EX-13 2 ex13.htm

Exhibit 13


Message To Shareholders
   

     The past year was perhaps the most eventful in the history of the Company. Executing the business plan encompassed change in systems, people, schedules, responsibilities and concentration on regulatory details not previously experienced. The entire staff undertook the tasks at hand with a familial and enthusiastic spirit. The year 2005 was an outstanding year of accomplishments for your Company in all aspects but one. Joe Zitone, director on both the Bank and Holding Company level, lost a battle to lung cancer on May 6, 2005. His contribution as a director was distinctly singular. Because of his character and personality we as directors had no choice but to listen to Joe in our deliberations. With unforgettable prose and uncanny wisdom Joe Zitone has left an indelible mark on the history of the Company. Joe will be sorely missed and certainly never replaced.

     At December 31, 2005 the Company’s assets increased to $313.2 million from $278.3 as of the previous year-end. The hard work of the loan department was responsible for an increase in the loan portfolio of $54.1 million resulting in total interest income increasing to $15.5 million from $11.8 million for 2004. Total income increased to $20.4 million in 2005 from $16.3 million. Our net interest margin had a remarkable year-end average of 4.34% in 2005.

     Net income increased by over $800 thousand. These results were achieved at the same time that we implemented major divisional changes impacting revenue while continuing to improve in almost all measurable industry standards, most notably total income, sustaining another year of double digit increases in net income over the previous year end.

     Non interest income continued to show steady growth with a year-end total of $4.9 million, an increase of $331 thousand over the 2004 total. Tri-State Insurance Agency continued to perform as expected providing close to half of the total non- interest income again in 2005 with total 2005 income of $2.4 million. A decrease in the Residential Mortgage Division revenue of $408 thousand was due to the transition from a mortgage brokerage business to a mortgage banking business by forming SussexMortgage.com, LLC, a joint venture with National City Mortgage Company, a national leader in residential lending. SussexMortgage.com provides the opportunity, with limited expense or capital risk, to improve the bottom line by expanding the residential mortgage market throughout the Middle Atlantic Region and permits Sussex to share in mortgage banking fees in addition to brokerage placement commissions.

     The Non Deposit Investment Division also underwent a transition by affiliating with the strategic partnership formed by ICBA Financial Services and the Sorrento Pacific LLC firm. Sorrento Pacific has many years of market experience and superior technological expertise with sound financial footings supported by it’s association with Pacific Selective Distributors, a Pacific Life Insurance holding company that has equity interest in the firm. Sorrento Pacific will enhance our investment product offerings and improve customer service by allowing our licensed representatives to commit more time to sales, as well as expanding opportunities to utilize brokerage account cash as a source of deposits, further automating our cross-selling referral system with full time service brokerage.

     Efforts remain on going to improve our internal controls not only to assure precise financial public reporting, but for management to be better informed of costs and revenues as well. In that regard we have completed the development and initiation of a cost center accounting system to provide management with the ability to better control each cost center within the Bank.

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     In keeping with our strategic plan, Sussex Bank undertook its first expansion outside of Sussex County, New Jersey by entering into a purchase agreement with NBT Bank to acquire a branch of Pennstar Bank located in Port Jervis, New York. The transaction is scheduled to close at the end of March of this year. It is anticipated that the Port Jervis branch will add approximately $6 million in additional deposits as well as about $4 million in loans and provide a solid base upon which to initiate our New York expansion plans. The location is exactly suited to our plans to enter the Orange County, New York market. The highest elevation point in New Jersey is identified by a monument located in New Jersey’s High Point State Park. The Monument also happens to look like our logo and should be easily recognizable to the Port Jervis residents since it is visible from many locations within the City limits. The community of Port Jervis is in need of a true community bank. Our marketing efforts as well as our actions will emphasize our history and commitment to the community we serve.

     Thanks to our capital position Sussex Bank reached the coveted “Five Stars” rating by Bauer Financial, Inc., a nationally recognized community bank rating firm listing Sussex Bank as one of the strongest banks in the nation.

     February of this year will mark the 30 year anniversary of the opening of Sussex Bank. From a conservative beginning in a converted gas station to the present, directors, management and staff have been dedicated to a long term commitment to being a profitable community bank that cares about its customers and communities and above all the people that make it a success. Every group of people seeking a common goal, including corporations, profit or nonprofit, is only as good as its people. We have those people, from top to bottom, who are talented and committed to make your investment a success.

Donald L. Kovach
President/CEO
 
Terry H. Thompson
Executive Vice-President/COO

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 Selected Financial Data
   

     The following selected financial data as of December 31 for each of the five years should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes elsewhere herein.

As of and for the Year Ended December 31,

(dollars in thousands, except per share data) 2005   2004   2003   2002   2001

SUMMARY OF INCOME:                      
Interest income $ 15,547   $ 11,791   $ 10,771   $ 10,860   $ 11,589  
Interest expense   4,328     2,814     2,860     3,536     5,688  

    Net interest income   11,219     8,977     7,911     7,324     5,901  
    Provision for loan losses   1,138     558     405     300     252  

    Net interest income after provision for loan losses   10,081     8,419     7,506     7,024     5,649  
Other income   4,873     4,542     4,103     3,292     1,628  
Other expenses   11,603     10,789     9,663     8,634     6,165  

        Income before income taxes   3,351     2,172     1,946     1,682     1,112  
Income taxes   952     581     505     526     317  

        Net income $ 2,399   $ 1,591   $ 1,441   $ 1,156   $ 795  

                                
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES: (a)                      
Basic   3,163,182     1,965,745     1,879,649     1,835,507     1,811,681  
Diluted   3,200,876     2,046,568     1,952,379     1,911,760     1,846,407  
                               
PER SHARE DATA:                      
    Basic earnings per share $ 0.76   $ 0.81   $ 0.77   $ 0.63   $ 0.44  
    Diluted earnings per share   0.75     0.78     0.74     0.60     0.43  
Cash dividends (b)   0.20     0.27     0.19     0.23     0.17  
Stock dividends   5 %   0 %   5 %   0 %   0 %
BALANCE SHEET:                      
Loans, net $ 208,720   $ 154,642   $ 132,640   $ 112,069   $ 105,005  
Total assets   313,182     278,275     240,617     225,904     203,343  
Total deposits   256,847     229,827     207,657     189,858     178,554  
Total stockholders’ equity   32,924     31,652     14,904     13,680     12,237  
Average assets   291,368     251,338     233,027     214,897     188,785  
Average stockholders’ equity   32,368     16,067     14,035     12,766     11,838  
                               
PERFORMANCE RATIOS:                      
Return on average assets   0.82 %   0.63 %   0.62 %   0.54 %   0.42 %
Return on average stockholders’ equity   7.41 %   9.90 %   10.27 %   9.06 %   6.72 %
Net interest margin   4.34 %   4.10 %   3.86 %   3.82 %   3.40 %
Efficiency ratio (c)   72.10 %   79.81 %   80.43 %   81.33 %   81.88 %
Other income to net interest income plus other income   30.28 %   33.60 %   34.15 %   31.01 %   21.62 %
Dividend payout ratio   26 %   33 %   25 %   36 %   39 %
CAPITAL RATIOS:                      
Tier I capital to average assets   11.45 %   12.86 %   7.15 %   6.66 %   4.87 %
Tier I capital to total risk-weighted assets   15.42 %   18.84 %   11.14 %   11.77 %   8.45 %
Total capital to total risk-weighted assets   16.55 %   20.09 %   12.37 %   13.36 %   9.46 %
Average equity/average assets   11.11 %   6.39 %   6.02 %   5.94 %   6.27 %
                               
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:                      
Non-performing loans to total gross loans   0.65 %   0.85 %   0.99 %   1.14 %   2.35 %
Non-performing assets to total assets   0.44 %   0.48 %   0.64 %   0.66 %   1.32 %
Net loan charge-offs to average total loans   0.43 %   0.01 %   0.05 %   0.05 %   0.08 %
Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans at period end   1.24 %   1.45 %   1.29 %   1.22 %   1.08 %
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans   190.04 %   169.96 %   130.67 %   107.11 %   45.83 %

(a) The weighted average number of shares outstanding was computed based on the average number of shares outstanding during each period as adjusted for subsequent stock dividends.
    
(b) Cash dividends per common share are based on the actual number of common shares outstanding on the dates of record as adjusted for subsequent stock dividends.
    
(c) Efficiency ratio is total other expenses divided by net interest income and total other income.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     This section presents management’s discussion and analysis of changes to the Company’s consolidated financial results of operations and condition and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and notes thereto included herein.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

     The Company’s goal is to serve as a community-oriented financial institution serving the Northwestern New Jersey, Northeastern Pennsylvania and New York tri-state marketplace. Our market presence has expanded by opening loan production offices during 2005 in Milford, Pennsylvania and Warwick, New York with added availability of all of our financial services in those counties contiguous to our existing New Jersey market. In addition, during 2005 we continued our expansion into Orange County, New York by agreeing to buy the Port Jervis, New York branch of Pennstar Bank from NBT Bank. The transaction is expected to close in late March 2006. While offering traditional community bank loan and deposit products and services, the Company obtains significant non-interest income through its Tri-State Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Tri-State”) insurance brokerage operations and the sale of non-deposit products. During 2006, we intend to integrate the Port Jervis acquisition and then look for other expansion opportunities in our New Jersey market and in New York and Pennsylvania.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     When used in this discussion the words: “believes”, “anticipates”, “contemplated”, “expects” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Those risks and uncertainties include changes to interest rates, the ability to control costs and expenses, general economic conditions, the success of the Company’s efforts to diversify its revenue base by developing additional sources of non-interest income while continuing to manage its existing fee based business and the risks inherent in integrating acquisitions into the Company and commencing operations in new markets. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to those forward looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after this date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     Our accounting policies are fundamental to understanding Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for December 31, 2005 included herein. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Since future events and their effect cannot be determined with absolute certainty, actual results may differ from those estimates. Management makes adjustments to its assumptions and judgments when facts and circumstances dictate. The amounts currently estimated by us are subject to change if different assumptions as to the outcome of future events were made. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management believes the following critical accounting policies encompass the more significant judgments and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

     The provision for loan losses charged to operating expense reflects the amount deemed appropriate by management to provide for known and inherent losses in the existing loan portfolio. Management’s judgment is based on the evaluation of the past experience of individual loans, the assessment of current economic conditions, and other relevant factors. Loan losses are charged directly against the allowance for loan losses and recoveries on previously charged-off loans are added to the allowance.

     Management uses significant estimates to determine the allowance for loan losses. Consideration is given to a variety of factors in establishing these estimates including current economic conditions, diversification of the loan portfolio, delinquency statistics, borrowers’ perceived financial and managerial strengths, the adequacy of underlying collateral, if collateral dependent, or present value of future cash flows, and other relevant factors. Since the sufficiency of the allowance for loan losses is dependent to a great extent on conditions that may be beyond our control, it is possible that management’s estimates of the allowance for loan losses and actual results could differ in the near term. Although we believe that we use the best information available to establish the allowance for loan losses, future additions to the allowance may be necessary if certain future events occur that cause actual results to differ from the assumptions used in making the evaluation. For example, a downturn in the local economy could cause increases in non-performing loans. Additionally, a decline in real estate values could cause some of our loans to become inadequately collateralized. In either case, this may require us to increase our provisions for loan losses, which would negatively impact earnings. Additionally, a large loss could deplete the allowance and require increased provisions to replenish the allowance, which would negatively impact earnings. In addition, regulatory authorities, as an integral part of their examination, periodically review the allowance for loan losses. They may require additions to the allowance for loan losses based upon their judgments about information available to them at the time of examination. Future increases to our allowance for loan losses, whether due to unexpected changes in economic conditions or otherwise, could adversely affect our future results of operations.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

     As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, the Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with Accounting Principles Board

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Opinion (“APB”) No. 25. Under APB No. 25, no compensation expense is recognized in the income statement related to any option granted under the Company’s stock option plans. The pro forma impact to net income and earnings per share that would occur if compensation expense was recognized, based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of the grant, is disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

     In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.” Statement No. 123(R) addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. Statement 123(R) requires an entity to recognize the grant-date fair-value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to the employees in the income statement. The revised Statement generally requires that an entity account for those transactions using the fair-value-based method, and eliminates the intrinsic value method of accounting in APB Opinion No. 25. “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” which was permitted under Statement No. 123, as originally issued.

     The revised Statement requires entities to disclose information about the nature of the share-based payment transaction and the effects of those transactions on the financial statements. In December 2005 the Company approved the accelerating of certain options to purchase common stock granted to employees that were outstanding and unvested as of December 18, 2005. The acceleration was effective as December 31, 2005 at which time all such options shall be exercisable, and affects options covering a total of 75,600 shares granted under the Company’s various option plans. Such options were not in the money as of December 31, 2005. The effect of this acceleration is included in the pro forma expense in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

     The primary purpose of accelerating vesting is to eliminate future compensation expense the company would otherwise recognize in its future income statements with respect to the options under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Share Based Payment (revised 2004)” (“SFAS 123 (R)”). The Company estimates that the future after-tax expense to be eliminated as a result of acceleration of vesting of outstanding options is approximately $91,000 over the next two years during which the options otherwise would have vested.

     Statement No. 123(R) is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2005 for small business issuers (i.e. first quarter of 2006 for the Company). All public companies must use either the modified prospective or the modified retrospective transition method. The Company will adopt the modified prospective method. Using the modified prospective method, the Company estimates that total stock-based compensation expense, net of related tax effects, will be approximately $33,000, $20,000 and $12,000 for the years ending December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 for unvested stock options outstanding at December 31, 2005. Any additional impact that the adoption of this statement will have on our results of operations will be determined by share-based payments granted in the future.

GOODWILL

     The Company has recorded goodwill of $2.3 million at December 31, 2005 related to the acquisition of Tri-State Insurance Agency on October 1, 2001. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of each calendar year. A fair value is determined for the reporting unit, the insurance agency. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the book value, no write-downs of goodwill are necessary. If the fair value is less than the book value, an additional test is necessary to assess the proper carrying value of goodwill. The Company determined that no impairment write-offs were necessary during 2005 and 2004.

