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BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC - Quarter Report: 2016 March (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2016
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from                    to                  
 
Commission File Number: 001-15781
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
04-3510455
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
24 North Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts
 
01201
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (413) 236-3149
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ý  No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý  No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one)
 
Large Accelerated Filer ý        Accelerated Filer o        Non-Accelerated Filer o     Smaller Reporting Company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes o  No ý
 
The Registrant had 31,150,657 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of May 4, 2016.
 


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BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
FORM 10-Q
 
INDEX 
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2

Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


3

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PART I
ITEM 1.  CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
(In thousands, except share data)
 
 
Assets
 
 

 
 

Cash and due from banks
 
$
44,370

 
$
72,918

Short-term investments
 
24,447

 
30,644

Total cash and cash equivalents
 
68,817

 
103,562

Trading security, at fair value
 
14,474

 
14,189

Securities available for sale, at fair value
 
1,171,534

 
1,154,457

Securities held to maturity (fair values of $134,707 and $136,904)
 
128,196

 
131,652

Federal Home Loan Bank stock and other restricted securities
 
60,261

 
71,018

Total securities
 
1,374,465

 
1,371,316

 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale
 
15,919

 
13,191

 
 
 
 
 
Commercial real estate
 
2,100,067

 
2,059,767

Commercial and industrial loans
 
1,054,140

 
1,048,263

Residential mortgages
 
1,753,622

 
1,815,035

Consumer loans
 
818,861

 
802,171

Total loans
 
5,726,690

 
5,725,236

Less: Allowance for loan losses
 
(40,055
)
 
(39,308
)
Net loans
 
5,686,635

 
5,685,928

Premises and equipment, net
 
87,840

 
88,072

Other real estate owned
 
1,440

 
1,725

Goodwill
 
323,659

 
323,943

Other intangible assets
 
9,845

 
10,664

Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance policies
 
126,136

 
125,233

Deferred tax assets, net
 
36,514

 
42,526

Other assets
 
76,641

 
64,926

Total assets
 
$
7,807,911

 
$
7,831,086

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 

 
 

Demand deposits
 
$
1,037,103

 
$
1,081,860

NOW deposits
 
473,556

 
510,807

Money market deposits
 
1,405,361

 
1,408,107

Savings deposits
 
611,556

 
601,761

Time deposits
 
2,056,814

 
1,986,600

Total deposits
 
5,584,390

 
5,589,135

Short-term debt
 
940,700

 
1,071,200

Long-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
140,196

 
103,135

Subordinated borrowings
 
89,027

 
88,983

Total borrowings
 
1,169,923

 
1,263,318

Other liabilities
 
147,761

 
91,444

Total liabilities
 
$
6,902,074

 
$
6,943,897

 
 
Shareholders’ equity
 
 

 
 

Common stock ($.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized and 32,321,962 shares issued and 31,039,017 shares outstanding in 2016; 32,321,962 shares issued, and 30,973,986 shares outstanding in 2015)
 
322

 
322

Additional paid-in capital
 
744,743

 
742,619

Unearned compensation
 
(8,246
)
 
(6,997
)
Retained earnings
 
193,653

 
183,885

Accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss)
 
4,847

 
(3,305
)
Treasury stock, at cost (1,174,014 shares in 2016 and 1,179,045 shares in 2015)
 
(29,482
)
 
(29,335
)
Total shareholders’ equity
 
905,837

 
887,189

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
$
7,807,911

 
$
7,831,086

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4

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BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
2016
 
2015
Interest and dividend income
 
 

 
 

Loans
 
$
58,442

 
$
44,445

Securities and other
 
10,034

 
8,306

Total interest and dividend income
 
68,476

 
52,751

Interest expense
 
 

 
 

Deposits
 
7,159

 
4,949

Borrowings
 
3,620

 
2,309

Total interest expense
 
10,779

 
7,258

Net interest income
 
57,697

 
45,493

Non-interest income
 
 

 
 

Loan related income
 
3,046

 
1,283

Mortgage banking income
 
821

 
1,253

Deposit related fees
 
6,109

 
5,677

Insurance commissions and fees
 
2,893

 
2,967

Wealth management fees
 
2,502

 
2,603

Total fee income
 
15,371

 
13,783

Other
 
223

 
(1,255
)
Gain on sale of securities, net
 
36

 
34

Total non-interest income
 
15,630

 
12,562

Total net revenue
 
73,327

 
58,055

Provision for loan losses
 
4,006

 
3,851

Non-interest expense
 
 

 
 

Compensation and benefits
 
25,714

 
21,811

Occupancy and equipment
 
6,690

 
7,108

Technology and communications
 
4,857

 
3,593

Marketing and promotion
 
673

 
713

Professional services
 
1,280

 
1,272

FDIC premiums and assessments
 
1,233

 
1,129

Other real estate owned and foreclosures
 
263

 
251

Amortization of intangible assets
 
819

 
901

Acquisition, restructuring and conversion related expenses
 
780

 
4,421

Other
 
4,791

 
3,949

Total non-interest expense
 
47,100

 
45,148

 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
 
22,221

 
9,056

Income tax expense
 
6,220

 
297

Net income
 
$
16,001

 
$
8,759

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 

 
 

Basic
 
$
0.52

 
$
0.35

Diluted
 
$
0.52

 
$
0.35

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 

 
 

Basic
 
30,511

 
24,803

Diluted
 
30,688

 
24,955

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(In thousands)
 
2016
 
2015
Net income
 
$
16,001

 
$
8,759

Other comprehensive income, before tax:
 
 

 
 

Changes in unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale
 
17,706

 
9,337

Changes in unrealized loss on derivative hedges
 
(4,506
)
 
(3,901
)
Changes in unrealized loss on pension
 

 
(1,531
)
Income taxes related to other comprehensive income:
 
 

 
 

Changes in unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale
 
(6,856
)
 
(3,605
)
Changes in unrealized loss on derivative hedges
 
1,808

 
1,572

Changes in unrealized loss on pension
 

 
617

Total other comprehensive income (loss)
 
8,152

 
2,489

Total comprehensive income
 
$
24,153

 
$
11,248

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
other
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock (1)
 
paid-in
 
Unearned
 
Retained
 
comprehensive
 
Treasury
 
 
(In thousands)
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
capital
 
compensation
 
earnings
 
(loss) income
 
stock
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2014
 
25,183

 
$
265

 
$
585,289

 
$
(6,147
)
 
$
156,446

 
$
6,579

 
$
(33,145
)
 
$
709,287

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income
 

 

 

 

 
8,759

 

 

 
8,759

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 

 
2,489

 

 
2,489

Total comprehensive income
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
11,248

Cash dividends declared ($0.19 per share)
 

 

 

 

 
(4,799
)
 

 

 
(4,799
)
Treasury stock purchased
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited shares
 
(9
)
 

 
22

 
214

 

 

 
(236
)
 

Exercise of stock options
 
11

 

 

 

 
(165
)
 

 
281

 
116

Restricted stock grants
 
92

 

 
19

 
(2,286
)
 

 

 
2,267

 

Stock-based compensation
 

 

 

 
993

 

 

 

 
993

Net tax benefit related to stock-based compensation
 

 

 
(23
)
 

 

 

 

 
(23
)
Other, net
 
(24
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(592
)
 
(592
)
Balance at March 31, 2015
 
25,253

 
$
265

 
$
585,307

 
$
(7,226
)
 
$
160,241

 
$
9,068

 
$
(31,425
)
 
$
716,230

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2015
 
30,974

 
$
322

 
$
742,619

 
$
(6,997
)
 
$
183,885

 
$
(3,305
)
 
$
(29,335
)
 
$
887,189

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income
 

 

 

 

 
16,001

 

 

 
16,001

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 

 
8,152

 

 
8,152

Total comprehensive income
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
24,153

Cash dividends declared ($0.20 per share)
 

 

 

 

 
(6,216
)
 

 

 
(6,216
)
Treasury stock adjustment (2)
 

 

 
1,645

 

 

 

 
(1,645
)
 

Forfeited shares
 
(22
)
 

 
68

 
526

 

 

 
(594
)
 

Exercise of stock options
 
2

 

 

 

 
(17
)
 

 
42

 
25

Restricted stock grants
 
105

 

 
312

 
(2,931
)
 

 

 
2,619

 

Stock-based compensation
 

 

 

 
1,156

 

 

 

 
1,156

Net tax benefit related to stock-based compensation
 

 

 
99

 

 

 

 

 
99

Other, net
 
(20
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(569
)
 
(569
)
Balance at March 31, 2016
 
31,039

 
$
322

 
$
744,743

 
$
(8,246
)
 
$
193,653

 
$
4,847

 
$
(29,482
)
 
$
905,837

(1) The Company's common stock includes the elimination of $2.9 million (108,931 shares) of Berkshire Hills Bancorp stock held by a subsidiary.
(2) Treasury stock adjustment represents the sale of 60,000 shares of Berkshire Hills Bancorp stock held by the Company's subsidiary.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(In thousands)
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Net income
 
$
16,001

 
$
8,759

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Provision for loan losses
 
4,006

 
3,851

Net amortization of securities
 
725

 
(317
)
Change in unamortized net loan costs and premiums
 
72

 
398

Premises and equipment depreciation and amortization expense
 
2,155

 
2,096

Stock-based compensation expense
 
1,156

 
993

Accretion of purchase accounting entries, net
 
(2,469
)
 
(367
)
Amortization of other intangibles
 
819

 
901

Excess tax loss from stock-based payment arrangements
 
(99
)
 
23

Income from cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance policies
 
(1,053
)
 
(714
)
Gain on sales of securities, net
 
(35
)
 
(34
)
Net (increase) in loans held for sale
 
(2,728
)
 
(9,812
)
Loss on disposition of assets
 

 
1,136

Loss on sale of real estate
 
54

 
154

Amortization of interest in tax-advantaged projects
 
991

 

Net change in other
 
(10,285
)
 
(3,263
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
9,310

 
3,804

 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 

 
 

Proceeds from payments on trading security
 
148

 
142

Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale
 
7,000

 
4,693

Proceeds from maturities, calls and prepayments of securities available for sale
 
40,832

 
40,552

Purchases of securities available for sale
 
(46,442
)
 
(41,068
)
Proceeds from maturities, calls and prepayments of securities held to maturity
 
3,439

 
729

Purchases of securities held to maturity
 
(52
)
 
(200
)
Net change in loans
 
17,069

 
(68,671
)
Proceeds from surrender of bank-owned life insurance
 
150

 

Proceeds from sale of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
 
11,495

 
103

Purchase of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
 
(739
)
 
(3,117
)
Net investment in limited partnership tax credits
 
(1,803
)
 

Proceeds from the sale of premises and equipment
 
168

 

Purchase of premises and equipment, net
 
(2,383
)
 
(946
)
Proceeds from sale of other real estate
 
446

 
578

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 
29,328

 
(67,205
)
(continued)

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Three Months Ended
March 31,
(In thousands)
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 

 
 

Net increase in deposits
 
25,961

 
65,007

Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings
 
2,119,500

 
2,200,000

Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings
 
(2,212,752
)
 
(2,206,440
)
Exercise of stock options
 
25

 
116

Excess tax loss from stock-based payment arrangements
 
99

 
(23
)
Common stock cash dividends paid
 
(6,216
)
 
(4,799
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
 
(73,383
)
 
53,861

 
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
 
(34,745
)
 
(9,540
)
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
103,562

 
71,754

 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
 
$
68,817

 
$
62,214

 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
 
 

 
 

Interest paid on deposits
 
$
6,967

 
$
4,902

Interest paid on borrowed funds
 
3,508

 
2,306

Income taxes (refunded) paid, net
 
(370
)
 
274

 
 
 
 
 
Other non-cash changes:
 
 

 
 

Other net comprehensive income
 
8,152

 
2,489

Real estate owned acquired in settlement of loans
 
215

 
127

 
 
 
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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NOTE 1.                                              BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and contain all adjustments, consisting solely of normal, recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods.

In addition, these interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X, and accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared according to U.S. GAAP have been omitted.

The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and note disclosures for Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Reclassifications
Certain items in prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Principles
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis.” This ASU affects reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. Specifically, the amendments: (1) Modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest entities; (2) Eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; (3) Affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships; and (4) Provide a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with requirements that are similar to those in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for registered money market funds. ASU No. 2015-02 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2015-02 effective January 1, 2016, which did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. See Note 7. Borrowed Funds to the Consolidated Financial statements for more information.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” This ASU requires that debt issuance costs, not including those related to line of credit arrangements, be reported in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the face amount of the related liability, consistent with the presentation of debt discounts. Further, the update requires the amortization of debt issuance costs to be reported as interest expense. Similarly, debt issuance costs and any discount or premium are considered in the aggregate when determining the effective interest rate on the debt. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The new guidance must be applied retrospectively. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2015-03 effective January 1, 2016, which did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, “Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement.” This ASU provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, the customer should account for the license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The new guidance does not change the accounting for a customer’s accounting for service contracts. ASU No. 2015-05 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2015-05 effective January 1, 2016, which did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, “Business Combinations: Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments.” This ASU eliminates the requirement to retrospectively adjust the financial statements for measurement-period adjustments that occur in periods after a business combination is consummated. Measurement period adjustments are calculated as if they were known at the acquisition date, but are recognized in the reporting period in which they are determined. Additional disclosures are required about the impact on current-period income statement line items of adjustments that would have been recognized in prior periods if prior-period information had been revised. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and is to be applied prospectively to adjustments of provisional amounts that occur after the effective date. Early application is permitted. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2015-16 effective January 1, 2016, which did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

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Future Application of Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 related to the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The new revenue pronouncement creates a single source of revenue guidance for all companies in all industries and is more principles based than current revenue guidance. The pronouncement provides a five-step model for a company to recognize revenue when it transfers control of goods or services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The five steps are (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify the separate performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. The standard is effective for public entities for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016; early adoption is not permitted. However, in July 2015, the FASB voted to approve deferring the effective date by one year (i.e., interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017), issuing ASU 2015-14 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers -Deferral of the Effective Date.” Early adoption is permitted, but not before the original effective date (i.e., interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016). For financial reporting purposes, the standard allows for either full retrospective adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all of the periods presented, or modified retrospective adoption, meaning the standard is applied only to the most current period presented in the financial statements with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU No. 2014-09, and will be closely monitoring developments and additional guidance to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This ASU requires an entity to: i) measure equity investments at fair value through net income, with certain exceptions; (ii) present in other comprehensive income the changes in instrument-specific credit risk for financial liabilities measured using the fair value option; (iii) present financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset; (iv) calculate the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes based on an exit price and; (v) assess a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets related to unrealized losses of AFS debt securities in combination with other deferred tax assets. The guidance provides an election to subsequently measure certain nonmarketable equity investments at cost less any impairment and adjusted for certain observable price changes. The guidance also requires a qualitative impairment assessment of such equity investments and amends certain fair value disclosure requirements. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is only permitted for the provision related to instrument specific credit risk, The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases”. The new pronouncement improves the transparency and comparability of financial reporting around leasing transactions and more closely aligns accounting for leases with the recently issued International Financial Reporting Standard.  The pronouncement affects all entities that are participants to leasing agreements. From a lessee accounting perspective, the ASU requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for operating leases and changes many key definitions, including the definition of a lease. The ASU includes a short-term lease exception for leases with a term of twelve months or less, in which a lessee can make an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Lessees will continue to differentiate between finance leases (previously referred to as capital leases) and operating leases, using classification criteria that are substantially similar to the previous guidance. For lessees, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease have not significantly changed from previous GAAP. From a lessor accounting perspective, the guidance is largely unchanged, except for targeted improvements to align with new terminology under lessee accounting and with the updated revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606. For sale-leaseback transactions, for a sale to occur the transfer must meet the sale criteria under the new revenue standard, ASC 606. Entities will not be required to reassess transactions previously accounted under then existing guidance. 

Additionally, the ASU includes additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures required by lessees and lessors to help users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply as well as transition guidance specific to nonstandard leasing transactions. The Company is currently evaluating the provision of the ASU No. 2016-02 to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-05, “Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships”. This ASU clarifies that changes in the counterparty to a derivative instrument designated as a hedge do not alone require it to be de-designated and therefore discontinue the application of hedge accounting. Companies are still required to evaluate whether it is probable that a counterparty will perform under the contract as part of the ongoing effectiveness assessment for hedge accounting. The new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and

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entities may adopt on a prospective or modified retrospective basis. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-06, “Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments” clarifying the assessment of whether contingent call (put) options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of their debt hosts, a criteria in assessing whether to bifurcate an embedded derivative.  The new pronouncement clarifies the exercise contingency and the event triggering the contingency does not need to be evaluated in the clearly and closely analysis relative to interest rates or credit risks. Rather, the call or put would be evaluated as a derivative regardless of the exercise contingency. Further, if an entity is no longer required to bifurcate a put or call option per the new guidance, the entity has a one-time option to irrevocably elect to measure that debt instrument in its entirety at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. ASU No. 2016-06 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The ASU should be applied using the modified retrospective basis to existing instruments as of the beginning of the annual period of adoption.  The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07 “Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting” which eliminates the requirement to retroactively adjust an investment that becomes subject to the equity method of accounting as a result of an increase ownership interest or degree of influence.  Alternatively, an investor entity adds the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopts the equity method of accounting prospectively as of the qualifying date; no retroactive adjustment is required. Additionally, ASU No. 2016-07 specifies that when an available-for-sale equity security becomes qualified for the equity method of accounting, a company should recognize the unrealized holding gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income through earnings at the date the investment becomes qualified for use of the equity method. This guidance is effective for all entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted on a prospective basis. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08 “Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)” to improve the usefulness and understandability of the guidance on principal versus agent considerations within the new revenue standard, ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The guidance clarified the following: (1) an entity determines if it is a principal or agent for each distinct good or service promised to the customer. If a contract includes multiple specified goods or services, an entity could be a principal for some and an agent for others: (2) for each specified good or service, an entity determines whether it is a good, a service, or a right to a good or service; (3) when another party is involved in providing goods or services to a customer, an entity that is a principal obtains control of: (a) a good from the other party and then transfers it to the customer; (b) the ability to direct that party to provide a service to the customer on the entity’s behalf; or (c) a good or service from the other party and combines it with other goods or services to provide to the customer; and (4) the purpose of the five indicators to determine whether an entity is a principal is to support or assist in the assessment of control. The indicators may be more or less relevant to the control assessment and one or more indicators may be more or less persuasive to the control assessment, depending on the facts and circumstances. The effective date and transition requirements mirror those of ASC 606 and similarly with that pronouncement, the Company is evaluating the provisions of ASU No. 2016-08, and will closely monitor developments and additional guidance to determine the potential impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. This ASU contains targeted amendments to the accounting for shared based payment transactions, including income tax consequences for awards, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification of activity on the statement of cash flows. Specifically, some of the requirements under the amendments include: (1) excess tax benefits and/or tax deficiencies, determined as the difference between compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes and the deduction for tax, be recognized in the income statement as income tax expense or benefit in the period in which they occur, removing historical equity treatment; (2) excess tax benefits are no longer separately classified as a financing activity but rather should be classified with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows; (3) cash paid by an employer when withholding shares for tax withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity. Additionally, regarding forfeitures, this guidance permits a company to make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest (current GAAP) or account for forfeitures when they occur. If elected, the change to recognize forfeitures when they occur must be applied through a modified retrospective approach, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to opening retained earnings. ASU No. 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is evaluating the provisions of ASU No. 2016-09, and will closely monitor developments and additional guidance to determine the potential impact on the consolidated financial statements.

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NOTE 2.                                              TRADING SECURITY
The Company holds a tax advantaged economic development bond that is being accounted for at fair value. The security had an amortized cost of $11.8 million and $12.0 million, and a fair value of $14.5 million and $14.2 million, at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. As discussed further in Note 11 - Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities, the Company has entered into a swap contract to swap-out the fixed rate of the security in exchange for a variable rate. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of selling them in the near term, and there are no other securities in the trading portfolio at March 31, 2016.

