Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

Allowance for Credit Losses: On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"). ASU 2016-13 introduces a new credit loss methodology, Current Expected Credit Losses ("CECL"), which requires earlier recognition of credit losses, while also providing additional transparency about credit risk. ASU 2016-13 amends guidance on reporting credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. Topic 326 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. ASU 2016-13 also expands the disclosure requirements regarding an entity’s assumptions, models, and methods for estimating the reserve for credit losses. In addition, entities need to disclose the amortized cost balance for each class of financial asset by credit quality indicator, disaggregated by the year of origination.

The Company adopted ASC 326 using the modified retrospective method for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance sheet credit exposures. Results for the periods beginning after January 1, 2023 are presented under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. The Company adopted ASC 326 using the prospective transition approach for financial assets PCD that were previously classified as PCI and accounted for under ASC 310-30. In accordance with ASC 326, management did not reassess whether PCI assets met the criteria of PCD assets as of the date of adoption. On January 1, 2023, the amortized cost basis of the PCD assets was adjusted to reflect the addition of $1,668 to the allowance for credit losses. The remaining noncredit discount (based on the adjusted amortized cost basis) will be accreted into interest income at the effective interest rate as of January 1, 2023. The adoption of CECL resulted in an increase to our total allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) on loans held for investment of $4.3 million, an increase in allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments of $3.4 million, a reclassification of purchased credit-impaired discount from loans to the ACL of $1.7 million, and an increase in deferred tax asset of $1.6 million. The Company also recorded a net reduction of retained earnings of $6.1 million upon adoption.

The allowance for credit losses is evaluated on a regular basis and established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for credit losses. When a loan or portion of a loan is determined to be uncollectible, the portion deemed uncollectible is charged against the allowance and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

Portfolio Segmentation (“Pooled Loans”)

Portfolio segmentation is defined as the pooling of loans based upon similar risk characteristics such that quantitative methodologies and qualitative adjustment factors for estimating the allowance for credit losses were constructed for each segment. The Company has identified eight portfolio segments of loans including Commercial & Agriculture, Commercial Real Estate – Owner Occupied, Commercial Real Estate – Non-Owner Occupied, Residential Rela Estate, Real Estate Construction, Farm Real Estate, Lease Financing Receivable and Consumer and Other Loans.

The allowance for credit losses for Pooled Loans estimate is based upon periodic review of the collectability of the loans quantitatively correlating historical loan experience with reasonable and supportable forecasts using forward looking information. The Company utilized a DCF method to estimate the quantitative portion of the allowance for credit losses for loans evaluated in a collective pooled basis. For each segment, a loss driver analysis (LDA) was performed in order to identify appropriate loss drivers and create a regression model for use in forecasting cash flows. The LDA analysis utilized the Company’s own Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (“FFIEC”) Call Report data for all segments except indirect auto and all new and unknown values. Peer data was incorporated into the analysis for all segments except indirect auto and all new and unknown values. The Company has established a one-year reasonable and supportable forecast period with a one-year straight-line reversion to the long-term historical average. The Company’s policy is to utilize its own data, which includes loan-level loss data from March 31, 2004 through December 31, 2019 and from December 31, 2021 through June 30, 2022, whenever possible. The two-year period from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2021 was excluded due to modeling errors stemming from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Peer data is utilized when there are not sufficient defaults for a satisfactory sound calculation, or if the Company does not have its own loan-level detail reflecting similar economic conditions as the forecasted loss drivers.

Key inputs into the DCF model include loan-level detail, including the amortized cost basis of individual loans, payment structure, loss history, and forecasted loss drivers. The Company uses the central tendency midpoint seasonally adjusted forecasts from FOMC. Other key assumptions include the PD, LGD, and prepayment/curtailment rates. When possible, the Company utilizes its own PDs for the reasonable and supportable forecast period. When it is not possible to use the Company’s own PDs, the LDA is utilized to determine PDs based on the forecasted economic factors. In all cases, the LDA is then utilized to determine the long-term historical average, which is reached over the reversion period. When possible, the Company utilizes its own LGDs for the reasonable and supportable forecast period. When it is not possible to use the Company’s own LGDs, the LGD is derived using a method referred to as Frye Jacobs. The Frye Jacobs method is a mathematical formula that traces the relationship between LGD and PD over time and projects the LGD based on the level of PD forecasted. In all cases, the Frye Jacobs method is utilized to calculate LGDs during the reversion period and long-term historical average. Prepayment and curtailment rates were calculated based on the Company’s own data utilizing a one-year average. When the discounted cash flow method is used to determine the allowance for credit losses, management incorporates expected prepayments to determine the effective interest rate utilized to discount expected cash flow.

