Stock Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock Based Compensation:

In April of 2022, the Company, with the approval of shareholders, created the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”). The 2022 Plan permits the award of up to one million shares to the Company’s directors and employees to attract and retain exceptional personnel, motivate performance and, most importantly, to help align the interests of the Company’s executives with those of the Company’s shareholders. The 2022 Plan replaced the 2017 Plan. There were 26,317 service time based share awards and 99,253 performance based share awards granted under the 2022 Plan during the three month period ended March 31, 2024, as shown in the table below. The actual number of performance based shares issued will depend on the relative performance of the Company’s average return on equity compared to a group of peer companies over a three year vesting period, ending December 31, 2026. As of March 31, 2024, 609,289 shares are still available to be awarded from the 2022 Plan. The 2017 Plan has been sunset.

The restricted stock awards were granted with a fair value price equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of the grant. Expense recognized was $662 thousand and $615 thousand for the three month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of March 31, 2024, there was $3.8 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to the nonvested shares granted under the Plan. The remaining cost is expected to be recognized over 2.9 years.

The following is the activity under the Plans during the three month period ended March 31, 2024.



	Maximum Awarded Service Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Maximum Awarded Performance Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Beginning balance - non-vested shares		253,776		$	14.97		209,484		$	15.01
Granted		26,317			13.81		99,253			13.81
Vested		(25,803	)		13.82		(66,192	)		13.79
Forfeited		(11,167	)		17.24		(19,625	)		15.05
Ending balance - non-vested shares		243,123		$	14.59		222,920		$	14.57

The following is the activity under the Plans during the three month period ended March 31, 2023.


	Maximum Awarded Service Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Maximum Awarded Performance Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Beginning balance - non-vested shares		193,015		$	16.69		137,369		$	15.85
Granted		30,688			14.21		102,750			14.16
Vested		(12,740	)		14.03		(30,635	)		14.35
Forfeited		(1,541	)		17.64		0			0.00
Ending balance - non-vested shares		209,422		$	16.34		209,484		$	15.01

The 91,995 shares that vested during the three month period ended March 31, 2024 had a weighted average fair value of $13.80 per share.