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NOTE 3. SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND HELD TO MATURITY

The following is a summary of securities available for sale and held to maturity:
(In thousands)
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Securities available for sale
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations
 
$
99,126

 
$
5,669

 
$
(53
)
 
$
104,742

Government-guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities
 
65,456

 
714

 
(81
)
 
66,089

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities
 
883,749

 
15,779

 
(782
)
 
898,746

Corporate bonds
 
42,878

 

 
(1,876
)
 
41,002

Trust preferred securities
 
11,635

 
89

 
(107
)
 
11,617

Other bonds and obligations
 
3,169

 
34

 
(1
)
 
3,202

Total debt securities
 
1,106,013

 
22,285

 
(2,900
)
 
1,125,398

Marketable equity securities
 
42,356

 
5,709

 
(1,929
)
 
46,136

Total securities available for sale
 
1,148,369

 
27,994

 
(4,829
)
 
1,171,534

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities held to maturity
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations
 
91,512

 
4,417

 

 
95,929

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities
 
67

 
5

 

 
72

Tax advantaged economic development bonds
 
36,290

 
2,089

 

 
38,379

Other bonds and obligations
 
327

 

 

 
327

Total securities held to maturity
 
128,196

 
6,511

 

 
134,707

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
1,276,565

 
$
34,505

 
$
(4,829
)
 
$
1,306,241

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Securities available for sale
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations
 
$
99,922

 
$
4,763

 
$
(124
)
 
$
104,561

Government-guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities
 
69,866

 
388

 
(396
)
 
69,858

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities
 
891,041

 
5,111

 
(6,145
)
 
890,007

Corporate bonds
 
42,849

 

 
(1,827
)
 
41,022

Trust preferred securities
 
11,719

 
182

 

 
11,901

Other bonds and obligations
 
3,175

 

 
(34
)
 
3,141

Total debt securities
 
1,118,572

 
10,444

 
(8,526
)
 
1,120,490

Marketable equity securities
 
30,522

 
5,331

 
(1,886
)
 
33,967

Total securities available for sale
 
1,149,094

 
15,775

 
(10,412
)
 
1,154,457

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities held to maturity
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations
 
94,642

 
3,359

 
(34
)
 
97,967

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities
 
68

 
3

 

 
71

Tax advantaged economic development bonds
 
36,613

 
1,924

 

 
38,537

Other bonds and obligations
 
329

 

 

 
329

Total securities held to maturity
 
131,652

 
5,286

 
(34
)
 
136,904

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
1,280,746

 
$
21,061

 
$
(10,446
)
 
$
1,291,361


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The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available for sale (“AFS”) and held to maturity (“HTM”) securities, segregated by contractual maturity at March 31, 2016 are presented below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations. Mortgage-backed securities are shown in total, as their maturities are highly variable. Equity securities have no maturity and are also shown in total.
 
 
Available for sale
 
Held to maturity
 
 
Amortized
 
Fair
 
Amortized
 
Fair
(In thousands)
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Within 1 year
 
$

 
$

 
$
1,256

 
$
1,256

Over 1 year to 5 years
 
3,468

 
3,502

 
17,198

 
18,297

Over 5 years to 10 years
 
22,537

 
22,653

 
14,777

 
15,348

Over 10 years
 
130,803

 
134,408

 
94,898

 
99,734

Total bonds and obligations
 
156,808

 
160,563

 
128,129

 
134,635

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marketable equity securities
 
42,356

 
46,136

 

 

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
949,205

 
964,835

 
67

 
72

Total
 
$
1,148,369

 
$
1,171,534

 
$
128,196

 
$
134,707


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Securities with unrealized losses, segregated by the duration of their continuous unrealized loss positions, are summarized as follows:
 
 
Less Than Twelve Months
 
Over Twelve Months
 
Total
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
Fair
 
Unrealized
 
Fair
 
Unrealized
 
Fair
(In thousands)
 
Losses
 
Value
 
Losses
 
Value
 
Losses
 
Value
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Securities available for sale
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations
 
$

 
$

 
$
53

 
$
2,137

 
$
53

 
$
2,137

Government-guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities
 
23

 
1,613

 
58

 
5,470

 
81

 
7,083

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities
 
212

 
92,018

 
570

 
72,393

 
782

 
164,411

Corporate bonds
 
233

 
14,816

 
1,643

 
19,187

 
1,876

 
34,003

Trust preferred securities
 
101

 
10,000

 
6

 
1,264

 
107

 
11,264

Other bonds and obligations
 

 

 
1

 
31

 
1

 
31

Total debt securities
 
569

 
118,447

 
2,331

 
100,482

 
2,900

 
218,929

Marketable equity securities
 
724

 
11,939

 
1,205

 
5,454

 
1,929

 
17,393

Total securities available for sale
 
1,293

 
130,386

 
3,536

 
105,936

 
4,829

 
236,322

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities held to maturity
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations
 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax advantaged economic development bonds
 

 

 

 

 

 

Total securities held to maturity
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
1,293

 
$
130,386

 
$
3,536

 
$
105,936

 
$
4,829

 
$
236,322

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Securities available for sale
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations
 
$
9

 
$
1,587

 
$
115

 
$
3,400

 
$
124

 
$
4,987

Government guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities
 
164

 
23,460

 
232

 
19,262

 
396

 
42,722

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities
 
3,100

 
315,990

 
3,045

 
153,248

 
6,145

 
469,238

Corporate bonds
 
30

 
6,934

 
1,796

 
21,587

 
1,826

 
28,521

Trust preferred securities
 
1

 
1,269

 

 

 
1

 
1,269

Other bonds and obligations
 

 
108

 
34

 
3,032

 
34

 
3,140

Total debt securities
 
3,304

 
349,348

 
5,222

 
200,529

 
8,526

 
549,877

Marketable equity securities
 
534

 
2,908

 
1,352

 
5,729

 
1,886

 
8,637

Total securities available for sale
 
3,838

 
352,256

 
6,574

 
206,258

 
10,412

 
558,514

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities held to maturity
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations
 

 

 
34

 
2,143

 
34

 
2,143

Total securities held to maturity
 

 

 
34

 
2,143

 
34

 
2,143

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
3,838

 
$
352,256

 
$
6,608

 
$
208,401

 
$
10,446

 
$
560,657



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Debt Securities
The Company expects to recover its amortized cost basis on all debt securities in its AFS and HTM portfolios. Furthermore, the Company does not intend to sell nor does it anticipate that it will be required to sell any of its securities in an unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2016, prior to this recovery. The Company’s ability and intent to hold these securities until recovery is supported by the Company’s strong capital and liquidity positions as well as its historically low portfolio turnover. The following summarizes, by investment security type, the basis for the conclusion that the debt securities in an unrealized loss position within the Company’s AFS and HTM portfolios were not other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2016:

AFS municipal bonds and obligations
At March 31, 2016, 3 of the total 118 securities in the Company’s portfolio of AFS municipal bonds and obligations were in unrealized loss positions. Aggregate unrealized losses represented 2.4% of the amortized cost of securities in unrealized loss positions. The Company continually monitors the municipal bond sector of the market carefully and periodically evaluates the appropriate level of exposure to the market. At this time, the Company feels the bonds in this portfolio carry minimal risk of default and the Company is appropriately compensated for that risk. The bonds are investment grade rated, and there were no material underlying credit downgrades during the quarter. All securities are performing.

AFS residential mortgage-backed securities
At March 31, 2016, 55 out of the total 260 securities in the Company’s portfolios of AFS residential mortgage-backed securities were in unrealized loss positions. Aggregate unrealized losses represented 0.5% of the amortized cost of securities in unrealized loss positions. The Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) guarantee the contractual cash flows of all of the Company’s residential mortgage-backed securities. The securities are investment grade rated and there were no material underlying credit downgrades during the quarter. All securities are performing.

AFS corporate bonds
At March 31, 2016, 6 out of 7 securities in the Company’s portfolio of AFS corporate bonds were in an unrealized loss position. The aggregate unrealized loss represents 5.2% of the amortized cost of bonds in unrealized loss positions. The Company reviews the financial strength of all of these bonds and has concluded that the amortized cost remains supported by the expected future cash flows of these securities. 

At March 31, 2016, $1.5 million of the total unrealized losses was attributable to a $17.6 million investment. The Company evaluated this security, with a Level 2 fair value of $16.1 million, for potential other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) at March 31, 2016 and determined that OTTI was not evident based on both the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security until the recovery of its remaining amortized cost.

AFS trust preferred securities
At March 31, 2016, 2 out of the 3 securities in the Company’s portfolio of AFS trust preferred securities were in an unrealized loss position. Aggregate unrealized losses represented 0.9% of the amortized cost of these securities in an unrealized loss position. The Company’s evaluation of the present value of expected cash flows on these securities supports its conclusions about the recoverability of these securities’ amortized cost basis. These securities are investment grade rated. The Company reviews the financial strength of all of the single issue trust issuers and has concluded that the amortized cost remains supported by the market value of these securities and they are performing.

AFS other bonds and obligations
At March 31, 2016, 2 of the total 8 securities in the Company’s portfolio of other bonds and obligations were in unrealized loss positions. Aggregate unrealized losses represented 0.3% of the amortized cost of securities in unrealized loss positions. The securities are investment grade rated and there were no material underlying credit downgrades during the quarter. All securities are performing.

Marketable Equity Securities
In evaluating its marketable equity securities portfolio for OTTI, the Company considers its ability to more likely than not hold an equity security to recovery. The Company additionally considers other various factors including the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost and the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer. Any OTTI is recognized immediately through earnings. At March 31, 2016, 11 out of the total 26 securities in the Company’s portfolio of marketable equity securities were in an unrealized loss position. The unrealized loss represented 10.0% of the amortized cost of the securities. The Company has the ability and intent to hold the securities until recovery of their cost basis and does not consider the securities other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2016. As new information becomes available in future periods, changes to the Company’s assumptions may be warranted and could lead to a different conclusion regarding the OTTI of these securities.

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NOTE 4. LOANS

The Company’s loan portfolio is segregated into the following segments: commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, residential mortgage, and consumer. Commercial real estate loans include construction, single and multi-family, and other commercial real estate classes. Commercial and industrial loans include asset based lending loans, lease financing and other commercial business loan classes. Residential mortgage loans include classes for 1-4 family owner occupied and construction loans. Consumer loans include home equity, direct and indirect auto, and other. These portfolio segments each have unique risk characteristics that are considered when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses. A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is secured by real estate in western Massachusetts, southern Vermont, northeastern New York, and in the Bank’s other New England lending areas. The ability of many of the Bank’s borrowers to honor their contracts is dependent, among other things, on the specific economy and real estate markets of these areas.

Total loans include business activity loans and acquired loans. Acquired loans are those loans acquired from Firestone Financial Corp., Hampden Bancorp, Inc., the New York branch acquisition, Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc., The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company, Legacy Bancorp, Inc., and Rome Bancorp, Inc. The following is a summary of total loans:
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
(In thousands)
Business
Activities Loans
Acquired
Loans
Total
 
Business
Activities Loans
Acquired
Loans
Total
Commercial real estate:
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Construction
$
216,745

$
39,542

$
256,287

 
$
210,196

$
43,474

$
253,670

Single and multi-family
224,741

35,664

260,405

 
214,823

36,783

251,606

Other commercial real estate
1,251,087

332,288

1,583,375

 
1,209,008

345,483

1,554,491

Total commercial real estate
1,692,573

407,494

2,100,067

 
1,634,027

425,740

2,059,767

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial loans:
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Asset based lending
336,749


336,749

 
331,253


331,253

Other commercial and industrial loans
516,742

200,649

717,391

 
495,979

221,031

717,010

Total commercial and industrial loans
853,491

200,649

1,054,140

 
827,232

221,031

1,048,263

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total commercial loans
2,546,064

608,143

3,154,207

 
2,461,259

646,771

3,108,030

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages:
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

1-4 family
1,414,338

317,626

1,731,964

 
1,454,233

332,747

1,786,980

Construction
20,319

1,339

21,658

 
26,704

1,351

28,055

Total residential mortgages
1,434,657

318,965

1,753,622

 
1,480,937

334,098

1,815,035

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans:
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Home equity
306,451

51,534

357,985

 
307,159

53,446

360,605

Auto and other
341,127

119,749

460,876

 
311,328

130,238

441,566

Total consumer loans
647,578

171,283

818,861

 
618,487

183,684

802,171

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans
$
4,628,299

$
1,098,391

$
5,726,690

 
$
4,560,683

$
1,164,553

$
5,725,236


The carrying amount of the acquired loans at March 31, 2016 totaled $1.1 billion. A subset of these loans was determined to have evidence of credit deterioration at acquisition date, which is accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30. These purchased credit-impaired loans presently maintain a carrying value of $18.3 million (and a note balance of $33.3 million). These loans are evaluated for impairment through the periodic reforecasting of expected cash flows. Loans considered not impaired at acquisition date had a carrying amount of $1.1 billion.


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At December 31, 2015, acquired loans maintained a carrying value of $1.2 billion and purchased credit-impaired loans totaled $21.4 million (note balance of $40.2 million). Loans considered not impaired at acquisition date had a carrying amount of $1.1 billion.

The following table summarizes activity in the accretable yield for the acquired loan portfolio that falls under the purview of ASC 310-30, Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer.
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
 
2016
 
2015
Balance at beginning of period
 
$
6,925

 
$
2,541

Acquisitions
 

 

Reclassification from nonaccretable difference for loans with improved cash flows
 
896

 
1,330

Reclassification to TDR
 
(185
)
 

 Accretion
 
(1,172
)
 
(440
)
Balance at end of period
 
$
6,464

 
$
3,431


The following is a summary of past due loans at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

Business Activities Loans
(in thousands)
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
90
Days or Greater Past
Due
 
Total Past
Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
 
Past Due >
90 days and
Accruing
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Construction
 
$

 
$
2,000

 
$
59

 
$
2,059

 
$
214,686

 
$
216,745

 
$

Single and multi-family
 

 
121

 
278

 
399

 
224,342

 
224,741

 

Other commercial real estate
 
800

 
249

 
4,077

 
5,126

 
1,245,961

 
1,251,087

 
441

Total
 
800

 
2,370

 
4,414

 
7,584

 
1,684,989

 
1,692,573

 
441

Commercial and industrial loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Asset based lending
 

 

 

 

 
336,749

 
336,749

 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
1,385

 
211

 
7,231

 
8,827

 
507,915

 
516,742

 
567

Total
 
1,385

 
211

 
7,231

 
8,827

 
844,664

 
853,491

 
567

Residential mortgages:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

1-4 family
 
2,216

 
774

 
3,424

 
6,414

 
1,407,924

 
1,414,338

 
670

Construction
 

 
45

 

 
45

 
20,274

 
20,319

 

Total
 
2,216

 
819

 
3,424

 
6,459

 
1,428,198

 
1,434,657

 
670

Consumer loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity
 
466

 
23

 
1,891

 
2,380

 
304,071

 
306,451

 
25

Auto and other
 
805

 
163

 
379

 
1,347

 
339,780

 
341,127

 

Total
 
1,271

 
186

 
2,270

 
3,727

 
643,851

 
647,578

 
25

Total
 
$
5,672

 
$
3,586

 
$
17,339

 
$
26,597

 
$
4,601,702

 
$
4,628,299

 
$
1,703


19

Table of Contents

Business Activities Loans
(in thousands)
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
90
Days or Greater Past
Due
 
Total Past
Due
 
Current
 
Total Loans
 
Past Due >
90 days and
Accruing
December 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Construction
 
$

 
$

 
$
58

 
$
58

 
$
210,138

 
$
210,196

 
$

Single and multi-family
 
65

 
160

 
70

 
295

 
214,528

 
214,823

 

Other commercial real estate
 
1,523

 
831

 
3,286

 
5,640

 
1,203,368

 
1,209,008

 

Total
 
1,588

 
991

 
3,414

 
5,993

 
1,628,034

 
1,634,027

 

Commercial and industrial loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Asset based lending
 

 

 

 

 
331,253

 
331,253

 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
1,202

 
1,105

 
7,770

 
10,077

 
485,902

 
495,979

 
146

Total
 
1,202

 
1,105

 
7,770

 
10,077

 
817,155

 
827,232

 
146

Residential mortgages:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

1-4 family
 
3,537

 
857

 
4,304

 
8,698

 
1,445,535

 
1,454,233

 
2,006

Construction
 

 

 

 

 
26,704

 
26,704

 

Total
 
3,537

 
857

 
4,304

 
8,698

 
1,472,239

 
1,480,937

 
2,006

Consumer loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity
 
563

 
20

 
1,658

 
2,241

 
304,918

 
307,159

 
61

Auto and other
 
1,230

 
132

 
610

 
1,972

 
309,356

 
311,328

 
59

Total
 
1,793

 
152

 
2,268

 
4,213

 
614,274

 
618,487

 
120

Total
 
$
8,120

 
$
3,105

 
$
17,756

 
$
28,981

 
$
4,531,702

 
$
4,560,683

 
$
2,272


Acquired Loans
(in thousands)
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
90
Days or Greater Past
Due
 
Total Past
Due
 
Acquired
Credit
Impaired
 
Total Loans
 
Past Due >
90 days and
Accruing
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Construction
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,276

 
$
39,542

 
$

Single and multi-family
 

 

 
396

 
396

 
1,380

 
35,664

 
300

Other commercial real estate
 
554

 
36

 
1,141

 
1,731

 
11,334

 
332,288

 
209

Total
 
554

 
36

 
1,537

 
2,127

 
13,990

 
407,494

 
509

Commercial and industrial loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Asset based lending
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
604

 
72

 
1,891

 
2,567

 
2,445

 
200,649

 
1,075

Total
 
604

 
72

 
1,891

 
2,567

 
2,445

 
200,649

 
1,075

Residential mortgages:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

1-4 family
 
1,051

 
758

 
2,105

 
3,914

 
1,613

 
317,626

 
127

Construction
 

 

 

 

 

 
1,339

 

Total
 
1,051

 
758

 
2,105

 
3,914

 
1,613

 
318,965

 
127

Consumer loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity
 
67

 
126

 
586

 
779

 
118

 
51,534

 

Auto and other
 
482

 
104

 
757

 
1,343

 
118

 
119,749

 

Total
 
549

 
230

 
1,343

 
2,122

 
236

 
171,283

 

Total
 
$
2,758

 
$
1,096

 
$
6,876

 
$
10,730

 
$
18,284

 
$
1,098,391

 
$
1,711


20

Table of Contents

Acquired Loans
(in thousands)
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
90
Days or Greater Past
Due
 
Total Past
Due
 
Acquired
Credit
Impaired
 
Total Loans
 
Past Due >
90 days and
Accruing
December 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Construction
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,298

 
$
43,474

 
$

Single and multi-family
 

 
176

 
227

 
403

 
1,380

 
36,783

 
127

Other commercial real estate
 
547

 
43

 
1,368

 
1,958

 
13,087

 
345,483

 

Total
 
547

 
219

 
1,595

 
2,361

 
15,765

 
425,740

 
127

Commercial and industrial loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Asset based lending
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
1,214

 
505

 
1,420

 
3,139

 
2,775

 
221,031

 
785

Total
 
1,214

 
505

 
1,420

 
3,139

 
2,775

 
221,031

 
785

Residential mortgages:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

1-4 family
 
2,580

 
311

 
1,880

 
4,771

 
2,572

 
332,747

 
212

Construction
 

 

 

 

 

 
1,351

 

Total
 
2,580

 
311

 
1,880

 
4,771

 
2,572

 
334,098

 
212

Consumer loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity
 
82

 
277

 
837

 
1,196

 
118

 
53,446

 
111

Auto and other
 
1,491

 
145

 
1,081

 
2,717

 
132

 
130,238

 
187

Total
 
1,573

 
422

 
1,918

 
3,913

 
250

 
183,684

 
298

Total
 
$
5,914

 
$
1,457

 
$
6,813

 
$
14,184

 
$
21,362

 
$
1,164,553

 
$
1,422






21

Table of Contents

The following is summary information pertaining to non-accrual loans at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
(In thousands)
 
Business
Activities Loans
 
Acquired
Loans (1)
 
Total
 
Business
Activities Loans
 
Acquired
Loans (2)
 
Total
Commercial real estate:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Construction
 
$
59

 
$

 
$
59

 
$
59

 
$

 
$
59

Single and multi-family
 
278

 
96

 
374

 
70

 
100

 
170

Other commercial real estate
 
3,636

 
932

 
4,568

 
3,285

 
1,368

 
4,653

Total
 
3,973

 
1,028

 
5,001

 
3,414

 
1,468

 
4,882

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
6,664

 
692

 
7,356

 
7,624

 
597

 
8,221

Total
 
6,664

 
692

 
7,356

 
7,624

 
597

 
8,221

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

1-4 family
 
2,754

 
1,978

 
4,732

 
2,298

 
1,668

 
3,966

Construction
 

 

 

 

 

 

Total
 
2,754

 
1,978

 
4,732

 
2,298

 
1,668

 
3,966

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Home equity
 
1,866

 
586

 
2,452

 
1,597

 
727

 
2,324

Auto and other
 
379

 
757

 
1,136

 
551

 
893

 
1,444

Total
 
2,245

 
1,343

 
3,588

 
2,148

 
1,620

 
3,768

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total non-accrual loans
 
$
15,636

 
$
5,041

 
$
20,677

 
$
15,484

 
$
5,353

 
$
20,837

_______________________________________
(1)  At quarter end March 31, 2016, acquired credit impaired loans accounted for $124.0 thousand of non-accrual loans that are not presented in the above table.
(2)  At December 31, 2015, acquired credit impaired loans accounted for $39.0 thousand of non-accrual loans that are not presented in the above table.


























