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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS INC - Quarter Report: 2016 September (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

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2016

 

OR

 

¨     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Transition Period from ___________ to ___________

 

Commission file number 001-35095

 

  UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.  
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

 

Georgia   58-1807304
(State of Incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

125 Highway 515 East    
Blairsville, Georgia   30512
Address of Principal Executive Offices   (Zip Code)

 

  (706) 781-2265  
  (Telephone Number)  

 

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 Date 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.

 

Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨
   
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller Reporting Company ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

 

YES ¨ NO x

 

Common stock, par value $1 per share 70,863,730 shares outstanding as of October 31, 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

INDEX

 

PART I - Financial Information    
       
Item 1. Financial Statements.    
       
  Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015   3
       
  Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015   4
       
  Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited) at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015   5
       
  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited) for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015   6
       
  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015   7
       
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   8
       
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.   40
       
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.   62
       
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.   62
       
PART II - Other Information    
       
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings.   63
Item 1A. Risk Factors.   63
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.   63
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.   63
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.   63
Item 5. Other Information.   63
Item 6. Exhibits.   64

 

2 

 

 

Part I – Financial Information

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands, except per share data)  2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
Interest revenue:                    
Loans, including fees  $69,440   $57,174   $196,888   $159,814 
Investment securities, including tax exempt of $134, $177, $449 and $516   15,418    12,801    48,039    36,896 
Deposits in banks and short-term investments   581    853    2,315    2,460 
Total interest revenue   85,439    70,828    247,242    199,170 
                     
Interest expense:                    
Deposits:                    
NOW   452    337    1,381    1,079 
Money market   1,347    981    3,661    2,460 
Savings   43    25    102    71 
Time   667    830    2,052    2,834 
Total deposit interest expense   2,509    2,173    7,196    6,444 
Short-term borrowings   98    99    278    279 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   1,015    461    2,731    1,307 
Long-term debt   2,828    2,669    8,178    7,481 
Total interest expense   6,450    5,402    18,383    15,511 
Net interest revenue   78,989    65,426    228,859    183,659 
Provision for credit losses   (300)   700    (800)   3,400 
Net interest revenue after provision for credit losses   79,289    64,726    229,659    180,259 
                     
Fee revenue:                    
Service charges and fees   10,819    9,335    31,460    25,325 
Mortgage loan and other related fees   6,039    3,840    13,776    10,302 
Brokerage fees   1,199    1,200    3,369    3,983 
Gains from sales of government guaranteed loans   2,479    1,646    6,517    4,281 
Securities gains, net   261    325    922    1,877 
Loss from prepayment of debt   -    (256)   -    (1,294)
Other   5,564    2,207    12,420    6,771 
Total fee revenue   26,361    18,297    68,464    51,245 
Total revenue   105,650    83,023    298,123    231,504 
                     
Operating expenses:                    
Salaries and employee benefits   36,478    29,342    103,112    83,749 
Communications and equipment   4,919    3,963    13,602    10,538 
Occupancy   5,132    4,013    14,393    10,706 
Advertising and public relations   1,088    812    3,275    2,689 
Postage, printing and supplies   1,451    1,049    4,029    2,980 
Professional fees   3,160    2,668    9,049    6,844 
FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges   1,412    1,136    4,453    3,643 
Amortization of intangibles   1,119    714    3,116    1,403 
Merger-related and other charges   3,152    5,744    6,981    8,917 
Other   6,112    4,828    17,958    14,281 
Total operating expenses   64,023    54,269    179,968    145,750 
 Net income before income taxes   41,627    28,754    118,155    85,754 
Income tax expense   15,753    10,867    44,720    32,384 
Net income   25,874    17,887    73,435    53,370 
Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion   -    25    21    42 
Net income available to common shareholders  $25,874   $17,862   $73,414   $53,328 
                     
Earnings per common share:                    
Basic  $.36   $.27   $1.02   $.84 
Diluted   .36    .27    1.02    .84 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                    
Basic   71,556    66,294    71,992    63,297 
Diluted   71,561    66,300    71,996    63,302 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

 

(in thousands)  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
2016  Before-
tax
Amount
   Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
   Net of Tax
Amount
   Before-
tax
Amount
   Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
   Net of Tax
Amount
 
                         
Net income  $41,627   $(15,753)  $25,874   $118,155   $(44,720)  $73,435 
Other comprehensive income:                              
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:                              
Unrealized holding gains arising during period   4,927    (1,927)   3,000    37,990    (14,488)   23,502 
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income   (261)   101    (160)   (922)   348    (574)
Net unrealized gains   4,666    (1,826)   2,840    37,068    (14,140)   22,928 
Amortization of losses included in net income on available-for-sale securities transferred to held-to-maturity   663    (237)   426    1,601    (596)   1,005 
Amortization of losses included in net income on terminated derivative financial instruments that were previously accounted for as cash flow hedges   466    (181)   285    1,426    (555)   871 
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plan   167    (65)   102    501    (195)   306 
                               
Total other comprehensive income   5,962    (2,309)   3,653    40,596    (15,486)   25,110 
                               
Comprehensive income  $47,589   $(18,062)  $29,527   $158,751   $(60,206)  $98,545 
                               
2015                              
Net income  $28,754   $(10,867)  $17,887   $85,754   $(32,384)  $53,370 
Other comprehensive income:                              
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:                              
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period   2,313    (870)   1,443    5,426    (2,143)   3,283 
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income   (325)   121    (204)   (1,877)   724    (1,153)
Net unrealized gains   1,988    (749)   1,239    3,549    (1,419)   2,130 
Amortization of losses included in net income on available-for-sale securities transferred to held-to-maturity   269    (99)   170    1,041    (387)   654 
Amortization of losses included in net income on terminated derivative financial instruments that were previously accounted for as cash flow hedges   550    (214)   336    1,430    (556)   874 
Unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges   -    -    -    (471)   183    (288)
Net cash flow hedge activity   550    (214)   336    959    (373)   586 
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plan   159    (62)   97    478    (186)   292 
                               
Total other comprehensive income   2,966    (1,124)   1,842    6,027    (2,365)   3,662 
                               
Comprehensive income  $31,720   $(11,991)  $19,729   $91,781   $(34,749)  $57,032 
                               

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands, except share and per share data)  2016   2015 
         
ASSETS          
Cash and due from banks  $94,744   $86,912 
Interest-bearing deposits in banks   131,415    153,451 
Cash and cash equivalents   226,159    240,363 
Securities available for sale   2,215,113    2,291,511 
Securities held to maturity (fair value $357,550 and $371,658)   344,917    364,696 
Mortgage loans held for sale (includes $279 and $0 at fair value)   30,814    24,231 
Loans, net of unearned income   6,725,110    5,995,441 
Less allowance for loan losses   (62,961)   (68,448)
Loans, net   6,662,149    5,926,993 
Premises and equipment, net   189,302    178,165 
Bank owned life insurance   123,129    105,493 
Accrued interest receivable   26,494    25,786 
Net deferred tax asset   156,408    197,613 
Derivative financial instruments   25,463    20,082 
Goodwill and other intangible assets   157,288    147,420 
Other assets   140,379    94,075 
Total assets  $10,297,615   $9,616,428 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY          
Liabilities:          
Deposits:          
Demand  $2,568,756   $2,204,755 
NOW   1,821,353    1,975,884 
Money market   1,798,548    1,599,637 
Savings   544,029    471,129 
Time   1,349,543    1,282,803 
Brokered   359,370    338,985 
Total deposits   8,441,599    7,873,193 
Short-term borrowings   35,050    16,640 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   449,407    430,125 
Long-term debt   174,959    163,836 
Derivative financial instruments   32,548    28,825 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   84,759    85,524 
Total liabilities   9,218,322    8,598,143 
Shareholders' equity:          
Preferred stock, $1 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series H; $1,000 stated value; 0 and 9,992 shares issued and outstanding   -    9,992 
Common stock, $1 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 70,861,025 and 66,198,477 shares issued and outstanding   70,861    66,198 
Common stock, non-voting, $1 par value; 26,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and 5,285,516 shares issued and outstanding   -    5,286 
Common stock issuable; 520,014 and 458,953 shares   7,179    6,779 
Capital surplus   1,274,909    1,286,361 
Accumulated deficit   (273,314)   (330,879)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (342)   (25,452)
Total shareholders' equity   1,079,293    1,018,285 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $10,297,615   $9,616,428 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

   Preferred                       Accumulated     
   Stock       Non-Voting   Common           Other     
(in thousands, except share and  Series   Common   Common   Stock   Capital   Accumulated   Comprehensive     
per share data)  H   Stock   Stock   Issuable   Surplus   Deficit   Income (Loss)   Total 
                                 
Balance, December 31, 2014  $-   $50,178   $10,081   $5,168    $1,080,508  $(387,568)  $(18,790)  $739,577 
Net income                            53,370         53,370 
Other comprehensive income                                 3,662    3,662 
Common stock issued to dividend reinvestment plan and employee benefit plans (11,761 shares)        12              192              204 
Conversion of non-voting common stock to voting (1,795,271 shares)        1,795    (1,795)                       - 
Common and preferred stock issued for acquisition (11,058,515 common shares and 9,992 preferred shares)   9,992    11,059              203,092              224,143 
Amortization of stock option and restricted stock awards                       3,343              3,343 
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares surrendered to cover payroll taxes (118,672 shares issued, 106,935 shares deferred)        119         1,444    (3,009)             (1,446)
Deferred compensation plan, net, including dividend equivalents                  274    (1)             273 
Shares issued from deferred compensation plan (23,613 shares)        23         (216)   193              - 
Common stock dividends ($.16 per share)                            (10,506)        (10,506)
Tax on restricted stock vesting                       559    -         559 
Preferred stock dividends:  Series H                            (42)        (42)
Balance, September 30, 2015  $9,992   $63,186   $8,286   $6,670   $1,284,877  $(344,746)  $(15,128)  1,013,137
                                         
Balance, December 31, 2015  $9,992   $66,198   $5,286   $6,779   $1,286,361  $(330,879)  $(25,452)  1,018,285 
Net income                            73,435         73,435 
Other comprehensive income                                 25,110    25,110 
Redemption of Series H preferred stock (9,992 shares)   (9,992)                                 (9,992)
Common stock issued to dividend reinvestment plan and employee benefit plans (15,844 shares)        16              254              270 
Conversion of non-voting common stock to voting (5,285,516 shares)        5,286    (5,286)                       - 
Amortization of stock option and restricted stock awards                       3,257              3,257 
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares surrendered to cover payroll taxes (79,430 shares issued, 94,497 shares deferred)        79         1,384    (2,428)             (965)
Purchases of common stock (764,000 shares)        (764)             (12,895)             (13,659)
Deferred compensation plan, net, including dividend equivalents                  291                   291 
Shares issued from deferred compensation plan (45,758 shares)        46         (1,275)   1,229              - 
Common stock dividends ($.22 per share)                            (15,849)        (15,849)
Tax on restricted stock vesting                       (869)             (869)
Preferred stock dividends:  Series H                            (21)        (21)
Balance, September 30, 2016  $-   $70,861   $-   $7,179   $1,274,909  $(273,314)  $(342)  1,079,293

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

6 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2016   2015 
Operating activities:          
Net income  $73,435   $53,370 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation, amortization and accretion   22,612    16,788 
(Release of) provision for credit losses   (800)   3,400 
Stock based compensation   3,257    3,343 
Deferred income tax expense   45,308    28,495 
Securities gains, net   (922)   (1,877)
Gains from sales of government guaranteed loans   (6,517)   (4,281)
Net gains on sale of other assets   (381)   (437)
Net gains and write downs on sales of other real estate owned   (59)   (368)
Loss on prepayment of borrowings   -    1,294 
Changes in assets and liabilities:          
Other assets and accrued interest receivable   (41,886)   4,232 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   (2,753)   4,191 
Mortgage loans held for sale   (6,441)   (5,562)
Net cash provided by operating activities   84,853    102,588 
           
Investing activities:          
Investment securities held to maturity:          
Proceeds from maturities and calls of securities held to maturity   49,968    57,721 
Purchases of securities held to maturity   (20,656)   - 
Investment securities available for sale:          
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale   189,164    274,519 
Proceeds from maturities and calls of securities available for sale   292,200    212,383 
Purchases of securities available for sale   (308,800)   (476,917)
Net increase in loans   (453,541)   (324,868)
Funds paid to FDIC under loss sharing agreements   -    (1,198)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment   5,038    2,127 
Purchases of premises and equipment   (13,716)   (7,191)
Net cash received for acquisition   1,912    35,497 
Proceeds from sale of other real estate   9,370    3,184 
Net cash used in investing activities   (249,061)   (224,743)
           
Financing activities:          
Net change in deposits   169,156    219,454 
Net change in short-term borrowings   8,360    (16,238)
Repayments of trust preferred securities   -    (48,521)
Proceeds from FHLB advances   7,080,000    1,495,000 
Repayments of FHLB advances   (7,074,000)   (1,587,070)
Proceeds from issuance of senior debt, net of issuance costs   -    84,141 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment and employee benefit plans   270    204 
Retirement of preferred stock   (9,992)   - 
Purchase of common stock   (13,659)   - 
Cash dividends on common stock   (10,085)   (10,506)
Cash dividends on preferred stock   (46)   (25)
Net cash provided by financing activities   150,004    136,439 
           
Net change in cash and cash equivalents   (14,204)   14,284 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   240,363    192,655 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $226,159   $206,939 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:          
Interest paid  $25,815   $16,567 
Income taxes paid   3,431    3,453 
Significant non-cash investing and financing transactions:          
Unsettled government guaranteed loan sales   22,355    11,020 
Unsettled purchases of securities available for sale   8,973    - 
Transfers of loans to foreclosed properties   6,647    3,428 
Acquisitions:          
Assets acquired   450,958    1,736,203 
Liabilities assumed   439,749    1,427,358 
Net assets acquired   11,209    308,845 
Common stock issued in acquisitions   -    214,151 
Preferred stock issued in acquisitions   -    9,992 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

7 

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 1 – Accounting Policies

 

The accounting and financial reporting policies of United Community Banks, Inc. (“United”) and its subsidiaries conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and reporting guidelines of banking regulatory authorities and regulators. The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have not been audited. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. A more detailed description of United’s accounting policies is included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

In management’s opinion, all accounting adjustments necessary to accurately reflect the financial position and results of operations on the accompanying financial statements have been made. These adjustments are normal and recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair and accurate statement. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any other interim periods.

 

Certain 2015 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2016 presentation.

 

Note 2 –Accounting Standards Updates and Recently Adopted Standards

 

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. To simplify presentation of debt issuance costs, the amendments in this update require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability consistent with debt discounts.  The standard was effective January 1, 2016 and has been retrospectively reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding reclassification for December 31, 2015 between other assets for $9.68 million, brokered deposits for $7.90 million and long-term debt for $1.78 million.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This update requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. For public entities, this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with modified retrospective application to prior periods presented. Upon adoption, United will gross up its balance sheet by the present value of future minimum lease payments. Such payments amounted to $23.5 million at December 31, 2015.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships. This update clarifies that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument under Topic 815 does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. For public entities, this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with application on either a prospective or modified retrospective basis. The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on United’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-06, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments. This update clarifies the requirements for assessing whether contingent call (put) options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. An entity performing the assessment under this update is required to assess the embedded call (put) options solely in accordance with a four-step decision sequence as outlined in the guidance. Consequently, when a call (put) option is contingently exercisable, an entity does not have to assess whether the event that triggers the ability to exercise a call (put) option is related to interest rates or credit risks. For public entities, this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with application on a modified retrospective basis. The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on United’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting. This update eliminates the requirement that when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively on a step-by-step basis as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods that the investment had been held. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. Therefore, upon qualifying for the equity method of accounting, no retroactive adjustment of the investment is required. For public entities, this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with application on a prospective basis. The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on United’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This update simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The amendments require that excess tax benefits and deficiencies be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows. In addition, an entity can make a policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur. The guidance modifies the threshold to qualify for equity classification to permit withholding up to the maximum statutory tax rate and clarifies that cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity. For public entities, this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on United’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The new guidance replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with an expected credit loss methodology and requires consideration of a broader range of information to determine credit loss estimates. Financial assets measured at amortized cost will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected by using an allowance for credit losses. Purchased credit impaired loans will receive an allowance account at the acquisition date that represents a component of the purchase price allocation. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will be recorded through an allowance for credit losses, with such allowance limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost. Application of this update will primarily be on a modified retrospective approach, although the guidance for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment has been recognized before the effective date and for loans previously covered by ASC 310-30, Receivables – Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality will be applied on a prospective basis. For public entities, this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. United is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This update provides guidance on the treatment of eight specific cash flow issues for which there was diversity in practice. For example, cash payments for debt prepayment should be classified as cash outflows for financing activities. Cash payments for contingent consideration after a business combination if made soon after the acquisition date should be classified as investing outflows, while similar payments not made soon after the acquisition date should be classified as financing outflows (up to the amount of the contingent consideration liability recognized at the acquisition date, including measurement period adjustments) or operating activities (for any excess). Cash proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims should be classified on the basis of the related insurance coverage, while proceeds from the settlement of bank owned life insurance should be classified as investing inflows. For public entities, this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on United’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Note 3 – Acquisitions

 

Acquisition of Tidelands Bancshares, Inc.

 

On July 1, 2016, United completed the acquisition of Tidelands Bancshares, Inc. (“Tidelands”) and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary Tidelands Bank. Tidelands operated seven branches in coastal South Carolina. In connection with the acquisition, United acquired $440 million of assets and assumed $440 million of liabilities. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Tidelands shareholders received cash equal to $0.52 per common share, or an aggregate of $2.22 million. Additionally, at closing, United redeemed all of Tidelands’ fixed-rate cumulative preferred stock that was issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) under the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program, plus unpaid dividends, for $8.98 million in aggregate. The fair value of consideration paid exceeded the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired and resulted in the establishment of goodwill in the amount of $10.7 million, representing the intangible value of Tidelands’ business and reputation within the market it served. None of the goodwill recognized is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. United will amortize the related core deposit intangible of $1.57 million using the sum-of-the-years-digits method over five years, which represents the expected useful life of the asset.

 

As of the acquisition date, United assumed long-term debt obligations with an aggregate balance of $14.4 million and an aggregate fair value of $10.8 million related to Tidelands’ outstanding trust preferred securities and paid all amounts required to bring current the payment of interest (including deferred interest) on such trust preferred securities. The $8.25 million of debt related to Tidelands Statutory Trust I has a stated maturity date of March 30, 2036 and a rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.38%, which resets quarterly. The $6.19 million of debt related to Tidelands Statutory Trust II has a stated maturity date of June 30, 2038 and a rate equal to LIBOR plus 5.075%, which resets quarterly.

 

United’s operating results for the period ended September 30, 2016 include the operating results of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities for the period subsequent to the acquisition date of July 1, 2016.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The purchased assets and assumed liabilities were recorded at their acquisition date fair values and are summarized in the table below (in thousands).

 

   As Recorded   Fair Value   As Recorded by 
   by Tidelands   Adjustments (1)   United 
Assets               
Cash and cash equivalents  $13,121   $-   $13,121 
Securities   65,676    (155)   65,521 
Loans held for sale   139    3    142 
Loans, net   317,938    (12,035)   305,903 
Premises and equipment, net   19,133    (7,944)   11,189 
Bank owned life insurance   16,917    -    16,917 
Accrued interest receivable   1,086    (167)   919 
Net deferred tax asset   73    15,639    15,712 
Core deposit intangible   -    1,570    1,570 
Other real estate owned   9,881    (2,386)   7,495 
Other assets   1,920    (164)   1,756 
Total assets acquired  $445,884   $(5,639)  $440,245 
Liabilities               
Deposits  $398,108   $1,765   $399,873 
Repurchase agreements   10,000    155    10,155 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   13,000    354    13,354 
Long-term debt   14,434    (3,668)   10,766 
Other liabilities   11,587    (5,986)   5,601 
Total liabilities assumed   447,129    (7,380)   439,749 
Excess of assets acquired over liabilities assumed  $(1,245)          
Aggregate fair value adjustments       $1,741      
Total identifiable net assets            $496 
Consideration transferred               
Cash paid to redeem common stock             2,224 
Cash paid to redeem preferred stock issued under the Treasury's Capital Purchase Program             8,985 
Total fair value of consideration transferred             11,209 
Goodwill            $10,713 

 

(1) Fair values are preliminary and are subject to refinement for a period not to exceed one year after the closing date of an acquisition as information relative to closing date fair values becomes available.

 

The following table presents additional information related to the acquired loan portfolio at the acquisition date (in thousands):

 

   July 1, 2016 
Accounted for pursuant to ASC 310-30:     
Contractually required principal and interest  $50,660 
Non-accretable difference   13,483 
Cash flows expected to be collected   37,177 
Accretable yield   2,113 
Fair value  $35,064 
      
Excluded from ASC 310-30:     
Fair value  $270,839 
Gross contractual amounts receivable   302,331 
Estimate of contractual cash flows not expected to be collected   3,859 

 

10 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Acquisition of Palmetto Bancshares, Inc.

 

On September 1, 2015, United completed the acquisition of Palmetto Bancshares, Inc. (“Palmetto”) and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary The Palmetto Bank. Information related to the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired from Palmetto is included in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. During second quarter 2016, within the one year measurement period, United received additional information regarding the acquisition date fair values of premises and equipment and other real estate owned (“OREO”). As a result the provisional values assigned to the acquired premises and equipment and OREO have been adjusted to $17.0 million and $2.63 million, respectively, which represent a decrease of $640,000 and $497,000, respectively, from amounts previously disclosed. The tax effect of these adjustments was reflected as an increase to the deferred tax asset of $437,000, with the net amount of $700,000 reflected as an increase to goodwill.

 

Acquisition of MoneyTree Corporation

 

On May 1, 2015, United completed the acquisition of MoneyTree Corporation (“MoneyTree”) and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, First National Bank. Information related to the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired from MoneyTree is included in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Pro forma information

 

The following table discloses the impact of the mergers with Tidelands, Palmetto and MoneyTree since their respective acquisition dates through September 30 of the year of acquisition. The table also presents certain pro forma information as if Tidelands had been acquired on January 1, 2015 and Palmetto and MoneyTree had been acquired on January 1, 2014. These results combine the historical results of the acquired entities with United’s consolidated statement of income and, while adjustments were made for the estimated impact of certain fair value adjustments and other acquisition-related activity, they are not necessarily indicative of what would have occurred had the acquisition taken place in earlier years.

