Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies

Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and with prevailing practices within the banking industry. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of United Security Bancshares, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, United Security Bank and subsidiary (the “Bank”) and USB Capital Trust II (the "Trust"). The Trust is deconsolidated pursuant to ASC 810. As a result, the Trust Preferred Securities are not presented on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as equity, but instead they are presented as Junior Subordinated Debentures and are presented as a separate liability category. (see Note 9 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the following notes, references to the Bank are references to United Security Bank. References to the Company are references to United Security Bancshares, (including the Bank). United Security Bancshares operates as one business segment providing banking services to commercial establishments and individuals primarily in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

Nature of Operations – United Security Bancshares is a bank holding company, incorporated in the state of California for the purpose of acquiring all the capital stock of the Bank through a holding company reorganization (the “Reorganization”) of the Bank. The Reorganization, which was accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests, was completed on June 12, 2001. Management believes the Reorganization has provided the Company greater operating and financial flexibility and has permitted expansion into a broader range of financial services and other business activities.

During July 2007 the Company formed USB Capital Trust II and issued $15.0 million in Trust Preferred Securities with terms similar to those originally issued under USB Capital Trust I. During 2015, the Bank purchased $3.0 million of the Company's junior subordinated debentures related to the Company's trust preferred securities at a fair value discount of 40%. Subsequently, the Company purchased those shares from the Bank and canceled $3.0 million in par value of the junior subordinated debentures, realizing a $78,000 gain on redemption. The contractual principal balance of the Company's debentures relating to its trust preferred securities is $12.0 million as of December 31, 2018. (See Note 8. “Junior Subordinated Debt/Trust Preferred Securities”).

USB Investment Trust Inc was incorporated effective December 31, 2001, as a special purpose real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under Maryland law. The REIT is a subsidiary of the Bank and was funded with $133.0 million in real estate-secured loans contributed by the Bank. USB Investment Trust was originally formed to give the Bank flexibility in raising capital, and reduce the expenses associated with holding the assets contributed to USB Investment Trust.

The Bank was founded in 1987 and currently operates eleven branches and one construction lending office in an area from eastern Madera County to western Fresno County, as well as Taft and Bakersfield in Kern County, and Campbell in Santa Clara County. The Bank’s primary source of revenue is interest income through providing loans to customers, who are predominantly small and middle-market businesses and individuals. The Bank engages in a full compliment of lending activities, including real estate mortgage, commercial and industrial, real estate construction, agricultural and consumer loans, with particular emphasis on short and medium term obligations.

The Bank offers a wide range of deposit instruments. These include personal and business checking accounts and savings accounts, interest-bearing negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts, money market accounts and time certificates of deposit. Most of the Bank's deposits are attracted from individuals and from small and medium-sized business-related sources.

The Bank also offers a wide range of specialized services designed to attract and service the needs of commercial customers and account holders. These services include cashiers checks, travelers checks, money orders, and foreign drafts. In addition, the Bank offers Internet banking services to its commercial and retail customers. The Bank does not operate a trust department, however it makes arrangements with its correspondent bank to offer trust services to its customers upon request.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements - The preparation of 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change, relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, determination of goodwill, fair value of junior subordinated debt and certain collateralized mortgage obligations, and the valuation of real estate acquired in connection with foreclosures or in satisfaction of loans.

Subsequent events—The Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the day the financial statements were issued.

Significant Accounting Policies - The Company follows accounting standards set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, commonly referred to as “FASB.” FASB sets generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that the Company follows to ensure the consistent reporting of its consolidated financial condition, consolidated results of operations, and consolidated cash flows. References to GAAP issued by FASB in these footnotes are to FASB Accounting Standards Codification, sometimes referred to as the Codification or ASC. The following is a summary of significant policies:

Cash and cash equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, federal funds sold and repurchase agreements. At times throughout the year, balances can exceed FDIC insurance limits. Generally, federal funds sold and repurchase agreements are sold for one-day periods. The Bank did not have any repurchase agreements during 2018 or 2017, or at December 31, 2018 and 2017. All cash and cash equivalents have maturities when purchased of three months or less.

