Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(1)Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) for complete financial statements.  The consolidated financial statements of S.Y. Bancorp, Inc. (“Bancorp”) and its subsidiary reflect all adjustments (consisting only of adjustments of a normal recurring nature) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of financial condition and results of operations for the interim periods.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of S.Y. Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company (“Bank”).  S.Y. Bancorp Capital Trust II is a Delaware statutory trust that is a wholly-owned unconsolidated finance subsidiary of S.Y. Bancorp, Inc. Significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

A description of other significant accounting policies is presented in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 included in S.Y. Bancorp, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior year financial statements to conform to current year classifications.

Interim results for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.

Critical Accounting Policies

Management has identified the accounting policy related to the allowance and provision for loan losses as critical to the understanding of Bancorp’s results of operations and discussed this conclusion with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.  Since the application of this policy requires significant management assumptions and estimates, it could result in materially different amounts to be reported if conditions or underlying circumstances were to change.  Assumptions include many factors such as changes in borrowers’ financial condition which can change quickly or historical loss ratios related to certain loan portfolios which may or may not be indicative of future losses.  To the extent that management’s assumptions prove incorrect, the results from operations could be materially affected by a higher or lower provision for loan losses.  The accounting policy related to the allowance for loan losses is applicable to the commercial banking segment of Bancorp.

Additionally, management has identified the accounting policy related to accounting for income taxes as critical to the understanding of Bancorp’s results of operations and discussed this conclusion with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.  The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns.  Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in Bancorp’s financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences, including the effects of periodic IRS and state agency examinations, could materially impact Bancorp’s financial position and its results from operations.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (Topic 820)-Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2011-04), to provide a consistent definition of fair value and ensure that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements particularly for level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 is effective for Bancorp in its first quarter of fiscal 2012 and was applied prospectively.  The adoption of ASU 2011-04 resulted in additional disclosures in Note 13 and 14.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income, which requires that an entity present the components of net income and comprehensive income in either one or two consecutive financial statements. The ASU eliminates the option to present other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity. Entities are required to present reclassification adjustments within other comprehensive income either on the face of the statement that reports other comprehensive income or in the notes to the financial statements. The ASUs is effective for Bancorp in its first quarter of fiscal 2012 and was applied prospectively. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 did not have an impact on the financial statements of Bancorp.