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COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC. - Quarter Report: 2013 September (Form 10-Q)

cbna201310q3rdqtr.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 Washington, D.C. 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 September 30, 2013
   
   OR
   
 o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   For the transition period from                              to                                .
   Commission File Number: 001-13695
 
 
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
         Delaware                                16-1213679                 
 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
         5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York                                  13214-1883                  
 (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)
   (315) 445-2282  
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
     
   NONE  
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes   x    No  o.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted to 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  o.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
 Large accelerated filer   x  Accelerated filer   o  Non-accelerated filer   o Smaller reporting company   o.
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o. No   x.
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.        
40,356,426 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, were outstanding on October 31, 2013.
 
 
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 
Part I.
   Financial Information
Page
     
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Condition
 
 
September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
3
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
 
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012                                                                                                                                                                                        
4
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
 
 
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012                                                                                                                                                                                        
5
     
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2013                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
6
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012                                                                                                                                                                                                           
7
     
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
September 30, 2013                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
8
     
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations                                                                                                                                  
28
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk                                                                                                                                                                                        
45
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
46
     
Part II.
   Other Information
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
47
     
Item 1A.
Risk Factors                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
47
     
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds                                                                                                                                                                                       
47
     
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
47
     
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
47
     
Item 5.
Other Information                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
47
          
Item 6.
Exhibits                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
48




 
2

 

Part I.   Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
   
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited)
   
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
   
 
 
September 30,
December 31,
 
2013
2012
Assets:
   
   Cash and cash equivalents
$174,205
$228,558
     
   Available-for-sale investment securities (cost of $1,852,496 and $1,989,938, respectively)
1,848,652
2,121,394
   Held-to-maturity investment securities (fair value of $656,688 and $703,957, respectively)
617,910
637,894
   Other securities, at cost
52,012
59,239
     
   Loans held for sale, at fair value
945
0
     
   Loans
4,025,455
3,865,576
   Allowance for loan losses
(44,083)
(42,888)
     Net loans
3,981,372
3,822,688
     
   Goodwill, net
369,703
369,703
   Core deposit intangibles, net
11,772
14,492
   Other intangibles, net
2,260
2,939
     Intangible assets, net
383,735
387,134
     
   Premises and equipment, net
91,826
89,938
   Accrued interest and fee receivable
27,729
32,305
   Other assets
123,631
117,650
     
        Total assets
$7,302,017
$7,496,800
     
Liabilities:
   
   Noninterest-bearing deposits
$1,158,013
$1,110,994
   Interest-bearing deposits
4,529,320
4,517,045
      Total deposits
5,687,333
5,628,039
     
  Borrowings
567,116
728,061
  Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
102,091
102,073
  Accrued interest and other liabilities
79,798
135,849
     Total liabilities
6,436,338
6,594,022
     
Commitments and contingencies (See Note J)
   
     
Shareholders' equity:
   
  Preferred stock $1.00 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued
-
-
  Common stock, $1.00 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 41,078,215 and
   
    40,421,493 shares issued, respectively
41,078
40,421
  Additional paid-in capital
392,549
378,413
  Retained earnings
477,568
447,018
  Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
(28,401)
54,334
  Treasury stock, at cost (782,173 and 795,560 shares, respectively)
(17,115)
(17,408)
     Total shareholders' equity
865,679
902,778
     
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$7,302,017
$7,496,800




The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
3

 
 
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
         
(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Data)
         
 
             
   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
   
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
Interest income:
         
 
Interest and fees on loans
$47,606
$48,590
 
$141,136
$143,305
 
Interest and dividends on taxable investments
13,394
16,762
 
41,176
48,487
 
Interest and dividends on nontaxable investments
5,132
6,042
 
15,885
17,658
 
     Total interest income
66,132
71,394
 
198,197
209,450
 
 
         
Interest expense:
         
 
Interest on deposits
2,530
4,402
 
8,375
14,291
 
Interest on borrowings
2,368
7,535
 
10,473
22,648
 
Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
633
682
 
1,891
2,056
 
     Total interest expense
5,531
12,619
 
20,739
38,995
             
Net interest income
60,601
58,775
 
177,458
170,455
Provision for loan losses
2,093
2,643
 
4,807
6,442
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
58,508
56,132
 
172,651
164,013
             
Noninterest income:
         
 
Deposit service fees
12,703
12,057
 
36,643
33,461
 
Other banking services
1,671
1,405
 
3,729
3,295
 
Benefit trust, administration, consulting and actuarial fees
9,397
8,912
 
28,564
26,549
 
Wealth management services
3,823
3,194
 
11,566
9,427
 
Gain on sales of investment securities
0
291
 
63,799
291
 
Loss on debt extinguishments
0
0
 
(63,500)
0
Total noninterest income
27,594
25,859
 
80,801
73,023
             
Noninterest expenses:
         
 
Salaries and employee benefits
30,448
28,126
 
91,217
82,395
 
Occupancy and equipment
6,448
6,541
 
20,263
19,134
 
Data processing and communications
6,998
6,085
 
20,334
17,502
 
Amortization of intangible assets
1,089
1,212
 
3,408
3,343
 
Legal and professional fees
1,897
1,703
 
5,363
5,650
 
Office supplies and postage
1,566
1,345
 
4,579
4,195
 
Business development and marketing
1,973
1,312
 
5,256
4,360
 
FDIC insurance premiums
923
919
 
2,923
2,728
 
Acquisition expenses
71
4,796
 
71
5,221
 
Other
3,631
4,046
 
10,558
10,330
 
     Total noninterest expenses
55,044
56,085
 
163,972
154,858
             
Income before income taxes
31,058
25,906
 
89,480
82,178
Income taxes
9,069
7,539
 
26,128
23,914
Net income
$21,989
$18,367
 
$63,352
$58,264
             
Basic earnings per share
$0.55
$0.46
 
$1.58
$1.48
Diluted earnings per share
$0.54
$0.46
 
$1.56
$1.46
           


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
4

 
 
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
             
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) (Unaudited)
     
(In Thousands)
         
 
           
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
           
Pension and other post retirement obligations:
         
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost, gross
$1,011
$924
 
$3,032
$2,774
Tax effect
(392)
(359)
 
(1,176)
(1,076)
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost, net
619
565
 
1,856
1,698
           
 Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, gross
(30)
(242)
 
(91)
(727)
 Tax effect
11
94
 
35
282
 Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, net
(19)
(148)
 
(56)
(445)
           
Other comprehensive income related to pension and other post retirement obligations, net of taxes
600
417
 
1,800
1,253
           
Unrealized gains on securities:
         
 Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, gross
(1,852)
14,067
 
(71,501)
58,452
Tax effect
567
(5,325)
 
26,746
(22,545)
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net
(1,285)
8,742
 
(44,755)
35,907
           
Reclassification adjustment for net gains included in net income, gross
0
(291)
 
(63,799)
(291)
 Tax effect
0
102
 
24,019
102
Reclassification adjustment for net gains included in net income, net
0
(189)
 
(39,780)
(189)
           
Other comprehensive loss related to unrealized (loss)gain on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes
(1,285)
8,553
 
(84,535)
35,718
           
Other comprehensive (loss)income, net of tax
(685)
8,970
 
(82,735)
36,971
Net income
21,989
18,367
 
63,352
58,264
Comprehensive income(loss)
$21,304
$27,337
 
($19,383)
$95,235
           
 
As of
   
 
September 30,
December 31,
       
   
2013
2012
       
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income By Component:
           
             
Unrealized loss for pension and other postretirement obligations
($42,292)
($45,232)
       
Tax effect
16,307
17,447
       
Net unrealized loss for pension and other postretirement obligations
(25,985)
(27,785)
       
             
Unrealized (loss)gain on available-for-sale securities
(3,844)
131,456
       
Tax effect
1,428
(49,337)
       
Net unrealized (loss)gain on available-for-sale securities
(2,416)
82,119
       
             
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
($28,401)
$54,334
       




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

 
5

 

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)
Nine months ended September 30, 2013
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)


         
Accumulated
   
 
Common Stock
Additional
 
Other
   
 
Shares
Amount
Paid-In
Retained
Comprehensive
Treasury
 
 
Outstanding
Issued
Capital
Earnings
Income (Loss)
Stock
Total
               
Balance at December 31, 2012
39,625,933
$40,421
$378,413
$447,018
$54,334
($17,408)
$902,778
               
Net income
     
63,352
   
63,352
               
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
       
(82,735)
 
(82,735)
               
Cash dividends declared:
             
Common, $0.82 per share
     
(32,802)
   
(32,802)
               
Common stock issued under
             
  employee stock plan,
             
  including tax benefits of $1,183
670,109
657
11,122
   
293
12,072
               
Stock-based compensation
   
3,014
     
3,014
               
Balance at September 30, 2013
40,296,042
$41,078
$392,549
$477,568
($28,401)
($17,115)
$865,679


































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

 
6

 

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
   
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2013
2012
Operating activities:
   
  Net income
$63,352
$58,264
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
   
     Depreciation
9,058
8,487
     Amortization of intangible assets
3,408
3,343
     Net accretion of premiums and discounts on securities and borrowings
(4,081)
(4,167)
     Stock-based compensation
3,014
2,855
     Provision for loan losses
4,807
6,442
     Amortization of mortgage servicing rights
409
536
     Income from bank-owned life insurance policies
(775)
(833)
     Gain on sales of investment securities
(63,799)
(291)
     Loss on debt extinguishments
63,500
0
     Net loss/(gain) from sale of loans and other assets
248
229
     Net change in loans held for sale
(913)
488
     Change in other assets and liabilities
(6,297)
12,815
       Net cash provided by operating activities
71,931
88,168
Investing activities:
   
  Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities
711,540
5,378
  Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investment securities
158,849
144,958
  Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity investment securities
27,074
20,517
  Proceeds from sale of other investment securities
7,229
275
  Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities
(666,841)
(745,074)
  Purchases of held-to-maturity investment securities
(5,298)
(107,317)
  Purchases of other securities
(2)
(14)
  Net increase in loans
(163,491)
(187,154)
  Cash received from acquisition, net of cash paid of $0 and $0
0
600,972
  Purchases of premises and equipment, net
(11,226)
(7,103)
       Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
57,834
(274,562)
Financing activities:
   
  Net increase in deposits
59,294
115,422
  Net change in borrowings, net of payments of $565,145 and $165
(224,445)
(165)
  Issuance of common stock
12,072
63,083
  Cash dividends paid
(32,222)
(30,084)
  Tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
1,183
1,013
       Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(184,118)
149,269
Change in cash and cash equivalents
(54,353)
(37,125)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
228,558
324,878
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$174,205
$287,753
     
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
   
  Cash paid for interest
$23,935
$39,355
  Cash paid for income taxes
19,328
16,217
Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing and investing activities:
   
  Dividends declared and unpaid
11,279
10,682
  Transfers from loans to other real estate
5,024
2,571
Acquisitions:
   
Fair value of assets acquired, excluding acquired cash and intangibles
0
165,885
Fair value of liabilities assumed
0
798,031





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

 
7

 

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
September 30, 2013

NOTE A:  BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The interim financial data as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 is unaudited; however, in the opinion of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company”), the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period.

NOTE B:  ACQUISITIONS

In July 2013, Community Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”) entered into a purchase and assumption agreement to acquire eight branch-banking locations across its Northeast Pennsylvania markets from Bank of America, N.A.  Under the terms of the agreement, Community Bank will acquire approximately $340 million in deposits at a deposit premium of approximately 2.4% and approximately $1 million of loans.  The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2013.

On September 7, 2012, the Bank completed its acquisition of three branches in Western New York from First Niagara Bank, N.A. (“First Niagara”), acquiring approximately $54 million of loans and $101 million of deposits.  The assumed deposits consisted primarily of core deposits (checking, savings and money market accounts) and the purchased loans consisted of in-market performing loans, primarily residential real estate loans. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Bank paid a blended deposit premium of 3.1%, or approximately $3 million.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.  

On July 20, 2012,  the Bank completed its acquisition of 16 retail branches in Central, Northern and Western New York from HSBC Bank USA, N.A. (“HSBC”), acquiring approximately $106 million in loans and $697 million of deposits.  The assumed deposits consisted primarily of core deposits (checking, savings and money markets accounts) and the purchased loans consisted of in-market performing loans, primarily residential real estate loans.  Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Bank paid First Niagara (who acquired HSBC’s Upstate New York banking business and assigned its right to purchase the 16 branches to the Bank) a blended deposit premium of 3.4%, or approximately $24 million.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.  

The assets and liabilities assumed in the acquisitions were recorded at their estimated fair values based on management's best estimates using information available at the dates of the acquisition, and are subject to adjustment based on updated information not available at the time of acquisition.  The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed during 2012.

(000s omitted)
 
    Consideration received:
 
   Cash/Total net consideration received
($595,462)
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
 
   Cash and cash equivalents
5,510
   Loans
160,116
   Premises and equipment
4,941
   Accrued interest receivable
588
   Other assets and liabilities, net
171
   Core deposit intangibles
6,521
   Deposits
(797,962)
     Total identifiable liabilities, net
(620,115)
        Goodwill
$24,653

The following is a summary of the loans acquired from HSBC and First Niagara at the date of acquisition:

 
Acquired
Acquired
Total
 
Impaired
Non-Impaired
Acquired
(000’s omitted)
Loans
Loans
Loans
Contractually required principal and interest at acquisition
$0  
$201,745  
$201,745  
Contractual cash flows not expected to be collected
0  
(3,555)  
(3,555)  
    Expected cash flows at acquisition
0  
198,190  
198,190  
Interest component of expected cash flows
0  
(38,074)  
(38,074)  
    Fair value of acquired loans
$0  
$160,116  
$160,116  
 
 
 
8

 
 
The fair value of checking, savings and money market deposit accounts acquired were assumed to approximate the carrying value as these accounts have no stated maturity and are payable on demand.  Certificate of deposit accounts were valued as the present value of the certificates’ expected contractual payments discounted at market rates for similar certificates.

The core deposit intangible related to the HSBC acquisition is being amortized using an accelerated method over the estimated useful life of eight years.  The goodwill associated with the First Niagara and HSBC acquisitions, which is not amortized for book purposes, was assigned to the Banking segment.  The goodwill arising from the HSBC branch and First Niagara branch acquisitions is deductible for tax purposes.

Direct costs related to the acquisitions were expensed as incurred.  Merger and acquisition integration-related expenses amount to $0.1 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and $4.8 million and $5.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, and have been separately stated in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Supplemental pro forma financial information related to the HSBC and First Niagara acquisitions has not been provided as it would be impracticable to do so.  Historical financial information regarding the acquired branches is not accessible and thus the amounts would require estimates so significant as to render the disclosure irrelevant.

NOTE C:  ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies of the Company, as applied in the consolidated interim financial statements presented herein, are substantially the same as those followed on an annual basis as presented on pages 55 through 60 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2013.

Critical Accounting Policies

Acquired loans
Acquired loans are initially recorded at their acquisition date fair values.  The carryover of allowance for loan losses is prohibited as any credit losses in the loans are included in the determination of the fair value of the loans at the acquisition date. Fair values for acquired loans are based on a discounted cash flow methodology that involves assumptions and judgments as to credit risk, prepayment risk, liquidity risk, default rates, loss severity, payment speeds, collateral values and discount rate.

For acquired loans that are not deemed impaired at acquisition, credit discounts representing principal losses expected over the life of the loan are a component of the initial fair value.  Subsequent to the purchase date, the methods used to estimate the required allowance for loan losses for these loans is similar to originated loans.  However, the Company records a provision for loan losses only when the required allowance exceeds any remaining credit discount.  The remaining differences between the purchase price and the unpaid principal balance at the date of acquisition are recorded in interest income over the life of the loan.

Acquired loans that have evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination and for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments are accounted for as impaired loans under ASC 310-30.  The excess of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable discount and is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loans. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as the non-accretable discount. The non-accretable discount represents estimated future credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the loan. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows require the Company to evaluate the need for an allowance for loan losses on these loans. Subsequent improvements in expected cash flows result in the reversal of a corresponding amount of the non-accretable discount which the Company then reclassifies as an accretable discount that is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loans using the interest method.

Acquired loans that met the criteria for non-accrual of interest prior to acquisition may be considered performing upon acquisition, regardless of whether the customer is contractually delinquent, if the Company can reasonably estimate the timing and amount of the expected cash flows on such loans and if the Company expects to fully collect the new carrying value of the loans. As such, the Company may no longer consider the loan to be non-accrual or non-performing and may accrue interest on these loans, including the impact of any accretable discount. For acquired loans that are not deemed impaired at acquisition, purchase discounts representing the principal losses expected over the life of the loan are a component of the initial fair value and amortized over the life of the asset.  Subsequent to the purchase date, the methods utilized to estimate the required allowance for loan losses for these loans is similar to originated loans, however, the Company records a provision for loan losses only when the required allowance exceeds any remaining purchase discounts for loans evaluated collectively for impairment.


 
9

 
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
Management continually evaluates the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, and performs a formal review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis.  The allowance reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio.  Determination of the allowance is subjective in nature and requires significant estimates.   The Company’s allowance methodology consists of two broad components - general and specific loan loss allocations.

