SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation - The financial statements of Arrow and its wholly owned subsidiaries are consolidated and all material inter-company transactions have been eliminated. In the “Parent Company Only” financial statements in Note 20, the investment in wholly owned subsidiaries is carried under the equity method of accounting. When necessary, prior years’ consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current-year financial statement presentation.

The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity under GAAP. Voting interest entities are entities in which the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance itself independently and provides the equity holders with the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities. The Company consolidates voting interest entities in which it has all, or at least a majority of, the voting interest. As defined in applicable accounting standards, variable interest entities (VIE) are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A controlling financial interest in a VIE is present when the Company has both the power and ability to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries Arrow Capital Statutory Trust II and Arrow Capital Statutory Trust III are VIEs for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the accounts of these entities are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting - Arrow operations are primarily in the community banking industry, which constitutes Arrow’s only segment for financial reporting purposes. Arrow provides other services, such as trust administration, retirement plan administration, advice to our proprietary mutual funds and insurance products, but these services do not rise to the quantitative thresholds for separate disclosure. Arrow operates primarily in the northeastern region of New York State in Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Essex, Clinton, Rensselaer, Albany, and Schenectady counties and surrounding areas.

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents include the following items: cash at branches, due from bank balances, cash items in the process of collection, interest-bearing bank balances and federal funds sold.

Securities - Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase. Securities reported as held-to-maturity are those debt securities which Arrow has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity and are stated at amortized cost. Securities available-for-sale are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, net of taxes. Realized gains and losses are based upon the amortized cost of the specific security sold. A decline in the fair value of any available-for-sale or held-to-maturity security below cost that is deemed to be other-than-temporary results in an impairment to reduce the carrying amount to fair value. To determine whether an impairment is other-than-temporary, we consider all available information relevant to the collectability of the security, including past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts when developing an estimate of cash flows expected to be collected. Evidence considered in this assessment includes the reasons for impairment, the severity and duration of the impairment, changes in value subsequent to year-end, forecasted performance of the investee, and the general market condition in the geographic area or industry the investee operates in. When an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred on a debt security, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings depends on whether we intend to sell the debt security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit loss. If we intend to sell the debt security or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit loss, the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date. If we do not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary impairment is separated into the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors. The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss is recognized in earnings. The amount of the total other-than-temporary impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes.

Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses - Interest income on loans is accrued and credited to income based upon the principal amount outstanding. Loan fees and costs directly associated with loan originations are deferred and amortized/accreted as an adjustment to yield over the lives of the loans originated.

From time-to-time, Arrow has sold (most with servicing retained) residential real estate loans at or shortly after origination. Any gain or loss on the sale of loans, along with the value of the servicing right, is recognized at the time of sale as the difference between the recorded basis in the loan and net proceeds from the sale. Loans held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value on an aggregate basis.

Loans are placed on nonaccrual status either due to the delinquency status of principal and/or interest or a judgment by management that the full repayment of principal and interest is unlikely. Unless already placed on nonaccrual status, loans secured by home equity lines of credit are put on nonaccrual status when 120 days past due; residential real estate loans when 150 days past due; commercial and commercial real estate loans are evaluated on a loan-by-loan basis and are placed on nonaccrual status when 90 days past due if the full collection of principal and interest is uncertain; all other loans are to be moved to non-accrual status upon the earliest occurrence of repossession, bankruptcy, delinquency of 90 days or more unless the loan is secured and in the process of collection with no loss anticipated or when full collection of principal and interest is in doubt.

The balance of any accrued interest deemed uncollectible at the date the loan is placed on nonaccrual status is reversed, generally against interest income. A loan is returned to accrual status at the later of the date when the past due status of the loan falls below the threshold for nonaccrual status or management deems that it is likely that the borrower will repay all interest and principal. For payments received while the loan is on nonaccrual status, we may recognize interest income on a cash basis if the repayment of the remaining principal and accrued interest is deemed likely.

