XML 45 R35.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (“ChoiceOne”), its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ChoiceOne Bank (the “Bank”) and 109 Technologies, LLC, and ChoiceOne Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. (the “Insurance Agency”). Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

ChoiceOne owns all of the common securities of Community Shores Capital Trust I (the “Capital Trust”). Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Capital Trust is not consolidated because it is a variable interest entity and ChoiceOne is not the primary beneficiary.

Nature of Operations

Nature of Operations

The Bank is a full-service community bank that offers commercial, consumer, and real estate loans as well as traditional demand, savings and time deposits to both commercial and consumer clients within the Bank’s primary market areas in Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa counties in western Michigan and Lapeer, Macomb, and St. Clair counties in southeastern Michigan. Substantially all loans are secured by specific items of collateral including business assets, consumer assets, and real estate. Commercial loans are expected to be repaid from the cash flows from operations of businesses. Real estate loans are collateralized by either residential or commercial real estate.

109 Technologies, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of ChoiceOne Financial Services Inc. and owns intellectual property for a fintech product licensed to third party banks and bank holding companies.

The Insurance Agency is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank. The Insurance Agency sells insurance policies such as life and health for both commercial and consumer clients. The Insurance Agency also offers alternative investment products such as annuities and mutual funds through a registered broker.

Together, the Bank and ChoiceOne’s other direct and indirect subsidiaries account for substantially all of ChoiceOne’s assets, revenues and operating income.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

To prepare financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, ChoiceOne’s management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided. These estimates and assumptions are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Estimates associated with the allowance for credit losses are particularly susceptible to change.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are defined to include cash on hand, demand deposits with other banks, and federal funds sold. Cash flows are reported on a net basis for customer loan and deposit transactions, deposits with other financial institutions, and short-term borrowings with original terms of 90 days or less.

Loans

Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of unearned interest, deferred loan fees and costs, remaining purchase accounting adjustments, and an allowance for credit losses. Loans held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or market, on an aggregate basis.

Interest income on loans is reported on the interest method and includes amortization of net deferred loan fees and costs over the estimated loan term. Interest on loans is accrued based upon the principal balance outstanding. The accrual of interest is discontinued at the time at which loans are 90 days past due unless the loan is secured by sufficient collateral and is in the process of collection. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan. Loans are placed into nonaccrual status or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful. Interest accrued but not received is reversed against interest income when the loans are placed into nonaccrual status. Interest received on such loans is applied to principal until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual basis when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payment is reasonably assured. Accrued interest receivable totaled $5.1 million and $4.8 million at December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively, and was reported in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and is excluded in the estimate of credit losses.

Purchased financial assets without credit deterioration have been recorded at the acquisition date fair value. Additionally, an allowance is recorded with a corresponding charge to credit loss expense in the reporting period in which the acquisition occurs. For assets purchased with credit deterioration, an allowance is recorded with a corresponding increase to the amortized cost basis of the financial asset as of the acquisition date. No financial assets were purchased since the initiation of CECL on January 1, 2023.

Loans to Other Financial Institutions

Loans to Other Financial Institutions

Loans to other financial institutions are made up of purchased participating interests in individual advances under a warehouse line of credit used to facilitate funding of residential mortgage loan originations at other financial institutions. The loans are short-term in nature and are designed to provide funding for the time period between the loan origination and its subsequent sale in the secondary market by the originating financial institution at which time our advances are paid off. These advances earn interest based on the warehouse line of credit terms from the time the advance is funded to when the advance is paid off.

Allowance for Credit Losses ("ACL")

Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”)

The ACL is a valuation allowance for expected credit losses. The ACL is increased by the provision for credit losses and decreased by loans charged off less any recoveries of charged off loans. As ChoiceOne has had very limited loss experience since 2011, management elected to utilize benchmark peer loss history data to estimate historical loss rates. ChoiceOne identified an appropriate peer group for each loan cohort which shared similar characteristics. Management estimates the ACL required based on the selected peer group loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, information about specific borrower situations and estimated collateral values, a reasonable and supportable economic forecast, and other factors. Allocations of the ACL may be made for specific loans, but the entire ACL is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off. Loan losses are charged against the ACL when management believes that collection of a loan balance is not possible.