The general loan loss allocation is composed of two calculations that are computed on five main loan segments:  business lending, consumer installment - direct, consumer installment - indirect, home equity and consumer mortgage.  The first calculation is quantitative and determines an allowance level based on the latest 36 months of historical net charge-off data for each loan class (commercial loans exclude balances with specific loan loss allocations).  The second calculation is qualitative and takes into consideration eight qualitative environmental factors:  levels and trends in delinquencies and impaired loans; levels of and trends in charge-offs and recoveries; trends in volume and terms of loans; effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards, and other changes in lending policies, procedures, and practices; experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; national and local economic trends and conditions; industry conditions; and effects of changes in credit concentrations.    A component of the qualitative calculation is the unallocated allowance for loan loss.  The qualitative and quantitative calculations are added together to determine the general loan loss allocation.  The specific loan loss allocation relates to individual commercial loans that are both greater than $0.5 million and in a nonaccruing status with respect to interest.  Specific loan losses are based on discounted estimated cash flows, including any cash flows resulting from the conversion of collateral or collateral shortfalls.  The allowance levels computed from the specific and general loan loss allocation methods are combined with unallocated allowances and allowances needed for acquired loans, if any, to derive the total required allowance for loan losses to be reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Condition.

Loan losses are charged off against the allowance, while recoveries of amounts previously charged off are credited to the allowance.  A provision for loan losses is charged to operations based on management’s periodic evaluation of factors previously mentioned.

Investment Securities
The Company has classified its investments in debt and equity securities as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale.  Held-to-maturity securities are those for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity, and are reported at cost, which is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts.  Securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value with net unrealized gains and losses reflected as a separate component of shareholders' equity, net of applicable income taxes.  None of the Company's investment securities have been classified as trading securities at September 30, 2013.  Certain equity securities are stated at cost and include restricted stock of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“Federal Reserve”) and Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”).

Fair values for investment securities are based upon quoted market prices, where available.  If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based upon quoted market prices of comparable instruments, or a discounted cash flow model using market estimates of interest rates and volatility.

The Company conducts an assessment of all securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) exists on a quarterly basis. An unrealized loss exists when the current fair value of an individual security is less than its amortized cost basis.  The OTTI assessment considers the security structure, recent security collateral performance metrics, if applicable, external credit ratings, failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments, judgment about and expectations of future performance, and relevant independent industry research, analysis and forecasts. The severity of the impairment and the length of time the security has been impaired is also considered in the assessment.  The assessment of whether an OTTI decline exists is performed on each security, regardless of the classification of the security as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity and involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment that is based on the information available to management at a point in time.
 
An OTTI loss must be recognized for a debt security in an unrealized loss position if there is intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis. In this situation, the amount of loss recognized in income is equal to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the security. Even if management does not have the intent, and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities, an evaluation of the expected cash flows to be received is performed to determine if a credit loss has occurred. For debt securities, a critical component of the evaluation for OTTI is the identification of credit-impaired securities, where the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.  In the event of a credit loss, only the amount of impairment associated with the credit loss would be recognized in income. The portion of the unrealized loss relating to other factors, such as liquidity conditions in the market or changes in market interest rates, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Equity securities are also evaluated to determine whether the unrealized loss is expected to be recoverable based on whether evidence exists to support a realizable value equal to or greater than the amortized cost basis. If it is probable that the amortized cost basis will not be recovered, taking into consideration the estimated recovery period and the ability to hold the equity security until recovery, OTTI is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the security.

The specific identification method is used in determining the realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities and OTTI charges.  Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized and accreted, respectively, on the interest method basis over the period to maturity or estimated life of the related security.  Purchases and sales of securities are recognized on a trade date basis.
 
 
10

 

Income Taxes
The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.  Provisions for income taxes are based on taxes currently payable or refundable as well as deferred taxes that are based on temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reported in the financial statements at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled.

Benefits from tax positions should be recognized in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information. A tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be measured at the largest amount of benefit for which the likelihood of realization upon ultimate settlement exceeds 50 percent.

Intangible Assets
Intangible assets include core deposit intangibles, customer relationship intangibles and goodwill arising from acquisitions. Core deposit intangibles and customer relationship intangibles are amortized on either an accelerated or straight-line basis over periods ranging from 7 to 20 years. The initial and ongoing carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets is based upon discounted cash flow modeling techniques that require management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows.  It also requires use of a discount rate that reflects the current return requirements of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums, peer volatility indicators, and company-specific risk indicators.

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment.  The implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to its carrying amount and the impairment loss is measured by the excess of the carrying value over fair value.  The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of that reporting unit in order to determine if impairment is indicated.

Retirement Benefits
The Company provides defined benefit pension benefits to eligible employees and post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to certain eligible retirees.  The Company also provides deferred compensation and supplemental executive retirement plans for selected current and former employees, officers, and directors.  Expense under these plans is charged to current operations and consists of several components of net periodic benefit cost based on various actuarial assumptions regarding future experience under the plans, including discount rate, rate of future compensation increases and expected return on plan assets.


 
11

 
 
NOTE D:  INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are as follows:

 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
   
Gross
Gross
     
Gross
Gross
 
 
Amortized
Unrealized
Unrealized
Fair
 
Amortized
Unrealized
Unrealized
Fair
(000's omitted)
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
 
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:
                 
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
$540,649
$38,553
$2,717
$576,485
 
$548,634
$59,081
$0
$607,715
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
61,638
2,863
0
64,501
 
65,742
5,850
0
71,592
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
12,706
41
1
12,746
 
20,578
1,079
0
21,657
Corporate debt securities
2,909
39
0
2,948
 
2,924
53
0
2,977
Other securities
8
0
0
8
 
16
0
0
16
     Total held-to-maturity portfolio
$617,910
$41,496
$2,718
$656,688
 
$637,894
$66,063
$0
$703,957
                   
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                 
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
$888,404
$2,824
$13,956
$877,272
 
$988,217
$91,040
$0
$1,079,257
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
621,802
15,352
11,159
625,995
 
629,883
33,070
61
662,892
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
238,348
9,191
2,640
244,899
 
253,013
16,989
51
269,951
Pooled trust preferred securities
56,540
0
5,289
51,251
 
61,979
0
12,379
49,600
Corporate debt securities
24,055
930
178
24,807
 
24,136
1,265
44
25,357
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
22,996
940
0
23,936
 
32,359
1,579
3
33,935
Marketable equity securities
351
150
9
492
 
351
94
43
402
     Total available-for-sale portfolio
$1,852,496
$29,387
$33,231
$1,848,652
 
$1,989,938
$144,037
$12,581
$2,121,394
                   
Other Securities:
                 
Federal Home Loan Bank common stock
$31,187
   
$31,187
 
$38,111
   
$38,111
Federal Reserve Bank common stock
16,050
   
16,050
 
16,050
   
16,050
Other equity securities
4,775
   
4,775
 
5,078
   
5,078
     Total other securities
$52,012
   
$52,012
 
$59,239
   
$59,239

A summary of investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than, or greater, than twelve months is as follows:

As of September 30, 2013
 
   
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
       
Gross
     
Gross
     
Gross
     
Fair
Unrealized
   
Fair
Unrealized
   
Fair
Unrealized
(000's omitted)
 
#
Value
Losses
 
#
Value
Losses
 
#
Value
Losses
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:
                       
  U.S. Treasury and agency securities
 
5
$99,031
$2,717
 
0
$0
$0
 
5
$99,031
$2,717
  Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
2
1,127
1
 
0
0
0
 
2
1,127
1
    Total held-to-maturity portfolio
 
7
$100,158
$2,718
 
0
$0
$0
 
7
$100,158
$2,718
                         
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                       
  U.S. Treasury and agency securities
 
25
$641,200
$13,956
 
0
$0
$0
 
25
$641,200
$13,956
  Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
314
206,198
11,125
 
2
904
34
 
316
207,102
11,159
  Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
45
61,198
2,508
 
1
1,555
132
 
46
62,753
2,640
  Pooled trust preferred securities
 
0
0
0
 
3
51,251
5,289
 
3
51,251
5,289
  Corporate debt securities
 
1
3,038
23
 
1
2,749
155
 
2
5,787
178
      Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
 
0
0
0
 
1
7
0
 
1
7
0
  Marketable equity securities
 
1
192
9
 
0
0
0
 
1
192
9
    Total available-for-sale portfolio
 
386
911,826
27,621
 
8
56,466
5,610
 
394
968,292
33,231
      Total investment portfolio
 
393
$1,011,984
$30,339
 
8
$56,466
$5,610
 
401
$1,068,450
$35,949
 
 
12

 

As of December 31, 2012
 
   
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
       
Gross
     
Gross
     
Gross
     
Fair
Unrealized
   
Fair
Unrealized
   
Fair
Unrealized
(000's omitted)
 
#
Value
Losses
 
#
Value
Losses
 
  #
Value
Losses
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                       
  Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
19
$11,503
$61
 
0
$0
$0
 
19
$11,503
$61
  Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
8
14,354
51
 
0
0
0
 
8
14,354
51
  Pooled trust preferred securities
 
0
0
0
 
3
49,600
12,379
 
3
49,600
12,379
  Corporate debt securities
 
1
2,905
44
 
0
0
0
 
1
2,905
44
      Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
 
4
426
2
 
2
1,041
1
 
6
1,467
3
  Marketable equity securities
 
0
0
0
 
1
158
43
 
1
158
43
    Total available-for-sale/investment portfolio
 
32
$29,188
$158
 
6
$50,799
$12,423
 
38
$79,987
$12,581

Included in the available-for-sale portfolio are pooled trust preferred, class A-1 securities with a current total par value of $57.7 million and unrealized losses of $5.3 million at September 30, 2013.  The underlying collateral of these assets is principally trust preferred securities of smaller regional banks and insurance companies.  The Company’s securities are in the super-senior cash flow tranche of the investment pools.  All other tranches in these pools will incur losses before the super senior tranche is impacted.  As of September 30, 2013, an additional 41% - 44% of the underlying collateral in these securities would have to be in deferral or default concurrently to result in an expectation of non-receipt of contractual cash flows.

A detailed review of the pooled trust preferred securities was completed as of September 30, 2013 and management concluded that it does not believe any individual unrealized loss represents an other-than-temporary impairment.  This review included an analysis of collateral reports, a cash flow analysis, including varying degrees of projected deferral/default scenarios, and a review of various financial ratios of the underlying issuers.  Based on the analysis performed, significant further deferral/defaults and further erosion in other underlying performance conditions would have to exist before the Company would incur a loss.  To date, the Company has received all scheduled principal and interest payments and expects to fully collect all future contractual principal and interest payments. The Company does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the underlying securities.   Subsequent changes in market or credit conditions could change those evaluations.

Management believes the unrealized losses in the portfolios are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates.  The unrealized losses reported pertaining to government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities relate primarily to securities issued by GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC, which are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services, AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and are guaranteed by the U.S. government.  The obligations of state and political subdivisions are typically general purpose debt obligations of various states and political subdivisions.  The majority of the obligations of state and political subdivisions carry a credit rating of A or better, as well as a secondary level of credit enhancement.  The Company does not intend to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities, prior to recovery of the amortized cost.  Thus, management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of September 30, 2013 represents OTTI.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at September 30, 2013, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.  Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately.

   
Held-to-Maturity
 
Available-for-Sale
   
Amortized
Fair
 
Amortized
Fair
(000's omitted)
 
Cost
Value
 
Cost
Value
Due in one year or less
 
$8,413
$8,465
 
$31,654
$32,117
Due after one through five years
 
427,267
463,526
 
148,887
153,709
Due after five years through ten years
 
121,465
120,742
 
988,465
987,770
Due after ten years
 
48,059
51,209
 
421,795
405,729
     Subtotal
 
605,204
643,942
 
1,590,801
1,579,325
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
 
0
0
 
22,996
23,936
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
12,706
12,746
 
238,348
244,899
     Total
 
$617,910
$656,688
 
$1,852,145
$1,848,160

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company initiated a balance sheet restructuring program through the sale of certain longer duration investment securities and retirement of a portion of the Company’s existing FHLB borrowings.  During the first half of 2013, the Company sold $648.7 million of U.S. Treasury and agency securities, realizing $63.8 million of gains.  The proceeds from those sales were utilized to retire $501.6 million of FHLB borrowings with $63.5 million of associated early extinguishments costs.


 
13

 
 
NOTE E:  LOANS

The segments of the Company’s loan portfolio are disaggregated into the following classes that allow management to monitor risk and performance:
·  
Consumer mortgages - consist primarily of fixed rate residential instruments, typically 15 – 30 years in contractual term, secured by first liens on real property.
·  
Business lending - is comprised of general purpose commercial and industrial loans including, but not limited to agricultural-related and dealer floor plans, as well as mortgages on commercial property.
·  
Consumer indirect - consists primarily of installment loans originated through selected dealerships and are secured by automobiles, marine and other recreational vehicles.
·  
Consumer direct - all other loans to consumers such as personal installment loans and lines of credit.
·  
Home equity products - are consumer purpose installment loans or lines of credit most often secured by a first or second lien position on residential real estate with terms typically of 15 years or less.

The balance of these classes are summarized as follows:
 
 
September 30,
December 31,
(000's omitted)
2013
2012
Consumer mortgage
$1,570,607
$1,448,415
Business lending
        1,214,796
1,233,944
Consumer indirect
            713,310
647,518
Consumer direct
            178,496
171,474
Home equity
            348,246
364,225
  Gross loans, including deferred origination costs
4,025,455
3,865,576
Allowance for loan losses
           (44,083)
(42,888)
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
$3,981,372
$3,822,688

The outstanding balance related to credit impaired acquired loans was $17.6 million and $22.4 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.  The changes in the accretable discount related to the credit impaired acquired loans are as follows:

(000’s omitted)
 
Balance at December 31, 2012
$1,770 
Accretion recognized, year-to-date
(846) 
Net reclassification to accretable from nonaccretable
73 
Balance at September 30, 2013
$997 

 
14

 

Credit Quality
Management monitors the credit quality of its loan portfolio on an ongoing basis.  Measurement of delinquency and past due status are based on the contractual terms of each loan.  Past due loans are reviewed on a monthly basis to identify loans for non-accrual status.  The following is an aged analysis of the Company’s past due loans, by class as of September 30, 2013:

Legacy Loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

 
Past Due
90+ Days Past
       
 
30 - 89
Due and
 
Total
   
(000’s omitted)
Days
 Still Accruing
Nonaccrual
Past Due
Current
Total Loans
Consumer mortgage
$15,159
$1,914
$10,026
$27,099
$1,460,227
$1,487,326
Business lending
  4,901
                5
    5,318
10,224
1,015,686
1,025,910
Consumer indirect
9,510
380
14
9,904
698,625
708,529
Consumer direct
1,551
137
4
1,692
167,003
168,695
Home equity
2,064
35
2,003
4,102
270,360
274,462
Total
$33,185
$2,471
$17,365
$53,021
$3,611,901
$3,664,922

Acquired Loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

 
Past Due
90+ Days Past
         
 
30 - 89
Due and
 
Total
Acquired
   
(000’s omitted)
Days
Still Accruing
Nonaccrual
Past Due
Impaired(1)
Current
Total Loans
Consumer mortgage
$930
$57
$1,596
$2,583
$0
$80,698
$83,281
Business lending
405
0
2,387
2,792
9,937
176,157
188,886
Consumer indirect
237
0
0
237
0
4,544
4,781
Consumer direct
290
24
0
314
0
9,487
9,801
Home equity
350
98
365
813
0
72,971
73,784
Total
$2,212
$179
$4,348
$6,739
$9,937
$343,857
$360,533
(1)  
Acquired impaired loans were not classified as nonperforming assets as the loans are considered to be performing under ASC 310-30.  As a result interest income, through the accretion of the difference between the carrying amount of the loans and the expected cashflows, is being recognized on all acquired impaired loans.

The following is an aged analysis of the Company’s past due loans by class as of December 31, 2012:

Legacy Loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)
 
 
Past Due
90+ Days Past
       
 
30 - 89
Due and
 
Total
   
(000’s omitted)
Days
 Still Accruing
Nonaccrual
Past Due
Current
Total Loans
Consumer mortgage
$16,334
$1,553
$8,866
$26,753
$1,318,534
$1,345,287
Business lending
6,012
167
12,010
18,189
984,665
1,002,854
Consumer indirect
9,743
73
0
9,816
627,541
637,357
Consumer direct
1,725
71
8
1,804
154,462
156,266
Home equity
4,124
491
1,044
5,659
270,798
276,457
Total
$37,938
$2,355
$21,928
$62,221
$3,356,000
$3,418,221


Acquired Loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)
 
 
Past Due
90+ Days Past
         
 
30 - 89
Due and
 
Total
Acquired
   
(000’s omitted)
Days
 Still Accruing
Nonaccrual
Past Due
Impaired(1)
 Current Total Loans
Consumer mortgage
$1,726
$265
$2,420
$4,411
$0
$98,717
$103,128
Business lending
3,665
80
1,681
5,426
13,761
211,903
231,090
Consumer indirect
434
0
0
434
0
9,727
10,161
Consumer direct
470
0
0
470
0
14,738
15,208
Home equity
959
48
331
1,338
0
86,430
87,768
Total
$7,254
$393
$4,432
$12,079
$13,761
$421,515
$447,355
(1)  
Acquired impaired loans were not classified as nonperforming assets as the loans are considered to be performing under ASC 310-30.  As a result interest income, through the accretion of the difference between the carrying amount of the loans and the expected cashflows, is being recognized on all acquired impaired loans.


 
15

 

The Company uses several credit quality indicators to assess credit risk in an ongoing manner.  The Company’s primary credit quality indicator for its business lending portfolio is an internal credit risk rating system that categorizes loans as “pass”, “special mention”, or “classified”.  Credit risk ratings are applied individually to those classes of loans that have significant or unique credit characteristics that benefit from a case-by-case evaluation.  In general, the following are the definitions of the Company’s credit quality indicators:
 
Pass The condition of the borrower and the performance of the loans are satisfactory or better.
   
