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NOTE 4 – LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Receivables [Abstract]  
NOTE 4 – LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

NOTE 4 – LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

Salisbury segregates its loan portfolio into discrete loan pools for purposes of evaluating credit risk. Each loan pool possesses unique risk characteristics that are considered when determining the appropriate level of allowance. As of March 31, 2023, the Company aggregated the individual loan pools as follows:

Commercial & Industrial - Commercial loans consist of revolving and term loan obligations extended to businesses, municipalities and educational facilities for the purpose of financing working capital and/or capital investment. Collateral generally consists of pledges of business assets including, but not limited to, accounts receivable, inventory, plant and equipment, and/or real estate, if applicable. Commercial loans are primarily paid by the operating cash flow of the borrower. Commercial loans may be secured or unsecured.

Commercial Real Estate – Commercial real estate loans include non-owner-occupied and owner-occupied properties as well as loans for agricultural purposes and land development. Commercial real estate loans consist of mortgage loans to finance investments in real property such as multi-family residential, commercial/retail, office, industrial, hotels, health care facilities and other specific use properties. Commercial real estate loans are typically written with amortizing payment structures. Collateral values are determined based upon appraisals and evaluations in accordance with established policy guidelines. Maximum loan-to-value ratios at origination are governed by established policy and regulatory guidelines. Commercial real estate loans are primarily paid by the cash flow generated from the real property, such as operating leases, rents, or other operating cash flows from the borrower.

Residential Real Estate - Residential real estate loans are made to borrowers who demonstrate the ability to make scheduled payments with full consideration to underwriting factors. Borrower qualifications include favorable credit history combined with supportive income requirements and combined loan-to-value ratios within established policy guidelines. Collateral consists of mortgage liens on one-to four-family residences, including for investment purposes.

Consumer - Home equity loans and lines of credit are made to qualified individuals and are secured by senior or junior mortgage liens on owner-occupied one-to four-family homes, condominiums, or vacation homes. The home equity loan has a fixed rate and is billed as equal payments comprised of principal and interest. The home equity line of credit has a variable rate and is billed as interest-only payments during the draw period. At the end of the draw period, the home equity line of credit is billed as a percentage of the principal balance plus all accrued interest. Borrower qualifications include favorable credit history combined with supportive income requirements and combined loan-to-value ratios within established policy guidelines. Consumer loan products including personal lines of credit and amortizing loans made to qualified individuals for various purposes such as education, auto loans, debt consolidation, personal expenses or overdraft protection. Borrower qualifications include favorable credit history combined with supportive income and collateral requirements within established policy guidelines, as applicable. Consumer loans may be secured or unsecured.

The table below provides the composition of loans receivable. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to businesses, municipalities and independent schools. Commercial real estate includes construction, commercial, residential 5+ multi-family, farm and vacant land loans. Residential real estate includes residential 1-4 family and residential construction loans. Consumer includes HELOC, consumer, indirect auto loans and overdrafts.

(In thousands)    March 31, 2023     December 31, 20221  
Commercial & Industrial  $232,033   $239,997 
Commercial real estate   515,266    491,659 
Residential real estate   457,506    449,652 
Consumer   44,961    46,208 
Total Loans   1,249,766    1,227,516 
Deferred loan origination costs, net   875    1,001 
Allowance for credit losses   (16,009)   (14,846)
Loans receivable, net  $1,234,632   $1,213,671 

 

1 Certain loan categories were reclassified from prior filings based on loan type.

 

On January 1, 2023, the Bank adopted ASU 326 to calculate the allowance for credit losses. The impact of adopting this standard during first quarter 2023 was a net increase in the allowance for credit losses of $0.3 million. See Note 1 for a summary of the impact of adopting this standard during first quarter 2023.

Also included within scope of the CECL standard are off-balance sheet loan commitments, which includes the unfunded portion of committed lines of credit and commitments “in-process”, which reflect loans that are not in Salisbury’s gross loans receivable balance as of the balance sheet date but rather negotiated loan/line of credit terms and rates that the Bank has offered to customers and is committed to honoring. In reference to “in-process” credits, the Bank defines an unfunded commitment as a credit that has been offered to and accepted by a borrower, which has not closed and by which the obligation is not unconditionally cancellable.

