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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Hancock Whitney Corporation (the “Company”) is a financial services company headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi that is both a financial holding company and a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. The Company provides a comprehensive network of full-service financial choices to customers primarily in the Gulf South region through its bank subsidiary, Hancock Whitney Bank (the “Bank”), a Mississippi state bank.  The Bank offers a broad range of traditional and online banking services to commercial, small business and retail customers, providing a variety of transaction and savings deposit products, treasury management services, secured and unsecured loan products (including revolving credit facilities), and letters of credit and similar financial guarantees. The Bank also provides trust and investment management services to retirement plans, corporations and individuals. The Company also offers investment brokerage services through its broker-dealer subsidiary, Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc., a nonbank subsidiary of the holding company. The Company primarily operates across the Gulf South region, including southern and central Mississippi; southern and central Alabama; southern, central and northwest Louisiana; the northern, central, and panhandle regions of Florida; and the certain areas of east and northeast Texas including Houston, Beaumont, Dallas and San Antonio, among others. In addition, the Company operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (U.S. GAAP) and those generally practiced within the banking industry. Following is a summary of the more significant accounting policies.

 

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 326, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses,” commonly referred to as Current Expected Credit Losses or CECL, on a modified retrospective basis. The provisions of this guidance required a material change to the manner in which the Company estimates and reports losses on financial instruments, including loans and unfunded lending commitments, select investment securities, and other assets carried at amortized cost. For reporting periods beginning on or subsequent to January 1, 2020, accounting for credit losses and related disclosures are presented under ASC 326, while prior period results continue to be reported in accordance with previously effective guidance under ASC 310 - Receivables.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all other entities in which the Company has a controlling interest. Variable interest entities for which the Company has been deemed the primary beneficiary are also consolidated. Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.  

 

Use of Estimates

 

The accounting principles the Company follows and the methods for applying these principles conform to U.S. GAAP and general practices followed by the banking industry. These accounting principles and practices require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Fair Value Accounting

 

U.S. GAAP requires the use of fair values in determining the carrying values of certain assets and liabilities in the financial statements, as well as for specific disclosures about certain assets and liabilities.

 

Accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to these valuation techniques used to measure fair value giving preference to quoted prices in active markets (level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs such as a reporting entity’s own data or information or assumptions developed from this data (level 3). Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, observable inputs other than quoted prices, such as interest rates and yield curves, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

 

Business Combinations

 

Business combinations are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Purchased assets, including identifiable intangibles, and assumed liabilities are recorded at their respective acquisition date fair values. If the fair value of net assets purchased exceeds the consideration given, a bargain purchase gain is recognized. If the consideration given exceeds the fair value of the net assets received or if the fair value of the net liabilities assumed exceeds the consideration received, goodwill is recognized. Fair values are subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of an acquisition as information relative to closing date fair values becomes available. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred.

 

All identifiable intangible assets that are acquired in a business combination are recognized at the acquisition date fair value. Identifiable intangible assets are recognized separately if they arise from contractual or other legal rights or if they are separable (i.e., capable of being sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged separately from the entity).

 

Cash and Due from Banks

 

The Company considers only cash on hand, cash items in process of collection and balances due from financial institutions as cash and cash equivalents.

 

Securities

 

Securities are classified as trading, held to maturity or available for sale. Management determines the appropriate classification of debt and equity securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates this classification periodically as conditions change that could require reclassification.

 

Available for sale securities are stated at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and unrealized holding losses, are reported net of tax in other comprehensive income and in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) until realized.

 

Securities that the Company both positively intends and has the ability to hold to maturity are classified as securities held to maturity and are carried at amortized cost. The intent and ability to hold are not considered satisfied when a security is available to be sold in response to changes in interest rates, prepayment rates, liquidity needs or other reasons as part of an overall asset/liability management strategy.

 

Premiums and discounts on securities, both those held to maturity and those available for sale, are amortized and accreted to income as an adjustment to the securities’ yields using the effective interest method. Realized gains and losses on the sale of securities are reported net as a component of noninterest income. The cost of securities sold is specifically identified for use in calculating realized gains and losses.