 

The following table presents the actual results and pro forma information for the periods indicated (in thousands). Merger-related costs of $2.93 million from the Tidelands acquisition have been excluded from the 2016 pro forma information presented below and included in the 2015 pro forma information below. Merger-related costs of $8.92 million from the Palmetto and MoneyTree acquisitions have been excluded from the 2015 pro forma information presented below.

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   Revenue   Net Income   Revenue   Net Income 
                 
2016                    
Actual Tidelands results included in statement of income since acquisition date  $3,988   $658   $3,988   $658 
Supplemental consolidated pro forma as if Tidelands had been acquired January 1, 2015   105,281    27,499    305,273    72,436 
                     
2015                    
Actual Palmetto results included in statement of  income since acquisition date  $4,382   $1,659   $4,382   $1,659 
Actual MoneyTree results included in statement of  income since acquisition date   3,081    1,394    5,365    1,778 
Supplemental consolidated pro forma as if Tidelands  had been acquired January 1, 2015 and Palmetto and MoneyTree had been acquired January 1, 2014   95,385    20,805    284,799    63,190 

 

11 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 4 – Balance Sheet Offsetting and Repurchase Agreements Accounted for as Secured Borrowings

 

United enters into reverse repurchase agreements in order to invest short-term funds. In addition, United enters into repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements with the same counterparty in transactions commonly referred to as collateral swaps that are subject to master netting agreements under which the balances are netted in the balance sheet in accordance with ASC 210-20, Offsetting.

 

The following table presents a summary of amounts outstanding under reverse repurchase agreements and derivative financial instruments including those entered into in connection with the same counterparty under master netting agreements as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   Gross
Amounts of
   Gross
Amounts
Offset on
       Gross Amounts not Offset
in the Balance Sheet
     
September 30, 2016  Recognized
Assets
   the Balance
Sheet
   Net Asset
Balance
   Financial
Instruments
   Collateral
Received
   Net
Amount
 
                         
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements  $150,000   $(150,000)  $-   $-   $-   $- 
Derivatives   25,463    -    25,463    (1,472)   (3,307)   20,684 
Total  $175,463   $(150,000)  $25,463   $(1,472)  $(3,307)  $20,684 
                               
Weighted average interest rate of reverse repurchase agreements   1.40%                         

 

   Gross
Amounts of
   Gross
Amounts
Offset on
   Net    Gross Amounts not Offset
in the Balance Sheet
     
   Recognized
Liabilities
   the Balance
Sheet
   Liability
Balance
   Financial
Instruments
   Collateral
Pledged
   Net
Amount
 
                         
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements  $150,000   $(150,000)  $-   $-   $-   $- 
Derivatives   32,548    -    32,548    (1,472)   (31,960)   - 
Total  $182,548   $(150,000)  $32,548   $(1,472)  $(31,960)  $- 
                               
Weighted average interest rate of repurchase agreements   .50%                         

 

   Gross
Amounts of
   Gross
Amounts
Offset on
       Gross Amounts not Offset
in the Balance Sheet
     
December 31, 2015  Recognized
Assets
   the Balance
Sheet
   Net Asset
Balance
   Financial
Instruments
   Collateral
Received
   Net
Amount
 
                         
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements  $400,000   $(400,000)  $-   $-   $-   $- 
Derivatives   20,082    -    20,082    (519)   (3,729)   15,834 
Total  $420,082   $(400,000)  $20,082   $(519)  $(3,729)  $15,834 
                               
Weighted average interest rate of reverse repurchase agreements   1.34%                         

 

   Gross
Amounts of
   Gross
Amounts
Offset on
   Net    Gross Amounts not Offset
in the Balance Sheet
     
   Recognized
Liabilities
   the Balance
Sheet
   Liability
Balance
   Financial
Instruments
   Collateral
Pledged
   Net
Amount
 
                         
Repurchase agreements / reverse repurchase agreements  $400,000   $(400,000)  $-   $-   $-   $- 
Derivatives   28,825    -    28,825    (519)   (30,917)   - 
Total  $428,825   $(400,000)  $28,825   $(519)  $(30,917)  $- 
                               
Weighted average interest rate of repurchase agreements   .50%                         

 

At September 30, 2016, United recognized the right to reclaim cash collateral of $32.3 million and the obligation to return cash collateral of $3.31 million. At December 31, 2015, United recognized the right to reclaim cash collateral of $6.26 million and the obligation to return cash collateral of $3.73 million. The right to reclaim cash collateral and the obligation to return cash collateral were included in the consolidated balance sheet in other assets and other liabilities, respectively.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table presents additional detail regarding repurchase agreements accounted for as secured borrowings and the securities underlying these agreements as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements 
   Overnight and                 
As of September 30, 2016  Continuous   Up to 30 Days   30 to 90 Days   91 to 110 days   Total 
                     
 U.S. Treasuries  $-   $-   $10,050   $-   $10,050 
 Mortgage-backed securities   -    50,000    100,000    -    150,000 
                          
 Total  $-   $50,000   $110,050   $-   $160,050 
                          
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for repurchase agreements in offsetting disclosure                      $150,000 
Amounts related to agreements not included in offsetting disclosure                      $10,050 

 

   Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements 
   Overnight and                 
As of December 31, 2015  Continuous   Up to 30 Days   30 to 90 Days   91 to 110 days   Total 
                     
 U.S. Treasuries  $-   $-   $100,000   $-   $100,000 
 U.S. Government agencies   32    -    -    -    32 
 Mortgage-backed securities   16,608    25,000    175,000    100,000    316,608 
                          
 Total  $16,640   $25,000   $275,000   $100,000   $416,640 
                          
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for repurchase agreements in offsetting disclosure                      $400,000 
Amounts related to agreements not included in offsetting disclosure                      $16,640 

 

United is obligated to promptly transfer additional securities if the market value of the securities falls below the repurchase agreement price.  United manages this risk by maintaining an unpledged securities portfolio that it believes is sufficient to cover a decline in the market value of the securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

 

Note 5 – Securities

 

The amortized cost basis, unrealized gains and losses and fair value of securities held-to-maturity as of the dates indicated are as follows (in thousands).

 

       Gross   Gross     
   Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Fair 
As of September 30, 2016  Cost   Gains   Losses   Value 
                 
 State and political subdivisions  $57,911   $3,545   $61   $61,395 
 Mortgage-backed securities (1)   287,006    9,267    118    296,155 
                     
 Total  $344,917   $12,812   $179   $357,550 
                     
As of December 31, 2015                    
                     
 State and political subdivisions  $62,073   $3,211   $-   $65,284 
 Mortgage-backed securities (1)   302,623    5,424    1,673    306,374 
                     
 Total  $364,696   $8,635   $1,673   $371,658 

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The cost basis, unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of securities available-for-sale as of the dates indicated are presented below (in thousands).

 

       Gross   Gross     
   Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Fair 
As of September 30, 2016  Cost   Gains   Losses   Value 
                 
 U.S. Treasuries  $140,500   $4,374   $-   $144,874 
 U.S. Government agencies   20,205    268    18    20,455 
 State and political subdivisions   63,001    1,885    -    64,886 
 Mortgage-backed securities (1)   1,151,570    24,569    358    1,175,781 
 Corporate bonds   307,240    6,231    912    312,559 
 Asset-backed securities   495,286    2,728    2,581    495,433 
 Other   1,125    -    -    1,125 
                     
 Total  $2,178,927   $40,055   $3,869   $2,215,113 
                     
As of December 31, 2015                    
                     
 U.S. Treasuries  $169,034   $156   $484   $168,706 
 U.S. Government agencies   112,394    385    439    112,340 
 State and political subdivisions   56,265    461    458    56,268 
 Mortgage-backed securities (1)   1,108,206    12,077    7,165    1,113,118 
 Corporate bonds   308,102    933    3,009    306,026 
 Asset-backed securities   538,679    569    6,006    533,242 
 Other   1,811    -    -    1,811 
                     
 Total  $2,294,491   $14,581   $17,561   $2,291,511 

 

(1)All are residential type mortgage-backed securities or U.S. government agency commercial mortgage backed securities.

 

Securities with a carrying value of $1.34 billion and $1.63 billion were pledged to secure public deposits, derivatives and other secured borrowings at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes held-to-maturity securities in an unrealized loss position as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

  

   Less than 12 Months   12 Months or More   Total 
As of September 30, 2016  Fair Value   Unrealized
Loss
   Fair Value   Unrealized
Loss
   Fair Value   Unrealized
Loss
 
                         
State and political subdivisions  $18,332   $61   $-   $-   $18,332   $61 
Mortgage-backed securities   19,537    118    -    -    19,537    118 
 Total unrealized loss position  $37,869   $179   $-   $-   $37,869   $179 
                               
As of December 31, 2015                              
                               
Mortgage-backed securities  $140,362   $1,331   $13,127   $342   $153,489   $1,673 
 Total unrealized loss position  $140,362   $1,331   $13,127   $342   $153,489   $1,673 

 

14 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table summarizes available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   Less than 12 Months   12 Months or More   Total 
As of September 30, 2016  Fair Value   Unrealized
Loss
   Fair Value   Unrealized
Loss
   Fair Value   Unrealized
Loss
 
                         
U.S. Government agencies  $1,017   $18   $-   $-   $1,017   $18 
Mortgage-backed securities   51,399    105    50,387    253    101,786    358 
Corporate bonds   54,607    393    20,481    519    75,088    912 
Asset-backed securities   14,885    380    159,336    2,201    174,221    2,581 
 Total unrealized loss position  $121,908   $896   $230,204   $2,973   $352,112   $3,869 
                               
                               
As of December 31, 2015                              
                               
U.S. Treasuries  $126,066   $484   $-   $-   $126,066   $484 
U.S. Government agencies   74,189    439    -    -    74,189    439 
State and political subdivisions   27,014    458    -    -    27,014    458 
Mortgage-backed securities   274,005    2,580    173,254    4,585    447,259    7,165 
Corporate bonds   221,337    2,759    750    250    222,087    3,009 
Asset-backed securities   358,940    5,746    4,816    260    363,756    6,006 
 Total unrealized loss position  $1,081,551   $12,466   $178,820   $5,095   $1,260,371   $17,561 

 

At September 30, 2016, there were 53 available-for-sale securities and seven held-to-maturity securities that were in an unrealized loss position. United does not intend to sell nor believes it will be required to sell securities in an unrealized loss position prior to the recovery of their amortized cost basis. Unrealized losses at September 30, 2016 were primarily attributable to changes in interest rates and spread relationships.

 

Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, among other factors. In analyzing an issuer’s financial condition, management considers whether the securities are issued by the federal government or its agencies, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies have occurred, and industry analysts’ reports. No impairment charges were recognized during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2016 or 2015.

 

Realized gains and losses are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold. The following table summarizes available-for-sale securities sales activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands).

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
Proceeds from sales  $100,867   $137,702   $189,164   $274,519 
                     
Gross gains on sales  $607   $328   $1,565   $1,880 
Gross losses on sales   (346)   (3)   (643)   (3)
                     
 Net gains on sales of securities  $261   $325   $922   $1,877 
                     
Income tax expense attributable to sales  $101   $121   $348   $724 

 

15 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2016, by contractual maturity, are presented in the following table (in thousands).

 

   Available-for-Sale   Held-to-Maturity 
   Amortized Cost   Fair Value   Amortized Cost   Fair Value 
                 
US Treasuries:                    
 1 to 5 years  $65,957   $67,453   $-   $- 
 5 to 10 years   74,543    77,421    -    - 
    140,500    144,874    -    - 
                     
US Government agencies:                    
 1 to 5 years   990    995    -    - 
 5 to 10 years   18,180    18,443    -    - 
 More than 10 years   1,035    1,017           
    20,205    20,455    -    - 
                     
State and political subdivisions:                    
 Within 1 year   1,252    1,263    4,012    4,077 
 1 to 5 years   31,964    32,790    12,860    13,681 
 5 to 10 years   23,673    24,516    22,152    24,774 
 More than 10 years   6,112    6,317    18,887    18,863 
    63,001    64,886    57,911    61,395 
                     
Corporate bonds:                    
 1 to 5 years   233,824    237,475    -    - 
 5 to 10 years   72,416    74,584    -    - 
 More than 10 years   1,000    500    -    - 
    307,240    312,559    -    - 
                     
Asset-backed securities:                    
 1 to 5 years   17,250    17,459    -    - 
 5 to 10 years   333,434    333,831    -    - 
 More than 10 years   144,602    144,143    -    - 
    495,286    495,433    -    - 
                     
Other:                    
 More than 10 years   1,125    1,125    -    - 
    1,125    1,125    -    - 
                     
Total securities other than mortgage-backed securities:                    
 Within 1 year   1,252    1,263    4,012    4,077 
 1 to 5 years   349,985    356,172    12,860    13,681 
 5 to 10 years   522,246    528,795    22,152    24,774 
 More than 10 years   153,874    153,102    18,887    18,863 
                     
Mortgage-backed securities   1,151,570    1,175,781    287,006    296,155 
                     
   $2,178,927   $2,215,113   $344,917   $357,550 

 

Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers and borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.

 

16 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 6 – Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses

 

Major classifications of loans are summarized as of the dates indicated as follows (in thousands).

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2016   2015 
         
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $1,512,185   $1,493,966 
Income producing commercial real estate   1,105,293    823,729 
Commercial & industrial   994,350    785,417 
Commercial construction   388,861    342,078 
 Total commercial   4,000,689    3,445,190 
Residential mortgage   1,055,166    1,029,663 
Home equity lines of credit   698,356    597,806 
Residential construction   378,329    351,700 
Consumer installment   126,468    115,111 
Indirect auto   466,102    455,971 
           
 Total loans   6,725,110    5,995,441 
           
Less allowance for loan losses   (62,961)   (68,448)
           
 Loans, net  $6,662,149   $5,926,993 

 

At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, loans totaling $3.05 billion and $2.44 billion, respectively, were pledged as collateral to secure Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other contingent funding sources.

 

At September 30, 2016, the carrying value and outstanding balance of purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loans accounted for under ASC 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, were $67.5 million and $95.3 million, respectively. At December 31, 2015, the carrying value and outstanding balance of PCI loans were $51.3 million and $71.0 million, respectively. The following table presents changes in the value of the accretable yield for PCI loans for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
Balance at beginning of period  $5,337   $946   $4,279   $- 
Additions due to acquisitions   2,113    4,834    2,113    5,863 
Accretion   (1,116)   (316)   (3,058)   (399)
Reclassification from nonaccretable difference   1,455    -    2,908    - 
Changes in expected cash flows that do not affect nonaccretable difference   362    -    1,909    - 
Balance at end of period  $8,151   $5,464   $8,151   $5,464 

 

In addition to the accretable yield on PCI loans, the fair value adjustments on purchased loans outside the scope of ASC 310-30 are also accreted to interest revenue over the life of the loans. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the remaining accretable fair value marks on loans acquired through a business combination and not accounted for under ASC 310-30 were $8.30 million and $7.03 million, respectively. In addition, indirect auto loans purchased at a premium outside of a business combination have a remaining premium of $11.8 million and $12.0 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

The allowance for loan losses represents management’s estimate of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio as of the end of the period. The allowance for unfunded commitments is included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. Combined, the allowance for loan losses and allowance for unfunded commitments are referred to as the allowance for credit losses.

 

17 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table presents the balance and activity in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment for the periods indicated (in thousands).

 

   2016   2015 
Three Months Ended September 30,  Beginning
Balance
   Charge-
Offs
   Recoveries   (Release)
Provision
   Ending
Balance
   Beginning
Balance
   Charge-
Offs
   Recoveries   (Release)
Provision
   Ending
Balance
 
                                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $14,432   $(276)  $108   $(207)  $14,057   $16,339   $(463)  $228   $(495)  $15,609 
Income producing commercial real estate   5,522    (201)   44    1,587    6,952    8,200    (126)   231    (532)   7,773 
Commercial & industrial   3,207    (850)   398    689    3,444    4,728    (508)   319    1,041    5,580 
Commercial construction   8,938    (14)   100    350    9,374    4,895    (80)   21    1,659    6,495 
Residential mortgage   15,662    (253)   508    (179)   15,738    19,052    (848)   415    (1,880)   16,739 
Home equity lines of credit   5,318    (321)   54    191    5,242    5,479    (413)   120    1,119    6,305 
Residential construction   9,005    (269)   134    (2,990)   5,880    9,337    (50)   174    (1,078)   8,383 
Consumer installment   723    (426)   190    183    670    688    (496)   221    352    765 
Indirect auto   1,446    (354)   69    443    1,604    1,411    (175)   13    164    1,413 
Total allowance for loan losses   64,253    (2,964)   1,605    67    62,961    70,129    (3,159)   1,742    350    69,062 
Allowance for unfunded commitments   2,369    -    -    (367)   2,002    2,580    -    -    350    2,930 
Total allowance for credit losses  $66,622   $(2,964)  $1,605   $(300)  $64,963   $72,709   $(3,159)  $1,742   $700   $71,992 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,  Beginning
Balance
   Charge-
Offs
   Recoveries   (Release)
Provision
   Ending
Balance
   Beginning
Balance
   Charge-
Offs
   Recoveries   (Release)
Provision
   Ending
Balance
 
                                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $16,732   $(1,288)  $251   $(1,638)  $14,057   $16,041   $(1,194)  $317   $445   $15,609 
Income producing commercial real estate   8,235    (544)   199    (938)   6,952    10,296    (448)   588    (2,663)   7,773 
Commercial & industrial   4,442    (1,645)   1,302    (655)   3,444    3,255    (1,139)   1,236    2,228    5,580 
Commercial construction   5,583    (325)   102    4,014    9,374    4,747    (249)   72    1,925    6,495 
Residential mortgage   17,232    (1,489)   866    (871)   15,738    20,311    (2,535)   899    (1,936)   16,739 
Home equity lines of credit   6,042    (1,513)   361    352    5,242    4,574    (834)   160    2,405    6,305 
Residential construction   7,961    (598)   575    (2,058)   5,880    10,603    (1,689)   645    (1,176)   8,383 
Consumer installment   828    (1,295)   625    512    670    731    (1,171)   784    421    765 
Indirect auto   1,393    (953)   142    1,022    1,604    1,061    (433)   34    751    1,413 
Total allowance for loan losses   68,448    (9,650)   4,423    (260)   62,961    71,619    (9,692)   4,735    2,400    69,062 
Allowance for unfunded commitments   2,542    -    -    (540)   2,002    1,930    -    -    1,000    2,930 
Total allowance for credit losses  $70,990   $(9,650)  $4,423   $(800)  $64,963   $73,549   $(9,692)  $4,735   $3,400   $71,992 

 

18 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table represents the recorded investment in loans by portfolio segment and the balance of the allowance for loan losses assigned to each segment based on the method of evaluating the loans for impairment as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   Allowance for Loan Losses 
   September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
  

Individually

evaluated
for
impairment

   Collectively
evaluated for
impairment
   PCI   Ending
Balance
   Individually
evaluated
for
impairment
   Collectively
evaluated for
impairment
   PCI   Ending
Balance
 
                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $1,212   $12,845   $-   $14,057   $1,465   $15,267   $-   $16,732 
Income producing commercial real estate   714    6,238    -    6,952    961    7,274    -    8,235 
Commercial & industrial   64    3,380    -    3,444    280    4,162    -    4,442 
Commercial construction   42    9,303    29    9,374    13    5,570    -    5,583 
Residential mortgage   3,613    12,124    1    15,738    3,885    13,347    -    17,232 
Home equity lines of credit   3    5,231    8    5,242    6    6,036    -    6,042 
Residential construction   139    5,736    5    5,880    174    7,787    -    7,961 
Consumer installment   9    661    -    670    13    815    -    828 
Indirect auto   -    1,604    -    1,604    -    1,393    -    1,393 
Total allowance for loan losses   5,796    57,122    43    62,961    6,797    61,651    -    68,448 
Allowance for unfunded commitments   -    2,002    -    2,002    -    2,542    -    2,542 
Total allowance for credit losses  $5,796   $59,124   $43   $64,963   $6,797   $64,193   $-   $70,990 

 

   Loans Outstanding 
   September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
   Individually
evaluated
for
impairment
   Collectively
evaluated for
impairment
   PCI   Ending
Balance
   Individually
evaluated
for
impairment
   Collectively
evaluated for
impairment
   PCI   Ending
Balance
 
                                 
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $34,319   $1,459,218   $18,648   $1,512,185   $38,268   $1,442,024   $13,674  

1,493,966

 
Income producing commercial real estate   28,418    1,052,242    24,633    1,105,293    23,013    772,945    27,771    823,729 
Commercial & industrial   2,515    990,788    1,047    994,350    3,339    781,423    655    785,417 
Commercial construction   1,383    382,283    5,195    388,861    10,616    329,320    2,142    342,078 
Residential mortgage   19,586    1,029,629    5,951    1,055,166    19,627    1,005,860    4,176    1,029,663 
Home equity lines of credit   103    690,865    7,388    698,356    167    595,951    1,688    597,806 
Residential construction   5,925    367,900    4,504    378,329    7,900    342,677    1,123    351,700 
Consumer installment   285    126,012    171    126,468    329    114,741    41    115,111 
Indirect auto   1,022    465,072    8    466,102    749    455,173    49    455,971 
Total loans  $93,556  

6,564,009

   $67,545   $6,725,110   $104,008   $5,840,114   $51,319   $

5,995,441

 

 

Excluding loans accounted for under ASC 310-30, management individually evaluates all loans that are on nonaccrual with a balance of $500,000 or greater and all troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) for impairment. In addition, management reviews all accruing substandard loans greater than $2 million to determine if the loan is impaired. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current events and circumstances, it is probable that all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan will not be collected. All TDRs are considered impaired regardless of accrual status. Impairment is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. A specific reserve is established for impaired loans for the amount of calculated impairment. Interest payments received on impaired nonaccrual loans are applied as a reduction of the recorded investment in the loan. For impaired loans not on nonaccrual status, interest is accrued according to the terms of the loan agreement. Loans are evaluated for impairment quarterly and specific reserves are established in the allowance for loan losses for any measured impairment.

 

Each quarter, management prepares an analysis of the allowance for credit losses to determine the appropriate balance that measures and quantifies the amount of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio and unfunded loan commitments. The allowance is comprised of specific reserves on individually impaired loans, which are determined as described above, and general reserves which are determined based on historical loss experience as adjusted for current trends and economic conditions multiplied by a loss emergence period factor. Management had previously used eight quarters of historical loss experience look-back period to determine the loss factors to be used in the reserve calculation for loans evaluated in the aggregate. Beginning in the third quarter of 2016, management extended the look-back period to 17 quarters to better capture the full range of the loss cycle balanced with the availability of reliable historical data. The look-back period will be extended by one quarter each quarter going forward. Management weights each quarter in the look-back period equally to capture the full range of the cycle. Management believes the weightings are appropriate to measure the probable losses incurred within the loan portfolio.