     Business unit valuation is inherently subjective, with a number of factors based on assumption and management judgments. Among these are future growth rates, discount rates and earnings capitalization rates. Changes in assumptions and results due to economic conditions, industry factors and reporting unit performance could result in different assessments of the fair value and could result in impairment charges in the future.

INVESTMENT SECURITIES IMPAIRMENT EVALUATION

     Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to (1) length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     For the year ended December 31, 2005, net income was $2.4 million, an increase of $808 thousand, or 50.8%, from the $1.6 million for the same period in 2004. Basic earnings per share were $0.76 for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $0.81 for the same period last year, a decrease of 6.2%. Diluted earnings per share were $0.75 for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $0.78 for the same period last year, a decrease of 3.9%. The decreased earnings per share reflect the issuance of an additional 1,131,150 shares of the Company’s stock from a public offering in December of 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company had 3,163,189 average basic shares outstanding, compared to 1,965,745 average basic shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2004.

     The results reflect an increase in net interest income, an outcome of both increasing interest income and interest expense, coupled with increases in non-interest income, primarily due to an increase in service fees on deposit accounts, offset by increases in non-interest expenses associated with additional professional fees related to the preliminary implementation of Section 404 requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

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Comparative Average Balances and Average Interest Rates

     The following table presents, on a fully taxable equivalent basis, a summary of the Company’s interest-earning assets and their average yields, and interest-bearing liabilities and their average costs for each of the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003. The average balances of loans include non-accrual loans, and associated yields include loan fees, which are considered adjustment to yields.

Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2005 2004 2003

Earning Assets: Average
Balance
Interest
(1)
Average
Rate (2)
Average
Balance
Interest
(1)
Average
Rate (2)
Average
Balance
Interest
(1)
Average
Rate (2)

Securities:                                  
      Tax exempt (3) $ 26,716   $ 1,614   6.04%   $ 22,176   $ 1,241   5.60%   $ 18,903   $ 1,049   5.55%
      Taxable   44,849     1,650   3.68%     51,684     1,812   3.51%     56,733     1,783   3.14%

Total securities   71,565     3,264   4.56%     73,860     3,053   4.13%     75,636     2,832   3.74%
Total loans receivable (4)   185,287     12,331   6.66%     143,916     8,954   6.22%     124,165     8,093   6.52%
Other interest-earning assets   12,600     421   3.34%     10,409     156   1.50%     13,099     156   1.19%

Total earning assets   269,452   $ 16,016   5.94%     228,185   $ 12,163   5.33%     212,900   $ 11,081   5.20%
                                                
Non-interest earning assets   24,146               25,311               21,697          
Allowance for loan losses   (2,230 )             (1,958 )         (1,570 )    

Total Assets $ 291,368             $ 251,538             $ 233,027          

Sources of Funds:                                  
Interest bearing deposits:                                  
   NOW $ 43,939   $ 299   0.68%   $ 42,412   $ 196   0.46%   $ 45,965   $ 249   0.54%
   Money market   22,083     534   2.42%     16,878     184   1.09%     3,970     28   0.72%
   Savings   62,025     456   0.74%     66,322     439   0.66%     64,831     511   0.79%
   Time   71,174     1,997   2.81%     58,443     1,213   2.08%     53,146     1,251   2.35%

Total interest bearing deposits   199,221     3,286   1.65%     184,055     2,032   1.10%     167,912     2,039   1.21%
Borrowed funds   14,771     686   4.64%     10,630     522   4.91%     12,772     573   4.49%
Junior subordinated debentures   5,155     356   6.91%     5,155     260   5.05%     5,000     248   4.96%

Total interest bearing liabilities   219,147   $ 4,328   1.97%     199,840   $ 2,814   1.41%     185,684   $ 2,860   1.54%
Non-interest bearing liabilities:                                  
   Demand deposits   38,068               33,627               31,112          
   Other liabilities   1,785               2,004               2,196          

Total non-interest bearing liabilities   39,853               35,631               33,308          
Stockholders’ equity   32,368               16,067               14,035          

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’
    Equity
$ 291,368             $ 251,538             $ 233,027          

Net Interest Income and Margin (5)       $ 11,688   4.34%         $ 9,349   4.10%         $ 8,221   3.86%


(1) Includes loan fee income
    
(2) Average rates on securities are calculated on amortized costs
    
(3) Full taxable equivalent basis, using a 39% effective tax rate and adjusted for TEFRA (Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act) interest expense disallowance
    
(4) Loans outstanding include non-accrual loans
    
(5) Represents the difference between interest earned and interest paid, divided by average total interest-earning assets

Net Interest Income

     Net interest income is the difference between interest and fees on loans and other interest-earning assets and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Changes in volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities that support those assets, as well as changing interest rates when differences exist in repricing dates of assets and liabilities, directly affect net interest income.

     Net interest income, on a fully taxable equivalent basis (a 39% tax rate), increased $2.3 million, or 25.0%, to $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $9.3 million in 2004. Total interest income, on a fully taxable equivalent basis, increased by $3.9 million to $16.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $12.2 million in 2004. Total average earning assets increased by $41.3 million to $269.5 million from $228.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The majority of the increase in average earning assets was in the loan portfolio. The average loan portfolio balance increased by $41.4 million, to $185.3 million in the current year from $143.9 million in 2004. Higher market rates of interest and the increase in the average balance in loans increased the average rate earned on earning assets 61 basis points from 5.33% for 2004 to 5.94% in 2005.

     Interest expense increased by $1.5 million to $4.3 million from $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 as a result of increases in market rates of interest, as the average balance in interest bearing liabilities increased $19.3 million, to $219.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $199.8 million the year earlier. The average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities increased by 56 basis points to 1.97% for the current year from 1.41% for the year ended December 31, 2004.

     The net interest margin increased, on a fully taxable equivalent basis, by 24 basis points to 4.34% in the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to 4.10% for the same period in 2004.

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Interest Income

     Total interest income, on a fully taxable equivalent basis, increased by $3.9 million to $16.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $12.2 million in 2004. The largest components of the increase were on tax-exempt investment securities and on the loan portfolio.

     Total interest income on the loan portfolio increased by $3.4 million to $12.3 million for the current year from $9.0 million in 2004. Comparing the average balance in the loan portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2005 to the same period in 2004, the average balance in loans increased $41.4 million, or 28.8%. The increase in our loan portfolio reflects our continuing efforts to enhance our loan origination capacity. In particular, we have enhanced our loan department through the hiring of additional lending staff and originators. The average rate earned on loans increased 44 basis points from 6.22% for the period ended December 31, 2004 to 6.66% for the same period in 2005. This was due to competitive pricing in an increasing market rate environment.

     Total interest income on securities, on a fully taxable equivalent basis, increased $211 thousand, or 6.9%, from the year ended December 31, 2004 to the same period in 2005. While the average balance of securities decreased $2.3 million, the average rate earned increased 43 basis points, from 4.13% in 2004 to 4.56% for 2005. The decrease in the total securities portfolio reflects the reallocation of funds to meet increasing loan demand. The increase in yield was accomplished through increasing the tax-exempt securities portfolio by $4.5 million and increasing the tax equivalent yield by 44 basis points to 6.04% for the year ended December 31, 2005 from 5.60% the year earlier.

Interest Expense

     The Company’s interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased $1.5 million, or 53.8 %, to $4.3 million from $2.8 million for the same period in 2004, as the balance in average interest-bearing liabilities increased $19.3 million, or 9.7% to $219.1 million from $199.8 million between the same two periods. The average rate paid on total interest-bearing liabilities has increased by 56 basis points from 1.41% for the year ended December 31, 2004 to 1.97% for the same period in 2005. This increase is largely due to time deposit promotions that have increased the average balance by $12.7 million, or 21.8%, to $71.2 million for the year ended 2005 compared to $58.4 million the prior year. The average rate paid on time deposits increased 73 basis points from 2.08% for the period ended December 31, 2004 to 2.81% for the same period in 2005. The average balance in money market accounts has increased $5.2 million, or 30.8%, to $22.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $16.9 million for the same period in 2004. The average rate paid on money market deposits has increased 133 basis points from 1.09% to 2.42% between year end 2004 to year end 2005, as the Company has promoted a business money market sweep product with its interest rate based on economic market conditions and a new tiered personal money market product which offers higher rates of interest on larger average balances.

     At December 31, 2005, the Company’s borrowed funds consisted of four convertible notes and one amortizing advance from the Federal Home Loan Bank totaling $16.3 million. The Company also has $5.2 million in junior subordinated debentures. The debentures bear a floating rate of interest, which averaged 6.91% for the year ended December 31 2005, up 186 basis points from 5.05% in the same period of 2004.

     The following table reflects the impact on net interest income of changes in the volume of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities and changes in rates earned and paid by the Company on such assets and liabilities. For purposes of this table, nonaccrual loans have been included in the average loan balance. Changes due to both volume and rate have been allocated in proportion to the relationship of the dollar amount change in each.

December 31, 2005 v. 2004
Increase (decrease)
Due to changes in:
December 31, 2004 v. 2003
Increase (decrease)
Due to changes in:
(dollars in thousands) Volume    Rate    Total    Volume    Rate    Total   

Securities:                              
   Tax exempt $ 287   $ 86   $ 373   $ 183   $ 9   $ 192  
   Taxable   (248 )   86     (162 )   (167 )   196     29  

 
Total securities (1)   39     172     211     16     205     221  
Total loans receivable (2)   2,810     567     3,377     1,244     (383 )   861  
Other interest-earning assets   39     226     265     (1 )   1      

 
Total net change in income on interest-earning assets   2,888     965     3,853     1,259     (177 )   1,082  

 
Interest bearing deposits:                              
   NOW   7     96     103     (21 )   (32 )   (53 )
   Money Market   33     317     350     150     5     155  
   Savings   (30 )   47     17     12     (84 )   (72 )
   Time   113     671     784     117     (155 )   (38 )

 
Interest bearing deposits   123     1,131     1,254     258     (266 )   (8 )
Borrowed funds   194     (30 )   164     (102 )   51     (51 )
Junior subordinated debentures   96         96     8     5     13  

 
Total net change in expense on interest-bearing
   liabilities
  413     1,101     1,514     164     (210 )   (46 )

 
                                     
Change in net interest income $ 2,475     ($ 136 ) $ 2,339   $ 1,095   $ 33   $ 1,128  

 

(1) Fully taxable equivalent basis, using 39% effective tax rate and adjusted for TEFRA (Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act) interest expense disallowance.
    
(2) Includes loan fee income.

PAGE 7



Provision for Loan Losses

     The provision for loan losses in 2005 was $1.1 million compared to a provision of $558 thousand in 2004, an increase of $580 thousand or 103.9%. The increase reflects growth in the Company’s loan portfolio of $54.4 million from $156.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 to $211.3 million at December 31, 2005 and the need to replenish the allowance due to increased charge-offs in 2005, as well as the continued emphasis on the origination of commercial real estate loans, which increased by $40.6 million from the year ended December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2005. These loans may be considered to involve a greater degree of risk than other types of lending. The provision for loan losses reflects management’s judgment concerning the risks inherent in the Company’s existing loan portfolio and the size of the allowance necessary to absorb the risks, as well as the average balance of the portfolio over both periods. Management reviews the adequacy of its allowance on an ongoing basis and will provide additional provisions, as management may deem necessary.

Non-Interest Income

     The Company’s non-interest income is primarily generated through insurance commissions earned through the operation of Tri-State and service charges on deposit accounts.

     The Company’s non-interest income increased by $331 thousand, or 7.29%, to $4.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $4.5 million for the same period in 2004. The increase is primarily attributable to the Company’s service fees on deposit accounts increasing $477 thousand or 63.8%, to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $748 thousand in the previous year. This increase is attributed to a no return service privilege program that began in February of 2005. Net gain on the sale of securities was $35,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $16,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004. Mortgage broker fees decreased $408 thousand to $212 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $620 thousand. The Company became a 49% partner in a joint venture, SussexMortgage.com, with National City Mortgage Corporation on August 1, 2005. The majority of the Company’s residential lending broker activities have been transferred to the new joint venture, while loan secured by one to four family residential properties generated internally by the Bank are mostly retained in the Company’s loan portfolio.

Non-Interest Expense

     Total non-interest expense increased from $10.8 million in 2004 to $11.6 million in 2005, an increase of $814 thousand, or 7.5%. Salaries and employee benefits, the largest component of non-interest expense, increased only $132 thousand, or 2.3%. This increase reflects customary annual salary increases for the Bank’s and Tri-State’s existing staff and lower commission costs associated with several former commissioned based employees of the Company becoming employees of the joint venture, SussexMortgage.com. Both occupancy and furniture, fixtures and data processing expenses have increased, 15.8% and 19.5% respectively, in 2005 over 2004 due to the Company’s expansion into Pennsylvania and New York in 2005 and continual upgrades to the Company’s data processing infrastructure. The largest increase in non-interest expense was an increase in professional fees of $189 thousand, or 53.1%, to $545 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $356 thousand the prior year. This increase is the result of the Company hiring a third party to assist in its implementation of internal control requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley act of 2002. Section 404 will be applicable to the Company in 2007. Advertising and marketing expenses increased 23.4% for the year ended December 31, 2004 to the same period in 2005, from the advertising of the Company’s time and money market deposit products and through the promotion of a new internal cross selling initiative.

Income Taxes

     The Company’s income tax provision, which includes both federal and state taxes, was $952 thousand and $581 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. This increase in income taxes resulted from an increase in income before taxes of $1.2 million, or 54.3% for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the same period in 2004. The Company’s effective tax rate of 28% and 27% for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, is below the statutory tax rate due to tax-exempt interest on securities and earnings on the Company’s investment in life insurance.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

     At December 31, 2005, the Company had total assets of $313.2 million compared to total assets of $278.3 million at December 31, 2004, an increase of $34.9 million, or 12.5%. Net loans increased $54.1 million, or 35.0%, to $208.7 million at December 31, 2005 from $154.6 million at December 31, 2004. Total deposits increased to $256.8 million at December 31, 2005 from $229.8 million at December 31, 2004.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

     The Company’s cash and cash equivalents decreased by $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $24.8 million from $29.3 million at December 31, 2004. This decrease largely reflects the Company’s decrease in federal funds sold of $5.5 million to $13.4 million at December 31, 2005 from $18.9 million at year-end 2004. The decrease is related to the Company’s increase in net loans receivable and the need to fund that increase.

