NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Tri-County Financial Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary Community Bank of Tri-County (the “Bank”), and the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary Community Mortgage Corporation of Tri-County (collectively, the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to general practices within the banking industry.

Nature of Operations

The Company provides a variety of financial services to individuals and businesses through its offices in Southern Maryland. Its primary deposit products are demand, savings and time deposits, and its primary lending products are commercial and consumer mortgage loans, commercial loans, construction and land development loans, home equity and second mortgages and commercial equipment loans.

Use of Estimates

In preparing Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the valuation of foreclosed real estate and deferred tax assets.

Significant Group Concentrations of Credit Risk

Most of the Company’s activities are with customers located in the Southern Maryland area comprising Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. Note 4 discusses the types of securities held by the Company. Note 5 discusses the type of lending in which the Company is engaged. The Company does not have any significant concentration to any one customer or industry.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Securities

Debt securities that management has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as “held to maturity (HTM)” and recorded at amortized cost. Securities purchased and held principally for trading in the near term are classified as “trading securities.” Securities not classified as held to maturity or trading securities, including equity securities with readily determinable fair values, are classified as “available for sale (AFS)” and recorded at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income.

Purchase premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the terms of the securities. Declines in the estimated fair value of held to maturity and available for sale securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. In estimating other than temporary impairment losses, management considers: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; (2) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer; and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. Gains and losses on the sale of securities are recorded on the trade date and are determined using the specific identification method. Investments in Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta stocks are recorded at cost and are considered restricted as to marketability. The Bank is required to maintain investments in the Federal Reserve Bank as a condition of membership and the Federal Home Loan Bank based upon levels of borrowings.

Debt securities are evaluated quarterly to determine whether a decline in their value is other-than-temporary. The term “other-than-temporary” is not necessarily intended to indicate a permanent decline in value. It means that the prospects for near term recovery of value are not necessarily favorable, or that there is a lack of evidence to support fair values equal to, or greater than, the carrying value of the investment. Under the revised guidance, for recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments the amount of other-than-temporary impairment that is recognized through earnings for debt securities is determined by comparing the present value of the expected cash flows to the amortized cost of the security. The discount rate used to determine the credit loss is the expected book yield on the security.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value, in the aggregate. Fair value is derived from secondary market quotations for similar instruments. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income.

Mortgage loans held for sale are generally sold with the mortgage servicing rights retained by the Company. The carrying value of mortgage loans sold is reduced by the cost allocated to the associated servicing rights. Gains or losses on sales of mortgage loans are recognized based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related mortgage loans sold, using the specific identification method.

Loans Receivable

The Company originates real estate mortgages, construction and land development loans, commercial loans and consumer loans. A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is comprised of loans throughout Southern Maryland. The ability of the Company’s debtors to honor their contracts is dependent upon the real estate and general economic conditions in this area.

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

The accrual of interest on mortgage and commercial loans is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days delinquent unless the credit is well secured and in the process of collection. Non-accrual loans are evaluated for impairment on a loan-by-loan basis in accordance with the Company’s impairment methodology.

Consumer loans are typically charged-off no later than 90 days past due. Mortgage and commercial loans are fully or partially charged-off when in management’s judgment all reasonable efforts to return a loan to performing status have occurred. In all cases, loans are placed on non-accrual or charged-off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.

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

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is established as probable losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes that the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

The allowance for loan losses is evaluated on a regular basis by management and is based upon management’s periodic review of the collectability of the loans in light of historical experience, the composition and size of the loan portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral and prevailing economic conditions. This evaluation is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

The allowance for loan losses consists of a specific component and a general component. The specific component relates to loans that are classified as doubtful, substandard or special mention and impaired loans, which include nonperforming loans and troubled debt restructured loans (TDRs). For such loans that are also classified as impaired, an allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan is lower than carrying value of that loan. The general component covers the non-classified loans by loan category and is based on historical loss experience, peer group comparisons, industry data and loss percentages used for similarly graded loans adjusted for qualitative factors.

Impaired Loans

A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan-by-loan basis for commercial and construction loans by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral dependent.

Large groups of smaller homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Company does not separately identify individual consumer and residential loans for impairment disclosures unless such loans are the subject of a restructuring agreement.

