UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                       to                                           .
Commission File Number: 001-13695
 
 
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
16‑1213679
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York
 
13214-1883
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(315) 445‑2282
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NONE
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes ☒    No .

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted to its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  No ☐.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer ☒
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company . Emerging growth company ☐
 (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes No .
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 50,974,640 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, were outstanding on April 30, 2018.
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Part I.
Financial Information
Page
     
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
     
 
3
 
 
 
 
4
   
  5
     
  6
     
  7
     
  8
     
Item 2.
31
     
Item 3.
47
     
Item 4.
48
     
Part II.
Other Information
 
     
Item 1.
48
     
Item 1A.
49
     
Item 2.
49
     
Item 3.
49
     
Item 4.
49
     
Item 5.
49
     
Item 6.
50
 
Part I.
Financial Information
Item 1.
Financial Statements

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

   
March 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
 
Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
543,899
   
$
221,038
 
Available-for-sale investment securities (cost of $3,005,165 and $3,007,148, respectively)
   
2,987,290
     
3,031,088
 
Other securities, at cost
   
45,352
     
50,291
 
Loans held for sale, at fair value
   
628
     
461
 
                 
Loans
   
6,227,030
     
6,256,757
 
Allowance for loan losses
   
(48,103
)
   
(47,583
)
Net loans
   
6,178,927
     
6,209,174
 
                 
Goodwill, net
   
733,625
     
734,430
 
Core deposit intangibles, net
   
23,281
     
25,025
 
Other intangibles, net
   
63,678
     
65,633
 
Intangible assets, net
   
820,584
     
825,088
 
                 
Premises and equipment, net
   
120,953
     
123,393
 
Accrued interest and fees receivable
   
33,555
     
36,177
 
Other assets
   
235,367
     
249,488
 
                 
Total assets
 
$
10,966,555
   
$
10,746,198
 
                 
Liabilities:
               
Noninterest-bearing deposits
 
$
2,372,824
   
$
2,293,057
 
Interest-bearing deposits
   
6,398,268
     
6,151,363
 
Total deposits
   
8,771,092
     
8,444,420
 
 
               
Short-term borrowings
   
0
     
24,000
 
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term
   
279,702
     
337,011
 
Other long-term debt
   
2,042
     
2,071
 
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
   
122,820
     
122,814
 
Accrued interest and other liabilities
   
159,433
     
180,567
 
Total liabilities
   
9,335,089
     
9,110,883
 
                 
Commitments and contingencies (See Note J)
               
                 
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued
   
0
     
0
 
Common stock, $1.00 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 51,374,254 and 51,263,841 shares issued, respectively
   
51,374
     
51,264
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
898,036
     
894,879
 
Retained earnings
   
723,404
     
700,557
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(35,226
)
   
(3,699
)
Treasury stock, at cost (490,651 shares, including 203,730 shares held by deferred compensation arrangements at March 31, 2018 and 567,764 shares including 237,494 shares held by deferred compensation arrangements at December 31, 2017, respectively)
   
(17,633
)
   
(21,014
)
Deferred compensation arrangements (203,730 and 237,494 shares, respectively)
   
11,511
     
13,328
 
Total shareholders’ equity
   
1,631,466
     
1,635,315
 
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
$
10,966,555
   
$
10,746,198
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Data)

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
Interest income:
           
Interest and fees on loans
 
$
69,441
   
$
52,384
 
Interest and dividends on taxable investments
   
15,525
     
13,566
 
Interest on nontaxable investments
   
3,438
     
4,008
 
Total interest income
   
88,404
     
69,958
 
                 
Interest expense:
               
Interest on deposits
   
2,132
     
1,730
 
Interest on borrowings
   
480
     
149
 
Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
   
1,168
     
805
 
Total interest expense
   
3,780
     
2,684
 
                 
Net interest income
   
84,624
     
67,274
 
Provision for loan losses
   
3,679
     
1,828
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
   
80,945
     
65,446
 
                 
Noninterest revenues:
               
Deposit service fees
   
19,177
     
14,707
 
Other banking services
   
1,243
     
1,159
 
Employee benefit services
   
23,006
     
17,189
 
Insurance revenues
   
7,359
     
6,400
 
Wealth management services
   
6,706
     
4,861
 
Gain on sales of investment securities
   
0
     
2
 
Total noninterest revenues
   
57,491
     
44,318
 
                 
Noninterest expenses:
               
Salaries and employee benefits
   
51,859
     
42,907
 
Occupancy and equipment
   
10,531
     
8,196
 
Data processing and communications
   
8,742
     
8,521
 
Amortization of intangible assets
   
4,798
     
2,768
 
Legal and professional fees
   
2,781
     
2,414
 
Office supplies and postage
   
1,879
     
1,674
 
Business development and marketing
   
2,059
     
2,081
 
FDIC insurance premiums
   
752
     
753
 
Acquisition expenses
   
(8
)
   
1,716
 
Other expenses
   
2,938
     
2,545
 
Total noninterest expenses
   
86,331
     
73,575
 
                 
Income before income taxes
   
52,105
     
36,189
 
Income taxes
   
11,999
     
9,932
 
Net income
 
$
40,106
   
$
26,257
 
                 
Basic earnings per share
 
$
0.78
   
$
0.58
 
Diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.78
   
$
0.57
 
Cash dividends declared per share
 
$
0.34
   
$
0.32
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
             
Pension and other post-retirement obligations:
           
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost, gross
 
$
303
   
$
265
 
Tax effect
   
(74
)
   
(102
)
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost, net
   
229
     
163
 
                 
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, gross
   
(127
)
   
(31
)
Tax effect
   
31
     
12
 
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic pension cost, net
   
(96
)
   
(19
)
                 
Other comprehensive income related to pension and other post-retirement obligations, net of taxes
   
133
     
144
 
                 
Unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities:
               
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, gross
   
(41,815
)
   
3,893
 
Tax effect
   
10,155
     
(1,526
)
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net
   
(31,660
)
   
2,367
 
                 
Other comprehensive (loss)/income related to unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes
   
(31,660
)
   
2,367
 
                 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
   
(31,527
)
   
2,511
 
Net income
   
40,106
     
26,257
 
Comprehensive income
 
$
8,579
   
$
28,768
 
 
   
As of
 
   
March 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income By Component:
           
             
Unrealized loss for pension and other post-retirement obligations
 
(28,501
)
 
(28,677
)
Tax effect
   
7,001
     
7,044
 
Net unrealized loss for pension and other post-retirement obligations
   
(21,500
)
   
