Attached files

file filename
EX-32.1 - CERTIFICATION - COMMUNITY BANCORP /VTcmtv_ex321.htm
EX-21 - SUBSIDIARIES - COMMUNITY BANCORP /VTcmtv_ex21.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION - COMMUNITY BANCORP /VTcmtv_ex312.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION - COMMUNITY BANCORP /VTcmtv_ex311.htm
EX-23.1 - CONSENT - COMMUNITY BANCORP /VTcmtv_ex231.htm
EX-32.2 - CERTIFICATION - COMMUNITY BANCORP /VTcmtv_ex322.htm
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - COMMUNITY BANCORP /VTFinancial_Report.xls
10-K - ANNUAL REPORT - COMMUNITY BANCORP /VTcmtv_10k.htm
Exhibit 13
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Portland, Maine
March 24, 2015
Vermont Registration No. 92-0000278
Portland, ME ● Bangor, ME ● Manchester, NH
WWW.BERRYDUNN.COM
 
1

 
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Assets
           
Cash and due from banks
  $ 11,935,993     $ 11,841,161  
Federal funds sold and overnight deposits
    13,026,181       6,488,828  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    24,962,174       18,329,989  
Securities held-to-maturity (fair value $42,234,000 at December 31, 2014 and $38,370,000 at December 31, 2013)
    41,810,945       37,936,911  
Securities available-for-sale
    32,946,894       35,188,602  
Restricted equity securities, at cost
    3,332,450       3,632,850  
Loans held-for-sale
    26,250       209,500  
Loans
    447,804,955       439,908,926  
Allowance for loan losses
    (4,905,874 )     (4,854,915 )
Deferred net loan costs
    303,394       300,429  
Net loans
    443,202,475       435,354,440  
Bank premises and equipment, net
    11,488,948       11,723,468  
Accrued interest receivable
    1,698,448       1,778,305  
Bank owned life insurance (BOLI)
    4,413,574       4,303,307  
Core deposit intangible
    818,081       1,090,781  
Goodwill
    11,574,269       11,574,269  
Other real estate owned (OREO)
    1,238,320       1,105,525  
Other assets
    9,198,216       11,439,457  
Total assets
  $ 586,711,044     $ 573,667,404  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
               
Liabilities
               
Deposits:
               
Demand, non-interest bearing
  $ 88,758,469     $ 82,156,154  
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
    125,388,872       126,578,052  
Money market funds
    88,820,124       81,960,677  
Savings
    77,029,722       69,906,147  
Time deposits, $100,000 and over
    45,284,645       46,928,443  
Other time deposits
    67,737,631       74,023,096  
Total deposits
    493,019,463       481,552,569  
Repurchase agreements
    28,542,961       29,644,615  
Capital lease obligations
    639,544       711,042  
Junior subordinated debentures
    12,887,000       12,887,000  
Accrued interest and other liabilities
    2,626,874       2,736,201  
Total liabilities
    537,715,842       527,531,427  
                 
Shareholders' Equity
               
                 
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 25 shares issued and outstanding ($100,000 liquidation value)
    2,500,000       2,500,000  
Common stock - $2.50 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, and 5,142,475 and 5,078,707 shares issued at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively (including 16,642 and 13,448 shares issued February 1, 2015 and 2014, respectively)
    12,856,188       12,696,768  
Additional paid-in capital
    29,359,300       28,612,308  
Retained earnings
    6,909,934       4,997,144  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (7,443 )     (47,466 )
Less: treasury stock, at cost; 210,101 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2013
    (2,622,777 )     (2,622,777 )
Total shareholders' equity
    48,995,202       46,135,977  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 586,711,044     $ 573,667,404  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
2

 
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Income
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
 
           
Interest income
           
Interest and fees on loans
  $ 21,423,462     $ 21,226,505  
Interest on debt securities
               
Taxable
    343,554       313,755  
Tax-exempt
    1,079,093       1,027,054  
Dividends
    90,784       59,823  
Interest on federal funds sold and overnight deposits
    13,384       12,645  
Total interest income
    22,950,277       22,639,782  
                 
Interest expense
               
Interest on deposits
    2,515,078       2,839,036  
Interest on federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds
    76,250       81,723  
Interest on repurchase agreements
    62,405       111,437  
Interest on junior subordinated debentures
    402,011       409,938  
Total interest expense
    3,055,744       3,442,134  
                 
Net interest income
    19,894,533       19,197,648  
Provision for loan losses
    540,000       670,000  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    19,354,533       18,527,648  
                 
Non-interest income
               
Service fees
    2,624,792       2,572,031  
Income from sold loans
    977,702       1,624,880  
Other income from loans
    593,093       725,922  
Net realized gain (loss) on sale of securities available-for-sale
    27,838       (5,521 )
Other income
    918,326       1,065,256  
Total non-interest income
    5,141,751       5,982,568  
                 
Non-interest expense
               
Salaries and wages
    6,475,000       6,395,042  
Employee benefits
    2,257,354       2,320,280  
Occupancy expenses, net
    2,466,714       2,438,965  
Other expenses
    6,830,744       7,138,187  
Total non-interest expense
    18,029,812       18,292,474  
                 
Income before income taxes
    6,466,472       6,217,742  
Income tax expense
    1,341,564       1,131,087  
Net income
  $ 5,124,908     $ 5,086,655  
                 
Earnings per common share
  $ 1.03     $ 1.03  
Weighted average number of common shares used in computing earnings per share
    4,897,281       4,838,185  
Dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.64     $ 0.56  
Book value per common share outstanding at December 31
  $ 9.43     $ 8.96  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
3

 
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
             
Net income
  $ 5,124,908     $ 5,086,655  
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
               
Unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities arising during the period
    88,478       (337,678 )
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss realized in income
    (27,838 )     5,521  
Net change in unrealized gain (loss)
    60,640       (332,157 )
Tax effect
    (20,617 )     112,933  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    40,023       (219,224 )
Total comprehensive income
  $ 5,164,931     $ 4,867,431  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
4

 

Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013
                                       
Accumulated
             
                           
Additional
         
other
         
Total
 
   
Common stock
   
Preferred stock
   
paid-in
   
Retained
   
comprehensive
   
Treasury
   
shareholders'
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
capital
   
earnings
   
income (loss)
   
stock
   
equity
 
                                                       
Balances, December 31, 2012
    4,812,925     $ 12,557,565       25     $ 2,500,000     $ 28,047,829     $ 2,698,200     $ 171,758     $ (2,622,777 )   $ 43,352,575  
                                                                         
Comprehensive income
                                                                       
Net income
    0       0       0       0       0       5,086,655       0       0       5,086,655  
Other comprehensive loss
    0       0       0       0       0       0       (219,224 )     0       (219,224 )
                                                                         
Total comprehensive income
                                                                    4,867,431  
                                                                         
Cash dividends declared - common stock
    0       0       0       0       0       (2,706,461 )     0       0       (2,706,461 )
Cash dividends declared - preferred stock
    0       0       0       0       0       (81,250 )     0       0       (81,250 )
Issuance of common stock
    55,681       139,203       0       0       564,479       0       0       0       703,682  
                                                                         
Balances, December 31, 2013
    4,868,606       12,696,768       25       2,500,000       28,612,308       4,997,144       (47,466 )     (2,622,777 )     46,135,977  
                                                                         
Comprehensive income
                                                                       
Net income
    0       0       0       0       0       5,124,908       0       0       5,124,908  
Other comprehensive income
    0       0       0       0       0       0       40,023       0       40,023  
                                                                         
Total comprehensive income
                                                                    5,164,931  
                                                                         
Cash dividends declared - common stock
    0       0       0       0       0       (3,130,868 )     0       0       (3,130,868 )
Cash dividends declared - preferred stock
    0       0       0       0       0       (81,250 )     0       0       (81,250 )
Issuance of common stock
    63,768       159,420       0       0       746,992       0       0       0       906,412  
                                                                         
Balances, December 31, 2014
    4,932,374     $ 12,856,188       25     $ 2,500,000     $ 29,359,300     $ 6,909,934     $ (7,443 )   $ (2,622,777 )   $ 48,995,202  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
5

 
Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
           
Net income
  $ 5,124,908     $ 5,086,655  
                 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization, bank premises and equipment
    969,691       1,018,806  
Provision for loan losses
    540,000       670,000  
Deferred income tax
    755,139       (402,748 )
(Gain) loss on sale of securities available-for-sale
    (27,838 )     5,521  
Gain on sale of loans
    (460,505 )     (778,203 )
Loss (gain) on sale of bank premises and equipment
    6,610       (12,077 )
Loss (gain) on sale of OREO
    1,840       (9,990 )
Gain on Trust LLC
    (272,821 )     (287,251 )
Amortization of bond premium, net
    239,580       427,496  
Write down of OREO
    10,000       44,500  
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
    21,346,042       29,755,130  
Originations of loans held for sale
    (20,702,287 )     (27,684,721 )
Increase in taxes payable
    784,222       1,432,445  
Decrease (increase) in interest receivable
    79,857       (27,220 )
Amortization of FDIC insurance assessment
    0       775,595  
Decrease (increase) in mortgage servicing rights
    17,114       (319,456 )
Decrease in other assets
    345,847       54,026  
Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI
    (110,267 )     (115,663 )
Amortization of core deposit intangible
    272,700       272,695  
Amortization of limited partnerships
    591,122       575,232  
Increase in deferred net loan costs
    (2,965 )     (130,928 )
Decrease in interest payable
    (11,632 )     (17,193 )
(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses
    (36,802 )     107,476  
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities
    (116,873 )     66,951  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    9,342,682       10,507,078  
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
               
Investments - held-to-maturity
               
Maturities and pay downs
    41,212,607       41,971,398  
Purchases
    (45,086,640 )     (38,042,754 )
Investments - available-for-sale
               
Maturities, calls, pay downs and sales
    19,177,627       15,185,380  
Purchases
    (17,745,980 )     (10,253,097 )
Decrease Pass Through Securities
    658,959       0  
Proceeds from redemption of restricted equity securities
    300,400       388,500  
Decrease in limited partnership contributions payable
    0       (527,000 )
Increase in loans, net
    (8,873,368 )     (25,583,827 )
Capital expenditures net of proceeds from sales of bank premises and equipment
    (741,781 )     (486,877 )
Proceeds from sales of OREO
    288,865       1,596,590  
Recoveries of loans charged off
    54,798       261,264  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (10,754,513 )     (15,490,423 )
 
 
6

 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
           
Net increase in demand and interest-bearing transaction accounts
    5,413,135       6,953,944  
Net increase (decrease) in money market and savings accounts
    13,983,022       (323,709 )
Net decrease in time deposits
    (7,929,263 )     (574,525 )
Net decrease in repurchase agreements
    (1,101,654 )     (4,504,993 )
Proceeds from long-term borrowings
    6,000,000       0  
Repayments on long-term borrowings
    (6,000,000 )     (6,000,000 )
Decrease in capital lease obligations
    (71,498 )     (63,659 )
Dividends paid on preferred stock
    (81,250 )     (81,250 )
Dividends paid on common stock
    (2,168,476 )     (1,974,314 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    8,044,016       (6,568,506 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    6,632,185       (11,551,851 )
Cash and cash equivalents:
               
Beginning
    18,329,989       29,881,840  
Ending
  $ 24,962,174     $ 18,329,989  
                 
Supplemental Schedule of Cash Paid (Received) During the Period:
               
Interest
  $ 3,067,376     $ 3,459,327  
                 
Income tax refund
  $ (345,087 )   $ 0  
                 
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
               
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale
  $ 60,640     $ (332,157 )
                 
Loans transferred to OREO
  $ 433,500     $ 1,661,920  
                 
Common Shares Dividends Paid:
               
Dividends declared
  $ 3,130,868     $ 2,706,461  
Increase in dividends payable attributable to dividends declared
    (55,980 )     (28,465 )
Dividends reinvested
    (906,412 )     (703,682 )
    $ 2,168,476     $ 1,974,314  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
 
7

 
COMMUNITY BANCORP. AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting policies of Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary ("Company") are in conformity, in all material respects, with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and general practices within the banking industry. The following is a description of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

Basis of presentation and consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Community Bancorp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Community National Bank ("Bank"). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company is considered a “smaller reporting company” under applicable disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and accordingly, has elected to provide its audited statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for a two year, rather than a three year, period.

Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, “Consolidation”, in part, addresses limited purpose trusts formed to issue trust preferred securities. It also establishes the criteria used to identify variable interest entities (“VIE”) and to determine whether or not to consolidate a VIE. In general, ASC Topic 810 provides that the enterprise with the controlling financial interest, known as the primary beneficiary, consolidates the VIE. In 2007, the Company formed CMTV Statutory Trust I for the purposes of issuing trust preferred securities to unaffiliated parties and investing the proceeds from the issuance thereof and the common securities of the trust in junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of CMTV Statutory Trust I; accordingly, the trust is not consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes. CMTV Statutory Trust I is considered an affiliate of the Company (see Note 10).

In December 2011, the Company formed a limited liability company (“LLC”) to facilitate its purchase of federal New Markets Tax Credits (“NMTC”) under an investment structure designed by a local community development entity. Management has evaluated the Company’s interest in the LLC under the ASC guidance relating to VIEs in light of the overall structure and purpose of the NMTC financing transaction and has concluded that the LLC should not be consolidated in the Company’s financial statements for financial reporting purposes, as the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the NMTC structure, does not exercise control within the overall structure and is not obligated to absorb a majority of any losses of the NMTC structure (see Note 7).

Nature of operations

The Company provides a variety of deposit and lending services to individuals, municipalities, and business customers through its branches, ATMs and telephone and internet banking capabilities in northern and central Vermont, which is primarily a small business and agricultural area. The Company's primary deposit products are checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit. Its primary lending products are commercial, real estate, municipal and consumer loans.

Concentration of risk

The Company's operations are affected by various risk factors, including interest rate risk, credit risk, and risk from geographic concentration of its deposit taking and lending activities. Management attempts to manage interest rate risk through various asset/liability management techniques designed to match maturities and repricing of assets and liabilities. Loan policies and administration are designed to provide assurance that loans will only be granted to creditworthy borrowers, although credit losses are expected to occur because of subjective factors and factors beyond the control of the Company. While the Company has a diversified loan portfolio by loan type, most of its lending activities are conducted within the geographic area where its banking offices are located. As a result, the Company and its borrowers may be especially vulnerable to the consequences of changes in the local economy in northern and central Vermont. In addition, a substantial portion of the Company's loans are secured by real estate, which is susceptible to a decline in value, especially during times of adverse economic conditions.

Use of estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates and assumptions involve inherent uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be material.
 
8

 
Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the valuation of OREO. In connection with evaluating loans for impairment or assigning the carrying value of OREO, management generally obtains independent evaluations or appraisals for significant properties. While the allowance for loan losses and the carrying value of OREO are determined using management's best estimate of probable loan and OREO losses, respectively, as of the balance sheet date, the ultimate collectibility of a substantial portion of the Company's loan portfolio and the recovery of a substantial portion of the fair value of OREO are susceptible to uncertainties and changes in a number of factors, especially local real estate market conditions. The amount of the change that is reasonably possible cannot be estimated.

While management uses available information to recognize losses on loans and OREO, future additions to the allowance or writedowns of OREO may be necessary based on changes in local economic conditions or other relevant factors. In addition, regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company's allowance for losses on loans and the carrying value of OREO. Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance or writedowns of OREO based on their judgment about information available to them at the time of their examination.

Mortgage servicing rights associated with loans originated and sold in the secondary market, where servicing is retained, are capitalized and included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Mortgage servicing rights are amortized against non-interest income in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans. The value of capitalized servicing rights represents the present estimated value of the future servicing fees arising from the right to service loans for third parties. The carrying value of the mortgage servicing rights is periodically reviewed for impairment based on a determination of estimated fair value as compared to amortized cost, and impairment, if any, is recognized through a valuation allowance and is recorded as a write down. Critical accounting policies for mortgage servicing rights relate to the initial valuation and subsequent impairment tests. The methodology used to determine the valuation of mortgage servicing rights requires the development and use of a number of estimates, including anticipated principal amortization and prepayments. Events that may significantly affect the estimates used are changes in interest rates and the payment performance of the underlying loans. Management uses a third party consultant to assist in analyzing the fair value of the Company’s mortgage servicing rights.

Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment on at least a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to various factors, including the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; the nature of the issuer and its financial condition and near-term prospects; and the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The evaluation of these factors is a subjective process and involves estimates and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Should actual factors and conditions differ materially from those used by management, the actual realization of gains or losses on investment securities could differ materially from the amounts recorded in the financial statements.

Management utilizes numerous techniques to estimate the carrying value of various other assets held by the Company, including, but not limited to, bank premises and equipment and deferred taxes. The assumptions considered in making these estimates are based on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed by management to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management acknowledges that the use of different estimates or assumptions could produce different estimates of carrying values.

Accounting for a business combination that was completed prior to 2009 requires the application of the purchase method of accounting. Under the purchase method, the Company was required to record the assets and liabilities acquired through the LyndonBank merger in 2007 at fair market value, with the excess of the purchase price over the fair market value of the net assets recorded as goodwill and evaluated annually for impairment. The determination of the fair value of the acquired LyndonBank assets and liabilities requires the use of numerous assumptions, including discount rates, changes in which could significantly affect fair values.

Presentation of cash flows

For purposes of presentation in the consolidated statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand, amounts due from banks (including cash items in process of clearing), federal funds sold (generally purchased and sold for one day periods) and overnight deposits.

 
9

 
Investment securities

Securities the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and reported at amortized cost. Debt and equity securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale. Investments classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax and reclassification adjustments, reflected as a net amount in the shareholders’ equity section of the consolidated balance sheets and in the statements of changes in shareholders’ equity. Investment securities transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. The specific identification method is used to determine realized gains and losses on sales of securities available-for-sale. Premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the period to maturity or call date. The Company does not hold any securities purchased for the purpose of selling in the near term and classified as trading.

Declines in the fair value of individual equity securities that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings when identified. For individual debt securities where the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the other-than-temporary decline in the fair value of the debt security related to (1) credit loss is recognized in earnings and (2) other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income or loss. Credit loss is deemed to exist if the present value of expected future cash flows using the interest rates at acquisition is less than the amortized cost basis of the debt security. For individual debt securities where the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost, the other-than-temporary impairment is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the security’s cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date.

Other investments

In December 2011, the Company made an equity investment in a NMTC financing structure (see Note 7). The Company’s investment in the NMTC is amortized using the effective yield method.

From time to time the Company acquires partnership interests in limited partnerships for low income housing projects. The investments in limited partnerships are amortized using the effective yield method.

The Company has a one-third ownership interest in Community Financial Services Group, LLC (“CFSG”), a non-depository trust company (see Note 7). The Company's investment in CFSG is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Restricted equity securities

Restricted equity securities comprise Federal Reserve Bank stock and Federal Home Loan Bank stock. These securities are carried at cost. As a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (“FRBB”), the Company is required to invest in FRBB stock in an amount equal to 6% of the Bank's capital stock and surplus.

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”), the Company is required to invest in $100 par value stock of the FHLBB in an amount that approximates 1% of unpaid principal balances on qualifying loans, plus an additional amount to satisfy an activity based requirement. The stock is nonmarketable and redeemable at par value, subject to the FHLBB’s right to temporarily suspend such redemptions. Members are subject to capital calls in some circumstances to ensure compliance with the FHLBB’s capital plan.

Loans held-for-sale

Loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value in the aggregate. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income.

Loans

Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are reported at their outstanding principal balance, adjusted for any charge-offs, the allowance for loan losses, loan premiums or discounts for acquired loans and any unearned fees or costs on originated loans.

Loan interest income is accrued daily on the outstanding balances. For all loan segments, the accrual of interest is discontinued when a loan is specifically determined to be impaired or when the loan is delinquent 90 days and management believes, after considering collection efforts and other factors, that the borrower's financial condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful. Any unpaid interest previously accrued on those loans is reversed from income. Interest income is generally not recognized on specific impaired loans unless the likelihood of further loss is considered by management to be remote. Interest payments received on impaired loans are generally applied as a reduction of the loan principal balance. Loans are returned to accrual status when principal and interest payments are brought current and the customer has demonstrated the intent and ability to make future payments on a timely basis. Loans are written down or charged off when collection of principal is considered doubtful. Past due status is determined on a contractual basis.
 
10

 
Loan origination and commitment fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred and the net amount is amortized as an adjustment of the related loan's yield. The Company generally amortizes these amounts over the contractual life of the loans.

Loan premiums and discounts on loans acquired in the merger with LyndonBank are amortized as an adjustment to yield over the life of the loans.

Allowance for loan losses

The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings. Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is probable. Subsequent recoveries, if any, are credited to the allowance.

Unsecured loans, primarily consumer loans, are charged off when they become uncollectible and no later than 120 days past due. Unsecured loans to customers who subsequently file bankruptcy are charged off within 30 days of receipt of the notification of filing or by the end of the month in which the loans become 120 days past due, whichever occurs first. For secured loans, both residential and commercial, the potential loss on impaired loans is carried as a loan loss reserve specific allocation; the loss portion is charged off when collection of the full loan appears unlikely. The unsecured portion of a real estate loan is that portion of the loan exceeding the "fair value" of the collateral, less the estimated cost to sell. Value of the collateral is determined in accordance with the Company’s appraisal policy. The unsecured portion of an impaired real estate secured loan is charged off by the end of the month in which the loan becomes 180 days past due.

