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UNION BANKSHARES INC - Quarter Report: 2018 March (Form 10-Q)



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

OR

(  ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2018

Commission file number: 001-15985

UNION BANKSHARES, INC.
 
VERMONT
 
03-0283552
 

P.O. BOX 667
20 LOWER MAIN STREET
MORRISVILLE, VT 05661

Registrant’s telephone number:      802-888-6600

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report: Not applicable

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Common Stock, $2.00 par value
 
Nasdaq Stock Market
 
 
(Title of class)
 
(Exchanges registered on)
 

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 Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes [X]      No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” ”accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer [  ]
Accelerated filer [ X ]
Non-accelerated filer [  ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company [ ]
 
Emerging growth company [ ]

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of April 30, 2018.
 
Common Stock, $2 par value
 
4,465,661

shares
 





UNION BANKSHARES, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 





PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
UNION BANKSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
March 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
 
(Unaudited)
 
Assets
(Dollars in thousands)
Cash and due from banks
$
3,328

$
3,857

Federal funds sold and overnight deposits
9,918

34,651

Cash and cash equivalents
13,246

38,508

Interest bearing deposits in banks
9,601

9,352

Investment securities available-for-sale
68,440

65,439

Investment securities held-to-maturity (fair value $999 thousand at December 31, 2017)

1,000

Other investments
502


Total investments
68,942

66,439

Loans held for sale
2,938

7,947

Loans
591,660

586,615

Allowance for loan losses
(5,405
)
(5,408
)
Net deferred loan costs
797

795

Net loans
587,052

582,002

Accrued interest receivable
2,468

2,500

Premises and equipment, net
14,298

14,255

Core deposit intangible
540

583

Goodwill
2,223

2,223

Investment in real estate limited partnerships
3,028

3,166

Company-owned life insurance
8,865

8,861

Other assets
9,530

9,995

Total assets
$
722,731

$
745,831

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
Deposits
 
 
Noninterest bearing
$
128,951

$
127,824

Interest bearing
392,027

418,621

Time
102,865

101,129

Total deposits
623,843

647,574

Borrowed funds
31,265

31,581

Accrued interest and other liabilities
8,459

8,015

Total liabilities
663,567

687,170

Commitments and Contingencies


Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
Common stock, $2.00 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized; 4,940,961 shares
  issued at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017
9,882

9,882

Additional paid-in capital
803

755

Retained earnings
58,604

57,197

Treasury stock at cost; 475,304 shares at March 31, 2018
  and 475,385 shares at December 31, 2017
(4,079
)
(4,077
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(6,046
)
(5,096
)
Total stockholders' equity
59,164

58,661

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
722,731

$
745,831

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 1


UNION BANKSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2018
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Interest and dividend income
 
 
Interest and fees on loans
$
6,999

$
6,322

Interest on debt securities:
 
 
Taxable
289

242

Tax exempt
145

165

Dividends
40

45

Interest on federal funds sold and overnight deposits
53

30

Interest on interest bearing deposits in banks
45

35

Total interest and dividend income
7,571

6,839

Interest expense
 
 
Interest on deposits
533

422

Interest on borrowed funds
114

115

Total interest expense
647

537

    Net interest income
6,924

6,302

Provision for loan losses


    Net interest income after provision for loan losses
6,924

6,302

Noninterest income
 
 
Trust income
193

178

Service fees
1,487

1,440

Net gains on sales of loans held for sale
295

508

Other income
496

107

Total noninterest income
2,471

2,233

Noninterest expenses
 
 
Salaries and wages
2,649

2,568

Pension and employee benefits
958

879

Occupancy expense, net
395

390

Equipment expense
535

534

Other expenses
1,598

1,570

Total noninterest expenses
6,135

5,941

        Income before provision for income taxes
3,260

2,594

Provision for income taxes
513

664

        Net income
$
2,747

$
1,930

Earnings per common share
$
0.62

$
0.43

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
4,465,600

4,462,057

Dividends per common share
$
0.30

$
0.29

 
 
 

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 2


UNION BANKSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)


 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2018
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Net income
$
2,747

$
1,930

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
 
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period on investment securities available-for-sale
(950
)
225

Total other comprehensive (loss) income
(950
)
225

Total comprehensive income
$
1,797

$
2,155


See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 3


UNION BANKSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (Unaudited)

 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares,
net of
treasury
Amount
Additional
paid-in
capital
Retained
earnings
Treasury
stock
Accumulated
other
comprehensive loss
Total
stockholders’
equity
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Balances December 31, 2017
4,465,576

$
9,882

$
755

$
57,197

$
(4,077
)
$
(5,096
)
$
58,661

   Net income



2,747



2,747

   Other comprehensive loss





(950
)
(950
)
   Dividend reinvestment plan
141


7


1


8

   Cash dividends declared
       ($0.30 per share)



(1,340
)


(1,340
)
   Stock based compensation
  expense


41




41

   Purchase of treasury stock
(60
)



(3
)

(3
)
Balances March 31, 2018
4,465,657

$
9,882

$
803

$
58,604

$
(4,079
)
$
(6,046
)
$
59,164

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balances, December 31, 2016
4,462,135

$
9,874

$
620

$
53,086

$
(4,022
)
$
(3,279
)
$
56,279

   Net income



1,930



1,930

   Other comprehensive income





225

225

   Dividend reinvestment plan
117


4


1


5

   Cash dividends declared
  ($0.29 per share)



(1,294
)


(1,294
)
   Stock based compensation
  expense


34




34

   Purchase of treasury stock
(225
)



(9
)

(9
)
Balances, March 31, 2017
4,462,027

$
9,874

$
658

$
53,722

$
(4,030
)
$
(3,054
)
$
57,170


See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 4



UNION BANKSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2018
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
 
 
Net income
$
2,747

$
1,930

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
Depreciation
301

307

Deferred income tax provision
41

333

Net amortization of investment securities
93

113

Equity in losses of limited partnerships
140

157

Stock based compensation expense
41

34

Net (increase) decrease in unamortized loan costs
(2
)
5

Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
23,384

29,041

Origination of loans held for sale
(18,080
)
(23,577
)
Net gains on sales of loans held for sale
(295
)
(508
)
Net (gain) loss on disposals of premises and equipment
(191
)
13

Net gain on sales of other real estate owned
(11
)

Decrease in accrued interest receivable
32

217

Amortization of core deposit intangible
43

43

Increase in other assets
403

80

Contribution to defined benefit pension plan

(750
)
Increase in other liabilities
474

419

Net cash provided by operating activities
9,120

7,857

Cash Flows From Investing Activities
 
 
Interest bearing deposits in banks
 
 
Proceeds from maturities and redemptions
996

2,988

Purchases
(1,245
)
(1,992
)
Investment securities held-to-maturity
 
 
Proceeds from maturities, calls and paydowns
1,000


Investment securities available-for-sale
 
 
Proceeds from maturities, calls and paydowns
1,539

1,696

Purchases
(6,358
)
(3,551
)
Other Investments
 
 
Proceeds from sales
44


Purchases
(24
)

Purchase of nonmarketable stock
(105
)

Net increase in loans
(5,051
)
(4,298
)
Recoveries of loans charged off
3

6

Purchases of premises and equipment
(357
)
(67
)
Proceeds from Company-owned life insurance death benefit
307


Investments in limited partnerships

(186
)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment
204


Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned
47


Net cash used in investing activities
(9,000
)
(5,404
)
 
 
 

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 5



Cash Flows From Financing Activities
 
 
Advances on long-term borrowings
7,000


Repayment of long-term debt
(6,072
)
(70
)
Net (decrease) increase in short-term borrowings outstanding
(1,244
)
202

Net increase (decrease) in noninterest bearing deposits
1,127

(2,297
)
Net decrease in interest bearing deposits
(26,594
)
(12,632
)
Net increase (decrease) in time deposits
1,736

(666
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(3
)
(9
)
Dividends paid
(1,332
)
(1,289
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(25,382
)
(16,761
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(25,262
)
(14,308
)
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
Beginning of period
38,508

39,275

End of period
$
13,246

$
24,967

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
 
 
Interest paid
$
647

$
540

 
 
 
Dividends paid on Common Stock:
 
 
Dividends declared
$
1,340

$
1,294

Dividends reinvested
(8
)
(5
)
 
$
1,332

$
1,289

 
 
 

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 6


UNION BANKSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Union Bankshares, Inc. and Subsidiary (together, the Company) as of March 31, 2018, and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, have been prepared in conformity with GAAP for interim financial information, general practices within the banking industry, and the accounting policies described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (2017 Annual Report). The Company's sole subsidiary is Union Bank. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation of the information contained herein, have been made. This information should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2017 Annual Report. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, or any interim period.
In addition to the definitions set forth elsewhere in this report, the acronyms, abbreviations and capitalized terms identified below are used throughout this Form 10-Q, including Part I. "Financial Information" and Part II. "Other Information". The following is provided to aid the reader and provide a reference page when reviewing this Form 10-Q.
AFS:
Available-for-sale
IRS:
Internal Revenue Service
ALCO:
Asset Liability Committee
MBS:
Mortgage-backed security
ALL:
Allowance for loan losses
MSRs:
Mortgage servicing rights
ASC:
Accounting Standards Codification
OAO:
Other assets owned
ASU:
Accounting Standards Update
OCI:
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Board:
Board of Directors
OFAC:
U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control
bp or bps:
Basis point(s)
OREO:
Other real estate owned
Branch Acquisition:
The acquisition of three New Hampshire branches in May 2011
OTTI:
Other-than-temporary impairment
CDARS:
Certificate of Deposit Accounts Registry Service of the Promontory Interfinancial Network
OTT:
Other-than-temporary
Company:
Union Bankshares, Inc. and Subsidiary
Plan:
The Union Bank Pension Plan
DRIP:
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
RD:
USDA Rural Development
FASB:
Financial Accounting Standards Board
RSU:
Restricted Stock Unit
FDIC:
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
SBA:
U.S. Small Business Administration
FHA:
U.S. Federal Housing Administration
SEC:
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
FHLB:
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
TDR:
Troubled-debt restructuring
FRB:
Federal Reserve Board
Union:
Union Bank, the sole subsidiary of Union Bankshares, Inc
FHLMC/Freddie Mac:
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
USDA:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
GAAP:
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States
VA:
U.S. Veterans Administration
HTM:
Held-to-maturity
2008 ISO Plan:
2008 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company
HUD:
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
2014 Equity Plan:
2014 Equity Incentive Plan
ICS:
Insured Cash Sweeps of the Promontory Interfinancial Network
2017 Annual Report
Annual Report of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017
 
 
2017 Tax Act:
Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017

Note 2. Legal Contingencies
In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in various legal and other proceedings. In the opinion of management, any liability resulting from such proceedings is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 7



Note 3. Per Share Information
Earnings per common share are computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and reduced for shares held in treasury. The assumed exercise of outstanding exercisable stock options and vesting of RSUs does not result in material dilution and is not included in the calculation.
Note 4. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The ASU was issued to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities (including operating leases) on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Previous lease accounting did not require the inclusion of operating leases in the balance sheet. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements by reviewing its lease contracts.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Under the new guidance, which will replace the existing incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses, banks and other lending institutions will be required to recognize the full amount of expected credit losses. The new guidance, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss model ("CECL"), requires that expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date that are accounted for at amortized cost be measured and recognized based on historical experience and current and reasonably supportable forecasted conditions to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. A modified version of these requirements also applies to debt securities classified as AFS. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within such years. The Company has established a CECL implementation team and developed a transition project plan. The team members have evaluated CECL implementation software providers and have selected Sageworks. The Company has entered into an agreement with Sageworks and has been compiling data to run parallel calculations during 2018. This will facilitate the implementation process and management's evaluation of the potential impact of the ASU on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
The Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) using a modified-retrospective transition method, as of January 1, 2018. The ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. While the guidance replaces most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP, the ASU is not applicable to financial instruments and, therefore, did not impact a majority of the Company’s revenues, including net interest income. Through the Company's assessment, it was determined that there will be no cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning stockholders' equity under the modified retrospective transition method within the consolidated financial statements as there was no change in revenue recognition upon adoption of ASU2014-09.
Note 5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
As a result of the 2011 Branch Acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill amounting to $2.2 million. The goodwill is not amortizable. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually, in accordance with current authoritative accounting guidance. Management assesses qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the Company, in total, is less than its carrying amount. Management is not aware of any such events or circumstances that would cause it to conclude that the fair value of the Company is less than its carrying amount.
The Company also initially recorded $1.7 million of acquired identifiable intangible assets in connection with the 2011 Branch Acquisition, representing the core deposit intangible which is subject to straight-line amortization over the estimated 10 year average life of the core deposit base, absent any future impairment. Management will evaluate the core deposit intangible for impairment if conditions warrant.
Amortization expense for the core deposit intangible was $43 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. The amortization expense is included in other expenses on the consolidated statements of income and is deductible for tax purposes. As of March 31, 2018, the remaining amortization expense related to the core deposit intangible, absent any future impairment, is expected to be as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
2018
$
128

2019
171

2020
171

2021
70

Total
$
540


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 8



Note 6. Investment Securities
AFS and HTM investment securities as of the balance sheet dates consisted of the following:
March 31, 2018
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Available-for-sale
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
7,437

$
2

$
(178
)
$
7,261

Agency mortgage-backed
33,356


(796
)
32,560

State and political subdivisions
24,820

126

(624
)
24,322

Corporate
4,411

1

(115
)
4,297

Total
$
70,024

$
129

$
(1,713
)
$
68,440

December 31, 2017
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Available-for-sale
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
7,805

$
12

$
(122
)
$
7,695

Agency mortgage-backed
28,378

12

(274
)
28,116

State and political subdivisions
24,704

249

(239
)
24,714

Corporate
4,412

48

(67
)
4,393

Total debt securities
65,299

321

(702
)
64,918

Mutual funds (1)
521



521

Total
$
65,820

$
321

$
(702
)
$
65,439

Held-to-maturity
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
1,000

$

$
(1
)
$
999

____________________
(1)
As of December 31, 2017, mutual funds were classified as AFS investment securities. Effective January 1, 2018, these investments were reclassified to other investments on the consolidated balance sheets as they are no longer eligible to be classified as AFS upon adoption of ASU 2016-01.

