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COMMUNITY BANCORP /VT - Quarter Report: 2017 March (Form 10-Q)

 
UNITED STATES
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
[ x ]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2017
 
OR
[   ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from                to                 
 
Commission File Number 000-16435
 
 
 
Vermont
03-0284070
(State of Incorporation)
(IRS Employer Identification Number)
 
4811 US Route 5, Derby, Vermont
05829
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(zip code)
 
 
Registrant's Telephone Number: (802) 334-7915
 
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 for such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ( X )  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 ( X ) NO ( )
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer
(  )
Accelerated filer
(  )
Non-accelerated filer
(  )  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
( X )
 
 
Emerging growth company
(  )
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) 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(X)
 
At May 03, 2017, there were 5,072,803 shares outstanding of the Corporation's common stock.
 
1
 
 
FORM 10-Q
Index
 
 
 
 
Page  
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1
Financial Statements
3  
Item 2
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
29  
Item 3
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
50  
Item 4
Controls and Procedures
50  
 
 
 
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1
Legal Proceedings
50  
Item 1A
Risk Factors
50  
Item 2
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
51  
Item 6
Exhibits
51  
 
Signatures
52  
 
Exhibit Index
53  
 
 
2
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
The following are the unaudited consolidated financial statements for Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary, "the Company".
 
3
 
 
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
 
March 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
March 31,
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2016
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Cash and due from banks
 $17,275,640 
 $10,943,344 
 $9,397,008 
  Federal funds sold and overnight deposits
  15,513,549 
  18,670,942 
  16,055,662 
     Total cash and cash equivalents
  32,789,189 
  29,614,286 
  25,452,670 
  Securities held-to-maturity (fair value $54,853,000 at 03/31/17,
    
    
    
  $51,035,000 at 12/31/16 and $46,235,000 at 03/31/16)
  53,879,934 
  49,886,631 
  45,551,714 
  Securities available-for-sale
  33,852,571 
  33,715,051 
  29,572,121 
  Restricted equity securities, at cost
  2,426,050 
  2,755,850 
  1,891,250 
  Loans held-for-sale
  0 
  0 
  525,200 
  Loans
  485,722,245 
  487,249,226 
  455,048,185 
    Allowance for loan losses (ALL)
  (5,258,440)
  (5,278,445)
  (5,109,488)
    Deferred net loan costs
  321,285 
  310,130 
  315,050 
        Net loans
  480,785,090 
  482,280,911 
  450,253,747 
  Bank premises and equipment, net
  10,629,125 
  10,830,556 
  11,251,819 
  Accrued interest receivable
  2,062,875 
  1,818,510 
  2,064,364 
  Bank owned life insurance (BOLI)
  4,649,557 
  4,625,406 
  4,546,589 
  Core deposit intangible
  204,516 
  272,691 
  477,211 
  Goodwill
  11,574,269 
  11,574,269 
  11,574,269 
  Other real estate owned (OREO)
  561,979 
  394,000 
  465,000 
  Other assets
  9,484,895 
  9,885,504 
  9,783,374 
        Total assets
 $642,900,050 
 $637,653,665 
 $593,409,328 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
    
    
    
 Liabilities
    
    
    
  Deposits:
    
    
    
    Demand, non-interest bearing
 $105,880,429 
 $104,472,268 
 $91,019,639 
    Interest-bearing transaction accounts
  121,953,444 
  118,053,360 
  117,208,113 
    Money market funds
  86,938,154 
  79,042,619 
  86,652,637 
    Savings
  96,883,558 
  86,776,856 
  85,327,489 
    Time deposits, $250,000 and over
  19,913,160 
  19,274,880 
  13,306,128 
    Other time deposits
  100,850,953 
  97,115,049 
  95,386,130 
        Total deposits
  532,419,698 
  504,735,032 
  488,900,136 
  Borrowed funds
  11,550,000 
  31,550,000 
  10,350,000 
  Repurchase agreements
  27,747,451 
  30,423,195 
  25,149,039 
  Capital lease obligations
  459,443 
  483,161 
  537,028 
  Junior subordinated debentures
  12,887,000 
  12,887,000 
  12,887,000 
  Accrued interest and other liabilities
  2,649,027 
  3,123,760 
  3,382,769 
        Total liabilities
  587,712,619 
  583,202,148 
  541,205,972 
 Shareholders' Equity
    
    
    
  Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 25 shares issued
    
    
    
    and outstanding ($100,000 liquidation value)
  2,500,000 
  2,500,000 
  2,500,000 
  Common stock - $2.50 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized,
    
    
    
    5,283,077 shares issued at 03/31/17, 5,269,053 shares issued
    
    
    
    at 12/31/16 and 5,220,419 shares issued at 03/31/16
  13,207,693 
  13,172,633 
  13,051,048 
  Additional paid-in capital
  31,008,521 
  30,825,658 
  30,268,924 
  Retained earnings
  11,197,709 
  10,666,782 
  8,830,533 
  Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
  (103,715)
  (90,779)
  175,628 
  Less: treasury stock, at cost; 210,101 shares at 03/31/17,
    
    
    
  12/31/16, and 03/31/16
  (2,622,777)
  (2,622,777)
  (2,622,777)
        Total shareholders' equity
  55,187,431 
  54,451,517 
  52,203,356 
        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 $642,900,050 
 $637,653,665 
 $593,409,328 
 
    
    
    
Book value per common share outstanding
 $10.39 
 $10.27 
 $9.92 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
 
 
4
 
 
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Interest and fees on loans
 $5,616,867 
 $5,370,424 
   Interest on debt securities
    
    
     Taxable
  151,726 
  127,449 
     Tax-exempt
  324,532 
  280,097 
   Dividends
  35,796 
  29,378 
   Interest on federal funds sold and overnight deposits
  27,472 
  10,906 
        Total interest income
  6,156,393 
  5,818,254 
 
    
    
Interest expense
    
    
   Interest on deposits
  537,789 
  516,594 
   Interest on federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds
  52,235 
  19,158 
   Interest on repurchase agreements
  21,527 
  17,991 
   Interest on junior subordinated debentures
  122,860 
  109,519 
        Total interest expense
  734,411 
  663,262 
 
    
    
     Net interest income
  5,421,982 
  5,154,992 
 Provision for loan losses
  150,000 
  100,000 
     Net interest income after provision for loan losses
  5,271,982 
  5,054,992 
 
    
    
Non-interest income
    
    
   Service fees
  748,117 
  617,679 
   Income from sold loans
  190,295 
  221,194 
   Other income from loans
  185,617 
  195,888 
   Net realized gain on sale of securities available-for-sale
  2,130 
  0 
   Other income
  244,059 
  203,090 
        Total non-interest income
  1,370,218 
  1,237,851 
 
    
    
Non-interest expense
    
    
   Salaries and wages
  1,711,124 
  1,725,000 
   Employee benefits
  641,561 
  685,082 
   Occupancy expenses, net
  687,433 
  645,746 
   Other expenses
  1,691,001 
  1,626,463 
        Total non-interest expense
  4,731,119 
  4,682,291 
 
    
    
    Income before income taxes
  1,911,081 
  1,610,552 
 Income tax expense
  496,865 
  441,058 
        Net income
 $1,414,216 
 $1,169,494 
 
    
    
 Earnings per common share
 $0.27 
 $0.23 
 Weighted average number of common shares
    
    
  used in computing earnings per share
  5,063,128 
  5,000,144 
 Dividends declared per common share
 $0.17 
 $0.16 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
5
 
 
 
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 $1,414,216 
 $1,169,494 
 
    
    
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
    
    
  Unrealized holding (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities
    
    
    arising during the period
  (17,470)
  334,883 
  Reclassification adjustment for gain realized in income
  (2,130)
  0 
     Unrealized (loss) gain during the year
  (19,600)
  334,883 
  Tax effect
  6,664 
  (113,861)
  Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
  (12,936)
  221,022 
          Total comprehensive income
 $1,401,280 
 $1,390,516 
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
6
 
 
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income
 $1,414,216 
 $1,169,494 
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
    
    
   operating activities:
    
    
    Depreciation and amortization, bank premises and equipment
  252,131 
  251,627 
    Provision for loan losses
  150,000 
  100,000 
    Deferred income tax
  (17,535)
  (29,227)
    Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale
  (2,130)
  0 
    Gain on sale of loans
  (79,128)
  (101,510)
    Loss on sale of bank premises and equipment
  1,580 
  0 
    Loss on sale of OREO
  617 
  0 
    Income from Trust LLC
  (113,179)
  (82,579)
    Amortization of bond premium, net
  30,075 
  33,267 
    Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
  3,974,739 
  4,753,088 
    Originations of loans held for sale
  (3,895,611)
  (3,977,378)
    Increase in taxes payable
  360,092 
  273,795 
    Increase in interest receivable
  (244,365)
  (431,151)
    Decrease in mortgage servicing rights (MSRs)
  28,462 
  14,097 
    (Increase) decrease in other assets
  (4,875)
  177,535 
    Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI
  (24,151)
  (26,103)
    Amortization of core deposit intangible
  68,175 
  68,175 
    Amortization of limited partnerships
  154,308 
  146,490 
    (Increase) decrease in unamortized loan costs
  (11,155)
  1,441 
    Increase in interest payable
  23,329 
  8,675 
    Decrease in accrued expenses
  (506,924)
  (359,833)
    (Decrease) increase in other liabilities
  (21,024)
  17,125 
       Net cash provided by operating activities
  1,537,647 
  2,007,028 
 
    
    
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
    
    
  Investments - held-to-maturity
    
    
    Maturities and pay downs
  2,365,271 
  1,630,861 
    Purchases
  (6,358,574)
  (3,828,156)
  Investments - available-for-sale
    
    
    Maturities, calls, pay downs and sales
  1,300,588 
  1,406,742 
    Purchases
  (1,485,653)
  (4,206,847)
  Proceeds from redemption of restricted equity securities
  329,800 
  822,100 
  Purchases of restricted equity securities
  0 
  (271,700)
  Decrease in limited partnership contributions payable
  (27,000)
  0 
  Decrease in loans, net
  979,595 
  2,648,313 
  Capital expenditures for bank premises and equipment
  (52,280)
  (43,238)
  Proceeds from sales of OREO
  187,383 
  192,108 
  Recoveries of loans charged off
  21,402 
  25,433 
       Net cash used in investing activities
  (2,739,468)
  (1,624,384)
 
 
7
 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Net increase (decrease) in demand and interest-bearing transaction accounts
  5,308,245 
  (16,033,104)
  Net increase in money market and savings accounts
  18,002,237 
  8,317,948 
  Net increase in time deposits
  4,374,184 
  1,129,730 
  Net (decrease) increase in repurchase agreements
  (2,675,744)
  3,075,801 
  Net decrease in short-term borrowings
  (20,000,000)
  0 
  Proceeds from long-term borrowings
  0 
  350,000 
  Decrease in capital lease obligations
  (23,718)
  (21,337)
  Dividends paid on preferred stock
  (23,438)
  (21,875)
  Dividends paid on common stock
  (585,042)
  (579,027)
       Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  4,376,724 
  (3,781,864)
 
    
    
       Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  3,174,903 
  (3,399,220)
  Cash and cash equivalents:
    
    
          Beginning
  29,614,286 
  28,851,890 
          Ending
 $32,789,189 
 $25,452,670 
 
    
    
Supplemental Schedule of Cash Paid During the Period:
    
    
  Interest
 $711,082 
 $654,587 
 
    
    
  Income taxes, net of refunds
 $0 
 $50,000 
 
    
    
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
    
    
  Change in unrealized (loss) gain on securities available-for-sale
 $(19,600)
 $334,883 
 
    
    
  Loans transferred to OREO
 $355,979 
 $395,108 
 
    
    
Common Shares Dividends Paid:
    
    
  Dividends declared
 $859,851 
 $799,182 
  Increase in dividends payable attributable to dividends declared
  (56,886)
  (914)
  Dividends reinvested
  (217,923)
  (219,241)
 
 $585,042 
 $579,027 
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
8
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
 
The interim consolidated financial statements of Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary are unaudited. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company contained herein have been made. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2016 contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full annual period ending December 31, 2017, or for any other interim period.
 
Certain amounts in the 2016 unaudited consolidated income statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 presentation. Reclassifications had no effect on prior period net income or shareholders’ equity.
 
Note 2. Recent Accounting Developments
 
In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This guidance changes how entities account for equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This guidance also changes certain disclosure requirements and other aspects of current accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP). Public businesses must use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within the fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The ASU was issued to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of the amendments in the ASU is permitted for all entities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Under the new guidance, which will replace the existing incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses, banks and other lending institutions will be required to recognize the full amount of expected credit losses. The new guidance, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss model, requires that expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date that are accounted for at amortized cost be measured and recognized based on historical experience and current and reasonably supportable forecasted conditions to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. A modified version of these requirements also applies to debt securities classified as available for sale, which will require that credit losses on those securities be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than a write-down. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within such years. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements. The ASU may have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements upon adoption as it will require a change in the Company's methodology for calculating its allowance for loan losses (ALL) and allowance on unused commitments. The Company will transition from an incurred loss model to an expected loss model, which will likely result in an increase in the ALL upon adoption and may negatively impact the Company and Bank's regulatory capital ratios. Additionally, ASU No. 2016-13 may reduce the carrying value of the Company's held-to-maturity (HTM) investment securities as it will require an allowance on the expected losses over the life of these securities to be recorded upon adoption.
 
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The ASU was issued to reduce the cost and complexity of the goodwill impairment test. To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, step two of the goodwill impairment test was eliminated. Instead, a Company will recognize an impairment of goodwill should the carrying value of a reporting unit exceed its fair value (i.e. step one). The ASU will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020 and will be applied prospectively.
 
The Company has goodwill from its acquisition of LyndonBank in 2007 and performs an impairment test annually or more frequently if circumstances warrant (see Note 6). The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements, but does not anticipate any material impact at this time.
 
 
9
 
 
Note 3.  Earnings per Common Share
 
Earnings per common share amounts are computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock issued during the period (retroactively adjusted for stock splits and stock dividends, if any), including Dividend Reinvestment Plan shares issuable upon reinvestment of dividends declared, and reduced for shares held in treasury.
 
The following tables illustrate the calculation of earnings per common share for the periods presented, as adjusted for the cash dividends declared on the preferred stock:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income, as reported
 $1,414,216 
 $1,169,494 
Less: dividends to preferred shareholders
  23,438 
  21,875 
Net income available to common shareholders
 $1,390,778 
 $1,147,619 
Weighted average number of common shares
    
    
   used in calculating earnings per share
  5,063,128 
  5,000,144 
Earnings per common share
 $0.27 
 $0.23 
 
 
Note 4.  Investment Securities
 
Securities available-for-sale (AFS) and held-to-maturity (HTM) as of the balance sheet dates consisted of the following:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
Securities AFS
 
Cost
 
 
Gains
 
 
Losses
 
 
Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise (GSE) debt securities
 $17,361,110 
 $18,840 
 $69,547 
 $17,310,403 
Agency mortgage-backed securities (Agency MBS)
  13,675,605 
  543 
  118,625 
  13,557,523 
Other investments
  2,973,000 
  15,327 
  3,682 
  2,984,645 
 
 $34,009,715 
 $34,710 
 $191,854 
 $33,852,571 
 
    
    
    
    
December 31, 2016
    
    
    
    
U.S. GSE debt securities
 $17,365,805 
 $24,854 
 $73,331 
 $17,317,328 
Agency MBS
  13,265,790 
  3,896 
  115,458 
  13,154,228 
Other investments
  3,221,000 
  24,947 
  2,452 
  3,243,495 
 
 $33,852,595 
 $53,697 
 $191,241 
 $33,715,051 
 
    
    
    
    
March 31, 2016
    
    
    
    
U.S. GSE debt securities
 $12,817,362 
 $115,533 
 $0 
 $12,932,895 
Agency MBS
  13,515,656 
  105,722 
  15,674 
  13,605,704 
Other investments
  2,973,000 
  60,522 
  0 
  3,033,522 
 
 $29,306,018 
 $281,777 
 $15,674 
 $29,572,121 
 
 
10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
 
Gross
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
Securities HTM
 
Cost
 
 
Gains
 
 
Losses
 
 
Value*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
States and political subdivisions
 $53,879,934 
 $973,066 
 $0 
 $54,853,000 
 
    
    
    
    
December 31, 2016
    
    
    
    
States and political subdivisions
 $49,886,631 
 $1,148,369 
 $0 
 $51,035,000 
 
    
    
    
    
March 31, 2016
    
    
    
    
States and political subdivisions
 $45,551,714 
 $683,286 
 $0 
 $46,235,000 
 
*Method used to determine fair value of HTM securities rounds values to nearest thousand.
 