Securities Portfolio

     The Company’s securities portfolio is comprised of securities that not only provide interest income, including tax-exempt income, but also provide a source of liquidity (as all securities are classified as available for sale, as discussed below), diversify the earning assets portfolio, allow for management of interest rate risk, and provide collateral for public fund deposits and borrowings. The portfolio is composed primarily of obligations of U.S. Government agencies and government sponsored entities, including collateralized mortgage obligations issued by such agencies and entities, and tax-exempt municipal bonds.

PAGE 8



 
   

     The Company has no securities classified as held to maturity or as trading securities. Securities not classified as securities held to maturity or trading securities are classified as available for sale, and are stated at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale are excluded from results of operations, and are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity net of taxes. Securities classified as available for sale include securities that may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, changes in prepayment risk, the need to increase regulatory capital or other similar requirements. Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase. At December 31, 2005, all of the Company’s securities were classified as available for sale.

     The following table shows the carrying value of the Company’s security portfolio as of December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003. Securities available for sale are stated at their fair value.

(dollars in thousands) December 31,

Available for sale   2005     2004     2003

U.S. Government agencies $ 10,851   $ 11,673   $ 14,658
State and political subdivisions   23,757     25,909     21,542
Mortgage-backed securities   24,940     33,679     34,972
Corporate securities   751     2,570     4,479
Equity securities   881     905     894

 
Total available for sale $ 61,180   $ 74,736   $ 76,545

 

     The Company’s securities decreased by $13.6 million, or 18.1%, from $74.7 million at December 31, 2004 to $61.2 million at December 31, 2005. The Company purchased $7.4 million in new securities during 2005, $5.5 million were sold and $14.7 million matured, were called and were repaid. There was a $595 thousand net decrease in unrealized gains in the available for sale portfolio; a $35 thousand realized gain on the sale of available for sale securities and $234 thousand in net amortization expenses recorded during 2005. This decrease in the Company’s securities provided cash to fund the growth in the loan portfolio. The securities portfolio contained no high-risk securities or derivatives as of December 31, 2005.

     The contractual maturity distribution and weighted average yield of the Company’s securities portfolio at December 31, 2005 are summarized in the following table. Securities available for sale are carried at amortized cost in the table for purposes of calculating the weighted average yield received on such securities. Weighted average yield is calculated by dividing income within each maturity range by the outstanding amount of the related investment and has not been tax-effected on the tax-exempt obligations.

     The Company also holds $1,025,000 in Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock at December 31, 2005 that it does not consider an investment security. Ownership of this restricted stock is required for membership in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.

December 31, 2005 Due under 1 Year Due 1-5 Years Due 5-10 Years Due over 10 Years
(dollars in thousands)   Amount   Yield     Amount   Yield     Amount   Yield     Amount   Yield  

 
Available for sale:                                        
U.S. Government agencies $ 5,749   2.37 % $ 5,219   4.06 % $     $    
State and political subdivisions   546   3.00 %         2,292   4.27 %   20,496   4.35 %
Mortgage-backed securities         2,721   3.81 %   7,552   3.90 %   15,326   4.06 %
Corporate securities   750   6.32 %                  
Equity securities                     892   4.22 %

 
Total available for sale $ 7,045   2.84 % $ 7,940   3.97 % $ 9,844   3.99 % $ 36,714   4.23 %

 

     Loans

     The loan portfolio comprises the largest part of the Company’s earning assets. Total loans at December 31, 2005 increased $54.4 million, or $34.7% to $211.3 million from $156.9 million at year-end 2004. During the year ended December 31, 2005, new originations have exceeded payoffs both through scheduled maturities and prepayments. The Company has also increased its activity in the loan participation market as a tool to increase the loan portfolio. The majority of the originated and sold participations are commercial real estate related loans that exceed the Company’s legal lending limit. The balance in non-residential real estate loans increased $40.6 million, or 58.3%, commercial and industrial loans increased $2.4 million, or 17.1%, construction and land development loans increased $3.3 million, or 16.6%, and residential 1-4 family real estate loans have increased $5.4 million, or 13.0% from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2005. During 2005, the Company brought more of the mortgage origination process in-house, with FNMA/Freddie Mac qualifying residential mortgage loans being originated and funded directly by the Bank. Management referred non-qualifying loans to SussexMortgage.com, the Company’s new joint venture with National City Mortgage Corporation.

     The following table summarizes the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio by type as of December 31, for the years 2001 through 2005.

PAGE 9



December 31,


(dollars in thousands) 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Commercial and industrial loans
$ 16,667   $ 14,233   $ 12,392   $ 10,985   $ 8,065  
Non-residential real estate loans   110,391     69,778     59,182     41,035     34,811  
One to four family residential property loans   47,409     41,971     46,587     49,517     51,338  
Construction and land development loans   23,154     19,863     8,656     8,310     8,515  
Consumer loans   1,550     1,500     1,430     2,189     2,245  
Other loans   12,318     9,690     6,114     1,335     1,086  

 
Total gross loans $ 211,489   $ 157,035   $ 134,361   $ 113,371   $ 106,060  

 

     The increase in loans was funded during 2005 by an increase in the Company’s deposits, as well as maturities and payments on securities in the investment portfolio and a decrease in federal funds sold. The end of year loan to deposit ratios for 2005 and 2004 were 82.2% and 68.3%, respectively.

     The maturity ranges of the loan portfolio and the amounts of loans with predetermined interest rates and floating rates in each maturity range, as of December 31, 2005, are presented in the following table.

December 31, 2005

(dollars in thousands) Due Under
One Year
Due 1-5
Years
Due Over
Five Years

Real estate:            
   Commercial mortgage $ 10,660   $ 12,067   $ 87,664  
   Construction and land development   15,198     5,967     1,989  
   Residential mortgage   788     4,435     42,186  

 
Total real estate   26,646     22,469     131,839  
Commercial   5,937     8,863     1,867  
Consumer   426     1,245     12,197  

 
Total loans $ 33,009   $ 32,577   $ 145,903  

 
Interest rates:            
   Predetermined $ 2,650   $ 12,021   $ 61,741  
   Floating   30,359     20,556     84,162  

 
Total loans $ 33,009   $ 32,577   $ 145,903  

 

Loan and Asset Quality

     Non-performing assets consist of non-accrual loans and all loans over ninety days delinquent and foreclosed real estate owned (“OREO”). The Company’s non-accrual loans decreased to $816 thousand at December 31, 2005 from $1.3 million at December 31, 2004, as net charge–offs increased $779 thousand in 2005. There were past due loans over 90 days and still accruing in the amount of $535 thousand, one renegotiated loan for $25 thousand and no OREO properties at December 31, 2005.

     The Company seeks to actively manage its non-performing assets. In addition to active monitoring and collecting on delinquent loans management has an active loan review process for customers with aggregate relationships of $250,000 or more if the credit(s) are unsecured or secured, in whole or substantial part, by collateral other than real estate and $1,000,000 or more if the credit(s) are secured in whole or substantial part by real estate.

     Management continues to monitor the Company’s asset quality and believes that the non-accrual loans are adequately collateralized and anticipated material losses have been adequately reserved for in the allowance for loan losses.

     The following table provides information regarding risk elements in the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2001 through 2005.

December 31,

 
(dollars in thousands) 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Non-accrual loans:                      
   Commercial $   $ 726   $ 343   $ 256   $  
   Consumer               21     16  
   Construction               145     1,512  
   Mortgage   816     578     834     836     966  

Total nonaccrual loans   816     1,304     1,177     1,258     2,494  
Loans past due 90 days and still accruing   535     34         36      
Restructured loans   25         150          

Total non-performing loans   1,376     1,338     1,327     1,294     2,494  
Foreclosed real estate           223     187     187  

Total non-performing assets $ 1,376   $ 1,338   $ 1,550   $ 1,481   $ 2,681  

Non-performing loans to total loans   0.65 %   0.85 %   0.99 %   1.14 %   2.35 %
Non-performing assets to total assets   0.44 %   0.48 %   0.64 %   0.66 %   1.32 %

Interest income received on nonaccrual loans $ 42   $   $ 33   $ 16   $ 3  

Interest income that would have been recorded
   under the original terms of the loans
$ 48   $ 88   $ 117   $ 118   $ 25  

PAGE 10



 
   

Allowance for Loan Losses

     The allowance is allocated to specific loan categories based upon management’s classification of problem loans under the bank’s internal loan grading system and to pools of other loans that are not individually analyzed. Management makes allocations to specific loans based on the present value of expected future cash flows or the fair value of the underlying collateral for impaired loans and to other classified loans based on various credit risk factors. These factors include collateral values, the financial condition of the borrower and industry and current economic trends.

     Allocations to commercial loan pools are categorized by commercial loan type and are based on management’s judgment concerning historical loss trends and other relevant factors. Installment and residential mortgage loan allocations are made at a total portfolio level based on historical loss experience adjusted for portfolio activity and current conditions. Additionally, all other delinquent loans are grouped by the number of days delinquent with this amount assigned a general reserve amount.

     At December 31, 2005, the allowance for loan losses was $2.6 million, an increase of 15.0% from the $2.3 million at December 31, 2004. The provision for loan losses was $1.1 million and there were $1.0 million in charge-offs and $210 thousand in recoveries for the year of 2005. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.24% at December 31, 2005 compared to 1.45% on December 31, 2004. This percentage decrease is the result of a decrease in impaired loans and related specific allowance allocations from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2005. The increase in the allowance reflects growth in the Company’s loan portfolio of $54.4 million from $156.9 million at December 31, 2004 to $211.3 million at December 31, 2005.

     Management regularly assesses the appropriateness and adequacy of the loan loss reserve in relation to credit exposure associated with individual borrowers, overall trends in the loan portfolio and other relevant factors, and believes the reserve is reasonable and adequate for each of the periods presented.

     The table below presents information regarding the Company’s provision and allowance for loan losses for each of the periods presented.

Year Ended December 31,

 
(dollars in thousands)   2005   2004   2003   2002   2001  

 
Balance at beginning of year   $ 2,274   $ 1,734   $ 1,386   $ 1,143   $ 973  

 
Provision charged to operating expenses     1,138     558     405     300     252  

 
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:                                
   Commercial     198     10             1  
   Consumer     11     3     1     2      
   Mortgage     1     4     4          

 
Total recoveries     210     17     5     2     1  

 
Loans charged-off:                                
   Commercial     398     15              
   Consumer     80     16     31     19     26  
   Mortgage     529     4     31     40     57  

 
Total charge-offs     1,007     35     62     59     83  

 
Net charge-offs     797     18     57     57     82  

 
Balance at end of year   $ 2,615   $ 2,274   $ 1,734   $ 1,386   $ 1,143  

 
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding     0.43 %   0.01 %   0.05 %   0.05 %   0.08 %
Allowance for loan losses to year-end loans     1.24 %   1.45 %   1.29 %   1.22 %   1.08 %

 

     The table below presents details concerning the allocation of the allowance for loan losses to the various categories for each of the periods presented. The allocation is made for analytical purposes and it is not necessarily indicative of the categories in which future credit losses may occur. The total allowance is available to absorb losses from any segment of loans.

  Allowance for Loans Losses at December 31,

 
2005 2004 2003

 
(dollars in thousands) Amount   % of
Gross Loans
  Amount   % of
Gross Loans
  Amount   % of
Gross Loans
 

 
Commercial $ 477   7.88 %   $ 519   9.06 %   $ 494   9.22 %  
Consumer   42   6.55 %     29   7.13 %     109   5.62 %  
Real estate, construction and development:                                    
   Commercial   1,939   63.15 %     1,584   57.08 %     990   50.49 %  
   Residential   157   22.42 %     142   26.73 %     141   34.67 %  

 
Total $ 2,615   100.00 %   $ 2,274   100.00 %   $ 1,734   100.00 %  

 

PAGE 11



Allowance for Loans Losses at December 31,

 
2002 2001

(dollars in thousands) Amount   % of
Gross Loans
  Amount   % of
Gross Loans
 

 
Commercial $ 396     9.69 %   $ 233     7.60 %  
Consumer   45     3.11 %     37     3.14 %  
Real estate, construction and development:
   Commercial   681     43.52 %     656     40.85 %  
   Residential   264     43.68 %     217     48.41 %  

 
Total $ 1,386     100.00 %   $ 1,143     100.00 %  

 

     The increases in the allowance for loan losses to total loans over the period 2001 to 2005 reflects growth in the Company’s loan portfolio and the change in the composition of the loan portfolio. Commercial loans have increased while consumer loans have decreased.

Premises and Equipment and Other Assets

     Premises and equipment increased by $1.0 million, or 17.8%, from $5.6 million at December 31, 2004 to $6.6 million at December 31, 2005. This increase was largely due to the purchase of a leased branch facility in Montague, New Jersey for $863,000 and a land purchase of $250,000 for relocating the Wantage, New Jersey branch.

     Other assets increased from $5.7 million on December 31, 2004 to $6.2 million on December 31, 2005, an increase of $515 thousand, or 9.0%. This increase was generated from the prepayment of the Company’s expenses and insurance policies and deferred tax asset balances.

Deposits

     Total deposits increased $27.0 million, or 11.8%, from $229.8 million at December 31, 2004 to $256.8 million at December 31, 2005. Non-interest bearing deposits increased $4.7 million, or 13.6% to $39.1 million at December 31, 2005 from $34.5 million at December 31, 2004; interest-bearing deposits increased $22.3 million, or 11.4%, to $217.7 million at December 31, 2005 from $195.4 million at December 31, 2004. Management continues to monitor the shift in deposits through its Asset/Liability Committee.