Interest payments made on impaired loans are applied to principal unless collectability of the principal amount is reasonably assured. Interest recognized on impaired loans is on a cash basis.

The Company considers all troubled debt restructured loans (TDRs) to be impaired and defines TDRs as loans whose terms have been modified to provide for a reduction of either interest or principal because of deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower. A loan extended or renewed at a stated interest rate equal to the current interest rate for new debt with similar risk is not considered a TDR. Once an obligation has been classified as a TDR it continues to be considered a TDR until paid in full or until the loan returns to performing status and yields a market interest rate equal to the current interest rate for new debt with similar risk. TDRs are evaluated by management on a regular basis utilizing the Company’s risk grading scale and must have a passing loan grade to be removed as a TDR. TDRs are evaluated for impairment on a loan by loan basis in accordance with the Company’s impairment methodology.

The Company does not participate in any specific government or Company-sponsored loan modification programs. All restructured loan agreements are individual contracts negotiated with a borrower. The Company’s TDR contracts include the use of temporary reductions of interest and extensions of time.

Servicing

Servicing assets are recognized as separate assets when rights are acquired through purchase or through the sale of financial assets. Generally, purchased servicing rights are capitalized at the cost to acquire the rights. For sales of mortgage loans, a portion of the cost of originating the loan is allocated to the servicing based on relative estimated fair value. Estimated fair value is based on market prices for comparable mortgage servicing contracts, when available, or alternatively, is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing. The valuation model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income, such as the cost to service, the discount rate, an inflation rate, ancillary income, prepayment speeds and default rates and losses. Capitalized servicing rights are reported in other assets and are amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying financial assets.

Servicing assets are evaluated for impairment based upon the estimated fair value of the rights as compared to amortized cost. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into tranches based on predominant risk characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance for an individual tranche, to the extent that fair value is less than the capitalized amount for the tranche. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular tranche, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to income.

Servicing fee income is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal, or a fixed amount per loan, and recorded as income when earned. The amortization of mortgage servicing rights is netted against loan servicing fee income.

Premises and Equipment

Land is carried at cost. Premises, improvements and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization, computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are as follows:

Buildings and Improvements: 10 - 50 years

Furniture and Equipment: 3 - 15 years

Automobiles: 5 years

Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, while improvements that extend the useful life of premises and equipment are capitalized.

Foreclosed Real Estate

Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at the lower of cost or estimated fair value at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management, and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or estimated fair value less the cost to sell. Revenue and expenses from operations and changes in the valuation allowance are included in noninterest expense.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when: (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company; (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets; and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Income Taxes

The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return with its subsidiaries. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the tax effects of the temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the various balance sheet assets and liabilities and gives current recognition to changes in tax rates and laws. It is the Company’s policy to recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense.

Off Balance Sheet Credit Related Financial Instruments

In the ordinary course of business, the Company has entered into commitments to extend credit, including commitments under commercial lines of credit, letters of credit and standby letters of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has stock option and incentive arrangements to attract and retain key personnel in order to promote the success of the business. In May 2005, the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) was approved by the shareholders, and authorizes the issuance of restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, stock units and stock options to the Board of Directors and key employees.

Compensation cost for all stock-based awards is measured at fair value on date of grant and recognized over the service period for awards expected to vest. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The estimation of stock awards that ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from our current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class and historical experience.

The Company and the Bank currently maintain incentive compensation plans which provide for payments to be made in cash, stock options or other share-based compensation. The Company has accrued the full amounts due under these plans, but as of year-end, it is not possible to identify the portion that will be paid out in the form of share-based compensation.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share represents income available to common stockholders, divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. Potential common shares that may be issued by the Company relate to outstanding stock options and are determined using the treasury stock method. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, there were 102,524 and 190,479 options respectively, which were excluded from the calculation as their effect would be anti-dilutive, because the exercise price of the options were greater than the average market price of the common shares.

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
Net Income	$	3,161,464		$	4,765,701
Less: dividends paid and accrued on preferred stock		(672,488	)		(846,930	)
Net income available to common shareholders	$	2,488,976		$	3,918,771

Average number of common shares outstanding		3,016,286			2,985,080
Effect of dilutive options		36,524			23,199
Average number of shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share		3,052,810			3,008,279

Comprehensive Income

Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses be included in net income. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the balance sheet, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income.

