Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Risks and Uncertainties

The earnings of the Company depend primarily on the earnings of Republic. The earnings of Republic are dependent primarily upon the level of net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on its interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and the interest paid on its interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. Accordingly, the Company’s results of operations are subject to risks and uncertainties surrounding Republic’s exposure to changes in the interest rate environment.

Prepayments on residential real estate mortgage and other fixed rate loans and mortgage-backed securities vary significantly and may cause significant fluctuations in interest margins.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant estimates are made by management in determining the allowance for loan losses, carrying values of other real estate owned, assessment of other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”) of investment securities, fair value of financial instruments and the realization of deferred income tax assets. Consideration is given to a variety of factors in establishing these estimates.

In estimating the allowance for loan losses, management considers current economic conditions, diversification of the loan portfolio, delinquency statistics, results of internal loan reviews, borrowers’ perceived financial and managerial strengths, the adequacy of underlying collateral, if collateral dependent, or present value of future cash flows, and other relevant factors. An estimate for the carrying value of other real estate owned is normally determined through appraisals which are updated on a regular basis or through agreements of sale that have been negotiated. Because the allowance for loan losses and carrying value of other real estate owned are dependent, to a great extent, on the general economy and other conditions that may be beyond the Company’s and Republic’s control, the estimates of the allowance for loan losses and the carrying values of other real estate owned could differ materially in the near term.

In estimating OTTI of investment securities, securities are evaluated on at least a quarterly basis and more frequently when market conditions warrant such an evaluation, to determine whether a decline in their value is other than temporary. To determine whether a loss in value is other than temporary, management utilizes criteria such as the reasons underlying the decline, the magnitude and duration of the decline, the intent to hold the security and the likelihood of the Company not being required to sell the security prior to an anticipated recovery in the fair value. The term “other than temporary” is not intended to indicate that the decline is permanent, but indicates that the prospect for a near-term recovery of value is not necessarily favorable, or that there is a lack of evidence to support a realizable value equal to or greater than the carrying value of investment. Once a decline in value is determined to be other than temporary, the value of the security is reduced and a corresponding charge to earnings is recognized.

In evaluating the Company’s ability to recover deferred tax assets, management considers all available positive and negative evidence. Management also makes assumptions on the amount of future taxable income, the reversal of temporary differences and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. These assumptions require management to make judgments that are consistent with the plans and estimates used to manage the Company’s business. The Company has decided to currently exclude future taxable income from its analysis of the ability to recover deferred tax assets and has recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. An increase or decrease in the valuation allowance would result in an adjustment to income tax expense in the period and could have a significant impact on the Company’s future earnings.

 Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has a Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (“the 2005 Plan”), under which the Company may grant options, restricted stock or stock appreciation rights to the Company’s employees, directors, and certain consultants. The 2005 Plan became effective on November 14, 1995, and was amended and approved at the Company’s 2005 annual meeting of shareholders. Under the terms of the 2005 Plan, 1.5 million shares of common stock, plus an annual increase equal to the number of shares needed to restore the maximum number of shares that may be available for grant under the 2005 Plan to 1.5 million shares, are available for such grants. As of September 30, 2015, the only grants under the 2005 Plan have been option grants. The 2005 Plan provides that the exercise price of each option granted equals the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of the grant. Options granted pursuant to the 2005 Plan vest within one to four years and have a maximum term of 10 years. The 2005 Plan terminates pursuant to its term on November 14, 2015.

On April 29, 2014 the Company’s shareholders approved the 2014 Republic First Bancorp, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), under which the Company may grant options, restricted stock, stock units, or stock appreciation rights to the Company’s employees, directors, independent contractors, and consultants. Under the terms of the 2014 Plan, 2.6 million shares of common stock, plus an annual adjustment to be no less than 10% of the outstanding shares or such lower number as the Board of Directors may determine, are available for such grants.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, 15,000 options were granted under the 2005 Plan with a weighted average grant date fair value of $20,826 and 490,200 options were granted under the 2014 Plan with a weighted average grant date fair value of $747,152.