(21,633
)
                 
Unrealized (loss)/gain on available-for-sale securities
   
(17,875
)
   
23,940
 
Tax effect
   
4,149
     
(6,006
)
Net unrealized (loss)/gain on available-for-sale securities
   
(13,726
)
   
17,934
 
                 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(35,226
)
 
(3,699
)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)
Three months ended March 31, 2018
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

   
 
Common Stock
   
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
   
Retained
Earnings
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
   
Treasury
Stock
   
Deferred
Compensation
Arrangements
   
Total
 
 
Shares
Outstanding
   
Amount
Issued
                         
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2017
   
50,696,077
   
$
51,264
   
$
894,879
   
$
700,557
   
(3,699
)
 
(21,014
)
 
$
13,328
   
$
1,635,315
 
                                                                 
Net income
                           
40,106
                             
40,106
 
                                                                 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
                                   
(31,527
)
                   
(31,527
)
                                                                 
Cash dividends declared:
                                                               
Common, $0.34 per share
                           
(17,259
)
                           
(17,259
)
                                                                 
Common stock issued under employee stock ownership plan
   
110,413
     
110
     
460
                                     
570
 
                                                                 
Stock-based compensation
                   
1,715
                                     
1,715
 
                                                                 
Distribution of stock under deferred compensation arrangements
   
35,233
                                     
1,898
     
(1,898
)
   
0
 
                                                                 
Treasury stock issued to benefit plans, net
   
41,880
             
982
                     
1,483
     
81
     
2,546
 
                                                                 
Balance at March 31, 2018
   
50,883,603
   
$
51,374
   
$
898,036
   
$
723,404
   
(35,226
)
 
(17,633
)
 
$
11,511
   
$
1,631,466
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
Operating activities:
           
Net income
 
$
40,106
   
$
26,257
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation
   
4,001
     
3,669
 
Amortization of intangible assets
   
4,798
     
2,768
 
Net accretion on securities, loans and borrowings
   
(2,214
)
   
(406
)
Stock-based compensation
   
1,715
     
1,410
 
Provision for loan losses
   
3,679
     
1,828
 
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights
   
117
     
126
 
Income from bank-owned life insurance policies
   
(388
)
   
(368
)
Net gain on sale of loans and other assets
   
(80
)
   
(53
)
Change in other assets and other liabilities
   
9,174
     
7,430
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
60,908
     
42,661
 
Investing activities:
               
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investment securities
   
27,363
     
33,479
 
Proceeds from maturities of other investment securities
   
4,960
     
8,709
 
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities
   
(23,434
)
   
(16,784
)
Purchases of other securities
   
(21
)
   
(505
)
Net change in loans
   
25,900
     
12,197
 
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $16 and $11,063, respectively
   
(1,464
)
   
(63,517
)
Purchases of premises and equipment, net
   
(1,556
)
   
(2,088
)
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
   
31,748
     
(28,509
)
Financing activities:
               
Net increase in deposits
   
326,672
     
260,923
 
Net change in borrowings
   
(81,338
)
   
(146,200
)
Issuance of common stock
   
570
     
1,809
 
Purchases of treasury stock
   
(81
)
   
0
 
Sales of treasury stock
   
2,546
     
2,151
 
Increase in deferred compensation arrangements
   
81
     
0
 
Cash dividends paid
   
(17,281
)
   
(14,186
)
Withholding taxes paid on share-based compensation
   
(964
)
   
(1,320
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
230,205
     
103,177
 
Change in cash and cash equivalents
   
322,861
     
117,329
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
221,038
     
173,857
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
543,899
   
$
291,186
 
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid for interest
 
$
3,757
   
$
2,707
 
Cash paid for income taxes
   
564
     
9,044
 
                 
Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing and investing activities:
               
Dividends declared and unpaid
   
17,438
     
14,773
 
Transfers from loans to other real estate
   
942
     
920
 
                 
Acquisitions:
               
Common stock issued
   
0
     
78,483
 
Fair value of assets acquired, excluding acquired cash and intangibles
   
27
     
31,599
 
Fair value of liabilities assumed
   
31
     
30,500
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
MARCH 31, 2018

NOTE A:
BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The interim financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is unaudited; however, in the opinion of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company”), the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period.

NOTE B:
ACQUISITIONS

On January 2, 2018, the Company, through its subsidiary, OneGroup NY, Inc. (“OneGroup”), completed its acquisition of certain assets of Penna & Associates Agency, Inc. (“Penna”), an insurance agency headquartered in Johnson City, New York.  The Company paid $0.8 million in cash to acquire the assets of Penna, and recorded goodwill in the amount of $0.4 million and a $0.4 million customer list intangible asset in conjunction with the acquisition.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

On January 2, 2018, the Company, through its subsidiary, Community Investment Services, Inc. (“CISI”), completed its acquisition of certain assets of Styles Bridges Associates (“Styles Bridges”), a financial services business headquartered in Canton, New York.  The Company paid $0.7 million in cash to acquire a customer list from Styles Bridges, and recorded a $0.7 million customer list intangible asset in conjunction with the acquisition.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

On December 4, 2017, the Company, through its subsidiary, OneGroup, completed its acquisition of Gordon B. Roberts Agency, Inc. (“GBR”), an insurance agency headquartered in Oneonta, New York for $3.7 million in Company stock and cash, comprised of $1.35 million in cash and the issuance of 0.04 million shares of common stock.  The transaction resulted in the acquisition of $0.6 million of assets, $0.7 million of other liabilities, goodwill in the amount of $2.2 million and other intangible assets of $1.6 million.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

On November 17, 2017, the Company, through its subsidiary, CISI, completed its acquisition of certain assets of Northeast Capital Management, Inc. (“NECM”), a financial services business headquartered in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.  The Company paid $1.2 million in cash, including a $0.2 million contingent payment based on certain customer retention objectives, to acquire a customer list from NECM, and recorded a $1.2 million customer list intangible asset in conjunction with the acquisition.  The effects of the acquired assets have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

On May 12, 2017, the Company completed its acquisition of Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (“Merchants”), parent company of Merchants Bank, headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, for $345.2 million in Company stock and cash, comprised of $82.9 million in cash and the issuance of 4.68 million shares of common stock.  The acquisition extends the Company’s footprint into the Vermont and Western Massachusetts markets with the addition of 31 branch locations in Vermont and one location in Massachusetts.  This transaction resulted in the acquisition of $2.0 billion of assets, including $1.49 billion of loans and $370.6 million of investment securities, as well as $1.45 billion of deposits and $189.0 million in goodwill.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.  Revenues of approximately $16.1 million and direct expenses, which may not include certain shared expenses, of approximately $7.8 million from Merchants were included in the consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

On March 1, 2017, the Company, through its subsidiary, OneGroup, completed its acquisition of certain assets of Dryfoos Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Dryfoos”), an insurance agency headquartered in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.  The Company paid $3.0 million in cash to acquire the assets of Dryfoos, and recorded goodwill in the amount of $1.7 million and other intangible assets of $1.7 million in conjunction with the acquisition.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.
 