Adjustments to the quantitative evaluation may be for differences in current or expected qualitative risk characteristics such as changes in: underwriting standards, changes in the value of underlying collateral dependent loans, the existence and effect of portfolio concentration, delinquency level, regulatory environment, economic conditions, Company management and the status of portfolio administration including the Company’s loan review function.

Purchased Credit Deteriorated (PCD) Loans

The Company has purchased loans, some of which have shown evidence of credit deterioration since origination. Upon adoption of ASC 326, the Company elected to maintain pools of loans that were previously accounted for under ASC 310-30 and will continue to account for these pools as a unit of account. Loans are only removed from the existing pools if they are written off, paid off, or sold. Upon adoption of ASC 326, the allowance for credit losses was determined for each pool and added to the pool's carrying amount to establish a new amortized cost basis. The difference between the unpaid principal balance of the pool and the new amortized cost basis is the noncredit premium or discount which will be amortized into interest income over the remaining life of the pool. Changes to the allowance for credit losses after adoption are recorded through provision expense.

Individually Evaluated Loans

The Company establishes a specific reserve for individually evaluated loans which do not share similar risk characteristics with the loans included in the forecasted allowance for credit losses. These individually evaluated loans are removed from the pooling approach discussed above for the forecasted allowance for credit losses, and include nonaccrual loans, loan and lease modifications experiencing financial difficulty, and other loans deemed appropriate by management.

Available for Sale (“AFS”) Debt Securities

For AFS securities in an unrealized loss position, we first assess whether (i) we intend to sell, or (ii) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either case is affirmative, any previously recognized allowances are charged-off and the security's amortized cost is written down to fair value through income. If neither case is affirmative, the security is evaluated to determine whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency and any adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in our income statement as a component of credit loss expense. AFS securities are charged-off against the allowance or, in the absence of any allowance, written down through income when deemed uncollectible by management or when either of the aforementioned criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.

Accrued Interest Receivable

Upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 and its related amendments on January 1, 2023, the Company made the following elections regarding accrued interest receivable:

•

Presenting accrued interest receivable balances separately within another line item on the statement of financial condition.

•

Excluding accrued interest receivable that is included in the amortized cost of financing receivables and debt securities from related disclosure requirements.

•

Continuing our policy to write off accrued interest receivable by reversing interest income. For both commercial and consumer loans, the write off typically occurs upon becoming 90 days past due. Historically, the Company has not experienced uncollectible accrued interest receivable on its investment securities. However, the Company would generally write off accrued interest receivable by reversing interest income if the Company does not reasonably expect to receive payments. Due to the timely manner in which accrued interest receivables are written off, the amounts of such write offs are immaterial.

•

Not measuring an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable due to the Company’s policy of writing off uncollectible accrued interest receivable balances in a timely manner, as described above.

Reserve for Unfunded Commitments

The reserve for unfunded commitments (the “Unfunded Reserve”) represents the expected credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments such as unfunded commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. The Company is defining unconditionally cancelable in its literal sense, meaning that a commitment may be cancelled by the Company for any, and or no reason whatsoever. However, the Company in its business dealings, has no practical history of unconditionally canceling commitments. Commitments are not typically cancelled until a default or a defined condition occurs. Being that its historical practice has been to not cancel credit commitments unconditionally, the Company has made the decision to reserve for Unfunded Commitments. The Unfunded Reserve is recognized as a liability (included within other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets), with adjustments to the reserve recognized as a provision for credit loss expense in the consolidated statements of income. The Unfunded Reserve is determined by estimating expected future fundings, under each segment, and applying the expected loss rates. Expected future fundings over its estimated life are based on historical averages of funding rates (i.e., the likelihood of draws taken). To estimate future fundings on unfunded balances, current funding rates are compared to historical funding rates. Estimate of credit losses are determined using the same loss rates as funded loans.

Revisions: An immaterial revision has been made to the consolidated financial statements for a change in the fair market value of loans for the period ended December 31, 2022, in Note 13 herein. This revision did not have a significant impact on the financial statement line item affected or total assets, equity or net income.

