Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

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 June 30, 2013, and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the interim periods ended June 30, 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.

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 and mobile homeowners.

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 June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $5,783,000 and $5,931,000, respectively. Changes in cash surrender values are included in investment income in the current period. The change in surrender value included in earnings for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 was a decline of $198,000 and an increase of $54,000, respectively. The change in surrender value included in earnings for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 was a decline of $148,000 and an increase of $171,000, 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 Value 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.

Fixed maturities available-for-sale — The fair values of the Company’s public fixed maturity securities are generally based on prices obtained from independent pricing services. Consistent with the fair value hierarchy described above, securities with validated quotes from pricing services are generally reflected within Level 2, as they are primarily based on observable pricing for similar assets and/or other market observable inputs.

Trading securities — Trading securities consist primarily of mutual funds whose fair values are determined consistent with similar instruments described above under “Fixed Maturities” and below under “Equity Securities.”

Equity securities — Equity securities consist principally of investments in common and preferred stock of publicly traded companies and privately traded securities. The fair values of our publicly traded equity securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and are classified within Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Estimated fair values for our privately traded equity securities require a substantial level of judgment. Privately traded equity securities are classified within Level 3.

Interest rate swaps — Interest rate swaps are recorded at fair value either as assets, within other assets or as liabilities, within other liabilities. The fair values of our interest rate swaps are provided by a third party broker and are classified within Level 3.

Our available-for-sale securities consists of fixed maturity and equity securities which are recorded at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  The change in the fair value of these investments, unless deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.

We are permitted to elect to measure financial instruments and certain other items at fair value, with the change in fair value recorded in earnings.  We elected not to measure any eligible items using the fair value option.

Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, and establishes a framework to make the measurement of fair value more consistent and comparable.  In determining fair value, we primarily use prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets.

The Company categorizes assets and liabilities carried at their fair value based upon a fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 1 assets and liabilities consist of money market fund deposits and certain of our marketable debt and equity instruments, including equity instruments offsetting deferred compensation, that are traded in an active market with sufficient volume and frequency of transactions.

Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 2 assets include certain of our marketable debt and equity instruments with quoted market prices that are traded in less active markets or priced using a quoted market price for similar instruments. Level 2 assets also include marketable equity instruments with security-specific restrictions that would transfer to the buyer, marketable debt instruments priced using indicator prices which represent non-binding market consensus prices that can be corroborated by observable market quotes, as well as derivative contracts and debt instruments priced using inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.  Marketable debt instruments in this category generally include commercial paper, bank time deposits, repurchase agreements for fixed-income instruments, and a majority of floating-rate notes, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of fair value of assets or liabilities.

Level 3 assets and liabilities include marketable debt instruments, non-marketable equity investments, derivative contracts, and company issued debt whose values are determined using inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the values of the instruments being measured. Level 3 assets also include marketable debt instruments that are priced using indicator prices that we were unable to corroborate with observable market quotes.

Marketable debt instruments in this category generally include asset-backed securities and certain of our floating-rate notes, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practical to estimate that value:

Cash and cash equivalents — the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Mortgage loans — the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the restrictive nature and limited marketability of the mortgage notes.

Policy loans — the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Company owned life insurance — the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Other invested assets — the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Other policyholder funds — the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Debt — the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of 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 2,467,062 in 2013 and 2,466,600 in 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.

Amounts recoverable from re-insurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the underlying insurance policies.  Amounts paid for prospective reinsurance contracts are reported as prepaid reinsurance premiums and amortized over the remaining contract period.

In the normal course of business, NSIC seeks to limit its exposure to loss on any single insured and to recover a portion of benefits paid by ceding reinsurance to reinsurance companies under excess coverage contracts.  NSIC retains a maximum of $50,000 of coverage per individual life.  The cost of reinsurance is amortized over the contract period of the reinsurance.

