2.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of USBI, the Bank and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) and one variable interest entity (“VIE”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company consolidates an entity if the Company has a controlling financial interest in the entity. VIEs are consolidated if the Company has the power to direct the significant economic activities of the VIE that impact financial performance and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant (i.e., the Company is the primary beneficiary). The assessment of whether or not the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE is performed on an ongoing basis. Unconsolidated investments held by the Company are accounted for using the cost method. See Note 7, “Investment in Limited Partnerships,” for further discussion of the consolidated VIE and unconsolidated cost method investments.

Use of Estimates

The accounting principles and reporting policies of the Company, and the methods of applying these principles, conform with U.S. GAAP and with general practices within the financial services industry. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated balance sheets and revenues and expenses for the period included in the consolidated statements of operations and of cash flows. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant changes in the near-term relate to the accounting for the allowance for loan losses, the value of OREO and certain collateral-dependent loans, and deferred tax asset valuation. In connection with the determination of the allowance for loan losses and other real estate owned, in some cases, management obtains independent appraisals for significant properties, evaluates the overall portfolio characteristics and delinquencies and monitors economic conditions.

A substantial portion of the Company’s loans are secured by real estate in its primary market areas. Accordingly, the ultimate collectability of a substantial portion of the Company’s loan portfolio and the recovery of a portion of the carrying amount of foreclosed real estate are susceptible to changes in economic conditions in the Company’s primary market areas.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, instruments with an original maturity of less than 90 days from issuance and amounts due from banks.

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information and non-cash transactions related to cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:


	2014		2013
	(Dollars in Thousands)
Cash paid (refunded) during the period for:
Interest	$	2,598	$	3,052
Income taxes		52		(2,252	)
Non-cash transactions:
Foreclosed assets acquired in settlement of loans		5,518		2,396
Reissuance of treasury stock as compensation		106		131

Revenue Recognition

The main source of revenue for the Company is interest revenue, which is recognized on an accrual basis calculated by non-discretionary formulas based on written contracts, such as loan agreements or securities contracts. Loan origination fees are amortized into interest income over the term of the loan. Other types of non-interest revenue, such as service charges on deposits, are accrued and recognized into income as services are provided and the amount of fees earned is reasonably determinable.

Reinsurance Activities

The Company assumes insurance risk related to credit life and credit accident and health insurance written by a non-affiliated insurance company for its customers that choose such coverage through a quota share reinsurance agreement. Assumed premiums on credit life are deferred and earned over the period of insurance coverage using either a pro rata method or the effective yield method, depending on whether the amount of insurance coverage generally remains level or declines. Assumed premiums for accident and health policies are earned on an average of the pro rata and the effective yield methods.

Other liabilities include reserves for incurred but unpaid credit insurance claims for policies assumed under the quota share reinsurance agreement. These insurance liabilities are established based on acceptable actuarial methods. Such liabilities are necessarily based on estimates, and, while management believes that the amount is adequate, the ultimate liability may be in excess of or less than the amounts provided. The methods for making such estimates and for establishing the resulting liabilities are continually reviewed, and any adjustments are reflected in earnings currently.

Investment Securities

Securities may be held in three portfolios: trading account securities, held-to-maturity securities and securities available-for-sale. Trading account securities are carried at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in operations. The Company held no securities in a trading account as of December 31, 2014 or 2013. Investment securities held-to-maturity are carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. With regard to investment securities held-to-maturity, management has the intent and the Bank has the ability to hold such securities until maturity. Investment securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with any unrealized gains or losses excluded from operations and reflected, net of tax, as a separate component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Investment securities available-for-sale are so classified because management may decide to sell certain securities prior to maturity for liquidity, tax planning or other valid business purposes. When the fair value of a security falls below carrying value, an evaluation must be made to determine if the unrealized loss is a temporary or other-than-temporary impairment. Impaired securities that are not deemed to be temporarily impaired are written down by a charge to operations to the extent that the impairment is related to credit losses. The amount of impairment related to other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income or loss. The Company uses a systematic methodology to evaluate potential impairment of its investments that considers, among other things, the magnitude and duration of the decline in fair value, the financial health and business outlook of the issuer and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment until such time as the security recovers its fair value.

Interest earned on investment securities available-for-sale is included in interest income. Amortization of premiums and discounts on investment securities is determined by the interest method and included in interest income. Gains and losses on the sale of investment securities available-for-sale, computed principally on the specific identification method, are shown separately in non-interest income.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

As part of the Company’s overall interest rate risk management, the Company may use derivative instruments, which can include interest rate swaps, caps and floors. Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, requires all derivative instruments to be carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets. ASC Topic 815 provides special accounting provisions for derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting. To be eligible, the Company must specifically identify a derivative as a hedging instrument and identify the risk being hedged. The derivative instrument must be shown to meet specific requirements under ASC Topic 815.

Loans and Interest Income

Loans are reported at principal amounts outstanding, adjusted for unearned income, net deferred loan origination fees and costs, purchase premiums and discounts, write-downs and the allowance for loan losses. Loan origination fees, net of certain deferred origination costs, and purchase premiums and discounts are recognized as an adjustment to yield of the related loans, on an effective yield basis.

Interest on all loans is accrued and credited to income based on the principal amount outstanding.

