PREMIER FINANCIAL CORP - Annual Report: 2017 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

or

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (419) 782-5015

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No x

Indicate by check mark if registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Yes ¨ No x

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 ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

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

Large accelerated filer ¨     Accelerated filer x     Non-accelerated filer ¨     Smaller reporting company ¨     Emerging growth company ¨

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

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

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant computed by reference to the average bid and ask price of such stock as of June 30, 2017, was approximately $517.0 million.

As of February 23, 2018, there were issued and outstanding 10,182,308 shares of the Registrant’s common stock.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Registrant’s shareholders.

First Defiance Financial Corp.

Annual Report on Form 10-K

Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Business

First Defiance Financial Corp. (“First Defiance” or “the Company”) is a unitary thrift holding company that, through its subsidiaries, First Federal Bank of the Midwest (“First Federal” or “the Bank”), First Insurance Group of the Midwest, Inc. (“First Insurance”), and First Defiance Risk Management Inc. (collectively, “the Subsidiaries”), focuses on traditional banking and property, casualty, life and group health insurance products.

The Company’s philosophy is to grow and prosper, building long-term relationships based on top quality service, high ethical standards, and safe and sound assets. The Company operates as a locally oriented, community-based financial services organization, augmented by experienced, centralized support in select critical areas. The Company’s local market orientation is reflected in its market area management and local advisory boards, which are comprised of local business persons, professionals and other community representatives that assist area management in responding to local banking needs.

The Company’s operating objectives include expansion, diversification within its markets, growth of its fee-based income and growth organically and through acquisitions of financial institutions, branches and financial services businesses. The Company seeks merger or acquisition partners that are culturally similar, have experienced management and possess either significant market area presence or have the potential for improved profitability through financial management, economies of scale and expanded services. The Company regularly evaluates merger and acquisition opportunities and conducts due diligence activities related to possible transactions with other financial institutions. As a result, merger or acquisition discussions and, in some cases, negotiations may take place and future mergers or acquisitions involving cash, debt or equity securities may occur. Acquisitions typically involve the payment of premiums over book and market values and, therefore, some dilution of the Company’s tangible book value and net income per common share may occur in any future transaction.

Effective February 24, 2017, the Company acquired Commercial Bancshares, Inc. (“Commercial Bancshares”) and its subsidiary, The Commercial Savings Bank (“CSB”), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (“merger agreement”), dated August 23, 2016. The acquisition was accomplished by the merger of Commercial Bancshares into First Defiance, immediately followed by the merger of CSB into First Defiance’s banking subsidiary, First Federal. Prior to the consummation of the mergers, CSB operated 7 full-service banking offices in northwest and north central Ohio and 1 commercial loan production office in central Ohio. Commercial Bancshares’ consolidated assets and equity (unaudited) as of February 24, 2017 totaled $348.4 million and $37.5 million, respectively. The Company accounted for the transaction under the acquisition method of accounting which means that the acquired assets and liabilities were recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition.

On April 13, 2017, First Defiance and Corporate One Benefits Agency, Inc. (“Corporate One”) jointly announced the acquisition of Corporate One’s business by First Defiance. The total purchase price paid in cash was made up of the following: $6.5 million was paid at closing, $500,000 will be due in July 2018, and approximately $2.3 million will be due at the end of a three-year earn-out based on the compound annual growth rate of net revenue over the performance period of Corporate One, for a total purchase price of $9.3 million. The recorded fair value of the $2.3 million earn-out was $1.8 million at December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, total Company recorded goodwill of $7.9 million, identifiable intangible assets of $756,000 (consisting of customer relationship intangible of $564,000 and a non-compete intangible of $192,000) from the acquisition of Corporate Ones business. Corporate One was a full-service employee benefits consulting organization founded in 1996 with offices located in Archbold, Findlay, Fostoria and Tiffin, Ohio. Corporate One provided consulting services to employers regarding management and modernization of their employee benefit program. It is anticipated that the transaction will enhance employee benefit products offered by First Insurance and expand First Insurance’s presence into adjacent markets in northwest Ohio.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had consolidated assets of $3.0 billion, consolidated deposits of $2.4 billion, and consolidated stockholders’ equity of $373.3 million. The Company was incorporated in Ohio in June of 1995. Its principal executive offices are located at 601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512, and its telephone number is (419) 782-5015.

