C & F FINANCIAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2015 March (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

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FORM 10-Q

 

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(Mark One)

 

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015 

 

or

 

 

For the transition period from           to _________

 

Commission File Number 000-23423

 

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C&F FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

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(804) 843-2360

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

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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  ☒    No  ☐

 

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  ☒    No  ☐

 

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ☐    No   ☒

 

 

At May 8, 2015, the latest practicable date for determination, 3,394,224 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value, of the registrant were outstanding.

 

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

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Part I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except for share and per share amounts)

 

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

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except for share and per share amounts)

 

 

 

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

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

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

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

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

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Principles of Consolidation: 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) for interim financial reporting and with applicable quarterly reporting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). They do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Therefore, these consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the C&F Financial Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of C&F Financial Corporation (the Corporation) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Citizens and Farmers Bank (the Bank or C&F Bank). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In addition, the Corporation owns C&F Financial Statutory Trust I, C&F Financial Statutory Trust II and Central Virginia Bankshares Statutory Trust I, all of which are unconsolidated subsidiaries. The subordinated debt owed to these trusts is reported as a liability of the Corporation.

 

Nature of Operations: The Corporation is a bank holding company incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Corporation owns all of the stock of its subsidiary, C&F Bank, which is an independent commercial bank chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. On October 1, 2013, the Corporation acquired Central Virginia Bankshares, Inc. (CVBK) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Central Virginia Bank (CVB), which was an independent commercial bank chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  On March 22, 2014, CVBK was merged with and into C&F Financial Corporation and CVB was merged with and into C&F Bank.

 

The Bank has five wholly-owned active subsidiaries: C&F Mortgage Corporation and Subsidiary (C&F Mortgage), C&F Finance Company (C&F Finance), C&F Investment Services, Inc., C&F Insurance Services, Inc. and CVB Title Services, Inc. all incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. C&F Mortgage, organized in September 1995, was formed to originate and sell residential mortgages and through its subsidiary, Certified Appraisals LLC, provides ancillary mortgage loan production services for residential appraisals. C&F Finance, acquired on September 1, 2002, is a finance company providing automobile loans through indirect lending programs. C&F Investment Services, Inc., organized in April 1995, is a full-service brokerage firm offering a comprehensive range of investment services. C&F Insurance Services, Inc., organized in July 1999, owns an equity interest in an insurance agency that sells insurance products to customers of C&F Bank, C&F Mortgage and other financial institutions that have an equity interest in the agency. CVB Title Services, Inc., was organized for the primary purpose of owning membership interests in two insurance-related limited liability companies. Business segment data is presented in Note 9.

 

Basis of Presentation: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the allowance for indemnifications, impairment of loans, projected cash flows of purchased credit impaired loans, impairment of securities, the valuation of other real estate owned, the projected benefit obligation under the defined benefit pension plan, the valuation of deferred taxes, fair value measurements and goodwill impairment. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations in these financial statements, have been made.

 

Reclassification: Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. None of these reclassifications are considered material.  See Note 2 for additional information about reclassifications related to the adoption of new accounting standards.

 

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Derivative Financial Instruments: The Corporation recognizes derivative financial instruments at fair value as either an other asset or other liability in the consolidated balance sheet. The Corporation’s derivative financial instruments as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consisted of (1) the fair value of interest rate lock commitments (IRLCs) on mortgage loans that will be sold in the secondary market and the related forward commitments to sell mortgage loans and (2) interest rate swaps that qualified as cash flow hedges on the Corporation's trust preferred capital notes. Because the IRLCs and forward sales commitments are not designated as hedging instruments, adjustments to reflect unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of the Corporation's IRLCs and forward sales commitments and realized gains and losses upon ultimate sale of the loans are classified as noninterest income. The Corporation's IRLCs and forward loan sales commitments are described more fully in Note 8 and Note 10. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the Corporation's cash flow hedges is reported as a component of other comprehensive income, net of deferred income taxes, and reclassified into earnings in the same period or period(s) during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. The cash flow hedges are described more fully in Note 11.

 

Share-Based Compensation: Compensation expense for the first quarter of 2015 included expense, net of forfeitures, of $264,000  ($164,000 after tax), for restricted stock granted during 2010 through 2015. As of March 31, 2015, there was $3.10 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock that will be recognized over the remaining requisite service periods.

 

A summary of activity for restricted stock awards during the first three months of 2015 and 2014 is presented below:

 

 

 

 

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There was no stock option activity during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.  Stock options outstanding at March 31, 2015 and 2014 are summarized below:

 

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Recent Significant Accounting Pronouncements:

 

In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-01, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures - Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The amendments in this ASU permit reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit). The amendments in this ASU should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. A reporting entity that uses the effective yield method to account for its investments in qualified affordable housing projects before the date of adoption may continue to apply the effective yield method for those preexisting investments. The amendments in this ASU became effective for public business entities for annual periods and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The adoption of ASU 2014-01 did not have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements.  The adoption of ASU 2014-01 is described further in Note 2.

 

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors - Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The amendments in this ASU clarify that if or when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (2) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. The amendments in this ASU became effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The adoption of ASU 2014-04 did not have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606. This ASU applies to any entity using U.S. GAAP that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Revenue Recognition-Topic 605, most industry-specific guidance, and some cost guidance included in Revenue Recognition-Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts-Subtopic 605-35. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To be in alignment with the core principle, an entity must apply a five step process including: identification of the contract(s) with a customer, identification of performance obligations in the contract(s), determination

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of the transaction price, allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognition of revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.  Additionally, the existing requirements for the recognition of a gain or loss on the transfer of nonfinancial assets that are not in a contract with a customer have also been amended to be consistent with the guidance on recognition and measurement.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-11, Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures.  This ASU aligns the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions and repurchase agreements executed as a repurchase financing with the accounting for other typical repurchase agreements. The new guidance eliminates sale accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions and supersedes the guidance under which a transfer of a financial asset and a contemporaneous repurchase financing could be accounted for on a combined basis as a forward agreement. The amendments in the ASU also require a new disclosure for transactions economically similar to repurchase agreements in which the transferor retains substantially all of the exposure to the economic return on the transferred financial assets throughout the term of the transaction. Additional disclosures will be required for the nature of collateral pledged in repurchase agreements and similar transactions accounted for as secured borrowings.  The amendments in this ASU became effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2014; however, the disclosure for transactions accounted for as secured borrowings is required to be presented for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and interim periods beginning after March 15, 2015. Early adoption is not permitted.  The Corporation does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-11 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The new guidance applies to reporting entities that grant employees share-based payments in which the terms of the award allow a performance target to be achieved after the requisite service period. The amendments in the ASU require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition.  Existing guidance in Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), should be applied to account for these types of awards. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted and reporting entities may choose to apply the amendments in the ASU either on a prospective or retrospective basis.  The Corporation does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-12 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-14, Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure.  The amendments in this ASU apply to creditors that hold government-guaranteed mortgage loans and is intended to eliminate the diversity in practice related to the classification of these guaranteed loans upon foreclosure.  The new guidance stipulates that a mortgage loan be derecognized and a separate other receivable be recognized upon foreclosure if (1) the loan has a government guarantee that is not separable from the loan prior to foreclosure, (2) at the time of foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to convey the real estate property to the guarantor and make a claim on the guarantee, and the creditor has the ability to recover under that claim, and (3) at the time of foreclosure, any amount of the claim that is determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed. Upon foreclosure, the other receivable should be measured on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor. The amendments in this ASU became effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Entities may adopt the amendments on a prospective basis or modified retrospective basis as of the beginning of the annual period of adoption; however, the entity must apply the same method of transition as elected under ASU 2014-04. The adoption of ASU 2014-14 did not have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern.  This update is intended to provide guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures.  Management is required under the new guidance to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about

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the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued when preparing financial statements for each interim and annual reporting period.  If conditions or events are identified, the ASU specifies the process that must be followed by management and also clarifies the timing and content of going concern footnote disclosures in order to reduce diversity in practice.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted.  The Corporation does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-15 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

 

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815):  Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity.  The amendments in ASU do not change the current criteria in U.S. GAAP for determining when separation of certain embedded derivative features in a hybrid financial instrument is required. The amendments clarify how current U.S. GAAP should be interpreted in evaluating the economic characteristics and risks of a host contract in a hybrid financial instrument that is issued in the form of a share. Specifically, the amendments clarify that an entity should consider all relevant terms and features, including the embedded derivative feature being evaluated for bifurcation, in evaluating the nature of the host contract. Furthermore, the amendments clarify that no single term or feature would necessarily determine the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract. Rather, the nature of the host contract depends upon the economic characteristics and risks of the entire hybrid financial instrument.  The amendments in this ASU also clarify that, in evaluating the nature of a host contract, an entity should assess the substance of the relevant terms and features (i.e., the relative strength of the debt-like or equity-like terms and features given the facts and circumstances) when considering how to weight those terms and features.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption, including adoption in an interim period, is permitted. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-16 to have a material effect on its financial statements.  

