New Accounting Standards

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

11. New Accounting Standards

In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance regarding the reclassification of residential real estate collateralized consumer mortgage loans upon foreclosures. The guidance requires reclassification of a consumer mortgage loan to other real estate owned upon obtaining legal title to the residential property, which could occur either through foreclosure or through a deed in lieu of foreclosure or similar legal agreement. The existence of a borrower redemption right will not prevent the lender from reclassifying a loan to other real estate once the lender obtains legal title to the property. In addition, entities are required to disclose the amount of foreclosed real estate properties and the recorded investment in residential real estate mortgage loans in the process of foreclosure on both an interim and annual basis. The guidance may be applied prospectively or on a modified prospective basis in fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption was permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) jointly issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The standard’s core principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of 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 and services. The guidance may be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initial application recognized at the date of initial application for the fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Entities are permitted to adopt one year earlier if they choose. The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance regarding share-based grants that require a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period to be treated as a performance condition. An entity should apply existing guidance that relates to awards with performance conditions that affect vesting to account for such awards. The guidance may be applied prospectively or retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance will not have a material impact upon adoption as the Corporation has no share-based grants with performance targets that could be achieved after the requisite service period.

In August 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance regarding the classification and measurement of foreclosed mortgage loans that are guaranteed by the government (including loans guaranteed by the FHA and the VA). The guidance addressed diversity in practice by requiring creditors to derecognize the mortgage loan upon foreclosure and to recognize a separate other receivable if the following conditions are net: (a) the government guarantee of the loan is not separate from the loan before foreclosure; (b) upon foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to convey the real estate to the guarantor and to make a claim on the guarantee, and also has the ability to make a recovery under the claim; and (c) claim amounts based on the fair value of the property are fixed upon foreclosure. Upon foreclosure, the separate other receivable should be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor. The guidance may be applied prospectively or on a modified retrospective basis in fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2014. The transition method applied should be the same as the transition method applied upon implementation of the new accounting guidance issued in January 2014, described above, regarding the reclassification of residential real estate collateralized consumer mortgage loans upon foreclosure. Early adoption was permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements.