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Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, and its subsidiary, First Citizens Community Bank, and its subsidiary, First Citizens Insurance Agency, Inc. for 2025 and 2024. For 2023, the consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, and its subsidiary CZFS, and its subsidiary, First Citizens Community Bank, and its subsidiaries, First Citizens Insurance Agency, Inc. and 1^st Realty of PA, LLC. These consolidated statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management makes 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 revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to determination of the allowance for credit losses, goodwill, derivatives, pension plans and deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Operating Segments

An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities that generates revenue and incurs expense, and the operating results of which are reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in the determination of resource allocation and performance. While the Company’s chief decision makers monitor the revenue streams of the various Company’s products, services and regions, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Company-wide basis. Consistent with our internal reporting, the Company’s business activities are reported as one segment, which is community banking.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits in banks and interest-earning deposits. Interest-earning deposits with original maturities of 90 days or less are considered cash equivalents.

Interest bearing time deposits with other banks are not included with cash and cash equivalents as the original maturities were greater than 90 days.

Investment Securities

Investment securities at the time of purchase are classified as one of the three following types:

Held-to-Maturity Securities - Includes securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are reported at amortized cost. The Company had no held-to-maturity securities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.

Trading Securities - Includes debt securities bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term. Such securities are reported at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings. The Company had no trading securities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.

Available-for-Sale Securities – Includes debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity or trading securities that will be held for indefinite periods of time. These securities may be sold in response to changes in market interest or prepayment rates, needs for liquidity and changes in the availability of and yield of alternative investments. Such securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of the estimated income tax effect.

The amortized cost of investments in debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, computed by a method that results in a level yield. Gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are computed on the basis of specific identification of the adjusted cost of each security.

The fair value of investments, except certain state and municipal securities, is based on bid prices published in financial newspapers or bid quotations received from securities dealers. The fair value of certain state and municipal securities is not readily available through market sources other than dealer quotations, so fair value is based on quoted market prices of similar instruments, adjusted for differences between the quoted instruments and the instruments being valued.

Allowance for Credit Losses (Debt Securities Available-for Sale)

For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses 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 of 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 debt securities available-for-sale 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, 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 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.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance when management confirms that an available-for-sale security is uncollectable or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company determined that the unrealized loss positions in available-for-sale debt securities were not the result of credit losses, and therefore, an allowance for credit losses was not recorded. See Note 4, “Investment Securities,” and Note 20, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” for more information about available-for-sale debt securities.

Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale debt securities totaled $2,399,000 and $2,135,000 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is included within accrued interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheet. This amount is excluded from the estimate of expected credit losses. Available-for-sale debt securities are typically classified as nonaccrual when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or management has serious doubts about the further collectability of principal or interest. When available-for-sale debt securities are placed on nonaccrual status, unpaid interest credited to income is reversed.

Equity Securities – This category includes common stocks of public companies. Such securities are reported at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings. Dividends are recognized as income when earned.

Restricted Stock - Common stock of the Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (“FHLB”) and correspondent banks represent ownership in institutions which are wholly owned by other financial institutions. These restricted equity securities are accounted for at cost and are classified as other assets.

Loans Held for Sale

Certain newly originated fixed-rate residential mortgage loans are classified as held for sale, because it is management’s intent to sell these residential mortgage loans. The residential mortgage loans held for sale are carried at fair value.

Loans

Interest on all loans is recognized on the accrual basis based upon the principal amount outstanding. The accrual of interest income on loans is discontinued when, in the opinion of management, doubt exists as to the ability to collect such interest. Payments received on non-accrual loans are applied to the outstanding principal balance or recorded as interest income, depending upon our assessment of our ultimate ability to collect principal and interest. Loans are returned to the accrual status when factors indicating doubtful collectability cease to exist.

The Company recognizes nonrefundable loan origination fees, SBA fees and certain direct loan origination costs over the life of the related loan as an adjustment of loan yield using the interest method.