On February 3, 2017, the Company completed its acquisition of Northeast Retirement Services, Inc. (“NRS”) and its subsidiary Global Trust Company (“GTC”), headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, for $148.6 million in Company stock and cash.  NRS was a privately held corporation focused on providing institutional transfer agency, master recordkeeping services, custom target date fund administration, trust product administration and customized reporting services to institutional clients.  Its wholly-owned subsidiary, GTC, is chartered in the State of Maine as a non-depository trust company and provides fiduciary services for collective investment trusts and other products.  The acquisition of NRS and GTC, hereafter referred to collectively as NRS, will strengthen and complement the Company’s existing employee benefit services businesses.  Upon the completion of the merger, NRS became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BPAS and operates as Northeast Retirement Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.  This transaction resulted in the acquisition of $36.1 million in net tangible assets, principally cash and certificates of deposit, $60.2 million in customer list intangibles that will be amortized using the 150% declining balance method over 10 years, a $23.0 million deferred tax liability associated with the customer list intangible, and $75.3 million in goodwill.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. Revenues of $10.1 million and expenses of $6.0 million from NRS were included in the consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Revenues of $5.1 million and expenses of $3.6 million from NRS were included in the consolidated statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

On January 1, 2017, the Company, through its subsidiary, OneGroup, acquired certain assets of Benefits Advisory Service, Inc. (“BAS”), a benefits consulting group headquartered in Forest Hills, New York.  The Company paid $1.2 million in cash to acquire the assets of BAS and recorded intangible assets of $1.2 million in conjunction with the acquisition.  The effects of the acquired assets and liabilities have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date.

The assets and liabilities assumed in the acquisitions were recorded at their estimated fair values based on management’s best estimates using information available at the dates of the acquisition, and were subject to adjustment based on updated information not available at the time of acquisition.  During the first quarter of 2018, the carrying amount of other liabilities associated with the NRS acquisition decreased by $1.2 million as a result of an adjustment to deferred taxes.  Goodwill associated with the NRS acquisition decreased $1.2 million as a result of this adjustment.

The above referenced acquisitions expanded the Company’s geographical presence in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts and management expects that the Company will benefit from greater geographic diversity and the advantages of other synergistic business development opportunities.

The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed after considering the measurement period adjustments described above:

   
2018
   
2017
 
(000s omitted)
 
Other (1)
   
NRS
   
Merchants
   
Other (2)
   
Total
 
Consideration paid :
                             
Cash (3)
 
$
1,480
   
$
70,073
   
$
82,898
   
$
6,775
   
$
159,746
 
Community Bank System, Inc. common stock
   
0
     
78,483
     
262,254
     
2,395
     
343,132
 
Total net consideration paid
   
1,480
     
148,556
     
345,152
     
9,170
     
502,878
 
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
   
16
     
11,063
     
40,730
     
339
     
52,132
 
Investment securities
   
0
     
20,294
     
370,648
     
0
     
390,942
 
Loans
   
0
     
0
     
1,488,157
     
0
     
1,488,157
 
Premises and equipment
   
10
     
411
     
16,608
     
27
     
17,046
 
Accrued interest receivable
   
0
     
72
     
4,773
     
0
     
4,845
 
Other assets
   
17
     
8,088
     
51,585
     
583
     
60,256
 
Core deposit intangibles
   
0
     
0
     
23,214
     
0
     
23,214
 
Other intangibles
   
1,099
     
60,200
     
2,857
     
5,626
     
68,683
 
Deposits
   
0
     
0
     
(1,448,406
)
   
0
     
(1,448,406
)
Other liabilities
   
(31
)
   
(26,828
)
   
(11,750
)
   
(1,217
)
   
(39,795
)
Short-term advances
   
0
     
0
     
(80,000
)
   
0
     
(80,000
)
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase, short-term
   
0
     
0
     
(278,076
)
   
0
     
(278,076
)
Long-term debt
   
0
     
0
     
(3,615
)
   
0
     
(3,615
)
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
   
0
     
0
     
(20,619
)
   
0
     
(20,619
)
Total identifiable assets, net
   
1,111
     
73,300
     
156,106
     
5,358
     
234,764
 
Goodwill
 
$
369
   
$
75,256
   
$
189,046
   
$
3,812
   
$
268,114
 
(1)
Includes amounts related to the Penna and Styles Bridges acquisitions.
(2)
 Includes amounts related to the BAS, Dryfoos, NECM and GBR acquisitions.
(3)
Includes NECM $0.2 million contingent cash payment consideration.
 
Acquired loans that have evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination and for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments were aggregated by comparable characteristics and  recorded at fair value without a carryover of the related allowance for loan losses.  Cash flows for each loan were determined using an estimate of credit losses and rate of prepayments.  Projected monthly cash flows were then discounted to present value using a market-based discount rate.  The excess of the undiscounted expected cash flows over the estimated fair value is referred to as the “accretable yield” and is recognized into interest income over the remaining lives of the acquired loans.

The following is a summary of the loans acquired from Merchants at the date of acquisition:

(000s omitted)
 
Acquired
Impaired
Loans
   
Acquired
Non-impaired
Loans
   
Total Acquired
Loans
 
Contractually required principal and interest at acquisition
 
$
15,454
   
$
1,872,574
   
$
1,888,028
 
Contractual cash flows not expected to be collected
   
(5,385
)
   
(14,753
)
   
(20,138
)
Expected cash flows at acquisition
   
10,069
     
1,857,821
     
1,867,890
 
Interest component of expected cash flows
   
(793
)
   
(378,940
)
   
(379,733
)
Fair value of acquired loans
 
$
9,276
   
$
1,478,881
   
$
1,488,157
 

The fair value of checking, savings and money market deposit accounts acquired were assumed to approximate the carrying value as these accounts have no stated maturity and are payable on demand.  Certificate of deposit accounts were valued at the present value of the certificates’ expected contractual payments discounted at market rates for similar certificates.