Special Mention The condition of the borrower has deteriorated although the loan performs as agreed.
   
Classified
The condition of the borrower has significantly deteriorated and the performance of the loan could further deteriorate, if deficiencies are not corrected.
   
Doubtful The condition of the borrower has deteriorated to the point that collection of the balance is improbable based on current facts and conditions.
 
The following table shows the amount of business lending loans by credit quality category:

 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
(000’s omitted)
Legacy
Acquired
Total
 
Legacy
Acquired
Total
Pass
$842,417
$118,256
$960,673
 
$818,469
$144,869
$963,338
Special mention
95,057
30,698
125,755
 
92,739
32,328
125,067
Classified
86,915
29,995
116,910
 
90,035
40,132
130,167
Doubtful
1,521
0
1,521
 
1,611
0
1,611
Acquired impaired
0
9,937
9,937
 
0
13,761
13,761
Total
$1,025,910
$188,886
$1,214,796
 
$1,002,854
$231,090
$1,233,944

All other loans are underwritten and structured using standardized criteria and characteristics, primarily payment performance, and are normally risk rated and monitored collectively on a monthly basis.  These are typically loans to individuals in the consumer categories and are delineated as either performing or nonperforming.   Performing loans include current, 30 – 89 days past due and acquired impaired loans.  Nonperforming loans include 90+ days past due and still accruing and nonaccrual loans.

The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at September 30, 2013:

Legacy loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

 
Consumer
Consumer
Consumer
Home
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Indirect
Direct
Equity
Total
Performing
$1,475,386
$708,135
$168,554
$272,424
$2,624,499
Nonperforming
11,940
394
141
2,038
14,513
Total
$1,487,326
$708,529
$168,695
$274,462
$2,639,012

Acquired loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

 
Consumer
Consumer
Consumer
Home
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Indirect
Direct
Equity
Total
Performing
$81,628
4,781
9,777
73,321
$169,507
Nonperforming
1,653
0
24
463
2,140
Total
$83,281
$4,781
$9,801
$73,784
$171,647

The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at December 31, 2012:

Legacy loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

 
Consumer
Consumer
Consumer
Home
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Indirect
Direct
Equity
Total
Performing
$1,334,868
$637,284
$156,187
$274,922
$2,403,261
Nonperforming
10,419
73
79
1,535
12,106
Total
$1,345,287
$637,357
$156,266
$276,457
$2,415,367

Acquired loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

 
Consumer
Consumer
Consumer
Home
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Indirect
Direct
Equity
Total
Performing
$100,443
$10,161
$15,208
$87,389
$213,201
Nonperforming
2,685
0
0
379
3,064
Total
$103,128
$10,161
$15,208
$87,768
$216,265
 
 
16

 
 
All loan classes are collectively evaluated for impairment except business lending, as described in Note B.  A summary of individually evaluated impaired loans as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 follows:

 
September 30,
December 31,
(000’s omitted)
2013
2012
Loans with allowance allocation
$1,746  
$1,611  
Loans without allowance allocation
1,653  
7,798  
Carrying balance
3,399  
9,409  
Contractual balance
5,100  
12,804  
Specifically allocated allowance
654  
800  

In the course of working with borrowers, the Company may choose to restructure the contractual terms of certain loans.  In this scenario, the Company attempts to work-out an alternative payment schedule with the borrower in order to optimize collectability of the loan.  Any loans that are modified are reviewed by the Company to identify if a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) has occurred, which is when, 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.  Terms may be modified to fit the ability of the borrower to repay in line with its current financial standing and the restructuring of the loan may include the transfer of assets from the borrower to satisfy the debt, a modification of loan terms, or a combination of the two.  With regard to determination of the amount of the allowance for loan losses, troubled debt restructured loans are considered to be impaired.  As a result, the determination of the amount of allowance for loan losses related to impaired loans for each portfolio segment within troubled debt restructurings is the same as detailed previously.

Loans are considered modified in a TDR when, due to a borrower’s financial difficulties, the Company makes a concession(s) to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider.  These modifications primarily include, among others, an extension of the term of the loan or granting a period with reduced or no principal and/or interest payments that can be caught up with payments made over the remaining term of the loan or at maturity.   During 2012, clarified guidance was issued by the OCC addressing the accounting for certain loans that have been discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  In accordance with this clarified guidance, loans that have been discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but not reaffirmed by the borrower, are classified as TDRs, irrespective of payment history or delinquency status, even if the repayment terms for the loan have not been otherwise modified.  The Company’s lien position against the underlying collateral remains unchanged.  Pursuant to that guidance, the Company records a charge-off equal to any portion of the carrying value that exceeds the net realizable value of the collateral.  The amount of loss incurred in 2012 and 2013 was immaterial.  In reporting periods prior to December 31, 2012, such loans were classified as TDRs only if there had been a change in contractual payment terms that represented a concession to the borrower.  The impact on prior periods was determined to be immaterial and therefore, prior period disclosure has not been made.

Commercial loans greater than $0.5 million are individually evaluated for impairment, and if necessary, a specific allocation of the allowance for loan losses is provided.  Included in the impaired loan balances above was one TDR totaling $1.6 million with a specific reserve of $0.4 million.  TDRs less than $0.5 million are collectively included in the general loan loss allocation and the qualitative review, if necessary.

Information regarding troubled debt restructurings as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 is as follows:

 
September  30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
(000’s omitted)
Nonaccrual
Accruing
Total
 
Nonaccrual
Accruing
Total
 
#
Amount
#
Amount
#
Amount
 
#
Amount
#
Amount
#
Amount
Consumer mortgage
11
$814
50
$2,291
61
$3,105
 
3
$160
45
$2,074
48
$2,234
Business lending
7
2,095
3
303
10
2,398
 
10
3,046
0
0
10
3,046
Consumer indirect
2
10
103
706
105
716
 
0
0
106
718
106
718
Consumer direct
0
0
31
143
31
143
 
0
0
19
116
19
116
Home equity
6
67
21
378
27
445
 
5
70
19
266
24
336
Total
26
$2,986
208
$3,821
234
$6,807
 
18
$3,276
189
$3,174
207
$6,450



 
17

 
 
The following table presents information related to loans modified in a TDR during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.  Of the loans noted in the table below, all loans for the three months ended September 30, 2013, and all but two loans for nine months ended September 30, 2013, were modified due to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy as described previously.  The others were a business loan restructured via an extension of term and a consumer mortgage restructured via an extension of term and a rate concession.  The financial effects of these restructurings were immaterial.
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2013
(000’s omitted)
Number of loans modified
Outstanding Balance
 
Number of loans modified
Outstanding Balance
Consumer mortgage
6  
$384 
 
20  
$1,151 
Business lending
1  
155 
 
4  
437 
Consumer indirect
5  
83 
 
27  
253 
Consumer direct
2  
 
15  
67 
Home equity
4  
148 
 
9  
192 
Total
18  
$772 
 
75  
$2,100 

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is general in nature and is available to absorb losses from any loan type despite the analysis below.  The following presents by class the activity in the allowance for loan losses:

 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
 
Consumer
Business
Consumer
Consumer
Home
 
Acquired
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Lending
Indirect
Direct
Equity
Unallocated
Impaired
Total
Beginning balance
$7,373
$18,283
$9,369
$3,054
$1,674
$2,745
$975
$43,473
Charge-offs
(217)
(1,012)
(1,186)
(348)
(59)
0
(59)
(2,881)
Recoveries
2
375
811
206
4
0
0
1,398
Provision
443
625
1,074
253
95
(500)
103
2,093
Ending balance
$7,601
$18,271
$10,068
$3,165
$1,714
$2,245
$1,019
$44,083
                 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
 
Consumer
Business
Consumer
Consumer
Home
 
Acquired
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Lending
Indirect
Direct
Equity
Unallocated
Impaired
Total
Beginning balance
$6,313
$18,698
$8,670
$3,223
$1,392
$3,112
$420   
$41,828
Charge-offs
(293)
(1,100)
(1,460)
(344)
(39)
0
0   
(3,236)
Recoveries
17
454
850
259
2
0
0   
1,582
Provision
730
510
1,340
220
40
(390)
193   
2,643
Ending balance
$6,767
$18,562
$9,400
$3,358
$1,395
$2,722
$613   
$42,817
                 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
 
Consumer
Business
Consumer
Consumer
Home
 
Acquired
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Lending
Indirect
Direct
Equity
Unallocated
Impaired
Total
Beginning balance
$7,070
$18,013
$9,606
$3,303
$1,451
$2,666
$779
$42,888
Charge-offs
(817)
(2,075)
(3,075)
(1,300)
(379)
0
(59)
(7,705)
Recoveries
15
619
2,682
761
16
0
0
4,093
Provision
1,333
1,714
855
401
626
(421)
299
4,807
Ending balance
$7,601
$18,271
$10,068
$3,165
$1,714
$2,245
$1,019
$44,083
                 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
 
Consumer
Business
Consumer
Consumer
Home
 
Acquired
 
(000’s omitted)
Mortgage
Lending
Indirect
Direct
Equity
Unallocated
Impaired
Total
Beginning balance
$4,651
$20,574
$8,960
$3,290
$1,130
$3,222
$386   
$42,213
Charge-offs
(712)
(4,327)
(3,633)
(1,074)
(220)
0
0   
(9,966)
Recoveries
34
787
2,674
613
20
0
0   
4,128
Provision
2,794
1,528
1,399
529
465
(500)
227   
6,442
Ending balance
$6,767
$18,562
$9,400
$3,358
$1,395
$2,722
$613   
$42,817



 
18

 
 
NOTE F:  GOODWILL AND IDENTIFIABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each type of identifiable intangible asset are as follows:

   
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
   
Gross
 
Net
 
Gross
 
Net
   
Carrying
Accumulated
Carrying
 
Carrying
Accumulated
Carrying
(000's omitted)
 
Amount
Amortization
Amount
 
Amount
Amortization
Amount
Amortizing intangible assets:
               
  Core deposit intangibles
 
$38,958
($27,186)
$11,772
 
$38,958
($24,466)
$14,492
  Other intangibles
 
9,442
(7,182)
2,260
 
9,432
(6,493)
2,939
 Total amortizing intangibles
 
$48,400
($34,368)
$14,032
 
$48,390
($30,959)
$17,431

The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ended December 31 is as follows:

Oct - Dec 2013
$1,034
2014
3,599
2015
2,806
2016
2,096
2017
1,479
Thereafter
3,018
Total
$14,032

Shown below are the components of the Company’s goodwill at September 30, 2013:

(000’s omitted)
December 31, 2012
Activity
September 30, 2013
Goodwill
$374,527
$0
$374,527
Accumulated impairment
(4,824)
0
(4,824)
Goodwill, net
$369,703
$0
$369,703

NOTE G:  MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES

The Company sponsors two business trusts, Community Statutory Trust III and Community Capital Trust IV, of which 100% of the common stock is owned by the Company.  The trusts were formed for the purpose of issuing company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of such preferred securities solely in junior subordinated debt securities of the Company.  The debentures held by each trust are the sole assets of that trust.  Distributions on the preferred securities issued by each trust are payable quarterly at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate being earned by the trust on the debentures held by that trust and are recorded as interest expense in the consolidated financial statements.  The preferred securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the debentures.  The Company has entered into agreements which, taken collectively, fully and unconditionally guarantee the preferred securities subject to the terms of each of the guarantees.  The terms of the preferred securities of each trust are as follows:

 
Issuance
Par
 
Maturity
 
Trust
Date
Amount
Interest Rate
Date
Call Price
III
7/31/2001
$24.5 million
3 month LIBOR plus 3.58% (3.85%)
7/31/2031
Par
IV
12/8/2006
$75 million
3 month LIBOR plus 1.65% (1.90%)
12/15/2036
Par


 
19

 
 
NOTE H:  BENEFIT PLANS

The Company provides a qualified defined benefit pension to eligible employees and retirees, other post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to certain retirees, an unfunded supplemental pension plan for certain key executives, and an unfunded stock balance plan for certain of its nonemployee directors.  The Company accrues for the estimated cost of these benefits through charges to expense during the years that employees earn these benefits.  The net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:
 
 
Pension Benefits
 
Post-retirement Benefits
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
Service cost
$985
$848
 
$2,955
$2,544
 
$0
$0
 
$0
$0
Interest cost
1,029
1,098
 
3,086
3,295
 
22
29
 
66
86
Expected return on plan assets
(2,710)
(2,299)
 
(7,612)
(6,897)
 
0
0
 
0
0
Amortization of unrecognized net loss
1,008
922
 
3,023
2,765
 
3
3
 
9
9
Amortization of prior service cost
14
(37)
 
43
(110)
 
(45)
(206)
 
(134)
(617)
Net periodic benefit cost
$326
$532
 
$1,495
$1,597
 
($20)
($174)
 
($59)
($522)

During July 2013, the Company made a contribution to its defined benefit pension plan of $10.0 million.  No other contributions are required in 2013.

NOTE I:  EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average of the common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted-average of the shares outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of restricted stock and the assumed exercise of stock options during the year.  The dilutive effect of options is calculated using the treasury stock method of accounting.  The treasury stock method determines the number of common shares that would be outstanding if all the dilutive options (those where the average market price is greater than the exercise price) were exercised and the proceeds were used to repurchase common shares in the open market at the average market price for the applicable time period.  There were approximately 0.3 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and approximately 0.5 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to approximately 0.6 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the three months September 30, 2012 and approximately 0.5 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding for the nine months September 30, 2012 that were not included in the computation below.

The following is a reconciliation of basic to diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted, except per share data)
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
Net income
$21,989
$18,367 
 
$63,352
$58,264 
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards
(121)
(125) 
 
(315)
(372) 
Income available to common shareholders
21,868
18,242 
 
63,037
57,892 
           
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic
40,121
39,384 
 
39,914
39,095 
Basic earnings per share
$0.55
$0.46 
 
$1.58
$1.48 
           
Net income
$21,989
$18,367 
 
$63,352
$58,264 
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards
(121)
(125) 
 
(315)
(372) 
Income available to common shareholders
21,868
18,242 
 
63,037
57,892 
           
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic
40,121
39,384 
 
39,914
39,095 
Assumed exercise of stock options
506
486 
 
474
496 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted
40,627
39,870 
 
40,388
39,591 
           
Diluted earnings per share
$0.54
$0.46 
 
$1.56
$1.46 
Cash dividends declared per share
$0.28
$0.27 
 
$0.82
$0.79 
 
 
20

 
 
Stock Repurchase Program
At its December 2012 meeting, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 of its outstanding shares in open market transactions or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with securities laws and regulations, through December 31, 2013.  Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities.  The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion.  There were no open market treasury stock purchases in 2012 or the first nine months of 2013.  There were approximately 24,000 common shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 that were acquired by the Company in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock.

NOTE J:  COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS

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 consist primarily of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit.  Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers, generally having fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require payment of a fee.  These commitments consist principally of unused commercial and consumer credit lines.  Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party.  The credit risks associated with commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are essentially the same as that involved with extending loans to customers and are subject to the Company’s normal credit policies.  Collateral may be obtained based on management’s assessment of the customer’s creditworthiness.  The fair value of the standby letters of credit is immaterial for disclosure.

The contract amount of commitments and contingencies are as follows:

(000's omitted)
September 30,
 2013
December 31,
2012
Commitments to extend credit
$758,837
$750,178
Standby letters of credit
24,090
24,168
Total
$782,927
$774,346

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings in which claims for monetary damages are asserted.  As of September 30, 2013, management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the aggregate ultimate liability arising out of litigation pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position.  On at least a quarterly basis the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with such legal proceedings.  For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE K:  FAIR VALUE

Accounting standards allow entities an irrevocable option to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value.  Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings.  The Company has elected to value loans held for sale at fair value in order to more closely match the gains and losses associated with loans held for sale with the gains and losses on forward sales contracts.  Accordingly, the impact on the valuation will be recognized in the Company’s consolidated statement of income.  All mortgage loans held for sale are current and in performing status.

Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value and require certain disclosures about such fair value instruments.  It defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. exit price).  Inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following hierarchy:
 
 ·   Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 ·   Level 2 – Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or
                    liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
 ·   Level 3 – Significant valuation assumptions not readily observable in a market.

 

 
21

 


A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The following tables set forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis.  There were no transfers between any of the levels for the periods presented.