Purchased Credit Deteriorated ("PCD") Loans

Purchased Credit Deteriorated (“PCD”) Loans

The Company has purchased loans, some of which have experienced more than insignificant credit deterioration since origination. PCD loans are recorded at the amount paid. An allowance for credit losses is determined using the same methodology as other loans held for investment. The initial allowance for credit losses determined on a collective basis is allocated to individual loans. The sum of the loan’s purchase price and allowance for credit losses becomes its initial amortized cost basis. The difference between the initial amortized cost basis and the par value of the loan is a noncredit discount or premium, which is amortized into interest income over the life of the loan. Subsequent changes to the allowance for credit losses are recorded through provision expense.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans

The allowance for credit losses on loans represents management’s estimate of expected credit losses over the estimated life of our existing portfolio of loans. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the loan’s amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. The expense for credit loss recorded through earnings is the amount necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses on loans at the amount of expected credit losses inherent within the loan portfolio. Loans are recorded as charge-offs against the allowance when management confirms a loan balance is uncollectable. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, changes in environmental conditions, delinquency level, segment growth rates and changes in duration within new markets, or other relevant factors. For further information on the allowance for credit losses on loans, see Note 5, “Loans,” for additional detail.

The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective (pool) basis when similar risk characteristics exist. The Company has segregated its portfolio segments based on federal call report codes which classify loans based on the primary collateral supporting the loan. The following are the Company’s segmented portfolios:

Residential Real Estate: The Bank originates residential mortgage and home equity loans primarily in its various market areas in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. These loans are secured by first and junior liens on a primary residence or investment property. The primary risk characteristics associated with residential loans typically involve major changes to the borrower, including unemployment or other loss of income; unexpected significant expenses, such as major medical expenses, catastrophic events, divorce or death. Residential loans that have adjustable rates could expose the borrower to higher payments in a rising interest rate environment. Real estate values could decrease and cause the value of the underlying property to fall below the loan amount, creating additional potential loss exposure for the Bank.

Commercial Real Estate: The Bank originates mortgage loans to operating companies primarily in its various market areas in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. The property may be owner-occupied or non-owner-occupied real estate properties and include retail buildings/shopping centers, hotels, office/medical buildings and industrial/warehouse space. Owner-occupied loans are typically repaid first by the cash flows generated by the borrower’s business operations. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the underlying business and its ability to generate sustainable profitability and positive cash flow. Factors that may influence a borrower’s ability to repay their loan include demand for the business’ products or services, the quality and depth of management, the degree of competition, regulatory changes, and general economic conditions. Increases in vacancy rates, interest rates or other changes in general economic conditions can have an impact on the borrower and its ability to repay the loan. Commercial real estate loans are generally considered to have a higher degree of credit risk as they may be dependent on the ongoing success and operating viability of a fewer number of tenants who are occupying the property and who may have a greater degree of exposure to economic conditions.

Agricultural Real Estate: The Bank originates loans secured by farmland and improvements thereon, secured by mortgages primarily in its various market areas in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. Farmland includes all land known to be used or usable for agricultural purposes, such as crop and livestock production. Farmland also includes grazing or pasture land, whether tillable or not and whether wooded or not. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the uncertainty on production, market, financial, environmental and human resources.

Construction: The Bank originates construction loans to finance land development preparatory to erecting new structures or the on-site construction of residential, industrial, commercial, or multi-family buildings, primarily in its various market areas in Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. Construction loans include not only construction of new structures, but also additions or alterations to existing structures and the demolition of existing structures to make way for new structures. Construction loans are generally secured by real estate. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the uncertainty on whether the construction will be completed according to the specifications and schedules. Factors that may influence the completion of construction may be customer specific, such as the quality and depth of property management, or related to changes in general economic conditions.

Consumer: The Bank originates loans to individuals for household, family, and other personal expenditures, which may include automobile loans and loans for college. Consumer loans generally have higher interest rates and shorter terms than residential loans but tend to have higher credit risk due to the type of collateral securing the loan or in some cases the absence of collateral. The primary risk characteristics associated with other consumer loans typically involve major changes to the borrower, including unemployment or other loss of income, unexpected significant expenses, such as for major medical expenses, catastrophic events, divorce or death.

Other Commercial Loans: The Bank originates lines of credit and term loans to operating companies for business purposes. The loans are generally secured by business assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, business vehicles and equipment as well as other assets of the business, or guarantors. Other commercial loans are typically repaid first by the cash flows generated by the borrower’s business operations. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the underlying business and its ability to generate sustainable profitability and positive cash flow. Factors that may influence a borrower’s ability to repay their loan include demand for the business’ products or services, the quality and depth of management, the degree of competition, regulatory changes, and general economic conditions. The ability of the Bank to foreclose and realize sufficient value from business assets securing these loans is often uncertain. To mitigate the risk characteristics of commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate may be included as a secondary source of collateral. The Bank will often require more frequent reporting requirements from the borrower in order to better monitor its business performance.

