1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business and Organization

Citizens Financial Services, Inc. (individually and collectively, the “Company”) is headquartered in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, and provides a full range of banking and related services through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Citizens Community Bank (the “Bank”), and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Citizens Insurance Agency, Inc. On December 11, 2015, the Company completed its acquisition of The First National Bank of Fredericksburg (FNB). On December 8, 2017, the Bank completed its acquisition of the S&T Bank branch in State College (State College). As of December 31, 2018, the Bank operates twenty six full-service banking branches in Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Clinton, Lebanon, Lancaster, Berks, Schuylkill and Centre counties, Pennsylvania and Allegany County, New York, and a limited branch office in Union county, Pennsylvania. The Bank also provides trust services, including the administration of trusts and estates, retirement plans, and other employee benefit plans, along with a brokerage division that provides a comprehensive menu of investment services. The Bank serves individual and corporate customers and is subject to competition from other financial institutions and intermediaries with respect to these services. The Company and Bank are supervised by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, while the Bank is subject to additional regulation and supervision by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking.

A summary of significant accounting and reporting policies applied in the presentation of the accompanying financial statements follows:

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements are consolidated to include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiary, First Citizens Community Bank, and its subsidiary, First Citizens Insurance Agency, Inc. These statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

In preparing the financial statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to determination of the allowance for loan losses, pension plans and deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Operating Segments

An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities that generates revenue and incurs expense, and the operating results of which are reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in the determination of resource allocation and performance. While the Company’s chief decision makers monitor the revenue streams of the various Company’s products, services and regions, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Company-wide basis. Consistent with our internal reporting, the Company’s business activities are reported as one segment, which is community banking.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits in banks and interest-earning deposits. Interest-earning deposits with original maturities of 90 days or less are considered cash equivalents. Net cash flows are reported for loans, deposits and short term borrowing transactions.

Interest bearing time deposits with other banks are not included with cash and cash equivalents as the original maturities were greater than 90 days.

Investment Securities

Investment securities at the time of purchase are classified as one of the three following types:

Held-to-Maturity Securities - Includes securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are reported at amortized cost. The Company had no held-to-maturity securities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Trading Securities - Includes debt and equity securities bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term. Such securities are reported at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings. The Company had no trading securities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Available-for-Sale Securities – Prior to January 1, 2018, this category included debt and equity securities not classified as held-to-maturity or trading securities that will be held for indefinite periods of time. Subsequent to January 1, 2018, it only includes debt securities not classified as held to maturity or trading securities. These securities may be sold in response to changes in market interest or prepayment rates, needs for liquidity and changes in the availability of and yield of alternative investments. Such securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of the estimated income tax effect.

The amortized cost of investment in debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, computed by a method that results in a level yield. Gains and losses on the sale of investment securities are computed on the basis of specific identification of the adjusted cost of each security.

Debt securities are periodically reviewed for other-than-temporary impairment. Management considers whether the present value of future cash flows expected to be collected are less than the security’s amortized cost basis (the difference defined as the credit loss), the magnitude and duration of the decline, the reasons underlying the decline and the Company’s intent to sell the security or whether it is more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery in market value, to determine whether the loss in value is other than temporary. Once a decline in value is determined to be other than temporary, if the Company does not intend to sell the security, and it is more-likely-than-not that it will not be required to sell the security, before recovery of the security’s amortized cost basis, the charge to earnings is limited to the amount of credit loss. Any remaining difference between fair value and amortized cost (the difference defined as the non-credit portion) is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. Otherwise, the entire difference between fair value and amortized cost is charged to earnings.

The fair value of investments, except certain state and municipal securities, is based on bid prices published in financial newspapers or bid quotations received from securities dealers. The fair value of certain state and municipal securities is not readily available through market sources other than dealer quotations, so fair value is based on quoted market prices of similar instruments, adjusted for differences between the quoted instruments and the instruments being valued.

Equity Securities – For 2018, this category includes common stocks of public companies that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold for an indeterminate amount of time. Such securities are reported at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings.