 

Management calculates the loss emergence period for each pool of loans based on the weighted average length of time between the date a loan first exceeds 30 days past due and the date the loan is charged off.

 

19 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

On junior lien home equity loans, management has limited ability to monitor the delinquency status of the first lien unless the first lien is also held by United. As a result, management applies the weighted average historical loss factor for this category and appropriately adjusts it to reflect the increased risk of loss from these credits.

 

Management carefully reviews the resulting loss factors for each category of the loan portfolio and evaluates whether qualitative adjustments are necessary to take into consideration recent credit trends such as increases or decreases in past due, nonaccrual, criticized and classified loans, and other macro environmental factors such as changes in unemployment rates, lease vacancy rates and trends in property values and absorption rates.

 

Management believes that its method of determining the balance of the allowance for credit losses provides a reasonable and reliable basis for measuring and reporting losses that are incurred in the loan portfolio as of the reporting date.

 

When a loan officer determines that a loan is uncollectible, he or she is responsible for recommending that the loan be placed on nonaccrual status and charged off. Full or partial charge-offs may also be recommended by the Collections Department, the Special Assets Department, the Loss Mitigation Department and the Foreclosure/OREO Department. Nonaccrual real estate loans are generally charged down to fair value less costs to sell at the time they are placed on nonaccrual status.

 

Commercial and consumer asset quality committees consisting of the Chief Credit Officer, Senior Risk Officers and Senior Credit Officers meet monthly to review charge-offs that have occurred during the previous month.

 

Generally, closed-end retail loans (installment and residential mortgage loans) past due 90 cumulative days are written down to their collateral value less estimated selling costs. Open-end (revolving) unsecured retail loans which are past due 90 cumulative days from their contractual due date are generally charged-off.

 

The following table presents loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
   Unpaid
Principal
Balance
   Recorded
 Investment
  

Allowance
for Loan

Losses
Allocated

   Unpaid
Principal
Balance
   Recorded
 Investment
  

Allowance
for Loan

Losses
Allocated

 
                         
With no related allowance recorded:                              
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $13,030   $12,892   $-   $14,793   $14,460   $- 
Income producing commercial real estate   17,144    16,963    -    13,044    12,827    - 
Commercial & industrial   473    473    -    493    469    - 
Commercial construction   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total commercial   30,647    30,328    -    28,330    27,756    - 
Residential mortgage   692    689    -    791    791    - 
Home equity lines of credit   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Residential construction   1,439    1,388    -    3,731    3,429    - 
Consumer installment   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Indirect auto   1,022    1,022    -    749    749    - 
Total with no related allowance recorded   33,800    33,427    -    33,601    32,725    - 
                               
With an allowance recorded:                              
Owner occupied commercial real estate   22,096    21,427    1,212    24,043    23,808    1,465 
Income producing commercial real estate   11,503    11,455    714    10,281    10,186    961 
Commercial & industrial   2,218    2,042    64    2,957    2,870    280 
Commercial construction   1,478    1,383    42    10,787    10,616    13 
Total commercial   37,295    36,307    2,032    48,068    47,480    2,719 
Residential mortgage   19,426    18,897    3,613    19,346    18,836    3,885 
Home equity lines of credit   103    103    3    167    167    6 
Residential construction   5,209    4,537    139    4,854    4,471    174 
Consumer installment   314    285    9    354    329    13 
Indirect auto   -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total with an allowance recorded   62,347    60,129    5,796    72,789    71,283    6,797 
Total  $96,147   $93,556   $5,796   $106,390   $104,008   $6,797 

 

Excluding PCI loans, there were no loans more than 90 days past due and still accruing interest at September 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015. Nonaccrual loans include both homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually evaluated impaired loans. United’s policy is to place loans on nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of management, the principal and interest on a loan is not likely to be repaid in full or when the loan becomes 90 days past due and is not well secured and in the process of collection. When a loan is classified on nonaccrual status, interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current interest revenue. Principal and interest payments received on a nonaccrual loan are applied to reduce the loan’s recorded investment.

 

20 

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

PCI loans are considered past due or delinquent when the contractual principal or interest due in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement remains unpaid after the due date of the scheduled payment. However, these loans are considered to be performing, even though they may be contractually past due, as any non-payment of contractual principal or interest is considered in the periodic re-estimation of expected cash flows and is included in the resulting recognition of current period covered loan loss provision or future period yield adjustments. The accrual of interest is discontinued on PCI loans if management can no longer reliably estimate future cash flows on the loan. No PCI loans were classified as nonaccrual at September 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015 as the carrying value of the respective loan or pool of loans cash flows were considered estimable and probable of collection. Therefore, interest revenue, through accretion of the difference between the carrying value of the loans and the expected cash flows, is being recognized on all PCI loans.

 

The gross additional interest revenue that would have been earned if the loans classified as nonaccrual had performed in accordance with the original terms was approximately $262,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 and $686,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

The average balances of impaired loans and income recognized on impaired loans while they were considered impaired are presented below for the periods indicated (in thousands).

 

   2016   2015 
Three Months Ended September 30,  Average
Balance
   Interest
Revenue
Recognized
During
Impairment
   Cash Basis
Interest
Revenue
Received
   Average
Balance
   Interest
Revenue
Recognized
During
Impairment
   Cash Basis
Interest
Revenue
Received
 
                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $33,387   $414   $414   $37,840   $484   $523 
Income producing commercial real estate   28,487    375    343    20,802    265    281 
Commercial & industrial   2,553    33    33    4,637    43    77 
Commercial construction   1,411    26    26    12,584    116    116 
Total commercial   65,838    848    816    75,863    908    997 
Residential mortgage   19,653    201    196    23,176    242    197 
Home equity lines of credit   103    1    1    477    5    5 
Residential construction   6,115    59    60    8,560    123    123 
Consumer installment   291    5    6    242    5    4 
Indirect auto   959    11    11    -    -    - 
Total  $92,959   $1,125   $1,090   $108,318   $1,283   $1,326 
                               
Nine Months Ended September 30,                              
                               
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $31,648   $1,223   $1,249   $37,605   $1,413   $1,491 
Income producing commercial real estate   28,726    943    940    21,427    805    810 
Commercial & industrial   2,614    99    95    4,627    126    202 
Commercial construction   1,462    70    70    12,340    349    353 
Total commercial   64,450    2,335    2,354    75,999    2,693    2,856 
Residential mortgage   19,860    670    664    21,955    667    633 
Home equity lines of credit   103    3    3    504    15    15 
Residential construction   6,372    197    203    9,294    371    381 
Consumer installment   303    17    18    185    11    10 
Indirect auto   871    33    33    -    -    - 
Total  $91,959   $3,255   $3,275   $107,937   $3,757   $3,895 

 

21 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table presents the recorded investment in nonaccrual loans by loan class as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2016   2015 
           
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $6,454   $7,036 
Income producing commercial real estate   949    2,595 
Commercial & industrial   1,079    892 
Commercial construction   98    328 
Total commercial   8,580    10,851 
Residential mortgage   8,152    8,555 
Home equity lines of credit   1,194    851 
Residential construction   2,248    1,398 
Consumer installment   98    175 
Indirect auto   1,300    823 
Total  $21,572   $22,653 

 

The following table presents the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans by class of loans as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   Loans Past Due   Loans Not         
As of September 30, 2016  30 - 59 Days   60 - 89 Days   > 90 Days   Total   Past Due   PCI Loans   Total 
                             
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $2,975   $1,279   $2,291   $6,545   $1,486,992   $18,648   $1,512,185 
Income producing commercial real estate   667    -    180    847    1,079,813    24,633    1,105,293 
Commercial & industrial   678    681    475    1,834    991,469    1,047    994,350 
Commercial construction   365    -    -    365    383,301    5,195    388,861 
Total commercial   4,685    1,960    2,946    9,591    3,941,575    49,523    4,000,689 
Residential mortgage   6,644    1,981    2,477    11,102    1,038,113    5,951    1,055,166 
Home equity lines of credit   1,743    474    452    2,669    688,299    7,388    698,356 
Residential construction   991    1,111    859    2,961    370,864    4,504    378,329 
Consumer installment   648    43    8    699    125,598    171    126,468 
Indirect auto   853    539    795    2,187    463,907    8    466,102 
Total loans  $15,564   $6,108   $7,537   $29,209   $6,628,356   $67,545   $6,725,110 
                                    
As of December 31, 2015                                   
                                    
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $3,733   $1,686   $1,400   $6,819   $1,473,473   $13,674   $1,493,966 
Income producing commercial real estate   204    1,030    621    1,855    794,103    27,771    823,729 
Commercial & industrial   858    88    489    1,435    783,327    655    785,417 
Commercial construction   159    -    76    235    339,701    2,142    342,078 
Total commercial   4,954    2,804    2,586    10,344    3,390,604    44,242    3,445,190 
Residential mortgage   5,111    1,338    3,544    9,993    1,015,494    4,176    1,029,663 
Home equity lines of credit   1,118    188    287    1,593    594,525    1,688    597,806 
Residential construction   2,180    239    344    2,763    347,814    1,123    351,700 
Consumer installment   610    115    83    808    114,262    41    115,111 
Indirect auto   611    311    561    1,483    454,439    49    455,971 
Total loans  $14,584   $4,995   $7,405   $26,984   $5,917,138   $51,319   $5,995,441 

 

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $5.18 million and $6.37 million, respectively, of specific reserves were allocated to customers whose loan terms have been modified in TDRs. United committed to lend additional amounts totaling up to $55,000 and $224,000 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, to customers with outstanding loans that are classified as TDRs.

 

The modification of the terms of the TDRs included one or a combination of the following: a reduction of the stated interest rate of the loan or an extension of the amortization period that would not otherwise be considered in the current market for new debt with similar risk characteristics; a restructuring of the borrower’s debt into an “A/B note structure” where the A note would fall within the borrower’s ability to pay and the remainder would be included in the B note; a mandated bankruptcy restructuring; or interest-only payment terms greater than 90 days where the borrower is unable to amortize the loan. Modified PCI loans are not accounted for as TDRs because they are not separated from the pools, and as such are not classified as impaired loans.

 

22 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table presents information on TDRs, including the number of loan contracts restructured and the pre- and post-modification recorded investment as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

 

   September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
   Number of
Contracts
   Pre-
Modification
Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
   Post-
Modification
Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
   Number of
Contracts
   Pre-
Modification
Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
   Post-
Modification
Outstanding
Recorded
Investment
 
                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate   54   $26,050   $25,560    54   $32,544   $32,058 
Income producing commercial real estate   31    21,012    21,012    29    15,703    15,629 
Commercial & industrial   20    1,961    1,882    26    2,955    2,870 
Commercial construction   8    1,463    1,383    14    10,785    10,616 
Total commercial   113    50,486    49,837    123    61,987    61,173 
Residential mortgage   171    19,036    18,768    173    19,101    18,836 
Home equity lines of credit   2    103    103    2    167    167 
Residential construction   48    5,971    5,381    44    5,663    5,334 
Consumer installment   19    306    285    22    348    329 
Indirect auto   61    1,022    1,022    49    749    749 
Total loans   414   $76,924   $75,396    413   $88,015   $86,588 

 

Loans modified under the terms of a TDR during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are presented in the table below. In addition, the following table presents loans modified under the terms of a TDR that defaulted (became 90 days or more delinquent) during the periods presented and were initially restructured within one year prior to default (dollars in thousands).

 

   New TDRs for the Three Months Ended September 30,   New TDRs for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 
      Pre-
Modification
Outstanding
   Post-
Modification
Outstanding
   Modified Within the
Previous Twelve Months
That Have Subsequently
Defaulted during the
Three Months Ended
September 30,
       Pre-
Modification
Outstanding
   Post-
Modification
Outstanding
   Modified Within the
Previous Twelve
Months That Have
Subsequently Defaulted
during the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
2016  Number of
Contracts
   Recorded
Investment
   Recorded
Investment
   Number of
Contracts
   Recorded
Investment
   Number of
Contracts
   Recorded
Investment
   Recorded
Investment
   Number of
Contracts
   Recorded
Investment 
 
                                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate   1   $1,007   $1,007    -   $-    7   $2,524   $2,524    1   $252 
Income producing commercial real estate   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Commercial & industrial   2    66    66    2    34    5    1,012    1,012    2    34 
Commercial construction   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total commercial   3    1,073    1,073    2    34    12    3,536    3,536    3    286 
Residential mortgage   7    862    807    -    -    25    3,465    3,371    1    85 
Home equity lines of credit   -    -    -    -    -    1    38    38    -    - 
Residential construction   2    272    272    -    -    8    766    711    -    - 
Consumer installment   2    14    14    -    -    3    34    34    -    - 
Indirect auto   8    226    226    -    -    26    699    699    -    - 
Total loans   22   $2,447   $2,392    2   $34    75   $8,538   $8,389    4   $371 
                                                   
2015                                                  
Owner occupied commercial real estate   3   $667   $666    1   $178    11   $13,204   $13,159    1   $178 
Income producing commercial real estate   -    -    -    -    -    3    310    310    -    - 
Commercial & industrial   1    23    23    -    -    7    1,203    1,203    -    - 
Commercial construction   -    -    -    -    -    1    233    233    -    - 
Total commercial   4    690    689    1    178    22    14,950    14,905    1    178 
Residential mortgage   10    939    939    -    -    33    3,060    3,060    -    - 
Home equity lines of credit   -    -    -    -    -    1    83    74    -    - 
Residential construction   1    347    347    -    -    3    510    486    -    - 
Consumer installment   4    58    58    -    -    6    86    86    1    30 
Indirect auto   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Total loans   19   $2,034   $2,033    1   $178    65   $18,689   $18,611    2   $208 

 

TDRs that subsequently default and are placed on nonaccrual are charged down to the fair value of the collateral consistent with United’s policy for nonaccrual loans.

 

23 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Risk Ratings

 

United categorizes commercial loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current industry and economic trends, among other factors. United analyzes loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. This analysis is performed on a continual basis. United uses the following definitions for its risk ratings:

 

Watch. Loans in this category are presently protected from apparent loss; however, weaknesses exist that could cause future impairment, including the deterioration of financial ratios, past due status and questionable management capabilities. These loans require more than the ordinary amount of supervision. Collateral values generally afford adequate coverage, but may not be immediately marketable.

 

Substandard. These loans are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or by the collateral pledged. Specific and well-defined weaknesses exist that may include poor liquidity and deterioration of financial ratios. The loan may be past due and related deposit accounts experiencing overdrafts. There is the distinct possibility that United will sustain some loss if deficiencies are not corrected. If possible, immediate corrective action is taken.

 

Doubtful. Specific weaknesses characterized as Substandard that are severe enough to make collection in full highly questionable and improbable. There is no reliable secondary source of full repayment.

 

Loss. Loans categorized as Loss have the same characteristics as Doubtful; however, probability of loss is certain. Loans classified as Loss are charged off.

 

Consumer Purpose Loans. United applies a pass / fail grading system to all consumer purpose loans. Under the pass / fail grading system, consumer purpose loans that become past due 90 days or are in bankruptcy are classified as “fail” and all other loans are classified as “pass”. For reporting purposes, consumer purpose loans classified as “fail” are reported in the substandard column and all other consumer purpose loans are reported in the “pass” column.

 

Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered to be pass rated loans.

 

24 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans as of the dates indicated is as follows (in thousands).

 

               Doubtful /     
As of September 30, 2016  Pass   Watch (1)   Substandard   Loss   Total 
                     
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $1,443,160   $19,613   $30,764   $-   $1,493,537 
Income producing commercial real estate   1,054,769    2,622    23,269    -    1,080,660 
Commercial & industrial   978,008    5,007    10,288    -    993,303 
Commercial construction   381,336    1,333    997    -    383,666 
Total commercial   3,857,273    28,575    65,318    -    3,951,166 
Residential mortgage   1,007,944    7,470    33,801    -    1,049,215 
Home equity lines of credit   685,670    26    5,272    -    690,968 
Residential construction   359,126    4,871    9,828    -    373,825 
Consumer installment   125,540    -    757    -    126,297 
Indirect auto   463,186    -    2,908    -    466,094 
Total loans, excluding PCI loans  $6,498,739   $40,942   $117,884   $-   $6,657,565 
                          
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $2,211   $3,379   $13,058   $-   $18,648 
Income producing commercial real estate   12,667    10,028    1,938    -    24,633 
Commercial & industrial   92    117    838    -    1,047 
Commercial construction   1,594    299    3,302    -    5,195 
Total commercial   16,564    13,823    19,136    -    49,523 
Residential mortgage   722    666    4,563    -    5,951 
Home equity lines of credit   6,419    -    969    -    7,388 
Residential construction   2,588    1,281    635    -    4,504 
Consumer installment   168    -    3    -    171 
Indirect auto   -    -    8    -    8 
Total PCI loans  $26,461   $15,770   $25,314   $-   $67,545 
                          
As of December 31, 2015                         
                          
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $1,414,353   $24,175   $41,764   $-   $1,480,292 
Income producing commercial real estate   771,792    4,151    20,015    -    795,958 
Commercial & industrial   770,287    8,171    6,304    -    784,762 
Commercial construction   335,571    3,069    1,296    -    339,936 
Total commercial   3,292,003    39,566    69,379    -    3,400,948 
Residential mortgage   985,109    5,070    35,308    -    1,025,487 
Home equity lines of credit   589,749    24    6,345    -    596,118 
Residential construction   335,341    3,813    11,423    -    350,577 
Consumer installment   114,178    -    892    -    115,070 
Indirect auto   453,935    -    1,987    -    455,922 
Total loans, excluding PCI loans  $5,770,315   $48,473   $125,334   $-   $5,944,122 
                          
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $1,811   $6,705   $4,809   $349   $13,674 
Income producing commercial real estate   9,378    5,766    12,627    -    27,771 
Commercial & industrial   17    83    505    50    655 
Commercial construction   1,698    6    438    -    2,142 
Total commercial   12,904    12,560    18,379    399    44,242 
Residential mortgage   -    410    3,766    -    4,176 
Home equity lines of credit   214    -    1,474    -    1,688 
Residential construction   345    39    227    512    1,123 
Consumer installment   1    -    40    -    41 
Indirect auto   -    -    49    -    49 
Total PCI loans  $13,464   $13,009   $23,935   $911   $51,319 

 

(1) Residential mortgage loans and home equity loans reported in the watch column are generally commercial purpose loans secured by the borrower's residence.

 

25 

 

 

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 7 – Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

The following table presents the details regarding amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the periods indicated (in thousands).

 

   Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income
 
Details about Accumulated Other  For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
   For the Nine Months
 Ended September 30,
   Affected Line Item in the Statement
Comprehensive Income Components  2016   2015   2016   2015   Where Net Income is Presented
                    
Realized gains on available-for-sale securities:                       
   $261   $325   $922   $1,877   Securities gains, net
    (101)   (121)   (348)   (724)  Tax expense
   $160   $204   $574   $1,153   Net of tax
                        
Amortization of losses included in net income on available-for-sale securities transferred to held to maturity:    
   $(663)  $(269)  $(1,601)  $(1,041)  Investment securities interest revenue
    237    99    596    387   Tax benefit
   $(426)  $(170)  $(1,005)  $(654)  Net of tax
                        
Gains included in net income on derivative financial instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges:     
Amortization of losses on de-designated positions  $-   $(15)  $(7)  $(93)  Deposits in banks and short-term investments interest revenue
Amortization of losses on de-designated positions   (153)   (237)   (495)   (502)  Money market deposit interest expense
Amortization of losses on de-designated positions   (313)   (298)   (924)   (835)  Federal Home Loan Bank advances interest expense
    (466)   (550)   (1,426)   (1,430)  Total before tax
    181    214    555    556   Tax benefit
   $(285)  $(336)  $(871)  $(874)  Net of tax
                        
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost for defined benefit pension plan:    
Prior service cost  $(125)  $(91)  $(375)  $(274)  Salaries and employee benefits expense
Actuarial losses   (42)   (68)   (126)   (204)  Salaries and employee benefits expense
    (167)   (159)   (501)   (478)  Total before tax
    65    62    195    186   Tax benefit
   $(102)  $(97)  $(306)  $(292)  Net of tax
                        
Total reclassifications for the period  $(653)  $(399)  $(1,608)  $(667)  Net of tax
                        
Amounts shown above in parentheses reduce earnings                       

 

Note 8 – Earnings Per Share

 

United is required to report on the face of the consolidated statement of income, earnings per common share with and without the dilutive effects of potential common stock issuances from instruments such as options, convertible securities and warrants. Basic earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period while the effects of potential common shares outstanding during the period are included in diluted earnings per common share.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, United accrued dividends of $21,000 on its Series H preferred stock. The Series H preferred stock was redeemed in the first quarter of 2016; accordingly, United did not accrue any dividends for the third quarter of 2016. The preferred stock dividends were subtracted from net income in order to arrive at net income available to common shareholders. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, United accrued dividends of $25,000 and $42,000, respectively, on its Series H preferred stock.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data).

 

   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
Net income available to common shareholders  $25,874   $17,862   $73,414   $53,328 
                     
Weighted average shares outstanding:                    
Basic   71,556    66,294    71,992    63,297 
Effect of dilutive securities                    
Stock options   5    6    4    5 
Diluted   71,561    66,300    71,996    63,302 
                     
Net income per common share:                    
Basic  $.36   $.27   $1.02   $.84 
Diluted  $.36   $.27   $1.02   $.84 

 

At September 30, 2016, United had the following potentially dilutive stock options and warrants outstanding: a warrant to purchase 219,909 shares of common stock at $61.40 per share; 185,688 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options granted to employees with a weighted average exercise price of $77.63; and 674,862 shares of common stock issuable upon completion of vesting of restricted stock unit awards.

 

At September 30, 2015, United had the following potentially dilutive stock options and warrants outstanding: a warrant to purchase 219,909 shares of common stock at $61.40 per share; 255,229 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options granted to employees with a weighted average exercise price of $90.10; and 735,280 shares of common stock issuable upon completion of vesting of restricted stock unit awards.

 

Note 9 – Derivatives and Hedging Activities

 

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

 

United is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. United principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. United manages interest rate risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its investment securities portfolio and wholesale funding and through the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, United enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates. Derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to loans, investment securities, wholesale borrowings and deposits.