 
U.S. GSE debt securities, Agency MBS securities and certificates of deposit (CDs) held for investment with a book value of $33,265,715, $33,604,595 and $27,172,084 and a fair value of $33,112,253, $33,469,254 and $27,450,798 were pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements at March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, respectively. These repurchase agreements mature daily.
 
The scheduled maturities of debt securities AFS as of the balance sheet dates were as follows:
 
 
 
Amortized
 
 
Fair
 
 
 
Cost
 
 
Value
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
 $3,002,965 
 $3,006,801 
Due from one to five years
  16,086,145 
  16,070,906 
Due from five to ten years
  1,245,000 
  1,217,341 
Agency MBS
  13,675,605 
  13,557,523 
 
 $34,009,715 
 $33,852,571 
 
    
    
December 31, 2016
    
    
Due in one year or less
 $2,006,027 
 $2,010,287 
Due from one to five years
  17,335,778 
  17,329,503 
Due from five to ten years
  1,245,000 
  1,221,033 
Agency MBS
  13,265,790 
  13,154,228 
 
 $33,852,595 
 $33,715,051 
 
    
    
March 31, 2016
    
    
Due in one year or less
 $3,063,730 
 $3,071,337 
Due from one to five years
  12,481,632 
  12,650,080 
Due from five to ten years
  245,000 
  245,000 
Agency MBS
  13,515,656 
  13,605,704 
 
 $29,306,018 
 $29,572,121 
 
Because the actual maturities of Agency MBS usually differ from their contractual maturities due to the right of borrowers to prepay the underlying mortgage loans, usually without penalty, those securities are not presented in the table by contractual maturity date.
 
 
11
 
 
The scheduled maturities of debt securities HTM as of the balance sheet dates were as follows:
 
 
 
Amortized
 
 
Fair
 
 
 
Cost
 
 
Value*
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
 $29,666,554 
 $29,667,000 
Due from one to five years
  3,905,257 
  4,148,000 
Due from five to ten years
  3,950,402 
  4,194,000 
Due after ten years
  16,357,721 
  16,844,000 
 
 $53,879,934 
 $54,853,000 
 
    
    
December 31, 2016
    
    
Due in one year or less
 $25,368,725 
 $25,369,000 
Due from one to five years
  4,030,900 
  4,318,000 
Due from five to ten years
  4,013,242 
  4,300,000 
Due after ten years
  16,473,764 
  17,048,000 
 
 $49,886,631 
 $51,035,000 
 
    
    
March 31, 2016
    
    
Due in one year or less
 $30,042,445 
 $30,042,000 
Due from one to five years
  3,864,268 
  4,035,000 
Due from five to ten years
  3,235,317 
  3,407,000 
Due after ten years
  8,409,684 
  8,751,000 
 
 $45,551,714 
 $46,235,000 
 
 
*Method used to determine fair value of HTM securities rounds values to nearest thousand.
 
There were no debt securities HTM in an unrealized loss position as of the balance sheet dates. Debt securities AFS with unrealized losses as of the balance sheet dates are presented in the table below.
 
 
 
Less than 12 months
 
 
12 months or more
 
 
Total
 
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
Number of
 
 
Fair
 
 
Unrealized
 
 
 
Value
 
 
Loss
 
 
Value
 
 
Loss
 
 
Securities
 
 
Value
 
 
Loss
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. GSE debt securities
 $6,179,311 
 $69,547 
 $0 
 $0 
  5 
 $6,179,311 
 $69,547 
Agency MBS
  12,018,209 
  104,677 
  1,048,513 
  13,948 
  18 
  13,066,722 
  118,625 
Other investments
  740,318 
  3,682 
  0 
  0 
  3 
  740,318 
  3,682 
 
 $18,937,838 
 $177,906 
 $1,048,513 
 $13,948 
  26 
 $19,986,351 
 $191,854 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
December 31, 2016
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
U.S. GSE debt securities
 $5,176,669 
 $73,331 
 $0 
 $0 
  4 
 $5,176,669 
 $73,331 
Agency MBS
  10,704,717 
  115,458 
  0 
  0 
  15 
  10,704,717 
  115,458 
Other investments
  493,548 
  2,452 
  0 
  0 
  2 
  493,548 
  2,452 
 
 $16,374,934 
 $191,241 
 $0 
 $0 
  21 
 $16,374,934 
 $191,241 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
March 31, 2016
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Agency MBS
 $3,064,237 
 $15,674 
 $0 
 $0 
  5 
 $3,064,237 
 $15,674 
 
 
The unrealized losses for all periods presented were principally attributable to changes in prevailing interest rates for similar types of securities and not deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer.
 
 
12
 
 
 
Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions, or adverse developments relating to the issuer, warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the carrying value, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. In analyzing an issuer's financial condition, management considers whether the securities are issued by the federal government or its agencies, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies or other adverse developments in the status of the securities have occurred, and the results of reviews of the issuer's financial condition. As of March 31, 2017, there were no declines in the fair value of any of the securities reflected in the table above that were deemed by management to be other than temporary.
 
Note 5. Loans, Allowance for Loan Losses and Credit Quality
 
The composition of net loans as of the balance sheet dates was as follows:
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial & industrial
 $69,064,985 
 $68,730,573 
 $63,540,340 
Commercial real estate
  205,140,487 
  201,728,280 
  178,205,320 
Residential real estate - 1st lien
  162,929,247 
  166,691,962 
  162,594,375 
Residential real estate - Junior (Jr) lien
  41,820,775 
  42,927,335 
  43,917,725 
Consumer
  6,766,751 
  7,171,076 
  6,790,425 
     Gross Loans
  485,722,245 
  487,249,226 
  455,048,185 
Deduct (add):
    
    
    
Allowance for loan losses
  5,258,440 
  5,278,445 
  5,109,488 
Deferred net loan costs
  (321,285)
  (310,130)
  (315,050)
     Net Loans
 $480,785,090 
 $482,280,911 
 $450,253,747 
 
 
The following is an age analysis of past due loans (including non-accrual) as of the balance sheet dates, by portfolio segment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
90 Days or
 
 
 
 
 
 
90 Days
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Accrual
 
 
More and
 
March 31, 2017
 
30-89 Days
 
 
or More
 
 
Past Due
 
 
Current
 
 
Total Loans
 
 
Loans
 
 
Accruing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial & industrial
 $103,900 
 $0 
 $103,900 
 $68,961,085 
 $69,064,985 
 $135,379 
 $0 
Commercial real estate
  681,654 
  215,892 
  897,546 
  204,242,941 
  205,140,487 
  744,989 
  0 
Residential real estate
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 - 1st lien
  4,289,551 
  1,246,520 
  5,536,071 
  157,393,176 
  162,929,247 
  1,148,848 
  668,569 
 - Jr lien
  333,625 
  164,726 
  498,351 
  41,322,424 
  41,820,775 
  442,960 
  27,905 
Consumer
  84,321 
  1,903 
  86,224 
  6,680,527 
  6,766,751 
  0 
  1,903 
 
 $5,493,051 
 $1,629,041 
 $7,122,092 
 $478,600,153 
 $485,722,245 
 $2,472,176 
 $698,377 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
90 Days or
 
 
 
 
 
 
90 Days
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Accrual
 
 
More and
 
December 31, 2016
 
30-89 Days
 
 
or More
 
 
Past Due
 
 
Current
 
 
Total Loans
 
 
Loans
 
 
Accruing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial & industrial
 $328,684 
 $26,042 
 $354,726 
 $68,375,847 
 $68,730,573 
 $143,128 
 $26,042 
Commercial real estate
  824,836 
  222,738 
  1,047,574 
  200,680,706 
  201,728,280 
  765,584 
  0 
Residential real estate
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 - 1st lien
  4,881,496 
  1,723,688 
  6,605,184 
  160,086,778 
  166,691,962 
  1,227,220 
  1,068,083 
 - Jr lien
  984,849 
  116,849 
  1,101,698 
  41,825,637 
  42,927,335 
  338,602 
  27,905 
Consumer
  53,972 
  2,176 
  56,148 
  7,114,928 
  7,171,076 
  0 
  2,176 
 
 $7,073,837 
 $2,091,493 
 $9,165,330 
 $478,083,896 
 $487,249,226 
 $2,474,534 
 $1,124,206 
 
 
 
13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
90 Days or
 
 
 
 
 
 
90 Days
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Accrual
 
 
More and
 
March 31, 2016
 
30-89 Days
 
 
or More
 
 
Past Due
 
 
Current
 
 
Total Loans
 
 
Loans
 
 
Accruing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial & industrial
 $37,333 
 $204,354 
 $241,687 
 $63,298,653 
 $63,540,340 
 $256,456 
 $0 
Commercial real estate
  3,825,884 
  428,545 
  4,254,429 
  173,950,891 
  178,205,320 
  966,071 
  19,810 
Residential real estate
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 - 1st lien
  3,950,062 
  991,614 
  4,941,676 
  157,652,699 
  162,594,375 
  1,467,171 
  764,031 
 - Jr lien
  228,117 
  122,183 
  350,300 
  43,567,425 
  43,917,725 
  377,911 
  122,183 
Consumer
  152,546 
  0 
  152,546 
  6,637,879 
  6,790,425 
  0 
  0 
     Total
 $8,193,942 
 $1,746,696 
 $9,940,638 
 $445,107,547 
 $455,048,185 
 $3,067,609 
 $906,024 
 
 
For all loan segments, loans over 30 days past due are considered delinquent.
 
As of the balance sheet dates presented, residential mortgage loans in process of foreclosure consisted of the following:
 
 
 
Number of loans
 
 
Balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
  6
 $330,548 
December 31, 2016
 8
  322,663 
March 31, 2016
 5
  230,171 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
 
The ALL is established through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is probable. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.
 
Unsecured loans, primarily consumer loans, are charged off when they become uncollectible and no later than 120 days past due. Unsecured loans to customers who subsequently file bankruptcy are charged off within 30 days of receipt of the notification of filing or by the end of the month in which the loans become 120 days past due, whichever occurs first. For secured loans, both residential and commercial, the potential loss on impaired loans is carried as a loan loss reserve specific allocation; the loss portion is charged off when collection of the full loan appears unlikely. The unsecured portion of a real estate loan is that portion of the loan exceeding the "fair value" of the collateral less the estimated cost to sell. Value of the collateral is determined in accordance with the Company’s appraisal policy. The unsecured portion of an impaired real estate secured loan is charged off by the end of the month in which the loan becomes 180 days past due.
 
As described below, the allowance consists of general, specific and unallocated components. However, the entire allowance is available to absorb losses in the loan portfolio, regardless of specific, general and unallocated components considered in determining the amount of the allowance.
 
General component
 
The general component of the ALL is based on historical loss experience, adjusted for qualitative factors and stratified by the following loan segments: commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, residential real estate first (1st) lien, residential real estate junior (Jr) lien and consumer loans. The Company does not disaggregate its portfolio segments further into classes. Loss ratios are calculated by loan segment for one year, two year, three year, four year and five year look back periods. The highest loss ratio among these look-back periods is then applied against the respective segment. Management uses an average of historical losses based on a time frame appropriate to capture relevant loss data for each loan segment. This historical loss factor is adjusted for the following qualitative factors: levels of and trends in delinquencies and non-performing loans, levels of and trends in loan risk groups, trends in volumes and terms of loans, effects of any changes in loan related policies, experience, ability and the depth of management, documentation and credit data exception levels, national and local economic trends, external factors such as competition and regulation and lastly, concentrations of credit risk in a variety of areas, including portfolio product mix, the level of loans to individual borrowers and their related interests, loans to industry segments, and the geographic distribution of commercial real estate loans. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to revision as more information becomes available.
 
 
14
 
 
The qualitative factors are determined based on the various risk characteristics of each loan segment. The Company has policies, procedures and internal controls that management believes are commensurate with the risk profile of each of these segments. Major risk characteristics relevant to each portfolio segment are as follows:
 
Commercial & Industrial – Loans in this segment include commercial and industrial loans and to a lesser extent loans to finance agricultural production. Commercial loans are made to businesses and are generally secured by assets of the business, including trade assets and equipment. While not the primary collateral, in many cases these loans may also be secured by the real estate of the business. Repayment is expected from the cash flows of the business. A weakened economy, soft consumer spending, unfavorable foreign trade conditions and the rising cost of labor or raw materials are examples of issues that can impact the credit quality in this segment.
 
Commercial Real Estate – Loans in this segment are principally made to businesses and are generally secured by either owner-occupied, or non-owner occupied commercial real estate. A relatively small portion of this segment includes farm loans secured by farm land and buildings. As with commercial and industrial loans, repayment of owner-occupied commercial real estate loans is expected from the cash flows of the business and the segment would be impacted by the same risk factors as commercial and industrial loans. The non-owner occupied commercial real estate portion includes both residential and commercial construction loans, vacant land and real estate development loans, multi-family dwelling loans and commercial rental property loans. Repayment of construction loans is expected from permanent financing takeout; the Company generally requires a commitment or eligibility for the take-out financing prior to construction loan origination. Real estate development loans are generally repaid from the sale of the subject real property as the project progresses. Construction and development lending entail additional risks, including the project exceeding budget, not being constructed according to plans, not receiving permits, or the pre-leasing or occupancy rate not meeting expectations. Repayment of multi-family loans and commercial rental property loans is expected from the cash flow generated by rental payments received from the individuals or businesses occupying the real estate. Commercial real estate loans are impacted by factors such as competitive market forces, vacancy rates, cap rates, net operating incomes, lease renewals and overall economic demand. In addition, loans in the recreational and tourism sector can be affected by weather conditions, such as unseasonably low winter snowfalls. Commercial real estate lending also carries a higher degree of environmental risk than other real estate lending.
 
Residential Real Estate - 1st Lien – All loans in this segment are collateralized by first mortgages on 1 – 4 family owner-occupied residential real estate and repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates and housing prices, has an impact on the credit quality of this segment.
 
Residential Real Estate – Jr Lien – All loans in this segment are collateralized by junior lien mortgages on 1 – 4 family residential real estate and repayment is primarily dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates and housing prices, has an impact on the credit quality of this segment.
 
Consumer – Loans in this segment are made to individuals for consumer and household purposes. This segment includes both loans secured by automobiles and other consumer goods, as well as loans that are unsecured. This segment also includes overdrafts, which are extensions of credit made to both individuals and businesses to cover temporary shortages in their deposit accounts and are generally unsecured. The Company maintains policies restricting the size and term of these extensions of credit. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates, has an impact on the credit quality of this segment.
 
Specific component
 
The specific component of the ALL relates to loans that are impaired. Impaired loans are loan(s) to a borrower that in the aggregate are greater than $100,000 and that are in non-accrual status or are troubled debt restructurings (TDR) regardless of amount. A specific allowance is established for an impaired loan when its estimated impaired basis is less than the carrying value of the loan. For all loan segments, except consumer loans, a loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, in management’s estimation it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant or temporary payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management evaluates the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length and frequency of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis, 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.
 
 
15
 
 
Impaired loans also include troubled loans that are restructured. A TDR occurs when the Company, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower that would otherwise not be granted. TDRs may include the transfer of assets to the Company in partial satisfaction of a troubled loan, a modification of a loan’s terms, or a combination of the two.
 
Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Company does not separately identify individual consumer loans for impairment evaluation, unless such loans are subject to a restructuring agreement.
 
Unallocated component
 
An unallocated component of the ALL is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management’s estimate of probable losses. The unallocated component reflects management’s estimate of the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and general losses in the portfolio.
 
The tables below summarize changes in the ALL and select loan information, by portfolio segment, for the periods indicated.
 
