SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES

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).  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).  In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring items, necessary for the fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The financial information presented herein should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which includes information and disclosures not presented herein.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Among the more significant estimates included in these condensed consolidated financial statements are reserves for future life insurance policy benefits, liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses, reinsurance recoverable associated with 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 the estimates used in preparing these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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 2,530,370 at March 31, 2021 and 2,530,783 at March 31, 2020. The Company did not have any dilutive securities as of March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains cash balances which are generally held in non-interest bearing demand deposit accounts subject to FDIC insured limits of $250,000 per entity. At March 31, 2021, the net amount exceeding FDIC insured limits was $6,813,000 at three financial institutions. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. Management of the Company reviews financial information of financial institutions 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, 2021, the single largest balance due from one agent totaled $497,000.

Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company of its obligations to policyholders. A failure of a reinsurer to meet its obligation could result in losses to the insurance subsidiaries. Allowances for losses on reinsurance recoverables are established if amounts are believed to be uncollectible. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, 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, 2021, management does not believe the Company is exposed to any significant credit risk related to its reinsurance program.

Accounting Changes Not Yet Adopted

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance that provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the current guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the

financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. The Company has exposure to LIBOR based financial instruments through its subordinated debentures. The contracts with respect to these borrowings contain alternative reference rates that would automatically take effect upon the phasing out of LIBOR and would not materially change the liability exposure. The guidance was effective upon issuance and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. The Company is evaluating the optional expedients and exceptions in the guidance but does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance to improve the existing recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for long-duration contracts issued by an insurance entity. The guidance improves timeliness of recognizing changes in the liability for future policy benefits and modifies the rate used to discount future cash flows. The guidance will simplify and improve accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit type contracts and simplify the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs. The guidance also introduces certain financial statement presentation requirements, as well as significant additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance. Due to the nature and extent of the changes required to the Company’s life insurance operations, the adoption of this standard is expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance that replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The FASB released additional guidance in November 2018 that provides scope clarification. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those years. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the accounting for income taxes. The guidance removes certain exceptions to general principles in the income tax guidance and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.