     Total average deposits increased $19.6 million from $217.7 million at year-end 2004 to $237.3 million at year-end 2005, a 9.0% increase. Average time deposits increased to $71.2 million, an increase of $12.7 million, or 21.8% from $58.4 million at year-end 2004, reflecting marketing promotion efforts to attract time deposits on the basis of rate. Average money market accounts increased to $22.1 million, an increase of $5.2 million, or 30.8% from $16.9 million at year-end 2004. The increase in money market deposits largely reflects the Company’s promotion of a new tiered personal money market product and highly competitive pricing on business money market accounts. The $4.4 million increase in average non-interest demand deposits is attributed to the Company’s efforts to cultivate commercial deposit relationships with its commercial loan customers. Lastly the $4.3 million decrease in average savings deposits from $66.3 million for the year-end 2004 to $62.0 million at year-end 2005 represents our customer’s response, in an increasing rate environment, to transfer deposits from lower yielding savings accounts to higher earning money market and time deposits.

     The average balances and weighted average rates paid on deposits for 2005, 2004 and 2003 are presented below.

Year Ended December 31,

2005 Average 2004 Average 2003 Average
(dollars in thousands)   Balance   Rate     Balance     Rate     Balance     Rate  

 
Demand, non-interest bearing $ 38,068       $ 33,627         $ 31,112        
Now accounts   43,939   0.68 %   42,412     0.46 %   45,965     0.54 %
Money market accounts   22,083   2.42 %   16,878     1.09 %   3,970     0.72 %
Savings   62,025   0.74 %   66,322     0.66 %   64,831     0.79 %
Time   71,174   2.81 %   58,443     2.08 %   53,146     2.35 %

 
Total deposits $ 237,289       $ 217,682         $ 199,024        

 

PAGE 12



 
   

     The remaining maturity for certificates of deposit accounts of $100,000 or more as of December 31, 2005 is presented in the following table.

(dollars in thousands)   2005  

 
3 months or less $ 15,388  
3 to 6 months   7,565  
6 to 12 months   4,120  
Over 12 months   1,997  

 
Total $ 29,070  

 

Borrowings

     Borrowings consist of long-term advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank. These advances are secured under terms of a blanket collateral agreement by a pledge of qualifying investment securities and certain mortgage loans. For the year ended December 31, 2005 the Company had $14.8 million in average notes outstanding at an average interest rate of 4.64% compared to $10.6 million in average notes outstanding at an average rate of 4.91% for the year ended December 31, 2004.

     The Company had no short-term borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2005. The following table summarizes short-term borrowing and weighted average interest rates paid during the past three years.

Year Ended December 31,

 
(dollars in thousands) 2005   2004   2003  

 
Average daily amount of short-term borrowings outstanding during the period $ 202   $ 64   $  
Weighted average interest rate on average daily short-term  borrowings   2.74 %   1.81 %    
Maximum short-term borrowings outstanding at any month-end $ 2,195   $ 2,385      
Short-term borrowings outstanding at period end            
Weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowings at period end            

Interest Rate Sensitivity

     An interest rate sensitive asset or liability is one that, within a defined time period, either matures or experiences an interest rate change in line with general market interest rates. Interest rate sensitivity is the volatility of a Company’s earnings from a movement in market interest rates. Interest rate “gap” analysis is a common, though imperfect, measure of interest rate risk. We do not employ gap analysis as a rate risk management tool, but rather we rely upon earnings at risk analysis to forecast the impact on our net interest income of instantaneous 100 and 200 basis point increases and decreases in market rates. In assessing the impact on earnings, the rate shock analysis assumes that no change occurs in our funding sources or types of assets in response to the rate change.

     Our board of directors has established limits for interest rate risk based on the percentage change in interest income we would incur in differing interest rate scenarios. Through year end 2005, we sought to remain relatively balanced, and our policies provide for a variance of no more than 25% of net interest income, at a 100 and 200 basis point increase or decrease. At December 31, 2005 the percentages of change were within policy limits.

     Our financial modeling simulates our cash flows, interest income and interest expense from earning assets and interest bearing liabilities for a twelve month period in each of the different interest rate environments, using actual individual deposit, loan and investment maturities and rates in the model calculations. Assumptions regarding the likelihood of prepayments on residential mortgage loans and investments are made based on historical relationships between interest rates and prepayments. Commercial loans with prepayment penalties are assumed to pay on schedule to maturity. In actual practice, commercial borrowers may request and be granted interest rate reductions during the life of a commercial loan due to competition from financial institutions and declining interest rates.

     The following table sets forth our interest rate risk profile at December 31, 2005 and 2004. The interest rate sensitivity of our assets and liabilities and the impact on net interest income illustrated in the following table would vary substantially if different assumptions were used or if actual experience differs from that indicated by the assumptions.

2005   2004  

(dollars in thousands) Change in
Net Interest
Income
  Gap as a
% of
Total Assets
  Change in
Net Interest
Income
  Gap as a
% of
Total Assets
 

 
Down 200 basis points ($620 )   10.04 %   ($902 )   16.24 %  
Down 100 basis points (83 )   2.69 %   (270 )   9.73 %  
Up 100 basis points (129 )   -4.18 %   31     1.11 %  
Up 200 basis points (607 )   -9.83 %   (5 )   -0.08 %  

 

Liquidity

     It is management’s intent to fund future loan demand with deposits and maturities and pay downs on investments. In addition, the Company is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and as of December 31, 2005, had the ability to borrow up to $23.2 million against its one to four family mortgages and selected investment securities as collateral for borrowings. The Company also has available an overnight line of credit and a one-month overnight repricing line of credit, each of an amount of

PAGE 13



$27.7 million at the Federal Home Loan Bank and an overnight line of credit in the amount of $4.0 million at the Atlantic Central Bankers Bank.

     The Company has borrowings that consist of advances and repurchase agreements from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). The Company’s long-term borrowings total $15.3 million at December 31, 2005 and are secured under terms of a blanket collateral agreement by a pledge of qualifying investment securities and certain mortgage loans. The borrowings consist of three long-term notes that mature on December 21, 2010, one long-term note that matures on March 31, 2015, each with a convertible quarterly option which allows the Federal Home Loan Bank to change the note to then current market rates and one $3.3 million amortizing advance that matures on November 3, 2010. The interest rates on these borrowings range from 3.82% to 5.14%. The Company also has $1.0 million in securities sold under agreements to repurchase at a rate of 3.82% that matures in March of 2006.

     At December 31, 2005, the amount of liquid assets remained at a level management deemed adequate to ensure that contractual liabilities, depositors’ withdrawal requirements, and other operational customer credit needs could be satisfied. At December 31, 2005, liquid investments totaled $24.8 million, and all mature within 30 days.

     At December 31, 2005, the Company had $61.2 million of securities as available for sale. Of these securities, $34.5 million had $806 thousand of unrealized losses and therefore are not available for liquidity purposes because management’s intent is to hold them until market recovery.

     The following table represents the Company’s contractual obligations to make future payments for the period presented:

Payments due by period

 
(dollars in thousands)   Total     Less than
1 year
    1-3 years     3-5 years     More than
5 years
 

 
Borrowings $ 16,300   $ 1,049   $ 105   $ 13,146   $ 2,000  
Operating lease obligations   2,224     403     666     344     811  
Purchase obligations   394     394              
Time deposits   89,703     80,828     6,948     1,907     20  
Non-qualified supplemental salary continuation plan   589         19     65     505  
Mandatory redeemable capital debentures   5,155                 5,155  

 
Total $ 114,365   $ 82,674   $ 7,738   $ 15,462   $ 8,491  

 

     The Company has no investment in or financial relationship with any unconsolidated entities that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on liquidity or the availability of capital resources. The Company is not aware of any known trends or any known demands, commitments, events or uncertainties, which would result in any material increase or decrease in liquidity.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

     The Company’s financial statements do not reflect off-balance sheet arrangements that are made in the normal course of business. These off-balance sheet arrangements consist of unfunded loans and letters of credit made under the same standards as on-balance sheet instruments. These unused commitments, at December 31, 2005 totaled $68.8 million. This consisted of $11.5 million in commitments to grant commercial and residential loans, $23.5 million in commercial construction lines of credit, $12.6 million in commercial lines of credit, $12.3 million in home equity lines of credit, and the remainder in other unused commitments. These instruments have fixed maturity dates, and because many of them will expire without being drawn upon, they do not generally present any significant liquidity risk to the Company.

     Management believes that any amounts actually drawn upon can be funded in the normal course of operations

Junior Subordinated Debentures

     On July 11, 2002, the Company raised an additional $4.8 million, net of offering costs, in capital through the issuance of junior subordinated debentures to a statutory trust subsidiary. The subsidiary in turn issued $5.0 million in variable rate capital trust pass through securities to investors in a private placement. The interest rate is based on the three-month LIBOR plus 365 basis points and adjusted quarterly. The rate at December 31, 2005 was 7.80%. The rate is capped at 12.5% through the first five years, and the securities may be called at par anytime after October 7, 2007 or if the regulatory capital or tax treatment of the securities is substantially changed. These trust preferred securities are included in the Company’s and the Bank’s capital ratio calculations.

     As a result of the adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, and Interpretation of ARB No. 51,” we deconsolidated our wholly owned subsidiary Sussex Capital Trust I, referred to as the “Trust”, from our consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2004. We have not restated prior periods. The impact of this deconsolidation was to increase our junior subordinated debentures by $5.2 million and reduce our trust capital securities line item by $5.0 million that had represented the trust preferred securities of the Trust. Our equity interest in the trust subsidiary of $155 thousand, which had previously been eliminated in consolidation, is now reported in “Other assets” as of December 31, 2005. For regulatory reporting purposes, the Federal Reserve is allowing preferred securities to continue to qualify as Tier 1 Capital subject to specified limitations. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have an impact on our results of operations or liquidity.

PAGE 14



 
   

Capital Resources

     Stockholders’ equity inclusive of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes, was $32.9 million at December 31, 2005, an increase of $1.3 million over the $31.7 million at year-end 2004. Stockholders’ equity increased due to $2.4 million in net income earned for 2005, $374 thousand from the issuance of common stock and exercise of stock options and $109 thousand from the shares issued though the dividend reinvestment plan. These increases were offset by a $683 thousand decrease in common stock due to the purchase and retirement of treasury shares and $633 thousand for the payment of cash dividends. An unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of income tax, decreased stockholder’s equity by $357 thousand.

     The Company’s and the Bank’s regulators have classified and defined bank holding company capital Tier 1 capital which includes tangible stockholders’ equity for common stock and certain stock and other hybrid instruments, and Tier II capital, which includes a portion of the allowance for loan losses, certain qualifying long-term debt and preferred stock which does not qualify for Tier 1 capital.

     The Company’s and the Bank’s regulators have implemented risk-based guidelines which require banks and bank holding companies to maintain certain minimum capital as a percent of such assets and certain off-balance sheet items adjusted for predefined credit risk factors (risk-adjusted assets). Banks and holding companies are required to maintain Tier 1 capital as a percent of risk-adjusted assets of 4.0% and Tier II capital as of risk-adjusted assets of 8.0%, at a minimum. At December 31, 2005, the Company’s Tier I and Tier II capital ratios were 15.42% and 16.35%, respectively. The Bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital ratios were 12.40% and 13.55%, respectively.

     In addition to the risk-based guidelines discussed above, the Company’s and the Bank’s regulators require that banks and bank holding companies which meet the regulator’s highest performance and operational standards maintain a minimum leverage ratio (Tier 1 capital as a percent of tangible assets) of 4.0%. For those banks and bank holding companies with higher levels of risk or that are experiencing or anticipating growth, the minimum will be proportionately increased. Minimum leverage ratios for each bank and bank holding company are established and updated through the ongoing regulatory examination process. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had a leverage ratio of 11.45% and the Bank had a leverage ratio of 9.23%.

Effect of Inflation

     Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, the level of interest rate has a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or change with the same magnitude as the price of goods and services, which prices are affected by inflation. Accordingly, the liquidity, interest rate sensitivity and maturity characteristics of the Company’s asset and liabilities are more indicative of its ability to maintain acceptable performance levels. Management of the Company monitors and seeks to mitigate the impact of interest rate changes by attempting to match the maturities of assets and liabilities to gap, thus seeking to minimize the potential effect of inflation.

PAGE 15



 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Sussex Bancorp
Franklin, New Jersey

     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Sussex Bancorp and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

     We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

     In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Sussex Bancorp and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Beard Miller Company LLP
Allentown, Pennsylvania
January 13, 2006

PAGE 16



Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
   
  December 31,  
 
 
  2005   2004  

 
               
ASSETS        
Cash and due from banks $ 11,395   $ 10,434  
Federal funds sold   13,385     18,860  

 
               
   Cash and cash equivalents   24,780     29,294  
Interest bearing time deposits with other banks   500     3,900  
Securities available for sale   61,180     74,736  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost   1,025     690  
Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses 2005 $2,615; 2004 $2,274   208,720     154,642  
Bank premises and equipment, net   6,619     5,618  
Accrued interest receivable   1,778     1,330  
Goodwill   2,334     2,334  
Other assets   6,246     5,731  

 
               
   Total Assets $ 313,182   $ 278,275  

 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity        
Liabilities:        
   Deposits:        
   Non-interest bearing $ 39,148   $ 34,451  
   Interest bearing   217,699     195,376  

 
               
Total Deposits   256,847     229,827  
               
Borrowings   16,300     10,000  
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   1,956     1,641  
Junior subordinated debentures   5,155     5,155  

 
               
   Total Liabilities   280,258     246,623  

 
               
Stockholders’ equity:          
   Common stock, no par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 3,153,004 in
      2005 and 2,994,874 in 2004
  27,300     25,397  
   Retained earnings   5,842     6,116  
   Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (218 )   139  

 
               
   Total Stockholders’ Equity   32,924     31,652  

 
               
   Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 313,182   $ 278,275  

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

PAGE 17



Consolidated Statements of Income
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

  Years Ended December 31,  
 
 
  2005   2004  

 

INTEREST INCOME

       
 Loans receivable, including fees $ 12,331   $ 8,954  
 Securities:          
   Taxable   1,650     1,812  
   Tax-exempt   1,145     869  
 Federal funds sold   359     97  
 Interest-bearing deposits   62     59  

 
    Total Interest Income   15,547     11,791  

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

         
 Deposits   3,286     2,032  
 Borrowings   686     522  
 Junior subordinated debentures   356     260  

