Recent Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time the FASB issues an ASU to communicate changes to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The following information provides brief summaries of newly issued but not yet effective ASUs that could have an effect on LCNB’s financial position or results of operations:

ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)"

ASU No. 2016-02 was issued in February 2016 and requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments ("the lease liability") and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. When measuring assets and liabilities arising from a lease, the lessee should include payments to be made in optional periods only if the lessee is reasonably certain, as defined, to exercise an option to the lease or not to exercise an option to terminate the lease. Optional payments to purchase the underlying asset should be included if the lessee is reasonably certain it will exercise the purchase option. Most variable lease payments should be excluded except for those that depend on an index or a rate or are in substance fixed payments.

A lessee shall classify a lease as a finance lease if it meets any of five listed criteria:


1.	The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term.


2.	The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.


3.	The lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset.


4.	The present value of the sum of the lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset.


5.	The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term.

For finance leases, a lessee shall recognize in the statement of income interest on the lease liability separately from amortization of the right-of-use asset. Amortization of the right-of-use asset shall be on a straight-line basis, unless another basis is more representative of the pattern in which the lessee expects to consume the right-of-use asset’s future economic benefits. If the lease does not meet any of the five criteria, the lessee shall classify it as an operating lease and shall recognize a single lease cost on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. If a lessee makes this election, it should recognize lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The amendments in this update are to be applied using a modified retrospective approach, as defined, and are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted. LCNB estimates that it will recognize discounted right-of-use assets and lease liabilities totaling approximately $5 million for current leases outstanding. This projection is based on various assumptions, including the level of interest rates and no significant increases in leasing activity, that may change between now and the effective date.

ASU No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments"

ASU No. 2016-13 was issued in June 2016 and, once effective, will significantly change current guidance for recognizing impairment of financial instruments. Current guidance requires an "incurred loss" methodology for recognizing credit losses that delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred. ASU No. 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with a new methodology that reflects expected credit losses over the lives of the loans and requires consideration of a broader range of information to inform credit loss estimates. The ASU requires an organization to estimate all expected credit losses for financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Additional disclosures are required.

ASU No. 2016-13 also amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. Under the new guidance, entities will determine whether all or a portion of the unrealized loss on an available-for-sale debt security is a credit loss. Any credit loss will be recognized as an allowance for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities rather than as a direct reduction of the amortized cost basis of the investment, as is currently required. As a result, entities will recognize improvements to estimated credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities immediately in earnings rather than as interest income over time, as currently required.

ASU No. 2016-13 eliminates the current accounting model for purchased credit impaired loans and debt securities. Instead, purchased financial assets with credit deterioration will be recorded gross of estimated credit losses as of the date of acquisition and the estimated credit losses amounts will be added to the allowance for credit losses. Thereafter, entities will account for additional impairment of such purchased assets using the models listed above.

ASU No. 2016-13 will take effect for SEC filers for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early application will be permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. While LCNB's Loan Committee expects that the implementation of ASU No. 2016-13 will increase the balance of the allowance for loan losses, it is continuing to evaluate the potential impact on LCNB's results of operations and financial position. The Loan Committee is currently analyzing its data collection efforts, pool segmentation, and reporting mechanisms to prepare for adoption of this ASU. The financial statement impact of this new standard cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

ASU No. 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment"

ASU No. 2017-04 was issued in January 2017 and applies to public and other entities that have goodwill reported in their financial statements. To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, this ASU eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity had to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities, including unrecognized assets and liabilities, following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, under the amendments in this update, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. A public business entity that is an SEC filer should adopt the amendments in this update on a prospective basis for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Adoption of ASU No. 2017-04 is not expected to have a material impact on LCNB's results of operations or financial position.

ASU No. 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities"

ASU No. 2017-12 was issued in August 2017 and applies to any entity that elects to apply hedge accounting in accordance with current generally accepted accounting principles. The amendments in this update better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. To meet that objective, the amendments expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. LCNB does not currently own any instruments within the scope of ASU No. 2017-12 and its adoption is not expected to have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position.