The accounting and financial reporting policies of TrustCo Bank Corp NY (the Company or TrustCo), ORE Subsidiary Corp., Trustco Bank (referred to as Trustco Bank or the Bank), and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Trustco Realty Corporation, Trustco Insurance Agency, Inc., ORE Property, Inc. and its subsidiaries ORE Property One, Inc. and ORE Property Two, Inc. conform to general practices within the banking industry and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. A description of the more significant policies follows.

Effective as of May 28, 2021, the Company completed a 1 -for -5 reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share. Proportional adjustments were made to the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock and to the exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the options outstanding under the Company’s equity incentive plans, and the number of shares subject to restricted stock units under the Company’s equity incentive plans. No fractional shares of common stock were issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split, and shareholders received cash in lieu of any fractional shares. All references herein to common stock and per share data for all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Debt securities are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Debt securities are classified as available for sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income, net of tax. Interest income includes amortization of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are generally amortized on the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments. Premiums on callable debt securities are amortized to their earlier call date. Discounts are amortized to maturity date. Gains and losses are recorded on the trade date and determined using the specific identification method.

The Company measures expected credit losses on securities held to maturity debt on a collective basis. Accrued interest receivable on held to maturity debt securities is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. The estimate of expected credit losses considers nature of the Issuer, historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts.

The Company evaluates securities available for sale in an unrealized loss position for other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”) by first assessing whether it intends to sell or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For available for sale debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income. Additional discussion of OTTI is included in Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements.

The Bank is a member of the FHLB system. Members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, and may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Dividends are reported as income. The Bank was also a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York until it discontinued its membership in 2020 and the Reserve Bank stock was redeemed. Prior to the stock redemption, the Reserve Bank stock was carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Any dividends received were reported as income.

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the near future or until maturity or payoff are reported at amortized cost net of allowance for credit losses on loans. Amortized cost is the principal balance outstanding, net of deferred loan fees and costs. Interest income is accrued on unpaid principal balances. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments.

Interest income from mortgage and commercial loans is discontinued and placed on non-accrual status at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent. Non-accrual loans are individually reviewed and charged off at 180 days past due. Commercial loans are charged off to the extent principal or interest is deemed uncollectible. In all cases, loans are placed on non-accrual or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

All interest accrued but not received for loans placed on non-accrual is reversed against interest income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Under the cost-recovery method, interest income is not recognized until the loan balance is reduced to zero. Under the cash-basis method, interest income is recorded when the payment is received in cash. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought to current and future payments are reasonably assured.

The allowance for credit losses on loans (“ACLL”) is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans are charged off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of the loan balance is confirmed. Expected recoveries are not to exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Accrued interest receivable is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.

The level of the ACLL represents management’s estimate of expected credit losses over the expected life of the loans at the balance sheet date. The Company uses the Discounted Cash Flow method to determine the historical loss experience using the probability of default and loss given default approach. The level of the ACLL is based on management’s ongoing review of all relevant information, from internal and external sources, relating to past and current events, utilizing an 8-quarter reasonable and supportable forecast period with immediate reversion. Management has determined unemployment rates for key metropolitan areas in New York and Florida as its primary economic indicator to be utilized for the forecast. Management also considers other economic indicators are considered as a part of the qualitative framework. The ACLL reserve is overlaid with qualitative considerations for changes in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency levels, or economic conditions such as changes in the consumer pricing index (“CPI”), property values, and gross metro product to make adjustments to historical loss information (“qualitative factors”). The determination of qualitative factors involves significant judgement and subjective measurement.

Commercial: Commercial real estate loans and other commercial loans are made based primarily on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. Commercial real estate collateral is generally located within the Bank’s geographic territories; while collateral for non‑real estate secured commercial loans is typically accounts receivable, inventory, and/or equipment. Repayment is primarily dependent upon the borrower’s ability to service the debt based upon cash flows generated from the underlying business. Additional support involves liquidation of the pledged collateral and enforcement of a personal guarantee, if a guarantee is obtained.

