the amount deferred to a percentage of related unearned premiums.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share of common stock is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each year. The adjusted weighted average shares outstanding were 2,466,600 in both 2013 and 2012.

Reinsurance

The Company's insurance operations re-insure certain risks in order to limit losses, minimize exposure to large risks, provide additional capacity for future growth and effect business-sharing arrangements. See Note 10 for additional information regarding the Company's reinsurance practices.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes arise from the recognition of temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of the Company's assets and liabilities and operating loss carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The effect of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period the new rate is enacted.

The Company evaluates all tax positions taken on its U.S. federal income tax return. No material uncertainties exist for any tax positions taken by the Company.

Contingencies

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from, but not limited to, litigation, claims, assessments, fines and penalties are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. Significant attorney fees are estimated and recorded when incurred.

Reclassifications

Certain 2012 amounts have been reclassified from the prior year consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2013 presentation.

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs charged to expense were $53,000 for the for the three months ended March 31, 2013 ($33,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012). Advertising cost consists primarily of agent convention expense and print media.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains cash balances which are generally held in non-interest bearing demand deposit accounts. Through December 31, 2012, these balances were insured by the FDIC with no balance limits. On January 1, 2013, $250,000 per account balance limits were reinstated. At March 31, 2013, the net amount exceeding FDIC insured limits was $786,000 at one financial institution. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. Management of the Company reviews financial information of the financial institution on a quarterly basis and believes the Company is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.

Policy receivables are reported at unpaid balances. Policy receivables are generally offset by associated unearned premium liabilities and are not subject to significant credit risk. Receivables from agents, less provision for credit losses, are composed of balances due from independent agents. At March 31, 2013, the single largest balance due from one agent totaled $991,000.

Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company of its obligations to policyholders. A failure of a reinsurer to meet their obligation could result in losses to the insurance subsidiaries. Allowances for losses are established if amounts are believed to be uncollectible. At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, no amounts were deemed uncollectible. The Company, at least annually, evaluates the financial condition of all reinsurers and evaluates any potential concentrations of credit risk. At March 31, 2013, management does not believe the Company is exposed to any significant credit risk related to its reinsurance program.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities for Financial Instruments and Derivative Instruments

In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance requiring expanded disclosures, including both gross and net information, for financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset in the reporting entity's financial statements or those that are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2013 and applied it retrospectively. The guidance impacts disclosures only and will have no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. The Company does not have any derivative instruments subject to master netting arrangements at March 31, 2013.

In February 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that requires additional disclosures for reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). These additional disclosures include changes in AOCI balances by component and significant items reclassified out of AOCI. These disclosures must be presented either on the face of the affected financial statement or in the notes to the financial statements. The disclosures are effective beginning in the first quarter of 2013 and are to be provided on a prospective basis. These disclosures are presented in Note 12.

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other

In July 2012, the FASB issued guidance related to impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill. The new guidance allows an entity to first make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount before applying the quantitative impairment test. An entity is required to perform the quantitative test only if it determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. The Company adopted this guidance January 1, 2013. No interim testing was required as of March 31, 2013, and we do not expect a material effect on results of operations or financial position following annual testing.