As described below, the allowance consists of general, specific and unallocated components. However, the entire allowance is available to absorb losses in the loan portfolio, regardless of specific, general and unallocated components considered in determining the amount of the allowance.

General component

The general component of the allowance for loan losses is based on historical loss experience, adjusted for qualitative factors and stratified by the following loan segments: commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, residential real estate first (“1st”) lien, residential real estate junior (“Jr”) lien and consumer loans. The Company does not disaggregate its portfolio segments further into classes. Loss ratios are calculated by loan segment for one year, two year and five year look back periods. The highest loss ratio among these look-back periods is then applied against the respective segment. Management uses an average of historical losses based on a time frame appropriate to capture relevant loss data for each loan segment. This historical loss factor is adjusted for the following qualitative factors: levels of and trends in delinquencies and non-performing loans, levels of and trends in loan risk groups, trends in volumes and terms of loans, effects of any changes in loan related policies, experience, ability and the depth of management, documentation and credit data exception levels, national and local economic trends, external factors such as competition and regulation and lastly, concentrations of credit risk in a variety of areas, including portfolio product mix, the level of loans to individual borrowers and their related interests, loans to industry segments, and the geographic distribution of commercial real estate loans. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to revision as more information becomes available.

The qualitative factors are determined based on the various risk characteristics of each loan segment. The Company has policies, procedures and internal controls that management believes are commensurate with the risk profile of each of these segments. Major risk characteristics relevant to each portfolio segment are as follows:

Commercial & Industrial – Loans in this segment include commercial and industrial loans and to a lesser extent loans to finance agricultural production. Commercial loans are made to businesses and are generally secured by assets of the business, including trade assets and equipment. While not the primary collateral, in many cases these loans may also be secured by the real estate of the business. Repayment is expected from the cash flows of the business. A weakened economy, soft consumer spending, unfavorable foreign trade conditions and the rising cost of labor or raw materials are examples of issues that can impact the credit quality in this segment.

Commercial Real Estate – Loans in this segment are principally made to businesses and are generally secured by either owner-occupied, or non-owner occupied commercial real estate. A relatively small portion of this segment includes farm loans secured by farm land and buildings. As with commercial and industrial loans, repayment of owner-occupied commercial real estate loans is expected from the cash flows of the business and the segment would be impacted by the same risk factors as commercial and industrial loans. The non-owner occupied commercial real estate portion includes both residential and commercial construction loans, vacant land and real estate development loans, multi-family dwelling loans and commercial rental property loans. Repayment of construction loans is expected from permanent financing takeout; the Company generally requires a commitment or eligibility for the take-out financing prior to construction loan origination. Real estate development loans are generally repaid from the sale of the subject real property as the project progresses. Construction and development lending entail additional risks, including the project exceeding budget, not being constructed according to plans, not receiving permits, or the pre-leasing or occupancy rate not meeting expectations. Repayment of multi-family loans and commercial rental property loans is expected from the cash flow generated by rental payments received from the individuals or businesses occupying the real estate. Commercial real estate loans are impacted by factors such as competitive market forces, vacancy rates, cap rates, net operating incomes, lease renewals and overall economic demand. In addition, loans in the recreational and tourism sector can be affected by weather conditions, such as unseasonably low winter snowfalls. Commercial real estate lending also carries a higher degree of environmental risk than other real estate lending.
 
11

 
Residential Real Estate - 1st Lien – All loans in this segment are collateralized by first mortgages on 1 – 4 family owner-occupied residential real estate and repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates and housing prices, has an impact on the credit quality of this segment.

Residential Real Estate – Jr Lien – All loans in this segment are collateralized by junior lien mortgages on 1 – 4 family residential real estate and repayment is primarily dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates and housing prices, has an impact on the credit quality of this segment.

Consumer – Loans in this segment are made to individuals for consumer and household purposes. This segment includes both loans secured by automobiles and other consumer goods, as well as loans that are unsecured. This segment also includes overdrafts, which are extensions of credit made to both individuals and businesses to cover temporary shortages in their deposit accounts and are generally unsecured. The Company maintains policies restricting the size and term of these extensions of credit. The overall health of the economy, including unemployment rates, has an impact on the credit quality of this segment.

Specific component

The specific component of the allowance for loan losses relates to loans that are impaired. Impaired loans are loan(s) to a borrower that in the aggregate are greater than $100,000 and that are in non-accrual status or are troubled debt restructurings (“TDR”) regardless of amount. A specific allowance is established for an impaired loan when its estimated impaired basis is less than the carrying value of the loan. For all loan segments, except consumer loans, a loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, in management’s estimation it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant or temporary payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management evaluates the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length and frequency of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis, by either the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, the loan’s obtainable market price, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.

Impaired loans also include troubled loans that are restructured. A TDR occurs when the Company, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, grants a concession to the borrower that would otherwise not be granted. TDRs may include the transfer of assets to the Company in partial satisfaction of a troubled loan, a modification of a loan’s terms, or a combination of the two.

Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans are collectively evaluated for impairment. Accordingly, the Company does not separately identify individual consumer loans for impairment evaluation, unless such loans are subject to a restructuring agreement.

Unallocated component

An unallocated component of the allowance for loan losses is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management’s estimate of probable losses. The unallocated component reflects management’s estimate of the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and general losses in the portfolio.
 
12

 
Bank premises and equipment

Bank premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The cost of assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and the related accumulated depreciation, are eliminated from the accounts and the resulting gains or losses are reflected in the consolidated statements of income. Maintenance and repairs are charged to current expense as incurred and the cost of major renewals and betterments is capitalized.

Other real estate owned

Real estate properties acquired through or in lieu of loan foreclosure or properties no longer used for bank operations are initially recorded at fair value less estimated selling cost at the date of acquisition, foreclosure or transfer. Such properties are carried at fair value, which is the market value less estimated cost of disposition, i.e. sales commissions and costs associated with the sale. Fair value is determined, as appropriate, either by obtaining a current appraisal or evaluation prepared by an independent, qualified appraiser, by obtaining a broker’s market value analysis, and finally, if the Company has limited exposure and limited risk of loss, by the opinion of management as supported by an inspection of the property and its most recent tax valuation. Under recent and current market conditions, and periods of declining market values, the Company will generally obtain a new appraisal or evaluation. Any write-down based on the asset's fair value at the date of acquisition or institution of foreclosure is charged to the allowance for loan losses. After acquisition through or in lieu of foreclosure, these assets are carried at their new cost basis. Costs of significant property improvements are capitalized, whereas costs relating to holding the property are expensed as incurred. Appraisals by an independent, qualified appraiser are performed periodically on properties that management deems significant, or evaluations may be performed by management or a qualified third party on properties in the portfolio that are deemed less significant or less vulnerable to market conditions. Subsequent write-downs are recorded as a charge to other expense. Gains or losses on the sale of such properties are included in income when the properties are sold.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets include the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired (goodwill) in the 2007 acquisition of LyndonBank, as well as a core deposit intangible related to the deposits acquired from LyndonBank (see Note 6). The core deposit intangible is amortized on an accelerated basis over 10 years to approximate the pattern of economic benefit to the Company. The Company evaluates the valuation and amortization of the core deposit intangible asset if events occur that could result in possible impairment. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently as events or circumstances warrant.

Income taxes

The Company recognizes income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the accounting bases and the tax bases of the Company's assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the amounts related to such temporary differences are realized or settled. Adjustments to the Company's deferred tax assets are recognized as deferred income tax expense or benefit based on management's judgments relating to the realizability of such asset.

Mortgage servicing

Servicing assets are recognized as separate assets when rights are acquired through purchase or retained upon the sale of loans. Capitalized servicing rights are reported in other assets and initially recorded at fair value, and are amortized against non-interest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans. Servicing rights are periodically evaluated for impairment, based upon the estimated fair value of the rights as compared to amortized cost. Impairment is determined by stratifying the rights by predominant characteristics, such as interest rates and terms. Fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics, when available, or based upon discounted cash flows using market-based assumptions. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance and is recorded as amortization of other assets, to the extent that estimated fair value is less than the capitalized amount at the valuation date. Subsequent improvement, if any, in the estimated fair value of impaired mortgage servicing rights is reflected in a positive valuation adjustment and is recognized in other income up to (but not in excess of) the amount of the prior impairment.

Pension costs

Pension costs are charged to salaries and employee benefits expense and accrued over the active service period.

 
13

 

Advertising costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Comprehensive income

Accounting principles generally require recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses to be included in net income. Certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as the after-tax effect of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, are not reflected in the statement of income, but the cumulative effect of such items from period-to-period is reflected as a separate component of the shareholders’ equity section of the balance sheet (accumulated other comprehensive income or loss). Other comprehensive income or loss, along with net income, comprises the Company's total comprehensive income.

Preferred stock

The Company has outstanding 25 shares of fixed-to-floating rate non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, without par value and with a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, issued in December 2007. Under the terms of the preferred stock, the Company pays non-cumulative cash dividends quarterly, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors. Dividends were payable at a fixed rate of 7.50% per annum for the first five years, and beginning in December 2012, are now at a variable dividend rate equal to the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate in effect on the first business day of each quarterly dividend period. The first dividend using the variable rate calculation was payable on March 31, 2013 with a variable rate of 3.25% and that rate remained unchanged throughout 2013 and 2014.

Earnings per common share

Earnings per common share amounts are computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock issued during the period, including Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”) shares issuable upon reinvestment of dividends (retroactively adjusted for any stock dividends declared) and reduced for shares held in treasury.

The following table illustrates the calculation for the years ended December 31, as adjusted for the cash dividend declared on the preferred stock:

Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
   
2013
 
             
Net income, as reported
  $ 5,124,908     $ 5,086,655  
Less: dividends to preferred shareholders
    81,250       81,250  
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 5,043,658     $ 5,005,405  
Weighted average number of common shares
               
used in calculating earnings per share
    4,897,281       4,838,185  
Earnings per common share
  $ 1.03     $ 1.03  
 
Off-balance-sheet financial instruments

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is a party to off-balance-sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit, commercial and municipal letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and risk-sharing commitments on residential mortgage loans sold through the FHLBB’s Mortgage Partnership Finance (“MPF”) program. Such financial instruments are recorded in the consolidated financial statements when they are funded.

Transfers of financial assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

Reclassification

Certain amounts in the 2013 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 
14

 
Impact of recently issued accounting standards

In January 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-01, Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects. The amendments in this ASU permit institutions to make accounting policy elections to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization 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). For those investments in qualified affordable housing projects not accounted for using the proportional amortization method, the ASU requires the investment to be accounted for as an equity method investment or a cost method investment. The amendments in this ASU should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. A reporting entity that uses the effective yield method to account for its investments in qualified affordable housing projects before the date of adoption may continue to apply the effective yield method for those preexisting investments. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted. Management has reviewed the ASU and does not believe that it will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-04, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Sub Topic 310-40): Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure. The amendments in this ASU clarify that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (2) 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. Additionally, the amendments require disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure. The amendments in this Update are effective for annual periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. Management has reviewed the ASU and does not believe that it will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The ASU was issued to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-11, Transfers and Servicing: Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures. The ASU was issued to respond to concerns about current accounting and disclosures for repurchase agreements and similar transactions. The concern was that under current accounting guidance there is an unnecessary distinction between the accounting for different types of repurchase agreements. Under current guidance, repurchase-to-maturity transactions are accounted for as sales with forward agreements, whereas repurchase agreements that settle before the maturity of the transferred financial asset are accounted for as secured borrowings. The ASU amendments require new disclosures for repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions, and repurchase-to-maturity transactions accounted for as secure borrowings. The ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. Management has reviewed the ASU and does not believe it will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-14, Receivables - Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors (Subtopic 310-40): Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure. The ASU was issued to provide specific guidance on how to classify or measure foreclosed mortgage loans that are government guaranteed. The ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. The ASU is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 
15

 

Note 2. Investment Securities

Securities available-for-sale (AFS) and held-to-maturity (HTM) consist of the following:

         
Gross
   
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
Securities AFS
 
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
 
                         
December 31, 2014
                       
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise (GSE) debt securities
  $ 19,929,061     $ 50,378     $ 72,289     $ 19,907,150  
U.S. Government securities
    3,997,451       3,486       0       4,000,937  
Agency mortgage-backed securities (Agency MBS)
    9,031,661       19,472       12,326       9,038,807  
    $ 32,958,173     $ 73,336     $ 84,615     $ 32,946,894  
                                 
December 31, 2013
                               
U.S. GSE debt securities
  $ 29,220,333     $ 114,102     $ 195,521     $ 29,138,914  
U.S. Government securities
    6,040,188       10,955       1,455       6,049,688  
    $ 35,260,521     $ 125,057     $ 196,976     $ 35,188,602  
         
Gross
   
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
Securities HTM
 
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value*
 
                         
December 31, 2014
                       
States and political subdivisions
  $ 41,810,945     $ 423,055     $ 0     $ 42,234,000  
                                 
December 31, 2013
                               
States and political subdivisions
  $ 37,936,911     $ 433,089     $ 0     $ 38,370,000  
 
*Method used to determine fair value rounds values to nearest thousand.

The entire balance under “Securities HTM - States and political subdivisions" consists of securities of local municipalities which are attributable to municipal financing transactions directly with the Company. The reported fair value of these securities is an estimate based on an analysis that takes into account future maturities and scheduled future repricing. The Company anticipates no losses on these securities and expects to hold them until their maturity.

Securities AFS with a book value of $32,958,173 and $33,275,039 and a fair value of $32,946,894 and $33,235,708 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, were pledged as collateral for larger dollar repurchase agreement accounts and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

Proceeds from sales of securities AFS were $10,978,026 in 2014 and $9,095,380 in 2013 with gains of $39,144 in 2014 compared to $2,566 in 2013 and losses of $11,306 and $8,087 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The carrying amount and estimated fair value of securities by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties, pursuant to contractual terms. Because the actual maturities of Agency MBS usually differ from their contractual maturities due to the right of borrowers to prepay the underlying mortgage loans, usually without penalty, those securities are not presented in the table by contractual maturity date.

 
16

 

The scheduled maturities of debt securities AFS at December 31, 2014 were as follows:

   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value
 
             
Due in one year or less
  $ 5,027,864     $ 5,034,248  
Due from one to five years
    18,898,648       18,873,839  
Agency MBS
    9,031,661       9,038,807  
    $ 32,958,173     $ 32,946,894  
 
The scheduled maturities of debt securities HTM at December 31, 2014 were as follows:

   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value*
 
             
Due in one year or less
  $ 28,158,718     $ 28,159,000  
Due from one to five years
    4,637,913       4,744,000  
Due from five to ten years
    2,305,353       2,411,000  
Due after ten years
    6,708,961       6,920,000  
    $ 41,810,945     $ 42,234,000  
 
*Method used to determine fair value rounds values to nearest thousand.

Debt securities AFS with unrealized losses as of the balance sheet dates are presented in the tables below.

   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or more
   
Totals
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
   
Value
   
Loss
   
Value
   
Loss
   
Value
   
Loss
 
December 31, 2014
                                   
U.S. GSE debt securities
  $ 6,023,946     $ 8,548     $ 5,186,258     $ 63,741     $ 11,210,204     $ 72,289  
Agency MBS
    3,206,389       12,326       0       0       3,206,389       12,326  
    $ 9,230,335     $ 20,874     $ 5,186,258     $ 63,741     $ 14,416,593     $ 84,615  
                                                 
December 31, 2013
                                               
U.S. GSE debt securities
  $ 11,094,830     $ 194,188     $ 1,004,235     $ 1,333     $ 12,099,065     $ 195,521  
U.S. Government securities
    1,034,336       1,455       0       0       1,034,336       1,455  
    $ 12,129,166     $ 195,643     $ 1,004,235     $ 1,333     $ 13,133,401     $ 196,976  
 
Debt securities in the table above consisted of ten U.S. GSE debt securities and four Agency MBS at December 30, 2014 compared to twelve U.S. GSE debt securities and one U.S. Government security at December 31, 2013. The unrealized losses for all periods presented were principally attributable to changes in prevailing interest rates for similar types of securities and not deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer.

Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market conditions, or adverse developments relating to the issuer, warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. In analyzing an issuer's financial condition, management considers whether the securities are issued by the federal government or its agencies, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies have occurred, and the results of reviews of the issuer's financial condition.

As the Company has the ability to hold its debt securities until maturity, or for the foreseeable future if classified as AFS, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell such securities before recovery of their cost basis, no declines in such securities were deemed to be other-than-temporary at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 
17

 
 
The Bank is a member of the FHLBB. The FHLBB is a cooperatively owned wholesale bank for housing and finance in the six New England States. Its mission is to support the residential mortgage and community-development lending activities of its members, which include over 450 financial institutions across New England. As a requirement of membership in the FHLBB, the Bank must own a minimum required amount of FHLBB stock, calculated periodically based primarily on the Bank’s level of borrowings from the FHLBB. The Company obtains much of its wholesale funding from the FHLBB. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s investment in FHLBB stock was $2,744,300 and $3,044,700, respectively. As a member of the FHLBB, the Company is also subject to future capital calls by the FHLBB in order to maintain compliance with its capital plan.

The Company periodically evaluates its investment in FHLBB stock for impairment based on, among other factors, the capital adequacy of the FHLBB and its overall financial condition. No impairment losses have been recorded through December 31, 2014. The Bank will continue to monitor its investment in FHLBB stock.

Note 3. Loans, Allowance for Loan Losses and Credit Quality

The composition of net loans as of the balance sheet dates was as follows:

   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Commercial & industrial
  $ 64,390,220     $ 55,619,285  
Commercial real estate
    166,611,830       156,935,803  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    163,966,124       172,847,074  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    44,801,483       45,687,405  
Consumer
    8,035,298       8,819,359  
      447,804,955       439,908,926  
Deduct (add):
               
Allowance for loan losses
    4,905,874       4,854,915  
Deferred net loan costs
    (303,394 )     (300,429 )
      4,602,480       4,554,486  
Net Loans
  $ 443,202,475     $ 435,354,440  

The following is an age analysis of past due loans (including non-accrual), by portfolio segment:
 
                                       
90 Days or
 
         
90 Days
   
Total
               
Non-Accrual
   
More
 
December 31, 2014
 
30-89 Days
   
or More
   
Past Due
   
Current
   
Total Loans
   
Loans
   
and Accruing
 
                                           
Commercial & industrial
  $ 439,151     $ 299,095     $ 738,246     $ 63,651,974     $ 64,390,220     $ 552,386     $ 23,579  
Commercial real estate
    988,924       5,313       994,237       165,617,593       166,611,830       1,934,096       5,313  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    4,446,138       1,484,334       5,930,472       158,035,652       163,966,124       1,263,046       980,138  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    637,917       179,920       817,837       43,983,646       44,801,483       404,061       115,852  
Consumer
    56,392       0       56,392       7,978,906       8,035,298       0       0  
Total
  $ 6,568,522     $ 1,968,662     $ 8,537,184     $ 439,267,771     $ 447,804,955     $ 4,153,589     $ 1,124,882  
                                       
90 Days or
 
         
90 Days
   
Total
               
Non-Accrual
   
More
 
December 31, 2013
 
30-89 Days
   
or More
   
Past Due
   
Current
   
Total Loans
   
Loans
   
and Accruing
 
                                           
Commercial & industrial
  $ 1,060,971     $ 310,669     $ 1,371,640     $ 54,247,645     $ 55,619,285     $ 527,105     $ 21,902  
Commercial real estate
    713,160       215,507       928,667       156,007,136       156,935,803       1,403,541       5,313  
Residential real estate -1st lien
    5,184,457       1,655,950       6,840,407       166,006,667       172,847,074       2,203,106       817,109  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    533,134       289,169       822,303       44,865,102       45,687,405       593,125       56,040  
Consumer
    136,922       7,784       144,706       8,674,653       8,819,359       0       7,784  
Total
  $ 7,628,644     $ 2,479,079     $ 10,107,723     $ 429,801,203     $ 439,908,926     $ 4,726,877     $ 908,148  
 
 
18

 
For all loan segments, loans over 30 days are considered delinquent.