The core deposit intangibles and other intangibles related to the Penna, Styles Bridges, GBR, NECM, Merchants, Dryfoos, and BAS acquisitions are being amortized using an accelerated method over their estimated useful life of eight years.  The goodwill, which is not amortized for book purposes, was assigned to the Banking segment for the Merchants acquisition, the Employee Benefit Services segment for NRS, and All Other segments for the Penna, GBR, and Dryfoos acquisitions.  Goodwill arising from the Merchants, NRS and GBR acquisitions is not deductible for tax purposes.  Goodwill arising from the Penna and Dryfoos acquisitions is deductible for tax purposes.

Direct costs related to the acquisitions were expensed as incurred.  Merger and acquisition integration-related expenses amount to $1.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and have been separately stated in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  Merger and acquisition integration-related expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were immaterial.

NOTE C:
ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies of the Company, as applied in the consolidated interim financial statements presented herein, are substantially the same as those followed on an annual basis as presented on pages 63 through 71 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2018.

Critical Accounting Policies

Acquired Loans
Acquired loans are initially recorded at their acquisition date fair values.  The carryover of allowance for loan losses is prohibited as any credit losses in the loans are included in the determination of the fair value of the loans at the acquisition date. Fair values for acquired loans are based on a discounted cash flow methodology that involves assumptions and judgments as to credit risk, prepayment risk, liquidity risk, default rates, loss severity, payment speeds, collateral values and discount rate.

Acquired Impaired Loans
Acquired loans that have evidence of deterioration in credit quality since origination and for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments are accounted for as impaired loans under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 310-30.  The excess of undiscounted cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the accretable discount and is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loans using the interest method. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the undiscounted cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as the non-accretable discount. The non-accretable discount represents estimated future credit losses and other contractually required payments that the Company does not expect to collect. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows are recognized as impairments through a charge to the provision for loan losses resulting in an increase in the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent improvements in expected cash flows result in a recovery of previously recorded allowance for loan losses or a reversal of a corresponding amount of the non-accretable discount, which the Company then reclassifies as an accretable discount that is recognized into interest income over the remaining life of the loans using the interest method.
 
Acquired loans that met the criteria for non-accrual of interest prior to acquisition may be considered performing upon acquisition, regardless of whether the customer is contractually delinquent, if the Company can reasonably estimate the timing and amount of the expected cash flows on such loans and if the Company expects to fully collect the new carrying value of the loans. As such, the Company may no longer consider the loans to be non-accrual or non-performing and may accrue interest on these loans, including the impact of any accretable discount.

Acquired Non-impaired Loans
Acquired loans that do not meet the requirements under ASC 310-30 are considered acquired non-impaired loans. The difference between the acquisition date fair value and the outstanding balance represents the fair value adjustment for a loan and includes both credit and interest rate considerations. Fair value adjustments may be discounts (or premiums) to a loan’s cost basis and are accreted (or amortized) to net interest income (or expense) over the loan’s remaining life in accordance with ASC 310-20. Fair value adjustments for revolving loans are accreted (or amortized) using a straight line method. Term loans are accreted (or amortized) using the constant effective yield method.

Subsequent to the purchase date, the methods used to estimate the allowance for loan losses for the acquired non-impaired loans are consistent with the policy described below.  However, the Company compares the net realizable value of the loans to the carrying value, for loans collectively evaluated for impairment.  The carrying value represents the net of the loan’s unpaid principal balance and the remaining purchase discount (or premium) that has yet to be accreted into interest income.  When the carrying value exceeds the net realizable value, an allowance for loan loss is recognized.

Allowance for Loan Losses
Management continually evaluates the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, and performs a formal review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis.  The allowance reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio.  Determination of the allowance is subjective in nature and requires significant estimates.   The Company’s allowance methodology consists of two broad components - general and specific loan loss allocations.

The general loan loss allocation is composed of two calculations that are computed on five main loan segments:  business lending; consumer direct; consumer indirect; home equity; and consumer mortgage.  The first calculation is quantitative and determines an allowance level based on the latest 36 months of historical net charge-off data for each loan class (commercial loans exclude balances with specific loan loss allocations).  The second calculation is qualitative and takes into consideration eight qualitative environmental factors:  levels of and trends in delinquencies and impaired loans; levels of and trends in charge-offs and recoveries; trends in volume and terms of loans; effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards, and other changes in lending policies, procedures, and practices; experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; national and local economic trends and conditions; industry conditions; and effects of changes in credit concentrations.    A component of the qualitative calculation is the unallocated allowance for loan loss.  The qualitative and quantitative calculations are added together to determine the general loan loss allocation.

The specific loan loss allocation relates to individual commercial loans that are both greater than $0.5 million and in a nonaccruing status with respect to interest.  Specific loan losses are based on discounted estimated cash flows, including any cash flows resulting from the conversion of collateral or collateral shortfalls.  The allowance levels computed from the specific and general loan loss allocation methods are combined with unallocated allowances and allowances needed for acquired loans to derive the total required allowance for loan losses to be reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Condition.

Loan losses are charged off against the allowance, while recoveries of amounts previously charged off are credited to the allowance.  A provision for loan losses is charged to operations based on management’s periodic evaluation of factors previously mentioned.

Investment Securities
The Company can classify its investments in debt and equity securities as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading.  Held-to-maturity securities are those for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity, and are reported at cost, which is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts.  Securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value with net unrealized gains and losses reflected as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of applicable income taxes.  None of the Company’s investment securities have been classified as trading securities at March 31, 2018.  Certain equity securities are stated at cost and include restricted stock of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“Federal Reserve”), the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (collectively referred to as “FHLB”).

Fair values for investment securities are based upon quoted market prices, where available.  If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based upon quoted market prices of comparable instruments, or a discounted cash flow model using market estimates of interest rates and volatility.
 
The Company conducts an assessment of all securities in an unrealized loss position to determine if other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) exists on a quarterly basis. An unrealized loss exists when the current fair value of an individual security is less than its amortized cost basis.  The OTTI assessment considers the security structure, recent security collateral performance metrics, if applicable, external credit ratings, failure of the issuer to make scheduled interest or principal payments, judgment about, and expectations of, future performance, and relevant independent industry research, analysis and forecasts. The severity of the impairment and the length of time the security has been impaired is also considered in the assessment.  The assessment of whether an OTTI decline exists is performed on each security, regardless of the classification of the security as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity and involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment that is based on the information available to management at a point in time.

