SECURITIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

SECURITIES

NOTE 2 - SECURITIES

The composition of securities is as follows:

(in thousands)	Amortized cost (1)		Gross un- realized gains		Gross un-realized losses			Fair value
March 31, 2014
Available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury notes	$	2,497	$	145	$	—		$	2,642
U.S. Government Agency notes		2,505		66		—			2,571
Municipal bonds		40,690		873		(917	)		40,646
Mortgage-backed securities
U.S. Government Agencies		31,926		544		(34	)		32,436
Collateralized mortgage obligations
U.S. Government Agencies		3,313		32		—			3,345
Non-agency		7,422		614		(15	)		8,021
SBA bonds		1,885		141		—			2,026
Preferred Stock		20		968		—			988
Total securities available-for-sale	$	90,258	$	3,383	$	(966	)	$	92,675
Non-marketable securities
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston stock	$	5,340	$	—	$	—		$	5,340

(in thousands)	Amortized cost (1)		Gross un- realized gains		Gross un-realized losses			Fair value
December 31, 2013
Available-for-sale
U.S. Treasury notes	$	2,497	$	160	$	—		$	2,657
U.S. Government Agency notes		2,507		83		—			2,590
Municipal bonds		41,775		782		(2,120	)		40,437
Mortgage-backed securities
U.S. Government Agencies		33,522		442		(72	)		33,892
Collateralized mortgage obligations
U.S. Government Agencies		3,545		35		—			3,580
Non-agency		7,923		401		(16	)		8,308
SBA bonds		2,042		188		—			2,230
Preferred Stock		20		777		—			797
Total securities available-for-sale	$	93,831	$	2,868	$	(2,208	)	$	94,491
Non-marketable securities
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston stock	$	5,340	$	—	$	—		$	5,340

(1) Net of other-than-temporary impairment write-down recognized in earnings.

Salisbury did not sell any securities available-for-sale during the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

The following table summarizes, for all securities in an unrealized loss position, including debt securities for which a portion of other-than-temporary impairment has been recognized in other comprehensive income, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss of securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of the date presented:

		Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Longer				Total
		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
(in thousands)		Value		losses		value		losses		value		losses
March 31, 2014
Available-for-sale
Municipal bonds	$	11,154	$	407	$	2,708	$	510	$	13,862	$	917
Mortgage-backed securities		2,128		—		2,105		34		4,233		34
Collateralized mortgage obligations
Non-agency		366		3		185		6		551		9
Total temporarily impaired securities		13,648		410		4,998		550		18,646		960
Other-than-temporarily impaired securities
Collateralized mortgage obligations
Non-agency		299		6		—		—		299		6
Total temporarily and other-than-temporarily impaired securities	$	13,947	$	416	$	4,998	$	550	$	18,945	$	966

 Salisbury evaluates securities for OTTI where the fair value of a security is less than its amortized cost basis at the balance sheet date. As part of this process, Salisbury considers whether it has the intent to sell each debt security and whether it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery. If either of these conditions is met, Salisbury recognizes an OTTI charge to earnings equal to the entire difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date. For securities that meet neither of these conditions, an analysis is performed to determine if any of these securities are at risk for OTTI.

The following summarizes, by security type, the basis for evaluating if the applicable securities were OTTI at March 31, 2014.

U.S Government Agency notes, U.S. Government Agency mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Government Agency CMOs: The contractual cash flows are derived from U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored enterprises. Changes in fair values are a function of changes in investment spreads and interest rate movements and not changes in credit quality. Management expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities. Furthermore, Salisbury evaluates these securities for strategic fit and may reduce its position in these securities, although it is not more likely than not that Salisbury will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis, which may be maturity. Therefore, management does not consider these securities to be OTTI at March 31, 2014.

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Municipal bonds: Contractual cash flows are performing as expected. Salisbury purchased substantially all of these securities during 2006 to 2008 as bank qualified, insured, AAA rated general obligation or revenue bonds. Salisbury’s portfolio is mostly comprised of tax-exempt general obligation bonds or public-purpose revenue bonds for schools, municipal offices, sewer infrastructure and fire houses, for small towns and municipalities across the United States. In the wake of the financial crisis, most monoline bond insurers had their ratings downgraded or withdrawn because of excessive exposure to insurance for collateralized debt obligations. Where appropriate Salisbury performs credit underwriting reviews of issuers, including some that have had their ratings withdrawn and are insured by insurers that have had their ratings withdrawn, to assess default risk. For all completed reviews, pass credit risk ratings have been assigned. Management expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities. It is not more likely than not that Salisbury will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis, which may be maturity. Management does not consider these securities to be OTTI at March 31, 2014.

Non-agency CMOs: Salisbury performed a detailed cash flow analysis of its non-agency CMOs at March 31, 2014, to assess whether any of the securities were OTTI. Salisbury uses first party provided cash flow forecasts for each security based on a variety of market driven assumptions and securitization terms, including prepayment speed, default or delinquency rate, and default severity for losses including interest, legal fees, property repairs, expenses and realtor fees, that, together with the loan amount are subtracted from collateral sales proceeds to determine severity. In 2009, Salisbury determined that five non-agency CMO securities reflected OTTI and recognized losses for deterioration in credit quality of $1,128,000. Salisbury judged the four remaining securities not to have additional OTTI and all other CMO securities not to be OTTI as of March 31, 2014. It is possible that future loss assumptions could change necessitating Salisbury to recognize future OTTI for further deterioration in credit quality. Salisbury evaluates these securities for strategic fit and depending upon such factor could reduce its position in these securities, although it has no present intention to do so, and it is not more likely than not that Salisbury will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their cost basis.

The following table presents activity related to credit losses recognized into earnings on the non-agency CMOs held by Salisbury for which a portion of an OTTI charge was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income:

Three months ended March 31 (in thousands)		2014		2013
Balance, beginning of period	$	1,128	$	1,128
Credit component on debt securities in which OTTI was not previously recognized		—		—
Balance, end of period	$	1,128	$	1,128

Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”): The FHLBB is a cooperative that provides services, including funding in the form of advances, to its member banking institutions. As a requirement of membership, the Bank must own a minimum amount of FHLBB stock, calculated periodically based primarily on its level of borrowings from the FHLBB. No market exists for shares of the FHLBB and therefore, they are carried at par value. FHLBB stock may be redeemed at par value five years following termination of FHLBB membership, subject to limitations which may be imposed by the FHLBB or its regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Board, to maintain capital adequacy of the FHLBB. While the Bank currently has no intentions to terminate its FHLBB membership, the ability to redeem its investment in FHLBB stock would be subject to the conditions imposed by the FHLBB. In 2008, the FHLBB announced to its members that it is focusing on preserving capital in response to ongoing market volatility including the extension of a moratorium on excess stock repurchases and in 2009 announced the suspension of its quarterly dividends. On February 22, 2011, the FHLBB declared a modest cash dividend payable to its members on March 2, 2011. The FHLBB continued to declare modest cash dividends through 2013. Based on the capital adequacy and the liquidity position of the FHLBB, management believes there is no impairment related to the carrying amount of the Bank’s FHLBB stock as of March 31, 2014. Further deterioration of the FHLBB’s capital levels may require the Bank to deem its restricted investment in FHLBB stock to be OTTI. If evidence of impairment exists in the future, the FHLBB stock would reflect fair value using either observable or unobservable inputs. The Bank will continue to monitor its investment in FHLBB stock.