 

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, Income Statement—Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items.  The amendments in this ASU eliminate from U.S. GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. Subtopic 225-20, Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items, required that an entity separately classify, present, and disclose extraordinary events and transactions.  Presently, an event or transaction is presumed to be an ordinary and usual activity of the reporting entity unless evidence clearly supports its classification as an extraordinary item.  If an event or transaction meets the criteria for extraordinary classification, an entity is required to segregate the extraordinary item from the results of ordinary operations and show the item separately in the income statement, net of tax, after income from continuing operations. The entity also is required to disclose applicable income taxes and either present or disclose earnings-per-share data applicable to the extraordinary item.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015.  Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.  The Corporation does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-01 to have a material effect on its financial statements

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis.”  The amendments in this ASU are intended to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance for legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and securitization structures (collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations, and mortgage-backed security transactions).  In addition to reducing the number of consolidation models from four to two, the new standard simplifies the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and improves current GAAP by placing more emphasis on risk of loss when determining a controlling financial interest, reducing the frequency of the application of related-party guidance when determining a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity (VIE), and changing consolidation conclusions for public and private companies in several industries that typically make use of limited partnerships or VIEs.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. ASU 2015-02 may be applied retrospectively in previously issued financial statements for one or more years with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first year restated.  The Corporation does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-02 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

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In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.”  The amendments in this ASU are intended to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs.  These amendments require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued.  The Corporation does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-03 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement.”  The amendments in this ASU provide guidance to customers regarding cloud computing arrangements that include a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software 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 amendments do not change the accounting for a customer’s accounting for service contracts. As a result of the amendments, all software licenses within the scope of Subtopic 350-40 will be accounted for consistent with other licenses of intangible assets.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015.  Early adoption is permitted. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments either: (1) prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date; or (2) retrospectively.  The Corporation is currently assessing the effect that ASU 2015-05 will have on its financial statements. 

NOTE 2: Adoption of New Accounting Standards

 

The Corporation adopted ASU 2014-01, Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects, as of January 1, 2015.  As permitted by the guidance, the Corporation has elected to amortize the initial cost of investments in affordable housing projects over the period in which the Corporation will receive related tax credits, which approximates the proportional amortization method, and the resulting amortization is recognized as a component of income taxes attributable to continuing operations.  Historically, the amortization related to these investments were recognized within noninterest expense.  The Corporation adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2015 with retrospective application as required by ASU 2014-01.  Prior period results have been restated to conform to this presentation.

 

As of March 31, 2015, the carrying value of the Corporation’s aggregate investment in qualified affordable housing projects was $2.75 million and the aggregate commitment to provide additional capital to these investments was $1.26 million.  Amortization recognized as a component of income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was $138,000 and $104,000, respectively.

 

 

NOTE 3: Securities

 

Debt and equity securities, all of which are classified as available for sale are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

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The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities at March 31, 2015, by the earlier of contractual maturity or expected maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

 

 

Proceeds from the maturities, calls and sales of securities available for sale for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were $8.55 million, resulting in gross realized gains of $1,000.  Proceeds from the maturities, calls and sales of securities available for sale for the three months ended March 31, 2014 were $16.59 million, resulting in gross realized gains of less than $1,000.

 

The Corporation pledges securities primarily as collateral for public deposits and repurchase agreements. Securities with an aggregate amortized cost of $103.49 million and an aggregate fair value of $107.65 million were pledged at March 31, 2015. Securities with an aggregate amortized cost of $106.31 million and an aggregate fair value of $110.37 million were pledged at December 31, 2014.

 

Securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2015, by duration of the period of the unrealized loss, are shown below.

 

 

There were 57 debt securities totaling $31.21 million considered temporarily impaired at March 31, 2015. The primary cause of the temporary impairments in the Corporation's investments in debt securities was fluctuations in interest rates. Interest rates generally declined during the first quarter of 2015, primarily in the middle and long-end of the United States Treasury yield curve, thereby reducing unrealized losses on the Corporation's debt securities from December 31, 2014. Demand for United States debt securities increased, thereby reducing interest rates, as the Federal Reserve lowered both its economic and interest-rate projections as severe winter weather, a west coast port strike, the impact of a strong dollar and lower capital expenditures by the oil industry hindered economic activity in the United States. Interest rates in the municipal bond sector, which includes the Corporation's obligations of states and political subdivisions, were essentially unchanged to slightly lower during the first quarter of 2015 primarily due to heavy new issue supply, driven by refunding volume, as issuers continued to take advantage of the low interest rate environment. At March 31, 2015, approximately 97 

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percent of the Corporation's obligations of states and political subdivisions, as measured by market value, were rated “A” or better by Standard & Poor's or Moody's Investors Service. Of those in a net unrealized loss position, approximately 95 percent were rated “A” or better, as measured by market value, at March 31, 2015. For the approximately five percent not rated "A" or better, as measured by market value at March 31, 2015, the Corporation considers these to meet regulatory credit quality standards, such that the securities have low risk of default by the obligor, and the full and timely repayment of principal and interest is expected over the expected life of the investment. Because the Corporation intends to hold these investments in debt securities to maturity and it is more likely than not that the Corporation will not be required to sell these investments before a recovery of unrealized losses, the Corporation does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2015 and no other-than-temporary impairment has been recognized.

 

Securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2014, by duration of the period of the unrealized loss, are shown below.

 

 

The Corporation’s investment in restricted stocks totaled $3.35  million at March 31, 2015, and consisted of $3.20 million of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock and $145,000 of Community Bankers Bank (CBB) stock. Restricted stock is generally viewed as a long-term investment and as restricted investment securities, which are carried at cost, because there is no market for the stock, other than the FHLBs or member institutions. Therefore, when evaluating restricted stock for impairment, their respective values are based on the ultimate recoverability of the par value rather than by recognizing temporary declines in value. The Corporation does not consider its investment in restricted stocks to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2015 and no impairment has been recognized. Total restricted stocks is shown as a separate line item on the balance sheet and is not a part of the available-for-sale securities portfolio.  At December 31, 2014, the Corporation’s restricted stocks included $3.30 millon of FHLB stock and $145,000 of CBB stock.

NOTE 4: Loans

 

Major classifications of loans are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

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Consumer loans included $285,000 and $355,000 of demand deposit overdrafts at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

The outstanding principal balance and the carrying amount of loans acquired pursuant to the Corporation's acquisition of CVB (or acquired loans) that were recorded at fair value at the acquisition date and are included in the consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

 

 

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Loans on nonaccrual status were as follows:

 

 

 

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The past due status of loans as of March 31, 2015 was as follows:

 

 

 

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The table above includes the following:

 

The past due status of loans as of December 31, 2014 was as follows:

 

 

 

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The table above includes the following:

 

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Loan modifications that were classified as TDRs during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

 

 

 

A TDR payment default occurs when, within 12 months of the original TDR modification, either a full or partial charge-off occurs or a TDR becomes 90 days or more past due. There were no TDR defaults during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

 

Impaired loans, which included TDRs of $5.71 million, and the related allowance at March 31, 2015 were as follows:

 

 

 

Impaired loans, which included TDR loans of $5.83 million, and the related allowance at December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

 

 

PCI loans had an unpaid principal balance of $34.38 million and a carrying value of $19.82 million at March 31, 2015. Determining the fair value of purchased credit impaired loans required the Corporation to estimate cash flows expected to result from those loans and to discount those cash flows at appropriate rates of interest. For such loans, the excess of the cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is recognized as interest income over the remaining lives of the loans and is called the accretable yield. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition reflects the effect of estimated credit losses and is called the

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nonaccretable difference, and is not recorded. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, there was no carry-over of previously established allowance for loan losses for acquired loans.

 

The following table presents a summary of the change in the accretable yield of the PCI loan portfolio for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

NOTE 5: Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The following table presents the changes in the allowance for loan losses by major classification during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

 

 

The following table presents the changes in the allowance for loan losses by major classification during three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

 

 

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The following table presents, as of March 31, 2015, the total allowance for loan losses, the allowance by impairment methodology (individually evaluated for impairment, collectively evaluated for impairment or PCI loans), the total loans and loans by impairment methodology (individually evaluated for impairment, collectively evaluated for impairment or PCI loans).

 

 

 

The following table presents, as of December 31, 2014, the total allowance for loan losses, the allowance by impairment methodology (individually evaluated for impairment or collectively evaluated for impairment), the total loans and loans by impairment methodology (individually evaluated for impairment or collectively evaluated for impairment).

 

 

 

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Loans by credit quality indicators as of March 31, 2015 were as follows:

 

 

 

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Included in the table above are loans purchased in connection with the acquisition of CVB of $83.04 million pass rated, $2.88 million special mention, $10.11 million substandard and $589,000 substandard nonaccrual.