First Defiance's website, www.fdef.com, contains a hyperlink under the Investor Relations section to EDGAR, where the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after First Defiance has filed the report with the United State Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The Subsidiaries

The Company’s core business operations are conducted through its subsidiaries:

First Federal Bank of the Midwest: First Federal is a federally chartered stock savings bank headquartered in Defiance, Ohio. It conducts operations through thirty-six full-service banking center offices in Allen, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Marion, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Seneca, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot counties in northwest and central Ohio, two full-service banking center offices in Allen County in northeast Indiana, five full-service banking center offices in Lenawee County in southeast Michigan and one commercial loan production office in Ann Arbor, Michigan that was opened late in the fourth quarter of 2017.

First Federal is primarily engaged in community banking. It attracts deposits from the general public through its offices and website, and uses those and other available sources of funds to originate residential real estate loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, home improvement and home equity loans and consumer loans. In addition, First Federal invests in U.S. Treasury and federal government agency obligations, obligations of the State of Ohio and its political subdivisions, mortgage-backed securities that are issued by federal agencies, including real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) and residential collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), and corporate bonds. First Federal’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). First Federal is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) System.

First Insurance Group of the Midwest: First Insurance is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Defiance. First Insurance is an insurance agency that conducts business through offices located in the Archbold, Bowling Green, Bryan, Defiance, Findlay, Fostoria, Lima, Maumee, Oregon, and Tiffin, Ohio areas. The Maumee and Oregon offices were consolidated into a new office in Sylvania, Ohio in January 2018. First Insurance offers property and casualty insurance, life insurance and group health insurance.

First Defiance Risk Management: First Defiance Risk Management was incorporated on December 20, 2012, as a wholly-owned insurance company subsidiary of the Company to insure the Company and its subsidiaries against certain risks unique to the operations of the Company and for which insurance may not be currently available or economically feasible in today’s insurance marketplace. First Defiance Risk Management pools resources with several other similar insurance company subsidiaries of financial institutions to help minimize the risk allocable to each participating insurer.

Business Strategy

First Defiance’s primary objective is to be a high-performing community banking organization, well regarded in its market areas. First Defiance accomplishes this through emphasis on local decision making and empowering its employees with tools and knowledge to serve its customers’ needs. First Defiance believes in a “Customer First” philosophy that is strengthened by its Mission & Vision and Core Values initiatives. First Defiance also has a tagline of “Better Together” as an indication of its commitment to local, responsive, personalized service. First Defiance believes this strategy results in greater customer loyalty and profitability through core relationships. First Defiance is focused on diversification of revenue sources and increased market penetration in areas where the growth potential exists for a balance between acquisition and organic growth. The primary elements of First Defiance’s business strategy are commercial banking, consumer banking, including the origination and sale of single-family residential loans, enhancement of fee income, wealth management and insurance sales, each united by a strong customer service culture throughout the organization. In the later part of 2017, the Company recognized the need to adapt its organization structure to meet certain future strategic objectives and to continue its past success. The Company believes that fully utilizing the strengths of its leadership team and a structure that supports strategic initiatives will enhance its ability to achieve even more milestones in the future. With that being said, the Company redefined its market areas to support strategies to enhance processes and efficiencies to support overall growth. The new structure includes three metro markets; Toledo, Ohio, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Columbus, Ohio and two legacy markets; Southern Market Area and Northern Market Area.

Commercial and Commercial Real Estate Lending - Commercial and commercial real estate lending have been an ongoing focus and a major component of First Federal’s success. First Federal provides primarily commercial real estate and commercial business loans with an emphasis on owner- occupied commercial real estate and commercial business lending, including a focus on the deposit balances that accompany these relationships. First Federal’s client base tends to be small to middle market customers with annual gross revenues generally between $1 million and $50 million. First Federal’s focus is also on securing multiple guarantors in addition to collateral where possible. These customers require First Federal to have a high degree of knowledge and understanding of their business in order to provide them with solutions to their financial needs. First Federal’s “Customer First” philosophy and culture complements this need of its clients. First Federal believes this personal service model differentiates First Federal from its competitors, particularly the larger regional institutions. First Federal offers a wide variety of products to support commercial clients including remote deposit capture and other cash management services. First Federal also believes that the small business customer is a strong market for First Federal. First Federal participates in many of the Small Business Administration lending programs. Maintaining a diversified portfolio with an emphasis on monitoring industry concentrations and reacting to changes in the credit characteristics of industries is an ongoing focus.