The following summarizes changes in the allowance for loan losses and select loan information, by portfolio segment:
 
Year ended December 31, 2014
               
Residential
   
Residential
                   
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Real Estate
   
Real Estate
                   
   
& Industrial
   
Real Estate
   
1st Lien
   
Jr Lien
   
Consumer
   
Unallocated
   
Total
 
Allowance for loan losses
 
Beginning balance
  $ 516,382     $ 2,143,398     $ 1,452,184     $ 366,471     $ 105,279     $ 271,201     $ 4,854,915  
Charge-offs
    (153,329 )     (167,841 )     (58,904 )     (51,389 )     (112,376 )     0       (543,839 )
Recoveries
    6,249       0       14,543       240       33,766       0       54,798  
Provision (credit)
    277,417       336,379       (137,057 )     5,777       92,150       (34,666 )     540,000  
Ending balance
  $ 646,719     $ 2,311,936     $ 1,270,766     $ 321,099     $ 118,819     $ 236,535     $ 4,905,874  
                                                         
Allowance for loan losses
 
Evaluated for impairment
                                                       
Individually
  $ 0     $ 34,400     $ 43,400     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 77,800  
Collectively
    646,719       2,277,536       1,227,366       321,099       118,819       236,535       4,828,074  
Total
  $ 646,719     $ 2,311,936     $ 1,270,766     $ 321,099     $ 118,819     $ 236,535     $ 4,905,874  
   
Loans evaluated for impairment
 
Individually
  $ 390,605     $ 1,930,993     $ 721,241     $ 328,889     $ 0             $ 3,371,728  
Collectively
    63,999,615       164,680,837       163,244,883       44,472,594       8,035,298               444,433,227  
Total
  $ 64,390,220     $ 166,611,830     $ 163,966,124     $ 44,801,483     $ 8,035,298             $ 447,804,955  

Year ended December 31, 2013
               
Residential
   
Residential
                   
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Real Estate
   
Real Estate
                   
   
& Industrial
   
Real Estate
   
1st Lien
   
Jr Lien
   
Consumer
   
Unallocated
   
Total
 
Allowance for loan losses
 
Beginning balance
  $ 428,381     $ 1,536,440     $ 1,563,576     $ 332,556     $ 138,699     $ 312,428     $ 4,312,080  
Charge-offs
    (83,344 )     (124,849 )     (56,430 )     (56,797 )     (67,009 )     0       (388,429 )
Recoveries
    2,953       185,791       15,819       21,277       35,424       0       261,264  
Provision (credit)
    168,392       546,016       (70,781 )     69,435       (1,835 )     (41,227 )     670,000  
Ending balance
  $ 516,382     $ 2,143,398     $ 1,452,184     $ 366,471     $ 105,279     $ 271,201     $ 4,854,915  
                                                         
Allowance for loan losses
 
Evaluated for impairment
                                                       
Individually
  $ 27,500     $ 147,700     $ 99,700     $ 76,500     $ 0     $ 0     $ 351,400  
Collectively
    488,882       1,995,698       1,352,484       289,971       105,279       271,201       4,503,515  
Total
  $ 516,382     $ 2,143,398     $ 1,452,184     $ 366,471     $ 105,279     $ 271,201     $ 4,854,915  
   
Loans evaluated for impairment
 
Individually
  $ 373,696     $ 1,386,477     $ 1,788,793     $ 559,250     $ 0             $ 4,108,216  
Collectively
    55,245,589       155,549,326       171,058,281       45,128,155       8,819,359               435,800,710  
Total
  $ 55,619,285     $ 156,935,803     $ 172,847,074     $ 45,687,405     $ 8,819,359             $ 439,908,926  
 
19

 

Impaired loans by portfolio segment were as follows:

   
As of December 31, 2014
   
2014
 
         
Unpaid
         
Average
 
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Related
   
Recorded
 
   
Investment
   
Balance
   
Allowance
   
Investment
 
                         
With no related allowance recorded
                       
Commercial & industrial
  $ 390,605     $ 424,598     $ 0     $ 507,232  
Commercial real estate
    1,726,482       1,689,772       0       1,294,710  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    606,133       875,841       0       971,542  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    328,889       390,260       0       238,826  
    $ 3,052,109     $ 3,380,471     $ 0     $ 3,012,310  
                                 
With an allowance recorded
                               
Commercial & industrial
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 158,690  
Commercial real estate
    204,511       220,981       34,400       280,104  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    115,108       144,708       43,400       294,807  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    0       0       0       149,772  
    $ 319,619     $ 365,689     $ 77,800     $ 883,373  
                                 
Total
  $ 3,371,728     $ 3,746,160     $ 77,800     $ 3,895,683  
 
   
As of December 31, 2013
   
2013
 
         
Unpaid
         
Average
 
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Related
   
Recorded
 
   
Investment
   
Balance
   
Allowance
   
Investment
 
                         
With no related allowance recorded
                       
Commercial & industrial
  $ 314,510     $ 363,618     $ 0     $ 339,519  
Commercial real estate
    944,845       1,021,143       0       1,325,504  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    1,354,432       1,654,023       0       1,088,631  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    164,137       228,134       0       64,606  
    $ 2,777,924     $ 3,266,918     $ 0     $ 2,818,260  
                                 
With an allowance recorded
                               
Commercial & industrial
  $ 59,186     $ 59,186     $ 27,500     $ 11,837  
Commercial real estate
    441,632       446,963       147,700       272,174  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    434,361       474,496       99,700       515,685  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    395,113       429,167       76,500       380,855  
    $ 1,330,292     $ 1,409,812     $ 351,400     $ 1,180,551  
                                 
Total
  $ 4,108,216     $ 4,676,730     $ 351,400     $ 3,998,811  
 
Interest income recognized on impaired loans is immaterial for all periods presented.

As of the balance sheet dates, the Company was not contractually committed to lend additional funds to debtors with impaired, non-accrual or restructured loans.
 
Credit Quality Grouping
In developing the allowance for loan losses, management uses credit quality grouping to help evaluate trends in credit quality. The Company groups credit risk into Groups A, B and C. The manner the Company utilizes to assign risk grouping is driven by loan purpose. Commercial purpose loans are individually risk graded while the retail portion of the portfolio is generally grouped by delinquency pool.
 
 
20

 
Group A loans - Acceptable Risk – are loans that are expected to perform as agreed under their respective terms. Such loans carry a normal level of risk that does not require management attention beyond that warranted by the loan or loan relationship characteristics, such as loan size or relationship size. Group A loans include commercial purpose loans that are individually risk rated and retail loans that are rated by pool. Group A retail loans include both performing consumer and residential real estate loans. Residential real estate loans are loans to individuals secured by 1-4 family homes, including first mortgages, home equity and home improvement loans. Loan balances fully secured by deposit accounts or that are fully guaranteed by the Federal Government are considered acceptable risk.
 
Group B loans – Management Involved - are loans that require greater attention than the acceptable loans in Group A. Characteristics of such loans may include, but are not limited to, borrowers that are experiencing negative operating trends such as reduced sales or margins, borrowers that have exposure to adverse market conditions such as increased competition or regulatory burden, or borrowers that have had unexpected or adverse changes in management. These loans have a greater likelihood of migrating to an unacceptable risk level if these characteristics are left unchecked. Group B is limited to commercial purpose loans that are individually risk rated.
 
Group C loans – Unacceptable Risk – are loans that have distinct shortcomings that require a greater degree of management attention. Examples of these shortcomings include a borrower's inadequate capacity to service debt, poor operating performance, or insolvency. These loans are more likely to result in repayment through collateral liquidation. Group C loans range from those that are likely to sustain some loss if the shortcomings are not corrected, to those for which loss is imminent and non-accrual treatment is warranted. Group C loans include individually rated commercial purpose loans, and retail loans adversely rated in accordance with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Uniform Retail Credit Classification Policy. Group C retail loans include 1-4 family residential real estate loans and home equity loans past due 90 days or more with loan-to-value ratios greater than 60%, home equity loans 90 days or more past due where the bank does not hold first mortgage, irrespective of loan-to-value, loans in bankruptcy where repayment is likely but not yet established, and lastly consumer loans that are 90 days or more past due.
 
Commercial purpose loan ratings are assigned by the commercial account officer; for larger and more complex commercial loans, the credit rating is a collaborative assignment by the lender and the credit analyst. The credit risk rating is based on the borrower's expected performance, i.e., the likelihood that the borrower will be able to service its obligations in accordance with the loan terms. Credit risk ratings are meant to measure risk versus simply record history. Assessment of expected future payment performance requires consideration of numerous factors. While past performance is part of the overall evaluation, expected performance is based on an analysis of the borrower's financial strength, and historical and projected factors such as size and financing alternatives, capacity and cash flow, balance sheet and income statement trends, the quality and timeliness of financial reporting, and the quality of the borrower’s management. Other factors influencing the credit risk rating to a lesser degree include collateral coverage and control, guarantor strength and commitment, documentation, structure and covenants and industry conditions. There are uncertainties inherent in this process.
 
Credit risk ratings are dynamic and require updating whenever relevant information is received. The risk ratings of larger or more complex loans, and Group B and C rated loans, are assessed at the time of their respective annual reviews, during quarterly updates, in action plans or at any other time that relevant information warrants update. Lenders are required to make immediate disclosure to the Chief Credit Officer of any known increase in loan risk, even if considered temporary in nature.

The risk ratings within the loan portfolio by segments as of the balance sheet dates were as follows:
 
As of December 31, 2014
               
Residential
   
Residential
             
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Real Estate
   
Real Estate
             
   
& Industrial
   
Real Estate
   
1st Lien
   
Jr Lien
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
                                     
Group A
  $ 61,201,586     $ 157,767,641     $ 160,912,689     $ 44,018,956     $ 8,035,298     $ 431,936,170  
Group B
    2,316,908       3,280,904       228,148       251,822       0       6,077,782  
Group C
    871,726       5,563,285       2,825,287       530,705       0       9,791,003  
Total
  $ 64,390,220     $ 166,611,830     $ 163,966,124     $ 44,801,483     $ 8,035,298     $ 447,804,955  
 
 
21

 

As of December 31, 2013
               
Residential
   
Residential
             
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Real Estate
   
Real Estate
             
   
& Industrial
   
Real Estate
   
1st Lien
   
Jr Lien
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
                                     
Group A
  $ 51,740,744     $ 148,516,895     $ 169,771,357     $ 44,739,736     $ 8,800,365     $ 423,569,097  
Group B
    2,824,169       3,292,200       160,468       460,844       0       6,737,681  
Group C
    1,054,372       5,126,708       2,915,249       486,825       18,994       9,602,148  
Total
  $ 55,619,285     $ 156,935,803     $ 172,847,074     $ 45,687,405     $ 8,819,359     $ 439,908,926  
 
Modifications of Loans and TDRs

A loan is classified as a TDR if, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, the Company grants a concession to the borrower that it would not otherwise consider.

The Company is deemed to have granted such a concession if it has modified a troubled loan in any of the following ways:

●  
Reduced accrued interest
●  
Reduced the original contractual interest rate to a rate that is below the current market rate for the borrower;
●  
Converted a variable-rate loan to a fixed-rate loan;
●  
Extended the term of the loan beyond an insignificant delay;
●  
Deferred or forgiven principal in an amount greater than three months of payments; or,
●  
Performed a refinancing and deferred or forgiven principal on the original loan.

An insignificant delay or insignificant shortfall in the amount of payments typically would not require the loan to be accounted for as a TDR. However, pursuant to regulatory guidance, any payment delay longer than three months is generally not considered insignificant. The assessment of whether a concession has been granted also takes into account payments expected to be received from third parties, including third-party guarantors, provided that the third party has the ability to perform on the guarantee.

The Company’s TDRs are principally a result of extending loan repayment terms to relieve cash flow difficulties. The Company has only, on a limited basis, reduced interest rates for borrowers below the current market rate for the borrower. The Company has not forgiven principal or reduced accrued interest within the terms of original restructurings, nor has it converted variable rate terms to fixed rate terms. However, the Company evaluates each TDR situation on its own merits and does not foreclose the granting of any particular type of concession.

TDRs by segment for the periods presented were as follows:

   
Year ended December 31, 2014
 
         
Pre-
   
Post-
 
         
Modification
   
Modification
 
         
Outstanding
   
Outstanding
 
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Recorded
 
   
Contracts
   
Investment
   
Investment
 
                   
Commercial real estate
    1     $ 301,823     $ 301,823  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    11       1,294,709       1,332,336  
Total
    12     $ 1,596,532     $ 1,634,159  
 
 
22

 

   
Year ended December 31, 2013
 
         
Pre-
   
Post-
 
         
Modification
   
Modification
 
         
Outstanding
   
Outstanding
 
   
Number of
   
Recorded
   
Recorded
 
   
Contracts
   
Investment
   
Investment
 
                   
Residential real estate - 1st lien
  4     $ 321,406     $ 330,266  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
  1       23,425       23,425  
Total
  5     $ 344,831     $ 353,691  
 
The TDRs for which there was a payment default during the twelve month periods presented were as follows:
 
Year ended December 31, 2014
   
Number of
   
Recorded
 
   
Contracts
   
Investment
 
             
Residential real estate - 1st lien
  2     $ 137,830  
 
Year ended December 31, 2013
   
Number of
   
Recorded
 
   
Contracts
   
Investment
 
             
Residential real estate - 1st lien
  2     $ 213,342  
 
TDRs are treated as other impaired loans and carry individual specific reserves with respect to the calculation of the allowance for loan losses. These loans are categorized as non-performing, may be past due, and are generally adversely risk rated. The TDRs that have defaulted under their restructured terms are generally in collection status and their reserve is typically calculated using the fair value of collateral method. At December 31, 2013, the specific allowance related to TDRs was approximately $5,800. There was no specific allowance related to TDRs at December 31, 2014.

At December 31, 2014, the Company did not have any commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers with loans classified as TDRs.

Note 4. Loan Servicing

Mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The unpaid principal balances of mortgage loans serviced for others were $195,860,406 and $193,751,501 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Net gain realized on the sale of loans was $460,505 and $778,203 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The following table summarizes changes in mortgage servicing rights for the years ended December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Balance at beginning of year
  $ 1,329,079     $ 1,009,623  
Mortgage servicing rights capitalized
    209,713       274,253  
Mortgage servicing rights amortized
    (250,955 )     (317,865 )
Change in valuation allowance
    24,128       363,068  
Balance at end of year
  $ 1,311,965     $ 1,329,079  
 
 
23

 
Note 5. Bank Premises and Equipment

The major classes of bank premises and equipment and accumulated depreciation and amortization at December 31 were as follows:

   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Buildings and improvements
  $ 10,927,643     $ 10,896,563  
Land and land improvements
    2,408,921       2,408,921  
Furniture and equipment
    8,443,668       7,797,907  
Leasehold improvements
    1,319,591       1,316,386  
Capital lease
    976,907       976,907  
Other prepaid assets
    54,261       28,661  
      24,130,991       23,425,345  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (12,642,043 )     (11,701,877 )
    $ 11,488,948     $ 11,723,468  
 
The Company is obligated under non-cancelable operating leases for bank premises expiring in various years through 2018, with options to renew. Minimum future rental payments for these leases with original terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2014 for each of the next four years and in aggregate are:

2015
  $ 129,845  
2016
    61,817  
2017
    6,817  
2018
    6,817  
    $ 205,296  

Total rental expense amounted to $237,524 and $231,575 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Capital lease obligations

The following is a schedule by years of future minimum lease payments under capital leases, together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2014:

2015
  $ 129,755  
2016
    129,755  
2017
    133,255  
2018
    138,155  
2019
    138,155  
Subsequent to 2019
    144,345  
Total minimum lease payments
    813,420  
Less amount representing interest
    (173,876 )
Present value of net minimum lease payments
  $ 639,544  
 
 
24

 

Note 6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Asset

As a result of the merger with LyndonBank on December 31, 2007, the Company recorded goodwill amounting to $11,574,269. The goodwill is not amortizable and is not deductible for tax purposes.

The Company also recorded $4,161,000 of acquired identified intangible assets representing the core deposit intangible, which is subject to amortization as a non-interest expense over a ten year period. The accumulated amortization expense was $3,342,919 and $3,070,219 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The amortization expense related to the remaining core deposit intangible at December 31, 2014 is expected to be as follows:

2015
  $ 272,695  
2016
    272,695  
2017
    272,691  
Total remaining core deposit intangible expense
  $ 818,081  

Management evaluated goodwill for impairment at December 31, 2014 and 2013 and concluded that no impairment existed as of such dates.

Note 7. Other Investments

In 2011, the Company established a single-member LLC to facilitate the purchase of federal NMTC through an investment structure designed by a local community development entity. The LLC does not conduct any business apart from its role in the NMTC financing structure. The NMTC equity investment generated tax credits of $204,900 and $170,750 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, with an amortization expense of $147,290 and $101,390, respectively. The carrying value of the NMTC equity investment was $536,400 and $683,690 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company purchases from time to time interests in various limited partnerships established to acquire, own and rent residential housing for low and moderate income Vermonters located in northeastern and central Vermont. The tax credits from these investments were $512,526 and $531,973 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Expenses related to amortization of the investments in the limited partnerships are recognized as a component of other expenses, and were $443,832 and $473,842 for 2014 and 2013, respectively. The carrying values of the limited partnership investments were $1,890,877 and $2,334,709 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and are included in other assets.

The Bank has a one-third ownership interest in a non-depository trust company, CFSG, based in Newport, Vermont, which is held indirectly through Community Financial Services Partners, LLC ("CFSG Partners"), a Vermont LLC that owns 100% of the LLC equity interests of CFSG. The Bank accounts for its investment in CFSG Partners under the equity method of accounting. The Company's investment in CFSG Partners, included in other assets, amounted to $1,226,733 as of December 31, 2014 and $953,912 as of December 31, 2013. The Company recognized income of $272,821 for 2014 and income of $287,251 for 2013 through CFSG Partners from the operations of CFSG.

Note 8. Deposits

The following is a maturity distribution of time deposits at December 31, 2014:

2015
  $ 73,044,129  
2016
    18,486,712  
2017
    10,367,425  
2018
    4,315,534  
2019
    6,808,476  
Total time certificates of deposit
  $ 113,022,276  

Total deposits in excess of the FDIC insurance level amounted to $147,941,773 as of December 31, 2014.

Note 9. Borrowed Funds

There were no outstanding borrowings for the Company as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

The Company maintained a $500,000 IDEAL Way Line of Credit with the FHLBB at December 31, 2014 and 2013, with no outstanding advances under this line at either year-end date. Interest on these borrowings is at a rate determined daily by the FHLBB and payable monthly.
 
25

 
Borrowings from the FHLBB are secured by a blanket lien on qualified collateral consisting primarily of loans with first mortgages secured by 1-4 family residential properties. Qualified collateral for these borrowings totaled $105,276,788 and $114,886,791 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company's potential borrowing capacity under this arrangement was $67,136,178 and $72,556,030, respectively, reduced by outstanding advances and collateral pledges.

Under a separate agreement with the FHLBB, the Company has the authority to collateralize public unit deposits, up to its available borrowing capacity, with letters of credit issued by the FHLBB. At December 31, 2014, $34,500,000 in FHLBB letters of credit was utilized as collateral for these deposits compared to $20,800,000 at December 31, 2013. Total fees paid by the Company in connection with issuance of these letters of credit were $35,863 for 2014 and $43,654 for 2013.

The Company also has a line of credit with the FRBB, which is intended to be used as a contingency funding source. For this Borrower-in-Custody arrangement, the Company pledged eligible commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans and home equity loans, resulting in an available line of $78,580,859 and $74,929,216 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Credit advances in the FRBB lending program are overnight advances with interest chargeable at the primary credit rate (generally referred to as the discount rate), which was 75 basis points as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had no outstanding advances against this line.

The Company has an unsecured line with two correspondent banks with available lines totaling $7,500,000 at December 31, 2014, compared to an available line with one correspondent bank totaling $3,500,000 at December 31, 2013.

Note 10. Junior Subordinated Debentures

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had outstanding $12,887,000 principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures due in 2037 (the “Debentures”). The Debentures bore a fixed annual interest rate of 7.56% through December 15, 2012, and thereafter a floating rate equal to the 3-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 2.85%. During 2014, the floating rate approximated 3.08% per quarter compared to 3.13% for 2013. The Debentures mature on December 15, 2037 and are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all senior indebtedness of the Company, as defined in the Indenture dated as of October 31, 2007 between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee. The Debentures first became redeemable, in whole or in part, by the Company on December 15, 2012. Interest paid on the Debentures for 2014 and 2013 was $402,011 and $409,938, respectively, and is deductible for tax purposes.

The Debentures were issued and sold to CMTV Statutory Trust I (the “Trust”). The Trust is a special purpose trust funded by a capital contribution of $387,000 from the Company, in exchange for 100% of the Trust’s common equity. The Trust was formed for the purpose of issuing corporation-obligated mandatorily redeemable Capital Securities (“Capital Securities”) in the principal amount of $12.5 million to third-party investors and using the proceeds from the sale of such Capital Securities and the Company’s initial capital contribution to purchase the Debentures. The Debentures are the sole asset of the Trust. Distributions on the Capital Securities issued by the Trust are payable quarterly at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate being earned by the Trust on the Debentures. The Capital Securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the Debentures. The Company has entered into an agreement which, taken collectively, fully and unconditionally guarantees the payments on the Capital Securities, subject to the terms of the guarantee.

The Debentures are currently includable in the Company’s Tier 1 capital up to 25% of core capital elements (see Note 20).

Note 11. Repurchase Agreements

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase amounted to $28,542,961 and $29,644,615 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These agreements were collateralized by U.S. GSE securities and U.S. Treasury notes with a book value of $32,958,173 and $33,275,039 and a fair value of $32,946,894 and $33,235,708 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The average daily balance of these repurchase agreements was $25,263,130 and $28,537,504 during 2014 and 2013, respectively. The maximum borrowings outstanding on these agreements at any month-end reporting period of the Company were $28,542,961 and $34,539,586 during 2014 and 2013, respectively. These repurchase agreements mature daily and carried a weighted average interest rate of 0.25% during 2014 and 0.39% during 2013.

 
26

 
Note 12. Income Taxes

The Company prepares its federal income tax return on a consolidated basis. Federal income taxes are allocated to members of the consolidated group based on taxable income.