Other Agricultural Loans: The Bank originates loans secured or unsecured to farm owners and operators (including tenants) or to nonfarmers for the purpose of financing agricultural production, including the growing and storing of crops, the marketing or carrying of agricultural products by the growers thereof, and the breeding, raising, fattening, or marketing of livestock, and for purchases of farm machinery, equipment, and implements. The primary risk characteristics are specific to the uncertainty on production, market, financial, environmental and human resources.

State and Political Subdivision Loans: The Bank originates various types of loans made directly to municipalities. These loans are repaid through general cash flows or through specific revenue streams, such as water and sewer fees. The primary risk characteristics associated with municipal loans are the municipality’s ability to manage cash flow, balance the fiscal budget, fixed asset and infrastructure requirements. Additional risks include changes in demographics, as well as social and political conditions.

Methods utilized by management to estimate expected credit losses include a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model that discounts instrument-level contractual cash flows, adjusted for prepayments and curtailments, incorporating loss expectations and a weighted average remaining maturity (“WARM”) model which contemplates expected losses at a pool-level, utilizing historic loss information. Management estimates the allowance for credit losses on loans using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. After the end of the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the loss rates revert to the mean loss rate over a period of eight quarters.

Historical credit loss experience, including examination of loss experience at representative peer institutions when the Company’s loss history does not result in estimations that are meaningful to users of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in underwriting standards, changes in environmental conditions, delinquency level, segment growth rates and changes in duration within new markets, or other relevant factors.

The DCF model uses inputs of current and forecasted macroeconomic indicators to predict future loss rates. The current macroeconomic indicators utilized by the Company are federal unemployment rates, national gross domestic production and national housing price index. In building the CECL methodology utilized in the DCF model, a correlation between this indicator and historic loss levels was developed, enabling a prediction of future loss rates related to future Federal unemployment rates and national gross domestic production and national housing price index.

The WARM model uses combined historic loss rates for the Company and peer institutions, if necessary, gathered from call report filings. The selected period for which historic loss rates are used is dependent on management’s evaluation of current conditions and expectations of future loss conditions.

Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. Loans evaluated individually are not also included in the collective evaluation and typically represent collateral dependent loans but may also include other nonperforming loans. The Company uses the practical expedient to measure individually evaluated loans as collateral dependent and/or when repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. Expected credit losses are based on the fair value at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate. For collateral dependent loans, credit loss is measured as the difference between the amortized cost basis in the loan and the fair value of the underlying collateral. The fair value of the collateral is adjusted for the estimated cost to sell if repayment or satisfaction of a loan is dependent on the sale (rather than only on the operation) of the collateral.

Accrued interest receivable on loans held for investment totaled $7,943,000 and $7,868,000 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is included within Accrued interest receivable.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Off-Balance Sheet Credit Exposures

Management estimates expected 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 estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. Management estimates the amount of expected losses by calculating a commitment usage factor over the contractual period for exposures that are not unconditionally cancellable by the Bank and applying the loss factors used in the allowance for credit losses on loans methodology to the results of the usage calculation to estimate the liability for credit losses related to unfunded commitments for each loan segment. The estimate of credit losses on off balance sheet credit exposures is $1,163,000 and $676,000 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and was reported in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Loan Charge-off Policies

Consumer loans are generally fully or partially charged down to the fair value of collateral securing the asset when the loan is 180 days past due for open-end loans or 120 days past due for closed-end loans unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. All other loans are generally charged down to the estimated net realizable value when the loan is 90 days past due.

Collateral-Dependent Loans

A financial asset is considered collateral-dependent when the debtor is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the sale or operation of the collateral. For all classes of loans and leases deemed collateral-dependent, the Company elected the practical expedient to estimate expected credit losses based on the collateral’s fair value less cost to sell. In most cases, the Company records a partial charge-off to reduce the loan’s carrying value to the collateral’s fair value less cost to sell. Substantially all of the collateral consists of various types of real estate including residential properties; commercial properties such as retail centers, office buildings, and lodging; agriculture land; and vacant land.

Loans to Borrowers Experiencing Financial Difficulty

A loan is classified as a modified loan to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty when a contractual loan modification in the form of principal forgiveness, an interest rate reduction, an other-than-significant payment delay or a term extension (or a combination thereof) has been granted to an existing borrower experiencing financial difficulties. The goal when modifying a credit is to establish a reasonable period of time to provide cash flow relief to customers experiencing cash flow difficulties. Accruing modified loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty are primarily comprised of loans on which interest is being accrued under the modified terms, and the loans are current or less than 90 days past due.