Common stock of the Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLB) and correspondent banks represent ownership in institutions which are wholly owned by other financial institutions. These equity securities are accounted for at cost and are classified as other assets.

Loans Held for Sale

Certain newly originated fixed-rate residential mortgage loans are classified as held for sale, because it is management’s intent to sell these residential mortgage loans. The residential mortgage loans held for sale are carried at the lower of aggregate cost or market value.

Loans

Interest on all loans is recognized on the accrual basis based upon the principal amount outstanding. The accrual of interest income on loans is discontinued when, in the opinion of management, doubt exists as to the ability to collect such interest. Payments received on non-accrual loans are applied to the outstanding principal balance or recorded as interest income, depending upon our assessment of our ultimate ability to collect principal and interest. Loans are returned to the accrual status when factors indicating doubtful collectability cease to exist.

The Company recognizes nonrefundable loan origination fees and certain direct loan origination costs over the life of the related loan as an adjustment of loan yield using the interest method.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses represents the amount which management estimates is adequate to provide for probable losses inherent in its loan portfolio. The allowance method is used in providing for loan losses. Accordingly, all loan losses are charged to the allowance and all recoveries are credited to it. The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses which is charged to operations. The provision is based upon management’s periodic evaluation of individual loans, the overall risk characteristics of the various portfolio segments, past experience with losses, the impact of economic conditions on borrowers, and other relevant factors. The estimates used in determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term.

Impaired loans are other commercial, other agricultural, municipal, agricultural real estate, commercial real estate loans and certain residential mortgages cross collateralized with commercial relationships for which it is probable that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company individually evaluates such loans for impairment and does not aggregate loans by major risk classifications. The definition of “impaired loans” is not the same as the definition of “non-accrual loans,” although the two categories overlap. The Company may choose to place a loan on non-accrual status due to payment delinquency or uncertain collectability, while not classifying the loan as impaired if the loan is not a commercial, agricultural, municipal or commercial real estate loan. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status and collateral value. The amount of impairment for these types of impaired loans is determined by the difference between the present value of the expected cash flows related to the loan, using the original interest rate, and its recorded value; or, as a practical expedient in the case of a collateral dependent loan, the difference between the fair value of the collateral and the recorded amount of the loans.

Mortgage loans on one to four family properties and all consumer loans are large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans and are measured for impairment collectively. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays, which is defined as 90 days or less, generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.

The Company allocates the allowance based on the factors described below, which conform to the Company’s loan classification policy. In reviewing risk within the Bank’s loan portfolio, management has determined there to be several different risk categories within the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses consists of amounts applicable to: (i) residential real estate loans; (ii) commercial real estate (iii) agricultural real estate loans; (iv) construction; (v) consumer loans; (vi) other commercial loans (vii) other agricultural loans and (viii) state and political subdivision loans. Factors considered in this process include general loan terms, collateral, and availability of historical data to support the analysis. Historical loss percentages for each risk category are calculated and used as the basis for calculating allowance allocations. Certain qualitative factors are evaluated to determine additional inherent risks in the loan portfolio, which are not necessarily reflected in the historical loss percentages. These factors are then added to the historical allocation percentage to get the adjusted factor to be applied to non classified loans. The following qualitative factors are analyzed:

•	Level of and trends in delinquencies, impaired/classified loans

•	Change in volume and severity of past due loans

•	Volume of non-accrual loans

•	Volume and severity of classified, adversely or graded loans

•	Level of and trends in charge-offs and recoveries

•	Trends in volume, terms and nature of the loan portfolio

•	Effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards and any other changes in lending and recovery policies, procedures and practices

•	Changes in the quality of the Bank’s loan review system

•	Experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff

•	National, state, regional and local economic trends and business conditions

•	General economic conditions

•	Unemployment rates

•	Inflation / CPI

•	Changes in values of underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans

•	Industry conditions including the effects of external factors such as competition, legal, and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses.

•	Existence and effect of any credit concentrations, and changes in the level of such concentrations

•	Any change in the level of board oversight

The Company analyzes its loan portfolio each quarter to determine the appropriateness of its allowance for loan losses.