 

 

 

Loans by credit quality indicators as of December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

 

 

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Included in the table above are loans purchased in connection with the acquisition of CVB of $87.27 million pass rated, $2.99 million special mention, $10.71 million substandard and $603,000 substandard nonaccrual.

 

 

 

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NOTE 6: Shareholders’ Equity and Earnings Per Common Share

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

The following table presents the cumulative balances of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred taxes of $1.77 million, and  $1.66 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

During the first quarter of 2015, the Corporation purchased 41,204 shares of its common stock.  During the first quarter of 2015, 38,759 shares were purchased under a share repurchase program authorized by the Corporation's Board of Directors for the purchase of up to $5.0 million of the Corporation's common stock through May 2015. The Corporation purchased 2,445 and 225 shares of its common stock from employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising upon the vesting of restricted shares during the first quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Earnings Per Common Share

 

The components of the Corporation’s earnings per common share calculations are as follows:

 

 

 

Potential common shares that may be issued by the Corporation for its stock option awards , and when it was outstanding, the warrant (the Warrant) to purchase common stock of the Corporation originally issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (Treasury) as part of the Corporation’s participation in the Capital Purchase Program, are determined using the treasury stock method. Approximately 88,762, and 116,150 shares issuable upon exercise of options for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, were not included in computing diluted earnings per common share because they were anti-dilutive.  The Corporation repurchased the Warrant from Treasury during the second quarter of 2014.

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NOTE 7: Employee Benefit Plans

 

The Bank has a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan for which the components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

 

 

 

NOTE 8: Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. U.S. GAAP requires that valuation techniques maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. U.S. GAAP also establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the valuation inputs into three broad levels. Based on the underlying inputs, each fair value measurement in its entirety is reported in one of the three levels. These levels are:

 

 

 

 

U.S. GAAP allows an entity the irrevocable option to elect fair value (the fair value option) for the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis.  The Corporation has elected to use fair value accounting for its entire portfolio of loans held for sale (LHFS).

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

The following describes the valuation techniques and inputs used by the Corporation in determining the fair value of certain assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements.

 

Securities available for sale. The Corporation primarily values its investment portfolio using Level 2 fair value measurements, but may also use Level 1 or Level 3 measurements if required by the composition of the portfolio. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Corporation's entire investment securities portfolio was comprised of securities available for sale, which were valued using Level 2 fair value measurements. The Corporation has contracted with third party portfolio accounting service vendors for valuation of its securities portfolio. The vendors’ sources for security valuation are Standard & Poor's Securities Evaluations Inc. (SPSE), Thomson Reuters Pricing Service (TRPS), and Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data LLC (IDC).  Each source provides opinions, known as evaluated prices,

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as to the value of individual securities based on model-based pricing techniques that are partially based on available market data, including prices for similar instruments in active markets and prices for identical assets in markets that are not active. SPSE and IDC provide evaluated prices for the Corporation's obligations of states and political subdivisions category of securities.  Both sources use proprietary pricing models and pricing systems, mathematical tools and judgment to determine an evaluated price for a security based upon a hierarchy of market information regarding that security or securities with similar characteristics.  TRPS and IDC provide evaluated prices for the Corporation's U.S. government agencies and corporations and mortgage-backed categories of securities.  Fixed-rate callable securities of the U.S. government agencies and corporations category are individually evaluated on an option adjusted spread basis for callable issues or on a nominal spread basis incorporating the term structure of agency market spreads and the appropriate risk free benchmark curve for non-callable issues.  Fixed-rate securities issued by the Small Business Association in the U.S. government agencies and corporations category are individually evaluated based upon a hierarchy of security specific information and market data regarding that security or securities with similar characteristics. Pass-through mortgage-backed securities in the mortgage-backed category are grouped into aggregate categories defined by issuer program, weighted average coupon, and weighted average maturity.  Each aggregate is benchmarked to a relative mortgage-backed to-be-announced (TBA) or other benchmark price. TBA prices are obtained from market makers and live trading systems. Collateralized mortgage obligations in the mortgage-backed category are individually evaluated based upon a hierarchy of security specific information and market data regarding that security or securities with similar characteristics.  Each evaluation is determined using an option adjusted spread and prepayment model based on volatility-driven, multi-dimensional spread tables.

 

Loans held for sale. Fair value of the Corporation's LHFS is based on observable market prices for similar instruments traded in the secondary mortgage loan markets in which the Corporation conducts business. The Corporation's portfolio of LHFS is classified as Level 2.

 

Derivative asset (liability) - IRLCs. The Corporation recognizes IRLCs at fair value. Fair value of IRLCs is based on either (i) the price of the underlying loans obtained from an investor for loans that will be delivered on a best efforts basis or (ii) the observable price for individual loans traded in the secondary market for loans that will be delivered on a mandatory basis. All of the Corporation's IRLCs are classified as Level 2.

 

Derivative asset (liability) - forward sales commitments. Forward commitments to sell mortgage loans and TBAs are used to mitigate interest rate risk for residential mortgage LHFS and IRLCs. Forward commitments to sell mortgage loans and TBAs are considered derivatives and are recorded at fair value, based on (i) committed sales prices from investors for commitments to sell mortgage loans or (ii) observable market data inputs for commitments to sell TBAs. The Corporation's forward sales commitments are classified as Level 2.

 

Derivative asset (liability) - cash flow hedges. The Corporation’s derivative financial instruments have been designated as and qualify as cash flow hedges. The fair value of the Corporation's cash flow hedges is determined using the discounted cash flow method.  All of the Corporation's cash flow hedges are classified as Level 2.

 

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The following table presents the balances of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

 

 

 

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

 

The Corporation may be required, from time to time, to measure and recognize certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The following describes the valuation techniques and inputs used by the Corporation in determining the fair value of certain assets recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in the financial statements.

 

Impaired loans. The Corporation does not record loans held for investment at fair value on a recurring basis. However, there are instances when a loan is considered impaired and an allowance for loan losses is established. A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Corporation will be unable to collect all interest and principal payments as scheduled in the loan agreement. All TDRs are considered impaired loans. The Corporation measures impairment on a loan-by-loan basis for commercial, construction and residential loans in excess of $500,000 by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Additionally, management reviews current market conditions, borrower history, past experience with similar loans and economic conditions. Based on management's review, additional write-downs to fair value may be incurred. The Corporation maintains a valuation allowance to the extent that the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment. When the fair value of an impaired loan is based solely on observable cash flows, market price or a current appraisal, the Corporation records the impaired loan as nonrecurring Level 2.

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However, if based on management's review, additional write-downs to fair value are required, the Corporation records the impaired loan as nonrecurring Level 3.

 

The measurement of impaired loans of less than $500,000 is based on each loan's future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate rather than the market rate of interest, which is not a fair value measurement and is therefore excluded from fair value disclosure requirements.

 

Other real estate owned (OREO). Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell at the date of foreclosure. Initial fair value is based upon appraisals the Corporation obtains from independent licensed appraisers. Subsequent to foreclosure, management periodically performs valuations of the foreclosed assets based on updated appraisals, general market conditions, recent sales of like properties, length of time the properties have been held, and our ability and intention with regard to continued ownership of the properties. The Corporation may incur additional write-downs of foreclosed assets to fair value less costs to sell if valuations indicate a further other-than-temporary deterioration in market conditions. As such, we record OREO as nonrecurring Level 3.

 

The following table presents the balances of financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

 

 

 

 

 

The following table presents quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements for financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of March 31, 2015:

 

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

FASB ASC 825, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure about fair value of financial instruments, including those financial assets and financial liabilities that are not required to be measured and reported at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. ASC 825 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented may not necessarily represent the underlying fair value of the Corporation.

 

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The following describes the valuation techniques used by the Corporation to measure its financial instruments at fair value as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

 

Cash and short-term investments. The nature of these instruments and their relatively short maturities provide for the reporting of fair value equal to the historical cost.

 

Loans, net. The fair value of performing loans is estimated using a discounted expected future cash flows analysis based on current rates being offered on similar products in the market. An overall valuation adjustment is made for specific credit risks as well as general portfolio risks. Based on the valuation methodologies used in assessing the fair value of loans and the associated valuation allowance, these loans are considered Level 3.

 

Loan totals, as listed in the table below, include impaired loans. For valuation techniques used in relation to impaired loans, see the Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis section in this Note 8.

 

Loans held for sale, net. As described in Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis section in this Note 8, the Corporation has elected to carry its portfolio of LHFS at fair value, measured on a recurring basis.

 

Accrued interest receivable. The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable approximates fair value.

 

Bank-owned life insurance (BOLI).  The fair value of BOLI is estimated using information provided by insurance carriers.  These policies are carried at their cash surrender value, which approximates the fair value. 

 

Deposits. The fair value of all demand deposit accounts is the amount payable at the report date. For all other deposits, the fair value is determined using the discounted cash flow method. The discount rate was equal to the rate currently offered on similar products in active markets (Level 2).