As of or for the three months ended March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
 
 
Residential
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
& Industrial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
1st Lien
 
 
Jr Lien
 
 
Consumer
 
 
Unallocated
 
 
Total
 
Allowance for loan losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 $726,848 
 $2,496,085 
 $1,369,757 
 $371,176 
 $83,973 
 $230,606 
 $5,278,445 
  Charge-offs
  (21,024)
  (160,207)
  (4,735)
  0 
  (5,441)
  0 
  (191,407)
  Recoveries
  7,141 
  0 
  6,236 
  60 
  7,965 
  0 
  21,402 
  Provision (credit)
  6,808 
  185,243 
  (58,463)
  (782)
  (25,175)
  42,369 
  150,000 
Ending balance
 $719,773 
 $2,521,121 
 $1,312,795 
 $370,454 
 $61,322 
 $272,975 
 $5,258,440 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Allowance for loan losses
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Evaluated for impairment
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  Individually
 $0 
 $79,200 
 $3,900 
 $117,500 
 $0 
 $0 
 $200,600 
  Collectively
  719,773 
  2,441,921 
  1,308,895 
  252,954 
  61,322 
  272,975 
  5,057,840 
     Total
 $719,773 
 $2,521,121 
 $1,312,795 
 $370,454 
 $61,322 
 $272,975 
 $5,258,440 
 
 
 
Loans evaluated for impairment
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  Individually
 $48,385 
 $807,282 
 $466,328 
 $222,080 
 $0 
    
 $1,544,075 
  Collectively
  69,016,600 
  204,333,205 
  162,462,919 
  41,598,695 
  6,766,751 
    
  484,178,170 
     Total
 $69,064,985 
 $205,140,487 
 $162,929,247 
 $41,820,775 
 $6,766,751 
    
 $485,722,245 
 
 
 
 
16
 
 
As of or for the year ended December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
 
 
Residential
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
& Industrial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
1st Lien
 
 
Jr Lien
 
 
Consumer
 
 
Unallocated
 
 
Total
 
Allowance for loan losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 $712,902 
 $2,152,678 
 $1,368,028 
 $422,822 
 $75,689 
 $279,759 
 $5,011,878 
  Charge-offs
  (49,009)
  0 
  (244,149)
  0 
  (15,404)
  0 
  (308,562)
  Recoveries
  36,032 
  0 
  23,712 
  240 
  15,145 
  0 
  75,129 
  Provision (credit)
  26,923 
  343,407 
  222,166 
  (51,886)
  8,543 
  (49,153)
  500,000 
Ending balance
 $726,848 
 $2,496,085 
 $1,369,757 
 $371,176 
 $83,973 
 $230,606 
 $5,278,445 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Allowance for loan losses
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Evaluated for impairment
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  Individually
 $0 
 $86,400 
 $6,200 
 $114,800 
 $0 
 $0 
 $207,400 
  Collectively
  726,848 
  2,409,685 
  1,363,557 
  256,376 
  83,973 
  230,606 
  5,071,045 
     Total
 $726,848 
 $2,496,085 
 $1,369,757 
 $371,176 
 $83,973 
 $230,606 
 $5,278,445 
 
 
 
Loans evaluated for impairment
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  Individually
 $48,385 
 $687,495 
 $946,809 
 $224,053 
 $0 
    
 $1,906,742 
  Collectively
  68,682,188 
  201,040,785 
  165,745,153 
  42,703,282 
  7,171,076 
    
  485,342,484 
     Total
 $68,730,573 
 $201,728,280 
 $166,691,962 
 $42,927,335 
 $7,171,076 
    
 $487,249,226 
 
 
As of or for the three months ended March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
 
 
Residential
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
& Industrial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
1st Lien
 
 
Jr Lien
 
 
Consumer
 
 
Unallocated
 
 
Total
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
 
Beginning balance
 $712,902 
 $2,152,678 
 $1,368,028 
 $422,822 
 $75,689 
 $279,759 
 $5,011,878 
  Charge-offs
  (10,836)
  0 
  (312)
  0 
  (16,675)
  0 
  (27,823)
  Recoveries
  19,295 
  0 
  312 
  60 
  5,766 
  0 
  25,433 
  Provision (credit)
  9,014 
  142,625 
  (29,101)
  143 
  (6,324)
  (16,357)
  100,000 
Ending balance
 $730,375 
 $2,295,303 
 $1,338,927 
 $423,025 
 $58,456 
 $263,402 
 $5,109,488 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 
Allowance for loan losses
 
Evaluated for impairment
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  Individually
 $0 
 $0 
 $0 
 $117,700 
 $0 
 $0 
 $117,700 
  Collectively
  730,375 
  2,295,303 
  1,338,927 
  305,325 
  58,456 
  263,402 
  4,991,788 
     Total
 $730,375 
 $2,295,303 
 $1,338,927 
 $423,025 
 $58,456 
 $263,402 
 $5,109,488 
 
 
 
Loans evaluated for impairment
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  Individually
 $204,354 
 $907,309 
 $717,673 
 $231,591 
 $0 
    
 $2,060,927 
  Collectively
  63,335,986 
  177,298,011 
  161,876,702 
  43,686,134 
  6,790,425 
    
  452,987,258 
     Total
 $63,540,340 
 $178,205,320 
 $162,594,375 
 $43,917,725 
 $6,790,425 
    
 $455,048,185 
 
 
 
17
 
 
Impaired loans, by portfolio segment, were as follows:
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unpaid
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
Recorded
 
 
Principal
 
 
Related
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Investment
 
 
Balance
 
 
Allowance
 
 
Investment(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial real estate
 $346,444 
 $379,243 
 $79,200 
 $283,351 
   Residential real estate - 1st lien
  53,038 
  57,032 
  3,900 
  162,500 
   Residential real estate - Jr lien
  222,080 
  284,931 
  117,500 
  223,067 
 
  621,562 
  721,206 
  200,600 
  668,918 
 
    
    
    
    
With no related allowance recorded
    
    
    
    
   Commercial & industrial
  48,385 
  62,498 
    
  48,385 
   Commercial real estate
  460,838 
  508,058 
    
  464,038 
   Residential real estate - 1st lien
  413,290 
  485,577 
    
  544,069 
 
  922,513 
  1,056,133 
    
  1,056,492 
 
    
    
    
    
     Total
 $1,544,075 
 $1,777,339 
 $200,600 
 $1,725,410 
 
(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unpaid
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
Recorded
 
 
Principal
 
 
Related
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Investment
 
 
Balance
 
 
Allowance
 
 
Investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Commercial real estate
 $220,257 
 $232,073 
 $86,400 
 $89,664 
   Residential real estate - 1st lien
  271,962 
  275,118 
  6,200 
  350,709 
   Residential real estate - Jr lien
  224,053 
  284,342 
  114,800 
  241,965 
 
  716,272 
  791,533 
  207,400 
  682,338 
 
    
    
    
    
With no related allowance recorded
    
    
    
    
   Commercial & industrial
  48,385 
  62,498 
    
  183,925 
   Commercial real estate
  467,238 
  521,991 
    
  1,059,542 
   Residential real estate - 1st lien
  674,847 
  893,741 
    
  877,237 
   Residential real estate - Jr lien
  0 
  0 
    
  15,888 
 
  1,190,470 
  1,478,230 
    
  2,136,592 
 
    
    
    
    
     Total
 $1,906,742 
 $2,269,763 
 $207,400 
 $2,818,930 
 
 
18
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unpaid
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
Recorded
 
 
Principal
 
 
Related
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Investment
 
 
Balance
 
 
Allowance
 
 
Investment(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With an allowance recorded
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Residential real estate - 1st lien
 $0 
 $0 
 $0 
 $86,894 
   Residential real estate - Jr lien
  231,591 
  284,287 
  117,700 
  232,798 
 
  231,591 
  284,287 
  117,700 
  319,692 
 
    
    
    
    
With no related allowance recorded
    
    
    
    
   Commercial & industrial
  204,354 
  272,017 
    
  245,395 
   Commercial real estate
  907,309 
  957,229 
    
  1,729,529 
   Residential real estate - 1st lien
  717,673 
  803,505 
    
  981,847 
 
  1,829,336 
  2,032,751 
    
  2,956,771 
 
    
    
    
    
     Total
 $2,060,927 
 $2,317,038 
 $117,700 
 $3,276,463 
 
(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2016
 
 
Interest income recognized on impaired loans was immaterial for all periods presented.
 
For all loan segments, the accrual of interest is discontinued when a loan is specifically determined to be impaired or when the loan is delinquent 90 days and management believes, after considering collection efforts and other factors, that the borrower's financial condition is such that collection of interest is considered by management to be doubtful. Any unpaid interest previously accrued on those loans is reversed from income. Interest income is generally not recognized on specific impaired loans unless the likelihood of further loss is considered by management to be remote. Interest payments received on impaired loans are generally applied as a reduction of the loan principal balance. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are considered by management to be reasonably assured.
 
Credit Quality Grouping
 
In developing the ALL, management uses credit quality grouping to help evaluate trends in credit quality. The Company groups credit risk into Groups A, B and C. The manner the Company utilizes to assign risk grouping is driven by loan purpose. Commercial purpose loans are individually risk graded while the retail portion of the portfolio is generally grouped by delinquency pool.
 
Group A loans - Acceptable Risk – are loans that are expected to perform as agreed under their respective terms. Such loans carry a normal level of risk that does not require management attention beyond that warranted by the loan or loan relationship characteristics, such as loan size or relationship size. Group A loans include commercial purpose loans that are individually risk rated and retail loans that are rated by pool. Group A retail loans include performing consumer and residential real estate loans. Residential real estate loans are loans to individuals secured by 1-4 family homes, including first mortgages, home equity and home improvement loans. Loan balances fully secured by deposit accounts or that are fully guaranteed by the Federal Government are considered acceptable risk.
 
Group B loans – Management Involved - are loans that require greater attention than the acceptable loans in Group A. Characteristics of such loans may include, but are not limited to, borrowers that are experiencing negative operating trends such as reduced sales or margins, borrowers that have exposure to adverse market conditions such as increased competition or regulatory burden, or borrowers that have had unexpected or adverse changes in management. These loans have a greater likelihood of migrating to an unacceptable risk level if these characteristics are left unchecked. Group B is limited to commercial purpose loans that are individually risk rated.
 
 
19
 
 
Group C loans – Unacceptable Risk – are loans that have distinct shortcomings that require a greater degree of management attention. Examples of these shortcomings include a borrower's inadequate capacity to service debt, poor operating performance, or insolvency. These loans are more likely to result in repayment through collateral liquidation. Group C loans range from those that are likely to sustain some loss if the shortcomings are not corrected, to those for which loss is imminent and non-accrual treatment is warranted. Group C loans include individually rated commercial purpose loans and retail loans adversely rated in accordance with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Uniform Retail Credit Classification Policy. Group C retail loans include 1-4 family residential real estate loans and home equity loans past due 90 days or more with loan-to-value ratios greater than 60%, home equity loans 90 days or more past due where the bank does not hold first mortgage, irrespective of loan-to-value, loans in bankruptcy where repayment is likely but not yet established, and consumer loans that are 90 days or more past due.
 
Commercial purpose loan ratings are assigned by the commercial account officer; for larger and more complex commercial loans, the credit rating is a collaborative assignment by the lender and the credit analyst. The credit risk rating is based on the borrower's expected performance, i.e., the likelihood that the borrower will be able to service its obligations in accordance with the loan terms. Credit risk ratings are meant to measure risk versus simply record history. Assessment of expected future payment performance requires consideration of numerous factors. While past performance is part of the overall evaluation, expected performance is based on an analysis of the borrower's financial strength, and historical and projected factors such as size and financing alternatives, capacity and cash flow, balance sheet and income statement trends, the quality and timeliness of financial reporting, and the quality of the borrower’s management. Other factors influencing the credit risk rating to a lesser degree include collateral coverage and control, guarantor strength and commitment, documentation, structure and covenants and industry conditions. There are uncertainties inherent in this process.
 
Credit risk ratings are dynamic and require updating whenever relevant information is received. The risk ratings of larger or more complex loans, and Group B and C rated loans, are assessed at the time of their respective annual reviews, during quarterly updates, in action plans or at any other time that relevant information warrants update. Lenders are required to make immediate disclosure to the Chief Credit Officer of any known increase in loan risk, even if considered temporary in nature.
 
The risk ratings within the loan portfolio, by segment, as of the balance sheet dates were as follows:
 
As of March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
 
 
Residential
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
& Industrial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
1st Lien
 
 
Jr Lien
 
 
Consumer
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group A
 $66,610,036 
 $194,682,293 
 $160,911,670 
 $41,115,085 
 $6,764,848 
 $470,083,932 
Group B
  1,709,910 
  2,423,387 
  0 
  167,692 
  0 
  4,300,989 
Group C
  745,039 
  8,034,807 
  2,017,577 
  537,998 
  1,903 
  11,337,324 
     Total
 $69,064,985 
 $205,140,487 
 $162,929,247 
 $41,820,775 
 $6,766,751 
 $485,722,245 
 
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
 
 
Residential
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
& Industrial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
1st Lien
 
 
Jr Lien
 
 
Consumer
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group A
 $67,297,983 
 $191,755,393 
 $164,708,778 
 $42,289,062 
 $7,168,901 
 $473,220,117 
Group B
  512,329 
  2,971,364 
  0 
  169,054 
  0 
  3,652,747 
Group C
  920,261 
  7,001,523 
  1,983,184 
  469,219 
  2,175 
  10,376,362 
     Total
 $68,730,573 
 $201,728,280 
 $166,691,962 
 $42,927,335 
 $7,171,076 
 $487,249,226 
 
 
20
 
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
 
 
Residential
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Commercial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
& Industrial
 
 
Real Estate
 
 
1st Lien
 
 
Jr Lien
 
 
Consumer
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group A
 $58,289,285 
 $165,816,389 
 $159,255,456 
 $43,197,130 
 $6,790,425 
 $433,348,685 
Group B
  4,448,662 
  4,638,741 
  593,394 
  184,734 
  0 
  9,865,531 
Group C
  802,393 
  7,750,190 
  2,745,525 
  535,861 
  0 
  11,833,969 
     Total
 $63,540,340 
 $178,205,320 
 $162,594,375 
 $43,917,725 
 $6,790,425 
 $455,048,185 
 
 
Modifications of Loans and TDRs
 
A loan is classified as a TDR if, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, the Company grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider.
 
The Company is deemed to have granted such a concession if it has modified a troubled loan in any of the following ways:
 
Reduced accrued interest;
Reduced the original contractual interest rate to a rate that is below the current market rate for the borrower;
Converted a variable-rate loan to a fixed-rate loan;
Extended the term of the loan beyond an insignificant delay;
Deferred or forgiven principal in an amount greater than three months of payments; or
Performed a refinancing and deferred or forgiven principal on the original loan.
 
An insignificant delay or insignificant shortfall in the amount of payments typically would not require the loan to be accounted for as a TDR. However, pursuant to regulatory guidance, any payment delay longer than three months is generally not considered insignificant. Management’s assessment of whether a concession has been granted also takes into account payments expected to be received from third parties, including third-party guarantors, provided that the third party has the ability to perform on the guarantee.
 
The Company’s TDRs are principally a result of extending loan repayment terms to relieve cash flow difficulties. The Company has only, on a limited basis, reduced interest rates for borrowers below the current market rate for the borrower. The Company has not forgiven principal or reduced accrued interest within the terms of original restructurings, nor has it converted variable rate terms to fixed rate terms. However, the Company evaluates each TDR situation on its own merits and does not foreclose the granting of any particular type of concession.
 
New TDRs, by portfolio segment, during the periods presented were as follows:
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Pre-
 
 
Post-
 
 
 
 
 
 
Modification
 
 
Modification
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
 
Number of
 
 
Recorded
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Contracts
 
 
Investment
 
 
Investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial & industrial
  1
 $41,857 
 $57,418
 
 
21
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Pre-
 
 
Post-
 
 
 
 
 
 
Modification
 
 
Modification
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
 
Number of
 
 
Recorded
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Contracts
 
 
Investment
 
 
Investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential real estate - 1st lien
 8
 $572,418 
 $598,030 
Residential real estate - Jr lien
 2
  62,819 
  64,977 
          Total
 10
 $635,237 
 $663,007 
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Pre-
 
 
Post-
 
 
 
 
 
 
Modification
 
 
Modification
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
 
Number of
 
 
Recorded
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Contracts
 
 
Investment
 
 
Investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential real estate - 1st lien
 5
 $395,236 
 $412,923 
Residential real estate - Jr lien
 1
  10,261 
  10,340 
          Total
 6
 $405,497 
 $423,263 
 
 
The TDR’s for which there was a payment default during the twelve month periods presented were as follows:
 
Twelve months ended March 31, 2017
 
Number of
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Contracts
 
 
Investment
 
Residential real estate - 1st lien
 1
 $64,218 
Residential real estate - Jr lien
 1
  54,557 
          Total
 2
 $118,775 
 
 
Twelve months ended December 31, 2016
 
Number of
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Contracts
 
 
Investment
 
Residential real estate - 1st lien
 2
 $93,230 
Residential real estate - Jr lien
 1
  54,557 
          Total
 3
 $147,787 
 
 
Twelve months ended March 31, 2016
 
Number of
 
 
Recorded
 
 
 
Contracts
 
 
Investment
 
Commercial
 1
 $79,158 
Commercial real estate
 1
  146,519 
Residential real estate - 1st lien
 1
  59,838 
          Total
 3
 $285,515 
 
 
TDRs are treated as other impaired loans and carry individual specific reserves with respect to the calculation of the ALL. These loans are categorized as non-performing, may be past due, and are generally adversely risk rated. The TDRs that have defaulted under their restructured terms are generally in collection status and their reserve is typically calculated using the fair value of collateral method.
 