 
September 30, 2013
(000's omitted)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total Fair Value
Available-for-sale investment securities:
       
   U.S. Treasury and agency securities
$862,068
$15,204
$0
$877,272
   Obligations of state and political subdivisions
0
625,995
0
625,995
   Government agency mortgage-backed securities
0
244,899
0
244,899
   Pooled trust preferred securities
0
0
51,251
51,251
   Corporate debt securities
0
24,807
0
24,807
   Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
0
23,936
0
23,936
   Marketable equity securities
492
0
0
492
     Total available-for-sale investment securities
862,560
934,841
51,251
1,848,652
   Forward sales commitments
0
(129)
0
(129)
   Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
0
0
268
268
   Mortgage loans held for sale
0
945
0
945
     Total
$862,560
$935,657
$51,519
$1,849,736

 
December 31, 2012
(000's omitted)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total Fair Value
Available-for-sale investment securities:
       
   U.S. Treasury and agency securities
$891,803
$187,454
$0
$1,079,257
   Obligations of state and political subdivisions
0
662,892
0
662,892
   Government agency mortgage-backed securities
0
269,951
0
269,951
   Pooled trust preferred securities
0
0
49,600
49,600
   Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
0
33,935
0
33,935
   Corporate debt securities
0
25,357
0
25,357
   Marketable equity securities
402
0
0
402
Total available-for-sale investment securities/Total
$892,205
$1,179,589
$49,600
$2,121,394

The valuation techniques used to measure fair value for the items in the table above are as follows:

·  
Available for sale investment securities – The fair value of available-for-sale investment securities is based upon quoted prices, if available.  If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using quoted market prices for similar securities or model-based valuation techniques.  Level 1 securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and marketable equity securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets.  Level 2 securities include U.S. agency securities, mortgage-backed securities issued by government-sponsored entities, municipal securities and corporate debt securities that are valued by reference to prices for similar securities or through model-based techniques in which all significant inputs, such as reported trades, trade execution data, LIBOR swap yield curve, market prepayment speeds, credit information, market spreads, and security’s terms and conditions, are observable.  Securities classified as Level 3 include pooled trust preferred securities in less liquid markets.  The value of these instruments is determined using multiple pricing models or similar techniques from third party sources as well as significant unobservable inputs such as judgment or estimation by the Company in the weighting of the models.  See Note D for further discussion of the fair value of investment securities.

·  
Mortgage loans held for sale – Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at fair value, which is determined using quoted secondary-market prices of loans with similar characteristics and, as such, have been classified as a Level 2 valuation.  The unpaid principal value of mortgage loans held for sale at September 30, 2013 is approximately $0.9 million.  The unrealized gain on mortgage loans held for sale of approximately $43,000 was recognized in mortgage banking and other income in the consolidated statement of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

·  
Forward sales contracts – The Company enters into forward sales contracts to sell certain residential real estate loans.  Such commitments are considered to be derivative financial instruments and, therefore, are carried at estimated fair value in the other asset or other liability section of the consolidated balance sheet.  The fair value of these forward sales contracts is primarily measured by obtaining pricing from certain government-sponsored entities and reflects the underlying price the entity would pay the Company for an immediate sale on these mortgages.  These instruments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
 
 
 
22

 
 
·  
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale – The Company enters into various commitments to originate residential real estate loans for sale.  Such commitments are considered to be derivative financial instruments and, therefore, are carried at estimated fair value in the other asset or other liability section of the consolidated balance sheet.  The estimated fair value of these commitments is determined using quoted secondary market prices obtained from certain government-sponsored entities.  Additionally, accounting guidance requires the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan to be included in the fair value measurement of the derivative.  The expected net future cash flows are based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated net servicing income.  The valuation model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income.  Such assumptions include estimates of the cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds.  The determination of expected net cash flows is considered a significant unobservable input contributing to the Level 3 classification of commitments to originate real estate loans for sale.

The changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the following tables:
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
(000's omitted)
Pooled Trust Preferred Securities
 
Commitments to Originate Real Estate Loans for Sale
 
Total
 
Pooled Trust Preferred Securities
Beginning balance
$47,290
 
($19)
 
$47,271
 
$48,786
Total gains (losses) included in earnings (1)
16
 
19
 
35
 
32
Total gains included in other comprehensive income(2)
4,217
 
0
 
4,217
 
2,769
Principal reductions
(272)
 
0
 
(272)
 
(750)
Commitments to originate real estate loans held for sale
0
 
268
 
268
 
0
Ending balance
$51,251
 
$268
 
$51,519
 
$50,837
 
 (1) Amounts included in earnings associated with the pooled trust preferred securities relate to accretion of related discount
 
   and are reported in interest and dividends on taxable investments.
 (2) Amounts included in other comprehensive income associated with the pooled trust preferred securities relate to changes
 
   in unrealized loss and are reported as a component of unrealized gains on securities in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2013
 
2012
(000's omitted)
Pooled Trust Preferred Securities
 
Commitments to Originate Real Estate Loans for Sale
 
Total
 
Pooled Trust Preferred Securities
Beginning balance
$49,600
 
$0
 
$49,600
 
$43,846
Total gains (losses) included in earnings (1)
166
 
0
 
166
 
176
Total gains included in other comprehensive income(2)
7,090
 
0
 
7,090
 
11,136
Principal reductions
(5,605)
 
0
 
(5,605)
 
(4,321)
Commitments to originate real estate loans held for sale
0
 
268
 
268
 
0
Ending balance
$51,251
 
$268
 
$51,519
 
$50,837
 
(1) Amounts included in earnings associated with the pooled trust preferred securities relate to accretion of related discount
 
   and are reported in interest and dividends on taxable investments.
 (2) Amounts included in other comprehensive income associated with the pooled trust preferred securities relate to changes
 
   in unrealized loss and are reported as a component of unrealized gains on securities in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
 
Assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis:

 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
(000's omitted)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total Fair Value
 
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total Fair Value
Impaired loans
$0
$0
$1,746
$1,746
 
$0
$0
$1,186
$1,186
Other real estate owned
0
0
5,218
5,218
 
0
0
4,788
4,788
Mortgage servicing rights
0
0
1,011
1,011
 
0
0
1,028
1,028
   Total
$0
$0
$7,975
$7,975
 
$0
$0
$7,002
$7,002


 
23

 


Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.  Periodically, the Company records nonrecurring adjustments to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the uncollectible portions of those loans.  Nonrecurring adjustments also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan and, as a result, the carrying value of the loan less the calculated valuation amount does not necessarily represent the fair value of the loan. Real estate collateral is typically valued using independent appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or assumptions generally observable in the marketplace, adjusted for non-observable inputs.  Thus, the resulting nonrecurring fair value measurements are generally classified as Level 3. Estimates of fair value used for other collateral supporting commercial loans generally are based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and, therefore, such valuations classify as Level 3.

Other real estate owned is valued at the time the loan is foreclosed upon and the asset is transferred to other real estate owned. The value is based primarily on third party appraisals, less costs to sell. The appraisals are sometimes further discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of valuation, and/or management’s expertise and knowledge of the customer and customer’s business. Such discounts are significant, ranging from 11% to 67% at September 30, 2013 and result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value. Other real estate owned is reviewed and evaluated on at least an annual basis for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly, based on the same factors identified above. The Company recovers the carrying value of other real estate owned through the sale of the property. The ability to affect future sales prices is subject to market conditions and factors beyond our control and may impact the estimated fair value of a property.

Originated mortgage servicing rights are recorded at their fair value at the time of sale of the underlying loan, and are amortized in proportion to and over the estimated period of net servicing income.  In accordance with GAAP, the Company must record impairment charges, on a nonrecurring basis, when the carrying value of a stratum exceeds its estimated fair value.  The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on a valuation model incorporating inputs that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income.  Such inputs include estimates of the cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds and are considered to be unobservable and contribute to the Level 3 classification of mortgage servicing rights.  The amount of impairment recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the capitalized servicing rights for a stratum exceeds estimated fair value.  Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance.  There is a valuation allowance of approximately $0.2 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment.  The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of that reporting unit in order to determine if impairment is indicated.  If so, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to its carrying amount and the impairment loss is measured by the excess of the carrying value of the goodwill over fair value of the goodwill.  In such situations, the Company performs a discounted cash flow modeling technique that requires management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit that enable the Company to calculate the implied fair value of the goodwill.  It also requires use of a discount rate that reflects the current return expectation of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, expected equity market premiums, peer volatility indicators and company-specific risk indicators.  The Company did not recognize an impairment charge during 2012 or the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

The significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of fair value of assets classified as Level 3 on a recurring or non-recurring basis as of September 30, 2013 are as follows:
 
(000's omitted)
Fair Value at
September 30, 2013
Valuation Technique
Significant Unobservable Inputs
Significant
Unobservable Input
Range
(Weighted Average)
         
Pooled trust preferred securities
$51,251
Consensus pricing   
Weighting of offered quotes   
75.6% - 98.1% (88.9%)
         
Impaired loans
1,746
Fair Value of Collateral   
Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment   
11.0%-50.0% (39.0%)
         
Other real estate owned
5,218
Fair Value of Collateral   
Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment   
11.0%-66.7% (29.1%)
         
Mortgage servicing rights
1,011
Discounted cash flow   
Weighted average constant prepayment rate   
9.9%-35.4% (31.4%)
     
Discount rate   
3.4%-4.4% (4.0%)
     
Adequate compensation   
$7/loan
         
Commitments to originate real
  estate loans for sale
268
Discounted cash flow   
Embedded servicing value   
1%


 
24

 
 
The significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of fair value of assets classified as Level 3 on a recurring or non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2012 are as follows:

(000's omitted)
Fair Value at
December 31, 2012
Valuation Technique
Significant Unobservable Inputs
Significant
Unobservable Input
Range
(Weighted Average)
         
Pooled trust preferred securities
$49,600   
Consensus pricing   
Weighting of offered quotes   
65.3% - 85.1% (78.4%)   
         
Impaired loans
1,186   
Fair value of collateral   
Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment   
25.0% - 50.0% (27.5%)   
         
Other real estate owned
4,788 
Fair value of collateral   
Estimated cost of disposal/market adjustment   
11.0% - 60.2% (19.9%)   
         
Mortgage servicing rights
1,028   
Discounted cash flow   
Weighted average constant prepayment rate   
1.1% - 39.6% (34.4%)   
        Discount rate 
2.5% - 3.3% (3.1%)   
        Adequate compensation 
$7/loan   

The Company determines fair values based on quoted market values, where available, estimates of present values, or other valuation techniques.  Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including, but not limited to, the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows.  In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, may not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument.  Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from fair value disclosure requirements.  Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s other financial instruments that are not accounted for at fair value at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are as follows:

   
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
   
Carrying
Fair
 
Carrying
Fair
(000's omitted)
 
Value
Value
 
Value
Value
Financial assets:
           
   Net loans
 
$4,025,455
$3,964,894
 
$3,865,576
$3,881,354
Financial liabilities:
           
   Deposits
 
5,687,333
5,690,954
 
5,628,039
5,635,320
   Borrowings
 
567,116
590,074
 
728,061
820,377
   Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
 
102,091
109,182
 
102,073
97,899

The following is a further description of the principal valuation methods used by the Company to estimate the fair values of its financial instruments.
 
Loans have been classified as a Level 3 valuation.  Fair values for variable rate loans that reprice frequently are based on carrying values.  Fair values for fixed rate loans are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality.

Deposits have been classified as a Level 2 valuation.  The fair value of demand deposits, interest-bearing checking deposits, savings accounts and money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date.  The fair value of time deposit obligations are based on current market rates for similar products.

Borrowings have been classified as a Level 2 valuation.  Fair values for long-term borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar borrowings.

Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts have been classified as a Level 2 valuation.   The fair value of subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar securities.

Other financial assets and liabilities – Cash and cash equivalents have been classified as a Level 1 valuation, while accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable have been classified as a Level 2 valuation.  The fair values of each approximate the respective carrying values because the instruments are payable on demand or have short-term maturities and present relatively low credit risk and interest rate risk.


 
25

 
 
NOTE L:  DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company is party to derivative financial instruments in the normal course of its business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.  These financial instruments have been limited to commitments to originate real estate loans held for sale and forward sales commitments.  The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.

The Company enters into forward sales commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans, and interest rate lock commitments to fund loans at a specified interest rate.  The forward sales commitments are utilized to reduce interest rate risk associated with interest rate lock commitments and loans held for sale.  Changes in the estimated fair value of the forward sales commitments and interest rate lock commitments subsequent to inception are based on changes in the fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the fulfillment of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will fund within the terms of the commitment, which is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time.  At inception and during the life of the interest rate lock commitment, the Company includes the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan as part of the fair value measurement of the interest rate lock commitments.  These derivatives are recorded at fair value.

The following table presents the Company’s derivative financial instruments, their estimated fair values, and balance sheet location as of September 30, 2013:

(000's omitted)
 
Location
Notional
Fair Value
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
       
   Forward sales commitments
 
Other liabilities
$6,262
($129)
   Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale
 
Other assets
6,835
268
Total derivatives
     
$139

The following table presents the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the location of the net gain or loss recognized in the statement of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013:

     
Gain (Loss) recognized in the Statement of Income
(000's omitted)
Location
 
Three Months Ending September 30, 2013
Nine Months Ending
 September 30, 2013
Forward sales commitments
Mortgage banking and other services
 
($110)
($129)
Commitments to originate real estate
  loans for sale
Mortgage banking and other services
 
249
268
Total
   
$139
$139


 
26

 
 
NOTE M:  SEGMENT INFORMATION

Operating segments are components of an enterprise, which are evaluated regularly by the “chief operating decision maker” in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.  The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Company has identified Banking as its reportable operating business segment.  Community Bank, N.A. operates the banking segment that provides full-service banking to consumers, businesses and governmental units in northern, central and western New York as well as Northern Pennsylvania.

Other operating segments of the Company’s operations, which do not have similar characteristics to the banking segment and do not meet the quantitative thresholds requiring disclosure, are included in the “Other” category.  Revenues derived from these segments include administration, consulting and actuarial services to sponsors of employee benefit plans, investment advisory services, asset management services to individuals, corporate pension and profit sharing plans, trust services and insurance commissions from various insurance related products and services.  The accounting policies used in the disclosure of business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (See Note A, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the most recent Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2013).

Information about reportable segments and reconciliation of the information to the consolidated financial statements follows:

       
Consolidated
(000's omitted) 
Banking
Other
Eliminations
Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
       
Net interest income
$60,566  
$35  
$0  
$60,601
Provision for loan losses
2,093  
0  
0  
2,093
Noninterest income
14,372  
13,749  
(527)  
27,594
Amortization of intangible assets
875  
214  
0  
1,089
Other operating expenses
43,497  
10,985  
(527)  
53,955
Income before income taxes
$28,473  
$2,585  
$0  
$31,058
Assets
$7,276,673  
$39,863  
($14,519)  
$7,302,017
Goodwill
$359,207  
10,496  
$0  
$369,703
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
       
Net interest income
$58,730
$45
$0
$58,775
Provision for loan losses
2,643
0
0
2,643
Noninterest income
13,753
12,647
(541)
25,859
Amortization of intangible assets
958
254
0
1,212
Other operating expenses
44,796
10,618
(541)
54,873
Income before income taxes
$24,086
$1,820
$0
$25,906
Assets
$7,546,153
$41,303
($17,083)
$7,570,373
Goodwill
$359,207
$10,496
$0
$369,703
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
       
Net interest income
$177,319  
$139  
$0  
$177,458
Provision for loan losses
4,807  
0  
0  
4,807
Noninterest income
40,667  
41,851  
(1,717)  
80,801
Amortization of intangible assets
2,720  
688  
0  
3,408
Other operating expenses
129,674  
32,607  
(1,717)  
160,564
Income before income taxes
$80,785  
$8,695  
$0  
$89,480
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
       
Net interest income
$170,329
$126
$0
$170,455
Provision for loan losses
6,442
0
0
6,442
Noninterest income
37,045
37,608
(1,630)
73,023
Amortization of intangible assets
2,536
807
0
3,343
Other operating expenses
121,902
31,243
(1,630)
151,515
Income before income taxes
$76,494
$5,684
$0
$82,178



 
27

 
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Introduction

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) primarily reviews the financial condition and results of operations of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company” or “CBSI”) as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, although in some circumstances the second quarter of 2013 is also discussed in order to more fully explain recent trends.  The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear on pages 3 through 27.  All references in the discussion to the financial condition and results of operations are to those of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.  Unless otherwise noted, the term “this year” refers to results in calendar year 2013, “third quarter” refers to the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and earnings per share (“EPS”) figures refer to diluted EPS.
 
This MD&A contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company.  These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties.  Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those proposed by such forward-looking statements are set herein under the caption, “Forward-Looking Statements,” on page 45.

Critical Accounting Policies

As a result of the complex and dynamic nature of the Company’s business, management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying the most appropriate accounting policies for its various areas of operations.  The policy decision process not only ensures compliance with the latest generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), but also reflects management’s discretion with regard to choosing the most suitable methodology for reporting the Company’s financial performance.  It is management’s opinion that the accounting estimates covering certain aspects of the business have more significance than others due to the relative importance of those areas to overall performance, or the level of subjectivity in the selection process.  These estimates affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity and disclosures of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Management believes that critical accounting estimates include:
 
·  
Acquired loans – Acquired loans are initially recorded at their acquisition date fair values.  The carryover of allowance for loan losses is prohibited as any credit losses in the loans are included in the determination of the fair value of the loans at the acquisition date.  Fair values for acquired loans are based on a discounted cash flow methodology that involves assumptions and judgments as to credit risk, prepayment risk, liquidity risk, default rates, loss severity, payment speeds, collateral values and discount rate.  Subsequent to the acquisition of acquired impaired loans, GAAP requires the continued estimation of expected cash flows to be received.  This estimation requires numerous assumptions and judgments using internal and third-party credit quality information.  Changes in expected cash flows could result in the recognition of impairment through provision for credit losses. 
 
For acquired loans that are not deemed impaired at acquisition, purchase discounts representing the principal losses expected over the life of the loan are a component of the initial fair value.  Subsequent to the purchase date, the methods utilized to estimate the required allowance for loan losses for the non-impaired acquired loans is similar to originated loans, however, the Company records a provision for loan losses only when the required allowance exceeds any remaining purchase discounts for loans evaluated collectively for impairment.  For loans individually evaluated for impairment, a provision is recorded when the required allowance exceeds any remaining discount on the loan
 
·  
Allowance for loan losses – The allowance for loan losses reflects management’s best estimate of probable loan losses in the Company’s loan portfolio.  Determination of the allowance for loan losses is inherently subjective.  It requires significant estimates including the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows and evaluation of collateral values on impaired loans and the amount of estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans which is based on historical loss experience and consideration of current economic trends, all of which may be susceptible to significant change.
 