Consumer Banking - First Federal offers customers a full range of deposit and investment products including demand, checking, money market, certificates of deposits, Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) and savings accounts. First Federal offers a full range of investment products through the wealth management department and a wide variety of consumer loan products, including residential mortgage loans, home equity loans, and installment loans. First Federal also offers online and mobile banking services.

Fee Income Development - Generation of fee income and the diversification of revenue sources are accomplished through the mortgage banking operation, First Insurance and the wealth management department as First Defiance seeks to reduce reliance on retail transaction fee income.

Deposit Growth - First Federal’s focus has been to grow core deposits with an emphasis on total relationship banking with both our retail and commercial customers. First Federal’s pricing strategy considers the whole relationship of the customer. First Federal continues to focus on increasing its market share in the communities it serves by providing quality products with extraordinary customer service, business development strategies and branch expansion. First Federal will look to grow its footprint in areas believed to further complement its overall market share and complement its strategy of being a high-performing community bank.

Asset Quality - Maintaining a strong credit culture is of the utmost importance to First Federal. First Federal has maintained a strong credit approval and review process that has allowed the Company to maintain a credit quality standard that balances the return with the risks of industry concentrations and loan types. First Federal is primarily a collateral lender with an emphasis on cash flow performance, while obtaining additional support from personal guarantees and secondary sources of repayment. First Federal has directed its attention to loan types and markets that it knows well and in which it has historically been successful. First Federal strives to have loan relationships that are well diversified in both size and industry, and monitors the overall trends in the portfolio to maintain its industry and loan type concentration targets. First Federal maintains a problem loan remediation process that focuses on detection and resolution. First Federal maintains a strong process of internal control that subjects the loan portfolio to periodic internal reviews as well as independent third-party loan review.

Expansion Opportunities - First Defiance believes it is well positioned to take advantage of acquisitions or other business opportunities in its market areas. First Defiance believes it has a track record of successfully accomplishing both acquisitions and de novo branching in its market area. This track record puts the Company in a solid position to enter or expand its business. First Defiance will continue to be disciplined as well as opportunistic in its approach to future acquisitions and de novo branching with a focus on its primary geographic market area, which it knows well, and has been competing in for a long period of time, as well as surrounding market areas.

Securities

First Defiance’s securities portfolio is managed in accordance with a written policy adopted by the Board of Directors and administered by the Investment Committee. The Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and the Chief Administration Officer can each approve transactions up to $3.0 million. Two of the three officers are required to approve transactions between $3.0 million and $5.0 million. All transactions in excess of $5.0 million must be approved by the Board of Directors.

First Defiance’s investment portfolio includes 76 CMO issues totaling $93.9 million, all of which are fully amortizing securities. Management does not believe the risks associated with any of its CMO investments are significantly different from risks associated with other pass-through mortgage-backed securities. First Defiance did not have any off-balance sheet derivative securities at December 31, 2017.

Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase. Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity when First Defiance has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value.

The carrying value of securities at December 31, 2017, by contractual maturity is shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. For purposes of the maturity table, mortgage-backed securities, which are not due at a single maturity date, have been allocated over maturity groupings based on the weighted-average contractual maturities of underlying collateral. The mortgage-backed securities may mature earlier than their weighted-average contractual maturities because of principal prepayments.

The carrying value of investment securities is as follows:

For additional information regarding First Defiance’s investment portfolio, refer to Note 5 – Investment Securities to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest-Bearing Deposits

The Company had $55.0 million and $46.0 million in overnight investments at the Federal Reserve at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which amount is included in interest-bearing deposits. First Defiance had interest-earning deposits in the FHLB of Cincinnati and other financial institutions amounting to $2.0 million and $1.8 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Residential Loan Servicing Activities

Servicing mortgage loans for investors involves a contractual right to receive a fee for processing and administering loan payments on mortgage loans that are not owned by the Company and are not included on the Company’s balance sheet. This processing involves collecting monthly mortgage payments on behalf of investors, reporting information to those investors on a monthly basis and maintaining custodial escrow accounts for the payment of principal and interest to investors and property taxes and insurance premiums on behalf of borrowers. At December 31, 2017, First Federal serviced 14,447 loans totaling $1.37 billion. The vast majority of the loans serviced for others are fixed rate conventional mortgage loans. The Company primarily sells its loans to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and FHLB. At December 31, 2017, 65.92%, 33.32% and 0.70% of the Company’s sold loans were to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and FHLB, respectively.