There were no investment securities HTM at March 31, 2018. Investment securities AFS with a carrying amount of $2.7 million and $4.6 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, were pledged as collateral for public deposits and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities by contractual scheduled maturity as of March 31, 2018 were as follows:
 
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Available-for-sale
(Dollars in thousands)
Due from one to five years
$
4,302

$
4,325

Due from five to ten years
16,319

15,978

Due after ten years
16,047

15,577

 
36,668

35,880

Agency mortgage-backed
33,356

32,560

Total debt securities available-for-sale
$
70,024

$
68,440


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 9




Actual maturities may differ for certain debt securities that may be called by the issuer prior to the contractual maturity. Actual maturities usually differ from contractual maturities on agency MBS because the mortgages underlying the securities may be prepaid, usually without any penalties. Therefore, these agency MBS are shown separately and are not included in the contractual maturity categories in the above maturity summary.

As of March 31, 2018, other investments consisted of mutual funds with a fair value of $502 thousand, a cost basis of $459 thousand and unrealized gains of $43 thousand.

Information pertaining to all investment securities with gross unrealized losses as of the balance sheet dates, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position, follows:
March 31, 2018
Less Than 12 Months
12 Months and over
Total
 
Number
of
Securities
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Number
of
Securities
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Number
of
Securities
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-
  sponsored enterprises
5

$
2,381

$
(19
)
9

$
4,216

$
(159
)
14

$
6,597

$
(178
)
Agency mortgage-backed
38

27,583

(580
)
7

4,977

(216
)
45

32,560

(796
)
State and political
  subdivisions
25

9,982

(189
)
18

7,657

(435
)
43

17,639

(624
)
Corporate
6

2,826

(86
)
2

971

(29
)
8

3,797

(115
)
Total
74

$
42,772

$
(874
)
36

$
17,821

$
(839
)
110

$
60,593

$
(1,713
)
December 31, 2017
Less Than 12 Months
12 Months and over
Total
 
Number
of
Securities
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Number
of
Securities
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Number
of
Securities
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-
  sponsored enterprises
3

$
1,824

$
(7
)
9

$
4,374

$
(116
)
12

$
6,198

$
(123
)
Agency mortgage-backed
26

19,315

(143
)
7

5,222

(131
)
33

24,537

(274
)
State and political
  subdivisions
8

3,803

(22
)
18

7,899

(217
)
26

11,702

(239
)
Corporate
2

870

(31
)
2

964

(36
)
4

1,834

(67
)
Total
39

$
25,812

$
(203
)
36

$
18,459

$
(500
)
75

$
44,271

$
(703
)
The Company evaluates all investment securities on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic conditions warrant, to determine if an OTTI exists. A security is considered impaired if the fair value is lower than its amortized cost basis at the report date. If impaired, management then assesses whether the unrealized loss is OTT.

An unrealized loss on a debt security is generally deemed to be OTT 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 OTTI write-down is recorded, net of tax effect, through net income as a component of net OTTI losses in the consolidated statements of income, while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized in OCI, provided the Company does not intend to sell the underlying debt security and it is "more likely than not" that the Company will not have to sell the debt security prior to recovery. Declines in the fair values of individual equity securities that are deemed by management to be OTT are reflected in noninterest income when identified.

Management considers the following factors in determining whether OTTI exists and the period over which the security is expected to recover:
The length of time, and extent to which, the fair value has been less than the amortized cost;
Adverse conditions specifically related to the security, industry, or geographic area;
The historical and implied volatility of the fair value of the security;

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 10



The payment structure of the debt security and the likelihood of the issuer being able to make payments that may increase in the future;
Failure of the issuer of the security to make scheduled interest or principal payments;
Any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency;
Recoveries or additional declines in fair value subsequent to the balance sheet date; and
The nature of the issuer, including whether it is a private company, public entity or government-sponsored enterprise, and the existence or likelihood of any government or third party guaranty.

The Company has the ability to hold the investment securities that had unrealized losses at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 for the foreseeable future and no declines were deemed by management to be OTT.

There were no sales of AFS securities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
Note 7.  Loans
Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at their unpaid principal balances, adjusted for any charge-offs, the ALL, and any deferred fees or costs on originated loans and unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased loans.
Loan interest income is accrued daily on outstanding balances. The following accounting policies, related to accrual and nonaccrual loans, apply to all portfolio segments and loan classes, which the Company considers to be the same. The accrual of interest is normally discontinued when a loan is specifically determined to be impaired and/or management believes, after considering collection efforts and other factors, that the borrower's financial condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful. Generally, any unpaid interest previously accrued on those loans is reversed against current period interest income. A loan may be restored to accrual status when its financial status has significantly improved and there is no principal or interest past due. A loan may also be restored to accrual status if the borrower makes six consecutive monthly payments or the lump sum equivalent. Income on nonaccrual loans is generally not recognized unless a loan is returned to accrual status or after all principal has been collected. Interest income generally is not recognized on impaired loans unless the likelihood of further loss is remote. Interest payments received on such loans are generally applied as a reduction of the loan principal balance. Delinquency status is determined based on contractual terms for all portfolio segments and loan classes. Loans past due 30 days or more are considered delinquent. Loans are considered in process of foreclosure when a judgment of foreclosure has been issued by the court.
Loan origination fees and direct loan origination costs are deferred and amortized as an adjustment of the related loan's yield using methods that approximate the interest method. The Company generally amortizes these amounts over the estimated average life of the related loans.
The composition of Net loans as of the balance sheet dates were as follows:
 
March 31,
2018
December 31,
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
$
181,850

$
178,999

Construction real estate
43,379

42,935

Commercial real estate
260,695

254,291

Commercial
46,885

50,719

Consumer
3,525

3,894

Municipal
55,326

55,777

    Gross loans
591,660

586,615

Allowance for loan losses
(5,405
)
(5,408
)
Net deferred loan costs
797

795

    Net loans
$
587,052

$
582,002

Qualifying residential first mortgage loans and certain commercial real estate loans with a carrying value of $165.0 million and $164.5 million were pledged as collateral for borrowings from the FHLB under a blanket lien at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 11



A summary of current, past due and nonaccrual loans as of the balance sheet dates follows:
March 31, 2018
Current
30-59 Days
60-89 Days
90 Days and Over and Accruing
Nonaccrual
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
$
177,929

$
2,453

$
358

$
293

$
817

$
181,850

Construction real estate
42,919

352

55


53

43,379

Commercial real estate
258,127

2,267



301

260,695

Commercial
46,625

20

10

1

229

46,885

Consumer
3,485

39

1



3,525

Municipal
55,326





55,326

Total
$
584,411

$
5,131

$
424

$
294

$
1,400

$
591,660


December 31, 2017
Current
30-59 Days
60-89 Days
90 Days and Over and Accruing
Nonaccrual
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
$
173,914

$
3,047

$
750

$
472

$
816

$
178,999

Construction real estate
42,857



22

56

42,935

Commercial real estate
253,266

357

361


307

254,291

Commercial
50,675

21

11


12

50,719

Consumer
3,884

7

3



3,894

Municipal
55,777





55,777

Total
$
580,373

$
3,432

$
1,125

$
494

$
1,191

$
586,615

There was one residential real estate loan totaling $131 thousand in process of foreclosure at March 31, 2018. Aggregate interest on nonaccrual loans not recognized was $1.2 million and $1.3 million as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $1.2 million as of December 31, 2017.

Note 8.  Allowance for Loan Losses and Credit Quality
The ALL is established for estimated losses in the loan portfolio through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings. For all loan classes, loan losses are charged against the ALL when management believes the loan balance is uncollectible or in accordance with federal guidelines. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the ALL.

The ALL is maintained at a level believed by management to be appropriate to absorb probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The amount of the ALL is based on management's periodic evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio, including the nature, volume and risk characteristics of the portfolio, credit concentrations, trends in historical loss experience, estimated value of any underlying collateral, specific impaired loans and economic conditions. There was no change to the methodology used to estimate the ALL during the first quarter of 2018. While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the ALL may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions or other relevant factors.

In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, regularly review the Company's ALL. Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the ALL, with a corresponding charge to earnings, based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination, which may not be currently available to management.

The ALL consists of specific, general and unallocated components. The specific component relates to the loans that are classified as impaired. Loans are evaluated for impairment and may be classified as impaired when management believes it is probable that the Company will not collect all the contractual interest and principal payments as scheduled in the loan agreement. Impaired loans may also include troubled loans that are restructured. A TDR occurs when the Company, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower's financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower that would otherwise not be granted. A TDR classification may result from the transfer of assets to the Company in partial satisfaction of a troubled loan, a modification of a

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 12



loan's terms (such as reduction of stated interest rates below market rates, extension of maturity that does not conform to the Company's policies, reduction of the face amount of the loan, reduction of accrued interest, or reduction or deferment of loan payments), or a combination. A specific reserve amount is allocated to the ALL for individual loans that have been classified as impaired based on management's estimate of the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans, an observable market price, or the present value of anticipated future cash flows. The Company accounts for the change in present value attributable to the passage of time in the loan loss reserve. Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Company does not separately identify individual consumer, real estate or small balance commercial loans for impairment evaluation, unless such loans are subject to a restructuring agreement or have been identified as impaired as part of a larger customer relationship. Management has established the threshold for individual impairment evaluation for commercial loans with balances greater than $500 thousand, based on an evaluation of the Company's historical loss experience on substandard commercial loans.

The general component represents the level of ALL allocable to each loan portfolio segment with similar risk characteristics and is determined based on historical loss experience, adjusted for qualitative factors, for each class of loan. Management deems a five year average to be an appropriate time frame on which to base historical losses for each portfolio segment. Qualitative factors considered include underwriting, economic and market conditions, portfolio composition, collateral values, delinquencies, lender experience and legal issues. The qualitative factors are determined based on the various risk characteristics of each portfolio segment. Risk characteristics relevant to each portfolio segment are as follows:
Residential real estate - Loans in this segment are collateralized by owner-occupied 1-4 family residential real estate, second and vacation homes, 1-4 family investment properties, home equity and second mortgage loans. Repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates and housing prices, could have an effect on the credit quality of this segment.

Construction real estate - Loans in this segment include residential and commercial construction properties, commercial real estate development loans (while in the construction phase of the projects), land and land development loans. Repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower and/or the underlying cash flows generated by the properties being constructed. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates, housing prices, vacancy rates and material costs, could have an effect on the credit quality of this segment.

Commercial real estate - Loans in this segment are primarily properties occupied by businesses or income-producing properties. The underlying cash flows generated by the properties may be adversely impacted by a downturn in the economy as evidenced by a general slowdown in business or increased vacancy rates which, in turn, could have an effect on the credit quality of this segment. Management requests business financial statements at least annually and monitors the cash flows of these loans.

Commercial - Loans in this segment are made to businesses and are generally secured by non-real estate assets of the business. Repayment is expected from the cash flows of the business. A weakened economy, and resultant decreased consumer or business spending, could have an effect on the credit quality of this segment.