Residential real estate: Residential real estate loans, including first mortgages, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, are collateralized by first or second liens on one‑to‑four family residences generally located within the Bank’s market areas. Proof of ownership title, clear mortgage title, and hazard insurance coverage are normally required.

Installment: The Company’s installment loans are primarily made up of installment loans, personal lines of credit, as well as secured and unsecured credit cards. The installment loans represent a relatively small portion of the loan portfolio and are primarily used for personal expenses and are secured by automobiles, equipment and other forms of collateral, while personal lines of credit are unsecured as are most credit card loans.

Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis, which the Company has determined are non-accrual loans that have been delinquent 180 days or greater, commercial non-accrual loans and loans identified as troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). Loans evaluated individually are not also included in the collective evaluation. Estimates of specific allowance may be determined by the present value of anticipated future cash flows or the loan’s observable fair market value, or the fair value of the collateral less costs to sell, if the loan is collateral dependent. However, for collateral dependent loans, the amount of the amortized cost in a loan that exceeds the fair value of the collateral is charged-off against the allowance for credit losses on loans in lieu of an allocation of a specific allowance amount when such an amount has been identified definitively as uncollectible.

A loan for which terms have been modified resulting in a concession, and for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties, is considered a TDR. In situations where the Bank considers a loan modification, management determines whether the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty by performing an evaluation of the probability that the borrower will be in payment default on any of its debt in the near future without the modification. This evaluation is performed under the Company’s underwriting policy. Generally, the modification of the terms of loans was the result of the borrower filing for bankruptcy protection. Chapter 13 bankruptcies generally include the deferral of all past due amounts for a period of generally 60 months in accordance with the bankruptcy court order. In the case of Chapter 7 bankruptcies, even though there was no modification of terms, the borrowers’ debt to the Company was discharged and they may not reaffirm the debt.

The allowance for unfunded commitments is maintained at a level by the Company determined to be sufficient to absorb expected lifetime losses related to unfunded credit facilities (including unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit). The allowance for unfunded commitments is recorded as a separate liability and is included with Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated statements of condition. Changes in the reserve are recorded through the provision for credit losses on the consolidated statements of income.

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on either the straight‑line or accelerated methods over the remaining useful lives of the assets; generally 20 to 40 years for buildings, 3 to 7 years for furniture and equipment, and the shorter of the estimated life of the asset or the lease term for leasehold improvements.

Assets that are acquired through or instead of foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell. These assets are subsequently accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value less costs to sell. Subsequent write downs and gains and losses on sale are included in noninterest expense. Operating costs after acquisition are also included in noninterest expense. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were $2.1 million and $362 thousand, respectively, of other real estate owned included in the category of Other Assets in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Condition.

Deferred taxes are recorded for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or tax returns based upon enacted tax laws and rates. Deferred tax assets are recognized subject to management’s judgment that realization is more likely than not. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no benefit is recorded.

The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is dependent upon the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to the Company. The payment of dividends by the Bank to the Company is subject to continued compliance with minimum regulatory capital requirements and the filing of notices with the Bank’s and the Company’s regulators. The Bank’s primary regulator may disapprove a dividend if: the Bank would be undercapitalized following the distribution; the proposed capital distribution raises safety and soundness concerns; or the capital distribution would violate a prohibition contained in any statue, regulation, or agreement between the Bank and a regulator or a condition imposed in a previously approved application or notice. Currently the Bank meets the regulatory definition of a well-capitalized institution. During 2023, the Bank could declare dividends of approximately $96.7 million plus any 2023 net profits retained to the date of the dividend declaration.

The Company has stock-based compensation plans for employees and directors. 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, for restricted stock awards, the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant is used.

Basic earnings per common share is net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. All outstanding unvested share‑based payment awards that contain rights to non‑forfeitable dividends are considered participating securities for this calculation. Diluted earnings per common share includes the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock options. At December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the Company did not have any unvested awards that would be considered participating securities.

