Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting and reporting policies of Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Corporation”) conform to generally accepted accounting principles and to general practices within the banking industry. The following is a description of the more significant of those policies.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation and its wholly-owned direct and indirect Subsidiaries, Southwest Georgia Bank (the “Bank”) and Empire Financial Services, Inc. (“Empire”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation.

Nature of Operations

The Corporation offers comprehensive financial services to consumer, business, and governmental customers through its banking offices in southwest Georgia. Its primary deposit products are money market, NOW, savings and certificates of deposit, and its primary lending products are consumer and commercial mortgage loans. The Corporation provides, in addition to conventional banking services, investment planning and management, trust management, mortgage banking, and commercial and individual insurance products. Insurance products and advice are provided by the Bank’s Southwest Georgia Insurance Services Division. Mortgage banking for primarily commercial properties is provided by Empire, a mortgage banking services subsidiary.

The Corporation’s primary business is providing banking services through the Bank to individuals and businesses principally in Colquitt County, Baker County, Thomas County, Worth County, Lowndes County and the surrounding counties of southwest Georgia. The Bank also operates Empire in Milledgeville, Georgia. Our first full-service banking center in Valdosta, Georgia opened in June 2010 and a mortgage origination office was opened in January 2011 in Valdosta, Georgia. Construction is almost complete on our second banking center in Valdosta and the new branch is expected to open in the first quarter of 2012.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 revenues 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 and the valuation of real estate acquired in connection with foreclosures or in satisfaction of loans. In connection with these evaluations, management obtains independent appraisals for significant properties.

A substantial portion of the Corporation’s loans are secured by real estate located primarily in Georgia. Accordingly, the ultimate collection of these loans is susceptible to changes in the real estate market conditions of this market area.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Statement of Cash Flows

For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Corporation considers cash and cash equivalents to include all cash on hand, deposit amounts due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in other banks, and federal funds sold. The Corporation maintains its cash balances in several financial institutions. Accounts at the financial institutions are secured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000. Uninsured deposits aggregate to $297,061 at December 31, 2011.

Investment Securities

Debt securities that management has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as “held to maturity” and recorded at amortized cost. Securities not classified as held to maturity or trading, including equity securities with readily determinable fair values, are classified as “available for sale” and recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income.

Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities. Declines in the fair value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. In estimating other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considers (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) the intent and ability of the Corporation to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. Gains and losses on the sale of securities are recorded on the trade date and are determined using the specific identification method.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation has been calculated primarily using the straight-line method for buildings and building improvements over the assets estimated useful lives. Equipment and furniture are depreciated using the modified accelerated recovery system method over the assets estimated useful lives for financial reporting and income tax purposes for assets purchased on or before December 31, 2003. For assets acquired after 2003, the Corporation used the straight-line method of depreciation. The following estimated useful lives are used for financial statement purposes:

Land improvements	5 – 31 years
Building and improvements	10 – 40 years
Machinery and equipment	5 – 10 years
Computer equipment	3 – 5 years
Office furniture and fixtures	5 – 10 years

All of the Corporation’s leases are operating leases and are not capitalized as assets for financial reporting purposes. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense and betterments are capitalized.

Long-lived assets are evaluated regularly for other-than-temporary impairment. If circumstances suggest that their value may be impaired and the write-down would be material, an assessment of recoverability is performed prior to any write-down of the asset. Impairment on intangibles is evaluated at each balance sheet date or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount should be assessed. Impairment, if any, is recognized through a valuation allowance with a corresponding charge recorded in the income statement.

Loans and Allowances for Loan Losses

Loans are stated at principal amounts outstanding less unearned income and the allowance for loan losses. Interest income is credited to income based on the principal amount outstanding at the respective rate of interest except for interest on certain installment loans made on a discount basis which is recognized in a manner that results in a level-yield on the principal outstanding.

Accrual of interest income is discontinued on loans when, in the opinion of management, collection of such interest income becomes doubtful. Accrual of interest on such loans is resumed when, in management’s judgment, the collection of interest and principal becomes probable.

Fees on loans and costs incurred in origination of most loans are recognized at the time the loan is placed on the books. Because loan fees are not significant, the results on operations are not materially different from the results which would be obtained by accounting for loan fees and costs as amortized over the term of the loan as an adjustment of the yield.

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Corporation will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. 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. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis for commercial and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Corporation does not separately identify individual consumer and residential loans for impairment disclosures.

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense. Loans are charged against the allowance for loan losses when management believes the collection of the principal is unlikely. The allowance is an amount which management believes will be adequate to absorb estimated losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible based on evaluation of the collectibility of loans and prior loss experience. This evaluation takes into consideration such factors as changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolios, current economic conditions that may affect the borrowers’ ability to pay, overall portfolio quality, and review of specific problem loans.

Management believes that the allowance for loan losses is adequate. While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based upon changes in economic conditions. Also, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Corporation’s allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Corporation to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination.