Consumer - Loans in this segment are made to individuals for personal expenditures, such as an automobile purchase, and include unsecured loans. Repayment is primarily dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment, could have an effect on the credit quality of this segment.

Municipal - Loans in this segment are made to municipalities located within the Company's service area. Repayment is primarily dependent on taxes or other funds collected by the municipalities. Management considers there to be minimal risk surrounding the credit quality of this segment.
An unallocated component is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management's estimate of probable losses. The unallocated component of the ALL reflects the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and general losses in the portfolio.

All evaluations are inherently subjective as they require estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available or as changes occur in economic conditions or other relevant factors. Despite the allocation shown in the tables below, the ALL is general in nature and is available to absorb losses from any class of loan.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 13



Changes in the ALL, by class of loans, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Residential Real Estate
Construction Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial
Consumer
Municipal
Unallocated
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2017
$
1,361

$
488

$
2,707

$
395

$
30

$
64

$
363

$
5,408

Provision (credit) for loan losses
14

6

68

(28
)
(4
)
(1
)
(55
)

Recoveries of amounts charged off




3



3

 
1,375

494

2,775

367

29

63

308

5,411

Amounts charged off


(2
)

(4
)


(6
)
Balance, March 31, 2018
$
1,375

$
494

$
2,773

$
367

$
25

$
63

$
308

$
5,405

For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Residential Real Estate
Construction Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial
Consumer
Municipal
Unallocated
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2016
$
1,399

$
391

$
2,687

$
342

$
26

$
40

$
362

$
5,247

Provision (credit) for loan losses
29

48

(26
)
4


2

(57
)

Recoveries of amounts charged off
2

3



1



6

 
1,430

442

2,661

346

27

42

305

5,253

Amounts charged off
(58
)



(3
)


(61
)
Balance, March 31, 2017
$
1,372

$
442

$
2,661

$
346

$
24

$
42

$
305

$
5,192

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The allocation of the ALL, summarized on the basis of the Company's impairment methodology by class of loan, as of the balance sheet dates were as follows:
March 31, 2018
Residential Real Estate
Construction Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial
Consumer
Municipal
Unallocated
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Individually evaluated
   for impairment
$
44

$

$

$
6

$

$

$

$
50

Collectively evaluated
   for impairment
1,331

494

2,773

361

25

63

308

5,355

Total allocated
$
1,375

$
494

$
2,773

$
367

$
25

$
63

$
308

$
5,405

December 31, 2017
Residential Real Estate
Construction Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial
Consumer
Municipal
Unallocated
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Individually evaluated
   for impairment
$
47

$

$
1

$

$

$

$

$
48

Collectively evaluated
   for impairment
1,314

488

2,706

395

30

64

363

5,360

Total allocated
$
1,361

$
488

$
2,707

$
395

$
30

$
64

$
363

$
5,408



Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 14



The recorded investment in loans, summarized on the basis of the Company's impairment methodology by class of loan, as of the balance sheet dates were as follows:
March 31, 2018
Residential Real Estate
Construction Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial
Consumer
Municipal
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Individually evaluated
   for impairment
$
1,793

$
81

$
1,056

$
374

$

$

$
3,304

Collectively evaluated
   for impairment
180,057

43,298

259,639

46,511

3,525

55,326

588,356

Total
$
181,850

$
43,379

$
260,695

$
46,885

$
3,525

$
55,326

$
591,660

December 31, 2017
Residential Real Estate
Construction Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial
Consumer
Municipal
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Individually evaluated
   for impairment
$
1,718

$
82

$
1,074

$
378

$

$

$
3,252

Collectively evaluated
   for impairment
177,281

42,853

253,217

50,341

3,894

55,777

583,363

Total
$
178,999

$
42,935

$
254,291

$
50,719

$
3,894

$
55,777

$
586,615


Risk and collateral ratings are assigned to loans and are subject to ongoing monitoring by lending and credit personnel with such ratings updated annually or more frequently if warranted. The following is an overview of the Company's loan rating system:

1-3 Rating - Pass
Risk-rating grades "1" through "3" comprise those loans ranging from those with lower than average credit risk, defined as borrowers with high liquidity, excellent financial condition, strong management, favorable industry trends or loans secured by highly liquid assets, through those with marginal credit risk, defined as borrowers that, while creditworthy, exhibit some characteristics requiring special attention by the account officer.

4/M Rating - Satisfactory/Monitor
Borrowers exhibit potential credit weaknesses or downward trends warranting management's attention. While potentially weak, these borrowers are currently marginally acceptable; no loss of principal or interest is envisioned. When warranted, these credits may be monitored on the watch list.

5-7 Rating - Substandard
Borrowers exhibit well defined weaknesses that jeopardize the orderly liquidation of debt. The loan may be inadequately protected by the net worth and paying capacity of the obligor and/or the underlying collateral is inadequate.

The following tables summarize the loan ratings applied to the Company's loans by class as of the balance sheet dates:
March 31, 2018
Residential Real Estate
Construction Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial
Consumer
Municipal
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Pass
$
167,824

$
35,795

$
173,160

$
35,525

$
3,495

$
55,326

$
471,125

Satisfactory/Monitor
11,099

7,429

84,478

10,515

28


113,549

Substandard
2,927

155

3,057

845

2


6,986

Total
$
181,850

$
43,379

$
260,695

$
46,885

$
3,525

$
55,326

$
591,660



Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 15



December 31, 2017
Residential Real Estate
Construction Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial
Consumer
Municipal
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Pass
$
164,733

$
33,401

$
177,388

$
38,877

$
3,859

$
55,777

$
474,035

Satisfactory/Monitor
11,296

9,374

73,772

11,165

30


105,637

Substandard
2,970

160

3,131

677

5


6,943

Total
$
178,999

$
42,935

$
254,291

$
50,719

$
3,894

$
55,777

$
586,615


The following tables provide information with respect to impaired loans by class of loan as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017:
 
As of March 31, 2018
For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
Recorded Investment
(1)
Principal Balance
(1)
Related Allowance
Average Recorded Investment
Interest Income Recognized
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
$
235

$
244

$
44

 
 
Commercial
13

13

6

 
 
With an allowance recorded
248

257

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential real estate
1,558

2,074


 
 
Construction real estate
81

81


 
 
Commercial real estate
1,056

1,137


 
 
Commercial
361

361


 
 
With no allowance recorded
3,056

3,653


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential real estate
1,793

2,318

44

$
1,755

$
12

Construction real estate
81

81


82

1

Commercial real estate
1,056

1,137


1,065

16

Commercial
374

374

6

376

8

Total
$
3,304

$
3,910

$
50

$
3,278

$
37

____________________
(1)
Does not reflect government guaranties on impaired loans as of March 31, 2018 totaling $533 thousand.

 
As of March 31, 2017
For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
Recorded Investment
(1)
Principal Balance
(1)
Related Allowance
Average Recorded Investment
Interest Income Recognized
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
$
1,579

$
2,087

$
61

$
1,514

$
11

Construction real estate
87

87


87

1

Commercial real estate
2,220

2,291

21

2,774

32

Commercial
417

417


424

7

Total
$
4,303

$
4,882

$
82

$
4,799

$
51

____________________
(1)
Does not reflect government guaranties on impaired loans as of March 31, 2017 totaling $623 thousand.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 16



The following table provides information with respect to impaired loans as of December 31, 2017:
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
Recorded Investment
(1)
Principal Balance
(1)
Related Allowance
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Residential real estate
$
238

$
247

$
47

 
 
Commercial real estate
137

141

1

 
 
With an allowance recorded
375

388

48

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential real estate
1,480

1,983


 
 
Construction real estate
82

82


 
 
Commercial real estate
937

1,011


 
 
Commercial
378

378


 
 
With no allowance recorded
2,877

3,454


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential real estate
1,718

2,230

47

 
 
Construction real estate
82

82


 
 
Commercial real estate
1,074

1,152

1

 
 
Commercial
378

378


 
 
Total
$
3,252

$
3,842

$
48

 
 
____________________
(1)
Does not reflect government guaranties on impaired loans as of December 31, 2017 totaling $550 thousand.

The following is a summary of TDR loans by class of loan as of the balance sheet dates:
 
March 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
 
Number of Loans
Principal Balance
Number of Loans
Principal Balance
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
25

$
1,793

24

$
1,718

Construction real estate
1

81

1

82

Commercial real estate
10

1,056

10

1,074

Commercial
3

374

2

378

Total
39

$
3,304

37

$
3,252

The TDR loans above represent loan modifications in which a concession was provided to the borrower, including due date extensions, maturity date extensions, interest rate reductions or the forgiveness of accrued interest. Troubled loans, that are restructured and meet established thresholds, are classified as impaired and a specific reserve amount is allocated to the ALL on the basis of the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans, an observable market price, or the present value of anticipated future cash flows.
The following tables provide new TDR activity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
New TDRs During the
New TDRs During the
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
Number of Loans
Pre-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
Post-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
Number of Loans
Pre-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
Post-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
1

$
96

$
98

3

$
140

$
149

Commercial
1

13

13





Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 17



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There were no TDR loans modified within the previous twelve months that had subsequently defaulted during the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 or March 31, 2017. TDR loans are considered defaulted at 90 days past due.

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company was not committed to lend any additional funds to borrowers whose loans were nonperforming, impaired or restructured.

Note 9. Defined Benefit Pension Plan
On October 18, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors voted to terminate Union Bank’s Defined Benefit Pension Plan. In order to settle the liabilities under the Plan, the Company will offer participants the option to receive an annuity purchased from an insurance carrier, a lump-sum cash payment, or a direct rollover into a qualifying retirement plan. An estimated $1.1 million will be contributed to the Plan by the Company in 2018 to cover the lump-sum payments and annuity purchases. The amount of the final contribution is subject to a number of factors, including changes in interest rates and the exact proportion of the participants electing a lump-sum distribution versus an annuity. At this time, the Company estimates that a $3.2 million reduction in net income will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2018 as a result of the Plan termination and settlement of Plan assets and liabilities. The Company anticipates completing the transfer of all liabilities and administrative responsibilities under the Plan by December 31, 2018. Once the process is complete, the Company will no longer have any remaining defined benefit pension plan obligations and thus no periodic pension expense.
The Company's pension benefit obligation and net periodic benefit costs for the Plan are actuarially determined based on assumptions regarding the appropriate discount rate, current and expected future return on Plan assets, and anticipated mortality rates. Weighted average assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost (benefit) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 have remained consistent with assumptions disclosed in the Company's 2017 Annual Report.

Net periodic pension cost (benefit) for the three months ended March 31 consisted of the following components:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2018
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
$
179

$
172

Expected return on plan assets
(161
)
(243
)
Amortization of net loss
151

51

Net periodic cost (benefit)
$
169

$
(20
)

Note 10.  Stock Based Compensation
The Company's current stock based compensation plan is the Union Bankshares, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. Under the 2014 Equity Plan, 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are available for equity awards of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock and RSUs to eligible officers and (except for awards of incentive stock options) nonemployee directors. Shares available for issuance of awards under the 2014 Equity Plan consist of unissued shares of the Company’s common stock and/or shares held in treasury. As of March 31, 2018, there were outstanding grants under the plan of RSUs and incentive stock options.

RSUs. Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of the Company's common stock upon satisfaction of applicable vesting conditions. The general terms of the awards are described in the Company's 2017 Annual Report. Prior to vesting, the RSUs do not earn dividends or dividend equivalents, nor do they bear any voting rights.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 18



The following table presents a summary of the RSUs awarded in accordance with the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Award Plan Summaries, as of March 31, 2018:
 
Number of RSUs Granted
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Number of Unvested RSUs
2015 Award
5,445

$
27.91

730

2016 Award
3,569

45.45

2,026

2017 Award
3,225
$
52.95

3,225

Total
12,239

5,981
Unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested RSUs as of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017 was $212 thousand and $186 thousand, respectively.
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, a total of 2,645 contingent RSUs were provisionally granted in accordance with a 2018 Award Plan Summary. The estimated number of contingent RSUs provisionally granted was based on target performance-based payout amounts detailed in the 2018 Award Plan Summary approved by the Board of Directors and on the closing market price of the Company's stock on the March 21, 2018 provisional grant date ($53.95 per share). As with the 2015, 2016, and 2017 grants, one half is in the form of Time-Based RSUs and one-half is in the form of Performance-Based RSUs. The actual number of Time-Based RSUs granted (if any) will be determined as of the earned date of December 31, 2018, based on the closing market price of the Company's stock on that date, while the actual number of Performance-Based RSUs granted (if any) will be determined during the first quarter of 2019, based on actual 2018 performance. The contingent RSUs were granted on substantially the same terms and conditions as the RSUs granted under the previous Award Plan Summaries. As of March 31, 2018, the estimated unrecognized compensation expense related to the provisionally granted RSUs, based on the closing market price of the Company's stock on the provisional grant date of March 21, 2018 was $143 thousand.