Federal income tax expense for the years ended December 31 was as follows:

   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Currently paid or payable
  $ 586,425     $ 1,533,835  
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
    755,139       (402,748 )
Total income tax expense
  $ 1,341,564     $ 1,131,087  
 
Total income tax expense differed from the amounts computed at the statutory federal income tax rate of 34 percent primarily due to the following for the years ended December 31:

   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Computed expense at statutory rates
  $ 2,148,522     $ 2,079,560  
Tax exempt interest & BOLI
    (404,382 )     (388,524 )
Disallowed interest
    13,306       14,661  
Partnership tax credits
    (647,760 )     (644,668 )
New markets tax credit amortization expense
    147,290       101,390  
Other
    84,588       (31,332 )
    $ 1,341,564     $ 1,131,087  
 
The deferred income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following items for the years ended December 31:

   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Depreciation
  $ (5,039 )   $ (18,120 )
Mortgage servicing rights
    (5,819 )     108,616  
Deferred compensation
    45,324       (18,090 )
Bad debts
    (17,326 )     (254,234 )
Non-accrual loan interest
    18,766       (5,590 )
Limited partnership amortization
    44,566       27,529  
Investment in Partners
    (7,189 )     43,864  
Core deposit intangible
    (92,719 )     (92,716 )
Loan fair value
    (7,953 )     (7,165 )
OREO write down
    5,100       (15,130 )
Tax credit carryovers
    774,961       (170,865 )
Other
    2,467       (847 )
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
  $ 755,139     $ (402,748 )
 
 
27

 

Listed below are the significant components of the net deferred tax asset at December 31:

   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Components of the deferred tax asset:
           
Bad debts
  $ 1,667,997     $ 1,650,671  
Non-accrual loan interest
    13,731       32,497  
Deferred compensation
    217,803       263,127  
Limited partnerships
    12,646       57,212  
Contingent liability - MPF program
    45,042       45,042  
OREO write down
    10,030       15,130  
Capital lease
    73,141       73,424  
Tax and rehab credit carryforwards
    0       774,961  
Unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale
    3,834       24,452  
Other
    26,553       28,737  
Total deferred tax asset
    2,070,777       2,965,253  
                 
Components of the deferred tax liability:
               
Depreciation
    237,448       242,487  
Mortgage servicing rights
    446,068       451,887  
Investment in Partners
    81,666       88,855  
Core deposit intangible
    278,147       370,866  
Fair value adjustment on acquired loans
    39,395       47,348  
Total deferred tax liability
    1,082,724       1,201,443  
                 
Net deferred tax asset
  $ 988,053     $ 1,763,810  
 
US GAAP provides for the recognition and measurement of deductible temporary differences (including general valuation allowances) to the extent that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will be realized.

The net deferred tax asset is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

ASC Topic 740, "Income Taxes", defines the criteria that an individual tax position must satisfy for some or all of the benefits of that position to be recognized in a company's financial statements. Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold of more-likely-than-not, and a measurement attribute for all tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, in order for those tax positions to be recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The Company has adopted these provisions and there was no material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The Company is currently open to audit under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service for the years ended December 31, 2011 through 2013.

Note 13. 401(k) and Profit-Sharing Plan

The Company has a defined contribution plan covering all employees who meet certain age and service requirements. The pension expense was $566,732 and $551,577 for 2014 and 2013, respectively. These amounts represent discretionary matching contributions of a portion of the voluntary employee salary deferrals under the 401(k) plan and discretionary profit-sharing contributions under the plan.

Note 14. Deferred Compensation and Supplemental Employee Retirement Plans

The Company maintains a directors’ deferred compensation plan and, prior to 2005, maintained a retirement plan for its directors. Participants are general creditors of the Company with respect to these benefits. The benefits accrued under these plans were $179,080 and $399,379 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Expenses associated with these plans were $20,214 and $26,996 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. One of the participants retired in 2014 causing a substantial distribution from this plan, resulting in the decrease in accrued benefits from 2013 to 2014.

The Company also maintains a supplemental employee retirement plan (“SERP”) for certain key employees of the Company. Benefits accrued under this plan were $461,519 and $374,523 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The expense associated with this plan was $86,996 and $67,708 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 
28

 

The expense associated with this plan was $86,996 and $67,708 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Note 15. Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and financial guarantees, commitments to sell loans and risk-sharing commitments on certain sold loans. Such instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The contract or notional amounts of those instruments reflect the maximum extent of involvement the Company has in particular classes of financial instruments.

The Company's maximum exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. The Company applies the same credit policies and underwriting criteria in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.

The Company generally requires collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk. At December 31, the following off balance sheet financial instruments representing credit risk were outstanding:
 
   
Contract or
 
   
Notional Amount
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Unused portions of home equity lines of credit
  $ 23,519,696     $ 21,961,527  
Other commitments to extend credit
    59,558,700       41,230,202  
Residential construction lines of credit
    2,308,167       2,010,417  
Commercial real estate and other construction lines of credit
    15,894,462       15,592,702  
Standby letters of credit and commercial letters of credit
    1,714,382       1,655,469  
Recourse on sale of credit card portfolio
    265,650       276,650  
MPF credit enhancement obligation, net (see Note 16)
    1,007,250       1,543,211  
 
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future funding requirements. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had binding loan commitments to sell residential mortgages at fixed rates totaling $806,543 and $373,500, respectively (see Note 16). The recourse provision under the terms of the sale of the Company’s credit card portfolio in 2007 is based on total lines, not balances outstanding. Based on historical losses, the Company does not expect any significant losses from this commitment.

The Company evaluates each customer's credit-worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, or a commitment to extend credit, is based on management's credit evaluation of the counter-party. Collateral held varies but may include real estate, accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and income-producing commercial properties.

Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees written are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. The fair value of standby letters of credit has not been included in the balance sheets as the fair value is immaterial.

In connection with its trust preferred securities financing completed on October 31, 2007, the Company guaranteed the payment obligations under the capital securities of its subsidiary, CMTV Statutory Trust I. The source of funds for payments by the Trust on its capital trust securities is payments made by the Company on its debentures issued to the Trust. The Company's obligation under those debentures is fully reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheet, in the amount of $12,887,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Of this amount, $12,500,000 represents external financing through the issuance to investors of Capital Securities by CMTV Statutory Trust I (see Note 10).
 
29

 
Note 16. Contingent Liability

The Company sells first lien 1-4 family residential mortgage loans under the MPF program with the FHLBB. Under this program the Company shares in the credit risk of each mortgage loan, while receiving fee income in return. The Company is responsible for a Credit Enhancement Obligation (CEO) based on the credit quality of these loans. FHLBB funds a First Loss Account (FLA) based on the Company's outstanding MPF mortgage balances. This creates a laddered approach to sharing in any losses. In the event of default, homeowner's equity and private mortgage insurance, if any, are the first sources of repayment; the FHLBB's FLA funds are then utilized, followed by the participant’s CEO, with the balance of losses absorbed by FHLBB. These loans must meet specific underwriting standards of the FHLBB. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $51,157,934 and $50,925,686, respectively, in loans sold through the MPF program and on which the Company had a CEO. As of December 31, 2014, the notional amount of the maximum CEO related to this program was $1,139,726 compared to $1,675,687 as of December 31, 2013. The Company had accrued a contingent liability for this CEO in the amount of $132,476 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, which is calculated by management based on the methodology used in calculating the allowance for loan losses, adjusted to reflect the risk sharing arrangements with the FHLBB.

Note 17. Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in various claims and legal proceedings. In the opinion of the Company's management, any liabilities resulting from such proceedings are not expected to be material to the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Note 18. Transactions with Related Parties

The Company has had, and may be expected to have in the future, banking transactions in the ordinary course of business with directors, principal officers, their immediate families and affiliated companies in which they are principal shareholders (commonly referred to as related parties), all of which have been, in the opinion of management, made on the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with others and which do not represent more than the normal risk of collectibility, or present other unfavorable features.

Aggregate loan transactions with related parties as of December 31 were as follows:

   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 7,529,947     $ 7,063,713  
Loans - New Principal Officers/Directors
    1,039,792       0  
New loans to existing Officers/Directors
    22,763,371       7,619,387  
Repayment*
    (22,739,837 )     (7,153,153 )
Balance, end of year
  $ 8,593,273     $ 7,529,947  
*Includes loans sold to the secondary market.

Total deposits with related parties were $6,873,907 and $5,382,564 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The Company leases 2,253 square feet of condominium space in the state office building on Main Street in Newport, Vermont to its trust company affiliate, CFSG, for its principal offices. CFSG also leases offices in the Company’s Barre and Lyndonville branches. The amount of rental income received from CFSG for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $40,418 and $37,062, respectively.

The Company utilizes the services of CFSG as an investment advisor for the Company’s 401(k) plan. The Human Resources committee of the Board of Directors is the Trustee of the plan, and CFSG provides investment advice for the plan. CFSG also acts as custodian of the retirement funds and makes investments on behalf of the plan and its participants. In addition, CFSG serves as investment advisor and custodian of funds under the Company’s SERP. The Company pays monthly management fees to CFSG for its services to the 401(k) plan and the SERP based on the market value of the total assets under management. The amount paid to CFSG for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $42,556 and $43,292, respectively, for the 401(k) plan and $2,479 and $2,600, respectively, for the SERP.

Note 19. Restrictions on Cash and Due From Banks

Due to a change in FRBB policies that took effect in 2012, the Company was not required to maintain reserve balances in cash at the FRBB due to its vault cash balances at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
 
30

 
In the ordinary course of business the Company may, from time to time, maintain amounts due from correspondent banks that exceed federally insured limits. However, no losses have occurred in these accounts and the Company believes it is not exposed to any significant risk with respect to such accounts. The Company was required to maintain contracted balances with other correspondent banks of $462,500 at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Of the $462,500 balance, $262,500 was a separate agreed upon “impressed” balance to avoid monthly charges on the Company’s current federal funds liquidity line.

Note 20. Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Company (on a consolidated basis) and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory - and possibly additional discretionary - actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company's and the Bank's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of their assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items, as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors. Prompt corrective action capital requirements are applicable to banks, but not bank holding companies.

Under current regulations, the Company and the Bank are required to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier 1 capital (as defined) to average assets (as defined). The Company’s non-cumulative Series A preferred stock ($2.5 million liquidation preference) is includable without limitation in its Tier 1 capital. The Company is allowed to include in Tier 1 capital an amount of trust preferred securities equal to no more than 25% of the sum of all core capital elements, which is generally defined as shareholders’ equity, less certain intangibles, including goodwill and the core deposit intangible, net of any related deferred income tax liability, with the balance includable in Tier 2 capital. Management believes that, as of December 31, 2014, the Company and the Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are currently subject.

As of December 31, 2014 the Bank was considered well capitalized under the regulatory capital framework for Prompt Corrective Action and the Company exceeded applicable consolidated regulatory capital guidelines.

The following table shows the regulatory capital ratios for the Company and the Bank as of December 31:

   
Actual
   
Minimum
For Capital
Adequacy
Purposes:
   
Minimum
To Be Well
Capitalized Under
Prompt Corrective
Action Provisions:
 
   
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
December 31, 2014
 
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
Company
  $ 54,447       13.66 %   $ 31,897       8.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank
  $ 53,902       13.54 %   $ 31,847       8.00 %   $ 39,809       10.00 %
   
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
Company
  $ 49,071       12.31 %   $ 15,949       4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank
  $ 48,952       12.30 %   $ 15,924       4.00 %   $ 23,886       6.00 %
   
Tier I capital (to average assets)
 
Company
  $ 49,071       8.62 %   $ 22,768       4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank
  $ 48,952       8.61 %   $ 22,745       4.00 %   $ 28,431       5.00 %
   
December 31, 2013:
 
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
Company
  $ 51,304       13.09 %   $ 31,365       8.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank
  $ 50,765       12.97 %   $ 31,314       8.00 %   $ 39,143       10.00 %
   
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets)
 
Company
  $ 45,027       11.48 %   $ 15,682       4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank
  $ 45,873       11.72 %   $ 15,657       4.00 %   $ 23,486       6.00 %
   
Tier I capital (to average assets)
 
Company
  $ 45,027       8.04 %   $ 22,409       4.00 %     N/A       N/A  
Bank
  $ 45,873       8.20 %   $ 22,386       4.00 %   $ 27,983       5.00 %
 
31

 

The Company's ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is largely dependent on the Bank's ability to pay dividends to the Company. The Bank is restricted by law as to the amount of dividends that can be paid. Dividends declared by national banks that exceed net income for the current and preceding two years must be approved by the Bank’s primary banking regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”). Regardless of formal regulatory restrictions, the Bank may not pay dividends that would result in its capital levels being reduced below the minimum requirements shown above.

Note 21. Fair Value

Certain assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value to provide additional insight into the Company’s quality of earnings. The fair values of some of these assets and liabilities are measured on a recurring basis while others are measured on a nonrecurring basis, with the determination based upon applicable existing accounting pronouncements. For example, securities available-for-sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Other assets, such as mortgage servicing rights, loans held-for-sale, and impaired loans, are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using the lower of cost or market methodology to determine impairment of individual assets. The Company groups assets and liabilities which are recorded at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. The level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement (with Level 1 considered highest and Level 3 considered lowest). A brief description of each level follows.

Level 1
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 1 assets and liabilities include debt and equity securities and derivative contracts that are traded in an active exchange market, as well as U.S. Treasury, other U.S. Government and agency mortgage-backed debt securities that are highly liquid and are actively traded in over-the-counter markets.

Level 2
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments and derivative contracts whose value is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. This category generally includes mortgage servicing rights, impaired loans and OREO.

Level 3
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value measurements and disclosures:

Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents approximate their fair values. As such, the Company classifies these financial instruments as Level 1.

Securities Available-for-Sale and Held-to-Maturity: Fair value measurement is based upon quoted prices for similar assets, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using matrix pricing models, or other model-based valuation techniques requiring observable inputs other than quoted prices such as yield curves, prepayment speeds and default rates. Level 1 securities would include U.S. Treasury securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets. Level 2 securities include federal agency securities and securities of local municipalities.

Restricted equity securities: Restricted equity securities are comprised of FRBB stock and FHLBB stock. These securities are carried at cost, which is believed to approximate fair value, based on the redemption provisions of the FRBB and the FHLBB. The stock is nonmarketable, and redeemable at par value, subject to certain conditions. As such the Company classifies these securities as Level 2.

Loans and loans held-for-sale: For variable-rate loans that reprice frequently and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying amounts. The fair values for other loans (for example, fixed rate residential, commercial real estate, and rental property mortgage loans, and commercial and industrial loans) are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality. Loan fair value estimates include judgments regarding future expected loss experience and risk characteristics. Loan impairment is deemed to exist when full repayment of principal and interest according to the contractual terms of the loan is no longer probable. Impaired loans are reported based on one of three measures: the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate; the loan’s observable market price; or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. If the fair value is less than an impaired loan’s recorded investment, an impairment loss is recognized as part of the allowance for loan losses. Accordingly, certain impaired loans may be subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Management has estimated the fair values of these assets using Level 2 inputs, such as the fair value of collateral based on independent third-party appraisals for collateral-dependent loans. All other loans are valued using Level 3 inputs.

The fair value of loans held-for-sale is based upon an actual purchase and sale agreement between the Company and an independent market participant. The sale is executed within a reasonable period following quarter end at the stated fair value.

 
32

 
 
Mortgage servicing rights: Mortgage servicing rights represent the value associated with servicing residential mortgage loans. Servicing assets and servicing liabilities are reported using the amortization method. In evaluating the carrying values of mortgage servicing rights, the Company obtains third party valuations based on loan level data including note rate, and the type and term of the underlying loans. As such, the Company classifies mortgage servicing rights as nonrecurring Level 2.

OREO: Real estate acquired through or in lieu of foreclosure and bank properties no longer used as bank premises are initially recorded at fair value. The fair value of OREO is based on property appraisals and an analysis of similar properties currently available. As such, the Company records OREO as nonrecurring Level 2.

Deposits, federal funds purchased and borrowed funds: The fair values disclosed for demand deposits (for example, checking accounts, savings accounts and repurchase agreements) are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (that is, their carrying amounts). The fair values for certificates of deposit and borrowed funds are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered on certificates and indebtedness to a schedule of aggregated contractual maturities on such time deposits and indebtedness. As such the Company classifies deposits, federal funds purchased and borrowed funds as Level 2.

Capital lease obligations: Fair value is determined using a discounted cash flow calculation using current rates. Based on current rates, carrying value approximates fair value. As such the Company classifies these obligations as Level 2.

Junior subordinated debentures: Fair value is estimated using current rates for debentures of similar maturity. As such the Company classifies these instruments as Level 2.

Accrued interest: The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximate their fair values. As such the Company classifies accrued interest as Level 2.

Off-balance-sheet credit related instruments: Commitments to extend credit are evaluated and fair value is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present credit-worthiness of the counterparties. For fixed-rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates.

FASB ASC Topic 825 “Financial Instruments”, requires disclosures of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, if the fair values can be reasonably determined. Fair value is best determined based upon quoted market prices. However, in many instances, there are no quoted market prices for the Company’s various financial instruments. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques using observable inputs when available. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Accordingly, the fair value estimates may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument. Topic 825 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented may not necessarily represent the underlying fair value of the Company.

Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and reflected in the consolidated balance sheets at the dates presented, segregated by fair value hierarchy, are summarized below:

December 31, 2014
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
 
Assets: (market approach)
           
U.S. GSE debt securities
  $ 0     $ 19,907,150  
U.S. Government securities
    4,000,937       0  
Agency MBS
    0       9,038,807  
    $ 4,000,937     $ 28,945,957  
December 31, 2013
               
Assets: (market approach)
               
U.S. GSE debt securities
  $ 0     $ 29,138,914  
U.S. Government securities
    6,049,688       0  
    $ 6,049,688     $ 29,138,914  
 
There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 during the periods presented. There were no Level 3 financial instruments as of the balance sheet dates presented.

 
33

 

Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

The following table includes assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis that have had a fair value adjustment since their initial recognition. Impaired loans measured at fair value only include impaired loans with a related specific allowance for loan losses and are presented net of specific allowances as disclosed in Note 3.

Assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and reflected in the balance sheet at the dates presented, segregated by fair value hierarchy, are summarized below:

December 31, 2014
 
Level 2
 
Assets: (market approach)
     
Residential mortgage servicing rights
  $ 1,311,965  
Impaired loans, net of related allowance
    241,819  
OREO
    1,238,220  
         
December 31, 2013
       
Assets: (market approach)
       
Residential mortgage servicing rights
  $ 1,329,079  
Impaired loans, net of related allowance
    978,892  
OREO
    1,105,525  

There were no Level 1 or Level 3 financial instruments measured on a non-recurring basis as of the balance sheet dates presented.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments were as follows:

December 31, 2014
       
Fair
   
Fair
   
Fair
   
Fair
 
   
Carrying
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
   
Amount
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Financial assets:
                             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 24,962     $ 24,962     $ 0     $ 0     $ 24,962  
Securities held-to-maturity
    41,811       0       42,234       0       42,234  
Securities available-for-sale
    32,947       4,001       28,946       0       32,947  
Restricted equity securities
    3,332       0       3,332       0       3,332  
Loans and loans held-for-sale
                                       
Commercial & industrial
    63,709       0       391       64,800       65,191  
Commercial real estate
    164,212       0       1,897       167,961       169,858  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    162,635       0       678       166,171       166,849  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    44,457       0       329       45,113       45,442  
Consumer
    7,912       0       0       8,315       8,315  
Mortgage servicing rights
    1,312       0       1,528       0       1,528  
Accrued interest receivable
    1,698       0       1,698       0       1,698  
                                         
Financial liabilities:
                                       
Deposits
                                       
Other deposits
    472,966       0       473,100       0       473,100  
Brokered deposits
    20,053       0       20,054       0       20,054  
Repurchase agreements
    28,543       0       28,543       0       28,543  
Capital lease obligations
    640       0       640       0       640  
Subordinated debentures
    12,887       0       12,867       0       12,867  
Accrued interest payable
    64       0       64       0       64  
 
34

 
December 31, 2013
       
Fair
   
Fair
   
Fair
   
Fair
 
   
Carrying
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
   
Amount
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Financial assets:
                             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 18,330     $ 18,330     $ 0     $ 0     $ 18,330  
Securities held-to-maturity
    37,937       0       38,370       0       38,370  
Securities available-for-sale
    35,189       6,050       29,139       0       35,189  
Restricted equity securities
    3,633       0       3,633       0       3,633  
Loans and loans held-for-sale
                                       
Commercial & industrial
    55,069       0       346       56,035       56,381  
Commercial real estate
    154,696       0       1,239       157,843       159,082  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    171,498       0       1,689       174,776       176,465  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    45,292       0       483       45,785       46,268  
Consumer
    8,708       0       0       9,130       9,130  
Mortgage servicing rights
    1,329       0       1,608       0       1,608  
Accrued interest receivable
    1,778       0       1,778       0       1,778  
                                         
Financial liabilities:
                                       
Deposits
                                       
Other deposits
    463,160       0       464,220       0       464,220  
Brokered deposits
    18,393       0       18,401       0       18,401  
Repurchase agreements
    29,645       0       29,645       0       29,645  
Capital lease obligations
    711       0       711       0       711  
Subordinated debentures
    12,887       0       12,880       0       12,880  
Accrued interest payable
    75       0       75       0       75  
 
The estimated fair values of commitments to extend credit and letters of credit were immaterial at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

 
35

 

Note 22. Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company Only)

The following condensed financial statements are for Community Bancorp. (Parent Company Only), and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Community Bancorp. and Subsidiary.
 