Reclassification

Certain reclassifications have been made in the Consolidated Financial Statements for 2010 to conform to the classification presented in 2011.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) TOPIC 310, “Receivables” - In April 2010, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-18, Effect of a Loan Modification When the Loan is Part of a Pool That is Accounted for as a Single Asset. Modifications of loans that are accounted for within a pool do not result in the removal of those loans from the pool even if the modification of those loans would otherwise be considered a troubled debt restructuring. ASU No. 2010-18 is effective for modifications of loans accounted for within pools for the first interim or annual period ending on or after July 15, 2010 and are to be applied prospectively although early application is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance effective July 1, 2010, and adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2010-20, Receivables (Topic 310); Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses. In July 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2010-20 which requires that more information be disclosed about the credit quality of a company’s loans and the allowance for loan losses held against those loans. Existing disclosures to be presented on a disaggregated basis include a roll-forward of the allowance for loan losses, the related recorded investment in such loans, the nonaccrual status of loans, and impaired loans. Additional disclosure is also required about the credit quality indicators of loans by class at the end of the reporting period, the aging of past due loans, information about troubled debt restructurings, and significant purchases and sales of loans during the reporting period by class. For public companies, ASU 2010-20 requires certain disclosures as of the end of a reporting period effective for periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. Other required disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company adopted the applicable required additional disclosures effective December 31, 2010, and adoption of these additional disclosures did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Additional guidance (ASU No. 2010-06) issued under ASC Topic 820 requires expanded disclosures related to fair value measurements including (1) the amounts of significant transfers of assets or liabilities between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy and the reasons for the transfers, (2) the reasons for transfers of assets or liabilities in or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, with significant transfers disclosed separately, (3) the policy for determining when transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are recognized and (4) for recurring fair value measurements of assets and liabilities in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, a gross presentation of information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements. ASU 2010-06 further clarifies that (1) fair value measurement disclosures should be provided for each class of assets and liabilities (rather than major category), which would generally be a subset of assets or liabilities within a line item in the statement of financial position and (2) company’s should provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities included in Levels 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The disclosures related to the gross presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements of assets and liabilities included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy were required for the Company beginning January 1, 2011. The remaining disclosure requirements and clarifications made by ASU 2010-06 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2010.

FASB ASC TOPIC 860, “Transfers and Servicing” provides guidance that eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity” from the original accounting guidance and removes the exception from applying FASB guidance on consolidation of variable interest entities, to qualifying special-purpose entities. This guidance is effective at the beginning of a reporting entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2009. Adoption of this new guidance, effective January 1, 2010, did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2011-02; A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Troubled Debt Restructuring (“TDR”). In April, 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-02 intended to provide additional guidance to assist creditors in determining whether a restructuring of a receivable meets the criteria to be considered a troubled debt restructuring. This ASU was effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after June 15, 2011, and was applied retrospectively to the beginning of the annual period of adoption. As a result of applying the ASU, the Company may identify receivables that are newly considered impaired. The Company adopted the applicable guidance during the third quarter ended September 30, 2011 and it did not have a material impact on required disclosures in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2011-03; Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) - Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements. ASU 2011-03 is intended to improve financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other agreements that both entitle and obligate a transferor to repurchase or redeem financial assets before their maturity. ASU 2011-03 removes from the assessment of effective control (i) the criterion requiring the transferor to have the ability to repurchase or redeem the financial assets on substantially the agreed terms, even in the event of default by the transferee, and (ii) the collateral maintenance guidance related to that criterion. ASU 2011-03 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2012 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2011-04; “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” ASU 2011-04 amends Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” to converge the fair value measurement guidance in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement requirements, changes certain principles in Topic 820 and requires additional fair value disclosures. ASU 2011-04 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU No. 2011-05; Presentation of Comprehensive Income. In June, 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05 requiring companies to present comprehensive income in a single statement below net income or in a separate statement of comprehensive income immediately following the income statement. The guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity, which is our current presentation. This guidance does not change which items are reported in other comprehensive income or the requirement to report reclassifications of items from other comprehensive income to net income. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and will require retrospective application for all periods presented.