 

Borrowings. The fair value of borrowings is determined using the discounted cash flow method. The discount rate was equal to the rate currently offered on similar products in active markets (Level 2).

 

Accrued interest payable. The carrying amount of accrued interest payable approximates fair value.

 

Letters of credit. The estimated fair value of letters of credit is based on estimated fees the Corporation would pay to have another entity assume its obligation under the outstanding arrangements. These fees are not considered material.

 

Unused portions of lines of credit. The estimated fair value of unused portions of lines of credit is based on estimated fees the Corporation would pay to have another entity assume its obligation under the outstanding arrangements. These fees are not considered material.

 

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The following tables reflect the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Corporation's financial instruments whether or not recognized on the balance sheet at fair value.

 

 

 

 

 

The Corporation assumes interest rate risk (the risk that general interest rate levels will change) as a result of its normal operations. As a result, the fair values of the Corporation’s financial instruments will change when interest rate levels change and that change may be either favorable or unfavorable to the Corporation. Management attempts to match maturities of assets and liabilities to the extent believed necessary to balance minimizing interest rate risk and increasing net interest income in current market conditions. However, borrowers with fixed rate obligations are less likely to prepay in a rising rate environment and more likely to prepay in a falling rate environment. Conversely, depositors who are receiving fixed rates are more likely to withdraw funds before maturity in a rising rate environment and less likely to do so in a falling rate environment. Management monitors interest rates, maturities and repricing dates of assets and liabilities and attempts to manage interest rate risk by adjusting terms of new loans, deposits and borrowings and by investing in securities with terms that mitigate the Corporation’s overall interest rate risk.

 

NOTE 9: Business Segments

 

The Corporation operates in a decentralized fashion in three principal business segments: Retail Banking, Mortgage Banking and Consumer Finance. Revenues from Retail Banking operations consist primarily of interest earned on loans

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and investment securities and service charges on deposit accounts. Mortgage Banking operating revenues consist principally of gains on sales of loans in the secondary market, loan origination fee income and interest earned on mortgage loans held for sale. Revenues from Consumer Finance consist primarily of interest earned on purchased automobile retail installment sales contracts.

 

The Corporation’s other segment includes an investment company that derives revenues from brokerage services and an insurance company that derives revenues from insurance services. The results of the other segment are not significant to the Corporation as a whole and have been included in “Other.” Revenue and expenses of the Corporation are also included in “Other,” and consist primarily of interest expense associated with the Corporation’s trust preferred capital notes and other general corporate expenses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Retail Banking segment extends a warehouse line of credit to the Mortgage Banking segment, providing a portion of the funds needed to originate mortgage loans. The Retail Banking segment charges the Mortgage Banking segment interest at the daily FHLB advance rate plus 50 basis points. The Retail Banking segment also provides the Consumer Finance segment with a portion of the funds needed to purchase loan contracts by means of variable rate notes that carry interest at

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one-month LIBOR plus 200 basis points and fixed rate notes that carry interest rates ranging from 3.8 percent to 8.0 percent. The Retail Banking segment acquires certain residential real estate loans from the Mortgage Banking segment at prices similar to those paid by third-party investors. These transactions are eliminated to reach consolidated totals. Certain corporate overhead costs incurred by the Retail Banking segment are not allocated to the Mortgage Banking, Consumer Finance and Other segments.

 

NOTE 10: Commitments and Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk

 

C&F Mortgage enters into IRLCs with customers and will sell the underlying loans to investors on either a best efforts or a mandatory delivery basis. C&F Mortgage mitigates interest rate risk on IRLCs and loans held for sale by (a) entering into forward loan sales contracts with investors for loans to be delivered on a best efforts basis or (b) entering into forward sales contracts of MBS for loans to be delivered on a mandatory basis. Both the IRLCs with customers and the forward sales contracts are considered derivative financial instruments. At March 31, 2015, the Corporation had forward sales contracts with a notional value of $104.38 million, and each loan held for sale by C&F Mortgage was subject to a forward sales agreement. The fair value of these derivative instruments at March 31, 2015 was $723,000, which was included in other assets.

 

C&F Mortgage sells substantially all of the residential mortgage loans it originates to third-party counterparties. As is customary in the industry, the agreements with these counterparties require C&F Mortgage to extend representations and warranties with respect to program compliance, borrower misrepresentation, fraud, and early payment performance. Under the agreements, the counterparties are entitled to make loss claims and repurchase requests of C&F Mortgage for loans that contain covered deficiencies. C&F Mortgage has obtained early payment default recourse waivers for a significant portion of its business. Recourse periods for early payment default for the remaining counterparties vary from 90 days up to one year. Recourse periods for borrower misrepresentation or fraud, or underwriting error do not have a stated time limit. C&F Mortgage maintains an indemnification reserve for potential claims made under these recourse provisions.  The following table presents the changes in the allowance for indemnification losses for the periods presented:

 

 

 

NOTE 11: Interest Rate Swaps

 

The Corporation uses interest rate swaps to manage exposure of its trust preferred capital notes to interest rate risk. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed and variable rate interest payments between two parties, based on a common notional principal amount and maturity date with no exchange of underlying principal amounts. The Corporation’s interest rate swaps qualify as cash flow hedges. The Corporation’s cash flow hedges effectively modify the Corporation’s exposure to interest rate risk by converting variable rates of interest on $10.00 million and $15.00 million of the Corporation’s trust preferred capital notes to fixed rates of interest until September 2015 and December 2019, respectively.

 

The cash flow hedges total notional amount is $25.00 million. At March 31, 2015, the $15.0 million of cash flow hedges entered into during 2014 had a fair value of $(157,000), which is recorded in other liabilities, and the remaining $10.0 million of cash flow hedges had a fair value of ($94,000), which is also recorded in other liabilities. The cash flow hedges were fully effective at March 31, 2015 and therefore the net loss on the cash flow hedges was recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of deferred income taxes.

 

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NOTE 12: Other Noninterest Expenses

 

The following table presents the significant components in the statements of income line “Noninterest Expenses-Other Expenses.”

 

 

 

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

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains statements concerning the Corporation’s expectations, plans, objectives, future financial performance and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal securities laws and may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future financial performance, liquidity, strategic business initiatives, the Corporation’s and each business segment’s loan portfolio, allowance for loan losses, trends regarding the provision for loan losses, trends regarding net loan charge-offs, trends regarding levels of nonperforming assets and troubled debt restructurings and expenses associated with nonperforming assets, provision for indemnification losses, levels of noninterest income and expense, interest rates and yields including possible future rising interest rate environments, the deposit portfolio including trends in deposit maturities and rates, interest rate sensitivity, market risk, regulatory developments, monetary policy implemented by the Federal Reserve Board including capital requirements, growth strategy, hedging strategy and financial and other goals. These statements may address issues that involve estimates and assumptions made by management and risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from historical results or those anticipated by such statements. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on the operations and future prospects of the Corporation include, but are not limited to, changes in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships, and we routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, and other institutions. As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions about defaults by, one or more financial services institutions, or the financial services industry generally, could create another market-wide liquidity crisis similar to that experienced in late 2008 and early 2009 and could lead to losses or defaults by us or by other institutions. There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially adversely affect the Corporation’s results of operations.

 

There can be no assurance that the actions taken by the federal government and regulatory agencies will alleviate the industry or economic factors that may adversely affect the Corporation’s business and financial performance. Further, many aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act remain subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it difficult to anticipate the overall effect on the Corporation’s business and financial performance.

 

These risks and uncertainties, and the risks discussed in more detail in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on those statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.

 

The following discussion supplements and provides information about the major components of the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources of the Corporation. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The preparation of financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions. Those accounting policies with the greatest uncertainty and that require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments affecting the application of these policies, and the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions, or using different assumptions, are described below.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses: We establish the allowance for loan losses through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for loan losses. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when we believe that the collection of the principal is unlikely. Subsequent recoveries of losses previously charged against the allowance are credited to the allowance. The allowance represents an amount that, in our judgment, will be adequate to absorb any losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible. Our judgment in determining the level of the allowance is based on evaluations of the collectibility of loans while taking into consideration such factors as trends in delinquencies and charge-offs, changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay and the value of collateral, overall portfolio quality and review of specific potential losses. This evaluation is inherently subjective because it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.  For more information see the section titled “Asset Quality” within Part I, Item 2.