Foreclosed Assets

In accordance with policy guidelines and regulations, properties acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at the lower of cost or fair value at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. A valuation allowance is established to record market value changes in foreclosed assets. Revenue and expenses from operations and changes in the valuation allowance are included in net expenses from foreclosed assets. As of December 31, 2011, the valuation allowance for foreclosed asset losses was $575,000.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are amortized over a determined useful life using the straight-line basis. These assets are evaluated annually as to the recoverability of the carrying value. The remaining intangibles have a remaining life of two to eight years.

Credit Related Financial Instruments

In the ordinary course of business, the Corporation has entered into commitments to extend credit, including commitments under credit card arrangements, commercial letters of credit, and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Retirement Plans

The Corporation and its subsidiaries have post-retirement plans covering substantially all employees. The Corporation makes annual contributions to the plans in amounts not exceeding the regulatory requirements.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Corporation’s subsidiary bank has bank owned life insurance policies on a group of employees. Banking laws and regulations allow the Bank to purchase life insurance policies on certain employees in order to help offset the Bank’s overall employee compensation costs. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the policies had a value of $4,593,385 and $3,029,314, respectively, and were 16.1% and 11.3%, respectively, of stockholders’ equity. These values are within regulatory guidelines.

Income Taxes

The Corporation and its subsidiaries file a consolidated income tax return. Each subsidiary computes its income tax expense as if it filed an individual return except that it does not receive any portion of the surtax allocation. Any benefits or disadvantages of the consolidation are absorbed by the parent company.  Each subsidiary pays its allocation of federal income taxes to the parent company or receives payment from the parent company to the extent that tax benefits are realized.

The Corporation reports income under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes, which requires recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.  Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Recognition of deferred tax assets is based on management’s belief that it is more likely than not that the tax benefit associated with certain temporary differences and tax credits will be realized.

The Corporation will recognize a tax position as a benefit only if it is more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with an examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of a tax benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized on examination. No benefit is recorded for tax positions that do not meet the more than likely than not test.

The Corporation recognizes penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.  The Corporation is subject to U.S. federal and Georgia state income tax audit for returns for the tax period ending December 31, 2010 and subsequent years. 

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed an audit of the Corporation’s tax returns in May 2010 for periods ending December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007.  Adjustments from the examiner and payments to the IRS approximated $337,000.  The result of the audit did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements. Thus, no FIN 48 liability was recorded for additional tax, interest or penalties.   We are aware of no additional material uncertain tax positions which would require a FIN 48 liability to be recorded for the current year. 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in stockholders’ equity during a period, except those resulting from transactions with stockholders. Besides net income, other components of the Corporation’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes the after tax effect of changes in the net unrealized gain/loss on securities available for sale and the unrealized gain/loss on pension plan benefits. The following table presents the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

		2011			2010
Unrealized gain (loss) on AFS securities:
Gross	$	1,396,698		$	583,377
Tax		(474,878	)		(198,348	)
Net		921,820			385,029
Unrealized gain (loss) on pension plan benefits:
Gross		(2,098,116	)		(2,146,824	)
Tax		713,359			729,920
Net		(1,384,757	)		(1,416,904	)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(462,937	)	$	(1,031,875	)

Trust Department

Trust income is included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements on the cash basis in accordance with established industry practices. Reporting of such fees on the accrual basis would have no material effect on reported income.

Servicing and Origination Fees on Loans

The Corporation from the Bank’s subsidiary, Empire, recognizes as income in the current period all loan origination and brokerage fees collected on loans originated and closed for investing participants. Empire provides commercial mortgage banking services and was servicing approximately $293 million in non-recourse commercial mortgages at year-end 2011. Loan servicing fees are based on a percentage of loan interest paid by the borrower and recognized over the term of the loan as loan payments are received. Empire does not directly fund any mortgages and acts as a service-oriented broker for participating mortgage lenders. Fees charged for continuing servicing fees are comparable with market rates charged in the industry. Based on these facts and after a thorough analysis and evaluation of deferred mortgage servicing costs as defined under ASC 860, unrecognized mortgage servicing assets are considered insignificant and immaterial to be recognized. Late charges assessed on past due payments are recognized as income by the Corporation when collected.

Advertising Costs

It is the policy of the Corporation to expense advertising costs as they are incurred. The Corporation does not engage in any direct-response advertising and accordingly has no advertising costs reported as assets on its balance sheet. Costs that were expensed during 2011, 2010, and 2009 were $161,171, $177,402, and $148,478, respectively.

Recent Market and Regulatory Developments

The financial services industry is continuing to face unprecedented challenges in the face of the current national and global economic environment. The global and U.S. economies are experiencing significantly reduced business activity. Dramatic declines in the housing market during the past several years, with falling home prices and increasing foreclosures and unemployment, have resulted in significant write-downs of asset values by financial institutions, including government-sponsored entities and major commercial and investment banks. These write-downs, initially of mortgage-backed securities but spreading to credit default swaps and other derivative securities, have caused many financial institutions to seek additional capital; to merge with larger and stronger institutions; and, in some cases, to fail. The Corporation is fortunate that the markets it serves have been impacted to a lesser extent than many areas around the country.

