FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC - Quarter Report: 2021 March (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended              March 31, 2021            

or

For the transition period from ________ to ________

Commission File Number:     000-26481     

Financial Institutions, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(585) 786-1100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes  ☑    No  ☐    

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

The registrant had 15,828,899 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of May 1, 2021.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.

Form 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2021

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.      Financial Statements

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

Three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

Continued on next page

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited) (Continued)

Three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Nature of Operations

Financial Institutions, Inc. (the “Company”) is a financial holding company organized in 1931 under the laws of New York State (“New York”). The Company provides diversified financial services through its subsidiaries, Five Star Bank, SDN Insurance Agency, LLC (“SDN”), Courier Capital, LLC (“Courier Capital”) and HNP Capital, LLC (“HNP Capital”). The Company offers a broad array of deposit, lending and other financial services to individuals, municipalities and businesses in Western and Central New York through its wholly-owned New York chartered banking subsidiary, Five Star Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank also has indirect lending network relationships with franchised automobile dealers in the Capital District of New York and Northern and Central Pennsylvania. SDN provides a broad range of insurance services to personal and business clients. Courier Capital and HNP Capital provide customized investment management, investment consulting and retirement plan services to individuals, businesses, institutions, foundations and retirement plans.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accounting and reporting policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, in the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal and recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated statements of financial condition, income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods indicated and contain adequate disclosure to make the information presented not misleading. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The results of operations for any interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results which may be expected for the entire year.

Operational, Accounting and Reporting Impacts Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, including our operating footprint of Western and Central New York. In response to this crisis, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provided an estimated $2.2 trillion to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and stimulate the economy by supporting individuals and businesses through loans, grants, tax changes, and other types of relief. Some of the provisions applicable to the Company include, but are not limited to:

Also, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), in consultation with the state financial regulators (collectively, the “agencies”) issued a joint interagency statement (issued March 22, 2020; revised statement issued April 7, 2020). Some of the provisions applicable to the Company include, but are not limited to:

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Effective March 23, 2020 through July 9, 2020, for consumer customers, the Bank waived early CD penalty fees for withdrawals up to $20,000 (limited to one penalty-free withdrawal per CD account); eliminated all insufficient funds (overdrafts) and returned item fees; eliminated all Pay by Phone fees; waived all late fees; offered the opportunity for monthly mortgage, home equity loan or home equity line payment relief; offered the opportunity to defer unsecured consumer loans or lines of credit and secured consumer loans and lines of credit payments; and offered unsecured personal loans up to $5,000, up to 60 months at 2.95% APR subject to credit approval. ATM access fees were reinitiated on September 19, 2020.

As part of the first round of PPP loans we have helped more than 1,700 customers obtain more than $270 million in loans as of December 31, 2020. Of those loans, we have helped customers complete the forgiveness process for approximately $87 million of loans in the first three months of 2021. Also, during the first three months of 2021, we have helped customers obtain approximately $96 million of new PPP loans under the second round of the PPP. Additionally, approximately 4% of our commercial loan and mortgage customers, 1% of our residential real estate loans and lines customers and less than 1% of our indirect loans customers have active payment deferrals, in accordance with the previously noted loan modifications under the CARES Act or agencies guidelines.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications of previously reported amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications did not impact net income or shareholders’ equity as previously reported.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses, the carrying value of goodwill and deferred tax assets, and assumptions used in the defined benefit pension plan accounting.

Cash Flow Reporting

Supplemental cash flow information is summarized as follows for the three months ended March 31 (in thousands):