·  
Investment securities – Investment securities are classified as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading.  The appropriate classification is based partially on the Company’s ability to hold the securities to maturity and largely on management’s intentions with respect to either holding or selling the securities.  The classification of investment securities is significant since it directly impacts the accounting for unrealized gains and losses on securities.  Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, as a separate component of shareholders’ equity and do not affect earnings until realized.  The fair values of investment securities are generally determined by reference to quoted market prices, where available.  If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments, or a discounted cash flow model using market estimates of the amount and timing of future cash flows, prepayment speed assumptions, expected interest rate curve, and the selection of discount rates that appropriately reflect market and credit risks.  Investment securities with significant declines in fair value are evaluated to determine whether they should be considered other-than-temporarily impaired (“OTTI”).  An unrealized loss is generally deemed to be other-than-temporary and a credit loss is deemed to exist if the present value of the expected future cash flows is less than the amortized cost basis of the debt security.  The credit loss component of an OTTI write-down is recorded in earnings, while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), provided the Company does not intend to sell the underlying debt security, and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery of the full value of its amortized cost basis.
 
 
28

 
 
·  
Retirement benefits – The Company provides defined benefit pension benefits to eligible employees and post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to certain eligible retirees.  The Company also provides deferred compensation and supplemental executive retirement plans for selected current and former employees and officers.  Expense under these plans is charged to current operations and consists of several components of net periodic benefit cost based on various actuarial assumptions regarding future experience under the plans, including, but not limited to, discount rate, rate of future compensation increases, mortality rates, future health care costs and expected return on plan assets.

·  
Provision for income taxes – The Company is subject to examinations from various taxing authorities.  Such examinations may result in challenges to the tax return treatment applied by the Company to specific transactions.  Management believes that the assumptions and judgments used to record tax related assets or liabilities have been appropriate.  Should tax laws change or the taxing authorities determine that management’s assumptions were inappropriate, an adjustment may be required which could have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations.

·  
Intangible assets – As a result of acquisitions, the Company has acquired goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.  Goodwill represents the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of net assets at the acquisition date.  Goodwill is evaluated at least annually, or when business conditions suggest impairment may have occurred and will be reduced to its carrying value through a charge to earnings if impairment exists.  Core deposits and other identifiable intangible assets are amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives.  The determination of whether or not impairment exists is based upon discounted cash flow modeling techniques that require management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows.  It also requires them to select a discount rate that reflects the current return requirements of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, expected equity market premiums, peer volatility indicators and company-specific market and performance metrics, all of which are susceptible to change based on changes in economic conditions and other factors.  Future events or changes in the estimates used to determine the carrying value of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

A summary of the accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” on pages 55-60 of the most recent Form 10-K (fiscal year ended December 31, 2012) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2013.

Executive Summary

The Company’s business philosophy is to operate as a community bank with local decision-making, principally in non-metropolitan markets, providing a broad array of banking and financial services to retail, commercial and municipal customers.  The Company’s banking subsidiary is Community Bank, N.A. (the “Bank” or “CBNA”).  During the third quarter, the Company rebranded its First Liberty Bank and Trust operations in Pennsylvania to Community Bank, N.A.  This provided a uniform brand identification to customers across the Bank’s footprint and allows for greater efficiency in marketing efforts at a time when the Bank has announced the acquisition of eight new branch-banking locations in Northeast Pennsylvania from Bank of America, N.A.

The Company’s core operating objectives are: (i) grow the branch network, primarily through a disciplined acquisition strategy, and certain selective de novo expansions, (ii) build profitable loan and deposit volume using both organic and acquisition strategies, (iii) increase the noninterest income component of total revenues through development of banking-related fee income, growth in existing financial services business units, and the acquisition of additional financial services and banking businesses, and (iv) utilize technology to deliver customer-responsive products and services and to improve efficiencies.

Significant factors management reviews to evaluate achievement of the Company’s operating objectives and its operating results and financial condition include, but are not limited to: net income and earnings per share; return on assets and equity; net interest margins; noninterest income; operating expenses; asset quality; loan and deposit growth; capital management; performance of individual banking and financial services units; liquidity and interest rate sensitivity; enhancements to customer products and services; technology advancements; market share; peer comparisons; and the performance of acquisition activities.
 
On July 20, 2012,  the Bank,  completed its acquisition of 16 retail branches in central, northern and western New York from HSBC Bank USA, N.A. (“HSBC”), acquiring approximately $106 million in loans and $697 million of deposits.  The assumed deposits consisted primarily of core deposits (checking, savings and money market accounts) and the purchased loans consisted of in-market performing loans, primarily residential real estate loans.  Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Bank paid First Niagara Bank, N.A. (“First Niagara”), (who acquired HSBC’s Upstate New York banking business and assigned its right to purchase the 16 branches to the Bank) a blended deposit premium of 3.4%, or approximately $24 million.
 
On September 7, 2012, the Bank completed its acquisition of three branches in central New York from First Niagara, acquiring approximately $54 million of loans and $101 million of deposits.  The assumed deposits consisted primarily of core deposits (checking, savings and money market accounts) and the purchased loans consisted of in-market performing loans, primarily residential real estate loans.  Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Bank paid a blended deposit premium of 3.1%, or approximately $3 million.
 
 
29

 
 
In support of the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions, the Company completed a public common stock offering in late January 2012 and raised $57.5 million through the issuance of 2.13 million shares.  The net proceeds of the offering were approximately $54.9 million.

Third quarter and September year-to-date net income of $22.0 million and $63.4 million, respectively, were $3.6 million or 20% and $5.1 million or 8.7% higher than the respective prior year periods.  Earnings per share were $0.54 and $1.56 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, $0.08 and $0.10 higher than the third quarter and first nine months of 2012.  Contributing to the higher YTD net income was higher net interest income that resulted from earning asset growth, generated organically and from the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions, partially offset by a lower net interest margin.  Additionally, the higher net income was a result of a lower provision for loan losses and growth of noninterest income.  Noninterest income was up due to incremental deposit service fees, including those from the HSBC and First Niagara acquisitions, higher debit card-related revenue, higher employee benefits administration and consulting revenues, and solid revenue growth from the wealth management businesses, which benefitted from favorable market conditions and organic growth.  These were offset by higher operating expenses due in large part to the additional operating costs from the HSBC and First Niagara acquisitions, as well as a slightly higher effective income tax rate, partially offset by lower non-recurring acquisition expenses.

Asset quality in the third quarter of 2013 remained stable and favorable in comparison to averages for peer financial organizations.  Third quarter nonperforming loan and delinquency loan ratios were lower than those experienced in the last eight quarters.  The current quarter provision for loan losses was lower than the third quarter of 2012 as a result of these favorable asset quality metrics.  The loan net charge-off  ratio for the third quarter of 2013 was higher than the second quarter of 2013, but was lower than the average net charge-off ratio for the last eight quarters.  The Company generated year-over-year average loan growth due to the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions, as well as organic loan growth.  During the first half of 2013, the Company initiated a balance sheet restructuring program through the sale of certain longer duration investment securities and the retirement of a portion of the Company’s existing FHLB borrowings.  Average deposits in the third quarter of 2013 were higher than the third quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2012, driven by the HSBC and First Niagara acquisitions and organic deposit growth.

In July 2013, the Company entered into a purchase and assumption agreement to acquire eight branch-banking locations across its Northeast Pennsylvania markets from Bank of America, N.A. (“B of A”).  Under the terms of the agreement, Community Bank will acquire approximately $340 million in deposits at a deposit premium of approximately 2.4%.  The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2013.
 
Net Income and Profitability

As shown in Table 1, net income for the third quarter and September YTD of $22.0 million and $63.4 million, respectively, increased $3.6 million or 20% and $5.1 million or 8.7%, respectively, as compared to the three and nine month periods of 2012.  Earnings per share for the third quarter of $0.54 was $0.08 higher than the EPS generated in the third quarter of 2012 and earnings per share for the first nine months of 2013 increased $0.10 from the amount earned in the first nine months of 2012.  Included in the 2012 results were $4.8 million or $0.08 earnings per share and $5.2 million or $0.09 earnings per share of acquisition expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.

As reflected in Table 1, third quarter and September YTD net interest income of $60.6 million and $177.5 million, respectively, was up $1.8 million and $7.0 million from the comparable prior year periods.  The improvement resulted from a higher net interest margin, primarily due to the balance sheet restructuring activities completed in the first six months of 2013, along with a year-to-date increase in interest-earning assets, primarily due to organic loan growth as well as the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions in the third quarter of 2012.  The provision for loan losses decreased $0.6 million and $1.6 million as compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, respectively, reflective of lower net charge-off levels and the continuation of generally stable and favorable asset quality metrics.

Third quarter and year-to-date noninterest income was $27.6 million and $80.5 million, respectively, up $2.0 million or 7.9% from the third quarter of 2012 and up $7.8 million or 10.7% from the first nine months of 2012, primarily due to the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions and organic growth across the franchise.  Contributing to the increase was a $4.2 million increase in revenue generated during the first nine months of 2013 from the Company’s benefit trust administration and wealth management groups, principally resulting from new customer additions and favorable market conditions.  During the first half of 2013, the Company sold $648.7 million of investment securities, realizing $63.8 million of gains and utilized the proceeds to retire $501.6 million of FHLB borrowings with $63.5 million of early extinguishment costs.

Operating expenses of $55.0 million and $164.0 million for the third quarter and September YTD periods, respectively, decreased $1.0 million or 1.9% as compared to the third quarter of 2012, and increased $9.1 million or 5.9% from the first nine months of 2012.  Excluding non-recurring acquisition expenses, operating expenses increased $3.7 million or 7.2% and $14.3 million or 9.5% for the quarter and YTD periods, respectively, as compared to the comparable periods of 2012, reflective of additional operating costs associated with the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions completed in the third quarter of 2012.
 
 
 
30

 
 
A condensed income statement is as follows:

Table 1: Condensed Income Statements

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted, except per share data)
 
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
Net interest income
 
$60,601
$58,775
 
$177,458
$170,455
Provision for loan losses
 
2,093
2,643
 
4,807
6,442
Noninterest income
 
27,594
25,568
 
80,502
72,732
Gain on sales of investment securities
 
0
291
 
63,799
291
Loss on debt extinguishments
 
0
0
 
(63,500)
0
Noninterest expenses
 
55,044
56,085
 
163,972
154,858
Income before taxes
 
31,058
25,906
 
89,480
82,178
Income taxes
 
9,069
7,539
 
26,128
23,914
Net income
 
$21,989
$18,367
 
$63,352
$58,264
             
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
 
40,850
40,139
 
40,587
39,842
Diluted earnings per share
 
$0.54
$0.46
 
$1.56
$1.46

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the amount by which interest and fees on earning assets (loans, investments and cash equivalents) exceed the cost of funds, primarily interest paid to the Company's depositors and interest on external borrowings.  Net interest margin is the difference between the gross yield on earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing funds as a percentage of earning assets.

As shown in Table 2a, net interest income (with nontaxable income converted to a fully tax-equivalent basis) for the third quarter of 2013 was $64.3 million, a $1.2 million or 1.9% increase from the same period last year, resulting from a $228.3 million decrease in average interest-bearing liabilities and a 15-basis point increase in the net interest margin, more than offsetting the $156.6 million decrease in third quarter interest-earning assets versus the prior year.  As reflected in Table 3, the third quarter rate decrease on interest bearing liabilities and the volume decrease on interest-bearing liabilities had a $7.1 million favorable impact on net interest income while the volume decrease from interest-bearing assets combined with the rate decrease on interest-bearing assets had a $5.9 million unfavorable impact on net interest income.  September YTD net interest income of $188.9 million, as reflected in table 2b, increased $5.7 million or 3.1% from the year-earlier period, a result of a $155.9 million increase in interest-earning assets and a three basis point increase in net interest margin.  The increase in interest-earning assets, the small decrease in interest bearing liabilities and the lower rate on interest-bearing liabilities had a $23.7 million favorable impact that was partially offset by an $18.0 million unfavorable impact from the decrease in the yield on interest-bearing assets.

Average investments, including cash equivalents, for the third quarter and YTD periods were $434.3 million and $201.1 million, lower than the comparable periods of 2012, respectively, reflective of the balance sheet restructuring program completed in the first half of 2013.  During the first six months of 2013, the Company sold $648.7 million of U.S. Treasury and agency securities, realizing $63.8 million of gains.  The proceeds were utilized to retire $501.6 million of higher rate FHLB borrowings with $63.5 million of associated early extinguishments costs.  These actions enhanced the Company’s regulatory capital position and reduced the expected duration of the investment portfolio, while positively impacting expected future net interest income generation.  During the third quarter of 2013, the Company purchased $200 million of U.S. Treasury securities in anticipation of the excess funding expected from the pending branch acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Third quarter and September YTD average loan balances increased $277.6 million and $357.0 million, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2012, due to the approximately $123 million of acquired HSBC and First Niagara loans in the third quarter of 2012 and strong organic loan growth, principally in the consumer mortgage and indirect portfolios.  In comparison to the prior year, total average interest-bearing deposits were up $101.4 million or 2.3% and $430.9 million or 10.4% for the quarter and YTD periods, respectively, a result of the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions and organic growth during the first half of 2013.  Quarterly and YTD average borrowings decreased $329.7 million and $442.5 million, respectively, reflective of the restructuring program in the first half of 2013 which retired $501.6 million of FHLB borrowings, partially offset by the initiative in the third quarter of 2013 to use short-term borrowings to pre-invest a portion of the liquidity expected from the branch acquisitions in the fourth quarter of 2013.

 
31

 

The net interest margin of 3.94% for the third quarter increased 15 basis points as compared to the third quarter of 2012.  The rates on interest-bearing liabilities decreased 51 basis points, due primarily to the balance sheet restructuring previously discussed, as well as the continued decline in rates paid on interest-bearing deposits.  Incremental yield accretion from the favorable disposition of an acquired impaired commercial relationship increased net interest margin for the third quarter of 2013 by three basis points.  This was partially offset by a 26-basis point reduction in interest-earning asset yields, reflective of lower yields on loans and investment securities versus last year’s third quarter.  The net interest margin of 3.93% for the first nine months of 2013 increased three basis points from the comparable period of 2012.  The yield on interest-earning assets declined 37 basis points, and the rates on interest-bearing liabilities declined 48 basis points for the first nine months of 2013 as compared to the first nine months of 2012.  Year-to-date net interest margin was positively impacted by the balance sheet restructuring activities in the first half of 2013.  Proactive management of deposit funding costs continue to have a positive effect on net interest margin, but have not been able to fully offset declining asset yields.

The decrease in the earning-asset yield was partially attributable to a 15-basis point and a 24-basis point decrease in investment yield, including cash equivalents, for the third quarter and YTD periods, respectively, as compared to the prior year periods, due to the sale and maturing of higher rate investments being replaced with lower rate investments and cash equivalents.  Additionally, contributing to the decrease in earning-asset yield for the quarter was a 49-basis point and 57-basis point decline in the loan yield as compared to the third quarter and YTD periods of 2012, respectively, a result of lower yields on fixed-rate new loan volume due to the decline in interest rates to levels below those prevalent in prior periods and certain existing adjustable and fixed-rate loans repricing downward.

The third quarter cost of funds decreased versus the prior year quarter due to an 18-basis point decrease in interest-bearing deposit rates, and a higher proportion of funding being supplied from low and noninterest bearing deposits, as well as a 154-basis point decrease in the average interest rate paid on external borrowings as a result of the balance sheet restructuring during the first half of 2013.  The cost of funds for the first nine months of 2013 decreased versus the prior year period due to a 21-basis point decrease in interest-bearing deposit rates, and a higher proportion of funding being supplied from low and noninterest bearing deposits, as well as a 30-basis point decrease in the average interest rate paid on external borrowings.  The decreases in the cost of funds were reflective of disciplined deposit pricing, whereby interest rates on selected categories of deposit accounts were lowered throughout 2012 and the first nine months of 2013 in response to market conditions.  Additionally, the proportion of customer deposits held in higher cost time deposits has continued to decline over the last twelve months.

 
32

 
 
Table 2 below sets forth information related to average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their associated yields and rates for the periods indicated.  Interest income and yields are on a fully tax-equivalent basis (“FTE”) using a marginal income tax rate of 38.79% in both 2013 and 2012.  Average balances are computed by accumulating the daily ending balances in a period and dividing by the number of days in that period.  Loan yields and amounts earned include loan fees, deferred loan costs and accretion of acquired loan marks.  Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.

Table 2a: Quarterly Average Balance Sheet

 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
     
Avg.
     
Avg.
 