The ACL consists of general and specific components. The general component covers loans collectively evaluated for credit losses and is based on peer historical loss experience adjusted for current and forecasted factors. Management’s adjustment for current and forecasted factors is based on trends in delinquencies, trends in charge-offs and recoveries, trends in the volume of loans, changes in underwriting standards, trends in loan review findings, the experience and ability of lending staff, and a reasonable and supportable economic forecast described further below.

The discounted cash flow methodology is utilized for all loan pools. This methodology is supported by our CECL software provider and allows management to automatically calculate contractual life by factoring in all cash flows and adjusting them for behavioral and credit-related aspects.

Reasonable and supportable economic forecasts have to be incorporated in determining expected credit losses. The forecast period represents the time frame from the current period end through the point in time that we can reasonably forecast and support entity and environmental factors that are expected to impact the performance of our loan portfolio. Ideally, the economic forecast period would encompass the contractual terms of all loans; however, the ability to produce a forecast that is considered reasonable and supportable becomes more difficult or may not be possible in later periods. Subsequent to the end of the forecast period, we revert to historical loan data based on an ongoing evaluation of each economic forecast in relation to then current economic conditions as well as any developing loan loss activity and resulting historical data. As of December 31, 2024, we used a one-year reasonable and supportable economic forecast period, with a two year straight-line reversion period.

We are not required to develop and use our own economic forecast model, and we elected to utilize economic forecasts from third-party providers that analyze and develop forecasts of the economy for the entire United States at least quarterly.

Other inputs to the calculation are also updated or reviewed quarterly. Prepayment speeds are updated on a one quarter lag based on the asset liability model from the previous quarter. This model is performed at the loan level. Curtailment is updated quarterly within the ACL model based on our peer group average. The reversion period is reviewed by management quarterly with consideration of the current economic climate. Prepayment speeds and curtailment were updated during the fourth quarter of 2024; however, the effect was insignificant.

We are also required to consider expected credit losses associated with loan commitments over the contractual period in which we are exposed to credit risk on the underlying commitments unless the obligation is unconditionally cancellable by us. Any allowance for off-balance sheet credit exposures is reported as an other liability on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and is increased or decreased via the provision for credit losses account on our Consolidated Statement of Income. The calculation includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and forecasted credit losses on commitments expected to be funded over their estimated lives. The allowance is calculated using the same aggregate reserve rates calculated for the funded portion of loans at the portfolio level applied to the amount of commitments expected to be funded. The liability for expected credit losses on unfunded loans and other commitments was $1.5 million on December 31, 2024, compared to $2.2 million as of December 31, 2023.

Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis and are excluded from the collective evaluation. ChoiceOne has determined that any loans which have been placed on non-performing status, loans with a risk rating of 6 or higher, and loans past due more than 60 days will be assessed individually for evaluation. Management’s judgment will be used to determine if the loan should be migrated back to pool on an individual basis. Individual analysis will establish a specific reserve for loans in scope. Specific reserves on non-performing loans are typically based on management’s best estimate of the fair value of collateral securing these loans, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate or based on the present value of the expected cash flows from that loan.

Securities

Debt securities are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity. Debt securities are classified as available for sale because they might be sold before maturity. Debt securities classified as available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported separately in the accumulated other comprehensive income or loss section of shareholders’ equity, net of tax effect. Restricted investments in Federal Reserve Bank stock and Federal Home Loan Bank stock are carried at cost. Equity securities consist of investments in preferred stock and investments in common stock of other financial institutions. Equity securities are reported at their fair value with changes in market value reported through current earnings.

Interest income includes amortization of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments. Gains or losses on sales are recorded on the trade date based on the amortized cost of the security sold.

Securities Available for Sale – For securities AFS in an unrealized loss position, management determines whether they intend to sell or if it is more likely than not that ChoiceOne will be required to sell the security before recovery of the amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For securities AFS with unrealized losses not meeting these criteria, management evaluates whether any decline in fair value is due to credit loss factors. In making this assessment, management considers any changes to the rating of the security by rating agencies and adverse conditions specifically related to the issuer of the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Changes in the ACL under ASC 326-30 are recorded as provisions for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance when the collectability of a debt security AFS is confirmed or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an ACL is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of income taxes. At December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there was no ACL related to debt securities AFS.

