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Note A - Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements  
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

NOTE A – BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

 

Business of The Company

Peoples Financial Corporation (the “Company”) is a one-bank holding company headquartered in Biloxi, Mississippi. Its two wholly owned subsidiaries are The Peoples Bank, Biloxi, Mississippi (the “Bank”), and PFC Service Corp. Its principal subsidiary is the Bank, which provides a full range of banking, financial and trust services to state, county and local government entities and individuals and small and commercial businesses operating in those portions of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama which are within a fifty-mile radius of the Waveland, Wiggins or Gautier branches, the Bank’s three most outlying locations (the “trade area”).

 

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Basis of Accounting

The Company and its subsidiaries recognize assets and liabilities, and income and expense, on the accrual basis of accounting. The preparation of 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 these estimates. Material estimates common to the banking industry that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term include, but are not limited to, the determination of the allowance for credit losses, the valuation of other real estate acquired in connection with foreclosure or in satisfaction of loans, assumptions relating to employee and director benefit plan liabilities and valuation allowances associated with the realization of deferred tax assets, which are based on future taxable income.

 

Revenue Recognition

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), prescribes the process related to the recognition of revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 excludes revenue streams relating to loans and investment securities, which are the major source of revenue for the Company, from its scope. Consistent with this guidance, the Company recognizes non-interest income within the scope of this guidance as services are transferred to its customers in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those services. Other types of revenue contracts, the income from which is included in non-interest income, that are within the scope of ASU 2014-09 are:

 

Trust department income and fees: A contract for fiduciary and/or investment administration services on personal trust accounts and corporate trust services. Personal trust fee income is determined as a percentage of assets under management and is recognized over the period the underlying trust is serviced. Corporate trust fee income is recognized over the period the Company provides service to the entity.

 

Service charges on deposit accounts: The deposit contract obligates the Company to serve as a custodian of the customer’s deposited funds and is generally terminable at will by either party. The contract permits the customer to access the funds on deposit and request additional services for which the Company earns a fee, including NSF and analysis charges, related to the deposit account. Income for deposit accounts is recognized over the statement cycle period (typically on a monthly basis) or at the time the service is provided, if additional services are requested.

 

ATM fee income: A contract between the Company, as a card-issuing bank, and its customers whereby the Company receives a transaction fee from the merchant’s bank whenever a customer uses a debit or credit card to make a purchase. These fees are earned as the service is provided (i.e., when the customer uses a debit or ATM card).

 

Other non-interest income: Other non-interest income includes several items, such as wire transfer income, check cashing fees, gain (loss) from sales of other real estate, the increase in cash surrender value of life insurance, rental income from bank properties and safe deposit box rental fees. This income is generally recognized at the time the service is provided and/or the income is earned.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Update –In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09 (“ASU 2023-09”), Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments of ASU 2023-09 relate to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosures to improve the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The other amendments in this update improve the effectiveness and comparability of disclosures by (1) adding disclosures of pretax income (or loss) and income tax expense (or benefit) to be consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X 210.4-08(h), Rules of General Application—General Notes to Financial Statements: Income Tax Expense, and (2) removing disclosures that no longer are considered cost beneficial or relevant. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. For entities other than public business entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments in this update should be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted. Management has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this standard and determined there may be additional information required within the Company’s notes to consolidated financial statements on income taxes.

 

Accounting Standards Update –In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-08 (“ASU 2023-08”), Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60): Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets. The amendments in ASU 2023-08 require that an entity measure crypto assets at fair value in the statement of financial position each reporting period and recognize changes from remeasurement in net income. The amendments also require that an entity provide enhanced disclosures for both annual and interim reporting periods. The update is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued (or made available for issuance). If an entity adopts the amendments in an interim period, it must adopt them as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The update also requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings (or other appropriate components of equity or net assets) as of the beginning of the annual reporting period in which an entity adopts the amendments. Management has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this standard and determined there would be no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations since the Company does not own any such assets.