As compensation for its mortgage servicing activities, the Company receives servicing fees, usually approximating 0.25% per annum of the loan balances serviced, plus any late charges collected from delinquent borrowers and other fees incidental to the services provided. In the event of a default by the borrower, the Company receives no servicing fees until the default is cured.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the number and aggregate principal balance of the mortgage loans serviced by the Company, including both fixed and adjustable rate loans, at various interest rates:

Loan servicing fees decrease as the principal balance on the outstanding loan decreases and as the remaining time to maturity of the loan shortens.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the remaining maturity of the mortgage loans serviced by the Company as of the dates shown.

Lending Activities

General – A savings bank generally may not make loans to one borrower and related entities in an amount which exceeds 15% of its unimpaired capital and surplus, although loans in an amount equal to an additional 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus may be made to a borrower if the loans are fully secured by readily marketable collateral. Real estate is not considered “readily marketable collateral.” Certain types of loans are not subject to these limits. In applying these limits, loans to certain borrowers may be aggregated. Notwithstanding the specified limits, a savings bank may lend to one borrower up to $500,000 “for any purpose.” At December 31, 2017, First Federal’s limit on loans-to-one borrower was $48.8 million and its five largest loans (including available lines of credit) or groups of loans to one borrower, including related entities, were $25.0 million, $24.8 million, $24.4 million, $23.2 million and $22.3 million. All of these loans or groups of loans were performing in accordance with their terms at December 31, 2017.

Loan Portfolio Composition – The net increase in net loans receivable over the prior year was $407.4 million (including $285.4 million acquired from CSB), $137.8 million and $154.8 million at December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The loan portfolio contains no foreign loans. The Company’s loan portfolio is concentrated geographically in the northwest and central Ohio, northeast Indiana, and southeast Michigan market areas. Management has identified lending for income generating rental properties as an industry concentration. Total loans for income generating property totaled $838.1 million at December 31, 2017, which represents 34.9% of the Company’s loan portfolio.

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio by type of loan at the dates indicated.

In addition to the loans reported above, First Defiance had $10.4 million, $9.6 million, $5.5 million, $4.5 million, and $9.1 million in loans classified as held for sale at December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The fair value of such loans, which are all single-family residential mortgage loans, approximated their carrying value for all years presented.

Contractual Principal, Repayments and Interest Rates – The following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2017, regarding the dollar amount of gross loans maturing in First Defiance’s portfolio, based on the contractual terms to maturity. Demand loans, loans having no stated schedule of repayments and no stated maturity, and overdrafts are reported as due in one year or less.

The schedule above does not reflect the actual life of the Company’s loan portfolio. The average life of loans is substantially less than their contractual terms because of prepayments and due-on-sale clauses, which give First Defiance the right to declare a conventional loan immediately due and payable in the event, among other things, that the borrower sells the real property subject to the mortgage and the loan is not repaid.

The following table sets forth the dollar amount of gross loans due after one year from December 31, 2017, which has fixed interest rates or which have floating or adjustable interest rates.

Originations, Purchases and Sales of Loans – The lending activities of First Federal are subject to the written, non-discriminatory underwriting standards and loan origination procedures established by the Board of Directors and management. Loan originations are obtained from a variety of sources, including referrals from existing customers, real estate brokers, developers and builders, newspaper, internet and radio advertising and walk-in customers.

First Federal’s loan approval process for all types of loans is intended to assess the borrower’s ability to repay the loan, the viability of the loan and the adequacy of the value of the collateral that will secure the loan.

A commercial loan application is first reviewed by a commercial lender and underwritten by a commercial credit analyst. The commercial lender may approve credits within their lending limit, and another loan officer with limits sufficient to cover the exposure must approve credits exceeding an individual’s lending limit. All credits which exceed $250,000 in aggregate exposure must be presented for review or approval to the Senior Loan Committee comprised of senior lending personnel. Credits which exceed $5,000,000 in aggregate exposure must be presented for approval to the Executive Loan Committee.

