Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Hamilton Bank. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period classifications. The reclassifications had no effect on net loss, or the net change in cash and cash equivalents and are not material to previously issued financial statements.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, deferred income tax valuation allowances, the fair value of investment securities and other than temporary impairment of investment securities.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents.

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, brokerage money market accounts, and federal funds sold. Generally, federal funds are sold as overnight investments.

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Investment Securities.

Management determines the appropriate classification of investment securities at the time of purchase. Securities that may be sold before maturity are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. Investment securities that management has the intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost. All investment securities held by Hamilton at March 31, 2016 and 2015 are classified as available for sale.

Investment securities designated as available for sale are stated at estimated fair value based on quoted market prices. They represent those securities which management may sell as part of its asset/liability strategy or that may be sold in response to changing interest rates or liquidity needs. Changes in unrealized gains and losses, net of related deferred taxes, for available for sale securities are recorded in other comprehensive income. Realized gains (losses) on available for sale securities are included in noninterest revenue and, when applicable, are reported as a reclassification adjustment in other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses on the sale of available for sale securities are recorded on the trade date and are determined by the specific identification method. The amortization of premiums and the accretion of discounts are recognized in interest revenue using methods approximating the interest method over the term of the security.

In estimating other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considers the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the intent and ability of the Bank to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock [Policy Text Block]

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (the “FHLB”) stock is an equity interest in the FHLB, which does not have a readily determinable fair value for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles, because its ownership is restricted and it lacks a market. FHLB stock is carried at cost, which approximates fair value and can be sold back only at par value of $100 per share and only to the FHLB or another member institution. As a member of the FHLB, the Bank is required to purchase stock based on its total assets. Additional stock is purchased and redeemed based on the outstanding FHLB advances to the Bank. As of March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company owned shares totaling $1,042,500 and $522,700, respectively.

Finance, Loan and Lease Receivables, Held-for-sale, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Loans Held For Sale

Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value. Fair value is determined based on outstanding investor commitments, or in the absence of such commitments, based on current investor yield requirements. Gains and losses on loan sales are determined by the specific-identification method.

Finance, Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Loans Receivable.

The Bank makes mortgage, commercial, and consumer loans to customers. A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is represented by mortgage loans throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area. The ability of the Bank’s debtors to repay their loans is dependent upon the real estate and general economic conditions in this area.

Loans are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balance adjusted for the allowance for loan loss, premiums on loans acquired, and/or any deferred fees or costs on originated loans. Interest revenue is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees and the direct costs of underwriting and closing loans are recognized over the life of the related loan as an adjustment to yield using a method that approximates the interest method. Any differences that arise from prepayment will result in a recalculation of the effective yield.

Loans are generally placed on nonaccrual status when they are 90 days past due. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual status at an earlier date if the collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual status are reversed against interest revenue. The interest on nonaccrual loans is accounted for on the cash basis method, until the loans qualify for return to accrual status. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and, in management’s judgment, future payments are reasonably assured.

Loans are considered impaired when, based on current information, management considers it unlikely that collection of principal and interest payments will be made according to contractual terms. If collection of principal is evaluated as doubtful, all payments are applied to principal. Impaired loans are measured: (i) at the present value of expected cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate; (ii) at the observable market price; or (iii) at the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. If the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, an impairment is recognized through an allocation of the allowance for loan losses and corresponding provision for loan losses. Generally, identified impairments are charged-off against the allowance for loan losses.

Troubled debt restructurings are loans for which Hamilton, for legal or economic reasons related to a debtor’s financial difficulties, has granted a concession to the debtor that it otherwise would not have considered. Concessions that result in the categorization of a loan as a troubled debt restructuring include:

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Reduction of the stated interest rate;

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Extension of the maturity date or dates at a stated interest rate lower than the current market rate for new debt with similar risk;

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Reduction of the face amount or maturity amount of the debt as stated in the instrument or other agreement; or

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Reduction of accrued interest

Certain Loans and Debt Securities Acquired in Transfer, Recognizing Interest Income on Impaired Loans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer.