Stock options. As of March 31, 2018, 4,500 incentive stock options granted in December 2014 under the 2014 Equity Plan remained outstanding and exercisable and will expire in December 2021. There was no unrecognized compensation expense related to these options as of March 31, 2018. The estimated intrinsic value of these options was $121 thousand as of March 31, 2018.

As of March 31, 2018, 3,000 incentive stock options granted under the 2008 ISO Plan remained outstanding and exercisable, with the last of such options expiring in December 2020. There was no unrecognized compensation expense related to these options as of March 31, 2018. The estimated intrinsic value of these options was $86 thousand as of March 31, 2018.

Note 11. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accounting principles generally require recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income or loss. Certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as the after tax effect of unrealized gains and losses on investment securities AFS that are not OTTI and the unfunded liability for the defined benefit pension plan, are not reflected in the consolidated statements of income. The cumulative effect of such items, net of tax effect, is reported as a separate component of the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets (Accumulated OCI). OCI, along with net income, comprises the Company's total comprehensive income or loss.

As of the balance sheet dates, the components of Accumulated OCI, net of tax, were:
 
March 31,
2018
December 31,
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Net unrealized loss on investment securities available-for-sale
$
(1,251
)
$
(301
)
Defined benefit pension plan net unrealized actuarial loss
(4,795
)
(4,795
)
Total
$
(6,046
)
$
(5,096
)


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 19



The following table discloses the tax effects allocated to each component of OCI for the three months ended March 31:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2018
March 31, 2017
 
Before-Tax Amount
Tax (Expense) Benefit (1)
Net-of-Tax Amount
Before-Tax Amount
Tax (Expense) Benefit (1)
Net-of-Tax Amount
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period on investment securities available-for-sale
$
(1,203
)
$
253

$
(950
)
$
341

$
(116
)
$
225

Total other comprehensive (loss) income
$
(1,203
)
$
253

$
(950
)
$
341

$
(116
)
$
225

__________________
(1)
Tax expense/benefit is calculated using a marginal tax rate of 21% and 34% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There were no reclassification adjustments from OCI for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 12. Fair Value Measurement
The Company utilizes FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, as guidance for accounting for assets and liabilities carried at fair value. This standard defines fair value as the price that would be received, without adjustment for transaction costs, to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is a market based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The guidance in FASB ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:
Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability;
Level 3 - Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the Company’s assets that are measured on a recurring basis at estimated fair value:
Investment securities AFS: The Company’s AFS securities have been valued utilizing Level 2 inputs. For these securities, the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include market maker bids, quotes and pricing models. Inputs to the pricing models include recent trades, benchmark interest rates, spreads and actual and projected cash flows.
Mutual funds: Mutual funds have been valued using unadjusted quoted prices from active markets and therefore have been classified as Level 1.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 20



Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, segregated by fair value hierarchy level, are summarized below:
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Fair
Value
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
March 31, 2018:
(Dollars in thousands)
Debt securities AFS:
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
7,261

$

$
7,261

$

Agency mortgage-backed
32,560


32,560


State and political subdivisions
24,322


24,322


Corporate
4,297


4,297


Total debt securities
$
68,440

$

$
68,440

$

 
 
 
 
 
Other investments:
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
$
502

$
502

$

$

 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
Debt securities AFS:
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises
$
7,695

$

$
7,695

$

Agency mortgage-backed
28,116


28,116


State and political subdivisions
24,714


24,714


Corporate
4,393


4,393


Total debt securities
64,918


64,918


Mutual funds
521

521



Total
$
65,439

$
521

$
64,918

$

There were no significant transfers in or out of Levels 1 and 2 during the three months ended March 31, 2018, nor were there any Level 3 assets at any time during either period. Certain other assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in periods after initial recognition, such as collateral-dependent impaired loans, HTM securities, MSRs and OREO, were not considered material at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017. The Company has not elected to apply the fair value method to any financial assets or liabilities other than those situations where other accounting pronouncements require fair value measurements.

FASB ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments. Fair value is best determined based upon quoted market prices. However, in many instances, there are no quoted market prices for the Company’s various financial instruments. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Management’s estimates and assumptions are inherently subjective and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment. Changes in assumptions could dramatically affect the estimated fair values.

Accordingly, the fair value estimates may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument. Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments may be excluded from disclosure requirements. Thus, the aggregate fair value amounts presented may not necessarily represent the actual underlying fair value of such instruments of the Company.

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of its significant financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents approximate those assets' fair values and are classified as Level 1.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 21



Interest bearing deposits in banks: Fair values for interest bearing deposits in banks are based on discounted present values of cash flows and are classified as Level 2.

Investment securities: Fair values for investment securities are based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value measurements consider observable data which may include market maker bids, quotes and pricing models. Inputs to the pricing models include recent trades, benchmark interest rates, spreads and actual and projected cash flows. Mutual funds have been valued using unadjusted quoted prices from active markets. Investment securities are classified as Level 1 or Level 2 depending on availability of recent trade information.

Loans held for sale: The fair value of loans held for sale is estimated based on quotes from third party vendors, resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Loans: The fair values of loans are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics and segregated by loan class or segment. For variable-rate loan categories that reprice frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying amounts adjusted for credit risk. The fair values for other loans (for example, fixed-rate residential, commercial real estate, and rental property mortgage loans as well as commercial and industrial loans) are estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality. Loan fair value estimates include judgments regarding future cash flows, future expected loss experience and risk characteristics. As of March 31, 2018, the Company implemented exit pricing valuation methodologies which incorporate a liquidity premium adjustment into the fair value estimate of all loan portfolios. This adjustment factors the costs/market inefficiencies associated with the sale of a financial instrument into the fair value estimate. Fair values for impaired loans are estimated using discounted cash flow analysis or underlying collateral values, where applicable. The fair value methods and assumptions that utilize unobservable inputs as defined by current accounting standards are classified as Level 3.

Accrued interest receivable and payable: The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximate their fair values and are classified as Level 1, 2, or 3 in accordance with the classification of the related principal's valuation.

Nonmarketable equity securities: It is not practical to determine the fair value of the nonmarketable securities, such as FHLB stock, due to restrictions placed on their transferability.

Deposits: The fair values disclosed for noninterest bearing deposits and other interest bearing nontime deposits are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date, resulting in a Level 1 classification. The fair values for time deposits are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered on similar deposits to a schedule of aggregated expected maturities on such deposits, resulting in a Level 2 classification.

Borrowed funds: The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt are estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on interest rates currently being offered on similar debt instruments, resulting in a Level 2 classification. The fair values of the Company’s short-term debt approximate the carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet, resulting in a Level 1 classification.

Off-balance-sheet financial instruments: Fair values for off-balance-sheet, credit-related financial instruments are based on fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the counterparties’ credit standing. The only commitments to extend credit that are normally longer than one year in duration are the home equity lines whose interest rates are variable quarterly. The only fees collected for commitments are an annual fee on credit card arrangements and often a flat fee on commercial lines of credit and standby letters of credit. The fair value of off-balance-sheet financial instruments as of the balance sheet dates was not significant.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 22



As of the balance sheet dates, the estimated fair values and related carrying amounts of the Company's significant financial instruments were as follows:
 
March 31, 2018
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Carrying
Amount
Estimated Fair
Value
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
13,246

$
13,246

$
13,246

$

$

Interest bearing deposits in banks
9,601

9,510


9,510


Investment securities
68,942

68,942

502

68,440


Loans held for sale
2,938

2,969


2,969


Loans, net
 
 
 
 
 
Residential real estate
180,720

179,098



179,098

Construction real estate
42,943

42,231



42,231

Commercial real estate
257,965

257,596



257,596

Commercial
46,581

45,339



45,339

Consumer
3,505

3,521



3,521

Municipal
55,338

55,143



55,143

Accrued interest receivable
2,468

2,468


393

2,075

Nonmarketable equity securities
2,331

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Financial liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest bearing
$
128,951

$
128,951

$
128,951

$

$

Interest bearing
392,027

392,027

392,027



Time
102,865

101,406


101,406


Borrowed funds
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term
122

122

122



Long-term
31,143

30,951


30,951


Accrued interest payable
97

97


97



Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 23



 
December 31, 2017
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Carrying
Amount
Estimated Fair
Value
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
38,508

$
38,508

$
38,508

$

$

Interest bearing deposits in banks
9,352

9,333


9,333


Investment securities
66,439

66,438

521

65,917


Loans held for sale
7,947

8,111


8,111


Loans, net
 
 
 
 
 
Residential real estate
177,880

178,818



178,818

Construction real estate
42,505

42,069



42,069

Commercial real estate
251,566

248,746



248,746

Commercial
50,393

49,132



49,132

Consumer
3,869

3,919



3,919

Municipal
55,789

55,778



55,778

Accrued interest receivable
2,500

2,500


395

2,105

Nonmarketable equity securities
2,331

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Financial liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest bearing
$
127,824

$
127,824

$
127,824

$

$

Interest bearing
418,621

418,621

418,621



Time
101,129

99,967


99,967


Borrowed funds
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term
1,365

1,364

1,364



Long-term
30,216

29,039


29,039


Accrued interest payable
97

97


97


The carrying amounts in the preceding tables are included in the consolidated balance sheets under the applicable captions.

Note 13. Subsequent Events
Subsequent events represent events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. Financial statements are considered “issued” when they are widely distributed to shareholders and others for general use and reliance in a form and format that complies with GAAP. Events occurring subsequent to March 31, 2018 have been evaluated as to their potential impact to the consolidated financial statements.

On April 18, 2018, the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share, payable May 10, 2018, to stockholders of record on April 30, 2018.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 24



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

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GENERAL
The following discussion and analysis focuses on those factors that, in management's view, had a material effect on the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and its results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. This discussion is being presented to provide a narrative explanation of the consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes and with other financial data appearing elsewhere in this filing and with the Company's 2017 Annual Report In the opinion of the Company's management, the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments and disclosures necessary to fairly present the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. Management is not aware of the occurrence of any events after March 31, 2018 which would materially affect the information presented.
Please refer to Note 1 in the Company's unaudited interim consolidated financial statements at Part I, Item 1 of this Report for definitions of acronyms, abbreviations and capitalized terms used throughout the following discussion and analysis.

CAUTIONARY ADVICE ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Company, "we," "us," "our," may from time to time make written or oral statements that are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include financial projections, statements of plans and objectives for future operations, estimates of future economic performance or conditions and assumptions relating thereto. The Company may include forward-looking statements in its filings with the SEC, in its reports to stockholders, including this quarterly report, in press releases, other written materials, and in statements made by senior management to analysts, rating agencies, institutional investors, representatives of the media and others.
Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainties, both general and specific, and risk exists that actual results will differ from those predictions, forecasts, projections and other estimates contained in forward-looking statements. These risks cannot be readily quantified. When management uses any of the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” "projects," “plans,” “seeks,” “estimates,” "targets," "goals," “may,” "might," “could,” “would,” “should,” or similar expressions, they are making forward-looking statements. Many possible events or factors, including those beyond the control of management, could affect the future financial results and performance of the Company.
Factors that may cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
General economic conditions and financial instability, either nationally, internationally, regionally or locally;
Increased competitive pressures, including those from tax-advantaged credit unions and other financial service providers in our northern Vermont and New Hampshire market area or in the financial services industry generally, from increasing consolidation and integration of financial service providers, and from changes in technology and delivery systems;
Interest rates change in a way that puts pressure on the Company's margins, or that results in lower fee income and lower gain on sale of real estate loans, or that increases our interest costs;
Changes in laws or government rules, or the way in which courts or government agencies interpret or implement those laws or rules, that increase our costs of doing business or otherwise adversely affect our business;
Further changes in federal or state tax policy;
Changes in our level of nonperforming assets and charge-offs;
Changes in depositor behavior resulting in movement of funds out of bank deposits and into the stock market or other higher-yielding investments;
Changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon relevant regulatory and accounting requirements;
Changes in information technology that require increased capital spending or that result in new or increased risks;
Changes in consumer and business spending, borrowing and savings habits;
Changes in accounting principles, including those governing the manner of estimating our credit risk and calculating our loan loss reserve;
Changes affecting the calculation of the amount of the contribution that will be required to settle our obligations in connection with termination of our defined benefit pension plan and the impact of such termination on our net income in 2018;
Further changes to the regulations governing the calculation of the Company’s regulatory capital ratios;
Increased cybersecurity threats; and
The effect of and changes in the United States monetary and fiscal policies, including interest rate policies and regulation of the money supply by the FRB.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 25