22

Table of Contents

Loans evaluated for impairment as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows:

Business Activities Loans
(In thousands)
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Commercial and
industrial loans
 
Residential
mortgages
 
Consumer
 
Total
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans receivable:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at end of period
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
13,005

 
$
6,269

 
$
3,102

 
$
2,032

 
$
24,408

Collectively evaluated
 
1,679,568

 
847,222

 
1,431,555

 
645,546

 
4,603,891

Total
 
$
1,692,573

 
$
853,491

 
$
1,434,657

 
$
647,578

 
$
4,628,299


Business Activities Loans
(In thousands)
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Commercial and
industrial loans
 
Residential
mortgages
 
Consumer
 
Total
December 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans receivable:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at end of year
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
11,560

 
$
7,191

 
$
2,812

 
$
1,810

 
$
23,373

Collectively evaluated for impairment
 
1,622,467

 
820,041

 
1,478,125

 
616,677

 
4,537,310

Total
 
$
1,634,027

 
$
827,232

 
$
1,480,937

 
$
618,487

 
$
4,560,683


Acquired Loans
(In thousands)
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Commercial and
industrial loans
 
Residential
mortgages
 
Consumer
 
Total
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans receivable:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at end of Period
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
4,069

 
$
50

 
$
650

 
$
460

 
$
5,229

Purchased credit-impaired loans
 
13,990

 
2,445

 
1,613

 
236

 
18,284

Collectively evaluated
 
389,435

 
198,154

 
316,702

 
170,587

 
1,074,878

Total
 
$
407,494

 
$
200,649

 
$
318,965

 
$
171,283

 
$
1,098,391


Acquired Loans
(In thousands)
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Commercial and
industrial loans
 
Residential
mortgages
 
Consumer
 
Total
December 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans receivable:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at end of year
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
3,749

 
$

 
$
570

 
$
487

 
$
4,806

Purchased credit-impaired loans
 
15,765

 
2,775

 
2,572

 
250

 
21,362

Collectively evaluated for impairment
 
406,226

 
218,256

 
330,956

 
182,947

 
1,138,385

Total
 
$
425,740

 
$
221,031

 
$
334,098

 
$
183,684

 
$
1,164,553


23

Table of Contents

The following is a summary of impaired loans at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

Business Activities Loans
 
 
March 31, 2016
(In thousands)
 
Recorded Investment
 
Unpaid Principal
Balance
 
Related Allowance
With no related allowance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - construction
 
$

 
$

 
$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 

 

 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
2,495

 
2,495

 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
200

 
200

 

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
1,494

 
1,494

 

Consumer - home equity
 
729

 
729

 

Consumer - other
 
1

 
1

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - construction
 
$
1,989

 
$
2,000

 
$
11

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 
128

 
144

 
16

Other commercial real estate loans
 
8,054

 
8,366

 
312

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
5,939

 
6,069

 
130

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
1,457

 
1,608

 
151

Consumer - home equity
 
1,148

 
1,197

 
49

Consumer - other
 
98

 
105

 
7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate
 
$
12,666

 
$
13,005

 
$
339

Commercial and industrial loans
 
6,139

 
6,269

 
130

Residential mortgages
 
2,951

 
3,102

 
151

Consumer
 
1,976

 
2,032

 
56

Total impaired loans
 
$
23,732

 
$
24,408

 
$
676







24

Table of Contents

Business Activities Loans
 
 
December 31, 2015
(In thousands)
 
Recorded Investment
 
Unpaid Principal
Balance
 
Related Allowance
With no related allowance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - construction
 
$
2,000

 
$
2,000

 
$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 

 

 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
4,613

 
4,613

 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
5,828

 
5,828

 

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
1,181

 
1,181

 

Consumer - home equity
 
702

 
702

 

Consumer - other
 
1

 
1

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - construction
 
$

 
$

 
$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 

 

 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
4,798

 
4,947

 
149

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
1,341

 
1,362

 
21

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
1,479

 
1,632

 
153

Consumer - home equity
 
903

 
999

 
96

Consumer - other
 
101

 
108

 
7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate
 
$
11,411

 
$
11,560

 
$
149

Commercial and industrial loans
 
7,169

 
7,190

 
21

Residential mortgages
 
2,660

 
2,813

 
153

Consumer
 
1,707

 
1,810

 
103

Total impaired loans
 
$
22,947

 
$
23,373

 
$
426



25

Table of Contents

Acquired Loans
 
 
March 31, 2016
(In thousands)
 
Recorded Investment
 
Unpaid Principal
Balance
 
Related Allowance
With no related allowance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - construction
 
$

 
$

 
$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 
125

 
125

 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
478

 
478

 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
315

 
315

 

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 

 

 

Consumer - home equity
 

 

 

Consumer - other
 
152

 
152

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - construction
 
$

 
$

 
$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 
780

 
823

 
43

Other commercial real estate loans
 
2,502

 
2,641

 
139

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
50

 
52

 
2

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
298

 
335

 
37

Consumer - home equity
 
284

 
308

 
24

Consumer - other
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate
 
$
3,885

 
$
4,067

 
$
182

Commercial and industrial loans
 
365

 
367

 
2

Residential mortgages
 
298

 
335

 
37

Consumer
 
436

 
460

 
24

Total impaired loans
 
$
4,984

 
$
5,229

 
$
245


Acquired Loans
 
 
December 31, 2015
(In thousands)
 
Recorded Investment
 
Unpaid Principal
Balance
 
Related Allowance
With no related allowance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
$
1,722

 
$
1,722

 
$

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
274

 
274

 

Consumer - home equity
 
117

 
117

 

Consumer - other
 
177

 
177

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 
$
638

 
$
655

 
$
17

Other commercial real estate loans
 
1,964

 
2,032

 
68

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
266

 
296

 
30

Consumer - home equity
 
167

 
192

 
25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 

 
 

 
 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
$
4,324

 
$
4,409

 
$
85

Other commercial and industrial loans
 

 

 

Residential mortgages
 
540

 
570

 
30

Consumer - home equity
 
461

 
486

 
25

Total impaired loans
 
$
5,325

 
$
5,465

 
$
140


26

Table of Contents

The following is a summary of the average recorded investment and interest income recognized on impaired loans as of March 31, 2016 and 2015:

Business Activities Loans
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
(in thousands)
 
Average Recorded
Investment
 
Cash Basis Interest
Income Recognized
 
Average Recorded
Investment
 
Cash Basis Interest
Income Recognized
With no related allowance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - construction
 
$

 
$

 
$
2,628

 
$
1

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 

 

 
180

 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
3,166

 

 
15,315

 
131

Commercial and industrial loans
 
734

 
13

 
578

 
3

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
1,520

 
2

 
3,108

 
28

Consumer - home equity
 
663

 
4

 
334

 

Consumer - other
 
1

 

 
115

 
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate - construction
 
$
2,000

 
$
28

 
$

 
$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 
97

 
1

 

 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
8,143

 
81

 
5,267

 

Commercial and industrial loans
 
5,962

 
84

 

 

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
1,619

 
19

 

 

Consumer - home equity
 
1,197

 
8

 

 

Consumer - other
 
106

 
1

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial real estate
 
$
13,406

 
$
110

 
$
23,390

 
$
132

Commercial and industrial loans
 
6,696

 
97

 
578

 
3

Residential mortgages
 
3,139

 
21

 
3,108

 
28

Consumer loans
 
1,967

 
13

 
449

 
1

Total impaired loans
 
$
25,208

 
$
241

 
$
27,525

 
$
164


27

Table of Contents

Acquired Loans
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
(in thousands)
 
Average Recorded
Investment
 
Cash Basis Interest
Income Recognized
 
Average Recorded
Investment
 
Cash Basis Interest
Income Recognized
With no related allowance:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

  Commercial real estate - construction
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 
126

 
2

 
2,892

 
24

Other commercial real estate loans
 
760

 

 
1,662

 
3

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
261

 

 
64

 
3

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
12

 

 
670

 
3

Consumer - home equity
 

 

 
197

 
2

Consumer - other
 
169

 
1

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

  Commercial real estate - construction
 
$

 
$

 
$
666

 
$
44

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily
 
825

 
11

 
397

 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
2,569

 
44

 
691

 

Other commercial and industrial loans
 
53

 

 

 

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family
 
334

 
3

 
569

 

Consumer - home equity
 
309

 
2

 
349

 

Consumer - other
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Other commercial real estate loans
 
$
4,280

 
$
57

 
$
6,308

 
$
71

Commercial and industrial loans
 
314

 

 
64

 
3

Residential mortgages
 
346

 
3

 
1,239

 
3

Consumer loans
 
478

 
3

 
546

 
2

Total impaired loans
 
$
5,418

 
$
63

 
$
8,157

 
$
79


Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans
The Company’s loan portfolio also includes certain loans that have been modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring (TDR), where economic concessions have been granted to borrowers who have experienced or are expected to experience financial difficulties. These concessions typically result from the Company’s loss mitigation activities and could include reductions in the interest rate, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions. Certain TDRs are classified as nonperforming at the time of restructure and may only be returned to performing status after considering the borrower’s sustained repayment performance for a reasonable period, generally six months. TDRs are evaluated individually for impairment and may result in a specific allowance amount allocated to an individual loan.

The following tables include the recorded investment and number of modifications identified during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and for the three months ended March 31, 2015, respectively. The table includes the recorded investment in the loans prior to a modification and also the recorded investment in the loans after the loans were restructured. The modifications for the three months ending March 31, 2016 were attributable to interest rate concessions, maturity date extensions, modified payment terms, reamortization, and accelerated maturity. The modifications for the three months ending March 31, 2015 were attributable to concessions granted as ordered by bankruptcy court, interest rate concessions and maturity date extensions.

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Number of
Modifications
 
Pre-Modification
Outstanding Recorded
Investment
 
Post-Modification
Outstanding Recorded
Investment
Troubled Debt Restructurings
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial - Other
 
2

 
1,049

 
1,049

Commercial and industrial - Other
 
2

 
151

 
151

Total
 
4

 
1,200

 
1,200


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Table of Contents

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Number of
Modifications
 
Pre-Modification
Outstanding Recorded
Investment
 
Post-Modification
Outstanding Recorded
Investment
Troubled Debt Restructurings
 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial - Construction
 
1

 
$
123

 
$
123

Commercial - Other
 
1

 
2,000

 
2,000

Commercial and industrial - Other
 
1

 
33

 
33

Total
 
3

 
$
2,156

 
$
2,156

 


The following table discloses the recorded investment and number of modifications for TDRs for the prior year where a concession has been made, that then defaulted in the respective reporting period. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, there were no loans that were restructured that had subsequently defaulted during the period.

 
Modifications that Subsequently Defaulted
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Number of Contracts
 
Recorded Investment
Troubled Debt Restructurings
 

 
 

Commercial - Other
1

 
$
668



The following table presents the Company’s TDR activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
 
2016
 
2015
Balance at beginning of the period
 
$
22,048

 
$
16,714

Principal payments
 
(342
)
 
(484
)
TDR status change (1)
 
2,235

 

Other reductions/increases (2)
 
(1,487
)
 
(1,182
)
Newly identified TDRs
 
1,200

 
2,156

Balance at end of the period
 
$
23,654

 
$
17,204

_______________________________________
(1) TDR status change classification represents TDR loans with a specified interest rate equal to or greater than the rate that the Company was willing to accept at the time of the restructuring for a new loan with comparable risk and  the loan was on current payment status and not impaired based on the terms specified by the restructuring agreement.
(2) Other reductions classification consists of transfer to other real estate owned and charge-offs and advances to loans.

The evaluation of certain loans individually for specific impairment includes loans that were previously classified as TDRs or continue to be classified as TDRs.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company maintained foreclosed residential real estate property with a fair value of $390 thousand. Additionally, residential mortgage loans collateralized by real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 totaled $5.5 million and $7.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, foreclosed residential real estate property totaled $675 thousand.



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NOTE 5.               LOAN LOSS ALLOWANCE

Activity in the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:
Business Activities Loans
(In thousands)
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Commercial and
industrial loans
 
Residential
mortgages
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at beginning of period
 
$
14,508

 
$
7,317

 
$
7,566

 
$
4,956

 
$
227

 
$
34,574

Charged-off loans
 
1,044

 
965

 
547

 
401

 

 
2,957

Recoveries on charged-off loans
 
128

 
74

 

 
67

 

 
269

Provision/(releases) for loan losses
 
2,451

 
2,203

 
42

 
(553
)
 
(531
)
 
3,612

Balance at end of period
 
$
16,043

 
$
8,629

 
$
7,061

 
$
4,069

 
$
(304
)
 
$
35,498

Individually evaluated for impairment
 
340

 
130

 
151

 
56

 

 
677

Collectively evaluated
 
15,703

 
8,499

 
6,910

 
4,013

 
(304
)
 
34,821

Total
 
$
16,043

 
$
8,629

 
$
7,061

 
$
4,069

 
$
(304
)
 
$
35,498


Business Activities Loans
(In thousands)
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Commercial and
industrial loans
 
Residential
mortgages
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
March 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at beginning of period
 
$
14,690

 
$
5,206

 
$
6,836

 
$
5,928

 
$
135

 
$
32,795

Charged-off loans
 
1,605

 
223

 
128

 
202

 

 
2,158

Recoveries on charged-off loans
 
3

 
5

 
67

 
61

 

 
136

Provision/(releases) for loan losses
 
1,330

 
1,460

 
(702
)
 
(751
)
 
158

 
1,495

Balance at end of period
 
$
14,418

 
$
6,448

 
$
6,073

 
$
5,036

 
$
293

 
$
32,268

Individually evaluated for impairment
 
1,086

 

 

 

 

 
1,086

Collectively evaluated
 
13,332

 
6,448

 
6,073

 
5,036

 
293

 
31,182

Total
 
$
14,418

 
$
6,448

 
$
6,073

 
$
5,036

 
$
293

 
$
32,268


Acquired Loans
(In thousands)
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Commercial and
industrial loans
 
Residential
mortgages
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at beginning of period
 
$
1,903

 
$
1,330

 
$
976

 
$
525

 
$

 
$
4,734

Charged-off loans
 
126

 
25

 
310

 
286

 

 
747

Recoveries on charged-off loans
 
(1
)
 
69

 
83

 
25

 

 
176

Provision for loan losses
 
187

 
(99
)
 
145

 
161

 

 
394

Balance at end of period
 
$
1,963

 
$
1,275

 
$
894

 
$
425

 
$

 
$
4,557

Individually evaluated for impairment
 
182

 
2

 
37

 
24

 

 
245

Purchased credit-impaired loans
 

 

 

 

 

 

Collectively evaluated
 
1,781

 
1,273

 
857

 
401

 

 
4,312

Total
 
$
1,963

 
$
1,275

 
$
894

 
$
425

 
$

 
$
4,557



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Table of Contents

Acquired Loans
(In thousands)
 
Commercial
real estate
 
Commercial and
industrial loans
 
Residential
mortgages
 
Consumer
 
Unallocated
 
Total
March 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at beginning of period
 
$
790

 
$
1,093

 
$
615

 
$
369

 
$

 
$
2,867

Charged-off loans
 
405

 
198

 
238

 
433

 

 
1,274

Recoveries on charged-off loans
 

 
41

 

 
28

 

 
69

Provision for loan losses
 
1,579

 
(11
)
 
372

 
416

 

 
2,356

Balance at end of period
 
$
1,964

 
$
925

 
$
749

 
$
380

 
$

 
$
4,018

Individually evaluated for impairment
 
455

 

 
52

 
61

 

 
568

Purchased credit-impaired loans
 

 

 

 

 

 

Collectively evaluated
 
1,509

 
925

 
697

 
319

 

 
3,450

Total
 
$
1,964

 
$
925

 
$
749

 
$
380

 
$

 
$
4,018


Credit Quality Information
Business Activities Loans Credit Quality Analysis
The Company monitors the credit quality of its portfolio by using internal risk ratings that are based on regulatory guidance. Loans that are given a Pass rating are not considered a problem credit. Loans that are classified as Special Mention loans are considered to have potential credit problems and are evaluated closely by management. Substandard and non-accruing loans are loans for which a definitive weakness has been identified and which may make full collection of contractual cash flows questionable. Doubtful loans are those with identified weaknesses that make full collection of contractual cash flows, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable. 

For commercial credits, the Company assigns an internal risk rating at origination and reviews the rating annually, semiannually or quarterly depending on the risk rating. The rating is also reassessed at any point in time when management becomes aware of information that may affect the borrower’s ability to fulfill their obligations.

The Company risk rates its residential mortgages, including 1-4 family and residential construction loans, based on a three rating system: Pass, Special Mention and Substandard. Loans that are current within 59 days are rated Pass. Residential mortgages that are 60-89 days delinquent are rated Special Mention. Loans delinquent for 90 days or greater are rated Substandard and generally placed on non-accrual status. Home equity loans are risk rated based on the same rating system as the Company’s residential mortgages.

Ratings for other consumer loans, including auto loans, are based on a two rating system. Loans that are current within 119 days are rated Performing while loans delinquent for 120 days or more are rated Non-performing. Other consumer loans are placed on non-accrual at such time as they become Non-performing.

Acquired Loans Credit Quality Analysis
Upon acquiring a loan portfolio, our internal loan review function assigns risk ratings to the acquired loans, utilizing the same methodology as it does with business activities loans. This may differ from the risk rating policy of the predecessor bank. Loans which are rated Substandard or worse according to the rating process outlined below are deemed to be credit impaired loans accounted for under ASC 310-30, regardless of whether they are classified as performing or non-performing.

The Bank utilizes an eleven grade internal loan rating system for each of its acquired commercial real estate, construction and commercial loans as outlined in the Credit Quality Information section of this Note. The ratings system is similar to loans originated through business activities.

