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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Note 1Summary of Significant Accounting Policies


Nature of Operations and Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of American National Bankshares Inc. (the "Company") and its wholly owned subsidiary, American National Bank and Trust Company (the "Bank").  The Bank offers a wide variety of retail, commercial, secondary market mortgage lending, and trust and investment services which also include non-deposit products such as mutual funds and insurance policies.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, goodwill and intangible assets, other than temporary impairment, the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the valuation of foreclosed real estate.

In April 2006, AMNB Statutory Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust (the "AMNB Trust") and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, was formed for the purpose of issuing preferred securities (the "Trust Preferred Securities") in a private placement pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration.  Proceeds from the securities were used to fund the acquisition of Community First Financial Corporation ("Community First") which occurred in April 2006.

On July 1, 2011, the Company completed its merger with MidCarolina Financial Corporation ("MidCarolina").  MidCarolina was headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina, and engaged in banking operations through its subsidiary bank, MidCarolina Bank.  This transaction expanded the Company's footprint in North Carolina, adding eight branches in Alamance and Guilford counties.

In July 2011, and in connection with its acquisition of MidCarolina Financial Corporation, the Company assumed the liabilities of the MidCarolina Trust I and MidCarolina Trust II, two separate Delaware statutory trust (the "MidCarolina Trusts"), which were also formed for the purpose of issuing preferred securities.  Refer to Note 12 for further details concerning these entities.

All significant inter-company transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation, with the exception of the AMNB Trust and the MidCarolina Trusts, as detailed in Note 12.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash includes cash on hand, cash with correspondent banks, and cash on deposit at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.  Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to cash with original maturities of three months or less and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.  Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost.

Interest-bearing Deposits in Other Banks

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks mature within one year and are carried at cost.

Securities

Certain debt securities that management has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as "held to maturity" and recorded at amortized cost. Trading securities are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value included in earnings. Securities not classified as held to maturity or trading, including equity securities with readily determinable fair values, are classified as "available for sale" and recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income. Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities. Gains and losses on the sale of securities are recorded on the trade date and are determined using the specific identification method.

The Company does not currently have any securities in held to maturity or trading and has no plans to add any to either category.

The Company follows accounting guidance related to recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairment. The guidance specifies that (1) if a company does not have the intent to sell a debt security prior to recovery and (2) it is more likely than not that it will not have to sell the debt security prior to recovery, the security would not be considered other-than-temporarily impaired, unless there is a credit loss. When an entity does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not the entity will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, it will recognize the credit component of an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security in earnings and the remaining portion in other comprehensive income. For held-to-maturity debt securities, the amount of an other-than-temporary impairment recorded in other comprehensive income for the noncredit portion of a previous other-than-temporary impairment should be amortized prospectively over the remaining life of the security on the basis of the timing of future estimated cash flows of the security.

For equity securities, when the Company has decided to sell an impaired available-for-sale security and the entity does not expect the fair value of the security to fully recover before the expected time of sale, the security is deemed other-than-temporarily impaired in the period in which the decision to sell is made. The Company recognizes an impairment loss when the impairment is deemed other-than-temporary even if a decision to sell has not been made.

Due to the nature and restrictions placed on the Company's investment in common stock of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta ("FHLB") and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, these securities have been classified as restricted equity securities and carried at cost.

Loans Held for Sale

Secondary market mortgage loans are designated as held for sale at the time of their origination.  These loans are pre-sold with servicing released and the Company does not retain any interest after the loans are sold.  These loans consist primarily of fixed-rate, single-family residential mortgage loans which meet the underwriting characteristics of certain government-sponsored enterprises (conforming loans).  In addition, the Company requires a firm purchase commitment from a permanent investor before a loan can be committed, thus limiting interest rate risk.  Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value.  Gains on sales of loans are recognized at the loan closing date and are included in noninterest income.

Derivative Loan Commitments

The Company enters into mortgage loan commitments whereby the interest rate on the loan is determined prior to funding (rate lock commitments).  Mortgage loan commitments are referred to as derivative loan commitments if the loan that will result from exercise of the commitment will be held for sale upon funding.  Loan commitments that are derivatives are recognized at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets with net changes in their fair values recorded in other expenses.  Derivative loan commitments resulted in no income or loss for 2013, 2012 or 2011.

The period of time between issuance of a loan commitment and sale of the loan generally ranges from 30 to 60 days. The Company protects itself from changes in interest rates through the use of best efforts forward delivery contracts, by committing to sell a loan at the time the borrower commits to an interest rate with the intent that the buyer has assumed the interest rate risk on the loan.  As a result, the Company is not generally exposed to significant losses nor will it realize significant gains related to its rate lock commitments due to changes in interest rates.  The correlation between the rate lock commitments and the best efforts contracts is very high due to their similarity.

The market value of rate lock commitments and best efforts contracts is not readily ascertainable with precision because rate lock commitments and best efforts contracts are not actively traded in stand-alone markets.  The Company determines the fair value of rate lock commitments and best efforts contracts by measuring the change in the estimated value of the underlying assets while taking into consideration the probability that the loan will be funded.

Loans

The Company makes mortgage, commercial, and consumer loans.  A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is secured by real estate.  The ability of the Company's debtors to honor their contracts is dependent upon the real estate market and general economic conditions in the Company's market area.

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off, generally are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balance adjusted for the allowance for loan losses, and any deferred fees or costs.  Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance.  Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method.

The accrual of interest on loans is generally discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent unless the credit is well-secured and in process of collection.  Loans are typically charged off when the loan is 120 days past due, unless secured and in process of collection.  Loans are placed on nonaccrual status or charged-off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

Interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual status or charged-off is reversed against interest income.  The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash basis or cost recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual status.  Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

A loan is considered past due when a payment of principal or interest or both is due but not paid.  Management closely monitors past due loans in timeframes of 30-59 days, 60-89 days, and 90 or more days past due.
These policies apply to all loan portfolio classes and segments.

Substandard and doubtful risk graded commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans equal to or greater than $100,000 on an unsecured basis, and equal to or greater than $250,000 on a secured basis are reviewed for impairment. All troubled debt restructurings, regardless of dollar amount, are also evaluated for impairment. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Factors considered by management in determining impairment and establishing a specific allowance include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due.  Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower's prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.  Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis for commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, the loan's obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

Generally, large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans (residential real estate and consumer loans) are collectively evaluated for impairment.  The Company's policy for recognizing interest income on impaired loans is consistent with its nonaccrual policy.

The Company's loan portfolio is organized by major segment. These include:  commercial, commercial real estate, residential real estate and consumer loans.  Each segment has particular risk characteristics that are specific to the borrower and the generic category of credit.  Commercial loan repayments are highly dependent on cash flows associated with the underlying business and its profitability.  They can also be impacted by changes in collateral values.  Commercial real estate loans share the same general risk characteristics as commercial loans, but are often more dependent on the value of the underlying real estate collateral and, when construction is involved, the ultimate completion of and sale of the project.  Residential real estate loans are generally dependent on the value of collateral and the credit worthiness of the underlying borrower.  Consumer loans are very similar in risk characteristics to residential real estate.

In connection with the MidCarolina merger, certain loans were acquired which exhibited deteriorated credit quality since origination and for which the Bank does not expect to collect all contractual payments. Accounting for these loans is done in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 310-30, "Receivables – Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality."  The loans were recorded at fair value, reflecting the present value of the amounts expected to be collected. Income recognition on these loans is based on a reasonable expectation about the timing and amount of cash flows to be collected.  Acquired loans deemed impaired and considered collateral dependent, with the timing of the sale of loan collateral indeterminate, remain on non-accrual status and have no accretable yield. On a quarterly basis, management, in collaboration with an outside valuation firm, reviews and evaluates the cash flows related to the pools in the loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality. Based on this ongoing review, adjustments are made to accretion and the nonaccretable yield.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

In situations where, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower's financial condition, management may grant a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider, the related loan is classified as a troubled debt restructuring ("TDR"). Management strives to identify borrowers in financial difficulty early and work with them to modify their loan to more affordable terms before their loan reaches nonaccrual status. These modified terms may include rate reductions, principal forgiveness, payment forbearance and other actions intended to minimize the economic loss and to avoid foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. In cases where borrowers are granted new terms that provide for a reduction of either interest or principal, management measures any impairment on the restructuring as noted above for impaired loans. The Company has $2,099,000 in loans classified as TDRs as of December 31, 2013 and $1,755,000 as of December 31, 2012.
Allowance for Loan Losses

The purpose of the allowance for loan losses ("ALLL") is to provide for probable losses in the loan portfolio.  The allowance is increased by the provision for loan losses and by recoveries of previously charged-off loans.  Loan charge-offs decrease the allowance.

The goal of the Company is to maintain an appropriate, systematic, and consistently applied process to determine the amounts of the ALLL and the provision for loan loss expense.