Securities - Debt and equity securities classified as available for sale are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from net income and reported, net of tax, as a separate component of comprehensive income and shareholders’ equity. Debt securities classified as held to maturity are carried at amortized cost. Gains and losses on disposition are reported using the specific identification method for the adjusted basis of the securities sold. Premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the period to maturity.

The Company classifies its securities as available for sale or held to maturity, and periodically reviews its investment portfolio on an individual security basis. Securities that are to be held for indefinite periods of time (including, but not limited to, those that management intends to use as part of its asset/liability management strategy, those which may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, changes in prepayments or any such other factors) are classified as securities available for sale. Securities which the Company has the ability and intent to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity.

Investments with fair values that are less than amortized cost are considered impaired. Impairment may result from either a decline in the financial condition of the issuing entity or, in the case of fixed interest rate investments, from rising interest rates. At each financial statement date, management assesses each investment to determine if impaired investments are temporarily impaired or if the impairment is other-than-temporary based upon the positive and negative evidence available. Evidence evaluated includes, but is not limited to, industry analyst reports, credit market conditions, and interest rate trends. Management also assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, a security in an unrealized loss position before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the entire difference between the amortized cost and fair value is recognized as impairment through earnings. For debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the amount of impairment is split into two components as follows: (1) OTTI related to credit loss, which must be recognized in the income statement; and (2) OTTI related to other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income. The credit loss is defined as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis. For equity securities, the entire amount of impairment is recognized through earnings.

Loans - Interest income on loans is credited to income as earned and is calculated by using the simple interest method on the daily balance of the principal amounts outstanding. Loans are placed on non-accrual status when principal or interest is past due for 90 days and/or when management believes the collection of amounts due is doubtful. For loans placed on nonaccrual status, the accrued and unpaid interest receivable may be reversed at management's discretion based upon management's assessment of collectability, and interest is thereafter credited to principal to the extent necessary to eliminate doubt as to the collectability of the net carrying amount of the loan.

Nonrefundable fees and related direct costs associated with the origination or purchase of loans are deferred and netted against outstanding loan balances. The net deferred fees and costs are generally amortized into interest income over the loan term using the interest method. Other credit-related fees, such as standby letter of credit fees, loan placement fees and annual credit card fees are recognized as noninterest income during the period the related service is performed.

Allowance for Credit Losses and Reserve for Unfunded Loan Commitments - The allowance for credit losses is maintained to provide for losses that can reasonably be anticipated. The allowance is based on ongoing quarterly assessments of the probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio, and to a lesser extent, unfunded loan commitments. The reserve for unfunded loan commitments is a liability on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and is included in other liabilities. The liability is computed using a methodology similar to that used to determine the allowance for credit losses, modified to take into account the probability of a drawdown on the commitment.

The allowance for credit losses is increased by provisions charged to operations during the current period and reduced by negative provisions and loan charge-offs, net of recoveries. Loans are charged against the allowance when management believes that the collection of the principal is unlikely. The allowance is an amount that management believes will be adequate to absorb losses inherent in existing loans, based on evaluations of the probability of collection. In evaluating the probability of collection, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of loans, allowance for credit losses and the provision for credit losses charged to operations. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. These evaluations take into consideration such factors as the composition of the portfolio, overall portfolio quality, loan concentrations, specific problem loans, and current economic conditions that may affect the borrowers' ability to pay.