 

Accounting Standards Update –In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07 (“ASU 2023-07”), Segment Reporting (Topic 280); Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 improves reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The update requires disclosure of incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis for all public entities. The amendments in this update do not change or remove any disclosures currently required. The amendments in this update also do not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. A public entity should apply the amendments in this update retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Upon transition, the segment expense categories and amounts disclosed in the prior periods should be based on the significant segment expense categories identified and disclosed in the period of adoption. Management has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this standard and determined there would be no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Accounting Standards Update –In October 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-06 (“ASU 2023-06”), Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SECs Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative. ASU 2023-06 addresses changes to clarify or improve disclosure and presentation requirements of a variety of topics. The amendments align the requirements in the codification with the SEC’s regulations. For entities subject to the SEC’s existing disclosure requirements and for entities required to file or furnish financial statements with or to the SEC in preparation for the sale of or for purposes of issuing securities that are not subject to contractual restrictions on transfer, the effective date for each amendment will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, with early adoption prohibited. For all other entities, the amendments will be effective two years later. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively. For all entities, if by June 30, 2027, the SEC has not removed the applicable requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, the pending content of the related amendment will be removed from the codification and will not become effective for any entity. Management has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this standard and determined there would be no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Accounting Standards Update –In August 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-05 (“ASU 2023-05”), Business Combinations-Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60), Recognition and Initial Measurement. ASU 2023-05 addresses the accounting for contributions made to a joint venture, upon formation, in a joint venture’s separate financial statements. The objectives of the amendments are to (1) provide decision-useful information to investors and other allocators of capital (collectively, investors) in a joint venture’s financial statements and (2) reduce diversity in practice. The amendments in ASU 2023-05 are effective prospectively for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025. Additionally, a joint venture that was formed before January 1, 2025, may elect to apply the amendments retrospectively if it has sufficient information. Early adoption is permitted for all entities in any interim or annual period in which financial statements have not yet been issued (or made available for issuance), either prospectively or retrospectively. Management has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this standard and determined there would be no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Accounting Standards Update –In March 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-02 (“ASU 2023-02”), Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method. ASU 2023-02 allows reporting entities to elect to account for qualifying tax equity investments using the proportional amortization method, regardless of the program giving rise to the related income tax credits. Reporting entities were previously permitted to apply the proportional amortization method only to qualifying tax equity investments in low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) structures. The amendments in ASU 2023-02 apply to all reporting entities that hold (1) tax equity investments that meet the conditions for and elect to account for them using the proportional amortization method or (2) an investment in a LIHTC structure through a limited liability entity that is not accounted for using the proportional amortization method. Additionally, the disclosure requirements apply to investments that generate income tax credits and other income tax benefits from a tax credit program for which the entity has elected to apply the proportional amortization method (including investments within that elected program that do not meet the conditions to apply the proportional amortization method). For public business entities, the amendments in ASU 2023-02 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities in any interim period. If an entity adopts the amendments in an interim period, it should adopt them as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. Management has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this standard and determined there would be no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

New Accounting Standards Adopted

In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-02, "Financial Instruments: Credit Losses (Topic 326) - Troubled Debt Restructurings (TDR) and Vintage Disclosures." The amendments in this update cover two issues: (1) the elimination of TDR recognition and measurement guidance as prescribed by ASC 310-40 and, instead, require that an entity evaluate (consistent with the accounting for other loan modifications) whether the modification represents a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan. The amendments enhance existing disclosure requirements and introduce new requirements related to certain modifications of receivables made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty; and (2) for public business entities, the requirement that an entity disclose current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investment in leases within the scope of Subtopic 326-20. Gross write-off information must be included in the vintage disclosures required for public business entities in accordance with paragraph 326-20-50-6, which requires that an entity disclose the amortized cost basis of financing receivables by credit quality indicator and class of financing receivable by year of origination.

 

The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For the elimination of recognition and measurement guidance on troubled debt restructurings by creditors in Subtopic 310-40, an entity may elect to apply a modified retrospective transition by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption, or a prospective approach applied to modifications occurring after the date of adoption. The remainder of amendments should be applied prospectively. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2023, on a prospective basis for all amendments. The adoption of this standard was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 326, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses,” more commonly referred to as CECL, on a modified retrospective basis. The provisions of this guidance require a material change to the manner in which the Company estimates and reports losses on financial instruments, including loans and unfunded lending commitments, select securities and other assets carried at amortized cost. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2023, are presented under ASC 326, while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. Changes to the Company’s accounting policies related to CECL are described below.

 

There were no other material changes or developments during the reporting period with respect to methodologies that the Company uses when applying what management believes are critical accounting policies and developing critical accounting estimates.

 

Reclassification-Certain items previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s reporting format due to the adoption of CECL.