Foreclosed Assets Held For Sale

Foreclosed assets acquired in settlement of loans are carried at fair value, less estimated costs to sell. Prior to foreclosure, as the value of the underlying loan is written down to fair market value of the real estate or other assets to be acquired by a charge to the allowance for credit losses, if necessary. Any subsequent write-downs are charged against operating expenses. Operating expenses of such properties, net of related income and losses on disposition, are included in other expenses and gains and losses are included in other non-interest income or other non-interest expense.

Premises and Equipment

Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is computed on straight line and accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 15 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment and 5 to 40 years for building premises. Repair and maintenance expenditures which extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized and other repair expenditures are expensed as incurred.

When premises or equipment are retired or sold, the remaining cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is credited to income or charged to expense, respectively.

Leases

The Company has operating leases for several branch locations. Generally, the underlying lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. The Company may also lease certain office equipment under operating leases. Many of our leases include both lease (e.g., minimum rent payments) and non-lease components (e.g., common-area or other maintenance costs). The Company accounts for each component separately based on the standalone price of each component. In addition, there are several operating leases with lease terms of less than one year and therefore, we have elected the practical expedient to exclude these short-term leases from our right of use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities.

Most leases include one or more options to renew. The exercise of lease renewal options is typically at the sole discretion of management and is based on whether the extension options are reasonably certain to be exercised after considering all facts and circumstances of the lease. If management determines that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the extension option(s), the additional term is included in the calculation of the lease liability.

As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use the fully collateralized FHLB borrowing rate, commensurate with the lease terms based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of the lease payments.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets, other than goodwill, include core deposit intangibles and mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”). Core deposit intangibles are a measure of the value of consumer demand and savings deposits acquired in business combinations accounted for as purchases. The core deposit intangibles are being amortized over 10 years using the sum-of-the-years digits method of amortization.

The Company recognizes MSRs as assets when mortgage loans are sold and the rights to service those loans are retained. Mortgage servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value by using discounted cash flows to calculate the present value of estimated future net servicing income.

The Company accounts for the MSRs under the amortization method. The mortgage servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value and amortized in proportion to the estimated expected future net servicing income generated from servicing the loan. The mortgage servicing rights are evaluated for impairment by estimating the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights and comparing that value to the carrying amount. The Company obtains a third-party valuation to assist with estimating the fair value of the MSRs. A valuation allowance would be established if the carrying amount of these mortgage servicing rights exceeds fair value. There was no impairment recognized in 2025, 2024 or 2023.

Goodwill

On an annual basis, the Company evaluated its goodwill for impairment. When management determines that a quantitative assessment of impairment is necessary, a calculation of the fair value of the reporting unit is completed and compared to its carrying amount. If the fair value exceeds the carrying amount, no impairment is present. If the carrying of the reporting unit exceeds its calculated fair value and impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference between fair value and carrying value. The Company may also perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. During 2025, management’s approach to goodwill impairment was a quantitative assessment. During 2024 and 2023, the assessments were qualitative. Based on the fair value of the reporting unit, no impairment of goodwill was recognized in 2025, 2024 or 2023.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain employees. Any death benefits received from a policy while the insured person is an active employee of the Bank will be split with the beneficiary of the policy. Under these agreements, the Company receives the cash surrender value of the policy plus 50% of the benefit in excess of the cash surrender value and the remaining amount of the payout will be given to the beneficiary named by the insured person in the policy. The Company is the sole beneficiary of any death benefits received from non-active insured persons. Additionally, as a result of the MidCoast acquisition, the Company acquired life insurance policies on former MidCoast employees. The Company is owner and sole beneficiary of these policies. Additionally, as part of the HVBC acquisition, the Company acquired life insurance policies on former HVBC employees. Under these agreements, the Bank receives the cash surrender value of the policy plus the benefit in excess of the cash surrender value less $50,000 to $100,000 that be given to the beneficiary named by the insured person in the policy if the insured person passes while employed by the Company. The Company is the sole beneficiary of any death benefits received from non-active insured persons. The Company acquired life insurance policies on former FNB employees and directors, as part of the acquisition of FNB. The policies obtained as part of the acquisition provide a fixed dollar benefit to the former employee or director beneficiaries, whether or not the insured person is affiliated with the Company at the time of his or her death. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at its cash surrender value, or the amount that can be realized. Increases in the cash surrender value are recognized as other non-interest income. The obligation of $529,000 and $514,000 under split-dollar benefit agreements to former employees and directors or their beneficiaries have been recognized as liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2025 and 2024. The (benefit)/expenses associated with the split dollar benefit were $51,000, ($96,000) and ($50,000) for 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company and the Bank file a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial statement basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted marginal tax rates. Deferred income tax expenses or benefits are based on the changes in the net deferred tax asset or liability from period to period.