The Company’s methodology for assessing the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses consists of several key elements, which include:

- the formula allowance

- specific allowances for problem graded loans identified as impaired

- and the unallocated allowance

The formula allowance is calculated by applying loss factors to outstanding loans. Loss factors are based on the Company’s historical loss experience and on the internal risk grade of those loans and, may be adjusted for significant factors, including economic factors that, in management's judgment, affect the collectability of the portfolio as of the evaluation date. Management determines the loss factors for problem graded loans (substandard, doubtful, and loss), special mention loans, and pass graded loans, based on a loss migration model. The migration analysis incorporates loan losses over the previous quarters as determined by management (time horizons adjusted as business cycles or environment changes) and loss factors are adjusted to recognize and quantify the loss exposure from changes in market conditions and trends in the Company’s loan portfolio. Those factors include 1) trends in delinquent and nonaccrual loans, 2) trends in loan volume and terms, 3) effects of changes in lending policies, 4) concentrations of credit, 5) competition, 6) national and local economic trends and conditions, 7) experience of lending staff, 8) loan review and Board of Directors oversight, 9) high balance loan concentrations, and 10) other business conditions. For purposes of this analysis, loans are grouped by internal risk classifications, which are “pass," “special mention,” “substandard,” “doubtful,” and “loss." Certain loans are homogeneous in nature and are therefore pooled by risk grade. These homogeneous loans include consumer installment and home equity loans.

Specific allowances are established based on management’s periodic evaluation of loss exposure inherent in impaired loans. For impaired loans, specific allowances are determined based on the collateralized value of the underlying properties, the net present value of the anticipated cash flows, or the market value of the underlying assets.

A loan is considered impaired when management determines that it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impairment is measured by the difference between the original recorded investment in the loan and the estimated present value of the total expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective rate, or the fair value of the collateral, less estimated selling costs, if the loan is collateral dependent.

The unallocated portion of the allowance is based upon management’s evaluation of various conditions that are not directly measured in the determination of the formula and specific allowances. The conditions may include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions affecting the key lending areas of the Company, credit quality trends, collateral values, loan volumes and concentrations, and other business conditions.


e.	Premises and Equipment - Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is computed principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are as follows:



Buildings	31 years	Furniture and equipment	3-7 Years

Other Real Estate Owned - Real estate properties acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are to be sold and are initially recorded at fair value of the property, less estimated costs to sell. The excess, if any, of the loan amount over the fair value is charged to the allowance for credit losses. Subsequent declines in the fair value of other real estate owned, along with related revenue and expenses from operations, are charged to noninterest expense.


g.	Intangible Assets and Goodwill - Intangible assets are comprised of core deposit intangibles, other specific identifiable intangibles, and goodwill acquired in branch acquisitions where the consideration given exceeded the fair value of the net assets acquired.

Goodwill amounts resulting from the acquisitions of Taft National Bank during April 2004, and Legacy Bank during February 2007 are considered to have an indefinite life and are not amortized. At December 31, 2018, goodwill related to Taft National Bank totaled $1.6 million, and goodwill related to Legacy Bank totaled $2.9 million. Impairment testing of goodwill is performed at the reporting level during December of each year for Taft, and during March of each year for Legacy. During 2018 and 2017, the Company did not recognize impairment adjustments on the goodwill related to the Legacy or Taft Bank acquisitions.

Income Taxes - Deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities using the liability method, and are reflected at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. For the use in estimates the enacted tax rate of the period is utilized.

Net Income per Share - Basic income per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted income per share includes the effect of stock options and other potentially dilutive securities using the treasury stock method to the extent they have a dilutive impact. Net income per share has been retroactively adjusted for all stock dividends declared. The number of potentially dilutive common shares included in quarterly diluted income per share is computed using the average market prices during the three months included in the reporting period under the treasury stock method. The number of potentially dilutive common shares included in year-to-date diluted income per share is a year-to-date weighted average of potentially dilutive common shares included in each quarterly diluted net income per share computation.

Cash Flow Reporting - For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, noninterest-bearing amounts due from banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell. Federal funds and securities purchased under agreements to resell are generally sold for one-day periods. Net cash flows are reported for interest-bearing deposits with other banks, loans to customers, and deposits held for customers.