Securities Held to Maturity – Since the adoption of CECL, ChoiceOne measures credit losses on HTM securities on a collective basis by major security type with each type sharing similar risk characteristics, and considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The ACL on securities HTM is a contra asset valuation account that is deducted from the carrying amount of HTM securities to present the net amount expected to be collected. HTM securities are charged off against the ACL when deemed uncollectible. Adjustments to the ACL are reported in ChoiceOne’s Consolidated Statements of Income in the provision for credit losses. Accrued interest receivable totaled $2.0 million and $2.1 million at December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively, and was reported in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses. With regard to US Treasury securities, these have an explicit government guarantee; therefore, no ACL is recorded for these securities. With regard to obligations of states and political subdivisions and other HTM securities, management considers (1) issuer bond ratings, (2) historical loss rates for given bond ratings, (3) the financial condition of the issuer, and (4) whether issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities. A discounted cash flow method will be used to determine the reserve required for any credit losses on HTM securities. At December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the ACL related to securities HTM is insignificant.

Troubled Loan Modifications

Occasionally, the Company modifies loans to borrowers in financial distress by providing term extension, an other-than-insignificant payment delay or interest rate reduction. In some cases, the Company provides multiple types of concessions on one loan. Typically, one type of concession, such as a term extension, is granted initially. Additional concessions may be granted if the borrower continues to experience financial distress.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Land is carried at cost. Land improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 7 to 15 years. Building and related components are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 5 to 39 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated life or the lease term. Furniture and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging from 3 to 7 years. Fixed assets are periodically reviewed for impairment. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.

Other Real Estate Owned

Other Real Estate Owned

Real estate properties acquired in the collection of a loan are initially recorded at the lower of the Bank’s basis in the loans or fair value at acquisition establishing a new cost basis. Any reduction to fair value from the carrying value of the related loan is accounted for as a credit loss. After acquisition, a valuation allowance reduces the reported amount to the lower of the initial amount or fair value less costs to sell. Expenses to repair or maintain properties are included within other noninterest expenses. Gains and losses upon disposition and changes in the valuation allowance are reported net within noninterest income.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

Bank Owned Life Insurance

Bank owned life insurance policies are stated at the current cash surrender value of the policy, or the policy death proceeds less any obligation to provide a death benefit to an insured’s beneficiaries if that value is less than the cash surrender value. Increases in the asset value are recorded as earnings in other income.

Loan Servicing Rights

Loan Servicing Rights

Loan servicing rights represent the allocated value of servicing rights on loans sold with servicing retained. Servicing rights are initially recorded at estimated fair value and fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics when available or based upon discounted cash flows using market-based assumptions. Servicing rights are expensed in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing revenues. Impairment is evaluated based on the fair value of the rights, using groupings of the underlying loans as to interest rates and then, secondarily, as to geographic and prepayment characteristics. Any impairment of a grouping is reported as a valuation allowance.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill results from business acquisitions and represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the acquired tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events and circumstances exist that indicate that a goodwill impairment test should be performed.

Core Deposit Intangible

Core Deposit Intangible

Core deposit intangible represents the value of the acquired customer core deposit bases and is included as an asset on the consolidated balance sheets. The core deposit intangible has an estimated finite life, is amortized on an accelerated basis over a 120 month period and is subject to periodic impairment evaluation.

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments

Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit issued to meet financing needs of customers. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans

ChoiceOne’s 401(k) plan allows participants to make contributions to their individual accounts under the plan in amounts up to the IRS maximum. Employer matching contributions from ChoiceOne to its 401(k) plan are discretionary.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense is the sum of the current year income tax due and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax

benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) is based on weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS assumes issuance of any dilutive potential common shares issuable under stock options or restricted stock units granted.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss includes unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale and changes in the funded status of derivative instruments, net of tax, which are also recognized as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

Accumulated other comprehensive income was as follows:


(Dollars in thousands)		As of December 31,
		2024				2023
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		$	(61,074	)		$	(69,641	)
Unrealized gain (loss) on held to maturity securities			(2,478	)			(2,720	)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges			15,730				7,072
Tax effect			10,043				13,711
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		$	(37,779	)		$	(51,578	)

Loss Contingencies

Loss Contingencies

Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe that there are any such matters that may have a material effect on the financial statements as of December 31, 2024.

Cash Restrictions

Cash Restrictions

Cash on hand or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank was $0 at both December 31, 2024 and 2023, as the Federal Reserve revoked the reserve requirement.