 

Under CECL, the allowance for credit losses (ACL) is a valuation account, measured as the difference between the Bank’s amortized cost basis and the net amount expected to be collected on the financial assets (i.e., lifetime credit losses). The CECL methodology described in FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost, and off-balance-sheet credit exposures (collectively, financial assets) including: financing receivables such as loans held for investment, held to maturity debt securities, off-balance-sheet credit exposures (unfunded commitments) including off-balance sheet loan commitments; standby letters of credit; and other similar instruments. The 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.

 

In general, the Bank uses a broad range of data to estimate expected credit losses under CECL, including information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts relevant to assessing the collectability of the cash flows of financial assets. The following represents an overview of key factors regarding CECL: CECL requires the Bank to measure expected credit losses on financial assets carried at amortized cost on a collective or pool basis when similar risk characteristics exist. The Bank has determined that Call Report categories will be utilized, and Management will maintain the option to further segment the portfolio if we deem it beneficial to the analysis.

 

As stated above, CECL also applies to held to maturity debt securities since they are carried at amortized cost and are within the scope of the standard. Therefore, it is the responsibility of management to establish any required allowances for credit losses on the Bank’s held to maturity debt securities as of the date the Bank adopts CECL and to maintain such allowances thereafter. Because CECL requires the Bank to measure expected credit losses on a collective or pool basis when similar risk characteristics exist, held to maturity debt securities that share similar risk characteristics are collectively assessed for credit losses.

 

Estimation Methods for Expected Credit Losses-Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 326, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses,” does not require the use of a specific loss estimation method for purposes of determining ACLs. Various methods may be used to estimate the expected collectability of financial assets, with those methods generally applied consistently overtime. The same loss estimation method does not need to be applied to all financial assets. Loss-rate methods can involve a variety of approaches, and Management incorporates the methods below:

 

Open Pool or Snapshot Method

The starting point for the calculation consists of assets that are outstanding at the end of a given time frame and are made up of assets that were originated in various years. Additional assets may be added to pools of loans under an open pool method.

 

Weighted Average Remaining Maturity (WARM) Method

A loss-rate method that estimates expected credit losses over the remaining life of the financial assets and uses a weighted average of the assets’ contractual terms to estimate the pool’s remaining contractual term. The WARM method uses average annual net charge-off rates and the amortization adjusted remaining life considering prepayments plus qualitative adjustments to estimate the ACLs.

 

Qualitative Factor Adjustments

The estimation of ACLs is to reflect consideration of all significant factors relevant to the expected collectability of the Bank’s financial assets as of the reporting date. Management begins their expected credit loss estimation process by determining the Bank’s historical loss information.

 

Management is to consider the need to qualitatively adjust expected credit loss estimates for information not already captured in the loss estimation process. These qualitative factor adjustments may increase or decrease management’s estimate of expected credit losses.

 

Historical loss experience generally provides a quantitative starting point for Management’s estimate of expected credit losses. Consistent with FASB ASU Topic 326, Management must consider relevant qualitative factors that may cause the CECL estimate of the financial asset portfolio as of the evaluation date to differ from the historical loss experience.

 

Management is to consider the qualitative factors that are relevant to the Bank as of the reporting date, which may include but are not limited to the:

 

1.

Nature and volume of the Bank’s financial assets.

 

2.

Existence, growth, and effect of any concentrations of credit.

 

3.

Volume and severity of past due financial assets, the volume of nonaccrual assets, and the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded assets. Adversely classified or graded loans are loans rated “substandard” (or its equivalent) or worse under the institution’s loan classification system.

 

4.

Value of the underlying collateral for loans that are not collateral dependent.

 

5.

Bank’s lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and practices for collections, write-offs, and recoveries.

 

6.

Quality of the Bank’s credit review function.

 

7.

Experience, ability, and depth of the Bank’s lending, investment, collection, and other relevant management and staff.

 

8.

Effect of other external factors such as the regulatory, legal, and technological environments, competition, and events such as natural disasters.

 

9.

Actual and expected changes in international, national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and developments in which the institution operates that affect the collectability of financial assets. Changes in economic and business conditions and developments included in qualitative factor adjustments are limited to those that affect the collectability of the Bank’s financial assets and are relevant to the Bank’s financial asset portfolios.

 

The analysis and methodology used for estimating the ACL includes two primary elements: a collective approach for pools of loans that have similar risk characteristics and a specific reserve analysis for credits individually evaluated for credit loss. The WARM method uses comparable historical lookback periods as proxies for projecting future trends and employs a qualitative (“Q”) factor component in the projections which represents expected differences in current and forecasted conditions from historical loss information or conditions. The main methodology approach includes comparable risk pools which are segregated by call report loan category, unadjusted loss estimation which is a combination of open pool/snapshot and weighted average remaining maturity, comparable or “look back” periods, which the Company chooses to best approximate the expected future loss environment for the WARM time period. The WARM time period considers the average amortized remaining life adjusted by prepayment assumptions based on peer data.