 
    Total Interest Expense   4,328     2,814  

 
    Net Interest Income   11,219     8,977  
               
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES   1,138     558  

 
    Net Interest Income after Provision for Loan Losses   10,081     8,419  

 
OTHER INCOME          
  Service fees on deposit accounts   1,225     748  
  ATM and debit card fees   347     324  
  Insurance commissions and fees   2,327     2,195  
  Investment brokerage fees   291     292  
  Mortgage banking fees   212     620  
  Net realized gain on sale of securities   35     16  
  Net gain (loss) on sale of foreclosed real estate   6     (5 )
  Other   430     352  

 
    Total Other Income   4,873     4,542  

 
OTHER EXPENSES          
  Salaries and employee benefits   6,340     6,208  
  Occupancy, net   989     854  
  Furniture, equipment and data processing   1,078     902  
  Stationery and supplies   179     181  
  Professional fees   545     356  
  Advertising and promotion   507     411  
  Insurance   170     167  
  Postage and freight   171     175  
  Amortization of intangible assets   250     200  
  Other   1,374     1,335  

 
    Total Other Expenses   11,603     10,789  

 
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   3,351     2,172  
               
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES   952     581  

 
    Net Income $ 2,399   $ 1,591  

 
EARNINGS PER SHARE          
               
Basic $ 0.76   $ 0.81  

 
               
Diluted $ 0.75   $ 0.78  

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

PAGE 18



Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
   
Number of
Shares
Outstanding
  Common
Stock
  Retained
Earnings
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (loss)
  Treasury
Stock
  Total

 
    
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 2003   1,811,460   $ 9,616   $ 5,040   $ 248   $   $ 14,904  
                               
 
   Comprehensive income:                                    
     Net income           1,591             1,591  
     Change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities available
        for sale, net of reclassification adjustment and tax effect
              (109 )       (109 )
                               
 
Total Comprehensive Income                                 1,482  
                               
 
   Treasury stock purchased   (1,346 )               (23 )   (23 )
   Treasury stock retired       (23 )           23      
   Issuance of common stock and exercise of stock options   42,384     505                 505  
   Income tax benefit of stock options exercised       52                 52  
   Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment
      plan
  11,226     179                 179  
   Sale of common stock, at $14.25 per share, net of offering
      costs of $1,051
  1,131,150     15,068                 15,068  
   Dividends on common stock ($0.27 per share)           (515 )           (515 )

 
    
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 2004   2,994,874     25,397     6,116     139         31,652  
                               
 
   Comprehensive income:                                    
     Net income           2,399             2,399  
   Change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities available
     for sale, net of reclassification adjustment and tax effect
              (357 )       (357 )
                               
 
Total Comprehensive Income                                 2,042  
                               
 
   Treasury stock purchased   (45,955 )               (683 )   (683 )
   Treasury stock retired       (683 )           683      
   Exercise of stock options   45,526     374                 374  
   Income tax benefit of stock options exercised       92                 92  
   Issuance of common stock through dividend
      reinvestment plan
  7,773     109                 109  
   Additional expenses for stock offering       (25 )               (25 )
   Dividends on common stock ($0.20 per share)           (633 )           (633 )
   5% stock dividend   150,786     2,036     (2,040 )           (4 )

 
  
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 2005   3,153,004   $ 27,300   $ 5,842   $ (218 ) $   $ 32,924  

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

PAGE 19



Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In Thousands)

Years Ended December 31,

2005 2004

 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
   Net income $ 2,399   $ 1,591  
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:            
     Provision for loan losses   1,138     558  
     Provision for depreciation and amortization   945     791  
     Realized gain on sales of securities   (35 )   (16 )
     Realized (gain) loss on sale of foreclosed real estate   (6 )   5  
     Deferred income taxes   (93 )   (46 )
     Net amortization of securities premiums and discounts   234     537  
     Earnings on investment in life insurance   (93 )   (107 )
     Increase in assets:            
          Accrued interest receivable   (448 )   (89 )
          Other assets   (341 )   (519 )
     Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable and other liabilities   407     (363 )

 
        Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities   4,107     2,342  

 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES            
    Securities available for sale:            
     Purchases   (7,424 )   (37,279 )
     Maturities, calls and principal repayments   14,689     24,491  
     Proceeds from sale of securities   5,497     13,894  
    Net increase in loans   (55,486 )   (22,851 )
    Purchases of bank premises and equipment   (1,696 )   (1,559 )
    (Increase) decrease in FHLB stock   (335 )   70  
    Net (increase) decrease in interest bearing time deposits with other banks   3,400     (400 )
    Proceeds from sale of foreclosed real estate   276     509  
    Purchase of investment in life insurance       (1,500 )

 
       Net Cash Used in Investing Activities   (41,079 )   (24,625 )

 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
    Net increase in deposits   27,020     22,170  
    Proceeds from borrowings   6,300      
    Repayment of borrowings       (1,000 )
    Net proceeds (costs) from the issuance of common stock   (25 )   15,068  
    Proceeds from the exercise of stock options   374     202  
    Purchase of treasury stock   (683 )   (23 )
    Dividends paid, net of reinvestments   (528 )   (336 )

 
                  Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities   32,458     36,081  

 
                  Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents   (4,514 )   13,798  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS-BEGINNING   29,294     15,496  

 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS-ENDING $ 24,780   $ 29,294  

 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION            
    Interest paid $ 4,217   $ 2,817  

 
    Income taxes paid $ 936   $ 909  

 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
    Foreclosed real estate acquired in settlement of loans $ 270   $ 291  

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

PAGE 20



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sussex Bancorp (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sussex Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries are SCB Investment Company, Sussex Bancorp Mortgage Company, and Tri-State Insurance Agency, Inc. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Organization and Nature of Operations

     Sussex Bancorp’s business is conducted principally through the Bank. Sussex Bank is a New Jersey state chartered bank and provides full banking services. The Bank generates commercial, mortgage and consumer loans and receives deposits from customers at its eight branches located in Sussex County, New Jersey. As a state bank, the Bank is subject to regulation of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Sussex Bancorp is subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board. SCB Investment Company holds investments. Tri-State Insurance Agency, Inc. provides insurance agency services mostly through the sale of property and casualty insurance policies. Sussex Bancorp Mortgage Company brokers mortgage loans for the Bank and third parties but was inactive in 2005.

Estimates

     The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets.

Significant Group Concentrations of Credit Risk

     Most of the Company’s activities are with customers located within Sussex County, New Jersey and adjacent counties in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Note 4 discusses the types of securities that the Company invests in. Note 5 discusses the types of lending that the Company engages in. Although the Company has a diversified loan portfolio, its debtors’ ability to honor their contracts is influenced by the region’s economy. The Company does not have any significant concentrations in any one industry or customer.

Presentation of Cash Flows

     For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks and federal funds sold. Generally, federal funds are purchased and sold for one-day periods.

Securities

     Securities classified as available for sale are those securities that the Bank intends to hold for an indefinite period of time but not necessarily to maturity. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value. Fair values for securities are based upon quoted market prices or dealer prices, if available. If quoted market prices or dealer prices are not available, fair value is estimated using quoted market prices or dealer prices for similar securities. Any decision to sell a security classified as available for sale would be based on various factors, including significant movement in interest rates, changes in maturity mix of the Bank’s assets and liabilities, liquidity needs, regulatory capital considerations and other similar factors. Unrealized gains or losses are reported as increases or decreases in other comprehensive income, net of the related deferred tax effect. Realized gains or losses, determined on the basis of the cost of the specific securities sold, are included in earnings. Premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities. Equity securities are comprised of stock in various companies and mutual funds.

     Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. In estimating other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considers (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

     Federal law requires a member institution of the Federal Home Loan Bank system to hold stock of its district FHLB according to a predetermined formula. The restricted stock is recorded at cost.

Loans Receivable

     Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are stated at their outstanding unpaid principal balances, net of an allowance for loan losses and any deferred fees or costs. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the yield (interest income) of the related loans. The Bank is generally amortizing these amounts over the contractual life of the loan.

     The accrual of interest is discontinued when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or management has serious doubts about further collectibility of principal or interest, even though the loan is currently performing. A loan may remain on accrual status if it is in the process of collection and is either guaranteed or well secured. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, unpaid interest credited to income in the current year is reversed and unpaid interest accrued in prior years is charged against the allowance for loan losses. Interest received on nonaccrual

PAGE 21



loans generally is either applied against principal or reported as interest income, according to management’s judgment as to the collectibility of principal. Generally, loans are restored to accrual status when the obligation is brought current, has performed in accordance with the contractual terms for a reasonable period of time and the ultimate collectibility of the total contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt.

Allowance for Loan Losses

     The allowance for loan losses is established through provisions for loan losses charged against income. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance for loan losses, and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

     Management’s periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions and other relevant factors. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

     The allowance consists of specific and general components. The specific component relates to loans that are classified as either doubtful, substandard or special mention. For such loans that are also classified as impaired, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value for that loan. The general component covers non-classified loans and is based on historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors.

     A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis for commercial and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

     Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Bank does not separately identify individual consumer, residential and home equity loans for impairment disclosures, unless such loans are the subject of a restructuring agreement.

Transfers of Financial Assets

     Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Foreclosed Assets

     Foreclosed assets are comprised of property acquired through a foreclosure proceeding or acceptance of a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure and loans classified as in-substance foreclosure. A loan is classified as in substance foreclosure when the Bank has taken possession of the collateral regardless of whether formal foreclosure proceedings take place. Foreclosed assets initially are recorded at fair value, net of estimated selling costs, at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. After foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value minus estimated costs to sell. Revenues and expenses from operations and changes in the valuation allowance are included in other expenses. Foreclosed assets are included in other assets on the balance sheets.

Bank Premises and Equipment

     Bank premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the related assets:

    Years  

 
Buildings and building improvements   20 - 40  
Leasehold improvements   5 - 10  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment   5 - 10  
Computer equipment and software   3 - 5  

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

     Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair market value of net assets acquired. The Company has recorded goodwill of $2,334,000 at both December 31, 2005 and 2004, related to the acquisition of an insurance agency on October 1, 2001. In accordance with current accounting standards, goodwill is not amortized, but evaluated at least annually for impairment. Any impairment of goodwill results in a charge to income. Goodwill was tested for impairment during 2005. The estimated fair value of the reporting segment exceeded its book value, therefore, no write-down of goodwill was required. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

     The Company also has amortizable intangible assets resulting from the acquisition of insurance agencies, which include the value of executive employment contracts and the

PAGE 22



 

value of the acquired book of businesses, which are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 3 to 7 years. The total net amortizable intangible assets were $104,000 and $246,000, net of accumulated amortization of $419,000 and $253,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

     The Company has an amortizable core deposit intangible asset related to the premiums paid on the acquisition of deposits, which is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 years. This core deposit intangible was $116,000 and $200,000, net of accumulated amortization of $1,142,000 and $1,058,000 as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

     Other intangible assets are included in other assets on the balance sheets for December 31, 2005 and 2004.

     Amortization expense on intangible assets was $250,000 and $200,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Amortization expense is estimated to be $128,000 for the year ending December 31, 2006; $67,000 for the year ending December 31, 2007 and $25,000 for the year ending December 31, 2008.

Advertising Costs

     The Bank follows the policy of charging the costs of advertising to expense as incurred.

Income Taxes

     Deferred income taxes are provided on the liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax basis. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. Sussex Bancorp and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.

Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments

     In the ordinary course of business, the Bank has entered into off-balance sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit and letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded in the balance sheet when they are funded.

Stock-Based Compensation

     The Company accounts for its stock option plans under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to stock-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004. Earnings per share has been adjusted for the 5% stock dividend granted in 2005.

    2005     2004  

 
    (In Thousands)  
Net income, as reported $ 2,399   $ 1,591  
Total stock-based compensation expense determined under
    fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
  (348 )   (135 )

 
Pro forma net income $ 2,051   $ 1,456  

 
Basic earnings per share:            
    As reported $ 0.76   $ 0.81  
    Pro forma $ 0.65   $ 0.74  
Diluted earnings per share:            
    As reported $ 0.75   $ 0.78  
    Pro forma $ 0.64   $ 0.71  

     The fair value of options granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following represents the weighted average fair values and weighted average assumptions used to determine such fair values for options granted for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004:

    2005     2004  

 
Grant date fair value, as adjusted for 5% stock dividend $ 3.43   $ 2.76  
Expected option lives   5 years     5 years  
Dividend yield   1.74 %   1.49 %
Risk-free interest rate   3.78 %   3.17 %
Expected volatility rate   25.67 %   17.04 %

Earnings per Share

     Basic earnings per share represents net income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued, as well as any adjustment to income that would result from the assumed issuance. Potential common shares that may be issued by the Company relate to outstanding stock options. Potential common shares related to stock options are determined using the treasury stock method.

Segment Reporting

     The Company acts as an independent community financial services provider, and offers traditional banking and related financial services to individual, business and government customers. Through its branch and automated teller machine networks, the Bank offers a full array of commercial and retail financial services, including taking of time, savings and demand deposits; the making of commercial, consumer and mortgage loans; and the providing of other financial services.

PAGE 23



The Bank also performs fiduciary services through its Trust Department. Management does not separately allocate expenses, including the cost of funding loan demand, between the commercial, retail, trust and mortgage banking operations of the Bank. As such, discrete financial information is not available and segment reporting would not be meaningful. The Company’s insurance agency is managed separately from the traditional banking and related financial services that the Company offers. The insurance operations provides primarily property and casualty coverage. See Note 3 for segment reporting of insurance operations.

Insurance Agency Operations

     Tri-State Insurance Agency, Inc. is a retail insurance broker operating in the State of New Jersey. The insurance agency’s primary source of revenue is commission income, which is earned by placing insurance coverage for its customers with various insurance underwriters. The insurance agency places basic property and casualty, life and health coverage with about fifteen different insurance carriers. There are two main billing processes, direct billing (currently accounts for approximately 90% of revenues) and agency billing.

