Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

ESB Financial Corporation (the Company) is a publicly traded Pennsylvania thrift holding company. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, which are ESB Bank (ESB or the Bank), THF, Inc. (THF), ESB Financial Services, Inc. (EFS) and AMSCO, Inc. (AMSCO). ESB is a Pennsylvania chartered, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured stock savings bank.

AMSCO is engaged in real estate development and construction of 1-4 family residential units independently or in conjunction with its joint ventures. AMSCO is currently involved in nine real estate joint ventures, all of which are owned 51% or greater by AMSCO. The Bank has provided all development and construction financing. These joint ventures have been included in the consolidated financial statements and reflected within the consolidated statements of financial condition as real estate held for investment and related operating income and expenses are reflected within other non-interest income or expense. The Bank’s loans to AMSCO and related interest have been eliminated in consolidation.

In addition to the elimination of the loans and interest to the joint ventures described above, all other significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for the interim periods include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, which are necessary, in the opinion of management, to fairly reflect the Company’s financial position and results of operations. Additionally, these consolidated financial statements for the interim periods have been prepared in accordance with instructions for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Form 10-Q and therefore do not include all information or footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2011, as contained in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report to Stockholders.

The results of operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. Certain amounts previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current periods’ reporting format, such reclassifications did not have an effect on stockholders’ equity or net income.

The accounting principles followed by the Company and the methods of applying these principles conform with GAAP and with general practice within the banking industry. In preparing the consolidated financial statements management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the Statement of Financial Condition date and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Operating Segments

An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities that generate revenue and incur expense, the operating results of which are reviewed by management. At June 30, 2012, the Company was doing business through 25 full service banking branches, one loan production office and through its various other subsidiaries. Loans and deposits are primarily generated from the areas where banking branches are located. The Company derives its income predominantly from interest on loans and securities and to a lesser extent, non-interest income. The Company’s principal expenses are interest paid on deposits and borrowed funds and normal operating costs. The Company’s operations are principally in the banking industry. Consistent with internal reporting, the Company’s operations are reported in one operating segment, which is community banking.

Stock Based Compensation

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company recorded approximately $103,000 and $211,000, respectively, in compensation expense and a tax benefit of $8,000 and $17,000, respectively, related to our share-based compensation awards that are expected to vest in 2012. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company recorded approximately $96,000 and $196,000, respectively, in compensation expense and a tax benefit of $6,500 and $13,100, respectively, related to our share-based compensation awards that were expected to vest in 2011. As of June 30, 2012, there was approximately $710,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation awards granted. That cost is expected to be recognized over the next four years.

As required by GAAP, cash flows from the tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for stock-based awards (excess tax benefits) are classified as financing cash flows.

Financial Instruments

As part of its overall interest rate risk management activities, the Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to various types of interest rate risk. Interest rate swaps and interest rate caps are the primary instruments the Company uses for interest rate risk management. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value as either part of prepaid expenses and other assets or accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges.

The Company formally documents the relationship between the hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk management objective and strategy, before undertaking an accounting hedge. To qualify for hedge accounting, the derivatives and related hedged items must be designated as a hedge at inception of the hedge relationship. For accounting hedge relationships, we formally assess, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, if the derivatives are highly effective in offsetting designated changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. If it is determined that the derivative instrument is not highly effective, hedge accounting is discontinued.

For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item related to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. To the extent the change in fair value of the derivative does not offset the change in fair value of the hedged item, the difference or ineffectiveness is reflected in earnings in the same financial statement category as the hedged item.

For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is initially reported in other comprehensive income (OCI) and subsequently reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings and the ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized directly in earnings. The Company assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing the changes in fair value or cash flows of the derivative hedging instrument with the changes in fair value or cash flows of the designated hedged item or transaction. For derivatives not designated as hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.

At June 30, 2012, there were sixteen interest rate cap contracts outstanding with notional amounts totaling $170.0 million. These derivative instruments are not hedged and therefore adjustments to fair value are recorded in current earnings.

The Company entered into two interest rate swap contracts to manage its exposure to interest rate risk. These interest rate swap transactions involved the exchange of the Company’s interest payment on $35.0 million in junior subordinated notes which became floating rate notes in 2011 for a fixed rate interest payment without the exchange of the underlying principal amount. Entering into interest rate derivatives potentially exposes the Company to the risk of counterparties’ failure to fulfill their legal obligations including, but not limited to, potential amounts due or payable under each derivative contract. Notional principal amounts are often used to express the volume of these transactions, but the amounts potentially subject to credit risk are much smaller. Management utilizes the Change in Variable Cash Flows Method to measure hedge ineffectiveness. To the extent that the cumulative change in anticipated cash flows from the hedging derivative offsets from 80% to 125% of the cumulative change in anticipated cash flows from the hedged exposure, the hedged is deemed effective. As of June 30, 2012 the interest rate swaps were deemed to be effective, therefore no amounts were charged to current earnings. The Company also does not expect to reclassify any hedge related amounts from OCI to earnings over the next twelve months.