 

In conjunction with the FASB’s fair value measurement guidance, United made an accounting policy election to measure the credit risk of its derivative financial instruments that are subject to master netting agreements on a gross basis.

 

27 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The table below presents the fair value of derivative financial instruments as of the dates indicated as well as their classification on the consolidated balance sheet (in thousands).

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815

 

      Fair Value 
Interest Rate Products  Balance Sheet
Location
  September 30,
2016
   December 31,
2015
 
            
Fair value hedge of corporate bonds  Derivative assets  $-   $31 
      $-   $31 
              
Fair value hedge of brokered CD's  Derivative liabilities  $1,070   $2,169 
Fair value hedge of corporate bonds  Derivative liabilities   2,114    - 
      $3,184   $2,169 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815

 

      Fair Value 
Interest Rate Products  Balance Sheet
Location
  September 30,
2016
   December 31,
2015
 
            
Customer swap positions  Derivative assets  $16,018   $6,185 
Dealer offsets to customer swap positions  Derivative assets   -    31 
Mortgage banking - loan commitment  Derivative assets   1,072    188 
Mortgage banking - forward sales commitment  Derivative assets   3    1 
Bifurcated embedded derivatives  Derivative assets   3,793    9,230 
Offsetting positions for de-designated cash flow hedges  Derivative assets   4,577    4,416 
      $25,463   $20,051 
              
Customer swap positions  Derivative liabilities  $-   $31 
Dealer offsets to customer swap positions  Derivative liabilities   16,170    6,339 
Risk participations  Derivative liabilities   38    - 
Mortgage banking - forward sales commitment  Derivative liabilities   70    22 
Dealer offsets to bifurcated embedded derivatives  Derivative liabilities   8,507    15,794 
De-designated cash flow hedges  Derivative liabilities   4,579    4,470 
      $29,364   $26,656 

 

Customer swap positions are between United and certain commercial loan customers with offsetting positions to dealers under a back-to-back swap program. United also has three interest rate swap contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments but are economic hedges of market linked brokered certificates of deposit. The market linked brokered certificates of deposit contain embedded derivatives that are bifurcated from the host instruments and marked to market through earnings. The marks on the market linked swaps and the bifurcated embedded derivatives tend to move in opposite directions with changes in 90-day LIBOR and therefore provide an economic hedge.

 

To accommodate customers, United occasionally enters into credit risk participation agreements with counterparty banks to accept a portion of the credit risk related to interest rate swaps. This allows customers to execute an interest rate swap with one bank while allowing for the distribution of the credit risk among participating members. Credit risk participation agreements arise when United contracts with other financial institutions, as a guarantor, to share credit risk associated with certain interest rate swaps. These agreements provide for reimbursement of losses resulting from a third party default on the underlying swap. These transactions are typically executed in conjunction with a participation in a loan with the same customer. Collateral used to support the credit risk for the underlying lending relationship is also available to offset the risk of the credit risk participation.

 

In addition, United originates certain residential mortgage loans with the intention of selling these loans. Between the time United enters into an interest-rate lock commitment to originate a residential mortgage loan that is to be held for sale and the time the loan is funded and eventually sold, the Company is subject to the risk of variability in market prices. United also enters into forward sale agreements to mitigate risk and to protect the expected gain on the eventual loan sale. Most of this activity is on a matched basis, with a loan sale commitment hedging a specific loan. The commitments to originate residential mortgage loans and forward loan sales commitments are freestanding derivative instruments. Beginning late in the third quarter of 2016 for newly originated mortgage loans, United began to account for the underlying loans at fair value pursuant to the fair value option, and these loans are not reflected in the table above. Fair value adjustments on these derivative instruments are recorded within mortgage loan and other related fee income in the consolidated statement of income.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

 

At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 United did not have any active cash flow hedges. Changes in United’s balance sheet composition and interest rate risk position made cash flow hedges no longer necessary as protection against rising interest rates and as a result, United de-designated its former cash flow hedges. The loss remaining in other comprehensive income on the de-designated swaps is being amortized into earnings over the original term of the swaps as the forecasted transactions that the swaps were originally designated to hedge are still expected to occur. United expects that $1.21 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense over the next twelve months related to these cash flow hedges.

 

The table below presents the effect of cash flow hedges on the consolidated statement of income for the periods indicated (in thousands).

 

   Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Other
Comprehensive Income
on Derivative (Effective
Portion)
   Gain (Loss) Reclassified from
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income into Income (Effective Portion)
  Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on
Derivative (Ineffective Portion)
   2016   2015   Location  2016   2015   Location  2016   2015 
                               
Three Months Ended September 30,                                    
                                     
Interest rate swaps  $-   $-   Interest expense  $(466)  $(550)  Interest expense  $-   $- 
                                     
Nine Months Ended September 30,                                    
Interest rate swaps  $-   $(471)  Interest expense  $(1,426)  $(1,430)  Interest expense  $-   $(7)

 

Fair Value Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

 

United is exposed to changes in the fair value of certain of its fixed-rate obligations due to changes in interest rates. United uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in fair value on these instruments attributable to changes in interest rates. Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of brokered deposits involve the receipt of fixed-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for United making variable rate payments over the life of the agreements without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges of fixed-rate investments involve the receipt of variable-rate payments from a counterparty in exchange for United making fixed-rate payments over the life of the instrument without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. At September 30, 2016, United had one interest rate swap with a notional amount of $12.8 million that was designated as a fair value hedge of interest rate risk and was a pay-variable / receive-fixed swap hedging the changes in the fair value of fixed-rate brokered time deposits resulting from changes in interest rates. Also at September 30, 2016, United had one interest rate swap with a notional of $30 million that was designated as a pay-fixed / receive-variable fair value hedge of changes in the fair value of a fixed-rate corporate bond. At December 31, 2015, United had 13 interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $156 million that were designated as fair value hedges of interest rate risk. These contracts were pay-variable / receive-fixed swaps hedging changes in the fair value of fixed-rate brokered time deposits resulting from changes in interest rates. Also at December 31, 2015, United had one interest rate swap with a notional of $30 million that was designated as a pay-fixed / receive-variable fair value hedge of changes in the fair value of a fixed-rate corporate bond.

 

For derivatives designated and that qualify as fair value hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. United includes the gain or loss on the hedged items in the same income statement line item as the offsetting loss or gain on the related derivatives. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, United recognized net gains of $1.51 million and $2.37 million, respectively, related to ineffectiveness in the fair value hedging relationships. The ineffectiveness gains were almost entirely offset by the write-off of unamortized prepaid broker fees that were incurred as part of the original brokered certificates of deposit.  The 2016 ineffectiveness gains mostly resulted from called hedging transactions where United was short the call option in the swap and long the call option on the hedged items (brokered certificates of deposit).  Since the instruments were called at par, the difference between the carrying amount of the swap (fair value) and the carrying amount of the hedged item (fair value) on the call date created the ineffectiveness gains.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, United recognized net gains of $14,000 and $184,000, respectively, related to ineffectiveness in the fair value hedging relationships. United also recognized net reductions of interest expense of $388,000 and $1.63 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and net reductions of interest expense of $1.12 million and $3.39 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to United’s fair value hedges of brokered time deposits, which includes net settlements on the derivatives. United recognized reductions of interest revenue on securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 of $262,000 and $508,000, respectively, and reductions of interest revenue on securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 of $142,000 and $361,000, respectively, related to fair value hedges of corporate bonds.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The table below presents the effect of derivatives in fair value hedging relationships on the consolidated statement of operations for the periods indicated (in thousands).

 

   Location of Gain  Amount of Gain (Loss)   Amount of Gain (Loss) 
   (Loss) Recognized  Recognized in Income   Recognized in Income 
   in Income on  on Derivative   on Hedged Item 
   Derivative  2016   2015   2016   2015 
                    
Three Months Ended September 30,                       
Fair value hedges of brokered CD's  Interest expense  $(389)  $4,374   $1,945   $(4,247)
Fair value hedges of corporate bonds  Interest revenue   262    (1,365)   (307)   1,252 
      $(127)  $3,009   $1,638   $(2,995)
                        
Nine Months Ended September 30,                       
Fair value hedges of brokered CD's  Interest expense  $2,882   $3,599   $(268)  $(3,365)
Fair value hedges of corporate bonds  Interest revenue   (2,145)   (395)   1,896    345 
      $737   $3,204   $1,628   $(3,020)

 

In certain cases, the estate of deceased brokered certificate of deposit holders may put the certificate of deposit back to the issuing bank at par upon the death of the holder. When these estate puts occur, a gain or loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and the par amount of the deposits put back. The change in the fair value of brokered time deposits that are being hedged in fair value hedging relationships reported in the table above includes gains and losses from estate puts and such gains and losses are included in the amount of reported ineffectiveness gains or losses.

 

Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features

 

United manages its credit exposure on derivatives transactions by entering into a bilateral credit support agreement with each counterparty. The credit support agreements require collateralization of exposures beyond specified minimum threshold amounts. The details of these agreements, including the minimum thresholds, vary by counterparty. As of September 30, 2016, collateral totaling $32.0 million was pledged toward derivatives in a liability position.

 

United’s agreements with each of its derivative counterparties contain a provision where if either party defaults on any of its indebtedness, then it could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. The agreements with derivatives counterparties also include provisions that if not met, could result in United being declared in default. United has agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if United fails to maintain its status as a well-capitalized institution or is subject to a prompt corrective action directive, the counterparty could terminate the derivative positions and United would be required to settle its obligations under the agreements.

 

Note 10 – Stock-Based Compensation

 

United has an equity compensation plan that allows for grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards (also referred to as “nonvested stock” awards), stock awards, performance share awards or stock appreciation rights. Options granted under the plan can have an exercise price no less than the fair market value of the underlying stock at the date of grant. The general terms of the plan include a vesting period (usually four years) with an exercisable period not to exceed ten years. Certain options, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the plan). As of September 30, 2016, 2.12 million additional awards could be granted under the plan. Through September 30, 2016, incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards, base salary stock grants and performance share awards have been granted under the plan.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table shows stock option activity for the first nine months of 2016.

 

Options  Shares   Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
   Aggregate
Intrinisic
Value
($000)
 
                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2015   241,493   $89.92           
Expired   (51,606)   134.83           
Forfeited   (4,199)   81.21           
Outstanding at September 30, 2016   185,688    77.63    2.2   $172 
                     
Exercisable at September 30, 2016   176,938    80.66    1.9    132 

 

The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model. No stock options were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

Most of United’s outstanding stock options were granted prior to the economic downturn during which time United’s stock price decreased sharply. The lower stock price has rendered most of United’s outstanding options severely out of the money and potentially worthless to the grantee. Therefore, historical exercise patterns do not provide a reasonable basis for determining the expected life of new option grants. United therefore uses the formula provided in ASC 718-10-S99 to determine the expected life of options.

 

United recognized $23,000 and $28,000, respectively, in compensation expense related to stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. The amount of compensation expense was determined based on the fair value of the options at the time of grant, multiplied by the number of options granted that were expected to vest, which was then amortized over the vesting period. No options were exercised during the first nine months of 2016 or 2015.

 

The table below presents restricted stock units activity for the first nine months of 2016.

 

Restricted Stock Unit Awards  Shares   Weighted-
Average Grant-
Date Fair Value
 
         
Outstanding at December 31, 2015   712,667   $16.44 
Granted   225,886    19.42 
Vested   (223,733)   15.70 
Cancelled   (39,958)   17.01 
Outstanding at September 30, 2016   674,862    17.65 

 

Compensation expense for restricted stock units is based on the fair value of restricted stock unit awards at the time of grant, which is equal to the value of United’s common stock on the date of grant. The value of restricted stock unit awards that are expected to vest is amortized into expense over the vesting period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, compensation expense of $3.16 million and $3.22 million, respectively, was recognized related to restricted stock unit awards. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, $75,000 and $95,000, respectively, was recognized in other operating expense for restricted stock unit awards granted to members of United’s board of directors. The total intrinsic value of outstanding restricted stock unit awards was $14.2 million at September 30, 2016.

 

As of September 30, 2016, there was $9.39 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options and restricted stock unit awards granted under the plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.62 years. The aggregate grant date fair value of options and restricted stock unit awards that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $3.51 million.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 11 – Common and Preferred Stock Issued / Common Stock Issuable

 

United sponsors a Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan (“DRIP”) that allows participants who already own United’s common stock to purchase additional shares directly from United. The DRIP also allows participants to automatically reinvest their quarterly dividends in additional shares of common stock without a commission. In the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, 2,938 shares and 1,564 shares, respectively, were issued through the DRIP.

 

In addition, United has an Employee Stock Purchase Program (“ESPP”) that allows eligible employees to purchase shares of common stock at a 10% discount, with no commission charges. During the first nine months of 2016 and 2015, United issued 12,906 shares and 10,197 shares, respectively, through the ESPP.

 

United offers its common stock as an investment option in its deferred compensation plan. United also allows for the deferral of restricted stock unit awards. The common stock component of the deferred compensation plan is accounted for as an equity instrument and is reflected in the consolidated financial statements as common stock issuable. The deferred compensation plan does not allow for diversification once an election is made to invest in United’s common stock and settlement must be accomplished in shares at the time the deferral period is completed. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, 520,014 and 458,953 shares of common stock, respectively, were issuable under the deferred compensation plan.

 

In the first quarter of 2016, United redeemed all of its outstanding Series H preferred stock. The preferred stock was redeemed at par and did not result in any gain or loss.

 

In the second quarter of 2016, United amended its articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 100 million to 150 million shares.

 

On March 22, 2016, United announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a new program to repurchase up to $50 million of United’s outstanding common stock through December 31, 2017. Under the program, the shares may be repurchased periodically in open market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the program depends on a number of factors, including the market price of United’s common stock, general market and economic conditions, and applicable legal requirements. During the first nine months of 2016, United repurchased 764,000 shares under the program. As of September 30, 2016, $36.3 million of United’s outstanding common stock may be repurchased under the program.

 

Note 12 – Income Taxes

 

The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $15.8 million and $44.7 million, respectively, which represents an effective tax rate of 37.8% for both periods. The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $10.9 million and $32.4 million, respectively, which represents an effective tax rate of 37.8% for both periods. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, United maintained a valuation allowance on its net deferred tax asset of $4.71 million and $4.28 million, respectively. Management assesses the valuation allowance recorded against its net deferred tax asset at each reporting period. The determination of whether a valuation allowance for its net deferred tax asset is appropriate is subject to considerable judgment and requires an evaluation of all the positive and negative evidence.

 

United evaluated the need for a valuation allowance at September 30, 2016. Based on the assessment of all the positive and negative evidence, management concluded that it is more likely than not that nearly all of its net deferred tax asset will be realized based upon future taxable income. The remaining valuation allowance of $4.71 million is related to specific state income tax credits that have short carryforward periods and are expected to expire unused.

 

The valuation allowance could fluctuate in future periods based on the assessment of the positive and negative evidence. Management's conclusion at September 30, 2016 that it was more likely than not that United’s net deferred tax asset of $156 million will be realized is based upon management’s estimate of future taxable income. Management’s estimate of future taxable income is based on internal forecasts that consider historical performance, various internal estimates and assumptions, as well as certain external data all of which management believes to be reasonable although inherently subject to significant judgment. If actual results differ significantly from the current estimates of future taxable income, even if caused by adverse macro-economic conditions, the valuation allowance may need to be increased for some or all of its net deferred tax asset. Such an increase to the net deferred tax asset valuation allowance could have a material adverse effect on United’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

United is subject to income taxation in the United States and various state jurisdictions. United’s federal and state income tax returns are filed on a consolidated basis. Currently, no years for which United filed a federal income tax return are under examination by the IRS, and there are no state tax examinations currently in progress. United is no longer subject to income tax examinations from state and local income tax authorities for years before 2013. Although it is not possible to know the ultimate outcome of future examinations, management believes that the liability recorded for uncertain tax positions is appropriate. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, unrecognized income tax benefits totaled $3.79 million and $3.98 million, respectively.

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 Note 13 – Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

 

Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, United uses a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy). United has processes in place to review the significant valuation inputs and to reassess how the instruments are classified in the valuation framework.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

 

Level 1 Valuation is based upon quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that United has the ability to access.

 

Level 2 Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.

 

Level 3 Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption based on unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity.

 

In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. United’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

 

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value.

 

Securities Available-for-Sale

 

Investment securities available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using independent pricing models or other model-based valuation techniques such as the present value of future cash flows, adjusted for the security’s credit rating, prepayment assumptions and other factors such as credit loss assumptions. Level 1 securities include those traded on an active exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, United States Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets and money market funds. Level 2 securities include mortgage-backed securities issued by government sponsored entities, municipal bonds, corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities and are valued based on observable inputs that include: quoted market prices for similar assets, quoted market prices that are not in an active market, or other inputs that are observable in the market and can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the securities. Securities classified as Level 3 include asset-backed securities in less liquid markets. Securities classified as Level 3 are valued based on estimates obtained from broker-dealers and are not directly observable.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan Assets and Liabilities

 

Included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet are assets related to employee deferred compensation plans. The assets associated with these plans are invested in mutual funds and classified as Level 1. Deferred compensation liabilities, also classified as Level 1, are carried at the fair value of the obligation to the employee, which mirrors the fair value of the invested assets and is included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Mortgage Loans Held for Sale

Beginning in the third quarter of 2016, United elected the fair value option for newly originated mortgage loans held for sale. United elected the fair value option for its portfolio of mortgage loans held for sale in order to reduce certain timing differences and better match changes in fair values of the loans with changes in the value of derivative instruments used to economically hedge them. The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is determined using quoted prices for a similar asset, adjusted for specific attributes of that loan (Level 2).

 

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UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Loans

 

United does not record loans at fair value on a recurring basis. However, from time to time, a loan is considered impaired and an allowance for loan losses is established. Loans for which it is probable that payment of interest and principal will not be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement are considered impaired. Once a loan is identified as individually impaired, management measures impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, except that as a practical expedient, a creditor may measure impairment based on a loan's observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if repayment of the loan is dependent upon the sale of the underlying collateral.

 

Those impaired loans not requiring an allowance represent loans for which the fair value of the expected repayments or collateral exceed the recorded investments in such loans. In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measures and Disclosures, impaired loans where an allowance is established based on the fair value of collateral require classification in the fair value hierarchy. When the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price or a current appraised value, United records the impaired loan as nonrecurring Level 2. When an appraised value is not available or management determines the fair value of the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value and there is no observable market price, United records the impaired loan as nonrecurring Level 3.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

United uses interest rate swaps and interest rate floors to manage its interest rate risk. The valuation of these instruments is typically determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and implied volatilities. The fair values of interest rate swaps are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts and the discounted expected variable cash payments. The variable cash payments are based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves. United also uses best effort and mandatory delivery forward loan sale commitments to hedge risk in its mortgage lending business.

 

To comply with the provisions of ASC 820, United incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, United has considered the effect of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts, and guarantees.

 

Although management has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. However, as of September 30, 2016, management had assessed the significance of the effect of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. Derivatives classified as Level 3 included structured derivatives for which broker quotes, used as a key valuation input, were not observable consistent with a Level 2 disclosure. The fair value of risk participations incorporates Level 3 inputs to evaluate the likelihood of customer default. The fair value of interest rate lock commitments, which is related to mortgage loan commitments, is categorized as Level 3 based on unobservable inputs for commitments that United does not expect to fund.

 

Servicing Rights for Government Guaranteed Loans

 

United recognizes servicing rights upon the sale of government guaranteed loans sold with servicing retained. Management has elected to carry this asset at fair value. Given the nature of the asset, the key valuation inputs are unobservable and management classifies this asset as Level 3.

 

Pension Plan Assets

 

For information on the fair value of pension plan assets, see Note 17 in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

34 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

The table below presents United’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall (in thousands).

 

September 30, 2016  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets:                    
Securities available for sale:                    
 U.S. Treasuries  $144,874   $-   $-   $144,874 
 U.S. Government agencies   -    20,455    -    20,455 
 State and political subdivisions   -    64,886    -    64,886 
 Mortgage-backed securities   -    1,175,781    -    1,175,781 
 Corporate bonds   -    312,059    500    312,559 
 Asset-backed securities   -    495,433    -    495,433 
 Other   -    1,125    -    1,125 
Mortgage loans held for sale   -    279    -    279 
Deferred compensation plan assets   4,134    -    -    4,134 
Servicing rights for government guaranteed loans   -    -    5,100    5,100 
Derivative financial instruments   -    20,598    4,865    25,463 
                     
 Total assets  $149,008   $2,090,616   $10,465   $2,250,089 
                     
Liabilities:                    
Deferred compensation plan liability  $4,134   $-   $-   $4,134 
Derivative financial instruments   -    22,933    9,615    32,548 
                     
 Total liabilities  $4,134   $22,933   $9,615   $36,682 

 

December 31, 2015  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets:                    
Securities available for sale                    
 U.S. Treasuries  $168,706   $-   $-   $168,706 
 U.S. Government agencies   -    112,340    -    112,340 
 State and political subdivisions   -    56,268    -    56,268 
 Mortgage-backed securities   -    1,113,118    -    1,113,118 
 Corporate bonds   -    305,276    750    306,026 
 Asset-backed securities   -    533,242    -    533,242 
 Other   -    1,811    -    1,811 
Deferred compensation plan assets   3,450    -    -    3,450 
Servicing rights for government guaranteed loans   -    -    3,712    3,712 
Derivative financial instruments   -    10,664    9,418    20,082 
                     
 Total assets  $172,156   $2,132,719   $13,880   $2,318,755 
                     
Liabilities:                    
Deferred compensation plan liability  $3,450   $-   $-   $3,450 
Derivative financial instruments   -    13,031    15,794    28,825 
                     
 Total liabilities  $3,450   $13,031   $15,794   $32,275 

 

35 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table shows a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the periods indicated for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs that are classified as Level 3 values (in thousands).