The Company subjects loans that do not meet the ASC 310-30 criteria to ASC 450-20 by collectively evaluating these loans for an allowance for loan loss. The Company applies a methodology similar to the methodology prescribed for business activities loans, which includes the application of environmental factors to each category of loans. The methodology to collectively evaluate the acquired loans outside the scope of ASC 310-30 includes the application of a number of environmental factors that reflect management’s best estimate of the level of incremental credit losses that might be recognized given current conditions. This is reviewed as part of the allowance for loan loss adequacy analysis. As the loan portfolio matures and environmental factors change, the loan portfolio will be reassessed each quarter to determine an appropriate reserve allowance.


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Table of Contents

Additionally, the Company considers the need for an additional reserve for acquired loans accounted for outside of the scope of ASC 310-30 under ASC 310-20. At acquisition date, the Bank determined a fair value mark with credit and interest rate components. Under the Company’s model, the impairment evaluation process involves comparing the carrying value of acquired loans, including the entire unamortized premium or discount, to the recorded reserve allowance. If necessary, the Company books an additional reserve to account for shortfalls identified through this calculation. Fair value marks are not bifurcated when evaluating for impairment.

A decrease in the expected cash flows in subsequent periods requires the establishment of an allowance for loan losses at that time for ASC 310-30 loans. At March 31, 2016 the allowance for loan losses related to acquired loans under ASC 310-30 and ASC 310-20 was $4.6 million using the above mentioned criteria.

The following tables present the Company’s loans by risk rating at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

Business Activities Loans
Commercial Real Estate
Credit Risk Profile by Creditworthiness Category
 
 
Construction
 
Single and multi-family
 
Other
 
Total commercial real estate
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Grade:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Pass
 
$
214,685

 
$
208,138

 
$
222,153

 
$
212,900

 
$
1,198,961

 
$
1,155,770

 
$
1,635,799

 
$
1,576,808

Special mention
 

 

 
72

 

 
4,339

 
3,449

 
4,411

 
3,449

Substandard
 
2,060

 
2,058

 
2,516

 
1,923

 
47,714

 
49,716

 
52,290

 
53,697

Doubtful
 

 

 

 

 
73

 
73

 
73

 
73

Total
 
$
216,745

 
$
210,196

 
$
224,741

 
$
214,823

 
$
1,251,087

 
$
1,209,008

 
$
1,692,573

 
$
1,634,027


Commercial and Industrial Loans
Credit Risk Profile by Creditworthiness Category
 
 
Asset based lending
 
Other
 
Total comm. and industrial loans
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Grade:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Pass
 
$
336,749

 
$
331,253

 
$
474,141

 
$
455,710

 
$
810,890

 
$
786,963

Special mention
 

 

 
20,303

 
24,578

 
20,303

 
24,578

Substandard
 

 

 
22,298

 
15,691

 
22,298

 
15,691

Total
 
$
336,749

 
$
331,253

 
$
516,742

 
$
495,979

 
$
853,491

 
$
827,232


Residential Mortgages
Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade
 
 
1-4 family
 
Construction
 
Total residential mortgages
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Grade:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Pass
 
$
1,410,096

 
$
1,449,073

 
$
20,319

 
$
26,704

 
$
1,430,415

 
$
1,475,777

Special mention
 
819

 
857

 

 

 
819

 
857

Substandard
 
3,423

 
4,303

 

 

 
3,423

 
4,303

Total
 
$
1,414,338

 
$
1,454,233

 
$
20,319

 
$
26,704

 
$
1,434,657

 
$
1,480,937









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Table of Contents

Consumer Loans
Credit Risk Profile Based on Payment Activity
 
 
Home equity
 
Auto and other
 
Total consumer loans
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Performing
 
$
304,585

 
$
305,562

 
$
340,748

 
$
310,777

 
$
645,333

 
$
616,339

Nonperforming
 
1,866

 
1,597

 
379

 
551

 
2,245

 
2,148

Total
 
$
306,451

 
$
307,159

 
$
341,127

 
$
311,328

 
$
647,578

 
$
618,487


Acquired Loans
Commercial Real Estate
Credit Risk Profile by Creditworthiness Category
 
 
Construction
 
Single and multi-family
 
Other
 
Total commercial real estate
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Grade:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Pass
 
$
38,266

 
$
42,176

 
$
29,898

 
$
32,796

 
$
312,590

 
$
324,614

 
$
380,754

 
$
399,586

Special mention
 

 

 

 
655

 
2,403

 
352

 
2,403

 
1,007

Substandard
 
1,276

 
1,298

 
5,766

 
3,332

 
17,295

 
20,517

 
24,337

 
25,147

Total
 
$
39,542

 
$
43,474

 
$
35,664

 
$
36,783

 
$
332,288

 
$
345,483

 
$
407,494

 
$
425,740


Commercial and Industrial Loans
Credit Risk Profile by Creditworthiness Category
 
 
Asset based lending
 
Other
 
Total comm. and industrial loans
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Grade:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Pass
 
$

 
$

 
$
193,102

 
$
212,825

 
$
193,102

 
$
212,825

Special mention
 

 

 
180

 
487

 
180

 
487

Substandard
 

 

 
7,367

 
7,719

 
7,367

 
7,719

Total
 
$

 
$

 
$
200,649

 
$
221,031

 
$
200,649

 
$
221,031


Residential Mortgages
Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade
 
 
1-4 family
 
Construction
 
Total residential mortgages
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Grade:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Pass
 
$
314,550

 
$
329,375

 
$
1,339

 
$
1,351

 
$
315,889

 
$
330,726

Special mention
 
775

 
311

 

 

 
775

 
311

Substandard
 
2,301

 
3,061

 

 

 
2,301

 
3,061

Total
 
$
317,626

 
$
332,747

 
$
1,339

 
$
1,351

 
$
318,965

 
$
334,098


Consumer Loans
Credit Risk Profile Based on Payment Activity
 
 
Home equity
 
Auto and other
 
Total consumer loans
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Performing
 
$
50,949

 
$
52,719

 
$
118,992

 
$
129,345

 
$
169,941

 
$
182,064

Nonperforming
 
585

 
727

 
757

 
893

 
1,342

 
1,620

Total
 
$
51,534

 
$
53,446

 
$
119,749

 
$
130,238

 
$
171,283

 
$
183,684

 

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Table of Contents

The following table summarizes information about total loans rated Special Mention or lower as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The table below includes consumer loans that are special mention and substandard accruing that are classified in the above table as performing based on payment activity.
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
(In thousands)
 
Business
Activities Loans
 
Acquired Loans
 
Total
 
Business
Activities Loans
 
Acquired Loans
 
Total
Non-Accrual
 
$
15,636

 
$
5,165

 
$
20,801

 
$
15,484

 
$
5,391

 
$
20,875

Substandard Accruing
 
64,718

 
30,317

 
95,035

 
60,549

 
32,560

 
93,109

Total Classified
 
80,354

 
35,482

 
115,836

 
76,033

 
37,951

 
113,984

Special Mention
 
25,717

 
3,598

 
29,315

 
29,036

 
2,259

 
31,295

Total Criticized
 
$
106,071

 
$
39,080

 
$
145,151

 
$
105,069

 
$
40,210

 
$
145,279



NOTE 6.               DEPOSITS

A summary of time deposits is as follows:
(In thousands)
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Time less than $100,000
 
$
549,189

 
$
545,819

Time $100,000 or more
 
1,507,625

 
1,440,781

Total time deposits
 
$
2,056,814

 
$
1,986,600


Included in time deposits are brokered deposits of $812.2 million and $784.1 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Included in the deposit balances contained on the balance sheet, the Company maintained reciprocal deposits of $102.6 million and $101.5 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.


NOTE 7.               BORROWED FUNDS

Borrowed funds at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are summarized, as follows:
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
Average
(dollars in thousands, except rates)
 
Principal
 
Rate
 
Principal
 
Rate
Short-term borrowings:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Advances from the FHLBB
 
$
930,700

 
0.52
%
 
$
1,071,200

 
0.43
%
Other Borrowings
 
10,000

 
2.09

 

 

Total short-term borrowings
 
940,700

 
0.53

 
1,071,200

 
0.43

Long-term borrowings:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Advances from the FHLBB
 
140,196

 
1.58

 
103,135

 
1.89

Subordinated notes
 
73,563

 
7.00

 
73,519

 
7.00

Junior subordinated borrowings
 
15,464

 
2.47

 
15,464

 
2.23

Total long-term borrowings
 
229,223

 
3.38

 
192,118

 
3.88

Total
 
$
1,169,923

 
1.09
%
 
$
1,263,318

 
0.96
%

Short term debt includes Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”) advances with an original maturity of less than one year and a short-term line-of-credit drawdown through a correspondent bank. The Bank also maintains a $3.0 million secured line of credit with the FHLBB that bears a daily adjustable rate calculated by the FHLBB. There was no outstanding balance on the FHLBB line of credit during the three month periods ending March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

The Bank is approved to borrow on a short-term basis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as a non-member bank. The Bank has pledged certain loans and securities to the Federal Reserve Bank to support this arrangement. No borrowings with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston took place for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

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Table of Contents

Long-term FHLBB advances consist of advances with an original maturity of more than one year. The advances outstanding at March 31, 2016 include callable advances totaling $11.0 million, and amortizing advances totaling $1.2 million. The advances outstanding at December 31, 2015 include callable advances totaling $11.0 million, and amortizing advances totaling $1.2 million. All FHLBB borrowings, including the line of credit, are secured by a blanket security agreement on certain qualified collateral, principally all residential first mortgage loans and certain securities.

A summary of maturities of FHLBB advances as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is as follows:
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
 
 
Average
(in thousands, except rates)
 
Principal
 
Rate
Fixed rate advances maturing:
 
 

 
 

2016
 
$
970,903

 
0.55
%
2017
 
83,316

 
1.49

2018
 
1,026

 
2.62

2019
 

 

2020 and beyond
 
15,651

 
2.41

Total FHLBB advances
 
$
1,070,896

 
0.66
%

The Company does not have variable-rate FHLBB advances for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. In September 2012, the Company issued fifteen year subordinated notes in the amount of $75.0 million at a discount of 1.15%.  The interest rate is fixed at 6.875% for the first ten years. After ten years, the notes become callable and convert to an interest rate of three-month LIBOR rate plus 511.3% basis points. The subordinated note includes reduction to the note principal balance of $798 thousand and $829 thousand for unamortized debt issuance costs as of March 31, 2016 and December 31 2015, respectively.

The Company holds 100% of the common stock of Berkshire Hills Capital Trust I (“Trust I”) which is included in other assets with a cost of $0.5 million. The sole asset of Trust I is $15.5 million of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures due in 2035. These debentures bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.85% and had a rate of 2.47% and 2.23% at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company has the right to defer payments of interest for up to five years on the debentures at any time, or from time to time, with certain limitations, including a restriction on the payment of dividends to shareholders while such interest payments on the debentures have been deferred. The Company has not exercised this right to defer payments. The Company has the right to redeem the debentures at par value.Trust I is considered a variable interest entity for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, Trust I is not consolidated into the Company’s financial statements.

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NOTE 8.               CAPITAL RATIOS AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The actual and required capital ratios were as follows:
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
Regulatory
Minimum to be
Well Capitalized
 
December 31,
2015
 
Regulatory
Minimum to be
Well Capitalized
Company (consolidated)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total capital
 
11.8
%
 
10.0
%
 
11.9
%
 
10.0
%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital
 
9.7

 
6.5

 
9.8

 
6.5

Tier 1 capital
 
9.9

 
8.0

 
9.9

 
8.0

Tier 1 leverage
 
7.7

 
5.0

 
7.7

 
5.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bank
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total capital
 
11.1
%
 
10.0
%
 
11.2
%
 
10.0
%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital
 
9.9

 
6.5

 
9.9

 
6.5

Tier 1 capital
 
9.9

 
8.0

 
9.9

 
8.0

Tier 1 leverage
 
7.7

 
5.0

 
7.7

 
5.0


At each date shown, the Company and the Bank met the conditions to be classified as “well capitalized” under the relevant regulatory framework. To be categorized as well capitalized, an institution must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table above.

Effective January 1, 2015, the Company and the Bank became subject to the Basel III rule that requires the Company and the Bank to assess their Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to risk weighted assets and the Company and the Bank each exceed the minimum to be well capitalized. In addition, the final capital rules added a requirement to maintain a minimum conservation buffer, composed of Common equity tier 1 capital, of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets, to be phased in over three years and applied to the Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and the Total risk-based capital ratio. Accordingly, banking organizations, on a fully phased in basis no later than January 1, 2019, must maintain a minimum Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 7.0%, a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.5% and a minimum Total risk-based capital ratio of 10.5%.

The required minimum conservation buffer began to be phased in incrementally, starting at 0.625% on January 1, 2016 and will increase to 1.25% on January 1, 2017, 1.875% on January 1, 2018 and 2.5% on January 1, 2019. The final capital rules impose restrictions on capital distributions and certain discretionary cash bonus payments if the minimum capital conservation buffer is not met.

At March 31, 2016, the capital levels of both the Company and the Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements and their regulatory capital ratios were above the minimum levels required to be considered well capitalized for regulatory purposes. The capital levels of both the Company and the Bank at March 31, 2016 also exceeded the minimum capital requirements including the currently applicable capital conservation buffer of 0.625%.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income is as follows:
(In thousands)
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Other accumulated comprehensive income, before tax:
 
 

 
 

Net unrealized holding gain on AFS securities
 
$
24,023

 
$
6,316

Net (loss) on effective cash flow hedging derivatives
 
(13,038
)
 
(8,532
)
Net unrealized holding (loss) on pension plans
 
(3,469
)
 
(3,469
)
 
 
 
 
 
Income taxes related to items of accumulated other comprehensive income:
 
 

 
 

Net unrealized holding gain on AFS securities
 
(9,293
)
 
(2,437
)
Net (loss) on effective cash flow hedging derivatives
 
5,232

 
3,425

Net unrealized holding (loss) on pension plans
 
1,392

 
1,392

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
$
4,847

 
$
(3,305
)

36

Table of Contents


The following table presents the components of other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
(In thousands)
 
Before Tax
 
Tax Effect
 
Net of Tax
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net unrealized holding gains on AFS securities:
 
x

 
x

 
 

Net unrealized gains arising during the period
 
$
17,742

 
$
(6,869
)
 
$
10,873

Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) realized in net income
 
(36
)
 
13

 
(23
)
Net unrealized holding gain on AFS securities
 
17,706

 
(6,856
)
 
10,850

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss on cash flow hedging derivatives:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net unrealized loss arising during the period
 
(4,914
)
 
1,972

 
(2,942
)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses realized in net income
 
408

 
(164
)
 
244

Net loss on cash flow hedging derivatives
 
(4,506
)
 
1,808

 
(2,698
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized holding loss on pension plans
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net unrealized loss arising during the period
 

 

 

Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses realized in net income
 

 

 

Net unrealized holding loss on pension plans
 

 

 

Other comprehensive income
 
$
13,200

 
$
(5,048
)
 
$
8,152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net unrealized holding loss on AFS securities:
 
 
 
 

 
 

Net unrealized loss arising during the period
 
$
9,371

 
$
(3,617
)
 
$
5,754

Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) realized in net income
 
(34
)
 
12

 
(22
)
Net unrealized holding loss on AFS securities
 
9,337

 
(3,605
)
 
5,732

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net gain on cash flow hedging derivatives:
 
 

 
 
 
 

Net unrealized gain arising during the period
 
(3,901
)
 
1,572

 
(2,329
)
Less: reclassification adjustment for losses realized in net income
 

 

 

Net gain on cash flow hedging derivatives
 
(3,901
)
 
1,572

 
(2,329
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized holding loss on pension plans
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net unrealized loss arising during the period
 
(1,596
)
 
643

 
(953
)
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income
 
65

 
(26
)
 
39

Net unrealized holding loss on pension plans
 
(1,531
)
 
617

 
(914
)
Other comprehensive income
 
$
3,905

 
$
(1,416
)
 
$
2,489


37

Table of Contents

The following table presents the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
(in thousands)
 
Net unrealized
holding gain
on AFS Securities
 
Net loss on
effective cash
flow hedging derivatives
 
Net unrealized
holding loss
on pension plans
 
Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at Beginning of Period
 
$
3,880

 
$
(5,108
)
 
$
(2,077
)
 
$
(3,305
)
Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) Before reclassifications
 
10,873

 
(2,942
)
 

 
7,931

Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
(23
)
 
244

 

 
221

Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
10,850

 
(2,698
)
 

 
8,152

Balance at End of Period
 
$
14,730

 
$
(7,806
)
 
$
(2,077
)
 
$
4,847

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balance at Beginning of Period
 
$
9,916

 
$
(1,969
)
 
$
(1,368
)
 
$
6,579

Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) Before reclassifications
 
5,754

 
(2,329
)
 
(953
)
 
2,472

Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
(22
)
 

 
39

 
17

Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
5,732

 
(2,329
)
 
(914
)
 
2,489

Balance at End of Period
 
$
15,648

 
$
(4,298
)
 
$
(2,282
)
 
$
9,068


The following table presents the amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affected Line Item in the
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Statement where Net Income
(in thousands) 
 
2016
 
2015
 
is Presented
Realized (gains) on AFS securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
$
(36
)
 
$
(34
)
 
Non-interest income
 
 
13

 
12

 
Tax expense
 
 
(23
)
 
(22
)
 
Net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized losses on cash flow hedging derivatives:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
408

 

 
Interest income
 
 
(164
)
 

 
Tax expense
 
 
244

 

 
Net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized loss on pension plans:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
65

 
Non-interest income
 
 

 
(26
)
 
Tax expense
 
 

 
39

 
Net of tax
Total reclassifications for the period
 
$
221

 
$
17

 
Net of tax

38

Table of Contents

NOTE 9. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share have been computed based on the following (average diluted shares outstanding are calculated using the treasury stock method):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)
2016
 
2015
Net income
$
16,001

 
$
8,759

 
 
 
 
Average number of common shares issued
32,162

 
26,525

Less: average number of treasury shares
1,138

 
1,295

Less: average number of unvested stock award shares
513

 
427

Average number of basic common shares outstanding
30,511

 
24,803

Plus: dilutive effect of unvested stock award shares
119

 
89

Plus: dilutive effect of stock options outstanding
58

 
63

Average number of diluted common shares outstanding
30,688

 
24,955

 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 

 
 

Basic
$
0.52

 
$
0.35

Diluted
$
0.52

 
$
0.35


For the three months ended March 31, 2016, 394 thousand shares of restricted stock and 206 thousand options were anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the earnings per share calculations. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, 338 thousand shares of restricted stock and 210 thousand options were anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the earnings per share calculations.


NOTE 10. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

A combined summary of activity in the Company’s stock award and stock option plans for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is presented in the following table:
 
 
 
Non-vested Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Awards Outstanding
 
Stock Options Outstanding
(Shares in thousands)
 
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair Value
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
December 31, 2015
 
 
488

 
$
25.09

 
265

 
$
21.11

Granted
 
 
105

 
27.78

 

 

Stock options exercised
 
 

 

 
(2
)
 
14.88

Stock awards vested
 
 
(62
)
 
24.69

 

 

Forfeited
 
 
(22
)
 
24.39

 

 

Expired
 
 

 

 

 

March 31, 2016
 
 
509

 
$
26.10

 
263

 
$
21.10

Exercisable options,
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
262

 
$
21.12


During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, proceeds from stock option exercises totaled $25 thousand and $116 thousand, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, there were 62 thousand shares issued in connection with vested stock awards. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, there were 82 thousand shares issued in connection with vested stock awards. All of these shares were issued from available treasury stock. Stock-based compensation expense totaled $1.2 million and $993 thousand during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period for all awards.