The Company's insurance operations utilize reinsurance in order to limit losses, minimize exposure to large risks, provide additional capacity for future growth and effect business-sharing arrangements. Life reinsurance is accomplished through yearly renewable term coverage. Property and casualty reinsurance is placed on both a quota-share and excess of loss basis. Reinsurance ceded arrangements do not discharge the insurance subsidiaries as the primary insurer, except for cases involving a novation. Failure of re-insurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the insurance subsidiaries. The insurance subsidiaries evaluate the financial conditions of their reinsurance companies and monitor concentrations of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities, or economic characteristics of the companies to minimize their exposure to significant losses from reinsurance insolvencies.

In the normal course of business, NSFC seeks to reduce the loss that may arise from catastrophes or other individually significant large loss events that cause unfavorable underwriting results by re-insuring certain levels of risk in various areas of exposure with reinsurance companies.  NSFC maintains a catastrophe reinsurance agreement to cover losses from catastrophic events, primarily hurricanes.

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.

The Company recognizes tax-related interest and penalties as a component of tax expense. 

Net deferred tax liabilities are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities given the provisions of the enacted tax laws. 

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 $31,000for the three months endedJune 30, 2013 ($28,000for the three months endedJune 30, 2012). Advertising costs charged to expense were $84,000for the six months endedJune 30, 2013 ($61,000for the six months endedJune 30, 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 June 30, 2013, the net amount exceeding FDIC insured limits was $2,347,000 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 June 30, 2013, the single largest balance due from one agent totaled $1,485,000.

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 June 30, 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 June 30, 2013, management does not believe the Company is exposed to any significant credit risk related to its reinsurance program.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting StandardsDisclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities for Financial Instruments and Derivative InstrumentsIn 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 June 30, 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 OtherIn 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 June 30, 2013, and we do not expect a material effect on results of operations or financial position following annual testing.

Variable Interest Entities

The Company holds a passive interest in a limited partnership that is considered to be a Variable Interest Entity (VIE) under the provisions of FIN 46(R). The Company is not the primary beneficiary of the entity and is not required to consolidate under FIN 46(R). The entity is a private placement investment fund formed for the purpose of investing in private equity investments. The Company owns less than 1% of the limited partnership. The carrying value of the investment totals $325,000 and is included as a component of Other Invested Assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Marketable Securities

For securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company assesses whether the Company has the intent to sell the security or more-likely-than-not will be required to sell the security before the anticipated recovery.  If either of these conditions is met, the Company is required to recognize an other-than-temporary impairment with the entire unrealized loss reported in earnings.  For securities in an unrealized loss position that do not meet these conditions, the Company assesses whether the impairment of a security is other-than-temporary.  If the impairment is determined to be other-than-temporary, the Company is required to separate the other-than-temporary impairments into two components:  the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors.  The credit loss is the portion of the amortized book value in excess of the net present value of the projected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment.  The credit loss component of other-than-temporary impairments is reported in earnings, whereas the amount relating to factors other than credit losses are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of taxes.

 In evaluating whether or not the equity loss positions were other-than-temporary impairments, Management evaluated financial information on each company and where available, reviewed analyst reports from at least two independent sources.

Derivatives

The Company is exposed to certain risks in the normal course of its business operations.  The primary risk that is managed through the use of derivatives is interest rate risk on floating rate borrowings.  This risk is managed through the use of interest rate swap agreements which are designated as cash flow hedges.  For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the interest rate swap is included as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction is recognized in earnings.  The Company does not hold or issue derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments. 

We use dollar offset at the hedge's inception and for each reporting period thereafter to assess whether the derivative used in a hedging transaction is expected to be, and has been, effective in offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged item. Since inception, no portion of the hedged item has been deemed ineffective. For all hedges, we discontinue hedge accounting if it is determined that a derivative is not expected to be, or has ceased to be, effective as a hedge.

The swap liability is reported as a component of other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Segments

 The Company’s life and accident and health operations comprise the second business segment.  The life and accident and health insurance segment consists of two lines of business: traditional life insurance and accident and health insurance.

The Company’s property and casualty insurance operations comprise one business segment.  The property and casualty insurance segment consists of seven lines of business:  dwelling fire and extended coverage, homeowners (including mobile homeowners), ocean marine, other liability, private passenger auto liability, commercial auto liability and auto physical damage.