The specific allowances related to TDRs as of the balance sheet dates are presented in the table below. There were no TDRs with specific allocations as of March 31, 2016.
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
Specific Allocation
 $83,100 
 $92,600 
 
 
 
22
 
 
As of the balance sheet dates, the Company evaluates whether it is contractually committed to lend additional funds to debtors with impaired, non-accrual or modified loans. The Company is contractually committed to lend on one Small Business Administration guaranteed line of credit to a borrower whose lending relationship was previously restructured.
 
Note 6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
 
As a result of a merger with LyndonBank on December 31, 2007, the Company recorded goodwill amounting to $11,574,269. The goodwill is not amortizable and is not deductible for tax purposes.
 
The Company also initially recorded $4,161,000 of acquired identified intangible assets in the LyndonBank merger, representing the core deposit intangible which is subject to amortization as a non-interest expense over a ten year period. The accumulated amortization expense was $3,956,484 and $3,683,789 as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
 
Amortization expense for the core deposit intangible for the first three months of 2017 and 2016 was $68,175. The future amortization expense related to the remaining core deposit intangible is $204,516 and will be fully expensed in 2017.
 
Management evaluates goodwill for impairment annually and the core deposit intangible for impairment if conditions warrant. As of the date of the most recent evaluation (December 31, 2016), management concluded that no impairment existed in either category.
 
Note 7. Fair Value
 
Certain assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value to provide additional insight into the Company’s quality of earnings. The fair values of some of these assets and liabilities are measured on a recurring basis while others are measured on a non-recurring basis, with the determination based upon applicable existing accounting pronouncements. For example, securities available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Other assets, such as MSRs, loans held-for-sale, impaired loans, and OREO are recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis using the lower of cost or market methodology to determine impairment of individual assets. The Company groups assets and liabilities which are recorded at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. The level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement (with Level 1 considered highest and Level 3 considered lowest). A brief description of each level follows.
 
Level 1 
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 1 assets and liabilities include debt and equity securities and derivative contracts that are traded in an active exchange market, as well as U.S. Treasury, other U.S. Government debt securities that are highly liquid and are actively traded in over-the-counter markets.
 
Level 2 
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments and derivative contracts whose value is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. This category generally includes MSRs, impaired loans and OREO.
 
Level 3 
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
 
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value measurements and disclosures:
 
Cash and cash equivalents:  The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents approximate their fair values. As such, the Company classifies these financial instruments as Level 1.
 
Securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity:  Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices for similar assets, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using matrix pricing models, or other model-based valuation techniques requiring observable inputs other than quoted prices such as yield curves, prepayment speeds and default rates. Level 1 securities would include U.S. Treasury securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets. Level 2 securities include federal agency securities and securities of local municipalities.
 
 
23
 
 
Restricted equity securities:  Restricted equity securities are comprised of Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB) stock and Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLBB) stock. These securities are carried at cost, which is believed to approximate fair value, based on the redemption provisions of the FRBB and the FHLBB. The stock is nonmarketable, and redeemable at par value, subject to certain conditions. The Company classifies these securities as Level 2.
 
Loans and loans held-for-sale:  For variable-rate loans that reprice frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying amounts. The fair values for other loans (for example, fixed rate residential, commercial real estate, and rental property mortgage loans, and commercial and industrial loans) are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality. Loan fair value estimates include judgments regarding future expected loss experience and risk characteristics. Loan impairment is deemed to exist when full repayment of principal and interest according to the contractual terms of the loan is no longer probable. Impaired loans are reported based on one of three measures: the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate; the loan’s observable market price; or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. If the fair value is less than an impaired loan’s recorded investment, an impairment loss is recognized as part of the ALL. Accordingly, certain impaired loans may be subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Management has estimated the fair values of these assets using Level 2 inputs, such as the fair value of collateral based on independent third-party appraisals for collateral-dependent loans. All other loans are valued using Level 3 inputs.
 
The fair value of loans held-for-sale is based upon an actual purchase and sale agreement between the Company and an independent market participant. The sale is executed within a reasonable period following quarter end at the stated fair value.
 
MSRs:  MSRs represent the value associated with servicing residential mortgage loans. Servicing assets and servicing liabilities are reported using the amortization method and compared to fair value for impairment. In evaluating the carrying values of MSRs, the Company obtains third party valuations based on loan level data including note rate, and the type and term of the underlying loans. The Company classifies MSRs as non-recurring Level 2.
 
OREO:  Real estate acquired through or in lieu of foreclosure and bank properties no longer used as bank premises are initially recorded at fair value. The fair value of OREO is based on property appraisals and an analysis of similar properties currently available. The Company records OREO as non-recurring Level 2.
 
Deposits, repurchase agreements and borrowed funds:  The fair values disclosed for demand deposits (for example, checking accounts and savings accounts) are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (that is, their carrying amounts). The carrying value of repurchase agreements approximates fair value due to their short term. The fair values for certificates of deposit and borrowed funds are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered on certificates and indebtedness to a schedule of aggregated contractual maturities on such time deposits and indebtedness. The Company classifies deposits, repurchase agreements and borrowed funds as Level 2.
 
Capital lease obligations:  Fair value is determined using a discounted cash flow calculation using current rates. Based on current rates, carrying value approximates fair value. The Company classifies these obligations as Level 2.
 
Junior subordinated debentures:  Fair value is estimated using current rates for debentures of similar maturity. The Company classifies these instruments as Level 2.
 
Accrued interest:  The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximate their fair values. The Company classifies accrued interest as Level 2.
 
Off-balance-sheet credit related instruments:  Commitments to extend credit are evaluated and fair value is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present credit-worthiness of the counterparties. For fixed-rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates.
 
 
24
 
 
 
FASB ASC Topic 825 “Financial Instruments”, requires disclosures of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, if the fair values can be reasonably determined. Fair value is best determined based upon quoted market prices. However, in many instances, there are no quoted market prices for the Company’s various financial instruments. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques using observable inputs when available. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Accordingly, the fair value estimates may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument. Topic 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 Company.
 
Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and reflected in the consolidated balance sheets at the dates presented, segregated by fair value hierarchy, are summarized below:
 
March 31, 2017
 
Level 2
 
Assets: (market approach)
 
 
 
U.S. GSE debt securities
 $17,310,403 
Agency MBS
  13,557,523 
Other investments
  2,984,645 
  Total
 $33,852,571 
 
December 31, 2016
 
Level 2
 
Assets: (market approach)
 
 
 
U.S. GSE debt securities
 $17,317,328 
Agency MBS
  13,154,228 
Other investments
  3,243,495 
  Total
 $33,715,051 
 
March 31, 2016
 
Level 2
 
Assets: (market approach)
 
 
 
U.S. GSE debt securities
 $12,932,895 
Agency MBS
  13,605,704 
Other investments
  3,033,522 
  Total
 $29,572,121 
 
There were no Level 1 or Level 3 assets or liabilities measured on a recurring basis as of the balance sheet dates presented.
 
Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
 
The following table includes assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis that have had a fair value adjustment since their initial recognition. Impaired loans measured at fair value only include impaired loans with a related specific ALL and are presented net of specific allowances as disclosed in Note 5.
 
Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and reflected in the consolidated balance sheets at the dates presented, segregated by fair value hierarchy, are summarized below:
 
March 31, 2017
 
Level 2
 
Assets: (market approach)
 
 
 
MSRs (1)
 $1,182,233 
Impaired loans, net of related allowance
  420,962 
OREO
  561,979 
 
    
 
(1) Represents MSRs at lower of cost or fair value, including MSRs deemed to be impaired and for which a valuation allowance was established to carry at fair value as of the balance sheet dates presented.
 
 
25
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
Level 2
 
Assets: (market approach)
 
 
 
MSRs (1)
 $1,210,695 
Impaired loans, net of related allowance
  508,872 
OREO
  394,000 
 
March 31, 2016
 
Level 2
 
Assets: (market approach)
 
 
 
MSRs (1)
 $1,278,982 
Impaired loans, net of related allowance
  113,891 
OREO
  465,000 
 
 
(1) Represents MSRs at lower of cost or fair value, including MSRs deemed to be impaired and for which a valuation allowance was established to carry at fair value as of the balance sheet dates presented.
 
There were no Level 1 or Level 3 assets or liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis as of the balance sheet dates presented.
 
The estimated fair values of commitments to extend credit and letters of credit were immaterial as of the dates presented in the tables below. The estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments were as follows:
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
 
Carrying
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
 
Amount
 
 
Level 1
 
 
Level 2
 
 
Level 3
 
 
Total
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 $32,789 
 $32,789 
 $0 
 $0 
 $32,789 
Securities held-to-maturity
  53,880 
  0 
  54,853 
  0 
  54,853 
Securities available-for-sale
  33,853 
  0 
  33,853 
  0 
  33,853 
Restricted equity securities
  2,426 
  0 
  2,426 
  0 
  2,426 
Loans and loans held-for-sale
    
    
    
    
    
  Commercial & industrial
  68,306 
  0 
  48 
  68,936 
  68,984 
  Commercial real estate
  202,504 
  0 
  728 
  203,903 
  204,631 
  Residential real estate - 1st lien
  161,525 
  0 
  462 
  163,536 
  163,998 
  Residential real estate - Jr lien
  41,427 
  0 
  105 
  41,822 
  41,927 
  Consumer
  6,702 
  0 
  0 
  6,953 
  6,953 
MSRs (1)
  1,182 
  0 
  1,302 
  0 
  1,302 
Accrued interest receivable
  2,063 
  0 
  2,063 
  0 
  2,063 
 
    
    
    
    
    
Financial liabilities:
    
    
    
    
    
Deposits
    
    
    
    
    
  Other deposits
  491,435 
  0 
  490,746 
  0 
  490,746 
  Brokered deposits
  40,985 
  0 
  40,986 
  0 
  40,986 
Short-term borrowings
  10,000 
  0 
  9,998 
  0 
  9,998 
Long-term borrowings
  1,550 
  0 
  1,389 
  0 
  1,389 
Repurchase agreements
  27,747 
  0 
  27,747 
  0 
  27,747 
Capital lease obligations
  459 
  0 
  459 
  0 
  459 
Subordinated debentures
  12,887 
  0 
  12,846 
  0 
  12,846 
Accrued interest payable
  96 
  0 
  96 
  0 
  96 
 
(1) Reported fair value represents all MSRs for loans serviced by the Company at March 31, 2017, regardless of carrying amount.
 
26
 
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
 
Carrying
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
 
Amount
 
 
Level 1
 
 
Level 2
 
 
Level 3
 
 
Total
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 $29,614 
 $29,614 
 $0 
 $0 
 $29,614 
Securities held-to-maturity
  49,887 
  0 
  51,035 
  0 
  51,035 
Securities available-for-sale
  33,715 
  0 
  33,715 
  0 
  33,715 
Restricted equity securities
  2,756 
  0 
  2,756 
  0 
  2,756 
Loans and loans held-for-sale
    
    
    
    
    
  Commercial & industrial
  67,972 
  0 
  48 
  68,727 
  68,775 
  Commercial real estate
  199,136 
  0 
  601 
  201,560 
  202,161 
  Residential real estate - 1st lien
  165,243 
  0 
  941 
  166,858 
  167,799 
  Residential real estate - Jr lien
  42,536 
  0 
  109 
  42,948 
  43,057 
  Consumer
  7,084 
  0 
  0 
  7,371 
  7,371 
MSRs(1)
  1,211 
  0 
  1,302 
  0 
  1,302 
Accrued interest receivable
  1,819 
  0 
  1,819 
  0 
  1,819 
 
    
    
    
    
    
Financial liabilities:
    
    
    
    
    
Deposits
    
    
    
    
    
  Other deposits
  470,002 
  0 
  469,323 
  0 
  469,323 
  Brokered deposits
  34,733 
  0 
  34,745 
  0 
  34,745 
Short-term borrowings
  30,000 
  0 
  30,000 
  0 
  30,000 
Long-term borrowings
  1,550 
  0 
  1,376 
  0 
  1,376 
Repurchase agreements
  30,423 
  0 
  30,423 
  0 
  30,423 
Capital lease obligations
  483 
  0 
  483 
  0 
  483 
Subordinated debentures
  12,887 
  0 
  12,849 
  0 
  12,849 
Accrued interest payable
  73 
  0 
  73 
  0 
  73 
 
(1) Reported fair value represents all MSRs for loans serviced by the Company at December 31, 2016, regardless of carrying amount.
 
 
27
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
Fair
 
 
 
Carrying
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
Value
 
 
 
Amount
 
 
Level 1
 
 
Level 2
 
 
Level 3
 
 
Total
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 $25,453 
 $25,453 
 $0 
 $0 
 $25,453 
Securities held-to-maturity
  45,552 
  0 
  46,235 
  0 
  46,235 
Securities available-for-sale
  29,572 
  0 
  29,572 
  0 
  29,572 
Restricted equity securities
  1,891 
  0 
  1,891 
  0 
  1,891 
Loans and loans held-for-sale
    
    
    
    
    
  Commercial & industrial
  62,773 
  0 
  204 
  63,772 
  63,976 
  Commercial real estate
  175,807 
  0 
  907 
  180,164 
  181,071 
  Residential real estate - 1st lien
  161,686 
  0 
  718 
  165,571 
  166,289 
  Residential real estate - Jr lien
  43,470 
  0 
  114 
  44,085 
  44,199 
  Consumer
  6,728 
  0 
  0 
  7,021 
  7,021 
MSRs(1)
  1,279 
  0 
  1,497 
  0 
  1,497 
Accrued interest receivable
  2,064 
  0 
  2,064 
  0 
  2,064 
Financial liabilities:
    
    
    
    
    
Deposits
    
    
    
    
    
  Other deposits
  468,288 
  0 
  468,451 
  0 
  468,451 
  Brokered deposits
  20,612 
  0 
  20,618 
  0 
  20,618 
Short-term borrowings
  10,000 
  0 
  10,000 
  0 
  10,000 
Long-term borrowings
  350 
  0 
  324 
  0 
  324 
Repurchase agreements
  25,149 
  0 
  25,149 
  0 
  25,149 
Capital lease obligations
  537 
  0 
  537 
  0 
  537 
Subordinated debentures
  12,887 
  0 
  12,516 
  0 
  12,516 
Accrued interest payable
  61 
  0 
  61 
  0 
  61 
 
(1) Reported fair value represents all MSRs for loans serviced by the Company at March 31, 2016, regardless of carrying amount.
 
 
Note 8. Loan Servicing
 
The following table shows the changes in the carrying amount of the mortgage servicing rights, included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, for the periods indicated:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Year Ended
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of year
 $1,210,695 
 $1,293,079 
 $1,293,079 
   Mortgage servicing rights capitalized
  28,466 
  176,705 
  41,424 
   Mortgage servicing rights amortized
  (56,928)
  (266,603)
  (63,035)
   Change in valuation allowance
  0 
  7,514 
  7,514 
Balance at end of period
 $1,182,233 
 $1,210,695 
 $1,278,982 
 
 
Note 9. Legal Proceedings
 
In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiary are involved in litigation that is considered incidental to their business. Management does not expect that any such litigation will be material to the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
 
Note 10. Subsequent Event
 
The Company has evaluated events and transactions through the date that the financial statements were issued for potential recognition or disclosure in these financial statements, as required by U.S. GAAP. On March 8, 2017, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.17 per common share payable May 1, 2017 to shareholders of record as of April 15, 2017. This dividend, amounting to $859,851, was accrued at March 31, 2017.
 
 
 
28
 
 
ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Period Ended March 31, 2017
 
The following discussion analyzes the consolidated financial condition of Community Bancorp. (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Community National Bank (the Bank), as of March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, and its consolidated results of operations for the three-month interim period presented. The Company is considered a “smaller reporting company” under applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is therefore eligible for relief from certain disclosure requirements.
 
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in its 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains certain forward-looking statements about the results of operations, financial condition and business of the Company and its subsidiary. Words used in the discussion below such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plans," "predicts," or similar expressions, indicate that management of the Company is making forward-looking statements.
 
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They necessarily involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results of the Company may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward looking statements included in this discussion include, but are not limited to, estimated contingent liability related to assumptions made within the asset/liability management process, management's expectations as to the future interest rate environment and the Company's related liquidity level, credit risk expectations relating to the Company's loan portfolio and its participation in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLBB) Mortgage Partnership Finance (MPF) program, and management's general outlook for the future performance of the Company or the local or national economy. Although forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and estimates, many of the factors that could influence or determine actual results are unpredictable and not within the Company's control. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements as they speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake, and disclaims any obligation, to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence or anticipated occurrence of events or circumstances after the date of this Report, except as required by applicable law. The Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
 
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements include, among others, the following possibilities: (1) general economic conditions, either nationally, regionally or locally deteriorate, resulting in a decline in credit quality or a diminished demand for the Company's products and services; (2) competitive pressures increase among financial service providers in the Company's northern New England market area or in the financial services industry generally, including competitive pressures from non-bank financial service providers, from increasing consolidation and integration of financial service providers, and from changes in technology and delivery systems; (3) interest rates change in such a way as to negatively affect the Company's net income, asset valuations or margins; (4) changes in laws or government rules, including the rules of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or the way in which courts or government agencies interpret or implement those laws or rules, increase our costs of doing business, causing us to limit or change our product offerings or pricing, or otherwise adversely affect the Company's business; (5) changes in federal or state tax policy; (6) changes in the level of nonperforming assets and charge-offs; (7) changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon relevant regulatory and accounting requirements; (8) changes in consumer and business spending, borrowing and savings habits; (9) reductions in deposit levels, which necessitate increased borrowings to fund loans and investments; (10) the geographic concentration of the Company’s loan portfolio and deposit base; (11) losses due to the fraudulent or negligent conduct of third parties, including the Company’s service providers, customers and employees; (12) the effect of changes to the calculation of the Company’s regulatory capital ratios which began in 2015 under the Basel III capital framework and which, among other things, requires additional regulatory capital, and changes the framework for risk-weighting of certain assets; (13) the effect of and changes in the United States monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) and its regulation of the money supply; and (14) adverse changes in the credit rating of U.S. government debt.
 
 
29
 
 
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
 
Under SEC Regulation G, public companies making disclosures containing financial measures that are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (US GAAP or GAAP) must also disclose, along with each non-GAAP financial measure, certain additional information, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the closest comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as a statement of the company’s reasons for utilizing the non-GAAP financial measure. The SEC has exempted from the definition of non-GAAP financial measures certain commonly used financial measures that are not based on GAAP. However, three non-GAAP financial measures commonly used by financial institutions, namely tax-equivalent net interest income and tax-equivalent net interest margin (as presented in the tables in the section labeled Interest Income Versus Interest Expense (Net Interest Income)) and core earnings (as defined and discussed in the Results of Operations section), have not been specifically exempted by the SEC, and may therefore constitute non-GAAP financial measures under Regulation G. We are unable to state with certainty whether the SEC would regard those measures as subject to Regulation G.
 
Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s financial performance and facilitate comparisons with the performance of other financial institutions. However, that information should be considered supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
 
OVERVIEW
 
The Company’s consolidated assets on March 31, 2017 were $642,900,050, an increase of $5,246,385, or 0.8%, from December 31, 2016 and an increase of $49,490,722, or 8.3%, from March 31, 2016. Net loans decreased $1,495,821, or 0.3%, since December 31, 2016 and increased $30,531,343, or 6.8%, since March 31, 2016. The year over year increase is attributable to growth in commercial loans and was funded primarily through an increase in deposit accounts.
 
Total deposits increased $27,684,666, or 5.5%, since December 31, 2016 due to an $18.0 million, or 10.9%, increase in savings and money market accounts, and a $3.9 million, or 3.3%, increase in interest bearing demand deposits. Brokered certificates of deposit (CDs) increased $4.6 million, or 27.2%. In the year over year comparison, deposits increased $43,519,562, or 8.9%. Core deposits saw increases in all areas except retail time deposits, which have remained flat after several years of declining balances. The decrease in retail time deposits was a trend that had been prevalent for several years while rates remained at historic lows. Management believes that the low interest rates being paid on CDs and other investment products has caused some depositors to place their money in non-maturity products such as demand and savings accounts while awaiting an improvement in interest rates and market conditions. This trend has slowed in recent months as rates appear to have bottomed and the majority of remaining CDs have already repriced to lower rates.
 
Despite three increases in the fed funds rate of 25 basis points each since December 2015, interest rates remain at historically low levels, and the resulting pressure on margins is being further exacerbated by a flattening yield curve as long rates have stayed in a tight range. Growth of the commercial loan portfolio in recent years, which typically carries higher yields than residential and consumer loans, has helped to maintain a stable level of interest income. This shift in asset mix is in line with the Company’s strategic plan to increase its concentration in commercial loans while maintaining a stable residential loan portfolio. While commercial loans inherently carry more risk, the Company has dedicated significant resources in the credit administration department to mitigate the additional risk. The opportunities for growth continue to be primarily in the Central Vermont market, where economic activity is more robust than in the Company’s Orleans and Caledonia county markets, and where the Company is increasing its presence and market share. The Company opened a loan production office in Chittenden County, the economic hub of Vermont, during the first quarter of 2017, which should further drive commercial loan activity. Yields in the taxable and tax exempt securities portfolios have remained stable compared with the prior year, with increased interest income resulting from growth of $4.0 million, or 8.0%, in the tax exempt portfolio.
 
Interest income increased $338,139, or 5.8%, for the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 and interest expense increased $71,149, or 10.7%. The increase in interest income year over year reflects the higher balances in net loans, which exceeded the prior year by $30.7 million, or 6.7%, as well as the growth in the tax-exempt securities portfolio. The increase in interest paid on deposits is attributable to a higher utilization of brokered time deposits, which carry higher rates than core non-maturity deposits. Higher levels of borrowing and the increase in fed funds rate caused increased interest expense on FHLB advances of $34,767, or 439.2%, compared with the first quarter of 2016. The increase in the fed funds rate also caused an increase of $13,341, or 12.2%, in interest expense associated with the Company’s s junior subordinated debentures.
 
 
30
 
 
Net interest income after the provision for loan losses improved by $216,990, or 4.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The charge to income for the provision for loan losses increased $50,000, or 50.0%, for the comparison period due to a combination of a low level of losses in the first quarter of 2016 and the increase in the loan portfolio, year over year. Please refer to the Allowance for loan losses and provisions discussion in the Credit Risk section for more information.
 
Net income for the first three months of 2017 was $1,414,216, an increase of $244,722, or 20.9%, compared to the same period in 2016. Non-interest income increased $132,367, or 10.7%, but non-interest expense increased $48,828, or 1.0%; and income tax expense increased $55,807, or 12.7%, offsetting a portion of the increase in non-interest income. Service fee income increased $130,438, or 21.1%, contributing to the increase in net income. Also contributing to the increase in net income was an increase of $30,601, or 37.1%, in trust income from Community Financial Services Group (CFSG Partners), and an increase of $23,643, or 365.4%, in market value of the Company’s investments related to the Supplemental Employee Retirement Account (SERP). Residential mortgage lending activity was lower for 2016 compared to 2015, with residential mortgage originations totaling $8,111,071 for the first three months of 2017 compared to $8,475,629 for the same period of 2016, accounting for the decrease in the Company’s loan fee income. Of those originations during the first three months of 2017, secondary market sales totaled $3,167,501, compared to $4,651,578 for the first three months of 2016, providing points and premiums from the sales of these mortgages of $190,295 and $221,194, respectively, a decrease of 14.0%. Furthermore, operating expenses remain manageable at this time with an increase of 1.0%. Please refer to the Non-interest Income and Expense sections for more information.
 
On March 8, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per common share, payable on May 1, 2017 to shareholders of record on April 15, 2017. This represents an increase in the quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share and is attributable to the Bank’s strong performance in 2016, demonstrating the confidence of the Board of Directors and management team in the Company’s ability to generate shareholder value. The Company is focused on increasing the profitability of the balance sheet, and prudently managing operating expenses and risk, particularly credit risk, in order to remain a well-capitalized bank in this challenging interest rate environment.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The Company’s significant accounting policies, are fundamental to understanding the Company’s results of operations and financial condition because they require management to use estimates and assumptions that may affect the value of the Company’s assets or liabilities and financial results. These policies are considered by management to be critical because they require subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because it is likely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. The Company’s critical accounting policies govern:
 
 the allowance for loan losses;
 other real estate owned (OREO);
 valuation of residential mortgage servicing rights (MSRs);
 other than temporary impairment of investment securities; and
 the carrying value of goodwill.
 
These policies are described further in the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K in the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies” and in Note 1 (Significant Accounting Policies) to the audited consolidated financial statements. There were no material changes during the first three months of 2017 in the Company’s critical accounting policies.
 
 
31
 
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Net income for the first three months of 2017 was $1,414,216 or $0.27 per common share, compared to $1,169,494 or $0.23 per common share for the same period in 2016. Core earnings (net interest income before the provision for loan losses) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 increased $266,990, or 5.2%, compared to the prior year. In light of the continued pressure on net interest margin and spread in this flattening yield curve environment, the Company is pleased with these increases. To help offset this pressure, the Company has continued to shift assets from lower yielding taxable investments to loans, and to shift a portion of the investment portfolio to higher yielding small business administration securities (SBA) and agency mortgage-backed securities (Agency MBS) within its available-for-sale portfolio. Compared to the same period last year, during the first three months of 2017, the loan mix continued to shift in favor of higher yielding commercial loans, while the deposit mix experienced an increase in lower cost non-maturity deposits, both of which have benefitted the Company’s net interest income. Interest paid on deposits, which is the major component of total interest expense, increased $21,195, or 4.1%, in the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016, reflecting the increased deposit balances. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $150,000 for the first three months of 2017, compared to $100,000 for the same period of 2016. Non-interest income increased $132,367, or 10.7%, for the first three months of 2017 compared to 2016, due in part to an increase in service fees on deposit accounts, an increase in trust income from CFSG Partners, and an increase in the market value of the Company’s SERP investment account. Non-interest expense increased $48,828, or 1.0%, for the first three months of 2017 compared to the prior year with increases in occupancy expense and other expenses. The section below labeled Non-Interest Income and Non-Interest Expense provides a more detailed discussion on the significant components of these items.
 
Return on average assets, which is net income divided by average total assets, measures how effectively a corporation uses its assets to produce earnings. Return on average equity, which is net income divided by average shareholders' equity, measures how effectively a corporation uses its equity capital to produce earnings.
 
The following table shows these ratios annualized for the comparison periods.
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
Return on Average Assets
  0.90%
  0.80%
Return on Average Equity
  10.47%
  9.04%
 
    
    
 
 
 
 
32
 
 
The following table summarizes the earnings performance and certain balance sheet data of the Company for the periods presented.
 
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2016
 
Balance Sheet Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loans
 $480,785,090 
 $482,280,911 
 $450,253,747 
Total assets
  642,900,050 
  637,653,665 
  593,409,328 
Total deposits
  532,419,698 
  504,735,032 
  488,900,136 
Borrowed funds
  11,550,000 
  31,550,000 
  10,350,000 
Total liabilities
  587,712,619 
  583,202,148 
  541,205,972 
Total shareholders' equity
  55,187,431 
  54,451,517 
  52,203,356 
 
    
    
    
Book value per common share outstanding
 $10.39 
 $10.27 
 $9.92 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
Operating Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total interest income
 $6,156,393 
 $5,818,254 
Total interest expense
  734,411 
  663,262 
     Net interest income
  5,421,982 
  5,154,992 
 
    
    
Provision for loan losses
  150,000 
  100,000 
     Net interest income after provision for loan losses
  5,271,982 
  5,054,992 
 
    
    
Non-interest income
  1,370,218 
  1,237,851 
Non-interest expense
  4,731,119 
  4,682,291 
     Income before income taxes
  1,911,081 
  1,610,552 
Applicable income tax expense(1)
  496,865 
  441,058 
 
    
    
     Net Income
 $1,414,216 
 $1,169,494 
 
    
    
Per Common Share Data
    
    
Earnings per common share (2)
 $0.27 
 $0.23 
Dividends declared per common share
 $0.17 
 $0.16 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
  5,063,128 
  5,000,144 
Number of common shares outstanding, period end
  5,072,976 
  5,010,318 
 
(1) Applicable income tax expense assumes a 34% tax rate.
(2) Computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented.
 
 
33
 
 
INTEREST INCOME VERSUS INTEREST EXPENSE (NET INTEREST INCOME)
 
The largest component of the Company’s operating income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on loans and investments and the interest paid on deposits and other sources of funds (i.e. other borrowings). The Company’s level of net interest income can fluctuate over time due to changes in the level and mix of earning assets and sources of funds (volume), and from changes in the yield earned and costs of funds (rate). A portion of the Company’s income from municipal investments is not subject to income taxes. Because the proportion of tax-exempt items in the Company's portfolio varies from year-to-year, to improve comparability of information, the non-taxable income shown in the tables below has been converted to a tax equivalent basis. Because the Company’s corporate tax rate is 34%, to equalize tax-free and taxable income in the comparison, we divide the tax-free income by 66%, with the result that every tax-free dollar is equivalent to $1.52 in taxable income.
 
The Company’s tax-exempt interest income of $324,532 for the first three months of 2017 and $280,097 for the same period last year was derived from municipal investments, which comprised the entire held-to-maturity portfolio of $53,879,934 at March 31, 2017, and $45,551,714 at March 31, 2016.
 
The following table shows the reconciliation between reported net interest income and tax equivalent, net interest income for the quarterly comparison periods presented.
 
 
  
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income as presented
 $5,421,982 
 $5,154,992 
Effect of tax-exempt income
  167,183 
  144,292 
   Net interest income, tax equivalent
 $5,589,165 
 $5,299,284 
 
 
 
 
34
 
 
The following table presents average earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities supporting earning assets. Interest income (excluding interest on non-accrual loans) and interest expense are both expressed on a tax equivalent basis, both in dollars and as a rate/yield for the comparison periods presented.
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
 Average
 
 
Income/
 
 
Rate/
 
 
 Average
 
 
Income/
 
 
Rate/
 
 
 
Balance
 
 
Expense
 
 
Yield
 
 
Balance
 
 
Expense
 
 
Yield
 
Interest-Earning Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Loans (1)
 $485,288,232 
 $5,616,867 
  4.69%
 $454,820,382 
 $5,370,424 
  4.75%
 Taxable investment securities
  34,053,569 
  151,726 
  1.81%
  29,114,466 
  127,449 
  1.76%
 Tax-exempt investment securities
  51,957,649 
  491,715 
  3.84%
  44,788,615 
  424,389 
  3.81%
 Sweep and interest-earning accounts
  14,043,904 
  27,472 
  0.79%
  9,088,192 
  10,906 
  0.48%
 Other investments (2)
  3,021,923 
  35,796 
  4.80%
  2,575,619 
  29,378 
  4.59%
     Total
 $588,365,277 
 $6,323,576 
  4.36%
 $540,387,274 
 $5,962,546 
  4.44%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Interest-Bearing Liabilities
    
    
    
    
    
    
 Interest-bearing transaction accounts
 $115,735,842 
 $57,213 
  0.20%
 $115,448,881 
 $53,699 
  0.19%
 Money market accounts
  84,633,510 
  203,898 
  0.98%
  87,656,153 
  217,469 
  1.00%
 Savings deposits
  92,565,385 
  28,425 
  0.12%
  83,000,432 
  25,599 
  0.12%
 Time deposits
  118,947,370 
  248,253 
  0.85%
  109,066,015 
  219,827 
  0.81%
 Borrowed funds
  21,773,444 
  42,688 
  0.80%
  6,729,780 
  8,056 
  0.48%
 Repurchase agreements
  29,419,726 
  21,527 
  0.30%
  24,437,248 
  17,991 
  0.30%
 Capital lease obligations
  467,557 
  9,547 
  8.17%
  544,405 
  11,102 
  8.16%
 Junior subordinated debentures
  12,887,000 
  122,860 
  3.87%
  12,887,000 
  109,519 
  3.42%
     Total
 $476,429,834 
 $734,411 
  0.63%
 $439,769,914 
 $663,262 
  0.61%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Net interest income
    
 $5,589,165 
    
    
 $5,299,284 
    
Net interest spread (3)
    
    
  3.73%
    
    
  3.83%
Net interest margin (4)
    
    
  3.85%
    
    
  3.94%
 
(1) Included in gross loans are non-accrual loans with an average balance of $2,535,919 and $4,015,185 for the three
       months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Loans are stated before deduction of unearned discount
       and allowance for loan losses.
(2) Included in other investments is the Company’s FHLBB Stock with average balances of $2,046,773 and $1,600,469
       respectively, and a dividend rate of approximately 4.02% for the first three months of 2017 and 2016.
(3) Net interest spread is the difference between the average yield on average interest-earning assets and the average
        rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities.
(4) Net interest margin is net interest income divided by average earning assets.
 
