NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Premier Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries:

			Unaudited
			December 31, 2013
Subsidiary	Location	Year Acquired	Total Assets		Net Income
Citizens Deposit Bank & Trust	Vanceburg, Kentucky	1991	$	363,248	$	5,081
Premier Bank, Inc.	Huntington, West Virginia	1998		729,695		9,930
Parent and Intercompany Eliminations				7,236		(1,782	)
Consolidated total			$	1,100,179	$	13,229

All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Nature of Operations: The subsidiary banks (Banks) operate under state bank charters. The Banks provide traditional banking services to customers primarily located in the counties and adjoining counties in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia in which the Banks operate. The state chartered banks are subject to regulation by their respective state banking regulators and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company is also subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board.

Cash Flows: For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, interest-earning balances with banks with an original maturity less than ninety days and federal funds sold. Net cash flows are reported for loans, deposits, repurchase agreements, and short-term borrowing transactions.

Estimates in the Financial Statements: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The allowance for loan losses, the identification and evaluation of impaired loans, the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired, impairment of goodwill, deferred tax assets and fair values of financial instruments are particularly subject to change.

Securities: The Company classifies its securities portfolio as either securities available for sale or securities held to maturity. Securities held to maturity are carried at amortized cost. The Company had no securities classified as held to maturity at December 31, 2013 or 2012.

Securities available for sale might be sold before maturity and are carried at fair value. Adjustments from amortized cost to fair value are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of related income tax. Other securities such as Federal Home Loan Bank stock and Federal Reserve Bank stock are carried at cost.

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premium or discount computed using the level yield method. Gains or losses on dispositions are recorded on the trade date and are based on the net proceeds and adjusted carrying amount of the securities sold using the specific identification method. Securities are written down to fair value when a decline in fair value is not temporary.

Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such an evaluation. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are other-than-temporary are reflected as realized losses. In estimating other-than-temporary losses, management considers the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost and the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer. Management also assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, a security in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the entire difference between amortized cost and fair value is recognized as impairment through earnings. For debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the amount of impairment is split into two components as follows: 1) OTTI related to credit loss, which must be recognized in the income statement and 2) OTTI related to other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. The credit loss is defined as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis. For equity securities, the entire amount of impairment is recognized through earnings.

Loans Held for Sale: Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or market, as determined by outstanding commitments from investors. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recorded as a valuation allowance and charged to earnings. Loans are generally sold with servicing released.

Loans: Net loans are stated at the amount of recorded investment reduced by an allowance for loan losses. The recorded investment in a loan is the unpaid principal reduced by any purchase discounts and unearned income. The recorded investment excludes accrued interest receivable due to immateriality. Interest income on loans is recognized on the unpaid principal balance on the accrual basis except for those loans in a non-accrual of income status. The accrual of interest on impaired loans is discontinued when management believes, after consideration of economic and business conditions as well as collection efforts, that the borrowers’ financial condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the level yield method without anticipating prepayments.

Interest income on mortgage and commercial loans is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent unless the loan is well-secured and in process of collection. Consumer loans are typically charged off no later than 120 days past due. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual or charged-off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. Non-accrual loans and loans past due 90 days still on accrual include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans. A loan is moved to non-accrual status in accordance with the Company’s policy, typically after 90 days of non-payment.

All interest accrued but not received for loans placed on non-accrual is reversed against interest income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

Concentration of Credit Risk: Most of the Company’s loans located in the Washington, DC metro area are commercial real estate loans. Therefore, the Company’s exposure to credit risk is significantly affected by changes in the economy and commercial real estate collateral values in the Washington, DC metro area.

Certain Purchased Loans: Loans acquired via branch purchase or acquisition after December 31, 2008 are recorded at the amount paid, such that there is no carryover of the seller’s allowance for loan losses. Some of these purchased loans have shown evidence of credit deterioration since origination. After acquisition, losses are recognized by an increase in the allowance for loan losses.

Such purchased loans are accounted for individually or may be aggregated into pools of loans based on common risk characteristics such as loan type. The Company estimates the amount and timing of expected cash flows for each purchased loan or pool, and the expected cash flows in excess of amount paid is recorded as interest income over the remaining life of the loan or pool (accretable yield). The excess of the loan’s or pool’s contractual principal and interest over expected cash flows is not recorded (nonaccretable difference).