 

For the collective approach, the Company segments loans into real estate-residential, real estate-nonresidential, real estate-construction and land development, commercial and industrial, and consumer/other, 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. The Company reverses interest income on loans that are placed on nonaccrual status, which is generally when the loan becomes 90 days past due, or earlier if management believes the collection of interest is doubtful. Management believes this policy results in the timely reversal of uncollectible interest.


The Company applies the expected future loss rate for each loan portfolio segment to each of the bank’s segments to calculate the allowance for credit losses.

 

CECL also requires capturing estimated credit losses on unfunded commitments that meet certain criteria. Management starts with current gross unfunded commitment levels by category as reported on the call report and then subtracts any unconditionally cancellable amounts, which are not subject to CECL reserve requirements to produce net unfunded commitment levels, as well as consideration of the likelihood of funding. Any allowance for off balance sheet exposures is reported as an other liability on the Consolidated Statement of Condition and is increased or decreased via the provision for credit losses account on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

 

The Company maintains an allowance for off-balance sheet credit exposures such as unfunded balances for existing lines of credit, commitments to extend future credit, as well as both standby and commercial letters of credit when there is a contractual obligation to extend credit and when this extension of credit is not unconditionally cancellable (i.e., the commitment cannot be canceled at any time). The initial default loss rates are then estimated by taking expected future lifetime loss rates of the loan categories that are included in each unfunded commitment segment and dividing the lifetime rate by their respective WARMs to derive an annual loss rate estimate. The allowance for off-balance sheet credit exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit loss expense. The estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur, which is based on a historical study and empirical data calculated by the Federal Deposits Insurance Corporation, and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over its estimated life. The allowance is separately classified on the balance sheet within other liabilities.

 

The Company establishes specific reserves using an individually evaluated approach for nonaccrual loans, modified loans, 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.

 

The CECL standard also requires an assessment of the Company’s held to maturity debt securities for expected credit losses and the available for sale debt securities for credit-related impairment. The Company applies the practical expedient to exclude the accrued interest receivable balance of $834,000 from the amortized cost basis of held to maturity debt securities. The allowance for credit losses on held to maturity debt securities is estimated on a collective or pool basis when similar risk characteristics exist; held to maturity debt securities that share similar risk characteristics are collectively assessed for credit losses. A separate contra valuation account is available to absorb losses on securities. The allowance for credit loss is limited to the amount by which the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. 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. 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.

 

The Company reassesses the credit losses at each reporting period and records subsequent changes in the allowance for credit losses on loans, unfunded commitments and securities with a corresponding adjustment recorded in the provision for credit loss expense.

 

Upon adoption, the Company recognized an after-tax cumulative effect reduction to retained earnings totaling $81,000, as detailed in the table below.

 

The following table details the impact of the adoption of ASC 326 on the allowance for credit losses as of January 1, 2023 (in thousands).

 

  January 1, 2023 
  

Pre-Adoption

Allowance

  

Impact of Adoption

  

Post-Adoption

Allowance

  Impact of Adoption on Retained Earnings, Net of Tax  
                 

Securities held to maturity:

                

U.S. Treasuries

 $-  $-  $-  $- 

States and political subdivisions

  -   41   41   (32)

Total

 $-  $41  $41  $(32)

Loans:

                

Real Estate, residential

 $913  $396  $1,309  $(313)

Real Estate, construction

  392   (58)  334   46 

Real Estate, non-residential

  1,639   (215)  1,424   170 

Commerical & Industrial

  143   (84)  59   66 

Consumer/Other

  251   (49)  202   39 

Total

 $3,338  $(10) $3,328  $8 

Off-balance-sheet credit exposures

 $-  $72  $72  $(57)

 

Cash and Due from Banks

For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, balances due from banks, and federal funds sold, all of which mature within ninety days.

 

Securities

The classification of securities is determined by Management at the time of purchase. Securities are classified as held to maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the security until maturity. Securities held to maturity are stated at amortized cost. Securities not classified as held to maturity are classified as available for sale and are stated at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, on these securities are recorded in shareholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The amortized cost of available for sale securities and held to maturity securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, determined using the interest method. Such amortization and accretion is included in interest income on securities. The decline in value attributed to non-credit related factors is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).