When evaluating forward-looking statements to make decisions about the Company and our stock, investors and others are cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties, and are reminded not to place undue reliance on such statements. Investors should not consider the foregoing list of factors to be a complete list of risks or uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them to reflect new or changed information or events, except as may be required by federal securities laws.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Under SEC Regulation G, public companies making disclosures containing financial measures that are not in accordance with GAAP must also disclose, along with each non-GAAP financial measure, certain additional information, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the closest comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as a statement of the company’s reasons for utilizing the non-GAAP financial measure. The SEC has exempted from the definition of non-GAAP financial measures certain commonly used financial measures that are not based on GAAP. However, two non-GAAP financial measures commonly used by financial institutions, namely tax-equivalent net interest income and tax-equivalent net interest margin (as presented in the tables in the section labeled Yields Earned and Rates Paid), have not been specifically exempted by the SEC, and may therefore constitute non-GAAP financial measures under Regulation G. We are unable to state with certainty whether the SEC would regard those measures as subject to Regulation G. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s financial performance and facilitate comparisons with the performance of other financial institutions. However, that information should be considered supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company has established various accounting policies which govern the application of GAAP in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements. Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by management which have a material impact on the reported amount of assets, liabilities, capital, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The SEC has defined a company's critical accounting policies as the ones that are most important to the portrayal of the company's financial condition and results of operations, and which require management to make its most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates on matters that are inherently uncertain. Based on this definition, management has identified the accounting policies and judgments most critical to the Company. They include establishing the amount of ALL, evaluating our investment securities for OTTI, valuing our intangible assets and determining the amount of our defined benefit pension plan obligation and net periodic cost/(benefit) as well as the amount of our required contribution in connection with termination of the Plan.The judgments and assumptions used by management are based on historical experience and other factors, which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the nature of the judgments and assumptions made by management, actual results could differ from estimates and have a material impact on the carrying value of assets, liabilities, or capital, and/or the results of operations of the Company.

Please refer to the Company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more in-depth discussion of the Company's critical accounting policies. There have been no changes to the Company's critical accounting policies since the filing of that report.

OVERVIEW
As discussed in the Company's 2017 Annual Report , on October 18, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors voted to terminate Union Bank’s Defined Benefit Pension Plan. The Company anticipates completing the transfer of all liabilities and administrative responsibilities under the Plan by December 31, 2018. Once the process is complete, the Company will no longer have any remaining defined benefit pension plan obligations and thus no periodic pension expense in future periods.
Additionally, passage of the 2017 Tax Act reduced the Company's federal income tax rate from 34% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. The rate reduction has had a positive impact on earnings for the first three months of 2018.(See Results of Operations, Provision for Income Taxes on page 31.)
The Company's net income was $2.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, an increase of $817 thousand, or 42.3%. These results reflected an increase in the Company's net interest income of $622 thousand, or 9.9%, an increase in noninterest income of $238 thousand, or 10.7%, and a decrease in the provision for income taxes of $151 thousand, or 22.7%. These positive changes were partially offset by an increase in noninterest expenses of $194 thousand, or 3.3%.
At March 31, 2018, the Company had total consolidated assets of $722.7 million, including gross loans and loans held for sale (total loans) of $594.6 million, deposits of $623.8 million and stockholders' equity of $59.2 million. The Company’s total assets

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 26



at March 31, 2018 decreased $23.1 million, or 3.1%, from $745.8 million at December 31, 2017, and increased $46.3 million, or 6.8%, compared to March 31, 2017. (See Financial Condition on page 31.)
The Company's total capital increased from $58.7 million at December 31, 2017 to $59.2 million at March 31, 2018. This increase primarily reflects net income of $2.7 million for the first three months of 2018, partially offset by an increase of $950 thousand in accumulated other comprehensive loss and regular cash dividends paid of $1.3 million. (See Capital Resources on page 38.)
The following unaudited per share information and key ratios depict several measurements of performance or financial condition at or for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively:
 
Three Months Ended or At March 31,
 
2018
2017
Return on average assets (1)
1.51
%
1.14
%
Return on average equity (1)
18.76
%
13.67
%
Net interest margin (1)(2)
4.15
%
4.15
%
Efficiency ratio (3)
64.48
%
67.95
%
Net interest spread (4)
4.04
%
4.06
%
Loan to deposit ratio
95.31
%
92.84
%
Net loan charge-offs to average loans not held for sale (1)
%
0.04
%
Allowance for loan losses to loans not held for sale
0.91
%
0.97
%
Nonperforming assets to total assets (5)
0.23
%
0.49
%
Equity to assets
8.19
%
8.45
%
Total capital to risk weighted assets
13.96
%
13.40
%
Book value per share
$
13.25

$
12.81

Earnings per share
$
0.62

$
0.43

Dividends paid per share
$
0.30

$
0.29

Dividend payout ratio (6)
48.39
%
67.44
%
__________________
(1)
Annualized.
(2)
The ratio of tax equivalent net interest income to average earning assets. See page 28 for more information.
(3)
The ratio of noninterest expense to tax equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding securities gains (losses).
(4)
The difference between the average yield on earning assets and the average rate paid on  interest bearing liabilities. See page 28 for more information.
(5)
Nonperforming assets are loans or investment securities that are in nonaccrual or 90 or more days past due as well as OREO or OAO.
(6)
Cash dividends declared and paid per share divided by consolidated net income per share.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Interest Income. The largest component of the Company’s operating income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest and dividend income received from earning assets and interest expense paid on interest bearing liabilities. Net interest income is affected by various factors including, but not limited to changes in interest rates, loan and deposit pricing strategies, the volume and mix of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, and the level of nonperforming assets. Net interest margin is calculated as the net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis as a percentage of average earning assets. As a result of the 2017 Tax Act, our corporate tax rate has declined from 34% in prior years to 21% in 2018. Accordingly, the factor utilized in calculating tax equivalent interest income has declined, resulting in lower yields on the tax advantaged earning assets.
The Company’s net interest income increased $622 thousand, or 9.9%, to $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $6.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The net interest spread decreased two bps to 4.04% for the first quarter of 2018, from 4.06% for the same period last year, reflecting a six bp increase in the average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities, partially offset by a four bp increase in the average yield earned on interest earning assets between periods. Interest income on loans increased $677 thousand to $7.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $6.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 due to an increase in the average volume of loans outstanding of $53.2 million during the 20

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 27



18 comparison period. Interest income on investment securities increased $17 thousand between periods despite a slight decline in average volume and a 15 bp decrease in the average yield as a result of a decrease in the tax equivalent factor.
The average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities increased six bps, to 0.49% for the first quarter of 2018 compared to 0.43% for the first quarter of 2017. Average rates paid increased in all deposit categories while the average rate paid on borrowed funds remained unchanged. The Company may need to continue to increase rates paid on deposit accounts to remain competitive as short term interest rates and competition for deposit monies continues to increase. Additionally, funding sources other than core deposits may be necessary to fund loan demand which may have a higher cost. These changes could result in increased pressure on our net interest spread. The net interest margin was unchanged at 4.15% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.
The following table shows for the periods indicated the total amount of income recorded from average interest earning assets, the related average tax equivalent yields, the interest expense associated with average interest bearing liabilities, the related average rates paid, and the resulting tax equivalent net interest spread and margin.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
2017
 
Average
Balance
Interest
Earned/
Paid
Average
Yield/
Rate
Average
Balance
Interest
Earned/
Paid
Average
Yield/
Rate
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Average Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds sold and overnight deposits
$
16,457

$
53

1.28
%
$
19,217

$
30

0.63
%
Interest bearing deposits in banks
9,957

45

1.83
%
9,252

35

1.54
%
Investment securities (1), (2)
68,413

445

2.81
%
68,456

428

2.96
%
Loans, net (1), (3)
590,321

6,999

4.87
%
537,117

6,322

4.87
%
Nonmarketable equity securities
2,362

29

4.95
%
2,354

24

4.16
%
Total interest earning assets (1)
687,510

7,571

4.53
%
636,396

6,839

4.49
%
Cash and due from banks
3,945

 
 
4,123

 
 
Premises and equipment
14,177

 
 
13,416

 
 
Other assets
22,359

 
 
22,062

 
 
Total assets
$
727,991

 
 
$
675,997

 
 
Average Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest bearing checking accounts
$
145,091

47

0.13
%
$
140,253

39

0.11
%
Savings/money market accounts
258,066

298

0.47
%
230,935

211

0.37
%
Time deposits
101,793

188

0.75
%
103,723

172

0.67
%
Borrowed funds
32,343

114

1.41
%
32,720

115

1.41
%
Total interest bearing liabilities
537,293

647

0.49
%
507,631

537

0.43
%
Noninterest bearing deposits
124,875

 
 
106,794

 
 
Other liabilities
7,265

 
 
5,109

 
 
Total liabilities
669,433

 
 
619,534

 
 
Stockholders' equity
58,558

 
 
56,463

 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
727,991

 
 
$
675,997

 
 
Net interest income
 
$
6,924

 
 
$
6,302

 
Net interest spread (1)
 
 
4.04
%
 
 
4.06
%
Net interest margin (1)
 
 
4.15
%
 
 
4.15
%
__________________
(1)
Average yields reported on a tax equivalent basis using a marginal tax rate of 21% and 34% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(2)
Average balances of investment securities are calculated on the amortized cost basis and include nonaccrual securities, if applicable.
(3)
Includes loans held for sale as well as nonaccrual loans, unamortized costs and unamortized premiums and is net of the allowance for loan losses.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 28




Tax exempt interest income amounted to $506 thousand and $433 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The following table presents the effect of tax exempt income on the calculation of net interest income, using a marginal tax rate of 21% and 34% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively:
 
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
2018
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Net interest income, as presented
$
6,924

$
6,302

Effect of tax-exempt interest
 
 
Investment securities
34

79

Loans
85

130

Net interest income, tax equivalent
$
7,043

$
6,511


Rate/Volume Analysis. The following table describes the extent to which changes in average interest rates (on a fully tax-equivalent basis) and changes in volume of average interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities have affected the Company's interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated. For each category of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to:
changes in volume (change in volume multiplied by prior rate);
changes in rate (change in rate multiplied by prior volume); and
total change in rate and volume.

Changes attributable to both rate and volume have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Compared to
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Increase/(Decrease) Due to Change In
 
Volume (1)
Rate (1)
Net
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Interest earning assets:
 
 
 
Federal funds sold and overnight deposits
$
(4
)
$
27

$
23

Interest bearing deposits in banks
3

7

10

Investment securities

17

17

Loans, net
677


677

Nonmarketable equity securities

5

5

Total interest earning assets
$
676

$
56

$
732

Interest bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
Interest bearing checking accounts
$
2

$
6

$
8

Savings/money market accounts
27

60

87

Time deposits
(3
)
19

16

Borrowed funds
(1
)

(1
)
Total interest bearing liabilities
$
25

$
85

$
110

Net change in net interest income
$
651

$
(29
)
$
622

__________________
(1)
Tax equivalent interest income is calculated using a marginal tax rate of 21% and 34% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Provision for Loan Losses. There was no loan loss provision recorded for three month periods ended March 31, 2018 or March 31, 2017. No provision for the first three months of 2018 was deemed appropriate by management based on the size and mix of the loan portfolio, the level of nonperforming loans, the results of the qualitative factor review and prevailing existing economic conditions. For further details, see FINANCIAL CONDITION- Allowance for Loan Losses and Asset Quality below.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 29




Noninterest Income. Noninterest income was $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $2.2 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The following table sets forth the components of noninterest income and changes from 2017 to 2018:
 
For The Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
2017
$ Variance
% Variance
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Trust income
$
193

$
178

$
15

8.4

Service fees
1,487

1,440

47

3.3

Net gains on sales of loans held for sale
295

508

(213
)
(41.9
)
Income from Company-owned life insurance
312

60

252

420.0

Other income
184

47

137

291.5

Total noninterest income
$
2,471

$
2,233

$
238

10.7

The significant changes in noninterest income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 are described below:
Service fees. Total service fees increased $47 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to increases of $23 thousand in overdraft fees and $31 thousand in loan servicing income, partially offset by nominal decreases in other miscellaneous fee income.
Net gains on sales of loans held for sale. Continuing the Company's strategy to mitigate long-term interest rate risk, residential and commercial loans totaling $23.1 million were sold during the first quarter of 2018, versus residential loan sales of $28.5 million during the first quarter of 2017. The decline in net gains on sales of real estate loans is due to a combination of lower volumes of loans sold and lower average premiums on sold loans between periods reflecting a rising interest rate environment.
Income from Company-owned life insurance. Proceeds from the death benefit on an insurance policy on the life of a former director resulted in $252 thousand of additional income during the first quarter of 2018.
Other income. Other income increased between periods due to the gain on the sale of a bank owned branch building of $191 thousand during the first quarter of 2018, partially offset by decreases of $43 thousand in MSR income and $11 thousand of miscellaneous noninterest income.

Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense increased $194 thousand, or 3.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The following table sets forth the components of noninterest expense and changes between the three month comparison periods of 2018 and 2017:
 
For The Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
2017
$ Variance
% Variance
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Salaries and wages
$
2,649

$
2,568

$
81

3.2

Pension and employee benefits
958

879

79

9.0

Occupancy expense, net
395

390

5

1.3

Equipment expense
535

534

1

0.2

Electronic banking expenses
68

28

40

142.9

Other expenses
1,530

1,542

(12
)
(0.8
)
Total noninterest expense
$
6,135

$
5,941

$
194

3.3

The significant changes in noninterest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 are described below:
Salaries and wages. Salaries and wages increased $81 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 due to normal salary increases, partially offset by a reduction in commissions paid to mortgage loan originators.
Pension and employee benefits. Pension and employee benefits increased $79 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The increase is the result of an increase in pension expense of $190 thousand,

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 30



partially offset by a reduction in the cost of the Company's medical plan of $119 thousand. The reduction in the Company's medical plan costs in 2018 reflects a $242 thousand plan credit due to favorable 2017 claims experience. A similar experience based credit received in 2017 was $130 thousand. As discussed in Note 9, the Company plans to terminate its defined benefit pension plan during 2018 with the settlement of assets and liabilities expected to occur during the fourth quarter of 2018. The Company will continue to recognize pension related costs during its interim periods until the plan has been settled.
Electronic banking expenses. During the first quarter of 2018 Union changed its service provider for its internet and mobile banking product. The new product was selected to provide a more robust product to Union's customers that includes additional functionality. The utilization of the product resulted in an increase in electronic banking expenses of $40 thousand between periods.
Provision for Income Taxes. The Company has provided for current and deferred federal income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company's net provision for income taxes was $513 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $664 thousand for the same period in 2017. The Company's effective tax rate was 15.7% and 25.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The reduction in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a decrease in the corporate income tax rate from 34% to 21% as a result of the 2017 Tax Act.
Amortization expense related to limited partnership investments is included as a component of tax expense and amounted to $140 thousand and $157 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018, and 2017 respectively. These investments provide tax benefits, including tax credits. Low income housing tax credits with respect to limited partnership investments are also included as a component of income tax expense and amounted to $148 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018, and $158 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

At March 31, 2018, the Company had total consolidated assets of $722.7 million, including gross loans and loans held for sale (total loans) of $594.6 million, deposits of $623.8 million and stockholders' equity of $59.2 million. The Company’s total assets at March 31, 2018 decreased $23.1 million, or 3.1%, from $745.8 million at December 31, 2017, and increased $46.3 million, or 6.8%, compared to March 31, 2017.

Net loans and loans held for sale totaled $590.0 million, or 81.6% of total assets at March 31, 2018, compared to $589.9 million, or 79.1% of total assets at December 31, 2017. (See Loans Held for Sale and Loan Portfolio below.)

Total deposits decreased $23.7 million, or 3.7%, to $623.8 million at March 31, 2018, from $647.6 million at December 31, 2017. Interest bearing deposits decreased $26.6 million, or 6.4%, which was partially offset by increases in noninterest bearing deposits of $1.1 million, or 0.9%, and time deposits of $1.7 million, or 1.7%. The decline in total deposits between periods is related to seasonal fluctuations in municipal deposit account balances. (See average balances and rates in the Yields Earned and Rates Paid tables on page 28.)

Total borrowed funds decreased $316 thousand, or 1.0%, from $31.6 million at December 31, 2017 to $31.3 million at March 31, 2018. Customer overnight collateralized repurchase sweeps decreased $1.2 million, while FHLB advances increased $928 thousand between December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2018. (See Borrowings on page 36.)

Total stockholders’ equity increased $503 thousand to $59.2 million at March 31, 2018 from $58.7 million at December 31, 2017. (See Capital Resources on page 38.)

Loans Held for Sale and Loan Portfolio. Total loans (including loans held for sale) was $594.6 million, unchanged from December 31, 2017, and represented 82.3% of assets at March 31, 2018 and 79.7% of assets at December 31, 2017. The total loan portfolio at March 31, 2018 increased $54.2 million compared to the March 31, 2017 level of $540.4 million, representing 79.9% of assets. The Company’s loans consist primarily of adjustable-rate and fixed-rate mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family, multi-family residential or commercial real estate. Real estate secured loans represented $488.9 million, or 82.2% of total loans at March 31, 2018 and $484.2 million, or 81.4% of total loans at December 31, 2017. Although competition for good loans is strong, especially in the commercial sector, the Company has been able to originate loans to both current and new customers while maintaining credit quality. The composition of the Company’s loan portfolio remained relatively unchanged from December 31, 2017. There was no material change in the Company’s lending programs or terms during the three months ended March 31, 2018.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 31



The composition of the Company's loan portfolio as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows:
 
March 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
Loan Class
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
$
181,850

30.6
$
178,999

30.1
Construction real estate
43,379

7.3
42,935

7.2
Commercial real estate
260,695

43.8
254,291

42.8
Commercial
46,885

7.9
50,719

8.5
Consumer
3,525

0.6
3,894

0.7
Municipal
55,326

9.3
55,777

9.4
Loans held for sale
2,938

0.5
7,947

1.3
Total loans
594,598

100.0
594,562

100.0
Allowance for loan losses
(5,405
)
 
(5,408
)
 
Unamortized net loan costs
797

 
795

 
Net loans and loans held for sale
$
589,990

 
$
589,949

 
The Company originates and sells qualified residential mortgage loans in various secondary market avenues, with a majority of sales made to the FHLMC/Freddie Mac, generally with servicing rights retained. At March 31, 2018, the Company serviced a $675.6 million residential real estate mortgage portfolio, of which $2.9 million was held for sale and approximately $490.8 million was serviced for unaffiliated third parties.

The Company sold $23.1 million of qualified residential real estate loans primarily originated during the first three months of 2018 to the secondary market to mitigate long-term interest rate risk and to generate fee income, compared to sales of $28.5 million during the first three months of 2017. The Company originates and sells FHA, VA, and RD residential mortgage loans, and also has an Unconditional Direct Endorsement Approval from HUD which allows the Company to approve FHA loans originated in any of its Vermont or New Hampshire locations without needing prior HUD underwriting approval. The Company sells VA and FHA loans as originated with servicing released. Some of the government backed loans qualify for zero down payments without geographic or income restrictions. These loan products increase the Company's ability to serve the borrowing needs of residents in the communities we serve, including low and moderate income borrowers, while the government guaranty mitigates our exposure to credit risk.

The Company also originates commercial real estate and commercial loans under various SBA, USDA and State sponsored programs that provide a government agency guaranty for a portion of the loan amount. There was $4.3 million guaranteed under these various programs at March 31, 2018 on an aggregate balance of $5.5 million in subject loans. The Company occasionally sells the guaranteed portion of the loan to other financial concerns and retains servicing rights, which generates fee income. There were no commercial loans sold in the first three months of 2018 and $27 thousand of commercial loans sold in the first three months of 2017. The Company recognizes gains and losses on the sale of the principal portion of these loans as they occur.

The Company serviced $13.9 million of commercial and commercial real estate loans for unaffiliated third parties as of March 31, 2018. This includes $11.6 million of commercial or commercial real estate loans the Company has participated out to other financial institutions, in the ordinary course of business on a nonrecourse basis, for liquidity or credit concentration management purposes.

As of March 31, 2018, there were $1.1 billion in total loans serviced, an increase of $5.6 million compared to December 31, 2017. Total loans serviced at March 31, 2018 included total loans on the balance sheet of $594.6 million as well as total loans sold with servicing retained of $504.8 million.

The Company capitalizes MSRs for all loans sold with servicing retained and recognizes gains and losses on the sale of the principal portion of these loans as they occur. The unamortized balance of MSRs on loans sold with servicing retained was $1.7 million at March 31, 2018, with an estimated market value in excess of the carrying value as of such date. Management periodically evaluates and measures the servicing assets for impairment.

Qualifying residential first mortgage loans and certain commercial real estate loans with a carrying value of $165.0 million were pledged as collateral for borrowings from the FHLB under a blanket lien at March 31, 2018.


Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 32



Asset Quality. The Company, like all financial institutions, is exposed to certain credit risks, including those related to the value of the collateral that secures its loans and the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. Consistent application of the Company’s conservative loan policies has helped to mitigate this risk and has been prudent for both the Company and its customers. Renewed market volatility, high unemployment rates or weakness in the general economic condition of the country or our market area, may have a negative effect on our customers’ ability to make their loan payments on a timely basis and/or on underlying collateral values. Management closely monitors the Company’s loan and investment portfolios, OREO and OAO for potential problems and reports to the Company’s and Union’s Board at regularly scheduled meetings. Board approved policies set forth portfolio diversification levels to mitigate concentration risk and the Company participates large credits out to other financial institutions to further mitigate that risk.
Repossessed assets and loans or investments that are 90 days or more past due are considered to be nonperforming assets.The following table shows the composition of nonperforming assets at the dates indicated and trends in certain ratios monitored by the Company's management in reviewing asset quality:
 
As of or for the three months ended
As of or for the year ended
As of or for the three months ended
 
March 31,
2018
December 31,
2017
March 31,
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Nonaccrual loans
$
1,400

$
1,191

$
3,083

Accruing loans 90+ days delinquent
294

494

257

Total nonperforming loans (1)
1,694

1,685

3,340

OREO

36


Total nonperforming assets (1)
$
1,694

$
1,721

$
3,340

ALL to loans not held for sale
0.91
%
0.92
%
0.97
%
ALL to nonperforming loans
319.07
%
320.95
%
155.45
%
Nonperforming loans to total loans
0.28
%
0.28
%
0.62
%
Nonperforming assets to total assets
0.23
%
0.23
%
0.49
%
Delinquent loans (30 days to nonaccruing) to total loans
1.22
%
1.05
%
1.64
%
Net charge-offs (annualized) to average loans not held for sale
%
0.01
%
0.04
%
____________________
(1)
The Company had guarantees of U.S. or state government agencies on the above nonperforming loans totaling $129 thousand at March 31, 2018, $131 thousand at December 31, 2017, and $333 thousand at March 31, 2017.