Loan Charge-off Policies

Consumer loans are generally fully or partially charged down to the fair value of collateral securing the asset when the loan is 180 days past due for open-end loans or 120 days past due for closed-end loans unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. All other loans are generally charged down to the net realizable value when the loan is 90 days past due.

Troubled Debt Restructurings

In situations where, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower's financial difficulties, management may grant a concession for other than an insignificant period of time to the borrower that would not otherwise be considered, the related loan is classified as a Troubled Debt Restructuring (TDR). Management strives to identify borrowers in financial difficulty early and work with them to modify more affordable terms before their loan reaches nonaccrual status. These modified terms may include rate reductions, principal forgiveness, payment forbearance and other actions intended to minimize the economic loss and to avoid foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. In cases where borrowers are granted new terms that provide for a reduction of either interest or principal, management measures any impairment on the restructuring as noted above for impaired loans. In addition to the allowance for the pooled portfolios, management has developed a separate allowance for loans that are identified as impaired through a TDR. TDRs are excluded from pooled loss forecasts and a separate reserve is provided under the accounting guidance for loan impairment.

Purchased Credit Impaired Loans

The Company purchased loans in connection with its acquisition of FNB in 2015 and its acquisition of the State College branch in 2017, some of which showed evidence of credit deterioration as of the acquisition since origination. These purchased credit impaired (PCI) loans were recorded at the amount paid, such that there is no carryover of the seller’s allowance for loan losses. After acquisition, losses are recognized by an increase in the allowance for loan losses. Over the life of the loan, expected cash flows continue to be estimated. If this subsequent estimated indicated that the present value of expected cash flows is less than the carrying amount, a charge to the allowance for loan loss is made through a provision. If the estimate indicates that the present value of the expected cash flows is greater than the carrying amount, it is recognized as part of future interest income.

Such purchased credit impaired loans are accounted for individually, and the Company estimates the amount and timing of expected cash flows for each loan. The expected cash flows in excess of the amount paid is recorded as interest income over the remaining life of the loan (accretable yield). The excess of the loan’s contractual principal and interest over expected cash flows is not amortized over the remaining life of the loan (nonaccretable difference).

For loans purchased that did not show evidence of credit deterioration, the difference between the fair value of the loan at the acquisition date and the loan’s face value is being amortized as a yield adjustment over the estimated remaining life of the loan using the effective interest method.

Foreclosed Assets Held For Sale

Foreclosed assets acquired in settlement of loans are carried at fair value, less estimated costs to sell. Prior to foreclosure, as the value of the underlying loan is written down to fair market value of the real estate or other assets to be acquired by a charge to the allowance for loan losses, if necessary. Any subsequent write-downs are charged against operating expenses. Operating expenses of such properties, net of related income and losses on disposition, are included in other expenses and gains and losses are included in other non-interest income or other non-interest expense.

Premises and Equipment

Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is computed on straight line and accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 15 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment and 5 to 40 years for building premises. Repair and maintenance expenditures which extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized and other repair expenditures are expensed as incurred.

When premises or equipment are retired or sold, the remaining cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is credited to income or charged to expense, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets, other than goodwill, include core deposit intangibles, covenants not to compete and mortgage servicing rights (MSRs). Core deposit intangibles are a measure of the value of consumer demand and savings deposits acquired in business combinations accounted for as purchases. Covenants not to compete are payments made to former employees as compensation for agreeing not to work for competitors. The core deposit intangibles are being amortized over 10 years using the sum-of-the-years digits method of amortization, while the covenant not to compete is being amortized over four years on a straight line basis.

MSR’s arise from the Company originating certain loans for the express purpose of selling such loans in the secondary market. The Company maintains all servicing rights for these loans. The loans held for sale are carried at lower of cost or market. Originated MSRs are recorded by allocating total costs incurred between the loan and servicing rights based on their relative fair values. MSRs are amortized in proportion to the estimated servicing income over the estimated life of the servicing portfolio and measured annually for impairment.

The recoverability of the carrying value of intangible assets is evaluated on an ongoing basis, and permanent declines in value, if any, are charged to expense.