The Company’s operations are exclusively in the financial services industry and include the provision of traditional banking services. Management evaluates the performance of the Company based on only one business segment, that of community banking. The Company operates primarily in the geographical region of Upstate New York with branches also in Florida and the mid‑Hudson valley region of New York. In the opinion of management, the Company does not have any other reportable segments as defined by “Accounting Standards Codification” (ASC) Topic 280, “Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.”

Comprehensive income represents the sum of net income and items of other comprehensive income or loss, which are reported directly in shareholders’ equity, net of tax, such as the change in net unrealized gain or loss on securities available for sale and changes in the funded position of the pension and postretirement benefit plans. Accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, which is a component of shareholders’ equity, represents the net unrealized gain or loss on securities available for sale, net of tax and the funded position in the Company’s pension plan and postretirement benefit plans, net of tax.

Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in Note 13. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect these estimates.

On January 1, 2022, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses” (referred to as “CECL” and as Accounting Standards Codification Topic 326 (“ASC 326”)), which amended existing guidance to replace current generally accepted accounting principles used to measure a reporting entity’s credit losses. The main objective of this update is to provide financial statement users with enhanced financial disclosures for more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. To achieve this objective, the amendments in this update replace the incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The allowance for credit losses on loans is a valuation account that is deducted from, or added to, the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net, lifetime amount expected to be collected on the loans. The measurement of expected credit losses under the CECL methodology applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost including loan receivables and held-to-maturity debt securities. The update also applies to off-balance sheet exposures not accounted for as insurance (loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees and other similar instruments).

The Company adopted CECL using the modified retrospective method for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance-sheet credit exposures. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2022 are presented under CECL while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previous applicable GAAP. On the adoption date, the Company increased the allowance for credit losses on loans by $2.4 million and increased the allowance for credit losses for unfunded commitments by $2.3 million (included in Accrued expenses and other liabilities). The Company recorded a net decrease to undivided profits of $3.5 million, net of $1.2 million in deferred tax balances as of January 1, 2022 for the cumulative effect of adopting CECL.

The Company has made the following elections with regards to accrued interest receivable: the Company will continue to write off accrued interest receivable by reversing interest income; the Company has made the accounting policy election not to measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivables; and the Company elected to exclude accrued interest receivable balances from tabular disclosures and will present accrued interest receivable balances in other assets.

The allowance for credit losses on loans (“ACLL”) is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans’ amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loan are charged off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of the loan balance is confirmed. Expected recoveries are not to exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off.

The Company has elected the Discounted Cash Flow methodology to determine its ACLL. Management estimates the allowance for credit loss on loans balance using relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events, current conditions, and a reasonable and supportable forecast provided by a third party. The Company lends in the geographic territory of its branch locations in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont. Although the loan portfolio is diversified, historical credit loss experience in Florida and New York provides the quantitative basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Complementary to that, a portion of its debtors’ ability to repay depends significantly on the economic employment conditions prevailing in the respective geographic territory. The ACLL reserve is overlaid with qualitative considerations for changes in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency levels, or economic conditions such as changes in the unemployment rates, property values, and gross metro product to make adjustments to historical loss information. Management judgment is required at each point in the measurement process.

Management utilizes externally developed economic forecasts (Moody’s forecast scenarios) of unemployment rates within the key metropolitan areas in New York and Florida of which we serve to forecast probability of defaults and loss given defaults within the model. Management has determined that a reasonable and supportable forecast is 8 quarters after which the historical average probability defaults and loss given defaults will be used. The two economic scenarios evaluated by management in detail were the Baseline and Stagflation forecast scenarios. Within both scenarios, Management considered the following:

In determining the appropriate forecast to utilize, management considered the range of forecasted unemployment as well as a number of other economic indicators. Unemployment levels in the Baseline continued to be optimistic while not providing what management determined to be a full reflection of supply chain, workforce challenges, and inflationary pressures. The rising inflation, volatility in consumer confidence, supply chain, and workforce environment challenges, as well as monetary and geopolitical environmental considerations, drove management to elect the Stagflation forecast scenario.