 

Credit Losses on Securities

 

As noted, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 326, or CECL, on January 1, 2020. The provisions of ASC 326 require an assessment of held to maturity debt securities for expected credit losses and the available for sale debt securities for credit-related impairment, resulting in an allowance for credit losses, if applicable. The Company applies the practical expedient to exclude the accrued interest receivable balance from amortized cost basis of financing receivables. The allowance for credit losses on held to maturity debt securities is estimated at the individual security level when there is a more than inconsequential risk of default. The assessment uses probability of default and loss given default models based on public ratings, where available, or mapped internally developed risk grades to public ratings and forecasted cash flows using the same economic forecasts and probability weighting as used for the Company’s evaluation of the loan portfolio. Qualitative adjustments to the output of the quantitative calculation are made when management deems it necessary to reflect differences in current and forecasted conditions as compared to those during the historical loss period used in model development. The Company evaluates credit impairment on available for sale debt securities at an individual security level. This evaluation is done for securities whose fair value is below amortized cost with a more than inconsequential risk of default and where the Company has assessed the decline in fair value is significant enough to suggest a credit event occurred. Credit events are generally assessed based on adverse conditions specifically related to the security, an industry, or geographic area, changes in the financial condition of the issuer of the security, or in the case of an asset-backed debt security, changes in the financial condition of the underlying loan obligors. The allowance for credit losses for such securities is measured using a discounted cash flow methodology, through which management compares the present value of expected cash flows with the amortized cost basis of the security. The allowance for credit loss is limited to the amount by which the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis.

 

The Company reassesses the potential for credit losses at each reporting period and records subsequent changes in the allowance for credit losses on securities with a corresponding adjustment recorded in the provision for credit loss expense. If the Company intends to sell the debt security, or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the security is charged down to fair value against the allowance for credit losses, with any incremental impairment reported in earnings. Prior to the adoption of CECL on January 1, 2020, declines in value judged to be other than temporary were reported net as a component of noninterest income. There were no such losses 2019.

 

 

Loans

Loans Held for Sale

 

Residential mortgage loans originated for sale are classified as loans held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets. Beginning in the second quarter of 2021, the Company generally elects the fair value option on funded residential mortgage loans originated for sale that are associated with forward sales contracts. For mortgage loans for which the Company has elected the fair value option, gains and losses are included in noninterest income within secondary mortgage market operations.

 

Held for sale loans also includes residential construction loans that are anticipated to be sold upon completion of the construction term. At times, management may originate other types of loans with the intent to sell or decide to sell loans that were not originated for that purpose. Such loans are reclassified as held for sale at the lower of cost or market when that decision is made.

 

Loans Held for Investment

 

Loans that the Company has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are considered loans held for investment and reported as “Loans” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in the related footnote disclosures.  Loans held for investment include loans originated for investment and loans acquired in purchase transactions.

 

Loans are reported at the principal balance outstanding net of unearned income. Interest on loans and accretion of unearned income, including net deferred loan fees and costs, are computed in a manner that approximates a level yield on recorded principal. Interest on loans is recognized in income as earned.

 

The accrual of interest is discontinued (“nonaccrual status”) when, in management’s opinion, it is probable that the borrower will be unable to meet payment obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions. When accrual of interest is discontinued on a loan, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed and payments subsequently received are applied first to recover principal. Interest income is recognized for payments received after contractual principal has been satisfied. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest contractually due are brought current and future payment performance is reasonably assured.  

 

Acquired Loans

Subsequent to the adoption of CECL, acquired loans are segregated between those purchased with credit deterioration (“PCD”) and those that are not (“non-PCD”). Loans considered PCD include those individual loans (or groups of loans with similar risk characteristics) that as of the date of acquisition are assessed as having experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. The assessment of what is more-than-insignificant credit deterioration since origination considers information including, but not limited to, financial assets that are delinquent, on nonaccrual and/or otherwise adversely risk rated as of the acquisition date, those that have been downgraded since origination, and those for which, after origination, credit spreads have widened beyond the threshold specified in policy. The Company bifurcates the fair value discount between the credit and noncredit components and records an allowance for credit losses for PCD loans by adding the credit portion of the fair value discount to the initial amortized cost basis and increasing the allowance for credit losses at the date of acquisition. Any noncredit discount or premium resulting from acquiring loans with credit deterioration is allocated to each individual asset. All non-PCD loans acquired are recorded at the estimated fair value of the loan at acquisition, with the estimated allowance for credit loss recorded as a provision for credit losses through earnings in the period in which the acquisition has occurred. The noncredit discount or premium for PCD loans and full discount for non-PCD loans will be accreted to interest income using the interest method based on the effective interest rate at the acquisition date.

Under the transition provisions for application of CECL, the Company has classified all purchased credit impaired loans (“PCI”) previously accounted for under Financial Accounting Standard Subtopic 310-30 to be classified as PCD, without reassessing whether the financial assets meet the criteria of PCD as of the date of adoption. The application of these provisions resulted in an adjustment to the amortized cost basis of the financial asset to reflect the addition of the allowance for credit losses at the date of adoption. The Company elected not to maintain pools of loans accounted for under Subtopic 310-30 at adoption. The Company was also not required to reassess whether modifications to individual acquired financial assets accounted for in pools were troubled debt restructurings as of the date of adoption. The noncredit discount, after the adjustment for the allowance for credit losses, is accreted to interest income using the interest method based on the effective interest rate determined at the adoption date.