Goodwill

The Company utilizes a two-step process for testing the impairment of goodwill on at least an annual basis. This approach could cause more volatility in the Company’s reported net income because impairment losses, if any, could occur irregularly and in varying amounts. The Company may also perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Based on the fair value of the reporting unit, no impairment of goodwill was recognized in 2018, 2017 or 2016.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain employees. Prior to January 1, 2015, the Company was the owner and sole beneficiary of the policies. Effective January 1, 2015, the insurance policies were restructured so that any death benefits received from a policy while the insured person is an active employee of the Bank will be split with the beneficiary of the policy. Under these restructured agreements, the Bank receives the cash surrender value of the policy plus 50% of the benefit in excess of the cash surrender value and the remaining amount of the payout will be given to the beneficiary of the policy. Additionally, as a result of the acquisition of FNB, the Company acquired life insurance policies on former FNB employees and directors. The policies obtained as part of the acquisition provide a fixed dollar benefit to the former employee or director beneficiaries, whether or not the insured person is affiliated with the Company at the time of his or her death. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at its cash surrender value, or the amount that can be realized. Increases in the cash surrender value are recognized as other non-interest income. The obligation of $648,000 and $578,000 under split-dollar benefit agreements to former employees and directors or their beneficiaries have been recognized as liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Income Taxes

The Company and the Bank file a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial statement basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted marginal tax rates. Deferred income tax expenses or benefits are based on the changes in the net deferred tax asset or liability from period to period. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted on December 22, 2017, lowered the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. As a result, the carrying value of net deferred tax assets was reduced which increased income tax expense by $1,531,000 in 2017.

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering employees hired before January 1, 2007 and employees acquired as part of the FNB acquisition. It is the Company’s policy to fund pension costs on a current basis to the extent deductible under existing tax regulations. Such contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future.

The Company has a defined contribution, 401(k) plan covering eligible employees. The employee may also contribute to the plan on a voluntary basis, up to a maximum percentage allowable not to exceed the limits of Code Sections 401(k). Under the plan, the Company also makes contributions on behalf of eligible employees, which vest immediately. For employees hired after January 1, 2007, in lieu of the pension plan, an additional annual discretionary 401(k) plan contribution is made and is equal to a percentage of an employee’s base compensation.

The Company also has a profit-sharing plan for employees which provide tax-deferred salary savings to plan participants. The Company has a deferred compensation plan for directors who have elected to defer all or portions of their fees until their retirement or termination from service.

The Company has a restricted stock plan which covers eligible employees and non-employee corporate directors. Under the plan, awards are granted based upon performance related requirements and are subject to certain vesting criteria. Compensation cost related to restricted stock is recognized based on the market price of the stock at the grant date over the vesting period.

The Company has an employee stock purchase plan that allows employees to withhold money from their paychecks, which is then utilized to purchase shares of the Company’s stock on either the open market or through treasury stock, if shares are unavailable on the open market.

The Company maintains a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) for certain executives to compensate those executive participants in the Company’s noncontributory defined benefit pension plan whose benefits are limited by compensation limitations under current tax law. The SERP is considered an unfunded plan for tax and ERISA purposes and all obligations arising under the SERP are payable from the general assets of the Company. Expenses under the SERP are recognized as earned over the expected years of service.

The Company maintains a non-tax qualified executive deferred compensation plan (“Deferred Compensation Plan”) for eligible employees designated by the board of directors. Each of the named executive officers are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan is considered an unfunded plan for tax and ERISA purposes and all obligations arising under the Deferred Compensation Plan are payable from the general assets of the Company. Expenses under the Deferred Compensation Plan are recognized as earned over the expected years of service.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are generally expensed as incurred and amounted to $361,000, $343,000 and $356,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Comprehensive Loss

The Company is required to present comprehensive income in a full set of general purpose financial statements for all periods presented. Other comprehensive loss is comprised of unrealized holding gains (losses) on the available-for-sale securities portfolio and unrecognized pension costs.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Adopted

In May 2014,the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2014-09"), which was subsequently amended, modified, and/or clarified with ASU 2015-14, 2016-08, 2016-10, 2016-12, 2017-05, and 2017-10. The standard requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU replaces most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The new standard and its related amendments was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. Adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements other than additional disclosures for revenue recognition in Note 2 as the Company's primary sources of revenues are derived from interest and dividends earned on loans, investment securities, and other financial instruments that are not within the scope of ASU 2014-09.

