Basis of Presentation and Consolidation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Blue Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Blue Hills Funding Corporation and Blue Hills Bank (the "Bank"), the principal operating entity, and the Bank's wholly-owned subsidiaries, B.H. Security Corporation, HP Security Corporation and 1196 Corporation, which are Massachusetts security corporations, and Nantucket Property Acquisition Company LLC, the Bank's subsidiary that holds other real estate owned. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company presented herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by GAAP for a complete set of financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) and disclosures necessary for the fair presentation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been included. Interim results are not necessarily reflective of the results of the year. The accompanying unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2017, included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ 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 and the valuation of deferred tax assets.

Loan policies

Loan policies

The Company has historically granted mortgage and consumer loans to its customers and a substantial portion of the loan portfolio consists of mortgage loans in communities including and near the locations of its banking offices. The ability of the Company’s debtors to honor their contracts is dependent upon the real estate and general economic conditions in these areas.

The Company’s loan portfolio includes 1-4 family residential real estate, home equity, commercial real estate, construction, commercial business, and consumer segments.

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off generally are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances adjusted for the allowance for loan losses, charge-offs, deferred origination fees and costs, and discounts on purchased loans. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Deferred loan origination fees/costs and discounts on purchased loans are recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method.

It is the policy of the Company to discontinue the accrual of interest on loans past due in excess of 90 days, unless the loan is well-secured and in the process of collection. Accrual may be discontinued sooner when in the judgment of management, the ultimate collectability of the principal or interest becomes doubtful. Upon discontinuance of accrual, all interest previously accrued is reversed against interest income. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. The interest on non-accrual loans is accounted for on the cash-basis until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due have been current for six consecutive months and future payments are reasonably assured.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Allowance for loan losses

The allowance for loan losses is based on the size and the composition of the loan portfolio, delinquency levels, loss experience, economic conditions and other factors related to the collectability of the loan portfolio. Loss experience is updated at least quarterly with consideration given to unsual circumstances in the portfolio. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectability of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

The allowance for loan losses is evaluated regularly by management and reflects consideration of all significant factors that affect the collectability of the loan portfolio. The evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. It is the intention of management to maintain an allowance that is prudently commensurate with the growth in the loan portfolio.

The allowance consists of general and allocated components, as further described below.

General component

The general component of the allowance for loan losses is based on a combination of the Company's own history and an extrapolated historical loss experience based on FDIC data for depository institutions with assets of one billion to five billion dollars dating back to 2010, adjusted for qualitative and environmental factors including changes to lending policies and procedures, economic and business conditions, portfolio characteristics, staff experience, problem loan trends, collateral values, concentrations and the competitive, legal and regulatory environment.

The qualitative factors are determined based on the various risk characteristics of each loan segment. Risk characteristics relevant to each portfolio segment are as follows:

Residential real estate- The Company does not generally originate loans with a loan-to-value ratio greater than 80 percent and does not generally grant loans that would be classified as subprime upon origination. When the Company does extend credit either on a first- or second-lien basis at a loan-to-value ratio greater than 80 percent, such loans are supported by either mortgage insurance or state guarantee programs. All loans in this segment are collateralized by owner-occupied, 1-4 family residential real estate and repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The health of the national and state economy, including unemployment rates and housing prices, will have an effect on the credit quality of loans in this segment.

Home equity - Loans in this segment are generally secured by first or second liens on residential real estate. Repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The Company evaluates each loan application based on factors including the borrower’s credit score, income, length of employment, and other factors to establish the creditworthiness of the borrower.

Commercial real estate - Loans in this segment include investment real estate and are generally secured by assignments of leases, real estate collateral and owner-occupied properties. In cases where there is a concentration of exposure to a single large tenant, underwriting standards include analysis of the tenant’s ability to support lease payments over the duration of the loan. The underlying cash flows generated by the properties may be adversely impacted by a downturn in the economy due to increased vacancy rates, which in turn, can have an effect on the credit quality in this segment. Payments on loans secured by income-producing properties often depend on the successful operation and management of the properties. Management continually monitors the cash flows of these loans.

Construction - Loans in this segment primarily include real estate development loans for which payment is derived from permanent financing or sale of the property. Credit risk is affected by cost overruns, time to sell at an adequate price, and market conditions.

Commercial business- Loans in this segment are generally secured by business assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, real estate and intangible assets. Strict underwriting standards include considerations of the borrower’s ability to support the debt service requirements from the underlying historical and projected cash flows of the business, collateral values, the borrower’s credit history and the ultimate collectability of the debt. Economic conditions, real estate values, commodity prices, unemployment trends and other factors will affect the credit quality of loans in these segments.