 

   2016   2015 
   Derivative
Asset
   Derivative
Liability
   Servicing
rights for
government
guaranteed
loans
   Securities
Available-
for-Sale
   Derivative
Asset
   Derivative
Liability
   Servicing
rights for
government
guaranteed
loans
   Securities
Available-
for-Sale
 
Three Months Ended September 30,                                        
Balance at beginning of period  $2,657   $7,531   $4,615   $500   $11,531   $18,261   $3,118   $750 
Purchases   -    -    -    -    286    -    137    - 
Additions   -    16    752    -    -    -    455    - 
Sales and settlements   (204)   (483)   (126)   -    -    -    -    - 
Other comprehensive income   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Amounts included in earnings - fair value adjustments   2,412    2,529    (141)   -    (4,978)   (5,461)   (379)   - 
Transfers between valuation levels, net   -    22    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Balance at end of period  $4,865   $9,615   $5,100   $500   $6,839   $12,800   $3,331   $750 
                                         
Nine Months Ended September 30,                                        
Balance at beginning of period  $9,418   $15,794   $3,712   $750   $12,262   $18,979   $2,551   $750 
Purchases   -    -    -    -    286    -    137    - 
Additions   -    16    1,852    -    -    -    1,087    - 
Sales and settlements   (204)   (483)   (297)   -    -    -    -    - 
Other comprehensive income   -    -    -    (250)   -    -    -    - 
Amounts included in earnings - fair value adjustments   (4,349)   (5,734)   (167)   -    (5,709)   (6,179)   (444)   - 
Transfers between valuation levels, net   -    22    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Balance at end of period  $4,865   $9,615   $5,100   $500   $6,839   $12,800   $3,331   $750 

 

The following table presents quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements for fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   Fair Value         Weighted Average 
   September 30,     December 31,      Valuation     September 30,   December 31, 
Level 3 Assets  2016    2015      Technique  Unobservable Inputs  2016   2015 
                       
Servicing rights for government guaranteed loans  $5,100   $3,712   Discounted cash flow  Discount rate   12.1%   11.8%
                Prepayment rate   7.22%   6.95%
                           
Corporate bonds   500    750   Indicative bid provided by a broker  Multiple factors, including but not limited to, current operations, financial condition, cash flows, and recently executed financing transactions related to the company   N/A    N/A 
                           
Derivative assets - mortgage   1,072    188   Internal model  Pull through rate   75.9%   85.0%
                           
Derivative assets - other   3,793    9,230   Dealer priced  Dealer priced   N/A    N/A 
                           
Derivative liabilities - risk participations   38    -   Internal model  Probable exposure rate   0.25%   N/A  
                Probability of default rate   1.80%   N/A 
                           
Derivative liabilities - other   9,577    15,794   Dealer priced  Dealer priced   N/A    N/A 

 

Fair Value Option

 

At September 30, 2016, mortgage loans held for sale for which the fair value option was elected had an aggregate fair value and outstanding principal balance of $279,000 and $268,000, respectively. Interest income on these loans is calculated based on the note rate of the loan and is recorded in interest revenue. During the third quarter of 2016, net gains resulting from changes in fair value of these loans of $11,000 were recorded in mortgage loan and other related fees. These changes in fair value were mostly offset by hedging activities. An immaterial portion of these amounts was attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk.

 

36 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

 

United may be required, from time to time, to measure certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances. These adjustments to fair value usually result from the application of the lower of the amortized cost or fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets due to impairment. The following table presents the fair value hierarchy and carrying value of all assets that were still held as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, for which a nonrecurring fair value adjustment was recorded during the year-to-date periods presented (in thousands).

 

September 30, 2016  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Loans  $-   $-   $7,556   $7,556 
                     
December 31, 2015                    
Loans  $-   $-   $7,589   $7,589 

 

Loans that are reported above as being measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are generally impaired loans that have either been partially charged off or have specific reserves assigned to them. Nonaccrual impaired loans that are collateral dependent are generally written down to 80% of appraised value which considers the estimated costs to sell. Specific reserves are established for impaired loans based on appraised value of collateral or discounted cash flows, although only those specific reserves based on the fair value of collateral are considered nonrecurring fair value adjustments.

 

Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value

 

For financial instruments that have quoted market prices, those quotes are used to determine fair value. Financial instruments that have no defined maturity, have a remaining maturity of 180 days or less, or reprice frequently to a market rate, are assumed to have a fair value that approximates reported book value, after taking into consideration any applicable credit risk. If no market quotes are available, financial instruments are valued by discounting the expected cash flows using an estimated current market interest rate for the financial instrument. For off-balance sheet derivative instruments, fair value is estimated as the amount that United would receive or pay to terminate the contracts at the reporting date, taking into account the current unrealized gains or losses on open contracts.

 

United’s cash and cash equivalents and repurchase agreements have short maturities and therefore the carrying value approximates fair value. The fair value of securities available-for-sale equals the balance sheet value. Due to the short-term settlement of accrued interest receivable and payable, the carrying amount closely approximates fair value.

 

Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect the premium or discount on any particular financial instrument that could result from the sale of United’s entire holdings. Because no ready market exists for a significant portion of United’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on many judgments. These estimates are inherently subjective in nature. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

 

Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. Significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments include the mortgage banking operation, brokerage network, deferred income taxes, premises and equipment and goodwill. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in the estimates.

 

Off-balance sheet instruments (commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit) for which draws can be reasonably predicted are generally short-term and at variable rates. Therefore, both the carrying amount and the estimated fair value associated with these instruments are immaterial.

 

37 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The carrying amount and fair values as of the dates indicated for other financial instruments that are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows (in thousands).

 

   Carrying   Fair Value Level 
September 30, 2016  Amount   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets:                         
 Securities held to maturity  $344,917   $-   $357,550   $-   $357,550 
 Loans, net   6,662,149    -    -    6,620,163    6,620,163 
 Mortgage loans held for sale   30,535    -    31,596    -    31,596 
 Residential mortgage servicing rights   3,673    -    -    3,694    3,694 
                          
Liabilities:                         
 Deposits   8,441,599    -    8,447,293    -    8,447,293 
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances   449,407    -    449,415    -    449,415 
 Long-term debt   174,959    -    -    174,946    174,946 
                          
December 31, 2015                         
Assets:                         
 Securities held to maturity  $364,696   $-   $371,658   $-   $371,658 
 Loans, net   5,926,993    -    -    5,840,554    5,840,554 
 Mortgage loans held for sale   24,231    -    24,660    -    24,660 
 Residential mortgage servicing rights   3,370    -    -    3,521    3,521 
                          
Liabilities:                         
 Deposits   7,873,193    -    7,881,109    -    7,881,109 
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances   430,125    -    430,119    -    430,119 
 Long-term debt   163,836    -    -    166,668    166,668 

 

Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

United is party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The contract amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement United has in particular classes of financial instruments.  The exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit written is represented by the contractual amount of these instruments. United uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it uses for underwriting on-balance sheet instruments. In most cases, collateral or other security is required to support financial instruments with credit risk.

 

The following table summarizes the contractual amount of off-balance sheet instruments as of the dates indicated (in thousands).

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2016   2015 
Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:          
 Commitments to extend credit  $1,418,846   $1,351,446 
 Letters of credit   19,728    23,373 

 

United’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary, United Community Bank (the “Bank”) holds minor investments in certain limited partnerships for Community Reinvestment Act purposes. As of September 30, 2016, the Bank had invested $2.51 million in these limited partnerships and had committed to fund an additional $1.99 million related to future capital calls.

 

United, in the normal course of business, is subject to various pending and threatened lawsuits in which claims for monetary damages are asserted.  Although it is not possible to predict the outcome of these lawsuits, or the range of any possible loss, management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the ultimate aggregate liability, if any, arising from these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on United’s financial position or results of operations.

 

38 

 

  

UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 15 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets as of the dates indicated is summarized below (in thousands):

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2016   2015 
Core deposit intangible  $51,342   $49,772 
Less: accumulated amortization   (36,079)   (32,964)
Total intangibles subject to amortization, net   15,263    16,808 
Goodwill   142,025    130,612 
Total goodwill and other intangible assets, net  $157,288   $147,420 

 

The following is a summary of changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill (in thousands):

 

   For the Three Months Ended September 30,   For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 
           Goodwill, net of           Goodwill, net of 
       Accumulated   Accumulated       Accumulated   Accumulated 
       Impairment   Impairment       Impairment   Impairment 
2016  Goodwill   Losses   Losses   Goodwill   Losses   Losses 
Balance, beginning of period  $436,902   $(305,590)  $131,312   $436,202   $(305,590)  $130,612 
Acquisition of Tidelands   10,713    -    10,713    10,713    -    10,713 
Measurement period
adjustments
   -    -    -    700    -    700 
Balance, end of period  $447,615   $(305,590)  $142,025   $447,615   $(305,590)  $142,025 
                               
2015                              
Balance, beginning of period  $320,117   $(305,590)  $14,527   $307,099   $(305,590)  $1,509 
Acquisition of Palmetto   107,923    -    107,923    107,923    -    107,923 
Acquisition of MoneyTree   1,116    -    1,116    14,134    -    14,134 
Balance, end of period  $429,156   $(305,590)  $123,566   $429,156   $(305,590)  $123,566 

 

The amortization expense for intangibles subject to amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $1.12 million and $3.12 million, respectively, which was recognized in operating expenses. The amortization expense for intangibles subject to amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $714,000 and $1.4 million, respectively. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for future periods is as follows (in thousands):

 

Year     
Remainder of 2016  $1,066 
2017   3,413 
2018   2,690 
2019   2,171 
2020   1,678 
Thereafter   4,245 
Total  $15,263 

 

39 

 

 

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

 

Forward-looking Statements

 

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”), about United and its subsidiaries. These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “projects”, “plans”, “goal”, “targets”, “potential”, “estimates”, “pro forma”, “seeks”, “intends”, or “anticipates”, the negative thereof or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements include discussions of strategy, financial projections, guidance and estimates (including their underlying assumptions), statements regarding plans, objectives, expectations or consequences of various transactions or events, and statements about the future performance, operations, products and services of United and its subsidiaries. We caution our shareholders and other readers not to place undue reliance on such statements.

 

Our businesses and operations are and will be subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Consequently, actual results and experiences may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experiences to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as well as the following factors:

 

·the condition of the general business and economic environment;
·the results of our internal credit stress tests may not accurately predict the impact on our financial condition if the economy were to deteriorate;
·our ability to maintain profitability;
·our ability to fully realize the balance of our net deferred tax asset, including net operating loss carryforwards;
·the risk that we may be required to increase the valuation allowance on our net deferred tax asset in future periods;
·the condition of the banking system and financial markets;
·our ability to raise capital;
·our ability to maintain liquidity or access other sources of funding;
·changes in the cost and availability of funding;
·the success of the local economies in which we operate;
·our lack of geographic diversification;
·our concentrations of residential and commercial construction and development loans and commercial real estate loans are subject to unique risks that could adversely affect our earnings;
·changes in prevailing interest rates may negatively affect our net income and the value of our assets and other interest rate risks;
·our accounting and reporting policies;
·if our allowance for loan losses is not sufficient to cover actual loan losses;
·losses due to fraudulent and negligent conduct of our loan customers, third party service providers or employees;
·risks related to our communications and information systems, including risks with respect to cybersecurity breaches;
·our reliance on third parties to provide key components of our business infrastructure and services required to operate our business;
·competition from financial institutions and other financial service providers;
·risks with respect to our ability to successfully expand and complete acquisitions and integrate businesses and operations that are acquired;
·if the conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets deteriorate;
·the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and related regulations;
·changes in laws and regulations or failures to comply with such laws and regulations;
·changes in regulatory capital and other requirements;
·the costs and effects of litigation, examinations, investigations, or similar matters, or adverse facts and developments related thereto;
·regulatory or judicial proceedings, board resolutions, informal memorandums of understanding or formal enforcement actions imposed by regulators that may occur;
·changes in tax laws, regulations and interpretations or challenges to our income tax provision; and
·our ability to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures.

 

Additional information with respect to factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements may also be included in other reports that United files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). United cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. United does not intend to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this Form 10-Q. The financial statements and information contained herein have not been reviewed, or confirmed for accuracy or relevance, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

 

40 

 

  

Overview

 

The following discussion is intended to provide insight into the results of operations and financial condition of United Community Banks, Inc. (“United”) and its subsidiaries and should be read in conjunction with United’s consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.

 

United is a bank holding company registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 that was incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia in 1987 and commenced operations in 1988. At September 30, 2016, United had total consolidated assets of $10.3 billion, total loans of $6.73 billion, total deposits of $8.44 billion, and shareholders’ equity of $1.08 billion.

 

United conducts substantially all of its operations through its wholly-owned Georgia bank subsidiary, United Community Bank (the “Bank”), which as of September 30, 2016, operated at 140 locations throughout the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia, and Gainesville, Georgia metropolitan statistical areas, upstate and coastal South Carolina, north and coastal Georgia, western North Carolina, and east Tennessee. Also, United has a commercial loan office in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

On July 1, 2016, United completed its previously announced acquisition of Tidelands Bancshares, Inc. (“Tidelands”) and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Tidelands Bank.  On September 1, 2015, United completed the acquisition of Palmetto Bancshares, Inc. (“Palmetto”) and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, The Palmetto Bank. On May 1, 2015, United completed the acquisition of MoneyTree Corporation (“MoneyTree”) and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, First National Bank. The acquired entities’ results are included in United’s consolidated results beginning on their respective acquisition dates.

 

United reported net income of $25.9 million, or $.36 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2016, compared to net income of $17.9 million, or $.27 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, United reported net income of $73.4 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, compared to $53.4 million, or $.84 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2015.

 

Net interest revenue increased to $79.0 million for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $65.4 million for the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to higher loan volume, much of which resulted from United’s acquisitions of Tidelands, Palmetto, and MoneyTree (the “Acquisitions”). Net interest margin increased to 3.34% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 from 3.26% for the same period in 2015 due to a higher yield on the investment securities portfolio and growth in the loan portfolio that led to a more favorable earning asset mix. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net interest revenue was $229 million and the net interest margin was 3.36% compared to net interest revenue of $184 million and net interest margin of 3.29% for the same period in 2015 primarily due to the same factors that affected the quarterly results.

 

United’s release of provision for credit losses was $300,000 for the third quarter of 2016, compared to provision expense of $700,000 for the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, United’s release of provision for credit losses was $800,000, compared to provision expense of $3.40 million for the same period in 2015. Net charge-offs for the third quarter of 2016 were $1.36 million, compared to $1.42 million for the third quarter of 2015. Recoveries of previously charged-off amounts remained at elevated levels, with third quarter 2016 being the sixth consecutive quarter of recoveries greater than $1 million.

 

As of September 30, 2016, United’s allowance for loan losses was $63.0 million, or .94% of loans, compared to $68.4 million, or 1.14% of loans, at December 31, 2015 reflecting continued asset quality improvement. Nonperforming assets of $30.8 million were .30% of total assets at September 30, 2016, up from .29% at December 31, 2015 due to foreclosed properties resulting from the Tidelands acquisition. During the third quarter of 2016, $6.68 million in loans were placed on nonaccrual compared with $8.92 million in the third quarter of 2015.

 

Fee revenue of $26.4 million for the third quarter of 2016 was up $8.06 million, or 44%, from the third quarter of 2015. Service charges and fees in the third quarter of 2016 were $10.8 million, up from $9.34 million in the third quarter of 2015 primarily due to higher deposit balances and related fees resulting from the Acquisitions. In addition, gains from the sales of government guaranteed loans increased $833,000 in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015. Mortgage fees of $6.04 million for the third quarter of 2016 increased from $3.84 million in the third quarter of 2015. The increase was due to United’s emphasis on growing its mortgage business by recruiting lenders in metropolitan markets and continued strong refinancing activity. For the first nine months of 2016, fee revenue of $68.5 million increased $17.2 million, or 34%, from the same period in 2015, primarily due to the same factors that affected the quarterly results.

 

For the third quarter of 2016, operating expenses of $64.0 million were up $9.75 million from the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to the addition of Tidelands and Palmetto operating expenses since acquisition. Salaries and benefits expense increased $7.14 million from a year ago mostly due to the acquisitions of Tidelands and Palmetto and investment in additional staff and new teams to expand the specialized lending area as well as higher incentive compensation in connection with increased lending activities and improvement in earnings performance. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, operating expenses of $180 million were up $34.2 million from the same period in 2015, primarily due to the same factors that affected the quarterly results as well as increases related to the MoneyTree acquisition.

 

41 

 

  

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The accounting and reporting policies of United are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and conform to general practices within the banking industry. The more critical accounting and reporting policies include United’s accounting for the allowance for loan losses, fair value measurements, and income taxes which involve the use of estimates and require significant judgments to be made by management. Different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes in United’s consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations. See “Asset Quality and Risk Elements” herein for additional discussion of United’s accounting methodologies related to the allowance for loan losses.

 

GAAP Reconciliation and Explanation

 

This Form 10-Q contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial information includes the following measures: taxable equivalent interest revenue, taxable equivalent net interest revenue, tangible book value per share, tangible equity to assets, tangible common equity to assets and tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets. In addition, management presents non-GAAP operating performance measures, which exclude merger-related and other charges that are not part of United’s ongoing business operations. Operating performance measures include net income – operating, net income available to common shareholders – operating, diluted net income per share – operating, return on common equity – operating, return on tangible common equity – operating, return on assets – operating, dividend payout ratio – operating and efficiency ratio – operating. Management has developed internal processes and procedures to accurately capture and account for merger-related and other charges and those charges are reviewed with the audit committee of United’s Board of Directors each quarter. Management uses these non-GAAP measures because it believes they may provide useful supplemental information for evaluating United’s operations and performance over periods of time, as well as in managing and evaluating United’s business and in discussions about United’s operations and performance. Management believes these non-GAAP measures may also provide users of United’s financial information with a meaningful measure for assessing United’s financial results and credit trends, as well as a comparison to financial results for prior periods. These non-GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, measures determined in accordance with GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. To the extent applicable, reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable measures as reported in accordance with GAAP are included in the table on page 44.

 

Results of Operations

 

United reported net income of $25.9 million for the third quarter of 2016. This compared to net income of $17.9 million for the same period in 2015. For the third quarter of 2016, diluted earnings per common share were $.36 compared to $.27 for the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended June 30, 2016, United reported net income of $73.4 million compared to net income of $53.4 million for the same period in 2015.

 

United reported operating net income of $27.8 million and $77.8 million, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, compared to $21.7 million and $59.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2015. Operating net income excludes the effects of merger-related charges, which, net of tax, totaled $1.96 million and $4.34 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. Merger-related charges, net of tax, totaled $3.84 million and $6.02 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

42 

 

  

Table 1 - Financial Highlights
Selected Financial Information

                       Third   For the Nine     
   2016   2015   Quarter   Months Ended   YTD 
   Third   Second   First   Fourth   Third   2016-2015   September 30,   2016-2015 
(in thousands, except per share data)  Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Change   2016   2015   Change 
INCOME SUMMARY                                             
Interest revenue  $85,439   $81,082   $80,721   $79,362   $70,828        $247,242   $199,170      
Interest expense   6,450    6,164    5,769    5,598    5,402         18,383    15,511      
Net interest revenue   78,989    74,918    74,952    73,764    65,426    21%   228,859    183,659    25%
Provision for credit losses   (300)   (300)   (200)   300    700         (800)   3,400      
Fee revenue   26,361    23,497    18,606    21,284    18,297    44    68,464    51,245    34 
Total revenue   105,650    98,715    93,758    94,748    83,023    27    298,123    231,504    29 
Expenses   64,023    58,060    57,885    65,488    54,269    18    179,968    145,750    23 
Income before income tax expense   41,627    40,655    35,873    29,260    28,754    45    118,155    85,754    38 
Income tax expense   15,753    15,389    13,578    11,052    10,867    45    44,720    32,384    38 
Net income   25,874    25,266    22,295    18,208    17,887    45    73,435    53,370    38 
Preferred dividends   -    -    21    25    25         21    42      
Net income available to common shareholders - GAAP  $25,874   $25,266   $22,274   $18,183   $17,862    45   $73,414   $53,328    38 
Merger-related and other charges   3,152    1,176    2,653    9,078    5,744         6,981    8,917      
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges   (1,193)   (445)   (1,004)   (3,486)   (1,905)        (2,642)   (2,902)     
Net income available to common shareholders - operating (1)  $27,833   $25,997   $23,923   $23,775   $21,701    28   $77,753   $59,343    31 
                                              
PERFORMANCE MEASURES                                             
Per common share:                                             
Diluted net income - GAAP  $.36   $.35   $.31   $.25   $.27    33   $1.02   $.84    21 
Diluted net income - operating  (1)   .39    .36    .33    .33    .33    18    1.08    .94    15 
Cash dividends declared   .08    .07    .07    .06    .06         .22    .16      
Book value   15.12    14.80    14.35    14.02    13.95    8    15.12    13.95    8 
Tangible book value (3)   13.00    12.84    12.40    12.06    12.08    8    13.00    12.08    8 
                                              
Key performance ratios:                                             
Return on common equity - GAAP (2)(4)   9.61%   9.54%   8.57%   7.02%   7.85%        9.25%   8.63%     
Return on common equity - operating (1)(2)(4)   10.34    9.81    9.20    9.18    9.54         9.79    9.60      
Return on tangible common equity - operating (1)(2)(3)(4)   12.45    11.56    10.91    10.87    10.29         11.64    10.00      
Return on assets - GAAP (4)   1.00    1.04    .93    .76    .82         .99    .88      
Return on assets - operating (1)(4)   1.08    1.07    1.00    .99    1.00         1.05    .98      
Dividend payout ratio - GAAP   22.22    20.00    22.58    24.00    22.22         21.57    19.05      
Dividend payout ratio - operating (1)   20.51    19.44    21.21    18.18    18.18         20.37    17.02      
Net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent) (4)   3.34    3.35    3.41    3.34    3.26         3.36    3.29      
Efficiency ratio - GAAP   60.78    59.02    61.94    68.97    64.65         60.56    61.94      
Efficiency ratio - operating  (1)   57.79    57.82    59.10    59.41    57.81         58.21    58.15      
Average equity to average assets   10.38    10.72    10.72    10.68    10.39         10.60    10.11      
Average tangible equity to average assets (3)   8.98    9.43    9.41    9.40    9.88         9.27    9.88      
Average tangible common equity to average assets (3)   8.98    9.43    9.32    9.29    9.77         9.24    9.81      
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets (3)   12.22    12.87    12.77    12.82    13.08         12.22    13.08      
                                              
ASSET QUALITY                                             
Nonperforming loans  $21,572   $21,348   $22,419   $22,653   $20,064    8   $21,572   $20,064    8 
Foreclosed properties   9,187    6,176    5,163    4,883    7,669    20    9,187    7,669    20 
Total nonperforming assets (NPAs)   30,759    27,524    27,582    27,536    27,733    11    30,759    27,733    11 
Allowance for loan losses   62,961    64,253    66,310    68,448    69,062    (9)   62,961    69,062    (9)
Net charge-offs   1,359    1,730    2,138    1,302    1,417    (4)   5,227    4,957    5 
Allowance for loan losses to loans   0.94%   1.02%   1.09%   1.14%   1.15%        0.94%   1.15%     
Net charge-offs to average loans (4)   .08    .11    .14    .09    .10         .11    .13      
NPAs to loans and foreclosed properties   .46    .44    .45    .46    .46         .46    .46      
NPAs to total assets   .30    .28    .28    .29    .29         .30    .29      
                                              
AVERAGE BALANCES ($ in millions)                                             
Loans  $6,675   $6,151   $6,004   $5,975   $5,457    22   $6,278   $5,069    24 
Investment securities   2,610    2,747    2,718    2,607    2,396    9    2,692    2,288    18 
Earning assets   9,443    9,037    8,876    8,792    8,009    18    9,120    7,511    21 
Total assets   10,281    9,809    9,634    9,558    8,634    19    9,909    8,093    22 
Deposits   8,307    7,897    7,947    8,028    7,135    16    8,051    6,727    20 
Shareholders’ equity   1,067    1,051    1,033    1,021    897    19    1,051    818    28 
Common shares - basic (thousands)   71,556    72,202    72,162    72,135    66,294    8    71,992    63,297    14 
Common shares - diluted (thousands)   71,561    72,207    72,166    72,140    66,300    8    71,996    63,302    14 
                                              
AT PERIOD END ($ in millions)                                             
Loans  $6,725   $6,287   $6,106   $5,995   $6,024    12   $6,725   $6,024    12 
Investment securities   2,560    2,677    2,757    2,656    2,457    4    2,560    2,457    4 
Total assets   10,298    9,928    9,781    9,616    9,404    10    10,298    9,404    10 
Deposits   8,442    7,857    7,960    7,873    7,897    7    8,442    7,897    7 
Shareholders’ equity   1,079    1,060    1,034    1,018    1,013    7    1,079    1,013    7 
Common shares outstanding (thousands)   70,861    71,122    71,544    71,484    71,472    (1)   70,861    71,472    (1)

  

(1) Excludes merger-related charges and fourth quarter impairment losses on surplus bank property. (2) Net income available to common shareholders, which is net of preferred stock dividends, divided by average realized common equity, which excludes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). (3) Excludes effect of acquisition related intangibles and associated amortization. (4) Annualized.