Community Bancorp. (Parent Company Only)
 
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
Condensed Balance Sheets
 
2014
   
2013
 
             
Assets
           
             
Cash
  $ 479,812     $ 410,075  
Investment in subsidiary - Community National Bank
    61,337,172       58,490,098  
Investment in Capital Trust
    387,000       387,000  
Income taxes receivable
    233,952       235,559  
Total assets
  $ 62,437,936     $ 59,522,732  
                 
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
               
                 
                 
Liabilities
               
                 
Junior subordinated debentures
  $ 12,887,000     $ 12,887,000  
Dividends payable
    555,734       499,755  
Total liabilities
    13,442,734       13,386,755  
                 
Shareholders' Equity
               
                 
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 25 shares issued and outstanding ($100,000 liquidation value)
    2,500,000       2,500,000  
Common stock - $2.50 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, and 5,142,475 and 5,078,707 shares issued at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively (including 16,642 and 13,448 shares issued February 1, 2015 and 2014, respectively)
    12,856,188       12,696,768  
Additional paid-in capital
    29,359,300       28,612,308  
Retained earnings
    6,909,934       4,997,144  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (7,443 )     (47,466 )
Less: treasury stock, at cost; 210,101 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2013
    (2,622,777 )     (2,622,777 )
Total shareholders' equity
    48,995,202       46,135,977  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 62,437,936     $ 59,522,732  
 
The investment in the subsidiary bank is carried under the equity method of accounting. The investment and cash, which is on deposit with the Bank, have been eliminated in consolidation.

Community Bancorp. (Parent Company Only)
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
Condensed Statements of Income
 
2014
   
2013
 
 
           
Income
           
Bank subsidiary distributions
  $ 2,772,000     $ 2,485,000  
Dividends on Capital Trust
    12,072       12,310  
Total income
    2,784,072       2,497,310  
                 
Expense
               
Interest on junior subordinated debentures
    402,011       409,938  
Administrative and other
    298,157       295,191  
Total expense
    700,168       705,129  
                 
Income before applicable income tax benefit and equity in
               
undistributed net income of subsidiary
    2,083,904       1,792,181  
Income tax benefit
    233,952       235,559  
                 
Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary
    2,317,856       2,027,740  
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary
    2,807,052       3,058,915  
Net income
  $ 5,124,908     $ 5,086,655  
 
 
36

 
 
Community Bancorp. (Parent Company Only)
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
 
2014
   
2013
 
             
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
           
Net income
  $ 5,124,908     $ 5,086,655  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
               
operating activities
               
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiary
    (2,807,052 )     (3,058,915 )
Decrease in income taxes receivable
    1,607       201,385  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    2,319,463       2,229,125  
                 
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
               
Dividends paid on preferred stock
    (81,250 )     (81,250 )
Dividends paid on common stock
    (2,168,476 )     (1,974,314 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (2,249,726 )     (2,055,564 )
Net increase in cash
    69,737       173,561  
                 
Cash
               
Beginning
    410,075       236,514  
Ending
  $ 479,812     $ 410,075  
                 
Cash Received for Income Taxes
  $ 235,559     $ 436,944  
                 
Cash Paid for Interest
  $ 402,011     $ 409,938  
                 
Dividends paid:
               
Dividends declared
  $ 3,130,868     $ 2,706,461  
Increase in dividends payable attributable to dividends declared
    (55,980 )     (28,465 )
Dividends reinvested
    (906,412 )     (703,682 )
    $ 2,168,476     $ 1,974,314  

 
37

 

Note 23. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

A summary of financial data for the four quarters of 2014 and 2013 is presented below:
 
   
Quarters in 2014 ended
 
   
March 31,
   
June 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Dec. 31,
 
                         
Interest income
  $ 5,618,276     $ 5,714,147     $ 5,829,041     $ 5,788,813  
Interest expense
    793,290       777,996       761,009       723,449  
Provision for loan losses
    135,000       135,000       135,000       135,000  
Non-interest income
    1,313,501       1,337,222       1,244,680       1,246,348  
Non-interest expense
    4,712,196       4,488,406       4,411,428       4,417,782  
Net income
    1,071,565       1,284,386       1,377,189       1,391,768  
Earnings per common share
    0.22       0.26       0.28       0.28  
   
Quarters in 2013 ended
 
   
March 31,
   
June 30,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Dec. 31,
 
                         
Interest income
  $ 5,562,049     $ 5,804,849     $ 5,607,136     $ 5,665,748  
Interest expense
    934,797       892,403       819,426       795,508  
Provision for loan losses
    206,250       120,000       137,500       206,250  
Non-interest income
    1,368,192       1,520,858       1,540,425       1,553,093  
Non-interest expense
    4,589,290       4,818,263       4,471,596       4,413,325  
Net income
    1,041,778       1,238,344       1,354,933       1,451,600  
Earnings per common share
    0.21       0.25       0.28       0.29  
 
Note 24. Other Income and Other Expenses

The components of other income and other expenses which are in excess of one percent of total revenues in either of the two years disclosed are as follows:

   
2014
   
2013
 
Income
           
Income from investment in Partners
  $ 272,820     $ 287,252  
                 
Expenses
               
Outsourcing expense
  $ 420,355     $ 166,159  
Service contracts - administration
    420,426       557,137  
Marketing
    275,915       321,586  
State deposit tax
    544,737       532,592  
Amortization of tax credit investments
    443,832       473,842  
ATM fees
    365,813       401,147  
Telephone
    326,473       358,801  
FDIC Insurance
    374,703       376,022  
 
Note 25. Subsequent Events

Declaration of Cash Dividend

On December 9, 2014, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.16 per share payable February 1, 2015 to shareholders of record as of January 15, 2015. On March 10, 2015, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.16 per share payable May 1, 2015 to shareholders of record as of April 15, 2015. These dividends have been recorded as of each declaration date, including shares issuable under the DRIP plan.

For purposes of accrual or disclosure in these financial statements, the Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of these financial statements.

 
38

 
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

The following discussion analyzes the consolidated financial condition of Community Bancorp. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Community National Bank, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and its consolidated results of operations for the years then ended. The Company is considered a “smaller reporting company” under applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is therefore eligible for relief from certain disclosure requirements. In accordance with such provisions, the Company has elected to provide its audited consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for two, rather than three, years.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains certain forward-looking statements about the results of operations, financial condition and business of the Company and its subsidiary. Words used in the discussion below such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plans," "predicts," or similar expressions, indicate that management of the Company is making forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They necessarily involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results of the Company may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward looking statements included in this discussion include, but are not limited to, estimated contingent liability related to assumptions made within the asset/liability management process, management's expectations as to the future interest rate environment and the Company's related liquidity level, credit risk expectations relating to the Company's loan portfolio and its participation in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”) Mortgage Partnership Finance (“MPF”) program, and management's general outlook for the future performance of the Company or the local or national economy. Although forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and estimates, many of the factors that could influence or determine actual results are unpredictable and not within the Company's control. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements as they speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake, and disclaims any obligation, to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence or anticipated occurrence of events or circumstances after the date of this Report, except as required by applicable law. The Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements include, among others, the following possibilities: (1) general economic conditions, either nationally, regionally or locally deteriorate, resulting in a decline in credit quality or a diminished demand for the Company's products and services; (2) competitive pressures increase among financial service providers in the Company's northern New England market area or in the financial services industry generally, including competitive pressures from non-bank financial service providers, from increasing consolidation and integration of financial service providers, and from changes in technology and delivery systems; (3) interest rates change in such a way as to reduce the Company's margins; (4) changes in laws or government rules, including the rules of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or the way in which courts or government agencies interpret or implement those laws or rules, increase our costs of doing business, causing us to limit or change our product offerings or pricing, or otherwise adversely affect the Company's business; (5) changes in federal or state tax policy; (6) changes in the level of nonperforming assets and charge-offs; (7) changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon relevant regulatory and accounting requirements; (8) changes in consumer and business spending, borrowing and savings habits; (9) reductions in deposit levels, which necessitate increased borrowings to fund loans and investments; (10) the effect of changes to the calculation of the Company’s regulatory capital ratios beginning in 2015 under the Basel III capital framework which, among other things, requires additional regulatory capital, and change the framework for risk-weighting of certain assets; (11) the effect of and changes in the United States monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board (“FRB”) and its regulation of the money supply; and (12) adverse changes in the credit rating of U.S. government debt.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Under SEC Regulation G, public companies making disclosures containing financial measures that are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP” or “GAAP”) must also disclose, along with each non-GAAP financial measure, certain additional information, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the closest comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as a statement of the company’s reasons for utilizing the non-GAAP financial measure. The SEC has exempted from the definition of non-GAAP financial measures certain commonly used financial measures that are not based on GAAP. However, two non-GAAP financial measures commonly used by financial institutions, namely tax-equivalent net interest income and tax-equivalent net interest margin (as presented in the tables in the section labeled Interest Income Versus Interest Expense (Net Interest Income), have not been specifically exempted by the SEC, and may therefore constitute non-GAAP financial measures under Regulation G. We are unable to state with certainty whether the SEC would regard those measures as subject to Regulation G.

 
39

 
Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s financial performance and facilitate comparisons with the performance of other financial institutions. However, that information should be considered supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

OVERVIEW

The Company’s consolidated assets at year-end 2014 were $586.7 million compared to $573.7 million at year-end 2013, an increase of 2.3%. Total loans increased 1.8% to $447.8 million, driven by an increase in commercial loans of $18.5 million, to $231.0 million year over year, while residential mortgage loans declined $9.8 million to end the year at $208.8 million. Funding for the increase in loans was provided by an $11.5 million net increase in deposits and a decrease of $2.5 million in the available-for-sale securities portfolio. Capital grew to $49.0 million with a book value of $9.43 per share on December 31, 2014 compared with $46.1 million in capital and a book value of $8.96 per share on December 31, 2013.

The Company’s net income of just over $5.1 million, or $1.03 per share, was up 0.8% compared with just under $5.1 million or $1.03 per share in 2013. Despite solid growth in the commercial loan portfolio during the year, the slowdown of the residential mortgage market caused a decrease in mortgage related fee income of $780,006, or 33.8% compared with 2013. Interest rates have remained at historically low levels for several years, causing erosion of yields on earning assets as they continue to reprice to current market rates. While average earning assets increased $14.2 million, or 2.8%, in 2014, tax-equivalent interest income increased by only $337,303, or 1.46%, reflecting a decrease in average yield of six basis points. This reduction in average yield was less than the prior year, however, when the average yield dropped nine basis points. Management was able to limit the decrease in the average yield on interest earning assets to six basis points due to the growth in the higher yielding commercial loan portfolio, as well as a shift to higher yielding assets in the investment portfolio. During the year, average interest-bearing liabilities remained virtually unchanged, down just $228,639; however, the average rate paid on liabilities declined by eight basis points, resulting in a decrease in interest expense of $386,390. This decrease was largely due to the shift of customer funds out of higher yielding CDs to lower yielding demand and savings accounts, combined with the well managed use of short term funding to meet seasonal cash flow needs. The combined effects of these changes resulted in an increase of $723,693 in tax-equivalent net interest income, and improvement in net interest margin from 3.83% to 3.86% year over year.

Continued Improvement in asset quality and lower levels of charge off activity during 2014 allowed the Company to reduce the provision for loan losses by $130,000 compared to 2013. In addition, non-interest expenses decreased by $262,662 year over year, due in part to a $136,711 decline in administrative service contracts and a $84,778 decline in ATM and Debit card losses. Salary and benefits saw little change, increasing just $17,032 or 0.2% compared to the prior year. The decrease in non-interest income was mainly due to a reduction in income from sold loans in the secondary market of $647,178, or 39.8%.

The Federal Reserve’s continued accommodative economic policy has kept mortgage interest rates low, providing several refinancing cycles through 2013, however the benefit of refinancing has declined with rates starting to come off the bottom in 2014, resulting in originations of $20.7 million in 2014 compared to $27.7 million in 2013. The Company reported net gains from the sales of these mortgages of $460,504 in 2014, compared with $778,203 in 2013, and $1.4 million in 2012, contributing to a decrease in non-interest income year over year.

More locally, according to the State of Vermont Department of Labor, Vermont’s unemployment rate for December, 2014 was 4.2%, which is equal to the December, 2013 figure, and remains well below the national average of 5.6%. However, certain industries, most notably construction, have yet to recover. In addition, regions outside the Northwestern part of the state have not mirrored the robust growth seen in and around the Burlington area. Of the Company’s primary market areas, Orleans, Caledonia, and Essex Counties continue to have the highest unemployment rates in the state, while Washington and Franklin County are at or near the state average.

The regulatory environment continues to increase operating costs and place extensive burden on personnel resources to comply with myriad legal requirements, including those under the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, and the numerous rulemakings it has spawned, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the Truth in Lending Act, as well as the new Basel III capital framework. It is unlikely that these administrative costs and burdens will moderate in the future.
 
40

 
The Company declared dividends of $0.64 per common share in 2014, up from $0.56 in 2013. The Company reported retained earnings of $6.9 million compared to $5.0 million as of December 31, 2013 and total shareholders’ equity of $49.0 million and $46.1 million for the same respective comparison periods. The Company is committed to remaining a well-capitalized community bank, working to meet the needs of our customers while providing a fair return to our shareholders.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared according to US GAAP. The preparation of such financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and related notes. The SEC has defined a company’s critical accounting policies as those that are most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations, and which require the Company to make its most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Because of the significance of these estimates and assumptions, there is a high likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported for the Company under different conditions or using different assumptions or estimates. Management evaluates on an ongoing basis its judgment as to which policies are considered to be critical.

Allowance for Loan Losses - Management believes that the calculation of the allowance for loan losses (“ALL”) is a critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. In estimating the ALL, management considers historical experience as well as other qualitative factors, including the effect of current economic indicators and their probable impact on borrowers and collateral, trends in delinquent and non-performing loans, trends in criticized and classified assets, levels of exceptions, the impact of competition in the market, concentrations of credit risk in a variety of areas, including portfolio product mix, the level of loans to individual borrowers and their related interests, loans to industry segments and the geographic distribution of commercial real estate loans. Management’s estimates used in calculating the ALL may increase or decrease based on changes in these factors, which in turn will affect the amount of the Company’s provision for loan losses charged against current period income. This evaluation is inherently subjective and actual results could differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions, judgments or conditions.

Other Real Estate Owned (“OREO”) – Real estate properties acquired through or in lieu of foreclosure or properties no longer used for bank operations, are initially recorded at fair value less estimated selling cost at the date of acquisition, foreclosure or transfer. Such properties are carried at fair value, which is the market value less estimated cost of disposition, i.e. sales commissions and costs associated with the sale. Fair value is determined, as appropriate, either by obtaining a current appraisal or evaluation prepared by an independent, qualified appraiser, by obtaining a broker’s market value analysis, and finally, if the Company has limited exposure and limited risk of loss, by the opinion of management as supported by an inspection of the property and its most recent tax valuation. Under recent and current market conditions, and periods of declining market values, the Company will generally obtain a new appraisal or evaluation. The amount, if any, by which the recorded amount of the loan exceeds the fair value, less estimated cost to sell, is a loss which is charged to the allowance for loan losses at the time of foreclosure or repossession. The recorded amount of the loan is the loan balance adjusted for any unamortized premium or discount and unamortized loan fees or costs, less any amount previously charged off, plus recorded accrued interest. After acquisition through or in lieu of foreclosure, these assets are carried at their new cost basis. Costs of significant property improvements are capitalized, whereas costs relating to holding the property are expensed as incurred. Appraisals by an independent, qualified appraiser are performed periodically on properties that management deems significant, or evaluations may be performed by management or a qualified third party on properties in the portfolio that are deemed less significant or less vulnerable to market conditions. Subsequent write-downs are recorded as a charge to other expense. Gains or losses on the sale of such properties are included in income when the properties are sold.

Investment Securities - Management performs quarterly reviews of individual debt and equity securities in the investment portfolio to determine whether a decline in the fair value of a security is other than temporary. A review of other-than-temporary impairment requires management to make certain judgments regarding the materiality of the decline and the probability, extent and timing of a valuation recovery, the Company’s intent to continue to hold the security and, in the case of debt securities, the likelihood that the Company will not have to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis. Management assesses fair value declines to determine the extent to which such changes are attributable to fundamental factors specific to the issuer, such as financial condition and business prospects, or to market-related or other external factors, such as interest rates, and in the case of debt securities, the extent to which the impairment relates to credit losses of the issuer, as compared to other factors. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are deemed to be other than temporary, and declines in fair value of debt securities below their cost that are related to credit losses, are recorded in earnings as realized losses, net of tax effect. The non-credit loss portion of an other than temporary decline in the fair value of debt securities below their cost basis (generally, the difference between the fair value and the estimated net present value of expected future cash flows from the debt security) is recognized in other comprehensive income as an unrealized loss, provided that the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the security before recovery of its reduced basis.
 
41

 
Mortgage Servicing Rights - Mortgage servicing rights associated with loans originated and sold, where servicing is retained, are required to be capitalized and initially recorded at fair value on the acquisition date and are subsequently accounted for using the “amortization method”. Mortgage servicing rights are amortized against non-interest income in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated future net servicing income of the underlying financial assets. The value of capitalized servicing rights represents the estimated present value of the future servicing fees arising from the right to service loans for third parties. The carrying value of the mortgage servicing rights is periodically reviewed for impairment based on a determination of estimated fair value compared to amortized cost, and impairment, if any, is recognized through a valuation allowance and is recorded as a reduction of non-interest income. Subsequent improvement (if any) in the estimated fair value of impaired mortgage servicing rights is reflected in a positive valuation adjustment and is recognized in non-interest income up to (but not in excess of) the amount of the prior impairment. Critical accounting policies for mortgage servicing rights relate to the initial valuation and subsequent impairment tests. The methodology used to determine the valuation of mortgage servicing rights requires the development and use of a number of estimates, including anticipated principal amortization and prepayments. Factors that may significantly affect the estimates used are changes in interest rates and the payment performance of the underlying loans. The Company analyzes and accounts for the value of its servicing rights with the assistance of a third party consultant.

Goodwill - Management utilizes numerous techniques to estimate the value of various assets held by the Company, including methods to determine the appropriate carrying value of goodwill. Goodwill from an acquisition accounted for under the purchase accounting method, such as the Company’s 2007 acquisition of LyndonBank, is subject to ongoing periodic impairment evaluation, which includes an analysis of the ongoing assets, liabilities and revenues from the acquisition and an estimation of the impact of business conditions. This evaluation is inherently subjective.

Other - Management utilizes numerous techniques to estimate the carrying value of various assets held by the Company, including, but not limited to, bank premises and equipment and deferred taxes. The assumptions considered in making these estimates are based on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed by management to be reasonable under the circumstances. The use of different estimates or assumptions could produce different estimates of carrying values and those differences could be material in some circumstances.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company’s net income increased $38,253 or 0.8% from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2014, resulting in earnings per common share of $1.03 for both periods. An increase of $696,885 or 3.6% is noted in net interest income for 2014 compared to 2013. Interest income increased $310,495 or 1.4% in 2014, while a decrease of $386,390 or 11.2% was noted in interest expense, accounting for the moderate increase in net interest income. Non-interest income decreased $840,817 or 14.1%, and non-interest expense decreased $262,662 or 1.4%. Income from sold loans decreased $647,178 or 39.8%, accounting for most of the decrease in non-interest income. Other expenses decreased $307,443 or 4.3% year over year due in part to a decrease of $136,711 or 24.5% in administrative service contracts as well as a decrease of $104,279 or 51.6% in OREO expenses. The section below labeled “Non-Interest Income and Non-Interest Expense” provides a more detailed discussion on the significant components of these two items.

Return on average assets (“ROA”), which is net income divided by average total assets, measures how effectively a corporation uses its assets to produce earnings. Return on average equity (“ROE”), which is net income divided by average shareholders' equity, measures how effectively a corporation uses its equity capital to produce earnings.
 
The following table shows these ratios, as well as other equity ratios, for each of the last three fiscal years:

   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
 
                   
Return on Average Assets
    0.89 %     0.90 %     0.79 %
Return on Average Equity
    10.81 %     11.43 %     10.44 %
Dividend Payout Ratio (1)
    62.14 %     54.37 %     63.64 %
Average Equity to Average Assets Ratio
    8.22 %     7.86 %     7.53 %
 
(1) Dividends declared per common share divided by earnings per common share.

 
42

 
 
The following table summarizes the earnings performance and certain balance sheet and per share data of the Company during each of the last five fiscal years:

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
As of December 31,
 
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
                               
Balance Sheet Data
                             
                               
Net loans
  $ 443,202,475     $ 435,354,440     $ 412,232,869     $ 382,507,221     $ 385,266,573  
Total assets
    586,711,044       573,667,404       575,738,245       552,905,517       545,932,649  
Total deposits
    493,019,463       481,552,569       475,496,859       454,393,309       438,192,263  
Borrowed funds
    0       0       6,000,000       18,010,000       33,010,000  
Total liabilities
    537,715,842       527,531,427       532,385,670       511,987,108       506,804,980  
Total shareholders' equity
    48,995,202       46,135,977       43,352,575       40,918,409       39,127,669  
                                         
Years Ended December 31,
                                       
                                         
Operating Data
                                       
Total interest income
  $ 22,950,277     $ 22,639,782     $ 22,821,331     $ 22,744,363     $ 23,686,983  
Total interest expense
    3,055,744       3,442,134       4,882,319       5,595,628       6,527,737  
Net interest income
    19,894,533       19,197,648       17,939,012       17,148,735       17,159,246  
                                         
Provision for loan losses
    540,000       670,000       1,000,000       1,000,000       1,016,668  
Net interest income after
                                       
provision for loan losses
    19,354,533       18,527,648       16,939,012       16,148,735       16,142,578  
                                         
Non-interest income
    5,141,751       5,982,568       6,188,960       5,202,169       5,641,302  
Non-interest expense
    18,029,812       18,292,474       18,866,770       17,533,082       17,282,150  
Income before income taxes
    6,466,472       6,217,742       4,261,202       3,817,822       4,501,730  
Applicable income tax expense (benefit)(1)
    1,341,564       1,131,087       (139,488 )     234,276       555,722  
                                         
Net income
  $ 5,124,908     $ 5,086,655     $ 4,400,690     $ 3,583,546     $ 3,946,008  
                                         
Per Share Data
                                       
                                         
Earnings per common share (2)
  $ 1.03     $ 1.03     $ 0.88     $ 0.73     $ 0.82  
Dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.64     $ 0.56     $ 0.56     $ 0.56     $ 0.48  
Book value per common share outstanding
  $ 9.43     $ 8.96     $ 8.49     $ 8.13     $ 7.92  
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    4,897,281       4,838,185       4,769,645       4,674,806       4,584,145  
Number of common shares outstanding, period end
    4,932,374       4,868,606       4,812,925       4,728,161       4,624,514  
 
(1) Applicable income tax expense (benefit) assumes a 34% tax rate.
(2) Computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented.
 