The Bank estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the Bank is exposed to credit risk through a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Bank. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments to be funded over its estimated life.

At March 31, 2023, the allowance for off-balance-sheet credit losses was $1.2 million compared with $0.2 million at December 31, 2022. This balance is included in “other liabilities” on Salisbury’s consolidated balance sheet. During first quarter 2023, the Bank recorded $92 thousand in credit loss expense for off-balance-sheet items compared with $0.2 million for first quarter 2022. These balances are included in the “provision for credit losses” for 2023 and “other non-interest expense” in 2022 on Salisbury’s Consolidated Income Statement.

Salisbury has entered into loan participation agreements with other banks and transferred a portion of its originated loans to the participating banks. Transferred amounts are accounted for as sales and excluded from Salisbury’s loans receivable. Salisbury and its participating lenders share ratably in any gains or losses that may result from a borrower’s lack of compliance with contractual terms of the loan. Salisbury services the loans on behalf of the participating lenders and, as such, collects cash payments from the borrowers, remits payments (net of servicing fees) to participating lenders and disburses required escrow funds to relevant parties.

Salisbury also has entered into loan participation agreements with other banks and purchased a portion of the other banks’ originated loans.  Purchased amounts are accounted for as loans without recourse to the originating bank.  Salisbury and its originating lenders share ratably in any gains or losses that may result from a borrower’s lack of compliance with contractual terms of the loan.  The originating banks service the loans on behalf of the participating lenders and, as such, collect cash payments from the borrowers, remit payments (net of servicing fees) to participating lenders and disburse required escrow funds to relevant parties. 

At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, Salisbury serviced commercial loans for other banks under loan participation agreements totaling $66.5 million and $64.1 million, respectively.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Salisbury's loans consist primarily of residential and commercial real estate loans located principally in Litchfield County, Connecticut; Dutchess, Orange and Ulster Counties, New York; and Berkshire County, Massachusetts, which constitute Salisbury's service area. Salisbury offers a broad range of loan and credit facilities to borrowers in its service area, including residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, construction loans, working capital loans, equipment loans, and a variety of consumer loans, including home equity lines of credit, installment loans and collateral loans. All residential and commercial mortgage loans are collateralized by first or second mortgages on real estate. The ability of single family residential and consumer borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is generally dependent on the level of overall economic activity within the market area and real estate values. The ability of commercial borrowers to honor their repayment commitments is dependent on the general economy as well as the health of the real estate economic sector in Salisbury’s market area.

Salisbury’s commercial loan portfolio is comprised of loans to diverse industries, several of which may experience operating challenges due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic (“virus”). Approximately 32% of the Bank’s commercial loan portfolio are to entities who operate rental properties, which include commercial strip malls, smaller rental units as well as multi-unit dwellings. Approximately 10% of the Bank’s commercial loans are to entities in the hospitality industry, which includes hotels, bed & breakfast inns and restaurants. Approximately 9% of the Bank’s commercial loans are to educational institutions and approximately 4% of Salisbury’s commercial loans are to entertainment and recreation related businesses, which include camps and amusement parks. Salisbury’s commercial real estate exposure as a percentage of the Bank’s total risk-based capital, which represents Tier 1 plus Tier 2 capital, was approximately 209% as of March 31, 2023 and 198% at December 31, 2022 compared to the regulatory monitoring guideline of 300%. Salisbury’s commercial loan exposure is mitigated by a variety of factors including the personal liquidity of the borrower, real estate and/or non-real estate collateral, U.S. Department of Agriculture or Small Business Administration (“SBA”) guarantees, loan payment deferrals and economic stimulus loans from the U.S. government as a result of the virus, and other factors.