Prior to the adoption of CECL and under the provisions of ASC 310, acquired loans were segregated between those considered to be performing (“purchased credit performing”) and those with evidence of credit deterioration or PCI. The acquired loans were generally segregated into loan pools and expected cash flows, both principal and interest, were estimated based by pool on key assumptions covering such factors as prepayments, default rates, and severity of loss given a default. The fair value estimate for each pool was based on the estimate of expected cash flows from the pool discounted at prevailing market rates. The difference at the acquisition date between the fair value and the contractual amounts due for each purchased credit performing loan pool (the “fair value discount”) was accreted into income over the estimated life of the pool.  Purchased credit performing loans were placed on nonaccrual status and reported as nonperforming or past due using the same criteria applied to the originated portfolio. The excess of estimated cash flows expected to be collected from each PCI loan pool over the pool’s carrying value is referred to as the accretable yield and was recognized in interest income using an effective yield method over the expected life of the pool. Each pool of PCI loans were accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and an aggregate expectation of cash flows.  PCI loans in pools with an accretable yield and expected cash flows that were reasonably estimable were considered to be accruing and performing even though collection of contractual payments on loans within the pool may be in doubt.  PCI loans accounted for in pools were generally not subject to individual evaluation for impairment and were not reported with impaired loans or troubled debt restructurings even if they would otherwise qualify for such treatment.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

Troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) occur when a borrower is experiencing, or is expected to experience, financial difficulties in the near-term and a modification in loan terms is granted that would otherwise not have been considered.

Troubled debt restructurings can result in loans remaining on nonaccrual, moving to nonaccrual, or continuing to accrue, depending on the individual facts and circumstances of the borrower. When establishing credit reserves on a loan modified in a TDR, the loan’s value is determined by either the present value of expected cash flows calculated using the loan’s effective interest rate before the restructuring, or the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. If the value as determined is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the difference is charged off through the allowance for loan and lease losses.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extended to January 1, 2022 the relief provided by Section 4013 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from the accounting and disclosure requirements of ASC 310-40 for loan modifications that are made by financial institutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic if the borrower was not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019, and the modifications are related to arrangements that defer or delay the payment of principal or interest, or change the interest rate on the loan.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 326, or CECL, on January 1, 2020. For reporting periods prior to January 1, 2020, credit loss accounting was in accordance with guidance under ASC Topic 310.

The allowance for credit losses (ACL) is comprised of the allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL), a valuation account available to absorb losses on loans and leases held for investment, and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments, a liability established to absorb credit losses for the expected life of the contractual term of on and off-balance sheet exposures as of the date of the determination. Quarterly, management estimates losses in the portfolio and unfunded exposures based on a number of factors, including the Company’s past loan loss experience, known and potential risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, and current and forecasted economic conditions.

The analysis and methodology for estimating the ACL includes two primary elements: a collective approach for pools of loans that have similar risk characteristics using a loss rate analysis, and a specific reserve analysis for credits individually evaluated for credit loss. For the collective approach, the Company segments loans into commercial non-real estate, commercial real estate – owner occupied, commercial real estate – income producing, construction and land development, residential mortgage and consumer, with further segmentation by region and sub-portfolio, as deemed appropriate. Both quantitative and qualitative factors are applied at the portfolio segment levels. The Company applies the practical expedient that permits the exclusion of the accrued interest receivable balance from amortized cost basis of financing receivables for all classes of loans as our nonaccrual policy results in the timely write-off of interest accrued but uncollected.

For the collectively evaluated portfolios, the Company utilizes internally developed credit models and third party economic forecasts for the calculation of expected credit loss over the reasonable and supportable forecast period for the majority of the portfolio and other methods, generally historical loss based, for select portfolios. The Company calculates a collective allowance for a two-year reasonable and supportable forecast period utilizing probability weighted multiple macroeconomic scenarios, and then reverts on a linear basis over four quarters to an average historical loss rate for the remaining term. The credit models consist primarily of multivariate regression and autoregressive models that correlate our historical net charge-off rates to select macroeconomic variables at a collective level. Forward-looking macroeconomic forecasts are applied as inputs to the regression equations to estimate quarterly collective net charge-off rates over the reasonable and supportable period. The net charge-off rates from the credit models for the