The allowance for loan losses is maintained by charges to operations based upon our best estimate of the probable amount of loans that we will be unable to collect based on current information and events. Provisions to the allowance for loan losses are offset by actual loan charge-offs (net of any recoveries). We evaluate the loan portfolio for potential charge-offs on a monthly basis. In general, automobile and other consumer loans are charged-off when 120 days delinquent. Residential real estate loans are charged-off when a loss becomes known or based on a new appraisal at the earlier of 180 days past due or repossession. Commercial and commercial real estate loans are evaluated early in their delinquency status and are charged-off when management concludes that not all principal will be repaid from on-going cash flows or liquidation of collateral. An evaluation of estimated proceeds from the liquidation of the loan’s collateral is compared to the loan carrying amount and a charge to the allowance for loan losses is taken for any deficiency. While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions in Arrow's market area. In addition, various Federal regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, review Arrow's allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require Arrow to recognize additions to the allowance in future periods, based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination, which may not be currently available to management.

We consider nonaccrual loans over $250 thousand and all troubled debt restructured loans to be impaired loans and we evaluate these loans individually to determine the amount of impairment, if any. The amount of impairment, if any, related to individual impaired loans is measured based on either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, the loan's observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Arrow determines impairment for collateral dependent loans based on the fair value of the collateral less estimated costs to sell. Any excess of the recorded investment in the collateral dependent impaired loan over the estimated collateral value, less costs to sell, is typically charged off. For impaired loans which are not collateral dependent, impairment is measured by comparing the recorded investment in the loan to the present value of the expected cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. If this amount is less than the recorded investment in the loan, an impairment reserve is recognized as part of the allowance for loan losses, or based upon the judgment of management all or a portion of the excess of the recorded investment in the loan over the present value of the estimated future cash flow may be charged off.

The allowance for loan losses on the remaining loans is primarily determined based upon consideration of the historical loss factor incorporating a rolling twelve quarter look-back period of the respective segment that have occurred within each pool of loans over the loss emergence period (LEP), adjusted as necessary based upon consideration of qualitative considerations impacting the inherent risk of loss in the respective loan portfolios. The LEP is an estimate of the average amount of time from the point at which a loss is incurred on a loan to the point at which the loss is recognized in the financial statements. Since the LEP may change under various economic environments, we update the LEP calculation on an annual basis. We also consider and adjust historical net loss factors for qualitative factors that impact the inherent risk of loss associated with our loan categories within our total loan portfolio. These include:


•	Changes in the volume and severity of past due, nonaccrual and adversely classified loans


•	Changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio and in the terms of loans


•	Changes in the value of the underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans


•	Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices not considered elsewhere in estimating credit losses


•	Changes in the quality of the loan review system


•	Changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff


•	Changes in international, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio


•	The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit, and changes in the level of such concentrations


•	The effect of other external factors such as competition and legal and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in the existing portfolio or pool

In management’s opinion, the balance of the allowance for loan losses, at each balance sheet date, is sufficient to provide for probable loan losses inherent in the corresponding loan portfolio.

Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets - Real estate acquired by foreclosure and assets acquired by repossession are recorded at the fair value of the property less estimated costs to sell at the time of repossession. Subsequent declines in fair value, after transfer to other real estate owned and repossessed assets are recognized through a valuation allowance. Such declines in fair value along with related operating expenses to administer such properties or assets are charged directly to operating expense.

Premises and Equipment - Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization included in operating expenses are computed largely on the straight-line method. Depreciation is based on the estimated useful lives of the assets (buildings and improvements 20-40 years; furniture and equipment 7-10 years; data processing equipment 5-7 years) and, in the case of leasehold improvements, amortization is computed over the terms of the respective leases or their estimated useful lives, whichever is shorter. Gains or losses on disposition are reflected in earnings.

Investments in Real Estate Limited Partnerships - These limited partnerships acquire, develop and operate low and moderate-income housing. As a limited partner in these projects, we receive low income housing tax credits and tax deductions for losses incurred by the underlying properties. We apply the proportional amortization method allowed in Accounting Standards Update 2014-01 "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects." The proportional amortization method permits an entity to amortize the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the amount of the tax credits and other tax benefits received and to recognize the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense.

Income Taxes - The Tax Act was enacted on December 22, 2017 and requires the Company to reflect the changes associated with the law’s provisions in its 2017 fourth quarter. The law is complex and has extensive implications for the Company’s federal and state current and deferred taxes and income tax expense. The Company has recorded and reported the effects of the law’s impacts in its financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2017. See Note 15, Income Taxes, to the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Arrow accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date. Arrow’s policy is that deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination are capitalized and amortized. Any remaining unidentifiable intangible asset is classified as goodwill, for which amortization is not required but which must be evaluated for impairment. Arrow tests for impairment of goodwill on an annual basis, or when events and circumstances indicate potential impairment. In evaluating goodwill for impairment, Arrow first assesses certain qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any.