 

43 

 

   

Table 1 (Continued) Non-GAAP Performance Measures Reconciliation
Selected Financial Information
   2016   2015  

For the Nine Months Ended

 
   Third   Second   First   Fourth   Third   September 30,  
(in thousands, except per share data)  Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   2016   2015 
                             
Expense reconciliation                                   
Expenses (GAAP)  $64,023   $58,060   $57,885   $65,488   $54,269   $179,968   $145,750 
Merger-related and other charges   (3,152)   (1,176)   (2,653)   (9,078)   (5,744)   (6,981)   (8,917)
Expenses - operating  $60,871   $56,884   $55,232   $56,410   $48,525   $172,987   $136,833 
                                    
Net income reconciliation                                   
Net income (GAAP)  $25,874   $25,266   $22,295   $18,208   $17,887   $73,435   $53,370 
Merger-related and other charges   3,152    1,176    2,653    9,078    5,744    6,981    8,917 
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges   (1,193)   (445)   (1,004)   (3,486)   (1,905)   (2,642)   (2,902)
Net income - operating  $27,833   $25,997   $23,944   $23,800   $21,726   $77,774   $59,385 
                                    
Net income available to common shareholders reconciliation                                   
Net income available to common shareholders (GAAP)  $25,874   $25,266   $22,274   $18,183   $17,862   $73,414   $53,328 
Merger-related and other charges   3,152    1,176    2,653    9,078    5,744    6,981    8,917 
Income tax benefit of merger-related and other charges   (1,193)   (445)   (1,004)   (3,486)   (1,905)   (2,642)   (2,902)
Net income available to common shareholders - operating  $27,833   $25,997   $23,923   $23,775   $21,701   $77,753   $59,343 
                                    
Diluted income per common share reconciliation                                   
Diluted income per common share (GAAP)  $.36   $.35   $.31   $.25   $.27   $1.02   $.84 
Merger-related and other charges   .03    .01    .02    .08    .06    -    .10 
Diluted income per common share - operating  $.39   $.36   $.33   $.33   $.33   $1.02   $.94 
                                    
Book value per common share reconciliation                                   
Book value per common share (GAAP)  $15.12   $14.80   $14.35   $14.02   $13.95   $15.12   $13.95 
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   (2.12)   (1.96)   (1.95)   (1.96)   (1.87)   (2.12)   (1.87)
Tangible book value per common share  $13.00   $12.84   $12.40   $12.06   $12.08   $13.00   $12.08 
                                    
Return on tangible common equity reconciliation                                   
Return on common equity (GAAP)   9.61%   9.54%   8.57%   7.02%   7.85%   9.25%   8.63%
Merger-related  and other charges   .73    .27    .63    2.16    1.69    .54    .97 
Return on common equity - operating   10.34    9.81    9.20    9.18    9.54    9.79    9.60 
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   2.11    1.75    1.71    1.69    .75    1.85    .40 
Return on tangible common equity - operating   12.45%   11.56%   10.91%   10.87%   10.29%   11.64%   10.00%
                                    
Return on assets reconciliation                                   
Return on assets (GAAP)   1.00%   1.04%   .93%   .76%   .82%   .99%   .88%
Merger-related  and other charges   .08    .03    .07    .23    .18    .06    .10 
Return on assets - operating   1.08%   1.07%   1.00%   .99%   1.00%   1.05%   .98%
                                    
Dividend payout ratio reconciliation                                   
Dividend payout ratio (GAAP)   22.22%   20.00%   22.58%   24.00%   22.22%   21.57%   19.05%
Merger-related and other charges   (1.71)   (.56)   (1.37)   (5.82)   (4.04)   (1.20)   (2.03)
Dividend payout ratio - operating   20.51%   19.44%   21.21%   18.18%   18.18%   20.37%   17.02%
                                    
Efficiency ratio reconciliation                                   
Efficiency ratio (GAAP)   60.78%   59.02%   61.94%   68.97%   64.65%   60.56%   61.94%
Merger-related and other charges   (2.99)   (1.20)   (2.84)   (9.56)   (6.84)   (2.35)   (3.79)
Efficiency ratio - operating   57.79%   57.82%   59.10%   59.41%   57.81%   58.21%   58.15%
                                    
Average equity to assets reconciliation                                   
Equity to assets (GAAP)   10.38%   10.72%   10.72%   10.68%   10.39%   10.60%   10.11%
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles   (1.40)   (1.29)   (1.31)   (1.28)   (.51)   (1.33)   (.23)
Tangible equity to assets   8.98    9.43    9.41    9.40    9.88    9.27    9.88 
Effect of preferred equity   -    -    (.09)   (.11)   (.11)   (.03)   (.07)
Tangible common equity to assets   8.98%   9.43%   9.32%   9.29%   9.77%   9.24%   9.81%
                                    
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets reconciliation                                   
Tier 1 capital ratio (Regulatory)   11.04%   11.44%   11.32%   11.45%   11.40%   11.04%   11.40%
Effect of other comprehensive income   -    (.06)   (.25)   (.38)   (.23)   -    (.23)
Effect of deferred tax limitation   1.50    1.63    1.85    2.05    2.24    1.50    2.24 
Effect of trust preferred   (.26)   (.08)   (.08)   (.08)   (.08)   (.26)   (.08)
Effect of preferred equity   -    -    -    (.15)   (.15)   -    (.15)
Basel III intangibles transition adjustment   (.06)   (.06)   (.07)   (.10)   (.13)   (.06)   (.13)
Basel III disallowed investments   -    -    -    .03    .03    -    .03 
Tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets   12.22%   12.87%   12.77%   12.82%   13.08%   12.22%   13.08%

 

44 

 

 

Net Interest Revenue

 

Net interest revenue (the difference between the interest earned on assets and the interest paid on deposits and borrowed funds) is the single largest component of total revenue. United actively manages its balance sheet to provide optimal levels of revenue while balancing interest rate, credit and liquidity risks. Net interest revenue for the third quarter of 2016 was $79.0 million. Taxable equivalent net interest revenue for the third quarter of 2016 was $79.2 million, which represents an increase of $13.5 million from the same period in 2015. The combination of the larger earning asset base from the acquisitions of Tidelands and Palmetto and growth in the loan portfolio were responsible for the increase in net interest revenue. United continues to focus on loan and deposit pricing in an effort to maintain a steady level of net interest revenue. The acquisition of Tidelands on July 1, 2016 and Palmetto on September 1, 2015 contributed to the increase as the acquired entities’ results are included in consolidated results beginning on the acquisition date.

 

Average loans increased $1.22 billion, or 22%, from the third quarter of last year, while the yield on loans decreased two basis points, reflecting ongoing pricing pressure on new and renewed loans.

 

Average interest-earning assets for the third quarter of 2016 increased $1.43 billion, or 18%, from the third quarter of 2015, which was due primarily to the increase in loans, including the acquisition of Tidelands and Palmetto loans. Average investment securities for the third quarter of 2016 increased $221 million from a year ago, partially due to the Tidelands and Palmetto acquisitions. The average yield on the taxable investment portfolio increased 23 basis points from a year ago, primarily due to the impact of higher short-term interest rates on the floating rate portion of United’s securities portfolio as well as accelerated discount accretion on called agency bonds and higher yields on fixed rate investments.

 

Average interest-bearing liabilities of $6.62 billion for the third quarter of 2016 increased $951 million from the third quarter of 2015. Average noninterest bearing deposits increased $518 million from the third quarter of 2015 to $2.49 billion for the third quarter of 2016. The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the third quarter of 2016 was .39% compared to .38% for the same period in 2015, reflecting greater use of borrowed funds to fund balance sheet growth. Also contributing to the overall higher rate on interest-bearing liabilities was a higher average rate on money market deposits and a higher average rate on brokered time deposits.

 

The banking industry uses two ratios to measure relative profitability of net interest revenue. The net interest spread measures the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The interest rate spread eliminates the effect of non-interest-bearing deposits and gives a direct perspective on the effect of market interest rate movements. The net interest margin is an indication of the profitability of a company’s balance sheet, and is defined as net interest revenue as a percent of average total interest-earning assets, which includes the positive effect of funding a portion of interest-earning assets with non-interest-bearing deposits and stockholders’ equity.

 

For the third quarters of 2016 and 2015, the net interest spread was 3.22% and 3.15%, respectively, while the net interest margin was 3.34% and 3.26%, respectively. The increase in both ratios reflects the impact of higher short-term interest rates on floating-rate loans and securities, while deposit pricing increased slightly from the prior year. Additionally, United was able to improve its overall yield on interest-earning assets through growth in the loan portfolio, which had a positive impact on the composition of interest-earning assets, and higher yields on fixed rate investments.

 

For the first nine months of 2016, net interest revenue was $229 million, an increase of $45.2 million, or 25%, from the first nine months of 2015. Similarly, fully taxable equivalent net interest revenue for the first nine months of 2016 was $230 million, an increase of $45.0 million, or 24%, from the first nine months of 2015. Average earning assets increased $1.61 billion, or 21%, during the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period a year ago, primarily due to loan growth, both organic and acquisition-related. The yield on earning assets increased seven basis points to 3.63% in the first nine months of 2016 despite a four basis point decrease in loan yield. The lower loan portfolio yield reflects competitive pricing pressure on new and renewed loans and a shift in loan mix to more floating rate loans. Investment yield increased 24 basis points for the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, which helped offset some of the decrease in loan yield. The rate on interest-bearing liabilities over the same period remained flat. The higher yield on interest-earning assets combined with the unchanged cost of interest-bearing liabilities resulted in a seven basis point increase in the net interest margin from the first nine months of 2015 to the first nine months of 2016.

 

45 

 

 

The following tables show the relationship between interest revenue and expense, and the average amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.

 

Table 2 - Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
   2016   2015 
   Average       Avg.   Average       Avg. 
(dollars in thousands, fully taxable equivalent (FTE))  Balance   Interest   Rate   Balance   Interest   Rate 
Assets:                              
Interest-earning assets:                              
Loans, net of unearned income (FTE) (1)(2)  $6,675,328   $69,427    4.14%  $5,457,158   $57,258    4.16%
Taxable securities (3)   2,588,037    15,284    2.36    2,367,417    12,624    2.13 
Tax-exempt securities (FTE) (1)(3)   22,113    219    3.96    28,889    290    4.02 
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   157,972    754    1.91    155,957    948    2.43 
                               
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   9,443,450    85,684    3.61    8,009,421    71,120    3.53 
Non-interest-earning assets:                              
Allowance for loan losses   (63,874)             (71,090)          
Cash and due from banks   100,775              80,678           
Premises and equipment   198,234              179,463           
Other assets (3)   602,690              435,060           
Total assets  $10,281,275             $8,633,532           
                               
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:                              
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Interest-bearing deposits:                              
NOW  $1,744,473    452    .10   $1,491,801    337    .09 
Money market   1,997,165    1,347    .27    1,737,740    981    .22 
Savings   537,447    43    .03    386,254    25    .03 
Time   1,375,706    833    .24    1,277,829    1,155    .36 
Brokered time deposits   162,255    (166)   (.41)   268,716    (325)   (.48)
Total interest-bearing deposits   5,817,046    2,509    .17    5,162,340    2,173    .17 
                               
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings   42,234    98    .92    72,909    99    .54 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   583,312    1,015    .69    281,429    461    .65 
Long-term debt   177,333    2,828    6.34    152,105    2,669    6.96 
Total borrowed funds   802,879    3,941    1.95    506,443    3,229    2.53 
                               
Total interest-bearing liabilities   6,619,925    6,450    .39    5,668,783    5,402    .38 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Non-interest-bearing deposits   2,490,019              1,972,291           
Other liabilities   103,859              95,342           
Total liabilities   9,213,803              7,736,416           
Shareholders' equity   1,067,472              897,116           
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $10,281,275             $8,633,532           
                               
Net interest revenue (FTE)       $79,234             $65,718      
Net interest-rate spread (FTE)             3.22%             3.15%
                               
Net interest margin (FTE) (4)             3.34%             3.26%

 

(1)Interest revenue on tax-exempt securities and loans has been increased to reflect comparable interest on taxable securities and loans. The rate used was 39%, reflecting the statutory federal income tax rate and the federal tax adjusted state income tax rate.
(2)Included in the average balance of loans outstanding are loans where the accrual of interest has been discontinued and loans that are held for sale.
(3)Securities available for sale are shown at amortized cost. Pretax unrealized gains of $30.4 million in 2016 and $8.56 million in 2015 are included in other assets for purposes of this presentation.
(4)Net interest margin is taxable equivalent net-interest revenue divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

46 

 

 

Table 3 - Average Consolidated Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
   2016   2015 
   Average       Avg.   Average       Avg. 
(dollars in thousands, fully taxable equivalent (FTE))  Balance   Interest   Rate   Balance   Interest   Rate 
Assets:                              
Interest-earning assets:                              
Loans, net of unearned income (FTE) (1)(2)  $6,277,972   $196,956    4.19%  $5,069,270   $160,204    4.23%
Taxable securities (3)   2,665,272    47,590    2.38    2,263,907    36,380    2.14 
Tax-exempt securities (FTE) (1)(3)   26,415    735    3.71    23,649    845    4.76 
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   150,146    2,719    2.41    154,392    2,734    2.36 
                               
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   9,119,805    248,000    3.63    7,511,218    200,163    3.56 
Non-interest-earning assets:                              
Allowance for loan losses   (66,142)             (71,425)          
Cash and due from banks   93,802              78,948           
Premises and equipment   187,019              169,037           
Other assets (3)   574,870              405,101           
Total assets  $9,909,354             $8,092,879           
                               
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:                              
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Interest-bearing deposits:                              
NOW  $1,795,372    1,381    .10   $1,462,344    1,079    .10 
Money market   1,901,903    3,661    .26    1,605,098    2,460    .20 
Savings   505,337    102    .03    340,878    71    .03 
Time   1,280,503    2,325    .24    1,253,047    3,816    .41 
Brokered time deposits   194,199    (273)   (.19)   272,688    (982)   (.48)
Total interest-bearing deposits   5,677,314    7,196    .17    4,934,055    6,444    .17 
                               
Federal funds purchased and other borrowings   29,427    278    1.26    52,385    279    .71 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   506,524    2,731    .72    270,260    1,307    .65 
Long-term debt   168,955    8,178    6.47    131,338    7,481    7.62 
Total borrowed funds   704,906    11,187    2.12    453,983    9,067    2.67 
                               
Total interest-bearing liabilities   6,382,220    18,383    .38    5,388,038    15,511    .38 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:                              
Non-interest-bearing deposits   2,374,076              1,793,181           
Other liabilities   102,421              93,218           
Total liabilities   8,858,717              7,274,437           
Shareholders' equity   1,050,637              818,442           
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $9,909,354             $8,092,879           
                               
Net interest revenue (FTE)       $229,617             $184,652      
Net interest-rate spread (FTE)             3.25%             3.18%
                               
Net interest margin (FTE) (4)             3.36%             3.29%

 

(1)Interest revenue on tax-exempt securities and loans has been increased to reflect comparable interest on taxable securities and loans. The rate used was 39%, reflecting the statutory federal income tax rate and the federal tax adjusted state income tax rate.
(2)Included in the average balance of loans outstanding are loans where the accrual of interest has been discontinued and loans that are held for sale.
(3)Securities available for sale are shown at amortized cost. Pretax unrealized gains of $15.1 million in 2016 and $12.7 million in 2015 are included in other assets for purposes of this presentation.
(4)Net interest margin is taxable equivalent net-interest revenue divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

47 

 

 

The following table shows the relative effect on net interest revenue for changes in the average outstanding amounts (volume) of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the rates earned and paid on such assets and liabilities (rate). Variances resulting from a combination of changes in rate and volume are allocated in proportion to the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each category.

 

Table 4 - Change in Interest Revenue and Expense             
(in thousands)                        
                         
   Three Months Ended September 30, 2016   Nine Months Ended September 30,  2016 
   Compared to 2015   Compared to 2015 
   Increase (decrease)   Increase (decrease) 
   Due to Changes in   Due to Changes in 
   Volume   Rate   Total   Volume   Rate   Total 
Interest-earning assets:                              
Loans (FTE)  $12,674   $(505)  $12,169   $37,928   $(1,176)  $36,752 
Taxable securities   1,235    1,425    2,660    6,890    4,320    11,210 
Tax-exempt securities (FTE)   (67)   (4)   (71)   91    (201)   (110)
Federal funds sold and other interest-earning assets   12    (206)   (194)   (76)   61    (15)
Total interest-earning assets (FTE)   13,854    710    14,564    44,833    3,004    47,837 
                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:                              
NOW accounts   62    53    115    255    47    302 
Money market accounts   159    207    366    504    697    1,201 
Savings deposits   11    7    18    33    (2)   31 
Time deposits   83    (405)   (322)   82    (1,573)   (1,491)
Brokered deposits   114    45    159    227    482    709 
Total interest-bearing deposits   429    (93)   336    1,101    (349)   752 
Federal funds purchased & other borrowings   (53)   52    (1)   (156)   155    (1)
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   524    30    554    1,259    165    1,424 
Long-term debt   417    (258)   159    1,932    (1,235)   697 
Total borrowed funds   888    (176)   712    3,035    (915)   2,120 
Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,317    (269)   1,048    4,136    (1,264)   2,872 
                               
Increase in net interest revenue (FTE)  $12,537   $979   $13,516   $40,697   $4,268   $44,965 

 

Provision for Credit Losses

 

The provision for credit losses is based on management’s evaluation of probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio and corresponding analysis of the allowance for credit losses at quarter-end. The release of provision for credit losses was $300,000 for the third quarter of 2016, compared to a release of $300,000 in the second quarter of 2016 and provision expense of $700,000 for the third quarter of 2015. The provision for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was a release of provision of $800,000 and provision expense of $3.40 million, respectively. The amount of provision recorded in each period was the amount required such that the total allowance for loan losses reflected the appropriate balance, in the estimation of management, sufficient to cover incurred losses in the loan portfolio. The third quarter 2016 release of provision was due to ongoing improvement in the historical loss experience factors used to determine the amount of the required allowance for loan losses. The improvement for the year-to-date period reflects overall improvement in a number of troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) as well as continued strong credit quality and a low overall level of net charge-offs. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, net loan charge-offs as an annualized percentage of average outstanding loans were .08% compared to .10% for the same period in 2015.

 

The allowance for unfunded commitments represents probable incurred losses on unfunded loan commitments that are expected to result in outstanding loan balances. The allowance for unfunded loan commitments was established through the provision for credit losses.

 

Additional discussion on credit quality and the allowance for loan losses is included in the “Asset Quality and Risk Elements” section of this report on page 53.

 

48 

 

 

Fee Revenue

 

Fee revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $26.4 million and $68.5 million, respectively, an increase of $8.06 million, or 44%, compared to the third quarter of 2015 and an increase of $17.2 million, or 34%, compared to the first nine months of 2015. The following table presents the components of fee revenue for the periods indicated.

 

Table 5 - Fee Revenue

(in thousands)

 

   Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended         
   September 30,   Change   September 30,   Change 
   2016   2015   Amount   Percent   2016   2015   Amount   Percent 
                                 
Overdraft fees  $3,648   $3,303   $345    10   $10,338   $8,631   $1,707    20 
ATM and debit card interchange fees   5,283    4,364    919    21    15,589    12,222    3,367    28 
Other service charges and fees   1,888    1,668    220    13    5,533    4,472    1,061    24 
Service charges and fees   10,819    9,335    1,484    16    31,460    25,325    6,135    24 
Mortgage loan and related fees   6,039    3,840    2,199    57    13,776    10,302    3,474    34 
Brokerage fees   1,199    1,200    (1)   -    3,369    3,983    (614)   (15)
Gains on sales of government guaranteed loans   2,479    1,646    833    51    6,517    4,281    2,236    52 
Customer derivatives   1,446    418    1,028         3,283    1,314    1,969      
Securities gains, net   261    325    (64)        922    1,877    (955)     
Losses from prepayment of debt   -    (256)   256         -    (1,294)   1,294      
Other   4,118    1,789    2,329         9,137    5,457    3,680      
Total fee revenue  $26,361   $18,297   $8,064    44   $68,464   $51,245   $17,219    34 

 

Service charges and fees of $10.8 million and $31.5 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 were up $1.48 million, or 16%, from the third quarter of 2015 and $6.14 million, or 24%, from the first nine months of 2015. Overdraft, ATM and debit card, and other service charges and fees increased year over year based on increased deposit balances driven primarily by the Acquisitions.