reasonable and supportable period, the linear reversion rates, and the average loss rates for the post reasonable and supportable periods are applied to forecasted balance runoff for the estimated remaining term. The balance runoff incorporates prepayment assumptions developed from historical experience that are applied to the multiple macroeconomic forecasts. Forecasted net charge-off rates are also applied to forecasted draws and subsequent runoff of unfunded commitments in the calculation of the reserve for unfunded lending commitments. Qualitative adjustments to the output of quantitative calculations are made when management deems it necessary to reflect differences in current and forecasted conditions as compared to those during the historical loss period used in model development. Conditions to be considered include, but are not limited to, problem loan trends, current business and economic conditions, credit concentrations, lending policies and procedures, lending staff, collateral values, loan profiles and volumes, loan review quality, changes in competition and regulations, and other adjustments for model limitations or other variables not specifically captured.

The Company establishes specific reserves using an individually evaluated approach for nonaccrual loans, loans modified in troubled debt restructures, loans for which a troubled debt restructure is reasonably expected, and other financial instruments that are deemed to not share risk characteristics with other collectively evaluated financial assets. For loans individually evaluated, a specific allowance is recognized for any shortfall between the loan’s value and its recorded investment. The loan’s value is measured by either the loan’s observable market price, the fair value of the collateral of the loan (less liquidation costs) if it is collateral dependent, or by the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. The Company applies the practical expedient and defines collateral dependent loans as those where the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and on which repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. Loans individually analyzed are not incorporated into the pool analysis to avoid double counting. The Company limits the individually evaluated specific reserve analysis to include commercial and residential mortgage loans with relationship balances of $1 million or greater and all loans classified as troubled debt restructurings.

Prior to the adoption of CECL and under the provisions of ASC 310, the ACL was established and maintained at an amount sufficient to cover estimated credit losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolios and off balance sheet exposures of the Company as of the date of the determination. The previous analysis and methodology for estimating the ACL included two primary elements: a historical loss rate analysis used for credits collectively evaluated for impairment; and a specific reserve analysis is used for credits individually evaluated for impairment. Segmentation for the collective evaluation was similar to those used under CECL (described above), and further subdivided by select credit quality indicators. The incurred loss methodology used loss emergence periods developed from historical experience of 24 months for commercial loans and twelve to eighteen months for retail and residential mortgage loans. Historical loss rates were calculated using a weighted average of loss rates over the loss emergence periods in the historical look back period. As circumstances dictated, management made qualitative adjustments to the overall loss rate to reflect differences in current conditions as compared to those during the historical loss period. Both quantitative and qualitative factors were applied at the detailed portfolio segments. The specific reserve analysis for credits individual evaluated for impairment was largely unchanged.  

It is the policy of the Company to promptly charge off all commercial and residential mortgage loans, or portions of loans, when available information reasonably confirms that they are wholly or partially uncollectible. Prior to recording a charge, the loan’s value is established based on an assessment of the value of the collateral securing the loan, the borrower’s and the guarantor’s ability and willingness to pay and the status of the account in bankruptcy court, if applicable. Consumer loans are generally charged down when the loan is 120 days past due for most secured and unsecured loans and 150 days past due for consumer credit card loans, unless the loan is clearly both well secured and in the process of collection. Loans are charged down to the fair value of the collateral, if any, less estimated selling costs. Loans are charged off against the allowance for loan losses, with subsequent recoveries added back to the allowance.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is charged to expense using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are up to 30 years for buildings and three to ten years for most furniture and equipment. Amortization expense for software is generally charged over three years, or seven years for core systems. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the terms of the respective leases or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. The Company evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate that such long-lived assets have been impaired. Measurement of any impairment of such long-lived assets is based on their fair values.

Property and equipment used in operations is considered held for sale when certain criteria are met, including when management has committed to a plan to sell the asset, the asset is available for sale in its immediate condition, and the sale is probable within one year of the reporting date. Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value less costs to sell. Gains and losses related to retirement or disposition of property and equipment are recorded in other income under noninterest income on the consolidated statements of income as realized.

Operating Leases

The Company recognizes a liability representing the present value of future lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset over the lease term in the statement of financial position.

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception of the contract and assesses the appropriate classification as finance or operating. Operating leases with terms greater than one year are included in right-of-use lease assets and lease obligations on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The lease term includes payments to be made in optional or renewal periods only if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise an option to extend the lease or not to exercise an option to terminate the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term using the interest rate implicit in the contract, when available, or the Company’s incremental collateralized borrowing rate with similar terms. Agreements with both lease and non-lease components are accounted for separately, with only the lease component capitalized. The right-of-use asset is the amount of the lease liability adjusted for prepaid or accrued lease payments, remaining balance of any lease incentives received, unamortized initial direct costs, and impairment. Lease expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term through amortization of the right-of-use asset plus implicit interest accreted on the operating lease liability obligation, and is reflected in net occupancy expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate right-of-use assets have been impaired. Measurement of any impairment of such assets is based on their fair values. Once a right-of-use asset for an operating lease is impaired, the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset is reduced through expense and the remaining balance is subsequently amortized on a straight-line basis.

Certain of the Company’s leases contain variable components, such as annual changes to rent based on the consumer price index. Operating lease liabilities are not re-measured as a result of changes to variable components unless the lease must be re-measured for some other reason such as a renewal that was not reasonably certain of being exercised. Changes to the variable components are treated as variable lease payments and recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments was incurred.

The Company elected to use the standard’s “package of practical expedients,” which allows the use of previous conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and the accounting treatment for initial direct costs. The Company also elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases with lease terms of one year or less; as such, the Company will not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet for such leases.

Other Real Estate and Foreclosed Assets

Other real estate and foreclosed assets includes real property and other assets that have been acquired in satisfaction of loans and leases, and real property no longer used in the Bank’s business. These assets are recorded at the estimated fair value less the estimated cost of disposition and carried at the lower of either cost or market. Fair value is based on independent appraisals and other relevant factors. Any initial reduction in the carrying amount of a loan to the fair value of the collateral received less selling costs is charged to the allowance for loan losses. Each asset is revalued on an annual basis, or more often if market conditions necessitate. Subsequent losses on the periodic revaluation of these assets and gains or losses recognized on disposition are charged to current earnings, as are revenues from and costs of operating and maintaining real property; with the resulting net (income) expense reflected in noninterest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Improvements made to real property are capitalized if the expenditures are expected to be recovered upon the sale of the property.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of consideration paid over the fair value of net assets acquired or the excess of the fair value liabilities assumed over consideration received in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but assessed for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment.  The impairment test compares the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with its net book value. The Company has assigned all goodwill to one reporting unit that represents overall banking operations. The fair value of the reporting unit is based on valuation techniques that market participants would use in an acquisition of the whole unit, and may include analysis such as estimated discounted cash flows, the quoted market price of the Company’s stock adjusted for a control premium, and observable average price-to-earnings and price-to-book multiples of competitors.  If the unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, an estimate of the implied fair value of the goodwill is compared to the goodwill’s carrying value, and any impairment recognized.

Other identifiable intangible assets with finite lives, such as core deposit intangibles, customer lists and trade name, are initially recorded at fair value and are generally amortized over the periods benefited. These assets are evaluated for impairment in a similar manner to long-lived assets.

Life Insurance Contracts

Bank-owned life insurance contracts (BOLI) are comprised of long-term life insurance contracts on the lives of certain current and past employees where the insurance policy benefits and ownership are retained by the employer. Its cash surrender value is an asset that the Company uses to partially offset the future cost of employee benefits. The cash value accumulation on BOLI is permanently tax deferred if the policy is held to the insured person’s death and certain other conditions are met.

 

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

 

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), the Company is required to purchase and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB in an amount equal to a membership investment plus an activity-based investment determined according to the level of outstanding FHLB advances. The shares are recorded at amortized cost, which approximates fair value, and is reflected in Other Assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value as components of other assets and other liabilities. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge.

For derivatives designated as hedging the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or liability (fair value hedge), the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of the fair value change together with the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged. Derivatives designated as hedging exposure to variable cash flows of a forecasted transaction (cash flow hedge), are reported as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings or in certain circumstances, when the hedge is terminated, with the full impact of hedge gains and losses recognized in the period in which the hedged transaction impacts the entity’s earnings. For derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately. Note 11 - Derivatives describes the derivative instruments currently used by the Company and discloses how these derivatives impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

Stockholders’ Equity

Common stock reflects shares issued at par value.  Repurchase of the Company’s common stock (treasury stock) is recorded at cost as a reduction of stockholders’ equity within capital surplus in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.  When treasury shares are subsequently reissued, treasury stock is reduced by the cost of such stock using the first-in-first-out method, with the difference recorded in capital surplus or retained earnings, as applicable.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Interest Income

Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis driven by written contracts, such as loan agreements or securities contracts. Loan origination fees and costs are recognized over the life of the loan as an adjustment to yield.

 

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts

Service charges on deposit accounts include transaction based fees for non-sufficient funds, account analysis fees, and other service charges on deposits, including monthly account service fees. Non-sufficient funds fees are recognized at the time when the account overdraft occurs in accordance with regulatory guidelines.  Account analysis fees consist of fees charged on certain business deposit accounts based upon account activity as well as other monthly account fees, and are recorded under the accrual method of accounting as services are performed.  

 

Other service charges are earned by providing depositors safeguard and remittance of funds as well as by providing other elective services for depositors that are performed upon the depositor’s request. Charges for deposit services for the safeguard and remittance

of funds are recognized at the end of the statement cycle, after services are provided, as the customer retains funds in the account. Revenue for other elective services is earned at the point in time the customer uses the service.

 

Trust Fees

Trust fee income represents revenue generated from asset management services provided to individuals, businesses, and institutions. The Company has a fiduciary responsibility to the beneficiary of the trust to perform agreed upon services which can include investing assets, periodic reporting, and providing tax information regarding the trust. In exchange for these trust and custodial services, the Company collects fee income from beneficiaries as contractually determined via fee schedules. The Company’s performance obligation is primarily satisfied over time as the services are performed and provided to the customer.  These fees are recorded under the accrual method of accounting as the services are performed.  The Company generally acts as the principal in these transactions and records revenue and expenses on a gross basis.  

 

Bank Card and Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) Fees

Bank card and ATM fees include credit card, debit card and ATM transaction revenue. The majority of this revenue is card interchange fees earned through a third party network. Performance obligations are satisfied for each transaction when the card is used and the funds are remitted. The network establishes interchange fees that the merchant remits for each transaction, and costs are incurred from the network for facilitating the interchange with the merchant.  Card fees also include merchant services fees earned for providing merchants with card processing capabilities.  

 

ATM income is generated from allowing customers to withdraw funds from other banks’ machines and from allowing a non-customer cardholder to withdraw funds from the Company’s machines. The Company satisfies its performance obligations for each transaction at the point in time that the withdrawal is processed.

 

Bank card and ATM fee income is recorded on accrual basis as services are provided with the related expense reflected in data processing expense.  

 

Investment and Annuity Fees and Insurance Commissions

Investment and annuity services fee income represents income earned from investment and advisory services. The Company provides its customers with access to investment products through the use of third party carriers to meet their financial needs and investment objectives. Upon selection of an investment product, the customer enters into a policy with the carrier. The performance obligation is satisfied by fulfilling its responsibility to acquire the investment for which a commission fee is earned from the carrier based on agreed-upon fee percentages on a trade date basis. The Company has a contractual relationship with a third party broker dealer to provide full service brokerage and investment advisory activities. As the agent in the arrangement, the Company recognizes the investment services commissions on a net basis.  Investment revenue also includes portfolio management fees, which represent monthly fees charged on a contractual basis to customers for the management of their investment portfolios and are recorded under the accrual method of accounting on a gross basis, with expenses recorded in the appropriate expense line item.  

This revenue line item includes investment banking income, which includes fees for services arising from securities offerings or placements in which the Company acts as a principal. Revenue is recognized at the time the underwriting is completed and the revenue is reasonably determinable.  Any costs associated with these transactions are reflected in the appropriate expense line item.

Insurance commission revenue is recognized on a gross basis as of the effective date of the insurance policy as the Company’s performance obligation is connecting the customer to the insurance products.  The Company also receives contingent commissions from insurance companies as additional incentive for achieving specified premium volume goals and/or the loss experience of the insurance placed. Contingent commissions from insurance companies are recognized when determinable, which is generally when such commissions are received or when we receive data from the insurance companies that allows the reasonable estimation of these amounts. Any costs associated with these transactions are reflected in the appropriate expense line item.

 

Secondary Mortgage Market Operations

Secondary mortgage market operations revenue is primarily comprised of service release premiums earned on the sale of closed-end mortgage loans to other financial institutions or government agencies that are recognized in revenue as each sales transaction occurs. This revenue line item also includes derivative income associated with our mortgage banking operations. Refer to Note 11 – Derivatives for a discussion of these derivative instruments.

 

 

Securities Transactions

Securities transactions includes net realized gain (losses) on securities sold reflecting the excess (deficiency) of proceeds received over the specifically identified carrying amount of the assets being sold plus cost to sell.  Securities sales are recorded as each transaction occurs on a trade-date basis.  

 

Income from Bank-Owned Life Insurance

Bank-owned life insurance income primarily represents income earned from the appreciation of the cash surrender value of insurance contracts held and the proceeds of insurance benefits. Revenue from the proceeds of insurance benefits is recognized at the time a claim is confirmed.

 

Credit Related Fees

Credit-related fee income includes letters of credit fees and unused commercial commitment fees. Revenue for letters of credit fees is recognized over time. Revenue for unused commercial commitment fees are recognized based on contractual terms, generally when collected.