The loans acquired from the Company’s acquisition of Fairmount on September 11, 2015 (see Note 3 “Acquisition of Fairmount Bancorp, Inc.”) were recorded at fair value at the acquisition date and no separate valuation allowance was established. The initial fair values were determined by management, with the assistance of an independent valuation specialist, based on estimated expected cash flows discounted at appropriate rates. The discount rates were based on market rates for new originations of comparable loans and did not include a separate factor for loan losses as that was included in the estimated cash flows.

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, applies to loans acquired in a transfer with evidence of deterioration of credit quality for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable. If both conditions exist, the Company determines whether to account for each loan individually or whether such loans will be assembled into pools based on common risk characteristics such as credit score, loan type, and origination date.

The Company considered expected prepayments and estimated the total expected cash flows, which included undiscounted expected principal and interest. The excess of that amount over the fair value of the loan is referred to as accretable yield. Accretable yield is recognized as interest income on a constant yield basis over the expected life of the loan. The excess of the contractual cash flows over expected cash flows is referred to as nonaccretable difference and is not accreted into income. Over the life of the loan, the Company continues to estimate expected cash flows. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows are recognized as impairments in the current period through the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent increases in cash flows to be collected are first used to reverse any existing valuation allowance and any remaining increase are recognized prospectively through an adjustment of the loan’s yield over its remaining life.

ASC Topic 310-20, Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs, was applied to loans not considered to have deteriorated credit quality at acquisition. Under ASC Topic 310-20, the difference between the loan’s principal balance at the time of purchase and the fair value is recognized as an adjustment of yield over the life of the loan.

Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance for Loan Losses Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Loan Losses.

The allowance for loan losses represents an amount which, in management’s judgment, will be adequate to absorb probable future losses on existing loans. The allowance for loan losses is established, as loan losses are estimated to have occurred, through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance is confirmed. Recoveries on previously charged-off loans are credited to the allowance for loan losses.

The allowance for loan losses is increased by provisions charged to income and reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries. Management’s periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on the Bank’s past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and current economic conditions. The look back period for historical losses consists of using both a 36 month and 48 month look back period for net charge-offs. Both of these periods are used individually to develop a range in which the allowance for loan loss should be within.

Management considers a number of factors in estimating the required level of the allowance. These factors include: historical loss experience in the loan portfolios; the levels and trends in past-due and nonaccrual loans; the status of nonaccrual loans and other loans identified as having the potential for further deterioration; credit risk and industry concentrations; trends in loan volume; the effects of any changes in lending policies and procedures or underwriting standards; and a continuing evaluation of the economic environment. Management modified the analysis in fiscal 2015 by weighting our net charge-off history to specifically reflect changes in the loan portfolio, the commercial lending staff, and our internal credit administration procedures.

Long-Duration Contracts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Bank-Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).

The Bank purchased single premium life insurance policies on certain employees of the Bank. The net cash surrender value of those policies is included in the accompanying statement of financial position. Appreciation in the value of the insurance policies is recognized as noninterest revenue.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Premises and Equipment.

Land is carried at cost. Buildings, land improvements, leasehold improvements, and furniture and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed primarily by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the lease term or the useful lives of the improvements. Maintenance and normal repairs are charged to noninterest expense as incurred, while additions and improvements to buildings and furniture and equipment are capitalized. Gains and losses on disposition of assets are reflected in earnings.

Finance, Loan and Lease Receivables, Held for Investments, Foreclosed Assets Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreclosed Real Estate.