The level of nonaccrual loans increased $209 thousand, or 17.5%, since December 31, 2017, and accruing loans delinquent 90 days or more decreased $200 thousand, or 40.5%, during the same time period. There was one residential real estate loan totaling $131 thousand in process of foreclosure at March 31, 2018. The aggregate interest income not recognized on nonaccrual loans amounted to approximately $1.2 million and $1.3 million as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $1.2 million as of December 31, 2017.
At March 31, 2018, the Company had loans rated substandard that were on performing status totaling $3.2 million, compared to $3.0 million at December 31, 2017. In management's view, substandard loans represent a higher degree of risk of becoming nonperforming loans in the future. The Company’s management is focused on the impact that the economy may have on its borrowers and closely monitors industry and geographic concentrations for evidence of financial problems. The past two winter seasons have brought cold temperatures and snowfall to the area, which appears to have improved the related business' financial performance. Improvement in local economic indicators have also been identified over the past two years. The unemployment rate has stabilized in Vermont and was 2.8% for March 2018 compared to 3.0% for March 2017. The New Hampshire unemployment rate was 2.6% for March 2018 compared to 2.8% for March 2017. These rates compare favorably with the nationwide unemployment rate of 4.1% and 4.5% for the comparable periods. Management will continue to monitor the national, regional and local economic environment and its impact on unemployment, business failures and real estate values in the Company’s market area.
On occasion, the Company acquires residential or commercial real estate properties through or in lieu of loan foreclosure. These properties are held for sale and are initially recorded as OREO at fair value less estimated selling costs at the date of the Company’s acquisition of the property, with fair value based on an appraisal for more significant properties and on a broker’s price opinion for less significant properties. Holding costs and declines in the fair value of properties acquired are expensed as incurred. Declines in the fair value after acquisition of the property result in charges against income before tax. There were no such declines for the three months ended March 31, 2018, or March 31, 2017. The Company evaluates each OREO property at least quarterly for

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 33



changes in the fair value. The Company had no properties classified as OREO at March 31, 2018 or March 31, 2017 and one residential real estate property valued at $36 thousand classified as OREO at December 31, 2017.
Allowance for Loan Losses. Some of the Company’s loan customers ultimately do not make all of their contractually scheduled payments, requiring the Company to charge off a portion or all of the remaining principal balance due. The Company maintains an ALL to absorb such losses. The ALL is maintained at a level believed by management to be appropriate to absorb probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the evaluation date; however, actual loan losses may vary from current estimates. The Company's policy and methodologies for establishing the ALL, described in the Company's 2017 Annual Report did not change during the first three months of 2018.
Impaired loans were $3.3 million at March 31, 2018, with government guaranties of $533 thousand and a specific reserve amount allocated of $50 thousand. Impaired loans at December 31, 2017 were $3.3 million, with government guaranties of $550 thousand and a specific reserve amount allocated of $48 thousand. All of the impaired loans were also TDR loans at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Based on management's evaluation of the Company's historical loss experience on substandard commercial loans, commercial loans with balances greater than $500 thousand was established as the threshold for individual impairment evaluation with a specific reserve allocated when warranted. Commercial loans with balances under this threshold are collectively evaluated for impairment as a homogeneous pool of loans, unless such loans are subject to a restructuring agreement or have been identified as impaired as part of a larger customer relationship. The specific reserve amount allocated to individually identified impaired loans increased $2 thousand as a result of the March 31, 2018 impairment evaluation.
The following table reflects activity in the ALL for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
2018
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period
$
5,408

$
5,247

Charge-offs
(6
)
(61
)
Recoveries
3

6

Net charge-offs
(3
)
(55
)
Provision for loan losses


Balance at end of period
$
5,405

$
5,192

The following table (net of loans held for sale) shows the internal breakdown by risk component of the Company's ALL and the percentage of loans in each category to total loans in the respective portfolios at the dates indicated:
 
March 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
 
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate
$
1,375

30.7
$
1,375

30.5
Construction real estate
494

7.3
494

7.3
Commercial real estate
2,773

44.1
2,773

43.4
Commercial
367

7.9
367

8.6
Consumer
25

0.6
25

0.7
Municipal
63

9.4
63

9.5
Unallocated
308

308

Total
$
5,405

100.0
$
5,405

100.0

Notwithstanding the categories shown in the table above or any specific allocation under the Company's ALL methodology, all funds in the ALL are available to absorb loan losses in the portfolio, regardless of loan category or specific allocation.

There were no changes to the reserve factors assigned to any of the loan portfolios based on the qualitative factor reviews performed during the first three months of 2018. Management of the Company believes, in its best estimate, that the ALL at March 31, 2018 is appropriate to cover probable credit losses inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio as of such date. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will not sustain losses in future periods which could be greater than the size of the ALL at March 31, 2018. In addition, our banking regulators, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our ALL. Such

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 34



agencies may require us to recognize adjustments to the ALL based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. A large adjustment to the ALL for losses in future periods could require increased provisions to replenish the ALL, which could negatively affect earnings. Management continues to be cautiously optimistic about the collectability of the Company's loan portfolio.

Investment Activities. At March 31, 2018, investment securities classified as AFS totaled $68.4 million, comprising 9.5% of total assets, compared to $65.4 million, or 8.8% of total assets at December 31, 2017 . Total investment securities decreased $2.0 million, or 3.0%, from $66.4 million, or 8.9% of total assets at December 31, 2017. Net unrealized losses for the Company’s AFS investment securities portfolio were $1.6 million as of March 31, 2018, compared to net unrealized losses of $381 thousand as of December 31, 2017. Net unrealized losses of $1.3 million, net of income tax effect, were reflected in the Company’s accumulated OCI component of stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2018. There were no securities classified as HTM at March 31, 2018 and $1.0 million in investment securities classified as HTM at December 31, 2017. No declines in value were deemed by management to be OTT at March 31, 2018. Deterioration in credit quality and/or imbalances in liquidity that may exist in the financial marketplace might adversely affect the fair values of the Company’s investment portfolio and the amount of gains or losses ultimately realized on the sale of such securities, and may also increase the potential that certain resulting unrealized losses will be designated as OTT in future periods, resulting in write-downs and charges to earnings. There was $2.7 million of investment securities pledged to secure various public deposits or customer repurchase agreements as of March 31, 2018, compared to $4.6 million at December 31, 2017.

Deposits. The following table shows information concerning the Company's average deposits by account type and weighted average nominal rates at which interest was paid on such deposits for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and year ended December 31, 2017:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2018
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Average
Amount
Percent
of Total
Deposits
Average
Rate
Average
Amount
Percent
of Total
Deposits
Average
Rate
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Nontime deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest bearing deposits
$
124,875

19.8

$
106,794

18.4

Interest bearing checking accounts
145,091

23.0
0.13
%
140,253

24.1
0.11
%
Money market accounts
154,704

24.6
0.68
%
132,652

22.8
0.53
%
Savings accounts
103,362

16.4
0.15
%
98,283

16.9
0.15
%
Total nontime deposits
528,032

83.8
0.26
%
477,982

82.2
0.21
%
Time deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than $100,000
60,009

9.5
0.67
%
62,330

10.7
0.66
%
$100,000 and over
41,784

6.7
0.86
%
41,393

7.1
0.69
%
Total time deposits
101,793

16.2
0.75
%
103,723

17.8
0.67
%
Total deposits
$
629,825

100.0
0.34
%
$
581,705

100.0
0.29
%
During the first three months of 2018, average total deposits grew $48.1 million, or 8.3%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, with growth in all categories except time deposits.

The Company participates in CDARS, which permits the Company to offer full deposit insurance coverage to its customers by exchanging deposit balances with other CDARS participants. CDARS also provides the Company with an additional source of funding and liquidity through the purchase of deposits. There were $12.3 million of time deposits of $250,000 or less on the balance sheet at March 31, 2018 and $11.5 million at December 31, 2017, which were exchanged with other CDARS participants and are therefore considered for certain regulatory purposes to be “brokered” deposits. There were no purchased CDARS deposits at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

The Company also participates in the ICS program, a service through which Union can offer its customers a savings product with access to unlimited FDIC insurance, while receiving reciprocal deposits from other FDIC-insured banks. Like the exchange of certificate of deposit accounts through CDARS, exchange of savings deposits through ICS provides a depositor with full deposit insurance coverage of excess balances, thereby helping Union retain the full amount of the deposit on its balance sheet. As with the CDARS program, in addition to reciprocal deposits, participating banks may also purchase one-way ICS deposits. There were

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 35



$45.5 million and $67.0 million in exchanged ICS money market deposits on the balance sheet at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. There were no purchased ICS deposits at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

At March 31, 2018, there was $998 thousand in retail brokered deposits issued under a master certificate of deposit program with a deposit broker for the purpose of providing a supplemental source of funding and liquidity. These deposits will mature in February 2019. There were $2.0 million of retail brokered deposits at December 31, 2017.

The following table provides a maturity distribution of the Company’s time deposits in amounts of $100,000 and over at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
 
March 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Within 3 months
$
9,363

$
5,345

3 to 6 months
9,410

9,752

6 to 12 months
13,826

13,737

Over 12 months
10,649

12,348

 
$
43,248

$
41,182

A provision of the Dodd-Frank Act permanently raised FDIC deposit insurance coverage to $250 thousand per depositor per insured depository institution for each account ownership category. At March 31, 2018, the Company had deposit accounts with less than $250 thousand totaling $463.1 million, or 74.2% of its deposits, with FDIC insurance protection. An additional $2.5 million of municipal deposits were over the FDIC insurance coverage limit at March 31, 2018 and were collateralized by Union under applicable state regulations by investment securities.

Borrowings. Total borrowed funds at March 31, 2018 were $31.3 million compared to $31.6 million at December 31, 2017, a net decrease of $316 thousand, or 1.0%. The FHLB option advance borrowings were $31.1 million at March 31, 2018, at a weighted average rate of 1.44%, and $30.2 million at December 31, 2017, at a weighted average rate of 1.42%. The increase in option advance borrowings reflects a $7.0 million five year option advance (callable after one year) at 0.77% taken for liquidity purposes, partially offset by the maturity of a $1.0 million option advance, a $5.0 million option advance called by FHLB and scheduled monthly payments of $72 thousand on long-term FHLB amortizing advances during the first three months of 2018. In addition, the Company had overnight secured customer repurchase agreement sweeps at March 31, 2018 of $121 thousand, at a weighted average rate of 0.15%, compared to $1.4 million, at a weighted average rate of 0.25% at December 31, 2017, a decrease of $1.2 million, or 91.1%, primarily due to a customer converting their account to another deposit product during the quarter. The volume of the overnight secured customer repurchase agreement sweeps is volatile and is a function of our customers' cash flow and cash management needs.

The Company has the authority, up to its available borrowing capacity with the FHLB, to collateralize public unit deposits with letters of credit issued by the FHLB. FHLB letters of credit in the amount of $33.3 million and $29.6 million were utilized as collateral for these deposits at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Total fees paid by the Company in connection with the issuance of these letters of credit were $6 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018, with no fees paid for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Commitments, Contingent Liabilities, and Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements. The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers, to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and to implement its strategic objectives. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, interest rate caps and floors written on adjustable-rate loans, commitments to participate in or sell loans, commitments to buy or sell securities, certificates of deposit or other investment instruments and risk-sharing commitments or guarantees on certain sold loans. Such instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized on the balance sheet. The contractual or notional amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Company has in a particular class of financial instruments.

The Company's maximum exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual or notional amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments. For interest rate caps and floors written on adjustable-rate loans, the contractual or notional amounts do not represent the Company’s exposure to credit loss. The Company controls the risk of interest rate cap agreements through credit approvals, limits, and monitoring procedures. The Company generally requires collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 36




The following table details the contractual or notional amount of financial instruments that represented credit risk at the balance sheet dates:
 
March 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Commitments to originate loans
$
28,361

$
25,394

Unused lines of credit
87,457

85,906

Standby and commercial letters of credit
2,121

2,064

Credit card arrangements
1,286

1,326

FHLB Mortgage Partnership Finance credit enhancement obligation, net
643

640

Commitment to purchase investment in a real estate limited partnership
1,470

1,470

Contract commitment for renovation projects
740

662

Total
$
122,078

$
117,462

Commitments to originate loans are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have a fixed expiration date or other termination clause and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the loan commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon and not all credit lines will be utilized, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Lines of credit incur seasonal volume fluctuations due to the nature of some customers' businesses, such as tourism and maple syrup products production.
The Company did not hold any derivative or hedging instruments at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.
The Company’s subsidiary bank is required (as are all banks) to maintain vault cash or a noninterest bearing reserve balance as established by FRB regulations. The Bank’s average total required reserve for the 14 day maintenance period including March 31, 2018 was $994 thousand and for December 31, 2017 was $1.4 million, both of which were satisfied by vault cash.

Contractual Obligations. The Company and Union have various financial obligations, including contractual obligations that may require future cash payments. The following table presents, as of March 31, 2018, significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations to third parties:
 
March 31, 2018
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Operating lease commitments
$
623

Contractual payments on borrowed funds (1)
31,265

Deposits without stated maturity (1) (2)
520,978

Certificates of deposit (1) (2)
102,865

Deferred compensation payouts
880

Total
$
656,611

____________________
(1)
The amounts exclude interest payable.
(2)
While Union has a contractual obligation to depositors should they wish to withdraw all or some of the funds on deposit, management believes, based on historical analysis as well as current conditions in the financial markets, that the majority of these deposits will remain on deposit for the foreseeable future.

Liquidity. Liquidity is a measurement of the Company’s ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to fund deposit withdrawals, repay borrowings, fund investment and lending activities, and for other general business purposes. The primary objective of liquidity management is to maintain a balance between sources and uses of funds to meet our cash flow needs in the most economical and expedient manner. The Company’s principal sources of funds are deposits; amortization, prepayment and maturity of loans, investment securities, interest bearing deposits and other short-term investments; sales of securities and loans AFS; earnings; and funds provided from operations. Contractual principal repayments on loans are a relatively predictable source of funds; however, deposit flows and loan and investment prepayments are less predictable and can be significantly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions, and rates offered by our competitors. Managing liquidity risk is essential to maintaining both depositor confidence and earnings stability.