The carrying amounts of other recognized intangible assets that meet recognition criteria and for which separate accounting records have been maintained (depositor intangibles, mortgage servicing rights and customer intangibles), have been included in the consolidated balance sheet as “Other Intangible Assets, Net.” Depositor intangibles are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of ten to fifteen years.

Arrow has sold residential real estate loans, primarily to Freddie Mac, with servicing retained. Mortgage servicing rights are recognized as an asset when loans are sold with servicing retained, by allocating the cost of an originated mortgage loan between the loan and servicing right based on estimated relative fair values. The cost allocated to the servicing right is capitalized as a separate asset and amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing income. Capitalized mortgage servicing rights are evaluated for impairment by comparing the asset’s carrying value to its current estimated fair value. Fair values are estimated using a discounted cash flow approach, which considers future servicing income and costs, current market interest rates, and anticipated prepayment, and default rates. Impairment losses are recognized through a valuation allowance for servicing rights having a current fair value that is less than amortized cost on an aggregate basis. Adjustments to increase or decrease the valuation allowance are charged or credited to income as a component of other operating income.

Pension and Postretirement Benefits - Arrow maintains a non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees, a supplemental pension plan covering certain executive officers selected by the Board of Directors, and certain post-retirement medical, dental and life insurance benefits for employees and retirees. The costs of these plans, based on actuarial computations of current and future benefits for employees, are charged to current operating expenses. The cost of post-retirement benefits other than pensions is recognized on an accrual basis as employees perform services to earn the benefits. Arrow recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of our single employer defined benefit pension plan as an asset or liability on its consolidated balance sheet and recognizes changes in the funded status in comprehensive income in the year in which the change occurred.

Prior service costs or credits are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Gains and losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the benefit obligation or the fair value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants.

The discount rate assumption is determined by preparing an analysis of the respective plan’s expected future cash flows and high-quality fixed-income investments currently available and expected to be available during the period to maturity of the pension benefits.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans - Arrow has two stock option plans, which are described more fully in Note 12. The Company expenses the grant date fair value of options granted. The expense is recognized over the vesting period of the grant, typically four years, on a straight-line basis. Shares are generally issued from treasury for the exercise of stock options.

Arrow sponsors an Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") under which employees may purchase Arrow’s common stock at a 5% discount below market price at the time of purchase. This stock purchase plan is not considered a compensatory plan.

Arrow maintains an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”). Substantially all employees of Arrow and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate upon satisfaction of applicable service requirements. The ESOP borrowed funds from one of Arrow’s subsidiary banks to purchase outstanding shares of Arrow’s common stock. The notes require annual payments of principal and interest through 2018. As the debt is repaid, shares are released from collateral based on the proportion of debt paid to total debt outstanding for the year and allocated to active employees. In addition, the Company makes additional cash contributions to the Plan each year.

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase - In securities repurchase agreements, Arrow receives cash from a counterparty in exchange for the transfer of securities to a third party custodian’s account that explicitly recognizes Arrow’s interest in the securities. These agreements are accounted for by Arrow as secured financing transactions, since it maintains effective control over the transferred securities, and meets other criteria for such accounting. Accordingly, the cash proceeds are recorded as borrowed funds, and the underlying securities continue to be carried in Arrow’s securities available-for-sale portfolio.

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) - Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity (such as Arrow’s stock options), computed using the treasury stock method. Unallocated common shares held by Arrow’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan are not included in the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for either the basic or diluted EPS calculation.

Financial Instruments - Arrow is a party to certain financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, such as: commercial lines of credit, construction lines of credit, overdraft protection, home equity lines of credit and standby letters of credit. Arrow's policy is to record such instruments when funded. Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instrument. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time Arrow's entire holdings of a particular financial instrument. Because no market exists for a significant portion of Arrow's financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

Fair value estimates are based on existing on- and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. For example, Arrow has a trust department that contributes net fee income annually. The value of trust department customer relationships is not considered a financial instrument of the Company, and therefore this value has not been incorporated into the fair value estimates. Other significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial assets or liabilities include deferred taxes, premises and equipment, the value of low-cost, long-term core deposits and goodwill. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in any of the estimates.

