Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use Of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, Management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the Consolidated Balance Sheet and Statement of Income for the periods indicated. Amounts requiring the use of significant estimates include the allowance for credit losses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Restrictions on Cash

In addition, the Company’s contract with its current electronic funds transfer provider requires a predetermined balance be maintained in a settlement account controlled by the provider equal to the Company’s average daily net settlement position multiplied by four days. The required balance was $262 thousand as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. This balance can be adjusted periodically to reflect actual transaction volume and seasonal factors.

Valuation Allowance - Debt Securities

Valuation Allowance – Debt Securities

The Company has a process in place to identify debt securities that could potentially incur credit impairment. This process involves monitoring late payments, pricing levels, downgrades by rating agencies, key financial ratios, financial statements, revenue forecasts and cash flow projections as indicators of credit issues. Management evaluates debt securities for impairment at least on a quarterly basis and more frequently when economic or market concern warrants such evaluation. This evaluation considers relevant facts and circumstances in evaluating whether there is credit or interest rate-related impairment of a security.

The CECL standard requires credit losses on both HTM and AFS debt securities to be recognized through a valuation allowance instead of as a direct write-down to the amortized cost basis of the security. Management assesses its intent to sell and whether it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell a security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit losses. For debt securities that are considered impaired where Management has no intent to sell and the Company has no requirement to sell prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis, the amount of the impairment is separated into the amount that is credit related (credit loss component) and the amount due to all other factors. The credit loss component is recognized in earnings as provision expense and is the difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and the present value of its expected future cash flows. The remaining difference between the security’s fair value and the present value of future expected cash flows due to factors that are not credit related is recognized in other comprehensive income. For debt securities where Management has the intent to sell, the amount of the impairment is reflected in earnings as realized losses.

The present value of expected future cash flows is determined using the best estimate cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit to the security at the date of purchase or the current yield to accrete an asset-backed or floating rate security. The methodology and assumptions for establishing the best estimate cash flows vary depending on the type of security. The asset-backed securities cash flow estimates are based on bond specific facts and circumstances that may include collateral characteristics, expectations of delinquency and default rates, loss severity and prepayment speeds and structural support, including subordination and guarantees. The corporate bond cash flow estimates are derived from scenario-based outcomes of expected corporate restructurings or the disposition of assets using bond specific facts and circumstances including timing, security interests and loss severity. The Company elected the practical expedient of zero loss estimates for securities issued by U.S. government entities and agencies for available for sale and held to maturity securities. 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.

The Company considers a debt security to be past due in terms of payment based on its contractual terms. A debt security may be placed on nonaccrual, with interest no longer recognized, when collectability of principal or interest is doubtful.

A security may be partially or fully charged-off against the allowance if it is determined to be uncollectible. Recoveries of previously charged-off available for sale securities are recognized when received, while recoveries on held to maturity securities are recognized when expected.

For additional information on the allowance for credit losses, see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for sale represent the guaranteed portion of certain SBA loans, other than loans originated under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), that the Company has elected to hold for sale and are reflected at the lower of aggregate cost or market value. The Company originates loans to customers under an SBA program that historically has provided for SBA guarantees of up to 90 percent of each loan. The Company may sell the guaranteed portion of its SBA loans to a third party and retains the servicing, holding the nonguaranteed portion in its portfolio. The net amount of loan origination fees on loans sold is included in the carrying value and in the gain or loss on the sale. When sales of SBA loans do occur, the premium received on the sale and the present value of future cash flows of the servicing assets are recognized in income. All criteria for sale accounting must be met in order for the loan sales to occur; see details under the “Transfers of Financial Assets” heading above.

Servicing assets represent the estimated fair value of retained servicing rights, net of servicing costs, at the time loans are sold. Servicing assets are amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing revenues. Impairment is evaluated based on stratifying the underlying financial assets by date of origination and term. Fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics, when available, or based upon discounted cash flows using market-based assumptions. Any impairment, if temporary, would generally be reported as a valuation allowance.

Serviced loans sold to others are not included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income and fees collected for loan servicing are credited to noninterest income when earned, net of amortization on the related servicing assets.

For additional information on servicing assets, see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans and Reserve for Unfunded Loan Commitments

Effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 326 and modified its accounting policy for the allowance for credit losses on loans. The allowance for credit losses represents the estimated amount considered necessary to cover lifetime expected credit losses inherent in financial assets at the Balance Sheet date. The measurement of expected credit losses is applicable to loans receivable and securities measured at amortized cost. It also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures such as loan commitments and unused lines of credit. The allowance is established through a provision for credit losses that is charged against income. The methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses is considered a critical accounting policy by Management because of the high degree of judgment involved, the subjectivity of the assumptions used and the potential for changes in the forecasted economic environment that could result in changes to the amount of the recorded allowance for credit losses.

The allowance for credit losses is reported separately as a contra-asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The expected credit losses for unfunded lending commitments and unfunded loan commitments is reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Accrued expenses and other liabilities.

