Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

10. Leases

Lessee – Operating Leases

Operating leases in which we are the lessee are recorded as operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities, included in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheets. We do not currently have any significant finance leases in which we are the lessee.

Operating lease ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset during the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement based on the present value of the remaining lease payments using a discount rate that represents our incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date. ROU assets are further adjusted for lease incentives. Operating lease expense, which is comprised of amortization of the ROU asset and the implicit interest accreted on the operating lease liability, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and is recorded net in occupancy expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Our leases relate primarily to office space and bank branches with remaining lease terms of generally one to ten years. Certain lease arrangements contain extension options which typically range from five to ten years at the then fair market rental rates. ASC 842 requires lessees to evaluate whether option periods, if available, will be exercised in order to determine the full life of the lease. The Company used the first option period, unless it is a relatively new lease that has a long initial lease term or other extenuating circumstances.

As of September 30, 2021, operating lease ROU assets and liabilities were $4.19 million and $4.29 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, operating lease ROU assets and liabilities were $4.80 million and $4.92 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2020, operating lease ROU assets and liabilities were $4.47 million and $4.55 million, respectively. In the first quarter of 2021, early termination of one lease resulted in a reduction to ROU assets and liabilities of $482,000 and $494,000, respectively. In the third quarter of 2021, a new modification to renew a lease for five more years resulted in an addition to ROU assets and liabilities of $302,000.

The table below summarizes the information related to our operating leases:

(in thousands except for percent and period data)	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021			Year Ended December 31, 2020			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Cash Paid for Amounts Included in the Measurement of Lease Liabilities
Operating Cash Flow from Operating Leases	$	536		$	795		$	594
Right-of-Use Assets Obtained in Exchange for New Operating Lease Liabilities	$	302		$	-		$	-
Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term - Operating Leases, in Years		6.76			7.33			7.29
Weighted-Average Discount Rate - Operating Leases		2.6	%		2.9	%		3.2	%

The table below summarizes the maturity of remaining lease liability:

(in thousands)	September 30, 2021
2021	$	174
2022		702
2023		714
2024		730
2025		741
2026 and thereafter		1,602
Total Lease Payments		4,663
Less: Interest		(377	)
Present Value of Lease Liabilities	$	4,286

As of September 30, 2021, we have no additional operating leases for office space that have not yet commenced or that are anticipated to commence during the fourth quarter of 2021.

Lessor - Direct Financing Leases

The Company is the lessor in direct finance lease arrangements. Leases are recorded at the principal balance outstanding, net of unearned income and charge-offs. Interest income is recognized using the interest method. Leases typically have a maturity of three to ten years, and fixed rates that are most often tied to treasury indices with an appropriate spread based on the amount of perceived risk. Credit risks are underwritten using the same credit criteria the Company would use when making an equipment term loan. Residual value risk is managed through the use of qualified, independent appraisers that establish the residual values the Company uses in structuring a lease.

Lease payments due to the Company are typically fixed and paid in equal installments over the lease term. Variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a rate (e.g., property taxes) that are paid directly by the Company are minimal. The majority of property taxes are paid directly by the client to a third party and are not considered part of variable payments and therefore are not recorded by the Company.

As a lessor, the Company leases certain types of agriculture equipment, solar equipment, construction equipment and other equipment to its customers. The Company’s net investment in direct financing leases was $90.4 million at September 30, 2021, $103.5 million at December 31, 2020, and $106.4 million at September 30, 2020.