An OTTI loss must be recognized for a debt security in an unrealized loss position if there is intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis. In this situation, the amount of loss recognized in income is equal to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the security. Even if management does not have the intent, and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities, an evaluation of the expected cash flows to be received is performed to determine if a credit loss has occurred. For debt securities, a critical component of the evaluation for OTTI is the identification of credit-impaired securities, where the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.  In the event of a credit loss, only the amount of impairment associated with the credit loss would be recognized in income. The portion of the unrealized loss relating to other factors, such as liquidity conditions in the market or changes in market interest rates, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Equity securities are also evaluated to determine whether the unrealized loss is expected to be recoverable based on whether evidence exists to support a realizable value equal to or greater than the amortized cost basis. If it is probable that the amortized cost basis will not be recovered, taking into consideration the estimated recovery period and the ability to hold the equity security until recovery, OTTI is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the security.

The specific identification method is used in determining the realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities and OTTI charges.  Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized and accreted, respectively, on the interest method basis over the period to maturity or estimated life of the related security.  Purchases and sales of securities are recognized on a trade date basis.

Intangible Assets
Intangible assets include core deposit intangibles, customer relationship intangibles and goodwill arising from acquisitions. Core deposit intangibles and customer relationship intangibles are amortized on either an accelerated or straight-line basis over periods ranging from seven to 20 years. The initial and ongoing carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets is based upon discounted cash flow modeling techniques that require management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows.  It also requires use of a discount rate that reflects the current return requirements of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums, peer volatility indicators, and company-specific risk indicators.

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment.  The implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to its carrying amount and the impairment loss is measured by the excess of the carrying value over fair value.  The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of such reporting unit in order to determine if impairment is indicated.

Retirement Benefits
The Company provides defined benefit pension benefits to eligible employees and post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to certain eligible retirees.  The Company also provides deferred compensation and supplemental executive retirement plans for selected current and former employees, officers, and directors.  Expense under these plans is charged to current operations and consists of several components of net periodic benefit cost based on various actuarial assumptions regarding future experience under the plans, including discount rate, rate of future compensation increases, and expected return on plan assets.
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  This new guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, and is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. In doing so, companies generally will be required to use more judgment and make more estimates than under prior guidance.   These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation.   Since the guidance does not apply to revenue associated with financial instruments, including loans and securities that are accounted for under other GAAP, the new guidance did not have a material impact on revenue most closely associated with financial instruments, including interest income, interest expense and mortgage banking income.  The Company completed a comprehensive assessment of the revenue streams and reviewed related contracts potentially affected by the ASU for all segments of its business.  Based on this assessment, the Company concluded that ASU 2014-09 did not materially change the manner in which the Company recognized revenue for these revenue streams. The Company also completed its evaluation of certain costs related to these revenue streams to determine whether such costs should be presented as expenses or contra-revenue (i.e. gross versus net) and timing of compensatory payments to producers.  Based on the Company’s evaluation, it was determined that changes in the presentation of expenses and timing of the recognition of compensation expense did not materially affect noninterest income or expense.   The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 utilizing the modified retrospective approach.   Since there was no net income impact upon adoption of the new guidance, a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings was not deemed necessary.  See Note N: Revenue Recognition for more information.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This guidance addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The primary focus of this guidance is to supersede the guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories (trading or available-for-sale) and requires equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income. This guidance requires adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230). The amendments provide guidance on the following eight specific cash flow issues: 1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; 2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; 3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; 4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; 5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies; 6) distributions received from equity method investees; 7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and 8) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost.  This new guidance requires the service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs to be presented separately from other components of net benefit cost in the statement of income.  This ASU is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 and applied the guidance on a modified retrospective basis for the presentation of other components of net periodic benefit cost in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  The impact of the adoption of this guidance resulted in the reclassification of net periodic benefit income of $1.5 million from salaries and employee benefits to other expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

New Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This new guidance supersedes the lease requirements in Topic 840, Leases and is based on the principle that a lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term.  The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under the previous guidance.  In addition, the guidance requires an entity to separate the lease components from the nonlease components in a contract.  The ASU requires disclosures about the amount, timing, and judgments related to a reporting entity’s accounting for leases and related cash flows.  The standard is required to be applied to all leases in existence as of the date of adoption using a modified retrospective transition approach.  This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all companies in any interim or annual period.  The Company occupies certain offices and uses certain equipment under non-cancelable operating lease agreements, which currently are not reflected in its consolidated statement of condition.  The Company expects to recognize lease liabilities and right of use assets associated with these lease agreements; however, the extent of the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements is currently under evaluation.
 
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326).  This new guidance significantly changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income.  This ASU will replace the “incurred loss” model under existing guidance with an “expected loss” model for instruments measured at amortized cost, and require entities to record allowances for available-for-sale debt securities rather than reduce the carrying amount, as they do today under the other-than-temporary impairment model.  This ASU also simplifies the accounting model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans.  This guidance requires adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted for all companies as of fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact the guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and expects a change in the allowance for loan losses resulting from the change to expected losses for the estimated life of the financial asset, including an allowance for debt securities. The amount of the change in the allowance for loan losses resulting from the new guidance will be impacted by the portfolio composition and asset quality at the adoption date, as well as economic conditions and forecasts at the time of adoption.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). The amendments simplify how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating the requirement to measure a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill.  Instead, an entity will perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value.  Impairment loss recognized under this new guidance will be limited to the goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.  This ASU is effective prospectively for the Company for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017.  This ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.  This new guidance amends current guidance to better align hedge accounting with risk management activities and reduce the complexity involved in applying hedge accounting.  Under this new guidance, the concept of hedge ineffectiveness will be eliminated.  Ineffective income generated by cash flow and net investment hedges will be recognized in the same financial reporting period and income statement line item as effective income, so as to reflect the full cost of hedging at one time and in one place. Ineffective income generated by fair value hedges will continue to be reflected in current period earnings; however, it will be recognized in the same income statement line item as effective income. The guidance will also allow any contractually specified variable rate to be designated as the hedged risk in a cash flow hedge.  With respect to fair value hedges of interest rate risk, the guidance will allow changes in the fair value of the hedged item to be calculated solely using changes in the benchmark interest rate component of the instrument’s total contractual coupon cash flows. This ASU is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period.  This ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
NOTE D:
INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are as follows:

   
March 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
(000's omitted)
 
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
 
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                                               
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
 