The Company uses certain practices to manage its credit risk.  These practices include (1) appropriate lending limits for loan officers, (2) a loan approval process, (3) careful underwriting of loan requests, including analysis of borrowers, cash flows, collateral, and market risks, (4) regular monitoring of the portfolio, including diversification by type and geography, (5) review of loans by the Loan Review department, which operates independently of loan production, (6) regular meetings of the Credit Committees to discuss portfolio and policy changes and make decisions on large or unusual loan requests, and (7) regular meetings of the Asset Quality Committee which reviews the status of individual loans.

Risk grades are assigned as part of the loan origination process. From time to time risk grades may be modified as warranted by the facts and circumstances surrounding the credit.

Calculation and analysis of the allowance for loan losses is prepared quarterly by the Finance Department.  The Company's Credit Committee, Capital Management Committee, Audit Committee, and the Board of Directors review the allowance for adequacy.

The Company's allowance for loan losses has two basic components:  the formula allowance and the specific allowance.  Each of these components is determined based upon estimates and judgments.

The formula allowance uses historical loss experience as an indicator of future losses, along with various qualitative factors, including levels and trends in delinquencies, nonaccrual loans, charge-offs and recoveries, trends in volume and terms of loans, effects of changes in underwriting standards, experience of lending staff, economic conditions, and portfolio concentrations. In the formula allowance for commercial and commercial real estate loans, the historical loss rate is combined with the qualitative factors, resulting in an adjusted loss factor for each risk-grade category of loans.  The period-end balances for each loan risk-grade category are multiplied by the adjusted loss factor.  Allowance calculations for consumer loans are calculated based on historical losses for each product category without regard to risk grade. This loss rate is combined with qualitative factors resulting in an adjusted loss factor for each product category.

The specific allowance uses various techniques to arrive at an estimate of loss for specifically identified impaired loans. These include:

·
The present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate.  The effective interest rate on a loan is the rate of return implicit in the loan (that is, the contractual interest rate adjusted for any net deferred loan fees or costs and any premium or discount existing at the origination or acquisition of the loan);
·
The loan's observable market price, or
·
The fair value of the collateral, net of estimated costs to dispose, if the loan is collateral dependent.
      The use of these computed values is inherently subjective and actual losses could be greater or less than the estimates.

No single statistic, formula, or measurement determines the adequacy of the allowance.  Management makes subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain, and different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions.  For analytical purposes, management allocates a portion of the allowance to specific loan categories and specific loans.  However, the entire allowance is used to absorb credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio, including identified and unidentified losses.

The relationships and ratios used in calculating the allowance, including the qualitative factors, may change from period to period as facts and circumstances evolve.  Furthermore, management cannot provide assurance that in any particular period the Bank will not have sizeable credit losses in relation to the amount reserved.  Management may find it necessary to significantly adjust the allowance, considering current factors at the time.

Premises and Equipment

Land is carried at cost.  Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization.  Premises and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives ranging from three years to thirty-nine years; leasehold improvements are amortized over the lives of the respective leases or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is less.  Software is generally amortized over three years.  Depreciation and amortization are recorded on the straight-line method.

Costs of maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.  Costs of replacing structural parts of major units are considered individually and are expensed or capitalized as the facts dictate.  Gains and losses on routine dispositions are reflected in current operations.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment by applying a fair value based test.  Additionally, acquired intangible assets (such as core deposit intangibles) are separately recognized if the benefit of the assets can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, and amortized over their useful lives.  Intangible assets related to branch transactions continued to amortize. The cost of purchased deposit relationships and other intangible assets, based on independent valuation, are being amortized over their estimated lives ranging from eight to ten years.

The Company records as goodwill the excess of purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Impairment testing is performed annually, as well as when an event triggering impairment may have occurred. The Company performs its annual analysis as of June 30 each fiscal year. Accounting guidance permits preliminary assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether more substantial impairment testing is required. The Company chose to bypass the preliminary assessment and utilized a two-step process for impairment testing of goodwill. The first step tests for impairment, while the second step, if necessary, measures the impairment.  No indicators of impairment were identified during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
Trust Assets

Securities and other property held by the trust and investment services segment in a fiduciary or agency capacity are not assets of the Company and are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other real estate owned represents real estate that has been acquired through loan foreclosures or deeds received in lieu of loan payments. Generally, such properties are appraised at the time acquired, and are recorded at the fair value less estimated selling costs.  Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Revenue and expenses from operations and changes in the valuation allowance are included in noninterest expense.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales, when control over the assets has been surrendered.  Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Bank – put presumptively beyond reach of the transferor and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Bank does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity or the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the balance sheet method to account for deferred income tax assets and liabilities.  Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the tax effects of the temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the various balance sheet assets and liabilities and gives current recognition to changes in tax rates and laws.