 

Mortgage loan and related fees for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 were up $2.20 million, or 57%, and $3.47 million, or 34%, respectively, from the same periods in 2015. The increase reflects United’s focus on growing the mortgage business by recruiting new mortgage lenders in key metropolitan markets and an increase in purchase and refinancing activity. In the third quarter of 2016, United closed 904 loans totaling $194 million compared with 711 loans totaling $141 million in the third quarter of 2015. Year-to-date mortgage production in 2016 amounted to 2,407 loans totaling $522 million, compared to 1,849 loans totaling $357 million for the same period in 2015. United had $99.7 million and $292 million, respectively, in home purchase mortgage originations in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, compared with $80.1 million and $191 million for the same periods a year ago. The volume of home purchase mortgages in the third quarter of 2016 was 51% compared with 62% in the third quarter of 2015.

 

Brokerage fees in the third quarter of 2016 were flat compared to the third quarter of 2015, while brokerage fees in the first nine months of 2016 were down $614,000, or 15%, from the same period in 2015, reflecting weak market activity and changes in industry practices in advance of the United States Department of Labor’s new fiduciary rule that becomes effective in April 2017.

 

In the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, United realized $2.48 million and $6.52 million, respectively, in gains from the sales of the guaranteed portion of Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) loans, compared to $1.65 million and $4.28 million, respectively, in the same periods of 2015. United’s SBA/USDA lending strategy includes selling a portion of the loan production each quarter. United retains the servicing rights on the sold loans and earns a fee for servicing the loans. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, United sold the guaranteed portion of loans in the amount of $32.2 million and $78.6 million, respectively, compared to $17.8 million and $45.6 million, respectively, for the same periods a year ago. The year over year increase also reflects the maturation of United’s SBA construction portfolio that continues to expand.

 

Customer derivative fees were up $1.03 million and $1.97 million, respectively, from the third quarter and first nine months of 2015 due to an increase in customer demand for this product as commercial customers sought to lock in low fixed rates on their loans.

 

United realized net securities gains of $261,000 and $922,000, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 compared with securities gains of $325,000 and $1.88 million, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2015. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2015, United incurred $256,000 and $1.29 million, respectively, in charges from the prepayment of debt. The securities gains and prepayment charges in 2015 were mostly offsetting and were part of the same overall balance sheet management activities that were intended to lower the overall cost of wholesale borrowings going forward.

 

Other fee revenue was up $2.33 million and $3.68 million, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015. The increase reflects growth across all categories of miscellaneous fee revenue sources as well as a $638,000 vendor payment for disputed trust fees in the second quarter of 2016.

 

49 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

The following table presents the components of operating expenses for the periods indicated.

 

Table 6 - Operating Expenses

(in thousands)

 

   Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended         
   September 30,   Change   September 30,   Change 
   2016   2015   Amount   Percent   2016   2015   Amount   Percent 
                                 
Salaries and employee benefits  $36,478   $29,342   $7,136    24   $103,112   $83,749   $19,363    23 
Communications and equipment   4,919    3,963    956    24    13,602    10,538    3,064    29 
Occupancy   5,132    4,013    1,119    28    14,393    10,706    3,687    34 
Advertising and public relations   1,088    812    276    34    3,275    2,689    586    22 
Postage, printing and supplies   1,451    1,049    402    38    4,029    2,980    1,049    35 
Professional fees   3,160    2,668    492    18    9,049    6,844    2,205    32 
FDIC assessments and other regulatory charges   1,412    1,136    276    24    4,453    3,643    810    22 
Amortization of intangibles   1,119    714    405    57    3,116    1,403    1,713    122 
Other   6,112    4,828    1,284    27    17,958    14,281    3,677    26 
Total excluding merger-related and other charges   60,871    48,525    12,346    25    172,987    136,833    36,154    26 
Merger-related  charges   3,152    5,744    (2,592)        6,981    8,917    (1,936)     
Total operating expenses  $64,023   $54,269   $9,754    18   $179,968   $145,750   $34,218    23 

 

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2016 totaled $64.0 million, up $9.75 million, or 18%, from the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, operating expenses totaled $180 million, an increase of $34.2 million, or 23%, from the same period in 2015. The increase mostly reflects the inclusion of the operating expenses of the Acquisitions, higher salaries and employee benefits expense resulting from investing in specialized lending areas and other strategic hiring and merger-related charges.

 

Salaries and employee benefits for the third quarter of 2016 were $36.5 million, up $7.14 million, or 24%, from the third quarter of 2015. The increase was due to a number of factors including investments in additional staff and new teams to expand specialized lending and other key areas and additional staff resulting from the Tidelands and Palmetto acquisitions. For the first nine months of 2016, salaries and employee benefits of $103 million were up $19.4 million, or 23%, from the same period in 2015. Full time equivalent headcount totaled 1,939 at September 30, 2016, up 63 from 1,876 at September 30, 2015, reflecting the addition of Tidelands personnel.

 

Professional fees for the third quarter of 2016 of $3.16 million were up $492,000, or 18%, from the third quarter of 2015. For the first nine months of 2016, professional fees of $9.05 million were up $2.21 million, or 32%, from the same period in 2015. The increase was due primarily to compliance projects and process improvement projects to improve operating efficiency.

 

Amortization of intangibles of $1.12 million and $3.12 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 increased relative to the same periods in 2015 due to the addition of core deposit intangibles related to the Acquisitions.

 

In the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, merger-related charges of $3.15 million and $6.98 million, respectively, consisted primarily of severance, conversion costs, and legal and professional fees. Merger-related charges of $5.74 million and $8.92 million, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2015 related to the Palmetto and MoneyTree acquisitions and consisted primarily of severance, conversion costs, and legal and professional fees.

 

Other expense of $6.11 million for the third quarter of 2016 increased $1.28 million, or 27%, from the third quarter of 2015. Year-to-date, other expenses of $18.0 million increased $3.68 million, or 26%, from the first nine months of 2015. The increase for both periods was primarily due to higher lending support costs due to increased lending activity, higher ATM and internet banking costs due to higher volume, and higher servicing costs on United’s indirect auto loan portfolio due to growth in that portfolio. The increase in the expense categories not specifically mentioned is primarily due to the 2015 acquisitions.

 

Income Taxes

 

The income tax provision for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 were $15.8 million and $44.7 million, respectively, as compared with $10.9 million and $32.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2015. The income tax provision represents an effective tax rate of 37.8% for both periods of 2016 and 37.8% for both periods of 2015. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, United maintained a valuation allowance on its net deferred tax asset of $4.71 million and $4.28 million, respectively. Management assesses the valuation allowance recorded against its net deferred tax asset at each reporting period. The determination of whether a valuation allowance for its net deferred tax asset is appropriate is subject to considerable judgment and requires an evaluation of all the positive and negative evidence.

 

United evaluated the need for a valuation allowance at September 30, 2016. Based on the assessment of all the positive and negative evidence, management concluded that it is more likely than not that nearly all of its net deferred tax asset will be realized based upon future taxable income. The remaining valuation allowance of $4.71 million is related to specific state income tax credits that have short carryforward periods and are expected to expire unused.

 

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The valuation allowance could fluctuate in future periods based on the assessment of the positive and negative evidence. Management's conclusion at September 30, 2016 that it was more likely than not that United’s net deferred tax asset of $156 million will be realized is based upon management’s estimate of future taxable income. Management’s estimate of future taxable income is based on internal forecasts that consider historical performance, various internal estimates and assumptions, as well as certain external data all of which management believes to be reasonable although inherently subject to significant judgment. If actual results differ significantly from the current estimates of future taxable income, the valuation allowance may need to be increased for some or all of its net deferred tax asset. Such an increase to the net deferred tax asset valuation allowance could have a material adverse effect on United’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

United is subject to income taxation in the United States and various state jurisdictions. United’s federal and state income tax returns are filed on a consolidated basis. Currently, no years for which United filed a federal income tax return are under examination by the IRS, and there are no state tax examinations currently in progress. United is no longer subject to income tax examinations from state and local income tax authorities for years before 2013. Although it is not possible to know the ultimate outcome of future examinations, management believes that the liability recorded for uncertain tax positions is appropriate.

 

Additional information regarding income taxes, including a reconciliation of the differences between the recorded income tax provision and the amount of income tax computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes, can be found in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements filed with United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

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Balance Sheet Review

 

Total assets at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $10.3 billion and $9.62 billion, respectively. Average total assets for the third quarter of 2016 were $10.3 billion, up from $8.63 billion in the third quarter of 2015.

 

The following table presents a summary of the loan portfolio.

 

Table 7 - Loans Outstanding

(in thousands)

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2016   2015 
By Loan Type          
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $1,512,185   $1,493,966 
Income producing commercial real estate   1,105,293    823,729 
Commercial & industrial   994,350    785,417 
Commercial construction   388,861    342,078 
Total commercial   4,000,689    3,445,190 
Residential mortgage   1,055,166    1,029,663 
Home equity lines of credit   698,356    597,806 
Residential construction   378,329    351,700 
Consumer installment   126,468    115,111 
Indirect auto   466,102    455,971 
Total loans  $6,725,110   $5,995,441 
           
As a percentage of total loans:          
Owner occupied commercial real estate   22%   25%
Income producing commercial real estate   16    14 
Commercial & industrial   15    13 
Commercial construction   6    6 
Total commercial   59    58 
Residential mortgage   16    17 
Home equity lines of credit   10    10 
Residential construction   6    6 
Consumer installment   2    2 
Indirect auto   7    7 
Total   100%   100%
           
By Geographic Location          
North Georgia  $1,110,024   $1,125,123 
Atlanta MSA   1,331,610    1,259,377 
North Carolina   548,152    548,591 
Coastal Georgia   565,380    536,598 
Gainesville MSA   236,375    254,016 
East Tennessee   505,678    504,277 
South Carolina   1,198,731    819,560 
Specialized Lending   763,058    491,928 
Indirect Auto   466,102    455,971 
Total loans  $6,725,110   $5,995,441 

 

Substantially all of United’s loans are to customers located in the immediate market areas of its community banks in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including customers who have a seasonal residence in United’s market areas, except for specific specialized lending strategies such as SBA and franchise lending. More than 76% of the loans are secured by real estate. Total loans averaged $6.68 billion in the third quarter of 2016, compared with $5.46 billion in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 22% primarily due to the acquisitions of Tidelands and Palmetto. At September 30, 2016, total loans were $6.73 billion, an increase of $730 million, or 12%, from December 31, 2015.

 

United’s home equity lines generally require the payment of interest only for a set period after origination. After this initial period, the outstanding balance begins amortizing and requires the payment of both principal and interest. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the funded portion of home equity lines totaled $698 million and $598 million, respectively. Excluding Tidelands home equity lines for which this data is not yet available, approximately 3% of the home equity lines at September 30, 2016 were amortizing. Of the $698 million in balances outstanding at September 30, 2016, $423 million, or 61%, were secured by first liens. At September 30, 2016, 58% of the total available home equity lines were drawn upon.

 

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United monitors the performance of its home equity loans and lines secured by second liens similar to other consumer loans and utilizes assumptions specific to these loans in determining the necessary allowance. United also receives notification when the first lien holder is in the process of foreclosure and upon that notification, United reviews current valuations to determine if any charge-offs are warranted and whether it is in United’s best interest to pay off the first lien creditor.

 

Asset Quality and Risk Elements

 

United manages asset quality and controls credit risk through review and oversight of the loan portfolio as well as adherence to policies designed to promote sound underwriting and loan monitoring practices. United’s credit administration function is responsible for monitoring asset quality and Board of Directors approved portfolio limits, establishing credit policies and procedures and enforcing the consistent application of these policies and procedures among all lending units. Additional information on the credit administration function is included in Item 1 under the heading Loan Review and Nonperforming Assets in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

United classifies performing loans as “substandard” when there is a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardizes the repayment by the borrower and there is a distinct possibility that United could sustain some loss if the deficiency is not corrected.

 

The table below presents performing classified loans for the last five quarters.

 

Table 8 - Performing Classified Loans

(in thousands)

 

   September 30,   June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30, 
   2016   2016   2016   2015   2015 
By Category                         
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $37,368   $32,829   $32,916   $39,886   $42,409 
Income producing commercial real estate   24,258    27,631    29,984    30,047    29,856 
Commercial & industrial   10,047    9,378    9,156    5,967    6,200 
Commercial construction   4,201    1,691    1,327    1,406    2,877 
Total commercial   75,874    71,529    73,383    77,306    81,342 
Residential mortgage   30,212    32,025    32,547    30,519    35,849 
Home equity   5,047    5,430    6,127    6,968    6,615 
Residential construction   8,215    7,317    6,838    10,764    10,180 
Consumer installment   662    681    662    757    787 
Indirect auto   1,616    1,534    1,513    1,213    1,265 
Total  $121,626   $118,516   $121,070   $127,527   $136,038 
                          
By Market                         
North Georgia  $40,231   $38,953   $36,692   $46,668   $50,695 
Atlanta MSA   19,040    20,213    21,075    25,723    28,390 
North Carolina   12,179    13,792    13,757    14,087    13,914 
Coastal Georgia   5,247    5,999    6,882    5,187    6,977 
Gainesville MSA   540    427    462    566    597 
East Tennessee   9,383    9,126    9,699    9,522    7,369 
South Carolina   33,218    27,086    30,280    23,620    25,873 
Specialized lending   172    1,386    710    941    958 
Indirect auto   1,616    1,534    1,513    1,213    1,265 
Total loans  $121,626   $118,516   $121,070   $127,527   $136,038 

 

At September 30, 2016, performing classified loans totaled $122 million and increased $3.11 million from the prior quarter-end, and decreased $14.4 million from a year ago. Performing classified loans reflect a general downward trend, offset by the Acquisitions in 2016 and 2015. The increase in performing classified loans in South Carolina in the third quarter of 2016 was attributable to the Tidelands acquisition.

 

Reviews of classified performing and non-performing loans, past due loans and larger credits are conducted on a regular basis and are designed to identify risk migration and potential charges to the allowance for loan losses. These reviews are presented by the responsible lending officers and specific action plans are discussed along with the financial strength of borrowers, the value of the applicable collateral, past loan loss experience, anticipated loan losses, changes in risk profile, the effect of prevailing economic conditions on the borrower and other factors specific to the borrower and its industry. In addition to internal loan review, United also uses external loan review to ensure the objectivity of the loan review process.

 

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The following table presents a summary of the changes in the allowance for credit losses for the periods indicated.

 

Table 9 - Allowance for Credit Losses

(in thousands)

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period  $64,253   $70,129   $68,448   $71,619 
Charge-offs:                    
Owner occupied commercial real estate   276    463    1,288    1,194 
Income producing commercial real estate   201    126    544    448 
Commercial & industrial   850    508    1,645    1,139 
Commercial construction   14    80    325    249 
Residential mortgage   253    848    1,489    2,535 
Home equity lines of credit   321    413    1,513    834 
Residential construction   269    50    598    1,689 
Consumer installment   426    496    1,295    1,171 
Indirect auto   354    175    953    433 
Total loans charged-off   2,964    3,159    9,650    9,692 
Recoveries:                    
Owner occupied commercial real estate   108    228    251    317 
Income producing commercial real estate   44    231    199    588 
Commercial & industrial   398    319    1,302    1,236 
Commercial construction   100    21    102    72 
Residential mortgage   508    415    866    899 
Home equity lines of credit   54    120    361    160 
Residential construction   134    174    575    645 
Consumer installment   190    221    625    784 
Indirect auto   69    13    142    34 
Total recoveries   1,605    1,742    4,423    4,735 
Net charge-offs   1,359    1,417    5,227    4,957 
(Release of) provision for loan losses   67    350    (260)   2,400 
                     
Allowance for loan losses at end of period  $62,961   $69,062   $62,961   $69,062 
                     
Allowance for unfunded commitments at beginning of period  $2,369   $2,580   $2,542   $1,930 
(Release of) provision for losses on unfunded commitments   (367)   350    (540)   1,000 
Allowance for unfunded commitments at end of period   2,002    2,930    2,002    2,930 
Allowance for credit losses  $64,963   $71,992   $64,963   $71,992 
                     
Total loans:                    
At period-end  $6,725,110   $6,023,585   $6,725,110   $6,023,585 
Average   6,675,328    5,457,158    6,277,972    5,069,270 
                     
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of period-end loans   0.94%   1.15%   0.94%   1.15 
                     
As a percentage of average loans (annualized):                    
Net charge-offs   .08    .10    .11    .13 
(Release of) provision for loan losses   .00    .03    (.01)   .06 

 

The provision for credit losses charged to earnings is based upon management’s judgment of the amount necessary to maintain the allowance at a level appropriate to absorb probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. The amount each quarter is dependent upon many factors, including growth and changes in the composition of the loan portfolio, net charge-offs, delinquencies, management’s assessment of loan portfolio quality, the value of collateral, and other macro-economic factors and trends. The evaluation of these factors is performed quarterly by management through an analysis of the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses. The decreases in the provision and the declining level of the allowance for loan losses compared to the previous periods reflects stabilizing trends in substandard and nonperforming loans as well as charge-off levels. Further, the declining balance of the allowance for loan losses over the last several quarters reflects an overall improving trend in the historical loss experience factors used in management’s analysis of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

 

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The allowance for credit losses, which includes a portion related to unfunded commitments, totaled $65.0 million at September 30, 2016, compared with $71.0 million at December 31, 2015. At September 30, 2016, the allowance for loan losses was $63.0 million, or .94% of loans, compared with $68.4 million, or 1.14% of total loans, at December 31, 2015.

 

Management believes that the allowance for credit losses at September 30, 2016 reflects the probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio and unfunded loan commitments. This assessment involves uncertainty and judgment and is subject to change in future periods. The amount of any changes could be significant if management’s assessment of loan quality or collateral values change substantially with respect to one or more loan relationships or portfolios. In addition, bank regulatory authorities, as part of their periodic examination of the Bank, may require adjustments to the provision for credit losses in future periods if, in their opinion, the results of their review warrant such additions. See the “Critical Accounting Policies” section for additional information on the allowance for loan losses.

 

Nonperforming Assets

 

The table below summarizes nonperforming assets.

 

Table 10 - Nonperforming Assets

(in thousands)

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2016   2015 
Nonperforming loans  $21,572   $22,653 
Foreclosed properties (OREO)   9,187    4,883 
           
Total nonperforming assets  $30,759   $27,536 
           
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans   .32%   .38%
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total loans and OREO   .46    .46 
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets   .30    .29 

 

At September 30, 2016, nonperforming loans were $21.6 million compared to $22.7 million at December 31, 2015. Nonperforming assets, which include nonperforming loans and foreclosed real estate, totaled $30.8 million at September 30, 2016 and $27.5 million at December 31, 2015. United sold $6.55 million of foreclosed properties and added $2.34 million in new foreclosures during the third quarter of 2016.

 

United’s policy is to place loans on nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of management, the principal and interest on a loan is not likely to be repaid in full or when the loan becomes 90 days past due. When a loan is classified on nonaccrual status, interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current interest revenue. Principal and interest payments received on a nonaccrual loan are applied to reduce the loan’s recorded investment.

 

Purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loans are considered past due or delinquent when the contractual principal or interest due in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement remains unpaid after the due date of the scheduled payment. However, these loans are considered as performing, even though they may be contractually past due, as any non-payment of contractual principal or interest is considered in the periodic re-estimation of expected cash flows and is included in the resulting recognition of current period covered loan loss provision or future period yield adjustments. The accrual of interest is discontinued on PCI loans if management can no longer reliably estimate future cash flows on the loan. No PCI loans were classified as nonaccrual at September 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015 as the carrying value of the respective loan or pool of loans cash flows were considered estimable and probable of collection. Therefore, interest revenue, through accretion of the difference between the carrying value of the loans and the expected cash flows, is being recognized on all PCI loans.

 

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The following table summarizes nonperforming assets by category and market as of the dates indicated.

 

Table 11 - Nonperforming Assets by Category and Market

(in thousands)

 

   September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015 
   Nonaccrual   Foreclosed   Total   Nonaccrual   Foreclosed   Total 
   Loans   Properties   NPAs   Loans   Properties   NPAs 
BY CATEGORY                              
Owner occupied commercial real estate  $6,454   $3,188   $9,642   $7,036   $2,652   $9,688 
Income producing commercial real estate   949    765    1,714    2,595    -    2,595 
Commercial & industrial   1,079    -    1,079    892    -    892 
Commercial construction   98    1,274    1,372    328    437    765 
Total commercial   8,580    5,227    13,807    10,851    3,089    13,940 
Residential mortgage   8,152    1,211    9,363    8,555    1,242    9,797 
Home equity   1,194    514    1,708    851    80    931 
Residential construction   2,248    2,235    4,483    1,398    472    1,870 
Consumer installment   98    -    98    212    -    212 
Indirect auto   1,300    -    1,300    786    -    786 
Total NPAs  $21,572   $9,187   $30,759   $22,653   $4,883   $27,536 
                               
BY MARKET                              
North Georgia  $5,356   $653   $6,009   $5,167   $1,612   $6,779 
Atlanta MSA   979    1,530    2,509    3,023    625    3,648 
North Carolina   5,216    543    5,759    5,289    183    5,472 
Coastal Georgia   1,606    47    1,653    2,079    -    2,079 
Gainesville MSA   222    -    222    307    -    307 
East Tennessee   3,281    160    3,441    3,448    157    3,605 
South Carolina   2,015    6,254    8,269    323    2,306    2,629 
Specialized Lending   1,597    -    1,597    2,231    -    2,231 
Indirect auto   1,300    -    1,300    786    -    786 
Total NPAs  $21,572   $9,187   $30,759   $22,653   $4,883   $27,536 

 

At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, United had $75.4 million and $86.6 million, respectively, in loans with terms that have been modified in TDRs. Included therein were $5.27 million and $3.58 million, respectively, of TDRs that were classified as nonaccrual and were included in nonperforming loans. The remaining TDRs with an aggregate balance of $70.1 million and $83.0 million, respectively, were performing according to their modified terms and are therefore not considered to be nonperforming assets.