Credit Quality

Salisbury uses credit risk ratings as part of its determination of the allowance for credit losses. Credit risk ratings categorize loans by common financial and structural characteristics that measure the credit strength of a borrower. The rating model has eight risk rating grades, with each grade corresponding to a progressively greater risk of default. Grades 1 through 4 are considered not criticized and are aggregated as pass rated, and 5 through 8 are criticized as defined by the regulatory agencies. Risk ratings are assigned to differentiate risk within the portfolio and are reviewed on an ongoing basis and revised, if needed, to reflect changes in the borrowers' current financial position and outlook, risk profiles and the related collateral and structural positions.

Loans rated as "special mention" (5) possess credit deficiencies or potential weaknesses deserving management’s close attention that if left uncorrected may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loans at some future date.

Loans rated as "substandard" (6) are loans where the Bank’s position is clearly not protected adequately by borrower current net worth or payment capacity. These loans have well defined weaknesses based on objective evidence and include loans where future losses to the Bank may result if deficiencies are not corrected, and loans where the primary source of repayment such as income is diminished and the Bank must rely on sale of collateral or other secondary sources of collection.

Loans rated "doubtful" (7) have the same weaknesses as substandard loans with the added characteristic that the weakness makes collection or liquidation in full, given current facts, conditions, and values, to be highly improbable. The possibility of loss is high, but due to certain important and reasonably specific pending factors, which may work to strengthen the loan, its reclassification as an estimated loss is deferred until its exact status can be determined.

Loans classified as "loss" (8) are considered uncollectible and of such little value that continuance as Bank assets is unwarranted. This classification does not mean that the loan has absolutely no recovery or salvage value, but rather, it is not practical or desirable to defer writing off this loan even though partial recovery may be made in the future.

Management actively reviews and tests its credit risk ratings against actual experience and engages an independent third-party to annually validate its assignment of credit risk ratings. In addition, the Bank’s loan portfolio is examined periodically by its regulatory agencies, the FDIC and the CTDOB.

Based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by segment and by vintage, reported under the CECL methodology, is presented below. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to businesses, municipalities and independent schools. Commercial real estate includes construction, commercial, residential 5+ multi-family, farm and vacant land loans. Residential real estate includes residential 1-4 family and residential construction loans. Consumer includes HELOC, consumer, indirect auto loans and overdrafts.

 

(in thousands)  2023  2022  2021  2020  2019  Prior  Revolving Loans Amortized Cost Basis  Revolving Loans Converted to Term  Total
As of March 31, 2023                           
Commercial & industrial
Risk rating                                             
   Pass  $6,472   $55,315   $41,258   $30,157   $16,644   $39,817   $34,648   $   $224,311 
   Special mention       300                5,584    350        6,234 
   Substandard                   633    154    701        1,488 
   Doubtful                                    
   Loss                                    
Total commercial & industrial  $6,472   $55,615   $41,258   $30,157   $17,277   $45,555   $35,699   $   $232,033 
Commercial real estate
Risk rating                                             
    Pass  $26,352   $147,533   $109,300   $67,765   $25,899   $126,509   $   $   $503,358 
    Special mention               3,576        2,942            6,518 
    Substandard                   3,751    1,639            5,390 
    Doubtful                                    
    Loss                                    
Total commercial real estate  $26,352   $147,533   $109,300   $71,341   $29,650   $131,090   $   $   $515,266 
Residential real estate
Risk rating                                             
    Pass  $12,583   $104,906   $115,289   $64,488   $27,118   $127,790   $165   $   $452,339 
    Special mention               21        3,239            3,260 
    Substandard           668            1,239            1,907 
    Doubtful                                    
    Loss                                    
Total residential real estate  $12,583   $104,906   $115,957   $64,509   $27,118   $132,268   $165   $   $457,506 
Consumer
Risk rating                                             
    Pass  $790   $1,653   $945   $256   $408   $15,492   $22,808   $2,439   $44,791 
    Special mention                           97    61    158 
    Substandard                       4    8        12 
    Doubtful                                    
    Loss                                    
Total consumer  $790   $1,653   $945   $256   $408   $15,496   $22,913   $2,500   $44,961 
Total loans  $46,197   $309,707   $267,460   $166,263   $74,453   $324,409   $58,777   $2,500   $1,249,766 
Total Gross Charge-offs  $(18)  $(13)  $(4)  $   $   $   $   $   $(35)
Total Recoveries   3                                3 
Total Net Charge-offs  $(15)  $(13)  $(4)  $   $   $       $   $(32)