 
 
35
 
 
The average volume of interest-earning assets for the first three months of 2017 increased $47,978,003, or 6.7%, compared to the same period of 2016, while the average yield decreased eight basis points to 4.36% for the first three months of 2017 compared to 4.44% for the same period of 2016. The average volume of loans increased $30,467,850, or 6.7%, while the average yield declined by six basis points. Interest earned on the loan portfolio equaled approximately 88.8% of total interest income for the first three months of 2017 and 90.1% for the same period of 2016. The average volume of the taxable investment portfolio (classified as available-for-sale) increased $4,939,103, or 17.0%, for the same period, and the average yield increased five basis points due in part to the shift to higher yielding mortgage backed securities and investment CDs. The average volume of the tax-exempt investment portfolio (classified as held-to-maturity) increased $7,169,034, or 16.0%, between periods, and the average tax equivalent yield increased three basis points year over year. The average volume of sweep and interest-earning accounts, which is primarily made up of an interest-earning deposit account at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB), increased $4,955,712, or 54.5%.
 
In comparison, the average volume of interest-bearing liabilities for the first three months of 2017 increased $36,659,920, or 8.3%, over the 2016 comparison period, and the average rate paid on these liabilities increased two basis points. The average volume of savings accounts increased $9,564,953, or 11.5%, for the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due primarily to several construction escrow accounts totaling approximately $8 million. The majority of the funds are expected to remain in place through 2017, and several million dollars of additional funds are expected; however this is expected to all run off within the next 18 months. The average volume of retail time deposits decreased $865,545, or 0.8%, while the average volume of wholesale time deposits increased $10,746,900, or 116.9%, and the average rate paid increased four basis points in total. The average volume of borrowed funds increased $15,043,664, or 223.5%, and the average rate paid increased 32 basis points for the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016. More short term advances were utilized during the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 and borrowing costs increased slightly due to the increase in the federal funds rate in December, 2016. The average volume of repurchase agreements increased $4,982,478, or 20.4%, while the average rate paid remained flat. The average volume of money market funds decreased $3,022,643, or 3.5%, and the average rate paid decreased two basis points.
 
For the three month comparison periods of 2017 and 2016, the average yield on interest-earning assets decreased eight basis points, while the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased two basis points, resulting in a decrease of ten basis points in net interest spread. Net interest margin for the first three months of 2017 was 3.85% compared to 3.94% for the same period in 2016. This was driven by the need for higher cost funding in the form of brokered deposits and short term borrowings, while fixed rate loan yields remain very competitive and have not seen any benefit from the movement at the short end of the curve. In addition, the larger, higher credit quality loans the Bank has been fortunate to originate in the past year have commanded slightly lower pricing.
 
 
 
36
 
 
The following table summarizes the variances in interest income and interest expense on a fully tax-equivalent basis for the periods presented for 2017 and 2016 resulting from volume changes in average assets and average liabilities and fluctuations in average rates earned and paid.
 
 
Changes in Interest Income and Interest Expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variance
 
 
Variance
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due to
 
 
Due to
 
 
Total
 
 
 
Rate (1)
 
 
Volume (1)
 
 
Variance
 
Average Interest-Earning Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Loans
 $(113,386)
 $359,829 
 $246,443 
 Taxable investment securities
  2,664 
  21,613 
  24,277 
 Tax-exempt investment securities
  (586)
  67,912 
  67,326 
 Sweep and interest-earning accounts
  10,652 
  5,914 
  16,566 
 Other investments
  1,325 
  5,093 
  6,418 
     Total
 $(99,331)
 $460,361 
 $361,030 
 
    
    
    
Average Interest-Bearing Liabilities
    
    
    
 Interest-bearing transaction accounts
 $3,378 
 $136 
 $3,514 
 Money market accounts
  (6,267)
  (7,304)
  (13,571)
 Savings deposits
  (28)
  2,854 
  2,826 
 Time deposits
  8,526 
  19,900 
  28,426 
 Borrowed funds
  16,678 
  17,954 
  34,632 
 Repurchase agreements
  (180)
  3,716 
  3,536 
 Capital lease obligations
  (7)
  (1,548)
  (1,555)
 Junior subordinated debentures
  13,341 
  0 
  13,341 
     Total
 $35,441 
 $35,708 
 $71,149 
 
    
    
    
       Changes in net interest income
 $(134,772)
 $424,653 
 $289,881 
 
 
(1) Items which have shown a year-to-year increase in volume have variances allocated as follows:
          Variance due to rate = Change in rate x new volume
          Variance due to volume = Change in volume x old rate
     Items which have shown a year-to-year decrease in volume have variances allocated as follows:
          Variance due to rate = Change in rate x old volume
          Variances due to volume = Change in volume x new rate
 
 
 
37
 
 
NON-INTEREST INCOME AND NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
 
Non-interest Income
 
The components of non-interest income for the periods presented are as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
Change
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
Income
 
 
Percent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service fees
 $748,117 
 $617,679 
 $130,438 
  21.12%
Income from sold loans
  190,295 
  221,194 
  (30,899)
  -13.97%
Other income from loans
  185,617 
  195,888 
  (10,271)
  -5.24%
Net realized gain on sale of securities
    
    
    
    
 available-for-sale
  2,130 
  0 
  2,130 
  100.00%
Income from CFSG Partners
  113,180 
  82,579 
  30,601 
  37.06%
Exchange income
  21,000 
  27,500 
  (6,500)
  -23.64%
SERP fair value adjustment
  30,114 
  6,471 
  23,643 
  365.37%
Other income
  79,765 
  86,540 
  (6,775)
  -7.83%
     Total non-interest income
 $1,370,218 
 $1,237,851 
 $132,367 
  10.69%
 
 
Total non-interest income increased $132,367 for the first three months of 2017 versus the same period in 2016, with significant changes noted in the following:
 
Service fees on deposit accounts increased $130,438, or 21.1%, year over year due to the implementation of the Bank’s new courtesy overdraft protection program, which provided an increase of $124,252, or 82.8%, compared to the first quarter of 2016.
 
Income from sold loans decreased $30,899, or 14.0%, year over year, due to a decrease in the volume of secondary market sales year over year.
 
Other income from loans decreased $10,271, or 5.2%, year over year, due primarily to slightly lower loan fee income than the same period a year ago.
 
Income from CFSG Partners increased $30,601, or 37.1%, year over year which is attributable to an increase in asset management fees due to an increase in the equity markets.
 
Exchange income decreased $6,500, or 23.6%, year over year due to fluctuations in the currency rates during the first quarter of 2017 as the U.S. dollar strengthened in relation to the Canadian dollar.
 
SERP fair value adjustment increased $23,643, or 365.4%, year over year due to changes in the equity markets.
 
 
 
38
 
 
Non-interest Expense
 
The components of non-interest expense for the periods presented are as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
Change
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
Expense
 
 
Percent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and wages
 $1,711,124 
 $1,725,000 
 $(13,876)
  -0.80%
Employee benefits
  641,561 
  685,082 
  (43,521)
  -6.35%
Occupancy expenses, net
  687,433 
  645,746 
  41,687 
  6.46%
Other expenses
    
    
    
    
  Computer outsourcing
  138,118 
  122,695 
  15,423 
  12.57%
  Service contracts – administrative
  95,008 
  89,699 
  5,309 
  5.92%
   Marketing expense
  120,506 
  92,400 
  28,106 
  30.42%
   Consultant services
  48,480 
  35,050 
  13,430 
  38.32%
  Collection & non-accruing loan
    
    
    
    
    expense
  3,655 
  28,000 
  (24,345)
  -86.95%
  OREO expense
  6,804 
  (4,494)
  11,298 
  -251.40%
  Other miscellaneous expenses
  1,278,430 
  1,263,113 
  15,317 
  1.21%
     Total non-interest expense
 $4,731,119 
 $4,682,291 
 $48,828 
  1.04%
 
 
Total non-interest expense increased $48,828, or 1.0%, for the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 with significant changes noted in the following:
 
Employee benefits decreased $43,521, or 6.4%, year over year, mostly due to a decrease in the amount set aside to fund the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) due to retirement of the sole remaining participant at the end of 2016.
 
Occupancy expenses increased $41,687, or 6.5%, year over year, due in part to lower heating costs and maintenance costs associated with the 2015-2016 winter months as the region experienced a fairly mild winter last year compared to this past winter. Also contributing to the increase is the cost of the lease on the South Burlington loan production office that opened in the first quarter of 2017 in the amount of $8,475 for the first three months of 2017.
 
Computer outsourcing increased $15,423, or 12.6%, year over year due in part to an increase in purchased electronic technology services from the Company’s core vendor, particularly in the area of electronic and mobile banking.
 
Marketing expense increased $28,106, or 30.4%, year over year due to the Company’s strategic decision to enhance marketing efforts, including a shift to television ads from paper and radio, in the 2017 calendar year.
 
Consultant services increased $13,430, or 38.3%, year over year partly due to a contract with a consultant for technology related projects.
 
Collection & non-accruing loan expense decreased $24,345, or 87.0%, year over year, due to non-recurring recovery of expenses in 2017 in the amount of approximately $30,000.
 
OREO expense increased $11,298, or 251.4%, year over year. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company received approximately $15,000 in reimbursed condominium association fees relating to an OREO property that was sold in December of 2015.
 
 
APPLICABLE INCOME TAXES
 
The provision for income taxes increased $55,807, or 12.7%, to $496,865 for the first three months of 2017 compared to $441,058 for the first three months of 2016, due primarily to an increase in income before taxes of $300,529, or 18.7%. An increase of $8,124 in tax credits helped to soften the increase in tax expense. Tax credits related to limited partnerships amounted to $106,599 and $98,475, respectively, for the first three months of 2017 and 2016.
 
 
39
 
 
Amortization expense related to limited partnership investments is included as a component of tax expense and amounted to $105,414 and $102,006, respectively, for the first three months of 2017 and 2016. These investments provide tax benefits, including tax credits, and are designed to provide an effective yield between 8% and 10%.
 
CHANGES IN FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
The following table reflects the composition of the Company's major categories of assets and liabilities as a percentage of total assets or liabilities and shareholders’ equity, as the case may be, as of the dates indicated:
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Loans
 $485,722,245 
  75.55%
 $487,249,226 
  76.41%
 $455,048,185 
  76.68%
 Securities available-for-sale
  33,852,571 
  5.27%
  33,715,051 
  5.29%
  29,572,121 
  4.98%
 Securities held-to-maturity
  53,879,934 
  8.38%
  49,886,631 
  7.82%
  45,551,714 
  7.68%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Liabilities
    
    
    
    
    
    
 Demand deposits
  105,880,429 
  16.47%
  104,472,268 
  16.38%
  91,019,639 
  15.34%
 Interest-bearing transaction accounts
  121,953,444 
  18.97%
  118,053,360 
  18.51%
  117,208,113 
  19.75%
 Money market accounts
  86,938,154 
  13.52%
  79,042,619 
  12.40%
  86,652,637 
  14.60%
 Savings deposits
  96,883,558 
  15.07%
  86,776,856 
  13.61%
  85,327,489 
  14.38%
 Time deposits
  120,764,113 
  18.78%
  116,389,929 
  18.25%
  108,692,258 
  18.32%
 Short-term advances
  10,000,000 
  1.56%
  30,000,000 
  4.70%
  10,000,000 
  1.69%
 Long-term advances
  1,550,000 
  0.24%
  1,550,000 
  0.24%
  350,000 
  0.06%
 
 
The Company's total loan portfolio at March 31, 2017 decreased $1,526,981, or 0.3%, from December 31, 2016 and increased $30,674,060, or 6.7%, year over year. The Company has several large construction loans that have closed but have yet to begin drawing funds; these should begin to draw in the second quarter, increasing loan balances. Most of the growth in the commercial loan portfolio in the past 12 months has occurred in the Company’s Washington County (Central Vermont) market. Securities available-for-sale increased $137,520, or 0.4%, year to date, and $4,280,450, or 14.5%, year over year. Securities held-to-maturity increased $3,993,303, or 8.0%, year to date and $8,328,220, or 18.3%, year over year. Held-to-maturity securities are made up of investments from the Company’s municipal customers in its service areas. While the Company has used maturing securities to fund loan growth in recent periods, the liquidity provided by these investments is very important, and the portfolio has increased to support the growth in the loan portfolio, as this asset growth requires additional liquidity.
 
Total deposits increased $27,684,666, or 5.5%, from December 31, 2016 to March 31, 2017, and an increase of $43,519,562, or 8.9%, is noted year over year. Demand deposits increased $1,408,161, or 1.4%, year to date and $14,860,790, or 16.3%, year over year, split between growth in business checking ($10.9 million, or 19.4%) and regular checking ($4.0 million, or 11.4%). Money market accounts increased $7,895,535, or 10.0%, year to date, with only a modest increase year over year of $285,517, or 0.3%. Savings deposits increased significantly in both periods, with increases of $10,106,702, or 11.7%, year to date and $11,556,069, or 13.5%, year over year. As mentioned earlier, this is due to multiple construction escrow accounts. Time deposits increased $4,374,184, or 3.8%, year to date and $12,071,855 year over year, which is entirely attributable to an increase in wholesale purchased time deposits. Short-term advances from the FHLBB totaling $10,000,000 were reported at March 31, 2017, $30,000,000 at December 31, 2016 and $10,000,000 at March 31, 2016. In addition, there were outstanding long-term advances from the FHLBB of $1,550,000 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and $350,000 at March 31, 2016.
 
Interest Rate Risk and Asset and Liability Management - Management actively monitors and manages the Company’s interest rate risk exposure and attempts to structure the balance sheet to maximize net interest income while controlling its exposure to interest rate risk. The Company's Asset/Liability Management Committee (ALCO) is made up of the Executive Officers and certain Vice Presidents of the Bank representing major business lines. The ALCO formulates strategies to manage interest rate risk by evaluating the impact on earnings and capital of such factors as current interest rate forecasts and economic indicators, potential changes in such forecasts and indicators, liquidity and various business strategies. The ALCO meets at least quarterly to review financial statements, liquidity levels, yields and spreads to better understand, measure, monitor and control the Company’s interest rate risk. In the ALCO process, the committee members apply policy limits set forth in the Asset Liability, Liquidity and Investment policies approved and periodically reviewed by the Company’s Board of Directors. The ALCO's methods for evaluating interest rate risk include an analysis of the effects of interest rate changes on net interest income and an analysis of the Company's interest rate sensitivity "gap", which provides a static analysis of the maturity and repricing characteristics of the entire balance sheet. The ALCO Policy also includes a contingency funding plan to help management prepare for unforeseen liquidity restrictions, including hypothetical severe liquidity crises.
 
 
40
 
 
Interest rate risk represents the sensitivity of earnings to changes in market interest rates. As interest rates change, the interest income and expense streams associated with the Company’s financial instruments also change, thereby impacting net interest income (NII), the primary component of the Company’s earnings. Fluctuations in interest rates can also have an impact on liquidity. The ALCO uses an outside consultant to perform rate shock simulations to the Company's net interest income, as well as a variety of other analyses. It is the ALCO’s function to provide the assumptions used in the modeling process. Assumptions used in prior period simulation models are regularly tested by comparing projected NII with actual NII. The ALCO utilizes the results of the simulation model to quantify the estimated exposure of NII and liquidity to sustained interest rate changes. The simulation model captures the impact of changing interest rates on the interest income received and interest expense paid on all interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities reflected on the Company’s balance sheet. The model also simulates the balance sheet’s sensitivity to a prolonged flat rate environment. All rate scenarios are simulated assuming a parallel shift of the yield curve; however further simulations are performed utilizing non-parallel changes in the yield curve. The results of this sensitivity analysis are compared to the ALCO policy limits which specify a maximum tolerance level for NII exposure over a 1-year horizon, assuming no balance sheet growth, given a 200 basis point (bp) shift upward and a 100 bp shift downward in interest rates.
 
