Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' Equity

(12) Shareholders’ Equity

Retained earnings are partially restricted in connection with regulations related to the insurance of deposit accounts, which requires Northwest to maintain certain statutory reserves. Northwest may not pay dividends on or repurchase any of its common stock if the effect thereof would reduce retained earnings below the level of adequate capitalization as defined by federal and state regulators.

In tax years prior to fiscal 1997, Northwest was permitted, under the IRC, to deduct an annual addition to a reserve for bad debts in determining taxable income, subject to certain limitations. Bad debt deductions for income tax purposes are included in taxable income of later years only if the bad debt reserve is used subsequently for purposes other than to absorb bad debt losses. Because Northwest does not intend to use the reserve for purposes other than to absorb losses, no deferred income taxes have been provided prior to fiscal 1987. Retained earnings at December 31, 2013 and 2012 include approximately $39.1 million representing such bad debt deductions for which no deferred income taxes have been provided.