39

Table of Contents

NOTE 11. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

As of March 31, 2016, the Company held derivatives with a total notional amount of $1.5 billion. That amount included $300.0 million in interest rate swap derivatives that were designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. The Company also had economic hedges and non-hedging derivatives totaling $1.2 billion and $48.9 million, respectively, which are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes and are therefore recorded at fair value. Economic hedges included interest rate swaps totaling $1.0 billion, risk participation agreements with dealer banks of $62.7 million, and $56.8 million in forward commitment contracts.

As part of the Company’s risk management strategy, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements to mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Interest rate swap agreements involve the risk of dealing with both Bank customers and institutional derivative counterparties and their ability to meet contractual terms. The agreements are entered into with counterparties that meet established credit standards and contain master netting and collateral provisions protecting the at-risk party. The derivatives program is overseen by the Risk Management and Capital Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Based on adherence to the Company’s credit standards and the presence of the netting and collateral provisions, the Company believes that the credit risk inherent in these contracts was not significant at March 31, 2016.

The Company pledged collateral to derivative counterparties in the form of cash totaling $7.5 million and securities with an amortized cost of $54.3 million and a fair value of $55.3 million as of March 31, 2016. The Company does not typically require its commercial customers to post cash or securities as collateral on its program of back-to-back economic hedges. However certain language is written into the International Swaps Dealers Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) and loan documents where, in default situations, the Bank is allowed to access collateral supporting the loan relationship to recover any losses suffered on the derivative asset or liability. The Company may need to post additional collateral in the future in proportion to potential increases in unrealized loss positions.

Information about derivative assets and liabilities at March 31, 2016, follows:
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Weighted Average Rate
 
Estimated
 
Notional
 
Average
 
 
 
Contract
 
Fair Value
 
Amount
 
Maturity
 
Received
 
pay rate
 
Asset (Liability)
 
(In thousands)
 
(In years)
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
Cash flow hedges:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate swaps on FHLBB borrowings
$
100,000

 
2.8
 
0.43
%
 
2.10
%
 
$
(3,685
)
Forward-starting interest rate swaps on FHLBB borrowings
$
200,000

 
3.1
 
%
 
2.38
%
 
$
(9,352
)
Total cash flow hedges
300,000

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
(13,037
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Economic hedges:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate swap on tax advantaged economic development bond
11,837

 
13.7
 
0.81
%
 
5.09
%
 
(2,858
)
Interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers
511,698

 
5.5
 
2.32
%
 
4.36
%
 
(30,741
)
Reverse interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers
511,698

 
5.5
 
4.36
%
 
2.32
%
 
30,666

Risk Participation Agreements with Dealer Banks
62,672

 
14.3
 
 

 
 

 
27

Forward sale commitments
56,754

 
0.2
 
 

 
 

 
(447
)
Total economic hedges
1,154,659

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
(3,353
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-hedging derivatives:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate lock commitments
48,916

 
0.2
 
 

 
 

 
802

Total non-hedging derivatives
48,916

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
802

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
1,503,575

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
$
(15,588
)
Information about derivative assets and liabilities at December 31, 2015, follows:
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Weighted Average Rate
 
Estimated
 
Notional
 
Average
 
 
 
Contract
 
Fair Value
 
Amount
 
Maturity
 
Received
 
pay rate
 
Asset (Liability)
 
(In thousands)
 
(In years)
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
Cash flow hedges:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Forward-starting interest rate swaps on FHLBB borrowings
$
300,000

 
3.3
 
0.14
%
 
2.29
%
 
$
(8,532
)
Total cash flow hedges
300,000

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
(8,532
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Economic hedges:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate swap on tax advantaged economic development bond
11,984

 
13.9
 
0.61
%
 
5.09
%
 
(2,450
)
Interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers
457,392

 
6.7
 
2.18
%
 
4.49
%
 
(17,143
)
Reverse interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers
457,392

 
6.7
 
4.49
%
 
2.18
%
 
17,129

Risk participation agreements with dealer banks
59,016

 
15.0
 
 

 
 

 
(56
)
Forward sale commitments
44,840

 
0.2
 
 

 
 

 
53

Total economic hedges
1,030,624

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
(2,467
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-hedging derivatives:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate lock commitments
36,043

 
0.2
 
 

 
 

 
323

Total non-hedging derivatives
36,043

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
323

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
1,366,667

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
$
(10,676
)

Cash flow hedges
The effective portion of unrealized changes in the fair value of derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges is reported in other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified to earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction is forecasted to affect earnings. Each quarter, the Company assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing the changes in cash flows of the derivative hedging instrument with the changes in cash flows of the designated hedged item or transaction. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings.

The Company has entered into two interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional value of $100 million and four forward-starting interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional value of $200 million as of March 31, 2016. The four forward starting swaps will become effective in 2016. All have durations of three years. This hedge strategy converts the one month rolling FHLBB borrowings based on the FHLBB’s one month fixed interest rate to fixed interest rates, thereby protecting the Company from floating interest rate variability.














Amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Income and in the other comprehensive income section of the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (related to interest rate derivatives designated as hedges of cash flows), were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
2016
 
2015
Interest rate swaps on FHLBB borrowings:
 

 
 

Unrealized (loss) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
$
(4,914
)
 
$
(3,901
)
 
 
 
 
Reclassification of unrealized loss from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense
408

 

 
 
 
 
Net tax benefit (expense) on items recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
1,808

 
1,572

 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of reclassification adjustments and tax effects
$
(2,698
)
 
$
(2,329
)
 
 
 
 
Net interest expense recognized in interest expense on junior subordinated notes
$
408

 
$


Hedge ineffectiveness on interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges was immaterial to the Company’s financial statements during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate liabilities. During the next twelve months, the Company anticipates reclassification of approximately $5.4 million.

Economic hedges
As of March 31, 2016, the Company has an interest rate swap with a $12.0 million notional amount to swap out the fixed rate of interest on an economic development bond bearing a fixed rate of 5.09%, currently within the Company’s trading portfolio under the fair value option, in exchange for a LIBOR-based floating rate. The intent of the economic hedge is to improve the Company’s asset sensitivity to changing interest rates in anticipation of favorable average floating rates of interest over the 21-year life of the bond. The fair value changes of the economic development bond are mostly offset by fair value changes of the related interest rate swap.

The Company also offers certain derivative products directly to qualified commercial borrowers. The Company economically hedges derivative transactions executed with commercial borrowers by entering into mirror-image, offsetting derivatives with third-party financial institutions. The transaction allows the Company’s customer to convert a variable-rate loan to a fixed rate loan. Because the Company acts as an intermediary for its customer, changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative contracts mostly offset each other in earnings. Credit valuation adjustments arising from the difference in credit worthiness of the commercial loan and financial institution counterparties totaled $(74.3) thousand of March 31, 2016. The interest income and expense on these mirror image swaps exactly offset each other.

The Company has risk participation agreements with dealer banks. Risk participation agreements occur when the Company participates on a loan and a swap where another bank is the lead. The Company gets paid a fee to take on the risk associated with having to make the lead bank whole on Berkshire’s portion of the pro-rated swap should the borrower default. Changes in fair value are recorded in current period earnings.

The Company utilizes forward sale commitments to hedge interest rate risk and the associated effects on the fair value of interest rate lock commitments and loans originated for sale. The forward sale commitments are accounted for as derivatives with changes in fair value recorded in current period earnings.

The Company uses the following types of forward sale commitments contracts:
Best efforts loan sales,
Mandatory delivery loan sales, and
To Be Announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities sales.

A best efforts contract refers to a loan sale agreement where the Company commits to deliver an individual mortgage loan of a specified principal amount and quality to an investor if the loan to the underlying borrower closes. The Company may enter into a best efforts contract once the price is known, which is shortly after the potential borrower’s interest rate is locked.

A mandatory delivery contract is a loan sale agreement where the Company commits to deliver a certain principal amount of mortgage loans to an investor at a specified price on or before a specified date. Generally, the Company may enter into mandatory delivery contracts shortly after the loan closes with a customer.

The Company may sell TBA mortgage-backed securities to hedge the changes in fair value of interest rate lock commitments and held for sale loans, which do not have corresponding best efforts or mandatory delivery contracts. These security sales transactions are closed once mandatory contracts are written. On the closing date the price of the security is locked-in, and the sale is paired-off with a purchase of the same security. Settlement of the security purchase/sale transaction is done with cash on a net-basis.

Non-hedging derivatives
The Company enters into interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) for residential mortgage loans, which commit the Company to lend funds to a potential borrower at a specific interest rate and within a specified period of time. IRLCs that relate to the origination of mortgage loans that will be held for sale are considered derivative financial instruments under applicable accounting guidance. Outstanding IRLCs expose the Company to the risk that the price of the mortgage loans underlying the commitments may decline due to increases in mortgage interest rates from inception of the rate lock to the funding of the loan. The IRLCs are free-standing derivatives which are carried at fair value with changes recorded in noninterest income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Changes in the fair value of IRLCs subsequent to inception are based on changes in the fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the fulfillment of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will fund within the terms of the commitment, which is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time.

Amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Income related to economic hedges and non-hedging derivatives were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
2016
 
2015
Economic hedges
 

 
 

Interest rate swap on industrial revenue bond:
 

 
 

Unrealized (loss) recognized in other non-interest income
$
(539
)
 
$
(271
)
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers:
 

 
 

Unrealized (loss) recognized in other non-interest income
(13,597
)
 
(3,114
)
 
 
 
 
Reverse interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers:
 

 
 

Unrealized gain recognized in other non-interest income
13,597

 
3,114

(Unfavorable) Favorable change in credit valuation adjustment recognized in other non-interest income
(61
)
 
1

 
 
 
 
Risk Participation Agreements:
 

 
 

Unrealized gain/(loss) recognized in other non-interest income
83

 
(9
)
 
 
 
 
Forward Commitments:
 

 
 

Unrealized (loss) recognized in other non-interest income
(447
)
 
(388
)
Realized (loss) in other non-interest income
(383
)
 
(91
)
 
 
 
 
Non-hedging derivatives
 

 
 

Interest rate lock commitments
 

 
 

Unrealized gain recognized in other non-interest income
$
802

 
$
977

Realized gain in other non-interest income
849

 
755

Assets and Liabilities Subject to Enforceable Master Netting Arrangements
Interest Rate Swap Agreements (“Swap Agreements”)
The Company enters into swap agreements to facilitate the risk management strategies for commercial banking customers. The Company mitigates this risk by entering into equal and offsetting swap agreements with highly rated third party financial institutions. The swap agreements are free-standing derivatives and are recorded at fair value in the Company’s consolidated statements of condition. The Company is party to master netting arrangements with its financial institution counterparties; however, the Company does not offset assets and liabilities under these arrangements for financial statement presentation purposes. The master netting arrangements provide for a single net settlement of all swap agreements, as well as collateral, in the event of default on, or termination of, any one contract. Collateral generally in the form of marketable securities is received or posted by the counterparty with net liability positions, respectively, in accordance with contract thresholds. The Company had net asset positions with its commercial banking counterparties totaling $30.7 million and $17.1 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company had net liability positions with its financial institution counterparties totaling $46.7 million and $28.2 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. At March 31, 2016, the Company did not have a net liability position with its commercial banking counterparties. The collateral posted by the Company that covered liability positions was $46.7 million and $28.2 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The following table presents the assets and liabilities subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets
 
 
Gross
Amounts of
 
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
 
Net Amounts
of Assets
Presented in the
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statements of Condition
 
 
 
 
Recognized
 
Statements of
 
Statements of
 
Financial
 
Cash Collateral
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Assets
 
Condition
 
Condition
 
Instruments
 
Received
 
Net Amount
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest Rate Swap Agreements:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Institutional counterparties
 
$
106

 
$

 
$
106

 
$

 
$

 
$
106

Commercial counterparties
 
30,666

 

 
30,666

 

 

 
30,666

Total
 
$
30,772

 
$

 
$
30,772

 
$

 
$

 
$
30,772


Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities
 
 
Gross
Amounts of
 
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
 
Net Amounts
of Liabilities
Presented in the
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statements of Condition
 
 
 
 
Recognized
 
Statements of
 
Statements of
 
Financial
 
Cash Collateral
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Liabilities
 
Condition
 
Condition
 
Instruments
 
Pledged
 
Net Amount
March 31, 2016
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest Rate Swap Agreements:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Institutional counterparties
 
$
(46,754
)
 
$
39

 
$
(46,715
)
 
$
39,465

 
$
7,250

 
$

Commercial counterparties
 

 

 

 

 

 

Total
 
$
(46,754
)
 
$
39

 
$
(46,715
)
 
$
39,465

 
$
7,250

 
$


Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets
 
 
Gross
Amounts of
 
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
 
Net Amounts
of Assets
Presented in the
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statements of Condition
 
 
 
 
Recognized
 
Statements of
 
Statements of
 
Financial
 
Cash Collateral
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Assets
 
Condition
 
Condition
 
Instruments
 
Received
 
Net Amount
December 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest Rate Swap Agreements:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Institutional counterparties
 
$
40

 
$

 
$
40

 
$

 
$

 
$
40

Commercial counterparties
 
17,129

 

 
17,129

 

 

 
17,129

Total
 
$
17,169

 
$

 
$
17,169

 
$

 
$

 
$
17,169






Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities
 
 
Gross
Amounts of
 
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
 
Net Amounts
of Liabilities
Presented in the
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in
the Statements of Condition
 
 
 
 
Recognized
 
Statements of
 
Statements of
 
Financial
 
Cash Collateral
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Liabilities
 
Condition
 
Condition
 
Instruments
 
Pledged
 
Net Amount
December 31, 2015
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest Rate Swap Agreements:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Institutional counterparties
 
$
(28,220
)
 
$

 
$
(28,220
)
 
$
18,500

 
$
9,720

 
$

Commercial counterparties
 

 

 

 

 

 

Total
 
$
(28,220
)
 
$

 
$
(28,220
)
 
$
18,500

 
$
9,720

 
$


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Table of Contents

NOTE 12. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below. These valuation methodologies were applied to all of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are carried at fair value.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements
The following table summarizes financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value.
 
March 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(In thousands)
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Fair Value
Trading security
$

 
$

 
$
14,474

 
$
14,474

Available-for-sale securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations

 
104,742

 

 
104,742

Government guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities

 
66,089

 

 
66,089

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

 
898,745

 

 
898,745

Corporate bonds

 
41,002

 

 
41,002

Trust preferred securities

 
11,617

 

 
11,617

Other bonds and obligations

 
3,203

 

 
3,203

Marketable equity securities
44,697

 
1,439

 

 
46,136

Loans held for sale (1)

 
14,789

 

 
14,789

Derivative assets

 
30,666

 
802

 
31,468

Derivative liabilities
304

 
46,610

 
143

 
47,057

(1) Loans held for sale excludes $1.1 million of loans for sale held shown on the balance sheet that are held at lower of cost or market.
 
December 31, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
(In thousands)
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Fair Value
Trading security
$

 
$

 
$
14,189

 
$
14,189

Available-for-sale securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Municipal bonds and obligations

 
104,561

 

 
104,561

Government guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities

 
69,858

 

 
69,858

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

 
890,007

 

 
890,007

Corporate bonds

 
41,022

 

 
41,022

Trust preferred securities

 
11,901

 

 
11,901

Other bonds and obligations

 
3,141

 

 
3,141

Marketable equity securities
32,925

 
334

 
708

 
33,967

Loans Held for Sale

 
13,191

 

 
13,191

Derivative assets
45

 
17,130

 
332

 
17,507

Derivative liabilities


 
28,181

 


 
28,181

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company had one transfer of $708 thousand in marketable equity securities from Level 3 to Level 2 based on a change in valuation technique driven by the availability of market data. There were no transfers between levels during the three months ended March 31, 2015.


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Trading Security at Fair Value. The Company holds one security designated as a trading security. It is a tax advantaged economic development bond issued to the Company by a local nonprofit which provides wellness and health programs. The determination of the fair value for this security is determined based on a discounted cash flow methodology. Certain inputs to the fair value calculation are unobservable and there is little to no market activity in the security; therefore, the security meets the definition of a Level 3 security.  The discount rate used in the valuation of the security is sensitive to movements in the 3-month LIBOR rate.

Securities Available for Sale. AFS securities classified as Level 1 consist of publicly-traded equity securities for which the fair values can be obtained through quoted market prices in active exchange markets. AFS securities classified as Level 2 include most of the Company’s debt securities. The pricing on Level 2 was primarily sourced from third party pricing services, overseen by management, and is based on models that consider standard input factors such as dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and condition, among other things.

Loans held for sale. The Company elected the fair value option for all loans held for sale (HFS) originated for sale on or after May 1, 2012.  Loans HFS are classified as Level 2 as the fair value is based on input factors such as quoted prices for similar loans in active markets.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aggregate Fair Value
March 31, 2016
 
Aggregate
 
Aggregate
 
Less Aggregate
(In thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
Unpaid Principal
 
Unpaid Principal
Loans Held for Sale (1)
 
$
14,789

 
$
14,297

 
$
492

(1) Loans held for sale excludes $1.1 million of loans for sale held shown on the balance sheet that are held at lower of cost or market.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aggregate Fair Value
December 31, 2015
 
Aggregate
 
Aggregate
 
Less Aggregate
(In thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
Unpaid Principal
 
Unpaid Principal
Loans Held for Sale
 
$
13,191

 
$
12,914

 
$
277


The changes in fair value of loans held for sale for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015, were gains of $215 thousand and $214 thousand, respectively. The changes in fair value are included in mortgage banking income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Derivative Assets and Liabilities.
Interest Rate Swap. The valuation of the Company’s interest rate swaps is obtained from a third-party pricing service and is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. The pricing analysis is based on observable inputs for the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity and interest rate curves.
The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings.

Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. However, as of March 31, 2016, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. As a result, the Company has determined that its derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Interest Rate Lock Commitments. The Company enters into IRLCs for residential mortgage loans, which commit the Company to lend funds to a potential borrower at a specific interest rate and within a specified period of time. The estimated fair value of commitments to originate residential mortgage loans for sale is based on quoted prices for similar loans in active markets. However, this value is adjusted by a factor which considers the likelihood that the loan in a lock position will ultimately close, and by the non-refundable costs of originating the loan. The closing ratio is derived from the Bank’s internal data and is adjusted using significant management judgment. The costs to originate are primarily based on the Company’s internal commission rates that are not observable. As such, IRLCs are classified as Level 3 measurements.

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Forward Sale Commitments. The Company utilizes forward sale commitments as economic hedges against potential changes in the values of the IRLCs and loans originated for sale. To Be Announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities forward commitment sales are used as the hedging instrument, are classified as Level 1, and consist of publicly-traded debt securities for which identical fair values can be obtained through quoted market prices in active exchange markets. The fair values of the Company’s best efforts and mandatory delivery loan sale commitments are determined similarly to the IRLCs using quoted prices in the market place that are observable. However, costs to originate and closing ratios included in the calculation are internally generated and are based on management’s judgment and prior experience, which are considered factors that are not observable. As such, best efforts and mandatory forward commitments are classified as Level 3 measurements.

The table below presents the changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.
 
Assets (Liabilities)
 
 
 
Securities
 
Interest Rate
 
 
 
Trading
 
Available
 
Lock
 
Forward
(In thousands)
Security
 
for Sale
 
Commitments
 
Commitments
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

December 31, 2015
$
14,189

 
$
708

 
$
323

 
$
9

Sale of AFS security

 

 

 

Unrealized gain, net recognized in other non-interest income
433

 

 
1,206

 

Unrealized gain included in accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

 
(152
)
Paydown of trading security
(148
)
 

 

 

Transfers to Level 2

 
(708
)
 

 

Transfers to held for sale loans

 

 
(727
)
 

March 31, 2016
$
14,474

 
$

 
$
802

 
$
(143
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at March 31, 2016
$
2,637

 
$

 
$
802

 
$
(143
)
 
Assets (Liabilities)
 
 
 
Securities
 
Interest Rate
 
 
 
Trading
 
Available
 
Lock
 
Forward
(In thousands)
Security
 
for Sale
 
Commitments
 
Commitments
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

December 31, 2014
$
14,909

 
$
2,326

 
$
625

 
$
(93
)
Purchase of Marketable Equity Security

 
(1,327
)
 

 

Unrealized (loss) gain, net recognized in other non-interest income
203

 

 
1,730

 

Unrealized gain included in accumulated other comprehensive loss

 
(280
)
 

 

Paydown of trading account security
(142
)
 

 

 

Transfers to held for sale loans

 

 
(1,378
)
 

March 31, 2015
$
14,970

 
$
719

 
$
977

 
$
(93
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at March 31, 2015
$
2,558

 
$
(51
)
 
$
977

 
$
(93
)

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Table of Contents

Quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs within Level 3 recurring assets and (liabilities) is as follows:
 
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
Significant
Unobservable Input
(In thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
Valuation Techniques
 
Unobservable Inputs
 
Value
Assets (Liabilities)
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Trading Security
 
$
14,474

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Discount Rate
 
1.95
%
Forward Commitments
 
(143
)
 
Historical Trend
 
Closing Ratio
 
91.70
%
 
 
 

 
Pricing Model
 
Origination Costs, per loan
 
$
2,500

Interest Rate Lock Commitment
 
802

 
Historical Trend
 
Closing Ratio
 
91.70
%
 
 
 

 
Pricing Model
 
Origination Costs, per loan
 
$
2,500

Total
 
$
15,133

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
Significant
Unobservable Input
(In thousands)
 
December 31, 2015
 
Valuation Techniques
 
Unobservable Inputs
 
Value
Assets (Liabilities)
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Trading Security
 
$
14,189

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Discount Rate
 
2.49
%
Securities Available for Sale
 
708

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Median Peer Price/ Tangible Book Value Percentage Multiple
 
88.52
%
Forward Commitments
 
9

 
Historical Trend
 
Closing Ratio
 
92.57
%
 
 
 

 
Pricing Model
 
Origination Costs, per loan
 
$
2,500

Interest Rate Lock Commitment
 
323

 
Historical Trend
 
Closing Ratio
 
92.57
%
 
 
 

 
Pricing Model
 
Origination Costs, per loan
 
$
2,500

Total
 
$
15,229

 
 
 
 
 
 



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Table of Contents

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements
The Company is required, on a non-recurring basis, to adjust the carrying value or provide valuation allowances for certain assets using fair value measurements in accordance with GAAP. The following is a summary of applicable non-recurring fair value measurements. There are no liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Three months ended March 31, 2016
 
Fair Value Measurement Date as of March 31, 2016
 
 
Level 3
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Level 3
(In thousands)
 
Inputs
 
Inputs
 
Gains (Losses)
 
Inputs
Assets
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Impaired loans
 
$
22,726

 
$
11,657

 
$
11,069

 
March 2015
Capitalized mortgage servicing rights
 
5,626

 
5,187

 

 
February 2015
Other real estate owned
 
1,440

 
1,725

 
(54
)
 
February 2014 - October 2015
Total
 
$
29,792

 
$
18,569

 
$
11,015

 
 

Quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs within Level 3 non-recurring assets is as follows:
 
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
 
Valuation Techniques
 
Unobservable Inputs
 
Range (Weighted Average) (a)
Assets
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans
 
$
22,726

 
Fair value of collateral
 
Loss severity
 
0.18% to 40.89% (5.95%)
 
 
 

 
 
 
Appraised value
 
$7.0 to $4,469.60 ($2,947.50)
Capitalized mortgage servicing rights
 
5,626

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Constant prepayment rate (CPR)
 
7.47% to 12.79% (10.57%)
 
 
 

 
 
 
Discount rate
 
10.00% to 15.00% (11.04)
Other real estate owned
 
1,440

 
Fair value of collateral
 
Appraised value
 
$39 to $1,200.0 ($929.9)
Total
 
$
29,792

 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) 
Where dollar amounts are disclosed, the amounts represent the lowest and highest fair value of the respective assets in the population except for adjustments for market/property conditions, which represents the range of adjustments to individuals properties.
 
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
December 31, 2015
 
Valuation Techniques
 
Unobservable Inputs
 
Range (Weighted Average) (a)
Assets
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans
 
$
11,657

 
Fair value of collateral
 
Loss severity
 
0.05% to 29.50% (7.55%)
 
 
 

 
 
 
Appraised value
 
$46.3 to $1,962.0 ($999.7)
Capitalized mortgage servicing rights
 
5,187

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Constant prepayment rate (CPR)
 
7.17% to 12.06% (10.02%)
 
 
 

 
 
 
Discount rate
 
10.00% to 15.00% (10.88%)
Other real estate owned
 
1,725

 
Fair value of collateral
 
Appraised value
 
$39 to $1,200.0 ($919.9)
Total
 
$
18,569

 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) 
Where dollar amounts are disclosed, the amounts represent the lowest and highest fair value of the respective assets in the population except for adjustments for market/property conditions, which represents the range of adjustments to individuals properties.

There were no Level 1 or Level 2 nonrecurring fair value measurements for the periods ended March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Impaired Loans. Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Periodically, the Company records non-recurring adjustments to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the

45

Table of Contents

uncollectible portions of those loans. Non-recurring adjustments can also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan and, as a result, the carrying value of the loan less the calculated valuation amount does not necessarily represent the fair value of the loan. Real estate collateral is typically valued using appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or assumptions generally observable in the marketplace. However, the choice of observable data is subject to significant judgment, and there are often adjustments based on judgment in order to make observable data comparable and to consider the impact of time, the condition of properties, interest rates, and other market factors on current values. Additionally, commercial real estate appraisals frequently involve discounting of projected cash flows, which relies inherently on unobservable data. Therefore, nonrecurring fair value measurement adjustments that relate to real estate collateral have generally been classified as Level 3. Estimates of fair value for other collateral that supports commercial loans are generally based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and therefore such valuations have been classified as Level 3.

Capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights. A loan servicing right asset represents the amount by which the present value of the estimated future net cash flows to be received from servicing loans exceed adequate compensation for performing the servicing. The fair value of servicing rights is estimated using a present value cash flow model. The most important assumptions used in the valuation model are the anticipated rate of the loan prepayments and discount rates. Adjustments are only recorded when the discounted cash flows derived from the valuation model are less than the carrying value of the asset. Although some assumptions in determining fair value are based on standards used by market participants, some are based on unobservable inputs and therefore are classified in Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

Other real estate owned (“OREO”). OREO results from the foreclosure process on residential or commercial loans issued by the Bank. Upon assuming the real estate, the Company records the property at the fair value of the asset less the estimated sales costs. Thereafter, OREO properties are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value less the estimated sales costs. OREO fair values are primarily determined based on Level 3 data including sales comparables and appraisals.

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Table of Contents

Summary of Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The estimated fair values, and related carrying amounts, of the Company’s financial instruments follow. Certain financial instruments and all non-financial instruments are excluded from disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented herein may not necessarily represent the underlying fair value of the Company.
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
Amount
 
Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial Assets
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
68,817

 
$
68,817

 
$
68,817

 
$

 
$

Trading security
 
14,474

 
14,474

 

 

 
14,474

Securities available for sale
 
1,171,534

 
1,171,534

 
44,697

 
1,126,837

 

Securities held to maturity
 
128,196

 
134,707

 

 

 
134,707

FHLB bank stock and restricted securities
 
60,261

 
60,261

 

 
60,261

 

Net loans
 
5,686,635

 
5,758,744

 

 

 
5,758,744

Loans held for sale
 
15,919

 
15,919

 

 
15,919

 

Accrued interest receivable
 
22,739

 
22,739

 

 
22,739

 

Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance policies
 
126,136

 
126,136

 

 
126,136

 

Derivative assets
 
31,468

 
31,468

 

 
30,666

 
802

Assets held for sale
 
839

 
839

 

 
839

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total deposits
 
$
5,584,390

 
$
5,585,721

 
$

 
$
5,585,721

 
$

Short-term debt
 
940,700

 
940,721

 

 
940,721

 

Long-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
140,196

 
140,815

 

 
140,815

 

Subordinated borrowings
 
89,027

 
84,079

 

 
84,079

 

Derivative liabilities
 
47,057

 
47,057

 
304

 
46,610

 
143




47

Table of Contents

 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
Amount
 
Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Financial Assets
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
103,562

 
$
103,562

 
$
103,562

 
$

 
$

Trading security
 
14,189

 
14,189

 

 

 
14,189

Securities available for sale
 
1,154,457

 
1,154,457

 
32,925

 
1,120,824

 
708

Securities held to maturity
 
131,652

 
136,904

 

 

 
136,904

FHLB bank stock and restricted securities
 
71,018

 
71,018

 

 
71,018

 

Net loans
 
5,685,928

 
5,727,570

 

 

 
5,727,570

Loans held for sale
 
13,191

 
13,191

 

 
13,191

 

Accrued interest receivable
 
20,940

 
20,940

 

 
20,940

 

Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance policies
 
125,233

 
125,233

 

 
125,233

 

Derivative assets
 
17,507

 
17,507

 
45

 
17,130

 
332

Assets held for sale
 
278

 
278

 

 
278

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Liabilities
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total deposits
 
$
5,589,135

 
$
5,582,835

 
$

 
$
5,582,835

 
$

Short-term debt
 
1,071,200

 
1,071,044

 

 
1,071,044

 

Long-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
103,135

 
103,397

 

 
103,397

 

Subordinated borrowings
 
89,812

 
93,291

 

 
93,291

 

Derivative liabilities
 
28,181

 
28,181

 

 
28,181

 


Other than as discussed above, the following methods and assumptions were used by management to estimate the fair value of significant classes of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

Cash and cash equivalents. Carrying value is assumed to represent fair value for cash and cash equivalents that have original maturities of ninety days or less.

FHLB bank stock and restricted securities. Carrying value approximates fair value based on the redemption provisions of the issuers.

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies. Carrying value approximates fair value.

Loans, net. The carrying value of the loans in the loan portfolio is based on the cash flows of the loans discounted over their respective loan origination rates. The origination rates are adjusted for substandard and special mention loans to factor the impact of declines in the loan’s credit standing. The fair value of the loans is estimated by discounting future cash flows using the current interest rates at which similar loans with similar terms would be made to borrowers of similar credit quality.

Accrued interest receivable. Carrying value approximates fair value.

Deposits. The fair value of demand, non-interest bearing checking, savings and money market deposits is determined as the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of time deposits is estimated by discounting the estimated future cash flows using market rates offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

Borrowed funds. The fair value of borrowed funds is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using market rates for similar borrowings.  Such funds include all categories of debt and debentures in the table above.

Subordinated borrowings. The Company utilizes a pricing service along with internal models to estimate the valuation of its junior subordinated debentures. The junior subordinated debentures re-price every ninety days.

Off-balance-sheet financial instruments. Off-balance-sheet financial instruments include standby letters of credit and other financial guarantees and commitments considered immaterial to the Company’s financial statements.

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NOTE 13. NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

Presented below is net interest income after provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
 
2016
 
2015
Net interest income
 
$
57,697

 
$
45,493

Provision for loan losses
 
4,006

 
3,851

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
 
$
53,691

 
$
41,642

 



NOTE 14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On April 29, 2016, the Company acquired the business model of 44 Business Capital, LLC, as well as certain small business loans and other assets of Parke Bank's SBA 7(a) loan program operations.

The transaction was completed for aggregate cash and stock consideration of $56.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively. Approximately 45 thousand shares representing the aggregate stock consideration were issued to the four principals of a member entity of 44 Business Capital, LLC. As a result of the proximity of the closing of the transaction to the date these consolidated financial statements are available to be issued, the Company is still evaluating the estimated fair value of the assets acquired. Accordingly, the amount of any goodwill and other intangible assets to be recognized in connection with this transaction is also yet to be determined.

This purchase and assumption agreement had no significant effect on the Company’s financial statements for the periods presented.

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ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

GENERAL
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this document and with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the following discussion, income statement comparisons are against the same period of the previous year and balance sheet comparisons are against the previous fiscal year-end, unless otherwise noted. Operating results discussed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year 2016 or any future period. In management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, certain reclassifications have been made to make prior periods comparable. Tax-equivalent adjustments during the current period are the result of increasing income from tax-advantaged securities by an amount equal to the taxes that would be paid if the income were fully taxable based on a 40.1% marginal income tax rate. In the discussion, references to earnings per share refer to diluted earnings per share unless otherwise specified.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp (“Berkshire” or “the Company”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and the holding company for Berkshire Bank (“the Bank”) and Berkshire Insurance Group. Established in 1846, the Bank operates as a commercial bank under a Massachusetts trust company charter. Berkshire Bank operates under the brand America’s Most Exciting Bank®.

Berkshire is a regional financial services company that seeks to distinguish itself over the long term based on the following attributes:
Strong growth from organic, de novo, product, and acquisition strategies
Solid capital, core funding, and risk management culture
Experienced executive team focused on earnings and stockholder value
Distinctive brand and culture as America’s Most Exciting Bank®
Diversified integrated financial service revenues
Positioned to be regional consolidator in attractive markets.

Shown below is a profile of the Company:

On April 17, 2015, Berkshire completed the acquisition of Springfield, MA based Hampden Bancorp, Inc. (“Hampden"). On August 7, 2015, Berkshire Bank completed the acquisition of Firestone Financial Corp. (“Firestone”), a commercial specialty finance company providing secured installment loan equipment financing for small and medium-sized businesses. On April 29, 2016, Berkshire acquired certain assets related to the SBA lending operations of 44 Business Capital LLC.




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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this document that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (referred to as the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (referred to as the Securities Exchange Act), and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements from the use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “potential,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “target” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including among other things, changes in general economic and business conditions, increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, legislative and regulatory change, changes in the financial markets, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed from time to time in documents that Berkshire Hills Bancorp files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and the Risk Factors in Item 1A of this report. Because of these and other uncertainties, Berkshire’s actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, Berkshire’s past results of operations do not necessarily indicate Berkshire’s combined future results. You should not place undue reliance on any of the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they were made. Berkshire is not undertaking an obligation to update forward-looking statements, even though its situation may change in the future, except as required under federal securities law. Berkshire qualifies all of its forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.


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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following summary data is based in part on the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and other information appearing elsewhere in this or prior Form 10-Qs.
 
At or for the
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
PER COMMON SHARE DATA
 

 
 

Adjusted earnings, diluted (1)
$
0.54

 
$
0.50

Net earnings, diluted
0.52

 
0.35

Tangible book value
18.44

 
17.46

Total book value
29.18

 
28.36

Dividends
0.20

 
0.19

Common stock price:
 

 
 

High
28.93

 
27.92

Low
24.71

 
24.27

Close
26.89

 
27.70

 
 
 
 
PERFORMANCE RATIOS (2)
 
 
 
Adjusted return on assets
0.85
%
 
0.76
%
Return on assets
0.82

 
0.54

Adjusted return on equity
7.40

 
7.06

Adjusted return on tangible equity
12.20

 
12.14

Return on equity
7.19

 
5.00

Net interest margin, fully taxable equivalent (FTE) (3)
3.33

 
3.18

Net interest margin, excluding purchased loan accretion and FTE
3.21

 
3.15

Fee income/Net interest and fee income
21.04

 
23.25

Efficiency ratio
59.86

 
63.27

 
 
 
 
GROWTH
 
 
 
Total commercial loans, (annualized, excluding merger impacts)
6
%
 
14
%
Total loans, (annualized, excluding merger impacts)

 
4

Total deposits, (annualized, excluding merger impacts)

 
6

Total net revenues, (compared to prior year)
26

 
23

Core earnings per share, (compared to prior year)
8

 
19

Earnings per share, (compared to prior year) (4)
49

 
N/M

 
 
 
 
FINANCIAL DATA: (In millions)
 

 
 

Total assets
$
7,808

 
$
6,571

Total earning assets
7,142

 
5,993

Total investments
1,374

 
1,216

Total borrowings
1,170

 
1,046

Total loans
5,727

 
4,729

Allowance for loan losses
40

 
36

Total intangible assets
334

 
275

Total deposits
5,584

 
4,720

Total common stockholders’ equity
906

 
716

Adjusted income
16.5

 
12.4

Net Income
16.0

 
8.8

 
x

 
 
ASSET QUALITY AND CONDITION RATIOS (5)
 
 
 
Net charge-offs (current quarter annualized)/average loans
0.23
%
 
0.28
%
Allowance for loan losses/total loans
0.70

 
0.77

Loans/deposits
103

 
100

Shareholders' equity to total assets
11.60

 
10.90

Tangible shareholders' equity to tangible assets (6)
7.66

 
7.00

 
 
 
 

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At or for the
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
FOR THE PERIOD: (In thousands)
 

 
 

Net interest income
$
57,697

 
$
45,493

Non-interest income
15,630

 
12,562

Provision for loan losses
4,006

 
3,851

Non-interest expense
47,100

 
45,148

Net income
16,001

 
8,759

Adjusted Income (non-GAAP)
16,489

 
12,374

_______________________________________
(1)   Adjusted income and adjusted earnings are non-GAAP financial measures that the Company believes provide investors with information that is useful in understanding our financial performance and condition. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 62 for additional information.
(2)  All performance ratios are annualized and are based on average balance sheet amounts, where applicable.
(3) Fully taxable equivalent considers the impact of tax advantaged investments and loans.
(4) N/M means not meaningful.
(5)  Generally accepted accounting principles require that loans acquired in a business combination be recorded at fair value, whereas loans from business activities are recorded at cost. The fair value of loans acquired in a business combination includes expected loan losses, and there is no loan loss allowance recorded for these loans at the time of acquisition. Accordingly, the ratio of the loan loss allowance to total loans is reduced as a result of the existence of such loans, and this measure is not directly comparable to prior periods. Similarly, net loan charge-offs are normally reduced for loans acquired in a business combination since these loans are recorded net of expected loan losses. Therefore, the ratio of net loan charge-offs to average loans is reduced as a result of the existence of such loans, and this measure is not directly comparable to prior periods. Other institutions may have loans acquired in a business combination, and therefore there may be no direct comparability of these ratios between and among other institutions.
(6) Tangible assets are total assets less total intangible assets.