As of January 1, 2022, the Company has elected to fully utilize the Stagflation forecast scenario. The Company determined the forecast more appropriately considers inflationary pressures and monetary policies observed currently and prospectively in the markets served. The ACLL reserve is then complemented with qualitative factors based upon GMP, CPI, and housing forecasts using the same scenario, and their related forecasts for the respective metropolitan regions of New York and Florida, and were factored into the calculation.

The Company determined its allowance for credit losses on loans using a pool of assets with similar risk characteristics. The Company evaluates its risk characteristics based on regulatory call report codes where it was determined that the loans within the call codes were homogenous in nature and could be aggregated into the main categories for the Company portfolio. There were no changes to the loan pools under CECL for January 1, 2022 compared to previously disclosed loan segments. Loans that no longer match the risk profile of the pool are individually assessed for credit losses. Non-accrual loans that have been delinquent 180 days or greater, commercial non-accrual loans and loans identified as troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) are individually assessed. The individual assessment for credit impairment is generally based on a discounted cash flow approach unless the asset is collateral dependent. The loan is considered collateral dependent when repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral and the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. Collateral dependent loans are individually assessed and the expected credit loss is based on the fair value of the collateral.

The Company estimates credit losses over the contractual period in which the Company is exposed to credit risk via a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit loss expense. The estimate includes consideration that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments is expected to be funded over its estimated life. The Company lends in the geographic territory of its branch locations in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont. Although the loan portfolio is diversified, a portion of its debtors’ ability to repay depends significantly on the economic conditions prevailing in the respective geographic territory. The following categories of off-balance sheet credit exposures have been identified: unfunded commitments to extend credit, unfunded lines of credit, residential mortgage pending closings and standby letters of credit. Each of these unfunded commitments is analyzed for a probability of funding to calculate a probable funding amount. The life of loan loss factor by related portfolio segment from the allowance for credit losses on loans calculation is then applied to the probable funding amount to calculate the estimated credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures recognized in other liabilities. The post adoption balance is included with Accrued expenses and other liabilities on consolidated statements of financial condition. Prospective changes in the reserve will be recorded through the provision for credit losses on the consolidated statements of income.

A debt security is placed on non-accrual status at the time any principal or interest payments become 90 days delinquent. Interest accrued but not received for a security placed on non-accrual is reversed against interest income. Timely principal and interest payments continue to be made on the securities. The unrealized losses in the portfolio are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. There were no debt securities for which other-than-temporary impairment had been recognized prior to January 1, 2022.

The Company’s held to maturity securities are issued by U.S. government entities and agencies such as Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. These securities are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government and are highly rated by major rating agencies and have a long history of no credit losses. Management measures expected credit losses on held to maturity debt securities on a collective basis by major security type, issuer and payment stream. The estimate of expected credit losses considers historical credit loss information adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts provided by a third party servicer. Based on the nature of the securities held by the Company and the underlying guarantees, there was no allowance for credit losses recorded for held to maturity securities as of January 1, 2022.

For available for sale debit securities in an unrealized loss position, the entity first assesses whether it intends to sell, or if it is more likely that not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For debt securities available for sale that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, in making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency and any adverse conditions specifically related to the security and its issuer, among other factors. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recorded through other comprehensive income.

The unrealized losses reported pertained to securities issued by the U.S. government and its sponsored entities, include agencies, and mortgage backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, which are currently well rated and guaranteed by the U.S. government. The Company does not intend to sell the securities, and it is not considered likely the Company will be required to sell these securities prior to recovery of the amortized cost. Timely principal and interest payments continue to be made on the securities. The unrealized losses in the portfolio are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. Management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of January 1, 2022 represents any credit loss and no realized losses have been recognized into provision for credit loss.