43

 
INTEREST INCOME VERSUS INTEREST EXPENSE (NET INTEREST INCOME)

The largest component of the Company’s operating income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on loans and investments versus the interest paid on deposits and other sources of funds (i.e. other borrowings). The Company’s level of net interest income can fluctuate over time due to changes in the level and mix of earning assets, and sources of funds (volume) and from changes in the yield earned and costs of funds (rate paid). A portion of the Company’s income from municipal investments is not subject to income taxes. Because the proportion of tax-exempt items in the Company's portfolio varies from year-to-year, to improve comparability of information across years, the non-taxable income shown in the tables below has been converted to a tax equivalent basis. Because the Company’s corporate tax rate is 34%, to equalize tax-free and taxable income in the comparison, we divide the tax-free income by 66%, with the result that every tax-free dollar is equivalent to $1.52 in taxable income.

Tax-exempt income is derived from municipal investments, which comprised the entire held-to-maturity portfolio of $41.8 million, $37.9 million and $41.9 million, at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The following table provides the reconciliation between net interest income presented in the consolidated statements of income and the non-GAAP tax equivalent net interest income presented in the table immediately following for each of the last three years.

Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
                   
Net interest income as presented
  $ 19,895     $ 19,198     $ 17,939  
Effect of tax-exempt income
    555       529       511  
Net interest income, tax equivalent
  $ 20,450     $ 19,727     $ 18,450  
 
44

 
 
The following table presents average earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities supporting earning assets for each of the last three fiscal years. Interest income (excluding interest on non-accrual loans) and interest expense are both expressed on a tax equivalent basis, both in dollars and as a rate/yield.

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
         
2014
               
2013
               
2012
       
               
Average
               
Average
               
Average
 
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Rate/
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Rate/
   
Average
   
Income/
   
Rate/
 
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Yield
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Yield
   
Balance
   
Expense
   
Yield
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Interest-Earning Assets
                                                     
                                                       
Loans (1)
  $ 447,133     $ 21,423       4.79 %   $ 425,482     $ 21,226       4.99 %   $ 402,023     $ 21,203       5.27 %
Taxable investment securities
    30,990       344       1.11 %     41,363       314       0.76 %     57,571       533       0.93 %
Tax-exempt investment securities
    42,654       1,635       3.83 %     40,043       1,556       3.89 %     40,058       1,504       3.75 %
Sweep and interest-earning accounts
    5,079       13       0.26 %     4,457       13       0.29 %     3,881       10       0.26 %
Other investments (2)
    3,819       91       2.38 %     4,093       60       1.47 %     4,464       82       1.84 %
Total
  $ 529,676     $ 23,506       4.44 %   $ 515,439     $ 23,169       4.50 %   $ 507,997     $ 23,332       4.59 %
                                                                         
Interest-Bearing Liabilities
                                                                       
                                                                         
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
  $ 115,209     $ 241       0.21 %   $ 117,395     $ 289       0.25 %   $ 110,752     $ 348       0.31 %
Money market accounts
    83,168       821       0.99 %     87,983       898       1.02 %     79,659       788       0.99 %
Savings deposits
    75,042       94       0.13 %     69,063       97       0.14 %     64,908       103       0.16 %
Time deposits
    123,209       1,360       1.10 %     123,431       1,555       1.26 %     132,571       2,170       1.64 %
Federal funds purchased and
                                                                       
other borrowed funds
    9,440       21       0.22 %     5,084       22       0.43 %     20,245       290       1.43 %
Repurchase agreements
    25,263       62       0.25 %     28,538       111       0.39 %     26,383       144       0.55 %
Capital lease obligations
    674       55       8.17 %     741       60       8.10 %     802       65       8.11 %
Junior subordinated debentures
    12,887       402       3.12 %     12,887       410       3.18 %     12,887       974       7.56 %
Total
  $ 444,893     $ 3,056       0.69 %   $ 445,121     $ 3,442       0.77 %   $ 448,207     $ 4,882       1.09 %
                                                                         
Net interest income
          $ 20,450                     $ 19,727                     $ 18,450          
Net interest spread (3)
                    3.75 %                     3.73 %                     3.50 %
Net interest margin (4)
                    3.86 %                     3.83 %                     3.63 %
 
(1)
Included in gross loans are non-accrual loans with an average balance of $4.9 million, $4.4 million and $6.3 million for the years ended
(2)
Included in other investments is the Company’s FHLBB Stock with an average balance of $2.8 million, $3.1 million and $3.1 million, respectively, for 2014, 2013 and 2012 and a payout rate of approximately 1.49% in 2014, 0.37% in 2013 and 0.48% in 2012.
(3)
Net interest spread is the difference between the average yield on average earning assets and the average rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities.
(4)
Net interest margin is net interest income divided by average earning assets.
 
Interest income from loans of $21.4 million accounts for 91.1% of total tax-equivalent income for 2014 compared to $21.2 million or 91.6% for 2013 and $21.2 million or 90.9% for 2012, with average yields of 4.79%, 4.99% and 5.27%, respectively. The average volume of loans increased $21.7 million or 5.1% from 2013 to 2014 and $23.5 million, or 5.8% from 2012 to 2013, while the average rate earned on these assets decreased 20 basis points from 2013 to 2014 and 28 basis points from 2012 to 2013, reflecting the prevailing low interest rate environment throughout both comparison periods. The average volume of taxable investments decreased $10.4 million or 25.1% from 2013 to 2014 and $16.2 million or 28.2% from 2012 to 2013. An increase of 35 basis points for 2014 and a decline of 17 basis points for 2013 are noted in the average yield on these investments. As loan demand increased beginning in 2012 and throughout the comparison periods, the Company funded a portion of this increase through sales and maturities from its taxable investments. During the second quarter of 2014, the Company began purchasing Agency mortgage-backed securities (Agency MBS) to hold in its available-for-sale (AFS) portfolio. These investments typically carry a higher average yield than the rest of the investments in the AFS portfolio, accounting for the increase in the average yield in 2014.
 
45

 
 
Interest expense on time deposits represents 44.5% of total interest expense for 2014, compared to 45.2% for 2013, and 44.4% for 2012, with interest expense totaling $1.4 million, $1.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively, and average rates paid of 1.10%, 1.26% and 1.64%, respectively. Savings deposit accounts for the biggest increase in 2014 in average volume totaling just under $6.0 million or 8.7% and money market accounts noted the biggest decrease in 2014 in average volume totaling $4.8 million or 5.5%. From 2012 to 2013, a decrease of $15.2 million or 74.9% was noted in the average volume of federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds along with a decrease of 100 basis points in the average rate paid and time deposits decreased $9.1 million or 6.9% in average volume with a decrease of 38 basis points in the average rate paid. Minimal change is noted in the average yields of the other components of interest-bearing liabilities with the exception of the 438 basis point decrease in the average rate paid on junior subordinated debentures from 2012 to 2013 due to a contractual interest rate adjustment.

Overall, during 2014, the average rate earned on interest-earning assets decreased slightly less than the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, resulting in a net interest spread of 3.75% for 2014 and 3.73% for 2013. A similar but more dramatic pattern is noted for the period from 2012 to 2013 with a decrease of nine basis points in the average rate earned on interest-earning assets compared to a 32 basis points decrease in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, causing the 23 basis point increase in the spread for 2013 from 3.50% for 2012.

The following table summarizes the variances in income for the years 2014, 2013 and 2012 resulting from volume changes in assets and liabilities and fluctuations in rates earned and paid compared to the prior year.
 
Changes in Interest Income and Interest Expense
 
   
2014 vs. 2013
   
2013 vs. 2012
 
   
Variance
   
Variance
         
Variance
   
Variance
       
   
Due to
   
Due to
   
Total
   
Due to
   
Due to
   
Total
 
   
Rate (1)
   
Volume (1)
   
Variance
   
Rate (1)
   
Volume (1)
   
Variance
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Average Interest-Earning Assets
                                   
Loans
  $ (883 )   $ 1,080     $ 197     $ (1,213 )   $ 1,236     $ 23  
Taxable investment securities
    145       (115 )     30       (96 )     (123 )     (219 )
Tax-exempt investment securities
    (23 )     102       79       53       (1 )     52  
Sweep and interest-earning accounts
    (2 )     2       0       2       1       3  
Other investments
    38       (7 )     31       (17 )     (5 )     (22 )
Total
  $ (725 )   $ 1,062     $ 337     $ (1,271 )   $ 1,108     $ (163 )
                                                 
Average Interest-Bearing Liabilities
                                               
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
  $ (43 )   $ (5 )   $ (48 )   $ (80 )   $ 21     $ (59 )
Money market accounts
    (29 )     (48 )     (77 )     28       82       110  
Savings deposits
    (11 )     8       (3 )     (13 )     7       (6 )
Time deposits
    (193 )     (2 )     (195 )     (500 )     (115 )     (615 )
Federal funds purchased and
                                               
other borrowed funds
    (20 )     19       (1 )     (203 )     (65 )     (268 )
Repurchase agreements
    (41 )     (8 )     (49 )     (45 )     12       (33 )
Capital lease obligations
    0       (5 )     (5 )     0       (5 )     (5 )
Junior subordinated debentures
    (8 )     0       (8 )     (564 )     0       (564 )
Total
  $ (345 )   $ (41 )   $ (386 )   $ (1,377 )   $ (63 )   $ (1,440 )
                                                 
Changes in net interest income
  $ (380 )   $ 1,103     $ 723     $ 106     $ 1,171     $ 1,277  
 
(1) Items which have shown a year-to-year increase in volume have variances allocated as follows:
Variance due to rate = Change in rate x new volume
Variance due to volume = Change in volume x old rate
Items which have shown a year-to-year decrease in volume have variances allocated as follows:
Variance due to rate = Change in rate x old volume
Variances due to volume = Change in volume x new rate
 
46

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME AND NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

Non-interest Income

The components of non-interest income for the annual periods presented are as follows:

   
Years Ended
             
   
December 31,
   
Change
 
   
2014
   
2013
    $     %  
                           
Service fees
  $ 2,624,792     $ 2,572,031     $ 52,761       2.05 %
Income from sold loans
    977,702       1,624,880       (647,178 )     -39.83 %
Other income from loans
    593,093       725,922       (132,829 )     -18.30 %
Net realized gain (loss) on sale of securities available-for-sale
    27,838       (5,521 )     33,359       -604.22 %
Income from CFSG Partners
    272,820       287,251       (14,431 )     -5.02 %
Rental income on OREO properties
    56,198       43,958       12,240       27.84 %
Exchange income
    130,000       130,000       0       0.00 %
SERP fair value adjustment
    52,423       162,356       (109,933 )     -67.71 %
Other income
    406,885       441,691       (34,806 )     -7.88 %
Total non-interest income
  $ 5,141,751     $ 5,982,568     $ (840,817 )     -14.05 %

Total non-interest income decreased $840,817 for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the same period 2013, with significant changes noted in the following:

●  
Service fees increased $52,761 year over year, due primarily to higher paper statement fees of $41,587, which were not introduced until June 2013. Paper statement fees have declined on a monthly basis since inception as more customers shift to online banking; however this also results in lower account maintenance and postage costs incurred by the Company.

●  
Income from sold loans decreased $647,178 year over year, which is attributable to a decrease in secondary market sales, as the pace of refinancing continued to slow throughout 2014. Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale amounted to $21.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $29.8 million for the same period 2013.

●  
Other income from loans decreased $132,829 year over year due primarily to a decrease in residential loan documentation fees. Residential mortgage loan activity slowed considerably in 2014, generating less income from the document fee process and resulting in a decrease of $102,945, or 43.9%, year over year. Commercial loan documentation fee income decreased $15,918, or 5.2%, year over year as the overall rate of growth in commercial lending has slowed compared with the prior year.

●  
Income from the Company’s trust and investment management affiliate, Community Financial Services Group (CFSG Partners), decreased $14,431 for the year due in part to an increase in the client base and assets under management during the year which generated increased incentive payments for employees accrued in the fourth quarter. CFSG Partners is compensated chiefly through fees based on the assets under management from its clients.

●  
The Supplemental Employee Retirement Program (SERP) fair value adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2014 resulted in an increase in value of $52,423, down 67.7% from the $162,356 increase reported for the same period in 2013. This smaller increase in value reflects the overall performance of the equity markets in 2014 as compared with 2013.
 
47

 
Non-interest Expense

The components of non-interest expense for the annual periods presented are as follows:

   
Years Ended
             
   
December 31,
   
Change
 
   
2014
   
2013
    $     %  
                           
Salaries and wages
  $ 6,475,000     $ 6,395,042     $ 79,958       1.25 %
Employee benefits
    2,257,354       2,320,280       (62,926 )     -2.71 %
Occupancy expenses, net
    2,466,714       2,438,965       27,749       1.14 %
Other expenses
                               
Computer outsourcing
    420,355       166,159       254,196       152.98 %
Service contracts - administrative
    420,426       557,137       (136,711 )     -24.54 %
Telephone expense
    326,473       358,801       (32,328 )     -9.01 %
Loss on limited partnerships
    443,832       473,842       (30,010 )     -6.33 %
Collection & non-accruing loan expense
    98,389       131,988       (33,599 )     -25.46 %
OREO expense
    97,984       202,263       (104,279 )     -51.56 %
Debit cards/ATM cards losses
    30,411       115,189       (84,778 )     -73.60 %
ATM fees
    365,813       401,147       (35,334 )     -8.81 %
State deposit tax
    544,737       532,592       12,145       2.28 %
Other miscellaneous expenses
    4,082,324       4,199,069       (116,745 )     -2.78 %
Total non-interest expense
  $ 18,029,812     $ 18,292,474     $ (262,662 )     -1.44 %

Total non-interest expense decreased $262,662 for the full year 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, with significant changes noted in the following:

●  
Computer outsourcing increased $254,196, or 153.0%, year over year. The Company began outsourcing its data processing operations at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, but due to incentive credits received for various functions, the Company did not incur data processing expenses until late in the third quarter of 2013. Outsourcing of the core processing function has provided the opportunity for the existing information technology staff to take on additional duties and roles in response to regulatory and industry changes.

●  
Service contracts – administrative decreased $136,711, or 24.5%, year over year. Payments under our service contract with our core processor decreased upon implementation of the computer outsourcing accounting for the decreases in the comparison period.

●  
Collections & non-accruing loan expense decreased $33,599 or 25.5% year over year with improvement in asset quality and recoveries during the year.

●  
OREO expense for the year 2014 was down $81,609, or 48.7%, compared with the same period in 2013, as the bank held fewer properties in OREO that required significant carrying costs.

●  
Debit Cards/ATM losses for the year 2014 remained well under 2013 levels. The decrease is generally attributable to a new processor that utilizes sophisticated fraud detection tools to minimize fraudulent transactions from being approved.

●  
Other miscellaneous expenses decrease of $116,745 was due in part to a decrease of $45,672, or 14.2% in marketing expenses, which was directly related to the expenses incurred in 2013 through the redesign of the Bank’s website, as well as a decrease of $43,599, or 23.0% in postage expenses, which was primarily due to customers switching to online statements.
 
related to limited partnership investments are included in other miscellaneous expenses in the table above and amounted to $110,958 and $117,627 for the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively and $443,832 and $473,842 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These investments provide tax benefits, including tax credits, and are designed to provide an effective yield between 8% and 10%.

 
48

 
APPLICABLE INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes increased $210,477 or 18.6%, from $1.1 million in 2013 to $1.3 million in 2014. Income before taxes increased $248,730 or 4.0% for 2014 compared to 2013. This increase in income, along with the decrease in tax credits relating to the Company’s affordable housing investments, accounts for the increase in income tax expense in 2014.

CHANGES IN FINANCIAL CONDITION

The following discussion refers to the volume of average assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity in the table labeled “Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity” on the following page.

Average assets increased $10.8 million or 1.9% from the year ended December 31, 2013 to the year ended December 31, 2014. The average volume of loans increased $21.2 million or 5.0%, due in part to strong commercial loan demand. The Company used maturities, sales and calls within the taxable investment portfolio to help fund loan growth during 2014, accounting for the decrease of $10.3 million or 25.1% in the average volume of that portfolio between periods. The average volume of the tax-exempt portfolio increased $2.6 million or 6.5%, year over year and is made up of local municipal accounts.

Average liabilities increased $7.9 million or 1.5% from the year ended December 31, 2013 to the year ended December 31, 2014. The average volume of federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds increased $4.3 million or 85.7%, which was mostly attributable to the growth in loans outpacing deposit growth. The Company continues to utilize overnight funds and other short term borrowings to meet cash needs during the seasonal outflows of municipal deposits. The average volume of total time deposits remained stable at $123 million due to the use of one-way brokered time deposits as a supplemental source of funding during the year. Average retail time deposits decreased by $3.7 million or 3.1% from 2013 to 2014 which largely reflects a continued shift to savings or money market accounts, or customer rate shopping at other financial institutions. The average volume of demand deposits increased $8.1 million, or 10.9%, due primarily to a $6.2 million increase in business checking accounts. The average volume of savings accounts increased $6.0 million or 8.7% due to the aforementioned shift from time deposits, while interest-bearing transaction accounts decreased $2.2 million or 1.9%. The insured cash sweep account (“ICS”) offered through Promontory Interfinancial Network, which the Company started offering in 2010, has worked very well as a means of attracting new customers and retaining current customers who are looking for alternatives to time deposits and to maximize FDIC insurance coverage. The average volume of ICS accounts increased from $15.9 million in 2013 to $17.7 million in 2014. The Company strives to keep its core customers but is not placing much emphasis on attracting rate shoppers as it has sufficient liquidity to meet reasonably foreseeable loan demand and other requirements.

 
49

 

The following table provides a visual comparison of the breakdown of average assets and average liabilities as well as average shareholders' equity for the comparison periods.
 
Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
 
Average Assets
 
Balance
   
%
   
Balance
   
%
   
Balance
   
%
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Cash and due from banks
                                   
Non-interest bearing
  $ 9,934       1.72 %   $ 9,747       1.72 %   $ 9,660       1.72 %
Federal funds sold and overnight deposits
    5,079       0.88 %     4,457       0.79 %     3,881       0.69 %
Taxable investment securities
    30,990       5.37 %     41,363       7.31 %     57,662       10.29 %
Tax-exempt investment securities
    42,654       7.40 %     40,043       7.08 %     40,058       7.15 %
Other securities
    3,432       0.60 %     3,706       0.65 %     4,077       0.73 %
Total investment securities
    77,076       13.37 %     85,112       15.04 %     101,797       18.17 %
Gross loans
    447,716       77.63 %     426,482       75.36 %     403,681       72.06 %
Reserve for loan losses and accrued fees
    (4,609 )     -0.80 %     (4,375 )     -0.77 %     (4,000 )     -0.71 %
Premises and equipment
    11,635       2.02 %     12,067       2.13 %     12,501       2.23 %
Other real estate owned
    979       0.17 %     1,258       0.22 %     665       0.12 %
Investment in Capital Trust
    387       0.07 %     387       0.07 %     387       0.07 %
Bank owned life insurance
    4,354       0.75 %     4,241       0.75 %     4,121       0.74 %
Core deposit intangible
    948       0.16 %     1,220       0.22 %     1,529       0.27 %
Goodwill
    11,574       2.01 %     11,574       2.04 %     11,574       2.07 %
Other assets
    11,664       2.02 %     13,733       2.43 %     14,396       2.57 %
Total average assets
  $ 576,737       100 %   $ 565,903       100 %   $ 560,192       100 %
   
Average Liabilities
 
Demand deposits
  $ 81,847       14.19 %   $ 73,765       13.04 %   $ 66,242       11.82 %
Interest-bearing transaction accounts
    115,209       19.98 %     117,395       20.74 %     110,752       19.77 %
Money market funds
    83,168       14.42 %     87,983       15.55 %     79,659       14.22 %
Savings accounts
    75,042       13.01 %     69,063       12.20 %     64,908       11.59 %
Time deposits
    123,209       21.36 %     123,431       21.81 %     132,571       23.67 %
Total average deposits
    478,475       82.96 %     471,637       83.34 %     454,132       81.07 %
                                                 
Federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds
    9,440       1.64 %     5,084       0.90 %     20,245       3.61 %
Repurchase agreements
    25,263       4.38 %     28,538       5.04 %     26,383       4.71 %
Junior subordinated debentures
    12,887       2.23 %     12,887       2.28 %     12,887       2.30 %
Other liabilities
    3,273       0.57 %     3,272       0.58 %     4,376       0.78 %
Total average liabilities
    529,338       91.78 %     521,418       92.14 %     518,023       92.47 %
   
Average Shareholders' Equity
 
Preferred stock
    2,500       0.43 %     2,500       0.44 %     2,500       0.45 %
Common stock
    12,715       2.21 %     12,596       2.23 %     12,399       2.21 %
Additional paid-in capital
    28,853       5.00 %     28,252       4.99 %     27,634       4.93 %
Retained earnings
    5,963       1.03 %     3,685       0.65 %     1,986       0.36 %
Less: Treasury stock
    (2,623 )     -0.45 %     (2,623 )     -0.46 %     (2,623 )     -0.47 %
Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)
    (9 )     0.00 %     75       0.01 %     273       0.05 %
Total average shareholders' equity
    47,399       8.22 %     44,485       7.86 %     42,169       7.53 %
Total average liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 576,737       100 %   $ 565,903       100 %   $ 560,192       100 %
 
 
50

 

CERTAIN TIME DEPOSITS

Increments of maturity of time certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more outstanding on December 31, 2014 are summarized as follows:

3 months or less
  $ 9,094,836  
Over 3 through 6 months
    12,172,975  
Over 6 through 12 months
    8,154,829  
Over 12 months
    15,862,005  
Total
  $ 45,284,645  
 
RISK MANAGEMENT

Interest Rate Risk and Asset and Liability Management - Management actively monitors and manages the Company’s interest rate risk exposure and attempts to structure the balance sheet to maximize net interest income while controlling its exposure to interest rate risk. The Company's Asset/Liability Management Committee (ALCO) is made up of the Executive Officers and all the Vice Presidents of the Bank. The ALCO formulates strategies to manage interest rate risk by evaluating the impact on earnings and capital of such factors as current interest rate forecasts and economic indicators, potential changes in such forecasts and indicators, liquidity and various business strategies. The ALCO meets at least quarterly to review financial statements, liquidity levels, yields and spreads to better understand, measure, monitor and control the Company’s interest rate risk. In the ALCO process, the committee members apply policy limits set forth in the Asset Liability, Liquidity and Investment policies approved and periodically reviewed by the Company’s Board of Directors. The ALCO's methods for evaluating interest rate risk include an analysis of the effects of interest rate changes on net interest income and an analysis of the Company's interest rate sensitivity "gap", which provides a static analysis of the maturity and repricing characteristics of the entire balance sheet. The ALCO Policy also includes a contingency funding plan to help management prepare for unforeseen liquidity restrictions, including hypothetical severe liquidity crises.