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Allowance for Indemnifications: The allowance for indemnifications is established through charges to earnings in the form of a provision for indemnifications, which is included in other noninterest expenses. A loss is charged against the allowance for indemnifications under certain conditions when a purchaser of a loan (investor) sold by C&F Mortgage incurs a loss due to borrower misrepresentation, fraud, early default, or underwriting error. The allowance represents an amount that, in management’s judgment, will be adequate to absorb any losses arising from indemnification requests. Management’s judgment in determining the level of the allowance is based on the volume of loans sold, historical experience, current economic conditions and information provided by investors. This evaluation is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

 

Impairment of Loans: We consider a loan impaired when it is probable that the Corporation will be unable to collect all interest and principal payments as scheduled in the loan agreement. We do not consider a loan impaired during a period of delay in payment if we expect the ultimate collection of all amounts due. We measure impairment on a loan-by-loan basis for commercial, construction and residential loans in excess of $500,000 by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. We maintain a valuation allowance to the extent that the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment. Troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) are also considered impaired loans, even if the loan balance is less than $500,000. A TDR occurs when we agree to significantly modify the original terms of a loan due to the deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower.

 

Loans Acquired in a Business Combination:  Loans acquired in a business combination, such as the Corporation's acquisition of CVB, are recorded at estimated fair value on the date of acquisition without the carryover of the related allowance for loan losses. Purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans are those for which there is evidence of credit deterioration since origination and for which it is probable at the date of acquisition that the Corporation will not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments. When determining fair value, PCI loans were aggregated into pools of loans based on common risk characteristics as of the date of acquisition such as loan type, date of origination, and evidence of credit quality deterioration such as internal risk grades and past due and nonaccrual status. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as the "nonaccretable difference," is not recorded and is available to absorb future credit losses on those loans. Any excess of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the "accretable yield" and is recognized as interest income over the remaining life of the loan when there is a reasonable expectation about the amount and timing of such cash flows. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows will generally result in a provision for loan losses, while subsequent increases in cash flows may result in a reversal of post-acquisition provision for loan losses, or a transfer from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield.  

 

Subsequent to acquisition, we evaluate on a quarterly basis our estimate of cash flows expected to be collected. In the current economic environment, estimates of cash flows for PCI loans require significant judgment. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows will generally result in a provision for loan losses resulting in an increase to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent significant increases in cash flows will generally result in an increase in interest income over the remaining life of the loan, or pool(s) of loans. Disposals of loans, which may include sale of loans to third parties, receipt of payments in full or part from the borrower or foreclosure of the collateral, result in removal of the loan from the PCI loan portfolio at its carrying amount.

 

The Corporation's PCI loans currently consist of loans acquired in connection with the acquisition of CVB. PCI loans that were classified as nonperforming loans by CVB are no longer classified as nonperforming so long as, at acquisition and quarterly re-estimation periods, we believe we will fully collect the new carrying value of the pools of loans.

 

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Loans not designated as PCI loans as of the acquisition date are designated as purchased performing loans. The Corporation accounts for purchased performing loans using the contractual cash flows method of recognizing discount accretion based on the acquired loans' contractual cash flows. Purchased performing loans are recorded at fair value, including a credit discount. The fair value discount is accreted as an adjustment to yield over the estimated lives of the loans. There is no allowance for loan losses established at the acquisition date for purchased performing loans. A provision for loan losses may be required in future periods for any deterioration in these loans subsequent to the acquisition.

 

Impairment of Securities: Impairment of securities occurs when the fair value of a security is less than its amortized cost. For debt securities, impairment is considered other-than-temporary and recognized in its entirety in net income if either (i) we intend to sell the security or (ii) it is more-likely-than-not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If, however, we do not intend to sell the security and it is not more-likely-than-not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery, we must determine what portion of the impairment is attributable to a credit loss, which occurs when the amortized cost basis of the security exceeds the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security. If there is no credit loss, there is no other-than-temporary impairment. If there is a credit loss, other-than-temporary impairment exists, and the credit loss must be recognized in net income and the remaining portion of impairment must be recognized in other comprehensive income. For equity securities, impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary based on our ability and intent to hold the investment until a recovery of fair value. Other-than-temporary impairment of an equity security results in a write-down that must be included in net income. We regularly review each investment security for other-than-temporary impairment based on criteria that includes the extent to which cost exceeds market price, the duration of that market decline, the financial health of and specific prospects for the issuer, our best estimate of the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from debt securities, our intention with regard to holding the security to maturity and the likelihood that we would be required to sell the security before recovery.

 

Other Real Estate Owned (OREO): Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at the lower of the loan balance or the fair value less costs to sell at the date of foreclosure. Subsequent to foreclosure, management periodically performs valuations of the foreclosed assets based on updated appraisals, general market conditions, recent sales of like properties, length of time the properties have been held, and our ability and intention with regard to continued ownership of the properties. The Corporation may incur additional write-downs of foreclosed assets to fair value less costs to sell if valuations indicate a further other-than-temporary deterioration in market conditions.

 

Goodwill: The Corporation's goodwill was recognized in connection with the Corporation's acquisition of CVBK in 2013 and C&F Bank's acquisition of C&F Finance Company in September 2002. With the adoption of ASU 2011-08, Intangible-Goodwill and Other-Testing Goodwill for Impairment, in 2012, the Corporation may first assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying amount, which determines if the two-step goodwill impairment test is necessary. If the likelihood of impairment is more than 50 percent, the Corporation must perform a test for impairment and we may be required to record impairment charges. In assessing the recoverability of the Corporation’s goodwill, major assumptions used in determining impairment are increases in future income, sales multiples in determining terminal value and the discount rate applied to future cash flows. If an impairment test is performed, we will prepare a sensitivity analysis by increasing the discount rate, lowering sales multiples and reducing increases in future income.

 

Retirement Plan: C&F Bank maintains a non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan for eligible full-time employees as specified by the plan. Plan assets, which consist primarily of mutual funds invested in marketable equity securities and corporate and government fixed income securities, are valued using market quotations. C&F Bank’s actuary determines plan obligations and annual pension expense using a number of key assumptions. Key assumptions may include the discount rate, the interest crediting rate, the estimated future return on plan assets and the anticipated rate of future salary increases. Changes in these assumptions in the future, if any, or in the method under which benefits are calculated may impact pension assets, liabilities or expense.

 

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Derivative Financial Instruments:  The Corporation recognizes derivative financial instruments at fair value as either an other asset or other liability in the consolidated balance sheet. The Corporation's derivative financial instruments consist of (1) IRLCs on mortgage loans that will be held for sale and related forward sales commitments and (2) interest rate swaps that qualify as cash flow hedges of the Corporation's trust preferred capital notes. Because the IRLCs and forward sale commitments are not designated as hedging instruments, adjustments to reflect unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of the Corporation's IRLCs and forward sales commitments and realized gains and losses upon ultimate sale of the loans are reported as noninterest income. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the Corporation's cash flow hedges is reported as a component of other comprehensive income, net of deferred taxes, and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings.

 

Accounting for Income Taxes: Determining the Corporation’s effective tax rate requires judgment. In the ordinary course of business, there are transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax outcomes are uncertain. In addition, the Corporation’s tax returns are subject to audit by various tax authorities. Although we believe that the estimates are reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final tax outcome will not be materially different than that which is reflected in the income tax provision and accrual.

 

For further information concerning accounting policies, refer to Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” under the heading “Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.”

 

OVERVIEW

 

Our primary financial goals are to maximize the Corporation’s earnings and to deploy capital in profitable growth initiatives that will enhance long-term shareholder value. We track three primary financial performance measures in order to assess the level of success in achieving these goals: (i) return on average assets (ROA), (ii) return on average common equity (ROE), and (iii) growth in earnings.  In addition to these financial performance measures, we track the performance of the Corporation’s three principal business activities: retail banking, mortgage banking, and consumer finance.  We also actively manage our capital through growth, dividends and share repurchases, while considering the need to maintain a strong regulatory capital position.

 

Financial Performance Measures

 

Net income for the Corporation was $2.6 million for the first quarter of  2015, or $0.77 per common share assuming dilution compared with net income of $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2014 or $0.83 per common share assuming dilution. The decline in net income for the first quarter of 2015, as compared to the same period of 2014, was principally attributable to lower earnings at the Consumer Finance segment, offset in part by an increase in earnings at the Retail Banking and Mortgage Banking segments. At the Consumer Finance segment, net income declined because of (1) the negative effects of competition on loan growth and yield and (2) higher operating expenses. The Retail Banking segment, which reported an increase in earnings during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, benefited from (1) the effect of the continued low interest rate environment on the costs of deposits and (2) reduced operating expenses resulting from the merger of CVB into C&F Bank. At the Mortgage Banking segment, higher earnings during the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 were related to an increase in mortgage loan origination volume resulting from favorable interest rate fluctuations.

 

The Corporation’s ROE and ROA were 8.52 percent and 0.79 percent, respectively, on an annualized basis for the first quarter of 2015, compared to 9.96 percent and 0.88 percent, respectively, for the first quarter of 2014.  The decrease in these ratios for the first quarter of 2015 resulted primarily from lower first quarter net income during 2015, compared to the same period of 2014. The decline in ROE was also affected by internal capital growth of 5.9 percent since March 31, 2014 resulting from earnings and an increase in unrealized appreciation of the Corporation’s investment securities portfolio. The decline in ROA during the first quarter of 2015 was also affected by average asset growth of 1.85 percent since March 31, 2014.