Derivatives

Derivative financial instruments are recognized as assets or liabilities at fair value. The Company has interest rate swap agreements which are used as part of its asset liability management to help manage interest rate risk. The Company also has derivatives as a result of its residential lending platform. The Company does not use derivatives for trading purposes.

At the inception of a derivative contract, the Company designates the derivative as one of three types based on the purpose of the contract and belief as to its effectiveness as a hedge. These three types are (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (“fair value hedge”), (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”), or (3) an instrument with no hedging designation (“stand-alone derivative”). For a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item, are recognized in current earnings as fair values change. For a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is reported in other comprehensive income and is reclassified into earnings in the same periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. For both types of hedges, changes in the fair value of derivatives that are not highly effective in hedging the changes in fair value or expected cash flows of the hedged item are recognized immediately in current earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are reported currently in earnings, as non-interest income.

Net cash settlements on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in interest income or interest expense, based on the item being hedged. Net cash settlements on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are reported in non-interest income. Cash flows on hedges are classified in the cash flow statement the same as the cash flows of the items being hedged.

The Company formally documents the relationship between derivatives and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and the strategy for undertaking hedge transactions, at the inception of the hedging relationship. This documentation includes linking fair value or cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative instruments that are used are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. The Company discontinues hedge accounting when it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item, the derivative is settled or terminates, a hedged forecasted transaction is no longer probable, a hedged firm commitment is no longer firm, or treatment of the derivative as a hedge is no longer appropriate or intended.

When hedge accounting is discontinued, subsequent changes in fair value of the derivative are recorded as non-interest income. When a fair value hedge is discontinued, the hedged asset or liability is no longer adjusted for changes in fair value and the existing basis adjustment is amortized or accreted over the remaining life of the asset or liability. When a cash flow hedge is discontinued but the hedged cash flows or forecasted transactions are still expected to occur, gains or losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive income are amortized into earnings over the same periods which the hedged transactions will affect earnings.

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering employees hired before January 1, 2007. It is the Company’s policy to fund pension costs on a current basis to the extent deductible under existing tax regulations. Such contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future.

The Company has a defined contribution 401(k) plan covering eligible employees. The employee may also contribute to the plan on a voluntary basis, up to a maximum percentage allowable not to exceed the limits of Code Sections 401(k). Under the plan, the Company also makes contributions on behalf of eligible employees, which vest immediately. For employees hired after January 1, 2007, in lieu of the pension plan, an additional annual discretionary 401(k) plan contribution is made and is equal to a percentage of an employee’s base compensation.

The Company also has a profit-sharing plan for employees which provide tax-deferred salary savings to plan participants. The Company has a deferred compensation plan for directors who have elected to defer all or portions of their fees until their retirement or termination from service.

The Company has a restricted stock plan which covers eligible employees and non-employee corporate directors. Under the plan, awards are granted based upon performance related requirements and are subject to certain vesting criteria. Compensation cost related to restricted stock is recognized based on the market price of the stock at the grant date over the vesting period.

The Company has an employee stock purchase plan that allows employees to withhold money from their paychecks, which is then utilized to purchase shares of the Company’s stock.

The Company maintains a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) for certain executives to compensate those executive participants in the Company’s noncontributory defined benefit pension plan whose benefits are limited by compensation limitations under current tax law. The SERP is considered an unfunded plan for tax and ERISA purposes and all obligations arising under the SERP are payable from the general assets of the Company. Expenses under the SERP are recognized as earned over the expected years of service.

The Company maintains a non-tax qualified executive deferred compensation plan (“Deferred Compensation Plan”) for eligible employees designated by the board of directors. Each of the named executive officers are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan is considered an unfunded plan for tax and ERISA purposes and all obligations arising under the Deferred Compensation Plan are payable from the general assets of the Company. Expenses under the Deferred Compensation Plan are recognized as earned over the expected years of service.