Interest rate risk represents the sensitivity of earnings to changes in market interest rates. As interest rates change, the interest income and expense streams associated with the Company’s financial instruments also change, thereby impacting net interest income (NII), the primary component of the Company’s earnings. Fluctuations in interest rates can also have an impact on liquidity. The ALCO uses an outside consultant to perform rate shock simulations to the Company's net interest income, as well as a variety of other analyses. It is the ALCO’s function to provide the assumptions used in the modeling process. Assumptions used in prior period simulation models are regularly tested by comparing projected NII with actual NII. The ALCO utilizes the results of the simulation model to quantify the estimated exposure of NII and liquidity to sustained interest rate changes. The simulation model captures the impact of changing interest rates on the interest income received and interest expense paid on all interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities reflected on the Company’s balance sheet. The model also simulates the balance sheet’s sensitivity to a prolonged flat rate environment. All rate scenarios are simulated assuming a parallel shift of the yield curve; however further simulations are performed utilizing non-parallel changes in the yield curve. The results of this sensitivity analysis are compared to the ALCO policy limits which specify a maximum tolerance level for NII exposure over a 1-year horizon, assuming no balance sheet growth, given a 200 basis point (bp) shift upward and a 100 bp shift downward in interest rates.

Under the Company’s rate sensitivity modeling, in the current flat rate environment, NII levels are projected to be flat as the downward pressure on asset yields is projected to slow down as cash flow is replaced at equal yields. Funding costs are expected to provide slight relief as longer-term funding is retired and replaced at current rates. In a rising rate environment, NII is expected to trend upward as the short-term asset base (cash and adjustable rate loans) quickly cycle upward while the retail funding base (deposits) lags the market. If rates paid on deposits have to be increased more and/or more quickly than projected, the expected benefit to rising rates would be reduced. In a falling rate environment, NII is expected to trend in-line with the current rate environment scenario for the first year of the simulation as asset yield erosion is offset by decreasing funding costs. Thereafter, net interest income is projected to experience sustained downward pressure as funding costs reach their assumed floors and asset yields continue to reprice into the lower rate environment.

 
51

 

The following table summarizes the estimated impact on the Company's NII over a twelve month period, assuming a gradual parallel shift of the yield curve beginning December 31, 2014:

One Year Horizon
 
Two Year Horizon
Rate Change
 
Percent Change in NII
 
Rate Change
 
Percent Change in NII
             
Down 100 basis points
 
-0.70%
 
Down 100 basis points
 
-2.70%
Up 200 basis points
 
6.70%
 
Up 200 basis points
 
19.00%
 
The amounts shown in the table are well within the ALCO Policy limits. However, those amounts do not represent a forecast and should not be relied upon as indicative of future results. While assumptions used in the ALCO process, including the interest rate simulation analyses, are developed based upon current economic and local market conditions, and expected future conditions, the Company cannot provide any assurances as to the predictive nature of these assumptions, including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change.

Credit Risk - As a financial institution, one of the primary risks the Company manages is credit risk, the risk of loss stemming from borrowers’ failure to repay loans or inability to meet other contractual obligations. The Company’s Board of Directors prescribes policies for managing credit risk, including Loan, Appraisal and Environmental policies. These policies are supplemented by comprehensive underwriting standards and procedures. The Company maintains a Credit Administration department whose function includes credit analysis and monitoring of and reporting on the status of the loan portfolio, including delinquent and non-performing loan trends. The Company also monitors concentration of credit risk in a variety of areas, including portfolio mix, the level of loans to individual borrowers and their related interest, loans to industry segments, and the geographic distribution of commercial real estate loans. Loans are reviewed periodically by an independent loan review firm to help ensure accuracy of the Company's internal risk ratings and compliance with various internal policies, procedures and regulatory guidance.

Residential mortgages represent approximately half of the Company’s loan balances; that level has been on a gradual decline in recent years, with a strategic shift in management emphasis to commercial lending. The severity and depth of the recent recession and slow economic recovery saw the greatest degree of collection and foreclosure activity and losses in this segment of the portfolio. Delinquencies and losses, however, were not experienced to the extent of national peers as the Company maintains a mortgage loan portfolio of traditional mortgage products and has not engaged in higher risk loans such as option adjustable rate mortgage products, high loan-to-value products, interest only mortgages, subprime loans and products with deeply discounted teaser rates. While real estate values also declined in the Company’s market area, the sound underwriting standards historically employed by the Company mitigated the trends in defaults and property surrenders experienced elsewhere. Residential mortgages with loan-to-values exceeding 80% are generally covered by private mortgage insurance (“PMI”). A 90% loan-to-value residential mortgage product without PMI is only available to borrowers with excellent credit and low debt-to-income ratios and has not been widely originated. Junior lien home equity products make up approximately 21% of the residential mortgage portfolio with maximum loan-to-value ratios (including prior liens) of 80%. The residential mortgage portfolio has had satisfactory performance in light of the depth of the recent recession and the slow recovery; portfolio performance improved through 2012 and 2013 and was stable through 2014.

Risk in the Company’s commercial and commercial real estate loan portfolios is mitigated in part by government guarantees issued by federal agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration and USDA Rural Development. At December 31, 2014, the Company had $27.4 million in guaranteed loans with guaranteed balances of $21.6 million, compared to $25.2 million in guaranteed loans with guaranteed balances of $20.0 million at December 31, 2013.

The Company’s strategy is to continue growing the commercial and commercial real estate portfolios. Consistent with the strategic focus on commercial lending, both segments have seen solid growth during 2014. Growth slowed in the residential mortgage first lien portfolio, including originations of mortgage loans held-for-sale, with interest rates increasing late in 2013 and the previously brisk refinancing activity falling off sharply during 2014.

 
52

 

The following table reflects the composition of the Company's loan portfolio as of December 31,
Composition of Loan Portfolio
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
Total
   
% of
   
Total
   
% of
   
Total
   
% of
   
Total
   
% of
   
Total
   
% of
 
   
Loans
   
Total
   
Loans
   
Total
   
Loans
   
Total
   
Loans
   
Total
   
Loans
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Real estate loans
                                                           
Construction & land development
  $ 12,574       2.81 %   $ 19,098       4.34 %   $ 12,751       3.06 %   $ 12,589       3.26 %   $ 19,126       4.92 %
Farm land
    13,105       2.93 %     10,453       2.38 %     9,321       2.24 %     10,223       2.65 %     10,556       2.71 %
1-4 Family residential -
                                                                               
1st lien
    163,966       36.62 %     172,847       39.29 %     169,613       40.74 %     157,251       40.69 %     164,111       42.18 %
Jr lien
    44,801       10.00 %     45,687       10.39 %     47,029       11.29 %     45,887       11.88 %     47,360       12.17 %
Commercial real estate
    140,934       31.47 %     127,385       28.96 %     117,736       28.28 %     109,458       28.33 %     103,813       26.68 %
                                                                                 
Loans to finance agricultural production
    2,017       0.45 %     1,720       0.39 %     2,590       0.62 %     1,282       0.33 %     1,158       0.30 %
Commercial & industrial
    62,373       13.93 %     53,900       12.25 %     46,694       11.21 %     38,232       9.89 %     29,887       7.68 %
Consumer
    8,035       1.79 %     8,819       2.00 %     10,642       2.56 %     11,465       2.97 %     13,058       3.36 %
Gross loans
    447,805       100 %     439,909       100 %     416,376       100 %     386,387       100 %     389,069       100 %
                                                                                 
Less:
                                                                               
                                                                                 
Allowance for loan losses and deferred net loan costs
    (4,602 )             (4,554 )             (4,143 )             (3,880 )             (3,802 )        
Net loans
  $ 443,203             $ 435,355             $ 412,233             $ 382,507             $ 385,267          
 
The following table shows the estimated maturity of the Company's commercial loan portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

   
Fixed Rate Loans
   
Variable Rate Loans
 
   
Within
    2 - 5    
After
         
Within
    2 - 5    
After
       
   
1 Year
   
Years
   
5 Years
   
Total
   
1 Year
   
Years
   
5 Years
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Real estate
 
Construction & land development
  $ 5     $ 49     $ 2,944     $ 2,998     $ 3,718     $ 795     $ 5,063     $ 9,576  
Secured by farm land
    21       46       473       540       896       336       11,333       12,565  
Commercial real estate
    181       1,555       8,271       10,007       6,068       2,820       122,039       130,927  
Loans to finance agricultural production
    70       458       77       605       332       510       570       1,412  
Commercial & industrial
    915       10,976       3,868       15,759       27,526       6,746       12,342       46,614  
Total
  $ 1,192     $ 13,084     $ 15,633     $ 29,909     $ 38,540     $ 11,207     $ 151,347     $ 201,094  
 
The Company works actively with customers early in the delinquency process to help them to avoid default and foreclosure. Commercial and commercial real estate loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when there is deterioration in the financial position of the borrower, payment in full of principal and interest is not expected, and/or principal or interest has been in default for 90 days or more. However, such a loan need not be placed on non-accrual status if it is both well secured and in the process of collection. Residential mortgages and home equity loans are considered for non-accrual status at 90 days past due and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The Company obtains current property appraisals or market value analyses and considers the cost to sell collateral in order to assess the level of specific allocations required. Consumer loans are generally not placed in non-accrual but are charged off by the time they reach 120 days past due. When a loan is placed in non-accrual status, the Company's policy is to reverse the accrued interest against current period income and to discontinue the accrual of interest until the borrower clearly demonstrates the ability and intention to resume normal payments, typically demonstrated by regular timely payments for a period of not less than six months. Interest payments received on non-accrual or impaired loans are generally applied as a reduction of the loan principal balance. Deferred taxes are calculated monthly, based on interest amounts that would have accrued through the normal accrual process. As of December 31, this interest amounted to $40,384 for 2014, $95,580 for 2013, $214,897 for 2012, $294,034 for 2011, and $235,602 for 2010.
 
53

 

The Company’s non-performing assets decreased $223,759 or 3.3% for 2014 compared to 2013, while an increase of $532,333 or 8.6% is noted for 2013 compared to 2012, a decrease of $3.1 million or 33.1% is noted for 2012 compared to 2011, and an increase of $2.3 million or 32.7% for 2011 compared to 2010. The notable non-performing loan increase for 2011 was attributable in large part to an increase in non-accrual commercial real estate loans, including two commercial real estate loans to one borrower totaling just over $1.0 million that moved into non-accrual as a result of diminished cash flow due to the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Irene, and four other commercial real estate loan relationships moved into non-performing status as a result of the inability to weather the economic recession. The decrease from 2011 to 2012 was attributable to both improvement in economic conditions and the resolution of numerous problem loans. Those resolutions included completion of the foreclosure process, recognition of government loan guarantee claims receivable, borrower repayment, or in limited circumstances, the transition of loans to performing accrual status. The level of non-performing assets remained comparatively stable in 2013 and 2014.

Non-performing assets consisted of the following:
Non-Performing Assets
 
December 31,
 
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:
                             
Commercial & industrial
  $ 24     $ 22     $ 0     $ 60     $ 29  
Commercial real estate
    5       5       54       99       95  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    980       817       282       969       1,055  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    116       56       42       111       140  
Consumer
    0       8       1       1       38  
Total past due 90 days or more
    1,125       908       379       1,240       1,357  
   
Non-accrual loans:
                                       
Commercial & industrial
    553       527       597       1,067       61  
Commercial real estate
    1,934       1,404       1,892       3,714       1,146  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    1,263       2,203       1,928       2,704       2,831  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    404       593       338       464       388  
Consumer
    0       0       0       0       0  
Total non-accrual loans
    4,154       4,727       4,755       7,949       4,426  
   
Total non-accrual and past due loans
    5,279       5,635       5,134       9,189       5,783  
Other real estate owned
    1,238       1,106       1,075       90       1,210  
Total non-performing assets
  $ 6,517     $ 6,741     $ 6,209     $ 9,279     $ 6,993  
   
Percent of gross loans
    1.46 %     1.53 %     1.49 %     2.40 %     1.80 %
Reserve coverage of non-performing assets
    75.28 %     72.03 %     69.45 %     41.89 %     53.31 %
 
Non-performing loans as of December 31, 2014 represented, by dollar volume, approximately 30% residential first mortgages, 10% junior lien home equity loans, 47% commercial real estate and 13% in commercial loans not secured by real estate, compared to 47%, 12%, 30%, and 11%, respectively, at December 31, 2013.

The Company’s troubled debt restructurings (“TDR”) principally result from extending loan repayment terms to relieve cash flow difficulties. The Company has only, on a limited basis, reduced interest rates for borrowers below the current market rates. The Company has not forgiven principal or reduced accrued interest within the terms of original restructurings. The Company evaluates each TDR situation on its own merits and does not foreclose the granting of any particular type of concession. The Non-Performing Assets table above include 12 TDRs totaling just under $1.8 million that were past due 90 days or more or in non-accrual status as of December 31, 2014, compared to 12 TDRs totaling just over $1.8 million as of December 31, 2013. The remainder of the Company’s TDRs consisted of 18 residential mortgage loans and one commercial real estate loan totaling $1.7 million at December 31, 2014 compared to 10 residential mortgage loans, two commercial real estate loans and three commercial & industrial loans totaling $1.3 million at December 31, 2013.
 
54

 
The Company is not contractually committed to lend additional funds to debtors with impaired, non-accrual or modified loans.

The Company’s OREO portfolio at December 31, 2013 consisted of three properties acquired through the normal foreclosure process, one acquisition by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure and one control of vacant property pending acquisition of title. During 2014, the Company moved five additional properties into OREO totaling $433,500, selling one of those properties and two of the properties held at December 31, 2013. With total sales, net of closing costs, of $288,865 during 2014, and subsequent write-downs totaling $10,000 on one property, 2014 ended with an OREO balance of $1.2 million, representing one commercial and six residential properties.

Allowance for loan losses and provisions - The Company maintains an allowance for loan losses (allowance) at a level that management believes is appropriate to absorb losses inherent in the loan portfolio (See Critical Accounting Policies). Although the Company, in establishing the allowance, considers the inherent losses in individual loans and pools of loans, the allowance is a general reserve available to absorb all credit losses in the loan portfolio. No part of the allowance is segregated to absorb losses from any particular loan or segment of loans.

When establishing the allowance each quarter, the Company applies a combination of historical loss factors and qualitative factors to loan segments including residential first and junior lien mortgages, commercial real estate, commercial & industrial, and consumer loan portfolios. No changes were made to the allowance methodology during 2014. The Company will shorten or lengthen its look back period for determining average portfolio historical loss rates as the economy either contracts or expands; during a period of economic contraction a shortening of the look back period may more conservatively reflect the current economic climate. The highest loss rates experienced for the look back period are applied to the various segments in establishing the allowance.

The Company then applies numerous qualitative factors to each of these segments of the loan portfolio. Those factors include the levels of and trends in delinquencies and non-accrual loans, criticized and classified assets, volumes and terms of loans, and the impact of any loan policy changes. Experience, ability and depth of lending personnel, levels of policy and documentation exceptions, national and local economic trends, the competitive environment, and concentrations of credit are also factors considered.

The adequacy of the allowance is reviewed quarterly by the risk management committee of the Board of Directors and then presented to the full Board of Directors for approval.
 
55

 
 
The following table summarizes the Company's loan loss experience for each of the last five years.
Summary of Loan Loss Experience
 
December 31,
 
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
   
Loans outstanding, end of year
  $ 447,805     $ 439,909     $ 416,376     $ 386,387     $ 389,069  
Average loans outstanding during year
  $ 447,133     $ 425,482     $ 402,023     $ 389,611     $ 386,016  
Non-accruing loans, end of year
  $ 4,154     $ 4,727     $ 4,755     $ 7,949     $ 4,426  
Non-accruing loans, net of government guarantees
  $ 3,378     $ 4,368     $ 3,537     $ 5,385     $ 3,382  
   
Allowance, beginning of year
  $ 4,855     $ 4,312     $ 3,887     $ 3,728     $ 3,451  
Loans charged off:
 
Commercial & industrial
    (153 )     (83 )     (159 )     (22 )     (32 )
Commercial real estate
    (168 )     (125 )     (58 )     (197 )     (149 )
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    (59 )     (56 )     (246 )     (522 )     (512 )
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    (52 )     (57 )     (136 )     (97 )     (54 )
Consumer
    (112 )     (67 )     (97 )     (103 )     (106 )
Total
    (544 )     (388 )     (696 )     (941 )     (853 )
Recoveries:
 
Commercial & industrial
    6       3       29       13       42  
Commercial real estate
    0       186       52       8       8  
Residential real estate - 1st lien
    15       16       6       43       28  
Residential real estate - Jr lien
    0       21       2       0       2  
Consumer
    34       35       32       36       33  
Total
    55       261       121       100       113  
   
Net loans charged off
    (489 )     (127 )     (575 )     (841 )     (740 )
Provision charged to income
    540       670       1,000       1,000       1,017  
Allowance, end of year
  $ 4,906     $ 4,855     $ 4,312     $ 3,887     $ 3,728  
   
Net charge offs to average loans outstanding
    0.11 %     0.03 %     0.14 %     0.21 %     0.19 %
Provision charged to income as a percent
 
of average loans
    0.12 %     0.16 %     0.25 %     0.26 %     0.26 %
Allowance to average loans outstanding
    1.10 %     1.14 %     1.07 %     1.00 %     0.96 %
Allowance to non-accruing loans
    118.10 %     102.71 %     90.68 %     48.90 %     84.23 %
Allowance to non-accruing loans net of
                                       
government guarantees
    145.23 %     111.15 %     121.91 %     72.18 %     110.23 %
 
The level of the provision charged to income for 2010 through 2012 was directionally consistent with the trends and risk in the loan portfolio and with the growth of the loan portfolio. Improving loan portfolio trends throughout 2012 and 2013, and several recoveries resulted in a $330,000 or 33.0% decrease to the provision for 2013; with a total 2013 provision of $670,000. While the Company’s allowance coverage of non-accruing loans increased during 2013, the coverage of non-accruing loans net of government guarantees decreased. The decrease is the result of new non-accruing loans that are not guaranteed, replacing one large government guaranteed loan that was fully liquidated during the second quarter of 2013. Both the increase in the reserve balance and lower levels of non-accruing loans during 2014 led to the strengthened reserve coverage of non-accruing loans at year-end 2014, including the coverage of non-accruing loans net of government guarantees. The Company has an experienced collections department that continues to work actively with borrowers to resolve problem loans and manage the OREO portfolio, and management continues to monitor the loan portfolio closely.

Specific allocations to the allowance are made for certain impaired loans. Impaired loans are loans to a borrower that in aggregate are greater than $100,000 and that are in non-accrual status. A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due, including interest and principal, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company will review all the facts and circumstances surrounding non-accrual loans and on a case-by-case basis may consider loans below the threshold as impaired when such treatment is material to the financial statements. See Note 3 to the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements for information on the recorded investment in impaired loans and their related allocations.
 
56

 
 
The portion of the allowance termed "unallocated" is established to absorb inherent losses that exist as of the valuation date although not specifically identified through management's process for estimating credit losses. While the allowance is described as consisting of separate allocated portions, the entire allowance is available to support loan losses, regardless of category.