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AVERAGE BALANCES AND AVERAGE YIELDS/RATES
The following table presents average balances and an analysis of average rates and yields on an annualized fully taxable equivalent basis for the periods included:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
($ In millions)
Average
Balance
Yield/Rate
(FTE basis)
 
Average
Balance
Yield/Rate
(FTE basis)
Assets
 

 

 
 

 

Loans:
 

 

 
 

 

Commercial real estate
$
2,079

4.18
%
 
$
1,647

4.12
%
Commercial and industrial loans
1,027

5.04

 
807

3.70

Residential mortgages
1,798

3.86

 
1,470

3.94

Consumer loans
808

3.44

 
765

3.23

Total loans (1)
5,712

4.13

 
4,689

3.86

Investment securities (2)
1,343

3.26

 
1,177

3.10

Short term investments & loans held for sale (3)
56

0.91

 
55

1.40

Total interest-earning assets
7,111

3.93

 
5,921

3.67

Intangible assets
334

 

 
276

 

Other non-interest earning assets
346

 

 
300

 

Total assets
$
7,791

 

 
$
6,497

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 

 

 
 

 

Deposits:
 

 

 
 

 

NOW
$
484

0.13
%
 
$
423

0.14
%
Money market
1,417

0.49

 
1,409

0.40

Savings
603

0.13

 
502

0.15

Time
2,064

0.99

 
1,420

0.92

Total interest-bearing deposits
4,568

0.63

 
3,754

0.53

Borrowings and notes (4)
1,222

1.19

 
1,107

0.85

Total interest-bearing liabilities
5,790

0.75

 
4,861

0.61

Non-interest-bearing demand deposits
1,026

 

 
870

 

Other non-interest earning liabilities
84

 

 
65

 

Total liabilities
6,900

 

 
5,796

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity (2)
891

 

 
701

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
7,791

 

 
$
6,497

 

Net interest spread
 

3.18
%
 
 

3.06
%
Net interest margin (5)
 

3.33

 
 

3.18

Cost of funds
 

0.64

 
 

0.51

Cost of deposits
 

0.51

 
 

0.43

 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplementary data
 

 

 
 

 

Total deposits (In millions)
$
5,594

 

 
$
4,624

 

Fully taxable equivalent income adj. (In thousands)
1,134

 

 
889

 

_____________________________________
(1) 
The average balances of loans include nonaccrual loans and deferred fees and costs.
(2) 
The average balance for securities available for sale is based on amortized cost. The average balance of equity also reflects this adjustment.
(3) 
Interest income on loans held for sale is included in loan interest income on the income statement.
(4) 
The average balances of borrowings includes the capital lease obligation presented under other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
(5) 
Purchased loan accretion totaled $2.1 million and $320 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
This document contains certain non-GAAP financial measures in addition to results presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP measures are intended to provide the reader with additional supplemental perspectives on operating results, performance trends, and financial condition. Non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures; they should be read and used in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial information. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures is provided below. In all cases, it should be understood that non-GAAP operating measures do not depict amounts that accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders. An item which management deems to be non-operating and excludes when computing non-GAAP operating earnings can be of substantial importance to the Company’s results for any particular quarter or year. The Company’s non-GAAP earnings information set forth is not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP information which may be presented by other companies. Each non-GAAP measure used by the Company in this report as supplemental financial data should be considered in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial information.

The Company utilizes the non-GAAP measure of adjusted earnings in evaluating operating trends, including components for operating revenue and expense. These measures exclude amounts which the Company views as unrelated to its normalized operations, including securities gains/losses, merger costs, restructuring costs, and systems conversion costs. Non-operating adjustments are presented net of an adjustment for income tax expense. This adjustment is determined as the difference between the GAAP tax rate and the effective tax rate applicable to operating income.

The Company calculates adjusted earnings per share based on its measure of earnings from ongoing operations. The Company views these amounts as important to understanding its operating trends, particularly due to the impact of accounting standards related to merger and acquisition activity. Analysts also rely on these measures in estimating and evaluating the Company’s operating performance. Management also believes that the computation of non-GAAP earnings and earnings per share may facilitate the comparison of the Company to other companies in the financial services industry. The efficiency ratio is adjusted for non-operating revenue and expense items and for tax preference items. The Company adjusts certain equity related measures to exclude intangible assets due to the importance of these measures to the investment community.

Charges related to merger and acquisition activity consist primarily of severance/benefit related expenses, contract termination costs, systems conversion costs, and professional fees. Restructuring costs primarily consist of costs and losses associated with the disposition of assets and lease terminations. The Company’s disclosures of organic growth of loans and deposits in 2015 exclude balances acquired through the business combinations with Hampden Bancorp and Firestone Financial, and in 2016 are adjusted for two branches held for sale.

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RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The following table summarizes the reconciliation of non-GAAP items recorded for the time periods and dates indicated:
 
 
 
At or for the Quarters Ended
 
 
 
March 31, 2016
March 31, 2015
(in thousands)
 
 
Net income (GAAP)
 
 
$
16,001

$
8,759

Adj: Gain on sale of securities, net
 
 
(36
)
(34
)
Adj: Merger and acquisition expense
 
 
527

3,275

Adj: Restructuring and conversion expense
 
 
253

1,146

Adj: Income taxes
 
 
(256
)
(772
)
Total adjusted income (non-GAAP)
(A)
 
$
16,489

$
12,374

 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue (GAAP)
 
 
$
73,327

$
58,055

Adj: Gain on sale of securities, net
 
 
(36
)
(34
)
Total operating revenue (non-GAAP)
(B)
 
$
73,291

$
58,021

 
 
 
 
 
Total non-interest expense (GAAP)
 
 
$
47,100

$
45,148

Less: Total non-operating expense (see above)
 
 
(780
)
(4,421
)
Operating non-interest expense (non-GAAP)
(C)
 
$
46,320

$
40,727

 
 
 
 
 
(in millions, except per share data)
 
 
 

 

Total average assets
(D)
 
$
7,791

$
6,497

Total average shareholders’ equity
(E)
 
891

701

Total average tangible shareholders’ equity
(F)
 
557

426

Total tangible shareholders’ equity, period-end (1)
(G)
 
572

441

Total common shares outstanding, period-end (thousands)
(H)
 
31,039

25,253

Average diluted shares outstanding (thousands)
(I)
 
30,688

24,955

 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted earnings per share, diluted
(A/I)
 
$
0.54

$
0.50

Tangible book value per share, period-end
(G/H)
 
$
18.44

$
17.46

 
 
 
 
 
Performance ratios (2)
 
 
 

 

Adjusted return on assets
(A/D)
 
0.85
%
0.76
%
Adjusted return on equity
(A/E)
 
7.40

7.06

Adjusted return on tangible equity (3)
(A/F)
 
12.20

12.14

Efficiency ratio
(C-L)/(B+J+M)
 
59.86

63.27

 
 
 
 
 
Supplementary data (in thousands)
 
 
 

 

Tax benefit on tax-credit investments (4)
(J)
 
$
1,588

$
4,034

Non-interest income charge on tax-credit investments (5)
(K)
 
(1,101
)
(2,851
)
Net income on tax-credit investments
(J+K)
 
487

1,183

Intangible amortization
(L)
 
819

901

Fully taxable equivalent income adjustment
(M)
 
1,134

889

_______________________________________
(1) 
Total tangible shareholders’ equity is computed by taking total shareholders’ equity less the intangible assets at period-end.
(2) 
Ratios are annualized and based on average balance sheet amounts, where applicable.
(3) 
Adjusted return on tangible equity is computed by dividing the total adjusted income adjusted for the tax-affected amortization of intangible assets, assuming a 40% marginal rate, by tangible equity.
(4) 
The tax benefit is the direct reduction to the income tax provision due to tax credits and deductions generated from investments in historic rehabilitation, low-income housing, new market projects, and renewable energy projects.
(5) 
The non-interest income charge is the reduction to the tax-advantaged commercial project investments, which are incurred as the tax credits are generated.


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SUMMARY
Berkshire recorded an 8% increase in first quarter adjusted earnings per share to $0.54 in 2016 from $0.50 in 2015. The earnings improvement was driven by 26% revenue growth produced by the Company’s expanded operations. First quarter GAAP EPS increased year-over-year to $0.52 from $0.35. GAAP results in both periods included net charges primarily related to acquisitions and restructuring activities.

Berkshire’s results in 2016 include the Hampden operations acquired on April 17, 2015 and the Firestone operations acquired on August 7, 2015. As a result, many measures of revenue, expense, income, and average balances increased compared to prior periods, and per share measures were affected by new shares issued for merger consideration.

Berkshire uses a non-GAAP measure of adjusted net income to supplement its evaluation of its operating results. Adjusted net income excludes certain amounts not viewed as related to ongoing operations. These non-operating items consist primarily of merger, acquisition, conversion, and restructuring expenses, together with gains recorded on securities and investments in acquired banks. Berkshire views its net merger related costs as part of the economic investment for its acquisitions.

First quarter financial highlights included the following (comparisons are to prior quarter unless otherwise stated):
3% increase in total revenue
6% annualized commercial loan growth
3.33% net interest margin
7% increase in fee income
2% decrease in non-interest expense
59.9% efficiency ratio
0.28% non-performing assets/assets
0.23% net loan charge-offs/average loans

Berkshire maintained its growth momentum in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the linked quarter. Its commercial teams posted healthy loan growth and fee income increased in most major categories. The yield on earning assets improved and mortgage banking operations benefited from the increase in volume. The Company managed constructively through the volatility in the financial markets early in the year to achieve its goals for the first quarter.

Berkshire’s teams were active across many fronts. The Company announced that its community support exceeded $2 million in 2015, which supplements the 40,000 hours of community service from Berkshire’s employees. The Bank strengthened its wealth and mortgage teams and introduced a new channel for customer support “text AMEB1” via SMS texting, providing a convenient and efficient experience for the customer. The Company was focused on prospects for expanding its market success in 2016 and leveraging its franchise investment to further boost shareholder value.

Berkshire declared and paid a cash dividend of $0.20 per share in the first quarter of 2016. The dividend was increased by 5% from $0.19 in prior quarters, following an increase from $0.18 in the first quarter of 2015. The dividend equated to a 3% annualized yield based on the $26.71 average closing price of Berkshire’s common stock during the most recent quarter.

In 2016, Berkshire is emphasizing the development of its fee revenue sources and ongoing origination of tax credit related investment projects. The Company also is actively managing its balance sheet to support its financial and market goals. The unexpected decrease in long term rates in the first quarter is expected to prolong margin pressures in the industry. The Company completed the purchase of the business platform of 44 Business Capital on April 29, 2016. This nationally recognized SBA loan originator is expected to contribute to fee income growth, extend Berkshire’s market reach to the mid-Atlantic area, and to integrate with Berkshire’s current SBA and commercial lending operations. Berkshire is also working to expand its secondary market capabilities across several loan categories through its financial institution banking initiatives.

COMPARISON OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AT MARCH 31, 2016 AND DECEMBER 31, 2015
Summary: Total assets, loans, and deposits did not change materially from year-end 2015, as the Company took advantage of opportunities to sell certain loans and deposits and this offset other growth from business activities. Asset quality measures remained comparatively favorable and capital metrics improved based on retained earnings. Tangible book value per share measured $18.44 at period-end, and total book value measured $29.18 per share.

Securities: Total investment securities increased by 1% in the first quarter of 2016. Available for sale securities increased by $17 million, or 1%, due to $18 million in appreciation in the unrealized gain as a result of the decline in long term interest rates during the quarter. The Company added $11 million in equity securities, which contributed to an increase in the securities yield to 3.26% from 2.96% in the prior quarter. The Company is adjusting the mix of mortgage backed, municipal, and equity securities with a goal of supporting the securities yield. The period-end average life of the bond portfolio was 4.4 years,

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compared to 4.9 years at year-end 2015; this reflected the shorter expected average lives of mortgage backed securities based on the drop in long term interest rates.

Loans: Total loans were flat in the first quarter. Annualized growth of 8% in commercial real estate and consumer loans was offset by a quarterly 3% decrease in residential mortgages. Most new mortgage originations were sold into the secondary market and the Company additionally sold $65 million in seasoned mortgages, resulting in a $61 million decrease in total mortgages during the quarter to $1.75 billion. The Company targets future net loan growth led by its diversified commercial lending operations.

The purchase of the operations of 44 Business Capital in the second quarter of 2016 included the purchase, subject to final settlement, of certain SBA loans, which consists of the unguaranteed portion of SBA loans originated by that group. The purchase also included rights to service certain SBA loans consisting of the guaranteed portion of SBA loans originated and sold by the 44 Business Capital team.

The loan yield decreased by 2 basis points to 4.13% in the first quarter compared to the prior quarter due to the decrease in purchased loan accretion. Measured before accretion, the loan yield increased by 1 basis point to 3.99%. The 5 basis point estimated benefit of the Federal Reserve rate hike in December 2015 was mostly offset by yield compression primarily in the commercial portfolio. The tenor of the portfolio did not change significantly during the quarter, with 33% of loans contractually repricing within one year, 26% repricing in one to five years, and 41% repricing over five years at period-end.

Asset Quality. Asset quality metrics remained favorable and improved slightly from the prior quarter. First quarter annualized net loan charge-offs measured 0.23% of average loans and period-end non-performing assets were 0.28% of total assets. Accruing delinquent loans were 0.33% of total loans, including accruing loans over 90 days past due measuring 0.07% of total loans. Loans identified as troubled debt restructurings were little changed at $24 million. Loans which became non-accruing totaled $6 million which was within the general run rate range of $4 - 10 million experienced for a number of recent quarters. At period-end, the total contractual balance of purchased credit impaired loans was $33 million, with an $18 million carrying value. The $15 million discount included $7 million in accretable yield and $8 million in nonaccretable discount.

Loan Loss Allowance. The determination of the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting estimate. The Company considers the allowance for loan losses appropriate to cover probable losses which can be reasonably estimated in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. Under accounting standards for business combinations, acquired loans are recorded at fair value with no loan loss allowance on the date of acquisition. A loan loss allowance is recorded by the Company for the emergence of new probable and estimable losses on acquired loans which were not impaired as of the acquisition date. Because of the accounting for acquired loans, some measures of the loan loss allowance are not comparable to periods prior to the acquisition date or to peer measures.

The loan loss allowance increased by $1 million to $40 million in the first quarter of 2016. Due to a change in the mix of loans, the allowance increased to 0.70% of total loans from 0.69%. For loans from business activities, this ratio increased to 0.77% from 0.76%. At period-end, the allowance provided 3.1X coverage of annualized quarterly net charge-offs and 1.9X coverage of period-end non-accrual loans. Criticized loans were unchanged at 1.9% of total assets and potential problem loans (classified accruing loans from business activities) totaled $65 million, compared to $61 million at the start of the period. The ratio of criticized assets to the total of the Bank’s Tier 1 Capital plus the loan loss allowance declined to 20% from 24% during the quarter.

Deposits. Total deposits were flat during the first quarter. The Company recorded $30 million in deposits as held for sale and transferred this balance to other liabilities. This was the result of an agreement to sell two small outlying New York branches which did not conform to the Company’s strategic objectives. This sale is targeted for completion in the third quarter. This sale is not expected to result in a material gain or loss, or to have a material impact on total revenue and expense. Excluding this transfer, total deposits increased at a 2% annualized rate during the quarter due to a $79 million increase in time deposits. Transaction account balances decreased from the unusually high levels at year-end. The Company targets future growth in transaction and relationship deposit balances based on market share expansion in its growing franchise. The cost of deposits increased by 3 basis points compared to the linked quarter due to the increase in higher cost time accounts as well as higher rates paid on money market accounts. The loans/deposits ratio was little changed at 102.5% at period-end.

Borrowings, Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities. Berkshire reduced total borrowings by $94 million to $1.17 billion in the first quarter of 2016 which was funded from excess liquid assets and growth in time deposits. Compared to the linked quarter the cost of borrowings increased by 23 basis points to 1.19% compared to the prior quarter due to the December Fed rate hike and the cost of the start of the effective period of the Company’s interest rate swaps.


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The Company used borrowings to initially fund the purchase of loans, business operations, and servicing rights related to the 44 Business Capital purchase agreement on April 29, 2016.

The notional balance of derivative financial instruments increased by $137 million to $1.50 billion due to increased demand for commercial loan interest rate swaps following the decrease in long term interest rates at the start of the year. The first $100 million of the Company’s $300 million in forward starting interest rate swaps became effective during the quarter, with an additional $100 million becoming effective in the second quarter and the $100 million balance becoming effective in the third quarter. The total average pay rate of these swaps is 2.29%. The total unrealized loss on derivative instruments increased to $16 million from $11 million due to the decrease in long term interest rates.

Shareholders’ Equity. Total equity increased during the quarter by $19 million to $906 million including $10 million in retained earnings and an $8 million increase in other comprehensive income further discussed below. The ratio of tangible equity/assets increased to 7.7% from 7.4% and the ratio of total equity/assets increased to 11.6% from 11.3%. The Bank’s ratio of total capital to risk based assets decreased slightly to 11.1% from 11.2% due to the lower proportion of residential mortgages to total loans and based on capital calculations effective as of quarter-end and total bank regulatory capital of $648 million.

The second quarter purchase of the 44 Business Capital assets is expected to be accounted for as a business combination. The Company issued approximately 45 thousand shares valued at $1.2 million in addition to cash consideration paid for this combination. The Company expects to record goodwill and intangible assets for this combination based on accounting analysis to be completed in the future. In addition to shares held in Treasury, a Bank subsidiary also owns 109 thousand Berkshire shares as a result of the conversion of Hampden shares, and these shares are also excluded from shares outstanding. These shares were reduced from 169 thousand during the quarter as a result of a repurchase of 60 thousand shares by the parent at market price: this had no impact on consolidated shares outstanding.

COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016 AND 2015
Summary. Most revenue and expense amounts increased due to the growth in operations from acquisitions and business activities. Earnings have benefited from positive operating leverage resulting from 26% year-over year revenue growth.

The first quarter adjusted return on tangible equity increased year-over-year to 12.2% in 2016 from 12.1% in 2015. GAAP return on equity improved to 7.2% from 5.0%. This primarily reflected the decrease in merger and restructuring charges from the first quarter of 2015 which included net costs related to the Hampden acquisition. The efficiency ratio improved to 59.9% from 63.3% due to the benefit of synergies from expanded operations.

Berkshire recorded a 8% increase in first quarter adjusted earnings per share to $0.54 in 2016 from $0.50 in 2015. The earnings improvement was driven 26% revenue growth produced by the Company's expanded operations. First quarter GAAP EPS increased year-over-year to $0.52 from $0.35. GAAP results in both periods included net charges primarily related to acquisitions and restructuring activities.

Adjusted earnings per share were flat in the most recent quarter compared to the prior two quarters, which also included the operations acquired in 2015. These earnings were up 4% before the impact of tax credit related investments. This reflected organic revenue growth and expense discipline and the asset sensitive interest rate profile, and was achieved despite the pressures of ongoing low interest rates. Quarterly adjusted EPS has been stable or improving in all consecutive quarters since the beginning of 2014.

The acquisition of the 44 Business Capital operations is expected to contribute additional revenue and expense beginning in the second quarter of 2016, and to adjusted earnings per share during the year. The primary benefit is expected to be from increased originations and sales of SBA loans, together with interest income on the acquired loans and fee income on the acquired servicing portfolio.

Revenue. First quarter net revenue increased year-over-year by $15 million, or 26%, to $73 million. Most of this growth was in net interest income. Berkshire is developing fee revenue synergies as part of its long term goal of increasing fee income to 30% of total revenue from 21% in the most recent quarter. Berkshire’s first quarter revenue increased by 3% over the linked quarter, including a 7% increase in fee income. Annualized first quarter net revenue per share measured $9.56 in 2016 and $9.31 in 2015.

Net Interest Income. First quarter net interest income increased year-over-year by $12 million, or 27%, to $58 million. This included the benefit of a 20% increase in average earning assets due to growth from acquisitions and business activities. The net interest margin increased year-over-year to 3.33% from 3.18%. This included the benefit of higher yields on acquired Hampden and Firestone loans. The loan yield in the current quarter also included an estimated 5 basis point benefit from the

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increase in short term rates that resulted from the 25 basis point hike in the Fed Funds rate near the end of 2015. Additionally, Berkshire has managed its earning asset mix and pricing over the last year to minimize the impacts of yield compression from the ongoing low interest rate environment. In 2016, the Company expects to actively manage its balance sheet to achieve its earnings and risk management objectives.

Net interest income includes purchased loan accretion which primarily consists of recoveries on the resolution of purchased credit impaired loans. First quarter accretion totaled $2.1 million in 2016 and $0.3 million in 2015. Excluding this accretion, the net interest margin totaled 3.21% and 3.15% in these periods, respectively. The cost of funds has increased due to the reliance on higher cost sources to fund growth. Higher borrowings costs due to the Fed rate hike increased the cost of funds by 2 basis points in the most recent quarter, as did the initial fixed interest rate on swaps that became effective. As the remaining swaps become effective, funds costs are expected to increase approximately another 2 basis points in the second quarter, and a further 3 basis points in the third quarter. The net interest margin in the most recent quarter decreased by 2 basis points compared to the prior quarter. The funding cost pressures, together with asset yield compression and declining purchased loan accretion, are expected to further reduce the net interest margin during the course of 2016.