Under the Company’s interest rate sensitivity modeling, with the continued asset sensitive balance sheet, in a rising rate environment NII is expected to trend upward as the short-term asset base (cash and adjustable rate loans) quickly cycle upward while the retail funding base (deposits) lags the market. If rates paid on deposits have to be increased more and/or more quickly than projected, the expected benefit to rising rates would be reduced. In a falling rate environment, NII is expected to trend slightly downward compared with the current rate environment scenario for the first year of the simulation as asset yield erosion is not fully offset by decreasing funding costs. Thereafter, net interest income is projected to experience sustained downward pressure as funding costs reach their assumed floors and asset yields continue to reprice into the lower rate environment. The recent increase in the federal funds rate, the third in the past two years, is expected to generate a positive impact to the Company’s NII in 2017 as variable rate loans reprice in the second quarter of the year; however the behavior of the long end of the curve will also be very important to the Company’s margins going forward, as funding costs continue to rise.
 
The following table summarizes the estimated impact on the Company's NII over a twelve month period, assuming a gradual parallel shift of the yield curve beginning March 31, 2017:
 
Rate Change
 
Percent Change in NII
 
 
 
 
 
Down 100 basis points
   -3.1%
Up 200 basis points
   4.4%
 
The amounts shown in the table are well within the ALCO Policy limits. However, those amounts do not represent a forecast and should not be relied upon as indicative of future results. While assumptions used in the ALCO process, including the interest rate simulation analyses, are developed based upon current economic and local market conditions, and expected future conditions, the Company cannot provide any assurances as to the predictive nature of these assumptions, including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change.
 
Credit Risk - As a financial institution, one of the primary risks the Company manages is credit risk, the risk of loss stemming from borrowers’ failure to repay loans or inability to meet other contractual obligations. The Company’s Board of Directors prescribes policies for managing credit risk, including Loan, Appraisal and Environmental policies. These policies are supplemented by comprehensive underwriting standards and procedures. The Company maintains a Credit Administration department whose function includes credit analysis and monitoring of and reporting on the status of the loan portfolio, including delinquent and non-performing loan trends. The Company also monitors concentration of credit risk in a variety of areas, including portfolio mix, the level of loans to individual borrowers and their related interest, loans to industry segments, and the geographic distribution of commercial real estate loans. Loans are reviewed periodically by an independent loan review firm to help ensure accuracy of the Company's internal risk ratings and compliance with various internal policies, procedures and regulatory guidance.
 
Residential mortgages represent approximately half of the Company’s loan balances; that level has been on a gradual decline in recent years, with a strategic shift to commercial lending. The Company maintains a mortgage loan portfolio of traditional mortgage products and does not engage in higher risk loans such as option adjustable rate mortgage products, high loan-to-value products, interest only mortgages, subprime loans and products with deeply discounted teaser rates. Residential mortgages with loan-to-values exceeding 80% are generally covered by private mortgage insurance (“PMI”). A 90% loan-to-value residential mortgage product without PMI is only available to borrowers with excellent credit and low debt-to-income ratios and has not been widely originated. Junior lien home equity products make up just under 21% of the residential mortgage portfolio with maximum loan-to-value ratios (including prior liens) of 80%. The Company also originates some home equity loans greater than 80% under an insured loan program with stringent underwriting criteria.
 
 
41
 
 
The Company’s strategy is to continue growing the commercial & industrial and commercial real estate portfolios. Consistent with the strategic focus on commercial lending, both segments saw solid growth during 2016 despite some significant loan payoffs during the period. The 2016 growth included balances being drawn on commercial construction loans and higher balances on commercial lines of credit. Commercial and commercial real estate loan demand has continued into 2017 and is expected to increase with the funding of construction projects and draws on lines of credit that are at a seasonal low point. Commercial and commercial real estate loans together comprised 53.1% of the Company’s loan portfolio at March 31, 2016, growing to 55.5% at December 31, 2016 and to 56.5% at March 31, 2017. The increase in the absolute and relative size of the commercial loan portfolio has also increased geographic diversification, with much of the growth in commercial loans occurring in central Vermont and Chittenden County.
 
The following table reflects the composition of the Company's loan portfolio, by portfolio segment, as a percentage of total loans as of the dates indicated:
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial & industrial
 $69,064,985 
  14.22%
 $68,730,573 
  14.11%
 $63,540,340 
  13.97%
Commercial real estate
  205,140,487 
  42.24%
  201,728,280 
  41.40%
  178,205,320 
  39.16%
1 - 4 family residential - 1st lien
  162,929,247 
  33.54%
  166,691,962 
  34.21%
  162,594,375 
  35.73%
1 - 4 family residential - Jr lien
  41,820,775 
  8.61%
  42,927,335 
  8.81%
  43,917,725 
  9.65%
Consumer
  6,766,751 
  1.39%
  7,171,076 
  1.47%
  6,790,425 
  1.49%
     Total loans
  485,722,245 
  100.00%
  487,249,226 
  100.00%
  455,048,185 
  100.00%
Deduct (add):
    
    
    
    
    
    
Allowance for loan losses
  5,258,440 
    
  5,278,445 
    
  5,109,488 
    
Deferred net loan costs
  (321,285)
    
  (310,130)
    
  (315,050)
    
      Net loans
 $480,785,090 
    
 $482,280,911 
    
 $450,253,747 
    
 
 
Risk in the Company’s commercial & industrial and commercial real estate loan portfolios is mitigated in part by government guarantees issued by federal agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. At March 31, 2017, the Company had $23,376,997 in guaranteed loans with guaranteed balances of $17,250,407, compared to $23,929,426 in guaranteed loans with guaranteed balances of $18,128,676 at December 31, 2016 and $22,780,646 in guaranteed loans with guaranteed balances of $17,379,981 at March 31, 2016.
 
The Company works actively with customers early in the delinquency process to help them to avoid default and foreclosure. Commercial & industrial and commercial real estate loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when there is deterioration in the financial position of the borrower, payment in full of principal and interest is not expected, and/or principal or interest has been in default for 90 days or more. However, such a loan need not be placed on non-accrual status if it is both well secured and in the process of collection. Residential mortgages and home equity loans are considered for non-accrual status at 90 days past due and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The Company obtains current property appraisals or market value analyses and considers the cost to carry and sell collateral in order to assess the level of specific allocations required. Consumer loans are generally not placed in non-accrual but are charged off by the time they reach 120 days past due. When a loan is placed in non-accrual status, the Company's policy is to reverse the accrued interest against current period income and to discontinue the accrual of interest until the borrower clearly demonstrates the ability and intention to resume normal payments, typically demonstrated by regular timely payments for a period of not less than six months. Interest payments received on non-accrual or impaired loans are generally applied as a reduction of the loan principal balance.
 
The Company’s non-performing assets decreased $260,208 or 6.5% during the first three months of 2017.  The change in non-performing assets resulted from the sale of one residential property, and several residential loans moving under ninety days past due, more than offsetting one commercial real estate property moving into OREO. Claims receivable on related government guarantees were $27,542 at March 31, 2017 compared to $56,319 at December 31, 2016 and $64,618 at March 31, 2016, with numerous USDA and SBA claims settled and paid throughout 2016. Non-performing loans as of March 31, 2017 carried USDA and SBA guarantees totaling $201,395.
 
 
42
 
 
The following table reflects the composition of the Company's non-performing assets, by portfolio segment, as a percentage of total non-performing assets as of the dates indicated:
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans past due 90 days or more
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 and still accruing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Commercial & industrial
 $0 
  0.00%
 $26,042 
  0.65%
 $0 
  0.00%
  Commercial real estate
  0 
  0.00%
  0 
  0.00%
  19,810 
  0.45%
  Residential real estate - 1st lien
  668,569 
  17.91%
  1,068,083 
  26.75%
  764,031 
  17.21%
  Residential real estate - Jr lien
  27,905 
  0.75%
  27,905 
  0.70%
  122,183 
  2.75%
  Consumer
  1,903 
  0.05%
  2,176 
  0.05%
  0 
  0.00%
 
  698,377 
  18.71%
  1,124,206 
  28.15%
  906,024 
  20.41%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Non-accrual loans (1)
    
    
    
    
    
    
  Commercial & industrial
  135,379 
  3.62%
  143,128 
  3.59%
  256,456 
  5.78%
  Commercial real estate
  744,989 
  19.96%
  765,584 
  19.17%
  966,071 
  21.77%
  Residential real estate - 1st lien
  1,148,848 
  30.78%
  1,227,220 
  30.74%
  1,467,171 
  33.05%
  Residential real estate - Jr lien
  442,960 
  11.87%
  338,602 
  8.48%
  377,911 
  8.51%
 
  2,472,176 
  66.24%
  2,474,534 
  61.98%
  3,067,609 
  69.11%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Other real estate owned
  561,979 
  15.06%
  394,000 
  9.87%
  465,000 
  10.48%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
 
 $3,732,532 
  100.00%
 $3,992,740 
  100.00%
 $4,438,633 
  100.00%
 
(1) No consumer loans were in non-accrual status as of the consolidated balance sheet dates. In accordance with Company policy, delinquent consumer loans are charged off at 120 days past due.
 
The Company’s OREO portfolio at March 31, 2017 consisted of two residential properties and two commercial properties compared to two residential properties at December 31, 2016 and one residential property and two commercial properties at March 31, 2016. One of the residential properties held at year-end was sold in February, 2017, and the Company then acquired another residential property in March 2017, both acquired through the normal foreclosure process. The Company took control of the two commercial properties, one in January, 2017 and the other in March, 2017. One of the commercial properties sold in April, 2017 and the other is scheduled for an auction in May, 2017.
 
The Company’s Troubled Debt Restructurings (TDRs) are principally a result of extending loan repayment terms to relieve cash flow difficulties. The Company has only infrequently reduced interest rates for borrowers below the current market rate. The Company has not forgiven principal or reduced accrued interest within the terms of original restructurings. Management evaluates each TDR situation on its own merits and does not foreclose the granting of any particular type of concession.
 
The non-performing assets in the table above include the following TDRs that were past due 90 days or more or in non-accrual status as of the dates presented:
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
 
Number of
 
 
Principal
 
 
Number of
 
 
Principal
 
 
Number of
 
 
Principal
 
 
 
Loans
 
 
Balance
 
 
Loans
 
 
Balance
 
 
Loans
 
 
Balance
 
Commercial & industrial
  2 
 $135,379 
  2 
 $143,127 
  2 
 $204,354 
Commercial real estate
  2 
  346,444 
  2 
  354,811 
  2 
  380,436 
Residential real estate - 1st lien
  8 
  457,430 
  9 
  516,886 
  11 
  780,330 
Residential real estate - Jr lien
  2 
  113,064 
  2 
  117,158 
  1 
  54,081 
          Total
  14 
 $1,052,316 
  15 
 $1,131,982 
  16 
 $1,419,201 
 
 
 
43
 
 
The remaining TDRs were performing in accordance with their modified terms as of the dates presented and consisted of the following:
 
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
March 31, 2016
 
 
 
Number of
 
 
Principal
 
 
Number of
 
 
Principal
 
 
Number of
 
 
Principal
 
 
 
Loans
 
 
Balance
 
 
Loans
 
 
Balance
 
 
Loans
 
 
Balance
 
Commercial & industrial
  0 
 $0 
  0 
 $0 
  2 
 $53,758 
Commercial real estate
  5 
  1,329,461 
  5 
  1,350,480 
  5 
  1,414,403 
Residential real estate - 1st lien
  29 
  2,695,521 
  28 
  2,722,973 
  26 
  2,521,708 
Residential real estate - Jr lien
  2 
  63,713 
  2 
  63,971 
  2 
  80,048 
          Total
  36 
 $4,088,695 
  35 
 $4,137,424 
  35 
 $4,069,917 
 
 
As of the balance sheet dates, the Company was not contractually committed to lend additional funds to debtors with impaired, non-accrual or modified loans. The Company is contractually committed to lend on one SBA guaranteed line of credit to a borrower whose lending relationship was previously restructured.
 
Allowance for loan losses and provisions - The Company maintains an allowance for loan losses (allowance) at a level that management believes is appropriate to absorb losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the measurement date (See Critical Accounting Policies). Although the Company, in establishing the allowance, considers the inherent losses in individual loans and pools of loans, the allowance is a general reserve available to absorb all credit losses in the loan portfolio. No part of the allowance is segregated to absorb losses from any particular loan or segment of loans.
 
When establishing the allowance each quarter the Company applies a combination of historical loss factors and qualitative factors to loan segments, including residential first and junior lien mortgages, commercial real estate, commercial & industrial, and consumer loan portfolios. No changes were made to the allowance methodology during the first three months of 2017. The Company shortens or lengthens its look back period for determining average portfolio historical loss rates as the economy either contracts or expands; during a period of economic contraction, a shortening of the look back period may more conservatively reflect the current economic climate. The highest loss rates experienced for the look back period are applied to the various segments in establishing the allowance.
 
The Company applies numerous qualitative factors to each segment of the loan portfolio. Those factors include the levels of and trends in delinquencies and non-accrual loans, criticized and classified assets, volumes and terms of loans, and the impact of any loan policy changes. Experience, ability and depth of lending personnel, levels of policy and documentation exceptions, national and local economic trends, the competitive environment, and concentrations of credit are also factors considered. While unallocated reserves have stayed relatively similar over the periods from March 31, 2016 to March 31, 2017, they are considered by management to be appropriate in light of the Company’s continued growth strategy and shift in the portfolio from residential loans to commercial and commercial real estate loans and the risk associated with the relatively new, unseasoned loans in those portfolios.
 
The adequacy of the allowance is reviewed quarterly by the risk management committee of the Board of Directors and then presented to the full Board of Directors for approval.
 
 
44
 
 
The following table summarizes the Company's loan loss experience for the periods presented:
 
 
 
As of or Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans outstanding, end of period
 $485,722,245 
 $455,048,185 
Average loans outstanding during period
 $485,288,232 
 $454,820,382 
Non-accruing loans, end of period
 $2,472,176 
 $3,067,609 
Non-accruing loans, net of government guarantees
 $2,334,256 
 $2,889,135 
 
    
    
Allowance, beginning of period
 $5,278,445 
 $5,011,878 
Loans charged off:
    
    
  Commercial & industrial
  (21,024)
  (10,836)
  Commercial real estate
  (160,207)
  0 
  Residential real estate - 1st lien
  (4,735)
  (312)
  Consumer loans
  (5,441)
  (16,675)
       Total loans charged off
  (191,407)
  (27,823)
Recoveries:
    
    
  Commercial & industrial
  7,141 
  19,295 
  Residential real estate - 1st lien
  6,236 
  312 
  Residential real estate - Jr lien
  60 
  60 
  Consumer loans
  7,965 
  5,766 
        Total recoveries
  21,402 
  25,433 
Net loans charged off
  (170,005)
  (2,390)
Provision charged to income
  150,000 
  100,000 
Allowance, end of period
 $5,258,440 
 $5,109,488 
 
    
    
Net charge offs to average loans outstanding
  0.035%
  0.001%
Provision charged to income as a percent of average loans
  0.031%
  0.022%
Allowance to average loans outstanding
  1.084%
  1.123%
Allowance to non-accruing loans
  212.705%
  166.563%
Allowance to non-accruing loans net of government guarantees
  225.273%
  176.852%
 
(1) No residential real estate – Jr lien charge-offs or commercial real estate recoveries were recorded during the periods presented in the table above.
 
 
The Company increased its provision during the first three months of 2017, resulting in a provision of $150,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $100,000 for the same period in 2016, an increase of $50,000 or 50.0%. The increase in the provision was principally related to the comparatively low level of net loan losses experienced during the first quarter of 2016. The first quarter 2017 provision supported higher losses driven by one particular commercial real estate charge off. The decrease in the size of the overall portfolio compared to year-end precluded the need for any additional provision. The Company has an experienced collections department that continues to work actively with borrowers to resolve problem loans and manage the OREO portfolio, and management continues to monitor the loan portfolio closely.
 
Specific allocations to the allowance are made for certain impaired loans. Impaired loans include loans to a borrower that in aggregate are greater than $100,000 and that are in non-accrual status or are current year troubled debt restructurings. A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due, including interest and principal, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company will review all the facts and circumstances surrounding non-accrual loans and on a case-by-case basis may consider loans below the threshold as impaired when such treatment is material to the financial statements. See Note 5 to the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for information on the recorded investment in impaired loans and their related allocations.
 