 

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Principal Business Activities. 

 

An overview of the financial results for each of the Corporation’s principal business segments is presented below. A more detailed discussion is included in “Results of Operations.”

 

Retail Banking: The Retail Banking segment reported net income of $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $984,000 for the first quarter of 2014.  The improvement in net income of the Retail Banking segment for the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014, resulted from (1) the effects of the continued low interest rate environment on the cost of deposits, and (2)  reduced insurance, professional fees, and data processing expenses resulting from costs savings associated with the integration of CVB’s operations into the Bank’s infrastructure. Partially offsetting these positive factors were the effects of the following:  (1) a decline in the yield on the Bank’s investment portfolio due to the purchase of lower-yielding shorter-term securities as the Bank has utilized short-term securities in order to limit exposure to a potential rising interest rate environment, (2) a decline in the yield on the Bank’s loan portfolio due to the continued low interest rate environment, and (3) higher personnel costs associated with increased staff levels and support positions associated with the addition of commercial loan personnel focused on growing the segment’s commercial and small business loan portfolios.

 

The results for the first quarter of 2015 for the retail banking segment continue to be affected by the acquisition accounting adjustments recorded in connection with the acquisition of CVB. These adjustments resulted from marking assets and liabilities acquired from CVB to fair market values as of the acquisition date. Accordingly, yields on loans and investments acquired from CVB increased and the cost of certificates of deposit decreased, the benefits of which were partially offset by the amortization of the core deposit intangible and higher depreciation expense associated with the buildings acquired in the CVB merger. The net accretion attributable to these adjustments during the first quarter of 2015 was $487,000, net of taxes ($738,000 before taxes), compared to $541,000, net of taxes ($820,000 before taxes) for the first quarter of 2014.

 

The Bank’s nonperforming assets were $5.7 million at March 31, 2015, compared to $5.5 million at December 31, 2014.  Nonperforming assets at March 31, 2015 included $4.9 million in nonaccrual loans, compared to $4.7 million at December 31, 2014, and $790,000  in OREO, compared to $786,000 at December 31, 2014.  The increases in nonaccrual loans and OREO since December 31, 2014 were generally attributable to credit deterioration of certain smaller balance loans.  Troubled debt restructurings at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were $5.7 million and $5.8 million, respectively, of which $2.2 million and $2.0 million at March 31, 2015 and at December 31, 2014, respectively, were included in nonaccrual loans. 

 

Mortgage Banking:  The Mortgage Banking segment reported net income of $47,000 for the first quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $15,000 for the first quarter of 2014.  The improvement in net income resulted from increased mortgage loan origination volume compared to the first quarter of 2014 due to generally favorable interest rate fluctuations in the 10-year Treasury rate, which in turn resulted in higher gains on sales of loans and ancillary loan origination fees, partially offset by an increase in production-based compensation.  Loan origination volume for the first quarter of 2015 increased to $115.9 million from $91.4 million for the first quarter of 2014.  During 2015, the amount of loan originations for refinancings and new and resale home purchases were $37.1 million and $78.8 million, respectively, compared to $12.8 million and $78.6 million, respectively, during the first quarter of 2014.

 

Although earnings increased slightly at the Mortgage Banking segment, increasing profitability at the current origination levels will be challenging due to the fixed costs of maintaining the personnel, compliance and technology infrastructure required to support mortgage banking activities.  Our goal is to increase origination volume at the mortgage banking segment through internal growth in existing markets and through strategic initiatives.

 

Consumer Finance:  The Consumer Finance segment reported net income of $1.7 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2014. Average loans outstanding during the first quarter of 2015 increased $3.6 million compared to average loans outstanding during the first quarter of 2014.  Despite the increase in the loan portfolio, net interest income declined $266,000 due to a 57 basis point decline in average yield on the loan portfolio for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 as compared to the first quarter of 2014.  Increased competition and loan pricing strategies that competitors have used to grow market share have suppressed loan growth and adversely affected the

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average yield of the Consumer Finance segment’s loan portfolio.  In addition, personnel costs and general operating expenses increased during the first quarter of 2015 over the same period in 2014.

 

The results of the Consumer Finance segment included a  $3.5 million provision for loan losses for both the first quarter of 2015 and 2014.  Loan charge-offs for the first quarter of 2015 continued to be elevated over historical levels as a result of the current competitive and economic environment for non-prime consumers and reduced sales prices of repossessed vehicles. The annualized net charge-off ratio for the first quarter of 2015 was 5.05%, compared to 5.01% for the first quarter of 2014.  The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans increased to 8.67 percent at March 31, 2015 from 8.50 percent at December 31, 2014. Management believes that the current allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb probable losses inherent in the consumer finance loan portfolio. However, if factors influencing the Consumer Finance segment result in a higher net charge-off ratio, C&F Finance may need to continue to increase the level of its allowance for loan losses, which could negatively affect future earnings.

 

Capital Management. Total shareholders' equity was $124.3 million at March 31, 2015, compared to $123.6 million at December 31, 2014. Capital growth resulted from earnings for the first quarter of 2015 and an increase in unrealized holding gains on securities available for sale, which are a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. These increases were offset in part by share repurchases during the first quarter of 2015 and dividends declared of 30 cents per share during the first quarter of 2015. The first quarter dividend was paid on April 1, 2015 and equated to a payout ratio of 38.96 percent of first quarter net income.

 

During the second quarter of 2014, the Board of Directors of the Corporation authorized a share repurchase program to purchase up to $5.0 million of the Corporation's common stock. The Corporation purchased 38,759 shares under this repurchase program during the first quarter of 2015 through privately negotiated transactions at a weighted average price of $35.09 per share. For more information about these repurchases of the Corporation's common stock, see Part II, Item 2, "Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds" under the heading "Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. 

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table presents the average balance sheets, the amounts of interest earned on earning assets, with related yields, and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, with related rates, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. Loans include loans held for sale. Loans placed on nonaccrual status are included in the balances and are included in the computation of yields, but had no material effect. Accretion and amortization of fair value purchase adjustments are included in the computation of yields on loans and investments and on the cost of deposits and borrowings acquired in connection with the purchase of CVB. Interest on tax-exempt loans and securities is presented on a taxable-equivalent basis (which converts the income on loans and investments for which no income taxes are paid to the equivalent yield as if income taxes were paid using the federal corporate income tax rate of 34 percent).

 

TABLE 1: Average Balances, Income and Expense, Yields and Rates

 

 

Interest income and expense are affected by fluctuations in interest rates, by changes in the volume of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and by the interaction of rate and volume factors. The following table presents the direct causes of the period-to-period changes in the components of net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis. We calculated the rate and volume variances using a formula prescribed by the SEC. Rate/volume variances, the third element in the calculation, are not shown separately in the table, but are allocated to the rate and volume variances in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each. Loans include both nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.

 

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TABLE 2: Rate-Volume Recap

 

 

 

Net interest income, on a taxable-equivalent basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $19.3 million, compared to $19.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Annualized net interest margin decreased 31 basis points to 6.22 percent for the first quarter of 2015 relative to the same period for 2014. The decrease in net interest margin during the first quarter of 2015 was attributable to a decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets of 34 basis points, offset in part by decreases in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities and an increase in demand deposits that pay no interest. The decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets was primarily attributable to decreases in the yields on the investment and loan portfolios. The decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities is a result of the sustained low interest rate environment, the repricing of higher-rate certificates of deposit as they mature to lower rates, and a shift in the mix of deposits from higher cost interest-bearing deposits to lower cost deposits, including non-interest bearing demand deposits and low-cost interest-bearing demand deposits, money market deposits and savings accounts.

 

Average loans, which includes both loans held for investment and loans held for sale, increased $22.8 million to $867.1 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014. Average loans held for sale increased $2.4 million or 9 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, due to the increase in mortgage loan originations in the Mortgage Banking segment. Average loans held for investment for the Retail Banking segment increased $16.3 million or 3 percent for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 due to growth in the commercial real estate and business line lending. Average loans held for investment for the Consumer Finance segment increased $3.6 million or 1 percent for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.

 

The overall yield on average loans decreased 46 basis points to 8.90 percent for the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014. The majority of the decrease was the result of a 57 basis point decline in the average yield on the Consumer Finance loan portfolio for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, which was due to increased competition and loan pricing strategies that competitors have used to grow market share.  In addition, the Bank’s average loan yield declined from the effects of net loans originated in and variable rate loans repricing in the low interest rate environment.  Partially offsetting these factors in the first quarter of 2015 was $666,000 of accretion related to the fair value adjustments to CVB’s loan portfolio, which contributed approximately 31 basis points to the yield on loans and 22 basis points to the yield on interest earning assets and the net interest margin for the first quarter of 2015.