As of March 31, 2018, Union, as a member of FHLB, had access to unused lines of credit up to $35.0 million over and above the $65.3 million in combined outstanding borrowings and other credit subject to collateralization, subject to the purchase of required

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 37



FHLB Class B common stock and evaluation by the FHLB of the underlying collateral available. This line of credit can be used for either short-term or long-term liquidity or other funding needs.

Union also maintains an IDEAL Way Line of Credit with the FHLB. The total line available was $551 thousand at March 31, 2018. There were no borrowings against this line of credit as of such date. Interest on this line is chargeable at a rate determined by the FHLB and payable monthly. Should Union utilize this line of credit, qualified portions of the loan and investment portfolios would collateralize these borrowings.

In addition to its borrowing arrangements with the FHLB, Union maintains a pre-approved federal funds line of credit totaling $10.0 million with an upstream correspondent bank and one-way buy options with CDARS and ICS as well as access to the FRB discount window, which would require pledging of qualified assets. Core deposits are the lowest cost of funds the Company has access to but these deposits may not be sufficient to cover the on balance sheet liquidity needs which makes using these other funding sources necessary. At March 31, 2018 there were no purchased ICS deposits under this agreement, no purchased CDARS deposits, and no outstanding advances on the federal funds line or at the discount window.

Union's investment and residential loan portfolios provide a significant amount of contingent liquidity that could be accessed in a reasonable time period through sales of those portfolios. We also have additional contingent liquidity sources with access to the brokered deposit market and the FRB discount window. These sources are considered as liquidity alternatives in our contingent liquidity plan. At March 31, 2018, there was $998 thousand in retail brokered deposits issued under a master certificate of deposit program with a deposit broker. Management believes the Company has sufficient liquidity to meet all reasonable borrower, depositor, and creditor needs in the present economic environment. However, any projections of future cash needs and flows are subject to substantial uncertainty, including factors outside the Company's control.

Capital Resources. Capital management is designed to maintain an optimum level of capital in a cost-effective structure that meets target regulatory ratios, supports management’s internal assessment of economic capital, funds the Company’s business strategies and builds long-term stockholder value. Dividends are generally in line with long-term trends in earnings per share and conservative earnings projections, while sufficient profits are retained to support anticipated business growth, fund strategic investments, maintain required regulatory capital levels and provide continued support for deposits. The Company continues to evaluate growth opportunities both through internal growth or potential acquisitions.

Stockholders’ equity increased from $58.7 million at December 31, 2017 to $59.2 million at March 31, 2018, reflecting net income of $2.7 million for the first three months of 2018, an increase of $41 thousand from stock based compensation, and an $8 thousand increase due to the issuance of common stock under the DRIP. These increases were partially offset by cash dividends paid of $1.3 million, a decrease of $950 thousand in accumulated other comprehensive loss due to a decline in the fair market value of the Company's AFS securities, and stock repurchases of $3 thousand during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The components of the other comprehensive loss are illustrated in Note 11 of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

The Company has 7,500,000 shares of $2.00 par value common stock authorized. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had 4,940,961 shares issued, of which 4,465,657 were outstanding and 475,304 were held in treasury.

In January 2018, the Company's Board reauthorized the limited stock repurchase plan that was initially established in May of 2010 and has been reauthorized annually since that time. The limited stock repurchase plan allows the repurchase of up to a fixed number of shares of the Company's common stock each calendar quarter (currently 2,500 shares) in open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, as management deems advisable and as market conditions may warrant. The repurchase authorization for a calendar quarter expires at the end of that quarter to the extent it has not been exercised, and is not carried forward into future quarters. The quarterly repurchase authorization expires on December 31, 2018, unless reauthorized. The Company repurchased 60 shares during the first three months of 2018 under this program at a total cost of $3 thousand.

The Company adopted a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan whereby registered stockholders may elect to reinvest cash dividends and optional cash contributions to purchase additional shares of the Company's common stock. The Company has reserved 200,000 shares of its common stock for issuance and sale under the DRIP. As of March 31, 2018, 1,460 shares of stock had been issued from treasury stock under the DRIP.

The Company (on a consolidated basis) and Union are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company's and Union's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and Union must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 38



as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company's and Union's capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

Under the current guidelines, banking organizations must have a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%, a minimum Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 6.0%, a minimum common equity Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 4.5%, and a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0% in order to be "adequately capitalized." In addition to these requirements, banking organizations must maintain a 2.5% capital conservation buffer consisting of common Tier I equity, subject to a transition schedule with a full phase-in by 2019. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company and the Bank were required to establish a capital conservation buffer of 1.875%, increasing the minimum required total risk-based capital, Tier I risk-based and common equity Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets they must maintain to avoid limits on capital distributions and certain bonus payments to executive officers and similar employees.

As of March 31, 2018, both the Company and Union met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject. There were no conditions or events between March 31, 2018 and the date of this report that management believes have changed either Company’s regulatory capital category.
 
Actual
For Capital Adequacy Purposes
To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
As of March 31, 2018
Amount
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Company:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital to risk weighted assets
$
67,850

13.96
%
$
38,883

8.00
%
N/A

N/A

Tier I capital to risk weighted assets
62,445

12.85
%
29,157

6.00
%
N/A

N/A

Common Equity Tier 1 to risk weighted assets
62,445

12.85
%
21,868

4.50
%
N/A

N/A

Tier I capital to average assets
62,445

8.63
%
28,943

4.00
%
N/A

N/A

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Union:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital to risk weighted assets
$
67,379

13.89
%
$
38,807

8.00
%
$
48,509

10.00
%
Tier I capital to risk weighted assets
61,974

12.78
%
29,096

6.00
%
38,794

8.00
%
Common Equity Tier 1 to risk weighted assets
61,974

12.78
%
21,822

4.50
%
31,520

6.50
%
Tier I capital to average assets
61,974

8.56
%
28,960

4.00
%
36,200

5.00
%
Dividends paid by Union are the primary source of funds available to the Company for payment of dividends to its stockholders. Union is subject to certain requirements imposed by federal banking laws and regulations, which among other things, establish minimum levels of capital and restrict the amount of dividends that may be distributed by Union to the Company.
Quarterly cash dividends of $0.30 per share were paid during the first quarter of 2018 and declared for the second quarter, payable on May 10, 2018 to stockholders of record on April 30, 2018.The dividend rate of $0.30 per share represents an increase of $0.01 per share in the quarterly cash dividends paid in 2017 .

Regulatory Matters. The Company and Union are subject to periodic examinations by the various regulatory agencies. These examinations include, but are not limited to, procedures designed to review lending practices, risk management, credit quality, liquidity, compliance and capital adequacy. In May of 2017, the FDIC performed its regular, periodic safety and soundness examination of Union. In February of 2017, the FDIC performed its regular periodic compliance examination of Union. In September of 2017, the FRB performed its regular, periodic examination of the Company. During 2015, the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation performed a regular safety and soundness examination of Union. No comments were received that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s or Union’s liquidity, financial position, capital resources, or results of operations.

OTHER FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Market Risk and Interest Rate Risk. Market risk is the potential of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market prices, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and equity prices. As of March 31, 2018, the Company did not have any market risk sensitive instruments acquired for trading purposes. The Company’s market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk inherent in its lending, investing, deposit taking and borrowing activities. Management of interest rate risk is an important component of our asset and liability management process, which is governed by established policies that are reviewed and approved annually. Our investment policy details the types of securities that may be purchased, and establishes portfolio limits and maturity limits for the various sectors. Our investment policy also establishes specific investment quality

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 39



limits. The ALCO develops guidelines and strategies impacting our asset and liability management-related activities based upon estimated market risk sensitivity, policy limits and overall market interest rate levels and trends. Members of the ALCO also manage the investment portfolio to maximize net interest income while mitigating market and interest rate risk.
Interest rate risk arises naturally from imbalances in repricing, maturity and cash flow characteristics of our assets and liabilities. The ALCO takes into consideration the cash flow and repricing attributes of balance sheet and off-balance sheet items and their relation to possible changes in interest rates. The ALCO manages interest rate exposure primarily by using on-balance sheet strategies, generally accomplished through the management of the duration, rate sensitivity and average lives of our various investments, and by extending or shortening maturities of borrowed funds, as well as carefully managing and monitoring the maturities and pricing of loans and deposits.
An outside consultant is utilized to perform rate shocks to our balance sheet to assess our risk to earnings in different interest rate environments, and to perform a variety of other analyses. The consultant’s most recent completed analysis was as of March 31, 2018. The base simulation assumed no changes in rates, as well as 200 and 300 basis point rising interest rate scenarios which assume a parallel shift of the yield curve over a one-year period, and no growth assumptions. Management is not aware of any significant changes in the Company's risk profile since the analysis was performed as of March 31, 2018. A summary of the results is as follows:
Current/Flat Rates: If rates remain at current levels net interest income is projected to trend sideways for the entire simulation as declining asset yields are similarly offset by reductions to funding costs.
Rising Rates: Higher rates indicate positive results under all scenarios. Under the rising rate scenarios if rates rise in a parallel fashion, net interest income is expected to trend close to the base case scenario over the near term as higher funding costs match increasing asset yields. Once funding cost increases stabilize, net interest income is projected to increase for the duration of the simulation as assets reprice at higher rates and investment and loan cash flow continues to cycle into the elevated environment. The timing of recovery will depend on the slope and shape of the yield curve as rates rise.
The net interest income simulation as of March 31, 2018 showed that the change in net interest income for the next 12 months from our expected or “most likely” forecast was as follows:
 
Rate Change
Percent Change in Net Interest Income Limit
Percent Change in Net Interest Income
 
 
Up 300 basis points
(21.00
)%
2.6
%
 
 
 
Up 200 basis points
(14.00
)%
2.1
%
 
 
The preceding sensitivity analysis does not represent our forecast and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results. These estimates are based upon numerous assumptions including, among others, the nature and timing of interest rate levels including yield curve shape, prepayments on loans and securities, deposit run-off rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits and reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows. While assumptions are developed based upon current economic and local market conditions, we cannot make any assurances as to the predictive nature of these assumptions including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change.
The model used to perform the base case balance sheet simulation assumes a parallel shift of the yield curve over twelve months and reprices every interest earning asset and interest bearing liability on our balance sheet, simultaneously. The use of pricing betas help simulate the expected pricing behavior regarding non-maturing deposits, limiting the rate increases that occur when market rates rise. A historic analysis of the bank's prepayment history was performed and the results were used as a basis for future prepayment expectations. Investment securities with call provisions are examined on an individual basis to estimate the likelihood of a call.
As market conditions vary from those assumed in the sensitivity analysis, actual results will likely differ due to: the varying impact of changes in the balances and mix of loans and deposits differing from those assumed, the impact of possible off balance sheet commitments, and other internal/external variables. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect all actions that the ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Information called for by this item is incorporated to Part I, Item 2, reference in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the caption OTHER FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS on page 39 of this report

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 40



Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, with the assistance of the Disclosure Control Committee, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of March 31, 2018. Based on this evaluation they concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files with the Commission is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required information.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act, during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
There are no known pending legal proceedings to which the Company or its subsidiary is a party, or to which any of their properties is subject, other than ordinary litigation arising in the normal course of business activities. Although the amount of any ultimate liability with respect to such proceedings cannot be determined, in the opinion of management, any such liability is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiary.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in the risk factors discussed in Part I-Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our 2017 Annual Report since the date of the filing of that report.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company did not issue any unregistered equity securities.
The following table summarizes repurchases of the Company's equity securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2018:
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1)
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Program (1)
January 2018
60

$48.82
60

2,440

February 2018



2,440

March 2018




__________________
(1)
All repurchases shown in the table were made pursuant to a discretionary stock repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to 2,500 shares of its common stock each calendar quarter, in open market or privately negotiated transactions. The repurchase authorization for a calendar quarter expires at the end of that quarter to the extent it has not been exercised, and is not carried forward into future quarters. The program was initially authorized in 2010 and was reauthorized most recently in January 2018. The program will expire on December 31, 2018, unless reauthorized.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 41



Item 6. Exhibits.
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
101
The following materials from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets, (ii) the unaudited consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, (iii) the unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, (iv) the unaudited consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity, (iv) the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows and (v) related notes.
____________________
*
This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
                    
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.
 
 
Union Bankshares, Inc.
 
 
 
May 10, 2018
 
/s/ David S. Silverman
 
 
David S. Silverman
 
 
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
May 10, 2018
 
/s/ Karyn J. Hale
 
 
Karyn J. Hale
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)

EXHIBIT INDEX
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
 
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
 
 
101
The following materials from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets, (ii) the unaudited consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, (iii) the unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, (iv) the unaudited consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity, (iv) the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows and (v) related notes.
____________________
*
This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Union Bankshares, Inc. Page 42