Non-Interest Income. First quarter non-interest income increased year-over-year by $3 million, or 24%, to $16 million. Fee income increased by $2 million, or 12%, to $15 million. Growth was concentrated in loan fee income, which includes revenue from the sale of commercial loan interest rate swaps and seasoned loans. Deposit related fees decreased to 0.44% of deposits from 0.49% due to the lower fees on Hampden balances and the higher reliance on time deposits. The category of other non-interest income includes the charge for the amortization of tax credit related investments, which is more than offset by credits to income tax expense. The tax credit benefit decreased in the most recent quarter, and the first quarter amortization charge decreased to $1.1 million from $2.9 million in 2015.

Loan Loss Provision. The provision for loan losses increased year over year by $0.2 million, or 4%, to $4.0 million. The provision for loan losses is a charge to earnings in an amount sufficient to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level deemed adequate by the Company as an estimate of the probable and estimable loan losses in the portfolio as of period-end. The level of the allowance is a critical accounting estimate and the level of the allowance was included in the discussion of financial condition. The amount of the provision exceeded net charge-offs, as the allowance has risen due to changes in mix of loans from business activities.

Non-Interest Expense. First quarter non-interest expense increased year-over-year by $2 million, or 4%, to $47 million. Excluding merger and restructuring expense, adjusted non-interest expense increased by $6 million, or 14%. The ratio of adjusted non-interest expense to average assets decreased to 2.38% from 2.51%, reflecting the benefit of the Company’s growth and restructuring activities. Adjusted non-interest expense decreased by 2% compared to the linked quarter and total full time equivalent staff decreased to 1,208 from 1,221 during the quarter. The decrease compared to the linked quarter included additional cost synergies and disciplined spending management during the recent period of financial market volatility. First quarter merger and restructuring expense was $0.02 per share after-tax in 2016 compared to $0.14 in 2015. The expense in 2016 was related to the Firestone systems conversion and the sale of the Tennessee branch in the prior quarter. The higher expense in 2015 was primarily related to the Hampden acquisition.

Income Tax Expense. The first quarter effective income tax rate was 28% in 2016 compared to 3% in 2015. The tax rate reflects the ongoing benefit of components described in the notes to the financial statement included in the 2015 Form 10-K. The primary reason for the first quarter change in the tax rate was the reduction in the benefits related to the Company’s tax credit investment projects. This benefit includes tax credits and deductions generated primarily from investment in historic rehabilitation and low income housing projects. The benefit of the tax credits measured 5% of pretax income in the most recent quarter, compared to 32% in the first quarter of 2015. Additionally, first quarter 2015 earnings were reduced by the Hampden merger related charges, which had the effect of reducing the effective income tax rate due to the higher proportional benefit of other tax preference items.

The Company’s first quarter earnings per share included a $0.02 benefit in 2016 from tax credit investment projects, compared to a $0.05 benefit in 2015 (net of the amortization charge to non-interest income). The benefit of these investments can be variable from quarter to quarter depending on the origination of new investments, the construction of the projects, and the timing of tax accounting components. The Company is currently involved with new projects for historic rehabilitation, low income housing, and alternative energy investments which are targeted to provide additional benefit and result in a lower tax rate in the second half of 2016. In addition to providing attractive earnings and investment returns, these projects support Berkshire's lending function and relationships in the region that are developing valuable new projects in Berkshire’s communities that support economic and social outcomes that are favored by the tax code. The Company views itself as competitively well positioned to provide these comprehensive solutions as a leading regional provider in its markets.


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Total Comprehensive Income. Total comprehensive income includes net income together with other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income consists primarily of changes in the net fair value of available for sale securities and derivative hedges, net of related income taxes. Long term interest rates decreased in the first quarter of both 2016 and 2015. The securities portfolio is larger than the portfolio of derivative hedges, and the gain on these fixed rate assets exceeded the loss on the fixed rate interest rate swaps. As a result, other comprehensive income was positive in both periods.

Liquidity and Cash Flows. Total assets, loans, and deposits did not change materially from year-end 2015. Borrowings were paid down from excess liquid assets and growth in time deposits. Berkshire generally plans that over the medium term, deposit growth will be the primary source of funds and loan growth will be the primary use of funds. The Bank is diversifying its deposit sources including institutional and wholesale sources as part of the expansion of its liquidity management program and to provide additional options for managing its funds costs and asset liability objectives. In select cases, the Bank provides insured brokered reciprocal money market deposits to large institutional accounts to supplement its deposit insurance protection.

The Bank is also expanding its use of short term institutional borrowings and FHLBB borrowings will continue to be a significant source of liquidity for daily operations and borrowings targeted for specific asset/liability purposes. The Company also uses interest rate swaps in managing its funds sources and uses. As of March 31, 2016, the Bank had approximately $722 million in borrowing availability with the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp had a cash balance totaling $35 million as of March 31, 2016 which was on deposit with Berkshire Bank. The primary long run routine sources of funds for the Parent are expected to be dividends from Berkshire Bank and Berkshire Insurance Group, as well as cash from the exercise of stock options. The Bank paid $8 million in dividends to the Parent in the first quarter of 2016. The Parent purchased $11 million in equity securities during the quarter. It has a $10 million revolving line of credit provided by a correspondent bank; this was fully utilized at period-end. The primary long run uses of funds by the Parent include the payment of cash dividends on common stock and debt service. Additionally, the Parent sometimes uses cash as an element of merger consideration and sometimes acquires cash as a source of funds as a result of business combinations.

Capital Resources. Please see the “Shareholders’ Equity” section of the Comparison of Financial Condition for a discussion of shareholders’ equity together with the “Shareholders’ Equity” note to the consolidated financial statements. At March 31, 2016, the regulatory capital ratios of the Bank and the Company continued to be consistent with the requirements to be classified as “Well Capitalized.” Additional information about regulatory capital is contained in the notes to the consolidated financial statements and in the 2015 Form 10-K.

Berkshire views its earnings and related internal capital generation as a primary source of capital to support dividends and growth of the franchise. Additionally, the Company generally uses the issuance of common stock as the primary source of consideration for bank acquisitions, and such acquisitions may result in net increases or decreases in its capital ratios. Berkshire’s long term objective is to generate a double digit annual return on equity, and the Company evaluates lending, investment, and acquisition decisions with this objective as a benchmark. The Company also evaluates its return on tangible equity as an indicator of its capital generation to support ongoing balance sheet growth. The Risk Management/Capital Committee of Berkshire’s Board of Directors is responsible for assisting the Board in planning for future capital needs and for ensuring compliance with regulations pertaining to capital structure and levels. The Company believes that the market for its stock is an additional capital resource over the long run and that Berkshire’s common stock is a significant resource available as merger consideration in the event of future acquisitions and business combinations. Additionally, the Company continues to monitor market conditions for other forms of regulatory capital such as preferred stock or subordinated debt, which are additional potential future capital resources to the Company and/ or the Bank. The Company has an ongoing process to enhance its internal processes for evaluating capital adequacy under various scenarios including stressed conditions.

On April 29, 2016, the Company issued approximately 45 thousand shares of stock as a component of the consideration paid for the Bank’s acquisition of the assets and operations of 44 Business Capital LLC.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations. In the normal course of operations, Berkshire engages in a variety of financial transactions that, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles are not recorded in the Company’s financial statements. These transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate, and liquidity risk. Such transactions are used primarily to manage customers’ requests for funding and take the form of loan commitments and lines of credit. Further information about the Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements is contained in the Company’s 2015 Form 10-K and information relating to payments due under contractual obligations is presented in the 2015 form 10-K. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments and hedging activities are included on the balance sheet and information related to these matters is reported in the related footnote to the consolidated financial statements, and was

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included in management’s discussion of changes in financial condition. Aside from completing the acquisition of assets and operations from 44 Business Capital and entering into an agreement to sell two branches, there have been no significant changes in off-balance sheet arrangements and contractual obligations since year-end 2015. Berkshire expects to enter into more derivative financial contracts and off-balance sheet arrangements as a result of taking on the SBA loan secondary marketing operations of 44 Business Capital, as well as other initiatives it is pursuing as part of its financial institutions banking initiative.

Fair Value Measurements. The Company records fair value measurements of certain assets and liabilities, as described in the related note in the financial statements. There were no significant changes in the fair value measurement methodologies at March 31, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015. The Company compares the carrying value to fair value for major categories of financial assets and liabilities. The biggest difference relates to loans, and the change in the premium value of loans during the most recent quarter was primarily related to the decrease in long term interest rates during the quarter.

APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES, AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q and in the most recent Form 10-K. Please see those policies in conjunction with this discussion. The accounting and reporting policies followed by the Company conform, in all material respects, to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. While the Company bases estimates on historical experience, current information and other factors deemed to be relevant, actual results could differ from those estimates.

The SEC defines “critical accounting policies” as those that require application of management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in future periods. Please see those policies in conjunction with this discussion. Management believes that the following policies would be considered critical under the SEC’s definition:

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses represents probable credit losses that are inherent in the loan portfolio at the financial statement date and which may be estimated. Management uses historical information, as well as current economic data, to assess the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses as it is affected by changing economic conditions and various external factors, which may impact the portfolio in ways currently unforeseen. Although management believes that it uses appropriate available information to establish the allowance for loan losses, future additions to the allowance may be necessary if certain future events occur that cause actual results to differ from the assumptions used in making the evaluation. Conditions in the local economy and real estate values could require the Company to increase provisions for loan losses, which would negatively impact earnings.

Acquired Loans. Loans that the Company acquired in business combinations are initially recorded at fair value with no carryover of the related allowance for credit losses. Determining the fair value of the loans involves estimating the amount and timing of principal and interest cash flows initially expected to be collected on the loans and discounting those cash flows at an appropriate market rate of interest. Going forward, the Company continues to evaluate reasonableness of expectations for the timing and the amount of cash to be collected. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows may result in changes in the amortization or accretion of fair market value adjustments, and in some cases may result in the loan being considered impaired. For collateral dependent loans with deteriorated credit quality, the Company estimates the fair value of the underlying collateral of the loans. These values are discounted using market derived rates of return, with consideration given to the period of time and costs associated with the foreclosure and disposition of the collateral.

Income Taxes. Significant management judgment is required in determining income tax expense and deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in which deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities. The realization of the net deferred tax asset generally depends upon future levels of taxable ordinary income, taxable capital gain income, and the existence of prior years' taxable income, to which "carry back" refund claims could be made. A valuation allowance is maintained for deferred tax assets that management estimates are more likely than not to be unrealizable based on available evidence at the time the estimate is made. In determining the valuation allowance, the Company uses historical and forecasted future operating results, including a review of the eligible carry-forward periods, tax planning opportunities and other relevant considerations. In particular, income tax benefits and deferred tax assets generated from tax-advantaged commercial development projects are based on management's assessment and interpretation of applicable tax law as it currently stands. These underlying assumptions can change from period to period. For example, tax law changes or

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variances in projected taxable ordinary income or taxable capital gain income could result in a change in the deferred tax asset or the valuation allowance. Should actual factors and conditions differ materially from those considered by management, the actual realization of the net deferred tax asset could differ materially from the amounts recorded in the financial statements. If the Company is not able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset in excess of the valuation allowance would be charged to income tax expense in the period such determination is made.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets. Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets are recorded as a result of business acquisitions and combinations. These assets are evaluated for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. When these assets are evaluated for impairment, if the carrying amount exceeds fair value, an impairment charge is recorded to income. The fair value is based on observable market prices, when practicable. Other valuation techniques may be used when market prices are unavailable, including estimated discounted cash flows and analysis of market pricing multiples. These types of analyses contain uncertainties because they require management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate industry economic factors and the profitability of future business strategies. In the event of future changes in fair value, the Company may be exposed to an impairment charge that could be material.

Determination of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Securities. The Company evaluates debt and equity securities within the Company's available for sale and held to maturity portfolios for other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI"), at least quarterly. If the fair value of a debt security is below the amortized cost basis of the security, OTTI is required to be recognized if any of the following are met: (1) the Company intends to sell the security; (2) it is "more likely than not" that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis; or (3) for debt securities, the present value of expected cash flows is not sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis. For all impaired debt securities that the Company intends to sell, or more likely than not will be required to sell, the full amount of the loss is recognized as OTTI through earnings. Credit-related OTTI for all other impaired debt securities is recognized through earnings. Noncredit related OTTI for such debt securities is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. In evaluating its marketable equity securities portfolios for OTTI, the Company considers its intent and ability to hold an equity security to recovery of its cost basis in addition to various other factors, including the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost and the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer. Any OTTI on marketable equity securities is recognized immediately through earnings. Should actual factors and conditions differ materially from those expected by management, the actual realization of gains or losses on investment securities could differ materially from the amounts recorded in the financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial instruments and to determine fair value disclosures. Trading assets, securities available for sale, and derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, the Company may be required to record at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis, or to establish a loss allowance or write-down based on the fair value of impaired assets. Further, the notes to financial statements include information about the extent to which fair value is used to measure assets and liabilities, the valuation methodologies used and its impact to earnings. For financial instruments not recorded at fair value, the notes to financial statements disclose the estimate of their fair value. Due to the judgments and uncertainties involved in the estimation process, the estimates could result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions.


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ITEM 3.                 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There were no material changes to the way that the Company measures market risk in the first quarter of 2016. For further discussion about the Company’s Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects of Market Risk, please review Item 7A of the Report 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. Berkshire’s objective is to maintain a neutral or asset sensitive interest rate risk profile, as measured by the sensitivity of net interest income to market interest rate changes. The Company measures this sensitivity primarily by evaluating the impact of ramped and shocked interest rate changes on net interest income in the one year, two year, and three year time horizons, including parallel shifts and yield curve twists. The Company also evaluates its equity at risk from interest rate changes through discounted cash flow analysis. This measure assesses the present value changes to equity based on long term impacts of rate changes beyond the time horizons evaluated for net interest income at risk.

As of March 31, 2016, there were no significant changes in the Company’s methodologies for measuring the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in market interest rates. The Company remains modestly asset sensitive in most interest rate parallel shift scenarios. Increases in interest rates which result from a parallel shift in the yield curve generally result in higher interest income in most future periods compared to the base scenario of unchanged interest rates.

The balance sheet was comparatively stable during the quarter, with no significant change in total assets, total loans, and total deposits. The decrease in residential mortgages modestly shortened the Company’s longest duration assets. The decrease in borrowings was largely offset by higher time deposits, which decreased the interest sensitivity of funds. The decrease in long term interest rates resulted in more pressure on modeled net interest margins and lower base case net interest income in a flat rate environment, compared to year-end. The shorter modeled lives of assets with prepayment risk improved the positive sensitivity of assets to interest rate increases, and therefore asset sensitivity to future interest rate increases improved modestly compared to the lower modeled net interest income at period-end. Similarly, the economic value of equity at risk improved modestly. Modeled net interest income in the scenario represented by the forward yield curve at period-end was modestly positive to the base case of flat interest rates at that date. This forward curve scenario anticipated further gradual increases in short term interest rates, with little change in long term rates. Through its pricing disciplines and mix of business, Berkshire’s goal is to manage its balance sheet to minimize margin compression in the event that interest rates do not rise during the effective period of the swaps.

In addition to modeling market risk in relation to net interest income, the Company also models net income at risk in various interest rate scenarios. Various sources of fee income, including interest rate swap income and mortgage banking revenue, are sensitive to interest rates. Other components of revenue and expense are also considered and net income estimates include the impact of income taxes on modeled changes. Management considers the risks to net income in evaluating its overall asset liability management and strategies. The Company’s initiatives to build fee income in 2016, including the recent acquisition of 44 Business Capital, are intended over the long run to reduce risks to net income related to changes in interest rates.

In a prolonged low rate environment, Berkshire has a number of business strategies to support its net interest income and margin objectives. These include changes in volumes and mix of interest bearing assets and liabilities, some of which are discussed above. The Company also evaluates its pricing strategies on an ongoing basis, and considers its investment, borrowings, and derivatives strategies in managing its income and risk profile. Due to the limitations and uncertainties relating to model assumptions, the modeled computations should not be relied on as projections of income. Further, the computations do not reflect any actions that management may undertake in response to changes in interest rates.


ITEM 4.           CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

a)  Disclosure controls and procedures.
The principal executive officers, including the principal financial officer, based on their evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

b)  Changes in internal control over financial reporting.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II
 
ITEM 1.            LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As of March 31, 2016, neither the Company nor the Bank was involved in any pending legal proceedings believed by management to be material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Periodically, there have been various claims and lawsuits involving the Bank, such as claims to enforce liens, condemnation proceedings on properties in which the Bank holds security interests, claims involving the making and servicing of real property loans and other issues incident to the Bank’s business. However, other than the item noted below, neither the Company nor the Bank is a party to any pending legal proceedings that it believes, in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operations of the Company.

On April 28, 2016, the Company and the Bank were served with a complaint filed in the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, Springfield Division. The complaint claims to have been filed on behalf of a purported class of the Bank's depositors, and alleges violations of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and certain regulations thereunder, among other matters. The complaint seeks, in part, compensatory, consequential, and statutory damages. The Company and the Bank deny the allegations contained in the complaint and intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit.


ITEM 1A.               RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in this form are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. There have been no material changes in the Company’s Risk Factors during the first quarter of 2016.



ITEM 2.               UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(a)                 No Company unregistered securities were sold during the quarter ended March 31, 2016.
(b)                 Not applicable.
(c)                  The following table provides certain information with regard to shares repurchased by the Company in the first quarter of 2016.
 
 
Total number of
 
Average price
 
Total number of shares
purchased as part of
publicly announced
 
Maximum number of
shares that may yet
be purchased under
Period 
 
shares purchased
 
paid per share
 
plans or programs
 
the plans or programs
January 1-31, 2016
 

 
$

 

 
500,000

February 1-29, 2016
 

 

 

 
500,000

March 1-31, 2016
 

 

 

 
500,000

Total
 

 
$

 

 
500,000


On December 2, 2015, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program, pursuant to which the Company may repurchase up to 500 thousand shares of the Company's common stock, representing approximately 1.6% of the Company’s then outstanding shares. The timing of the purchases will depend on certain factors, including but not limited to, market conditions and prices, available funds, and alternative uses of capital. The stock repurchase program may be carried out through open-market purchases, block trades, negotiated private transactions or pursuant to a trading plan adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any repurchased shares will be recorded as treasury shares. The repurchase plan will continue until it is completed or terminated by the Board of Directors. As of March 31, 2016, no shares had been purchased under this program.

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ITEM 3.                DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.


ITEM 4.                  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.



ITEM 5.                OTHER INFORMATION

None.



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ITEM 6.                   EXHIBITS
2.1
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 3, 2014, by and between Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and Hampden Bancorp, Inc. (1)
2.2
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 21, 2015, by and among Firestone Financial Corp., Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., Berkshire Bank, Jacob Acquisition LLC, and David S. Cohen, solely in his capacity as the representative of the Firestone security holders (2)
3.1
 
Certificate of Incorporation of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (3)
3.2
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.(4)
4.1
 
Form of Common Stock Certificate of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (3)
4.2
 
Note Subscription Agreement by and among Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and certain subscribers dated September 20, 2012 (5)
11.0
 
Statement re: Computation of Per Share Earnings is incorporated herein by reference to Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101
 
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Condition, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements tagged as blocks of text and in detail. 
_______________________________________
(1) 
Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 8-K filed on November 4, 2014.
(2) Incorporated herein by reference from Exhibits to the Form 8-K as filed on May 22, 2015.
(3) 
Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to Form S-1, Registration Statement and amendments thereto, initially filed on March 10, 2000, Registration No. 333-32146.
(4) 
Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 8-K as filed on April 28, 2015.
(5) 
Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 8-K as filed on September 26, 2012.


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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
 
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
Dated: May 10, 2016
By:
/s/ Michael P. Daly
 
           Michael P. Daly
 
          President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
Dated: May 10, 2016
By:
/s/ Josephine Iannelli
 
           Josephine Iannelli
 
           Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer


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