Average
 
Yield/Rate
 
Average
 
Yield/Rate
 (000's omitted except yields and rates)
Balance
Interest
Paid
 
Balance
Interest
Paid
Interest-earning assets:
             
   Cash equivalents
$8,644
$5
0.22%
 
$138,251
$90
0.26%
   Taxable investment securities (1)
1,833,355
13,858
3.00%
 
2,065,121
17,174
3.31%
   Nontaxable investment securities (1)
644,728
8,138
5.01%
 
717,608
9,573
5.31%
   Loans (net of unearned discount)(2)
3,985,755
47,859
4.76%
 
3,708,143
48,889
5.25%
       Total interest-earning assets
6,472,482
69,860
4.28%
 
6,629,123
75,726
4.54%
Noninterest-earning assets
682,314
     
797,695
   
     Total assets
$7,154,796
     
$7,426,818
   
               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
             
   Interest checking, savings and money market deposits
$3,591,563
886
0.10%
 
$3,343,484
1,786
0.21%
   Time deposits
919,636
1,644
0.71%
 
1,066,329
2,616
0.98%
   Borrowings
589,065
3,001
2.02%
 
918,789
8,217
3.56%
     Total interest-bearing liabilities
5,100,264
5,531
0.43%
 
5,328,602
12,619
0.94%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
             
   Noninterest checking deposits
1,138,039
     
1,066,689
   
   Other liabilities
66,255
     
131,380
   
Shareholders' equity
850,238
     
900,147
   
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$7,154,796
     
$7,426,818
   
               
Net interest earnings
 
$64,329
     
$63,107
 
Net interest spread
   
3.85%
     
3.60%
Net interest margin on interest-earning assets
   
3.94%
     
3.79%
               
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment
 
$3,728
     
$4,332
 
 
(1)  
Averages for investment securities are based on historical cost basis and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair
value that is reflected as a component of shareholders’ equity and deferred taxes.
(2)  
The impact of interest and fees not recognized on nonaccrual loans was immaterial.


 
33

 
 
Table 2b: Year-to-Date Average Balance Sheet

 
Nine Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2013
 
September 30, 2012
     
Avg.
     
Avg.
 
Average
 
Yield/Rate
 
Average
 
Yield/Rate
 (000's omitted except yields and rates)
Balance
Interest
Paid
 
Balance
Interest
Paid
Interest-earning assets:
             
   Cash equivalents
$79,939
$153
0.26%
 
$133,383
$260
0.26%
   Taxable investment securities (1)
1,787,579
42,387
3.17%
 
1,907,880
49,757
3.48%
   Nontaxable investment securities (1)
647,575
25,182
5.20%
 
674,954
27,982
5.54%
   Loans (net of unearned discount)(2)
3,915,865
141,868
4.84%
 
3,558,817
144,148
5.41%
       Total interest-earning assets
6,430,958
209,590
4.36%
 
6,275,034
222,147
4.73%
Noninterest-earning assets
744,100
     
761,098
   
     Total assets
$7,175,058
     
$7,036,132
   
               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
             
   Interest checking, savings and money market deposits
$3,597,983
2,879
0.11%
 
$3,055,649
5,365
0.23%
   Time deposits
959,606
5,496
0.77%
 
1,071,083
8,926
1.11%
   Borrowings
544,368
12,364
3.04%
 
986,842
24,704
3.34%
     Total interest-bearing liabilities
5,101,957
20,739
0.54%
 
5,113,574
38,995
1.02%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
             
   Noninterest checking deposits
1,109,847
     
953,180
   
   Other liabilities
91,049
     
107,924
   
Shareholders' equity
872,205
     
861,454
   
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$7,175,058
     
$7,036,132
   
               
Net interest earnings
 
$188,851
     
$183,152
 
Net interest spread
   
3.82%
     
3.71%
Net interest margin on interest-earning assets
   
3.93%
     
3.90%
               
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment
 
$11,393
     
$12,697
 
 
(1)  
Averages for investment securities are based on historical cost basis and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair
value that is reflected as a component of shareholders’ equity and deferred taxes.
(2)  
The impact of interest and fees not recognized on nonaccrual loans was immaterial.


 
34

 
 
 As discussed above and disclosed in Table 3 below, the quarterly change in net interest income (fully tax-equivalent basis) may be analyzed by segregating the volume and rate components of the changes in interest income and interest expense for each underlying category.
Table 3: Rate/Volume

 
 Three months ended September 30, 2013
 
 Nine months ended September 30, 2013
 
versus September 30, 2012
 
versus September 30, 2012
 
Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1)
 
Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1)
     
Net
     
Net
(000's omitted)
Volume
Rate
Change
 
Volume
Rate
Change
Interest earned on:
             
  Cash equivalents
($74)
($11)
($85)
 
($103)
($4)
($107)
  Taxable investment securities
(1,830)
(1,486)
(3,316)
 
(3,020)
(4,350)
(7,370)
  Nontaxable investment securities
(938)
(497)
(1,435)
 
(1,107)
(1,693)
(2,800)
  Loans
3,511
(4,541)
(1,030)
 
13,718
(15,998)
(2,280)
Total interest-earning assets (2)
(1,759)
(4,107)
(5,866)
 
5,416
(17,973)
(12,557)
               
Interest paid on:
             
    Interest checking, savings and money market deposits
124
(1,024)
(900)
 
825
(3,311)
(2,486)
  Time deposits
(327)
(645)
(972)
 
(857)
(2,573)
(3,430)
  Borrowings
(2,372)
(2,844)
(5,216)
 
(10,225)
(2,115)
(12,340)
Total interest-bearing liabilities (2)
(520)
(6,568)
(7,088)
 
(89)
(18,167)
(18,256)
               
Net interest earnings (2)
(1,514)
2,736
1,222
 
4,569
1,130
5,699

(1)  
The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated to volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship
of the absolute dollar amounts of such change in each component.
(2)  
Changes due to volume and rate are computed from the respective changes in average balances and rates of the totals; they are not a
summation of the changes of the components.

Noninterest Income

The Company’s sources of noninterest income are of three primary types: 1) general banking services related to loans, deposits and other core customer activities typically provided through the branch network and electronic banking channels (performed by CBNA); 2) employee benefit trust, administration, actuarial and consulting services (performed by Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. (“BPAS”)); and 3) wealth management services, comprised of trust services (performed by the trust unit within CBNA), investment and insurance products and services (performed by Community Investment Services, Inc. and CBNA Insurance Agency, Inc.) and asset management (performed by Nottingham Advisors, Inc. or “Nottingham”).  Additionally, the Company has periodic transactions, most often net gains or losses from the sale of investment securities and prepayment of debt instruments.

Table 4: Noninterest Income

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
Deposit service fees
 
$12,703
$12,057
 
$36,643
$33,461
Benefit trust, administration, consulting and actuarial fees
 
9,397
8,912
 
28,564
26,549
Wealth management services
 
3,823
3,194
 
11,566
9,427
Other banking services
 
1,072
1,277
 
2,618
2,613
Mortgage banking
 
599
128
 
1,111
682
     Subtotal
 
27,594
25,568
 
80,502
72,732
Gain on sales of investment securities
 
0
291
 
63,799
291
Loss on debt extinguishments
 
0
0
 
(63,500)
0
Total noninterest income
 
$27,594
$25,859
 
$80,801
$73,023
             
Noninterest income/operating income (FTE basis) (1)
 
30.0%
28.8%
 
29.9%
28.4%
 
(1)  For purposes of this ratio noninterest income excludes gains and losses on investment securities and debt extinguishments. Operating income is
      defined as net interest income on a fully-tax equivalent basis plus noninterest income, excluding gains and losses on investment securities and
      debt extinguishments.
 
 
35

 

As displayed in Table 4, noninterest income was $27.6 million in the third quarter of 2013 and $80.8 million for the first nine months of 2013.  This represents an increase of $1.7 million or 6.7% for the quarter and $7.8 million or 10.7% for the YTD period in comparison to 2012.  General recurring banking fees of $14.4 million for the third quarter and $40.4 million for the first nine months of 2013 were up $0.9 million or 6.8% and $3.6 million or 9.8%, respectively, as compared to the prior year periods.  The addition of new deposit relationships from both acquired and organic sources, as well as solid growth in debit card-related revenue more than offset the continuing trend of lower utilization of overdraft protection programs and other deposit-related services.

Residential mortgage banking income totaled $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2013 and $1.1 million for the first nine months of 2013, comprised primarily of servicing fees, reflective of the decision to hold a majority of secondary market eligible mortgages in portfolio during 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.  Effective in the second quarter of 2013, the Company began selling conforming 30 year mortgages in the secondary market.  Residential mortgage banking income consists of realized gains or losses from the sale of residential mortgage loans and the origination of mortgage loan servicing rights, unrealized gains and losses on residential mortgage loans held for sale and related commitments, mortgage loan servicing fees and other mortgage loan-related fee income.  Residential mortgage loans sold to investors, primarily Fannie Mae, totaled $17.2 million in the first nine months of 2013.  Residential mortgage loans held for sale at September 30, 2013 totaled $0.9 million.  Realization of the unrealized gains on mortgage loans held for sale and the related commitments, as well as future revenue generation from mortgage banking activities, will be dependent on market conditions and long-term interest rate trends.

Benefit trust, administration, consulting and actuarial fees increased $0.5 million and $2.0 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 as compared to the prior year periods.  This business benefitted from new customer additions, cross-selling of additional products to existing customers and favorable market conditions.  Wealth management services revenue increased $0.6 million or 20% and $2.1 million or 23% for the third quarter and YTD period as compared to the comparable periods of 2012, driven by solid organic growth in trust and asset advisory services, as well as favorable market conditions.

In the first half of 2013, the Company sold $648.7 million of investments securities, realizing $63.8 million of gains, and utilized the proceeds to retire FHLB borrowings of $501.6 million with $63.5 million of early extinguishment costs.  As a result of this initiative, the Company’s balance sheet was reduced by approximately 6% during the first half of the year.  Although these transactions were essentially neutral to both year-to-date earnings and total capital, they effectively created over $35 million of incremental regulatory (Tier 1) capital, and are expected to be modestly additive to future net interest income generation.

The ratio of noninterest income to total income (FTE basis) was 30.0% for the quarter and 29.9% for the year-to-date period, versus 28.8% and 28.4% for the comparable periods of 2012.  The increase for the year-to-date period is a function of an 10.7 % increase in non-interest income, primarily from the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions as well as strong organic growth at the Company’s benefit administration and wealth management businesses, while net interest income increased at a lesser 5.3% rate due to a lower level of growth in the balance sheet.

Operating Expenses

Table 5 below sets forth the quarterly results of the major operating expense categories for the current and prior year, as well as efficiency ratios (defined below), a standard measure of expense utilization effectiveness commonly used in the banking industry.

Table 5: Noninterest Expenses

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
Salaries and employee benefits
 
$30,448
$28,126
 
$91,217
$82,395
Occupancy and equipment
 
6,448
6,541
 
20,263
19,134
Data processing and communications
 
6,998
6,085
 
20,334
17,502
Amortization of intangible assets
 
1,089
1,212
 
3,408
3,343
Legal and professional fees
 
1,897
1,703
 
5,363
5,650
Office supplies and postage
 
1,566
1,345
 
4,579
4,195
Business development and marketing
 
1,973
1,312
 
5,256
4,360
FDIC insurance premiums
 
923
919
 
2,923
2,728
Acquisition expenses
 
71
4,796
 
71
5,221
Other
 
3,631
4,046
 
10,558
10,330
  Total noninterest expenses
 
$55,044
$56,085
 
$163,972
$154,858
             
Operating expenses(1)/average assets
 
2.99%
2.68%
 
2.99%
2.78%
Efficiency ratio(2)
 
58.6%
56.5%
 
59.6%
57.2%
             
 
(1)  
Operating expenses is calculated as total noninterest expenses less acquisition expenses and amortization
of intangibles.
(2)  
Efficiency ratio is calculated as operating expenses as defined in (1) divided by net interest income on a fully
tax-equivalent basis plus noninterest income less gain on sales of investment securities and loss on debt
extinguishments, net.

 
36

 
 
As shown in Table 5, operating expenses were $55.0 million and $164.0 million for the third quarter and YTD periods of 2013, respectively, a decrease of $1.0 million or 1.9% as compared to the third quarter of 2012 and an increase of $9.1 million or 5.9% from the prior YTD period.  Included in operating expenses for the quarter and year-to-date periods of 2013 are $0.1 million of non-recurring expenses related to the acquisition of the B of A branches, as compared to non-recurring expense of $4.8 million and $5.2 million included in the third quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012, respectively, related to the acquisition of the HSBC and First Niagara branches.  Excluding these non-recurring expenses, operating expenses increased $3.7 million or 7.2% and $14.3 million or 9.5% for the quarter and YTD periods, respectively, as compared to the comparable periods of 2012, reflective of additional operating costs associated with the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions completed in the third quarter of 2012 and higher volume based costs associated with revenue growth at the Company’s financial services businesses.

Salaries and employee benefits increased $2.3 million or 8.3%, and $8.8 million or 10.7% for the third quarter and YTD periods, primarily due to the addition of approximately 145 employees from the HSBC and First Niagara branch acquisitions, as well as the impact of annual merit increases.  Additional changes to operating expenses can be attributable to higher data processing and communications (up $0.9 million for the quarter and up $2.8 million YTD), occupancy and equipment (down $0.1 million for the quarter and up $1.1 million YTD), and business development and marketing (up $0.7 million for the quarter and up $0.9 million YTD), partially offset by lower non-recurring acquisition costs (down $4.7 million for the quarter and down $5.1 million YTD).  The aforementioned acquisitions had a significant impact on the increases of each of these expense categories, reflecting the additional cost of operating an expanded franchise for the entire period in 2013, including customer service and account processing.  The increase in business development and marketing costs includes the impact of rebranding the Pennsylvania portion of the Company’s franchise during the third quarter of 2013.
 
The Company’s efficiency ratio (total operating expenses excluding intangible amortization and acquisition expenses divided by the sum of net interest income (FTE) and noninterest income excluding gain/(loss) on investment securities and debt extinguishment costs) was 58.6% for the third quarter, 2.1 percentage points unfavorable to the comparable quarter of 2012.  This resulted from operating expenses (as described above) increasing 7.6% driven by higher costs associated with business expansion, while recurring operating income increased at a lower 3.7% rate, impacted by modest organic growth of deposit balances.  The efficiency ratio of 59.6% for the first nine months of 2013 increased 2.4 percentage points from a year earlier due to core operating expenses increasing 9.7% while recurring operating income increased at 5.3% rate.  Operating expenses, excluding intangible amortization and acquisition expenses, as a percentage of average assets increased 31 basis points and 21 basis points for the quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively.  Operating expenses (as defined above) increased 7.6% for the quarter and 9.7% for the year-to-date period, while average assets decreased 3.7% for the quarter and increased 2.0% for the year-to-date period impacted by the balance sheet restructuring.

Income Taxes

The third quarter and YTD effective income tax rate for 2013 was 29.2%, as compared to 29.1% effective tax rates for the comparable periods of 2012, reflective of a consistent level of non-taxable income to total income in the two nine-month periods.
 
Investments

The carrying value of investments (including unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities) was $2.52 billion at the end of the third quarter, a decrease of $300.0 million from December 31, 2012 and a decrease of $376.7 million from September 30, 2012.  The book value (excluding unrealized gains) of investments decreased $164.7 million from December 31, 2012 and $229.2 million from September 30, 2012.  In March 2012, the Company purchased approximately $600 million of U.S. Treasury securities utilizing cash flows from deposit growth, maturing loans and investments and short-term borrowings.  After the closing of the branch purchases in the third quarter of 2012, all short-term borrowings were extinguished.  As part of the ongoing asset liability management process, the Company had been evaluating the opportunity to restructure certain portions of the balance sheet.  During the first quarter of 2013, the Company initiated a balance sheet restructuring program through the sale of certain longer duration investment securities and retired a portion of the Company’s existing FHLB borrowings.  During the first half of 2013, the Company sold $648.7 million of U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, realizing $63.8 million of gains that supported the retirement of $501.6 million of FHLB borrowings.  These actions enhanced the Company’s regulatory capital position and reduced the expected duration of the investment portfolio, while positively impacting expected future net interest income generation.  During the third quarter of 2013, the Company purchased $200 million of U.S. Treasury securities in anticipation of the excess funding expected from the pending branch acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2013.

With these sales, the overall mix of securities within the portfolio over the last nine months has changed, with a decrease in the proportion of US Treasury and Agency securities and an increase in the proportion of obligations of state and political subdivisions.  The change in the carrying value of investments is also impacted by the amount of net unrealized gains in the available-for-sale portfolio at a point in time.  At September 30, 2013, the portfolio had a $3.8 million net unrealized loss, a decrease of $147.5 million from the unrealized gain at September 30, 2012 and a $135.3 million decline from the unrealized gain at December 31, 2012.  These changes in the unrealized gain(loss) are indicative of the recent sales of securities as well as the recent increase in longer-term interest rates.  Although not reflected in the financial results of the Company, the held-to-maturity portfolio had $38.8 million of net unrealized gains as of September 30, 2013.