In January 2016, the FASB finalized ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This accounting standard (a) requires separate presentation of equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) on the balance sheet and measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (b) simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; (c) eliminates the requirement to disclose the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for entities that are not public business entities; (d) eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; (e) requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; (f) requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; and (g) clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity's other deferred tax assets.

The adoption resulted in the Company recognizing a one-time cumulative effect adjustment of $1,000 between accumulated other comprehensive income and retained earnings on the consolidated balance sheet for the fair value of equity securities included in accumulated other comprehensive income as of the beginning of the period. The adjustment had no impact on net income on any prior periods presented.

The Company has adopted this standard during the reporting period on a prospective basis. The Company implemented changes to the measurement of the fair value of financial instruments using an exit price notion for disclosure purposes included in Note 18 to the financial statements. The December 31, 2018 fair value of each class of financial instruments disclosure did utilize the exit price notion when measuring fair value and, therefore, may not be comparable to the December 3l, 2017 disclosure.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing diversity in practice. The Company adopted this standard during the year, which did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which requires recognition of current and deferred income taxes resulting from an intra-entity transfer of any asset (excluding inventory) when the transfer occurs. Consequently, the amendments in this Update eliminate the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. ASU 2016-16 became effective for us on January 1, 2018 and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), which requires that a statement of cash flows explains the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 became effective for us on January 1, 2018 and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities (collectively referred to as a “set”) is a business. The screen requires that when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, the set is not a business. This screen reduces the number of transactions that need to be further evaluated. ASU 2017-01 became effective for us on January 1, 2018 and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05, Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20). The amendments in this Update clarify what constitutes a financial asset within the scope of Subtopic 610-20. The amendments also clarify that entities should identify each distinct nonfinancial asset or in substance nonfinancial asset that is promised to a counterparty and to derecognize each asset when the counterparty obtains control. There is also additional guidance provided for partial sales of a nonfinancial asset and when derecognition, and the related gain or loss, should be recognized. ASU 2017-05 became effective for us on January 1, 2018 and did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 71S). The amendments in this Update require that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2018, which resulted in a reclassification of $(199)and ($123) from Salaries and employee benefits into other noninterest expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. See Note 11 for additional information on the presentation of these pension cost components.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Not yet effective