Advertising Costs

Advertising and promotion costs are generally expensed as incurred and amounted to $1,114,000, $1,178,000 and $952,000 for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The Company is required to present comprehensive income in a full set of general purpose financial statements for all periods presented. Other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of unrealized holding gains (losses) on the available-for-sale securities portfolio, unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps and unrecognized pension costs.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Adopted in 2025, 2024, 2023 and Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Not yet effective

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Adopted in 2025

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Expanded Income Tax Disclosure Requirements (Topic 740, which requires public business entities to improve income tax disclosures primarily related to an entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. This guidance became effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. This Update did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Not Yet Effective

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures. This ASU requires disclosure in the notes to financial statements of specified information about certain costs and expenses. Specific disclosures are required for (a) purchases of inventory, (b) employee compensation, (c) depreciation, (d) intangible asset amortization, and (e) depreciation, depletion, and amortization recognized as part of oil and gas producing activities. The amendments in this Update do not change or remove current expense disclosure requirements. However, the amendments affect where this information appears in the notes to financial statements because entities are required to include certain current disclosures in the same tabular format disclosure as the other disaggregation requirements in the amendments. The amendments in ASU 2024-03 apply only to public business entities and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In December 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-04, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20): Induced Conversions of Convertible Debt Instruments. This new guidance clarifies the assessment of whether a transaction should be accounted for as an induced conversion or extinguishment of convertible debt when changes are made to conversion features as part of an offer to settle the instrument. The ASU requires entities to apply a preexisting contract approach. To qualify for induced conversion accounting under this approach, the inducement offer is required to preserve the form of consideration and result in an amount of consideration that is no less than that issuable pursuant to the preexisting conversion privileges. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025, with early adoption permitted, and it can be adopted either on a prospective or retrospective basis. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-01, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40), which revises the effective date of ASU 2024-03 (on disclosures about disaggregation of income statement expenses) “to clarify that all public business entities are required to adopt the guidance in annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027.” Entities within the ASU’s scope are permitted to early adopt the ASU. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-02, Liabilities (405): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 122. This ASU was issued pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 122, which rescinds the interpretive guidance included in Section FF of Topic 5 in the Staff Accounting Bulletin series entitled Accounting for Obligations to Safeguard Crypto-Assets an Entity Holds for its Platform Users. This ASU has no impact on non-public business entities and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In May 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-03, Determining the Accounting Acquirer in the Acquisition of a Variable Interest Entity, which revises the guidance in ASC 805 on identifying the accounting acquirer in a business combination in which the legal acquiree is a variable interest entity (VIE). The reporting entity can determine that a transaction in which the legal acquiree is a VIE represents a reverse acquisition in which the legal acquirer is identified as the acquiree for accounting purposes. ASU 2025-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in ASU 2025-03 must be applied prospectively to any business combination that occurs after the initial adoption date. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In May 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-04, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) and Revenue from Contracts With Customers (Topic 606): Clarifications to Share-Based Consideration Payable to a Customer, which clarifies the accounting for share-based consideration payable to a customer under ASC 718 and ASC 606. The amendments refine key aspects of the guidance, including the definition of “performance condition” as well as the measurement requirements and the treatment of forfeitures. The amendments will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not yet been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In July 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-05, Measurement of Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets, which provides the following relief when estimating expected credit losses for current accounts receivable and current contract assets arising from transactions accounted for under Topic 606, including those acquired in a business combination under Topic 805, Business Combinations: (1) Practical expedient (available to all entities): Allows an entity to assume that current conditions as of the balance sheet date remain unchanged over the remaining life of an asset in developing reasonable and supportable forecasts as part of estimating expected credit losses. This removes the requirement to incorporate macroeconomic forecasts for assets within the scope of the ASU; (2) Accounting policy election (available to entities other than public business entities): Provided that the practical expedient is elected, this policy election permits eligible entities to consider post-balance-sheet collection activity when estimating expected credit losses. The new guidance will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025, and is to be adopted on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software, which modernizes the accounting for internal-use software that is developed using an incremental and iterative method (e.g., agile method). The guidance removes all references to project stages in ASC 350-40 and clarifies the threshold entities apply to begin capitalizing costs. The guidance specifies that the property, plant, and equipment disclosure requirements under ASC 360-10 apply to capitalized software costs accounted for under ASC 350-40, regardless of how those costs are presented in the financial statements. The guidance, which applies to all entities, is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities may apply the guidance using a prospective, retrospective, or modified transition approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-07, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) and Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Derivatives Scope Refinements and Scope Clarification for Share-Based Noncash Consideration from a Customer in a Revenue Contract, which (1) refines the scope of the guidance on derivatives in ASC 815 (Issue 1) and (2) clarifies the guidance on share-based payments from a customer in ASC 606 (Issue 2). The ASU is intended to address concerns about the application of derivative accounting to contracts that have features based on the operations or activities of one of the parties to the contract and to reduce diversity in the accounting for share-based payments in revenue contracts. The ASU adds a new scope exception for certain contracts that are not traded on an exchange and have an underlying that is based on operations or activities specific to one of the parties to the contract. This ASU clarifies that when an entity has a right to receive a share-based payment from its customer in exchange for the transfer of goods or services, the share-based payment should be accounted for as noncash consideration within the scope of ASC 606. ASU 2025-07 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In November 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-08, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), which amends the guidance in Topic 326 to expand the population of acquired financial assets subject to the gross-up approach to include loans (excluding credit cards) that are acquired without credit deterioration and deemed “seasoned.” All non-purchased credit deteriorated loans (excluding credit cards) that are acquired in a business combination are deemed seasoned. Other non-purchased credit deteriorated loans (excluding credit cards) are considered to be seasoned if they were purchased at least 90 days after origination and the acquirer was not involved in the origination of the loans. ASU 2025-08 should be applied prospectively and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In November 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-09, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), which amends certain aspects of the hedge accounting guidance in ASC 815 to more closely align hedge accounting with the economics of an entity’s risk management activities. The amendments, among other things, provide more flexibility for cash flow hedges and hedging of raw materials and other nonfinancial assets, as well as simplify hedge accounting for flexible debt and foreign currency debt. ASU 2025-09 should be applied prospectively for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. For all other entities, the ASU is to be applied prospectively and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-10, Accounting for Government Grants Received by Business Entities (Topic 832), which adds guidance on the recognition, measurement, and presentation of government grants. Among other things, the ASU defines whether a grant is related to an asset or to income. Under either scenario, an entity will not be able to recognize the grant until it is probable that both (a) the entity will comply with the conditions attached to the government grant, and (b) the government grant will be received. The new guidance is effective for public business entities in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2028, (including interim periods within) and one year later for all other entities, with early adoption permitted in any period for which financial statements have not yet been issued. The guidance can be applied on a modified prospective basis, a modified retrospective basis, or a full retrospective basis. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic 270): Narrow-Scope Improvements, to clarify interim disclosure requirements, the form and content of interim financial statements, and when ASC Topic 270 applies. The amendments in the ASU provide a list of specific interim disclosures that are required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which, together with the disclosure principle, represent the complete population of required disclosures in interim reporting periods. The intent of the disclosure principle is to help entities determine whether any disclosures not specified in Topic 270 should be provided in interim reporting periods. ASU 2025-11 may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements for public business entities for interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, and all other entities in interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2028. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its financial statements.