 
37

 
 
Table 6: Investment Securities

   
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
September 30, 2012
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
   
Amortized
 
   
Cost/Book
Fair
 
Cost/Book
Fair
 
Cost/Book
Fair
(000's omitted)
 
Value
Value
 
Value
Value
 
Value
Value
                   
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio:
                 
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
 
$540,649
$576,485
 
$548,634
$607,715
 
$547,962  
$611,568   
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
61,638
64,501
 
65,742
71,592
 
66,484  
72,639   
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
12,706
12,746
 
20,578
21,657
 
24,147  
25,606   
Corporate debt securities
 
2,909
2,948
 
2,924
2,977
 
2,929  
2,985   
Other securities
 
8
8
 
16
16
 
18  
18   
     Total held-to-maturity portfolio
 
617,910
656,688
 
637,894
703,957
 
641,540  
712,816   
                   
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                 
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
 
888,404
877,272
 
988,217
1,079,257
 
986,602  
1,085,753   
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
 
621,802
625,995
 
629,883
662,892
 
672,775  
707,321   
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
 
238,348
244,899
 
253,013
269,951
 
267,673  
288,295   
Pooled trust preferred securities
 
56,540
51,251
 
61,979
49,600
 
63,970  
50,837   
Corporate debt securities
 
24,055
24,807
 
24,136
25,357
 
24,163  
25,549   
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
    22,996   23,936     32,359   33,935     35,897   36,975
Marketable equity securities
 
351
492
 
351
402
 
351  
374   
     Total available-for-sale portfolio
 
1,852,496
1,848,652
 
1,989,938
2,121,394
 
2,051,431  
2,195,104   
                   
Other Securities:
                 
Federal Home Loan Bank common stock
 
31,187
31,187
 
38,111
38,111
 
38,113  
38,113   
Federal Reserve Bank common stock
 
16,050
16,050
 
16,050
16,050
 
15,451  
15,451   
Other equity securities
 
4,775
4,775
 
5,078
5,078
 
5,077  
5,077   
     Total other securities
 
52,012
52,012
 
59,239
59,239
 
58,641  
58,641   
                   
Total investments
 
$2,522,418
$2,557,352
 
$2,687,071
$2,884,590
 
$2,751,612
$2,966,561   

Included in the available-for-sale portfolio, as detailed in Table 7, are pooled trust preferred, class A-1 securities with a current par value of $57.7 million and unrealized losses of $5.3 million at September 30, 2013.  The underlying collateral of these assets is principally trust preferred securities of smaller regional banks and insurance companies.  The Company’s securities are in the super-senior cash flow tranche of the investment pools.  All other tranches in these pools will incur losses before this tranche is impacted.  As of September 30, 2013, an additional 41% - 44% of the underlying collateral would have to be in deferral or default concurrently to result in the potential non-receipt of contractual cash flows.  The market for these securities at September 30, 2013 is not active and markets for similar securities are also not active.  The inactivity was evidenced first by a significant widening of the bid-ask spread in the brokered markets in which these securities trade and then by a significant decrease in the volume of trades relative to historical levels.

The fair value of these securities was determined by external pricing sources using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated market estimates of interest rates and volatility, as well as observable quoted prices for similar assets in markets that have not been active.  These assumptions may have a significant effect on the reported fair values.  The use of different assumptions, as well as changes in market conditions, could result in materially different fair values.

A detailed review of the pooled trust preferred securities was completed for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.  This review included an analysis of collateral reports, a cash flow analysis, including varying degrees of projected deferral/default scenarios, and a review of various financial ratios of the underlying issuers.  Based on the analysis performed, significant further deferral/defaults and further erosion in other underlying performance conditions would have to exist before the Company would incur a loss.  Based on the analysis performed, the Company determined an OTTI did not exist at September 30, 2013.  To date, the Company has received all scheduled principal and interest payments and expects to fully collect all future contractual principal and interest payments.  The Company does not intend to, nor is it likely that it will be required to, sell the underlying securities.  These securities represent less than 1% of the Company’s earning-assets as of September 30, 2013 and thus are not relied upon for meeting the daily liquidity needs of the Company.  Subsequent changes in market or credit conditions could change these evaluations.

 
38

 

Table 7: Pooled Trust Preferred Securities as of September 30, 2013

(000’s omitted)
 
PreTSL XXVI
 
PreTSL XXVII
 
PreTSL XXVIII
             
Single issuer or pooled
 
Pooled
 
Pooled
 
Pooled
Class
 
A-1
 
A-1
 
A-1
Book value at 9/30/13
 
$15,983
 
$20,118
 
$20,439
Fair value at 9/30/13
 
14,349
 
17,979
 
18,923
Unrealized loss at 9/30/13
 
1,634
 
2,139
 
1,516
Rating (Moody’s/Fitch/S&P)
 
(A3/A/BB-)
 
(A2/A/BB-)
 
(A3/BBB/B)
Number of depository institutions/companies in issuance
 
61/68
 
40/47
 
43/52
Deferrals and defaults as a percentage of collateral
 
30.2%
 
26.1%
 
25.2%
Excess subordination
 
41.9%
 
38.9%
 
39.1%

Loans

As shown in Table 8, loans ended the third quarter at $4.03 billion, up $213.0 million or 5.6% from one year earlier and up $159.9 million or 4.1% from the end of 2012.  The growth during the last twelve months was attributable to strong organic growth in the consumer mortgage and the consumer indirect installment portfolios, partially offset by the continued soft demand in a very competitive business lending market and declining demand for home equity loans.

Table 8: Loans

(000's omitted)
 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
September 30, 2012
Consumer mortgage
 
$1,570,607
39.0%
 
$1,448,415
37.5%
 
$1,390,130
36.4%
Business lending
 
1,214,796
30.2%
 
1,233,944
31.9%
 
1,233,928
32.4%
Consumer indirect
 
713,310
17.7%
 
647,518
16.8%
 
642,196
16.8%
Consumer direct
 
178,496
4.4%
 
171,474
4.4%
 
173,710
4.6%
Home equity
 
348,246
8.7%
 
364,225
9.4%
 
372,493
9.8%
  Total loans
 
$4,025,455
100.0%
 
$3,865,576
100.0%
 
$3,812,457
100.0%

Consumer mortgages increased $180.5 million or 13.0% from one year ago and increased $122.2 million or 8.4% from December 31, 2012.  Consumer mortgage volume has been strong over the last few years due to historically low long-term rates and comparatively stable real estate valuations in the Company’s primary markets.  The consumer real estate portfolio does not include exposure to subprime or other higher-risk mortgage products.  The Company chose to retain in portfolio almost all of mortgage production in the first quarter of 2013 and sold $17.2 million in the secondary market during the second and third quarters of 2013.  Interest rate levels and expected duration continue to be the most significant factors in determining whether the Company chooses to retain, versus sell and service, portions of its new mortgage production.

The combined total of general-purpose business lending to commercial and industrial customers, mortgages on commercial property and dealer floor plan financing is characterized as the Company’s business lending activity.  The business lending portfolio decreased $19.1 million from both September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012, as contractual and other unscheduled principal reductions continued to offset new loan generation.  Soft customer demand and highly competitive conditions continue to prevail in the small and middle market segments the Company operates in due primarily to general economic conditions.  The Company maintains its commitment to generating growth in its business portfolio in a manner that adheres to its twin goals of maintaining strong asset quality and producing profitable margins.  The Company continues to invest in additional personnel, technology and business development resources to further strengthen its capabilities in this important product category.

Consumer installment loans, both those originated directly (such as personal installment and lines of credit), and indirectly (originated predominantly in automobile, marine and recreational vehicle dealerships), increased $75.9 million or 9.3% on a year-over-year basis and increased $72.8 million or 8.9% as compared to December 31, 2012.  During the first quarter of 2013 the consumer installment portfolio declined $13.8 million, consistent with seasonal expectations and regional demand characteristics, then increased $30.4 million in the second quarter and $56.2 million in the third quarter of 2013.  The volume of new and used vehicle sales to upper tier credit profile customers in the Company’s primary markets remains stable and favorable.  The Company is focused on maintaining the solid profitability produced by its in-market and contiguous market indirect portfolio, while continuing to pursue its disciplined, long-term approach to expanding its dealer network.  It is expected that continued improvement in the automotive market will enable the Company to maintain its ability to produce solid long-term indirect loan growth.

Home equity loans decreased $24.2 million or 6.5% from one year ago, in part due to home equity loans being paid off or down as part of the high level of mortgage refinancing activity that occurred over the past 12 months in the low rate environment.  In addition, home equity utilization has been adversely impacted by the heightened level of consumer deleveraging that is occurring in response to continued low growth economic conditions.


 
39

 
 
Asset Quality

Table 9 below exhibits the major components of nonperforming loans and assets and key asset quality metrics for the periods ending September 30, 2013 and 2012 and December 31, 2012.
 
Table 9: Nonperforming Assets
 
   
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2013
 
2012
 
2012
Nonaccrual loans
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
$11,622
 
$11,286
 
$9,764
  Business lending
 
7,705
 
13,691
 
16,122
  Consumer indirect
 
14
 
0
 
0
  Consumer direct
 
4
 
8
 
0
  Home equity
 
2,368
 
1,375
 
1,484
     Total nonaccrual loans
 
21,713
 
26,360
 
27,370
Accruing loans 90+ days delinquent
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
1,971
 
1,818
 
2,344
  Business lending
 
5
 
247
 
696
  Consumer indirect
 
380
 
73
 
141
  Consumer direct
 
161
 
71
 
31
  Home equity
 
133
 
539
 
137
     Total accruing loans 90+ days delinquent
 
2,650
 
2,748
 
3,349
Nonperforming loans
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
13,593
 
13,104
 
12,108
  Business lending
 
7,710
 
13,938
 
16,818
  Consumer indirect
 
394
 
73
 
141
  Consumer direct
 
165
 
79
 
31
  Home equity
 
2,501
 
1,914
 
1,621
     Total nonperforming loans
 
24,363
 
29,108
 
30,719
             
Other real estate owned (OREO)
 
5,218
 
4,788
 
3,384
     Total nonperforming assets
 
$29,581
 
$33,896
 
$34,103
             
Nonperforming loans / total loans
 
0.61%
 
0.75%
 
0.81%
Nonperforming assets / total loans and other real estate
 
0.73%
 
0.88%
 
0.89%
Delinquent loans (30 days old to nonaccruing) to total loans
 
1.48%
 
1.92%
 
1.79%
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding (quarterly)
 
0.14%
 
0.23%
 
0.18%
Net charge-offs to average legacy loans outstanding (quarterly)
 
0.17%
 
0.19%
 
0.21%
Loan loss provision to net charge-offs (quarterly)
 
147%
 
108%
 
160%
Legacy loan loss provision to net charge-offs (quarterly) (1)
 
126%
 
116%
 
119%
 
(1) Legacy loans exclude loans acquired after January 1, 2009.  These ratios are included for comparative purposes to
    prior periods.

As displayed in Table 9, nonperforming assets at September 30, 2013 were $29.6 million, a $4.3 million decrease versus the level at the end of 2012 and a $4.5 million decrease as compared to one year earlier.  Nonperforming loans decreased $4.7 million from year-end 2012 and were down $6.4 million from September 30, 2012. Other real estate owned (“OREO”) at September 30, 2013 of $5.2 million increased $0.4 million and $1.8 million from December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012, respectively.  The Company is managing 39 OREO properties at September 30, 2013 as compared to 26 OREO properties at December 31, 2012 and 24 OREO properties at September 30, 2012.  Nonperforming loans were 0.61% of total loans outstanding at the end of the third quarter, 14 and 20 basis points lower than the levels at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012, respectively.


 
40

 


Approximately 32% of the nonperforming loans at September 30, 2013 are related to the business lending portfolio, which is comprised of business loans broadly diversified by industry type.  The level of non-performing business loans have continued to decline and are now more consistent with longer-term average results.  Approximately 56% of nonperforming loans at September 30, 2013 are related to the consumer mortgage portfolio.  Collateral values of residential properties within the Company’s market area have generally trended lower over the past few years, although they did not experience the significant decline in values that other parts of the country encountered.  However, the continued soft economic conditions and comparatively high unemployment levels have adversely impacted consumers and businesses alike, and have resulted in higher mortgage nonperforming levels.  Additionally, contributing to the increased level of nonperforming consumer mortgages is the increased length of time driven by new regulatory requirements to complete the consumer foreclosure process.  The remaining 12 percent of nonperforming loans relate to consumer installment and home equity loans.  The allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans ratio, a general measure of coverage adequacy, was 181% at the end of the third quarter, as compared to 147% at year-end 2012 and 139% at September 30, 2012.
 
Members of senior management, special asset officers and lenders review all delinquent and nonaccrual loans and OREO regularly in order to identify deteriorating situations, monitor known problem credits and discuss any needed changes to collection efforts, if warranted.  Based on the group’s consensus, a relationship may be assigned a special assets officer or other senior lending officer to review the loan, meet with the borrowers, assess the collateral and recommend an action plan.  This plan could include foreclosure, restructuring loans, issuing demand letters or other actions.  The Company’s larger criticized credits are also reviewed on a quarterly basis by senior credit administration, special assets and commercial lending management to monitor their status and discuss relationship management plans.  Commercial lending management reviews the criticized loan portfolio on a monthly basis.

Delinquent loans (30 days past due through nonaccruing) as a percent of total loans was 1.48% at the end of the third quarter, 44 basis points below the 1.92% at year-end 2012 and 31 basis points lower than the 1.79% at September 30, 2012.  The delinquency rate for business lending, consumer mortgage and consumer direct decreased as compared to both December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012.  The consumer indirect and home equity loan delinquency ratios at the end of the third quarter decreased in comparison to December 31, 2012 but were higher than the delinquency ratio at September 30, 2012.  The Company’s success at keeping the non-performing and delinquency ratios at manageable levels despite soft economic conditions has been the result of its continued focus on maintaining strict underwriting standards, as well as the effective utilization of its collection and recovery capabilities.

Table 10: Allowance for Loan Losses Activity

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2013
2012
 
2013
2012
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period
 
$43,473
$41,828
 
$42,888
$42,213
Charge-offs:
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
217
293
 
817
712
  Business lending
 
1,071
1,100
 
2,134
4,327
  Consumer indirect
 
1,186
1,460
 
3,075
3,633
  Consumer direct
 
348
344
 
1,300
1,074
  Home equity
 
59
39
 
379
220
     Total charge-offs
 
2,881
3,236
 
7,705
9,966
Recoveries:
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
2
17
 
15
34
  Business lending
 
375
454
 
619
787
  Consumer indirect
 
811
850
 
2,682
2,674
  Consumer direct
 
206
259
 
761
613
  Home equity
 
4
2
 
16
20
     Total recoveries
 
1,398
1,582
 
4,093
4,128
Net charge-offs
 
1,483
1,654
 
3,612
5,838
Provision for loans losses
 
2,093
2,643
 
4,807
6,442
Allowance for loan losses at end of period
 
$44,083
$42,817
 
$44,083
$42,817
Allowance for loan losses / total loans
 
1.10%
1.12%
 
1.10%
1.12%
Allowance for legacy loan losses / total legacy loans (1)
 
1.16%
1.24%
 
1.16%
1.24%
Allowance for loan losses / nonperforming loans
 
181%
139%
 
181%
139%
Allowance for legacy loan losses  / nonperforming loans (1)
 
215%
167%
 
215%
167%
Net charge-offs (annualized) to average loans outstanding:
           
  Consumer mortgage
 
0.05%
0.08%
 
0.07%
0.07%
  Business lending
 
0.21%
0.21%
 
0.16%
0.39%
  Consumer indirect
 
0.22%
0.39%
 
0.08%
0.22%
  Consumer direct
 
0.31%
0.20%
 
0.41%
0.39%
  Home equity
 
0.06%
0.04%
 
0.14%
0.08%
  Total loans
 
0.14%
0.18%
 
0.12%
0.22%
             
(1)  
Legacy loans exclude loans acquired after January 1, 2009.  These ratios are included for comparative purposes
to prior periods.

 
41

 

As displayed in Table 10, net charge-offs during the third quarter of 2013 were $1.5 million, $0.2 million lower than the equivalent 2012 period.  Net charge-offs for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were $3.6 million, $2.2 million lower than the first nine months of 2012.  Third quarter net charge-offs for the business lending, consumer mortgage and the consumer indirect portfolio decreased as compared to the equivalent prior year period.  Net charge-offs for the consumer direct and home equity portfolios experienced higher levels of net charge-offs in the third quarter of 2013 as compared to the third quarter of 2012.  The net charge-off ratio (net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding) for the third quarter of 2013 was 0.14%, 13 basis points and four basis points lower than the fourth quarter and third quarter of 2012, respectively.  Net charge-offs and the corresponding net charge-off ratios continue to be below average long-term historical levels.

Provision for loan losses was $2.1 million in the third quarter, $0.6 million below the equivalent prior year period.  The third quarter 2013 loan loss provision was $0.6 million higher than the level of net charge-offs for the quarter, reflective of the growth in the portfolio and the continuation of generally stable and favorable asset quality metrics.  The $4.8 million provision for loan losses for the first nine months of 2013 was comprised of a $4.6 million provision for legacy loans and a $0.2 million provision for acquired impaired loans.  The combined YTD provision was $1.62 million lower than the equivalent prior year period.  The allowance for loan losses of $44.1 million as of September 30, 2013 increased $1.3 million from the level one year ago.  The increased proportion of lower-risk consumer mortgage loans in the portfolio have a major influence on the determination of reserve levels, resulting in an allowance for loan loss to total legacy loans ratio of 1.16% at September 30, 2013, eight basis points lower than September 30, 2012 and five basis points lower than year-end 2012.

As of September 30, 2013, the purchase discount related to the $364 million of remaining non-impaired loan balances acquired from HSBC, First Niagara and Wilber National Bank approximated $13.3 million or 3.7% of that portfolio, with an additional $1.0 million included in the allowance for loan losses for acquired loans where the carrying value exceeded the estimated net recoverable value.