Consumer- Loans in this segment primarily include used classic and collector automobile loans. A significant portion of the used automobile loan portfolio is comprised of geographically diverse loans originated by and purchased from a third party, who also provides collection services and shares equally in any losses incurred.

Allocated component

The allocated component relates to loans that are considered impaired. Impairment is measured by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. An allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value) of the impaired loan is lower than the carrying value of that loan.

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Management reviews all loan types for individual impairment. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.

The Company periodically may agree to modify the contractual terms of loans. When a loan is modified and a concession is made to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty, the modification is considered a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). All TDRs are initially classified as impaired and generally remain impaired for the remaining life of the loan. The impaired classification may be removed if the borrower demonstrates compliance with the modified terms and the restructuring agreement specifies an interest rate equal to that which would be provided to a borrower with similar credit at the time of restructuring.

Recent Accounting Standards Updates

Accounting Standards Adopted in the Period

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The purpose of this Update is to allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company adopted the Update on January 1, 2018. The effect of applying the provisions of this Update resulted in an increase to retained earnings and a corresponding decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the amount of $279,000.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall, (Subtopic 825-10). The amendments in this Update address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. Targeted improvements to generally accepted accounting principles include the requirement for equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income and the elimination of the requirement for public business entities to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. The Update also requires Companies to utilize an "exit price" fair value methodology when measuring the fair value of financial instruments. The cumulative effect of applying the provisions of this Update resulted in an increase to retained earnings and a corresponding decrease to accumulated other comprehensive loss in the amount of $173,000.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The amendments in this Update require an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The impact to the consolidated financial statements upon adopting was not material.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The amendments in this Update require that in the statement of cash flows, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts. The impact to the consolidated financial statements upon adopting was not material.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This Update provides a revenue recognition framework for any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other accounting standards. The Company's revenue relates principally to financial instruments, which are explicitly excluded from the scope of the new guidance. The Company adopted this Update on January 1, 2018 and the impact to the consolidated financial statements upon adopting was not material.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting which amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. The Update provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting. Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the awards are the same immediately before and after the modification. The Update should be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the effective date. The impact to the consolidated financial statements upon adopting was not material.

Recently Issued

In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-04, Investments-Debt Securities (Topic 320) and Regulated Operations (Topic 980). Amendments to SEC paragraph Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 177 and SEC Release No 33-9273, the amendment of ASU 2018-04 adds, amends and supersedes variance paragraphs that contain SEC guidance in ASC 320, Investments-Debt Securities and ASC 980, Regulated Operations. The Company does not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2018-04 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Future Application of Accounting Pronouncements Previously Issued

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The purpose of this Update is to better align a company’s financial reporting for hedging activities with the economic objectives of those activities. This Update is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption, including adoption in an interim period permitted. The Update requires a modified retrospective transition method in which the Company will recognize the cumulative effect of the change on the opening balance of each affected component of equity in the statement of financial position as of the date of adoption. While the Company continues to assess all potential impacts of the standard, we currently expect the adoption to have an immaterial impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This Update is intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions and the key provision impacting the Company is the requirement for a lessee to record a right-to-use asset and a liability representing the obligation to make lease payments for long-term operating leases. Additionally, the Update includes additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures required by lessees and lessors to help users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This Update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply as well as transition guidance specific to nonstandard leasing transactions. The Company's assets and liabilities will increase based on the present value of remaining lease payments for leases in place at the adoption date; however, this is not expected to be material to the Company's results of operations or financial position. Future lease commitments as of March 31, 2018 amounted to $21.2 million.

In June, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which removes the thresholds that companies apply to measure credit losses on financial instruments measured at amortized cost, such as loans, receivables, and held-to-maturity debt securities. Under current U.S. GAAP, companies generally recognize credit losses when it is probable that the loss has been incurred. The revised guidance will remove previously established recognition thresholds based on probability, and will require companies to recognize an allowance for credit losses for the difference between the amortized cost basis of a financial instrument and the net amount that the company expects to collect over the instrument’s contractual life. ASU 2016-13 also amends the credit loss measurement guidance for available-for-sale debt securities and will require that credit losses be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. Additionally, this Update may reduce the carrying value of the Company's held-to-maturity investment securities as it will require an allowance on the expected losses over the life of these securities to be recorded upon adoption. The ASU is effective for public business entities fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Any increase in our allowance for loan losses or expenses may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. The Company is actively working through the provisions of the Update. Management has established a steering committee which has identified the methodologies and the additional data requirements necessary to implement the Update and has engaged a third-party software service provider to assist in the Company's implementation.