 

The composition of loans receivable by risk rating grade, under the incurred loss methodology is as follows:

(in thousands)  Pass  Special mention  Substandard  Doubtful  Loss  Total
December 31, 2022                              
Commercial & industrial  $232,259   $6,195   $1,543   $   $   $239,997 
Commercial real estate   477,006    8,798    5,855            491,659 
Residential real estate   444,778    2,995    1,879            449,652 
Consumer   46,041    162    5            46,208 
Loans receivable, gross  $1,200,084   $18,150   $9,282   $   $   $1,227,516 

 

A financial asset is considered collateral dependent when the debtor is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the sale or operation of the collateral. Expected credit losses for collateral dependent loans are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. Significant quarter over quarter changes are reflective of changes in nonaccrual status and not necessarily associated with credit quality indicators like appraisal value. The following table presents the amortized cost basis of individually analyzed collateral-dependent loans by loan portfolio segment:

The following table presents the amortized cost basis of collateral-dependent non-accrual loans as of March 31, 2023. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to businesses, municipalities and independent schools. Commercial real estate includes construction, commercial, residential 5+ multi-family, farm and vacant land loans. Residential real estate includes residential 1-4 family and residential construction loans. Consumer includes HELOC, consumer, indirect auto loans and overdrafts.

   

 

        

 
    Collateral Type      
(in thousands)   

 

Real Estate

    Business Assets    

 

Total Collateral-Dependent Non-Accrual Loans

 
March 31, 2023               
Commercial & industrial  $   $144   $144 
Commercial real estate   1,222        1,222 
Residential real estate   858        858 
Consumer   8    9    17 
Total  $2,088   $153   $2,241 
                

 

The following is a summary of loans by past due status at March 31, 2023:

                     
      Past due      
(in thousands)  Current  30-59 days  60-89 days  90 days or Greater Past Due  Total Past Due  Total Loans Outstanding  Loans Greater than 90 Days Past Due and Accruing
March 31, 2023                     
Commercial & industrial  $231,733   $300   $   $   $300   $232,033   $ 
Commercial real estate   514,822    359        85    443    515,266     
Residential real estate   456,300    1,124    67    15    1,207    457,506     
Consumer   44,513    373    58    17    448    44,961     
Total  $1,247,368   $2,156   $125   $117   $2,398   $1,249,766   $ 

 

The following is a summary of the amortized cost basis of loans on non-accrual status.

                
    March 31, 2023    December 31, 2022 
(in thousands)   Non-Accrual Loans with an Allowance    Non-Accrual Loans without an Allowance    Total Non-Accrual Loans    Total Non-Accrual Loans 
Commercial & industrial  $   $144   $144   $189 
Commercial real estate       1,222    1,222    1,648 
Residential real estate       858    858    820 
Consumer   9    8    17    5 
Total  $9   $2,232   $2,241   $2,662 

 

      Past due   
                         
               180  30  Accruing   
(in thousands)          days  days  90 days 
      30-59  60-89  90-179  and  and  and  Non-
    Current  days  days  days  over  over  over  accrual
December 31, 2022                        
Commercial & industrial  $239,847   $149   $1   $   $   $150   $   $189 
Commercial real estate   491,574            85        85        1,648 
Residential real estate   448,935    672    30        15    717        820 
Consumer   45,677    442    84    5        531        5 
Loans receivable, gross  $1,226,033   $1,263   $115   $90   $15   $1,483   $   $2,662 

 

Loan Modifications Made to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty

The allowance for credit losses incorporates an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses and is recorded on each asset origination. The starting point for the estimate of the allowance for credit losses is historical loss information, which includes losses from modifications of receivables to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Salisbury uses a probability of default/loss given default model to determine the allowance for credit losses. An assessment of whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty is made on the date of a modification.