In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-12, Codification Improvements, to address 33 issues that amend the Codification to (1) clarify, (2) correct errors, or (3) make minor improvements that affect a wide variety of Topics in the Codification and apply to all reporting entities within the scope of the affected accounting guidance. The amendments make the Codification easier to understand and apply. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Other accounting standards that have been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not currently expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Treasury Stock

The purchase of the Company’s common stock is recorded at cost. At the date of subsequent reissue, the treasury stock account is reduced by the cost of such stock on a last-in-first-out basis.

Cash Flows

The Company utilizes the net reporting of cash receipts and cash payments for deposit, short-term borrowing and lending activities.

Trust, Brokerage and Insurance Assets and Income

Assets held by the Company in a fiduciary or agency capacity for its customers are not included in the consolidated financial statements since such assets are not assets of the Company. The majority of trust revenue is earned and collected monthly, with the amount determined based on a percentage of the fair value of the trust assets under management. Trust fees are contractually agreed with each customer, and fee levels vary based mainly on the size of assets under management. None of the contracts with trust customers provide for incentive-based fees. In addition, trust revenue includes fees for provision of services, including employee benefit plan administration, tax return preparation and estate planning and settlement. Fees for such services are billed based on contractual arrangements or established fee schedules and are typically billed upon completion of providing such services. Brokerage and insurance commissions from the sales of investments and insurance products are recognized on a trade date basis as the performance obligation is satisfied at the point in time in which the trade is processed. Additional fees are based on a percentage of the market value of customer accounts and billed on a monthly or quarterly basis. The Company’s performance obligation under the contracts with certain customers is generally satisfied through the passage of time as the Company monitors and manages the assets in the customer’s portfolio and is not dependent on certain return or performance level of the customer’s portfolio. Other performance obligations (such as the delivery of account statements to customers) are generally considered immaterial to the overall transaction price.

Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per share. Earnings per share calculations give retroactive effect to stock dividends declared by the Company.

	2025		2024		2023
Basic earnings per share computation:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	36,572,000	$	27,818,000	$	17,811,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding		4,797,520		4,797,258		4,476,235
Earnings per share - basic	$	7.62	$	5.80	$	3.98
Diluted earnings per share computation:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	36,572,000	$	27,818,000	$	17,811,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per share		4,797,520		4,797,258		4,476,235
Add: Dilutive effects of restricted stock		2,573		4,881		-
Weighted average common shares outstanding for dilutive earnings per share		4,800,093		4,802,139		4,476,235
Earnings per share - dilutive	$	7.62	$	5.79	$	3.98

Nonvested shares of restricted stock totaling 1,883, 2,430 and 4,623 were outstanding during 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because to do so would be anti-dilutive. These anti-dilutive shares had per share prices ranging from $49.43-$83.38, $61.98-$83.38 and $56.81-$83.38 for 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Reclassification

Certain of the prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no material effect on net income or stockholders’ equity.

Revenue Recognition

Under ASC Topic 606, management determined that the primary sources of revenue emanating from interest and dividend income on loans and investments along with noninterest revenue resulting from investment security gains, loan servicing, gains on loans sold and earnings on bank owned life insurances are not within the scope of this topic. The main types of noninterest income within the scope of the standard are as follows:

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Service charges on deposit accounts – The Company has contracts with its deposit customers where fees are charged if certain parameters are not met. These agreements can be cancelled at any time by either the Company or the deposit customer. Revenue from these transactions is recognized on a monthly basis as the Company has an unconditional right to the fee consideration. The Company also has transaction fees related to specific transactions or activities resulting from a customer request or activity that include overdraft fees, online banking fees, interchange fees, ATM fees and other transaction fees. All of these fees are attributable to specific performance obligations of the Company where the revenue is recognized at a defined point in time upon the completion of the requested service/transaction.

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Trust fees – Typical contracts for trust services are based on a fixed percentage of the assets earned ratably over a defined period and billed on a monthly basis. Fees charged to customers’ accounts are recognized as revenue over the period during which the Company fulfills its performance obligation under the contract (i.e., holding client assets in a managed fiduciary trust account). For these accounts, the performance obligation of the Company is typically satisfied by holding and managing the customer’s assets over time. Other fees related to specific customer requests are attributable to specific performance obligations of the Company where the revenue is recognized at a defined point in time, upon completion of the requested service/transaction.

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Gains (losses) on sale of other real estate owned – Gains and losses are recognized at the completion of the property sale when the buyer obtains control of the real estate and all of the performance obligations of the Company have been satisfied. Evidence of the buyer obtaining control of the asset include transfer of the property title, physical possession of the asset, and the buyer obtaining control of the risks and rewards related to the asset. In situations where the Company agrees to provide financing to facilitate the sale, additional analysis is performed to ensure that the contract for sale identifies the buyer and seller, the asset to be transferred, payment terms, and that the contract has a true commercial substance and that collection of amounts due from the buyer are reasonable. In situations where financing terms are not reflective of current market terms, the transaction price is discounted impacting the gain/loss and the carrying value of the asset.

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Brokerage and insurance – Fees include commissions from the sales of investments and insurance products recognized on a trade date basis as the performance obligation is satisfied at the point in time in which the trade is processed. Additional fees are based on a percentage of the market value of customer accounts and billed on a monthly or quarterly basis. The Company’s performance obligation under the contracts with certain customers is generally satisfied through the passage of time as the Company monitors and manages the assets in the customer’s portfolio and is not dependent on certain return or performance level of the customer’s portfolio. Fees for these services are billed monthly and are recorded as revenue at the end of the month for which the wealth management service has been performed. Other performance obligations (such as the delivery of account statements to customers) are generally considered immaterial to the overall transaction price.