Leases

Leases are classified as operating or finance leases at the lease commencement date. Lease expense for operating leases and short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

Share based restricted stock units are valued at fair value as of the grant date. The Company values share-based stock option awards granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company recognizes compensation expense for its awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award (straight-line attribution method), ensuring that the amount of compensation cost recognized at any date at least equals the portion of the grant-date fair value of the award that is vested at that time. Compensation costs related to stock options granted are disclosed in Note 15.

Dividend Restrictions

Dividend Restrictions

Banking regulations require the maintenance of certain capital levels and may limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Bank to ChoiceOne (see Note 21).

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, which are more fully documented in Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant

judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

Derivatives

At the inception of a derivative contract to be designated as a hedge, ChoiceOne designates the derivative as one of two types based on our intention and belief as to the likely effectiveness of the hedge. These two types are (1) a hedge of changes in fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (“fair value hedge”), and (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”). For a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item, are recognized in current earnings as fair values change. For a cash flow hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is reported in other comprehensive income and is reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects the earnings. The changes in fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are reported in current earnings, as noninterest income.

Net cash settlements on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in interest income or interest expense, based on the item being hedged. Cash flows on hedges are classified in the cash flow statement in the same line item as the cash flows of the item being hedged.

The initial fair value of hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in the statement of financial condition under a systematic and rational method over the life of the hedging relationship and are presented in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. Any difference between the change in the fair value of the hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness and the amounts recognized in earnings are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income.

ChoiceOne discontinues hedge accounting when it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged item, the derivative is settled or terminates, a hedged forecasted transaction is no longer probable, a hedged firm commitment is no longer firm, or the treatment of the derivative as a hedge is no longer appropriate or intended. When hedge accounting is discontinued, subsequent changes in fair value of the derivative are recorded as noninterest income. When a fair value hedge is discontinued, the hedged asset or liability is no longer adjusted for changes in fair value and the existing basis adjustment is amortized or accreted over the remaining life of the asset or liability. When a cash flow hedge is discontinued but the hedged cash flows or forecasted transactions are still expected to occur, gains or losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive income are amortized into earnings over the same periods in which the hedged transactions will affect earnings.

In 2024, ChoiceOne began a program to execute interest rate swaps with commercial banking customers desiring longer-term fixed rate loans, while simultaneously entering into interest rate swaps with a correspondent bank to offset the impact of the interest rate swaps with the commercial banking customers. This is known as a back to back loan swap agreement. The net result is the desired floating rate loan and a minimization of the risk exposure of the interest rate swap transactions.

ChoiceOne is exposed to losses if a counterparty fails to make its payments under a contract in which the Company is in the net receiving position. ChoiceOne anticipates that the counterparties will be able to fully satisfy their obligation under the agreements. All the contracts to which we are a party have cash flows that settle monthly or semiannually.

Identification and Classification of Merger-Related Expenses

Identification and Classification of Merger-Related Expenses

Merger-related expenses are costs incurred directly in connection with the company's merger and acquisition activities. These expenses include legal fees for negotiation and drafting of merger agreements, accounting and auditing fees related to due diligence and financial statement preparation, consulting fees for strategic advisory services specific to the merger, costs related to regulatory filings and compliance, expenses for integration planning and execution (including IT and systems integration), severance and retention bonuses for employees affected by the merger, and travel and accommodation expenses directly related to merger activities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires enhanced disclosures about the Company's operating segments. This adoption was aimed at providing more transparent and comprehensive information regarding the Company's financial performance and position. The Company operates in one reportable segment. The Company adopted this guidance as of December 31, 2024, on a retrospective basis. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements but resulted in additional entity-wide disclosures about products and services, geographic

areas, and major customers. These disclosures are intended to provide users of the financial statements with a better understanding of the Company's operations and the economic environments in which it operates.

While ChoiceOne’s management monitors the revenue streams of various products and services for the Bank and the Insurance Agency, operations and financial performance are evaluated on a company-wide basis. Accordingly, all of the financial service operations are considered by management to be aggregated into one reportable operating segment.

ASU 2023-09 Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures

In 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this update enhance transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. This ASU requires consistent categorization, greater disaggregation, and detailed disclosures related to income taxes paid. These changes aim to help users of financial statements understand factors contributing to differences between effective and statutory tax rates. The disclosure is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is evaluating the impact this will have on the Company's income tax disclosures.