The portion of the allowance termed "unallocated" is established to absorb inherent losses that exist as of the measurement date although not specifically identified through management's process for estimating credit losses. While the allowance is described as consisting of separate allocated portions, the entire allowance is available to support loan losses, regardless of category.
 
 
45
 
 
Market Risk - In addition to credit risk in the Company’s loan portfolio and liquidity risk in its loan and deposit-taking operations, the Company’s business activities also generate market risk. Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market prices and rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices. Declining capital markets can result in fair value adjustments necessary to record decreases in the value of the investment portfolio for other-than-temporary-impairment. The Company does not have any market risk sensitive instruments acquired for trading purposes. The Company’s market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk inherent in its lending and deposit taking activities. During recessionary periods, a declining housing market can result in an increase in loan loss reserves or ultimately an increase in foreclosures. Interest rate risk is directly related to the different maturities and repricing characteristics of interest-bearing assets and liabilities, as well as to loan prepayment risks, early withdrawal of time deposits, and the fact that the speed and magnitude of responses to interest rate changes vary by product. The prolonged weak economy and disruption in the financial markets in recent years may heighten the Company’s market risk. As discussed above under "Interest Rate Risk and Asset and Liability Management", the Company actively monitors and manages its interest rate risk through the ALCO process.
 
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OFF-BALANCE-SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
 
The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and risk-sharing commitments on certain sold loans. Such instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The contract or notional amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Company has in particular classes of financial instruments. During the first three months of 2017, the Company did not engage in any activity that created any additional types of off-balance sheet risk.
 
The Company generally requires collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk. The Company's financial instruments whose contract amount represents credit risk were as follows:
 
 
 
Contract or Notional Amount
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unused portions of home equity lines of credit
 $26,689,060 
 $25,535,104 
Residential construction lines of credit
  3,862,356 
  3,676,176 
Commercial real estate and other construction lines of credit
  34,305,179 
  25,951,345 
Commercial and industrial commitments
  54,099,390 
  36,227,213 
Other commitments to extend credit
  33,940,694 
  42,459,454 
Standby letters of credit and commercial letters of credit
  2,001,288 
  2,009,788 
Recourse on sale of credit card portfolio
  247,005 
  258,555 
MPF credit enhancement obligation, net of liability recorded
  748,099 
  748,239 
 
 
Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
 
In connection with its 2007 trust preferred securities financing, the Company guaranteed the payment obligations under the $12,500,000 of capital securities of its subsidiary, CMTV Statutory Trust I. The source of funds for payments by the Trust on its capital securities is payments made by the Company on its debentures issued to the Trust. The Company's obligation under those debentures is fully reflected in the Company's balance sheet, in the gross amount of $12,887,000 for each of the comparison periods, of which $12,500,000 represents external financing through the issuance to investors of capital securities by CMTV Statutory Trust I.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Managing liquidity risk is essential to maintaining both depositor confidence and stability in earnings. Liquidity management refers to the ability of the Company to adequately cover fluctuations in assets and liabilities. Meeting loan demand (assets) and covering the withdrawal of deposit funds (liabilities) are two key components of the liquidity management process. The Company’s principal sources of funds are deposits, amortization and prepayment of loans and securities, maturities of investment securities, sales of loans available-for-sale, and earnings and funds provided from operations. Maintaining a relatively stable funding base, which is achieved by diversifying funding sources, competitively pricing deposit products, and extending the contractual maturity of liabilities, reduces the Company’s exposure to roll over risk on deposits and limits reliance on volatile short-term borrowed funds. Short-term funding needs arise from declines in deposits or other funding sources and from funding requirements for loan commitments. The Company’s strategy is to fund assets to the maximum extent possible with core deposits that provide a sizable source of relatively stable and low-cost funds.
 
46
 
 
The Company recognizes that, at times, when loan demand exceeds deposit growth or the Company has other liquidity demands, it may be desirable to utilize alternative sources of deposit funding to augment retail deposits and borrowings. One-way deposits acquired through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS) program provide an alternative funding source when needed. Such deposits are generally considered a form of brokered deposits.  At March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, the Company had one-way CDARS outstanding totaling $5,000,000 and $457,115, respectively, compared to no one way CDARS at December 31, 2016. In addition, two-way CDARS deposits allow the Company to provide Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) deposit insurance to its customers in excess of account coverage limits by exchanging deposits with other CDARS members. At March 31, 2017, the Company reported $3,053,119 in two-way CDARS deposits representing exchanged deposits with other CDARS participating banks, compared to $3,141,773 at December 31, 2016 and $2,779,540 at March 31, 2016. The balance in insured cash sweep (ICS) reciprocal money market deposits was $13,978,066 at March 31, 2017, compared to $11,909,300 at December 31, 2016 and $12,157,457 at March 31, 2016, and the balance in ICS demand deposits was $5,239,185, $5,706,882 and $5,217,665, respectively.
 
At March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, borrowing capacity of approximately $65,193,219, $68,163,543 and $70,329,222, respectively, was available through the FHLBB, secured by the Company's qualifying loan portfolio (generally, residential mortgage loans), reduced by outstanding advances and by collateral pledges securing FHLBB letters of credit collateralizing public unit deposits. The Company also has an unsecured Federal Funds credit line with the FHLBB with an available balance of $500,000 and no outstanding advances during any of the respective comparison periods. Interest is chargeable at a rate determined daily, approximately 25 basis points higher than the rate paid on federal funds sold.
 
The following table reflects the Company’s outstanding FHLBB advances against the respective lines as of the dates indicated:
 
 
 
March 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
 
2016
 
Long-Term Advances(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FHLBB term advance, 0.00%, due February 26, 2021
 $350,000 
 $350,000 
 $350,000 
FHLBB term advance, 0.00%, due September 22, 2023
  200,000 
  200,000 
    
FHLBB term advance, 0.00%, due November 22, 2021
  1,000,000 
  1,000,000 
  0 
 
  1,550,000 
  1,550,000 
  350,000 
 
    
    
    
Short-Term Advances
    
    
    
FHLBB term advances, 0.77% and 0.51% fixed rate, due
    
    
    
  February 8, 2017 and May 24, 2016, respectively
  0 
  10,000,000 
  5,000,000 
FHLBB term advance 0.77% and 0.57% fixed rate, due
    
    
    
  February 24, 2017 and June 29, 2016
  0 
  10,000,000 
  5,000,000 
FHLBB term advance 0.92% fixed rate, due June 14, 2017
  10,000,000 
  10,000,000 
  0 
 
  10,000,000 
  30,000,000 
  10,000,000 
 
    
    
    
     Total Advances and Overnight Borrowings
 $11,550,000 
 $31,550,000 
 $10,350,000 
 
 
(1)
The Company has borrowed a total of $1,550,000 under the FHLBB’s Jobs for New England (JNE) program, a program dedicated to supporting job growth and economic development throughout New England. The FHLBB is providing a subsidy, funded by the FHLBB’s earnings, to write down interest rates to zero percent on advances that finance qualifying loans to small businesses. JNE advances must support small business in New England that create and/or retain jobs, or otherwise contribute to overall economic development activities.
 
 
The Company has a Borrower-in-Custody (BIC) arrangement with the FRBB secured by eligible commercial loans, commercial real estate loans and home equity loans, resulting in an available credit line of $79,056,231, $77,862,708, and $70,424,270, respectively, at March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016. Credit advances under this FRBB lending program are overnight advances with interest chargeable at the primary credit rate (generally referred to as the discount rate), currently 125 basis points. The Company had no outstanding advances against this credit line during any of the periods presented.
 
 
47
 
 
The Company has unsecured lines of credit with three correspondent banks with aggregate available borrowing capacity totaling $12,500,000 as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and unsecured lines of credit with two correspondent banks with aggregate available borrowing capacity of $7,500,000 as of March 31, 2016. There were no outstanding advances against any of these lines during any of the respective comparison periods.
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase provide another funding source for the Company. At March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding repurchase agreement balances of $27,747,451, $30,423,195 and $25,149,039, respectively, as of such dates. These repurchase agreements mature and are repriced daily.
 
The following table illustrates the changes in shareholders' equity from December 31, 2016 to March 31, 2017:
 
Balance at December 31, 2016 (book value $10.27 per common share)
 $54,451,517 
    Net income
  1,414,216 
    Issuance of stock through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan
  217,923 
    Dividends declared on common stock
  (859,851)
    Dividends declared on preferred stock
  (23,438)
    Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities during the period, net of tax
  (12,936)
Balance at March 31, 2017 (book value $10.39 per common share)
 $55,187,431 
 
 
The primary objective of the Company’s capital planning process is to balance appropriately the retention of capital to support operations and future growth, with the goal of providing shareholders an attractive return on their investment. To that end, management monitors capital retention and dividend policies on an ongoing basis.
 
As described in more detail in the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K in Note 20 to the audited consolidated financial statements contained therein and under the caption “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of such report, the Company (on a consolidated basis) and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies pursuant to which they must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of their assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
 
Beginning in 2016, an additional capital conservation buffer has been added to the minimum requirements for capital adequacy purposes, subject to a three year phase-in period. The capital conservation buffer will be fully phased-in on January 1, 2019 at 2.5 percent. A banking organization with a conservation buffer of less than 2.5 percent (or the required phase-in amount in years prior to 2019) will be subject to limitations on capital distributions, including dividend payments and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The Company’s and the Bank’s capital conservation buffer was 5.62% and 5.51%, respectively, at March 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, both the Company and the Bank exceeded the required capital conservation buffer of 1.25% and, on a pro forma basis, would be compliant with the fully phased-in capital conservation buffer requirement.
 
As of March 31, 2017, the Bank was considered well capitalized under the regulatory capital framework for Prompt Corrective Action and the Company exceeded applicable consolidated regulatory guidelines for capital adequacy.
 
 
48
 
 
The following table shows the Company’s actual capital ratios and those of its subsidiary, as well as applicable regulatory capital requirements, as of the dates indicated.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Minimum
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Minimum
 
 
To Be Well
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For Capital
 
 
Capitalized Under
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adequacy
 
 
Prompt Corrective
 
 
 
Actual
 
 
Purposes:
 
 
Action Provisions(1):
 
 
 
Amount
 
 
Ratio 
 
 
Amount
 
 
Ratio
 
 
Amount
 
 
Ratio
 
 
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity tier 1 capital
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  (to risk-weighted assets)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Company
 $56,522 
  12.45%
 $20,424 
  4.50%
  N/A 
  N/A 
   Bank
 $55,966 
  12.34%
 $20,403 
  4.50%
 $29,471 
  6.50%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
    
    
    
    
    
    
   Company
 $56,522 
  12.45%
 $27,232 
  6.00%
  N/A 
  N/A 
   Bank
 $55,966 
  12.34%
 $27,204 
  6.00%
 $36,272 
  8.00%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
    
    
    
    
    
    
   Company
 $61,824 
  13.62%
 $36,309 
  8.00%
  N/A 
  N/A 
   Bank
 $61,269 
  13.51%
 $36,272 
  8.00%
 $45,340 
  10.00%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Tier 1 capital (to average assets)
    
    
    
    
    
    
   Company
 $56,522 
  9.05%
 $24,989 
  4.00%
  N/A 
  N/A 
   Bank
 $55,966 
  8.97%
 $24,971 
  4.00%
 $31,214 
  5.00%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
December 31, 2016:
    
    
    
    
    
    
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Common equity tier 1 capital
    
    
    
    
    
    
  (to risk-weighted assets)
    
    
    
    
    
    
   Company
 $55,690 
  12.34%
 $20,304 
  4.50%
  N/A 
  N/A 
   Bank
 $55,120 
  12.23%
 $20,274 
  4.50%
 $29,285 
  6.50%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets)
    
    
    
    
    
    
   Company
 $55,690 
  12.34%
 $27,072 
  6.00%
  N/A 
  N/A 
   Bank
 $55,120 
  12.23%
 $27,032 
  6.00%
 $36,043 
  8.00%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
    
    
    
    
    
    
   Company
 $61,012 
  13.52%
 $36,096 
  8.00%
  N/A 
  N/A 
   Bank
 $60,443 
  13.42%
 $36,043 
  8.00%
 $45,054 
  10.00%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
Tier 1 capital (to average assets)
    
    
    
    
    
    
   Company
 $55,690 
  9.17%
 $24,305 
  4.00%
  N/A 
  N/A 
   Bank
 $55,120 
  9.08%
 $24,281 
  4.00%
 $30,351 
  5.00%
 
 
(1) Applicable to banks, but not bank holding companies.
 
 
49
 
 
The Company's ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is largely dependent on the Bank's ability to pay dividends to the Company. In general, a national bank may not pay dividends that exceed net income for the current and preceding two years regardless of statutory restrictions, as a matter of regulatory policy, banks and bank holding companies should pay dividends only out of current earnings and only if, after paying such dividends, they remain adequately capitalized.
 
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
The Company's management of the credit, liquidity and market risk inherent in its business operations is discussed in Part 1, Item 2 of this report under the captions "CHANGES IN FINANCIAL CONDITION", “COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OFF-BALANCE-SHEET ARRANGEMENTS” and “LIQUIDITY & CAPITAL RESOURCES”, which are incorporated herein by reference. Management does not believe that there have been any material changes in the nature or categories of the Company's risk exposures from those disclosed in the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). As of March 31, 2017, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, management concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2017 were effective in ensuring that material information required to be disclosed in the reports it files with the Commission under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.
 
For this purpose, the term “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures of the Company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by it in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings
 
In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiary are involved in litigation that is considered incidental to their business. Management does not expect that any such litigation will be material to the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
 
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
 
The Risk Factors identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, continue to represent the most significant risks to the Company's future results of operations and financial condition.
 
50
 
 
ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
The following table provides information as to the purchases of the Company’s common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2017, by the Company or by any affiliated purchaser (as defined in SEC Rule 10b-18).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maximum Number of
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Number of
 
 
Shares That May Yet
 
 
 
Total Number
 
 
Average
 
 
Shares Purchased
 
 
Be Purchased Under
 
 
 
of Shares
 
 
Price Paid
 
 
as Part of Publicly
 
 
the Plan at the End
 
For the period:
 
Purchased(1)(2)
 
 
Per Share
 
 
Announced Plan
 
 
of the Period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
January 1 - January 31
  0 
 $0.00 
  N/A 
  N/A 
February 1 - February 28
  6,085 
  15.25 
  N/A 
  N/A 
March 1 -March 31
  0 
  0.00 
  N/A 
  N/A 
     Total
  6,085 
 $15.25 
  N/A 
  N/A 
 
(1)  All 6,085 shares were purchased for the account of participants invested in the Company Stock Fund under the Company’s Retirement Savings Plan by or on behalf of the Plan Trustee, the Human Resources Committee of Community National Bank. Such share purchases were facilitated through CFSG, which provides certain investment advisory services to the Plan. Both the Plan Trustee and CFSG may be considered affiliates of the Company under Rule 10b-18.
 
(2)  Shares purchased during the period do not include fractional shares repurchased from time to time in connection with the participant's election to discontinue participation in the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
 
ITEM 6. Exhibits
 
The following exhibits are filed with this report:
 
Exhibit 31.1 - Certification from the Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) of the Company pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit 31.2 - Certification from the Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) of the Company pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit 32.1 - Certification from the Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
Exhibit 32.2 - Certification from the Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
 
Exhibit 101--The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets, (ii) the unaudited consolidated statements of income for the three month interim periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, (iii) the unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iv) the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows and (v) related notes.
 
* This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
 
 
51
 
 
 
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.
 
COMMUNITY BANCORP.
 
 
DATED: May 11, 2017
/s/Kathryn M. Austin
 
 
Kathryn M. Austin, President
 
 
& Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
DATED: May 11, 2017
/s/Louise M. Bonvechio
 
 
Louise M. Bonvechio, Corporate
 
 
Secretary & Treasurer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
52
 
 
 
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
[ x ]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
COMMUNITY BANCORP.
 
EXHIBITS
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
Exhibit 31.1
Certification from the Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) of the Company pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
Exhibit 31.2
Certification from the Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) of the Company pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
Exhibit 32.1
Certification from the Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
Exhibit 32.2
Certification from the Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) of the Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
Exhibit 101
The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets, (ii) the unaudited consolidated statements of income for the three month interim periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, (iii) the unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iv) the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows and (v) related notes.
 
 
53