 

As stated above, CECL also applies to held to maturity debt securities since they are carried at amortized cost and are within the scope of the standard. Therefore, it is the responsibility of management to establish any required allowances for credit losses on the Bank’s held to maturity debt securities as of the date the Bank adopts CECL and to maintain such allowances thereafter. Because CECL requires the Bank to measure expected credit losses on a collective or pool basis when similar risk characteristics exist, held to maturity debt securities that share similar risk characteristics are collectively assessed for credit losses.

 

Other Investments

The Company is a shareholder of the First National Bankers Bankshares, Inc., a federally insured holding company for First National Bankers Bank, and as such owns an investment in its stock.  The stock is bought from and sold to the First National Bankers Bankshares, Inc. based on its prevalent book value.  The stock does not have a readily determinable fair value and is carried at cost and evaluated for impairment in accordance with GAAP. 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock

The Company is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (“FHLB”) and as such is required to maintain a minimum investment in its stock that varies with the level of FHLB advances outstanding. The stock is bought from and sold to the FHLB based on its $100 par value. The stock does not have a readily determinable fair value and as such is classified as restricted stock, carried at cost and evaluated for impairment in accordance with GAAP.

 

Loans

The loan portfolio consists of commercial and industrial and real estate loans within the Company’s trade area that we have the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity. The loan policy establishes guidelines relating to pricing; repayment terms; collateral standards including loan to value limits, appraisal and environmental standards; lending authority; lending limits and documentation requirements.

 

Loans are stated at the amount of unpaid principal, reduced by unearned income and the allowance for credit losses on loans and leases. Interest on loans is recognized on a daily basis over the terms of each loan based on the unpaid principal balance.

 

The Company places loans on a nonaccrual status when, in the opinion of Management, they possess sufficient uncertainty as to timely collection of interest or principal so as to preclude the recognition in reported earnings of some or all of the contractual interest. Accrued interest on loans classified as nonaccrual is reversed at the time the loans are placed on nonaccrual. Interest received on nonaccrual loans is applied against principal. Loans are restored to accrual status when the obligation is brought current or has performed in accordance with the contractual terms for a reasonable period of time and the ultimate collectibility of the total contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt.

 

Loans which become 90 days delinquent are reviewed relative to collectibility. Unless such loans are in the process of terms revision to bring them to a current status or foreclosure or in the process of collection, these loans are placed on nonaccrual and, if deemed uncollectible, are charged off against the allowance for credit losses. That portion of a loan which is deemed uncollectible will be charged off against the allowance as a partial charge off.

 

The Company’s loan portfolio segments and related credit risks as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were as follows:

 

Real Estate Loans

Residential-Residential mortgage loans are susceptible to weakening general economic conditions, increases in unemployment rates, and declining real estate values.

 

Construction-Risk common to commercial construction loans are cost overruns, changes in market demand for property, inadequate long-term financing arrangements, and declines in real estate values. Residential construction loans are susceptible to those same risks as well as those associated with residential mortgage loans. Changes in market demand for property could lead to longer marketing times resulting in higher carrying costs, declining values, and higher interest rates.

 

Nonresidential-Risks to this loan category include industry concentration and the inability to monitor the condition of collateral. Declines in general economic conditions and other events can cause cash flows to fall to levels insufficient to service debt. Also, declines in real estate values and lack of suitable alternative use for the properties. These loans are also susceptible to declines in occupancy rates, business failure, and general economic conditions.

 

Commercial and Industrial-Risk to this loan category include industry concentration and the practical limitations associated with monitoring the condition of the collateral which often consists of inventory, accounts receivable, and other non-real estate assets. Equipment and inventory obsolescence can also pose a risk. Declines in general economic conditions and other events can cause cash flows to fall to levels insufficient to service debt.

 

Other-Risk common to these loans include regulatory risks, unemployment, and changes in local economic conditions as well as the inability to monitor collateral consisting of personal property.

 

Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans and Leases

The allowance for credit losses on loans and leases (“ALL”) is a valuation account available to absorb losses on loans. The ALL is established through provisions for credit losses on loans and leases charged against earnings. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the ALL, and subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

 

The ALL is based on Management's evaluation of the loan portfolio under current economic conditions and is an amount that Management believes will be adequate to absorb probable losses on loans existing at the reporting date. The evaluation includes Management’s assessment of several factors: review and evaluation of specific loans, changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, current and anticipated economic conditions and the related impact on specific borrowers and industry groups, a study of loss experience, a review of classified, non-performing and delinquent loans, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, an estimate of the possibility of loss based on the risk characteristics of the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay and the results of regulatory examinations. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant change.