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the estimated fair value of each stock option granted on the date of the grant. A summary of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model for 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	2015			2014
Dividend yield(1)		0.0%			0.0%
Expected volatility(2)	53.78%	to	56.00%	55.79%	to	57.99%
Risk-free interest rate(3)	1.49%	to	2.00%	1.51%	to	2.26%
Expected life(4) (years)	5.5	to	7.0	5.5	to	7.0

⁽¹⁾ A dividend yield of 0.0% is utilized because cash dividends have never been paid.

⁽²⁾ Expected volatility is based on Bloomberg’s five and one-half to seven year volatility calculation for “FRBK” stock.

⁽³⁾ The risk-free interest rate is based on the five to seven year Treasury bond.

⁽⁴⁾ The expected life reflects a 1 to 4 year vesting period, the maximum ten year term and review of historical behavior.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, 349,062 options and 206,825 options vested, respectively. Expense is recognized ratably over the period required to vest. At September 30, 2015, the intrinsic value of the 1,982,730 options outstanding was $1,073,953, while the intrinsic value of the 797,579 exercisable (vested) options was $400,024. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, 500 options were exercised with cash received of $1,345 and 16,369 options were forfeited with a weighted average grant date fair value of $21,331.

Information regarding stock based compensation for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is set forth below:

	2015		2014
Stock based compensation expense recognized	$	441,000	$	309,000
Number of unvested stock options		1,185,151		1,050,513
Fair value of unvested stock options	$	1,908,205	$	1,552,934
Amount remaining to be recognized as expense	$	1,034,337	$	812,979

The remaining amount of $1,034,337 will be recognized as expense through May 2019.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share (“EPS”) consist of two separate components: basic EPS and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for each period presented. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus dilutive common stock equivalents (“CSEs”). CSEs consist of dilutive stock options granted through the Company’s 2005 Plan and 2014 Plan and convertible securities related to the trust preferred securities issued in 2008. In the diluted EPS computation, the after tax interest expense on the trust preferred securities issuance is added back to net income. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the effect of CSEs in the amount of 1,661,538 shares (convertible securities related to the trust preferred securities only) and the related add back of after tax interest expense was considered anti-dilutive and therefore was not included in the EPS calculation. For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, total anti-dilutive stock options were 660,780 and 247,624, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, total anti-dilutive stock options were 660,780 and 271,624, respectively.

The calculation of EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Net income (basic and diluted)	$	582	$	297	$	1,643	$	1,589
Weighted average shares outstanding		37,816		37,815		37,816		33,025
Net income per share – basic	$	0.02	$	0.01	$	0.04	$	0.05
Weighted average shares outstanding (including dilutive CSEs)		38,064		38,253		38,052		33,399
Net income per share – diluted	$	0.02	$	0.01	$	0.04	$	0.05

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

ASU 2014-04

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, “Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructuring by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans Upon Foreclosure – a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.” The guidance clarifies when a creditor should be considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan such that the loan should be derecognized and the real estate property recognized. For public business entities, the ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. For entities other than public business entities, the ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2014-04 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2014-09

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 660): Summary and Amendments that Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Other Assets and Deferred Costs – Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40).” The purpose of this guidance is to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue. The guidance in this update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the industry topics of the codification. For public companies, early adoption of the update will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. For public companies that elect to defer the update, adoption will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements, but does not expect a material impact.

ASU 2014-14

      In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-14, “Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure - a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.” The amendments in this Update address a practice issue related to the classification of certain foreclosed residential and nonresidential mortgage loans that are either fully or partially guaranteed under government programs. Specifically, creditors should reclassify loans that meet certain conditions to "other receivables" upon foreclosure, rather than reclassifying them to other real estate owned (OREO). The separate other receivable recorded upon foreclosure is to be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) the creditor expects to recover from the guarantor. The ASU is effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2015, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company adopted ASU 2014-14 effective January 1, 2015. The adoption of ASU 2014-14 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.