 

Average securities available for sale increased $4.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same period of 2014. The average yield on the securities portfolio decreased 25 basis points due to (1) the purchase of lower-yielding, shorter-term securities, including through reinvestment of the proceeds from calls and maturities of longer-term, higher yielding securities and (2) the current interest rate environment. The Corporation has utilized the strategy of

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investing in lower-yielding, shorter-term securities to limit exposure to a potential future rising interest rate environment by limiting the security portfolio’s duration.

 

Average interest-bearing deposits in other banks and federal funds sold increased $2.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same period of 2014. The increase resulted from deposit growth from the first quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2015. The average yield on these overnight funds increased five basis points during the first quarter of 2015.

 

Average interest-bearing time and savings deposits increased $10.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same period in 2014. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits declined 8 basis points during the first quarter of 2015 as compared to the same period of 2014, which resulted from (1) the repricing of time deposits that matured since March 31, 2014 to lower interest rates, (2) a decline in interest rates paid on NOW and money market deposit accounts in the sustained low interest rate environment, (3) a shift in deposit composition to non-term savings and money market deposits, which pay lower interest rates, and (4) time deposit accretion related to the acquisition accounting adjustments to CVB’s time deposit, which reduced the cost of interest-bearing deposits by 4 basis points.

 

Average borrowings decreased $4.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same period of 2014. This decrease was primarily due to the paydown of $5.5 million in  FHLB advances in the fourth quarter of 2014. The average cost of borrowings remained constant during the first quarter of 2015, as compared to the same period of 2014.

 

The continuing challenge at the Retail Banking segment will be the deployment of excess cash into earning assets as we expect significant competition for loans in our markets and the low interest rate environment to continue to suppress yields on loans and investment securities.  The yield on loans at the Consumer Finance segment will be most affected by increasing competition and loan pricing strategies that competitors may use to grow market share in automobile financing. This increased competition may result in continued lower yields and lower loan growth as the Consumer Finance segment responds to competitive pricing pressures and fewer purchases of automobile retail installment sales contracts.

 

Noninterest Income

 

TABLE 3: Noninterest Income

 

 

 

 

 

Total noninterest income increased $450,000, or 9.7 percent, for the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014. The increase in total noninterest income resulted at the Mortgage Banking segment from higher gains on sales of loans and ancillary loan origination fees resulting from higher loan production.  These increases were partially offset by lower noninterest income at the Retail Banking segment due to a decline in overdraft fees, which was offset in part by higher check card interchange income.

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Noninterest Expense

 

TABLE 4: Noninterest Expense

 

 

 

 

 

Total noninterest expenses increased $659,000, or 4.1 percent, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the same period in 2014. The increase in total noninterest expenses resulted primarily from higher personnel costs during the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014, at (1) C&F Bank due to increased staff levels and support positions associated with the addition of commercial loan personnel dedicated to growing C&F Bank's commercial and small business loan portfolio, (2) C&F Mortgage due to higher production-based compensation associated with the higher loan volume and (3) C&F Finance due to entry into new markets over the past several years and staffing increases for compliance and asset quality processes.  In addition, general operating expenses at C&F Finance increased due to higher (1) collection expenses, (2) application volume and (3) conversion costs related to data processing and lending systems.  These increases were offset in part by lower operating expenses at C&F Bank due to cost savings associated with the integration of CVB’s operations into the Bank’s infrastructure.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2015 earnings amounted to $963,000, resulting in an effective tax rate of 26.7 percent, compared with $1.2 million, or 29.9 percent, for the first quarter of 2014. Earnings of the Retail Banking segment, which are exempt from state income taxes and include tax-exempt income on securities issued by states and political subdivisions increased in 2015 and became a larger portion of the Corporation’s earnings.  In addition, the Corporation recognized higher tax credits for its investments in affordable housing projects during the first quarter of 2015.  Therefore, the Corporation’s effective tax rate declined in 2015 compared to 2014.

 

As described in Part I. Item 1. “Financial Statements,” under the heading “Note 2:  Adoption of New Accounting Standards” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, effective January 1, 2015, the Corporation began recognizing amortization of its investments in qualified affordable housing projects as a component of income taxes.  As required by ASU 2014-01, non-interest expense and income tax expense for 2014 have been restated for the retrospective application of this standard.  Accordingly, income tax expense included $138,000 and $104,000 of amortization during the first quarter of 2015 and 2014, repectively.

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ASSET QUALITY

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The allowance for loan losses represents an amount that, in our judgment, will be adequate to absorb any losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible. The provision for loan losses increases the allowance, and loans charged off, net of recoveries, reduce the allowance.

 

The following table summarizes the allowance activity for the periods indicated:

 

TABLE 5: Allowance for Loan Losses

 

 

 

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1Includes the Corporation’s real estate construction lending and consumer real estate lot lending.

2Includes the Corporation’s commercial real estate lending, land acquisition and development lending, builder line lending and commercial business lending.

 

 

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Table 6 presents the allocation of the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

 

TABLE 6: Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses

 

 

 

 

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Loans by credit quality indicators are presented in Table 7 below.  The characteristics of these loan ratings are as follows:

 

 

 

 

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TABLE 7: Credit Quality Indicators

 

Loans by credit quality indicators as of March 31, 2015 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

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Included in the table above are loans purchased in connection with the acquisition of CVB of $83.0 million pass rated, $2.9 million special mention, $10.1 million substandard and $589,000 substandard nonaccrual.

 

Loans by credit quality indicators as of December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

 

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Included in the table above are loans purchased in connection with the acquisition of CVB of $87.3 million pass rated, $3.0 million special mention, $10.7 million substandard and $603,000 substandard nonaccrual.

 

 

The Retail Banking segment's allowance for loan losses increased $119,000 since December 31, 2014 as a result of net recoveries during the first quarter of 2015. While there was a slight increase in substandard nonaccrual loans since December 31, 2014, there was no provision for loan losses at the Retail Banking segment during the first quarter of 2015 because of the overall improvement in the quality of the loan portfolio as indicated by the $1.4 million decline in substandard loans. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans, excluding purchased credit impaired loans, declined to 2.04 percent at March 31, 2015, compared to 2.08 percent at December 31, 2014. We believe that the current level of the allowance for loan losses at C&F Bank is adequate to absorb any losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible. If economic conditions deteriorate in future periods, a higher level of nonperforming loans may be experienced, which may then require a higher provision for loan losses.

 

The Consumer Finance segment’s allowance for loan losses decreased by $43,000 to $24.0 million at March 31, 2015 from $24.1 million at December 31, 2014, and its provision for loan losses remained constant for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, as compared to the same period in 2014. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans increased to 8.67 percent at March 31, 2015, compared to 8.50 percent at December 31, 2014. Loan charge-offs for the first quarter of 2015 continue to be elevated as a result of the current competitive and economic environment for non-prime consumers and lower resale prices of repossessed vehicles. We believe that the current level of the allowance for loan losses at the Consumer Finance segment is adequate to absorb any losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible. However, if factors influencing the Consumer Finance segment result in higher net charge-off ratio in future periods, the Consumer Finance segment may need to increase the level of its allowance for loan losses, which could negatively affect future earnings of the Consumer Finance segment.

 

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Nonperforming Assets

 

Table 8 summarizes nonperforming assets at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

 

TABLE 8: Nonperforming Assets

 

Retail Banking Segment

 

 

 

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Mortgage Banking Segment

 

 

 

Consumer Finance Segment

 

 

 

Nonperforming assets of the Retail Banking segment totaled $5.7 million at March  31, 2015, compared to $5.5 million at December 31, 2014, a 3.6 percent increase during the first quarter of 2015. The Retail Banking Segment's nonperforming assets at March 31, 2015 included $4.9 million of nonaccrual loans, compared to $4.7 million at December 31, 2014, and $790,000 of OREO, compared to $786,000 at December 31, 2014. The increases in nonaccrual loans and OREO since December 31, 2014  were generally attributable to credit deterioration of certain smaller balance loans. We believe we have provided adequate loan loss reserves based on current appraisals or evaluations of the collateral. In some cases, appraisals have been adjusted to reflect current trends including sales prices, expenses, absorption periods and other current relevant factors.

 

Nonaccrual loans at the Consumer Finance segment were $739,000 at March  31, 2015, compared to $1.0 million at December 31, 2014. As noted above, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total consumer finance loans was 8.67 percent as of March  31, 2015, compared with 8.50 percent at December 31, 2014. Nonaccrual consumer finance loans remain relatively low compared to the allowance for loan losses and the total consumer finance loan portfolio because the Consumer Finance segment generally initiates repossession of loan collateral once a loan is 60 days or more past due but before the loan reaches 90 days or more past due and is evaluated for nonaccrual status.

 

We measure impaired loans based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate of the loan or, as a practical expedient, at the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. We maintain a valuation allowance to the extent that the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment. TDRs occur when we agree to significantly modify the original terms of a loan by granting a concession due to the deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower. These concessions typically are made for loss mitigation purposes and could include reductions in the interest rate, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions. TDRs are considered impaired loans.