Because the effect of most modifications made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty is already included in the allowance for credit losses as a result of the measurement methodologies used to estimate the allowance, a change in the allowance for credit losses is generally not recorded upon modification. In certain instances, Salisbury will modify a loan by providing multiple types of concessions. Typically, one type of concession, such as term extension, is granted initially. If the borrower continues to experience financial difficulty, another concession, such as an interest rate reduction, may be granted. Salisbury did not restructure any troubled debt in the first quarter of 2023 or 2022.

The components of troubled debt restructured loans at December 31, 2022 are as follows:

(in thousands)    December 31, 2022  
Commercial & industrial  $ 
Commercial real estate   1,381 
Residential real estate   1,289 
Consumer    
Accruing troubled debt restructured loans   2,670 
Commercial & industrial    
Commercial real estate    
Residential real estate   67 
Consumer    
Non-accrual troubled debt restructured loans   67 
Troubled debt restructured loans  $2,737 

The past due status of troubled debt restructured loans at December 31, 2022 is as follows:

(in thousands)    December 31, 2022  
Current  $2,670 
Past due 30-59 days    
Past due 60-89 days    
Accruing troubled debt restructured loans   2,670 
Current    
Past due 30-59 days   67 
Past due 180 days and over    
Non-accrual troubled debt restructured loans   67 
Total troubled debt restructured loans  $2,737 

Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans

The ACL on loans at March 31, 2023, was $16.0 million, an increase of $1.2 million, or 7.8%, since December 31, 2022. The increase was driven by the adoption of CECL, effective January 1, 2023, and the estimate of expected credit losses based on certain macro-economic factors. At March 31, 2023, the ACL on loans estimate used a reasonable and supportable forecast period of one year across all of its loan segments. At March 31, 2023, the reasonable and supportable forecast used to estimate the ACL on loans used the following loss drivers by loan segment: (i) Commercial & Industrial – National Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) and National Unemployment; (ii) Commercial Real Estate - National GDP and National Unemployment; (iii) Residential Real Estate – National Housing Price Index and National Unemployment; (iv) Consumer - National Unemployment. National GDP and National Unemployment are sourced from the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee’s published forecast whereas the National Housing Price Index is sourced from the Federal National Mortgage Association’s published forecast. The Company's qualitative factors at March 31, 2023, included consideration of the level of uncertainty surrounding the impact of macro-economic factors such as interest rates, inflation, supply chain disruption, geo-political events as well as other factors. At March 31, 2023, the ACL estimate for loans used a reversion period of two years for each loan segment.

The increase in the ACL on loans at March 31, 2023 compared with March 31, 2022, for the commercial & industrial and commercial real estate loan segments was primarily driven by changes in loan balances as well as changes in current and forecasted economic conditions between reporting periods. The increase in the ACL on loans in the residential real estate and consumer loan segments was primarily driven by changes in loan balances and a decline in the national housing price index between reporting periods.

The activity in Salisbury’s allowance for credit losses for loans is presented below. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to businesses, municipalities and independent schools. Commercial real estate includes construction, commercial, residential 5+ multi-family, farm and vacant land loans. Residential real estate includes residential 1-4 family and residential construction loans. Consumer includes HELOC, consumer, indirect auto loans and overdrafts.