The carrying amount of the following short-term assets and liabilities is a reasonable estimate of fair value: cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, demand deposits, savings, N.O.W. and money market deposits, other short-term borrowings, accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable. The fair value estimates of other on- and off-balance sheet financial instruments, as well as the method of arriving at fair value estimates, are included in the related footnotes and summarized in Note 17.

Fair Value Measures - We determine the fair value of financial instruments under the following hierarchy:


•	Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;


•	Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability;


•	Level 3 – Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Management’s Use of Estimates -The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Our most significant estimates are the allowance for loan losses, the evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities, goodwill impairment, pension and other postretirement liabilities and an analysis of a need for a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

A material estimate that is particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term is the allowance for loan losses. In connection with the determination of the allowance for loan losses, management obtains appraisals for properties. The allowance for loan losses is management’s best estimate of probable loan losses incurred as of the balance sheet date. While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans, future adjustments to the allowance for loan losses may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions.

Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The following accounting standard has been adopted in 2017:

Effective January 1, 2017, Arrow adopted FASB accounting standard ASU 2016-09 "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which makes several revisions to equity compensation accounting. Under the new guidance all excess tax benefits and deficiencies that occur when an award is exercised or expires are recognized in income tax expense as discrete period items. Previously, these transactions were typically recorded directly within equity. Excess tax benefits are also recognized at the time an award is exercised compared to the previous requirement to delay recognition until the deduction reduces taxes payable. All tax related cash flows recognized on stock-based compensation expense are classified as an operating activity in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on a prospective basis. Accordingly, prior periods have not been adjusted. ASU 2016-09 also provides an accounting policy election to recognize forfeitures of awards as they occur when estimating stock-based compensation expense rather than the previous requirement to estimate forfeitures from inception. Further, ASU 2016-09 permits employers to use a net-settlement feature to withhold taxes on equity compensation awards up to the maximum statutory tax rate without affecting the equity classification of the award. Under previous guidance, withholding of equity awards in excess of the minimum statutory requirement resulted in liability classification for the entire award. The related cash remittance by the employer for employee taxes is treated as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows.

Income tax benefits from stock options exercised in the period reduced our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2017, which resulted in an increase in earnings of approximately $148 thousand, representing earnings per share of approximately $0.01.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, "Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)." This ASU allows for the option to reclassify from accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the newly enacted federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was enacted on December 22, 2017. The legislation included a reduction to the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent effective January 1, 2018. The amount of the reclassification would be the difference between the historical corporate income tax rate and the newly enacted 21 percent corporate income tax rate. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for public businesses for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. Arrow adopted the guidance as of December 31, 2017. The adoption of this ASU was accounted for as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet resulting in a $1.6 million increase to retained earnings and a corresponding decrease to AOCI on December 31, 2017.

The following accounting standards have been issued and become effective for the Company at a future date:

ASU 2014-09 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of the revenue standard is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU is intended to clarify and converge the revenue recognition principles under GAAP to streamline revenue recognition requirements in addition to expanding required revenue recognition disclosures. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Deferral of the Effective Date, which provides a one year deferral to the effective date, therefore, ASU 2014-09 is effective for public companies for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2017. As such, we adopted ASU 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018 and will be using the modified retrospective approach. A significant amount of our revenues are derived from net interest income on financial assets and liabilities, which are excluded from the scope of the amended guidance. We have identified the recognition of revenue related to specific types of Fiduciary activities to be in the scope of this amended guidance. The cumulative effect of the January 1, 2018 adoption was a decrease to retained earnings of $330 thousand.

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 became 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. As of December 31, 2017, we held $1.6 million of fair value in 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. As of December 31, 2017, we have less than $2.2 million in minimum lease payments for existing operating leases of branch and insurance locations with varying expiration dates from 2018 to 2031.