The fixed rate interest rate swap contract outstanding at June 30, 2012 is being utilized to hedge $35.0 million in floating rate junior subordinated notes. Below is a summary of the interest rate swap contract and the terms at June 30, 2012:

(Dollars in thousands)	Notional Amount		Effective Date		Pay Rate			Receive Rate (*)			Maturity Date		Unrealized
													Gain		Loss
Cash Flow Hedge	$	20,000		2/10/2011		4.18	%		0.47	%		2/10/2018	$	—	$	3,474
Cash Flow Hedge		15,000		2/10/2011		3.91	%		0.47	%		2/10/2018		—		2,380
	$	35,000											$	—	$	5,854

* Variable receive rate based upon contract rates in effect at June 30, 2012

Recent Accounting and Regulatory Pronouncements

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-10, Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Derecognition of in Substance Real Estate-a Scope Clarification. The amendments in this Update affect entities that cease to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary that is in substance real estate as a result of default on the subsidiary’s nonrecourse debt. Under the amendments in this Update, when a parent (reporting entity) ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary that is in substance real estate as a result of default on the subsidiary’s nonrecourse debt, the reporting entity should apply the guidance in Subtopic 360-20 to determine whether it should derecognize the in substance real estate. Generally, a reporting entity would not satisfy the requirements to derecognize the in substance real estate before the legal transfer of the real estate to the lender and the extinguishment of the related nonrecourse indebtedness. That is, even if the reporting entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest under Subtopic 810-10, the reporting entity would continue to include the real estate, debt, and the results of the subsidiary’s operations in its consolidated financial statements until legal title to the real estate is transferred to legally satisfy the debt. The amendments in this Update should be applied on a prospective basis to deconsolidation events occurring after the effective date. Prior periods should not be adjusted even if the reporting entity has continuing involvement with previously derecognized in substance real estate entities. For public entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2012. For nonpublic entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2013, and interim and annual periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. This ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. The amendments in this Update affect all entities that have financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with either Section 210-20-45 or Section 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The requirements amend the disclosure requirements on offsetting in Section 210-20-50. This information will enable users of an entity’s financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity’s financial position, including the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with certain financial instruments and derivative instruments in the scope of this Update. An entity is required to apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the disclosures required by those amendments retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. This ASU is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. In order to defer only those changes in Update 2011-05 that relate to the presentation of reclassification adjustments, the paragraphs in this Update supersede certain pending paragraphs in Update 2011-05. Entities should continue to report reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect before Update 2011-05. All other requirements in Update 2011-05 are not affected by this Update, including the requirement to report comprehensive income either in a single continuous financial statement or in two separate but consecutive financial statements. Public entities should apply these requirements for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Nonpublic entities should begin applying these requirements for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2012, and interim and annual periods thereafter. The Company has provided the necessary disclosure in Statement of Comprehensive Income.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-09, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Multiemployer Plans (Subtopic 715-80): Disclosures about an Employer’s Participation in a Multiemployer Plan. The amendments in this Update will require additional disclosures about an employer’s participation in a multiemployer pension plan to enable users of financial statements to assess the potential cash flow implications relating to an employer’s participation in multiemployer pension plans. The disclosures also will indicate the financial health of all of the significant plans in which the employer participates and assist a financial statement user to access additional information that is available outside the financial statements. For public entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for annual periods for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. For nonpublic entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods of fiscal years ending after December 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively for all prior periods presented. This ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Topics (Topic 350), Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The objective of this update is to simplify how entities, both public and nonpublic, test goodwill for impairment. The amendments in the Update permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in Topic 350. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. Under the amendments in this Update, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendments in this Update apply to all entities, both public and nonpublic, that have goodwill reported in their financial statements and are effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, including for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed as of a date before September 15, 2011, if an entity’s financial statements for the most recent annual or interim period have not yet been issued or, for nonpublic entities, have not yet been made available for issuance. This ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The amendments in this Update improve the comparability, clarity, consistency, and transparency of financial reporting and increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. To increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and to facilitate convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS, the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity was eliminated. The amendments require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present total other comprehensive income, the components of other comprehensive income, and the total of comprehensive income. All entities that report items of comprehensive income, in any period presented, will be affected by the changes in this update. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. For nonpublic entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2012, and interim and annual periods thereafter. The amendments in this Update should be applied retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company has provided the necessary disclosure in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. The amendments in this Update result in common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. Consequently, the amendments change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments in this Update are to be applied prospectively. For public entities, the amendments are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. For nonpublic entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. The Company has included the disclosure requirements in Footnote Nine.