Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

In the opinion of the management of Arrow Financial Corporation (Arrow), the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contain all of the adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position as of March 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2015; the results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016; the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016; the changes in stockholders' equity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; and the cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The preparation of financial statements requires the use of management estimates. The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited annual consolidated financial statements of Arrow for the year ended December 31, 2015, included in Arrow's 2015 Form 10-K.

New Accounting Standards Updates (ASU): During 2016, through the date of this report, the FASB issued 9 accounting standards updates. The standards listed below did not have had an immediate impact on Arrow, but could in the future.

ASU 2016-01 "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" will significantly change the income statement impact of equity investments. For Arrow, the standard is effective for the first quarter of 2018, and will require that equity investments be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value measured in net income. Currently, we hold a small portfolio of equity investments and we do not expect that the adoption of this change in accounting for equity investments will have a material impact on our financial position or the results of operations in periods subsequent to its adoption.

ASU 2016-02 "Leases" will require the recognition of operating leases. For Arrow, the standard becomes effective in the first quarter of 2019. We do not expect that the adoption of this change in accounting for operating leases will have a material impact on our financial position or the results of operations in periods subsequent to its adoption.

ASU 2016-09 "Compensation - Stock Compensation" simplifies certain aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For Arrow, the standard becomes effective in the first quarter of 2017. We do not expect that the adoption of this change in accounting for stock-based compensation will have a material impact on our financial position or the results of operations in periods subsequent to its adoption.