 

Prior to the adoption of ASC 326, the ALL consisted of specific and general components. The specific component related to loans that were classified as impaired. The general component of the allowance related to loans that were not impaired. Changes to the components of the ALL were recorded as a component of the provision for the allowance for credit losses on loans and leases.

 

The Company considered a loan to be impaired when, based upon current information and events, it believed it was probable that the Company would be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company’s impaired loans included troubled debt restructurings and performing and non-performing major loans for which full payment of principal or interest was not expected. Payments received for impaired loans not on nonaccrual status were applied to principal and interest.

 

The fair value of the collateral for collateral-dependent loans is based on appraisals performed by third-party valuation specialists, comparable sales and other estimates of fair value obtained principally from independent sources such as the Multiple Listing Service or county tax assessment valuations, adjusted for estimated selling costs. Factors including the assumptions and techniques utilized by the appraiser, which could result in a downward adjustment to the collateral value estimates indicated in the appraisal, are considered by the Company.

 

Bank Premises and Equipment

Bank premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets.

 

Other Real Estate

Other real estate (“ORE”) includes real estate acquired through foreclosure. Each other real estate property is carried at fair value, less estimated costs to sell. Fair value is principally based on appraisals performed by third-party valuation specialists. Any excess of the carrying value of the related loan over the fair value of the real estate at the date of foreclosure is charged against the ACL. Any expense incurred in connection with holding such real estate or resulting from any write-downs in value subsequent to foreclosure is included in non-interest expense. When the other real estate property is sold, a gain or loss is recognized on the sale for the difference, if any, between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the property. If the fair value of the ORE, less estimated costs to sell at the time of foreclosure, decreases during the holding period, the ORE is written down with a charge to non-interest expense. Generally, ORE properties are actively marketed for sale and Management is continuously monitoring these properties in order to minimize any losses.

 

Intangible Asset

Intangible asset represents the purchase price paid in the Company’s acquisition of the Trustmark trust department book of business. The intangible asset is being amortized over 10 years and is evaluated for impairment at least annually.

 

Trust Department Income and Fees

Corporate trust fees are accounted for on an accrual basis and personal trust fees are billed and recorded on a monthly basis when collected.

 

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Additionally, the recognition of future tax benefits, such as net operating loss carry forwards, is required to the extent that realization of such benefits is more likely than not. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the assets and liabilities are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

In the event the future tax consequences of differences between the financial reporting bases and the tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities results in deferred tax assets, an evaluation of the probability of being able to realize the future benefits indicated by such asset is required. A valuation allowance is provided for the portion of the deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the realizability of the deferred tax assets, Management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. The Company currently evaluates income tax positions judged to be uncertain. A loss contingency reserve is accrued if it is probable that the tax position will be challenged, it is probable that the future resolution of the challenge will confirm that a loss has been incurred and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated.

 

Post-Retirement Benefit Plan

The Company accounts for its post-retirement benefit plan under Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification” or “ASC”) Topic 715, Retirement Benefits (“ASC 715”). The under or over funded status of the Company’s post-retirement benefit plan is recognized as a liability or asset in the consolidated statement of condition. Changes in the plan’s funded status are reflected in other comprehensive income. Net actuarial gains and losses and adjustments to prior service costs that are not recorded as components of the net periodic benefit cost are charged to other comprehensive income.

 

Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding of 4,675,067 for 2023, 4,678,186 for 2022, and 4,844,248 for 2021.

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

At December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of net unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities and over (under) funded liabilities related to the Company’s post-retirement benefit plan.

 

Statements of Cash Flows

The Company has defined cash and cash equivalents to include cash and due from banks. The Company paid $6,133,216, $2,156,429, and $840,992 in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, for interest on deposits and borrowings. Income tax payments of $495,000 were paid in 2023. No income tax payments were paid in 2022. Income tax payments of $165,000 were paid in 2021. Loans transferred to other real estate amounted to $952,000, $0 and $13,648 in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

Fair Value Measurement

The Company reports certain assets and liabilities at their estimated fair value. These assets and liabilities are classified and disclosed in one of three categories based on the inputs used to develop the measurements. The categories establish a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair value.