Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The interim consolidated financial statements include Fentura Financial, Inc. (the “Corporation”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries Fentura Holdings LLC (“FHLLC”) and The State Bank in Fenton (the “Bank”), Michigan and the other subsidiaries of the Bank. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

As announced at the 2011 Shareholder Meeting, the Corporation had entered into an agreement to sell West Michigan Community Bank to a third-party investor group. The sale closed on January 31, 2011. West Michigan Community Bank is reported as discontinued operations.

Financial statements are presented with discontinued operations sequestered on the balance sheet, statement of operations and statement of cash flows, as applicable. The presentations have been updated for September 30, 2011 to reflect the discontinued operations results to the extent applicable (see Note 8).

During the third quarter of 2011 management decided the Corporation no longer intended to dispose of the residual assets remaining from the sale of West Michigan Community Bank. As a result of the change in intent, amounts and results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, as well as balance sheet data as of September 30, 2011 reflect this change in intent.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Securities: Securities are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Securities are classified as available for sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income, net of tax.

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized on the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments, except for mortgage-backed securities, where prepayments are anticipated. Gains and losses on sales are based on the amortized cost of the security sold.

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.

In determining OTTI management considers many factors, including: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, (3) whether the market decline was affected by macroeconomic conditions, and (4) whether the entity has the intent to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. The assessment of whether an other-than-temporary decline exists involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment and is based on the information available to management at a point in time.

When OTTI occurs, the amount of the OTTI recognized in earnings depends on whether an entity intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, less any current-period credit loss. If an entity intends to sell or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, less any current-period credit loss, the OTTI shall be recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date. If an entity does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period loss, the OTTI shall be separated into the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors. The amount of the total OTTI related to the credit loss is determined based on the present value of cash flows expected to be collected and is recognized in earnings. The amount of the total OTTI related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. The previous amortized cost basis less the OTTI recognized in earnings becomes the new amortized cost basis of the investment.

Allowance for Loan Losses: The allowance for loan losses is a valuation allowance for probable incurred credit losses, increased by the provision for loan losses and decreased by charge-offs less recoveries. Management estimates the allowance balance required using past loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the portfolio, information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values, economic conditions, and other factors. 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. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance is confirmed. Consumer loans are typically charged off no later than 120 days past due.

The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are individually classified as impaired or loans otherwise classified as substandard or doubtful. The general component covers non-classified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for current factors. The historical loss experience is determined by portfolio segments and is based on the actual loss history experienced by the Corporation. Various rolling periods of historical charge off experience are considered when calculating the current required level of the allowance for loan losses. This includes 4, 8, 12 and 16 quarter un-weighted periods as well as a 12 quarter rolling average with higher weight being placed on the more recent quarters. These analyses are reviewed and a range of values for the reserve is established. This represents a change in assumption from the prior quarter when a simple 8 quarter rolling average loss history was used. 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: commercial, commercial real estate, residential mortgage, installment loans and home equity loans.

A loan is impaired when full payment under the loan terms is not expected. Commercial and commercial real estate loans are individually evaluated for impairment. 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. Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans, such as consumer and residential real estate loans, are collectively evaluated for impairment, and accordingly, they are not separately identified for impairment disclosures.

Troubled debt restructurings: Under certain circumstances, the Corporation will provide borrowers relief through loan restructurings and modifications. A loan restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) if for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties the Corporation grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider. Restructured loans typically present an elevated level of credit risk as the borrowers are not able to perform according to the original contractual terms. Loans that are reported as TDRs are considered impaired and are measured for impairment as described above.

Other Real Estate Owned and Foreclosed Assets: Assets acquired through or instead of loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less estimated selling costs when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. If fair value declines, a valuation allowance is recorded through expense. Costs after acquisition are expensed.

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 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 including the appeals process. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Corporation recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

Dividend Restrictions: Banking regulations require maintaining certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the Banks to the Corporation or by the Corporation to shareholders. The State Bank has been restricted from dividend payments due to the signing of a Consent Order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Holding Company has been placed under restrictions by the Federal Reserve regarding the declaration or payment of any dividends and the receipt of dividends from the subsidiary Bank.