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), who is responsible for regulating the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), announced its intention that it would no longer be necessary to persuade or compel its panel banks to submit LIBOR rates after December 31, 2021. On March 5, 2021, the ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), the administrator of LIBOR, released the results of its consultation on the cessation timeline for certain LIBOR tenors. In coordination with the IBA, the FCA also confirmed when certain LIBOR tenors will cease to exist. The results of the consultation indicated that certain LIBOR tenors (overnight, one-month, three-month, six-month, and twelve-month USD LIBOR) will be extended to June 30, 2023 to allow some legacy contracts that cannot be easily amended to mature on their current terms. Notwithstanding the extension of certain LIBOR tenors to 2023, banks may no longer offer new LIBOR-based contracts after December 31, 2021. Given that LIBOR is a widely used pricing index for loan and derivative contracts, a Company-wide initiative was introduced to assess all LIBOR exposures through the Company’s loan, deposit, borrowing and derivative categories, while developing a plan for the ultimate cessation of the index. In developing the transition plan, the Company has followed best practice recommendations from the Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee, our third-party derivative advisor and the Internal Swaps and Derivatives Association. To date, the Company has identified the portion of loan notes that reference LIBOR, which are primarily representative of commercial relationships. Additionally, the Company has one designated derivative instrument that is utilized to hedge the LIBOR characteristic of a future dated borrowing (i.e. Federal Home Loan Bank Advance). In 2015, the Company issued $40 million in fixed to floating rate subordinated notes that currently bear a fixed rate of interest at 6.00% until April 2025, when the rate converts to a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.944%; the indenture under which the notes were issued includes language allowing an alternate index to be applied in the event that LIBOR becomes unavailable at the floating rate determination date. At this time, no other borrowing or deposit relationships have been identified that utilize LIBOR as an index.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The ASU provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens of the expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative rates, such as SOFR. ASU 2020-04 became effective during the first quarter of 2020 and applies to contract modifications and amendments made as of the beginning of the reporting period including the ASU’s issuance date, March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2022. The adoption of this guidance in 2020 resulted in the application of certain practical expedients, which did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements

In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope. The ASU clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in ASC 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. The ASU also amends the expedients and exceptions in ASC 848 to capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and to tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. ASU 2021-01 was effective upon issuance and applies through December 31, 2022. The Company is in the process of determining which optional expedients to elect, if any, as well as the timing and application of those elections. At this time, the Company does not expect any elections to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

2021 Activity – Landmark Group Acquisition

On February 1, 2021, SDN completed the acquisition of the assets of Landmark Group (“Landmark”), an independent insurance brokerage firm. Consideration for the acquisition included common shares of Company stock and cash. As a result of the acquisition, SDN recorded goodwill of $611 thousand and other intangible assets of $399 thousand. The goodwill and other intangible assets are expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The allocation of acquisition cost to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and pro forma results of operations for this acquisition have not been presented because the effect of this acquisition was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

2020 Activity – No Activity

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

On July 17, 2020, the Bank announced management’s decision to adapt to a full-service branch model to streamline retail branches to better align with shifting customer needs and preferences. The transformation resulted in six branch closures and a reduction in staffing. The announcement was the result of a nine-month comprehensive assessment of all lines of business and functional areas, conducted in partnership with a leading process improvement organization. The data-driven analysis identified, among other things, overlapping service areas, automation opportunities and streamlining of processes and operations that would enhance customer experiences and facilitate the long-term sustainability of current and future branches. The announced consolidations represented about ten percent of the branch network and impacted approximately six percent of the total Company workforce. Where possible, those impacted were offered alternative roles or the opportunity to apply for open positions in other areas of the Company. Separated associates received a comprehensive severance package based on tenure.

In October 2020, the Company announced the planned closure of one additional branch that closed in January 2021. This location was not included in the branch consolidations announced in July, as alternative options were being considered and consolidation was not possible given its significant distance from other Bank branches.

The Company incurred total pre-tax expense related to the branch closures of approximately $1.7 million, including approximately $0.2 million in employee severance, $0.5 million in lease termination costs and $1.0 million in valuation adjustments on branch facilities. The Company recognized all of these expenses during 2020. The Company expects $0.9 million of total costs will result in future cash expenditures. The Company anticipates annual expense savings of approximately $2.7 million as a result of these branch closures.

The Company incurred no restructuring charges during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

The following table represents the changes in the restructuring reserve (in thousands):

In contemplation of the transactions noted above, certain long-lived assets have met the held for sale criteria as of March 31, 2021. The Company reclassified $867 thousand from premises and equipment, net to other assets on the consolidated statement of financial condition as of March 31, 2021. No long-lived assets were reclassified as held for sale as of December 31, 2020.

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The following table presents a reconciliation of the earnings and shares used in calculating basic and diluted EPS (in thousands, except per share amounts).

For each of the periods presented, average shares subject to the following instruments were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because the effect would be antidilutive (in thousands):

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The amortized cost and fair value of investment securities are summarized below (in thousands):

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FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)