The following table shows the allocation of the allowance for loan losses, as well as the percent of each loan category to the total loan portfolio for each of the last five years:

Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses
December 31,
 
2014
   
%
   
2013
   
%
   
2012
   
%
   
2011
   
%
   
2010
   
%
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Domestic
 
Commercial & industrial
  $ 647       14 %   $ 516       12 %   $ 428       12 %   $ 342       10 %   $ 302       8 %
Commercial real estate
    2,312       37 %     2,144       36 %     1,537       33 %     1,386       34 %     1,392       34 %
Residential real estate
    1,592       47 %     1,819       50 %     1,896       52 %     1,910       53 %     1,831       55 %
Consumer
    119       2 %     105       2 %     139       3 %     125       3 %     152       3 %
Unallocated
    236       0 %     271       0 %     312       0 %     124       0 %     51       0 %
Total
  $ 4,906       100 %   $ 4,855       100 %   $ 4,312       100 %   $ 3,887       100 %   $ 3,728       100 %
 
Market Risk - In addition to credit risk in the Company’s loan portfolio and liquidity risk in its loan and deposit-taking operations, the Company’s business activities also generate market risk. Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market prices and rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices. Declining capital markets can result in fair value adjustments necessary to record decreases in the value of the investment portfolio for other-than-temporary-impairment. The Company does not have any market risk sensitive instruments acquired for trading purposes. The Company’s market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk inherent in its lending and deposit taking activities. During recessionary periods, a declining housing market can result in an increase in loan loss reserves or ultimately an increase in foreclosures. Interest rate risk is directly related to the different maturities and repricing characteristics of interest-bearing assets and liabilities, as well as to loan prepayment risks, early withdrawal of time deposits, and the fact that the speed and magnitude of responses to interest rate changes vary by product. The prolonged weak economy and disruption in the financial markets in recent years may heighten the Company’s market risk. As discussed above under "Interest Rate Risk and Asset and Liability Management", the Company actively monitors and manages its interest rate risk through the ALCO process.

INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The Company maintains an investment portfolio of various securities to diversify its revenue sources, as well as to provide interest rate risk and credit risk diversification and to provide for its liquidity and funding needs. The Company’s portfolio of available-for-sale securities decreased $2.2 million or 6.4% in 2014, from $35.2 million at December 31, 2013 to $33.0 million at December 31, 2014. The Company’s held-to-maturity portfolio consisted entirely of tax-exempt obligations of state and political subdivisions with a book value of $41.8 million as of December 31, 2014 as compared to $37.9 million at December 31, 2013. The increase in the held-to-maturity investment portfolio is due to a higher level of tax anticipation loans than the previous year. These loans to municipalities are issued annually on a competitive bid basis; as a result the portfolio can fluctuate considerably from year to year based on changes in competitive pressures.

Accounting standards require banks to recognize all appreciation or depreciation of investments classified as either trading securities or available-for-sale, either through the income statement or on the balance sheet even though a gain or loss has not been realized. Securities classified as trading securities are marked to market with any gain or loss net of tax effect, charged to income. The Company's investment policy does not permit the holding of trading securities. Securities classified as held-to-maturity are recorded at book value, subject to adjustment for other-than-temporary impairment. Securities classified as available-for-sale are marked to market with any gain or loss after taxes charged to shareholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets. These adjustments in the available-for-sale portfolio resulted in an accumulated unrealized loss net of taxes of $7,443 at December 31, 2014, compared to an unrealized loss net of taxes of $47,466 at December 31, 2013. The fluctuation in unrealized gains and losses are due primarily to market interest rate changes, and are not based on any deterioration in credit quality of the underlying issuers. The Company added FNMA and FHLMC issued mortgage-backed securities (Agency MBS) as an approved asset class in 2014 in order to realize a more favorable yield in the portfolio and diversify the holdings. This strategy has performed well with the continued flattening of the yield curve. Although classified as available-for-sale, these securities are short term and we anticipate keeping them until maturity. The unrealized loss positions within the investment portfolio as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are considered by management to be temporary.
 
57

 
The restricted equity securities comprise the Company’s membership stock in the FRBB and FHLBB. On December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company held $588,150 in FRBB stock and $2.7 million and $3.0 million, respectively, in FHLBB stock. Membership in the FRBB and FHLBB requires the purchase of their stock in specified amounts. The stock is typically held for an extended period of time and can only be sold back to the issuer, or in the case of FHLBB, a member institution. Restricted equity stock is sold and redeemed at par. Due to the unique nature of the restricted equity stock, including the non-investment purpose for owning it, the ownership structure and restrictions and the absence of a trading market for the stock, these securities are not marked to market, but carried at par.

Some of the Company’s investment securities have a call feature, meaning that the issuer may call in the investment before maturity, at predetermined call dates and prices. In 2014, call features on four investments were exercised by the issuers, compared to two calls during 2013.

The Company's investment portfolios as of December 31 in each of the last three fiscal years were as follows:

         
Gross
   
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value(1)
 
December 31, 2014
                       
                         
Available-for-Sale
                       
U.S. GSE debt securities
  $ 19,929,061     $ 50,378     $ 72,289     $ 19,907,150  
U.S. Government securities
    3,997,451       3,486       0       4,000,937  
Agency MBS
    9,031,661       19,472       12,326       9,038,807  
    $ 32,958,173     $ 73,336     $ 84,615     $ 32,946,894  
                                 
Held-to-Maturity
                               
States and political subdivisions
  $ 41,810,945     $ 423,055     $ 0     $ 42,234,000  
                                 
Restricted Equity Securities (2)
  $ 3,332,450     $ 0     $ 0     $ 3,332,450  
                                 
Total
  $ 78,101,568     $ 496,391     $ 84,615     $ 78,513,344  
                                 
December 31, 2013
                               
                                 
Available-for-Sale
                               
U.S. GSE debt securities
  $ 29,220,333     $ 114,102     $ 195,521     $ 29,138,914  
U.S. Government securities
    6,040,188       10,955       1,455       6,049,688  
    $ 35,260,521     $ 125,057     $ 196,976     $ 35,188,602  
                                 
Held-to-Maturity
                               
States and political subdivisions
  $ 37,936,911     $ 433,089     $ 0     $ 38,370,000  
                                 
Restricted Equity Securities (2)
  $ 3,632,850     $ 0     $ 0     $ 3,632,850  
                                 
Total
  $ 76,830,282     $ 558,146     $ 196,976     $ 77,191,452  
 
58

 
         
Gross
   
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value(1)
 
December 31, 2012
                       
                         
Available-for-Sale
                       
U.S. GSE debt securities
  $ 33,552,376     $ 247,029     $ 13,936     $ 33,785,469  
U.S. Government securities
    7,073,445       28,217       1,072       7,100,590  
    $ 40,625,821     $ 275,246     $ 15,008     $ 40,886,059  
                                 
Held-to-Maturity
                               
States and political subdivisions
  $ 41,865,555     $ 425,445     $ 0     $ 42,291,000  
                                 
Restricted Equity Securities (2)
  $ 4,021,350     $ 0     $ 0     $ 4,021,350  
                                 
Total
  $ 86,512,726     $ 700,691     $ 15,008     $ 87,198,409  
 
(1) Method used to determine fair value of held-to-maturity securities rounds values to the nearest thousand.
(2) Required equity purchases for membership in the Federal Reserve System and Federal Home Loan Bank System.

The Company does not have investments totaling more than 10% of Shareholders’ Equity to any one issuer in the periods presented.

In 2014, there were realized gains of $27,838 from the sale of investments in U.S. GSE debt securities, compared to realized losses of $5,521 in 2013.

 
59

 

The following is an analysis of the maturities and yields of the debt securities in the Company's investment portfolio for each of the last three fiscal years:
 
Maturities and Yields of Investment Portfolio
 
December 31,
 
2014
   
2013
   
2012
 
         
Weighted
         
Weighted
         
Weighted
 
   
Carrying
   
Average
   
Carrying
   
Average
   
Carrying
   
Average
 
   
Value(1)
   
Yield(2)
   
Value(1)
   
Yield(2)
   
Value(1)
   
Yield(2)
 
       
Available-for-Sale
 
U.S. Treasury & Agency Obligations
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 5,034,248       0.59 %   $ 4,510,923       0.48 %   $ 4,104,324       0.86 %
Due from one to five years
    18,873,839       1.09 %     30,677,679       0.87 %     36,781,735       0.74 %
Total
  $ 23,908,087       0.99 %   $ 35,188,602       0.75 %   $ 40,886,059       0.75 %
   
Agency MBS (3)
  $ 9,038,807       2.13 %   $ 0       0.00 %   $ 0       0.00 %
   
FRBB Stock (4)
  $ 588,150       6.00 %   $ 588,150       6.00 %   $ 588,150       6.00 %
   
FHLBB Stock (4)
  $ 2,744,300       1.58 %   $ 3,044,700       0.40 %   $ 3,433,200       0.52 %
   
Held-to-Maturity
 
Obligations of State & Political Subdivisions
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 28,158,718       3.70 %   $ 27,615,731       3.55 %   $ 32,741,241       3.07 %
Due from one to five years
    4,637,913       2.98 %     3,939,950       3.40 %     3,849,709       3.87 %
Due from five to ten years
    2,305,353       4.83 %     2,592,045       5.02 %     1,916,266       5.49 %
Due after ten years
    6,708,961       4.14 %     3,789,185       5.52 %     3,358,339       5.76 %
Total
  $ 41,810,945       3.75 %   $ 37,936,911       3.83 %   $ 41,865,555       3.47 %
 
(1)
Investments classified as available-for-sale are presented at fair value, and investments classified as held-to-maturity are presented at book value.
(2)
The yield on obligations of state and political subdivisions is calculated on a tax equivalent basis assuming a 34 percent tax rate.
(3)
Because the actual maturities of Agency MBS usually differ from their contractual maturities due to the right of borrowers to prepay the underlying mortgage loans, usually without penalty, those securities are not presented by contractual maturity date.
(4)
Required equity purchases for membership in the Federal Reserve System and Federal Home Loan Bank System.
 
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OFF-BALANCE-SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit and risk-sharing commitments on certain sold loans. Such instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The contract or notional amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Company has in particular classes of financial instruments. During 2014, the Company did not engage in any activity that created any additional types of off-balance-sheet risk.

 
60

 

The Company generally requires collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk. The Company's financial instruments whose contract amount represents credit risk as of December 31 were as follows:

   
Contract or Notional Amount
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Unused portions of home equity lines of credit
  $ 23,519,696     $ 21,961,527  
Other commitments to extend credit
    59,558,700       41,230,202  
Residential construction lines of credit
    2,308,167       2,010,417  
Commercial real estate and other construction lines of credit
    15,894,462       15,592,702  
Standby letters of credit and commercial letters of credit
    1,714,382       1,655,469  
Recourse on sale of credit card portfolio
    265,650       276,650  
MPF credit enhancement obligation, net (see Note 16)
    1,007,250       1,543,211  
 
Since many of the foregoing commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future funding requirements. The Company sold its credit card portfolio during the third quarter of 2007, but retained a partial recourse obligation under the terms of the sale, based on total lines, not balances outstanding. Based on historical losses, the Company does not expect any significant losses from this commitment.

In connection with its 2007 trust preferred securities financing, the Company guaranteed the payment obligations under the $12.5 million of capital securities of its subsidiary, CMTV Statutory Trust I. The source of funds for payments by the Trust on its capital securities is payments made by the Company on its debentures issued to the Trust. The Company's obligation under those debentures is fully reflected in the Company's balance sheet, in the gross amount of $12.9 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, of which $12.5 million represents external financing through the issuance to investors of capital securities by CMTV Statutory Trust I.

EFFECTS OF INFLATION

Rates of inflation affect the reported financial condition and results of operations of all industries, including the banking industry. The effect of monetary inflation is generally magnified in bank financial and operating statements because most of a bank's assets and liabilities are monetary in nature and, as costs and prices rise, cash and credit demands of individuals and businesses increase, while the purchasing power of net monetary assets declines. During the economic downturn that began in 2008, the capital and credit markets experienced significant volatility and disruption, with the federal government taking unprecedented steps to deal with the economic situation. These measures have included significant deficit spending as well as quantitative easing of the money supply by the FRB, which could result in inflation in future periods.

The impact of inflation on the Company's financial results is affected by management's ability to react to changes in interest rates in order to reduce inflationary effect on performance. Interest rates do not necessarily move in conjunction with changes in the prices of other goods and services. As discussed above, management seeks to manage the relationship between interest-sensitive assets and liabilities in order to protect against significant interest rate fluctuations, including those resulting from inflation. Inflation remains below the Federal Reserve’s implied target of 2% and is not believed to present any challenge in the near term. Possible deflation is now a concern given the recent severe decline in oil prices that is expected to impact the price of goods worldwide.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Managing liquidity risk is essential to maintaining both depositor confidence and stability in earnings. Liquidity management refers to the ability of the Company to adequately cover fluctuations in assets and liabilities. Meeting loan demand (assets) and covering the withdrawal of deposit funds (liabilities) are two key components of the liquidity management process. The Company’s principal sources of funds are deposits, amortization and prepayment of loans and securities, maturities of investment securities, sales of loans available-for-sale, and earnings and funds provided from operations. Maintaining a relatively stable funding base, which is achieved by diversifying funding sources, competitively pricing deposit products, and extending the contractual maturity of liabilities, reduces the Company’s exposure to roll over risk on deposits and limits reliance on volatile short-term borrowed funds. Short-term funding needs arise from declines in deposits or other funding sources and funding requirements for loan commitments. The Company’s strategy is to fund assets to the maximum extent possible with core deposits that provide a sizable source of relatively stable and low-cost funds.
 
61

 
 
Currently, the Company is not offering above market rates or rate “specials” to attract or retain “rate chasers”. The Company however, recognizes that, at times, when loan demand exceeds deposit growth it may be desirable to utilize alternative sources of deposit funding to augment retail deposits and borrowings. One-way deposits purchased through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”), maintained by the Promontory Interfinancial Network provide an alternative funding source when needed. Such deposits are generally considered a form of brokered deposits. The Company had no one-way deposits at December 31, 2014 and 2013. In addition, two-way CDARS deposits allow the Company to provide FDIC deposit insurance to its customers in excess of account coverage limits by exchanging deposits with other CDARS members. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company reported approximately $1.1 million in CDARS deposits representing exchanged deposits with other CDARS participating banks.

The Company has a Borrower-in-Custody arrangement with the FRBB secured by eligible commercial loans, commercial real estate loans and home equity loans, resulting in an available line of $78.6 million and $74.9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Credit advances in the FRBB lending program are overnight advances with interest chargeable at the primary credit rate (generally referred to as the discount rate), which was 75 basis points at December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had no outstanding advances against this line.

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, additional borrowing capacity of approximately $67.1 million and $72.6 million, respectively, was available through the FHLBB secured by the Company's qualifying loan portfolio (generally, residential mortgages), reduced by outstanding advances and collateral pledges. The Company also has an unsecured Federal Funds line with the FHLBB with an available balance of $500,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Interest is chargeable at a rate determined daily approximately 25 basis points higher than the rate paid on federal funds sold.

Under a separate agreement with the FHLBB, the Company has the authority to collateralize public unit deposits up to its FHLBB borrowing capacity ($67.1 million and $72.6 million, respectively, less outstanding advances and collateral pledges) with letters of credit issued by the FHLBB. The Company offers a Government Agency Account to its municipal customers collateralized with these FHLBB letters of credit. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, approximately $34.5 million and $20.8 million, respectively, of qualifying residential real estate loans were pledged as collateral to the FHLBB for these collateralized governmental unit deposits, which reduced dollar-for-dollar the available borrowing capacity under the FHLBB line of credit. Total fees paid by the Company to the FHLBB in connection with these letters of credit were $35,863 for 2014 and $43,654 for 2013.

The Company has an unsecured line with two correspondent banks with available lines totaling $7.5 million at December 31, 2014, compared to an available line with one correspondent bank totaling $3.5 million at December 31, 2013. The Company had no outstanding advances against these lines for the periods ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase amounted to $28.5 million, $29.6 million and $34.1 million as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively with weighted average interest rates of 0.27%, 0.24% and 0.57% at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The average daily balance of these repurchase agreements was $25.3 million, $28.5 million and $26.4 million during 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The maximum borrowings outstanding on these agreements at any month-end reporting period of the Company were $28.5 million, $34.5 million and $34.1 million during 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These repurchase agreements mature daily and carried a weighted average interest rate of 0.25% during 2014, 0.39% during 2013 and 0.55% during 2012.

Total cash dividends of $0.64 and $0.56 per common share were declared during 2014 and 2013, respectively. In December, 2014, the Company declared a $0.16 per common share cash dividend, payable February 1, 2015 to shareholders of record as of January 15, 2015, requiring the Company to accrue a liability of $786,580 for this dividend in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 
62

 
The following table illustrates the changes in shareholders' equity from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2014:
Balance at December 31, 2013 (book value $8.96 per common share)
  $ 46,135,977  
Net income
    5,124,908  
Issuance of stock through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan
    906,412  
Dividends declared on common stock
    (3,130,868 )
Dividends declared on preferred stock
    (81,250 )
Change in unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities, net of tax
    40,023  
Balance at December 31, 2014 (book value $9.43 per common share)
  $ 48,995,202  
 
The primary objective of the Company’s capital planning process is to balance appropriately the retention of capital to support operations and future growth, with the goal of providing shareholders an attractive return on their investment. To that end, management monitors capital retention and dividend policies on an ongoing basis.

The Company (on a consolidated basis) and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory - and possibly additional discretionary - actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company's and the Bank's financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of their assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items, as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors. Prompt corrective action capital requirements are applicable to banks, but not bank holding companies.

The Company and the Bank are subject to regulatory capital requirements. The Company’s tier 1 leverage, tier 1 risk-based and total risk-based capital ratios were 8.62%, 12.31%, and 13.66%, respectively, at December 31, 2014. The Company’s capital ratios exceeded all applicable regulatory requirements at December 31, 2014. The Bank’s tier 1 leverage, tier 1 risk-based and total risk-based capital ratios were 8.61%, 12.30%, and 13.54%, respectively, at December 31, 2014. Each of these ratios exceeds the current regulatory guidelines for a well-capitalized institution, the highest regulatory capital category. (See Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements.)

As of December 31, 2014 the Bank was considered well capitalized under the regulatory capital framework for Prompt Corrective Action.

In July 2013, the Federal Reserve Board adopted final rules implementing the Basel III capital standards, which significantly revise the regulatory capital requirements for U.S. financial institutions, including community banks. Among other things, the new capital rules revise the definition of various regulatory capital components and related calculation methods, add a new regulatory capital component (common equity tier 1 capital), increase the minimum required tier 1 capital, implement a new capital conservation buffer and restrict dividends and certain discretionary bonus payments when the buffer is not maintained. The final rules, which contain certain regulatory relief provisions for community banks, take effect for community banks on January 1, 2015, and are phased in over a four year period ending on January 1, 2019. Management is evaluating the potential impact of the new capital rules on the Company and believes that, as of December 31, 2014, the Company and the Bank would meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Basel III capital standards on a fully-phased in basis as if such requirements were currently in effect.
 
63

 
Common Stock Performance by Quarter*

   
2014
   
2013
 
Trade Price
 
First
   
Second
   
Third
   
Fourth
   
First
   
Second
   
Third
   
Fourth
 
High
  $ 14.25     $ 14.50     $ 14.50     $ 14.75     $ 15.75     $ 14.50     $ 13.00     $ 13.75  
Low
  $ 13.01     $ 13.75     $ 14.00     $ 13.84     $ 10.65     $ 11.11     $ 12.65     $ 12.80  
   
2014
   
2013
 
Bid Price
 
First
   
Second
   
Third
   
Fourth
   
First
   
Second
   
Third
   
Fourth
 
High
  $ 12.25     $ 13.90     $ 12.80     $ 13.65     $ 12.25     $ 13.90     $ 12.80     $ 13.65  
Low
  $ 10.50     $ 11.12     $ 12.60     $ 12.85     $ 10.50     $ 11.12     $ 12.60     $ 12.85  
                                                                 
Cash Dividends Declared
  $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ 0.16     $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 0.14  
 
*The Company's common stock is not traded on any exchange. However, the Company is included in the OTCQX® marketplace tier maintained by the OTC Markets Group Inc. and previously was included in the OTCQB® marketplace tier. Trade and bid information for the stock appears in the OTC’s interdealer quotation system, OTC Link ATS®. The trade price and bid information in the table above is based on information reported by participating FINRA-registered brokers in the OTC Link ATS® system and may not represent all trades or high and low bids during the relevant periods. Such price quotations reflect inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and bid prices do not necessarily represent actual transactions. The OTC trading symbol for the Company’s common stock is CMTV.

As of February 1, 2015, there were 4,916,123 shares of the Corporation's common stock ($2.50 par value) outstanding, owned by approximately 890 shareholders of record.

Form 10-K
A copy of the Form 10-K Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission may be obtained without charge upon written request to:
Stephen P. Marsh, President & CEO
Community Bancorp.
4811 US Route 5
Newport, Vermont 05855

Shareholder Services
For shareholder services or information contact:
Chris Bumps, Corporate Secretary
Community Bancorp.
4811 US Route 5
Newport, Vermont 05855
(802) 334-7915

Transfer Agent:
Computershare Investor Services
PO Box 43078
Providence, RI 02940-3078
www.computershare.com

Annual Shareholders' Meeting
The 2015 Annual Shareholders' Meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., May 12, 2015, at the Elks Club in Derby. We hope to see many of our shareholders there.
 
64