 

At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were $93.6 million and $104 million, respectively, of loans classified as impaired under the definition outlined in the Accounting Standards Codification, including TDRs which are by definition considered impaired. Included in impaired loans at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $33.5 million and $32.7 million, respectively, that did not require specific reserves or had previously been charged down to net realizable value. The balance of impaired loans at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 of $60.1 million and $71.3 million, respectively, had specific reserves that totaled $5.80 million and $6.80 million, respectively. The average recorded investment in impaired loans for the third quarters of 2016 and 2015 was $93.0 million and $108 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the average recorded investment in impaired loans was $92.0 million and $108 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, United recognized $1.13 million and $3.26 million, respectively, in interest revenue on impaired loans compared to $1.28 million and $3.76 million, respectively, for the same periods of the prior year.

 

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The table below summarizes activity in nonperforming assets for the periods indicated.

 

Table 12 - Activity in Nonperforming Assets

(in thousands)

 

   Third Quarter 2016   Third Quarter 2015 
   Nonaccrual   Foreclosed   Total   Nonaccrual   Foreclosed   Total 
   Loans   Properties   NPAs   Loans   Properties   NPAs 
                         
Beginning Balance  $21,348   $6,176   $27,524   $18,805   $2,356   $21,161 
Acquisitions   -    7,495    7,495    -    4,848    4,848 
Loans placed on non-accrual   6,680    -    6,680    8,923    -    8,923 
Payments received   (3,938)   -    (3,938)   (4,233)   -    (4,233)
Loan charge-offs   (1,236)   -    (1,236)   (1,531)   -    (1,531)
Foreclosures   (1,282)   2,335    1,053    (1,900)   1,900    - 
Capitalized costs   -    3    3    -    256    256 
Property sales   -    (6,553)   (6,553)   -    (1,916)   (1,916)
Write downs   -    (53)   (53)   -    (79)   (79)
Net gains (losses) on sales   -    (216)   (216)   -    304    304 
Ending Balance  $21,572   $9,187   $30,759   $20,064   $7,669   $27,733 
                         
   First Nine Months 2016   First Nine Months 2015 
   Nonaccrual   Foreclosed   Total   Nonaccrual   Foreclosed   Total 
   Loans   Properties   NPAs   Loans   Properties   NPAs 
                         
Beginning Balance  $22,653   $4,883   $27,536   $17,881   $1,726   $19,607 
Acquisitions   -    6,998    6,998    -    5,810    5,810 
Loans placed on non-accrual   18,237    -    18,237    21,419    -    21,419 
Payments received   (9,951)   -    (9,951)   (9,585)   -    (9,585)
Loan charge-offs   (4,718)   -    (4,718)   (6,223)   -    (6,223)
Foreclosures   (4,649)   6,647    1,998    (3,428)   3,428    - 
Capitalized costs   -    101    101    -    256    256 
Note / property sales   -    (9,501)   (9,501)   -    (3,919)   (3,919)
Write downs   -    (133)   (133)   -    (254)   (254)
Net gains on sales   -    192    192    -    622    622 
Ending Balance  $21,572   $9,187   $30,759   $20,064   $7,669   $27,733 

 

Foreclosed property is initially recorded at fair value, less estimated costs to sell. If the fair value, less estimated costs to sell at the time of foreclosure is less than the loan balance, the deficiency is charged against the allowance for loan losses. If the lesser of fair value, less estimated costs to sell or the listed selling price, less the costs to sell, of the foreclosed property decreases during the holding period, a valuation allowance is established with a charge to foreclosed property expense. When the foreclosed property is sold, a gain or loss is recognized on the sale for the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the property. Financed sales of foreclosed property are accounted for in accordance with ASC 360-20, Real Estate Sales. For the third quarter of 2016, United transferred $2.34 million of loans into foreclosed property through foreclosures. During the same period, proceeds from sales of foreclosed property were $6.55 million.

 

Investment Securities

 

The composition of the investment securities portfolio reflects United’s investment strategy of maintaining an appropriate level of liquidity while providing a relatively stable source of revenue. The investment securities portfolio also provides a balance to interest rate risk and credit risk in other categories of the balance sheet while providing a vehicle for the investment of available funds, furnishing liquidity, and supplying securities to pledge as required collateral for certain deposits and borrowings, including repurchase agreements.

 

At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, United had securities held-to-maturity with a carrying amount of $345 million and $365 million, respectively, and securities available-for-sale totaling $2.21 billion and $2.29 billion, respectively. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the securities portfolio represented approximately 25% and 28%, respectively, of total assets.

 

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The investment securities portfolio primarily consists of Treasury securities, U.S. government agency securities, U.S. government sponsored agency mortgage-backed securities, non-agency mortgage-backed securities, corporate securities, municipal securities and asset-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities rely on the underlying pools of mortgage loans to provide a cash flow of principal and interest. The actual maturities of these securities will usually differ from contractual maturities because loans underlying the securities can prepay. Decreases in interest rates will generally cause an acceleration of prepayment levels. In a declining or prolonged low interest rate environment, United may not be able to reinvest the proceeds from these prepayments in assets that have comparable yields. In a rising rate environment, the opposite occurs - prepayments tend to slow and the weighted average life extends. This is referred to as extension risk which can lead to lower levels of liquidity due to the delay of cash receipts and can result in the holding of a below market yielding asset for a longer period of time. United’s asset-backed securities include collateralized loan obligations and securities backed by student loans.

 

Management evaluates its securities portfolio each quarter to determine if any security is considered to be other than temporarily impaired. In making this evaluation, management considers its ability and intent to hold securities to recover current market losses. Losses on United’s fixed income securities at June 30, 2016 primarily reflect the effect of changes in interest rates. United did not recognize any other than temporary impairment losses on its investment securities during the third quarter of 2016 or 2015.

 

At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, 25% and 24%, respectively, of the securities portfolio was invested in floating-rate securities or fixed-rate securities that were swapped to floating rates in order to manage exposure to rising interest rates.

 

Goodwill and Core Deposit Intangibles

 

Goodwill represents the premium paid for acquired companies above the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including separately identifiable intangible assets.

 

Core deposit intangibles, representing the value of acquired deposit relationships, are amortizing intangible assets that are required to be tested for impairment only when events or circumstances indicate that impairment may exist. There were no events or circumstances that led management to believe that any impairment exists in goodwill or other intangible assets.

 

Deposits

 

United has initiated several programs to improve core earnings by growing customer transaction deposit accounts and lowering overall pricing on deposit accounts. The programs were successful in increasing core transaction deposit accounts and allowing for the reduction of more costly time deposit balances. United’s high level of service, as evidenced by its strong customer satisfaction scores, has been instrumental in attracting and retaining deposits.

 

Total customer deposits, excluding brokered deposits, as of September 30, 2016 were $8.08 billion, compared to $7.53 billion at December 31, 2015. Total core transaction deposits (demand, NOW, money market and savings deposits, excluding public funds deposits) of $5.85 billion at September 30, 2016 increased $601 million since December 31, 2015 due to the Tidelands acquisition and the success of core deposit incentive programs.

 

Total time deposits, excluding brokered deposits, as of September 30, 2016 were $1.35 billion, up $66.7 million from December 31, 2015 due to the Tidelands acquisition. United continued to offer low rates on certificates of deposit, allowing organic balances to decline and shift to lower cost transaction account deposits.

 

Brokered deposits totaled $359 million as of September 30, 2016, an increase of $20.4 million from December 31, 2015 due to an increase in the balance of lower-cost brokered money market deposits.

 

Borrowing Activities

 

The Bank is a shareholder in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”). Through this affiliation, FHLB secured advances totaled $449 million and $430 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. United anticipates continued use of this short and long-term source of funds. Additional information regarding FHLB advances is provided in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

There have not been any material changes to United’s contractual obligations since December 31, 2015.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

United is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, letters of credit and financial guarantees.

 

A commitment to extend credit is an agreement to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Letters of credit and financial guarantees are conditional commitments issued to guarantee a customer’s performance to a third party and have essentially the same credit risk as extending loan facilities to customers. Those commitments are primarily issued to local businesses.

 

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The exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the commitments to extend credit, letters of credit and financial guarantees is represented by the contractual amount of these instruments. United uses the same credit underwriting procedures for making commitments, letters of credit and financial guarantees, as it uses for underwriting on-balance sheet instruments. United evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis and the amount of the collateral, if deemed necessary, is based on the credit evaluation. Collateral held varies, but may include unimproved and improved real estate, certificates of deposit, personal property or other acceptable collateral.

 

All of these instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The total amount of these instruments does not necessarily represent future cash requirements because a significant portion of these instruments expire without being used. United is not involved in off-balance sheet contractual relationships, other than those disclosed in this report, that could result in liquidity needs or other commitments, or that could significantly affect earnings. See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity Management

 

The absolute level and volatility of interest rates can have a significant effect on United’s profitability. The objective of interest rate risk management is to identify and manage the sensitivity of net interest revenue to changing interest rates, consistent with United’s overall financial goals. Based on economic conditions, asset quality and various other considerations, management establishes tolerance ranges for interest rate sensitivity and manages within these ranges.

 

United’s net interest revenue, and the fair value of its financial instruments, are influenced by changes in the level of interest rates. United limits its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through policies developed by the Asset/Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”) and approved by the Board of Directors. ALCO meets periodically and has responsibility for formulating and recommending asset/liability management policies to the Board of Directors, formulating and implementing strategies to improve balance sheet positioning and/or earnings, and reviewing United’s interest rate sensitivity.

 

One of the tools management uses to estimate and manage the sensitivity of net interest revenue to changes in interest rates is an asset/liability simulation model. Resulting estimates are based upon a number of assumptions for each scenario, including loan and deposit re-pricing characteristics and the rate of prepayments. ALCO periodically reviews the assumptions for reasonableness based on historical data and future expectations; however, actual net interest revenue may differ from model results. The primary objective of the simulation model is to measure the potential change in net interest revenue over time using multiple interest rate scenarios. The base scenario assumes rates remain flat and is the scenario to which all others are compared in order to measure the change in net interest revenue. Policy limits are based on immediate rate shock scenarios, as well as gradually rising and falling rate scenarios, which are all compared to the base scenario. Another commonly analyzed scenario is a most-likely scenario that projects the expected change in rates based on the slope of the forward yield curve. Other scenarios analyzed may include delayed rate shocks, yield curve steepening or flattening, or other variations in rate movements. While the primary policy scenarios focus on a twelve month time frame, longer time horizons are also modeled.

 

United’s policy is based on the 12-month impact on net interest revenue of interest rate shocks and ramps that increase from 100 to 400 basis points or decrease 100 basis points from the base scenario. In the shock scenarios, rates immediately change the full amount at the scenario onset. In the ramp scenarios, rates change by 25 basis points per month. United’s policy limits the projected change in net interest revenue over the first 12 months to a 5% decrease for each 100 basis point change in the increasing and decreasing rate ramp and shock scenarios. Historically low rates on September 30, 2016 and 2015 made use of the down scenarios irrelevant. The following table presents United’s interest sensitivity position at the dates indicated.

 

Table 13 - Interest Sensitivity

 

  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Interest Revenue from Base Scenario at

September 30,

 
   2016   2015 
Change in Rates  Shock   Ramp   Shock   Ramp 
200 basis point increase   0.1%   (1.3)%   2.7%   1.6%

 

Interest rate sensitivity is a function of the re-pricing characteristics of the portfolio of assets and liabilities. These re-pricing characteristics are the time frames within which the interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities are subject to change in interest rates either at replacement, re-pricing or maturity. Interest rate sensitivity management focuses on the maturity structure of assets and liabilities and their re-pricing characteristics during periods of changes in market interest rates. Effective interest rate sensitivity management seeks to ensure that both assets and liabilities respond to changes in interest rates on a net basis within an acceptable timeframe, thereby minimizing the potentially adverse effect of interest rate changes on net interest revenue.

 

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United has some discretion in the extent and timing of deposit re-pricing depending upon the competitive pressures in the markets in which it operates. Changes in the mix of earning assets or supporting liabilities can either increase or decrease the net interest margin without affecting interest rate sensitivity. The interest rate spread between an asset and its supporting liability can vary significantly even when the timing of re-pricing for both the asset and the liability remains the same, due to the two instruments re-pricing according to different indices. This is commonly referred to as basis risk.

 

In order to manage interest rate sensitivity, United periodically enters into off-balance sheet contracts that are considered derivative financial instruments. Derivative financial instruments can be a cost-effective and capital-effective means of modifying the re-pricing characteristics of on-balance sheet assets and liabilities. These contracts generally consist of interest rate swaps under which United pays a variable rate (or fixed rate, as the case may be) and receives a fixed rate (or variable rate, as the case may be).

 

United’s derivative financial instruments that are designated as accounting hedges are classified as either cash flow or fair value hedges. The change in fair value of cash flow hedges is recognized in other comprehensive income. Fair value hedges recognize in earnings both the effect of the change in the fair value of the derivative financial instrument and the offsetting effect of the change in fair value of the hedged asset or liability associated with the particular risk of that asset or liability being hedged. United has other derivative financial instruments that are not designated as accounting hedges but are used for interest rate risk management purposes and as effective economic hedges. Derivative financial instruments that are not accounted for as accounting hedges are marked to market through earnings.

 

In addition to derivative instruments, United uses a variety of balance sheet instruments to manage interest rate risk such as investment securities, wholesale funding, and bank-issued deposits.

 

From time to time, United will terminate derivative positions when conditions change and the position is no longer necessary to manage United’s overall sensitivity to changes in interest rates. In those situations where the terminated contract was in an effective hedging relationship at the time of termination and the hedging relationship is expected to remain effective throughout the original term of the contract, the resulting gain or loss is amortized over the remaining life of the original contract. For swap contracts, the gain or loss is amortized over the remaining original contract term using the straight line method of amortization. United expects that $1.21 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense from other comprehensive income over the next twelve months related to these terminated cash flow hedges.

 

United’s policy requires all non-customer facing derivative financial instruments be used only for asset/liability management through the hedging of specific transactions or positions, and not for trading or speculative purposes. Management believes that the risk associated with using derivative financial instruments to mitigate interest rate risk sensitivity is appropriately monitored and controlled and will not have any material adverse effect on financial condition or results of operations. In order to mitigate potential credit risk, from time to time United may require the counterparties to derivative contracts to pledge cash and/or securities as collateral to cover the net exposure.

 

Liquidity Management

 

The objective of liquidity management is to ensure that sufficient funding is available, at a reasonable cost, to meet ongoing operational cash needs and to take advantage of revenue producing opportunities as they arise. While the desired level of liquidity will vary depending upon a variety of factors, it is the primary goal of United to maintain a sufficient level of liquidity in all expected economic environments. To assist in determining the adequacy of its liquidity, United performs a variety of liquidity stress tests including idiosyncratic, systemic and combined scenarios for both moderate and severe events. Liquidity is defined as the ability to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss and to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities. Liquidity management involves maintaining the ability to meet the daily cash flow requirements of customers, both depositors and borrowers. United maintains an unencumbered liquid asset reserve to help ensure its ability to meet its obligations. The size of the reserve is determined through short-term severe liquidity stress testing which covers a 30 day period.

 

The asset portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity primarily through loan principal repayments and the maturities and sales of securities, as well as the ability to use these as collateral for borrowings on a secured basis. The Bank also maintain excess funds in short-term interest-bearing assets that provide additional liquidity.

 

The liability section of the balance sheet provides liquidity through interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposit accounts. Federal funds purchased, Federal Reserve short-term borrowings, FHLB advances and securities sold under agreements to repurchase are additional sources of liquidity and represent United’s incremental borrowing capacity. These sources of liquidity are generally short-term in nature and are used as necessary to fund asset growth and meet other short-term liquidity needs.

 

At September 30, 2016, United had cash and cash equivalent balances of $226 million and had sufficient qualifying collateral to increase FHLB advances by $703 million and Federal Reserve discount window borrowing capacity of $1.10 billion. United also has the ability to raise substantial funds through brokered deposits. In addition to these wholesale sources, United has the ability to attract retail deposits by competing more aggressively on pricing.

 

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As disclosed in the consolidated statement of cash flows, net cash provided by operating activities was $84.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Net income of $73.4 million for the nine month period included deferred income tax expense of $45.3 million, and non-cash expenses for the following: depreciation, amortization and accretion of $22.6 million and stock-based compensation expense of $3.26 million. These sources of cash from operating activities were offset by an increase in other assets and accrued interest receivable of $41.9 million and an increase in mortgage loans held for sale of $6.44 million. Net cash used in investing activities of $249 million consisted primarily of a $454 million net increase in loans, purchases of investment securities available-for-sale totaling $309 million and purchases of investment securities held-to-maturity of $20.7 million. These uses of cash were partially offset by $50.0 million in proceeds from maturities and calls of investment securities held-to-maturity, $189 million in proceeds from the sale of investment securities available-for-sale and $292 million in proceeds from maturities and calls of investment securities available-for-sale. Net cash provided by financing activities of $150 million consisted primarily of a net increase in deposits of $169 million, partially offset by $9.99 million for the retirement of preferred stock, $13.7 million for the repurchase of common shares, and $10.1 million in dividends to common shareholders. In the opinion of management, United’s liquidity position at September 30, 2016, was sufficient to meet its expected cash flow requirements.

 

In addition, because United’s holding company is a separate entity and apart from the Bank, it must provide for its own liquidity. United’s holding company is responsible for the payment of dividends declared for its common shareholders, and interest and principal on any outstanding debt or trust preferred securities. United’s holding company currently has internal capital resources to meet these obligations. While United’s holding company has access to the capital markets, the ultimate source of holding company liquidity is subsidiary service fees and dividends from the Bank, which are limited by applicable law and regulations.

 

Capital Resources and Dividends

 

Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2016 was $1.08 billion, an increase of $61 million from December 31, 2015 due to year-to-date earnings less dividends declared and an increase in the value of available-for-sale securities, partially offset by common stock repurchases and the redemption of Series H preferred stock. Accumulated other comprehensive loss, which includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale, the unrealized gains and losses on derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges and unamortized prior service cost and actuarial gains and losses on United’s modified retirement plan, is excluded in the calculation of regulatory capital adequacy ratios.

 

The following table shows United’s capital ratios, as calculated under applicable regulatory guidelines, at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. As of September 30, 2016, United’s capital levels remained characterized as “well-capitalized” under the Basel III Capital Rules in effect at the time.

 

Table 14 - Capital Ratios

(dollars in thousands)

 

          

United Community Banks, Inc.

     
   Basel III Guidelines   (Consolidated)   United Community Bank 
       Well   September 30,   December 31,   September 30,   December 31, 
   Minimum   Capitalized   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                         
Risk-based ratios:                              
Common equity tier 1 capital   4.5%   6.5%   11.04%   11.45%   12.44%   13.01%
Tier I capital   6.0    8.0    11.04    11.45    12.44    13.01 
Total capital   8.0    10.0    11.90    12.50    13.30    14.06 
Leverage ratio   4.0    5.0    8.35    8.34    9.41    9.47 
                               
Common equity tier 1 capital            $836,929   $773,677   $941,211   $877,169 
Tier I capital             836,929    773,677    941,211    877,169 
Total capital             901,892    844,667    1,006,174    948,159 
                               
Risk-weighted assets             7,578,377    6,755,011    7,563,674    6,743,560 
Average total assets             10,019,118    9,282,243    9,999,927    9,264,133 

 

United’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “UCBI”. Below is a quarterly schedule of high, low and closing stock prices and average daily volume for 2016 and 2015.

 

Table 15 - Stock Price Information

 

   2016   2015 
   High   Low   Close   Avg Daily
Volume
   High   Low   Close   Avg Daily
Volume
 
                                 
First quarter  $19.27   $15.74   $18.47    440,759   $19.53   $16.48   $18.88    234,966 
Second quarter   20.60    17.07    18.29    771,334    21.23    17.91    20.87    328,887 
Third quarter   21.13    17.42    21.02    379,492    22.23    18.58    20.44    319,884 
Fourth quarter                       22.23    18.61    19.49    376,214 

 

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Effect of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

A bank’s asset and liability structure is substantially different from that of an industrial firm in that primarily all assets and liabilities of a bank are monetary in nature with relatively little investment in fixed assets or inventories. Inflation has an important effect on the growth of total assets and the resulting need to increase equity capital at higher than normal rates in order to maintain an appropriate equity to assets ratio.

 

Management believes the effect of inflation on financial results depends on United's ability to react to changes in interest rates, and by such reaction, reduce the inflationary effect on performance. United has an asset/liability management program to manage interest rate sensitivity. In addition, periodic reviews of banking services and products are conducted to adjust pricing in view of current and expected costs.

 

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

 

There have been no material changes in United’s market risk as of September 30, 2016 from that presented in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The interest rate sensitivity position at September 30, 2016 is included in management’s discussion and analysis on page 59 of this report.

 

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

 

United’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, supervised and participated in an evaluation of United’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2016. Based on, and as of the date of that evaluation, United’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective in accumulating and communicating information to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures of that information under the SEC’s rules and forms and that the disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in reports that are filed or submitted by United under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

There were no significant changes in the internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

 

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Part II.Other Information

 

Item 1.Legal Proceedings

 

In the ordinary course of operations, United and the Bank are defendants in various legal proceedings. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, United and the Bank are subject to regulatory examinations and investigations. Based on our current knowledge and advice of counsel, in the opinion of management there is no such pending or threatened legal matter which would result in a material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of United.

 

Item 1A.Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

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

 

On March 22, 2016, United announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a program to repurchase up to $50 million of United’s outstanding common stock through December 31, 2017. Under the program, the shares may be repurchased periodically in open market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the program depends on a number of factors, including the market price of United’s common stock, general market and economic conditions, and applicable legal requirements. As of September 30, 2016, the remaining authorization was $36.3 million.

 

The following table contains information for shares repurchased during the third quarter of 2016.

 

(Dollars in thousands, except for per share amounts)  Total
Number of 
Shares
Purchased
   Average
Price Paid
per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs
 
July 1, 2016 - July 31, 2016   304,000   $17.92    304,000   $36,342 
August 1, 2016 - August 31, 2016   -    -    -    36,342 
September 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016   -    -    -    36,342 
Total   304,000   $17.92    304,000   $36,342 

 

Item 3.Defaults upon Senior Securities – None

 

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures – None

 

Item 5.Other Information – None

 

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Item 6.Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
31.1   Certification by Jimmy C. Tallent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Community Banks, Inc., pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
31.2   Certification by Rex S. Schuette, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Community Banks, Inc., pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
     
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

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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.

 

  UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS, INC.
   
  /s/ Jimmy C. Tallent
  Jimmy C. Tallent
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
   
  /s/ Rex S. Schuette
  Rex S. Schuette
  Executive Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)
   
  /s/ Alan H. Kumler
  Alan H. Kumler
 

Senior Vice President and

Chief Accounting Officer

  (Principal Accounting Officer)
   
  Date:  November 4, 2016

 

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