 

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TABLE 9: Impaired Loans

 

 

Impaired loans, which included $5.7 million of TDR loans, and the related allowance at March 31, 2015, were as follows:

 

 

 

Impaired loans, which included $5.8 million of TDR loans, and the related allowance at December 31, 2014, were as follows:

 

 

 

 

TDRs at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

TABLE 10: Troubled Debt Restructurings

 

 

 

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While TDRs are considered impaired loans, not all TDRs are on nonaccrual status.  If a loan was on nonaccrual status at the time of the TDR modification, the loan will remain on nonaccrual status following the modification and may be returned to accrual status based on the Corporation’s policy for returning loans to accrual status. If a loan was accruing prior to being modified as a TDR and if the Corporation concludes that the borrower is able to make such modified payments, and

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there are no other factors or circumstances that would cause it to conclude otherwise, the TDR will remain on an accruing status.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

At March  31, 2015, the Corporation had total assets of $1.36 billion, which was an increase of $25.6 million since December 31, 2014. The increase resulted primarily from increases of $13.2 million in loans held for sale at C&F Mortgage Company and $14.0 million in loans held for investment at C&F Bank, which were funded by deposit growth.  These increases were offset in part by a $6.0 million decline in consumer finance loans.

 

Loan Portfolio

 

The following table sets forth the composition of the Corporation’s loans held for investment in dollar amounts and as a percentage of the Corporation’s total gross loans held for investment at the dates indicated.

 

TABLE 11: Summary of Loans Held for Investment

 

 

 

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Investment Securities

 

The investment portfolio plays a primary role in the management of the Corporation’s interest rate sensitivity. In addition, the portfolio serves as a source of liquidity and is used as needed to meet collateral requirements. The investment portfolio consists of securities available for sale, which may be sold in response to changes in market interest rates, changes in prepayment risk, increases in loan demand, general liquidity needs and other similar factors. These securities are carried at estimated fair value. At March  31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, all securities in the Corporation’s investment portfolio were classified as available for sale. 

 

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The following table sets forth the composition of the Corporation’s securities available for sale in dollar amounts at fair value and as a percentage of the Corporation’s total securities available for sale at the dates indicated.

 

TABLE 12: Securities Available for Sale

 

 

 

For more information about the Corporation's securities available for sale, including a description of securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, see Part I, Item 1, "Financial Statements" under the heading "Note 3: Securities" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Deposits

 

The Corporation’s predominant source of funds is depository accounts, which are comprised of demand deposits, savings and money market accounts, and time deposits. The Corporation’s deposits are principally provided by individuals and businesses located within the communities served.

 

During the first quarter of 2015 deposits increased $25.8 million to $1.05 billion at March 31, 2015, compared to $1.03 billion at December 31, 2014. This increase resulted primarily from a  $27.9 million increase in non-interest bearing demand deposits of individuals and corporations and a $4.7 million increase in savings and interest-bearing demand deposits, partially offset by a $6.8 million decrease in time deposits.

 

The Corporation had $2.7 million in brokered money market deposits outstanding at March  31, 2015, compared to $3.1 million at December 31, 2014. The source of these brokered deposits is uninvested cash balances held in third-party brokerage sweep accounts. The Corporation uses brokered deposits as a means of diversifying liquidity sources, as opposed to a long-term deposit gathering strategy.

 

Borrowings

 

Borrowings decreased to $165.7 million at March  31, 2015 from $167.0 million at December 31, 2014 as a result of a $1.4 million decrease in retail overnight repurchase agreements with commercial depositors, the level of which is a function of the deposit balances maintained by these depositors.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of March  31, 2015, there have been no material changes to the off-balance sheet arrangements disclosed in Part I, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis," under the heading "Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements" in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

As of March 31, 2015, there have been no material changes outside the ordinary course of business to the contractual obligations disclosed in Part I, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis," under the heading "Contractual Obligations" in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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Liquidity

 

The objective of the Corporation’s liquidity management is to ensure the continuous availability of funds to satisfy the credit needs of our customers and the demands of our depositors, creditors and investors. Stable core deposits and a strong capital position are the components of a solid foundation for the Corporation’s liquidity position. Additional sources of liquidity available to the Corporation include cash flows from operations, loan payments and payoffs, deposit growth, sales of securities, the issuance of brokered certificates of deposit and the capacity to borrow additional funds.

 

Liquid assets, which include cash and due from banks, interest-bearing deposits at other banks, federal funds sold and nonpledged securities available for sale, totaled $281.1 million at March 31, 2015, compared to $279.1 million at December 31, 2014. The Corporation’s funding sources, including capacity, amount outstanding and amount available at March 31, 2015 are presented in Table 13.

 

TABLE 13: Funding Sources

 

 

 

We have no reason to believe these arrangements will not be renewed at maturity.  Additional loans and securities are available that can be pledged as collateral for future borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank or the FHLB above the current lendable collateral value. Our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity may be affected by numerous factors, including economic conditions nationally and in our markets. Depending on our liquidity levels, our capital position, conditions in the capital markets, our business operations and initiatives, and other factors, we may from time to time consider the issuance of debt, equity or other securities or other possible capital market transactions, the proceeds of which could provide additional liquidity for our operations.

 

As a result of the Corporation’s management of liquid assets and the ability to generate liquidity through liability funding, management believes that the Corporation maintains overall liquidity sufficient to satisfy its operational requirements and contractual obligations.

 

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Capital Resources

 

The Corporation’s and the Bank’s actual regulatory capital amounts and ratios under currently applicable regulatory capital standards are presented in the following table.

 

 

Changes to the regulatory capital framework that were approved on July 9, 2013 by the federal banking agencies (the Basel III Final Rule) began to apply to the Corporation and the Bank on January 1, 2015.  The regulatory risk-based capital amounts presented above for March 31, 2015 include:  (1) common equity tier 1 capital (CET1) which consists principally of common stock (including surplus) and retained earnings with adjustments for goodwill, intangible assets and deferred tax assets; (2) Tier 1 capital which consists principally of CET1 plus the Corporation’s “grandfathered” trust preferred securities; and (3) Tier 2 capital which consists principally of Tier 1 capital plus a limited amount of the allowance for loan losses.  In addition, the Corporation has made the one-time irrevocable election to continue treating accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) under regulatory standards that were in place prior to the Basel III Final Rule in order to eliminate volatility of regulatory capital that can result from fluctuations in AOCI and the inclusion of AOCI in regulatory capital, as would otherwise be required under the Basel III Capital Rule.  The table above also reflects the minimum regulatory and certain prompt corrective action capital levels that began to apply January 1, 2015.  For additional information about the Basel III Final Rules, see “Item1. Business” under the heading “Regulation and Supervision” and Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” under the heading “Note 15:  Regulatory Requirements and Restrictions” in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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The Corporation's capital resources may be further affected by the Corporation's share repurchase program, which was authorized by the Corporation's Board of Directors during the second quarter of 2014. Under this program the Corporation is authorized to purchase up to $5.0 million of  its common stock. Repurchases under the program may be made through privately-negotiated transactions or open-market transactions, and shares repurchased will be returned to the status of authorized and unissued shares of common stock. The timing, number and purchase price of shares repurchased under the program will be determined by management in its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of the shares, general market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements and other conditions. The share repurchase program is authorized through May 2015. As of March 31, 2015, approximately $3.5 million of the Corporation's common stock may be purchased under the Corporation's share repurchase program.

 

Effects of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

The Corporation's financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (or U.S. GAAP). U.S. GAAP presently requires the Corporation to measure financial position and operating results primarily in terms of historic dollars. Changes in the relative value of money due to inflation or recession are generally not considered. The primary effect of inflation on the operations of the Corporation is reflected in increased operating costs. In management's opinion, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. While interest rates are greatly influenced by changes in the inflation rate, they do not necessarily change at the same rate or in the same magnitude as the inflation rate. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the control of the Corporation, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities.

ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

There have been no significant changes from the quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk made in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Corporation’s management, including the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March  31, 2015 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Corporation’s management, including the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures will detect or uncover every situation involving the failure of persons within the Corporation or its subsidiary to disclose material information required to be set forth in the Corporation’s periodic reports.

 

Management of the Corporation is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). There were no changes in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting during the Corporation’s first quarter ended March  31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS

 

Other than as disclosed in this Item 1A, "Risk Factors," there have been no material changes in the risk factors faced by the Corporation from those disclosed in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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

 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The Corporation’s Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program for the Corporation’s outstanding common stock through May 2015 (the Repurchase Program).  Repurchases under the Repurchase Program may be made through privately negotiated transactions, or open market transactions, including pursuant to a trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act and/or Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act.  As of March 31, 2015, approximately $3.5 million of the Corporation’s common stock may be purchased under the Repurchase Program.

 

The following table summarizes repurchases of the Corporation's common stock that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

 

 

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ITEM 6.EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

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