The allowance for credit losses on loans is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the loan to present the net amount expected to be collected. Expected losses are evaluated and calculated on a collective, or pooled, basis for those loans which share similar risk characteristics. At each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether loans within a pool continue to exhibit similar risk characteristics. If the risk characteristics of a loan change, such that they are no longer similar to other loans in the pool, the Company will evaluate the loan with a different pool of loans that share similar risk characteristics. If the loan does not share risk characteristics with other loans, the Company will evaluate the loan on an individual basis. The Company generally considers those loans for individual evaluation to be those on nonaccrual. Loans are charged off against the allowance for credit losses when the Company believes the balances to be uncollectible. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off or expected to be charged-off.

The Company has chosen to segment its portfolio consistent with the manner in which it manages credit risk. Such segments include SBA, Commercial, Residential mortgage, Consumer and Residential construction. The Commercial segment is further sub-segmented into SBA 504, Commercial & industrial, Commercial real estate and Commercial

construction. The Consumer segment is further bifurcated into Home equity and Consumer other. For most segments the Company calculates estimated credit losses using a weighted average remaining maturity methodology.

The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses on loans via a quantitative analysis which considers relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events and current conditions, as well as the incorporation of reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company evaluates a variety of factors including third party economic forecasts, industry trends and other available published economic information in arriving at its forecasts. After the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the Company reverts, after four quarters, on a straight-line basis over the following four quarters, to the historical average economic variables. Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate.

Also included in the allowance for credit losses on loans are qualitative reserves to cover losses that are expected but, in the Company’s assessment, may not be adequately represented in the quantitative analysis or the forecasts described above. Factors that the Company considers include changes in lending policies and procedures, business conditions, the nature and size of the portfolio, portfolio concentrations and the volume and severity of past due loans and nonaccrual loans.

On a case-by-case basis, the Company may conclude that a loan should be evaluated on an individual basis based on its disparate risk characteristics. When the Company determines that a loan no longer shares similar risk characteristics with other loans in the portfolio, the allowance will be determined on an individual basis using the present value of expected cash flows or, for collateral-dependent loans, the fair value of the collateral as of the reporting date, less estimated selling costs, as applicable. If the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the loan, the Company will record a provision for the difference between the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell at the reporting date and the amortized cost basis of the loan.

The Company is required to include unfunded commitments that are expected to be funded in the future within the allowance calculation, other than those that are unconditionally cancelable. To arrive at that reserve, the reserve percentage for each applicable segment is applied to the unused portion of the expected commitment balance and is multiplied by the expected funding rate. To determine the expected funding rate, the Company uses a historical utilization rate for each segment.

There were no changes to the Company’s methodology for credit loss estimates during the year ended December 31, 2024.

For additional information on the allowance for credit losses and reserve for unfunded loan commitments, see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company purchased life insurance policies on certain members of Management. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at its cash surrender value or the amount that can be realized and the appreciation and death benefits from Bank owned life insurance are not subject to income tax.

Accrued Interest Receivable

Accrued interest receivable consists of amounts earned on investments and loans. The Company recognizes accrued interest receivable as it is earned. The Company is using the practical expedient to exclude accrued interest receivable from credit loss measurement.

Goodwill

The Company accounts for goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other,” which allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. Based on a qualitative assessment, Management determined that the Company’s recorded goodwill totaling $1.5 million, which resulted from the 2005 acquisition of its Phillipsburg, New Jersey branch, is not impaired as of December 31, 2024.

Appraisals

All appraisals must be performed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (“USPAP”). Appraisals are certified to the Company and performed by appraisers on the Company’s approved list of appraisers. Evaluations are completed by a person independent of Company Management. The content of the appraisal depends on the complexity and location of the property.

Income Taxes

The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which prescribes a threshold for the financial statement recognition of income taxes and provides criteria for the measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC 740 also includes guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition of income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates applicable to taxable income for the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation reserves are established against certain deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Increases or decreases in the valuation reserve are charged or credited to the income tax provision.

When tax returns are filed, it is highly certain that some positions taken would be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, while others are subject to uncertainty about the merits of the position taken or the amount of the position that ultimately would be sustained. The benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, Management believes it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. The evaluation of a tax position taken is considered by itself and not offset or aggregated with other positions. Tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above is reflected as a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying balance sheet along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination.

Interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

For additional information on income taxes, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” which requires recognition of compensation expense related to stock-based compensation awards over the period during which an employee is required to provide service for the award. Compensation expense is equal to the fair value of the award, net of estimated forfeitures, and is recognized over the vesting period of such awards.

For additional information on the Company’s stock-based compensation, see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of the change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale and derivative related items that were reported as a component of shareholders’ equity, net of tax.

For additional information on other comprehensive income (loss), see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Operating Segments

While Management, whom includes the President and Chief Executive Officer and acts as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), monitors the revenue streams of its various products and services, operating results and financial performance are evaluated on a company-wide basis. The accounting policies of the segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The CODM uses net income reporting in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income to make operating and strategic decisions. Accordingly, there is only one reportable segment. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 during the year ended December 31, 2024 noting no material impact.

For further description of the Company’s products and services, refer to Item 1. Business.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements


Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”)	Required Adoption Date	Brief Description	Effect on the Company’s Financial Statements
ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740)	Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024	Improve transparency of certain income tax related disclosures, including the rate reconciliation and taxes paid disclosures.	No significant impact
ASU 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting comprehensive income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40)	Fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026	Improve transparency of specific expense categories, which is generally not presented in the financial statements today.	No significant impact