     Under the direct billing arrangement, the insurance carrier bills and collects from the customer directly and remits the brokers’ commission to the broker on a monthly basis. For direct bill policies, Tri-State records commissions as revenue when the data necessary to reasonably determine such amounts is obtained. On a monthly basis, Tri-State receives notification from each insurance carrier of total premiums written and collected during the month, and the broker’s net commission due for their share of business produced by them.

     Under the agency billing arrangement, the broker bills and collects from the customer directly, retains their commission, and remits the net premium amount to the insurance carrier. Virtually all agency-billed policies are billed and collected on an installment basis (the number of payments varies by policy). Although Tri-State typically bills customers 60 days prior to the effective date of a policy, revenues for the first installment are recorded at the policy effective date. Revenues from subsequent installments are recorded at the installment due date. Tri-State records its commission as a percentage of each installment due.

Trust Operations

     Trust income is recorded on a cash basis, which approximates the accrual basis. Securities and other property held by the Company in a fiduciary or agency capacity for customers of the trust department are not assets of the Company and, accordingly, are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Standards

     In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.” Statement No. 123(R) replaces Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Statement No. 123(R) requires compensation costs related to share-based payment transactions to be recognized in the financial statements over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. Public companies are required to adopt the new standard using a modified prospective method and may elect to restate prior periods using the modified retrospective method. Under the modified prospective method, companies are required to record compensation cost for new and modified awards over the related vesting period of such awards prospectively and record compensation cost prospectively for the unvested portion, at the date of adoption, of previously issued and outstanding awards over the remaining vesting period of such awards. No change to prior periods presented is permitted under the modified prospective method. Under the modified retrospective method, companies record compensation costs for prior periods retroactively through restatement of such period using the exact pro forma amounts disclosed in the companies’ footnotes. Also, in the period of adoption and after, companies record compensation cost based on the modified prospective method. Statement No. 123(R) is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2005 for small business issuers (i.e. first quarter 2006 for the Company). Early application of Statement No. 123(R) is encouraged, but not required.

     The Company will adopt the modified prospective method. Using the modified prospective method, the Company will record stock-based compensation expense, net of related tax effects, of approximately $33,000 in 2006, $20,000 in 2007, and $12,000 in 2008 for unvested stock options outstanding at December 31, 2005. Any additional impact that the adoption of this Statement will have on our financial position and results of operations will be determined by share-based payments granted in future periods. There is no impact on cash flows.

     In October 2005, the FASB issued FSP FAS 123(R)-2, “Practical Accommodation to the Application of Grant Date as Defined in FAS 123(R)” (“FSP 123(R)-2”). FSP 123(R)-2 provides guidance on the application of grant date as defined in SFAS No. 123(R). In accordance with this standard a grant date of an award exists if a) the award is a unilateral grant and b) the key terms and conditions of the award are expected to be communicated to an individual recipient within a relatively short time period from the date of approval. We will adopt this standard when we adopt SFAS No. 123(R), and it will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

     In November 2005, the FASB issued final FASB Staff Position FAS No. 123R 3, “Transition Election Related to Accounting for the Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards.” The FSP provides an alternative method of calculating excess tax benefits (the APIC pool) from the method defined in FAS 123R for share-based payments. A one-time election to adopt the transition method in this FSP is available to those entities adopting FAS 123R using either the modified retrospective or modified prospective method. Up to one year from the initial adoption of FAS 123R or effective date of the FSP is provided to make this one-time election. However, until an entity makes its election, it must follow the guidance in

PAGE 24



 

FAS 123R. FSP 123R-3 is effective upon initial adoption of FAS 123R and will become effective for Sussex the first quarter of fiscal 2006. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of calculating the APIC pool with this alternative method and have not determined which method we will adopt, nor the expected impact on our financial position or results of operations.

     In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB No. 107”), “Share-Based Payment,” providing guidance on option valuation methods, the accounting for income tax effects of share-based payment arrangements upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), and the disclosures in MD&A subsequent to the adoption. The Company will provide SAB No. 107 required disclosures upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006.

     In March 2004, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments.” EITF 03-1 provides guidance on other-than-temporary impairment models for marketable debt and equity securities accounted for under SFAS 115 and non-marketable equity securities accounted for under the cost method. The EITF developed a basic three-step model to evaluate whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired. In November 2005, the FASB approved the issuance of FASB Staff Position FAS No. 115-1 and FAS 124-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments.” The FSP addresses when an investment is considered impaired, whether the impairment is other-than-temporary and the measurement of an impairment loss. The FSP also includes accounting considerations subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment and requires certain disclosures about unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary. The FSP is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005 with earlier application permitted. For the Company, the effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The adoption of this accounting principle is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.

     In July 2005, the FASB issued a proposed interpretation of FAS 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” to clarify certain aspects of accounting for uncertain tax positions, including issues related to the recognition and measurement of those tax positions. If adopted as proposed, any adjustments required to be recorded as a result of adopting the interpretation would be reflected as a cumulative effect from a change in accounting principle. We are currently in the process of determining the impact of adoption of the interpretation as proposed on our financial position or results of operations.

     In June 2005, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on Issue No. 05-6, “Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold Improvements Purchased after Lease Inception or Acquired in a Business Combination” (“EITF 05-6”). This guidance requires that leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination or purchased subsequent to the inception of a lease be amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the assets or a term that includes required lease periods and renewals that are reasonably assured at the date of the business combination or purchase. This guidance is applicable only to leasehold improvements that are purchased or acquired in reporting periods beginning after June 29, 2005. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have an impact on the Company’s financial statements.

     In June 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) released Issue No. 04-5 “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partner as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights” (“EITF 04-5”). EITF 04-5 provides guidance in determining whether a general partner controls a limited partnership and therefore should consolidate the limited partnership. EITF 04-5 states that the general partner in a limited partnership is presumed to control that limited partnership and that the presumption may be overcome if the limited partners have either (1) the substantive ability to dissolve or liquidate the limited partnership or otherwise remove the general partner without cause, or (2) substantive participating rights. The effective date for applying the guidance in EITF 04-5 was (1) June 29, 2005 for all new limited partnerships and existing limited partnerships for which the partnership agreement was modified after that date, and (2) no later than the beginning of the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, for all other limited partnerships. Implementation of EITF 04-5 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position in fiscal 2005.

     In October 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 13-1 (“FSP FAS 13-1”), which requires companies to expense rental costs associated with ground or building operating leases that are incurred during a construction period. As a result, companies that are currently capitalizing these rental costs are required to expense them beginning in its first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2005. FSP FAS 13-1 is effective for our Company as of the first quarter of fiscal 2006. We evaluated the provisions of FSP FAS 13-1 and do not believe that its adoption will have a material impact on our Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

     In May 2005, FASB issued SFAS 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” The Statement requires retroactive application of a voluntary change in accounting principle to prior period financial statements unless it is impracticable. Statement No. 154 also requires that a change in method of depreciation, amortization, or depletion for long-lived, non-financial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate that is affected by a change in accounting principle. Statement No. 154 replaces APB Opinion 20, “Accounting Changes,” and Statement No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements.” Statement No. 154 will be effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. Management currently believes that adoption of the provisions of SFAS 154 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

PAGE 25



NOTE 2 - BRANCH ACQUISITION

In November 2005, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase a branch office in Port Jervis, New York from another bank. As part of the transaction, the Company will assume approximately $6.0 million in deposits and $3.7 million in loans. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2006.

NOTE 3 - SEGMENT REPORTING

Segment information for 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

    Banking and
Financial
Services
    Insurance
Services
    Total  

 
      (In Thousands)     
Year Ended December 31, 2005:            
    Net interest income from external sources $ 11,219   $   $ 11,219  
    Other income from external sources   2,546     2,327     4,873  
    Depreciation and amortization   780     165     945  
    Income before income taxes   3,308     43     3,351  
    Income tax expense   935     17     952  
    Total assets   310,030     3,152     313,182  
Year Ended December 31, 2004:                  
    Net interest income from external sources $ 8,977   $   $ 8,977  
    Other income from external sources   2,347     2,195     4,542  
    Depreciation and amortization   675     116     791  
    Income before income taxes   2,097     75     2,172  
    Income tax expense     551     30     581  
    Total assets   274,996     3,279     278,275  

NOTE 4 – SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE

     The amortized cost and approximate fair value of securities available for sale as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 are summarized as follows:

    Amortized
Cost
    Gross
Unrealized
Gains
    Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
 

 
    (In Thousands)  
December 31, 2005:                
U.S. Government agencies $ 10,968   $   $ (117 ) $ 10,851  
State and political subdivisions   23,334     430     (7 )   23,757  
Mortgage-backed securities   25,599     11     (670 )   24,940  
Corporate securities   750     1         751  
Equity securities   892     1     (12 )   881  

 
  
  $ 61,543   $ 443   $ (806 ) $ 61,180  

 
                          
December 31, 2004:                        
U.S. Government agencies $ 11,742   $ 19   $ (88 ) $ 11,673  
State and political subdivisions   25,562     392     (45 )   25,909  
Mortgage-backed securities   33,779     120     (220 )   33,679  
Corporate securities   2,521     49         2,570  
Equity securities   900     20     (15 )   905  

 
  
  $ 74,504   $ 600   $ (368 ) $ 74,736  

 

PAGE 26



 

     The following table shows the Company’s investments’ gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at December 31, 2005 and 2004.

    Less than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  

 
    Fair
Value
    Unrelized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Unrealized
Losses
 

 
    (In Thousands)  
December 31, 2005:                        
    U.S. Government agencies $ 1,483   $ (17 ) $ 6,890   $ (100 ) $ 8,373   $ (117 )
    State and political subdivisions   915     (3 )   532     (4 )   1,447     (7 )
    Mortgage-backed securities   9,534     (183 )   14,295     (487 )   23,829     (670 )
    Equity securities           838     (12 )   838     (12 )

 
    Total Temporarily Impaired Securities $ 11,932   $ (203 ) $ 22,555   $ (603 ) $ 34,487   $ (806 )

 
                                     
December 31, 2004:                                    
    U.S. Government agencies $ 6,940   $ (64 ) $ 976   $ (24 ) $ 7,916   $ (88 )
    State and political subdivisions   6,080     (45 )           6,080     (45 )
    Mortgage-backed securities   12,849     (120 )   5,293     (100 )   18,142     (220 )
    Equity securities           905     (15 )   905     (15 )

 
    Total Temporarily Impaired Securities $ 25,869   $ (229 ) $ 7,174   $ (139 ) $ 33,043   $ (368 )

 

     Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

     At December 31, 2005, the Company has 67 securities in an unrealized loss position. Unrealized losses detailed above relate primarily to U.S. Government agency debt and mortgage-backed securities. The decline in fair value is due only to interest rate fluctuations. As the Company has the intent and ability to hold such investments until maturity or market price recovery, no declines are deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired. None of the individual unrealized losses are significant.

     The amortized cost and carrying value of securities available for sale at December 31, 2005 are shown below by contractual maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities as issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

     The amortized cost and carrying value of securities available for sale at December 31, 2005 are shown below by contractual maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities as issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

    Amortized
Cost
    Fair
Value
 

 
    (In Thousands)  
Due in one year or less $ 7,045   $ 6,972  
Due after one year through five years   5,219     5,176  
Due after five years through ten years   2,292     2,342  
Due after ten years   20,496     20,869  

 
    35,052     35,359  
Mortgage-backed securities   25,599     24,940  
Equity securities   892     881  

 
  
  $ 61,543   $ 61,180  

 

     Gross gains on sales of securities were $61,000 and $186,000 and gross losses were $26,000 and $170,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

     Securities with a carrying value of approximately $22,408,000 and $14,803,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, were pledged to secure public deposits and for other purposes required or permitted by applicable laws and regulations.

NOTE 5 – LOANS RECEIVABLE

     The composition of net loans receivable at December 31, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

    2005     2004  

 
    (In Thousands)  
Loans secured by one to four family residential properties $ 47,409   $ 41,971  
Loans secured by nonresidential properties   110,391     69,778  
Loans for construction and land development   23,154     19,863  
Loans secured by farmland   11,444     9,391  
Commercial and industrial loans   16,667     14,233  
Consumer   1,550     1,500  
Other loans   874     299  

 
    211,489     157,035  
Unearned loan origination fees and costs, net   (154 )   (119 )
Allowance for loan losses   (2,615 )   (2,274 )

 
Net Loans Receivable $ 208,720   $ 154,642  

 

     Mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying balance sheets. The total amount of loans serviced for the benefit of others was approximately $2,480,000 and $3,247,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

PAGE 27



NOTE 6 – ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

     The following table presents changes in the allowance for loan losses for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004:

    2005     2004  

 
    (In Thousands)  
Balance, beginning $ 2,274   $ 1,734  
    Provision for loan losses   1,138     558  
    Loans charged off   (1,007 )   (35 )
    Recoveries   210     17  

 
Balance, ending $ 2,615   $ 2,274  

 

     Loans on which the accrual of interest has been discontinued or reduced amounted to approximately $816,000 and $1,304,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Loan balances past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest, but which management expects will eventually be paid in full, amounted to $535,000 and $34,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

     The total recorded investment in impaired loans was $862,000 and $1,286,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Impaired loans not requiring an allowance for loan losses was $862,000 and $335,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Impaired loans requiring an allowance for loan losses was $-0- and $951,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the related allowance for loan losses associated with those loans was $-0- and $399,000, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, the average recorded investment in impaired loans was $1,129,000 and $1,498,000, respectively. Interest income recognized on such loans during the time each was impaired was $44,000 and
$-0-, respectively. The Company recognizes income on impaired loans under the cash basis when the collateral on the loan is sufficient to cover the outstanding obligation to the Company. If these factors do not exist, the Company will record all payments as a reduction of principal on such loans.

NOTE 7 – BANK PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

     The components of bank premises and equipment at December 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

    2005     2004  

 
    (In Thousands)  
Land $ 827   $ 577  
Building and building improvements   4,410     4,481  
Leasehold improvements   332     328  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment   5,054     5,254  
Assets in progress   1,025     286  

 
    11,648     10,926  
Accumulated depreciation   (5,029 )   (5,308 )

 
  $ 6,619   $ 5,618  

 

     During the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, depreciation expense totaled $703,000 and $591,000, respectively.

     As of December 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding commitments of approximately $394,000 for computer upgrades.

NOTE 8 – DEPOSITS

     The components of deposits at December 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

    2005     2004  

 
    (In Thousands)  
Demand, non-interest bearing $ 39,148   $ 34,451  
Savings, club and interest-bearing demand   127,996     132,197  
Time, $100,000 and over   29,070     20,169  
Time, other   60,633     43,010  

 
  $ 256,847   $ 229,827  

 

     At December 31, 2005 and 2004, time deposits included $-0- and $6,201,000, respectively, owned by local municipalities scheduled to mature within 30 days.

     At December 31, 2005, the scheduled maturities of time deposits are as follows (in thousands):

2006 $ 80,828  
2007   5,001  
2008   1,947  
2009   1,260  
2010   647  
Thereafter   20  

 
  $ 89,703  

 

PAGE 28



 

NOTE 9 – BORROWINGS

     At December 31, 2005, the Bank has a line of credit commitment from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York for borrowings up to $55,421,000. There were no borrowings under this line of credit at December 31, 2005.

     At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Bank had the following borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank:

        Maturity Date   Initial
Conversion Date
    Interest
Rate
    Balance at December 31,      
2005       2004

 
March 29, 2006   N/A     3.82%   $ 1,000,000      
November 3, 2010   N/A     5.00%     3,300,000      
December 21, 2010   December 21, 2001     4.77%     3,000,000     3,000,000  
December 21, 2010   December 21, 2002     4.90%     3,000,000     3,000,000  
December 21, 2010   December 21, 2003     5.14%     4,000,000     4,000,000  
March 30, 2015   March 30, 2006     3.48%     2,000,000      

 
              $ 16,300,000   $ 10,000,000  

 

     Maturities of long-term debt in years subsequent to December 31, 2005 are as follows:

2006 $ 1,049,000  
2007   51,000  
2008   54,000  
2009   56,000  
2010   13,090,000  
Thereafter   2,000,000  

 
  $ 16,300,000  

 

     The above four convertible notes contain a convertible option which allows the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), at quarterly intervals commencing after each initial conversion date, to convert the fixed convertible advance into replacement funding for the same or lesser principal amount based on any advance then offered by the FHLB at their current market rates. The Bank has the option to repay these advances, if converted, without penalty.

     At December 31, 2005, the above borrowings are secured by a pledge of qualifying one-to-four family mortgage loans and selected investment securities, having an aggregate unpaid principal balance of approximately $23,152,000 of which the Bank has borrowing capacity of at least 80%.

NOTE 10 – JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AND MANDATORY REDEEMABLE CAPITAL DEBENTURES

     On July 11, 2002, Sussex Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued $5 million of variable rate capital trust pass-through securities to investors. The variable interest rate reprices quarterly at the three month LIBOR plus 3.65% and was 7.80% and 5.72% at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Sussex Capital Trust I purchased $5,155,000 million of variable rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures from Sussex Bancorp. The debentures are the sole asset of the Trust. The terms of the junior subordinated debentures are the same as the terms of the capital securities. Sussex Bancorp has also fully and unconditionally guaranteed the obligations of the Trust under the capital securities. The capital securities are redeemable by Sussex Bancorp on or after October 7, 2007, at par or earlier if the deduction of related interest for federal income taxes is prohibited, classification as Tier 1 Capital is no longer allowed, or certain other contingencies arise. The capital securities must be redeemed upon final maturity of the subordinated debentures on October 7, 2032. Proceeds totaling approximately $4.8 million were contributed to paid-in capital at Sussex Bank. Financing costs related to the Company’s issuance of mandatory redeemable capital debentures are being amortized over a five-year period and are included in other assets.

     In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51” which provides guidance for the consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs). Sussex Capital Trust I qualifies as a variable interest entity under FIN 46. Sussex Capital Trust issued mandatory redeemable preferred securities (Trust Preferred Securities) to third-party investors and loaned the proceeds to the Company. Sussex Capital Trust I holds, as its sole asset, subordinated debentures issued by the Company.

     FIN 46 required the Company to deconsolidate Sussex Capital Trust I from the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2004. There has been no restatement of prior periods. The impact of this deconsolidation was to increase junior subordinated debentures or long-term debt by $5,155,000 and reduce the mandatory capital debentures line item by $5,000,000 which had represented the trust preferred securities of the trust. The Company’s equity interest in the trust subsidiary of $155,000, which had previously been eliminated in consolidation, is now reported in “Other assets”. For regulatory reporting purposes, the Federal Reserve Board has indicated that the preferred securities will continue to qualify as Tier I Capital subject to previously specified limitations, until further notice. If regulators make a determination that Trust Preferred Securities can no longer be considered in regulatory capital, the securities become callable and the Company may redeem them.

PAGE 29



     NOTE 11 – LEASE COMMITMENTS AND TOTAL RENTAL EXPENSE

     The Company has operating lease agreements expiring in various years through 2020. The Company has the option to extend the lease agreements for additional lease terms. The Bank is responsible to pay all real estate taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance and repairs on its leased facilities.

     Future minimum lease payments by year are as follows (in thousands):

2006 $ 403  
2007   337  
2008   329  
2009   180  
2010   164  
Thereafter   811  

 
  $ 2,224  

 

     Rent expense was $368,000 and $297,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

     In addition, in connection with the Company’s branch acquisition in Port Jervis, New York in March of 2006, rent expense will increase $42,000 per year through June of 2008.

NOTE 12 – EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

     The Company has a 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust for its employees. Employees may contribute up to the statutory limit or 75% of their salary to the Plan. The Company provides a 50% match of the employee’s contribution up to 6% of the employee’s annual salary. The amount charged to expense related to this Plan for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 was $95,000 and $99,000, respectively.

     The Company also has a nonqualified Supplemental Salary Continuation Plan for two executive officers. Under the provisions of the Plan, the Company has executed agreements providing the officers a retirement benefit. The Plan is funded by life insurance carried on the life of the participants. For the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, $93,000 and $100,000, respectively, was charged to expense in connection with this Plan. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Bank had an investment in life insurance of $2,895,000 and $2,802,000, respectively, related to this Plan which is included in other assets. Earnings on the investment in life insurance were $93,000 and $107,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

     In March of 2005, the Board of Directors approved an Executive and Deferred Compensation Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to motivate and reward for achieving bank financial and strategic goals as well as provide specific benefits to a selected group of management or highly compensated employees who contribute materially to the continued growth and development of the Company and future business success of the Company. The Company has recorded the 2005 incentive compensation expense under the Plan of approximately $98,000. Participants may elect to receive their award in cash or defer such compensation in a deferral account which will earn interest at the average interest rate earned by the Company on its investment portfolio, compounded monthly. Of the 2005 incentive awards accrued, $52,000 has been deferred. The remainder was paid in cash.

     The Company has an Employee Stock Ownership Plan for the benefit of all employees who meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the Plan. The amount of employer contributions to the Plan is at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The contributions charged to expense for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 were $30,000 and $25,000, respectively. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, 46,931 and 42,305 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock were held in the Plan. In the event a terminated Plan participant desires to sell his or her shares of the Company’s stock, or for certain employees who elect to diversify their account balances, the Company may be required to purchase the shares from the participant at their fair market value.

NOTE 13 – COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

     Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income.

     The components of other comprehensive income and related tax effects for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

    2005     2004  

 
    (In Thousands)  
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities $ (560 ) $ (166 )
Less reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income   35     16  

 
Net Unrealized Losses   (595 )   (182 )
Tax effect   238     73  

 
Net of Tax Amount $ (357 ) $ (109 )

 

PAGE 30



NOTE 14 – EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share, adjusted for the 5% stock dividend: 

  Income
(Numer-
nator)
  Shares
(Denomi-
nator)
    Per
Share
Amount
 

 
  (In Thousands,
Except per Share Amounts)
 
Year Ended December 31, 2005:            
Basic earnings per share:                  
  Net income applicable to common stockholders $ 2,399     3,163   $ 0.76  
             
 
Effect of dilutive securities:                  
  Stock options       38        

       
Diluted earnings per share:                  
  Net income applicable to common stockholders and assumed conversions $ 2,399     3,201   $ 0.75  
 

 
                    
Year Ended December 31, 2004:                  
Basic earnings per share:                  
  Net income applicable to common stockholders $ 1,591     1,966   $ 0.81  
             
 
Effect of dilutive securities:                  
  Stock options       69        
  Deferred common stock payments for purchase of insurance agency   2     12        

       
Diluted earnings per share:                  
  Net income applicable to common stockholders and assumed conversions $ 1,593     2,047   $ 0.78  

 
 

NOTE 15 – STOCK OPTION PLANS

     The following data have been adjusted to give retroactive effect to stock dividends declared subsequent to option authorizations, grants and exercises.

     During 1995, the stockholders approved a stock option plan for nonemployee directors (the “Director Plan”). Options granted under the Plan are non-qualified stock options. As of December 31, 2005, there were no authorized shares of the Company’s common stock left to be granted. The option price under each grant shall not be less than the fair market value on the date of the grant. Options are exercisable in their entirety six months after the date of the grant and expire after ten years. As of December 31, 2005, 20,307 options were outstanding under this plan.

     During 1995, the stockholders approved an incentive stock option plan for executives of the Company (the “Executive Plan”). The options granted under the Plan are incentive stock options, subject to limitations under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Executive Plan options are granted at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. The option price under each grant shall not be less than the fair market value on the date of grant. The Company may establish a vesting schedule that must be satisfied before the options may be exercised, but not within six months after the date of grant. The options may have a term not longer than ten years from the date of grant. As of December 31, 2005, 102,806 options were outstanding under this plan.

     During 2001, the stockholders approved the 2001 Stock Option Plan established to provide equity incentives to selected persons. As of December 31, 2005, there were 23,791 authorized shares of the Company’s common stock to be granted. Options may be granted to employees, officers and directors of the Company or subsidiary. Options granted under the Plan may be either incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options as designated at the time of grant. The shares granted under the Plan to directors are non-qualified stock options. As of December 31, 2005, 148,311 options were outstanding under this Plan.

     During 2005, the stockholders approved the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan to provide equity incentives to selected persons. As of December 31, 2005, there were 200,000 authorized shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and to be granted. Options may be granted to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company or subsidiary. Options granted under the Plan may be either incentive stock options or restricted stock and are designated at the time of grant. The shares granted under the Plan to directors, consultants and advisors are non-qualified stock options.

     The shares granted under the 2001 stock option plan and the 2004 equity incentive plan to officers and other employees are incentive stock options and are subject to limitations under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. The option price under each grant shall not be less than the fair market value on the date of the grant. The Company may establish a vesting schedule that must be satisfied before the options may be exercised, however, no option will be granted for a term in excess of 10 years. The Company may establish a vesting schedule that must be satisfied before the options may be exercised, but not within six months after the date of grant.


PAGE 31



NOTE 15 – STOCK OPTION PLANS (CONTINUED)

Transactions under all stock option plans are summarized as follows as adjusted for 5% stock dividends:

  Number of
Shares
  Range of
Exercise Price
per Share
  Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
per Share
 

 
Outstanding, December 31, 2003   218,165   $ 4.61 - $13.05   $ 9.78  
  Options granted   87,780     15.62 - 17.52     15.80  
  Options exercised   (24,400 )   4.61 - 10.12     8.27  
  Options forfeited   (3,452 )   9.44 - 15.62     14.15  

 
Outstanding, December 31, 2004   278,093     4.61 - 17.52     11.76  
  Options granted   47,705     13.45 - 14.26     14.06  
  Options exercised   (47,415 )   4.61 - 14.26     7.91  
  Options forfeited   (6,959 )   9.43 - 15.62     14.33  

 
  
Outstanding December 31, 2005   271,424   $ 7.32 - $17.52   $ 12.77  

 
  
Exercisable, December 31, 2004   136,595   $ 4.61 - $17.52   $ 10.39  

 
  
Exercisable, December 31, 2005   223,745   $ 7.32 - $17.52   $ 12.94  

 

The weighted-average remaining contractual life of the above options is approximately 9.0 years.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2005 as adjusted for stock dividends:

  Exercise
Price
  Number
Outstanding
    Remaining
Contractual Life
    Number
Exercisable
 

  $    7.32   1,737     4.8 years     1,737  
  7.49   3,543     0.8 years     3,543  
  7.76   2,316     1.8 years     2,316  
  9.22   3,474     2.8 years     3,474  
  9.30   7,403     0.8 years     7,403  
  9.43   32,613     7.1 years     20,627  
  9.48   11,471     6.1 years     11,471  
  9.52   2,663     0.1 years     2,663  
  9.57   7,189     7.8 years     7,189  
  9.57   10,474     7.8 years     7,856  
  9.93   7,721     6.8 years     7,721  
  10.12   1,791     3.8 years     1,791  
  13.04   55,125     12.5 years     22,050  
  13.45   10,500     9.8 years     10,500  
  14.26   33,761     9.1 years     33,761  
  15.62   71,243     7.1 years     71,243  
  17.52   8,400     8.8 years     8,400  

  
       271,424           223,745  
     
         
 

PAGE 32


Note 16 – Income Taxes

The components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

  2005   2004

  (In Thousands)
    Current:        
        Federal $ 720   $ 469  
        State   325     158  

 
    1,045     627  

 
    Deferred:            
        Federal   (33 )   (79 )
        State   (60 )   33  

 
    (93 )   (46 )

 
  $ 952   $ 581  

 

     A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax at a rate of 34% to the income tax expense included in the statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:


  2005   2004

  Amount % of
Pre-tax
Income
  Amount   % of
Pre-tax
Income

  (Dollar Amounts In Thousands)
Federal income tax at statutory rate $ 1,139     34 % $ 738     34 %
Tax exempt interest   (362 )   (11 )   (279 )   (13 )
State income tax, net of federal income tax effect   175     5     126     6  
Other           (4 )    

 
  $ 952     28 % $ 581     27 %

 

     The income tax provision includes $14,000 and $6,000 in 2005 and 2004, respectively, of income tax expense related to net gains on sales of securities.