 

Income from Derivatives

Income from derivatives consists primarily of income from interest rate swaps, net of fair value adjustments for customer derivatives and the related offsetting agreements with unrelated financial institutions for which the derivative instruments are not designated as hedges.

 

Other Miscellaneous Income

 

Other miscellaneous income represents a variety of revenue streams, including safe deposit box income, wire transfer fees, syndication fees, gains or losses on sales of assets, and any other income not reflected above.  Income is recorded once the performance obligation is satisfied, generally on the accrual basis or on a cash basis if not material and/or considered constrained.

 

Advertising Costs

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and recorded as a component of noninterest expense.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Current tax liabilities or assets are recognized for the estimated income taxes payable or refundable on tax returns to be filed with respect to the current year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled. Valuation allowances are established against deferred tax assets if, based on all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the assets will not be realized. The benefit of a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return is recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on its technical merits.  The effects of changes in tax rates and laws upon deferred tax balances are recognized in the period in which the legislation is enacted.

 

The Company makes investments that generate investment tax credits (ITC).  The Company uses the deferral method of accounting whereby the tax benefit from the investment tax credits is recognized as a reduction of the book basis of the related asset and is amortized into income over the tax life of the underlying investment.

 

The Company also made investments in projects that yield tax credits issued under the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) and Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB) prior to December 31, 2017, as well as Federal and state New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) programs. Returns on these investments are generated through the receipt of federal and state tax credits. The tax credits are recorded as a reduction to the income tax provision in the year that they are earned. Tax credits from QZAB and QSCB bonds are generally earned over the life of the bonds in lieu of interest income. Credits on Federal NMTC investments are earned over the seven- year compliance period beginning with the year of investment. Credits on State NMTC investments are generally earned over a three to five-year period depending upon the specific state program. For investments where the return of the principal is not expected, the equity investment is amortized over the life of the tax compliance period as a component of noninterest expense.

 

The Company also invests in affordable housing projects that generate low-income tax credits (LIHTC) that are earned over a 10-year period, beginning with the year the rental activity begins. The Company has elected to use the practical expedient method of amortization, which approximates the proportional amortization method, over the 10 year tax credit period.

With the exception of QZAB and QSCB tax credits, all of the tax credits described above can be carried back one-year and carried forward 20 years if the credit cannot be fully used in the year the credits first become available for use. QZAB and QSCB tax credits generally can be carried forward indefinitely if they cannot be fully used in the year the credits are generated.

 

Retirement Benefits

 

The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans and certain other defined benefit postretirement plans for eligible employees. The amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements with respect to these plans are based on actuarial valuations that incorporate various assumptions regarding future experience under the plans. Note 17 – Retirement Benefit Plans discusses the actuarial assumptions and provides information about the liabilities or assets recognized for the funded status of the Company’s obligations under these plans, the net benefit expense charged to current operations, and the amounts recognized as a component of other comprehensive income loss and AOCI.

 

Share-Based Payment Arrangements

 

The grant date fair value of equity instruments awarded to employees and directors establishes the cost of the services received in exchange, and the cost associated with awards that are expected to vest is recognized over the requisite service period.  Share-based compensation for service-based awards that contain a graded vesting schedule is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. Forfeitures of unvested awards are recognized in earnings in the period in which they occur. Refer to Note 18 – Share-Based Payment Arrangements for additional information.

 

Earnings (Loss) per Common Share

The Company computes earnings (loss) per share using the two-class method. The two-class method allocates net income to each class of common stock and participating security according to the common dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. For reporting periods in which a net loss is recorded, net loss is not allocated to participating securities because the holders of such securities bear no contractual obligation to fund or otherwise share in the loss. Participating securities currently consist of unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents.

Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing income or loss available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the applicable period. Shares outstanding exclude treasury shares and unvested share-based payment awards under long-term incentive compensation plans and directors’ compensation plans. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding increased by the number of shares in which employees would vest under performance-based stock awards and stock unit awards based on expected performance factors and by the number of additional shares that would have been issued if potentially dilutive stock options were exercised, each as determined using the treasury stock method. For reporting periods in which a net loss is recorded, no effect is given to potentially dilutive shares as the impact of such shares would be anti-dilutive.

Reportable Segment Disclosures

U.S. GAAP require that information be reported about a company’s operating segments using a “management approach.” Reportable segments are identified in these standards as those revenue-producing components for which discrete financial information is produced internally and which are subject to evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources to segments. The Company’s stated strategy is to provide a consistent package of banking products and services throughout a coherent market area; as such, the Company has identified its overall banking operations as its only reportable segment. Because the overall banking operations comprise substantially all of the Company’s consolidated operations, no separate segment disclosures are presented.