Residential mortgage applications are accepted by retail lenders or branch managers, who utilize an automated underwriting system to review the loan request. First Federal also receives mortgage applications via an online residential mortgage origination system. A final approval of all residential mortgage applications is made by a member of a centralized underwriting staff within their designated lending limits. Loan requests in excess or outside an individual underwriter’s limit are approved by the Senior Loan Committee and, if necessary, by the Executive Loan Committee.

Retail lenders and branch managers are authorized to originate and approve direct consumer loan requests that are within policy guidelines and within the lender’s approved lending limit. Loans in excess of the lender’s approved lending limit may be approved by retail lending managers up to their approved lending limit. Loans in excess of the retail lending manager’s authorized lending limit or outside of policy must be approved by the Senior Loan Committee and, if necessary, by the Executive Loan Committee.

First Federal offers adjustable-rate loans in order to decrease the vulnerability of its operations to changes in interest rates. The demand for adjustable-rate loans in First Federal’s primary market area has been a function of several factors, including customer preference, the level of interest rates, the expectations of changes in the level of interest rates and the difference between the interest rates offered for fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate loans. The relative amount of fixed-rate and adjustable-rate residential loans that can be originated at any time is largely determined by the demand for each in a competitive environment.

Adjustable-rate loans represented 9.9% of First Federal’s total originations of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans in 2017 compared to 10.8% and 10.3% during 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Adjustable-rate loans decrease the risks associated with changes in interest rates, but involve other risks, primarily because as interest rates rise, the payment by the borrower rises to the extent permitted by the terms of the loan, thereby increasing the potential for default. At the same time, the marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected by higher interest rates.

The following table shows total loans originated, loan reductions, and the net increase in First Federal’s total loans and loans held for sale during the periods indicated:

Asset Quality

First Defiance’s credit policy establishes guidelines to manage credit risk and asset quality. These guidelines include loan review and early identification of problem loans to ensure sound credit decisions. First Defiance’s credit policies and review procedures are meant to minimize the risk and uncertainties inherent in lending. In following the policies and procedures, management must rely on estimates, appraisals and evaluations of loans and the possibility that changes in these could occur because of changing economic conditions.

Delinquent Loans — The following table sets forth information concerning delinquent loans at December 31, 2017, in dollar amount and as a percentage of First Defiance’s total loan portfolio. The amounts presented represent the total outstanding principal balances of the related loans, rather than the actual payment amounts that are past due.

Overall, the level of delinquencies at December 31, 2017, increased from the levels at December 31, 2016, when First Defiance reported that 0.32% of its outstanding loans were at least 30 days delinquent. The level of total loans 90 or more days delinquent has increased to 0.20% at December 31, 2017, from 0.17% at December 31, 2016. The level of total loans 60-89 days delinquent increased to 0.12% at December 31, 2017, from 0.07% at December 31, 2016. The level of loans that were 30 to 59 days past due increased to 0.21% at December 31, 2017, from 0.08% at December 31, 2016. Management has assessed the collectability of all loans that are 90 days or more delinquent as part of its procedures in establishing the allowance for loan losses.

Nonperforming Assets – All loans are reviewed on a regular basis and are placed on non-accrual status when, in the opinion of management, the collectability of additional interest is not expected. Generally, First Defiance places all loans more than 90 days past due on non-accrual status. First Defiance also places loans on non-accrual status when the loan is paying as agreed but the Company believes the financial condition of the borrower is such that this classification is warranted. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, total unpaid interest accrued to date is reversed. Subsequent payments are generally applied to the outstanding principal balance but may be recorded as interest income, depending on the assessment of the ultimate collectability of the loan. First Defiance considers that a loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due (both principal and interest) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. First Defiance measures impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral, if collateral dependent. If the estimated recoverability of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment, First Defiance will recognize impairment by allocating a portion of the allowance for loan losses on cash flow dependent loans and by charging off the deficiency on collateral dependent loans.