Deposits

As shown in Table 11, average deposits of $5.65 billion in the third quarter were up $172.7 million compared to the third quarter of 2012 and increased $5.7 million versus the fourth quarter of last year.  The mix of average deposits has been changing throughout the last several years.  The weightings of core deposits (noninterest checking, interest checking, savings and money markets accounts) have increased from their year-ago levels, while the proportion of time deposits decreased.  This change in deposit mix reflects the Company’s goal of expanding core account relationships and reducing higher cost time deposit balances, as well as the preference of certain customers to hold more funds in liquid accounts in the low interest rate environment.  This shift in mix, combined with the Company’s ability to reduce rates due to market conditions, resulted in the quarterly cost of interest-bearing deposits to decline from 0.40% in the third quarter of 2012 to 0.22% in the most recent quarter.  The Company continues to focus heavily on growing its core deposit relationships through its proactive marketing efforts, competitive product offerings and high quality customer service.

Average third quarter non-public fund deposits were consistent with the fourth quarter of 2012 and increased $160.3 million or 3.2% compared to the year earlier period.  Average public fund deposits for the third quarter increased $4.3 million, or 0.8%, from the fourth quarter 2012 and $12.5 million or 2.5%, from the third quarter of 2012.  Public fund deposits as a percentage of total deposits of 9.1% in the current quarter was consistent with the 9.2% in the third quarter 2012.

Table 11: Quarterly Average Deposits

   
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
(000's omitted)
 
2013
 
2012
 
2012
Noninterest checking deposits
 
$1,138,039
 
$1,098,193
 
$1,066,689
Interest checking deposits
 
1,191,928
 
1,130,859
 
1,078,544
Regular savings deposits
 
999,293
 
940,180
 
896,789
Money market deposits
 
1,400,342
 
1,438,139
 
1,368,151
Time deposits
 
919,636
 
1,036,169
 
1,066,329
  Total deposits
 
$5,649,238
 
$5,643,540
 
$5,476,502
             
Nonpublic fund deposits
 
$5,133,202
 
$5,131,777
 
$4,972,939
Public fund deposits
 
516,036
 
511,763
 
503,563
  Total deposits
 
$5,649,238
 
$5,643,540
 
$5,476,502


 
42

 
 
Borrowings

At the end of the third quarter, external borrowings of $669.2 million were $160.9 million or 19% lower than borrowings at December 31, 2012, and were $161.0 million lower than the end of the third quarter of 2012.  Short term borrowings from the FHLB were used to fund the purchase of investment securities during the first half of 2012 as part of the pre-investment of the anticipated liquidity coming from the pending branch acquisitions.  Upon the completion of the HSBC branch acquisition in July of 2012, these additional borrowings were repaid.  As part of the ongoing asset liability management process, the Company had been evaluating the opportunity to restructure certain portions of the balance sheet.  During the first half of 2013, the Company initiated a balance sheet restructuring program through the sale of certain longer duration investment securities and retired $501.6 million of the Company’s existing FHLB borrowings with $63.5 million of early extinguishment costs.  These actions enhanced the Company’s regulatory capital position and reduced the expected duration of the investment portfolio, while positively impacting expected future net interest income generation.  During the third quarter of 2013, the Company used $200 million of short-term borrowings to purchase U.S. Treasury securities in anticipation of the excess funding expected from the pending branch acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2013.  The 2.02% cost of funds on total borrowings in the third quarter was 154 basis points lower than the year-earlier period due to the balance sheet restructuring.

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity of $865.7 million at the end of the third quarter declined $37.1 million from the balance at December 31, 2012, primarily due to the cost associated with the early retirement of FHLB borrowings during the first half of 2013.  The decrease consisted of an $82.7 million decrease in other comprehensive income, due to the sale of investment securities and an increase in long-term interest rates, and dividends declared of $32.8 million, partially offset by net income of $63.3 million, $12.1 million from shares issued under the employee stock plan and $3.0 million from employee stock options earned.  The change in other comprehensive income/(loss) was comprised of a $84.5 million decrease in the after-tax market value adjustment on the available for sale investment portfolio due mostly to the sale of investment securities during the first half of 2013 and a rise in long-term interest rates, partially offset by a positive $1.8 million adjustment to the funded status of the Company’s retirement plans.  Over the past 12 months, total shareholders’ equity decreased by $38.9 million, as a lower market value adjustment on investments and dividends declared more than offset the issuance of common stock, net income, the change in the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans.

The Company’s Tier I leverage ratio, a primary measure of regulatory capital for which 5% is the requirement to be “well-capitalized”, was 9.39% at the end of the third quarter, up 99 basis points from year-end 2012 and 107 basis points higher than its level one year earlier.  The increase in the Tier I leverage ratio compared to December 31, 2012 is the result of shareholders’ equity excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income items increasing 8.9% while average assets excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment on investments declined 2.6%.  A significant portion of these changes were attributable to the sale of investment securities in the first half of 2013 which lowered average assets.  The Tier I leverage ratio increased as compared to the prior year’s third quarter as shareholders’ equity, excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income increased 11.1%, while average assets excluding intangibles and the market value adjustment decreased 1.5%, due to strong earnings retention and the sale of investment securities in the first half of 2013.  The net tangible equity-to-assets ratio (a non-GAAP measure) of 7.38% decreased 24 basis points from December 31, 2012 and 16 basis points versus September 30, 2012.  The decrease in the tangible equity ratio from the prior year was mostly attributable to a proportionally larger decrease in tangible equity than the decline in asset levels due to a significant reduction of investment market value adjustment as a result of the sale of investment securities and higher interest rates.
 
The dividend payout ratio (dividends declared divided by net income) for the first nine months of 2013 was 51.8%, down from 53.5% for the first nine months of 2012.  Net income increased 8.7% over the prior year period, while dividends declared increased 5.3%.  The Company’s quarterly dividend per share was raised from $0.27 to $0.28 in July 2013 and the number of common shares outstanding increased 1.8% over the last twelve months.

Liquidity

Liquidity risk is a measure of the Company’s ability to raise cash when needed at a reasonable cost and minimize any loss.  The Bank maintains appropriate liquidity levels in both normal operating environments as well as stressed environments.  The Company must be capable of meeting all obligations to its customers at any time and, therefore, the active management of its liquidity position remains an important management role.  The Bank has appointed the Asset Liability Committee to manage liquidity risk using policy guidelines and limits on indicators of potential liquidity risk.  The indicators are monitored using a scorecard with three risk level limits.  These risk indicators measure core liquidity and funding needs, capital at risk and change in available funding sources.  The risk indicators are monitored using such statistics as the core basic surplus ratio, unencumbered securities to average assets, free loan collateral to average assets, loans to deposits, deposits to total funding and borrowings to total funding ratios.


 
43

 
 
Given the uncertain nature of our customers' demands as well as the Company's desire to take advantage of earnings enhancement opportunities, the Company must have available adequate sources of on and off-balance sheet funds that can be acquired in time of need.  Accordingly, in addition to the liquidity provided by balance sheet cash flows, liquidity must be supplemented with additional sources such as credit lines from correspondent banks, borrowings from the FHLB and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.  Other funding alternatives may also be appropriate from time to time, including wholesale and retail repurchase agreements, large certificates of deposit and the brokered CD market.  The primary source of non-deposit funds are FHLB advances, of which $567 million are outstanding.

The Bank’s primary sources of liquidity are its liquid assets, as well as unencumbered securities that can be used to collateralize additional funding.  At September 30, 2013, the Bank had $174 million of cash and cash equivalents of which $16 million are interest earning deposits held at the Federal Reserve, FHLB and other correspondent banks.  The Bank also had $712 million in unused FHLB borrowing capacity based on the Company’s quarter-end collateral levels.  Additionally, the Company has $1.4 billion of unencumbered securities that could be pledged at the FHLB or Federal Reserve to obtain additional funding.  There is $65 million available in unsecured lines of credit with other correspondent banks.

The Company’s primary approach to measuring short-term liquidity is known as the Basic Surplus/Deficit model.  It is used to calculate liquidity over two time periods: first, the amount of cash that could be made available within 30 days (calculated as liquid assets less short-term liabilities as a percentage of average assets); and second, a projection of subsequent cash availability over an additional 60 days.  As of September 30, 2013, this ratio was 19.3% for 30-days and 19.2% for 90-days, excluding the Company's capacity to borrow additional funds from the FHLB and other sources.  There is a sufficient amount of liquidity given the Company’s internal policy requirement of 7.5%.

A sources and uses statement is used by the Company to measure intermediate liquidity risk over the next twelve months.  As of September 30, 2013, there is more than enough liquidity available during the next year to cover projected cash outflows.  In addition, stress tests on the cash flows are performed in various scenarios ranging from high probability events with a low impact on the liquidity position to low probability events with a high impact on the liquidity position.  The results of the stress tests as of September 30, 2013 indicate the Bank has sufficient sources of funds for the next year in all stressed scenarios.

To measure longer-term liquidity, a baseline projection of loan and deposit growth for five years is made to reflect how liquidity levels could change over time.  This five-year measure reflects ample liquidity for loan and other asset growth over the next five years.

Though remote, the possibility of a funding crisis exists at all financial institutions.  Accordingly, management has addressed this issue by formulating a Liquidity Contingency Plan, which has been reviewed and approved by both the Board of Directors and the Company’s Asset Liability Management Committee.  The plan addresses the actions that the Company would take in response to both a short-term and long-term funding crisis.

A short-term funding crisis would most likely result from a shock to the financial system, either internal or external, which disrupts orderly short-term funding operations.  Such a crisis should be temporary in nature and would not involve a change in credit ratings.  A long-term funding crisis would most likely be the result of drastic credit deterioration at the Company.  Management believes that both potential circumstances have been fully addressed through detailed action plans and the establishment of trigger points for monitoring such events.


 
44

 
 
Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which involve significant risks and uncertainties.  Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Moreover, the Company’s plans, objectives and intentions are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control).  Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include:  (1) risks related to credit quality, interest rate sensitivity and liquidity;  (2) the strength of the U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies where the Company conducts its business;  (3) the effect of, and changes in, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;  (4) inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations;  (5) the timely development of new products and services and customer perception of the overall value thereof (including, but not limited to, features, pricing and quality) compared to competing products and services;  (6) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;  (7) technological changes and implementation and cost/financial risks with respect to transitioning to new computer and technology based systems involving large multi-year contracts;  (8) the ability of the Company to maintain the security of its financial, accounting, technology, data processing and other operating systems and facilities;  (9) any acquisitions or mergers that might be considered or consummated by the Company and the costs and factors associated therewith, including differences in the actual financial results of the acquisition or merger compared to expectations and the realization of anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements;  (10) the ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses;  (11) the nature, timing and effect of changes in banking regulations or other regulatory or legislative requirements affecting the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, including changes in laws and regulations concerning taxes, accounting, banking, securities and other aspects of the financial services industry, specifically the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010;  (12) changes in the Company’s organization, compensation and benefit plans and in the availability of, and compensation levels for, employees in its geographic markets;  (13) the outcome of pending or future litigation and government proceedings; (14) other risk factors outlined in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time; and (15) the success of the Company at managing the risks of the foregoing.

The foregoing list of important factors is not all-inclusive.  Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.  If the Company does update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that the Company would make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market rates, prices or credit risk.  Credit risk associated with the Company's loan portfolio has been previously discussed in the asset quality section of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.  Management believes that the tax risk of the Company's municipal investments associated with potential future changes in statutory, judicial and regulatory actions is minimal.  Other than the pooled trust preferred securities discussed beginning on page 38, the Company has a minimal amount of credit risk in the remainder of its investment portfolio.  Treasury, agency, mortgage-backed and CMO securities issued by government agencies comprise 69% of the total portfolio and are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services and AA+ by Standard & Poor’s.  Municipal and corporate bonds (excluding the pooled trust preferred securities) account for 29% of the total portfolio, of which, 98% carry a minimum rating of A.  The remaining 2% of the portfolio is comprised of other investment grade securities and pooled trust preferred securities.  The Company does not have material foreign currency exchange rate risk exposure.  Therefore, almost all the market risk in the investment portfolio is related to interest rates.

The ongoing monitoring and management of both interest rate risk and liquidity, in the short and long term time horizons is an important component of the Company's asset/liability management process, which is governed by limits established in the policies reviewed and approved annually by the Company’s Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors delegates responsibility for carrying out the policies to the Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”), which meets each month.  The committee is made up of the Company's senior management as well as regional and line-of-business managers who oversee specific earning asset classes and various funding sources.  As the Company does not believe it is possible to reliably predict future interest rate movements, it has maintained an appropriate process and set of measurement tools, which enables it to identify and quantify sources of interest rate risk in varying rate environments.  The primary tool used by the Company in managing interest rate risk is income simulation.


 
45

 
 
While a wide variety of strategic balance sheet and treasury yield curve scenarios are tested on an ongoing basis, the following reflects the Company's projected net interest income sensitivity over the subsequent twelve months based on:

·  
Asset and liability levels using September 30, 2013 as a starting point.

·  
There are assumed to be conservative levels of balance sheet growth, low to mid single digit growth in loans and deposits, while using the cash flows from investment contractual maturities and prepayments to repay short-term capital market borrowings or reinvest into securities or cash equivalents.

·  
The prime rate and federal funds rates are assumed to move up 200 basis points over a 12-month period while moving the long end of the treasury curve to spreads over federal funds that are more consistent with historical norms (normalized yield curve).  In the 0 basis point model, the prime and federal funds rates remain at current levels while moving the long end of the curve to levels over federal funds using spreads at a time when the yield curve was flat.  Deposit rates are assumed to move in a manner that reflects the historical relationship between deposit rate movement and changes in the federal funds rate.

·  
Cash flows are based on contractual maturity, optionality, and amortization schedules along with applicable prepayments derived from internal historical data and external sources.

Net Interest Income Sensitivity Model
 
 Change in interest rates
Calculated annualized
increase (decrease) in
projected net interest income
at September 30, 2013
+200 basis points
($4,813,000)
0 basis points
($461,000)

The modeled net interest income (NII) decreases in a rising rate environment from a flat rate scenario.  The decrease is largely a result of assumed deposit and funding costs increasing faster than the repricing of corresponding of assets.  In the short term (year 1-2) the assumed increase of deposit rates in the rising rate environment temporarily outweighs the benefit of earning asset yields increasing to higher levels.  However, over a longer time period (year 3-5), the growth in NII improves significantly in a rising rate environment as lower yielding assets mature and are replaced at higher rates.   

In the 0 basis point model, the Bank shows interest rate risk exposure if the yield curve continues to flatten.  Net interest income declines during the first twelve months as investment cash flows increase, partially offset by the slight increase of short term asset rates, as the intermediate points of the curve move to higher levels as the yield curve flattens.  Corresponding deposit rates are assumed to remain constant.  Despite Fed Funds trading near 0%, the Company believes long-term treasury rates could potentially fall further in this scenario, and thus, the model tests the impact of this lower treasury rate scenario.

The analysis does not represent a Company forecast and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results.  These hypothetical estimates are based upon numerous assumptions: the nature and timing of interest rate levels (including yield curve shape), prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows, and other factors.  While the assumptions are developed based upon current economic and local market conditions, the Company cannot make any assurances as to the predictive nature of these assumptions, including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change.  Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect actions that ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a -15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), designed to ensure information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is : (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Based on management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, it has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2013.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company regularly assesses the adequacy of its internal controls over financial reporting.  There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting in connection with the evaluation referenced in the paragraph above that occurred during the Company’s quarter ended September 30, 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
46

 
 
Part II.                      Other Information

Item 1.                      Legal Proceedings

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings in which claims for monetary damages are asserted.  As of September 30, 2013, management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the aggregate ultimate liability arising out of litigation pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position.  On at least a quarterly basis, the Company assesses its liabilities and contingencies in connection with such legal proceedings.  For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

There has not been any material change in the risk factors disclosure from that contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2013.

Item 2.                      Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

a)  Not applicable.

b)  Not applicable.

c)  At its December 2012 meeting, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 of its outstanding shares in open market or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with securities laws and regulations, through December 31, 2013.  Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities.  The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion.

The following table presents stock purchases made during the third quarter of 2013:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
 
Total
 
Total Number of Shares
Maximum Number of Shares
 
Number of
Average
Purchased as Part of
That May Yet be Purchased
Period
Shares Purchased
Price Paid Per share
Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 Under the Plans or Programs
July 1-31, 2013
0
$0.00
0
2,000,000
August 1-31, 2013 (1)
753
32.07
0
2,000,000
September 1-30, 2013 (1)
458
29.53
0
2,000,000
  Total
1,211
$31.11
   

 
(1) The common shares repurchased were acquired by the Company in connection with satisfaction of tax withholding obligations
     on vested restricted stock issued pursuant to an employee benefit plan.  These shares were not repurchased as part of the
     publicly announced repurchase plan described above.

Item 3.                      Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.

Item 4.                      Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

Item 5.                      Other Information
Not applicable.


 
47

 
 
Item 6.                      Exhibits

Exhibit No.                                                                Description
 
2.1
Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2013, by and between Bank of America, N.A. and Community Bank System, Inc.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-k filed on July 26, 2013.
   
31.1
 Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)
 
31.2
Certification of Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)
 
32.1
Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
    Act of 2002. (2)
 
32.2
Certification of Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
    Act of 2002. (2)
 
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document. (3)
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. (3)
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. (3)
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. (3)
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. (3)
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. (3)
 

(1)  Filed herewith.
(2)  Furnished herewith.
(3)  XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933,
      is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 
48

 

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 Bank System, Inc.
 
     
     
     
     
Date: November 8, 2013   /s/ Mark E. Tryniski
    Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief
    Executive Officer
     
     
Date: November 8, 2013    /s/ Scott Kingsley
    Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and Chief
    Financial Officer



 
 
49