ASU 2016-13 "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses" will change the way we and other financial entities recognize losses on credit instruments, primarily loans and available-for-sale securities. Currently, loan losses are recognized using an "incurred loss" methodology that delays recognition until it is probable a loss has been incurred. Under the ASU, the incurred loss model will be replaced with a methodology that reflects current expected credit losses (CECL) over the life of the instrument and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. Currently, credit losses on available-for-sale securities reduce the carrying value of the instrument and cannot be reversed. Under the ASU, the amount of the credit loss is carried as a valuation allowance and can be reversed. For Arrow, the standard is effective for the first quarter of 2020 and early adoption is allowed in 2019. We plan on adopting the standard in the first quarter of 2020, in order to maximize the accumulation of data needed to calculate the new CECL methodologies. The ASU describes several acceptable methodologies for calculating expected losses on a loan or a pool of loans. Although other methodologies are allowed, we plan on only using the methodologies described in the ASU. Arrow is still evaluating criteria for loan segments and the appropriate methodology for each segment. It is logically presumable that a CECL methodology will result in higher levels of the allowance for loan losses than an incurred loss model. The initial adjustment will not be reported in earnings, but as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. We expect that the adoption of the new standard will have a material impact on the level of the allowance for loan losses, but we do not expect that the periodic provision for loan losses to be materially higher than our historic amounts. The adoption of the standard will have an impact on shareholders’ equity, but we expect that we will remain well-capitalized under current regulatory calculations. The standard also requires new disclosures about the loan portfolio. Both the FASB and banking regulators have made estimates of the range of percentage increases in the allowance for loan losses. One FASB board member has determined that the initial range of 30% to 50% for increases in bank allowances to be overestimated, with the most likely range being in the single digits, although some institutions will experience higher increases. Due to our historical low level of loan losses and our current conservative underwriting standards, we believe that our increase will be in the single digits. The FASB’s Transition Research Group for credit losses still has several outstanding unresolved questions, some of which may have a significant impact on CECL calculations. In 2016 we selected a third-party software product to calculate our CECL methodologies. We also began to accumulate a database of monthly loan data, beginning with June 2015, of the fields needed to make the loss calculations under the new CECL methodologies. During 2018, we plan on refining our loan segment criteria and, for most segments, we will calculate expected losses (for an expanding database) using two or more of the applicable methodologies before determining the most appropriate methodology for each loan segment or sub-segment.

ASU 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments" will existing diversity in practice with respect to eight specific cash flow issues. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes the interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. The amendments in this update should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. Arrow intends to adopt this ASU in 2018, as required, and determined the adoption of these amendments will not have a material impact on Arrow's results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

ASU 2017-01 "Business Combinations" defines when a set of assets and activities constitutes a business for the purposes of determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. Previously, the three elements required to be present in a business are inputs, processes, and outputs. The amendments in this update allow for a business to consist of inputs, processes, and the ability to create output. For Arrow, the standard became effective in the first quarter of 2018. This update had no effect on our accounting for acquisitions and dispositions of businesses.

ASU 2017-04 "Intangibles-Goodwill and Other" changes the procedures for evaluating impairment of goodwill. Prior to this Update, entities were required to perform procedures to determine the fair value of the underlying assets and liabilities following the guidance for determining the fair value of assets and liabilities in a business combination. This additional step to impairment testing has been eliminated. Under the amendments in this Update, entities should perform goodwill impairment testing by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. This amendment should reduce the cost and complexity of evaluating goodwill for impairment. For Arrow, the standard becomes effective in the first quarter of 2019, however, early adoption is permitted. This amendment will not affect our assessment of goodwill impairment since we currently perform the analysis of comparing carrying value to fair value of our reporting units that have goodwill and we have not had to perform a Step 2 Impairment Test to date.

ASU 2017-07 "Compensation-Retirement Benefits" improves the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit cost by requiring that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost. The amendments also provide explicit guidance on how to present the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the income statement and allow only the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. For Arrow, the standard became effective in the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this change in accounting for pension costs will not have a material impact on our financial position or the results of operations in periods subsequent to its adoption.

ASU 2017-08 "Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs" amends the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. This shortens the amortization period for the premium to the earliest call date. Under current generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), entities generally amortize the premium as an adjustment of yield over the contractual life of the instrument. For Arrow, the standard becomes effective in the first quarter of 2019, however, early adoption is permitted as early as the first quarter of 2017. We do not expect that the adoption of this change in accounting for certain callable debt securities will have a material impact on our financial position or the results of operations in periods subsequent to its adoption.

ASU 2017-09 "Compensation-Stock Compensation" provides guidance about which changes to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The guidance highlights the requirements for applying modification accounting and the exception criteria relating to changes in share-based payment terms. For Arrow, the standard became effective in the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this change in accounting for share-based payment awards will have a material impact on our financial position or the results of operations in periods subsequent to its adoption.