When tax returns are filed, it is highly certain that some positions taken would be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, while others are subject to uncertainty about the merits of the position taken or the amount of the position that would be ultimately sustained.  The benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any.  Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions.  Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority.  The portion of the benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above is reflected as a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination.  The Company had no liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock compensation accounting guidance FASB ASC 718, "Compensation – Stock Compensation" requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in financial statements.  That cost will be measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued.  The stock compensation accounting guidance covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including stock options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights, and employee share purchase plans.

The stock compensation accounting guidance requires that compensation cost for all stock awards be calculated and recognized over the employees' service period, generally defined as the vesting period.  For awards with graded-vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.  A Black-Scholes model is used to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market price of the Company's common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock awards.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share represent income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per common share reflect the impact of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued, as well as any adjustment to income that would result from the assumed issuance.  Potential common shares that may be issued by the Company consist solely of outstanding stock options, and are determined using the treasury method.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is shown in a two statement approach, the first statement presents total net income and its components followed by a second statement that presents all the components of other comprehensive income such as unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities and changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan.

Advertising and Marketing Costs

Advertising and marketing costs are expensed as incurred, and were $607,000, $454,000, and $356,000 in 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Business combinations are accounted for under ASC 805, "Business Combinations", using the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisition method of accounting requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the acquisition date measured at their fair values as of that date. To determine the fair values, the Company relies on third party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the Company identifies the acquirer and the closing date and apply applicable recognition principles and conditions.

      Acquisition-related costs are costs the Company incurs to effect a business combination. Those costs include advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees. Some other examples of costs to the Company include systems conversions, integration planning consultants and advertising costs. The Company accounts for acquisition-related costs as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the services are received, with one exception. The costs to issue debt or equity securities is recognized in accordance with other applicable GAAP. These acquisition-related costs have been and will be included within the Consolidated Statements of Income classified within the noninterest expense caption.
Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made in prior years financial statements to conform to classifications used in the current year. There were no material reclassifications.

Use of Estimates

In preparing consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of foreclosed real estate, goodwill and intangible assets, the valuation of deferred tax assets, other-than-temporary impairments of securities, and acquired loans with specific credit-related deterioration.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

        In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, "Balance Sheet (Topic 210) – Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities."  This ASU requires entities to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the balance sheet and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. An entity is required to apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the disclosures required by those amendments retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

        In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment."  The amendments in this ASU apply to all entities that have indefinite-lived intangible assets, other than goodwill, reported in their financial statements.  The amendments in this ASU provide an entity with the option to make a qualitative assessment about the likelihood that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired to determine whether it should perform a quantitative impairment test. The amendments also enhance the consistency of impairment testing guidance among long-lived asset categories by permitting an entity to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to calculate the asset's fair value when testing an indefinite-lived intangible asset for impairment.  The amendments are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

        In January 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01, "Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities."  The amendments in this ASU clarify the scope for derivatives accounted for in accordance with Topic 815, "Derivatives and Hedging," including bifurcated embedded derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions that are either offset or subject to netting arrangements.  An entity is required to apply the amendments for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2013.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

        In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income."  The amendments in this ASU require an entity to present (either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes) the effects on the line items of net income of significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income.  In addition, the amendments require a cross-reference to other disclosures currently required for other reclassification items to be reclassified directly to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period.  Companies should apply these amendments for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after December 15, 2012.  The Company has included the required disclosures from ASU 2013-02 in the consolidated financial statements.

        In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-10, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815):  Inclusion of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (or Overnight Index Swap Rate) as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes."  The amendments in this ASU permit the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (also referred to as the Overnight Index Swap Rate) to be used as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815, in addition to interest rates on direct Treasury obligations of the U.S. government and the London Interbank Offered Rate.  The amendments also remove the restriction on using different benchmark rates for similar hedges.  The amendments apply to all entities that elect to apply hedge accounting of the benchmark interest rate under Topic 815.  The amendments are effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

        In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists."   The amendments in this ASU provide guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward exists.  An unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013.  Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted.  The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

        In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-01, "Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)."  The amendments in this ASU permit reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met.  Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit).  The amendments in this ASU should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. A reporting entity that uses the effective yield method to account for its investments in qualified affordable housing projects before the date of adoption may continue to apply the effective yield method for those preexisting investments. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for annual periods and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted.  The Company is currently assessing the impact that ASU 2014-01 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

        In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, "Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)."  The amendments in this ASU clarify that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (2) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company is currently assessing the impact that ASU 2014-04 will have on its consolidated financial statements.