             
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
(in thousands)  Beginning balance  Impact of Adopting ASC 326  Subtotal  Provision for Credit Losses  Charge-offs  Recoveries  Ending balance
Commercial & industrial  $1,921   $2,447   $4,368   $(89)  $   $   $4,279 
Commercial real estate   8,425    (3,236)   5,189    705            5,894 
Residential real estate   4,108    831    4,939    287            5,226 
Consumer   392    229    621    21    (35)   3    610 
Total allowance for credit losses  $14,846   $271   $15,117   $924   $(35)  $3   $16,009 

 

         
  Three months ended March 31, 2022
(in thousands)  Beginning balance  Provision  Charge-offs  Recoveries  Ending balance
Commercial & industrial  $1,811   $(173)  $(46)  $1   $1,593 
Commercial real estate   6,973    261    (334)       6,900 
Residential real estate   3,020    252    (16)       3,253 
Consumer   277    37    (17)   5    302 
Unallocated   881    (14)           867 
Totals  $12,962   $363   $(416)  $6   $12,915 


Charge-offs for first quarter 2022 included a write-down of $374 thousand to reduce the carrying value on $3.8 million of non-performing and under-performing loans, which Salisbury sold during the quarter, to the initial bid prices. The proceeds from the sale of these loans subsequently increased by approximately $239 thousand due to higher final bids. This increase was recorded in mortgage banking activities, net in Salisbury’s consolidated statement of income.

The Bank’s allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments is recognized as a liability (in other liabilities on consolidated balance sheet), with adjustments to the reserve recognized in the provision for credit losses in the consolidated income statement. The Bank’s activity in the allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

   Three months ended March 31, 2023
Balance at the beginning of period December 31, 2022  $178 
Impact of adopting ASC 326   913 
Subtotal   1,091 
Provision for credit losses   92 
Balance at the end of period March 31, 2023  $1,183 

 

   Three months ended March 31, 2022
Balance at the beginning of period December 31, 2021  $146 
Other expense – unfunded commitments   37 
Balance at the end of period March 31, 2022  $183 

 

The composition of loans receivable and the allowance for credit losses is presented in the tables below. The loan categories for previously reported periods have been updated to conform to the current presentation.

  (in thousands)  Collectively evaluated  Individually evaluated  Total portfolio
    Loans    Allowance    Loans    Allowance    Loans    Allowance 
March 31, 2023                              
Commercial & industrial  $231,889   $4,279   $144   $   $232,033   $4,279 
Commercial real estate   514,044    5,894    1,222        515,266    5,894 
Residential real estate   456,648    5,226    858        457,506    5,226 
Consumer   44,953    610    8        44,961    610 
Totals  $1,247,534   $16,009   $2,232   $   $1,249,766   $16,009 

 

  (in thousands)  Collectively evaluated  Individually evaluated  Total portfolio
    Loans    Allowance    Loans    Allowance    Loans    Allowance 
December 31, 2022                              
Commercial & industrial  $239,808   $1,780   $189   $   $239,997   $1,780 
Commercial real estate   488,630    7,781    3,029    22    491,659    7,803 
Residential real estate   447,543    3,805    2,109        449,652    3,805 
Consumer   46,203    363    5        46,208    363 
Unallocated allowance       1,095                1,095 
Totals  $1,222,184   $14,824   $5,332   $22   $1,227,516   $14,846 

 

Certain data with respect to loans individually evaluated for impairment is presented in the tables below. The loan categories for previously reported periods have been updated to conform to the current presentation.

       
   Loans with no specific allowance
   Loan balance  Income
  Book  Note  Average  Recognized
March 31, 2023            
Commercial & industrial  $144   $244   $165   $ 
Commercial real estate   1,222    1,748    1,619    14 
Residential real estate   858    941    1,170     
Consumer   8    8    31     
Totals  $2,232   $2,941   $2,985   $14 

 

Certain data with respect to loans individually evaluated for impairment is as follows as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2022:

   Impaired loans with specific allowance   Impaired loans with no specific allowance
(in thousands)  Loan balance    Specific    Income   Loan balance    Income 
    Book    Note    Average    allowance    recognized    Book    Note    Average    recognized 
March 31, 2022                           
Commercial & industrial  $76   $76   $146   $3   $1   $28   $25   $79   $ 
Commercial real estate   598    598    602    23    7    3,174    3,785    3,282    11 
Residential real estate           21            1,938    2,020    2,944    14 
Consumer                               15     
Totals  $674   $674   $769   $26   $8   $5,140   $5,830   $6,320   $25