$
2,044,795
   
$
1,962
   
$
18,843
   
$
2,027,914
   
$
2,043,023
   
$
15,886
   
$
4,838
   
$
2,054,071
 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
   
502,517
     
9,126
     
1,335
     
510,308
     
514,949
     
14,064
     
57
     
528,956
 
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
   
371,857
     
2,132
     
9,450
     
364,539
     
358,180
     
3,121
     
3,763
     
357,538
 
Corporate debt securities
   
2,633
     
0
     
54
     
2,579
     
2,648
     
0
     
25
     
2,623
 
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
   
83,113
     
89
     
1,773
     
81,429
     
88,097
     
155
     
878
     
87,374
 
Marketable equity securities
   
250
     
271
     
0
     
521
     
251
     
275
     
0
     
526
 
Total available-for-sale portfolio
 
$
3,005,165
   
$
13,580
   
$
31,455
   
$
2,987,290
   
$
3,007,148
   
$
33,501
   
$
9,561
   
$
3,031,088
 
                                                                 
Other Securities:
                                                               
Federal Home Loan Bank common stock
 
$
8,801
                   
$
8,801
   
$
9,896
                   
$
9,896
 
Federal Reserve Bank common stock
   
30,690
                     
30,690
     
30,690
                     
30,690
 
Certificates of deposit
   
0
                     
0
     
3,865
                     
3,865
 
Other equity securities
   
5,861
                     
5,861
     
5,840
                     
5,840
 
Total other securities
 
$
45,352
                   
$
45,352
   
$
50,291
                   
$
50,291
 

A summary of investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position is as follows:

As of March 31, 2018

   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or Longer
   
Total
 
(000's omitted)
   
#
   
Fair
Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     
#
   
Fair
Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     
#
   
Fair
Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
                                                             
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                                                           
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
   
69
   
$
1,316,113
   
$
18,843
     
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
     
69
   
$
1,316,113
   
$
18,843
 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
   
224
     
110,119
     
1,335
     
0
     
0
     
0
     
224
     
110,119
     
1,335
 
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
   
148
     
225,378
     
5,310
     
58
     
75,599
     
4,140
     
206
     
300,977
     
9,450
 
Corporate debt securities
   
1
     
2,579
     
54
     
0
     
0
     
0
     
1
     
2,579
     
54
 
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
   
40
     
75,150
     
1,773
     
1
     
1
     
0
     
41
     
75,151
     
1,773
 
Total available-for-sale investment portfolio
   
482
   
$
1,729,339
   
$
27,315
     
59
   
$
75,600
   
$
4,140
     
541
   
$
1,804,939
   
$
31,455
 
 
As of December 31, 2017

   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or Longer
   
Total
 
(000's omitted)
   
#
   
Fair
Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     
#
   
Fair
Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
     
#
   
Fair
Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
                                                             
Available-for-Sale Portfolio:
                                                           
U.S. Treasury and agency securities
   
44
   
$
699,709
   
$
4,838
     
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
     
44
   
$
699,709
   
$
4,838
 
Obligations of state and political subdivisions
   
45
     
23,432
     
57
     
0
     
0
     
0
     
45
     
23,432
     
57
 
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
   
120
     
185,716
     
1,433
     
55
     
75,712
     
2,330
     
175
     
261,428
     
3,763
 
Corporate debt securities
   
1
     
2,623
     
25
     
0
     
0
     
0
     
1
     
2,623
     
25
 
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
   
39
     
80,041
     
878
     
1
     
1
     
0
     
40
     
80,042
     
878
 
Total available-for-sale investment portfolio
   
249
   
$
991,521
   
$
7,231
     
56
   
$
75,713
   
$
2,330
     
305
   
$
1,067,234
   
$
9,561
 

The unrealized losses reported pertaining to securities issued by the U.S. government and its sponsored entities, include treasuries, agencies, and mortgage-backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, which are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services, AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and are guaranteed by the U.S. government. The majority of the obligations of state and political subdivisions and corporations carry a credit rating of A or better.  Additionally, a majority of the obligations of state and political subdivisions carry a secondary level of credit enhancement. The Company does not intend to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities prior to recovery of the amortized cost. The unrealized losses in the portfolios are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates.  As such, management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of March 31, 2018 represents OTTI.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at March 31, 2018, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.  Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately.

   
Available-for-Sale
 
(000's omitted)
 
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
Due in one year or less
 
$
53,102
   
$
53,115
 
Due after one through five years
   
1,557,644
     
1,546,876
 
Due after five years through ten years
   
789,557
     
788,557
 
Due after ten years
   
149,642
     
152,253
 
Subtotal
   
2,549,945
     
2,540,801
 
Government agency mortgage-backed securities
   
371,857
     
364,539
 
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations
   
83,113
     
81,429
 
Total
 
$
3,004,915
   
$
2,986,769
 

As of March 31, 2018, $279.7 million of U.S. Treasury securities were pledged as collateral for securities sold under agreement to repurchase.  All securities sold under agreement to repurchase as of March 31, 2018 have an overnight and continuous maturity.

NOTE E:
LOANS

The segments of the Company’s loan portfolio are disaggregated into the following classes that allow management to monitor risk and performance:
·
Consumer mortgages consist primarily of fixed rate residential instruments, typically 10 – 30 years in contractual term, secured by first liens on real property.
·
Business lending is comprised of general purpose commercial and industrial loans including, but not limited to, municipal lending, agricultural-related and dealer floor plans, as well as mortgages on commercial properties.
·
Consumer indirect consists primarily of installment loans originated through selected dealerships and are secured by automobiles, marine and other recreational vehicles.
·
Consumer direct consists of all other loans to consumers such as personal installment loans and lines of credit.
·
Home equity products are consumer purpose installment loans or lines of credit most often secured by a first or second lien position on residential real estate with terms up to 30 years.
 