Real estate acquired through foreclosure or other means is recorded at the lower of its carrying value or the fair value of the related real estate collateral at the transfer date less estimated selling costs. Losses incurred at the time of acquisition of the property are charged to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent reductions in the estimated fair value of the property are included in noninterest expense. Costs to maintain foreclosed real estate are expensed as incurred.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Intangible assets, consisting of core deposit intangibles, represent purchased assets that also lack physical substance but can be distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights or because the asset may be sold or exchanged on its own or in combination with a related contract, asset, or liability. Core deposit intangibles are amortized on an accelerated basis over a ten-year period. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated on an annual basis to determine impairment, if any. Any impairment of goodwill would be recognized against income in the period of impairment.

Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposure, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Off-Balance-Sheet Credit-Related Financial Instruments.

In the ordinary course of business, the Bank enters into commitments to extend credit, including commitments under standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded or otherwise required to be recognized.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Policy Text Block]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

The Bank records unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes. Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities are reclassified into earnings as the gains or losses are realized upon sale of the securities. The credit component of unrealized losses on available for sale securities that are determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired are reclassified into earnings at the time the determination is made.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes.

The provision for income taxes includes taxes payable for the current year and deferred income taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between financial and taxable income. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings Per Common Share.

Basic earnings per share represents income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share includes additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued, as well as any adjustment to income that would result from the assumed issuance. Potential common shares relate to outstanding stock options, restricted stock, and warrants and are determined using the treasury stock method.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock Based Compensation.

Compensation cost is recognized for stock options and restricted stock awards issued to employees and directors, based on the fair value of these awards at the date of grant. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock awards. Compensation cost is recognized

over the required service period, generally defined as the vesting period. For awards with graded vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.

Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Pending Merger.

On October 12, 2015, Hamilton Bancorp, Inc. (“Hamilton Bancorp”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Hamilton Bancorp, Hamilton Acquisition Corp. II (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hamilton Bancorp) and Fraternity Community Bancorp, Inc. (“Fraternity Community Bancorp”), pursuant to which, among other things, Fraternity Community Bancorp will merge with and into Hamilton Bancorp, with Hamilton Bancorp as the surviving entity, and immediately thereafter, Fraternity Federal Savings & Loan Association will be merged with and into Hamilton Bank with Hamilton Bank as the surviving bank (collectively, the “Merger”). At March 31, 2016, total assets of Fraternity Community Bancorp were $160.9 million.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, stockholders of Fraternity Community Bancorp will receive a cash payment equal to nineteen dollars and twenty-five cents ($19.25) for each share of Fraternity Community Bancorp common stock, or an aggregate of approximately $26.5 million. The completion of the merger occurred on May 13

, 2016. Due to the close proximity of the acquisition date and the date that the Company's financial statements were issued, preliminary fair value estimates are not available.

Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Subsequent Events.

There were no significant subsequent events identified that would affect the presentation of the financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses.

The ASU sets forth a “current expected credit loss” (CECL) model which requires the Company to measure all expected credit losses for financial instruments held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable supportable forecasts. This replaces the existing incurred loss model and is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost and applies to some off-balance sheet credit exposures. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee share-Based Payment Accounting (Topic 718).

This ASU includes provisions intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements. Some of the key provisions of this new ASU include: (1) companies will no longer record excess tax benefits and certain tax deficiencies in additional paid-in capital (“APIC”). Instead, they will record all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement, and APIC pools will be eliminated. The guidance also eliminates the requirement that excess tax benefits be realized before companies can recognize them. In addition, the guidance requires companies to present excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity; (2) increase the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes on awards and still qualify for the exception to liability classification for shares used to satisfy the employer’s statutory income tax withholding obligation. The new guidance will also require an employer to classify the cash paid to a tax authority when shares are withheld to satisfy its statutory income tax withholding obligation as a financing activity on its statement of cash flows (current guidance did not specify how these cash flows should be classified); and (3) permit companies to make an accounting policy election for the impact of forfeitures on the recognition of expense for share-based payment awards. Forfeitures can be estimated, as required today, or recognized when they occur. ASU No. 2016-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted, but all of the guidance must be adopted in the same period. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU No. 2016-09 to determine the potential impact the new standard will have on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

ASU 2016-02,

Leases (Topic 842).

The new guidance requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities

related to certain operating leases on the balance sheet by lessees and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2016-01,

Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities

. ASU

No. 2016-01

requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, excluding equity investments that are consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The amendment allows equity investments without readily determinable fair values to be measured at cost minus impairment, with a qualitative assessment required to identify impairment. The amendment also requires public companies to use exit prices to measure the fair value of financial instruments purposes; requiring separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statement; it eliminates the disclosure requirements related to measurement assumptions for the fair value of instruments measured at amortized cost. In addition, for liabilities measured at fair value under the fair value option, to present in other comprehensive income changes in fair value due to changes in instrument specific credit risk. ASU No. 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2015-16,

Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period

Adjustments.

This update eliminates the requirement to retrospectively adjust the provisional amounts recognized at the acquisition date with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill. These adjustments are required when new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts initially recognized or would have resulted in the recognition of additional assets or liabilities. The update also requires the nature of and reason for the business combination, to be disclosed in the consolidated financial statements. ASU 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will evaluate this amendment but does not believe it will have an impact on its financial position or results of operations.

ASU No. 2014-14

Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Classification of

Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure.

This update clarifies how creditors classify certain government-sponsored mortgage loans to borrowers with a guarantee that entitles the creditor to recover all or a portion of the unpaid principal balance from the government if the borrower defaults. The amendments in this update require that a mortgage loan be derecognized and that a separate other receivable be recognized upon foreclosure if the following conditions are met:

1. The loan has a government guarantee that is not separable from the loan before foreclosure.

2. At the time of foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to convey the real estate property to the guarantor and make a claim on the guarantee, and the creditor has the ability to recover under that claim.

3. At the time of foreclosure, any amount of the claim that is determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed. Upon foreclosure, the separate other receivable should be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor.

Adoption of the amendments in this update can be either a prospective transition method or a modified retrospective transition method. For prospective transition, an entity should apply the amendments in this update to foreclosures that occur after the date of adoption. For modified retrospective transition, an entity should apply the amendments in this update by means of a cumulative effect adjustment (through a reclassification to a separate other receivable) as of the beginning of the annual period of adoption. ASU 2015-14 was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014 and did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation—

Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period.

The amendments require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. Guidance in Topic 718 as it relates to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting should be applied to account for such awards. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. If the performance target becomes probable of being achieved before the end of the requisite service period, the remaining unrecognized compensation cost should be recognized prospectively over the remaining requisite service period. The total amount of compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The requisite service period ends when the employee can cease rendering service and still be eligible to vest in the award if the performance target is achieved. As indicated in the definition of vest, the stated vesting period (which includes the period in which the performance target could be achieved) may differ from the requisite service period. The amendments of ASU 2014-12 became effective on December 15, 2015 and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

ASU 2014-11, “Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860).”

ASU 2014-11 requires that repurchase-to-maturity transactions be accounted for as secured borrowings consistent with the accounting for other repurchase agreements. In addition, ASU 2014-11 requires separate accounting for repurchase financings, which entails the transfer of a financial asset executed contemporaneously with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty. ASU 2014-11 requires entities to disclose certain information about transfers accounted for as sales in transactions that are economically similar to repurchase agreements. In addition, ASU 2014-11 requires disclosures related to collateral, remaining contractual term and of the potential risks associated with repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions and repurchase-to-maturity transactions. ASU 2014-11 became effective on April 1, 2015 and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).

ASU 2014-09 implements a common revenue standard that clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 is effective on January 1, 2017 and is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

ASU No. 2014-04

Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force).

The guidance clarifies when an “in substance repossession or foreclosure” occurs, that is, when a creditor should be considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, such that all or a portion of the loan should be derecognized and the real estate property recognized. ASU 2014-04 states that a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure, or the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. The amendments of ASU 2014-04 also require interim and annual disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure. ASU 2014-04 became effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.