Over the life of the loan or pool, expected cash flows continue to be estimated. If the present value of expected cash flows is less than the carrying amount, a loss is recorded as an increase in the allowance for loan losses. If the present value of expected cash flows is greater than the carrying amount, it is recognized as part of future interest income.

Allowance for Loan Losses: The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses increased by a provision for loan losses charged to expense. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb probable incurred losses on existing loans based on evaluations of the collectability of the loans and prior loan loss experience. The evaluations take into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, review of specific problem loans, and current economic conditions that may affect the borrowers’ ability to pay. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged-off. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes that the collection of principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

A loan is impaired when full payment under the loan terms is not expected. Impairment is evaluated in total for smaller-balance loans of similar nature such as residential mortgage, consumer, and credit card loans, and accordingly, they are not separately identified for impairment disclosures. All other loans are evaluated for impairment on an individual basis. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. If a loan is impaired, a portion of the allowance is allocated so that the loan is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral. Loans with restructured terms offering a concession to enable a struggling borrower to repay (Troubled Debt Restructurings) are measured at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s effective rate at inception. If a troubled debt restructuring is considered to be a collateral dependent loan, the loan is reported, net, at the fair value of the collateral. For troubled debt restructurings that subsequently default, the Company determines the amount of reserve in accordance with the accounting policy for the allowance for loan losses.

The general component of the allowance covers non-impaired loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors. The historical loss experience is determined by portfolio segment and is based on the actual loss history experienced by the Company over the most recent 36 months. This actual loss experience is supplemented with other economic factors based on the risks present for each portfolio segment. These economic factors include consideration of the following: levels of and trends in delinquencies and impaired loans; levels of and trends in charge-offs and recoveries; trends in volume and terms of loans; effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards; other changes in lending policies, procedures, and practices; experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; national and local economic trends and conditions; industry conditions; and effects of changes in credit concentrations. The following portfolio segments have been identified as having differing risk characteristics:

Loans secured by 1-4 family real estate: Loans secured by 1-4 family residential real estate represent the lowest risk of loans for the Company. They include fixed and floating rate loans as well as loans for commercial purposes or consumer purposes. The Company generally does not hold subprime residential mortgages. Borrowers with loans in this category, whether for commercial or consumer purposes, tend to make their payments timely as they do not want to risk foreclosure and loss of their primary residence.

Loans secured by multifamily residential real estate: Loans secured by multifamily residential real estate consist primarily of loans secured by apartment buildings and can be either fixed or floating rate loans. Multi-family residential real estate loans generally present a higher level of risk than loans secured by 1-4 family residential real estate because the borrower’s repayment ability typically comes from rents from tenants. Local economic and employment fluctuations impact rent rolls and potentially the borrower’s repayment ability.

Loans secured by owner occupied non-farm non-residential real estate: Loans secured by owner occupied non-farm non-residential real estate consist of loans secured by commercial real estate owned and operated by the borrower. These loans generally consist of loans to borrowers who either own the commercial real estate where their business is located and have pledged the property as collateral or have borrowed funds from the Company to purchase the commercial real estate where their business is operated and located. The key factor is that the business operated within the pledged collateral generates the cash flow for repayment. These loans generally present a higher level of risk than loans secured by multifamily residential real estate because the cash flow for repayment generally comes from the success of the business. If economic conditions deteriorate, the business venture may not be successful or as successful in order for the borrower to make their loan payments and fund personal living expenses at the same time. Collateral values will also fluctuate with local economic conditions.

Loans secured by non-farm non-residential real estate: Loans secured by non-farm non-residential real estate consist of loans secured by commercial real estate that is not owner occupied. These loans generally consist of loans collateralized by property whereby rents received from commercial tenants of the borrower are the source of repayment. These loans generally present a higher level of risk than loans secured by owner occupied commercial real estate because repayment risk is expanded to be dependent on the success of multiple businesses which are paying rent to the borrower. If multiple businesses fail due to deteriorating economic conditions or poor business management skills, the borrower may not have enough rents to cover their monthly payment. Repayment risk is also increased depending on the level of surplus available commercial lease space in the local market area.

Commercial and industrial loans not secured by real estate: These loans to businesses do not have real estate as the underlying collateral. Instead of real estate, collateral could be business assets such as equipment or accounts receivable or the personal guarantee of one or more guarantors. These loans generally present a higher level of risk than loans secured commercial real estate because in the event of default by the borrower, the business assets must be liquidated and/or guarantors pursued for deficit funds. Business assets are worth more while they are in use to produce income for the business and worth significantly less if the business is no longer in operation. For this reason, the Company discounts the value on these types of collateral prior to meeting the Company’s loan-to-value policy limits.

