GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

The table below summarizes the changes in carrying amounts of goodwill and other intangibles (core deposit intangibles) for the periods presented.



			Core Deposit Intangible
	Goodwill		Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net

Balance at January 1, 2012	$	26,254	$	3,128	$	(304	)	$	2,824
Amortization expense	—		—		(448		)	(448		)
Balance at December 31, 2012	26,254		3,128		(752		)	2,376
Core deposit intangible resulting from the ECB Merger	—		4,307		—			4,307
Amortization expense	—		—		(800		)	(800		)
Balance at December 31, 2013	26,254		7,435		(1,552		)	5,883
Goodwill and core deposit intangible resulting from the Mergers	124,829		12,951		—			12,951
Amortization expense	—		—		(2,157		)	(2,157		)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	151,083	$	20,386	$	(3,709	)	$	16,677

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of acquired net assets under the acquisition method of accounting. The Company's mergers and acquisitions that have generated goodwill were were nontaxable events and, as a result, there is no tax basis in the goodwill. Accordingly, none of the goodwill associated with the respective acquisitions is deductible for tax purposes.

The value of acquired core deposit relationships was determined using the present value of the difference between a market participant's cost of obtaining alternative funds and the cost to maintain the acquired deposit base. The ECB and Yadkin core deposit intangibles are being amortized over a ten-year period using an accelerated method.

The table below presents estimated amortization expense for the Company's other intangible assets.



2015	$	3,098
2016	2,775
2017	2,485
2018	2,202
2019	1,915
Thereafter	4,202
	$	16,677

Goodwill is reviewed for potential impairment at least annually at the reporting unit level. The goodwill impairment test requires a two-step method to evaluate and calculate impairment. The first step requires estimation of the reporting unit’s fair value. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further testing is required. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, a second step is performed to determine whether an impairment charge must be recorded and, if so, the amount of such charge. The Company performed its annual goodwill impairment test as of October 31, 2014, and no impairment was indicated by this test. The Company has not identified any triggering events since the impairment test date that would indicate potential impairment.

Core deposit intangibles are evaluated for impairment if events and circumstances indicate a potential for impairment. Such an evaluation of other intangible assets is based on undiscounted cash flow projections. No impairment charges were recorded for other intangible assets in any of the periods presented.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

+ References+ Details