The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when, in the opinion of management, there is an indication that the borrower may be unable to meet payments as they become due. Upon such discontinuance, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed against current income unless the collateral for the loan is sufficient to cover the accrued interest. Interest received on non-accrual loans generally is either applied against principal or reported as interest income, according to management’s judgment as to the collectability of principal. The policy for interest recognition on impaired loans is consistent with the non-accrual interest recognition policy. Generally, loans are restored to accrual status when the obligation is brought current and the borrower has performed in accordance with the contractual terms for a reasonable period of time and the ultimate collectability of the total contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is determined based on various components for individually impaired loans and for homogeneous pools of loans. The allowance for loan losses is increased by a provision for loan losses, which is charged to expense and reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries by portfolio segment. The methodology for determining charge-offs is consistently applied to each segment. The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level that, in management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount of the allowance is based on management’s evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio, including the nature of the portfolio, and changes in its risk profile, credit concentrations, historical trends and economic conditions. This evaluation also considers the balance of impaired loans. Losses on individually identified impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at each loan’s original effective market interest rate. As a practical expedient, impairment may be measured based on the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent. When the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the impairment is recorded through the provision added to the allowance for loan losses. One-to-four family residential mortgages and consumer installment loans are subjected to a collective evaluation for impairment, considering delinquency and repossession statistics, loss experience and other factors. Though management believes the allowance for loan losses to be adequate, ultimate losses may vary from their estimates. However, estimates are reviewed periodically, and, as adjustments become necessary, they are reported in earnings during periods in which they become known.

Premises and Equipment

Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization computed principally by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the expected lease terms for leasehold improvements, whichever is shorter. Useful lives for all premises and equipment range between three and thirty years.

Other Real Estate

Other real estate consists of properties acquired through a foreclosure proceeding or acceptance of a deed in lieu of foreclosure. These properties are carried at the lower of cost or fair value based on appraised value, less estimated selling costs. Losses arising from the acquisition of properties are charged against the allowance for loan losses. Gains or losses realized upon sale of OREO and additional losses related to subsequent valuation adjustments are determined on a specific property basis and are included as a component of noninterest expense along with carrying costs.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes on the accrual basis through the use of the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts and the basis of existing assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets are also recorded for any tax attributes, such as tax credit and net operating loss carryforwards. The net balance of deferred tax assets and liabilities is reported in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates would be recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company evaluates the realization of deferred tax assets based on all positive and negative evidence available at the balance sheet date. Realization of deferred tax assets is based on the Company’s judgments about relevant factors affecting realization, including taxable income within any applicable carryback periods, future projected taxable income, reversal of taxable temporary differences and other tax planning strategies to maximize realization of deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance is recorded for any deferred tax assets that are not more likely than not 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 for which there is a greater than 50% likelihood that such amount would be realized upon examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest expense, interest income and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within current income tax expense.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock purchases and sales are accounted for using the cost method.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs for promoting the Company are minimal and expensed as incurred.

Reclassification

Certain amounts in the 2013 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation.

Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Included in basic shares are certain shares that have been accrued as of the balance sheet date as deferred compensation for members of USBI’s Board of Directors. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, adjusted for the effect of potentially dilutive stock awards outstanding during the period. The dilutive shares are comprised of nonqualified stock option grants issued during 2014 to employees and members of USBI’s Board of Directors pursuant to the USBI 2013 Incentive Plan previously approved by USBI’s shareholders. The following table reflects weighted average shares used to calculate basic and diluted net income per share for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2014		2013
Basic shares		6,127,232		6,025,724
Dilutive shares		83,400		—

Diluted shares		6,210,632		6,025,724


	Year Ended December 31,
	2014		2013
Net income	$	3,549	$	3,927

Basic net income per share	$	0.58	$	0.65

Diluted net income per share	$	0.57	$	0.65

On February 23, 2015, the Company granted 96,150 nonqualified stock options to certain members of management and members of the Board of Directors. These options are dilutive; however, since they were granted subsequent to December 31, 2014, they are not included in dilutive shares in the table above.

Accounting Policies Recently Adopted and Pending Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-01, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2014-01 permits reporting entities that invest in qualified affordable housing projects to elect to account for those investments using the “proportional amortization method” if certain conditions are met. Under this method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit), if this method is selected as a policy. The decision to apply the proportional amortization method of accounting is an accounting policy decision and should be applied consistently to all qualifying affordable housing project investments. ASU 2014-01 should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented and is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company does not have a significant amount of investments in qualified affordable housing projects that qualify for the low income housing tax credit. Such investments are currently either consolidated in the Company’s financial statements or accounted for as cost method investments. The adoption of ASU 2014-01 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2014-04 clarifies when an “in substance repossession or foreclosure” occurs, that is, when a creditor should be considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, such that all or a portion of the loan should be derecognized and the real estate property recognized. ASU 2014-04 states that a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (i) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure, or (ii) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. The amendments of ASU 2014-04 also require interim and annual disclosure of both the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate properties that are in the process of foreclosure. The amendments of ASU 2014-04 are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014 and may be applied using either a modified retrospective transition method or a prospective transition method as described in ASU 2014-04. The adoption of ASU 2014-04 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 provides guidance that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02 “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” to improve targeted areas of consolidation guidance for legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability companies and securitization structures. The ASU focuses on the consolidation evaluation for reporting organizations that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. The new standard simplifies and improves current GAAP by: (i) placing more emphasis on risk of loss when determining a controlling financial interest; (ii) reducing the frequency of the application of related-party guidance when determining a controlling financial interest in a VIE; and (iii) changing consolidation conclusions for companies in several industries that typically make use of limited partnerships or VIEs. The ASU will be effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is still evaluating the potential impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.