Consumer loans: Consumer loans are generally loans to borrowers for non-business purposes. They can be either secured or unsecured. Consumer loans are generally small in the individual amount of principal outstanding and are repaid from the borrower’s private funds earned from employment. Consumer lending risk is very susceptible to local economic trends. If there is a consumer loan default, any collateral that may be repossessed is generally not well maintained and has a diminished value. For this reason, consumer loans tend to have higher overall interest rates to cover the higher cost repossession and charge-offs. However, due to their smaller average balance per borrower, consumer loans are collectively evaluated for impairment in determining the appropriate allowance for loan losses.

All other loan types: All other loan types are aggregated together for credit risk evaluation due to the varying nature but small number of the remaining types of loans in the Company’s loan portfolio. Loans in this segment include but are not limited to commercial and residential construction loans, loans secured by farmland, agricultural loans and loans to tax-exempt entities.

Transfers of Financial Assets: Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Premises and Equipment: Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded principally by the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 7 to 40 years for premises and from 3 to 15 years for equipment.

Other Real Estate Owned: Real estate acquired through foreclosure is carried at the lower of the recorded investment in the property or its fair value less estimated costs to sell. Upon repossession, the value of the underlying loan is adjusted to the fair value of the real estate less estimated costs to sell by a charge to the allowance for loan losses, if necessary, establishing a new cost basis. If the fair value of the property declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is charged to operating expenses. Parcels of real estate maybe leased to third parties to offset holding period costs. Operating expenses of such properties, net of related income, and gains and losses on their disposition are included in other expenses.

Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock: The Banks are members of the FHLB system. Members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, and may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.

Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) Stock: Prior to its merger into Premier Bank, Inc., Consolidated Bank and Trust was a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and owned FRB Stock. FRB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill resulting from business combinations prior to January 1, 2009 represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill resulting from business combinations after January 1, 2009, is generally determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any non-controlling interests in the acquired company, over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Goodwill is not amortized but is assessed at least annually for impairment and any such impairment will be recognized in the period identified. Impairment is evaluated using the aggregate of all banking operations. Based upon the most recently completed goodwill impairment test, management concluded the recorded value of goodwill was not impaired as of October 31, 2013 based upon the estimated fair value of the Company’s single reporting unit.

Other intangible assets consist of core deposit intangible assets arising from whole bank and branch acquisitions. They are initially measured at fair value and then are amortized on an accelerated method over their estimated useful lives of approximately 8 years.

Long-term Assets: Premises and equipment and other long-term assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.

Repurchase Agreements: Substantially all repurchase agreement liabilities represent amounts advanced by various customers. Securities are pledged to cover these liabilities, which are not covered by federal deposit insurance.

Stock Based Compensation: Compensation cost is recognized for stock options granted to employees based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options. Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period.

Income Taxes: Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the "more likely than not" test, no tax benefit is recorded.

The Company recognizes interest related to income tax matters as other interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters as other noninterest expense.

Off Balance Sheet Financial Instruments: Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Earnings Per Common Share: Basic earnings per common share is net income (available to common shareholders) divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share includes the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock options and stock warrants. Earnings and dividends per share are restated for all stock splits and dividends through the date of issuance of the financial statements.

Comprehensive Income: Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale which is also recognized as a separate component of equity.

Loss Contingencies: Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe there now are such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

Operating Segments: All of the Company’s operations are considered by management to be aggregated into one reportable operating segment. While the chief decision-makers monitor the revenue streams of the various products and services, the identifiable segments are not material. Operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Company-wide basis.

Reclassifications: Some items in the prior year financial statements were reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards:

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI).” The amendment requires an entity to present the reclassification adjustments out of AOCI and into net income for each component reported. These amounts may be disclosed before-tax or after-tax, and must be disclosed in either the income statement or the notes to the financial statements. This update is intended to supplement changes made in 2012 to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. The standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2013. The adoption of this guidance resulted in the disclosures in Note 20 below and did not have a material impact upon the Company’s financial statements.

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended existing guidance relating to testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The amendment permits an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If, after assessing the totality of events and circumstances, it is concluded that it is not more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, then no further action is required. However, after the same assessment, if it is concluded that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, then a quantitative impairment test should be performed whereby the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is compared to the carrying amount. The amendments in this guidance are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact upon the Company’s financial statements.