The balances of these classes are summarized as follows:

(000's omitted)
 
March 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
 
Business lending
 
$
2,426,086
   
$
2,424,223
 
Consumer mortgage
   
2,211,882
     
2,220,298
 
Consumer indirect
   
1,008,198
     
1,011,978
 
Consumer direct
   
173,032
     
179,929
 
Home equity
   
407,832
     
420,329
 
Gross loans, including deferred origination costs
   
6,227,030
     
6,256,757
 
Allowance for loan losses
   
(48,103
)
   
(47,583
)
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
 
$
6,178,927
   
$
6,209,174
 

The outstanding balance related to credit impaired acquired loans was $11.1 million and $13.4 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.  The changes in the accretable discount related to the credit impaired acquired loans are as follows:

(000’s omitted)
     
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$
976
 
Accretion recognized, year-to-date
   
(278
)
Net reclassification between accretable and non-accretable
   
300
 
Balance at March 31, 2018
 
$
998
 

Credit Quality
Management monitors the credit quality of its loan portfolio on an ongoing basis.  Measurement of delinquency and past due status are based on the contractual terms of each loan.  Past due loans are reviewed on a monthly basis to identify loans for non-accrual status.  The following is an aged analysis of the Company’s past due loans, by class as of March 31, 2018:

Legacy Loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

(000’s omitted)
 
Past Due
30 – 89
Days
   
90+ Days Past
Due and
Still Accruing
   
Nonaccrual
   
Total
Past Due
   
Current
   
Total Loans
 
Business lending
 
$
5,062
   
$
4,069
   
$
3,831
   
$
12,962
   
$
1,437,044
   
$
1,450,006
 
Consumer mortgage
   
10,236
     
1,437
     
10,086
     
21,759
     
1,744,105
     
1,765,864
 
Consumer indirect
   
8,664
     
182
     
5
     
8,851
     
981,915
     
990,766
 
Consumer direct
   
1,091
     
30
     
0
     
1,121
     
167,396
     
168,517
 
Home equity
   
1,404
     
176
     
1,239
     
2,819
     
313,908
     
316,727
 
Total
 
$
26,457
   
$
5,894
   
$
15,161
   
$
47,512
   
$
4,644,368
   
$
4,691,880
 

Acquired Loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

(000’s omitted)
 
Past Due
30 – 89
Days
   
90+ Days Past
Due and
Still Accruing
   
Nonaccrual
   
Total
Past Due
   
Acquired
Impaired(1)
   
Current
   
Total Loans
 
Business lending
 
$
4,119
   
$
0
   
$
3,967
   
$
8,086
   
$
8,496
   
$
959,498
   
$
976,080
 
Consumer mortgage
   
1,991
     
282
     
2,855
     
5,128
     
0
     
440,890
     
446,018
 
Consumer indirect
   
106
     
35
     
0
     
141
     
0
     
17,291
     
17,432
 
Consumer direct
   
105
     
0
     
0
     
105
     
0
     
4,410
     
4,515
 
Home equity
   
522
     
214
     
1,256
     
1,992
     
0
     
89,113
     
91,105
 
Total
 
$
6,843
   
$
531
   
$
8,078
   
$
15,452
   
$
8,496
   
$
1,511,202
   
$
1,535,150
 

(1)
Acquired impaired loans were not classified as nonperforming assets as the loans are considered to be performing under ASC 310-30.  As a result interest income, through the accretion of the difference between the carrying amount of the loans and the expected cashflows, is being recognized on all acquired impaired loans.
 
The following is an aged analysis of the Company’s past due loans by class as of December 31, 2017:

Legacy Loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

(000’s omitted)
 
Past Due
30 – 89
Days
   
90+ Days Past
Due and
Still Accruing
   
Nonaccrual
   
Total
Past Due
   
Current
   
Total Loans
 
Business lending
 
$
2,283
   
$
571
   
$
3,944
   
$
6,798
   
$
1,369,801
   
$
1,376,599
 
Consumer mortgage
   
13,564
     
1,500
     
10,722
     
25,786
     
1,728,823
     
1,754,609
 
Consumer indirect
   
14,197
     
295
     
0
     
14,492
     
977,344
     
991,836
 
Consumer direct
   
1,875
     
48
     
0
     
1,923
     
172,556
     
174,479
 
Home equity
   
1,116
     
94
     
1,354
     
2,564
     
319,576
     
322,140
 
Total
 
$
33,035
   
$
2,508
   
$
16,020
   
$
51,563
   
$
4,568,100
   
$
4,619,663
 

Acquired Loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

(000’s omitted)
 
Past Due
30 – 89
Days
   
90+ Days Past
Due and
Still Accruing
   
Nonaccrual
   
Total
Past Due
   
Acquired
Impaired(1)
   
Current
   
Total Loans
 
Business lending
 
$
4,661
   
$
0
   
$
4,328
   
$
8,989
   
$
10,115
   
$
1,028,520
   
$
1,047,624
 
Consumer mortgage
   
2,603
     
26
     
3,066
     
5,695
     
0
     
459,994
     
465,689
 
Consumer indirect
   
245
     
8
     
0
     
253
     
0
     
19,889
     
20,142
 
Consumer direct
   
100
     
0
     
0
     
100
     
0
     
5,350
     
5,450
 
Home equity
   
634
     
170
     
1,326
     
2,130
     
0
     
96,059
     
98,189
 
Total
 
$
8,243
   
$
204
   
$
8,720
   
$
17,167
   
$
10,115
   
$
1,609,812
   
$
1,637,094
 

(1)
Acquired impaired loans were not classified as nonperforming assets as the loans are considered to be performing under ASC 310-30.  As a result interest income, through the accretion of the difference between the carrying amount of the loans and the expected cashflows, is being recognized on all acquired impaired loans.

The Company uses several credit quality indicators to assess credit risk in an ongoing manner.  The Company’s primary credit quality indicator for its business lending portfolio is an internal credit risk rating system that categorizes loans as “pass”, “special mention”,  “classified”, or “doubtful”.  Credit risk ratings are applied individually to those classes of loans that have significant or unique credit characteristics that benefit from a case-by-case evaluation.  In general, the following are the definitions of the Company’s credit quality indicators:

Pass
The condition of the borrower and the performance of the loans are satisfactory or better.
Special Mention
The condition of the borrower has deteriorated although the loan performs as agreed.
Classified
The condition of the borrower has significantly deteriorated and the performance of the loan could further deteriorate, if deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful
The condition of the borrower has deteriorated to the point that collection of the balance is improbable based on current facts and conditions.