In May 2009, the FDIC imposed a special assessment on insured institutions as part of its efforts to rebuild the Deposit Insurance Fund and help maintain public confidence in the banking system. The special assessment was five basis points of each FDIC-insured depository institution’s assets minus Tier 1 capital, as of June 30, 2009. The Corporation recorded a pre-tax charge of approximately $122 thousand in the second quarter of 2009 in connection with the special assessment.

In September 2009, the FDIC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) that would require insured institutions to prepay their estimated quarterly risk-based assessments for the fourth quarter of 2009 and for all of 2010, 2011 and 2012. The FDIC Board voted to adopt a uniform three-basis point increase in assessment rates effective January 1, 2011, and extend the restoration period from seven to eight years. This rule was finalized in November 2009. As a result, the Corporation is carrying a prepaid asset of $691 thousand as of December 31, 2011. The Corporation’s quarterly risk-based deposit insurance assessments will be paid from this amount until the amount is exhausted or until December 30, 2014, when any amount remaining would be returned to the Corporation.

On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (The Act) was enacted. The Act was intended to address many issues arising in the recent financial crisis and is exceedingly broad in scope affecting many aspects of bank and financial market regulation. The Act requires, or permits by implementing regulation, enhanced prudential standards for banks and bank holding companies inclusive of capital, leverage, liquidity, concentration and exposure measures. In addition, traditional bank regulatory principles such as restrictions on transactions with affiliates and insiders were enhanced. The Act also contains reforms of consumer mortgage lending practices and creates a Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection which is granted broad authority over consumer financial practices of banks and others. It is expected as the specific new or incremental requirements applicable to the Corporation become effective that the costs and difficulties of remaining compliant with all such requirements will increase. The Act also permanently raises the current standard maximum FDIC deposit insurance amount to $250,000.

On November 9, 2010, the FDIC adopted the final rule that provides temporary unlimited coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts at all FDIC-insured depository institutions (IDIs) in anticipation of the expiration of the TAGP on December 31, 2010. The separate coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts became effective on December 31, 2010, and terminates on December 31, 2012. Unlike the TAGP, The Act definition of noninterest-bearing transaction accounts does not include either low-interest Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) accounts or Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTAs).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) was effective for the Corporation’s financial statements for periods ending after September 15, 2009. On July 1, 2009, the ASC became the single source of authoritative non-governmental U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative guidance for SEC registrants. All guidance contained in the Codification carries an equal level of authority. This guidance was effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009, and did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income”, Topic 220, which defers the effective date for the amendments to the presentation of items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income from ASU No. 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.

In September, 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.” This ASU is intended to simplify how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The new guidance allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity no longer is required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on its qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. The ASU will be effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income,” which revises how entities present comprehensive income in their financial statements.  The ASU requires entities to report components of comprehensive income in either (1) a continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements.  In a continuous statement of comprehensive income, an entity would be required to present the components of the income statement as presented today, along with the components of other comprehensive income.  In the two-statement approach, an entity would be required to present a statement that is consistent with the income statement format used today, along with a second statement, which would immediately follow the income statement, that would include the components of other comprehensive income.  The ASU eliminates the option for presenting components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity, requires that the statement of comprehensive income directly follows the income statement (if using the two statement approach), and requires that reclassification adjustments from other comprehensive income to net income are presented on the face of the financial statements. The ASU does not change the items that an entity must report in other comprehensive income.  ASU 2011-05 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.”  This ASU is a result of joint efforts by the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) to develop a single, converged fair value framework for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”).  This ASU is largely consistent with existing fair value measurement principles in U.S. GAAP; however, some of the components of this ASU could change how fair value measurement guidance in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” is applied.  This ASU does not require additional fair value measurements and is not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting.  ASU 2011-04 is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively. The Corporation is already disclosing its fair value measurements in compliance with the converged guidance, and the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.

In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-02, “A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring.” ASU 2011-02 provides guidance on a creditor’s evaluation of whether it has granted a concession and whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties in order to determine when a restructured loan is a troubled debt restructuring. This ASU is effective for the Corporation’s financial statements for annual and interim periods beginning on or after June 15, 2011, and must be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the period of adoption. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-01 which temporarily defers the effective date in ASU 2010-20 for disclosure about troubled debt restructuring by creditors to coincide with the effective date of the proposed guidance clarifying what constitutes a troubled debt restructuring. The adoption of this disclosure-only guidance is not expected to have an effect on the Corporation’s financial statements.

In July 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-20 “Receivables (Topic 310)—Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses,” which added disclosure requirements concerning the credit quality of an entity’s allowance for loan losses and financing receivables. The new disclosures that relate to information as of the end of the reporting period is effective as of December 31, 2010, whereas the disclosures related to activity that occurred during the reporting periods is effective January 1, 2011. Management has determined the adoption of the guidance will not have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.