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.


l.	Advertising Costs - The Company expenses marketing costs as they are incurred. Advertising expense was $85,000, $154,000, and $126,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

Stock Based Compensation - The Company has a stock-based employee compensation plan, which is described more fully in Note 11. The Company accounts for all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and restricted stock units and awards, to be recognized in the financial statements based on the grant date fair value of the award. The fair value is amortized over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period). Included in salaries and employee benefits for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 are $744,000, $97,000, an $30,000, respectively, of share-based compensation. The related tax benefit, recorded in the provision for income taxes, was not significant. All share data contained within the financial statements has been retroactively restated for stock based transactions (i.e. stock splits and stock dividends.)

Federal Home Loan Bank stock and Federal Reserve Stock - As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), the Company is required to maintain an investment in capital stock of the FHLB. In addition, as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB), the Company is required to maintain an investment in capital stock of the FRB. The investments in both the FHLB and the FRB are carried at cost, which approximates their fair value, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets under other assets and are subject to certain redemption requirements by the FHLB and FRB. Stock redemptions are at the discretion of the FHLB and FRB.

While technically these are considered equity securities, there is no market for the FHLB or FRB stock. Therefore, the shares are considered as restricted investment securities. Management periodically evaluates the stock for other-than-temporary impairment. Management’s determination of whether these investments are impaired is based on its assessment of the ultimate recoverability of cost rather than by recognizing temporary declines in value. The determination of whether a decline affects the ultimate recoverability of cost is influenced by criteria such as (1) the significance of any decline in net assets of the FHLB or FRB as compared to the capital stock amount of the FHLB or FRB and the length of time this situation has persisted, (2) commitments by the FHLB or FRB to make payments required by law or regulation and the level of such payments in relation to the operating performance of the FHLB or FRB, (3) the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on institutions and, accordingly, the customer base of the FHLB or FRB, and (4) the liquidity position of the FHLB or FRB.

Comprehensive Income - Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes items recorded directly to equity, such as unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale, unrecognized costs of salary continuation defined benefit plans, and unrealized gains and losses on trust preferred securities. Comprehensive income is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Other Comprehensive Income.

Segment Reporting - The Company's operations are solely in the financial services industry and include providing to its customers traditional banking and other financial services. The Company operates primarily in the San Joaquin Valley region of California. Management makes operating decisions and assesses performance based on an ongoing review of the Company's consolidated financial results. Therefore, the Company has a single operating segment for financial reporting purposes.

Revenue from Contacts with Customers - The Company records revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“Topic 606”). Under Topic 606, the Company must identify the contract with a customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation.

The Company’s primary sources of revenue are derived from interest and dividends earned on loans, investment securities, and other financial instruments that are not within the scope of Topic 606. The Company has evaluated the nature of its contracts with customers and determined that further disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers into more granular categories beyond what is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income was not necessary. The Company generally fully satisfies its performance obligations on its contracts with customers as services are rendered and the transaction prices are typically fixed; charged either on a periodic basis or based on activity. The contracts evaluated that are in scope of Topic 606 are primarily related to service charges and fees on deposit accounts, debit card fees, ATM processing fees, and other service charges, commissions and fees. Because performance obligations are satisfied as services are rendered and the transaction prices are fixed, there is little judgment involved in applying Topic 606 that significantly affects the determination of the amount and timing of revenue from contracts with customers. The Company adopted Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method on all contracts not completed as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of Topic 606 did not result in a material change to the accounting for any of the in-scope revenue streams. As such, no cumulative effect adjustment was recorded.


r.	New Accounting Standards:

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”). The guidance affects the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and resulted in separate classification of equity securities previously included in available for sale securities on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in the fair value of the equity securities captured in the consolidated statements of income. See Note 2 – Investment Securities for disclosures related to equity securities. Adoption of the standard also resulted in the use of an exit price rather than an entrance price to determine the fair value of loans not measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 14 – Fair Value Disclosures for further information regarding the valuation of these loans. Additionally, adoption of the standard resulted in separately recognizing the instrument-specific credit risk associated with the Company's Junior Subordinated Debt. See Note 9 - Junior Subordinated Debt / Trust Preferred Securities for additional information.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The FASB is issuing this Update to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. To meet that objective, the FASB is amending the FASB Accounting Standards Codification® and creating Topic 842, Leases. This Update, along with IFRS 16, Leases, are the results of the FASB’s and the International Accounting Standards Board’s (IASB’s) efforts to meet that objective and improve financial reporting. This ASU will be effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (i.e., calendar periods beginning on January 1, 2019), and interim periods therein. The Company estimates the impact of this standard will be recognize as of January 1, 2019 a new $3,388,000 lease right of use asset, and a new $3,479,000 lease liability, which will be offset by a $91,000 accrued rent asset. The Company does not expect any other significant impact from this ASU.

In July 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements, which amends ASC 842, Leases. The amendments in this Update allow lessors to combine lease and associated nonlease components by class of underlying asset in contract that meet certain criteria. For a lessor to qualify for this practical expedient, the lease and related nonlease components must have the same timing and pattern of transfer, and the lease component, if accounted for on a stand-alone basis, would be classified as an operating lease. Additionally the Update provide with an optional method for adopting the new leasing guidance. The optional transition method allows entities to apply the new guidance at the adoption date by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of the retained earnings, and not to restate the comparative periods presented. The Company has elected to use the practical expedient, and optional method of adoption as set-forth in this Update.

In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments- Credit Losses (Topic 326). The FASB is issuing this Update to improve financial reporting by requiring timelier recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments held by financial institutions and other organizations. The Update requires enhanced disclosures and judgments in estimating credit losses and also amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has formed a project team that is responsible for oversight of the Company’s implementation strategy for compliance with provisions of the new standard. An external provider specializing in community bank loss driver and CECL reserving model design as well as other related consulting services has been retained, and the Company has begun to evaluate potential CECL modeling alternatives. As part of this process, the Company has determined potential loan pool segmentation and sub-segmentation under CECL, as well as evaluated the key economic loss drivers for each segment. The Company presently plans to generate and evaluate model scenarios under CECL in tandem with its current reserving processes for interim and annual reporting periods in 2019. While the Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact of adopting this new guidance, management expects the impact of adoption will be significantly influenced by the composition and quality of the Company’s loans and investment securities as well as the economic conditions as of the date of adoption. The Company also anticipates significant changes to the processes and procedures for calculating the reserve for credit losses and continues to evaluate the potential impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). The FASB is issuing this Update to eliminate the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. This ASU will be effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 (i.e. calendar periods beginning on January 1, 2020, and interim periods therein. The Company does not expect any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements resulting from the adoption of this Update.

In March 2017, FASB issued ASU 2017-08 - Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The provisions of the update require premiums recognized upon the purchase of callable debt securities to be amortized to the earliest call date in order to avoid losses recognized upon call. For public business entities that are SEC filers the amendments of the update will become effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not expect the requirements of this Update to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in this Update modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, based on the concepts within FASB's Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. The amendment calls for the removal, modification, and addition of certain disclosure aspects to promote the appropriate exercise of discretion by entities when considering fair value measurement disclosures. The amendments of the update will become effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company does not expect the requirements of this Update to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In October 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes. The amendments in this Update allow entities to designate a change in the benchmark interest rate utilized for fixed-rate financial instruments, from the previously utilized LIBOR rate. For public business entities amendments of the update will become effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company continues to review the potential impact resulting from such a change. As of December 31, 2018, the Company continues to utilize the LIBOR rate for fixed-rate financial instruments.

Reclassifications - Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial statements to confirm to the classifications used in 2018. None of the reclassifications had an impact on equity or net income.