     The components of the net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

  2005   2004

  (In Thousands)
Deferred tax assets:        
Allowance for loan losses $ 1,045   $ 908  
Deferred compensation   235     198  
Unrealized losses on available for sale securities   145      
Other   87     67  

 
Total Deferred Tax Assets   1,512     1,173  

 
Deferred tax liabilities:            
Bank premises and equipment   (274 )   (133 )
Prepaid expenses   (115 )   (156 )
Unrealized gains on securities available for sale       (93 )

 
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities   (389 )   (381 )

 
Net Deferred Tax Asset $ 1,123   $ 792  

 

NOTE 17 – TRANSACTIONS WITH EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     The Company has had, and may be expected to have in the future, banking transactions in the ordinary course of business with its executive officers, directors, principal stockholders, their immediate families and affiliated companies (commonly referred to as related parties), on the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with others. The related party loan activity for the year ended December 31, 2005 is summarized as follows (in thousands): 

Balance, beginning $ 5,067  
Disbursements   1,233  
Repayments   (1,948 )

 
   Balance, ending $ 4,352  

 

Certain related parties of the Company provided legal, appraisal and real estate business to the Company. Such services rendered totaled $63,000 and $54,000 during 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company paid rent to related parties for office locations in the amount of $134,000 in 2005 and $108,000 in 2004.


PAGE 33



NOTE 18 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK

     The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and letters of credit. Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet.

     The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.

     A summary of the Company’s financial instrument commitments at December 31, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

  2005   2004

  (In Thousands)
  
Commitments to grant loans $ 11,483   $ 21,600  
Unfunded commitments under lines of credit   56,219     28,434  
Outstanding standby letters of credit   1,123     457  

     Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. The Company evaluates each customer’s credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation. Collateral held varies but may include personal or commercial real estate, accounts receivable, inventory and equipment.

     Outstanding letters of credit written are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. These standby letters of credit expire within the next twelve months. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending other loan commitments. The Company requires collateral and personal guarantees supporting these letters of credit as deemed necessary. Management believes that the proceeds obtained through a liquidation of such collateral and enforcement of personal guarantees would be sufficient to cover the maximum potential amount of future payments required under the corresponding guarantees. The current amount of the liability as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 for guarantees under standby letters of credit issued is not material.

NOTE 19 – REGULATORY MATTERS

     The Company is required to maintain cash reserve balances with the Federal Reserve Bank. The total of those reserve balances was approximately $1,750,000 at December 31, 2005.

     The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet the minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and the Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk-weightings and other factors.

     Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company and the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth below) of total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets, and of Tier 1 capital to average assets. Management believes, as of December 31, 2005, that the Company and the Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.

     As of December 31, 2005, the most recent notification from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Bank’s category.


PAGE 34


     The Company’s and the Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios at December 31, 2005 and 2004 are presented below:

  Actual For Capital Adequacy
Purposes
To be Well Capitalized
under Prompt
Corrective Actioin
Provision

  Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio

 
  (Dollar Amounts in Thousands)  
As of December 31, 2005:                        
    Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):                                    
         Company $ 38,196     16.35 % $ >18,458     >8.00 %   N/A     N/A  
         Bank   30,933     13.55     >18,268     >8.00     >22,836     >10.00 %
    Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):                                    
         Company   35,581     15.42     > 9,229     >4.00     N/A     N/A  
         Bank   28,318     12.40     > 9,134     >4.00     >13,701     >6.00  
    Tier 1 capital (to average assets):                                    
         Company   35,581     11.45     >12,429     >4.00     N/A     N/A  
         Bank   28,318     9.23     >12,272     >4.00     >15,340     >5.00  
                                     
As of December 31, 2004:                                    
    Total capital (to risk-weighted assets):                                    
         Company $ 35,980     20.09 % $ >14,327     >8.00 %   N/A     N/A  
         Bank   28,346     15.86     >14,244     >8.00   $ >17,867     >10.00 %
    Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets):                                    
         Company   33,733     18.84     >7,164     >4.00     N/A     N/A  
         Bank   26,106     14.61     >7,143     >4.00     >10,720     > 6.00  
    Tier 1 capital (to average assets):
         Company   33,733     12.86     >10,432     >4.00     N/A     N/A  
         Bank   26,106     9.96     >10,481     >4.00     >13,101     >5.00  

     The Bank is subject to certain restrictions on the amount of dividends that it may declare due to regulatory considerations. The State of New Jersey banking laws specify that no dividend shall be paid by the Bank on its capital stock unless, following the payment of each such dividend, the capital stock of the Bank will be unimpaired and the Bank will have a surplus of not less than 50% of its capital stock or, if not, the payment of such dividend will not reduce the surplus of the Bank.

     At December 31, 2005, the Bank’s funds available for payment of dividends were $23,374,000. Accordingly, $7,505,000 of the Company’s equity in the net assets of the Bank was restricted as of December 31, 2005.

     In addition, dividends paid by the Bank to the Company would be prohibited if the effect thereof would cause the Bank’s capital to be reduced below applicable minimum capital requirements.

NOTE 20 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

     Management uses its best judgment in estimating the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments; however, there are inherent weaknesses in any estimation technique. Therefore, for substantially all financial instruments, the fair value estimates herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized in a sales transaction on the dates indicated. The estimated fair value amounts have been measured as of their respective year ends, and have not been re-evaluated or updated for purposes of these financial statements subsequent to those respective dates. As such, the estimated fair values of these financial instruments subsequent to the respective reporting dates may be different than the amounts reported at each year end.

     The following information should not be interpreted as an estimate of the fair value of the entire Company since a fair value calculation is only provided for a limited portion of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Due to a wide range of valuation techniques and the degree of subjectivity used in making the estimates, comparisons between the Company’s disclosures and those of other companies may not be meaningful. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2005 and 2004:

Cash and Cash Equivalents

     The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Time Deposits with Other Banks

     The fair value of time deposits with other banks is estimated by discounting future cash flows using the current rates available for time deposits with similar remaining maturities.


PAGE 35



Securities and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

     The fair values for securities are based on quoted market prices or dealer prices, if available. If quoted market prices or dealer prices are not available, fair value is estimated using quoted market prices or dealer prices for similar securities. The Federal Home Loan Bank stock is restricted; accordingly, its carrying amount approximates its fair value.

Loans

     The fair value of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows, using the current rates at which similar loans with similar remaining maturities would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings.

Deposits

     For demand, savings and club accounts, fair value is the carrying amount reported in the consolidated financial statements. For fixed-maturity certificates of deposit, fair value is estimated by discounting the future cash flows, using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

Borrowings and Junior Subordinated Debentures

     The fair values of these borrowings and debentures are estimated by discounting future cash flows, using rates currently available on borrowings with similar remaining maturities.

Accrued Interest Receivable and Accrued Interest Payable

     The carrying amounts of accrued interest receivable and payable approximate fair value.

Off-Balance Sheet Instruments

     The fair values of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties. For fixed-rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates. The fair value of guarantees and letters of credit is based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate them or otherwise settle the obligations with the counterparties at the reporting date.

     The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows: 

  2005   2004  

 
  Carrying
Amount
  Fair
Value
  Carrying
Amount
  Fair
Value
 

 
  (In Thousands)  
Financial assets:                
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 24,780   $ 24,780   $ 29,294   $ 29,294  
    Time deposits with other banks   500     500     3,900     3,900  
    Securities available for sale   61,180     61,180     74,736     74,736  
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock   1,025     1,025     690     690  
    Loans receivable, net of allowance   208,720     210,893     154,642     154,711  
    Accrued interest receivable   1,778     1,778     1,330     1,330  
                         
Financial liabilities:                        
    Deposits   256,847     257,076     229,827     229,942  
    Borrowings   16,300     16,512     10,000     10,671  
    Junior subordinated debentures   5,155     5,401     5,155     5,218  
    Accrued interest payable   336     336     225     225  
                         
Off-balance sheet financial instruments:                        
    Commitments to extend credit                
    Outstanding letters of credit                

PAGE 36



NOTE 21 – PARENT COMPANY ONLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Condensed financial statements of Sussex Bancorp (Parent Company only) follows:

BALANCE SHEETS

  December 31,

  2005   2004

Assets (In Thousands)
Cash $ 3,067   $ 7,244  
Investment in subsidiaries   30,835     29,180  
Securities available for sale   2,241      
Loans receivable   1,356      
Other assets   673     451  

 
  
          Total Assets $ 38,172   $ 36,875  

 
  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity            
Liabilities:            
  Other liabilities $ 93   $ 68  
  Junior subordinated debentures   5,155     5,155  

 
  
          Total Liabilities   5,248     5,223  
  
Stockholders’ Equity   32,924     31,652  

 
  
          Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 38,172   $ 36,875  

 

STATEMENTS OF INCOME

  Years Ended
December 31,

  2005   2004

  (In Thousands)  
Dividends from banking subsidiary $ 633   $ 447  
Interest and fees on loans   38      
Interest on investments   77      
Interest expense on debentures   (355 )   (260 )
Other expenses   (105 )   (87 )

 
  
Income before Income Tax Benefit and Equity in
   Undistributed Net Income of Banking Subsidiary
  288     100  
  
Income tax benefits   118     118  

 
  
Income before Equity in Undistributed Net
   Income of Banking Subsidiary
  406     218  
  
Equity in undistributed net income of banking subsidiary   1,993     1,373  

 
  
        Net Income $ 2,399   $ 1,591  

 

PAGE 37



STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

  Years Ended
December 31,
 

 
  2005   2004  

 
  (In Thousands)  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
   Net income $ 2,399   $ 1,591  
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by            
      operating activities:            
      Net change in other assets and liabilities   (90 )   226  
      Equity in undistributed net income of banking subsidiary   (1,993 )   (1,373 )

 
              
  Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities   316     444  

 
              
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES            
   Securities available for sale:            
      Purchases   (2,455 )    
      Maturities   180      
   Net increase in loans   (1,356 )    
   Capital contribution to subsidiary       (8,286 )

 
              
   Net Cash Used in Investing Activities   (3,631 )   (8,286 )

 
              
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
   Cash dividends paid, net of reinvestments   (528 )   (336 )
   Proceeds (expenses) from sale of common stock   (25 )   15,068  
   Purchase of treasury stock   (683 )   (23 )
   Proceeds from exercise of stock options   374     202  

 
              
     Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities   (862 )   14,911  

 
              
     Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents   (4,177 )   7,069  
              
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF YEAR   7,244     175  

 
              
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF YEAR $ 3,067   $ 7,244  

 

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OFFICE LOCATIONS

Corporate Office:

  200 Munsonhurst Road, Route 517
Franklin, NJ
(973) 827-2914

Main Office:

  FRANKLIN
  399 Route 23, Franklin
Branch (973) 827-2404
Loan Department (973) 827-3726

Branch Offices:

  ANDOVER
  165 Route 206, Andover
(973) 786-5150
 
  AUGUSTA
  100 Route 206, Augusta
(973) 940-7950
 
  NEWTON
  15 Trinity Street, Newton
(973) 383-2211
 
  MONTAGUE
  266 Clove Road, Montague
(973) 293-3488
 
  SPARTA
  33 Main Street, Sparta
(973) 729-7223
 
  VERNON
  7 Church Street, Vernon
(973) 764-6175
 
  WANTAGE
  455 Route 23, Wantage
(973) 875-9957
   
INVESTOR INFORMATION
   
Market Information for Common Stock
   
  Sussex Bancorp’s common stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol“SBB”. The table below shows the reported high and low sale prices of the common stock, as well as dividends declared during the periods indicated in 2005 and 2004.

2005     HIGH     LOW     DIVIDENDS
DECLARED
 

4th Quarter     15.35     13.48     —        
3rd Quarter     13.81     13.24     $0.067  
2nd Quarter     14.05     12.81     $0.067  
1st Quarter     15.03     13.33     $0.067  

2004     HIGH     LOW     DIVIDENDS
DECLARED
 

4th Quarter     16.15     13.13     $0.067  
3rd Quarter     16.38     14.48     $0.067  
2nd Quarter     19.96     15.43     $0.067  
1st Quarter     17.98     15.05     $0.067  

  As of December 31, 2005 the Company had approximately 646 holders of record of the common stock.

REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT

  American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
59 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10007
(800) 937-5449

FORM 10-KSB

  The annual report on form 10-KSB (without exhibits) is available free of charge upon request in writing from:
 
  Treasurer
Sussex Bancorp
200 Munsonhurst Rd., Rt. 517
Franklin, NJ 07416

PAGE 39



SUSSEX BANCORP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Donald L. Kovach
Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Sussex Bancorp

Irvin Ackerson
Excavator,
Ackerson Excavating

Patrick Brady
Chief Executive Officer
Heath Alliance for Care

Richard Branca
President
Bergen Engineering

Mark J. Hontz
Partner,
Hollander, Strelzik, Pasculli, Hinkes, Vandenberg & Hontz, LLC

Edward J. Leppert
Certified Public Accountant,
E. J. Leppert & Co.

Joel D. Marvil
Vice Chairman of the Board
Chairman, Ames Rubber Corporation

Richard W. Scott
Dentist,
Richard W. Scott, D.D.S.

Terry H. Thompson
Executive Vice President/COO,
Sussex Bancorp

SUSSEX BANK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Donald L. Kovach
Chairman of the Board
Chief Executive Officer,
Sussex Bank

Patrick Brady
Chief Executive Officer
Heath Alliance for Care

Katherine H. Caristia
Controller,
Jan Packaging & Trucking Co.

George Harper
President,
Tri-State Insurance Agency

Mark J. Hontz
Partner,
Hollander, Strelzik, Pasculli, Hinkes, Vandenberg & Hontz, LLC

Candace Leatham
Executive Vice President/Treasurer,
Sussex Bank

Edward J. Leppert
Certified Public Accountant,
E. J. Leppert & Co.

Timothy Marvil
Chief Executive Officer,
Vice-Chairman, Ames Rubber Corporation

Richard W. Scott
Dentist,
Richard W. Scott, D.D.S.

Terry H. Thompson
Vice Chairman/Secretary of the Board
President and Chief Operating Officer,
Sussex Bank

PAGE 40