Other

Assets held by the Bank in a fiduciary capacity are not assets of the Bank and are not included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2021

 

In August 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2021-06, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205), Financial Services – Depository and Lending (Topic 942) and Financial Services – Investment Companies (Topic 946),” to reflect the issuance of SEC Release No. 33-10786, Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses, and No. 33-10835, Update of Statistical Disclosures for Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants. The Company is required to comply with the rules set forth in SEC Release No. 33-10835 for fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2021, with voluntary early compliance permitted. The Company early adopted the rules set forth in SEC Release No. 33-10786 in its December 31, 2020 Form 10-K and, therefore, was in compliance with this ASU upon its issuance.

 

In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848),” to clarify that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the transition to new reference rates. The amendments in the update do not apply to contract modifications made after December 31, 2022, new hedging relationships entered into after December 31, 2022, and existing hedging relationships evaluated for effectiveness in periods after December 31, 2022, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2022, that apply certain optional expedients in which the accounting effects are recorded through the end of the hedging relationship (including periods after December 31, 2022). The provisions of this guidance were effective upon issuance for all entities. An entity may elect to apply the amendments in this update on a full retrospective basis as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or on a prospective basis to new modifications from any date within an interim period that includes or is subsequent to the date of the issuance of a final update, up to the date that financial statements are available to be issued. The Company adopted this guidance on a full retrospective basis upon issuance. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact upon the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

 

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, “Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables- Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs,” to clarify that an entity should reevaluate whether a callable debt security is within the scope of paragraph 310-20-35-33 for each reporting period. Securities within the scope of this paragraph are those that have explicit, noncontingent call options that are callable at fixed prices and on preset dates at prices less than the amortized cost basis of the security. Whether a security is subject to this paragraph may change depending on the amortized cost basis of the security and the terms of the next call option. For instruments that fall within the scope, the premium should be amortized to the next call date, which is defined as the first date at which a call option at a specified price becomes exercisable. Once the next call date has passed, the next call date after that (if applicable) is the date at which the next call option at a specified price becomes exercisable, and, if there is no remaining premium or if there are no further call dates, the effective yield should be reset using the payment terms of the debt security. For public business entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, and entities should apply the amendments in the update on a prospective basis for existing and newly purchased callable debt securities. The Company assessed its bond portfolio upon adoption and determined that there were no bonds with premium calls at such dates. The Company evaluates its bond portfolio at each interim and annual reporting date to determine if any instruments fall within the scope of paragraph 310-20-35-33.

 

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740).” The amendments in this update are meant to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to GAAP. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP by modifying and/or revising the accounting for certain income tax transactions and by clarifying certain existing codification. The amendments in the update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2021. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact upon the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

Significant Accounting Standard Adopted in 2020

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The ASU, more commonly referred to as Current Expected Credit Losses, or CECL, along with several subsequently issued related amendments, were codified as ASC 326. The provisions of ASC 326, which supersede the incurred loss methodology prescribed by ASC 310, require the measurement of expected credit losses over the life of financial assets based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. As such, financial institutions and other organizations are required to use forward-looking information to inform their credit loss estimates. Many of the loss estimation techniques prescribed by previous guidance are still permitted, although the inputs to those techniques have changed to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses for the estimated remaining life of the instrument. An entity uses judgment to determine which loss estimation methods are appropriate for its circumstances. In addition, ASC 326 amends the accounting for credit losses on both held to maturity and available for sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration.

The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 326 on January 1, 2020, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings for non-purchased credit impaired loans. For purchased credit impaired loans (as defined by ASC 310-30), there was no impact to retained earnings upon adoption; rather, a portion of the purchase accounting fair value mark was reclassified to allowance for credit losses. A more detailed discussion of the Company’s policy for accounting for credit losses under the provisions of ASC 326 is presented earlier in this note.

The following table reflects the impact of adoption reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The increase in the allowance for loan losses represents a reduction in total assets, while the reserve for unfunded lending commitments represents an increase in total liabilities.

 

(in thousands)

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

January 1, 2020

 

 

CECL adoption impact

 

Assets and Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for loan and lease losses

 

$

191,251

 

 

$

240,662

 

 

$

49,411

 

Reserve for unfunded lending commitments

 

 

3,974

 

 

 

31,304

 

 

 

27,330

 

Allowance for credit losses

 

$

195,225

 

 

$

271,966

 

 

$

76,741

 

Retained Earnings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for credit loss increase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

76,741

 

Balance sheet reclassification

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19,767

)

Total pretax impact

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

56,974

 

Income tax impact

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,887

)

Decrease to retained earnings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

44,087