Use of Estimates: To prepare financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in financial statements and the disclosures provided, and future results could differ. The allowance for loan losses, consideration of impairment of goodwill, fair values of financial instruments, deferred taxes, swap assets/liabilities and pension obligations are particularly subject to change.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards:

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). The ASU introduces a new credit loss methodology, Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”), which requires earlier recognition of credit losses, while also providing additional transparency about credit risk. Since its original issuance in 2016, the FASB has issued several updates to the original ASU.

The CECL methodology utilizes a lifetime “expected credit loss” measurement objective for the recognition of credit losses for loans, held-to-maturity securities and other receivables at the time the financial asset is originated or acquired. The expected credit losses are adjusted each period for changes in expected lifetime credit losses. The methodology replaces the multiple existing impairment methods in current Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), which generally require that a loss be incurred before it is recognized. For available-for-sale securities where fair value is less than cost, credit-related impairment, if any, is recognized through an allowance for credit losses and adjusted each period for changes in credit risk.

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted the guidance prospectively with a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings. The Company has not restated comparative information for 2022 and, therefore, the comparative information for 2022 is reported under the old model and is not comparable to the information presented for 2023.

At adoption, the Company recognized an incremental allowance for credit losses on its loans to customers of $4.3 million, a liability for off-balance sheet unfunded commitments of $3.4 million and a reclassification of the discount ("PCD") on purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans to the ACL of $1.7 million. Additionally, the Company recorded a $6.1 million after tax decrease in retained earnings associated with the increased estimated credit losses. The “Day 1” impact of CECL adoption is summarized below:


CECL Adoption
						Impact of
			CECL Adoption			Adopting ASC 326 -
	December 31, 2022		Impact			PCD Loans		January 1, 2023
Allowance for Credit Losses:
Commercial & Agriculture	$	3,011	$	429		$	390	$	3,830
Commercial Real Estate:
Owner Occupied		4,565		1,075			179		5,819
Non-Owner Occupied		14,138		(2,847	)		—		11,291
Residential Real Estate		3,145		2,762			386		6,293
Real Estate Construction		2,293		1,502			—		3,795
Farm Real Estate		291		(28	)		—		263
Lease Financing Receivable		429		1,743			635		2,807
Consumer and Other		98		201			78		377
Unallocated		541		(541	)		—		—
Total Allowance for Credit Losses	$	28,511	$	4,296		$	1,668	$	34,475
Reserve for Unfunded Commitments		—		3,386			—		3,386
Total Reserve for Credit Losses	$	28,511	$	7,682		$	1,668	$	37,861

Retained Earnings
Total Pre-tax Impact			$	(7,682	)
Tax Effect				1,613
Decrease to Retained Earnings			$	(6,069	)

The Company did not record an allowance for available-for-sale securities on Day 1 as the investment portfolio consists primarily of debt securities explicitly or implicitly backed by the U.S. Government for which credit risk is deemed minimal. The impact going forward will depend on the composition, characteristics, and credit quality of the securities portfolio as well as the economic conditions at future reporting periods.

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, the FASB eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity had to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, under the amendments in this Update, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. A public business entity that is an SEC filer, such as the Company, was to adopt the amendments in this Update for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. In November 2019, however, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments ‒ Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), which deferred the effective date for ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, for SEC filers that were eligible to be smaller reporting companies as of November 15, 2019, such as the Company, to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of the ASU provisions did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2022-02, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures. The ASU eliminates the recognition and measurement guidance for troubled debt restructurings and requires enhanced disclosures about loan modifications for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. This ASU also requires enhanced disclosure for loans that have been charged off. The adoption of the ASU provisions did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effect of Newly Issued but Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards:

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The Update is designed to provide relief from the accounting analysis and impacts that may otherwise be required for modifications to agreements necessitated by reference rate reform. The Update also provides optional expedients to enable companies to continue to apply hedge accounting to certain hedging relationships impacted by reference rate reform. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022; however, a deferral of the implementation of reference rate reform was issued in December of 2022, which extends the implementation to December 31, 2024. The Company is working through this transition via a multi-disciplinary project team. We are still evaluating the impact the change from LIBOR to a benchmark like SOFR or Prime Rate will have on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Other recent ASU’s issued by the FASB did not, or are not believed by management to have, a material effect on the Company’s present or future Consolidated Financial Statements.