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The standard requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet. 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. A short-term lease is defined as one in which (a) the lease term is 12 months or less and (b) there is not an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. For short-term leases, lessees may elect to recognize lease payments over the lease term on a straight-line basis. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for us on January 1, 2019 and initially required transition using a modified retrospective approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842) - Targeted Improvements,” which, among other things, provides an additional transition method that would allow entities to not apply the guidance in ASU 2016-02 in the comparative periods presented in the financial statements and instead recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. In December 2018, the FASB also issued ASU 2018-20, “Leases (Topic 842) - Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors,” which provides for certain policy elections and changes lessor accounting for sales and similar taxes and certain lessor costs. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, ASU 2018-11 and ASU 2018-20 on January 1, 2019, we expect to recognize right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities totaling $1.5 million each. We expect to elect to apply certain practical expedients provided under ASU 2016-02 whereby we will not reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases. We also do not expect to apply the recognition requirements of ASU 2016-02 to any short-term leases (as defined by related accounting guidance). We expect to account for lease and non-lease components separately because such amounts are readily determinable under our lease contracts and because we expect this election will result in a lower impact on our balance sheet. We expect to utilize the modified-retrospective transition approach prescribed by ASU 2018-11.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which changes the impairment model for most financial assets. This Update is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring timelier recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments held by financial institutions and other organizations. The underlying premise of the Update is that financial assets measured at amortized cost should be presented at the net amount expected to be collected, through an allowance for credit losses that is deducted from the amortized cost basis. The allowance for credit losses should reflect management’s current estimate of credit losses that are expected to occur over the remaining life of a financial asset. The income statement will be effected for the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as the expected increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. With certain exceptions, transition to the new requirements will be through a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. We expect to recognize a one-time cumulative effect adjustment to the allowance for loan losses as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the new standard is effective, but cannot yet determine the magnitude of any such one-time adjustment or the overall impact of the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements. In that regard, we have formed a cross-functional working group, under the direction of our Chief Financial Officer. The working group is comprised of individuals from various functional areas including credit, loan origination and finance. We are currently working through our implementation plan which includes assessment and documentation of processes, internal controls and data sources; model development and documentation; and system configuration, among other things. We are also in the process of implementing a third-party vendor solution to assist us in the application of the ASU 2016-13. The adoption of the ASU 2016-13 could result in an increase in the allowance for loan losses as a result of changing from an “incurred loss” model, which encompasses allowances for current known and inherent losses within the portfolio, to an “expected loss” model, which encompasses allowances for losses expected to be incurred over the life of the portfolio. While we are currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact of adopting ASU 2016-13, we expect that the impact of adoption will be significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of our loan portfolio as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts as of the adoption date.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, the FASB eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity had to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, under the amendments in this Update, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting units fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. A public business entity that is a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filer should adopt the amendments in this Update for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20). The amendments in this Update shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. For public business entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 118, ASU 2018-05 amends the Accounting Standards Codification to incorporate various SEC paragraphs pursuant to the issuance of SAB 118. SAB 118 addresses the application of generally accepted accounting principles in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. See Note 12 - Income Taxes.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. The Update removes the requirement to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level I and Level II of the fair value hierarchy; the policy for timing of transfers between levels; and the valuation processes for Level III fair value measurements. The Update requires disclosure of changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income (loss) for recurring Level III fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level III fair value measurements. This Update is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715-20). This Update amends ASC 715 to add, remove and clarify disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The Update eliminates the requirement to disclose the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as part of net periodic benefit cost over the next year. The Update also removes the disclosure requirements for the effects of a one-percentage-point change on the assumed health care costs and the effect of this change in rates on service cost, interest cost and the benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. This Update is effective for public business entities for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, and must be applied on a retrospective basis. For all other entities, this Update is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2021. This Update is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Treasury Stock

The purchase of the Company’s common stock is recorded at cost. At the date of subsequent reissue, the treasury stock account is reduced by the cost of such stock on a last-in-first-out basis.

Cash Flows

The Company utilizes the net reporting of cash receipts and cash payments for deposit, short-term borrowing and lending activities. The Company considers amounts due from banks and interest-bearing deposits in banks as cash equivalents.

Trust Assets and Income

Assets held by the Company in a fiduciary or agency capacity for its customers are not included in the consolidated financial statements since such items are not assets of the Company.

Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per share. Earnings per share calculations give retroactive effect to stock dividends declared by the Company.

	2018		2017		2016
Basic earnings per share computation:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	18,034,000	$	13,025,000	$	12,638,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding		3,505,218		3,515,638		3,541,769
Earnings per share - basic	$	5.14	$	3.70	$	3.57

Diluted earnings per share computation:
Net income applicable to common stock	$	18,034,000	$	13,025,000	$	12,638,000

Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per share		3,505,218		3,515,638		3,541,769
Add: Dilutive effects of restricted stock		1,988		1,724		1,556
Weighted average common shares outstanding for dilutive earnings per share		3,507,206		3,517,362		3,543,325
Earnings per share - dilutive	$	5.14	$	3.70	$	3.57

Nonvested shares of restricted stock totaling 3,201, 3,403 and 3,087 were outstanding during 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because to do so would be anti-dilutive. These anti-dilutive shares had per share prices ranging from $47.81-$61.04, $46.69-$53.15 and $46.69-$53.15 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Reclassification

Certain of the prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on net income or stockholders’ equity.