Stock Option Plans: Compensation cost is recognized for stock options, restricted stock awards issued to employees, and stock appreciation rights 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 and stock appreciation rights, while the market price of the Corporation’s common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock awards. Compensation cost is recognized over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.

The Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan provides for granting options to nonemployee directors to purchase the Corporation’s common stock. The purchase price of the shares is the fair market value at the date of the grant, and there is a three-year vesting period before options may be exercised. Options to acquire no more than 8,131 shares of stock may be granted under the Plan in any calendar year and options to acquire not more than 73,967 shares in the aggregate may be outstanding at any one time. No options were granted in 2012 or 2011.

The Employee Stock Option Plan grants options to eligible employees to purchase the Corporation’s common stock at a purchase price at or above the fair market value of the stock at the date of the grant. Awards granted under this plan are limited to an aggregate of 86,936 shares. The administrator of the plan is a committee of directors. The administrator has the power to determine the number of options to be granted, the exercise price of the options and other terms of the options, subject to consistency with the terms of the Plan.

The following table summarizes stock option activity:

	Number of Options			Weighted Average Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Options outstanding at January 1, 2012		13,786		$	29.60
Options forfeited during 2012		(2,670	)		23.23
Options outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2012		11,116		$	31.13		1.31	$	0
	Number of Options			Weighted Average Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Options outstanding at January 1, 2011		18,872		$	29.32
Options forfeited during 2011		(5,086	)		28.57
Options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2011		13,786		$	29.60		1.73	$	0

On February 24, 2011, the Corporation’s board of directors granted 25,000 Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) to five executives. The terms of the Stock Appreciation Rights Agreements (the “SAR Agreements”) provide that the SARs will be paid in cash on one or two fixed dates, which are determined as certain performance conditions are met. The conditions include the Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary, The State Bank, no longer being subject to terms, conditions and restrictions of the consent order dated December 31, 2009 (the “Consent Order”) and the Corporation no longer being subject to terms, conditions and restrictions of the agreement between the Corporation and the Federal Reserve Board, which was effective November 4, 2010 (the “FRB Agreement”). The first payment date under the agreement is the later of February 24, 2014, the date on which the State Bank is no longer subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Consent Order, and the date on which the Corporation is no longer subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the FRB Agreement. On the first SAR payment date a participant shall receive an amount equal to the product of the number of stock appreciation rights granted and the excess of the fair market value of one share of the Corporation’s common stock over $2.00. If the first SAR payment date does not occur prior to February 24, 2016, then the SARs shall be cancelled without any payment to the participant. If the first SAR payment date occurs prior to February 24, 2016, then the second SAR payment date shall be February 24, 2016. On the second payment date a participant shall receive an amount equal to the number of stock appreciation rights granted and the excess of the fair market value of one share of the Corporation’s common stock on the second SAR payment date over the value of one share of the Corporation’s common stock on the first SAR payment date. If the fair market value of one share of the Corporation’s common stock on the second SAR payment date does not exceed the fair market value of one share of the Corporation’s common stock on the first SAR payment date, then no payment shall be made to the participant on the second SAR payment date. There were 20,000 SAR’s outstanding at September 30, 2012 as a result of this issuance as 5,000 SAR’s were forfeited during the first quarter of 2012 as a result of one of the executive’s departure.

On March 13, 2012, the Corporation’s board of directors granted 10,000 Stock Appreciation Rights to a new executive officer. The terms of this Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement is the same as those previously discussed except that the first and second payment dates are March 12, 2015 and March 13, 2017, respectively.

On May 14, 2012, the Corporation’s board of directors granted 5,000 Stock Appreciation Rights to a new executive officer. The terms of this Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement is the same as those previously discussed except that the first and second payment dates are May 14, 2015 and May 14, 2017, respectively. As a result of all issuances, 35,000 SARs were outstanding at September 30, 2012.

Generally accepted accounting principles require plans settled in cash to be accounted for as liabilities only when the liability is probable and reasonably estimable and to be re-measured at each reporting period. Management has determined that as of September 30, 2012, it is not probable that the performance criteria will be met and as such no liability for the compensatory element of the awards has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

Operating Segments: While the Corporation’s chief decision-makers monitor the revenue streams of the various Corporation products and services, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Corporate-wide basis. Accordingly, all of the Corporation’s financial service operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.

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