Loans originated by First Federal having principal balances of $56.3 million, $27.4 million and $41.9 million were considered impaired as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in impaired loans from 2016 to 2017 is due to an increase in two loan relationships totaling $11.0 million that became impaired during 2017 as well as $10.4 million of newly impaired loans from the CSB acquisition due to new financial information received. These amounts of impaired loans exclude large groups of small-balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment such as residential mortgage, consumer installment and credit card loans, except for those classified as troubled debt restructurings. There was $1.4 million of interest received and recorded in income during 2017 related to impaired loans. There was $1.7 million and $1.3 million recorded in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Unrecorded interest income based on the loan’s contractual terms on these impaired loans and all non-performing loans in 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $1.1 million, $1.2 million, and $1.5 million, respectively. The average recorded investment in impaired loans during 2017, 2016 and 2015 (excluding loans accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 310 Subtopic 30) was $47.1 million, $32.8 million and $51.8 million, respectively. The total allowance for loan losses related to these loans was $0.8 million, $0.8 million, and $0.4 million at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Real estate acquired by foreclosure is classified as real estate owned until such time as it is sold. First Defiance also repossesses other assets securing loans, consisting primarily of automobiles. When such property is acquired it is recorded at fair value less cost to sell. Costs relating to development and improvement of property are capitalized, whereas costs relating to holding the property are expensed. Valuations are periodically performed by management and a write-down of the value is recorded with a corresponding charge to operations if it is determined that the carrying value of property exceeds its estimated net realizable value. During 2017, First Defiance recognized $20,000 of expense related to write-downs in value of real estate acquired by foreclosure. The balance of real estate owned at December 31, 2017 was $1.5 million.

As of December 31, 2017, First Defiance’s total non-performing loans amounted to $30.7 million or 1.31% of total loans (net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs), compared to $14.3 million or 0.74% of total loans, at December 31, 2016. Non-performing loans are loans which are more than 90 days past due or on nonaccrual. The nonperforming loan balance for 2017 includes $25.5 million of loans that were originated by First Federal and also considered impaired, compared to $11.3 million for 2016.

The following table sets forth the amounts and categories of First Defiance’s non-performing assets (excluding impaired loans not considered non-performing) and troubled debt restructurings at the dates indicated.

* Total loans are net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs.

Allowance for Loan Losses – First Defiance maintains an allowance for loan losses to absorb probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan loss is made up of two components. The first is a general reserve, which is used to record loan loss reserves for groups of homogenous loans in which the Company estimates the losses incurred in the portfolio based on quantitative and qualitative factors.

The second component of the allowance for loan loss is the specific reserve in which the Company sets aside reserves based on the analysis of individual credits. In evaluating the adequacy of its allowance each quarter, management grades all loans in the commercial portfolio. See “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Allowance for Loan Losses” for further discussion on management’s evaluation of the allowance for loan losses.

Loans are charged against the allowance when such loans meet the Company’s established policy on loan charge-offs and the allowance itself is adjusted quarterly by recording a provision for loan losses. As such, actual losses and losses provided for should be approximately the same if the overall quality, composition and size of the portfolio remained static along with a static loan environment. To the extent that the portfolio grows at a rapid rate or overall quality or the loan environment deteriorates, the provision generally will exceed charge-offs. However, in certain circumstances net charge-offs may exceed the provision for loan losses when management determines that loans previously provided for in the allowance for loan losses are uncollectible and should be charged off or as overall credit or the loan environment improves. Although management believes that it uses the best information available to make such determinations, future adjustments to the allowances may be necessary, and net earnings could be significantly affected, if circumstances differ substantially from the assumptions used in making the initial determinations.

At December 31, 2017, First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses totaled $26.7 million compared to $25.9 million at December 31, 2016. The following table sets forth the activity in First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses during the periods indicated.

* Total loans are net of undisbursed loan funds and deferred fees and costs.

The provision for credit losses increased significantly in 2017 from previous years due to growth of the loan portfolio as well as an increase in net charge offs. The decrease in the allowance for loan loss as a percentage of total loans at December 31, 2017 vs December 31, 2016 is primarily attributable to the CSB acquisition. The CSB loans acquired were recorded at fair value with purchase accounting adjustments discounting the loan balance instead of an allowance for loan losses. For the CSB loans acquired, the discount recorded totaled $3.9 million, or 1.9% of acquired CSB loans at December 31, 2017. Management feels that the level of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2017, is sufficient to cover the estimated losses incurred but not yet recognized in the loan portfolio.

The following table sets forth information concerning the allocation of First Defiance’s allowance for loan losses by loan categories at the dates indicated. For information about the percent of total loans in each category to total loans, see “Lending Activities-Loan Portfolio Composition” Below.