Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

NOTE 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.

The Corporation’s primary business is providing banking services through the Bank to individuals and businesses principally in Colquitt County, Baker County, Worth County, Lowndes County and the surrounding counties of southwest 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. Our second banking center in Valdosta opened in March 2012. A commercial banking center in Valdosta, Georgia was completed and opened in August of 2014.

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 $5,302,382 at September 30, 2015.

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-temporarily impaired 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 since 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 collectability 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.

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 less than four 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. The beneficial aspects of these life insurance policies are tax-free earnings and a tax free death benefit, which are realized by the Bank as the owner of the policies. The cash surrender value of these policies is included as an asset on the balance sheet, and any increases in cash surrender value are recorded as noninterest income on the statement of income. At September 30, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the policies had a value of $5,194,073 and $5,104,173, respectively, and were 14.2% and 14.9%, 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 the Financial Accounting Standards BoardAccounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 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, 2012 and subsequent years. 

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.

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 $24 million in non-recourse commercial mortgages at September 30, 2015. 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 Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing, 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 expensed were $33,927 and $109,849 for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015.

Recent Market and Regulatory Developments

The Corporation and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Corporation and the Bank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Corporation and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of their assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items, as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the federal banking agencies about components, risk weightings and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Corporation and the Bank to maintain minimum Tier 1 leverage, Tier 1 risk-based capital and Total risk-based capital ratios. In July 2013, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System published the Basel III Capital Rules establishing a new comprehensive capital framework applicable to all depository institutions, bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of $500 million or more and all and savings and loan holding companies except for those that are substantially engaged in insurance underwriting or commercial activities. These rules implement higher minimum capital requirements for banks and certain bank holding companies, include a new common equity Tier 1 capital requirement and establish criteria that instruments must meet to be considered common equity Tier 1 capital, additional Tier 1 capital or Tier 2 capital.

As of September 30, 2015, the Corporation met the definition under the Basel III Capital Rules of a small bank holding company and, therefore, was exempt from consolidated risk-based and leverage capital adequacy guidelines for bank holding companies.

The minimum capital level requirements applicable to the Bank under the Basel III Capital Rules are: (i) a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5%; (ii) a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6% (increased from 4%); (iii) a Total risk-based capital ratio of 8% (unchanged from the rules effective for the year ended December 31, 2014); and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% for all institutions. Common equity Tier 1 capital will consist of retained earnings and common stock instruments, subject to certain adjustments. The Bank became subject to these new minimum capital level requirements as of January 1, 2015.

The Basel III Capital Rules set forth changes in the methods of calculating certain risk-weighted assets, which in turn affect the calculation of risk-based ratios. The new risk weightings are more punitive for assets held by banks that are deemed to be of higher risk. These changes were also effective beginning January 1, 2015.

The Basel III Capital Rules also introduce a “capital conservation buffer,” which is in addition to each capital ratio and is phased-in over a three-year period beginning in January 2016.

As of September 30, 2015, the Bank is considered to be well-capitalized under the Basel III Capital Rules. There have been no conditions or events since September 30, 2015, that management believes has changed the Bank’s status as “well-capitalized.”

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-07, “Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent).” ASU 2015-07 provides clarification on how certain investments measured at net asset value with redemption dates into the future are categorized in the fair value hierarchy. Under ASU 2015-07 investments measured at net asset value (“NAV”) per share under the existing practical expedient are no longer required to be categorized under fair value measurement rules. ASU 2015-07 also revises the disclosure requirements to focus only on those investments where the entity has elected to measure the fair value using the practical expedient. ASU 2015-07 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Corporation does not expect the impact of this guidance to be material to the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-04, Compensation (Topic 715): Practical Expedient for the Measurement Date of an Employer’s Defined Benefit Obligation and Plan Assets. ASU 2015-04 provides a practical expedient for the measurement date of defined benefit plan assets and obligations. The practical expedient allows employers with fiscal year-end dates that do not fall on a calendar month-end to measure pension and post-retirement benefit plan assets and obligations as of the calendar month-end date closest to the fiscal year-end. The FASB also provided a similar practical expedient for interim remeasurements for significant events. For public business entities, the standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Corporation does not expect the impact of this guidance to be material to the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. ASU 2015-02 amends the consolidation requirements and significantly changes the consolidation analysis required under GAAP. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015 for public business entities with early adoption permitted (including during an interim period), provided that the guidance is applied as of the beginning of the annual period containing the adoption date. The Corporation does not expect the impact of this guidance to be material to the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01 – Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20). This update eliminates the concept of extraordinary items and the related income statement presentation of such items. These amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The Corporation does not expect the impact of this guidance to be material to the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-17 – Pushdown Accounting - Business Combinations (Topic 805). The ASU provides an acquired entity with an option to elect to apply pushdown accounting. The amendments of this ASU apply to the separate financial statements of an acquired entity and its subsidiaries that are a business activity upon the occurrence of an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the entity. Pushdown accounting refers to the use of the acquirer's basis in the preparation of the acquiree's separate financial statements. The new standard became effective upon issuance on November 18, 2014. The Corporation does not expect the impact of this guidance to be material to the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) – Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or Equity, which will eliminate diversity in practice associated with the accounting for hybrid financial instruments issued in the form of a share. ASU 2014-16 clarifies that no single term or feature, stated or implied, would necessarily determine the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract in determining whether it is more akin to debt or equity. Although an individual term or feature may weigh more heavily in the evaluation, the final determination must be made based on all economic characteristics and risks of the entire hybrid financial instrument. Once the nature of the host contract is determined, any embedded features considered to be derivatives would be evaluated for bifurcation from the host contract. ASU 2014-16 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Corporation does not have any hybrid financial instruments and does not expect the impact of this guidance to be material to the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-14,– Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans Upon Foreclosure – a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. The ASU requires creditors to reclassify mortgage loans as another receivable that is separate from loans and to measure the receivable at the amount expected to be received under the government guarantee if the mortgage loan meets certain conditions upon foreclosure. For public business entities, the amendments in the ASU are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption, including adoption in an interim period, is permitted if the entity already has adopted ASU 2014-04. The Corporation does not expect the impact of this guidance to be material to the Corporation’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.