The following table shows the amount of business lending loans by credit quality category:

   
March 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
(000’s omitted)
 
Legacy
   
Acquired
   
Total
   
Legacy
   
Acquired
   
Total
 
Pass
 
$
1,253,688
   
$
891,639
   
$
2,145,327
   
$
1,170,156
   
$
963,981
   
$
2,134,137
 
Special mention
   
120,881
     
43,034
     
163,915
     
129,076
     
37,321
     
166,397
 
Classified
   
75,283
     
31,313
     
106,596
     
77,367
     
34,628
     
111,995
 
Doubtful
   
154
     
1,598
     
1,752
     
0
     
1,579
     
1,579
 
Acquired impaired
   
0
     
8,496
     
8,496
     
0
     
10,115
     
10,115
 
Total
 
$
1,450,006
   
$
976,080
   
$
2,426,086
   
$
1,376,599
   
$
1,047,624
   
$
2,424,223
 
 
All other loans are underwritten and structured using standardized criteria and characteristics, primarily payment performance, and are normally risk rated and monitored collectively on a monthly basis.  These are typically loans to individuals in the consumer categories and are delineated as either performing or nonperforming.   Performing loans include loans classified as current as well as those classified as 30 - 89 days past due.  Nonperforming loans include 90+ days past due and still accruing and nonaccrual loans. The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at March 31, 2018:

Legacy Loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

(000’s omitted)
 
Consumer
Mortgage
   
Consumer
Indirect
   
Consumer
Direct
   
Home
Equity
   
Total
 
Performing
 
$
1,754,341
   
$
990,579
   
$
168,487
   
$
315,312
   
$
3,228,719
 
Nonperforming
   
11,523
     
187
     
30
     
1,415
     
13,155
 
Total
 
$
1,765,864
   
$
990,766
   
$
168,517
   
$
316,727
   
$
3,241,874
 

Acquired Loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

(000’s omitted)
 
Consumer
Mortgage
   
Consumer
Indirect
   
Consumer
Direct
   
Home
Equity
   
Total
 
Performing
 
$
442,881
   
$
17,397
   
$
4,515
   
$
89,635
   
$
554,428
 
Nonperforming
   
3,137
     
35
     
0
     
1,470
     
4,642
 
Total
 
$
446,018
   
$
17,432
   
$
4,515
   
$
91,105
   
$
559,070
 
 
The following table details the balances in all other loan categories at December 31, 2017:

Legacy Loans (excludes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

(000’s omitted)
 
Consumer
Mortgage
   
Consumer
Indirect
   
Consumer
Direct
   
Home
Equity
   
Total
 
Performing
 
$
1,742,387
   
$
991,541
   
$
174,431
   
$
320,692
   
$
3,229,051
 
Nonperforming
   
12,222
     
295
     
48
     
1,448
     
14,013
 
Total
 
$
1,754,609
   
$
991,836
   
$
174,479
   
$
322,140
   
$
3,243,064
 

Acquired Loans (includes loans acquired after January 1, 2009)

(000’s omitted)
 
Consumer
Mortgage
   
Consumer
Indirect
   
Consumer
Direct
   
Home
Equity
   
Total
 
Performing
 
$
462,597
   
$
20,134
   
$
5,450
   
$
96,693
   
$
584,874
 
Nonperforming
   
3,092
     
8
     
0
     
1,496
     
4,596
 
Total
 
$
465,689
   
$
20,142
   
$
5,450
   
$
98,189
   
$
589,470
 

All loan classes are collectively evaluated for impairment except business lending, as described in Note C.  A summary of individually evaluated impaired loans as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 follows:

(000’s omitted)
 
March 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
 
Loans with allowance allocation
 
$
4,510
   
$
5,125
 
Loans without allowance allocation
   
1,422
     
884
 
Carrying balance
   
5,932
     
6,009
 
Contractual balance
   
10,146
     
9,165
 
Specifically allocated allowance
   
878
     
804
 

In the course of working with borrowers, the Company may choose to restructure the contractual terms of certain loans.  In this scenario, the Company attempts to work-out an alternative payment schedule with the borrower in order to optimize collectability of the loan.  Any loans that are modified are reviewed by the Company to identify if a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) has occurred, which is when, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, the Company grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider.  Terms may be modified to fit the ability of the borrower to repay in line with its current financial standing and the restructuring of the loan may include the transfer of assets from the borrower to satisfy the debt, a modification of loan terms, or a combination of the two.

In accordance with the clarified guidance issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), loans that have been discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy but not reaffirmed by the borrower, are classified as TDRs, irrespective of payment history or delinquency status, even if the repayment terms for the loan have not been otherwise modified.  The Company’s lien position against the underlying collateral remains unchanged.  Pursuant to that guidance, the Company records a charge-off equal to any portion of the carrying value that exceeds the net realizable value of the collateral.  The amount of loss incurred in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was immaterial.
 
TDRs that are less than $0.5 million are collectively included in the general loan loss allocation and the qualitative review.  TDRs that are commercial loans and greater than $0.5 million are individually evaluated for impairment, and if necessary, a specific allocation of the allowance for loan losses is provided.  As a result, the determination of the amount of allowance for loan losses related to TDRs is the same as detailed in the critical accounting policies.

Information regarding TDRs as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is as follows:

   
March 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
(000’s omitted)
 
Nonaccrual
   
Accruing
   
Total
   
Nonaccrual
   
Accruing
   
Total
 
     
#
   
Amount
     
#
   
Amount
     
#
   
Amount
     
#
   
Amount
     
#
   
Amount
     
#
   
Amount
 
Business lending
   
8
   
$
312
     
3
   
$
280
     
11
   
$
592
     
8
   
$
218
     
7
   
$
501
     
15
   
$
719
 
Consumer mortgage
   
48
     
1,976
     
43
     
1,651
     
91
     
3,627
     
51
     
2,265
     
44
     
1,750
     
95
     
4,015
 
Consumer indirect
   
0
     
0
     
68
     
847
     
68
     
847
     
0
     
0
     
71
     
883
     
71
     
883
 
Consumer direct
   
0
     
0
     
23
     
65
     
23
     
65
     
0
     
0
     
25
     
69
     
25
     
69
 
Home equity
   
11
     
234
     
7
     
201
     
18
     
435
     
13
     
245
     
7
     
204
     
20
     
449
 
Total
   
67
   
$
2,522
     
144
   
$
3,044
     
211
   
$
5,566
     
72
   
$
2,728
     
154
   
$
3,407
     
226
   
$
6,135
 
 
The following table presents information related to loans modified in a TDR during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.  Of the loans noted in the table below, all loans for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were modified due to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy as described previously.  The financial effects of these restructurings were immaterial.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2018
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017
 
(000’s omitted)
 
Number of
loans modified
   
Outstanding
Balance
   
Number of
loans modified
   
Outstanding
Balance
 
Business lending
   
1
   
$
93
     
0
   
$
0
 
Consumer mortgage
   
0
     
0
     
7
     
502
 
Consumer indirect
   
4
     
41
     
8
     
106
 
Consumer direct
   
2
     
2
     
4
     
15
 
Home equity
   
0
     
0
     
2
     
98