Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies	NOTE 1. Significant Accounting Policies The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Unity Bancorp, Inc. (the "Parent Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Unity Bank (the "Bank" or when consolidated with the Parent Company, the "Company"). The Bank has multiple subsidiaries used to hold part of its investment and loan portfolios. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current year presentation, with no impact on current earnings or shareholders’ equity. The financial information has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and has not been audited. In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Amounts requiring the use of significant estimates include the allowance for credit losses, valuation of deferred tax and servicing assets, the valuation of securities and the determination of impairment for securities and fair value disclosures. Management believes that the allowance for credit losses is adequate. While management uses available information to recognize credit losses, future additions to the allowance for credit losses may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions and the general credit quality of the loan portfolio. The interim unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with instructions for Form 10-Q and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and consist of normal recurring adjustments, that in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation of interim results. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results which may be expected for the entire year. As used in this Form 10-Q, “we” and “us” and “our” refer to Unity Bancorp, Inc., and its consolidated subsidiary, Unity Bank, depending on the context. Certain information and financial disclosures required by U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted from interim reporting pursuant to SEC rules. Interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Risks and Uncertainties Overall, the markets and customers serviced by the Company may be significantly impacted by ongoing macro-economic trends, such as inflation and recessionary pressures created by a higher interest rate environment. The Company assesses the impact of inflation on an ongoing basis. Market conditions and external factors may unpredictably impact the competitive landscape for deposits in the banking industry. Additionally, the rising interest rate environment has increased competition for liquidity and the premium at which liquidity is available to meet funding needs. The Company believes the sources of liquidity presented in the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are sufficient to meet its needs as of the balance sheet date. An unexpected influx of withdrawals of deposits could adversely impact the Company's ability to rely on organic deposits to primarily fund its operations, potentially requiring greater reliance on secondary sources of liquidity to meet withdrawal demands or to fund continuing operations. These sources may include proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances, sales of investment securities and loans, federal funds lines of credit from correspondent banks and out-of-market time deposits. Such reliance on secondary funding sources could increase the Company's overall cost of funding and thereby reduce net income. While the Company believes its current sources of liquidity are adequate to fund operations, there is no guarantee they will suffice to meet future liquidity demands. This may necessitate slowing or discontinuing loan growth, capital expenditures or other investments, or liquidating assets. New Accounting Guidance adopted in 2023 Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” amends the accounting guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology under prior accounting guidance with a new current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. Under the new guidance, the Company is required to measure expected credit losses by utilizing forward-looking information to assess its allowance for credit losses. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The measurement of expected credit losses under CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans and held to maturity debt securities. CECL also applies to certain off-balance sheet exposures. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023, using the modified retrospective approach for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The Company established a governance structure to implement the CECL accounting guidance and has developed a methodology and set of models to be used upon adoption. At adoption, the Company recorded an $0.8 million increase to its allowance for credit losses, entirely related to loans. Further the Company increased its reserve for unfunded credit commitments by $0.1 million. The reserve for unfunded credit commitments is recorded in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. These increases in reserves were recorded through retained earnings and was $0.6 million, net of tax. For available for sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For securities available for sale that do not meet the above criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost and adverse conditions related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax. The Company elected the practical expedient of zero loss estimates for securities issued by U.S. government entities and agencies. These securities are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major agencies and have a long history of no credit losses. For other assets within the scope of the new CECL accounting guidance, such as held to maturity debt securities and other receivables, management noted the impact from adoption to be inconsequential. Additionally, the Company noted the adoption of CECL had no significant impact on regulatory capital ratios of the Company and/or the Bank. ASU 2022-01, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)”: ASU 2022-01 was issued to clarify the guidance in ASC 815 on fair value hedge accounting of interest rate risk for portfolios and financial assets. Among other things, the amended guidance established the “last-of-layer” method for making the fair value hedge accounting for these portfolios more accessible and renamed that method the “portfolio layer” method. ASU 2022-01 is effective January 1, 2023. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2023, noting no material impact. ASU 2022-02, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326)”: ASU 2022-02 eliminates the guidance on troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) and requires entities to evaluate all loan modifications to determine if they result in a new loan or a continuation of the existing loan. ASU 2022-02 requires that entities disclose if the modifications result in a new loan or a continuation of the existing loan. ASU 2022-02 also requires that entities disclose current-period gross charge-offs by year of origination for loans and leases. The Company adopted ASU 2022-02 effective January 1, 2023, noting no material impact.

Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

NOTE 1. Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Unity Bancorp, Inc. (the "Parent Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Unity Bank (the "Bank" or when consolidated with the Parent Company, the "Company"). The Bank has multiple subsidiaries used to hold part of its investment and loan portfolios. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current year presentation, with no impact on current earnings or shareholders’ equity. The financial information has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and has not been audited. In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Amounts requiring the use of significant estimates include the allowance for credit losses, valuation of deferred tax and servicing assets, the valuation of securities and the determination of impairment for securities and fair value disclosures. Management believes that the allowance for credit losses is adequate. While management uses available information to recognize credit losses, future additions to the allowance for credit losses may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions and the general credit quality of the loan portfolio.

The interim unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with instructions for Form 10-Q and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and consist of normal recurring adjustments, that in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation of interim results. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results which may be expected for the entire year. As used in this Form 10-Q, “we” and “us” and “our” refer to Unity Bancorp, Inc., and its consolidated subsidiary, Unity Bank, depending on the context. Certain information and financial disclosures required by U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted from interim reporting pursuant to SEC rules. Interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Risks and Uncertainties

Overall, the markets and customers serviced by the Company may be significantly impacted by ongoing macro-economic trends, such as inflation and recessionary pressures created by a higher interest rate environment. The Company assesses the impact of inflation on an ongoing basis.

Market conditions and external factors may unpredictably impact the competitive landscape for deposits in the banking industry. Additionally, the rising interest rate environment has increased competition for liquidity and the premium at which liquidity is available to meet funding needs. The Company believes the sources of liquidity presented in the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are sufficient to meet its needs as of the balance sheet date.

An unexpected influx of withdrawals of deposits could adversely impact the Company's ability to rely on organic deposits to primarily fund its operations, potentially requiring greater reliance on secondary sources of liquidity to meet withdrawal demands or to fund continuing operations. These sources may include proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances, sales of investment securities and loans, federal funds lines of credit from correspondent banks and out-of-market time deposits.

Such reliance on secondary funding sources could increase the Company's overall cost of funding and thereby reduce net income. While the Company believes its current sources of liquidity are adequate to fund operations, there is no guarantee they will suffice to meet future liquidity demands. This may necessitate slowing or discontinuing loan growth, capital expenditures or other investments, or liquidating assets.

New Accounting Guidance adopted in 2023

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” amends the accounting guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology under prior accounting guidance with a new current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model. Under the new guidance, the Company is required to measure expected credit losses by utilizing forward-looking information to assess its allowance for credit losses. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The measurement of expected credit losses under CECL methodology is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans and held to maturity debt securities. CECL also applies to certain off-balance sheet exposures.

The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023, using the modified retrospective approach for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The Company established a governance structure to implement the CECL accounting guidance and has developed a methodology and set of models to be used upon adoption. At adoption, the Company recorded an $0.8 million increase to its allowance for credit losses, entirely related to loans. Further the Company increased its reserve for unfunded credit commitments by $0.1 million. The reserve for unfunded credit commitments is recorded in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. These increases in reserves were recorded through retained earnings and was $0.6 million, net of tax.

For available for sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For securities available for sale that do not meet the above criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost and adverse conditions related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax. The Company elected the practical expedient of zero loss estimates for securities issued by U.S. government entities and agencies. These securities are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major agencies and have a long history of no credit losses.

For other assets within the scope of the new CECL accounting guidance, such as held to maturity debt securities and other receivables, management noted the impact from adoption to be inconsequential. Additionally, the Company noted the adoption of CECL had no significant impact on regulatory capital ratios of the Company and/or the Bank.

ASU 2022-01, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)”: ASU 2022-01 was issued to clarify the guidance in ASC 815 on fair value hedge accounting of interest rate risk for portfolios and financial assets. Among other things, the amended guidance established the “last-of-layer” method for making the fair value hedge accounting for these portfolios more accessible and renamed that method the “portfolio layer” method. ASU 2022-01 is effective January 1, 2023. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2023, noting no material impact.

ASU 2022-02, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326)”: ASU 2022-02 eliminates the guidance on troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) and requires entities to evaluate all loan modifications to determine if they result in a new loan or a continuation of the existing loan. ASU 2022-02 requires that entities disclose if the modifications result in a new loan or a continuation of the existing loan. ASU 2022-02 also requires that entities disclose current-period gross charge-offs by year of origination for loans and leases. The Company adopted ASU 2022-02 effective January 1, 2023, noting no material impact.